There's Just Something About Him
Chapter 1: The past is back
Hermione's POV
It had been five years since Harry had defeated Voldemort. But at a cost too, Harry died, something happened which no one but Remus Lupin knows, he won't say anything about it though. Everyone started to grow apart; I hadn't seen Ron or anyone from the Weasley family since the last fight. I tried to move on while everyone else stayed in the past.
For those five years I worked in a Muggle book shop, I have to admit even I lived in the past a bit. I couldn't really do magic anymore and it scared me. Something I never owned up to was that I was a coward and in the last battle I fled, ran as fast as I could away from where everyone was. The last people standing were Lupin, Harry, Voldemort and me. You could say I was to blame for Harry's death, I could have helped. Instead I ran.
Hermione witnesses Harry being killed as she attempts to run away while being held back by Remus who is telling her not to run. Soon everyone who was still alive come running back to see Harry dead but Hermione runs away thinking that it was her fault that he died and she did not want to face their angry faces. Remus calls back for her and she turns and looks at them all says sorry then disappears (well Apparates).
The lights around were pretty and almost beautiful, the image seemed so wrong for the situation. Harry was holding off Voldemort, wand to wand, some ancient spell happening between them. Remus just watched not knowing what to do, I didn't really know if I should do what Dumbledore told me to do, should I do something to break further into Voldemort's heart? What should I do? Harry looked at me he was suppose to give the signal and I would do what Dumbledore order me to do if he was not there, but Harry was just looking at me. He looked hard at me then at Remus, he then mouthed the words "I'm sorry" to me.
I was puzzled what was he going to do, I was still waiting for the signal, where was it? Moments later Harry shouted the killing curse while still holding Voldemort off, it hit Voldemort and killed him, he was dead forever. I ran to Harry going to support him and somewhat congratulate him. I saw him turn his face, eyes gone milky white, bloody running out of his mouth, the ancient spell had drained him and killed him when it was broken with the killing curse. He collapsed on the ground, limp body and his white eyes staring in my face, looking with hatred.
I spun around and ran. I needed to get away, I killed one of my best friends, and I didn't help. Someone stopped me hand around my waist holding me back, Remus said "don't run Hermione don't run, what is the use he died." The words pierced through my heart 'he died', Harry was dead never going to say hi, or need help with homework or even there to make her break some rules. "Let me go, please Remus let me go,"
"No you've done no wrong; you could not have done anything." Yes I could of but like, I should have done it no matter what.
"Let me go Remus, LET ME GGOO!!" I was struggling to get free.
"Stay put Hermione, what are you afraid of, what has gotten into you?"
People started to gather around, the ones who followed Harry who hadn't died today, where coming round and seeing what happened. Ginny was among the first to see Harry's dead body, the look on her face mad my heart stop, grief beyond friendship, beyond the love, grief so far she looked empty as a shell Ginny was no longer Ginny her head turned to me, and with the same hatred I saw in Harry's eyes she stared and stared. I couldn't take it I got free of Remus' arms "I'M SORRY, SO SORRY," with that I Apparated.
"Hermione, oi Hermione wake up," Karen was looking down at me. "What are you doing falling asleep while working isn't that against your perfect image?"
"I ain't perfect and never will be, my secret is just to act that way Karen, and you of all people should know that by now."
"Yeah, yeah whatever, I came by to drop these books in, our company doesn't need them so I suggested they gave it to a book store to sell second hand, and guess what your store is that book store,"
"Oh Karen I feel somewhat loved, that you would give me the books," Karen laughed out loud and said "Well at least I know you still are alive, man so many people think you like died cause you hardly ever get out and about."
"Well I like it here to be immersed in books upon books, finding their secrets and mysteries, the information within them too are outstanding. Who wouldn't want to be here?"
Karen did her what the fuck are you on look and said "Someone who was sane enough to know a social life is needed would,"
"Yeah alright, so I'll see you on Monday for lunch Yeah."
"Yup, well I have to get back to work and not sleep,"
"Alright bye," Karen waved good bye and I waved back. Third time this week I had fallen asleep while working what the hell had gotten over me. Why in hell was the past coming back to haunt me again. I sigh. I should shelve these books.
