Chapter 35
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AN1: Here it is, a chapter I really truly loved writing, hope you like.
AN2: Thank you for the support. PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW.
February 12th 1994
It has been twelve days since Hermione received the issue of the Daily Prophet that Fudge gave her Dad when he was still in Azkaban and ever since then she has read through the paper about a hundred times, trying to see what her Dad saw and caused him to escape.
It is about one am and Hermione is sitting on her bed in her dorm, with the newspaper along with all the notes she has taken spread out.
"Damn it, Dad. What am I missing?" Hermione asks in a whisper, "What did you see that I'm not seeing? What did you see that no one saw?" she asks, "This is just not making sense." She mutters, taking a deep breath, "Focus Hermione, you have to figure this out." Hermione tells herself and even though she knows she has to she just wishes she had some clue to what she should be looking for.
February 24th 1994
It has been twenty-four days since Hermione got the paper that lead to her Dad's break out and ever since then she has been trying to put the pieces together, but as she still isn't completely sure what she should be looking for she isn't any closer to figuring out what is going on.
It is breakfast time and Hermione is just unrolling her paper, that she now gets because there was no other way for her to get the back issue she needed, as she eats her breakfast.
As she reads the front of the paper Hermione's goblet of pumpkin juice falls through her hand with a crash and she feels a horror rise up inside of her.
"Hermione?" Neville ask concerned as he looks towards her friend who has become pale.
"I…" Hermione starts to say before she just gets up and runs leaving all her stuff behind.
"HERMIONE." Neville yells after his friend.
"What just happened?" Harry asks, from across the table, sounding completely confused, and worried.
"I don't know." Neville answers as he looks at the paper, "Oh god." Her says, realising why Hermione would have reacted the way she did, and he hurriedly hands the paper to Harry before he runs after Hermione, grabbing her bag as he goes.
"Sirius Black to receive The Dementor's Kiss once caught, what does that mean?" Harry asks Ron in confusion.
"Something horrible, come on." Ron says as even though he and Hermione haven't really talked since Christmas he wants to be there for her because after reading that she shouldn't be alone.
A few minutes later Harry and Ron run out into the entrance hall where Neville is standing.
"NEV!" Harry calls.
"She ran outside." Neville explains, turning to look at them.
"You three should get to class, I'll go." Remus says, walking out from the hall, "What's your first class?"
"Um, History of Magic." Harry answers.
"Good, Binns won't notice Hermione's not there." Remus says as he walks past the three second years, taking Hermione's bag from Harry as he walks past.
"Do we really do nothing?" Ron asks, sounding surprised.
"Yes. Remus is the best person to help Hermione right now." Neville says.
"We should get to class." Harry says and even though he is still worried about Hermione he knows that Remus is the best person to help her.
Following his daughter out of the castle he finds her on her knees, being sick.
"Oh, Hermione." Remus says as he crouches down next to her and puts his arms around her.
"How could he order that?" Hermione asks, tears coming to her eyes, "It's horrible. Even if he is guilty he doesn't deserve that."
"No, he doesn't." Remus confirms as Hermione rests her head on her father's chest.
"He….. I…Need…" Hermione says, as she starts to hyperventilate.
"Just breath sweetie, in an out, just like this." Remus says, breathing deeply and getting Hermione to copy his actions.
It takes a few minutes, but finally Hermione manages to get her breathing under control.
"Come on, Hermione. Let's head inside." Remus tells Hermione and the two of them head inside.
A little while later Hermione and Remus are in his quarters together, Hermione looking pale and clammy, even shaky and Remus doesn't look to good himself.
"I'm so sorry that you had to read that." Remus tells his daughter as he hands Hermione a cup of tea, as honestly he was hoping to be able to tell her himself, he didn't want her to find out on her own.
"I don't know if I believe he's guilty, but even if he is he doesn't deserve the kiss." Hermione tells her Papa.
