the_debt_of_time

Harry hoped that Sirius would have a better plan, but apparently the moment that
Hermione had broken free from his arms, his godfather had rushed away from them,
clenching his fingers in his hair around the back of his head, his elbows bent, nearly
touching in front of him as he shielded his face while he let out deep heaving sobs. Unlike
Hermione's, they were easily heard.
Eventually, Sirius stood up straight and wiped his face before returning to Harry
and Hermione, who still was sobbing, though instead of screams she appeared to be silently
mumbling something. He aimed his wand at her, whispered, "Finite," and her voice was
returned to her.
Harry leant his cheek against the top of her head, still stroking his fingers up and
down her spine while she repeatedly whimpered, "Jamie... Jamie... Jamie.. ."
"This was a bad idea," Sirius mumbled. "I'm so sorry, kitten... I should have stood
my ground and said no," he said, his grey eyes glassy as he avoided Harry's gaze.
"I... I... want my brother.. ."
Sirius winced and looked away.
"Hermione," Harry whispered, "I think you should let Sirius take you home."
She pulled away from him immediately and stood up. "No! I'm not going back. I
want... I want my brother," she said again before gripping her wand tightly and
Disapparating.
"Fuck!" Sirius shouted, too late to have stopped her. "Oh, shit. She could be
anywhere. What if she splinched herself? I need to send Remus a Patronus!"
Harry frowned. "I know where she went."
"What? Where? We need to follow her!"
"I think I should go alone," Harry said quietly. "You heard her. She... She needs
my dad. I'm the closest thing she's got. She wants her brother." He cleared his throat and
stood up. "I'm her brother now, so she's got me." He looked up and met the worried but
approving stare of his godfather. "I'll send a Patronus when I find her," he promised and
then Disapparated away.
He arrived moments later at Hogwarts and stepped through the iron gates, noting
that though magical wards had been set up, they still allowed him to pass freely. As he
closed the gates behind him, Hagrid and McGonagall approached him, both with
concerned expressions on their faces.