A note from Serade Black: I'm so glad that you guys are enjoying this story. I've received the most comments from this last chapter, and it's probably because I left you with a horrible cliff hanger. Well, those aren't over yet! I've still got a couple up my sleeve as we're still about 4 chapters from being finished.
Be sure to check out the NEW "Necessary By The Order" fanfiction trailer I put together, as well as the music video I did for the pairing. Both can be found on the LiveJournal link, listed in my bio.
This chapter is rated PG13/M and is the same cut on the livejournal link.
Chapter 22
The kitchen in Grimmauld Place never seemed so cold. All those warm feelings of welcome and togetherness seemed to escape in a matter of seconds, turning it into a dank and dark dungeon atmosphere. The three remaining people in the kitchen heard Sirius slam the front door, announcing his departure..
Hermione sat silent and as the entire situation started to overwhelm her, she felt her stomach churn with the very idea. She had given her heart to someone, only to have it thrown back at her, ripped up into tiny little pieces. Her mother was wrong.
"I think I'm going to be sick!" Hermione called out, feeling the wave of nausea wash over her with the break-up.
With a fierce urgency, Hermione flew out the kitchen door, through the people standing around, and up the stairs to the most private loo. She slammed the door behind her as fast as she could, fell to her knees before the toilet and retched the light dinner she ate only a half hour before the meeting. Her hands clutched the cold porcelain as waves of emotions finally began to purge themselves from her. The tears came, the hiccups started, the loneliness set in and finally, the absolute fear that she could be taken by anyone was a reality. She was no longer protected, no longer under the Black magic that was the strongest known, and worst of all, she was no longer loved.
For an instant, she thought that she and Sirius were happy. They pretended to be, sharing long kisses together, cuddling, sleeping in on Sunday mornings, sharing books, riding his motorcycle, holding hands and so many more things that made them Sirius and Hermione. A pair that was the least likely to happen and now she knew why.
It wasn't meant to be.
As her sobs became second nature, she heard a light tapping on the door. She swallowed the little bit of pride she had left, flushed the toilet and got up to splash some water over her face. Hearing her name called, Hermione unlatched the door and opened it to Harry and Ron standing there, with a saddened look on their face.
For a moment, she wanted to tell Harry everything, wondering if he still didn't know. If he didn't, now was not the time. They both opened their arms to give her a hug and she warmly went to them, wrapping an arm around both of them and feeling the love from her two most valued friends.
The evening with the trio was a quiet one and as they settled into one of the guest rooms together, the three of them lay in the king sized bed like they were fourteen again. There wasn't a feeling of awkwardness, there never was, just three best friends together, two of which were consoling the sad third.
Harry watched as Hermione finally settled down and drifted away into a content sleeping state. Her hair sprayed over the pillows and each hand was held by one of her friends.
Still completely clothed, the trio had fallen asleep together. The candles in the room had long extinguished and from Harry not letting on, it was concluded that he still didn't know the past history of his godfather and best friend. He was just told that Sirius had said some unkind things to her, and it was taken in the wrong context at the wrong time. Hermione still couldn't tell Harry, not now, not when it was so fresh and new that it was determined she was going to be splitting up with Sirius.
"Last round for you, Sirius." Madam Rosmerta stated, pouring him the rest of the clear liquid from the fire whisky bottle. "Then, you go home."
Sirius laid his forehead against his wrist, deeply clouded by the mix of magic, sorrow and alcohol. He had decided to do what he used to do when the shit hit the fan, he drank. His old friend welcoming him, just like old times.
"Your wife is going to be worried, Sirius. You're here far too much. You all right?" she asked, leaning against the bar to be closer to him, incase he wanted to confide in her.
"No, I'm not bloody all right! Things just got fucked, Rosmerta." he looked up with heavy eyes with black circles and dirty hair.
"You didn't screw up, did you, Sirius? Tell me you didn't cheat on that little girl." she inquired, obviously on Hermione's side.
Over the years, she'd watched that goody-two shoes girl come into her bar with her friends, never once believing that Sirius Black would turn her head. When she'd first heard the news in the Daily Prophet that the two were an item, she was sure that someone like him would definitely corrupt her. She was just too sweet to marry Sirius.
"No, not yet, anyway." Sirius slurred, the corner of his mouth beginning to grin slightly as if he had something devious up his sleeve.
