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A/N: Just making small tweaks :) Nothing major. Sorry if it was inconvenient.

Chapter – 1

Memories of Sirius

"He's really gone..." sighed Hermione dejectedly. The fire in her sitting room burned with a fervour but those in her eyes had long since lost it's zeal. She was leaning in an armchair, facing the fireplace in her house, a grey ring on her finger. It was the vacation after her OWLs, but she cared about it no more, for, what she could achieve, could never replace what she had lost. No one, not even Harry and Ron, knew her bonds with Sirius Black, Harry's Godfather. She glanced at the grey ring, one which once was cut so smoothly that there wasn't one part of it which she did not adore, but now, was a grim reminder of the past, and images filled her already clouded mind….

There was Sirius, on top of Buckbeak, right after she and Harry rescued from the tower, looking her right in the eye and saying, "You truly are the brightest witch of your age".

Then, there was this bubbly feeling inside... She didn't know what it was, as though a Dementor's kiss, but bringing happiness rather than taking it away, but she enjoyed it all the same. As he flew off, she knew he had looked his way through her heart, and found a new corner, reserved only for him….

Though no one knew, she frequently wrote to him throughout the fourth year. And, even though he was on the run, his replies always found a safe route into her arms and through them, to her heart….

And, she got the pleasure of talking to him, face to face, through the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room, almost every week… One could call her very skilful, which she was, for no one knew about these, not even her closest friends, Ron and Harry….

Next year, they met each other many times, after the meetings of the Order of the Phoenix at Grimmauld Place, Sirius's home. Each time, Hermione would employ an improved form of 'Geminio', through which, she was able to duplicate herself, and sends her double to her friends. No one noticed it, for the atmosphere was thick, all this talk about the Dark Lord was enough to distract anyone. As each day passed, the bonds between Hermione and Sirius grew stronger, and this pulled their hearts closer. Then, the constant meetings over the fireplace of the common room were no more a desire, but more a necessity. Neither one could sleep while the other was awake. Their souls were so close that they could feel each other breathe…

Then, the meetings of the order were put off for a few weeks due to the attack on Arthur Weasley. But, during the Christmas of 1997, as Mr. Weasley had recovered, a celebration was organized. After the celebration, Sirius and Hermione met in the family room of the Blacks. Hermione was caught totally off-guard, when Sirius knelt on one knee, pulled out a small treasure chest shaped box from the side pocket of his magnificent velvet jacket, faced it towards Hermione, whose expression suggested that she couldn't apprehend the scenes unfolding, slowly opened it to reveal a shiny emerald ring, which immediately reflected the light from the fire unto Hermione's face, which was already bright as the sun as waves of happiness gushed back and forth through it…

"Hermione, would you…"

"Yes!"

"Wait! You have to let me finish!"

"Oh! Okay, it's just that I am so excited."

"I know… So, Hermione, would you…." Sirius looked Hermione straight in the eye and saw her pupils widening,

"…. Marry me?" He said without breaking eye contact.

This time, there was no sudden answer from Hermione. Still looking into Hermione's eyes, Sirius's right eyebrow, slowly but steadily, rose.

"Yes… I will…" She said, as she extended her right hand.

Sirius took the ring from the box meticulously, deposited the box back into his jacket's side pocket, gently took hold of her extended hand, Hermione split her fingers, Sirius inserted the still-shining emerald ring into her ring finger…. Then, both were locked in an eternal kiss.

All 'un-tarnished' Black family faces looked on, their successor, who, had blackened their reputation by being placed in Gryffindor, had now pledged his love to another Gryffindor, a mudblood…. Their two hearts, coming closer and closer for all these months, had finally been united. Now, nothing but death himself could separate them….

But Alas! Death did indeed break them apart. When Sirius got the information that his bride-to-be and his godson had fallen into the hands of the death eaters, he had to go save them. He was relieved to see them alive when he and the order reached the department of mysteries. He felt much pleasure in dueling enemies in their company… But, suddenly a rush of pain,

"No… Not…. Now…. So…. Much… unfinished…" Then, darkness….

As Sirius fell through the veil, Hermione's heart sank. She screamed, but no voice came out. She felt a lump in her throat and a thorn in her heart… She saw Harry run after Bellatrix, her mind urged her feet to follow him, but, her feet, as though put under a 'Petrificus Totalus' charm, didn't budge. She had no idea what to do. A shearing pain developed in her head. She just stood there, motionless, still. But, who could console her? Who knew? She felt pity at her own chaos.

"No, No one must know", she thought, holding her ring, which had instantly turned grey and gloomy, to her heart. Then, mustering all her courage, she began to tend the injuries of her compatriots, trying hard not to let a tear roll down her cheeks or her lips to move apart….

"Gone, just gone…." Murmured Hermione, returning to 'the now' and 'the here', as the tears that she had, for a long time, prevented; filled her eyes… One tear of such sadness was enough to put out the fire that burned with a fiery glow in front of her….

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