Title: Screaming on the Inside
Rating: R.
Summary: Tragedy strikes Hermione. How will her friends react?
Disclaimer: The characters of this story were created by the genius that is JK Rowling. This fic was not written to make money of any kind but merely for the enjoyment.
Authors Note: Thanks to all who have reviewed. This chapter the fic starts to earn its R rating… don't take that to mean things get interesting, it just means I stopped trying not to swear.
Thanks again for the reviews - I reached the 100 mark. Yay!
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Sirius' POV
I stare up at the portrait hole as memories of my school years flash before me. The Fat Lady brings me out of my trance as she asks in her pompous voice, "Password?" I give the short password Dumbledore had previously given me and take a deep breath as she swings open allowing me access.
I climb through. There is a flurry of shrieks and wand grabbing and I can't help but be amused. Harry, Ron and Ginny turn to me with nothing but surprise registering on their faces. As Dumbledore climbs in behind me Ron recovers first.
"Hey, Sirius. What's up?" I smile gently at Ron as shocked faces turn directly towards him. Ignoring them I turn to Harry. He stares back and me and I know my presence has confirmed his deepest fear.
"It's what I thought isn't it?" Harry asks surprisingly calm, too calm in fact.
My mind casts back to last summer and a chat I had with a rather concerned and erratic godson. His main and pretty much only fear - Hermione's safety. After listening to him rant for about half an hour about how Hermione was a target because of her proximity to him and her power I came to the only logical conclusion. Harry was very much in love with Hermione. The stupid prat just hadn't admitted it to himself yet.
Not having the heart to voice the truth I simply nod my head slightly in the affirmative. Harry visibly deflates. He stares at me for a second before turning and ramming his fist into the nearest wall, taking out his frustration.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Dumbledore smile. "I don't think breaking your hand will help Harry. But if you do by all means…" Dumbledore gestured for him to continue. Harry immediately gave his hand a sheepish look and desisted.
Silence settled over the common room as people looked around knowing they shouldn't stay but feeling uncomfortable to leave. Ron seemed to be confused while Ginny just looked at Harry disbelievingly.
"You mean Hermione's parents," she paused her eyes wide with fear and unable to get the words out.
"Voldemort," Harry finished. A feel people around me flinch at the name before a gentle murmur of shock fills the common room. I look towards Dumbledore uncertain this probably wasn't the place to be doing this.
"Fuck," Harry swears and kicks the nearest chair. At that moment I realise just how worried and upset he is.
"You didn't tell me." The common room turns to the voice as one and an absolutely stunned silence fills the air. My heart breaks when I see Hermione. Standing at the top of the stairs, dressed in her pyjamas and painstakingly apparent that she has heard every word.
"You didn't tell me," she states again looking directly at Harry. I too turn my attention to him and you can almost see the air quiver with the tension between them.
"I didn't know," Harry tells her.
I can see she doesn't quite believe him but nevertheless nods her head slowly, processing the information. "I'll go get my wand." There is conviction in her voice I never thought she could posses.
Silence again. "No!" Harry yells and the worry in his voice is tangible. Ginny and Lavender both flinch and it becomes apparent that Harry has just shattered one of the constants in their life. No matter what Harry never yells at Hermione.
Harry quickly bounds up the stairs, taking to at time. Reaching the top he grabs Hermione's arm to stop her.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she asks pulling away from him.
"Stopping you from doing something incredibly stupid."
"Stupid?" Hermione hissed. "And you're Mr Logical twenty-four seven. Voldemort killed my parents."
Harry blocked Hermione as she once again tried to reach her dorm, their noses less than an inch apart. "What do you think he did to mine? Cursed them with puppies and Christmas?" The absurdity of the comment sticks out and in any other situation I would have found it funny.
I watch in amazement as Harry and Hermione stare at each other trying to gain the better ground. In one swift move and catching Harry completely off guard Hermione reaches around him digs her hand at the back of his waist band and produces his wand from his discrete hiding place. Before Harry can even make a move to retrieve it Hermione casts her charm.