"No, he doesn't." Remus confirms, honestly after reading that he is having a difficult time holding himself together, but he knows he has to for his daughter's sake.
"He'll keep hidden right? He won't get caught?" Hermione asks, looking at her father in hope.
"I can't say that for sure, but if anyone can pull it off it would be him." Remus tells his daughter, believe that, honestly not knowing whether that is what he wants, though he know that he doesn't want Sirius to get the kiss, "I have to get to class, you can stay here all day if you want." Remus tells his daughter.
"I think I will." Hermione admits, not even sure if she would be able to focus enough to get away with using the Time Turner.
"Okay. I love you, Hermione." Remus says, hugging his daughter, placing a kiss on her head.
"Love you too, Papa." Hermione responds and Remus gets up and heads out of rooms.
For a few minutes after Remus leaves Hermione sits by herself, trying to collect her thoughts for a few minutes, before she opens her bag and pulls out and the folder that she has been keeping everything to do with her dad in.
"If you are innocent then I'll figure it out before it's too late, I promise you that." Hermione says, knowing she has to, knowing that she can't even allow the possibility that her Dad could get the kiss if there is even the chance that he is innocent, "I'll put the pieces together." Hermione says to herself before getting to work.
Hours later Harry is walking into the History of Magic classroom for the Patronus lesson and he isn't surprised to find only Remus waiting, not Hermione.
"How is she?" Harry asks the second he sees Remus.
"Not good, she's thrown herself into work." Remus says, looking clear that he is worried.
"Remus, you don't have to answer, but what does that mean? The kiss?" Harry asks, sounding confused.
"It's a Dementors last and worst weapon." Remus reveals, "It's the process of sucking out a person's soul." Remus says with a shiver.
"They'll kill him?" Harry asks, sounding horrified.
"No, it's so much worse." Remus tells Harry, "You can exist without your soul, you know, as long as your brain and heart are still working. But you'll have no sense of self anymore, no memory, no… anything. There's no chance at all of recovery. You'll just exist. As an empty shell. And your soul is gone forever… lost" Remus explains, his eyes looking haunted.
"Oh god." Harry says, sounding horrified, sounding exactly why Hermione would react the way she did, "We don't have to do the lesson today."
"You've got Quidditch on Saturday, Harry, you need more practice." Hermione says, walking into the room.
"Hermione." Harry and Remus say, both standing surprised.
"I want to keep practicing." Hermione reveals.
"Are you sure?" Remus asks, looking at his daughter, though he already knows the answer as he can see the determination in her eyes.
"Positive." Hermione says and Harry nods in agreement.
"Okay. Let's get started." Remus says, once more doing so against his better judgement and all three of the, get into position.
After about forty-five minutes both Harry and Hermione have produced patronuns's but neither can hold for long and it is clear that Harry's is stronger than Hermione's.
"You're both expecting too much of yourselves." Remus tells them both, after the end of the lesson.
"For a thirteen-year-old wizard, and a fourteen-year-old witch, even indistinct patronuses are huge achievements. Harry, you're not passing out anymore, are you?" Remus asks.
"I thought a Patronus would, charge the Dementors down or something." Harry says, sounding dispirited, "Make them disappear…."
"The true Patronus does do that." Remus says, "But you've both achieved a great deal in a very short space of time. Harry, if the Dementors put in an appearance at your next Quidditch match, you will be able to keep them at bay long enough to get back to the ground." Remus reveals.
"You said it's harder if there are a lot of them." Hermione says, remembering her Papa's earlier words.
"I have complete confidence in both of you." Remus says, smiling, "Here, you've both earned a drink. Something from the Three Broomsticks. Something I know neither of you have tried before." Remus comments, as he wanted Harry and Hermione to have their first Butterbeers in the three Broomsticks, as he pulls two bottles out of his briefcase.
"Butterbeer!" Harry says, speaking without thinking, "Yeah, that stuff is amazing." Harry comments and Remus rises an eyebrow as Hermione shoots Harry an annoyed look.
