The Golden Trip

Chapter 8

December 22, 1995

Sirius Black knew this girl, this Hermione Granger, was special. He first met her on the day he escaped fully and met his godson. She ran in front of him to protect Harry. Then, she risked her life to go back in time to save him. True Gryffindor, he thought. She always had been around, starting from third year. When he met her, however, he felt as if she knew her. As if she knew her favorite color, and who her friends were, and why she might sleep in the common room. He felt as if they were friends from a past time.

He knew that was impossible though. She was, right now, sixteen. SHe would not have been alive in his years at Hogwarts. 'If only James was here...' Sirius thinks glumly, staring out the window at Grimmauld Place. Yes, Harry was here, and the Weasley's as well, but he missed his childhood best friend. Remus was close to him too, but him and James were brothers. He would know why this Hermione girl was familiar.

It was late at night, after midnight. Sirius was sitting in the kitchen, sipping firewhiskey. He looked up and saw the Gryffindor Golden Girl in the doorway. "Hi," She said softly, playing with the end of her tee-shirt. "I couldn't sleep so I came to get hot chocolate." Hot chocolate. How did he feel like he already knew that?

"Yes," Sirius nodded. "Yes, of course." He got up, and heated up the chocolate for her and handed it to her in a blue mug.

"Thank you." She said, sitting down at the table. Sirius sat as well. After a minute, Hermione spoke up.

"You've been in war," She said, lazily tracing the edge of her cup. "What's it like?" She looked up at him, with her big, brown, chocolate eyes. He swallowed. So familiar.

"Well," He said, setting down his firewhiskey. "War is...difficult. It's not something you can just be prepared with. Things are going to happen, whether you like it or not. People will die." Sirius looked at her. She was paying attention. He cleared his throat.

"Sometimes, you'll see such bad things, that you'll have recurring thoughts or nightmares from them." Or, you'll suffer through things. He heard that before. "I once had a friend tell me something about nightmares from war," He said, and looked at the wall. "'Nightmares are made up things that scare you. What I have are memories that I have to relive every night.' That's what my friend told James and I one day. She lived through a war, and faced things I couldn't even imagine. She's faint though. I only remember a few things she said or did. That's one of them."

Sirius took a sip of his firewhiskey and set it back down with a sigh. "She taught James and I many things we wouldn't have known without her about the war," Sirius looked at Hermione and raised his eyebrows. "She reminds me a little bit of you." He said softly. Hermione gaped, but quickly closed her mouth. She nodded at Sirius and stood up to put the mug in the sink.

"Thanks for talking to me Sirius." Hermione said, hugging herself. He nodded and smiled. "Of course. C'mere." Sirius hugged Hermione, and it felt so normal. So familiar. So right. He was confused, for sure. But that's how Sirius Black remembered Hermione Granger. As a girl who suffered so much and talked to him late at night. Who seemed so familiar as if they were friends. That's how Sirius Black remembered Hermione Granger. A friend.

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May 3, 1998

James Potter was watching his son, the heroine of the Wizarding World. He was currently walking around the Black Lake with Hermione Granger. Lily once told him that those to were like siblings. Siblings fight though, James knew. Because of Regulus and Sirius he knew. He decided these two were closer, but weren't in love. They just loved each other. They were talking as they walked, and Harry's arm was around Hermione's waist. The other hand was holding her forearm. He noticed that before. How only Ron Weasley and Harry would touch that certain spot. What was so special about it?