"Accio wand," she pronounces and her wand comes soaring towards her. Plucking her wand out of the air Hermione races down the stairs and heads for the portrait hole. As she reaches it the hole sticks fast. Frustrated Hermione throws her weight on the door and that not working begins to pound on it with her fists.
"Let me out you stupid bitch," Hermione screams. God I love the Fat Lady at times. Harry's flight down the stairs was not as fast as anyone had expected. When he reaches Hermione he just stands there watching her as she pounds on the door, tears streaming down her face. Gently he reaches out and grabs Hermione's wrist preventing her from continuing to thump the wall. On his touch she gently leans back into Harry and his arms come gently around her waist offering her comfort. I'm astounded at just how well they seem to know exactly what Hermione needs without even looking at her face.
Silent tears trail down Hermione's face as she stares blankly at the wall her head leaning back onto Harry for support. Harry gently kisses the top of her head and I avert my eyes feeling as though I'm watching something incredibly private.
A respectful silence fills the room and everyone gets lost in their own thoughts. I take the opportunity to look at Dumbledore and he nods slightly at me affirming my thoughts. With all that's happening I can't believe we are still going to go through with this.
Our silence is broken when the portrait hole swings open again. Harry and Hermione jump apart suddenly remembering they were in a room full of people. Hermione wipes her tears with her sleeve and that's when I notice one hand is still firmly gripping Harry's.
Through the portrait hole comes tripping one of the most unlikely groups I think I'll ever see; Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, Draco Malfoy, Snape and Dobby the house elf.
"Ah, we're all here," Dumbledore states, his eyes twinkling, which I find entirely inappropriate for the situation at hand.
"Are you sure this is wise, Professor," Snape immediately asks in a tone which makes me wonder if I even need a reason to hate this guy. With a distinct look of distaste Snape sweeps his gaze over the few left in the common room who are not of our usual group.
"I assure you Severus that every person in the common room will be needed at some stage in our current situation," Dumbledore tells him with a firm look.
"Even Mr Longbottom?" Snape asks with a look on contempt at a rather plump boy sitting at one of the tables, quill still poised over a piece of parchment. Longbottom, I knew I recognised that face somewhere.
"Hey!" Ginny announced looking like she wanted to say something more but Ron's hand was firmly planted on her mouth. It appeared no on else thought his question dignified a retort.
Ignoring them Harry and Hermione made their way to the couch near the fire and curled up next to each other both looking like they just wanted to get down to business and then sleep for a week. Obliging their wish Dumbledore took a seat opposite them and gestured for everyone else to gather around.
Expectant faces turned towards Dumbledore as everyone waited for him to start. "Voldemort is planning an attack on Hogwarts." A smattering of gasps came from the few Gryffindor's who were not members on our inner circle. I don't think Dumbledore could have been more blunt if he tried but he had the desired effect.
I watch as people around me take in what Dumbledore was not saying. Voldemort was attacking Hogwarts, Harry was his primary target Hogwarts was just the bonus prize.
"Misdirection," Hermione mutters and a few people look at her strangely so she explains. "Harry's looking one way and Voldemort attacks the other." Hermione pauses for a second. "But it doesn't make sense. It's so predictable, its…" Hermione trailed off and it was only then I realise that she is thinking out loud. "My parents, they were just pawns. God!"
Hermione stands and runs her hands through her hair, her mind getting a grip on reality. Harry's eyes follow her as she begins to pace and his expression can be described as nothing but helpless.
"Miss Granger," Dumbledore asks in a patient voice. "What I'm going to ask you all to do is going to be most difficult for you." Dumbledore paused checking she understood and Hermione nodded. "Just for the duration of this conversation I'm going to ask you all to put all you emotions on hold; fear, grief; everything. If we don't we may well get nothing done."
Silence filled the common room and faces blanched but all nodded, determined to do what they could.