"Neville and Ron brought us some back from Hogsmeade." Hermione quickly lies.
"I see." Remus says looking between the pair, though he still looks suspicious, "Well, let's drink to a Gryffindor victory against Ravenclaw! Not that I'm supposed to take sides, as a teacher." He quickly adds, causing both Harry and Hermione to laugh.
Ten minutes later Harry and Hermione are both back in the Gryffindor Common Room, Hermione is doing her homework, with Neville sitting next to her, while Harry is showing his Firebolt, which he has gotten back, to others.
As Ron offers to take the Firebolt upstairs Harry walks over and sits with Hermione and Neville.
"How you really doing?" Harry asks curious.
"I don't know." Hermione admits, "I'm trying not to think about it."
"I'm sorry, Mione." Harry says, sounding sympathetic.
"Me too." Hermione admits, looking upset.
"It's not too late, Mione, maybe if you're fining gaps other people are too." Neville says, wanting to be helpful.
"Apart from Papa, no one else would want to." Hermione admits, "And if even if one of us were able to find out the whole truth, even if we were able to finally make sense of everything and Dad is innocent, however much of a long shot that is, nothing could be done without proof…" Hermione reveals.
"And we have no idea where to find that." Harry adds as even though he doesn't know whether Sirius is innocent he knows that there are a lot of gaps in what everyone believes.
Hearing that Neville goes to open his mouth to say something but before he can a strangled yell echoes down from the boy's staircase, causing the whole common room to fall silent, staring, petrified, at the entrance. Then comes hurried footsteps, growing louder and louder and then Ron comes leaping into view, dragging with him a bedsheet.
"LOOK!" Ron bellows as he strides over to Hermione's table.
"Ron, calm down." Neville tells him.
"LOOK!" Ron yells, ignoring Neville, shaking the sheets in Hermione's face.
"SCABBERS! LOOK! SCABBERS!" Ron yells and as he does Hermione leans away, looking utterly bewildered as Harry and Neville both look down at the sheet that Ron is holding the sheet that has blood on it.
"BLOOD! Ron yells into the stunned silence, "HE'S GONE! AND YOU KNOW WHAT WAS ON THE FLOOR?"
"N…..no." Hermione says, her voice trembling, and as she speaks Ron throws something down on Hermione's papers, and as Harry, Hermione and Neville lean forward they find several long ginger cat hair.
"YOUR CAT KILLED MY RAT!" Ron yells.
"You don't know that, not yet." Hermione argues.
"YES, I DO." Ron yells, "STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!" Ron yells before hurrying upstairs.
"Hermione…" Harry says concerned.
"I'll see you later, Harry." Hermione says, forcing herself not to cry as she packs up all her stuff and runs upstairs, not wanting everyone to see her cry.
February 27th 1994
It has been a little over two days since Ron accused Crookshanks of killing Scabbers and since then Gryffindor has played Ravenclaw and won, even though Malfoy pulled a cruel prank on Harry, that lead to a party that has lasted into the early hours.
Even though the party has ended everyone hears noise downstairs so Hermione, and her other dorm mates, have headed downstairs, where they learn that Sirius managed to break into the Gryffindor common room using passwords that Neville wrote down, and slashed Ron's curtains with a knife.
Before she could have a chance to talk to her friend Neville has ran up to his dorm room, so even though her probably doesn't want to see her Hermione walks over to where Ron is sitting.
"Ron…"
"If you're here to defend your Dear Dad you can keep walking." Ron says angrily, making Hermione glad that the only person nearby is Harry.
"I'm not, I just want to know what happened, I want to know you're okay." Hermione admits, telling the truth.
"I'm fine. He had a knife, slashed the curtains and then he ran." Ron explains, "But he's not looking too good, your Dad."
"Why would he run?" Hermione asks, not being able to stop herself.
"Of course you're defending him, like I said, stay away." Ron says before walking away.
