Harry collapsed on a rock, deep in the Dark Forest, looking around. His anger was gone now, and he realized how stupid he was for just running away. Well, they all deserved it, didn't they? It was their fault he ran away, because everyone was so sure Harry did all of those things that'd been going around the school as rumors. Harry knew the truth, and so did Fred and George. Sniffing, he stared hard at the ground, the scene with Hagrid and Dumbledore playing out in his mind's eye.
Hagrid had down right ignored Harry at first. That's when Harry realized he also blamed him for Hermione's death. Of all the things that happened to him in the past four months, he took this opportunity to hate Harry? Dumbledore had followed Harry outside, and had been kind to him, telling him they all needed to talk.
"Look!" Harry pointed at Hagrid, and Dumbledore's eyes followed Harry's gaze to the half giant who was trying his best to hide his emotions, with his back turned to the two, "even Hagrid hates me now! What good am I to the Wizarding World if nobody trusts me?"
"We'll make them trust you, Harry." Dumbledore said softly, putting his hand on Harry's forearm, "let's go back into the castle, and gather everyone from your House together and sit down and have a nice little chat with them. What do you say?"
"No!" Harry backed away, but Dumbledore grabbed Harry's other arm tightly, "LET GO OF ME!"
"Harry, listen to me." Dumbledore forced a smile before continuing, "we'll put a stop to this. We have to. Now, come back inside, and Hagrid can join us. We'll explain everything to them."
"I've already arranged a meeting with the Weasleys. They should be here shortly. All you have to do is show up in the dorm room. You don't even have to talk. George can do it for you." Dumbledore was near pleading now, but Harry couldn't give into the elderly mans wishes. Nobody would believe him until he was either dead or it was proven somehow. But even with Veritaserum, they'd find an excuse to blame it on him.
"I hate you all." Harry whispered, tearing his arms from Dumbledore's grasp, "I'm going back to the Dursley's where I belong. Magic is just a waste of time and brings nothing but trouble. Ever since day one when Hagrid knocked down the door of that house I was in years ago, it's brought nothing but horrid luck!"
"You will do no such thing!" Dumbledore said sternly, but Harry's mind was set. There was no use trying to talk him out of it when he was in this state of mind. That part was obvious.
"Stay away from me." Harry took another step back, closer to the forest. By now, a small crowd was forming, and Hagrid had turned around to watch what would happen.
"Just come inside. We'll have some tea and explain everything to everyone and force them to believe the truth." Dumbledore took an uneasy step forward, and Harry took another step back.
"No! Everyone, even Hagrid, hates me! Hagrid, " Harry turned to the man, "I've known you since I was eleven! That's four years, Hagrid! Why would you even think I'd do something horrible to my best friend? WHY?!" He screamed the last part, but Hagrid had no answer for him.
"They only hate what they don't understand. That's always been the problem with people, Harry. They wouldn't hate you if you told them the truth!" Dumbledore insisted, hoping more than anything Harry would give into his pleads.
Harry turned and began to run. He caught a flash of red hair, but he kept running. He could hear Dumbledore calling after him, and Ron was too, but it didn't matter anymore. It was too late to try to get their hero back. If they didn't want him around for fear more damage would be caused, then so be it.
"Harry?"
Standing up quickly, he looked around the forest madly. It the middle of the day, but in the forest, it was much darker. He could hear people calling his name, from far off, but he could still hear them. So he tore off his cloak, which had been holding him back from running because it kept getting caught (it had holes in it everywhere now) and began running in the direction he'd been running in before. Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see the creatures the forest contained. He began to fear, as he ventured further into the forest, that werewolves would come out and attack him. Or maybe the giant spiders. Or both. Harry swallowed thickly but continued to run, jumping over tree roots so much his legs were getting more tired than they should have.
