A/N: I've gotten a lot of mixed reviews for the previous chapter. Wow! I like that. Well, some of you pointed out that killing Ron was the easiest way. I agree, but I'm an obsessed R/Hr fan, I rather have him dead than insinuating him seeing other women.

The Future Awaits
Chapter 32: Mourning A Loss

It was Harry who made the phone call. He had done it on his hospital bed where his injuries were being attended to. Apparently, Ron had shielded Harry at a precise moment, taking the killing curse by himself.

The mission was being stalled for now. Several Death Eaters and Aurors had been killed in the process. As for Voldemort, the Daily Prophets has been knocking on Harry's door for his account on the Dark Lord's second downfall. They found out that a new prophecy has been made, but the only people who knew about it were Harry and the late Ron Weasley himself.

His body was brought back to London where a funeral was being held at the Burrow. All the Order members were there, even Hermione's parents, who never in their life witness a Wizard's funeral before. They stared affright as Ron's lifeless body hauled itself when suddenly, a bright stream of light flew out from his pale lips. And at that very moment, a group of adult wizards circled his body and raised their respective wands, led by Professor Albus Dumbledore.

Sirius stared at the group of men. He couldn't believe it. He just couldn't believe it. As much as he wanted Ron to be out of the picture where Hermione is concerned, he didn't expect it to be this way. He even felt disgusted with himself realising his thoughts. Here he is, at this godson's best friend's funeral, and there he is thinking about his rivalry with Ron.

Hermione was right. I really AM low. Ron had risked his entire life just to save his only godson from being killed, and here I am feeling relief that he is gone?! Well… not entirely relief, just slightly.

Sirius glanced around the place. Molly and Ginny were bawling together, holding each other for support. And the twins, they had a solemn look on their faces, a very rare case indeed. Harry… Harry. He was on crutches, wearing a black robe with a look… he knew that look. Harry was blaming himself again. Why must that boy place all faults onto himself?

And last but not least, Hermione. She was sitting on her mother's lap (at least that was what it looked like), with her head settled on her mother's shoulder, almost hiding her face. If someone had told him she was given a Dementor's kiss, he would have readily believed it. There was not a single tear on her eyes. She looked so lost, more lost than she did the other night.

As if she knew she was being watched, her eyes turned to Sirius' direction. He tried giving a faint smile, but only to find her eyes were on the group of men again, whom he had finally realised was levitating Ron's body into the wooden coffin. The wailings from Molly and Ginny grew even louder as Arthur Weasley, who himself wore a pair of red swollen eyes, walked towards the opened coffin and gave his dead son a kiss on the forehead.

One by one, everyone stepped up to give Ron their final goodbyes. They watched intently as Hermione took her turn, walking towards the coffin, supported by her mother. She bent down to give her dead fiancé a final kiss before falling into unconsciousness.

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"She hates me," muttered Harry to himself.

"Harry, please. Don't give me that rotten act again," said Ginny.

Sirius watched as his godson glared at the redhead. It has been weeks since the funeral. Hermione had stayed at her parents' house ever since. Ginny had reasoned that their apartment had held so many memories for both Ron and her, but Harry on the other hand, said it was because of him that Hermione chose not to stay.

Sirius couldn't really tell which one of them was right. He remembered the morning Harry arrived, he had gone on recounting what had happened on the day Ron and Voldermort were taken down. After the whole explanation, Sirius stole a glance at Hermione. There was unmistakably a penetrated look on her face as she stared at his godson, a look which he could easily translate into 'accusation'.

"Oh come on, Harry. You know Hermione is still in the mourning mode. She'll take time," reassured Ginny, taking Sirius out of his reverie.

"Well, yeah… but still, Ron died saving me, Ginny. I could have pushed him away," Harry said in a gloomy voice, looking forlorn still. "She hasn't even replied any of my owls. She doesn't pick up my calls. Everyone has been asking me about her, at work. Her boss was even considering firing her."

"Oh, please. They can't do that. They're just threatening. They know that Hermione is the best there is. In the mean time, they would just have to take some temporary for her position, won't they?"

