The Year Before Tomorrow

Chapter Six- Year I- Spiraling Indignation

Christmas Day was an ordinary affair. Hermione's presents filtered in by owl mail one by one, and Hermione would open them with very little actual excitement. She received books from everyone, of course. That wasn't any different from what she'd been used to in her old life, so she wasn't disappointed.

The thing about Christmas, however, was there were quite a few people who decided to make a night of it at whichever bar was most handy. By the end of an exhausting shift, Hermione welcomed the solitude and relative quiet of her bedroom.

Echo still refused to be left behind, but she was remarkably good at staying quiet while they were in public. Hermione didn't feel safe enough yet to leave the Hog's Head, however.

The phoenix was maturing at a remarkable rate. Her feathers were growing in, and she wasn't quite so small. Whereas when she hatched she had been about the size of a baby bluebird, in a short time she had become the size of a Quaffle. Soon Echo wouldn't be so easily hidden.

Hermione still talked to Echo as if she could respond. Phoenixes were intelligent enough to learn human speech, after all, so why not?

She was halfway through her book when there was a knock at her door. Opening the door just enough to see who it was, Aberforth's blue eyes peered back at her. "Someone here to see you," he said succinctly, as was his wont.

The time-traveler shut the door again and turned to Echo. "Who do you think it could be? It's Christmas. Who would come visit me on Christmas?" Echo gave a small breathy sound, which Hermione took to mean, "I have no idea".

Several moments later, Echo safely tucked away in her pocket, Hermione found herself on the main floor of the pub, staring incredulously at one Sirius Black.

"You're telling me," she said slowly, "that you showed up at my workplace because you were bored? Why not go to Potter's place? Why are you here this late, anyway? The pub is closed, mate."

Sirius was puffed up like a bloody peacock. "You live here," he said triumphantly. "Lily said that you were staying with some relatives, but you're living here."

Hermione took a deep breath through her nose. "So?"

"Are you living here because you don't have anyone? Anyone at all?" Sirius's grin had faded to almost nothing. He wasn't even trying to look sad but Hermione wanted to give him a hug. It aggravated her.

"I live here now. I have Aberforth, and it's close to the school. I have everything I need. I get paid a decent amount, and room and board is paid for. Why would I be upset by that?" She said, skirting around the actual question neatly.

Sirius took the bait. He frowned at her. "I'm sure James and his family would let you stay with them," he said.

He was clearly delusional. James, willingly allowing her into his house? Dealing with her every day? Pointing out Sirius's best mate's aversion to her company seemed besides the point, so instead she just said, "Did you not hear me? I've got everything I need here. Why don't you go back to wherever you sleep and leave me be?" Hermione crossed her arms, chest heaving. This boy was really starting to be irritating. Echo stirred against her stomach, and Hermione realized that she needed to calm down before her phoenix got riled enough to betray her presence.

Sirius followed her advice after a few moments of apprehensive staring.

She found herself thinking about his actions. Why would Sirius go out in the middle of the night- on Christmas, no less- to visit her at the Hog's Head just to prove that she had no family? It made no sense. And why did he care that much, anyway?

His motivations were entirely a mystery to her. Hermione was about as fascinated as she was annoyed.

*|II8II|*