Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Well everyone… this was actually the second fic I'd ever written. I wasn't sure if it was ready to be posted and it isn't finished yet, but seeing how many people like 'Constellations' pretty much pushed me into posting it. Sirius/Hermione eat your heart out! You're going to LOVE it!

Chapter One

Hogwarts: September

Empty. That was the only word that truly expressed how Hermione Granger was feeling at that precise moment. Standing in the doorway of her new chambers she took in the space that would be her home for only one more year. Her seventh and final year. It was pleasant enough. To any other head girl it would seem like the most enchanting room in the castle. In a school as big as Hogwarts, privacy was priceless. But nothing seemed to bring Hermione out of the depression that had once again come to settle over her.

She dragged her bursting book bag over the threshold to rest next to her newly delivered trunk. Then only bothering to take off her shoes she sank down into the covers of the four poster that sat against the far wall. How could she have been so stupid? Did she really think that he could change, that he wasn't just as selfish and childish as he had been before he fell through the veil? She had so much anger inside her it felt as if she was burning. Pulling the covers over her head she gave into the tears that had been threatening to pour out since leaving Grimmauld Place that morning.

It had all happened so gradually. Neither of them had planned it. At the time it just felt so right. Never had she had these feelings about anyone. Looking into his grey eyes as he ran his fingertips down her left cheek. She was sure that that was it - that was the moment she realised she was in love with Sirius Black.

~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~

Summer Flashback: July

Eight days. That's how long she had been refusing to come out of the room she and Ginny shared at Grimmauld Place. Eight days. That's how long it had been since she had spoken a word to anyone. Eight days. that's how long it had been since she had been informed of her parents murder.

For the first few days she had sobbed continuously, but now she just lay staring at the opposite wall, her eyes blurry and her cheeks stained with tears. At first it had seemed as if she needed some time to be alone with her grief. But after five days it had become obvious to everyone in the house that Hermione did not intend to move from her bed. Not now or anytime soon. Nothing anybody did seemed to drag her from her current state.

"Just let her be for little longer Molly. It's only been a week." Arthur Weasley pleaded with his wife.

"A week? Arthur the child hasn't eaten in eight days! She's been in the same bloody position for most of them. No one can get her to move."

"It's not like we haven't tried love. Harry and Ron are in there practically all day -"

"It doesn't make a difference Arthur!" she sang out exasperated. "If nothing's changed by tonight we'll have to use magic."

"Now dear... do you really think that's necessary -"

"What's necessary?" said a voice from the kitchen door, through which walked none other than Sirius Black, followed by a tired looking Remus Lupin. "Afternoon Molly. Arthur." the later said nodding his head towards the pair.

"Afternoon Remus." Molly said stiffly, shooting a disapproving look towards Sirius who was now searching the pantry for something to drink.

"Molly and I were just discussing Hermione. She doesn't seem to be doing any better and we're not really sure what the next step to take is -"

"Actually we are perfectly sure but Arthur here seems too think that using magic is a little drastic at present." Molly said with a definite edge of sarcasm.

Remus joined the couple at the table. "How long has it been now... eight days?"

Molly nodded her head softly tears gathering in her eyes. " And she still isn't eating?" Remus asked sighing.

"No." Molly said turning to her husband. "She's like a daughter to me. If anything happens to her I don't know -"

"Sshh Sshh. Come on now" Arthur said wiping the tears from his wife's eyes "She's going to be fine. She just needs a little time to grieve properly."

"I'm not sure Arthur, perhaps a potion or spell would help her some. At least to eat." Remus stated.

At this comment Sirius stepped from the Pantry. "Come on! She doesn't need a spell to eat. She'll obviously be hungry by now. Someone just needs to... you know... pull her out of it." he said in an isn't that obvious sort of way.

Molly's head shot up. "It's not as if we haven't tried Sirius." she said, her voice sharp "She simply refuses to move. Harry and Ron are with her all day. Everybody's tried Sirius. That's the point."

Sirius appearing slightly muffed about being spoken to like a child, turned and made his way out the door. "Not everybody Molly." he threw over his shoulder as he started towards the stairs.

~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~

Sirius knocked once before entering the room at the end of the hall on the second floor. His heart went out to his godson sitting in a chair beside the bed at the far side of the room. He was leaning forward pulling the covers up over the shoulders of the young girl lying down, his eyes heavy with exhaustion and worry. Sirius took a few steps forward before Harry looked up. "Sirius!" he said crossing the room towards the older man.

"Hey mate. How are you doin'? You don't look so great." Sirius said placing his hand on Harry's shoulder.

"I'm alright... just worried." Harry sighed "She doesn't look at me when I'm talking to her. I don't even know if she knows anyone's here..."

