Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Harry Potter series. That credit goes to the brilliant mind of J.K. Rowling. Go Jo! I also do not own some of the material used. Again that belongs to Jo and Warner Brothers.
Chapter 4 End of the Third Year
Ron and Hermione shot through the portrait, wanting to talk more with Harry. He had snuck into Hogsmeade to be with Ron and Hermione, only to find out that Sirius Black was his parent's best friend and his Godfather.
"Harry," Hermione patted.
"We're back," Ron yelled.
They looked all around the Common Room, but there was no sign of him.
"Where is he?" Ron asked.
"I'm right here," his voice said.
Ron and Hermione looked at each, not knowing where the voice was coming from. Hermione nudged Ron and motioned to the sofa facing the fireplace. Harry was sitting off to the side, leaning with his elbows resting on his knees.
"So, tell us want happened," Ron demanded.
"Ron…" Hermione said, hitting him on the leg.
Harry was still clearly devastated about what he had heard.
"Black was my parent's friend. They even made him my Godfather," he said, still looking into the fire.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said.
Ron looked down as Hermione rested her hand on Harry's knee.
"I just can't imagine being yours and Ron's friend and secretly telling Vol…" Harry began.
He stopped when Ron let out a gasp. He had never liked saying, let alone hearing, the name.
"Sorry… You-Know-Who, all your secrets," Harry finished.
"Some people can just feel like they have no choice," Hermione said.
"There's always a choice," Harry snapped.
Hermione moved her hand away and looked at Ron as Harry looked into the fire again.
"There's always a choice," Ron and Hermione could hear Harry whisper again.
xxx
It seemed liked ages had past. There was no way Buckbeak had been beheaded a second before. Hermione was not crying uncontrollably into Ron's chest. All of this was a dream, just a bad dream. But this sadly was not a dream as Harry soon realized. He looked over at Ron, who was looking quite uncomfortable with Hermione's arms around his neck. Ron looked at the ground and began panicking. The rat that he had been holding a second before had bit him and now was running away.
"Scabbers, come back," Ron yelled.
When Harry and Hermione had finally reached Ron, they stopped in shock. A big black dog had just grabbed Ron and was dragging him into the Whomping Willow. Hermione was the first to shack her head out of the shock and start running after Ron.
"Ron," she yelled.
"Harry… Hermione," he cried.
Harry jumped in front of him and extended his hand.
"Quick, take hold of my hand," Harry said.
Ron tried, but his arm did not seem long enough.
"I'm trying," he cried.
Harry and Ron's hands finally connected.
"Don't let go," Harry said.
Ron then felt his hand slip from Harry's. His eyes met Hermione's.
"Hermione," Ron whispered.
He let out a yell as the dog dragged him into the Whomping Willow.
"Ron! Harry, come on. We have to get in there," Hermione cried.
She helped Harry up.
"And how?" Harry asked.
His angry eyes met her tear filled ones.
"We have to get Ron," Hermione sobbed.
She looked around while at the same time trying not to get hit by the Whomping Willow's branches.
"Hold on," Hermione said.
"Hermione…" Harry began as she grabbed the collar of his shirt.
Before he knew it, they were flying into the opening where Ron had disappeared from.
"You all right?" Hermione asked.
"How do you think I feel?" Harry moaned.
Hermione got to her feet and took a breath before helping Harry up.
"Sorry. Come on," she said.
They knew where they were from the moment they stood up.
"The Shrieking Shack," Hermione whispered.
"Ron?" Harry asked.
"Ron," Hermione yelled. "Where are you?"
Her eyes grew at the sound of his voice.
"In… in here," his shaking voice answered.
They ran up the stairs and into the room that was opened.
"Ron, thank goodness," Hermione sighed.
He then pointed his finger to behind the door. Harry and Hermione turned to the door. It closed and Sirius Black was behind it.
"He's an Animagus," Ron yelled.
Hermione tried to hold Harry back, but she could not.
