Chapter Ten:
Hermione Missed the Hogwarts Express
Last Time: He was not the same juvenile, unstable, moody man that he was during her fifth year. Now he was a mature, fun, caring, and intriguing wizard… not to mention handsome, with a rather nice arse… Hermione stopped dead in her tracks at the surprising thought. She was not even aware that she was checking out Sirius' arse until that thought hit her like a ton of bricks.
Merlin, what am I thinking? This Harry's godfather… and I have a boyfriend. I do not need to be harbouring a little schoolgirl crush on my Professor! I already have enough stress as it is this year.
The first Hogsmeade weekend marked the end of a long month at school for some. Hermione was looking forward to getting off campus for a while and spending time with her boyfriend and friends.
Over the past month, Hermione watched her boyfriend become increasingly distant. Between their class schedules (hers was far more intense), his Quidditch schedule, and trying to spend time with their friends, she and Ron spent little time together.
She wasn't too bothered about it since if afforded her more time to spend on her studies. Still, she would have liked to spend some time with Ron. Otherwise, what was the point of being in a relationship?
Hermione hoped that a day of fun in Hogsmeade would bring them together again.
"Are you excited for today?" Ginny asked Hermione as she slipped into a seat across from Hermione's spot at the Gryffindor table.
"Absolutely," Hermione replied. "I'm looking forward to a break from school work and some fresh air."
"And a few butter beers, I'm sure."
Hermione nodded. A few butter beers would do her a world of good. "Where are Harry and your brother? We're supposed to board the carriages soon."
"They should be on their way down," Ginny said, not meeting her eyes.
"All students in third year and up who are approved to go on the Hogsmeade trip, please report to Professor McGonagall in the entrance hall," the Headmaster announced from the Head Table as the breakfast hour came to an end.
Hermione glanced around looking for any sign of Harry and Ron but they were nowhere in sight. Standing, she and Ginny made their way to the Entrance Hall to join the gathered crowd of students. She hoped that the boys showed up before the carriages left. They would be in big trouble if they tried to walk to town on their own.
As she and Ginny stood in line to check in with Professor McGonagall, Hermione pondered thoughts about how things would have been different if she was still Head Girl. The trip would be an entirely different experience if she had to assist the professors and direct the students. Standing there watching the staff already becoming stressed, Hermione was grateful that she was stripped of the title. She was already stressed with her studies and her boyfriend as it was.
"Miss Granger, Miss Weasley, I have your signed permission forms," professor McGonagall stated as she checked their names on the list. "Enjoy your day in Hogsmeade."
Hermione smiled broadly at her favorite professor before they bounded down the front steps toward the line of Thestral drawn carriages. Once the girls were settled into their seats in an unoccupied carriage, Hermione saw Harry and Ron sprinting toward them.
Ginny shouted, "It's about time!" as the boys jumped into the carriage. Both of them were short of breath.
"Someone couldn't decide what to wear," Harry said with an annoyed glance at Ron.
Ron shrugged unabashedly as he shifted closer to Hermione. "I wanted to look good for my witch."
Hermione beamed at him and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. After so many missed opportunities lately, she was pleased to have him close. Leaning into his body, she placed a gentle kiss on Ron's cheek.
"Okay, love birds, that's enough. What do you want to do first?" Harry asked, still annoyed at his friend's behaviour. Seeing Hermione so happy to have Ron by her side annoyed him even more.
"I was thinking of going to Zonko's and walking through town before we go to The Three Broomsticks," Ginny suggested, picking up on Harry's mood. "It'll be fun to explore town together like it was the first time."
"That sounds like a great plan," Hermione added. "I want to pop in to the book shoppe at some point too."
Rolling his eyes, Ron sighed and dropped his arm from around her shoulder. "Of course you do."
Hermione's head snapped around at her boyfriend, her brow furrowed. She could not understand Ron's aversion to anything that she liked. It bordered on maddening since she tried hard to take some sort of interest in his interests. She would never be a fan of Quidditch, but she watched the games with intense focus because it pleased Ron. He knew damn well that she had plenty of other things to do with her time, but she did it for him. Why couldn't he do the same once in a great while?
