Chapter 32

Three months later...

"You are joking, right?" Hermione snarled at the wedding co-ordinator, who trembled a little before drawing himself up bravely.

"You have my sincerest apologies, Miss Granger. Nothing like this has ever happened before! However, the reception area is prepared and looks stunning!"

"Oh, ho," Hermione laughed mirthlessly. "I'm sure it is. And where do you suggest we actually get married, as the location I scouted and fell in love with is undergoing pest control! "

"W-well," stammered Tristan Forthall, Hermione's highly recommended planner. "We could rearrange the reception area. It will be a snug fit, but..."

"So you think that I should marry the love of my life in the house in which he was both an outcast and a prisoner? You..." Hermione pointed a perfectly manicured finger right in the small man's face. "...Are testing my patience!"

Forthall squeaked and took a step back.

"What seems to be the difficulty?" came the vibrato tones of Severus Snape.

"I'm not getting married!" she cried, waving her hand at the twitching wedding planner, who fairly ran out the library door. Hermione had visited the library to get some peace and quiet, but Forthall had found her, and now it appeared there wouldn't be a wedding. The perfect little grove she'd found in her painstaking research was being treated for infestations of woodlice, which had brought the bowtruckles out in full force, and the little creatures wouldn't be convinced to allow chairs to be set up, or even a runner placed.

"And why not?"

"Because I wanted to do it in the forest, amid nature and all that! It was supposed to be perfect. I had it all planned... stupid fucking bowtruckles." Hermione burst into tears and fell back onto the loveseat.

Snape took a step toward her as if he would sit, but he seemed to think better of it. "Ms. Granger, stop this melodrama at once! You cannot honestly expect me to believe that life with Black will be better for you having married him in some enchanted copse! If this is a charade to get out of your nuptials, I am not the one to whom you need make excuses! I wouldn't blame you if you ran out of this house right now, never to be seen again."

Hermione sniffed wetly and sighed. "I thought we agreed you weren't going to talk about my future husband like that. I do want to marry him... more than anything."

"Then," Snape said challengingly, "you shall. Here."

"Here?" Hermione looked around in disbelief. There was nowhere in Grimmauld Place she could imagine getting married. Even though it was long since improved from its state of disrepair, it was still dreary and dull, the memories leaving more lasting marks than the Doxies.

In fact, the only room in the entire house that was even remotely cheery was this one, the library. The large windows were glittering happily, streaks of light dancing over dust motes and giving the air a fairytale shimmer. Hermione had only good memories of this room.

"Oh, my gods," Hermione said slowly, looking around. "Here. "

"It seems only fitting, for the bluestocking to marry her lover in the library in which she found the book to bring him back to her. It's almost..." Snape sneered. "Romantic."

"But I don't know if Sirius would want to get married in Grimmauld Place," she said, fingers tugging on a perfectly spiralling curl. Her hair and make-up had been done an hour before by Ginny; she had only to put on the dress. She could hear the guests downstairs, having apparently been rerouted from the grove the invitations had indicated.

"Black would marry you in Azkaban if it meant keeping you by his side, and he'd be a fool to make any sort of complaint." Snape seemed to consider something. "Actually, yes, he likely will complain."

Hermione laughed. "All right, Professor Snape, you've got a mission. Go find my fiancé and see what he thinks. He'll be honest with you. Then get back to your lady friend. You shouldn't leave her alone too long with the Weasleys."

Snape snorted. "Any lady friend of mine would be remiss if she found herself unable to handle a few rampaging redheads. However, I do find myself desirous of her company." He gave a genuine smile, which Hermione returned. The witch Snape was seeing was a lovely woman, bitingly sarcastic but in a way that left people laughing instead of shrinking in fear. Snape had begun seeing her shortly after Hermione's ordeal with Frankenhodge and Ginny's blurting announcement of Hermione's impending marriage. He seemed happy, for which Hermione was grateful...and Hermione had had to appeal to his witch to even get Snape to come to the wedding, so obviously she had some pull with the cool man.

Ginny and her mum burst in through the door, and Snape left with the promise to see what Sirius thought about getting married in the library.

"Oh, dear, Mr. Forthall just told me what's happened!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, wringing her hands. "What will we do?"

Ginny quickly came over the fixed the curl that Hermione had pulled nearly straight.

"I think we're going to get married here," Hermione said, the idea growing on her more and more.