Rosmerta sneered at him and slammed both her hands hard against the counter, waking him up from his head fuck. "Then don't now, Sirius. If she's willing to take you back, I suggest you get out of this funk you put yourself in, and start making it up to her. You can be replaced, Sirius. She's a good girl."
Sirius jumped, startled by Rosmerta's noise and shook his head slightly to better focus on the attractive older witch that had bosoms like melons hugged in her bodice. She was something to look at, but never something to mess with.
Finishing up the last drop, Sirius slammed the empty glass down and let his head fall into his open palms. He ran his rough hands over his face, breathing in heavily to hold back his confused emotions. The perfect life he had created for himself had shattered right before him, and with no bright light in sight, he knew he had lost it forever.
Out from a shadowed corner of the bar, a pretty blonde witch made her move. She'd watched Sirius for most of the night, recognizing him and remembering him and his wife in there before the quidditch match. She was "told off" by Hermione in the bathroom, as the young girl flaunted her wedding ring before them. Now, the blonde witch saw that he was deeply affected by something and slowly made her move in his general direction.
Moving up against the bar, she watched as Madam Rosmerta talked with other customers, distracting her. The pretty blonde witch slinked closer towards him as he continued to rub his face in his hands, trying to sober up.
"Hi there, handsome. You look extremely lonely, tonight." she cooed, turning her body to face him and lean against the bar.
Sirius thought he heard a voice and hesitated to look over. When he did, his natural reaction was to let his eyes travel from head to toe, surveying her body. She looked to be in her mid-twenties, slender, hearty bosoms and a look on her face that seemed to only have one thing in mind. For a split second, Sirius slowly grinned as he peeked from behind hidden hands.
Then, as if a little voice in the back of his head was telling him what to do, he allowed his face to fall back into his hands to sober up. The pretty blonde moved closer, carefully snaking an arm around his back to bring herself in next to him.
"What's your name, handsome?" she baited, knowing perfectly well who he was.
Not really wanting to get himself into trouble, he was conflicted and mumbled his name from behind his hands. He sighed heavily, thinking about what he was about to do. There was no question about what this witch wanted, nor did it matter to him what he did. He was a free man.
Madam Rosmerta looked over her shoulder at Sirius and saw that the loose witch had become quite friendly with him. She saw the way the blonde had her arm around him, leaning in and whispering into his ear; Rosmerta just shook her head.
She excused herself from the customers she was serving and went out from behind her bar. She patted a few men's shoulders as they commented on her passing by, used to the catcalls from the other wizards. She'd known it her entire life and she'd been propositioned by the best of him.
As her boots scraped across the wooden tavern floor, she was out to rescue one of the most notorious flirts she'd ever been propositioned by, from making a huge mistake. Already, Sirius was beginning to glance back at the blonde witch and say a few things to her. His body language was beginning to loosen up towards his new attention, and wondered if she had a place they could go to.
Rosmerta came closer, tapping the pretty young witch on the shoulder and sweetly smiled at both she and Sirius. Sirius, on the other hand, left his attention from the blonde witch and returned to his empty glass as if he was just about to be scolded by his mother. Rosmerta whisked the young witch away from Sirius and leaned in close to her.
"Sweetheart, I don't mind you in my pub. I do, however mind you trying to shamelessly throw yourself at one such as Sirius. Let it be known that he's not in good shape right now; he's married and loves his wife very much. If I so much as see you even looking in his general direction when he's in here, I'll make sure to send you off with a Dementor." Rosmerta sweetly tilted her head and added, "Now, run off for the night. You're done."
The blonde witch paled and quickly grabbed her cloak and left the pub, not looking back. Meanwhile, Rosmerta stepped heavily up behind Sirius, letting her boots scrape the wooden floor, glaring at him like a shameful puppy.
"Now you, Black, go home. Your wife is waiting on you." Rosmerta commanded, taking his glass away and sliding it down the bar to the levitating cleaning rag that immediately nabbed it to clean.
Sirius let his shoulders slump forward and turned to leave the pub, apparating away in its doorway.
Back at Grimmauld, the portraits were bickering about from painting to painting as the door was shut quietly and Sirius coming in had startled them all from their deep sleeps. Ignoring the past family members, Sirius made his way up the stairs staggering. His senses were filled with gin, his body felt beaten and abused and his heart felt empty. When he had made his way to his old bedroom, a familiar scent caught his attention and he followed it down the hallway to one of the guestrooms. He saw the last door slightly ajar and with a shaking hand, carefully pushed it open to reveal the picture.
