the_debt_of_time

some of his favourite Muggle locations where they would go and drown in mismatched
memories.
The nightmares, of course, were the worst, but Sirius had years of experience in
dealing with them. Harry and Ron, however, were horrified by Hermione's screams. When
she woke up shrieking each night, the boys would rush to her room in a panic to find Sirius
already there, holding her in his arms and stroking her hair and back until she fell asleep
once more.
Harry admitted that he felt responsible for Hermione's condition. Sirius insisted
that he was responsible for everyone in the house and that Harry needed to let him do his
job and take care of them.
By extension, that meant Sirius was also responsible for taking care of Draco, who
had been ostracised by most of the community, including pureblood society for his new
blood-traitor status—something with which Sirius was quite familiar. He took the boy
under his wing and did what he could to make Draco feel worthwhile. Harry and Ron
refused to be anything more than cordial to the Slytherin, so Sirius had suggested that
Draco help him get Hermione out of her shell.
The two shared the trait of being able to get under her skin, provoking her to
emotions other than apathy, and Sirius was grateful for the help.
His gratitude might have been premature.
Draco's voice echoed within the house. "Sirius!"
Sirius launched his cigarette into the street as though it burnt him, and he quickly
poured his firewhisky over the side of the steps before pushing the glass itself out of sight.
He took a deep breath just in time to hear Draco's frustrated sigh as the younger man
cleared the corner of the entrance hallway.
A quick survey told Sirius he had been rash in tossing his vices. "Hermione's not
with you?"
Draco's lips twisted in annoyance. "She'll be here soon. I took the Floo because I
figured it would be faster since she was headed off to an Apparition point. Thought I
should give you a heads-up about her current mood."
Sirius glared as he walked into the house, closing the door behind him. "What did
you do?"