"You're wondering the exact same thing that I am." Harry says, standing up, "The running doesn't make sense."
"No, it doesn't." Hermione confirms, "Let's say for arguments sake that he broke in to kill you then there is no way he would have made a mistake like going to the wrong bed, and given this was his only chance he wouldn't have left unless he was sure that what he wanted wasn't here." Hermione realises.
"He could have been worried about meeting the teachers." Harry suggests, although he isn't sure that that would make sense.
"Maybe." Hermione says, looking uncertain, "I'll see you later, Harry." Hermione says before heading up to her empty dorm.
After double checking to make sure that she has the dorm to herself Hermione closes and locks the door before putting everything she knows about her father on her bed and she start to pace.
"Okay, let's think about this." Hermione tells herself, as she paces back and forth, "He said he didn't betray them, didn't kill anyone, didn't join Voldemort, but it is his fault. He broke in on Halloween, he would have had to have known the date, which means he wanted the empty tower. He broke in again and went for Ron, no one else, he had to have planned that." Hermione says, "He wanted Ron, why?" Hermione asks, not seeing it, "The paper lead him to escaping…. The paper with Ron's family on front." Hermione says, walking over to her bed, "What did you see, Dad?" Hermione says as he once more looks at the picture, "It's just Ron and his family, and his…. Rat." Hermione says, sounding confused, "His rat that has been getting sicker, and disappeared a few days ago, no… it wouldn't be possible." Hermione says, not believing the conclusion that her mind has come to, "He's missing a toe, no someone would have realised, Papa would have realised." Hermione says, then realises something, "Papa's never seen Scabbers, he wasn't reading the prophet over the summer." Hermione says, sounding completely shocked as she sits down on her bed, "Oh god."
Hours later, Hermione along with the rest of Gryffindor tower haven't slept and Hermione is walking into her Papa's room for two reasons, one, she wants to get away from everyone talking about her Dad, and two, there is a detail she needs to figure out whether she is right and Hermione Papa is the only person who can give her it.
"Hermione." Remus says, racing over to Hermione and hugging her as she walks into the room.
"I'm okay." Hermione responds, as she hugs her Papa, "Was there anything? Any clues?" Hermione ask concerned.
"No, nothing." Remus answers, "I don't know why he would be doing that in the first place." Remus says, looking conflicted.
"I don't either, but maybe everything will make sense one day." Hermione says.
"Hermione do you know something? Has your Dad contacted you?" Remus asks, looking at his daughter, trying to tell if she is lying to him.
"No." Hermione answers, lying because she knows that she can't tell her Papa what she's been doing, what she knows, until she has proof because otherwise he could get in a lot of trouble if anyone where to find out he knew.
"If he does I want you to tell me, right away." Remus tells his daughter.
"I will." Hermione promises, "Can I study in here today?" Hermione asks curious.
"Sure." Remus tells Hermione and she sits down and gets to work, knowing that she can't ask her father question she has right away because it would be suspicious.
For about two hours Hermione works and as she does she realises that it's been long enough for her to ask without her father becoming suspicious.
"Papa, what did Peter's Animagus form look like?" Hermione asks, keeping her voice casual.
"Why do you ask?" Remus asks, looking up from the essays he is marking.
"I was just curious, I mean I know that Dad and Uncle James helped control you during a full moon because they are so big, but what about Peter? He was tiny." Hermione comments, saying what she memorized.
"It helped to have someone small, someone to get into the kind of places he could get into." Remus explains, "And to answer your question he looked like a simple garden rat, small, grey and fat."
"Okay, good to know." Hermione says, as that is the conformation she needed.
Hours later Hermione is back in her dorm and as she is sure that her doormats are asleep Hermione pulls something out of the place she hides it.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Hermione says before tapping the map, "Though truthfully I am up to something very good." She says, "Okay Dad, where are you?" Hermione asks as she starts to search the match, starting with the grounds.
