For the first time since she moved to England Hermione was forced to walk home alone as her usual escort had managed to get himself a detention. Hermione shook her head as she thought about Harry and the fight he'd gotten into with one of the local bullies Draco Malfoy, she'd no idea what it was about but she didn't think it mattered. Fighting was fighting and there was no cause for it. Turning a little at a noise behind her she saw another boy from school, Ron Weasley, as well as his two older brothers Fred and George flying by on bicycles. Fred, or was it George, raised a hand in greeting.
"Oy Hermione!"
Hermione smiled a bit and waved back.
"Hello boys."
She replied before turning off on to the next street. Just a few more blocks and she would be at Harry's house. She'd have to explain to Mrs. Potter about the fight. Again she shook her head at Harry's irresponsibility. She continued to walk and ruminate over the possible reasons for Harry to react in such a volatile manner, so lost in thought was she that she didn't realize that she had taken a wrong turn until she was quite far into a rather seedy section of town.
"Oh dear, which way have I gone? I've got to get home. Ok, Hermione, relax and think. You're a big girl and you can get through this."
Hermione tried calming herself but a small wave of panic darted back and forth across her consciousness. As she stood at the mouth of an alley she heard a movement behind her. Turning quickly she spotted three rather large boys walking towards her. None of them looked friendly in the least. The tallest of the three motioned towards his friends as he saw Hermione.
"Well, well what `ave we `ere?"
He leaned in close to Hermione and she could smell beer on his breath. She cowered away even further but ever step she took backward he took one forward until she realized she'd been backed up against a wall. What was she going to do?
"I haven't any money if that's what you're after."
Hermione squeaked in a small voice.
The boy leered and snorted disdainfully.
"I ain't lookin' for money li'l Miss, you're in Death Eater territory now and I'm afraid we gotta teach ickle children likes yourself that it ain't appropriate to go wanderin' around in other people's territory."
He cracked his knuckles menacingly and as Hermione flinched she saw a big black blur knock into the boy.
It was one of those great stories that you can't put down at night.
The hero knew what he had to do and he wasn't afraid to fight.
The villain goes to jail while the hero goes free.
I wish it were that simple for me
Hermione looked up in surprise and saw man walking towards her. He was tall with straggly black hair and angry, blazing eyes the color of coal. He moved towards Hermione's attacker and picked him up by the collar shaking him roughly.
"You've moved from dealing with cops to bothering little girls have you?"
Hermione gasped as the other two boys advanced on the stranger, malice gleaming in their eyes. As one swung his fist the stranger lifted his free hand and caught the blow not taking his eyes of his captive. He gave the boy another shake as his hand squeezed the fist of the other boy painfully.
"I'll make you and your buddy here a deal, you promise to walk away and never let me see you bothering little kids again and I'll tell my dog not to rip out your other friend's throat."
Hermione turned and saw the third boy sprawled on the ground, a black lab stood over him with his throat locked gently but firmly between her jaws. It was clear she was waiting for her master command. Hermione turned back to the others in time to see her would be attacker nod his head fearfully. The stranger threw him back against a wall with a nod of his head.
"Good now get out of here. Lucy let `im go."
The dog released the boy and all three took to their feet and started running. The man turned to Hermione and regarded her kindly.
"You all right little one?"
Hermione nodded, not quite able to find her voice yet.
And the reason that she loved him,
was the reason I loved him too.
And he never wondered what was right or wrong,
he just knew, he just knew.
"You look a bit lost and to tell the truth so am I."
Hermione regarded him carefully and decided it would be ok to tell him.
"I got lost on my way home from school. I'm on my way to Beauchamp Place but I'm afraid I took a wrong turn somewhere."
The man looked a bit startled.
"Beauchamp Place? You wouldn't by any chance know James and Lily Potter would you?"
Hermione was startled to say the least.
"Why yes, I was on my way to their house. I'm sure they're dreadfully worried about me by now."
Shadow and shape mix together at dawn,
but by the time you catch them, simplicity's gone.