Harry, Hermione and Ron were passed out sleeping in the oversized bed together; all three of them on top of the comforter, like they had been up talking and consoling their friend. It woke him up for a second to realize that she wasn't going to be alone. She had people all around her that really cared for her and it wasn't going to be long before Hermione had found herself someone else to take his place.
His godson had his arm snaked over Hermione's waist in a gentle manner, while Ron rested on the pillow next to her, his mouth wide open, snoring, and his stray hand holding hers for support. They were an innocent sight to see, and Sirius tried to remember the last time he had friends that cared for him as much as Harry and Ron cared for her. Remus was the last of that bunch and the idea of him and Remus napping together holding hands repulsed him.
Quietly, Sirius closed the door the way it was and continued back down the stairs. He went out the front door and apparated back to their flat, so Hermione wouldn't have to worry about seeing him in the morning.
Hermione tried her best to put on a straight face at work. Both Tonks and Kingsley knew what was going on at home and they were careful not to bring it up. The end of her crying had finally embraced her and the strong Hermione was beginning to come back out, again. She was embarrassed at herself for letting her fall so hard for someone, least of all people, Sirius Black. His name wasn't exactly "mud" right now, but he wasn't in many good graces. Only the Order knew of the decision and for the sake of making it believable, they had decided to wait at least one more month before filing the paperwork. That left three more weeks, and then it could be done, and Hermione would be free.
Sirius was already packing some of his things out of the flat, as he was giving everything to Hermione. He didn't want any furniture, just his clothes. They were careful not to see each other, making sure they wouldn't upset the other. In time, they would be all right, but for now they needed to just "cool off" and move on. It was both of their faults to get involved and now they had to be mature about everything, seeing the mission as nothing but that – a mission.
On one particular night, Hermione had come upon a note that was scribbled in Sirius's handwriting. It wasn't addressed to her, but left behind on the kitchen table at their flat. She managed to make out a little of the writing, reading a meeting place and an approximate time. Could this have been the "new" one that Hermione had her suspicions about?
As Hermione studied the note over and over again, she managed to make out the specific area where said meeting was taking place and the blood immediately rushed from her body. Her hands holding the note were beginning to shake, fearing the absolute worst in this discovery. She felt her heart beginning to pick up its tempo and her breath beginning to exit her lungs faster than she could almost handle.
There, in the small note, scribbled in his hand read:
Knockturn Alley.
What was this for? Why was he making a notation to go there? Something wasn't right; she had to tell Harry and Ron.
She immediately apparated to the secret spot outside Grimmauld Place and cautiously entered the dark house, in case Sirius was inside. She didn't notice his motorcycle parked outside, so it was her conclusion that he had already left for the evening. She scribbled a note to Ron, telling him to come to headquarters and then dashed all over the house to find Harry, who was upstairs cleaning his broom.
"What do you supposed this means?" Harry slowly asked, rereading the note in his godfather's script. He kept turning it over, thinking there was something more to it, but apparently the Knockturn Alley was enough to send a red flag to Hermione.
"Don't you get it? You can't see it?" Hermione blurted out, as if it was as plain as the nose on her face. "This makes sense. Everything that Tonks has said at work makes sense! It fits."
"He's going to Knockturn Alley, so what? It's the dark wizards shopping area, but you don't think…"
"Yes! He's leaving the Order, Harry! The way he's been, the way he's never home, he's leaving this side! It makes so much sense now. He's switching sides." She started to panic, as if having him there to read it again, helped her think things out.
"Hermione, you're mad. He wouldn't trade sides, he hates his family, there's no way-"
"Prove me wrong, Harry! I'm going to Knockturn Alley!" she huffed, running out of his room and bumping into Ron.
"Hermione, what's so urgent that you made me-" Ron asked, bumping off of her like a wall.
"Ask Harry, because I guess I'm doing it alone!"
Harry just sat on his bed, holding the note that Hermione had discovered. He looked at Ron, who just stood there clueless, and added, "She's going mental."
As Harry got up and passed his friend through the doorway, Ron just stood there and looked after him saying, "I've been saying that for years!"