"Here?" Mrs. Weasley said sceptically, looking around with a forced smile. "That'll be... lovely."

"I think it's perfect!" Ginny said, unloading a bundle onto the loveseat beside Hermione.

A few moments later, Snape returned but didn't enter the room. "Black predictably stated that the library suits his needs perfectly. He followed that declaration with a number of trite and inappropriate comments which I will not repeat." And with that, he turned and left, leaving Hermione giggling and Mrs. Weasley shaking her head.

"How is Sirius?" Hermione asked Ginny quietly, knowing she would be in contact with Harry, who was helping Sirius get ready.

Ginny smiled a soft, knowing smile. "I've never seen him so excited. Even Harry was nervous before our wedding, but Sirius isn't. He's just like a little kid. I never would have thought he could be so... carefree."

Mrs. Weasley hummed a little, as if to suggest that Sirius had never been anything but carefree, but Hermione knew that wasn't true. Their entire fifth year he'd been completely miserable, but ever since she'd brought him back, it was as though he had a new lease on life, and really, he did.

Hermione smiled wistfully when she imagined the look on his face when she walked down the aisle. She wondered if he'd tear up. He rarely did, but she thought this might be one of those special occasions.

Ginny was unwrapping her bundle and pulled a long, shimmering white gown from the bag.

Running her fingers over the feather-light material, Hermione sighed. It was beautiful. Formfitting and flowing at the same time, the gown was exquisite. And it would hide a certain little bulge, even though Sirius insisted it wasn't visible just yet. Hermione could tell her body's shape was changing.

"Hermione, we'd better get dressed in your bedroom if the ceremony's to take place here," Ginny advised, and Hermione nodded, bringing her thoughts back to the wedding.

"Mum, can you go find that Forthall and tell him to get the room ready? The ceremony time will be the same, he just needs to set up the room and make sure the officiant will be here."

Mrs. Weasley nodded and patted Hermione's cheek softly before leaving the room. A suspicious snuffle followed her exit, and Hermione and Ginny laughed. Mrs. Weasley had been crying off and on for days.

"Does anyone else know?" Ginny whispered, touching Hermione's belly lightly with her fingertips. She could barely contain her excitement, and Hermione smiled softly, gathering up their things.

"Only you and Harry," Hermione said, just as quietly. "And Sirius, of course. In fact, he knew before I did." Hermione laughed, thinking about how Sirius had accused her a few weeks ago of having lost her temper one too many times, and even before he'd finished dressing her down, his eyes had widened and his mouth had fallen open. And then he was picking her up and spinning her around, but Hermione had still been upset over the misplaced pack of chewing gum, so she slapped at him until he'd put her down, falling to his knees in front of her.

"Our little saviour," he'd whispered, placing a hand on Hermione's belly.

"What?" she'd snapped, backing away.

"Hermione, love, I think... I think you might be expecting!"

She'd frozen in place, realisations assaulting her. Her mood swings (all right, she could admit it), her sore breasts, the fact that her period had been more like spotting... it was true.

"Don't call him that," she'd whispered, falling to her knees beside Sirius, who was grinning madly and looked to be having trouble breathing. "I don't want him to have a complex like Harry did."

"He?" Sirius had repeated, smile sliding into a look of awe and wonder.

She'd shrugged. "I think so. Feels right, doesn't it?"

"Nothing could be more so," Sirius had responded, gathering her into his arms. His kiss was deep and steady, the kind of kiss that she could imagine them sharing fifty, a hundred years down the road. It was a promise.

"Come on," Ginny said, and Hermione startled out of her reverie. "I'll check the hallway first. I don't want you accosted by guests." Ginny poked her head through the door and nodded back at Hermione. The two girls ran down the hall to the spare bedroom. Ginny had convinced her to spend the night before the wedding away from Sirius, and she'd done so. It didn't really count if the two of them had happened to meet in the kitchen in the middle of the night, apparently hungry for a snack before the big day. It definitely didn't count that Hermione had pushed Sirius to the floor and straddled him, taking them both to climax in record time.

It didn't count because they'd both bolted back to their bedrooms before they'd been caught.

The room was actually Sirius' old room, the one she'd trashed in a fit of pique, before she'd discovered that the spell to bring Sirius back had caused a bit of a personality transfer, causing a reaction much more Sirius-esque in nature. The room reminded her of how she'd broken her finger and shoddily healed it. It still made the most irritating clicking noise now and then.

