Hey, Diary!

Chapter 17

"Professor?" Hermione enquired, nervously.

"Don't worry, Miss Granger, you're not in trouble at all."

"Then, sir, why are we here?" Sirius asked, not knowing whether or not he wanted to know the answer. Glancing around the Headmaster's office he saw that very little had changed in twenty years. He was about to ask about the sword on the wall, when Dumbledore answered his question.

"I believe that I have found an alternative method to return you to your own time, Mr Black. One more reliable than the Room of Requirement."

The look on Hermione's face was one of devastation. Lose Sirius? "Sir, with all due respect, why?" Hermione asked, trying to sound polite, when all she wanted to do was curl up in Sirius' arms and cry.

"Hermione," Dumbledore said quietly. "Sirius doesn't belong now and you know it. He belongs in his own time with James, Remus and Peter." Sirius growled at the mention of the rat, but said nothing. His eyes had not left Hermione since Dumbledore had told them why they were there in his office. Her eyes were starting to tear up at the prospect of losing him.

Hermione felt the tears welling up in her eyes. How could Dumbledore do this to her? Taking away the man she…loved. Sure, she had loved Harry and Ron, but they were like her brothers. Sometimes she felt like nothing but a sidekick with brains when she was with them. Being with Sirius was different. He saw her as a separate person, not just part of a trio.

"Hermione?" Sirius whispered. She turned slowly to face him. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear. "I love you, I will always love you. Don't worry."

Hermione felt the tears flowing freely down her face. Losing Sirius broke her heart. Her brain knew that it had to happen, that Sirius had to go back to his own time, but her heart didn't want it to be true. She raised her head slightly to look at the headmaster. "When?" she whispered.

"I'm afraid that it has to be as soon as possible, Miss Granger. As you know, Sirius is an important character in past events and without him being there, many things would change, more than likely for the worse. We cannot allow for even the slightest possibility that events would have happened differently; it could be catastrophic."

It was too much to handle. Hermione ran from Dumbledore's office.

Hermione ran. She couldn't stand to think about Sirius, Harry or Ron. Nothing mattered apart from getting away. Eventually, she opened the door at the top of the Astronomy Tower. Standing there was…

"Sirius," Hermione breathed. Yes, he was older but he was still the same person.

"Hi, Hermione," he said glumly. "I take it you know that younger me is leaving."

"How do you…? You convinced Dumbledore to… How could you do this to me?" Hermione shrieked.

"Hermione, the longer I'm here, the more I fall in love with you, the harder it will be when I do leave. I can't let you be that heartbroken because of me. Sooner is much better than later." Sirius looked at the sky. Hermione could not believe what she was hearing. Sirius had to leave because he loved her? That didn't make sense, did it?

"Hermione, I know you don't like this, but please understand how it is for me. I didn't remember any of this until you started writing to my younger self. That rush of memories and feelings was so… intense, that I couldn't see straight. I don't want my younger self to go through the same pain that I did, if that makes sense." Sirius looked at Hermione, pleading with her to understand. He wouldn't wish that kind of pain on anyone, let alone Hermione. If she would be just half as heartbroken as he was he knew she wouldn't handle it.

"Sirius, I just need to think, ok? I'm sorry." Hermione's eyes fell to the floor and she heard Sirius leave. "What can I do?"

"Sirius!" Harry yelled as soon as he saw his godfather.

"Hi, Harry," Sirius said, not sounding half as enthusiastic as he really should have been.

"You ok?" Harry asked looking concerned.

"I'll live, I suppose. What have you been up to?"

"Looking for Hermione, have you seen her?"

Sirius thought about it. Hermione wanted to be alone, but Harry was obviously concerned. "No, sorry kiddo. Listen, you have any idea where younger me is?"

Harry's face lost the worried look it had had and hardened. "I think he went to see Dumbledore. Why?"

"Dunno. Just curious I suppose."

"Yeah, well, I've got to go. See you later!" Harry called over his shoulder as he ran.

Sirius walked off in search of himself. Turning the final corner before reaching Dumbledore's office he collided with a solid mass.

"Ow!" Younger Sirius exclaimed. "Watch where you're… Oh, it's you." Sirius pulled the younger him off into an out-of-the-way alcove. "Have you seen Hermione anywhere?"

"Listen carefully. You need to go, now." Sirius told himself.

"Where's Hermione?" Younger Sirius persisted ignoring his older self.

"Listen! The best thing for both you and Hermione is if you leave as soon as possible. You love her now? Well, that feeling will grow and grow. The longer you are here and now, the more you will love her and then it will hurt a heck of a lot when you do go. The best thing for both of you is to leave now."

Younger Sirius was stunned. He didn't think that he could feel any stronger about Hermione than he did now. He saw the pained look in his older self's eyes and couldn't help himself when he said "Ok." Both men turned and walked slowly and saddened towards Dumbledore's office. Giving the password, younger Sirius followed his counterpart up the stairs deliberately, having never felt more depressed. He was going to leave Hermione, without so much as a goodbye. His only hope was that she would one day forgive him.

"Have you changed your mind?" Dumbledore asked. Sirius nodded dumbly. "It's for the best, you know. If you could please stand in the middle of the room? That's right." Dumbledore started chanting in a low voice. A blue orb appeared around Sirius. Suddenly the door to his office flew open.

"Hermione!" Older Sirius yelled. Hermione ran to the edge of the orb.

"Sirius?" Hermione called, feeling tears run down her face again. "Sirius?"

Sirius looked up at her. He loved her, he knew that and she knew that. He had to tell her one more time. "Hermione, I …" He disappeared within the blue orb.

"No!" Hermione screamed. It couldn't be true. He couldn't be gone. Tears were streaming down her face. She collapsed to the floor. The only sounds that could be heard in Dumbledore's office where Hermione's sobs.

The End.

A/N well? Do you like it? Do you hate it? Review and tell me! I finally finished it! I know it has been ages since my last update and I apologise. My New Year's Resolution is to update more frequently on all fics I may start in the coming year. Thank you all for reading, thank you for reviewing. I love you all loads! PadfootsPrincessJ