So we sort through the pieces, my friends and I,
searching through the darkness to find,
The breaks in the sky.
The man nodded thoughtfully and patted his dog absentmindedly on the head.
"I don't know if they mentioned I was coming, but I am Sirius Black."
He held out his hand and Hermione immediately took and shook glad to know she really could trust this man. He was a friend of Mr. Potter's after all.
"Yes, Mr. Potter talks about you all the time. He's been a bit worried because he was expecting you a lot sooner than this."
Sirius cleared his throat looking distinctly uncomfortable.
"Yes, well certain business has detained me up to this point. Now you know who I am, but may I be so bold as to inquire your identity?"
Hermione giggled at his overly dramatized politeness.
"My name is Hermione Granger. I stay with the Potters after school."
Sirius smiled pleased to have made her less nervous.
"Well then, shall we try to find our way there so they will cease to worry over us?"
He reached out his hand again and Hermione took it as they began retracing some of Hermione's steps in an effort to get back on track.
And the reason that she loved him,
was the reason I loved him too.
And he never wondered what was right or wrong,
he just knew, he just knew.
It wasn't long before Hermione and Sirius found their way back to the Potters'. On the way Sirius had told Hermione loads of funny stories and Lucy kept nuzzling her hand affectionately. As they approached Hermione could hear low voices coming from the living room. When they were nearer she could just make out what Harry was saying.
"I'm sorry Dad. I didn't mean for Hermione to have to walk home alone and I thought she'd have been here by now."
James's voice was the next she heard, disappointment evident in every word.
"If you hadn't gotten in that fight with the Malfoy boy then you wouldn't have gotten detention and Hermione wouldn't be lost right now."
Hermione and Sirius stopped and looked at one another, unsure if they should intrude on the despite the knowledge that their arrival would alleviate the tension.
"Well what was I supposed to do? I couldn't just let him go through with what he'd planned. I mean it would have completely humiliated Hermione."
Harry explained. Hermione was surprised that the fight had been about her and she wondered what it was Draco had been planning. She turned and nodded to Sirius and together they both walked inside. The three in the living room looked up at the entrance and immediately their faces cleared of worry.
"Hermione where have you been?"
Lily asked engulfing the girl in a large embrace.
"I took a wrong turn and then these mean boys cornered me and Mr. Black showed up and made them leave. He walked me home."
Hermione spoke in a rush, anxious to explain but she also wanted to ask Harry what Malfoy's plan had been. She looked at him hoping to get a clue when she noticed he had a dark purple bruise around his left eye.
"Mrs. Potter may Harry and I go upstairs now?"
Lily nodded and Hermione grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him towards the stairs calling a quick,
"Thank you for walking me home Mr. Black and it was nice meeting you."
Behind her as they went. Once upstairs and in Harry's room Hermione closed the door and turned to him.
"What was Draco planning?"
Harry blushed and looked at the floor.
"I'd rather not say. Um… are you all right Hermione? You said some guys cornered you."
Hermione nodded and smiled at Harry.
"Yes I'm fine. What about you, that bruise looks terrible."
"It's all right. Doesn't hurt that much."
Hermione smiled again and grabbed Harry's hand impulsively.
"Well I'm glad. And Harry thank you for standing up for me, but please, I don't want you to get in trouble so please try not to fight again."
"I can't make any guarantees Hermione but I'll try.
And we wonder, yes we wonder,
how do you make sense of this,
when the hero heals the maiden with his kiss...with his kiss?
Well, it was one of those great stories that you can't put down at night.
The hero knew what he had to do and he wasn't afraid to fight.
The villain goes to jail, while the hero goes free.
I wish it were that simple for me,
I wish it were that simple for me
Hermione nodded slowly before replying.
"I understand Harry. I suppose it's just how you are. And I guess now I've found myself two heroes to watch over me."
H
arry watched her carefully unsure, not only of how to respond, but of how to feel about Hermione having someone else as a hero. For some reason this bothered him. But for now he would just be glad she wasn't angry with him.
TBC…
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