A/N: Thank you so much for all of you who reviewed. Anyway, I've got myself a new beta, Gywnn-Potter. Though this chapter isn't beta'd yet. We'll do it slowly. Anyhow, on with the story. Aah! I can already feel the completion of this fic.

The Future Awaits
Chapter 34: An Attempt To Escape Love

Sirius sat on his bed, leaning his entire back against the headboard. Just hours ago, he came back from Harry's apartment. Ever since Ron's death, he resumed staying with Remus, who always seemed to have Tonks for company.

So here he was, worrying about Hermione. He had half expected her to stop him and stay with her. But she did no such thing. She just went and locked herself into her room.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Ron! Will you -"

Harry slumped onto the dining chair. How could he forget? After all these months?

Ding Dong!

Oh, yeah. The door. Casting a quick 'Visiblo' on the wooden plane, he quickly opened it with a smile and invited his two regular Sunday visitors in.

"I was just making breakfast."

"Where's Hermione?" asked Remus.

"She's still asleep. Apparently, her door wasn't locked, last night," Harry answered, looking meaningfully at the two Marauders.

"Well, that's an improvement," Remus said, glancing at Sirius.

Sirius, who was walking into the kitchen followed closely by Remus, said, "I was thinking of having breakfast at that Muggle café down there."

"Oh," Harry mumbled, looking down at his almost-burnt mashed potato. "Actually, you know what, that's a great idea! Let me just leave a note for Mione."

"Great! It will be my treat, and your money!" exclaimed Sirius, poking his index finger onto Remus' chest.

Remus put a scowl on his face and said, "Fascinating though, I don't think those Muggles would have any interest with my knuts and sickles."

Harry, who was scrawling something on some piece of parchment, let out a soft huff, muttering something under his breathe, which sounded like, "bunch of hopeless jerks."

They made their way to the small café down the road after Harry agreed to have the charges on him. In between of their conversation, Sirius glanced out at the window which gave a good view of the car park. He could see the big dark blue vehicle belonging to Hermione.

"What're you looking at, Sirius?" asked Harry, sipping his cup of Cappuccino.

"Huh? Oh, that dark blue car, there," he replied, pointing at the vehicle outside.

"Yeah. Nice catch, isn't it? Though it has been charged for parking fees for months, now. I wonder whose it is."

"It's Hermione's! And what do you mean you've got to pay to park a car?!"

A waitress who was wiping a nearby table looked up at Sirius and gave him an 'are-you-daft' look.

"Yeah, of course. Muggle rule. And uh… Hermione's?"

"She told me about it when she got it here, months ago. The day she found out about… well… Ron."

"Oh."

"Anyway, Sirius," Remus said, breaking the tension. "What did you blabber to Hermione to get her out of that place?"

"Yeah?" Harry added.

Sirius debated whether he should tell them the whole conversation or not. Did he really want them to know that Hermione and he almost kissed? Or did he not?

"Well, I kinda made her realise something…" he started.

"Which is?" Harry asked, irritatingly.

"Told her that she should not let go of Ron's last wish."

Harry stared at his godfather for a second. "How would you know Ron's last wish? I was the only one there with him… and well… him," he said, ending his last word with a dark look.

"Well, I don't think Ron would like her to run a lifeless life, would he?"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Weeks past. Hermione returned back to her workplace. Luckily for her, her Head of Department accepted her back. The temporary, Mdm Gracie Fowly, who had been covering her place, was made into her assistant.

It was Harry however who noticed her lack of enthusiasm in her work. She would come back looking forlorn. He could bet on all his galleons in his vault that if anything, Hermione looked even more depressed than ever. He also noticed that she would sometimes stare at his godfather with a blank look.

All these made him decided that there was more to it than what Sirius had briefly told him.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"She knows, Harry," told Sirius. "Not surprising, isn't it?"

"She knows? How?"

Sirius recounted to his godson whatever had happened between Hermione and him while he was gone for his mission.

"She-she almost… almost kissed you?!"

"Yeah. Almost," sighed Sirius.

"Holy bloodsucking mosquito!!"

Everything seemed to fit for Harry now. He could still remember Hermione's detailed explanation of Cho Chang's dilemma in his fifth year. Hers should be no different. She's just confused. More so, Sirius is twice her age.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It was a Saturday afternoon. Harry had gone out on a date with Ginny, and so had Remus with Tonks.

Bored, Sirius decided to see Hermione. There, he found that she was all dressed up, obviously planning to go out. She had looked almost displeased at seeing him at the door.

"Where're you going?" Sirius asked.

"I just wanted to take a long drive. I cleared my parking fees last week. Thought I take it running, today. I'm sorry you'd just arrived."

Sirius felt a bit insulted at that. She didn't even offer him a drink, and he got the feeling that she wanted him to go back, leaving her alone.

"Can I come?"

Hermione stopped whatever she was doing, and turned to Sirius looking annoyed.

"Hermione, I just… I can't trust you alone out there."

At that, Sirius earned himself a hard look from the woman. "Fine." She walked past and purposely knocked into him, to show him her dissension.

He watched as she took out a belt and transfigured it into something similar. "It's a dog latch. I want you in your dog form."

He didn't dare to ask her the reasons, so he decided to take the safe route and just nodded. Hermione took a little more while to transfigure some other stuff before they both descended the stairs.