"You don't have to go," she snapped, anger overcoming her at how unfair he acted. "You would just be a nuisance anyway."
"Good. I'd rather go to —" Hermione tuned Ron out as he chattered on about where else he'd rather go. She knew it involved the joke shop and any number of other frivolous shoppes.
Ginny eyed her friend, knowing that Hermione was upset with her brother. He was a selfish wizard and Ginny feared that would never change. If only Hermione knew how utterly selfish he really was, she thought. She hated knowing how poorly her brother treated Hermione.
She had to bite her lip to prevent herself from saying something right there. It was neither the time nor the place, she thought, but if Ron continued to treat her best friend in such a horrid manner, Ginny would give him hell.
Hermione finally met her eyes and Ginny smiled sadly. Shrugging, Hermione rolled her eyes at the red headed witch and her shoulders sagged. Ginny knew that Hermione would rather explore the book shop on her own anyway, but she still found herself whispering an apology on behalf of her idiot brother.
The carriage ride was one of the longest in history due to the tension emanating from Hermione Granger. The group of friends let out a collective sigh of relief once they arrived in town and climbed out of the stifling carriage. The cheer and happy faces of the other students instantly lifted their spirits as the group set out along the main street.
"Er, I think I'm just going to pop round the book shop now," Hermione blurted as they approached Zonko's. "Enjoy Zonko's and I will meet up with you at The Three Broomsticks in a bit."
"Are you sure?" Ginny whispered while Ron shrugged and strolled into the shop without a backward glance.
"Yes. I can't tolerate your brother right now and I'd much rather browse the books than pretend to enjoy myself," Hermione replied defeatedly. "I'll be fine, I promise."
"All right. Just don't get so lost in a book that you forget to come to The Three Broomsticks!" Harry called as Hermione turned and headed down the main street.
Ginny and Harry stared after their friend, both silently vowing to tell her the unfortunate truth about her boyfriend… soon.
Three hours later, Hermione glanced up from a rather engrossing book on formulaic regressions in Arithmancy as a shadow loomed over her. Seated in a plush armchair in the corner of the book shop, she lost herself in the thought provoking text. She did not have a care in the world until that shadow rattled her focus.
"Sirius," Hermione breathed. The handsome professor stood in front of her with his hands on his narrow hips and smiled doggedly.
"What in Merlin's name are you doing hiding away in here, 'Mione?" he asked, clearly befuddled by her. "It's a nice day out and it's a Hogsmeade weekend. The very last thing you should be doing is reading in a book in the back corner of a darkened shoppe."
Hermione stared up at him. He was right, but the book was so intriguing that she was hesitant to put it down and walk away. Sirius could see her hesitation clear as day and he grabbed the book out of her grasp with lightning reflexes.
"Come my little bookworm. I will buy you this book, Regressive Transformative Theory — what does that even mean? — if you will join me for a walk through town. I've finished my duty rounds for the day and now it's time to enjoy the town."
Hermione grinned at how utterly charming Sirius Black could be. How could she refuse an offer like that? She would get to have the book that so captivated her for hours and walk through town with the most handsome wizard in town.
"Deal," she declared as Sirius offered her a hand to help her stand.
Sirius paid for the tome and the pair slipped out of the shop with broad smiles on their faces. Hermione's earlier anger with her boyfriend was washed away as Sirius entertained her with stories and jokes. In fact, she forgot all about Ronald Weasley as she was captivated by the older wizard.
As they turned the corner and Sirius led Hermione toward the Hog's Head Tavern, a dark robed figure popped out from the alley between buildings. Sirius immediately drew his wand and pointed it at the figure as he stepped in front of Hermione protectively. With its own wand pointed at them, the figure shook its hood away.
"Dolohov," Hermione whispered, her hand shaking as she tried to aim her wand at the Death Eater.
"Mudblood," Dolohov spat in reply. "I had hoped you would be alone again, but I see that you have learnt your lesson from last time." Turning to Sirius, he glared, his eyes fill with distaste. "I see you haven't changed much, Black. Still sneaking little school girls down the dark reaches of town."
