A Lost Love- Ch.3.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters so far. Just the plot. Don't sue.
I'm sorry I haven't posted in SO long but my computer's been down. For those of you reading 'All Alone', it's finished, I just have to get the last chapter posted. Thanks for being so patient.
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Hermione began wandering down a corridor that looked familiar. "Really, you'd think after 7years, and considering you my friends are, I know my way around here better." she mumbled to herself. She turned a corner and ran straight into Sirius.
"Hermione?! What a pleasant surprise!"
"Er… Hello Sirius."
"Shouldn't you be in class?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, " Why does everyone keep saying that?!?!", she said, extremely irritated.
"Pardon? Everyone?"
"Yes, I…I ran into Snape a moment ago and he asked me the same question you just did, then the ugly git took off 30 points!"
"What for?" he asked, trying to stay professional and not laugh.
"He took off 20 points 'for not paying attention through [my] pitiful tears'," she said mockingly. Sirius looked concerned but just chuckled and gestured for her to go on. "And when I tried to explain, he took off 5 points for arguing with him, and 5 more for 'lying to [him] earlier'. Can you believe that?!"
Sirius chuckled again then grew serious, "Did you lie to him?"
She looked him right in the eye, "Yeah. But it was none of his damn business why I was taking a walk! Besides, I wouldn't tell that greasy moron a thing even if it was his business, solely because he's such a pain in the ass." She was still feeling very angry and was trying hard not to yell, but she had to admit to herself, it felt pretty good to bag on Snape and not get detention.
Sirius let out a hearty laugh that startled Hermione at first. She had missed that laugh, and she hadn't heard it in so long, except for in her dreams. "Hermione, why don't you have a seat?"
They had gone to his office that couldn't have been more than 30 yards away from the corridor she had been in. "That's why I knew that corridor." she thought.
She took the seat in front of his desk. He shut the door, then sauntered over and took his own seat. She hadn't been in this office since he had taken over and began to look around, she could feel him looking at her. There was an awkward silence that made Hermione squirm uncomfortably in her seat. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore…
"What?"
"Huh?"
"Do I have something on my face or something?"
Oh, no. There's nothing on your face."
"Then why are you staring at me?" She couldn't help but feel somewhat flattered that he was looking at her, but still, she hated to be stared at.
"Oh…I ….uh, well, …um, why don't you tell me why you were taking that walk?" he hastily changed the subject. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was.
"Huh?"
"You said you lied to Snape about Flitwick giving you permission to leave, so why were you out, and how'd you end up over here? Flitwick's classroom is on the other side of the school."
Hermione felt the blood rush out of her face, she chuckled uncomfortably.
"Well, uh…" she smiled nervously, "Harry, Ron, and I were talking after we left your class. I guess I drifted off into my own little world because Ron asked me what I was thinking about."
"What were thinking about?"
"I'm getting to that. I was thinking about how you got out of the veil." Sirius laughed.
"What?" asked Hermione.
"You. You never cease to amaze me. You, with your constant thirst for knowledge. It's unbelievable." he laughed. His eyes were twinkling and she felt like there had been no time lost between them.
Hermione smiled sheepishly and muttered, "Thanks." She then continued with her story, "Anyways, I told them what I was thinking about and Harry blew up at me. Started things like I don't care about you as much as they do, just because I'm curious about how you got out.
I said my piece and walked out of the room. Prof—"
"What did you tell them ?" he interrupted.
"Just that they had no right to say such things and that they couldn't possibly understand wha…", she cut off, mentally kicking herself for almost telling him about her secret love for him.
"Couldn't possibly understand…what?" he was immensely curious as to what she was hiding. "You can tell me anything, Hermione. I'll always be here for you to talk to."
Hermione smiled, "I know."
"So what is it?"
"Uh…like I was saying. I walked out of Prof. Flitwick's room. He began to yell for me to come back but I kept walking. Once I was out, I began to cry and took off running and before I knew it, I was over here. I guess I was running to find something or someone comforting. (she shrugged).
That's when I stopped for a moment to catch my breath and Snape showed up and started being a jackass."
Sirius laughed for a moment, he couldn't figure out why she wouldn't answer his question, or why she changed the subject back to her story so quickly. "She'll tell me when she's ready.", he thought. "Well, I think that I should award you 20 points for being such a good friend, 5 points for telling me the truth and 5 for putting down Snape."
"Huh?"
"Well, Snivellus took those points without any real reason, so why can't I give them back?"
