Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Harry Potter…..
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Chapter 34. Hearts Breaking Even
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Wednesday morning found James, Lily and Remus standing outside Dumbledore's office in front of the stone gargoyle, waiting patiently for the headmaster and two missing members of their group.
"Padfoot better get his ass into gear," James smirked, glancing down the empty corridor.
Lily chuckled slightly. "Don't worry, he has Hermione with him, they'll make it."
"True," James agreed shrugging his shoulders.
The trio were startled when the gargoyle moved and the headmaster stepped out into the corridor. "Aaaahh," he commented softly when he saw the group. "Perhaps it would be wise to try and locate Miss Thomas and Mister Black," he suggested, blue eyes sparkling.
James and Remus exchanged glances but nodded and started to walk down the corridor.
"Lily and I'll head towards the hospital wing," James said. "You go in the opposite direction, but try to avoid the Room of Requirement," he suggested winking at the werewolf as the group separated to undergo a half hearted attempt at a search for the pair.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Sirius was presently lying on his side head propped up on one arm as he gazed at the sleeping witch next to him. She was spread out on her stomach, one hand under her head the other lying next to Sirius.
The Animagus cautiously stretched out his free hand and ran his fingers along the pale scars that littered her back, concern and pain etched in silver eyes as he pondered on what she had been through.
The featherlike touch floating across her back caused Hermione to stir and Sirius removed his arm that was supporting his head and lay down at her level.
When Hermione opened her eyes she was greeted by two pools of grey staring back.
"Good Morning," he greeted.
"Mmmm Morning," she said giving him a kiss. "I could get used to this," she murmured.
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?" he asked a small smile gracing his lips.
Hermione nodded and buried her head next to his, breathing in his musky scent.
"Hermione?" Sirius asked as he wrapped an arm around her, enjoying the peaceful morning.
"Mmmm?"
"Do you want to…I mean you don't have to if you don't want to its entirely up to you….i was just wondering if you uhh..."
Hermione lifted her head and smiled at the black haired teen. "Bugs, you're babbling."
A faint blush rose to Sirius' cheeks before he cleared his throat and continued. "I don't have a place yet, James said I could stay with him and Lily till I find a flat, but I just wanted to know if, you know, you'd like to come and live with me?" he asked quietly stroking her cheek with his thumb.
Hermione smiled and placed a kiss on his lips. "I'd love to, how about we talk about it after out meeting with Dumbledore?"
Sirius grinned and nodded, moving in for another kiss but Hermione had pulled back, her eyes wide.
"Oh Merlin," she exclaimed suddenly, jumping out of the bed and searching for her discarded clothes.
Sirius watched with amusement sparkling in his eyes as Hermione frantically dressed herself. She looked up at him with a questioning glance.
"Why aren't you getting dressed?" she asked as if it would be the most obvious thing in the world for him to be doing.
Sirius sent the witch a blank look to which she sighed and began to pick up his clothes.
"Meeting," she explained. "With Professor Dumbledore."
Sirius' eyes grew wide. "Thats now?" he asked grabbing his pants as he moved to get dressed.
"Yes now," Hermione answered, now watching Sirius as he struggled to get his shirt over his head.
"Right," he said standing before Hermione and flicking his hair out of his eyes. "Ready."
Hermione smiled and straightened the collar of his shirt before meeting his eyes. Sirius pulled her close and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
"Have I told you I love you today?" he asked, placing his forehead on hers.
"No," Hermione murmured.
"I love you," he said meeting her lips again. "So much," he murmured as the kiss grew passionate.
As Hermione lost herself in the kiss she realized that this is what she wanted, to be here, in this place and time, with Sirius. She felt a stab of guilt when she thought of Harry, but she couldn't live without these arms wrapped around her like they were now. No, she was in love and nothing was going to change that.
A few minutes later Hermione pulled away. "Meeting," she stated as she caught her breath.
Sirius nodded and led her out of the room, Hermione casting one last look around the beautiful setting before following the black haired wizard.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Lucius Malfoy gave the signal and the group of Slytherins downed the clear potion, one by one they started to fade from sight until the room appeared to stand empty.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Sirius and Hermione made their way quietly down the corridors, Sirius walking with his arm around Hermione's waist and she reciprocated the gesture by placing her own arm around his.
"I bet Prongs and Moony are waiting for us," Sirius pondered.
