FIC: From the Beyond (s/hr) (1/1) (Teen)
Title: From the Beyond (1/1and I mean it, wenches!)
Author: granger2malfoy
Pairing: Sirius/Hermione, meant of others
Rating: Teen
Disclaimer: Not mine and no money, unfortunately.
Warning: Tiny bit of underage snogging with older, of course crossGen
Word Count: 2,792
A/N: This was spurred on by a drabble challenge at the lj community Hermione/Sirius. Bad news it turned into a fic (that hopefully makes sense) but good news, all my muses have come back from hiatus. Thanks to my beta, Tracy.
~*~*~* From the Beyond *~*~*~
“This is really ridiculous, guys,” Hermione spoke but hushed by female voices around the small circle on the cold wood floor.
It was the first Halloween after the end of the war and the boys had decided to throw a stag party and Lavender called for a girls’ night at Grimmauld Place. She rolled her eyes in the dark room with one single candle floated in the air in the center of their small circle of friends. She held Luna’s right hand and Ginny’s left hand as Lavender continued chanting some weird words that did not make one bit of sense. The whole situation they were in was the light-headed blonde’s idea. Luna thought it would be exciting to hold a séance, which meant that the idea should’ve been considered ‘off’ to being with. Yet, Ginny and Lavender just had to get excited and pulled Hermione’s unwilling body down to the ground to form a circle.
They had been sitting there on the cold, hard floor for the past ten minutes and nothing happened, of course. Well, her bottom ached and yelled for her to get up off the ground. Yet, they continued to sit in the parlor of the Black house with no noise except the wind against the windows on the chilly night.
Hermione glanced around the small and watched her friends. Luna appeared to be deep in concentration with her eyes tightly shut and her mouth kind of hanging open. Her whole relationship with Ron after the final battle was still weird to get used to but so was the witch her best friend claimed to be in love with. On the other side of her, Lavender continued to chant meaningless words as Hermione thought about how well her and Neville looked together. A low suppressed giggle from the redhead next to her revealed that Ginny just enjoyed the fun and was not taking this as seriously as the others too. Harry and Ginny had been a couple immediately after the war and were already engaged.
She sighed to herself. She was the odd one out, like always. It wasn’t as if she didn’t want a guy to be all lovey-dovey with. There just didn’t seem to be the guy as if she was comparing each of the guys she attempted to date to her ideal man. But she had no name for her mysterious ideal man.
Hermione just knew what she didn’t want. Viktor had been wonderful and made her feel like a princess to him being her prince. But he just wasn’t the prince to knock her off her feet. He was sweet and gentle but she yearned for strength and a little rough around the edges. Looking at him, one would’ve thought he had all those qualities but he treated her as if she would break, like expensive porcelain doll. He also had never been able to make her laugh. She had no idea where those criteria came from but she felt she needed someone to counterbalance her usual seriousness.
Her long-standing crush turned short-lived romance with Ron was nothing like she spent so many nights dreaming of what it would be like with him. They broke it off after week because they were traveling with Harry to look for the Horcruxes and needed to not make their best friend uncomfortable. Then as time passed, she realized that he was not all she thought he was. Not that he wasn’t a great person and friend; but he wasn’t the man she could see herself with for the rest of her life. With Ron, the future seemed to head to barefoot and pregnant, which she wouldn’t mind a child when the time was right but only when she had done all the things she wanted to do.
After spending time on the run, avoiding Death Eaters, and trying to find all the parts of Voldemort’s split soul, Hermione discovered that she enjoyed that adventure and hungered for more. It surprised everyone when she turned out to be the only member of the ‘Golden Trio’ to become an Auror. Harry had said that he had fought and chased enough evil for one lifetime. Then Ron wanted to try his hand at Quidditch for his favorite team.
Hermione had gone on a few dates over the past year with guys she thought had what she was looking for. But they all lacked something. William, a fellow Auror-in-training, lasted for two dates and, even though his charming smile reminded her of that ideal man. He was charming but in the end, he was missing something. Then she discovered her attraction to men with dark hair that reached their shoulders. Scott had fit the bill to the perfectly with soft black hair that she loved to run her hands through but the once-Ravenclaw turned out to be too much like her with love of knowledge. She wanted to share her knowledge with her lover, not compare notes. Then after a one-night stand with Marcus Flint, Hermione also learned there seemed to be an underlying craving for a bit of a bad boy. But Flint was not her dream man, either. She needed a challenge and the older Slytherin just needed to shag constantly.