"Sirius," Harry lashed out.
He took Sirius by the shoulders and pulled him the floor. Harry pulled out his wand and pointed it straight at the man's face.
"I'm going to kill you," he yelled.
"You don't want to kill me, Harry," Sirius laughed.
Harry lowered his eyebrows.
"And why not? You sold my parents to Voldemort," Harry said.
The door swung opened.
"Expelliarmus," the voice yelled.
Harry turned as his wand went flying across the room.
"Professor Lupin…" he began.
Harry just stared at his Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher as he picked up Harry's wand.
"Black didn't betray James and Lilly, Harry," Professor Lupin said.
Remus extended his arm to Harry to hand him his wand. Hermione grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him to her.
"Who did then?" Harry asked as Remus helped Sirius up and embraced him like a brother.
"Peter Pettigrew," Remus said.
"But he's…" Harry began.
"Dead… or so we thought," Remus said.
Harry looked over at Ron, who was clinging onto his leg for dear life.
"Then where is he?" he asked.
"He's in this very room. Come out, Peter," Sirius yelled.
Hermione looked around the room as did Harry.
"He's not here," she said.
"He's right there," Sirius yelled, pointing at Ron.
"Ron?" Harry asked.
Hermione's eyes grew with terror. There was no way… he could not be.
"Me?" Ron asked. "You're mental!"
Sirius rolled his eyes, finger still pointed at Ron.
"Not you. The rat," Sirius yelled.
Hermione slowly made her way to Ron.
"Ron, please give him the rat," she begged.
Sirius forcefully took the rat from Ron's hands.
"Leave him alone," Ron cried.
Hermione held him back.
"Please, Ron," she whispered.
Ron's mouth dropped as a small, pudgy man transformed from Scabbers.
"Bloody hell, you were telling the truth," he finally said.
xxx
Hermione walked into the hospital wing the next day where Ron was recovering from his injured leg. Ron would never know about Harry and Hermione's trip back in time to save Sirius. Ron moaned as he tried to sit up.
"Lay back down," Hermione commanded.
Ron obeyed her command. He was in no shape to ague with Hermione.
"How's your leg?" Hermione asked.
Ron looked down at his leg and sighed.
"Hurts. Thought it might have to be chopped off," he said.
"Well, I'm glad you're alright," Hermione smiled, her eyes fixed on Ron's leg.
She looked up at him with a small grin and left.
"Nothing…" Ron moaned.
He thought that he would have gotten more of a reaction out of Hermione. Ron looked back up to find Harry looking at him.
"Hey, Ron," Harry said.
He shock off his thoughts.
"Hey, Harry," Ron said.
"How's that leg?" he asked.
"You can tell your Godfather thanks for that by the way," Ron sarcastically said.
Harry looked down and laughed. He knew Ron was not Sirius's biggest fan at this point.
"He told you he didn't mean it," Harry said.
To his surprise, Ron began laughing, too.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Ron said.
They both stopped laughing.
"When are you getting out," Harry asked.
"Tomorrow," Ron said.
"Great," Harry smiled.
Something then came to Ron's mind. With everything that had happened, he had forgotten about a letter his father had sent him the week before.
"My parents want you and Hermione to come with us to the Quidditch World Cup this summer," Ron said.
Harry had no idea what the Quidditch World Cup involved, but since it obviously involved Quidditch, Harry was sure it would be great.
"I'd love to come. I'm sure Hermione will too," Harry said.
Ron had not really given any thought about Hermione being in the picture yet.
"Yeah… anyway, Dad will come for you three weeks in to the summer," he said.
Harry had to smile. He did not want to spend any more time with the Dursley's than he had to.
"No complaints here," Harry said.
Ron than became silent. Harry noticed this and cleared his throat.
"I guess I'll see you tomorrow," Harry said.
Ron nodded, still half in thought.
"Yeah, see you tomorrow, then," he finally said.
