Disclaimer: I do not own or have any rights to Harry Potter, or the chapter title.
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Chapter 12. Never Say Goodbye.
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The four boys slowly followed Professor McGonagall down the Hogwarts corridors, moving at the pace of a limping Remus, still recovering from his last transformation.
Sirius cast a look at his best friend and noted the fear in his brown eyes. He laid a hand on the messy haired boys shoulder. James turned to Sirius and he offered him a small, hopeful smile.
Walking along beside his friends Remus could feel his insides twist. The last time he had heard McGonagall refer to him by his first name was when he had been told about his parents. He shot a glance at James and decided right then that he would go through twice as many transformations if it meant his friend didn't get hurt.
"Berti Botts," said the Professor. The boys followed her up the staircase when the gargoyle had moved. Entering the headmasters' office the boys all took seats.
Dumbledore smiled sadly at them his eyes once again void of their customary sparkle.
"James," he said quietly. "Early this morning Aurors were alerted to your house by neighbours. I am afraid your home has been completely destroyed."
At this James started to shake uncontrollably and his friends shot him concerned looks.
"M-My Ppp- Parents?" he asked.
"I'm afraid the Dark Mark was above your house, Aurors on the scene found your parents. I am sorry James." The headmaster said tears in his blue eyes. Over to the side, if they had been paying attention to anything but James they would have noticed a sobbing Transfiguration Professor.
All the blood had drained from James' face, and he looked as white as a ghost, Remus just closed his eyes sadly, Sirius went to his best friends side, while Peter just sat there not knowing what to do or how to react.
"S-Sirius?" James stuttered.
"It's ok, I'm here mate."
But anger overtook James before grief, a trait he seemed to have passed onto his son. He screamed in agony and picked up a glass object off Dumbledore's desk and sent it crashing through one of the tall windows. He clenched his fists and screamed up at the sky. His knees gave way then, legs turning to jelly, both Sirius and Remus were there to catch him before he hit the floor.
"Its ok….shhh." Sirius tried to console his friend despite tears running down his own cheeks. He caught Remus' eye and saw understanding intermingled with grief.
"Why?" James was sobbing over and over "Why? Why? Why? Why?" Sirius merely rocked him till his friends tears subsided.
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The four unusually quiet Marauders made their way back to the common room later that night. James just staring blankly in front of him, his face expressionless, save for his grief filled eyes.
As they entered the common room they noticed Lily and Hermione talking quietly in front of the fire, they both looked up at the puffy eyed Marauders and instantly stood. Lily moved to James and stood in front of him looking into his eyes which were forming new un-spilled tears.
"Oh James." Lily said embracing him. Over his shoulder Remus mouthed the words 'his parents' to her. Her eyes grew wide and she tightened her hold on the grieving teen and helped him to his room followed by Remus and Peter.
Hermione looked around and found Sirius had moved to the fire and was leaning against the wall with one hand, staring blankly past the flames, feeling none of the warmth they should have provided. He felt Hermione's gaze and spoke without looking up.
"They were the closest thing to a family I had," he croaked.
Hermione nodded and gave him a hug, to which he returned, seeking comfort in her embrace.
"I know," she said quietly, "and I know James is as good as your brother," she moved to look him in the eyes, "he needs you now Sirius, now more than ever."
He nodded and gave her another quick hug. "Thank you" he whispered before heading up the stairs.
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A week later a subdued group, consisting of the Marauders plus two made their way to Hogsmead. The rest of the students sensed something was up and tended to leave the group alone, even the Slytherins gave them their space.
Hermione paled slightly as she entered the village but felt safe with the others, she also pointedly ignored the spots where she saw her friends fall. The group stopped in the middle of the village and deliberated where to start their Christmas shopping.
Hermione and Remus wanted to go to the book shop, while Sirius and Peter wanted to head for the Quidditch store. James, who hadn't been listening to anything and was just staring blankly at his shoes, followed Sirius and Peter, while Lily joined the others. She watched James walk off with his friends, Sirius' arm wrapped around his shoulders.
Remus noticed the concern in Lily's eyes and gave her a smile. "He'll be ok Lily, he just needs time."
Lily merely nodded. "The boys gone now," she said more to herself than the others, "he's grown up," she said quietly as she made her way towards the bookshop.
Upon arrival the three Gryffindors went their separate ways. Hermione headed towards the section which would contain information on time turners and time travel. Her spirits fell when she saw the spines of familiar books that the Hogwarts library shelved. She sighed and headed towards the front desk.
"Hi," Hermione greeted the young witch at the counter. "The books on time travel that you have on the shelves, is that all you have?" she asked.
The witch nodded. "Everything we have can be seen on the shelves."
"Oh, thanks anyway," she said walking down-heartedly back to the rows of books, if she was going to be staying she might as well buy Christmas presents.
When she'd finished in the bookshop she let Lily and Remus know she done and was going to have a look around the village. Remus, Hermione thought thankfully, accompanied her, she was still wary of another run in with Malfoy.
At three o'clock they met up with the others in the three broomsticks. James surprisingly looked a little happier. Sirius was smiling at his friend who seemed to be having a nice conversation with Lily.
"What did you do?" Remus asked the ebony haired boy as he sat down.
Sirius grinned as Hermione sat down on the other side of him. "I spread the sunshine."