Sirius and Snape had just apparated outside the Leaky Cauldron where they always had. The two men occupied a table in one of the dark corners, as Sirius allowed himself to be put into a trance-like state by Snape. Sirius finished the last of his drink and carefully set the glass down before him. Like swallowing his own death, each night he allowed himself to be mentally raped by Snape.
As Snape watched Sirius bow his head, preparing himself for his mental surrender into the dark Underworld that was Voldemort's, he whispered his incantation and repeated the mission to his subconscious, "Lord Voldemort has requested you, not because of your celebrity status, but of your intimacy with Hermione Granger and Harry Potter. Both individuals hold a strong standard of magic, and Granger is what the Dark Lord needs. He needs her assistance, he wishes to take over her mind and have her act as a Medium through his power. Harry Potter is the target, and needs the boy to be sacrificed. The Dark Lord will advise you how to work it in to retrieve Potter. As Sirius Black, you listen to me, you wait for my voice and you build a wall to the outside. Do not feel, Black. Do not allow your emotions to invade your thoughts. Concentrate on keeping it all out."
Snape's voice was quiet and directed only into Sirius's ear. As he spoke his words slower and slower, he watched Sirius begin to droop lower and lower, and watched his hands ball into fists as the magic began to take over and just like all the other nights, Sirius allowed himself to be taken. Like a spirit channeling through a body, Sirius's body rose and his eyes were completely dilated as he looked off into space.
"Can you hear my voice, Black?" Snape said, waiting for his subject to respond.
Now, this was in no way the Imperious curse that normal wizards knew. This was another spell, devised by Snape, to masquerade as a curse. Sirius's mind was at Snape's control for the most part, but was still able to see and hear what was going on around him. That's why, at the end of the night when Snape reversed the spell, Sirius was still a little "out of his mind", not to mention the physical strain it had on him to battle two individuals trying to dominate his mind.
Sirius stood from the table after Snape and staggered a bit after him, until he got his footing, once again. It was like carrying a heavy animal around your shoulders, that the pressure pushed down on him and sometimes prohibited him from walking.
Out the door of the Leaky Cauldron and through the outskirts of Diagon Alley, the two moved on. Snape turned a corner to take a shadowed, hidden passageway that was not blocked, but appeared otherwise cold and neglected.
The two men, one walking without a care for life and the other walked with such pride and prestige, it was obvious which one of these two were in charge. Snape walked the long alleyway with flair of arrogance and accomplishment as he looked over at the weak, tired, notorious Sirius Black; a man that tormented him in his youthful years, only now to be at the mercy of his own wand. How the tables have turned, only now it was for the matter of good. Although, the idea of controlling Sirius did have its advantages, especially when it came to a good shoe polishing in the company of his own two female cousins, Narcissa and Bellatrix.
The long, dripping hallway that they walked nearly every night came to an end, when they came upon three hooded figures standing under the pale moonlight, outside an empty storefront in the desolate Knockturn Alley.
One of the three turned her body to see the two men coming closer; you could just barely make out the platinum blonde hair hiding under the heavy cloak. Narcissa pulled down her hood, identifying herself to the two men, allowing a small grin creep across her demonic, yet angelic, face.
"Severus, you're late." She noted, looking over at her cousin. "Sirius, you look a wreck. You really must get some more sleep. You're making the Black's look worse than you already have."
Sirius's eyes lifted to his family, Narcissa, Draco and Bellatrix and nodded to them out of respect, "I agree, cousin. I've got a lot to do, before I can cleanse the name, once again." He hoarsely answered.
Draco nodded his head to Sirius, knowing him to be family, but still not worthy to be one of them, yet. Their meetings were becoming more and more frequent, and it was good to see they were turning him, but still something wasn't right about his mother's cousin. Though he shared their blood, tainting it by running alongside the Potters and marrying a muggleborn, Draco saw him with potential.
He extended his hand out to his second cousin and grinned, "Nice to see you again, Sirius."
"Snape, you could have bathed him before he sees the Dark Lord. What an insult to our blood that he is presented in such a vagabond manner." Bellatrix slighted, looking at the disheveled appearance of her own cousin.
With a slight flick of her elegant wrist, she changed his attire of blue jeans, t-shirt and leather jacket to black slacks, black buttoned shirt, tucked in along a black leather belt with the Black family crest on his belt buckle. His hair was combed back neatly, tied into a small pony tail at the nape of his neck, with a few short wisps framing his handsome face.