"Remus what are you doing here?"
"I came looking for you. You never explained why you left. Things are being said about you Hermione."
"I really don't care Remus, what I would like to know is how you find me."
"I didn't, Dumbledore told me where you were. He said I should look for you. So here I am."
"Why is that?"
"Ginny's dead, he thought you ought to know. She killed herself, but before she did she wrote this letter addressed to you." Remus handed me a letter with Ginny's perfect curly hand writing. I broke the seal to see what was written in it. The words "I KNOW WHAT YOU DIDN'T DO YOU COWARD" were written in bold black letters. I looked at Remus who said "Nothing will be said about this, I promised Dumbledore," and with that he left.
Did Dumbledore tell Ginny what I was supposed to do? Did he tell her what happened? Did she hate me because I could not save him due to my stupidness? What did she know? I was scared, was both their deaths my fault, did I do something wrong again?
The bell on the door rang signalling that someone had entered. It was my cue to stop shelving the new books and greet the customer. I got of the ladder and walked to the front of the store. I was looking for the person who came in and then I saw "George, what are you doing here?" I nearly fell over but my hand reached the table quick enough to stop me from falling. "H...How did you find me?"
"Always with the questions you are. Nice to see you to Hermione," George said it with such force and a fake smile appeared on his face once he finished. "You know I always wanted to know why you left, you never even bothered to find us, see us or even to farewell some of us." He looked daggers into my eyes.
"I...I…um…," but he cut in.
"You know, I had to force it out of Dumbledore to tell me where you were. He is a hard person to get information out of," he looked at me with kinder eyes then said "Did you attend the funeral for Harry?"
"Ye…Yes, yes I did,"
"Why didn't you come and say hi, or go and comfort Ginny?" He looked away slightly "She's dead you know, killed herself about 3 years back."
"Yes I heard I'm sorry about it, I really am," I looked at him straight in his empty brown eyes. His eyes portrayed nothing, they were emotionless. For the first time in ages I started crying, tears piled up behind my eyes. The presence of someone from back then made all my nightmares re-enter my brain all at once. The guilt I had for not helping Harry, hatred towards myself and the loss of my friends.
"Sorry I didn't mean for you to cry, I just wanted to know why you would leave and never return," He walked over to me and put a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry Hermione it must have been hard for you." I wiped my face with the back of my hand and looked back at him, he was looking at me with the same empty eyes from before bit they looked more soft. "Hermione, come back, come back and explain, please. No one thinks you've done wrong, all they want is an explanation."
"I…I don't think I can, George. If I explain what happened I'm sure you'll all hate me, I'm sure of it."
"Then just at least try. Come by my café tomorrow if you want, it's in Hogsmeade, it's called Blood Moon." With that he started to walk away.
"Why did you come looking for me?" But he just kept walking and left. I suppose I should say something, but what would they all think. Even if Dumbledore is there they are sure to hate me like Ginny did on the night Harry died. What should I do?
~*~
I woke up the next day and went into my daily routine. Get up, wash face, brush teeth, get dressed, eat breakfast then open the shop. But this was disrupted today I heard a knock on the front door and I went to see what was going on. I pulled the blinds up and saw George standing there. "Hey open the door Hermione," he was smiling.
"Right," I opened the door and he came in and said "Well, have you thought about coming to the café?"
"Yes, but I haven't come to a decision about it,"
"Well then I shall decide for you, you are coming right now," he looked at me then said "Well maybe when you get dressed first,"
"Why?"
"Just come it could do you some good,"
"Why are you doing this?"
"Just go get dressed Hermione," and he glared at me. That smile it doesn't look so happy. "Hermione are you going?"
"Oh right Yeah, but my shop,"
"Just say you're out of town or something," and he pushed me away to get changed. I got changed and put up a sign on the front of my shop saying 'closed for the day'. "So how am I getting there?"
"You're going to Apparated alongside me," with that he grabbed my waist and turned on the spot. The next thing I knew we were standing right outside his café the Blood Moon. "Welcome to my café,"
"Can I ask why did you call it the Blood Moon?"