By the time he stopped running to catch his breath, it was dark as night, and he knew he was in the heart of the forest. He could hear a howling from somewhere close by, and he clenched his fists. After all, he decided as he began searching, he had his wand. But when he couldn't find his wand, he realized it was in his cloak, probably a mile back. And he couldn't turn back now, since he was already halfway to the other side of the forest. All he had to do was avoid eye contact with any animals, and he'd be left alone, right?
Determined not to let the problem at hand damper his attitude toward getting away from the school, he began walking through the trees. The howling was heard again. Werewolves came out at night, and on full moons, so what was howling? There was a pack of them, and a pack of wolves against an unarmed wizard in the middle of the forest was no good. Even if he was Harry Potter.
So he began to jog, but when the howling got even closer, he began to run. Soon, he was sprinting through the forest; afraid the wolves were chasing him. He could hear something chasing him now, and his blood was rushing in his ears. All he was trying to do now was stop himself from panicking. Thought crept through his head, and he began to wish he stayed at Hogwarts. He didn't want to be torn up by a pack of wolves now. Especially since he was so close to the other side of the forest. It was getting lighter, but it was still incredibly dark, so he was blindly running.
Whatever was chasing him was closer now, and it started to bark and growl. Harry let out a strangled cry as he forced his legs to run faster. The animal, the wolf, easily caught up. It barked again, and Harry slowed down. The animal slowed down as Harry spun around to face it. His eyes widened in shock and fear as it leapt in the air and pounced on Harry, shoving him onto his back. But it wasn't a wolf. Instead, Harry squinted at it.
"Sirius?!" He gasped, and then let out a relieved sigh, "I thought you were a werewolf!"
The black dog let out a whimper but remained on Harry's chest, his head low. Sirius got off and transformed back into his human form, and he angrily grabbed Harry's arm forcefully.
"What do you think you're doing out here by yourself?!" He asked, shaking his shoulder in anger, "you could've been killed! I wouldn't be surprised if you had been stalked by a werewolf!"
"I don't want to go back to that school!" Harry stood up and dusted himself off, looking around the woods. It really wasn't all that dark, but he had been caught up in the moment and thought the worst was out there to get him, "everyone there, including you, thinks I killed Hermione!"
"I don't think you did, Harry. Trying to prove yourself by running away is pointless." Sirius scowled at his Godson, then sighed, "Though I was a bit suspicious when it happened. Dumbledore wrote me a letter right after I sent that one to you, and he explained everything. I'm sorry for assuming it."
"Well nobody should assume anything." Harry folded his arms across his chest and turned his back to Sirius, afraid he wouldn't be angry with the man if he kept looking at him, "what are you doing here, anyway?"
Sirius stepped up to him and put his left arm around Harry's shoulders and smiled a little when Harry didn't shrug it off, "Dumbledore told me to show up today because he was going to explain to people about what had really happened that night. Then, I ran into Snape back there, " he waved his hand, indicating the front of the forest by the school, "and he told me to go find you."
"Snape's looking for me too?" Harry looked up, his brow furrowed in confusion, "why?"
"Because, Harry, not everyone thinks you killed her. In fact, I'm sure Snape's worried about your well being, so let's get you back to the school before we really get lost." Sirius started to direct Harry the direction they came from, but Harry stopped him.
"I don't want to, Sirius. They'll all hate me for this too.", Harry replied.
"No they won't Harry…they'll understand. As stupid as it was for you to go running off, I understand why you did it. So will they", Sirius watched his godson carefully.
"You don't understand how it feels for people you know, people you trust, people you love to not believe you. For gods sake this is my best friend were talking about! Now I may be screwed in the head as people like to put it but I would never harm a hair on Hermione's head. And you should've known that. You shouldn't need someone to pour the truth into your head", Harry snapped.
"Harry…", Sirius started but was interrupted.
"No…you know what I really don't want to hear it. The only person who believed me without any words said was George. One dam person Sirius out of everyone in my life. One person believed me", Harry shivered from the coolness of the night.
"Harry let's go back, and then we can talk about this with everyone", Sirius pleaded.
"I'll go but…but I'm not talking to them", Harry said in a way that made it sound like he was a five year old.
