Chapter 12 : Not Enough

I still believe my feelings
But sometimes I feel too much
I make believe you're close to me
But it ain't close enough
Not nearly close enough

I can't take the distance
I can't the miles
I can't take the time until I next see you smile
I can't take the distance
And I'm not ashamed
That with every breath I take I'm calling your name

But I can't take the distance

No one spoke of the previous nights events the next morning. The group of friends got together and desended the stairs to the great hall for breakfast. Everything seemed as per usual until he entered. Halle's face paled and she looked down at her plate pushing it aside and claimed that she was not hungry. Harry frowned at her emotionally frail condition. "You have to eat something." He insisted. "You need your energy for classes."

"He's right you know." A familiar voice sounded from behind her as she turned to see Sirius Black. Halle smiled at her godfather feeling better because of his presence. "Potters have this horrible way of being right."

Halle smirked. "Well, you're stuck with us."

Sirius put his arm around Halle as he sat down in the empty seat next to her. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

"What are you still doing here Sirius?" Harry questioned.

"Well I never got to tell you lot but it seems Dumbledore requires my expertise." Sirius replied.

"And what exactly is that? Breaking every rule ever invented?" Hermione asked.

Sirius shook his head. "Can't tell you just yet exactly what I'll be doing here; but just know that I'll be around if any of you need me. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, that includes you three as well."

The group cheered quietly knowing that he would be around the rest of the school year. Sirius looked at his goddaughter. "Now then will you be eating yourself or do I have to do the airplane with your food?"

Everyone laughed as Halle blushed. "No I'll eat on my own thank you."

A plate suddenly appeared in front of Sirius. Looking up at the staff table Dumbledore grinned at all of them.

"Mum always said he was on top of everything." Ginny stated.

Ron simply nodded not wanting to get scolded by Hermione again for speaking with his mouth full.

When they finished their breakfast the students began to file out of the great hall and back to their dormitories. Sirius said his goodbyes to the group saying he had a meeting with Dumbledore. Halle was the last of the group to leave. As she followed them out she heard her name from behind. She froze. She immediately was terrified that it was him. She couldn't handle a confrontation at that moment.

"Halle." She heard again. This time she turned around and saw the face of Draco Malfoy.

"Draco." She replied.

"Listen I'm really sorry about the other day. You know that I have to be like that." He said, whispering the second part of his apology.

Halle nodded. "I understand but why are you talking to me now?"

"Well, er, we have a Hogsmead weekend this week and I was wondering if you'd maybe like to go with me." He asked.

Halle was taken aback. Her heart immediately told her to say no, she was with Remus. The reality struck and she remember that things were over. He had used her and she had to move on, no matter how soon it was. "Won't that make people wonder about you?"

Draco smiled. "I don't think they would wonder why I'm taking the most beautiful girl in Hogwarts on a Hogsmead weekend."

She felt her cheeks get rosy. "You better watch it Malfoy or I'd have to say you're flirting with me."

He shrugged. "What if I am? Will you go with me?" He asked again smiling at her.

Halle laughed. "Yes Draco I'll go with you."

The boy beamed. "Can I walk you back to your tower?"

She paused suddenly feeling like they were being watched. Looking around she saw no one and turned her attention back to the blonde haired boy. "I'd like that." She thought this would make her feel better but it only seemed to make her heart break more. 'In time things will be better.' She told herself as they started up to the Griffyndor tower.

When they left the hall only a lone person was left. Remus Lupin had heard everything and stood in the corner heartbroken and face streaked with tears.

Harry looked out the window of his dormitory. So many things had changed since the end of last term. As much has he enjoyed being happy it seemed like life was easier when he felt alone. In the corner of his eye he caught the wisp of a floating creature. Dementors were on the school grounds. He immediately ran down the stairs to the common room.

Halle was talking to Ginny and Hermione when they heard him barreling down. "Harry what's wrong?" Ginny asked.

"Don't leave here whatever you do. Stay here." He said looking at Ginny and then to Halle.

Without even asking Ron and Hermione followed Harry out the portrait hole. "Harry what's wrong?" Hermione questioned.

"Dementors are on the school grounds we need to see Dumbledore." He replied.

"Dumbledore is away for a meeting at the ministry. Dad wrote to me about it. We need to get Lupin." Ron replied.

"No!" Harry snapped. "We'll just do it ourselves."

When they got out to the lawn they saw something they did not expect nor did they want to expect. Cowering on the ground was Halle as a Dementor was about to kiss her.

"Expecto Patronum." Came a booming voice from the other side of the lawn.

After the silver light faded away they saw where it came from. Remus Lupin stood there continuing to cast the spell on the rest of the remaining dementors.

When Harry, Hermione, and Ron joined in he slinked away and over to Halle. "Baby are you okay?"

Halle looked up at him, face pale and utter fear plastered on her face. "I wanted to take care of this for Harry. He has everything going for him. I'm expendable." She replied trying to get up but falling back into his arms.

"You're not expendable Halle. You're anything but." Remus replied.

Halle gathered all her strength and stood up. "I need to get back inside." She said turning away from him.

"Halle please. I love YOU not your mother. It was a mistake." Remus called after her.

She turned at looked at him. "Mistakes are little things Remus. That hurt me more than you can ever imagine." She turned and headed towards Harry who pulled her into an embrace. He and Ron helped bring her in as Hermione walked by their side. The brightest witch for her age looked back at her Professor seeing the hurt in his eyes. She knew they belonged together but lacked any ideas as how to achieve that.

Remus heard patting of paws come from behind him and the sound that had became familiar to him over his years at Hogwarts. "Come to finish me off Sirius?"

"No Moony. Just thought you might need a friend right now." Black responded.

The werewolf smiled slightly at his old friend. "Thanks Padfoot. Ya know I could really go for a drink right now."

Sirius laughed. "Hogsmead it is."

a/n : I hate to cut this one short but I really wanted to get some part of the story up ASAP. The songs from last chapter were. . .

"Standing at the Edge of the Earth" Blessed Union of Souls

"Just Breathe" Anna Nalick

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review! The more reviews I get the faster the chapters will come!