Moving Past Death

Chapter One:

Scolding the Professor

There were several words that could describe Hermione Jane Granger; know-it-all, bookworm, Gryffindor Princess and a member of the golden trio. These words where only just a few adjectives that described her. But there were two words that one would have never guess to described how Miss Granger was feeling right at this moment, a heartbroken mess.

Two weeks ago Hermione and her two best friends, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, along with other members of Dumbledore's Army had rushed in to the Ministry of Magic and had taken on several of Voldemort's inner circle of Death Eaters. They had all survived thankfully to few members of Order showing up. Well most of them survived, Hermione should say, they did lose one important person, Sirius Black. He was lost in the veil, assumed dead and that thought alone nearly killed Hermione. Today, a week after all the students of Hogwarts were sent home for their summer holidays, they were to gather at 12 Grimmauld Place for a memorial and the reading of Sirius last will and testament.

She had gotten to 12 Grimmauld Place only moments before Ron and Harry, accompanied by Nymphadora Tonks. She was greeted with hugs from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ginny and of course by both the Weasley twins. She got nods of acknowledgment from Severus Snape and Remus Lupin and she had also got encouraging smiles from both the Headmaster and Professor Mcgonagall. After all the greetings were made and she had talked to Ron and Harry for a few minutes, she made a dash for the library where she could be alone. She couldn't stand to be around so many people, people who claimed to know her when in reality they knew nothing about her. The only person who ever knew or understood her was now dead. Sirius Black was so much more than just her best friends godfather or a friend to her. He was in the two years that they had known each other a father figure to her. He was one of the most important people in her life but now he was gone.

She made sure to close and lock the door before she let the first tears of the day fall from her eyes. Her back fell against the dark oak wood of the door as she slid down to the cold floor, her legs not able to support her anymore. It hurt so much knowing that she would never be able to just simply owl him with her problems, expecting a rather quick response back from him in the next hours or the harder fact knowing that she would never be able to see that mischievous twinkle in his eyes that always seemed to linger. She brought her knees to her chest wrapping her arms around her legs tightly.

"Why did we have to be so stupid to actually go to Ministry with out telling the Order?" Hermione sobbed out loud to herself. "I'm sorry, so sorry Sirius. I should have convinced them-" Her sentence fell short with her echoing another sob.

For ten minutes Hermione continually cried with out stop, for those ten minutes was the only time she was going to allow herself to cry, at least till she found another spare moment to herself later in the evening. She would not allow herself to cry in front of the others, she wouldn't allow herself that luxury; she had to think of Harry and had to be strong for the others. After those ten minutes were up she took several deep breaths, stood up, straightened her clothing and then stepped out to the bathroom to rid her face of the tears. By the time she walked into the kitchen she was calm, well on the outside at least.

The dinner was quiet, rarely anyone talked and if they did it was only the good memories of Sirius. It was a day dedicated to him after all. After dinner she walked into the drawing room with Harry and Ron where Dumbledore was going to read Sirius' Will. The only people allowed there were the Headmaster, Professors' Snape and Mcgonagall, Remus, Harry, Ron, and herself. If Harry hadn't asked for both Ron and Hermione to join him, they would not have been permitted into the reading.

"Everyone sit and we will start." Dumbledore said grabbing the attention of everyone.

Ron, Harry and Hermione sat on one of the couches with Harry in-between Ron and herself. She slipped her hand in with Harry's hand to comfort him. He smiled over at her for a seconded before focusing on the Headmaster once again.

"I, Sirius Black, declare this as my last Will and Testament. To my long time friend, Remus Lupin I leave half of everything in the Black Family Vault. The other half is to be transferred to my godson, Harry Potter, along with several items in my own privet vault relating to His parents. To," Dumbledore paused and looked at Hermione. Her heart stopped, he wouldn't put her in the Will, and he knew she didn't want any attention from this group of people.

"Hermione Granger," Dumbledore back down at the paper. She wasn't surprised that he was not shocked; he must have read the Will before today. "I leave to her everything left in my privet vault and a personal vault that I had put in her name for her schooling. Also I leave 12 Grimmauld Place to Hermione, with one request, she allows 12 Grimmauld Place to be used as the Orders Headquarters. These are my last wishes. Signed Sirius Black." The headmaster said still a small frown shown in his face. The room fell into a silence as everyone took in the information just given to them.

After a few moments Hermione broke the silence that had fell across the room. "Are you sure he left those things to me," Her voice trembling. I would have thought he'd have left it all to Harry." She looked down to hands and started to knot them together.

"We did as well Ms. Granger, but apparently Black was very fond of you." Professor Snape said emphasizing the word fond.

"Ms. Granger you're going to have to explain your relationship with Sirius." Professor Mcgonagall said after shooting Snape a glare.

"What do you mean explaining our relationship. Sirius was my friend just like everyone else," Hermione said coldly to the three Professors sitting in front of her. She looked over to her two best friends; they were looking at her like she was Fluffy the three-headed dog.

"What she mean is, did you and Black have a sexual relationship." Snape spat those last two words. He turned to the Headmaster. "I always knew Black was loose with his morals but really Albus she's just a girl."

"Sirius Black was a better man than most people I deal with everyday, Professor." She shook her head, enraged. "You have absolutely no right to talk about him like that! You should all remember that, that poor man just died two weeks ago and deserves respect." She finally stood up her shaking with anger.

"We did not, as Professor Snape put it, have a 'sexual relationship', he and I were close friends and that is it. For why he left me this house and the two vaults I have no clue, but you have no right to disrespect his memory!" Hermione's voice as she was ranting had gotten louder and the other occupants of the house soon began to gather at the doorway, but Hermione was oblivious to this fact. She continued to scold her own Professor.

"This man 'with loose morals' was sent to Azkaban for twelve years for a crime he didn't commit. He should have everyone's respect for remaining as sane as he did, unlike curtain Death Eaters. Or maybe you should respect his memory because he actually had good morals unlike his family."

Hermione turned towards Snape. "But no you can't respect him because of a stupid childhood rivalry that you still can't get over, that's bloody petty. Sirius was an amazing man and should be remembered that way. Not with lies that you choose to believe that are absolute non-sense. Really," She scoffed at him, "You should be ashamed of yourself." With that she stormed out of the room pushing passed the audience that had gathered.

A/N:

Thanks for reading! First Harry Potter fan fiction I've ever written. Got the idea one day and it wouldn't leave me alone so I had to expand of course. :)