It already appeared that Sirius was more awake than before and he looked at his cousin, grinning slyly. She was beautiful; he had to admit, considering she was family. He remembered fondly of how they used to play together with his brother Regulus, as teenagers. Though she was already on the darker path, Sirius was never tempted to go her way. Her bewitching ways lured so many men to their destiny, and to their death, before she joined up with Voldemort and the other Death Eaters.
"You don't look half bad yourself," Bellatrix replied, having read his facial expressions that he was, indeed, looking her over as her Death Eater robes were originally cut to accent her more feminine curves. "It really is a pity that you didn't wise up, sooner."
"You forget, Bella, he still hasn't wised up. He's all Severus's doing." Narcissa was quick to purr, admiring the better threads her sister had dressed Sirius up in.
"I don't see why we don't slap a dark mark on him, and get it over with." Draco insisted, throwing his concern at his mother.
"Because Draco, Potter would never trust him." Snape groaned, as if bored with making excuses.
"I don't know," Sirius began, grinning to Draco, "I've been known to be rather convincing."
"Frankly, I don't believe that anyone under the Imperious Curse should wear the dark mark, unless Sirius has a death wish. He's sure to screw it up and then, Bella might have to kill him, again." Narcissa remarked.
"Cissy, you of all people should know me." Sirius began, his eyes dark and a grin poised on his lip, "I'm not afraid of death. It's just another adventure."
Narcissa just looked into her cousin's black eyes with caution. She'd known Sirius was put under the curse by Snape for nearly a month and half, now, but something still didn't settle with her that he would stay on their side. He had already agreed to conspire with them about Harry, using himself as bait to convince him to come out. Sirius had no problem with that. But, it was Narcissa who dragged her feet, believing that somewhere deep down that old Gryffindor was going to come back to them.
On the other hand, she secretly admitted to herself that it was good to have him close, again. Ever since Regulus's disappearance, she felt incomplete without them and now that Sirius was slowly turning, she felt solace in being around a Black man, once again.
Narcissa nodded for her cousin and extended her gloved hand to him. Sirius graciously took her hand and raised it to his lips to lay a soft kiss on the back of it. Chivalrous to the end, he was playing the part he had always been known for.
"Merlin's Beard," Draco slowly spoke, looking off past the small party. Draco's eyes focused on the slender frame of the witch that walked defiantly down the dark alleyway, her want outstretched.
Fearing nothing, feeling lost and betrayed, Hermione had found her feet carrying her to Knockturn Alley to cure her suspicions. She was doing it for the good of the Order, her mission as an Auror and for the good of her own satisfaction. She felt empowered as the will to perform the most unforgivable curses began to overcome her body, and realize now why people had performed them out of anger.
"I trusted you!" Hermione screamed, coming into the pale moonlight, cascading between the buildings.
Snape immediately turned around to see her stop about thirty feet from them, wand drawn and her empty fist balled and shaking. Her entire body was shivering from the discovery, understanding why Snape was there, but to find Sirius corralling with his cousins was a sight she never wanted to experience. He stood there proudly next to the evil witch who had sent him to his doom once before, believing that all her efforts to rescue from the Veil were wasted.
Bellatrix cackled loudly, clapping her hands as if the encore of an excellent comedy troupe were returning for another show. "This is brilliant, Sirius. Your wife has come down to see you off!"
Sirius grinned ear to ear and slowly turned around to face her. His eyes were dark on her, feeling the darker character taking him over. Just a glimmer of the old Sirius peeked out, and that was the part that admitted she looked dangerously sexy as she held her wand aimed at his throat.
"I trusted you, Sirius! I can't believe you'd do this to us!" she yelled, knowing how irresponsible she was being by letting her emotions run away with her. But it was all she could do. Her muscles had ceased to move, ever since she realized her love was on the wrong side. She wanted so badly to throw hexes and curses that would send her to Azkaban, but there was no point being anything like his family.
Sirius tilted his head in a cool manner and opened his arms to her, "You found me, love. It's a much better change."
Snape watched Sirius's every move cautiously, carefully studying his words and his mannerisms, trying to whisper a small incantation telepathically.
Hermione just stared at Sirius, dumbfounded and numb that she didn't hear someone running up behind her. They had their wand extended and slammed their feet onto the pavement with a fierce run, to back her up.
Ron shouted breathlessly, "Hermione, no! Get out, now!"