Hermione laughed, "Thanks. But I don't think I've EVER received points for mouthing to or about a teacher before." She laughed again and Sirius joined her in doing so.
"Hermione?" Sirius' sudden, calm tone commanded her attention.
"Yes?" she replied cautiously.
"Why are you so curious about how I got out?"
Hermione looked at him and, for once, was at a loss for words.
"Hermione?"
"Er… well, you see, after you di- er, disappeared, I was REALLY upset, (Sirius raised an eyebrow. Hermione noticed but continued.), and you know me, I turned to books to find out all I could about the veil."
"Did you find anything?"
"Yes, actually."
"Really?" he was in awe. That information had to be next to impossible to find, yet she had.
"Yes. One account. A woman was cast in by mistake, turned out she was falsely accused of a crime she didn't commit, (Sirius snorted), and was thrown in for punishment. Sort of like a muggle death penalty. (Sirius looked confused.) Anyway, when she got out and was questioned, she told the Ministry that it wasn't really death yet. That it was more of a judgment period."
Sirius nodded and indicated for her to go on, "She also said that in order to get out, you had to have a good reason, a pure reason. She said that there were hundreds of people there and most of them went through a dark door and never came back. (Again, Sirius nodded, trying to keep his amazement from showing.) She also said that the guards could tell if your reason for returning here was truly pure, if it was, only then could you return back to this world and live out the rest of your life."
Sirius laughed, "Amazing! Simply amazing! You've never had to endure it but yet you know as much as I do, every detail. (Hermione shrugged, trying to stay as nonchalant as possible.) But I have one question."
"And what would that be?"
"If you knew all of that already, then why did you keep asking about how I got out?"
"Because, that woman got out because she was innocent and longed to return to her son. Her love for her family was so selfless and so pure and unconditional that she was able to return! It caused me to wonder, what did you need and long for here that was so pure, as pure as true love? What kept you alive? That's why I asked."
He shook his head in amazement, then looked up at her and looked her straight in the eyes to hold her gaze. "Well, I guess there's no fooling you. But you're asking the wrong questions. It's not a matter of 'what', it's a matter of 'who'."
"Huh?" his gaze was penetrating.
"Hermione, there is nothing, nothing more pure than true love. That's why I've returned. I'm in love, but I haven't had a chance to win her love yet. That's why I've been given a second chance."
Hermione sat there dumbfounded. She shifted her gaze to the floor. "Oh." , was all that she could manage to say.
Thanks for your reviews to:
Kendra Meadows: Thanks.
padfootsgurl4eva: I totally agree. I hope she brings him back within the next two books, preferably the 6th one.
Snow White: You are such a butthead. LOL!!! Sure, we can go hang out by the SERTOMA club, as soon as I'm ungrounded. And if you can find a giraffe, I'd be MORE than happy to ride it to school. "Fight" is supposed to be "front" and you know it cuz you read the original. Like I said, You're such a butthead. But that's okay, you're still my girl. LOL! And what's with that line about loving Snape!!!! *Disgusted look* Gross!!!! Girl, me and you gotta talk. Ba-ad Traci. LOL! TTYL.
Tara6: Thanks for your dedication and hope that his escape was up to your liking. My bf Traci ( the chic mentioned above) liked it so much that she asked to use it in her story! Hehe. Enjoy!
Fubi: Thanks, yeah I thought about the whole DA prof. thing being overused too, but it's really the only subject I see fitting for him at the moment. But thanks for your support in my different approach! ;)
Chantal9: Thanks girl. You know I'm with you on that.
Stephanie1316: Dang girl, write a long enough review?! LOL! I'm just playin'. Thanks for being so dedicated and putting me in your favorites!!! Sorry I made you wait, my computers been down and right now, I'm actually at my Grandma's. But we got a new comp, and it should be up to par pretty soon. I'm having a writer's block on the next chapter, so it might be a little while. Sorry. Keep Reading!!!
Lilac Cherry Blossom: First of all, I'd like to say, cool name!!! Really original! He was my favorite character too. And I agree with you about Snape. But he has to be an ass, it's in his character. I have a question, are you for England? The way you spelled favorites made me curious. Just askin'. Thanks for readin'. Keep up the good work! LOL!
ilukaiba: Thank you!!!
fearless-chaser: Dude, I totally second that prayer. I bawled too, through the rest of the book and to sleep. So did my bf Traci, aka, Snow White. I wanted to send jkr a howler. LOL! Thank you for not doing the pun thing. That gets so old so fast. I'm definitely gonna cont this story.
LateroseMartin: Thanks. I about died too.