A/N: I would like to thank all of you who had reviewed the previous chapter. Anyway, I just hope this chapter will answer most of your questions.
The Future Awaits
Chapter 31: Understanding Theories
Sirius sighed into the empty room. Dumbledore had just given him a long talk about his… 'situation'.
The Order was now busy doing paperwork for the Ministry, concerning him. Sure, the Wizarding World has learnt that Sirius Black is innocent, but not the Muggle World. They still think he was one raving, lunatic, mass murderer. So both the Ministry and the Order are working towards that, in which Sirius has not a single idea on how they're going to manage that. How are they going to prove to Muggles that thirteen people died not because of some stupid guns, but by magic? Well, whatever that is, he put his whole trust on them, rest assured.
Now he sits here on a velvet covered armchair, with an absolute blank mind, staring into the roaring fire. He didn't notice what his fingers were fiddling with in his pocket, until the grandfather clock decided to mark its presence. It was a bronze key, the Trio's apartment's key. Hermione had once duplicated it for him for his own convenience, and he still has it in his keeps.
The continuing dingdongs of the old grandfather clock brought him back to the lecture he had with his old headmaster earlier.
Time. What a simple, and yet magnanimous word. A word that had made his whole life a misery.
That girl… that timeless girl… He didn't know how he was taking that letter of hers. In one hand, he couldn't believe she could have the guts to apologise that innocently when she had crushed his heart like a piece of wasted parchment. And on the other, he was obligedto forgive her.
She had figured out the whole thing by herself without him explaining. What else is there for him to explain? What other part of the story did she want him to clear?
'Furthermore, Christmas is coming. It's not good to have hard feelings with your loved ones around this time of year,' Professor Dumbledore's voice floated into his mind again.
Sirius sighed for the second time. He guessed the old and wise sorcerer was right. He surely wanted to celebrate Christmas with her.
Looking at the key again, Sirius stood up and grabbed his wand, but not before a thought struck him. He needed to get some money out of his vault. Gringotts!
After searching for a full five minutes for his vault's key, he quickly checked his appearance in the mirror.
"You look marvellous, dear," the mirror chimed.
"I don't want to look marvellous! ...Any idea how to make myself unrecognisable?"
Even though he knew he's free, he didn't want to make an obvious public appearance. He certainly didn't like the idea of people gawking at him when he's alone with no company.
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The mirror's suggestion was quite good. Nobody seemed to recognise him, except for the goblin who inspected his key.
It was not until half an hour in the bank did his foot finally stepped out of the oddly shaped building. Goblins kept passing him, scurrying here and there, minding their own business. He had taken out a considerate amount of galleons which were now kept safely under his robes.
As he passed the alley, he looked longingly at 'Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor'. He craved for a glass of sundae, but didn't want to risk going in, for fear of getting noticed. So, with a flick of his wand, he appeared in front of a clean and varnished pine door.
Warily, he pressed the doorbell. He had a feeling he was being 'visiblo'ed at, knowing fare well that that spell can only be cast from the inside. But the door remained shut, so he proceeded to press the doorbell again and knock.
Unsatisfied, he said, "Alright. I'm coming in whether you like it or not!"
Fumbling with the key, he finally stepped inside the apartment. He breathed in the atmosphere happily. He really missed this place even after just a few days away from it.
"Hermione? Hermione, where are you?"
But he was only answered by a long purr underneath. Crookshanks was weaving his way through his legs, apparently signalling him how hungry he was. Sirius bent down and picked the animal up.
"Hmm… so I see. For a moment there, I thought you were your mistress!"
The cat gave him an insulted look. "You're hungry, huh? Come. Let's look what's in store for you."
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Where is she?
It's already sun down, and Hermione was yet to be at home. Sirius was looking out of the apartment's window, showcasing the little muggle shops below. He remembered having coffee with Harry at that small café down there.
Suddenly, his eyes caught sight of a familiar set of brown hair down the narrow road. It was Hermione! She was coming out from a… is that a car or what? What kind of car is that, anyway? It was a big, shiny and dark blue one with no top… no cover and only a black bar hovering above it… and a big black tire plastered on the back.
Sirius then saw her pointing her hand at the strange-looking vehicle when suddenly it gave out a loud beeping sound, until it gradually stopped. Finally, she left.
