Anything But Mine
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story. It is for entertainment purposes only.
Set up: Sirius Black never died. This story is set three years after the trio left Hogwarts.
Summary: Sirius has fallen for her. The only problem is that she is marrying someone else. I just don't see how you could ever be anything but mine.
A/N: IMPORTANT: I changed my pen name from Charmedleolvr to Sarmoti. I did this because I don't watch Charmed anymore, and even when I did I didn't like Leo much after season one. I got tired of the Charmed name. My email is staying the same though, it's always going to be charmedleolvr w/ yahoo. I hope I haven't lost any readers or confused anyone with the name change.
Second note: I used one of my favorite Garth Brooks songs for this chapter, Shameless. Read the little bit of it I used, and if you get a chance, read the rest of the lyrics online. To me this is the perfect Sirius/Hermione song. I think it is exactly how he would feel about her.
And for my thank yous! Rane, EsScaper, Marissa, Razberry, Cookie dough & everyone else I love you all so much, your reviews are wonderful! Remember if you get the email that is a petition to allow thank you's on please sign it! Also, thanks to everyone who read my new Lucius/Hermione story and left kind reviews :o)
Chapter 10 - Shameless
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Well I'm shameless when it comes to loving you
I'll do anything you want me to
I'll do anything at all
And I'm standing here for all the world to see
Oh baby, that's what's left of me
Don't have very far to fall
You know now I'm not a man who's ever been
Insecure about the world I've been living in
I don't break easy, I have my pride
But if you need to be satisfied
I'm shameless, oh honey, I don't have a prayer
Every time I see you standin' there
I go down upon my knees
Shameless - Garth Brooks
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"Can't you guys send an owl warning me you are going to pop into the kitchen?" Harry grumbled, cleaning up the shards of glass that were all over the floor from the cup he had dropped when his three visitors popped into the room.
"Sorry." Tonks said. "Do you want me to help you clean it up?"
"No. I'm fine." Harry said.
"We wanted to talk to you." Remus said, pulling out a chair at the kitchen table for Tonks and them himself.
Sirius walked around to the other side of the table and pulled his own chair out, while his godson did the same.
"Sure, about what?" Harry asked, looking at the other three.
Sirius opened his mouth, but Remus put his hand on his friend's shoulder to keep him quiet. "About Hermione and Ron." Remus explained.
Harry looked from Sirius to Remus. "I think I know what you are talking about. I talked to Ron before they got married and he swore he was just looking and promised to be faithful."
"Do you know what happened on their wedding night?" Tonks asked quietly.
Harry turned to her with a confused look on his face. "I really didn't want to know about their wedding night."
"They didn't have one." Tonks said. "They didn't have one because Ron left her alone all night claiming he had to work. He also left her alone all night last night."
"HE DID WHAT?" Harry said jumping up from his chair.
"You heard me." Tonks said.
"Fred and George never would have asked him to work on his honeymoon." Harry said, pacing the room.
"We figured that out all ready." Sirius growled.
"He lied to me. He's been seeing that girl, hasn't he? On his wedding night!" Harry said, mostly to himself.
"Harry, sit down, you are making me nervous." Remus said.
Harry sat back down. "Is she okay?"
"She stayed the night alone the first night, but she stayed with us last night." Tonks said. "Ron showed up to get her first thing this morning and they got in a fight. They left, but I think she is okay."
"What did they get in a fight about? Did she confront Ron about the girl?" Harry asked.
Tonks looked at Sirius before answering Harry's question. "No. Hermione was upset last night, and Sirius sat up with her for awhile, they fell asleep on the couch, and Ron apparated in to see them laying together. He blew up."
"What right did he have to blow up at her when he left her alone on their honeymoon to see his girlfriend?" Harry answered, his voice loud and hard.
"We have to do something." Remus said.
"What can we do? Hermione is very independent, she won't want us interfering with this. You know how she gets, she won't want us to know anything is wrong. She'd kill us if we got involved." Harry said.
