The Gift
A/N: First of all, I can't tell you how moved and happy I am that you all like this story so much! Thank you for those wonderful reviews... You guys are the best! Without further ado... Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Do I even need to say it at this point? Only the plot is mine.
"Here I stand with head in hand,
Turn my face to the wall.
If he's gone I can't go on,
Feeling two foot small.
Ev'rywhere people stare,
Each and ev'ry day.
I can see them laugh at me,
And I hear them say:
'Hey, you've got hide your love away!'"
"You've got to hide your love away"- The Beatles.
-+-
It didn't come as a shock that Ginny's "surprise" made quite a few people to raise their eyebrows and spit whatever they were drinking. In fact, Ron's screams could have made the foundations of Grimmauld Place to shake.
After sitting on the curb for nearly two hours, Hermione had decided to return to the house. Her face was cold, her eyes were swollen, and she shivered for nearly half an hour, even inside, but that was not the worse. Hermione's soul was wounded. Wounded and angry. Not surprisingly, no one had noticed she hadn't returned save for Harry. And even him! He had thought she was in her room, and had not wanted to disturb her.
Little did he know that Hermione would have given the world for being disturbed; just to see if anyone cared enough to check if she hadn't jumped through a window. But no. Christmas dinner was more important, wasn't it? Hermione could hardly blame them, though. She did realize that her attitudes pointed to "don't bother me or I'll hex you". Oh, if they could only know.
Ginny had arrived a few minutes after the opening of presents; maybe because she thought they'd be happier? Well, she entered the living room holding the pale hand of whom other but Draco Malfoy.
Hermione thought she could've heard a pin drop.
Draco stared at all of them longingly, his lips tense, but didn't utter a word. Then Ginny had opened her mouth and had dropped the bomb.
All in all, no one was killed. Ginny proudly announced that the wedding date was placed for October 15th of the upcoming year; that Hermione was the maid of honor, and that from this point on, Draco would be joining them in the festivities. And that if someone didn't like it, then though luck.
Hermione, sitting on a couch near the shadows, suddenly felt admiration towards her friend. She admired how bold Ginny was; how proud she sounded and looked- Hermione wished that she had been as strong as her redheaded friend. Lowering her eyes away from Ron's blistering face, Hermione stared down at the presents lying on her lap.
Ron had given her books, Harry a perfume, Ginny a couple of earrings... But Tonks and Lupin had given her something different. A beautifully wrapped, and fairly small, package, which looked pretty tattered and old. There was nothing written on it. Hermione wondered what this was? It wasn't heavy, but it wasn't light either. Someone sat next to her and Hermione looked up to see Tonks there, smiling at her.
"Lupin has had that gift in his possession for two years. When he got it, you lot had already gone back to Hogwarts," She explained. Hermione widened her eyes and a knot formed on her throat. Could that mean... That this gift was from...? Hermione gazed at Tonks with the question written in her eyes and the Auror nodded gravely; Hermione's breathing hitched as she looked at the package again. But... But... Wait. Did Tonks know?! What did she know?! Hermione felt as if she was a lioness wanting to kill a prey. Did Tonks- How- How did she- That was none of her business! But how could Hermione ask her anything without being too obvious? This was outrageous! How did Lupin even dare?!
-Flashback-
When Hermione entered his room, he seemed unusually quiet and tense. Sirius was sitting on the bed's edge, staring at Hermione's Christmas present: a copy of the picture of Harry's parents wedding and a short letter she had written. Blushing profusely she stepped closer to him. What if he hadn't liked the picture? If he was angry or sad? Sirius only acknowledged Hermione when she sat down next to him. He avoided her gaze and placed the picture and the letter on his bedside table; proceeding to rub his eyes. Hermione gulped at this, but didn't say anything.
"What's wrong?" she asked in a small voice. He didn't reply at first, and continued staring at the air. "Sirius?"
"Lupin suspects something." Just like that, deadpan. Hermione gasped at this; an invisible hand squeezed her lungs and heart at the revelation. Fear swept through her. His voice sounded tired and worried- heavy. Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but Sirius cut her off. "He saw us yesterday, at dinner." Hermione looked down and away; the invisible hand was now squeezing her throat. Why had they been so careless? A silence lingered in the air. "I told him that he was mental, of course," Sirius continued with a gruff voice. Hermione didn't even nod. This could only mean one thing: if Sirius wanted to break up, then he better got over it before she started crying.
"What... What do you want to do?" Hermione finally asked in a strangled voice. Sirius sighed, and her worst fears were now confirmed.
"What do you want to do?" Sirius asked in return, finally looking at her. His eyes were filled with sadness.
"I- I don't want... I mean..." Hermione was having a hard time putting the words together. How to explain? How could she tell him that she'd rather die than to break things off?
"No... Me neither." Came the surprising response. Hermione looked up at him with shock, not daring to let her hopes go up. "You mean a lot to me, Hermione," Sirius added softly. She bit her lower lip and finally managed a shaky smile.
"I'll promise I'll be more careful," she said, hugging him. She still felt slightly dizzy with the mere thought of having to leave Sirius. He hugged her back and kissed her hair.
"I promise, too," he said barely above a whisper.
- End flashback-
Hermione swallowed and for a couple of seconds closed her eyes, still tightly holding the package. Had Lupin actually told Tonks? But Lupin didn't know much, didn't he? They had been more careful after that episode. Hermione opened her eyes and nodded at Tonks, gathering the presents in her hands and standing up from the couch. Draco and Ginny were talking with Molly and Arthur, as Harry smiled at Hermione's present (a real snitch) and Luna tried to distract a fuming Ron from her sister. Lupin was looking at her... Hermione gazed at him, her eyes dark, hiding; and then turned around and left the living room without further ado.
Slowly she went up the dark staircase and into her room, closing the door after her. She left all the gifts on her desk save for Sirius's present. Hermione sat down on her bed and breathed in deeply before carefully ripping the wrapping paper to reveal a simple black, velvety box. As she lifted it, a paper fell to the floor. Hermione frantically reached for it and opened it quickly.
Hermione: This was given to me by Lily and James, in futile hope that if I ever managed to have a steady girlfriend or got married, I'd give it to her. Since your gifts held so much meaning to me, I tried to do the same with yours. I was planning to buy you something myself, like I did with Harry's firebolt, but I wanted you to have this.
I consider you to be smart enough to know what meaning it brings.
Sirius
Hermione's eyes brimmed with tears as she re read the small note, written in a now yellowish parchment. She left the note aside and shakily grabbed the box, placing it on her lap. Trying to clear her view she blinked, opening the box to find an exquisite silver bracelet, adorned with petite diamonds that shimmered with the light. "Oh, Sirius," Hermione breathed, lifting the bracelet and placing it over her heart. She was sure that if she now gathered her tears in a glass, and then used that liquid to water a plant, the flowers would wilt and die... Just like she had done.
A minute later she had it placed on her wrist; clutching the note Sirius had written. Why had Lupin kept it this long? This was hers, wasn't it? What right did Lupin have to keep it? Hermione glared at her bedroom door, half expecting Lupin to burst in so she could slap him. Her sudden anger at Lupin became one with the disappointment and sadness that no one had wanted to look for her when she was outside in the street; but it all quickly faded.
It didn't matter now. Hermione only knew that she'd be wearing this until the day she died... She smiled at the bracelet, comforted by the fact that that very day wasn't far away.
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A/N: Short chapter, I know. I really can't wait to begin to write what I have in mind! Ah! In fact, I think I'll begin now. Hope you liked this chapter. And I also hope you don't forget to review and let me know what you thought of it. Bye!