Ginny laid the dress out on the bed, beside her own pale yellow bridesmaid dress. "We should be getting you into this," Ginny said, voice a little thick.

Hermione looked at her, surprised. Ginny had given no indication that she would cry today, but here she was, tears sparkling in her huge brown eyes. "Don't," Hermione chided, smiling. "You'll wreck your make-up."

Ginny seemed to pull herself together at that soft admonishment and quickly disrobed. She stepped into the dress, and Hermione stepped in to zip her up. Hermione had thought the colour would wash her friend out, but she was radiant. Her freckles were highlighted, but they made her look youthful and sweet. Her auburn hair shimmered in its pile atop her head.

"Your turn," she said cheerfully, taking item after item out of the bag she'd brought. Hermione watched, dismayed, as the bed was fairly overtaken with various instruments of concealment and enticement.

"I'm not wearing the corset," she said lowly. Pregnant or not, there was no way she'd don that menace.

Ginny sighed. "Fine. The garter?"

Hermione eyed it. It seemed harmless enough, and her stockings would have to stay up one way or another. "Okay."

There was no time to be embarrassed as Hermione let Ginny dress her. The strapless bra was snug thanks to her slightly fuller breasts, causing them to spill almost indecently over the top of it. The knickers were white lace, and Hermione just knew Sirius would be ripping them off. Next came the garter belt, which clipped the white stockings in place. Hermione ran a hand over her belly, wishing it were just a little bigger. She felt sexier than she ever had, and the life growing inside her made her feel even more so.

"Dress time!" Ginny sang, gently setting the dress on the floor so Hermione could easily step into it.

She did, and the dress was shimmied up her body. She smoothed her hands over the silk, revelling in the luxury of the fabric and the intensity of the moment.

"Whew," Ginny said from behind Hermione. "Good thing this is a corset-back, or I don't think it would have done up! You're growing, Mum!"

Hermione gasped at the honorific, hands flying to her belly. She couldn't seem to stop touching the area, it seemed so profound and unique to be growing a child, and yet most women did it. She wondered if they all felt this way.

"Ginny..." Hermione said softly, turning as her friend secured the bow. "I'm going to be a mother... Sirius is going to be a dad. Are we mad?"

Ginny laughed and hugged Hermione, who fell into the embrace gracelessly. "Of course not, Hermione! You're in love. You're beautiful and perfect and pregnant and in love. Everything is going to be fine!"

Hermione stepped in front of the full-length mirror. She was glad that she still looked like herself. But she was glowing, she could tell. Sirius had mentioned it, but she'd never believed him until today. The scars over her heart had faded to silvery-white, but they were badges of honour, and she wore them proudly as they signified would she would do for love.

"I am beautiful," she said in wonderment.

Suddenly there was a bouquet in her hands, white lilies tied with a blue ribbon. "This ribbon was tied around my bridal flowers," Ginny said, fingers tracing the silken length. "So your bouquet has something old, borrowed, and blue, all at the same time."

"And something new?" she asked, having completely forgotten about the tradition.

"Well," Ginny said, smiling and reaching in her purse. "This counts, I believe." Ginny handed her a small black velvet box. "From Sirius."

Perching on the end of the bed, Hermione opened the small card. "A piece of you is with me, always. Now you can say the same. I love you."

With shaking fingers, Hermione opened the box. A stunning white gold locket rested in stark relief against the velvet. She gasped softly, pulling the necklace free. The locket was encrusted with glittering diamonds, blinding Hermione...or maybe that was the tears. She opened the locket with reverent fingers. A tiny locket of black hair was tied and rested within. Sirius' hair. She touched it with a fingertip, laughing.

Ginny was reading the card and had tears on her cheeks. She reached for the locket, and Hermione let her settle it around her neck; it rested in the hollow of her throat, cool against her flushed skin.

"It's perfect," Ginny said, tucking her handkerchief back into her purse.

"He's perfect," Hermione said.

And then it was time.

*

The library was like an entirely new room. Flowing swathes of cloth, ribbon and flowers, all white, were hung everywhere. The books were the only really colour in the room.

The aisle had been set up to traverse the main aisle between stacks. Hermione couldn't see all the way down the aisle from the secondary door in the library, but she knew Sirius was waiting at the end for her.