"YOU WANT US TO SIT AROUND AND DO NOTHING?" Sirius yelled, jumping out of his own seat, his face red. "That boy is breaking her spirit. I watched some of it die in her eyes last night and it broke my heart. I refuse to sit around and watch him turn her into a shadow of what she is now!"
Harry looked up at his godfather, his mouth hanging open. Tonks and Remus were also staring at Sirius, identical looks of shock on their faces.
"Are you okay Sirius?" Harry finally asked, breaking the silence.
"Bloody hell." Sirius said calmly, running his hand through his hair, and turning his back to the room. "No, I'm not okay Harry."
Tonks kicked Remus under the table, he looked at her and shrugged his shoulders, unsure of what Sirius was thinking. Was he really going to tell Harry of all people the way he felt?
"Why?" Harry asked, a suspicion forming in his brain. "Why are you so upset?"
Sirius turned around, looking his godson in the face. "Because I love her."
Harry saw it in the older man's eyes. "You do love her."
"I have for a long time." Sirius admitted, staring at the ground now.
"Why didn't you tell her?" Harry asked calmly.
Remus raised his eyebrow and tried to hide his laughter, this was a question Sirius had to be tired of by now. Tonks reached out and took his hand, squeezing it softly.
Sirius sighed. "She is too good for me Harry. She deserves the world and I can't give it to her."
"You could have given her loyalty, devotion, love, honesty, isn't that the most important thing? That is what Ginny and I share. I don't shower her with diamonds or words of poetry. I am faithful to her, I make her laugh, I cry with her. You could have given her those things. Ron sure as hell isn't." Harry said. "I want to see you happy Sirius. I love you."
Sirius shrugged his shoulders. "I am a bitter, broken man Harry. Besides, I'm too damn old for her."
"Who is too damn old?" Ginny said, stepping into the kitchen and smiling at the group around the table.
Behind her, Ron and Hermione entered the room. "Ginny, you aren't too old." Hermione said, smiling at her friend.
Ginny turned to her. "Not me, Sirius just said it."
Ron and Hermione both turned to Sirius, whose face was now red.
Harry looked at his godfather for a moment. "Ron, can I talk to you outside?" he asked.
Ron nodded and stepped through the room and out the back door with Harry.
Tonks turned to Hermione and smiled. "How are you doing?"
Hermione nodded. "I'm okay." She was clutching black material in her hand, squeezing it as she spoke.
Ginny noticed a silent question in the air and realized they might want privacy. "I'm going to go clean up before I start sandwiches for lunch." she said. "See you later Tonks, Sirius, Remus."
"Bye Ginny." Remus said.
After the redhead had skipped from the room, Tonks turned to Hermione. "Are you really okay?"
Hermione shrugged. "I guess. He didn't say anything more to me. He is acting like everything is fine now."
"We will go now, give you a chance to settle in. Don't hesitate to come over if you need us." Tonks said, hugging the girl.
Hermione smiled. "Thank you so much."
"Don't mention it." Tonks grinned.
Remus walked up and embraced her next, kissing her cheek. "She is right, call us if you need us."
She nodded before turning to Sirius. "Can I talk to you a moment before you go?"
He nodded and after Tonks and Remus left, he stepped around the table.
"Are you sure you are okay?" He asked, stepping up beside her.
"I'm fine." she smiled softly up at him. "I wanted to give you your shirt back." she said, handing him the black shirt she had worn all night.
Sirius took it from her and looked at it for a moment. "You can keep it." he said, handing it back to her.
He expected her to insist he keep it, but instead she tucked it back into her arms. "Thanks."
"No problem." he said, turning to leave. Her small hand on his arm stopped him.
"I am sorry about this morning, I…"
"Don't worry about I Hermione. It's okay." he interrupted her.
She smiled gently. "Thanks for last night Sirius. For staying with me, for bringing me the potion, for being my friend. I needed you and you were there."
She reached up and kissed his cheek softly.
