A/N: To Qinlongfei, I am actually quite pleased that someone has taken the time to dissect my story as much as you did because it means that the each word I've written is being noticed, so thank you for that. I also want to thank you for bringing my attention to the said plot hole, as much as I want to make a perfect story that will please everybody, I do not claim (and will never) that I am a professional writer. So, with regards to your review, I will keep it in mind especially when I edit it in the future once I have managed to finish the whole story. (Hopefully I am able to deal with the plot hole and make the story better). I love getting reviews like yours, it makes me feel like I have an editor (or something). I mean, I don't even have a beta. Thanks!
Sorry for the long AN, hi pony! Seeing your name in the reviews always manages to put a smile on my face.
The aftermath of Headmaster Dumbledore's funeral was not easy. The death of the headmaster caused Harry to fall into a foul mood, he was especially severe to Hermione. Majority of the ones present when Dumbledore was killed where quite curious as to why Hermione bear the brunt of Harry's bad mood, but nobody bothered to ask him why.
Despite Harry's ill treatment oh Hermione after the headmaster's death, Hermione never complained. She understood why Harry was so angry at her. She imagined being in Harry's shoes and she knew that if it were her in Harry's place, she would be just as mad. But what could she do, Syrine was her sister even if the raven haired Slytherin didn't want to acknowledge their relationship.
6th year definitely ended on a bad note. Majority of the populace mourned the loss of the headmaster and when the term finally ended, the students left their solace with a heavy heart, as well as dread. Many of them thought that Dumbledore was their best defense against the threat of Voldemort.
That summer, the golden trio found themselves reunited at the burrow for Bill and Fleur's wedding. The heavy atmosphere remained between Harry and Hermione, and Ron was starting to get sick of it. Harry and Ron were hanging around in their shared room as they talked about quidditch. After the year they just had, they did what they could to try and gain back any bit of normalcy in their lives. Hermione was downstairs with Molly and Ginny, helping out with early wedding preparations. It was also a way for Hermione to avoid Harry for a while, since Harry always managed to snap at her even at the simplest things.
At dinner time, Molly asked Hermione to call the boys down to the kitchen for supper. Hermione's shoulder drooped a bit, she didn't want to but she didn't want to disobey Molly since it was her house after all. Hermione made her way up to the boy's room and knocked.
"Ron, Harry. It's time for supper." Hermione called meekly, it seemed as if her Gryffindor courage disappeared whenever she was in close range with Harry.
"Come in for a bit, Mione." Ron shouted in reply, "I need your help with something."
Hermione sighed, "Maybe after dinner, Ron?"
There was a pause, "Nope. Definitely need your help now."
Hermione rolled her eyes and slowly entered. Harry didn't bother to get up from his bed and ignored her, while Ron was sitting on his mattress holding a small wooden box.
"What is it?" Hermione asked as she approached Ron.
Ron patted the space beside him, urging her to sit down. Hermione did as instructed and looked thoughtfully at Ron.
Ron smiled at her and handed her the box, she took ai at once and tried opening it. It was locked.
"What's inside?" Hermione asked.
Ron stood up, "It's a surprise, I'll get the key at the twin's room."
The ginger haired member of the golden trio quickly got up and left the room, he immediately closed the door behind him. It was quickly warded after a few seconds, Hermione noticed it immediately and panicked.
Hermione stood up and quickly grabbed the door's handle. It wouldn't budge. She quickly took out her wand and was about to unlock it when Harry sat up from his bed.
"Leaving so soon?" Harry asked lazily as he looked at Hermione.
Hermione turned to him and sighed, "Molly will be upset that we're not there for dinner yet."
"Ron will handle it. He seems to think that it was about time the two of us talked." Harry said, his face was void of any emotion. Hermione didn't bother to reply, she sat on Ron's bed again.
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"You've been avoiding me ever since you arrived at the Burrow." Harry mused.
Hermione shook her head, "No, I wasn't!" Lie. "I was just busy helping Molly with preparing for the wedding."
Harry sighed, "Do I really have to force you to have this conversation with me? I thought between the two of us, you were the reasonable one."