March 1st 1994
It has been two days since Hermione started to use the Marauder's Map to try and find Sirius and she has found him several times and ever since she saw his name for the first time she has been coming up with a plan.
It's a Tuesday evening and as it is a full moon Hermione knows that it is the perfect time to put her plan into motion she just needed one more thing to do so, and as she sees Harry heading to the boys' dorm she knows that it is her chance and so she runs towards the stairs.
"Harry." Hermione says, just as she gets to him.
"Hey Hermione, did you need something?" Harry asks curious.
"Yeah, umm, could I borrow your invisibility cloak?" Hermione asks in a whisper.
"Sure, but why do you need it?" Harry asks curious.
"There is something I need to do, something I don't want to be caught by either Filch or Snape doing." Hermione explains, only partly lying.
"Is it dangerous?" Harry asks.
"It's probably the safest thing that either of us have ever done at this school." Hermione admits with a smile.
"Okay, I'll be right back." Harry says before heading upstairs and he returns about a minute later with the cloak which he hands to Hermione who stashes it under her robes, "You'll fill in the details later, right?" Harry asks.
"Definitely." Hermione confirms, knowing that Harry is likely going to be the second person she tells.
"Okay, good luck, Mione." Harry says and the two of them go their separate ways.
A couple of hours later Hermione makes sure her doormats are asleep before she pulls out the marauders map, activates it, puts on the invisibility cloak and heads out of the tower.
About ten minutes later Hermione is walking into Forest and into a clearing that is on the edge of the map.
"I know you're here." Hermione says as she takes off the cloak, "I know you're here, Dad." Hermione says, as she shoves the cloak into her pocket, "I know you're innocent! It was Peter, he betrayed Uncle James and Aunt Lily, he killed those people, he was Voldemort's spy." Hermione says.
"How'd you figure it out?" a voice says and Hermione turns to see her father, looking slightly worse than when she saw him a few months ago.
"There were gaps in what everyone knows, but truthfully, if it wasn't for Papa's refusal to completely believe that you were guilty I wouldn't have looked into anything." Hermione admits, and Sirius smiles at that, "I realised that you would have only tried to break into the tower on Halloween if an empty common room was what you wanted, and I overheard Fudge saying that you had a paper a few days before you escaped, so I knew that that had to be the key. I got my hands on that paper, and spent weeks memorizing every detail of it, but it wasn't until you went to my friend Ron's bunk when you broke in Saturday that everything fell into place." Hermione admits, walking towards her Dad, "I just have two questions; why were you laughing when you were arrested? And why'd you switch Secret Keeper places with Peter?" Hermione asks.
"You don't ask easy questions." Sirius says amused, "I was laughing because I lost it, because I couldn't believe what happened, I couldn't believe how much he took away in one go." Sirius admits, "And I switched with Peter because I thought he was the last person anyone would expect, so Lily, Harry, and James would be safer it was my idea and that's why it's my fault." Sirius says, looking guilty.
"You knew someone close to Uncle James and Aunt Lily was a spy." Hermione says, "Why did you suggest him and not Papa?"
"I was trying to protect him, and you. I switched with Peter because I thought Voldemort would go after me first and him last. If I told Remus about the switch he would have become a target, and we only knew the spy was in The Order, not who or exactly how close." Sirius explains, wanting Hermione understand and to his surprise Hermione just runs forward and hugs her Dad, "Hermione, I haven't showered in twelve years." Sirius says, though he gladly responds to the hug.
"I don't care." Hermione tells Sirius, completely meaning that, and as she does Sirius runs his hand through his daughter's hair, feeling amazed as he never thought he would get to do that, "Papa is going to be so happy when I tell him." Hermione says, as she hugs her Dad for the first time she can remember.
"You can't tell him, not yet." Sirius tells Hermione, it's being painful for him to admit that.
"What? Why not?" Hermione asks, sounding confused, as they break apart.