"Bugger off, Dolohov," Sirius snapped as he flicked his wand back over his shoulder. Hermione saw a mist travel from his wand back toward the main part of town and assumed Sirius cast a Patronus message to the other professors.
Knowing that help was on the way and she was not facing Dolohov alone this time, Hermione was emboldened to attack before he did. She cast the first hex at the Death Eater as he and Sirius stared daggers at each other.
"Sectumsempra," she whispered with a slight flick of her wrist. The cutting spell hit Dolohov in the leg and Hermione swore at her bad aim. She meant to hit him in the face.
In a flash, her eyes widened and her breath hitched as Dolohov's left leg was sliced clean off below the knee. Blood spurted from his amputated leg and Hermione felt bile rise in her throat.
Dolohov managed to fire a hex of his own as he fell, just missing them as it struck the building. As his agonizing screams filled the air, another Death Eater appeared from the alley and snatched up Dolohov's appendage. Ready for a fight, Sirius cast a stunner at the second Death Eater, but he managed to dodge the spell and grasped Dolohov's hand before disapparating.
"Merlin's fucking bollocks!" Sirius swore as the Death Eaters vanished from sight.
"Language, Mister Black," Professor McGonagall snapped from behind them. Sirius spun around to see McGonagall and Hagrid approaching them and ducked his head feeling like an errant student.
"Are you quite alright?" Professor McGonagall asked a moment later, eyeing them carefully.
"Yes, professor," Hermione murmured, white faced and shocked at what she had done. She could hardly breathe and her body was stiff, but she was unharmed.
"Can you explain what happened?" Professor McGonagall asked in a softer tone. Hermione opened her mouth to explain but no sound came out. Instead, she turned to Sirius for help.
Sirius eyed Hermione with concern before describing how they were ambushed by Antonin Dolohov and how Hermione defended them. Minerva stopped him when he reached the point where the other Death Eater appeared.
"I saw the last bit for myself. I am relieved that neither of you were hurt. But I am afraid that this event has confirmed our fears that Dolohov would come after you again, Miss Granger."
Hermione nodded, knowing that the professors were right. The Death Eater was on a mission to attack her, there was no doubt of that. She was just glad that no one else was hurt and that she was able to hurt Dolohov first. But she knew that he would be out for blood after what she just did to him. It was no longer child's play.
The professors conferred among themselves for several minutes before Professor McGonagall turned back to Hermione. "Professor Black is going to escort you back to the castle now, Miss Granger. We think it for the best to return to the school now before any other mishaps occur."
"That's fine, professor," Hermione said, exhausted now that the adrenaline of the fight was gone.
"Hagrid, we shall let the rest of the professors know what happened as we round up the other students. I do not want to risk another attack today."
With a nod to the other professors, Sirius placed a gentle hand on Hermione's lower back and led her to Hogsmeade Station. He was deep in thought as they walked along and he did not break his silence until they were settled into a carriage.
"Where did you learn that curse?" he asked finally.
He was staring at his hands which were clasped in his lap. Hermione could not read his expression to know if he was just curious or if he was angry. Gulping, she prepared herself to explain.
"It was in the Half Blood Prince's potions text which Harry had in sixth year. Harry told Ron and me about the spell when he found it."
Sirius nodded without looking at her. He was silent again until the carriage pulled up in front of Hogwarts. As he helped Hermione step down from the carriage, Sirius placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her from walking away and stared deep into her eyes.
"Severus used that curse on James when we were younger. The injuries from that curse never fully heal and any body parts removed by that curse cannot be replaced," he explained. "I am conflicted on the idea of you using such a curse, but given the circumstances, I am proud of how you defended yourself — and me— today."
Hermione was breathless as Sirius tenderly touched her cheek. "Most of all, I am glad that you were not hurt again by that monster."
"Thanks, Sirius, for being there with me. I don't think I would have been so brave if I was alone." She flung herself at him, burying her face in his robes as she hugged him tight. Her breathed hitched as his arms wrapped tightly around her, pulling her impossibly close to his body.