Remus and Hermione looked at each other and smirked.
"What?" asked Sirius. "I am a people pleaser, I'm a people pleasing person," flashing his traditional trademark smile.
"So," he said gesturing to the bags Hermione had placed between her feet. "What 'cha get me?"
Hermione eyed him warily. "Have you and James had a personality transplant?"
"No."
"Really? Coz your hair is starting to stick out everywhere," she said intently, knowing that his hair had nothing to do with the situation. On the other side of Sirius Remus was trying to contain his laughter.
"WHAT!" yelled Sirius, startling everyone, trying desperately to flatten his already perfect head of hair. The others broke into hysterical laughter at this. Sirius sent Hermione a glare "Why do you plague me so?" he asked. "Why?"
Hermione shrugged "Just spreading the sunshine," she smirked.
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The following Tuesday the group made their way back to Hogsmead for the Potters funeral. Although Hermione had never met Harry's grandparents she thought that he would like knowing that she had been there, even if it was just to support her friends.
The funeral was a quiet affair, with each of the Marauders getting up to speak. Hermione found her mind wandering as she watched Sirius and Remus console James, and choked back tears realizing she would probably miss saying goodbye to her lanky, red-headed best friend.
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Hogsmead 1997, 8 days after attack.
Sirius and Remus sat either side of Harry while Ginny stood at the front of the packed funeral home talking about her older brother, the youngest Weasley son taken well before his time.
Harry had never felt so alone, even with his parents best friends next to him, part of him felt empty. He would never see Ron again and the search for Hermione was becoming desperate, the Order now turning their efforts to the convicted Death Eater homes in search of any clue that may have been left as to what happened to Hermione Thomas twenty years ago.
Harry got up to say some words but as he looked up at the sea of grieving faces he felt none come.
"Wow," he finally managed to get out. "I knew Ron better that anyone and I have to say he will be grinning like a mad-man in heaven right now at this turn out." He smiled sadly, unshed tears in his eyes, at the grief stricken chuckles heard throughout the room.
"R-Ron was one of the best friends I had ever had, only one of two, and much to everyone's belief that he played a 'supporting role', in my well, my 'troublemaking' he was never second with me, he was always my equal. He proved that last week when he bravely lived up to his Gryffindor heritage to save his younger sister," he said giving Ginny a small smile. "I love you mate," his voice breaking, "say hello to my parents for me."
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Hogwarts 1977
One week before Christmas Hermione sat next to Sirius in front of the fire.
"I don't know why I did it," he said suddenly turning to face Hermione, concern within her eyes at the sudden omission "I…..at the end of sixth year, the night of the full moon, I ran into Snape as I was making my way down to the shack." Sirius continued, not noticing his slip up. "He kept pestering James, Peter and I about Remus and it just got on my nerves, I just snapped. I told him where to go and what to do," he said quietly raking his hands over his face. "I betrayed one of my best friends, all because of my infamous Black temper," his voice barely audible.
"Sirius, I'm sure Remus doesn't harbour any bad feelings," she soothed placing a hand on his shoulder.
He turned back to her then. "He doesn't, but I betrayed him, and he was angry but I just wish he'd done more to me, I don't deserve his friendship, or his trust."
Hermione knew how to answer this but needed to find a way around a certain issue she wasn't supposed to know about first.
"Sirius, you said you were on your way down to the shack on the night of the full moon, can I ask what in Merlins name persuaded you to do that?"
"Oh, right….uhh…….shit. Promise you won't tell?"
She rolled her eyes. "Sirius, Remus trusts me with his secret I'm sure yours isn't that big," she reasoned.
He nodded and took a breath. "When we found out about Remus we wanted to help him, his transformations were bad, being locked up he would turn on himself," he said wincing for Remus' sympathy. "So we researched, James, Peter and I researched more than we ever have while at Hogwarts," he said with a small smile. "We came to the conclusion that Werewolves only hunted humans, so our only way around that was to do this," and with saying that the familiar form of Padfoot was sitting next to her on the couch.
She smiled at him. "Padfoot, explains a lot now."
Sirius transformed back and grinned at the thoughtful expression Hermione had planted on her face.
"Prongs," she muttered. "Goat?" Sirius shook his head laughing, obviously amused at that image. "Moose, no, deer?"
"Close."
"Stag."
Sirius' grin confirmed this.
"Wormtail…mouse?...rat?"
Sirius nodded.
"And Moony is kind of obvious now," she said grinning.
"Don't tell anyone I told you."
"I won't," she reassured. "About Remus forgiving you, I think I can see where he's coming from,"
Sirius sent her a confused look.
"Ok, when you found out about Remus, you didn't judge him, you saw past the Werewolf and found the person that is Remus Lupin."
Sirius nodded silently urging her to make a point.
"So, I think Remus was able to look past a hot-headed Black, who couldn't control his temper, and found a friend who hadn't judged him for what he was, like most of the wizarding world, and someone who would break the law just to help him when he needed it the most."
By the end of Hermione's speech Sirius' jaw almost reached his lap.
"Wow," he said. "I never really thought about it like that," he looked into her eyes "Thank you Hermione."
She smiled back and gave him a hug. "You're welcome, I think you should go and talk to Remus though."
He nodded "Thank you," he repeated.
She just laughed and shooed him up the stairs, glad she had been able to help.