"Hermione if you tell Remus anything about what you know about me, and the Ministry finds out they'll charge him for helping me, and being a Werewolf that will be execution, or worse." Sirius says, pain in his voice, "And that's why if anyone finds out about you knowing you're going to say that I was controlling you, threatening you." Sirius tells Hermione, his voice forceful.
"What? No? You wouldn't. You're innocent." Hermione tells Sirius.
"It doesn't matter. If it means protecting, you there is nothing I wouldn't do." Sirius promises Hermione.
"Fine, I'll go to Albus, tell him everything I know. He'll listen." Hermione says, believing that, and knowing that Sirius is right about what the Ministry would do Remus.
"He probably would, but there is nothing he could do without proof." Sirius explains, "Real proof, someone more than either of our words."
"Then we find Pettigrew, get him to Albus." Hermione says.
"Not we, me." Sirius corrects, "Hermione, the Rat is dangerous, and I don't want you anywhere near him. He'll hurt you if given the chance and I don't want that." Sirius tells his daughter, knowing that he wouldn't be able to handle that, "I'll deal with The Rat."
"I can't just stand by and do nothing! Not when I know you're innocent." Hermione tells her Dad, tears coming to her eyes.
"You have to." Sirius tells her, "I'll deal with Pettigrew and then everything will be okay, our family will be back together."
"But you won't be free." Hermione says with a frown.
"Your God Parents will be Avenged though; he'll pay for all the lives he's destroyed." Sirius tells Hermione, "How'd you get out here without getting caught?" Sirius asks curious, and doing so in part to change the subject.
"Harry leant me Uncle James's invisibility cloak and I have your old map." Hermione explains.
"Handy things to have." Sirius says with a smile, glad that she has them, "For so long I imagined what you would look like, you're even more beautiful than I thought you'd be, and definitely smarter." Sirius says with a smile, "I love you, Princess."
"I love you too, Dad." Hermione says with a smile and Sirius pulls her in for another hug, and as he does Sirius's rests his head on his daughter's head, placing a kiss on it and the two of them just stand together in the forest hugging one another.
For a while both Sirius and Hermione stand together before they break apart.
"You should head back inside, before someone notices you're missing." Sirius tells his daughter, "And tomorrow when you see how your Papa is doing after the full moon, giving him a hug from me." Sirius requests, "Just don't tell him that."
"I will." Hermione promises, "And I'll visit again, soon." Hermione says.
"I'd like that, but don't put yourself at risk, and if you need anything put a message in your cat's collar and I'll get it, I'll be there." Sirius tells Hermione.
"Crookshanks is helping you, I should have realised, that's why Crookshanks has been going after the rat." Hermione realises.
"Your cats a genius, smartest of its kind I've ever known." Sirius reveals.
"Considering how much Papa says you hate cats that's a high compliment." Hermione says with a smile.
"That it is." Sirius confirms "Come on, I'll walk you as far as I can." Sirius tell Hermione before turning back into Padfoot and as he does Hermione puts the cloak back on, and together the two of them head back to the castle.
A little while later Hermione gets back to her dorm, having managed to get back without issues, and once she is back Hermione puts the cloak back in her trunk and lies the map down on her bed.
"Sorry Dad, but I can't do nothing. If you find him you'll kill him, if I find him you'll be free." Hermione mutters, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Hermione says, tapping the map, "Come on, Rat. Where are you hiding?" Hermione asks as she starts to study the map.
March 11th 1994
It has been eleven days since Hermione went to see Sirius and ever since she hasn't told anyone about it, as she didn't want to put them in danger, and she has been working on a plan to find Peter and get him to Albus.
It is about eleven thirty and Hermione is sitting on her bed, studying the map, waiting for the common room to empty as she knows that she can't ask Harry to borrow his cloak, she can't risk Peter getting it if things go wrong.
As she sees the last people leave the common room Hermione takes the time turner off from around her neck and hides it as that is something else that she can't risk Peter getting, and then she collects her wand and the map and makes her way downstairs.