'This is it,' he thought. He finally straightened himself and stood in front of the door, waiting to hear the lock outside detached.
He could hear her footsteps getting nearer and nearer until he couldn't wait any longer and opened the door himself.
"Sirius!!"
Sirius gave her a small smile. "I saw you downstairs. What kind of car was that?"
"It's a muggle vehicle. Jeep. My favourite kind," she answered. Sirius noticed the distinct wonder in her voice.
"I still got your duplicated key," he showed her the bronze metal as to prove himself. "I thought you were at home."
"Oh. I stayed for a visit at my parents' house, since I wanted to take along that jeep with me. How long have you been in here?"
"Late afternoon. What's that you got there?" he pointed at the number of paper bags she had just placed on top of the coffee table.
"My Mom and I went for a little shopping, yesterday. You know… 'Mom-daughter-timeout'?"
Sirius nodded.
"I just hope you didn't make dinner, Sirius?"
"Uh… no. I didn't."
"Y-you're not… staying?" Hermione asked, turning to look at him, unconsciously taking out a brown paper bag with a big yellow 'M' on it.
Sirius stared at her. He honestly hasn't thought about that.
A moment passed as the two people stared at each other, lost into each other's eyes. It was not until Crookshanks leapt onto the table, sniffing the paper bags, did the contact broke.
"Umm…"
"I want you to stay," Hermione demanded in a rush, now busying herself with her shopping bags.
Sirius stared wide eyed at her back. She wanted him to stay?
"Have you had your dinner?" she asked, still not meeting his eyes.
"Uh, no." Now that she mentioned it, he finally noticed the wonderful aroma of nicely roasted beef.
"It's McDonalds. I have coke… nuggets… fries… hot fudge sundaes… burger…" she muttered as she took them out one by one.
Sirius had absolutely no idea what she meant by all those she had just mentioned. Bugger? Bu- BOGGART?!
"WHAT?!"
"What?" Hermione finally turned to look at him, alarmed.
"What did you just say?"
"What did I just say? Burger?"
"No. Before that."
"…hot fudge sundae?"
With that, Sirius took four big strides towards the table where the mouth-watering food laid. He eyed the sundae with lust.
"Take it," Hermione chuckled, amused at his sudden behaviour.
Sirius beamed widely at her before grabbing the white plastic spoon and opening the lid of the ice cream.
Hermione stared incredulously at the 'sundae monster' beneath her as he scooped spoonfuls after spoonfuls into his awaiting mouth. "Don't mind me, Hermione. I have been craving for a nice sundae at Florean Fortescue's since just now at Diagon Alley."
Nuggaes? What 'Nuggaes'?
Sirius looked around until he spotted a small box with the label 'Chicken McNuggets'. Oooh…
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Crookshanks leapt out from his lap when he gave out a loud burp. Hermione, who had just come out from the showers, was shaking her head at him.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
He could still sense the awkwardness between the two of them. And he knew Hermione could too.
He saw her grabbing the box of nuggets and placed them into the oven. Two minutes later, she came in and sat with him on the couch with the heated pieces in one hand, but that was not before she turned on the stereo to a peaceful, sentimental music.
Sirius watched as she blew the nugget softly with her rosy lips, before tentatively taking a bite. She did that with every one of them.
Hermione knew she was being watched, and she could feel her face heating up. Well… thanks to the hot nuggets too. As she turned to look at him, she casually asked, "You want one?"
"No, I'm fully loaded, now," he replied, patting his belly.
Hermione turned back to her food when she heard him sighed.
"Hermione… I… I want to apologise for everything."
Surprisingly, she shook her head. "No. Not until I know what you're apologising for. If someone had to do some apologising, it's me. I shouldn't have blown up at you like that. I'm sorry."
Sirius stared at her. "Well, you already figured the whole thing by yourself, Mione. What else do you want to know?"
It was now Hermione's turn to sigh. She pondered for a few moments.
"Firstly, how did I get into the past when I don't even remember going there? Was I obliviated?"
This time, it was Sirius who shook his head. "No… no. It was an accident."
"An accident?"
"Your timeturner broke when you were in your 7th year."
"But- 7th year? I didn't have a timeturner in 7th year."
"You did initially. But then, after you went into the past… into my time, McGonagall didn't allow you a timeturner for your Head Girl duties… remember?"