Ginny gave her one final hug, which lasted until Hermione had to shoo her down the aisle. The redhead made the traditional lilting steps until Hermione could no longer see her. A moment later, Hermione's music was cued, and the wedding planner gave her a surreptitious nod from the side.

Hermione tried to slow her pace like Ginny's, but the steps felt unnatural, so she just walked. When Sirius' face came into view, everything else fell away.

He was wearing traditional wedding robes, black and lined with satin. His long hair was tied back with a black cord, a single strand having escaped and now kissed his cheek. She knew the moment he saw her because his entire face changed from anxious anticipation to pure satisfied happiness.

She laughed a little when he bit his lip, and so eager was he to meet her, he took a few steps forward and held out his hand. She took it and immediately felt a wave of joy wash over her, mingling with her own.

"Hey, love," he whispered, smiling that Sirius smile and making her blush.

"Hey," she said back, stepping into place across from him. A part of her noted the Weasleys, Harry, Ginny behind her, Draco sitting with Renworth Alensky, Andromeda, Teddy, Snape and his new lady friend, her friends from school, Sirius' friends from the Order and from goodness knew where, but her eyes really only had room for Sirius.

Then the officiant was talking, and the man had a soothing voice, and she tried to pay attention, but Sirius' mirthful grey eyes seemed to be teasing her. His thumb brushed over the back of her hand, and she smiled, unable to break his gaze.

Everyone seemed to be waiting for something, but Hermione knew she was to speak after Sirius. The officiant cleared his throat, but it took Harry stepping forward to nudge Sirius for him to realise what needed to be done.

"He's distracted by shiny things," Harry quipped in explanation, making everyone laugh. Hermione's grin widened at Sirius' blush.

He cleared his throat and began to speak the vows they'd been practising for weeks. "Hermione, I take you to be my lawfully wedded wife. Before these witnesses I vow to love you and care for you as long as we both shall live." Sirius stopped to take a deep breath. He looked at the ground for a moment, but he squeezed her hand to reassure her. When he looked up, his face was a serious as she'd ever seen it. "I take you, with all your faults and strengths, as I offer myself to you with all my faults and strengths. I will help you when you need help, and turn to you when I need help. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life. I... love you... so much."

Hermione's heart was racing throughout his words. Hearing them now was so different than practising them in the kitchen or before bed.

Sirius leaned forward and kissed Hermione softly. Maybe it wasn't part of the ceremony, but she offered herself up to the kiss eagerly, taking solace in his passion.

When the kiss broke, Hermione was ready. "Sirius, I take you to be my lawfully wedded husband. Before these witnesses I vow to love you and care for you as long as we both shall live. I take you, with all your faults and strengths, as I offer myself to you with all my faults and strengths. I will help you when you need help, and turn to you when I need help. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life. I love you, Sirius."

Someone sniffed loudly, and Teddy gave a short cry, but Hermione heard nothing.

"Sirius Black, do you take Hermione Granger to be your wife?" came the official words.

"I do," he said solemnly, eyes sparkling.

"Hermione Granger, do you take Sirius Black to be your husband?"

"I do," she answered easily. Sirius barked a laugh, pride and joy written across his features, even as a solitary tear slid down his cheek. Hermione wiped it away, and he grabbed it hand, kissing her palm before letting it go.

"By the power vested in me by the Ministry of Magic, I know pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss!"

And they did. Sirius gathered Hermione close and tilted her back into a half-dip. His lips were soft and careful, but the message was one of passion and desire. Hermione eagerly returned the kiss, her hands working to loose his hair from the tie.

When he pulled her back up, Hermione heard clapping, laughter, and even a few whoops. She blushed furiously, smacking Sirius lightly on the arm, but the truth was, she was thrilled.

They quickly signed a parchment that popped out of existence once the quills were lifted from the page. They were married.

"Husband," she said teasingly as they walked down the aisle together.

"Wife," he rejoined, unsubtly leading them to their shared bedroom. "Love."

Once in the room, Sirius closed the door behind him and advanced on Hermione like a predator. But Hermione was no prey. She stood her ground with a sultry smile on her face.

"Is this how you would consummate our marriage?" she scolded in mock outrage. "Ten minutes after the fact in a room not twenty feet from our guests?"

"I would have done it one minute after, not four feet from our guests, but I thought your little wedding planner might have objected."