Hermione’s frustration with her ideals and wants seemed to be formed around some actual person but she had no idea who it was. Even if she could just identify the man, then she could at least have somewhere to start. Yet, the mysterious dream lover’s identity still eluded her.
Then soft voice of Luna got her attention, “Spirits of the beyond,” Hermione again rolled her eyes as the blond continued, “hear us. On this night of All-Hallow’s Eve, we call upon one who needs our assistance to find what they are looking for.”
“Maybe we should identify a person who has not moved on,” Lavender suggested.
Hermione replied, “Ghosts do not just move on, they are stuck permanently.”
The brunette across from her bit her lip as she seemed to be thinking. “Okay, this might work for people who are stuck, just not as ghosts.”
The other brunette clucked her tongue and replied, “Who or what is stuck that needs the help of four young witches? I really-”
But Hermione’s words paused as a gust of wind began to swirl around them but the windows remained closed. The candlelight flickered and then went out as weird chill went up her spine. Ginny’s voice spoke out in the darkness; “You must not break the circle. Keep holding each other’s hands no matter what happens.”
Hermione opened her mouth but stopped at the sound of the phonograph starting playing on its own. The crackling of an old record sounded from the corner and music began to play, “But it’s no hanging matter. It’s no capital crime.”
Her body froze as she recognized that song. A song that she had heard so many years ago in this very room. But there had only been two in the room when that certain song would play. One was herself as she sat reading in the chair by the window or working on some schoolwork. It was during the time during the summer of her fifth year before Harry had arrived. The other was Sirius Black.
The song continued to play, “I can see that you’re fifteen. No I don’t want to see your I.D. and I can see that you’re so far from home. But it’s no hanging matter. It’s no capital crime.”
Hermione closed her eyes as she thought back to the memory of the first time she heard it played. He played several times over the course of that summer. But it was only when they were alone together. Sometimes after having talked over the past as she tried to understand him but never fully doing that. Their time together seemed to go on forever when they were with each other but yet when it ended, it was never long enough. At first, she thought the song was going to be about a crime one was not guilty over like he had not been guilty of the time he served for a crime he never committed. But as the song continued that first time, she had mind went over what the song really was about.
“Oh yeah, you’re a strange stray cat. Oh yeah, don’t cha scratch like that. Oh yeah, you’re a strange stray cat. Bet your mama don’t know you scream like that. I bet you’re mother don’t know you spit like that.”
That part of the song always reminded her of confrontation with Malfoy when she slapped him. Her corner of her mouth tugged up as she remembered Sirius’ reaction of her telling of that part of the story about the day she helped save him. He laughed hard and loud, which caused her to laugh because he had such a wonderful laugh.
“You look so weird and you’re so far from home but you really miss your mother. Don’t look so scared I’m no mad-brained bear,” the old vinyl continued to turn and play as the girls remained in surprised silence.
Memories of her short time with Sirius Black came rushing back as the notes and lyrics triggered with her mind. At first, they had not been so warmed up to each other when she first arrived to his deteriorating family home. Of course, Sirius remained gratefully for her part of his escape. Yet, his longing for freedom, his inability to help out with the Order, and being forced to stay in a place he wished never to return to made him at times very unapproachable. Often, she waked in the middle of the night and crept down to the kitchen to find him there nursing some tea or on rough nights, firewhiskey.
Sometimes they simply sat there in silence as she worried about Harry, her dad and mum, and the uncertain future. Other times, he would tell stories of his times with James and Lupin. He never spoke of Peter, which was understandable but seemed also painful to the man. Hermione, in turn, told stories about her adventures with the boys and going to school as a muggleborn. Usually once during each of their talks, he told her he would one day take her on a ride on his motorcycle, once he was cleared and got it back from wherever is was at all this time. Even though, she always replied that he was mad because she hated flying but Sirius’ rebuke was always with a charming smile: ‘You just need someone to hold on tight to and them to hold you tight. I wouldn’t let go.’
“But it’s no hanging matter. It’s no capital crime.” The song continued as her memories floating with them. One night during their late night meetings over tea and Mrs. Weasley’s leftovers, they moved their discussion to the room where she was currently at all these years later. Sirius asked about her relationship with Viktor and she admitted to snogging him but the famous seeker just wasn’t the one for her. The older man remained seated next to her on the couch as Hermione turned to see him staring an odd way at her. Something flickered in his gray eyes at her confession but she wasn’t able to place it.