"Don't worry. She knows mate. You've been a good friend staying with her. It helps to know that someone's there." Harry nodded. "But you've gotta get some rest... why don't you let me sit with her and you go get something to eat downstairs." Harry looked up unsure. "It's alright. You won't be gone that long and I'll be here if she needs anything." Sirius assured him.

Harry looked back towards Hermione. "... ten minutes? Are you sure you're ok up here?"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Yeah Harry I offered didn't I? Now I'm not really taking no for an answer."

Harry made his way back towards Hermione kissing her on the cheek. "I'll be back soon alright. I'll just be downstairs. Sirius is here ok?" he tried to assure her. She lay motionless, giving him no clue whether or not she heard him.

"I'll be back soon." Harry said once more before making his way downstairs.

Sirius made his way over to the chair Harry had been sitting in. He looked down at the girl in front of him. Her hair was, for lack of a better word... everywhere. Her eyes were puffy and her cheeks appeared slightly sunken. He had to admit that she did look pretty bad. But hey he'd looked that bad once. He'd felt that bad once. Prison does that sort of thing to people.

"So... Hermione you're not looking too good there hun." Sirius began. Perhaps not the best way to begin their conversation he thought. Now that he was up here and he'd seen her he began re-thinking his earlier opinions on magic. What was he supposed to say to this broken form in the bed in front of him? She looked so... damaged... so hurt.

A few minutes passed before Sirius once again broke the silence. "... When James and Lilly died... I went after Peter as soon as I heard. I was going to rip the limbs from his body. I was mad... so... enraged. But not only at him..." he said looking up. "At myself too. If I hadn't suggested they change secret keepers they would still be here. Harry would still have parents... guilt does strange things to people Hermione." She was still staring ahead but he continued. "I felt that I deserved death almost as much as Peter... just for my stupidity... for being such an unseeing fool." Sirius had tears in his eyes now. "They were the only family I had and I let them down. Until I saw that photo in the newspaper I would have punished myself in Azkaban for the rest of my life... But seeing Peter and knowing he was out there, capable of almost anything... well I knew I had to move forward... for Harry." Sirius ran his hands through his hair. "Just like you have to begin to move forward now. I know you feel guilty, and you're allowed to. But it can't eat you up. You have to let it go... for everyone... for Ron and Harry. He needs you more than you know..." Sirius finished, brushing at his eyes.

He looked down to find her crying silently. "I'm going to sit you up now ok?" He said.

Gripping both her arms he pulled her into a sitting position. Her shoulders seemed to sink in as she crumpled into herself trying to catch her breath. It took a second for Sirius to realise that she was sobbing - these gut wrenching sobs that come deep from within your soul. He put an arm around the young witch and pulled her towards him. He knew that she needed to let all of this out before she would be ready to talk about what she was feeling or thinking, so he simply cast a silencing spell on the room so that the others wouldn't be distressed by her loud cries, and held her in his arms.

He looked up as she said his name "Sirius... it was my fault.' her voice was like whisper. "They wanted to leave... run away... but we argued and I was yelling at them." Her voice rose a notch when she looked up into his eyes and said. "I said I wouldn't leave Harry. The last time I saw them... I chose Harry over my own parents Sirius. How can I ever forgive myself for that?"

"You need no forgiveness Hermione." Sirius' voice was stern. "Their deaths were NOT your fault. You chose your path and they chose theirs. They knew that you loved them and that you were only doing what you thought was right."

"That's exactly it though... what if what I thought was right was actually completely wrong? What if I wasn't meant to choose this path? I chose wrong Sirius!" Hermione cried tears streaming down her face.

"Never say that! You chose Harry... and your support did save him. If you hadn't of been there in the final battle, he may have died. Your parents would be happy to know that their daughter chose such a self sacrificing path... instead of running away from the fight."

She was staring ahead again and for a moment Sirius thought that she had returned to her trance like state. A few seconds past before she looked up into his face and nodded.

"Ok well... why don't I go down and see if I can't get some of that food everyone's being talking about? Think you're up to it?" He asked, smiling.

"Yeah I think that would be alright." she said softly.

Entering the kitchen Sirius nodded his head towards Harry "I think if you took her up something to eat now, she'd be alright with it."

Harry flew out of his seat so fast to hug his godfather, Sirius could have sworn he had apparated. Molly handed him a tray laden with enough food for an army, with a "Make sure she eats it all."

Then before Sirius could move she had her arms around him. "You aren't as bad as you think you are Sirius Black" Molly said as she released him.

Realising that he had just received praise from Molly Weasley, he smirked a little and made his way for the door. Turning back to her with a wink he said "I'll be at the pub if anyone needs me".

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