the_debt_of_time

The tone made Sirius chuckle deep in his throat. "I know it's caved in, but I haven't
seen it in years. Is it completely caved in, or just blocked on the other end?"
"It's just blocked." She paused and then let out a frustrated sigh, evidently upset
that he had arrived at the conclusion before she had. "Which essentially makes it a private,
secluded room with only one entrance." Her eyes widened as she realised the implication.
"You're brilliant!"
"Glad you're starting to see things my way, kitten." Sirius beamed and followed her
as they made their way down the shifting staircases to the fourth floor. He turned heading
down a long hallway that came to a dead end where a large mirror hung on the wall.
He reached out, pushing the mirror aside, and muttered, "Aparecium."
Just as he spoke, a doorway opened behind the mirror. Hermione smiled and they
both entered.
"Lumos," Sirius whispered, dimly lighting the end of his wand and looking around.
Hermione was right; the back end of the passageway had caved in, completely
blocking any chance of a secondary exit. He could not help but remember the last time he
had used this passage.
As the door shut tight behind them, the room fell into utter darkness save for the
soft glow from Sirius's wand.
"This will make things easier," Hermione said, reaching into her beaded bag and
retrieving a glass jar.
At her wandless, silent spell, a bluebell fire erupted from Hermione's fingertips, and
she immediately caught it in the jar as though the flickering flames were nothing more than
harmless fireflies. She grinned up at Sirius and sealed the jar, setting it down on the floor
to allow the fire to light up the passageway.
After setting the Horcrux on the ground in front of her, Hermione reached an
empty hand out to him, silently requesting the sword.
Sirius hesitated for a moment, remembering Harry's words to him. The Horcruxes
fight back. His heart thudded in his chest in anticipation of whatever fight the little goblet
would serve up, but he relented and handed the sword to Hermione.
"Be careful, love," he whispered as he nervously watched her move closer to the
cup.