“Bet your mama don’t know you could scream like that. I bet your mother don’t know you bite like that.”
Harry’s godfather had told her that he understood and handed over his glass firewhiskey as he got up to place a silencing spell on the door and put on the same record that was currently playing mysteriously. Yet, the talk changed back to normal topics they conversed about but he’d occasionally tuck a hair behind her ear, run his fingers along her bare arm, or smiled so charmingly at her that it would cause her to blush as she sipped on his firewhiskey. Hermione fell asleep that night on the couch next to him and dreamt of them on that couch. But not talking, just him teaching her all the things that could not be learned from books. He taught her about passionate kisses, gentle touches, and strong, wandering hands. His sensuous hands of experience pushed her body to new heights in which she encouraged by calling out his name. Tumbling over the edge as she bit the soft flesh where his neck and shoulder joined.
When she woke, Hermione was alone in the living room with no signs of Sirius. Later, at her asking, he had left her when he discovered that she fell asleep during one of his stories. He teased her on it but their conversation never again retired to the living room, nor did they consume firewhiskey. She had a lingering doubt that he had not heard part of her dream.
Suddenly, the present day-Hermione remembered that he wore a turtleneck that next day under his normal long-sleeve shirts when she questioned him about the previous night. The record player stopped just as suddenly as it started and the candle flickered to life again. It wasn’t a dream.
Ginny’s hands were to first to let go of Hermione’s hands as the brunette sat there in shock. The others might’ve assumed her reaction was due to the mysterious music but it was really because the total surprise of realizing that she actually snogged Harry’s godfather and liked it. Wow.
The redhead got off the floor without trouble and went to the turntable. Luna and Lavender released hands and got up to look at the record as Luna said, “Someone communicated with us.”
Ginny lifted the small record up and read it off, “Stray Cat Blues is the name of the song. By the-”
Hermione cut her off, as she remained seated and spoke, “The Rolling Stones.”
Her friend looked up as she placed the black object back down and asked, “How’d you know?”
Luna spoke up, “They’re a muggle band. That’s why she knows it. I wonder why the spirit played that for us? I mean what kind of clue is that. How are we supposed to help them with that sort of clue? What? Were they killed by a stray cat?”
Hermione got to her feet as she questioned, “What did you say?”
Ginny shook her head and grabbed Lavender’s arm as she said, “Let get some drinks and start that popcorn.”
Luna walked over to Hermione to answer her question. “I said ‘did stray cats attack them or something?”
The other two girls disappeared into the hallway chattering, but Hermione commented, “No, before that.”
The blond gave a loopy smile as she replied, “What kind of clue is that? I mean that if some one from the beyond were wanting real help they should’ve given a name or something. Something to reveal who they are at least. Come on; let’s get some snacks. We have about two more hours before the boys get back.”
Hermione stared at the couch as she slowly stated, “Go ahead. I’ve got to get something from my flat. I’ll be right back.”
Luna shrugged her shoulders and headed in the direction of the kitchen but Hermione stayed glued to the spot as her mind was processing everything that had just happened and the things she remembered. All things swirled around the man that disappeared into the veil over three years ago. Was it possible that he could contact us? Why that song? I mean, only I would recognize that song in connection to him.
Hermione’s head jerked toward the record player and her inspiration hit her as she remembered his departing word the night he flew off on Buckbeak’s back. “You really are the brightest witch of your age.”
She pulled the album cover from the shelf, slipped the record in the jacket, and headed to the front door. Everything was fitting into place. Sirius Black had been the one she compared all her past beaus, consistently finding them lacking. Sirius Black was the one who made her balance her level-headedness with his intelligent banter and playful pranks. Sirius Black was the one who made her long to make the best of her life and live it to its fullest. Sirius Black was the one whose charming smile made her weak in the knees whenever he showed it. Sirius Black was the bad-boy type but not to the extremes. Sirius Black challenged her. He had given her a challenge from the beyond to bring him back to find the things she had looked for in all the wrong places and Hermione Granger never walked away from a challenge.
~~*~**~*~ Finis ~*~**~
A/N2: This bunny bit and didn’t want to let go. But hope you enjoyed it.