Hermione looked at Harry, she looked afraid and guilty at the same time. "I was avoiding you. You've snapped at me every time I came near you."
"I was angry." Harry said, the coldness in his tone was new to Hermione. She was used to Harry being hot headed, this Harry who was calm and aloof made Hermione feel as if she was in alien territory.
"I know."
"I still am. Every time I look at you, I see the person who killed Professor Dumbledore." Harry said as he looked straight into Hermione's eyes.
At his words, Hermione began to tear up. "What did you expect me to do? Syrine is my sister"
Harry clenched his fists as if he was trying to hold down his anger, "I expected you to honor your promise with me when you told me that despite your 'sister's' predicament, no harm would come to anyone in Hogwarts."
"I didn't know what she was doing, Harry!" Hermione argued. Lies.
"Bollocks!" Harry exclaimed, "We both knew that she was up to something! She didn't have that disgusting mark on her forearm just for show!"
"It isn't her fault that she's a death eater!" Hermione shouted angrily at Harry. "Maybe she was forced to do what she did! Did you ever think of that?!"
"The headmaster is dead because of your sister!" Harry hollered, he stood up and quickly moved towards Hermione. He grabbed onto her shoulders and squeezed, "Syrine Lestrange murdered Professor Dumbledore in cold blood, and you're here trying convince me that she isn't evil! Are you hearing yourself Hermione?!"
Harry gripped her shoulders harder, Hermione's chest almost felt as if it was going to break from all the emotion she had pent up inside. Guilt. Anger. Despair.
"I-I'm sorry." Hermione sobbed, the dam began to break and she started to cry. "I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to believe that she was capable of doing what she did."
The expression on Harry's face softened and he loosened his grip, he sighed as he kneeled in front of Hermione's sobbing form. He curled up and placed hi head on Hermione's thighs as she continued to cry.
"I'm sorry for snapping at you." Harry whispered, "I didn't know what to feel."
Hermione wrapped Harry in her arms and continued to listen.
"The headmaster was like the grandfather I never got to have…." Harry confessed.
Hermione her hands around Harry and straightened her back, she placed a hand under her best friend's chin and lifted his face to her. She saw that there was now a deep sadness in Harry's emerald eyes. Her chest clenched as she realized that it was her indecision and conflicting feelings that caused Harry this much pain.
"What can I do to make it better?" Hermione asked, their faces centimeters away from each other.
"Promise me something…" Harry said.
"Anything."
Harry paused before he spoke again, "Forget that you have a sister." Hermione's eyes widened, "Forget who Syrine Lestrange is,"
Hermione felt as if her heart stopped a beat, how could she? Despite everything that Syrine did, she knew that she still loved her sister. Harry's words kept repeating itself inside her head, and she recalled what their headmaster looked like as he laid lifeless on the Astronomy's tower.
Her indecision caused Professor Dumbledore's death, her poor judgement caused Harry great pain and her love for her sister might cause them to lose the war. She knew then and there what she had to do, she finally realized that there was more at stake than having her sister back.
Hermione looked straight into Harry's eyes and nodded, "I will."
Harry nodded at her, he finally stood up and pulled Hermione to stand as well. Without warning, he pulled Hermione into a tight hug and sighed. "I know that what I asked of you isn't easy to do. But, thank you." His arms wrapped tighter around Hermione, it was almost as if he was afraid to let her go.
Hermione hugged her best friend back and placed her head on his chest. She felt better now that she and Harry were finally okay.
It was then that the door to the room suddenly opened, Ron was standing by the doorway with a grin on his face. "Finally!"
Realizing the intimacy of the position that they were in, Harry and Hermione quickly broke apart. The two of them looked shyly at each other and saw that they were both blushing.
Ron cleared his throat, "Can we have dinner now? Seeing that the two of you finally made up, I don't see why we should delay eating supper anymore."
Harry was the first one to move towards Ron, he was still looking a bit awkward.
"Let's go, Mione." Ron said with a smile.
Hermione followed her two best friends as they went down to the kitchen. She stared at Harry's back and blushed as she remembered how tightly he held her upstairs. Despite the number of years they had known each other, it was just then that she realized how much Harry finally grew up.
A/N: Please tell me what you think.