"Lily too," Hermione added.
"Mmmm, I wonder why Pete wasn't asked to come - Dumbledore knows we tend to do things as a group."
Hermione winced slightly at this, it was her that had asked Dumbledore not to include the small Gryffindor in the meeting; she didn't think he should be present when she revealed her secret. She cast a quick look at Sirius, fear flashing in her eyes as she pondered on how he would take the news.
Sirius caught this fear and stopped. "Hey," he murmured. "What's the matter?"
Hermione gave him a shaky smile. "Nothing, just promise me that no matter what happens in this meeting you won't leave me."
Sirius smiled a little worriedly. "Of course I won't, I'll always be there for you."
Hermione smiled and lent in for a kiss. "I know," she said before meeting his lips.
"If this is the reason why you two are going to be late you'll have to come up with a better excuse for Dumbledore," a familiar voice joked.
Sirius broke the kiss and turned to meet a grinning Remus.
"Good morning Pads, Hermione," he greeted.
Hermione smiled at the werewolf. "Morning," she replied while Sirius grinned broadly.
"Why Moony, this is a delightful morning, if I do say so myself."
Remus chuckled. "Yes Sirius, I'm sure it is," he replied winking at Hermione who felt a blush creep up her cheeks. "Dumbledore's waiting; we should make our way there."
The group made their way down the corridor talking about the graduation the following day when Remus paused, mid-way through a sentence.
"What is it Remus?" Sirius asked looking at his friend aware of the werewolf's acute instincts.
"There's someone here," he said looking around.
Suddenly Hermione felt hands wrap around her wrist and yank her away from Sirius and she let out a small cry in surprise.
"HERMIONE!" Sirius yelled as he attempted to move forward but felt three pairs of hands grab him and hold him back; he cast a frantic look at his friend who seemed to be having an equal amount of trouble but was making better progress towards Hermione than he was.
Hermione fought against the invisible captors and attempted to reach her wand; she yanked a hand free and dove her hand in her pocket to grab hold of the sleek piece of wood. Pulling it out she aimed it to her left, hoping to hit something, out of the corner of her eye she saw Sirius and Remus struggling against their own foes. She let out a small scream as a stunning spell hit Remus and the werewolf collapsed to the floor.
She was about to aim a stunning spell of her own when a sharp fist hit her side and she gasped and dropped her wand, the instrument falling helplessly to the floor.
"Sirius!" she choked out but the black haired wizard now had more hands restraining him.
"LET HER GO!" He shouted desperately. "HERMIONE!" He called trying in vain to reach the struggling girl, anger surging through his veins when she was punched by and invisible hand.
Hermione felt her mouth being forced open and a clear liquid poured down it.
Sirius watched in horror as Hermione began to disappear from before his eyes. "NOOOOO!" he screamed his voice becoming raw as he struggled to reach her. "HERMIONE!" he cried desperately when he could no longer see the witch. Suddenly a fist hit him in the stomach before a hand collided with his jaw sending the wizard to the floor gasping for breath.
"Hermione," he moaned in pain, struggling to his feet now that he was free of his bonds and running to the place where she had disappeared, anxious tears streaming down his face.
"Hermione!" he called again, picking up her wand from the floor running up and down the corridor desperately searching for the girl "Hermione..."
He let out a sob and ran up to Remus' prone form. "Mo-ony," he said shaking his friend. "Wake up, I need your help, please," he said, shaking Remus harder. "Remus, buddy, I need you now," he whimpered. "Help me," he felt his heart breaking in his chest as he kept sending frantic glances down the hall hoping Hermione would appear suddenly. "Moony"
When his friend didn't respond Sirius fumbled for his wand before pointing it shakily at his friend "Enn-nervate" he managed to choke out.
Remus stirred and opened his golden eyes.
"Remus," Sirius spluttered helping his friend up. "You…you need to help me…they…I…I couldn't…" Sirius tried to explain through his tears.
"Sirius, what happened? Where did Hermione go?" Remus asked trying to make sense of his friends frantic pleas while noting the dullness that had replaced Sirius' normally sparkling silver eyes.
"She…" he gestured to the place where he'd last seen her. "She…she just disappeared," he said staring helplessly at her wand lying in his hands.
"Its ok Sirius," Remus soothed. "We'll find her, we have to go to Dumbledore," he said leading his friend down the corridor.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