Sirius resisted the urge to pull her to him for a more personal kiss. Instead he smiled at her. "I didn't mind at all Hermione. Anytime you need me, I'm here for you."
Sirius stepped away from her and exited the kitchen, he was halfway through the living room when Hermione heard the pop that meant he was gone. She felt strangely empty knowing he wasn't around anymore.
"Is everything okay?" Ginny asked, bouncing back in the room.
Hermione turned to her friend. "Huh? Oh…sure.. Yeah…"
Ginny raised her eyebrow but didn't comment on her friends vacant expression. "Do you want to help me make sandwiches?"
Hermione nodded, following her friend over to the counter a she slipped the black shirt on over her tank top. "Sounds good."
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Harry quickly cast a silencing charm before turning on his friend. "You lied to me."
Ron stopped moving, his face turning white. "I don't know what you are talking about."
"Don't try to lie now Ron. You do know what I am talking about. You told me you were just looking. You promised to be faithful. I know that you haven't stayed with Hermione at all on your honeymoon." Harry said. "I know you weren't working. Is it Brenda?"
Ron opened his mouth slowly. "I… no…."
"DON'T YOU LIE TO ME NOW!" Harry roared.
"Fine! Damn it. Yes Harry, it's Brenda. Okay?" Ron ran his hand over his face. "I don't know what I am doing. I couldn't stay with Hermione because I couldn't sleep with her. I don't know what to do."
"Why did you marry her then?" Harry asked.
"Because I had to." Ron snapped, spinning on his heel to face his friend. "You, mom, Ginny, everyone expected me to. Nobody asked me if I loved her. Nobody asked me if I wanted this. I care about her Harry, I always will, but I don't love her."
"You should let her go. Let her find someone who will love her!" Harry declared, his godfathers face from this morning fresh in his mind.
"I can't hurt her now. I can't let her go and make her alone!" Ron said.
"You can't hurt her? DON'T YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU ARE HURTING HER BY CHEATING? You are chipping away at her self-esteem Ron."
Ron sighed. "Look, Harry. I am going to cut it off with Brenda, I swear. I am going to make this work with Hermione it's the right thing to do."
"The right thing to do would be to let her go Ron. Give her a chance to find love with someone who will treat her right and love her back." Harry said calmly.
Ron put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Please, just give me a chance. Let me try with her. I promise Harry, I'll make it work."
Harry studied his friend for a moment. He felt torn between Ron and Sirius. He saw the love in his godfather's eyes this morning, the man needed her. But Ron was already married to her.
He sighed. "Fine. But if you don't break it off with Brenda, and treat Hermione right immediately I will break more than your wand."
Ron nodded, but didn't say anything else. He turned from his best friend and walked into the house, already trying to figure out what to tell Brenda.
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"Hermione, are you listening to me?" Ginny asked, putting the tomato on the cutting board.
"Huh?"
"You have been staring at that piece of bread for ten minutes, what are you thinking about?" Ginny asked.
"Ginny, would you hate me if things with Ron didn't work out?" Hermione asked, looking over at her friend.
"Of course I wouldn't hate you. Whatever makes you happy. I'm not blind Hermione, I can tell things are not going well with Ron." Ginny said. "But that gives me something to think about now.."
"What?" Hermione raised her eyebrow.
"You don't think things will work out with Ron and you are walking around here in a daze acting like you just fell in love. The only question is with who?"
Hermione felt her face flame up, and she knew she was turning red.
"Hey guys, that looks great!" Harry said, stepping into the kitchen. "Hermione, why are you red?"
"She got hot." Ginny said, "It's really hot in the kitchen."
"Food!" Ron said, stepping into the kitchen behind Harry. Come on guys, let's eat!"
Ginny laughed as she sat down a plate full of sandwiches. "Dig in!'
Harry studied Hermione for a moment before looking to Ron, who had a piece of ham hanging out of his mouth. Harry found himself hoping that Ron would mess up, and Sirius could step in.
Hermione deserved someone who loved her. She deserved Sirius.