Belong to Nowhere
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
AN: Okay...here we go again. First, I want to see thank you to everyone who offered to be my beta. Thanks! Fortunely, my beta is back! What happened was a little problem with technology...(or not receiving e-mails). Oh well...
Now, about this chapter...before, you read it....PLEASE...remember one thing: this is a FANfiction. Well, yeah...I know...I know that Harry here is a little...OOC...but that's the way it is. And yes! I don't like Harry here either.
I just hope you like it.
Chapter 15: Friendly Blood and betrayal
Two weeks had passed since Harry had noticed that the Marauders map had disappeared.
"Harry, are you sure you didn't leave the map somewhere?" Ron asked. He, Harry, Hermione, Luna, and Ginny were at the lake enjoying the afternoon.
"No, Ron! I already told you!" Harry snapped. "I saw the map on my trunk before I went to-"He looked briefly at Hermione, who blushed a little. "Before I went to the Great Hall . To dinner."
"Someone must have stolen it," Ginny said. "Don't you think, Hermione?"
"I-I don't know, Ginny," Hermione replied, trying to sound casual.
Ginny looked at her intently. The redhead girl knew that something was going on. She didn't know what but only that something was out of place.
Hermione always seemed nervous, always late for something. She had heard a few nights ago that Goldstein was patrolling the halls alone. Hermione was always somewhere doing whatever it was she had been up to lately.
And there was the problem of her arm. Ginny was surprised that no one had noticed it yet. Hermione was always touching her left forearm.
Yes, definitely something was up.
If that meant the fall of Hermione Granger, even better.
At Night
Gryffindor Tower
Common Room
Harry was coming back from his detention- Dean was right behind him- when Ginny called his name. It seemed that she was waiting for him.
"Harry," she called. "May I speak with you?"
He almost groaned but controlled himself. "Ginny, I am really tired. Today was the last detention night and Filch was especially evil. Can this wait until tomorrow?"
She shook her head. "No, Harry."
Harry sighed. "Okay, Ginny, but be quick."
Ginny waited as Dean said his good night and went to the boys' dorm. "I want to ask you something."
Harry looked at her quizzically. "About what?"
"Hermione," she replied and Harry's heart began to beat a little, okay, a lot faster than normal. The truth was, he didn't know how to act around Hermione anymore. Everytime he did see her, wanted to kiss her! Merlin, all he could think about was to snog her senseless! That was driving him crazy!
Why? Why couldn't he get her out of his mind? And that night in her dorm. What would have happened if McGonagall hadn't shown up? Or worse, what would have happened if McGonagall had shown up just a few minutes later?
Oh Merlin, Oh Merlin.
He definitely needed to stop to thinking about Hermione like that. First, she had a boyfriend (argh!) and secondly and most importantly: SHE WAS HIS BEST FRIEND, FOR MERLIN´S SAKE!
"W-What about Hermione?" he finally asked.
Ginny took a deep breath before she began to speak, "What I want to ask you, Harry, is if you have noticed anything different…strange…about Hermione these last couple days…weeks, even. "
Harry was about to say No when a little voice inside of his head reminded him that he also thought that Hermione was acting a little strange. "Yeah, a little. Why?"
The girl shifted uncomfortable on the couch, biting her lip. "What, Ginny? Do you know something?" Harry asked again, fear creeping into his very skin.
"No, I know nothing. It's just…argh!" she cried impatiently. "Something's going on with her, Harry! I am her friend. I can feel that something is very wrong! She's always tired…her eyes are always blood shot and…" she stopped and looked at Harry, like she was unsure if she should go on.
"And what?"
"You have to swear to me that you won't tell anyone. I couldn't bear it if she loses her badge because of my big mouth!"
"Tell me now, Ginny!" he demanded.
"Anthony is doing his patrolling alone, Harry!"
"Maybe she decided to stay in her room studying…"
Ginny shook her head. "No, I went to her room, Harry. I needed to talk with her. She's out every night."
"And she isn't with her bloody boyfriend because he's been in detention with me," Harry muttered, but Ginny didn't hear him.
"What did you say, Harry?"
"Nothing."
"And there's another thing, Harry...I don't know if I should...Nah, it's probably nothing. Forget it!" she muttered, purposely looking away in hopes that Harry would take the bait.
"No...no, Ginny! Finish what you were about to say!" He pressed on.
"It's about her...her arm..."
"What about her arm?" Harry asked in confusion. What in the bloody hell was Ginny talking about?
"Harry-it's it…her arm…to be exact-her left forearm. There's something wrong with it. I don't know. I think she hurt it somewhere. Yeah, that's it. Nothing to be worry about."
'Oh no, Ginny you won't get away with that!' Harry thought indignantly.
