the_debt_of_time

Hermione collapsed in the entrance hall of Grimmauld Place, holding her stomach and trying to
focus so she would not throw up. She hated travelling by Portkey, and International Portkeys were just
awful. Her mess of wild brown curls held a little more frizz than usual, and her eyes were sore. The moment
that she realised she was not going to vomit, she burst into tears.
The noise roused everyone inside the house. Soon, she was descended upon by wizards on every side,
but it was Remus who pulled her into his arms and let her sob against his chest as he carried her up the
staircase, moving toward her room. He placed her on her bed, sitting back against the wall and pulling her
close to him in a hug, a large arm wrapped protectively around her.
"What happened?" he asked. "Were you able to see them?"
"They'll never know me again," Hermione sobbed. "I... I went all that way to Australia. I
knew they wouldn't remember me, but seeing them... Remus, my parents are... They might as well be
dead."
"In a way you're right, and I am so sorry for that."
Hermione looked up, spotting Sirius, Harry, and Ron standing in the doorway. The two younger
wizards looked worried and uncomfortable at the sight of her sobbing. Sirius, however, stepped forward
quickly, pulling her from Remus's arms and holding her against him, letting her cry on his shoulder. Being
between the two had somehow taken the emptiness of her grief and filled it with something that made her
feel safe. Heartbroken but safe.
"It's okay if you need to grieve, kitten." Sirius stroked his fingers up and down her back
consolingly, kissing the side of her head. "You don't always have to be the strong one."
She nodded and looked up as she felt Remus leave the bed, moving toward the door where he put
a hand on Harry's shoulder and shoved him forward a bit.
As brown eyes met bright green, Hermione cried out and Harry flew forward. He hugged her and
sighed, likely grateful he could provide her with something, considering that she knew he blamed himself for
the fact that she'd had to Obliviate her parents in the first place.
She clung tightly to Harry like he was her lifeline, not knowing how to deal with the fact that Ron
lingered in the doorway looking awkward as though he was intruding on a private moment.
"Wotcher, Ron." Tonks appeared beside him. She peeked into the room and looked at her husband
with concern, silently asking what happened.
"Hermione saw her parents," Remus said.