"I don't think Dumbledore expects you to", Sirius responded putting an arm out to help Harry up, "now come on it's chilly out here and you don't need to get sick"
---------------------------
About a half hour later Harry found himself seated in from of the entire house of Gryffindor, including Professor McGonagall, the full Weasley family, and Professor Dumbledore. All eyes had been upon Harry for the moment he'd be dreading.
The moment where George and Professor Dumbledore had finished telling the tale. The moment where everyone would come over to him with open arms pleading for his forgiveness. But he was grateful to Dumbledore who as always seemed to be aware of his anxiety.
"I ask you not to speak to Harry tonight as difficult as it might be for you. Because if I were Harry I would be quite angry with all of you", Professor Dumbledore shot a look toward Harry, "Each and every one of you in this room, excluding George Weasley and myself, refused to listen to Harry"
He paused for a moment before continuing, "When he needed you most you turned away. Harry here was done miraculous things already in his young life. Things some of you will ever know of. And it's sad to see that after this boy has done so much, gone through so many horrors to save all of you, that you should put this pain upon him. Harry, I would like to apologize on behalf of Hogwarts. And I ask that as always you show your bravery yet again by forgiving each person"
The silence in the room had grown even thicker than it had been at the start of the hour. So you can imagine how it startled everyone when the doors in the great hall slammed open, and a panic-stricken Remus Lupin came rushing in.
"Sorry…I know I'm late", Remus blushed seeing all eyes on him.
"Ah Remus…I'm glad you came when you did. For those of you that don't know this is Remus Lupin, Harry's and many of yours defense Professor from oh what is it now three years ago? Remus only knew Harry for a year, minus his first year of life. But Remus didn't believe the horrors that you all were speaking of. Remus doesn't know Harry as well as most of you, but he still didn't believe that Harry would hurt his best friend in such a way", Dumbledore smiled at Remus, "Remus would mind so much taking Harry here up to his dormitory?"
"Not at all", Remus responded watching Harry get up from his seat avoiding looking at everyone he walked by.
At last though the walk that seemed to take forever ended and Harry reached Remus' side. Remus put his arm around Harry in means of comfort. But he didn't speak to the boy until they were out of the Great Hall.
"How are you holding up?", Remus asked as they began to walk down the dark corridors leading to the Gryffindor common room.
"Not so good", Harry felt relieved at finally having someone to talk to.
"Yeah, I sorta figured. But things will get better now you know", Remus reminded Harry as they walked up one of the many staircases.
"I just don't know…how am I supposed to go back to how things were? They thought I aided in the murder of my friend! How can I look anyone in the eye…Ron, Ginny, anyone and honestly forget that they thought that. Ron's my best friend of all people I just can't believe he would think I'd…", Harry felt himself losing control of his emotions.
"I agree with you very much. And Ron will indeed be the hardest to forgive. But they do love you Harry, the Weasley's love you as if you were their own son. But they also loved Hermione as their daughter. As hard as it is to understand, nobody right now wants to believe Voldemort is back in power. So nobody wanted to blame him for such a thing. But they still wanted to blame someone. Do you see where I'm going?", Remus asked as the Gryffindor common room entrance came into view.
"Yes but I don't understand. I guess I never will", Harry shrugged muttering the password to the fat lady.
"Just give it time Harry, the pain will heal and you'll be able to forgive them", Remus added, "I'll see you tomorrow"
"You mean your staying?", Harry asked hopeful.
"Professor Dumbledore asked me to stay a few days so I am", Remus smiled, "Sleep well Harry"
"Good night", Harry almost smiled as he walked inside and up the stairs to his bed. He opened his trunk and pulled out a picture he had lying near the top. A picture he'd found himself looking at quite frequently.
He felt tears sting his eyes as he whispered, "Goodnight Hermione Granger, I love you"
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Thanks to the people who have reviewed! We really appreciate it. There had been some problems recently with our computers, and we were able to access this chapter only today. Thanks to:
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