"No, Ginny….I know you. You suspect something!"
"No, I swear! It's just weird, you know? She's always unconsciously grabbing that arm and…there was a day in her dorm…You see, Hermione was never shy of taking her clothes off in front of me…but that day…she was about to take off her blouse when she suddenly stopped…it was like she had remembered something. She didn't want me to see her left arm, Harry!" Ginny said worriedly.
Harry didn't know what to say. He stayed silent.
"Well," Ginny said nervously. "I guess it's late. See you tomorrow, Harry!" And she ran to the girls' dorm, without giving Harry a chance to say a single word.
Her mission was done.
The next day, Harry couldn't get the conversation with Ginny out of his mind. He began to watch Hermione even more carefully. Yes, she was acting strangely. Hell, what was going on?
The Great hall
Dinner Time
Hermione was eating her meal in silence, pretending to pay attention to Ron´s ramblings about the Chuddley Cannons when a very intense pain ran through her body. She dropped her fork while all color drained from her face.
"Mione, are you okay?" Harry asked with concern. "You look…pale."
Suddenly, before she could say anything, Hermione felt her mark -the blue phoenix mark-burning.
"Argh!" she cried out in pain and then looked at her forearm in horror. The mark was really burning…it was burning the fabric of the sleeves of her robes.
Hermione looked up at Harry. He had his eyes at her forearm. The fabric wasn't totally gone and Hermione was desperately trying to cover it with her other hand.
Harry couldn't see exactly what was there but he knew…he saw…that something was there…
Merlin, his world was crashing over his head. No, that couldn't be truth. Not Hermione…
"Hermione-" Harry said, his voice was low and trembling. "L-Let me see your forearm."
Tears began to fall from her eyes, her body started to shake. "Hermione!" he shouted this time. Everyone in the Great Hall went silent.
"I-I can't," she cried desperately and everyone gasped.
"Get out of my way."
"Harry, you have to listen to me…it isn't…"
"Get out!" he yelled angrily, tears falling from his eyes. "Get out! Get out! I never want to see your face again, Granger! You are worse than Pettigrew! Get out!"
Gathering all the dignity she had, Hermione stood up from the Gryffindor table and left the Great Hall.
Outside the Great hall, Hermione fell to her knees, crying in utter despair.
She didn't know really what had happened but she was sure that Sirius was in danger. She could feel his pain…Merlin, she didn't know what to do or how to react.
And Harry…Oh god, Harry…He had seen…No, worse, he thought he saw…
Harry thought she was a traitor…
"Miss Granger?" she heard someone calling her name and looked up. It was Kingsley Shacklebolt. He looked very tired, his robes were torn and he had a small cut under his left eye. "Are you okay?"
"There was an attack, wasn't there?" she asked knowingly.
"Yes," he said heavily. "Now, if you excuse me, I need to speak with the Headmistress."
Hermione wanted to follow him but she didn't have the nerve, the courage, to go back into the Great Hall. She simply couldn't face Harry. So, she stayed there, on the floor, watching the senior auror enter the hall.
But she couldn't simply stay like that. She needed to know what had happened.
Despite her pain, she stood up and ran to the secret passage that leaded to the Shrieking Shack.
There, she would Apparate to Grimmauld Place.
Grimmauld Place
"Hermione! What are you doing here?" asked a very surprised, and tired, Nymphadora Tonks. The young Auror was in the same state that Shacklebolt had been in.
"Where's Sirius?" Hermione asked quickly.
Tonks looked at the girl. She saw the burnt sleeve, the wet cheeks, the red eyes and she suddenly realized what must have brought Hermione here. The bond. "He's upstairs, with Remus. I have to go back to the Ministry…to try to control the damage."
Hermione only nodded in understanding and ran upstairs.
"Sirius!" Hermione cried, kneeling at the bed he was laying on. He looked terrible. "Oh, Sirius. What happened?"
"I-I think I'm not in my best shape," he said weakly. "T-That Dolohov got me unprepared."
Hermione tensed when she heard Dolohov´s name; she looked up at Remus. His eyes were a mixture of concern and anger
"There was an attack in Bristol. Sirius…you know how he is. He came along with us, disguised of course. Unfortunely, Dolohov got him. Some nasty spell. Thank Merlin I was by his side and managed to Apparate us straight away. We have just ar-" Remus suddenly stopped, realizing something. "Hey! What you are doing here?"
Hermione took Sirius hands in hers and whispered, "I felt his pain."
Remus was about to say something when someone entered the bedroom.
Minerva McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey had just arrived. The Hogwarts nurse rushed in and began to examine Sirius. Without taking her eyes off the patient, she said in a stern voice, "Now, if you excuse me…I want to examine Mr. Black alone. Go! Go!"