Hermione fought his arms away, as they started to encompass her body for protection. He was trying to hold her tight, in order to apparate them from this dark scene that was sure to start another war, like at the Ministry four years earlier.
"You bastard, how could you?" She screamed, tears streaming down her face as her friend held her back, demanding answers before her heart exploded in her chest over the biggest betrayal. All the secrets of the Order were to be exposed and he was going to be their downfall.
Ron watched carefully as Snape watched Sirius and the three in the back smiled eagerly at the confrontation. Bellatrix was already gripping her wand, ready to strike them down, but the show happening before her was too enthralling to stop it, as chaos was unfolding before them.
"I got tired of fucking you, I guess. Found a new direction, darling. I'll be back for Harry, soon enough." he charmed, giving her that last faithful wink.
She screamed for him, called him colored names and finally ended with the final recourse, "You lied to me! You lied to us all, Sirius! How could you do this to Lily and James? What about Remus?"
"Nothing to me." he slowly drawled.
With a final blow, Hermione broke free of Ron's grasp and ran at Sirius, pushing him hatefully with all her might. He caught her fists in mid air, squeezing her hands, nearly crushing them in his own palms as he let the hatred from the magic flow through him. With a half-assed shove, she was out of his hands and falling back into Ron. He finished her with a chuckling sneer.
"You made them believe you! You made me believe you." she cried out, letting Ron pull her back, forcing herself to stand strong. "You made me love you!"
Sirius froze.
His grin was still solid, his hatred was beginning to slow down and for a fraction of a second, he faltered.
Hermione saw him glare at her with those cold empty eyes. The soul of a person she didn't even know anymore looking back at her like she was the filth of the earth and wanted nothing to do with her. How could he do this to them? To Harry? To her? He was a fake. Sirius Black was nothing but a fake, an imposter and a coward. He had fooled them all and she was not going to let this take them down.
Snape repeated his incantation faster, so that Sirius would register what he was transpiring.
"Enough! She's mine!" Bellatrix cackled and pushed her nephew out of the way as he lingered a few feet behind Sirius, just in case he wasn't prepared to take the mudblood.
"Let's go now, Hermione!" Ron shouted and threw himself around her, and apparated them out of the confrontation.
Bellatrix cackled louder with laughter, stopping and taking a quick left turn, "Stupid ginger! You can't apparate out, only in! Now we play the wicked game of cat and mouse! Draco, go that way." She instructed, pointing her lacey gloved hand into the opposite direction.
Narcissa looked back at Snape and then went off after her son, protecting him, even in smaller battles.
Sirius covered his mouth and started to chuckle to himself, amused by Hermione's pathetic display and saddened by her declaration. It wasn't what he wanted to hear, let alone care much to have heard it. Without expecting it, Sirius felt the scruff of his neck being pulled and with a dynamic force; Snape threw him hard up against a wall.
"You son-of-a-bitch!" Sirius barked, gasping for air, but Snape held his wand to Sirius's throat.
"Don't make a sound, Black! I'm doing this to fucking help you. Break my wand!"
Sirius's dark hooded eyes glared at him as if he was mental and not the same person, "What are you going on about?"
Snape finished whispering the incantation and prematurely reversed the spell, so that Sirius would "wake up". He saw his body beginning to sag as the same effects of him going into the spell started to drive him. As he came to, Snape still held him by the neck as he remembered all what had just transpired.
"Now, break my fucking wand, Black! If I break it myself, they'll know I'm behind it!" Snape yelled at him eagerly with a stage whisper.
Sirius shook his head, trying to make his mind stop spinning at the same time and rationalize what it was Snape was doing.
"Look, you idiot, my job is to protect Order members as well. Now, your cousins just took off after Granger-"
"Hermione! She's here! My god, we need to get her out!"
"Shut up, Black! I'm doing that! You need to break my wand, so they see the magic was broken by you and most of the magic that is otherwise fucking with your mind will lift. Now, Bella will kill Hermione, without thinking. YOU need to get her out of here, if you want her to live!" Snape commanded, loosening his grip on Sirius so that he might actually do what he was told.
Sirius felt the truth hitting him. Hermione was out there, at the hands of his homicidal cousin and she had admitted herself that she, indeed, loved him. He grabbed Snape's wand from his hands and snapped it hard in two, dropping it at his feet and set off to find Hermione.