A/N: Sorry for the late update. Anyway, I'm aware of my poor grammar and tenses. I'm never good with my English. I have already warned you guys from the starting of this story. Also, in my MS Word, my opening and closing quotes never always get to work properly… So please, again, bear with me. But I'll be really glad if anyone out there is willing to beta for me. ;)

The Future Awaits
Chapter 33: Sirius' Laments

Mrs Granger had left the both of them to talk as Hermione invited Sirius into her room.

"You've got err… nice room," commented Sirius as he let his eyes wander around the tidy place, making Hermione stare at him for a moment before muttering a quiet 'thanks'. She sat Indian-style on her bed and motioned Sirius to take the nearest chair opposite her.

Sirius took the invitation but not before it slid off and he fell hard on the floor with a loud 'thud'.

"OWW!! What the hell?!"

Hermione snickered. "It got wheels, Sirius… And don't curse."

"Why would you want a chair with wheels?" he asked incredulously, still rubbing his bottom with his hand.

Hermione snickered again as she noticed him preferring to sit on the floor than the 4-wheeled computer chair she had just offered.

Sirius smiled at her continuous giggles. It was not long until she caught the look and quietened down.

"That's the first time I did that. Thank you," she mumbled, her words almost incognizable.

"That's what I came for," Sirius smiled again. "And if that means I would have to hurt myself every so often, I would be really honoured."

Hermione gave a small smile. Sirius stared at her as she looked down at her fiddling fingers and toes.

"Tell me, Hermione, when are you planning to get out of this place?"

She looked up at him for second before looking back down, mumbling, "I don't know."

"Hermione -"

"Oh! Just spit it out, Sirius! I'm tired of those talks! 'Hermione, you've got to live with the real world.' 'Hermione, you've got a life ahead of you.' 'Hermione, you've got to move on.' 'Hermione, blah blah blah!' That's what you came to tell me, isn't it?" she asked irritatingly. "Tell you what, I'm Hermione Granger. I don't need different versions of those same, stupid advices!"

Sirius sat there staring up at her. Both shocked and amused at her explosion.

"Then just what are you gonna do with your lovely little life, Miss All-Mighty Granger?" Sirius asked in an all-sarcastic voice. "Rot all the way?" His tone was slowly matching hers.

Hermione sniffed loudly, wiping her nose roughly with her hand. "Yes," she growled. "Do you have a problem with that?!"

"Oh yes, I do," he replied firmly. "I'm not going to make you break your promise to me, whether it was made in your time or in… our time!" Sirius' face flushed as he searched for the right words.

Hermione looked away and stared at the opened window. Sirius could almost hear her rolling eyes.

"Please, Sirius," Hermione muttered. "Can't you see I've given up?"

"No! I see a stubborn, hot-headed girl. If I know Ron any better, he won't want you to do this. He would want you to live life! Be happy and move on!"

"How would you know? You hate him," Hermione said bitterly.

Sirius' frustration grew and he stood up, striding towards her bed. "Listen. I love you, Hermione… Just like Ron did. If he loved you as much as I do, that would be the same wish my spirit would ever wish for."

Hermione would still not look at Sirius in the eye.

"Did you know," Sirius continued, "Ron told me once before he left to take care and support you while he's gone. And now that he is gone, the responsibility is still stuck on me, Hermione. If not for me, then do it for him. His last wish!"

At this, Hermione turned to look at him. Sirius snorted softly and smiled, looking down at his own folded legs, finally noticing he was sitting on the same bed as Hermione.

"You know, when Harry was born 20 years ago, I couldn't help but feel jealous of James. Jealous of his happiness… of everything he had. All I could think of was you. I thought that you and I could have the same happiness together. A happy married life, a beautiful child… and be wonderful godparents to Harry…"

Hermione blinked at the thought of being her best friend's godmother.

"And you know… when I was in Azkaban, just like you, I let myself rot away. But in time, I remember your words… 'We'll meet again'. I began to gather my strength and whatever happiness left in me, and transformed."

Hermione's eyes widened at this.

"Yes, Hermione. It was you. You were the reason I got out of Azkaban."

Sirius stared back at Hermione's searching eyes. "And you took me out from that horrible Veil too… What do you want from me, Hermione? Why me? Why take me? When there are many other innocent men trapped in there?"

"We're still trying to retrieve more people, Sirius. My department's working on it," Hermione replied somewhat hastily.

"But why first me?!"

"Because Harry needs you, Sirius!"

"Bullshit! You know this is total bullshit!"

He could see the tears rimming on her frustrated eyes, pleading him to stop.

"It was your instinct wasn't it? I know that all through your investigation on that Veil, you had no one on your mind but me to save."

Realisation hit the tear-streaked girl. It was true. Throughout all those long information gatherings, she did not even think once about anyone else trapped in that place, other than Sirius.

"Harry was terrible after you left, Sirius," she muttered, pushing back her new-found realisation.

Sirius gave her a cruel sneer. "I won't deny that. And you too can't deny the fact that Harry had moved on pretty fine, through what I'd gathered from Remus. He had you and Ron. But you brought me back, not him. I came back to this world twice because of you, Hermione. And now, all you want to do is abandon me again and rot away?! …for someone who is never coming back?!"

"I don't love you, Sirius," Hermione muttered quietly.

"NO! You cannot deny you feel something for me! That Sunday night, you almost kissed me, didn't you? And what would you call that? Instinct?!"

A loud crash interrupted their thoughts, which caused Sirius' breathing to hitch. There she was, standing by the door, staring appallingly at him, was Hermione's very own biological Muggle mother.

"Mama," gasped Hermione.

"Hermione, wh-" but her mother was cut short when Hermione stood up abruptly from her bed.

"I'm going back."

Her voice was full of confidence that both Sirius and her mother stared at her looking surprised.

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Three tries and the door still remained unopened. Again, Sirius pressed the doorbell. That was when they heard heavy footsteps and loud squeals from the inside.

"Hermione! Hermione! It's you!" It was Ginny Weasley, whose lips seemed suspiciously swollen. Behind her was Harry Potter, looking somewhat flushed.

Both Sirius and Hermione stepped inside the apartment. She was immediately embraced in a tight hug by the still-squealing Ginny Weasley before giving Harry his turn.

"We missed you, Hermione," Harry whispered into her hair.

"I missed you too," Hermione said back.

They pulled away as someone cleared their throat. It was Sirius. "So," he said, "Why is this fine young lady here, godson?"

Both Ginny and Harry blushed at the question.

"Err… we sorta, got together this afternoon," Harry mumbled, looking embarrassed.

Hermione smiled a real smile. "About time. Congratulations. I'm happy for you two." But her expressions slowly changed to sadness.

"Hermione, I'm -"

"No, Harry. You deserve to have this. Don't let my sorrows be a barrier for you two."

At this, Harry hugged her again and thanked her. With her back still on Sirius, Harry mouthed another 'thanks' to his godfather who in turned gave a small smile.