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A Lost Love

Ch.2

Harry, Hermione, and Ron were usually the last to class and sat in the back. But not today. Today, they were the first to class and made sure that they were right in fight.

They got to start off their day, not to mention their year, with Defense Against the Dark Arts. Granted, it was a double with Slytherins, it was also a double class with Sirius.

Sirius walked into his classroom to make sure that everything was ready for his upcoming 7th year class. Not to his surprise, three seats were already occupied. He laughed heartily, startling his longtime friends.

"A bit early, aren't you? Class doesn't start for 15 minutes."

" We know Sir- er…Professor. But we wanted to make sure that we got good seats." said Ron.

Sirius winced, "Please. Let's keep it casual. Call me Sirius." then he added in a whisper, "Unless there's another teacher around, then it's Professor Black."

"Er… okay, Sirius?" said Hermione, "How'd you get out of the veil?"

"Haha. I should've known that there'd be an ulterior motive. You three are rarely early for class and probably usually just cut it close to the bell." said Sirius. Harry and Hermione laughed in agreement.

"How'd you know? You've never taught here before. Unless Lupin warned you." asked a curious Ron.

"How'd I know? I'll tell you how I knew, and no, Remus didn't warn me. I know because you three remind me of James, Remus, and I back in the day." he laughed as he reminisced.

"Oh." said Ron.

"Sirius, can you please tell us how you got out of the veil? I'm dying to know.", begged Hermione.

Sirius looked at Hermione with total amazement. She never ceased to thirst for knowledge, and every new thing intrigued her. He also noticed that she had changed physically, too. Other that the fact that she had shrunk her teeth in 4th year, her hair was no longer bushy, but hung down to the middle of her back. He also noticed that her figure had become much more curvy and womanly since he had last seen her. She looked absolutely amazing.

"Sirius?" said Hermione, snapping him back, " Are you alright?"

"Uh… yeah, great. Just thinking, that's all."

The room began to fill up and they didn't have any time to find out how he'd miraculously escaped the veil.

~*~

After D.A.D.A., they had Charms, which gave Harry, Ron, and Hermione plenty of time to talk.

"That was the best lesson we've had since Lupin was teaching!" smiled Ron.

"Seriously! I about died when Sirius told Malfoy to assist him. I thought he was going to shit his pants!" laughed Harry.

Hermione laughed too, but still, there was that one thing nagging her at the back of her mind. "Honestly, Hermione," she thought, "Harry and Ron don't seem to care so why should you?"

" 'Mione? You okay?" asked Ron.

"Huh?" she said.

"You looked like you were trying to figure out something really hard, something  that not even you could understand." replied Ron.

"Oh. That. I was just wondering how he got out of the veil."

"That again?" moaned Ron.

"Listen, Hermione.", said Harry, " He's back. We don't care how he got back. You're the only one who does. And if it bothers you that much, then he obviously doesn't mean as much to you as he does to us." Harry fumed.

Hermione glared at him. "How dare you? You have NO right to say such things. I died that day in ways you couldn't imagine. So don't tell me that I don't care. Don't you dare." she whispered angrily.

Harry and Ron didn't even try to retort. They had only seen her this angry when she had slapped Malfoy and walked out in Divination in 3rd year. And this surpassed how angry she was then. It terrified both of them to be on the receiving end on her venomous tone. They watched her leave the classroom, ignoring Professor Flitwick's pleas for her to return.

Ron's jaw dropped, "Do you think that we pissed her off too bad?"

"Nah. She'll be fine in a couple of hours." replied Harry, but inside, he had a feeling that he was wrong.

~*~

Once Hermione had got out of the classroom, she broke out into a full run. Dashing down halls, turning into corridors, all the while, not even seeing where she was going. She couldn't stop crying, and she couldn't think, all she knew was that she wanted to get away from everything. Away from her torture.

She loved Sirius with her whole heart and soul, and was willing to do ANYTHING for him. The main problem was the simple fact that he didn't love her back, then there's the whole age difference thing. "He's 18 years older than you, Hermione. Get a grip on yourself." she scolded herself softly as she stopped to catch her breath.

She leaned against the wall, thinking she was alone, she continued to talk to herself, "Dammit. Why can't those thick prats understand? They don't know anything about me. After 7 years, you'd think that they'd finally get a clue."

"Getting a bit flustered with our friends now are we?" came a cold voice.

Hermione  turned quickly to find Professor Snape stepping out of the shadows. "Shit! How long has he been there?" she thought panicky.

"Now, Miss Granger, what are you doing out of class? Surely a little Know-It-All like you wouldn't  skip class?"

"I-I needed fresh air. Professor Flitwick allowed me to take a walk." she said, thinking quickly.

"A walk?"

"Mm-hmm."

He paused for a moment, then continued, " Miss Granger, are you aware that Professor Flitwick's classroom is on the other side of the school?" Hermione's eyes got a little bigger. Snape's grin widened. "You didn't realize it, did you? 20 points from Gryffindor, for not paying attention through your pitiful tears."

"But Professor, I –" she tried to argue.

"Another 5 for arguing—"

"But-"

"And another 5 for lying to me earlier."

Hermione's jaw dropped and her eyes filled with tears. "Well, now that my job's done here, I'll be going." Snape said with a sly smile, he turned to leave but stopped abruptly and turned back to her, "Oh, and Miss Granger, I suggest that you get back to class immediately. Before you cause anymore disgraces to come upon Gryffindor."

Thanks to those of you who have reviewed:

Katie Black: I loved Sirius to death (so to speak), it killed to have him die. I cried through the rest of the book. I had to bring him back.

Silvermoon: Thanks.

shattered-destiny: Thanks.