"Well it wasn't me who thought of the name it was Remus, He said that day of the fight the moon looked red as blood, so I said that is a perfect name for a café the Blood Moon."
"Oh, so what am I doing here?"
"To explain," I flinched away from George and started to back away. "WHAT, what do you mean explain. I thought I made it clear that I didn't want to explain George," I was glaring at him. How could he do this to me?
"Dumbledore said it would be best if I didn't tell you, everyone is inside but they don't know what for." He looked apologetically at me, "I am sorry for doing this to you but, Dumbledore seemed to think you ought to say something."
I just looked at him and then looked down at my feet. Dumbledore wanted me to explain things, why now? Why did Dumbledore want me to explain I'm sure he could have said something? I don't want to say anything. I looked up at George and wondered if he was telling the truth. Just at that moment Dumbledore walked out of the café and looked at me over his half rimmed glasses. "So he brought you" there was a long silence. "I'm sorry Hermione for asking this of you but, you must understand that at one stage you would have to say something."
"Ah……"
"Hermione, there are something's you can't run away from, this is one of them. It is time to say something about that night and why you left."
"Couldn't you have explained things Professor?"
"Never, as it involves you more than me, and you know what really happened," he looked at me and eyed me up and down. "I think they are all getting restless we better take you inside." And George put a hand on my back guiding me into the café. I saw all the people I left 5 years ago, sitting around a table waiting for the return of Dumbledore. Ron looked up and saw Dumbledore but then saw me and his face dropped to a scowl. Everyone wondered why he did that so they all looked round and saw me.
"Hermione dear…… it's nice to um… see you again," Mrs Weasley stood up and went to hug…shake my hand. "George dear how are you," and she gave him a hug. Dumbledore went to sit down and put his hands up "I think it's time we heard what you have to say," and his eyes focused on mine with care and warmth.
"Yes, we would like and explanation," Ron was staring daggers at me. I never thought that a stare could kill me so inside. I sat down next to Dumbledore and George sat next to me. And so I started to tell of the night Harry died and the things that went according to plan and the things that did not. When I told of the part where I was suppose to help Harry but he never gave the signal Ron jumped up and yelled "YOU BLOODY BITCH YOU SAVED YOURSELF AND NOT A FRIEND," with that he left and Mr Weasley and Seamus, Ron's boyfriend, chased after him. Everyone was silent and didn't know what to say. They now knew I could have saved Harry and therefore Ginny would never have taken her life.
"Hermione if don't mind we would like to discuss this matter further without you present," Mad eye Moody was signalling to the door. "Yeah, I'll ah leave," and I left.
End Hermione's POV
"So what do you think, what should we do? Dumbledore, do you have anything to say?" Mad eye Moody was looking at him with his one good eye and his weird blue moving eye.
"I have nothing in particular to say but, she is not to blame for Harry's death. He did doom himself."
"But… what do we do with her, she's been away for so long and never said anything, especially to Ginny." Tonks was looking at Lupin as if he may know what do to in this situation.
"She thought we would hate her for not saving Harry, and also it was after a very stressful time," Lupin said to the others. "What I think we should do is just be careful around her, it is a lot to take in after the years, and what has happened through those years," everyone was nodding to what Lupin said.
"But still should we really let her back in our lives, she looks as if she doesn't want to know us anymore," Sirius was looking at McGonagall, the teacher who almost praised the ground Hermione stood on, for making such a comment.
"We could just let her decide what to do," George said.
"No, we really should discuss this first. This side of the story gives us a lot to think about and what happened, right Dumbledore?" and Sirius looked at Dumbledore who merely nodded.
George put one of his hands in a fist and looked at everyone there, judging Hermione as if she was almost dangerous to them. Yes he knew she had not done something to save Harry, but as she told her side of what happened it was almost as if Harry didn't want to be saved. He looked at Dumbledore for a split second and noticed that Dumbledore was looking straight at him. Dumbledore looked as if he knew what George was thinking. He winked at George and gave him a nod. With that George stood up and said "I'm going for a walk," and left. He passed Ron, his dad and Seamus on his way out, coming back after catching Ron.