Hermione laughed. "I can't think why."

"Nor I," Sirius said, snorting. Then his face became serious again. "I almost didn't think you'd come," he said quietly, reaching for her.

Hermione folded herself into his arms. "Why would you doubt me? You know how I feel."

"Sometimes I feel so old, so... broken," he murmured in her hair.

She suspected he was referring to the way he still got a little nervous and tense in public places. That was to be expected, though, from everything he'd been through in his eventful life.

"Sirius, I meant my vows. Faults and all."

He kissed her softly. "Faults and all," he agreed, sighing. "You're perfect, you know."

"Oh?" she said, chuckling. "Tell me more."

"Little tart," he said, leading her very slowly to the bed. Robes were strewn all over it; it appeared Sirius had had a hard time deciding what to wear, though she couldn't fathom why, as he'd picked out his own robes. But with a quick spell they were neatly hung and out of sight. He turned her so he could untie her dress, pulling on the laces until it was loose enough to slip out of.

"I never knew," Sirius began, and then he coughed suspiciously and cleared his throat. "I never knew that I could be happy like this, happy with another person and happy with myself."

He helped her out of the dress, but froze when his eyes fell on her. She fought the urge to cover herself, his scrutiny was so intense. She knew she looked lovely in her white undergarments, and a thrill coursed through her.

"I didn't know, either," she admitted, unbuttoning his robes. "I thought that you could have passion or friendship, and I always saw myself as the girl who gets friendship. And I was okay with that for a long time. But you've shown me so much about myself, and about love. Now I know that I can have both, and to never settle for anything less than everything. And that's what you've given me. Between yourself, this wedding, your love, your home, and now..." Hermione paused to take his hand and place on it her belly. Flat or not, it was still more firm than usual, and that was proof enough for her. "...Now this baby. A baby, Sirius!" She shook her head. It was almost too much to believe.

"A baby," he confirmed, taking her face in his hands. "Our baby, our perfect little world-changing baby. Even if he only does invent cheese, I'd love him the same."

Hermione laughed wetly. Her life certainly hadn't turned out the way she might have expected even a year before, but it was everything she could hope for. A family. A baby. Sirius.

"Make love to me," she said, getting on to the bed and leaning back, arms over her head.

"Every day," he vowed. "One way or another, every day for the rest of our lives."

Sirius crawled onto the bed and leaned over her, caressing her from her fingertips all the way down to her arches of her stockinged feet.

"Even when I'm so big I can hardly move?"

Her husband nodded, placing a sweet kiss on her belly for emphasis.

"Even when I'm so old I can barely move?"

Sirius laughed. "I'll be older."

"Maybe, but somehow I suspect you'll keep your youthful ways."

He nodded mock-soberly. "If it means I get to keep you, I'll never grow up."

Hermione laughed and pushed his robes off his shoulders. He wore only snug black pants beneath, and she liked the way his darkness looked against her lightness. "I'm not sure that's what I had in mind," she said, trailing a finger down his chest to wriggle into his shorts.

"I'll be good to you," Sirius swore, still with that near-grave look in his eyes.

"I've never doubted that," she said truthfully. "Enough talking."

Sirius took her words to heart as he unclipped her bra. His hands cupped her breasts softly, seemingly weighing them. She hadn't thought they were noticeably larger, but the considering look on his face told her otherwise.

He kissed and sucked on her nipples until she spread her legs wantonly, encouraging him to settle between them. When he did, she reached down to gently stroke his cock. His hardness was as familiar to her now as her own wetness was, and she played him expertly, amazed at the way his body responded to hers.

When Sirius realised her panties were beneath the garter suspenders, he did as she'd foreseen he would, and ripped them twice, one tear for each leg, and threw them aside.

He made no move to unclip her garter belt, and she had to laugh at his predictability. He was obviously entranced by the undergarments, as he continually ran his fingertips over the silky length of her covered legs.

He moved off of her to quickly divest of his shorts, and she noticed that they landed right on top of her demolished panties, halfway across the room.

"How is this even possible?" he whispered into her neck, nipping her softly and laving each little bite with a lick and a kiss. "A man like me... with you."

"Sirius," Hermione said, almost exasperated. "I love you more than anything, but you need to learn your own worth. You're an amazing wizard, an amazing husband, you'll be an amazing father, and I don't care about anything else!"