Due to all the security Hermione finds it quiet difficult to get out of the front doors, though using the map she manages to achieve it.
Once she is out onto the grounds, Hermione makes her way to Hagrid's checking to make sure the Peter is still there and knowing that she doesn't have to worry about Hagrid as he's taken Buckbeak for his trial.
Once she is just outside out of Hagrid's hut Hermione casts charms to make it so nothing can get out from the inside, and the she heads inside, making sure that she closes the door behind her.
"I know you're in here, Pettigrew." Hermione says, as she looks over to Fang who is fast asleep, "And I know your I know what you are, and I'm going to find you." Hermione says as she looks around looking for a sign of a rat, and as she does Hermione looks down at the map, trying to see exactly where Pettigrew is and she sees him coming up behind her, and she quickly turns, but before she can curse him he stabs a knife into her side, causing her to drop her wand and the map as she falls to the ground,
"You're going to ruin everything!" Pettigrew says angrily, "Just like your no good father!" He says as picks up Hermione's wand, "CRUCIO." He yells, causing Hermione to scream in pain, and Fang to wake up, "You'll pay for this, CRUCIO." He yells once more and Hermione once more screams in pain and a few seconds later the door bursts open and Hermione sees her Dad.
"YOU!" Sirius says furiously and he hurries towards Peter who quickly sends a curse at Hermione, a curse Sirius recognizes, "NO." Sirius yells in terror and Peter just smirks and transforms, as he knows the choice he just gave Sirius and what he'll do, dropping Hermione's wand as he goes.
As Peter runs out in his rat form, Sirius runs over to his daughter, and Fang chases after Peter.
"Dad….." Hermione says as Sirius drops down next to her.
"Yeah, I'm here, Princess. You'll be okay, Hermione, okay, I promise you. You're going to be okay." Sirius tells Hermione, trying to convince himself as much as her, "I'll make sure of it." Sirius promises, knowing the one thing he can do and that it doesn't matter what happened to him, quickly Sirius hurries over and picks up Hermione's wand and the map.
"Mischief managed." Sirius says, taping the map, before putting it in Hermione's pocket, "Just hold on, Hermione, okay, just hold on." He promises and he picks up his daughter and carries her out of Hagrid's hut.
Moving as quick as he can while holding his daughter Sirius hurries toward the castle, telling Hermione over and over again that she will be okay.
As he gets to the castle doors Alarms start to go off, just like he knew they would, and so he lays Hermione down on the grass, right in front of the doors.
"You're going to be okay, Madam Pomfrey will fix you right up." Sirius tells Hermione, tears coming to his eyes, as he uses an old Order spell to burn what was done to Hermione into the grass, along with the message;
PLEASE, GET HER HELP.
DON'T LET HER DIE.
PLEASE, YOU HAVE TO SAVE HER.
"Dadddy." Hermione stutters out.
"Yeah, I'm right here, you're okay, Princess. You'll be okay." Sirius tells his daughter as he, drops her wand next to her, takes his hand and watches as she gets worse, he watches her struggle to breath more.
"Go. You…. Have…. To …go." Hermione tells her father, "Please, GO." Hermione says, struggling with every syllable.
"I can't." Sirius says, tears rolling down his face, "I'm not leaving you." He tells his daughter.
"Pl….ease… Daa…dddy… for… me…. GO!" Hermione says, struggling even more it struggling more with every syllable, but needing to say it, even with how much of a battle it is because she doesn't want her Dad to get caught because of her.
"Okay." Sirius says reluctantly only doing so because of the look of pleading that is on his daughter's face, "I love you, Hermione, okay, more than anything." Sirius tells his daughter, placing a kiss on her head, before he runs away, hating himself as he goes, and feeling like he is making huge mistake.
As she watches her father go Hermione smiles to herself and the last thing she sees before she loses consciousness is her Dad turning into Padfoot.
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