"I… yeah… But- how? How did that happen? How come I didn't go back to your time? Timeturner doesn't work that way. I have been using it for a whole year in my third year, and that never happened!"
"Hermione, your timeturner broke when you fell. It broke. Meaning… well… it wouldn't work… as it should've."
Hermione let out a soft gasp. "I… I-I, you mean I… I meddled with time? All these…" She could feel the sudden grief of guilt washing over her. "V-Voldermort… all these… because of me?!"
"No! Voldermort has been there even before you came. You've got nothing to do with it."
Hermione gave him an angered incredulous look. "What do you mean this has nothing to do with me?! Sirius! I broke the law!! I should be in Azkaban – soul sucked – KILLED!!"
"Hermione, it was an accident. The Ministry doesn't even know about it. I asked Dumbledore, and he did say your presence in the past didn't really change the world of Voldermort."
"'Didn't really'? C'mon now, Sirius."
Sirius added quietly, "I didn't really know the reason myself until Professor Dumbledore explained it all to me, this morning."
Hermione stared at him before asking her next question, "How was I brought back to my time, then?"
"Minerva and Dumbledore brought you to a time portal. I remember them taking you away from me. You were crying. I told you not to leave me, but you told me it was… well… you will always love me…"
Sirius was gazing down at his entwined fingers as Hermione stared at him. He looked like an abandoned child at the moment, wanting to be loved. Hermione suddenly feel a surge of affection towards him.
She didn't know what made her do it, but she felt herself moving closer into him as she took his entwined fists into her own hands. She then found herself lock-eyed with a pair of familiar set of grey eyes she once saw in her dream… Yes. It was him. Sirius Black was the man in her mysterious dream.
Both their thumbs absentmindedly rubbed each other's hands as their faces inadvertently leant into each other. They were so close that she could feel his unsteady breathe on her lips. She could even hear her heart pumping loudly, or was that his? Those intense eyes gradually closed when the sudden ringing of the phone jolted the both of them up.
Hermione awkwardly stood up to reach the wall phone when Sirius informed her that he was going in for a shower.
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Fifteen minutes passed. He didn't feel like stepping out of the bathroom to face her. Just now, was by far the closest he had gotten with Hermione throughout the years, and one blasted phone spoilt the whole moment. Well, it's not his fault that she moved closer to him… Yeah, Sirius. That's it, blame it all on the others.
He had changed into some clean clothes and was pressing his hands onto the rim of the sink, staring at his reflection on the mirror in front.
Sirius half expected it to start a conversation with him, but the mirror remained silent. It was actually a muggle medicine cabinet; Hermione had gotten from her parents seeing that they're dentists.
Okay, Sirius. You can do it. Just step out. Smile, and wish her a good night.
And so, he did. He looked into Hermione's opened bedroom door, but found she was nowhere inside.
The whole apartment was quiet, except for the music coming from the stereo. Alarmed, he called, "Hermione? Where are you?" But he was replied with nothing but the peaceful music.
It was not until he caught sight of a dangling receiver did he saw her. Hermione was seated on the floor, leaning against the wall with a blank, lost look.
"Hermione?" He picked up the still dangling receiver and put it on his ear. "Hello?" But the line was dead. So he placed it back to its rightful place before squatting down to the petrified-like Hermione Granger.
"Hermione? Hello? Are you okay? What happened? Who called?"
But his questions were left unanswered, as Hermione continued looking lost. Unsatisfied, he grabbed both her shoulders and proceeded to shake her. That seemed to bring her to reality as she turned to look at him, but still with the same lost look. Sirius then gave her soft slaps on her cheeks.
"Hermione, are you okay? What happened to you?"
Suddenly, a tear broke loose from her brown eye. It was then, when she leapt into his arms and started to cry out hoarsely.
"Alright. Now you really have to tell me what the fuck happened?"
She finally answered his queries in between hiccups, with her face still hidden in his chest. "My life – hic – gone – hic." She wailed again as Sirius rubbed her back soothingly, still confused.
"My – my – hic – killed! – hic – KILLED!!"
"Hermione, you're not going to be killed. I told you it was an accident."
"RON!! Killed!!"
A/N: Alright. I hope this chapter satisfied all your curiosity. And yes, Ron died. I hate killing Ron. I love him so much! But… what the heck! I think some of you have seen that coming. It was just a matter of time, wasn't it? Heheh!