Chapter 33
Battle Lines
Hermione awoke to a commotion the next morning. Her head hurt, and her left cheek was now officially purple from the punch. She heard voices coming up the stairs, and when she turned it was a bunch of seventh-year girls, fresh from the Hogwarts Express.
They were home.
---
Sirius was coming down for breakfast from the hospital wing when he was hailed by James, Peter, and Remus. His jaw was better, though it still ached.
"Sirius old boy!" James called. He cuffed his friend on the shoulder.
"Did you have a good holiday?" Peter asked.
"You bet he did–he was with Hermione wasn't he?" James said slyly, in an I-want-the-details-later sort of voice.
"What's with your jaw?" Remus asked curiously.
"I beat the hell out of Snape," Sirius said shortly.
"Not from the looks of it," James joked. When Sirius did not crack a smile, he asked, "What's wrong, mate?"
"Is Hermione all right?" Remus put in worriedly. They had become kindred spirits.
They all looked expectant. Sirius cleared his throat and began the gruesome tale.
"Hermione cheated on me with Severus."
"Say what?" said a dumbstruck Peter.
"She cheated on me," Sirius repeated to their gaping faces. "But not before she lied to me time and time again about where she was going. When she said she was going to the library she was really going off to do God knows what with Severus."
Utter silence. Finally, James managed to sputter, "Are you sure?"
"I caught them kissing!"
Remus rushed to Hermione's defense. "I'm sure there's a good explanation, Sirius. Hermione really likes you."
"Remus, I saw them."
"Why are you singing her praises? Whose side are you on?" Sirius asked exasperatedly.
"Of course I'm on your side!" Remus hissed. "But from what I've seen of Hermione, she's not the type to simply go off and snog someone else!"
"Oh, Remus, come off it," James said crossly. "Sirius saw what he saw. He's not lying." "Of course he isn't. But I'm trying to figure out–"
"Remus, really!" Peter scoffed. "We believe Sirius. And even if we didn't–" he said worriedly, "we're on your side anyway."
Sirius recognized Peter's loyalty and patted him on the back for it.
"I just can't believe it," Remus muttered. "I thought she was different."
"Well, she isn't," James said shortly. "And we've got to stick by Sirius. I've got to tell Lily. When she hears. . ."
"Snape's a git," Peter said fiercely. "We've got to get him back for this one."
"Too right, we will. Stealing Sirius' girl!" James rubbed his hands together. "We've just got to think of a good plan."
"I think we should hear Hermione's side of the story," Remus said.
"Are you mad?"
"Well, maybe there's something more–"
"Nonsense!"
"When you've all finished!" Sirius said.
"Oh–hey mate, you're well rid of her," James said, patting Sirius on the back.
"We never liked her anyway," Peter added.
Remus said nothing.
---
Lily bounced excitedly on Hermione's bed. Hermione grumbled and rolled over.
"Get up, sleepyhead! We're home!" Lily's face was flushed with happiness. "I had the most wonderful holiday."
Hermione sat up and her bruised cheek became visible. Lily gasped. "What happened?"
Hermione sighed. "How much time do you have?"
"Loads. This sounds bad."
"Oh it is. For starters, Sirius and I broke up."
Lily gasped again. "No!"
"I guess it all began when Severus asked me to help him."
"Where does Severus come into all of this?" Lily asked suspiciously.
"Well, he's where it all started. Do you remember the day you wanted my help on the Arithmancy chart?"
"Yes."
"I was really going to see Severus instead." Hermione waited for Lily's reaction. When Lily said nothing, Hermione took it as her cue to go on.
"He really needed help with something important. Very important," Hermione stressed. "So I helped him. I knew it would hurt Sirius, but I had to help him." She didn't want to go too much into what she'd had to help Severus with, so she skipped over Mrs. Snape and the shelter.
"And then Severus told me he loved me," Hermione whispered. It was still hard to believe. Lily's mouth dropped open.
"Oh, that's not the worst part," Hermione said. "He kissed me. And Sirius saw us, and now he thinks I cheated on him."
Hermione fell silent. She knew Lily was debating whether or not to believe her. "Go on," Lily said evenly.
"Well. . .you know me, Lily. You know how I feel about Sirius. You know I would never ever hurt him. But Severus needed my help."
"With what?"
"With. . .with a life and death situation. And now," Hermione was dangerously close to tears, "Sirius hates me. He got into a fight with Severus yesterday and when I was trying to stop them, I got hit." she rubbed her cheek and a single tear fell. Now came the most painful question. "Do you believe me?"
Lily looked at Hermione, then cast her eyes over to Hermione's bedside table. On it was a picture of Sirius. She looked at Hermione's hand. On Hermione's left hand was the silver ring that Lily knew to be Sirius'. Then she looked at Hermione, who looked miserably dejected. Finally Lily nodded. "Yes. I believe you."
Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you." She and Lily embraced. For a while they sat together. Neither needed to say anything, for there were no words. Hermione was comforted by the mere presence of Lily.
----
Later, Lily headed down to the common room where James was waiting for her.
"Hi. I expect you've heard the news?" Lily asked.
James nodded and sighed deeply. "I know. Awful, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"To think we all thought Hermione was a good person. Turns out she's nothing but a two-timing tart."
"What? This isn't Hermione's fault. She was only trying to help Severus."
"Is that the party line? No, Sirius told me she was lying to him to sneak off with Severus." "It was a tough situation! Hermione didn't want to hurt Sirius!"
"That's what she told you? Boy," James scowled. "She's worse than I thought, trying to manipulate people into believing her."
"Manipulate? James, I can't believe you said that. Hermione really cares about Sirius, she would not lie to him if it wasn't important!"
"And what about the kiss? What did little Hermione have to say about that?"
"That she didn't want for it to happen! It came as a surprise!"
"Come off it, Lily! No kiss comes as a 'surprise.' She must have been snogging him all over the place. And you believe her?"
"Yes, I do! Hermione is an honest person!"
"Lily, you're being duped! Sirius would not lie to us!" "And Hermione would not lie to me! Honestly, James, you're not seeing sense!" "I'm not seeing sense! Lily, I can't believe you—"
"Lily's right," Remus said, joining the argument. "I don't believe that Hermione would turn against Sirius." He said this all very quietly. "I never thought you'dturn against Sirius!" James cried. "Really, Remus!"
"James, you're missing the point–"
"That's rubbish–"
"She's right, you are–"
The battle lines were drawn.
Okay, lots of people had questions about the last chapter, let's see.
element6 is confused as to whether I've told you Hermione's task. No, I haven't. But I would read 'Chain of Life' closely, because there's a lot of answers in there.
squashes asked why Hermione had a pic of Ron. If you'll go back to the first couple of chapters, I stated that Hermione always carried a pic of herself and Ron and her wand.
Thanks to Moony's Angel, Mithostiel, and RoxxieHart for the info! Hugs! missjackiesparrow and rylfntasy didn't understand chapter 32. Basically it's the summer before OotP, when they were all at Grimmauld Place. I just wanted to put another little chapter where we can see that Sirius still loves Hermione and how hard it must be for him.
DWindsor and tmrwspromise asked if Hermione knows Sirius is talking about her. Of course not, hehe.
auditoriumnazi asked about the mysterious girl. Hermione, of course! Sirius is talking about the time he had with Hermione.
Rane2920072 and Phoenix and some others asked if Sirius is dead in the present time. Yes, because this is post-OotP.
Willow asked if I knew what Lithe is. I do! Today is Midsummers' day, and it's when Arwen and Aragorn were married! Yay! (LOTR)
Chapter 31 reviewers:
toriisen, imogenhm, Jade the Fairyness, Evelyn, Hearts, Fallen Angel of Hell, Luna Gypsy, outrageousXO, robyn, isnani, Captain Oblivious, crunchycookie, Hiril Narwain, WIFLFAG, twrwspromise,Rane2920072, AnDReAMaReK, BlackWiltedRose, Hippie1212, punkka316, Puffy Marshmallow, tsk tsk, Mochalattee225, woolard, Midnight Firefly, meenyrocks, Hedwigcutie, Margilo, doughnut, leo-sol, artemisia, Lorwyn Daystar, Li-chan, fuzzfurry, watercharmer, crystal, PeanutGallery–Alaska's own, Accio Flaming Stake, siriusforeva, lanna1186, QOA, Padfootz-Luvr, Cybeleflame, Flame, blondekat3, riterchick, missjackiesparrow, ElizaEvenstar, SweetCheeksDracoLuver, RP Weasley (H/G will happen! Lol), Lindsey, Irish Elf, dejah, auditoriumnazi.
Chapter 32 reviewers:
PadfootBlack, Peanut Gallery–Alaska's Own, SiLvErFaTeD, Nethira06, Puffy Marshmallow, Luna Gypsy, Accio Flaming Stake, lanna1186, Li-Chan, element6, imogenhm, DarkRaven-O4, darkness-knight, RP Weasley, fuzzfurry, Jade the Fairyness, meenyrocks, Ruby, Misssnapdragon, leo-sol, isnani, exotic-rock-princess, Katie, Hippie1212, Miss-Padfoot684, Amanda, tsk tsk, Captain Oblivious, Fallen Angel of Hell, gina, Anna-Nanna, Lorwyn Daystar, blondekat3, Tori, hye em yes, Lavender Creme, Anonymous