Chapter 15

The light was dim, and it was focused on the desk nearest to the fireplace, where the crackling of fire was heard. The scent of the old books' pages became stronger as he approached that very desk where a girl with rather bushy hair was focused on a book that lied on the wooden table which had rough and sharp splinters that contrasted with the smoothness of the book's pages. He put a hand on her shoulder and said gently: "It's late Hermione, what are you still doing here?"

She looked up at him with watery big brown eyes and stuttered: "Oh, It's you Orion, I, I was just studying, why are you here?"

"I was on my way to the kitchen, I wanted a midnight snack and I saw the door was open, now I can see you were obviously crying earlier, so care to tell me what's wrong?" He replied as he sat on the chair opposite hers.

"I can't hide anything from you can I? It's nothing serious really, It's just that It's so painful, you know, what happened to Draco…I mean, just because He was born in a prejudiced pure-blooded family, he is obligated live up to their expectations, to be the perfect heir to the title of Lord, It's just too much for a boy his age to endure, don't you think so?" Hermione admitted.

Orion's emerald green eyes shone with concern, he then said: "It doesn't explain the crying, I think there's something else than pure-blood ideals that's bothering you, what is it Hermione?"

A single tear ran down her cheek, she gazed in Orion's eyes and finally proclaimed: "I was devastated when I saw him that way, the pain he felt because of that, that curse…It was just, unbearable for me to watch…when I found out that I was a witch I never expected the wizard world to be so cruel, reality hit me that night, is this really the world I'm destined to spend the rest of my life in?" and she burst down in tears. Orion pulled her into a hug and whispered soothing words in her ear: "Shhh, It's going to be okay Hermione, please calm down, come on let's take you up to your room."

He led her up the cold marble-floored staircase and through the dim-lighted corridor until they reached her bedroom door. He whispered goodnight as she closed the door, tears still streaming down her face as she whispered to herself: "Oh Orion if you only knew…"

Draco and Hermione were playing a game of chess while Orion was playing the piano that morning. He was playing a breath-taking symphony and his mother was listening to him eagerly. When he finished, he heard clapping from behind.

"Oh, hello mum"

"That was beautiful Orion, those lessons really paid off." Hestia said as she sat down next to her son.

"Thanks, I haven't seen dad lately, do you know where he is?"

"Your father didn't come home last night, he insisted on searching with aurors, and you know how stubborn your father can be."

"He's furious, he won't rest until he finds him." Orion sighed as he looked through some music sheets.

"A letter came in this morning, it's for you, Susan Bones sent it." Hestia changed the subject.

"Oh, after all what happened I forgot to write her back, it's her third letter and I only replied to the first." He quickly stood up and went up to the owlery.

Hestia then decided to play a symphony herself, she gently shifted her fingers through the piano and pushed this key and that key, she played a piece most people won't be familiar with, it reminded her of her Hogwarts days, when she used to take a walk next to the lake, barefoot, her feet touching the wet grass, walking through…

"Lavender flowers, it's been a while since one of us ever played it." A voice from behind said.

She turned around to see her husband, his troubled gray eyes gazing at her. She ran into his arms.

"Sirius, I was worried about you, why didn't you come back home yesterday?" She whispered through his through his robes.

"I went looking for the coward, they still can't find him." Sirius replied

"You're exhausting yourself over this Sirius, you haven't slept since that night." Hestia said to him, looking more concerned than ever.

Sirius then closed the distance between their faces with a soft and tender kiss. He longed for the peaceful days he used to spend with his family, and he missed his wife, terribly.

A few seconds later they broke the kiss and Hestia laid her head on his chest: "When will all this drama end?"

"I wish I knew sweetheart, I wish I knew." He whispered through her silky black hair.

Orion dropped the front tip of his quill into the dark ink and then scratched the creamy parchment as he wrote down:

Dear Susan,

I'm terribly sorry for not replying to your letter, I promise you It wasn't my intention. You must already have heard about what happened on Christmas Eve, well that's what got me bust the past few days. I guess it's still no excuse so please pardon me for my rudeness. How was your Christmas Eve like? I hope you had a pleasant time with your aunt. Thank you so much for your present, the book is really interesting and I will make sure to read it as soon as possible. I hope you will like mine. Well this is all the time I have for now but I will make sure to tell you about what you have missed out when we go back to Hogwarts next week.

Best Wishes,

Orion Black.

That's it for chapter 15, hope you guys like this chapter, keep reviewing and tell me what you think, especially about Hermione. I will update Chapter 16 as soon as possible.