Harry was not paying attention to where he was going as he walked out of the Hospital Wing. He was shot back to reality when he bumped into someone.
"Harry," a female voice yelled.
He looked up to find Hermione.
"Hermione," Harry gasped.
Hermione, feeling a bit embarrassed, looked down.
"How's Ron?" she asked.
Harry opened his mouth, but he was cut off.
"Did he tell you something different?" Hermione asked.
She said this very fast.
"He's fine, Hermione," Harry said.
She rubbed her nose, trying to keep the tears from forming.
"When is he getting out?" Hermione asked.
"Tomorrow," Harry said.
She looked away for a while. Harry could not help but notice it was the same look Ron had when he was thinking.
"Tomorrow… good," Hermione said.
Harry put a hand on her shoulder as Hermione began to get emotional. All this had been too much for her.
"Hermione… Ron's going to be okay," Harry said.
Hermione looked up and grinned.
"Oh, I… I know that," she said.
Harry laughed and wrapped one arm around her.
"Then let's get back to the common room before Flitch catches us," he said.
Hermione gave a small gasp, causing Harry to let go of her.
"Yes, you're right. Let's get going," she said.
With that, Harry and Hermione made their way to the Gryffindor common room. Harry could not help but notice Hermione looking over shoulder towards the Hospital Wing doors before turning the corner. She must be feeling really bad about Ron, Harry thought to himself. Neither of them would be able to sleep that night. The reasons, however, were both different.
"You all right, Hermione?" Ginny asked.
"I'm fine," she said, letting her head hit the pillow.
xxx
Harry had just left King's Cross with his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon. Dudley was waiting for them in the car. Ron turned to Hermione.
"So what do you say, Hermione?" Ron asked.
"You got to come. I don't want to be the only girl. Mother can't come," Ginny said.
Hermione looked at Ginny, who had a sad look on her face. She turned back to Ron.
"I guess I can," Hermione said.
Ginny smiled.
"Great," Ron smiled.
Hermione then spotted her parents.
"See you in three weeks," Ron said.
He extended his hand to her. Hermione looked down at it and took it.
"Yeah, see you," she said.
"See you, Hermione," Ginny called.
Hermione turned and waved.
"Bye, Ginny. Good…goodbye, Ron. See you soon," she said.
Ron did not know how to answer this.
"Um… yeah. See you, Hermione," he said.
He turned and sneered at Ginny as she began laughing.
"What? What's so funny?" Ron asked.
She cleared her throat at stood up straight.
"Um… yeah. See you, Hermione," Ginny repeated.
Ron turned red and crossed his arms.
"Shut up," he said.
"You sound pathetic, Ron," Ginny laughed.
Ron quickly turned to her. She stopped laughing at the sight of his angry eyes. This was a side of Ron she hardly saw.
"I said shut it, Ginny," Ron yelled.
"Don't worry… I won't tell Fred and George," Ginny began again.
"Yeah, you remember that. I've kept my mouth about Harry, haven't I?" Ron asked.
Ginny's eyes grew. He had never turned things around like that before. It was then she understood the reason for Ron's attitude.
"He fancies her," Ginny realized.
She shook this off. Ginny could not let Ron tell Harry about her feelings for him.
"Don't you even begin…" she began.
She turned as Ron's eyes grew.
"Mum… Dad," Ron gasped.
"Where are Percy, Fred, and George?" Molly asked.
"Right here," Percy said.
He had a disgusted look on his face. It was obvious Fred and George had done something.
"Good," Arthur said.
The family began walking out of King's Cross.
"Did Harry and Hermione already leave?" Molly asked.
"Yeah, just now," Ron said.
He gave a little look at Ginny.
"Are they coming to the World Cup?" Arthur asked.
"Yes," Ron said.
"Good… very good," Arthur smiled.
"Come along dears," Molly said as they got to the car the Ministry had lent Arthur.
AN:
I finally finished!! I'll be updating more often now that summer finals are over with.