So here they are, in the heart of Muggle London. His furry black ears were flapping against the strong wind. The only time he felt like this was when he was on his broom, which was almost three decades ago.

All through the journey, Hermione remain silent, although her face showed something he could pass as determination.

Soon they arrive at a tall hill; whose area was quite secluded. The jeep proceeded to drive on the steep, narrow road, jerking at every bump it rode on.

Sirius turned his furry face to look at her in wonder. Where is she heading to?

Minutes later, a small field came into view. The jeep came to a halt. Hermione got off the vehicle before giving herself a good stretch, gaining a secret smile from the black mutt. He too tried to alight but realised that he was still attached to the stupid dog latch Hermione had explained was a rule in Muggle world. Stupid trouble-seeking Muggles! Noticing his struggle, Hermione came to the rescue and unlatched him with ease. He gave a soft bark as a form of appreciation.

The view from the top here was absolutely beautiful. He could see the little buildings below, with flock of birds flying here and there. He wondered if this is the place Hermione goes to every time she needed peace.

As he continued taking in the scenery, a small piece of pebble bounced off his head. He turned to find Hermione in a giggling fit. The dog latch was still clutched in her hand. Grinning his doggish grin, he pounced and tackled her down with his paws.

"S-Sirius… Sirius, STOP! Please! I-I can't breathe!"

At that, he did. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her.

Her laughter died down as his small grey, dog eyes stared down her big brown ones. Not a slight movement could be seen between the two figures, until a loud chirp from a flying sparrow snapped them into reality. As they struggled to get up, Hermione asked, "Want to play fetch, boy?"

Sirius let out excited barks, jumping up and down to which Hermione laughed. It made him feel good to see he was still capable of tickling her funny bone, and at the same time amused at her change of behaviour. He felt the need to just continue his act as a good pet dog and entertain her. He watched as she inserted a free hand into one of her pockets to retrieve a yellow ball which he saw her transfigure earlier.

She then hoisted the ball and asked, "Ready?"

Sirius nodded his head vigorously as he watched her threw the ball as far as possible, which eventually landed into a pile of bushes. Sirius ran fanatically in search of the lost ball.

As the black dog disappeared from sight, a rolled up latch dropped onto the ground with a soft thud. The woman sprinted into her jeep and immediately started out the engine. Pulling the brakes, she sped off in full speed down the spiralled hill road.

'I have to do this. It's the only way,' she chanted to herself.

She knew it was selfish of her to commit a suicide, but what else could she do?

Moments later, she heard distant barking from behind. Sirius apparently didn't even take the time to transform. He couldn't even use magic because she had nicked his wand earlier at her apartment when she pretended to knock into him.

"Be with me. Be mine forever, for all times," Ron's voice drifted in her mind. Just as it drifted away, a second voice came in, "I came back into this world twice because of you, Hermione."

"No, Hermione! Don't give in. You can't love him. You have to do this," she reminded herself loudly. Her plan to throw herself together with her jeep off the cliff was still reeling on her mind.

Sirius was still heard barking from afar. She couldn't see him in her rear mirror, but she knew he was running tirelessly after her. Her heart fell for the poor dog. Her determination died away at the thought. Tears began to trickle down her face. She lost again. She couldn't do it.

Stepping on the brakes, the jeep stopped with an ear-piercing screech. Immediately, she got off and darted towards the barking dog. As soon as she approached the animagus, her legs bended on their own and her arms immediately scooped up the black dog into a tight hug.

"I'm so sorry, Sirius. I'm so, so sorry."

Sirius let out a loud whimper, panting loudly on her shoulder. As she let go, she found that she was no longer engulfed in a big black dog, but a grown man.

"Hermione," he paused to breathe. "Never – do that again." Another breathe. "You scared the shit out of me!"

"I'm sorry."

"Promise me you won't leave me again."

"I promise," she sobbed.

"What were you going to do?"

Hermione remain silent, with only her sobs answering his question.

"Were you trying to get yourself killed?! It's not safe to speed off like that. Especially on a tall hill!"

Hermione looked away, sobbing. Sirius eyes widened at this.

"Hermione! Oh god! You were trying to kill yourself?!?!" he yelled. "Hermione, I need you! What were you thinking?!"

Hermione cried harder this time, muttering apologies. Sirius hugged her this time. "I love you, Hermione. I just – maybe I've been forcing you into a relationship. I'm sorry. I don't care anymore, Mione. Just don't do anything stupid again!"

Hermione continued to cry into his chest, still muttering apologies. He rested his chin on her shaking head, stroking her hair. "It's okay, love. You're okay now, aren't you?"

As her sobs died down, she pulled back, though still within his ring of embrace. She stared at him as she continued with her hiccups. Sirius stared back at her, pushing away her fringe into the back of her ear, before swiping his thumbs on her wet cheeks, drying them clean.

Hermione started to sob again at his touch, still not leaving his eyes. She then muttered to herself, "I've been so stupid."

With that, she lunged herself and kissed him right on the lips with such a passion that it took Sirius only seconds before he started to return her kiss.

A/N: I screwed up again, didn't I? This always happen. The last scene was one of the main initial scenes I had in mind when I first started this story. But now, I screwed up again! Argh!