"Love you, too," he said, but she could tell he'd taken her words to heart. If he were insecure, she would secure him.

And then he was inside her, and any thoughts of future problems were stolen away with her breath.

It was as though the bond was back in full force, the way it was for those first intense weeks where every separation was torment, every parting anguish. She had to touch him everywhere in order to quell the burning in her soul. She felt complete when he filled her, and when he withdrew, she was lost. The utter violence of her emotions shocked her, and before she could halt them, the tears that had kept their distance during her vows were rising to the surface.

"Gods!" she cried, rocking her hips to take more of him, encouraging him to move faster, harder. He seemed intent on taking his time, but her orgasm was rushing forth, and she almost didn't know how to contain it.

"Love, going to come," Sirius rasped, his mouth crashing onto her as he thrust just the way she wanted, deep and hard but still so slow.

Her cry matched his for volume and intensity as they came together, holding one another tightly as matching waves flooded them both.

"That felt... different," Sirius said, once they caught their breath. He rolled gently off of her, placing a hand on her belly as if to make sure her precious cargo was all right.

"Intense," she agreed, still feeling the climax in her fingertips and toes.

"The Veil?" Sirius suggested, looking sceptical but uncertain.

"I don't think so," she mused. "Just us, this time. And from here out, I think."

"I like the sound of that," Sirius said, letting go of her reluctantly as she got out of bed and donned her bra. The panties were a write-off, but Sirius would just have to suffer knowing her body was filled with his seed and there was nothing to stop it from trickling down.

Sirius had to help her with her dress, and she guessed from his confused movements and the sheer amount of time he took that he had no idea what he was doing with the corset ties, but she didn't care. Once they were presentable, they returned to the party, which was going in full swing the floor below.

"Hermione!" Ginny cried, and a veritable melee followed. Hermione was congratulated, hugged, and advised by every single person in attendance. Sirius went through a similar ordeal, though not as elaborate, mostly claps on the back and exclamations of, "You old dog, you!" which had Hermione snickering to herself.

The reception was very casual, despite Mrs. Weasleys pleas for formal speeches and dancing. Hermione didn't want that kind of fuss, and Sirius was uncomfortable with a lot of attention. They sat together at a sweetheart table for two, eating food from each other's hands, making moony eyes, and generally being sickeningly romantic.

Ginny efficiently fixed the back of Hermione's dress, which had been, as expected, made a disaster by Sirius, who looked on sheepishly, shrugging.

Finally, the night wound to a close, full stomachs and aching feet across the board. Sirius held his hand out for Hermione to join him for the final dance of the night.

Soft, soothing woodwinds led them onto the floor, and Sirius spun Hermione right into his arms.

"Couldn't have asked for a better night," he whispered, lips lingering against her ear.

Hermione shivered. "It's been the best day of my life," she said, smiling.

"I hope to beat that record every day," Sirius said, his face so full of love that Hermione's heart pounded.

He folded her into his arms, fancy dance steps forgotten in favour of their soft swaying.

Eventually Mrs. and Mr. Weasley joined them on the dance floor, smiling at the younger couple. Ginny and Harry were next, and Harry had cake smeared on his cheek from the cake-war they'd all participated in. Then Ron followed with Lavender, who Hermione wasn't really surprised to see back with her husband. Hermione tried not to stare as Snape and his witch joined the last dance. Snape was shockingly light on his feet, and Hermione even saw him smile when his pretty witch made a quiet observance. And then Renworth Alensky was dragging Draco Malfoy onto the dance floor, wrapping his arms around the blond's waist. Draco looked around cautiously, but no one was paying them any mind. Hermione smiled encouragingly, and Draco's cheeks tinged pink. He visibly drew himself up and fell into step with his dance partner.

One by one, the guests left, giving final congratulations to the newlyweds before they made their exits. Only Harry and Ginny were left on the dance floor, and they were just as involved with one another as Sirius and Hermione. But soon, even they left with parting kisses and promises of dinner parties the next week.

Hermione and Sirius saw them to the front door, closing it after them. Alone.

Sirius held out his hand again, and Hermione slipped hers into it. A perfect fit. The dance continued in the foyer of number twelve, Grimmauld Place, in the exact same place where Sirius had fallen through the front door after returning from beyond the Veil a lifetime ago.

And the dance would never really stop.