When Harry didn't answer, Ginny heaved a sigh and stood up from her armchair. She strode towards Harry and hugged him from the back. "Harry, don't worry. Once she's done grieving, she'll be out of it. I know that she know that Ron would never want her to stop living, now, isn't it? She'll be the happy, workaholic Hermione once again, and move on. She'll find a gorgeous bloke and settle down, have a family of her own…"

Harry, who had a slight tinge of colour on his cheeks turned to look at Sirius at those words. Sirius pretended not to spot the look, but inside, he was considering Ginny's words.

"Yeah… yeah…" Harry said. "But just when will that time come?"

"One day. A miracle would happen. An angel will come and take away our Hermione from her sorrows and just… let her live life."

Harry nodded at the rather rhetoric answer.

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Christmas was a quiet affair. No one in the Weasley household seemed to be in Christmas mode. They were still mourning the loss of one of their member.

Mrs Weasley however, was unimpressed with Hermione's behaviour. She had accused her of 'abandoning the family'.

"Mom, c'mon! Hermione has always been celebrating Christmas with us. Ever since fifth year! Don't you think it's time she does it with her parents?"

Mrs Weasley lamented. "Well, the least she could have done is leave some presents or cards."

It was true. There was not a single note from Hermione. Harry had sent an owl to her parents, and they had told him that she had been locking herself up ever since she came back, and only came out for meals. Sirius snorted at the thought that she might not have even opened the presents they had gotten her.

Remus, who had came back from Arizona, was now seen with Tonks most of the time. They were now an official couple. Mrs Weasley would every now and then, give them her disapproving look. She kept saying that Tonks was 'way too young' for Remus.

Sirius snorted again at this. If Tonks was 'way too young', what was there left to say for both Hermione and him? Well… if they ever get together, that is.

His mind drifted again to Hermione. He missed her terribly. It hurts him to know she's grieving, hurts him more to know that she's grieving for another man. Sheesh! There I go again! How could I even have hard feelings for a noble dead man?

Ron. Ron Weasley. He still remembered the day he last saw him at his apartment. Ron had specifically chosen him, Sirius Black, to take care and support Hermione while he's gone.

Now that he's gone forever, was the responsibility still resting on his shoulders?

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Two months passed. There was still no note from Hermione. She was still locked up in her room at her parents' house. Harry, Ginny and even some of her close muggle friends had come for a visit, but always ended up failing to meet her face to face.

Sirius had heard from Ginny that Karl Granger, Hermione's father, had even tried to hit her for being 'ignorant'. As much as his newfound hatred for her father, he couldn't help but feel he would have done a similar act to gain some reaction from her.

It was time for him to try taking his chance. It never hurts to try. His hopes are definitely high. Maybe, he could pour some sense into the Granger girl.

So here he is, in front of The Grangers' Manor.

"Excuse me?" said a voice. "Can I help you?"

Sirius recognised him as the watchman of the house. "I'm here to see Hermione Granger."

The old man's expression fell instantly at the name, but he led him into the house nonetheless. It was Hermione's mother who greeted him next. "Hello. I seem to remember you."

"I'm Sirius Black. Harry's godfather," Sirius re-introduced himself.

"Oh, yes. Welcome, Mr Black. You're here for Hermione?" Sirius smiled in response as Mrs Wylona Granger started to lead him up the stairs. "How I wish you could get her out from that room. She barely talks. I am beginning to believe my daughter has gone mute!"

As they reached upon a finely carved wooden door, Mrs Granger began to knock. "Hermione darling, there's someone here who wants to meet you."

As soon as she said that, the door clicked and opened. Wylona let out a gasp. She was surprised to see her daughter actually took the effort to even stand up from her rooted spot. She then turned to Sirius and gave him a look of awe. He was apparently the first person to successfully gain a reaction from her daughter.

Sirius was aghast. Hermione was looking terrible. She had lost a tremendous amount of weight. There were dark, heavy bags under her dull eyes and her hair looked messy in its original bushy state. She stood there in her pyjamas, staring up at Sirius.

"I saw you down the pathway," she pointed at the window in her room.

Wylona Granger looked even more surprise than before.

"She talks," she exclaimed in wonder.