The others knew better than to argue, they just nodded and left.
Grimmauld Place, the kitchen
"Miss Granger, may I ask what are you doing here?" the Headmistress asked sternly.
"I felt his pain, professor…" And she showed her burned arm to McGonagall and Remus.
"Sweet Merlin!"
"Bloody hell" the two of them exclaimed at the same time.
"Oh, poor girl," McGonagall said almost to herself. "That's why Mr. Potter said, er, yelled those things in the Great Hall…He-"
Hermione nodded, the tears began to fall again. "H-He thinks I am a traitor."
"W-what?" Remus asked suddenly.
"I-I just felt so much pain and…and then my mark began to burn…the sleeves burned…a-and I tried to hide it b-but he saw…something and he is thinking…oh God!" She buried her head on her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.
Remus and the Headmistress exchanged glances. This wasn't supposed to be happening. Damnit!
"What are we gonna do?" asked Remus. "We can't exactly say what mark Hermione has."
The Headmistress sighed. "This is one of the few times of my life that I don't know what to do, Remus," she said. ""When I heard Potter saying those words…I wanted to go to Gryffindor table…but I knew I couldn't. But let's try to think up something later. Tell me what happened. Shacklebolt told me that was an death eater attack in Bristol."
"Yes. You know that restaurant…Magical Being."
McGonagall nodded. "Yes, it's frequented especially by Muggleborns and squibs. Kingsley said there were causalities but he didn't say how many."
"Two squibs and a Muggleborn," Remus replied heavily.
"Kingsley said the aurors managed to capture Cawdows. The others escaped," McGonagall said. "But now, Remus, can you please explain to me what Black was doing there?"
Remus shifted uncomfortable in his chair. "You know how Sirius is…I couldn't simply lock him in. But thank Merlin no one seemed to recognized him."
"Remus! Do you realize what this little adventure cost us? To Miss Granger? By now, the whole castle is thinking that Hermione is a Death Eater!" the Headmistress cried in exasperation. Hermione sobbed even harder.
Before Remus could say something, Madam Pomfrey entered the kitchen.
"How is he?" asked Remus.
"Mr. Black is fine. It wasn't anything serious. The spell just caused a lot of pain but no serious injury. I gave him some sleeping potion. So he won't be able to talk until tomorrow."
"Thank Merlin," Remus whispered and then turned to McGonagall. "Er, Minerva, what about-" And he nodded in Hermione's direction.
"I don't want to go back to Hogwarts," Hermione said in a small voice.
"Miss Granger…Hermione…I know these next few days will be difficult but-"
"Difficult! Professor, I'm sorry…but everyone thinks I am a Death Eater right now!"
"I am sorry, Hermione, but I can't allow you to miss more class. You can go upstairs and stay the fifteen minutes you are supposed to with Mr. Black. After that, you go back with me. I'm sorry."
Hermione nodded weakly. "So, excuse me, Professor…Remus…Madame Pomfrey. I'll see Sirius," she said and left.
"Minerva, are you sure Hermione should go back to Hogwarts?" Remus asked when Hermione had left. 'It will be a nightmare for her."
"Yes, I'm sure, Remus. If Hermione doesn't show up in her classes tomorrow things will became worse. She needs to face it. Like she and Mr. Thomas did with those horrible rumors…"
"Oh right, Hermione told us about it. It seems that Harry didn't take it very well..."
"Yes, Mr. Potter can be so much like his father sometimes."
"What concerns me is what will happen when Harry discovers what this is all really about. I just hope that he can forgive himself."
Hogwarts Grounds
Despite McGonagall's pleading, Hermione transformed into Star and wandered the grounds. She needed to be alone...and deep inside she wanted to see Harry...even if he didn't know who she was.
Thank Merlin she got her wish. Harry was there. Outside; sitting against the big tree near the Lake. He looked beyond words.
She approached him and barked softly. He snapped and looked at her, a sad smile on his lips.
"Oh…Star…it's you. I'm glad it's you."
She barked.
"I must be looking terrible…I'm feeling terrible. Do you have friends? I used to…I used to have a friend…a really special friend…I would die for her. And now…and now I discover that-Damit!' he cried angrily, wiping the tears that continued to fall from his eyes. "I shouldn't be crying, you now? I shouldn't! She doesn't deserve it!"
Star made a sad noise. Harry looked at her.
"I feel so stupid, you know? But everything seems to make sense now. Her absences, her…God, she has the Mark!" He took a deep breath.
"I couldn't stand to stay in the Castle. Everybody is talking about it. Poor Ron." He laughed dryly. "He didn't know what to say…or what to do. I didn't know what to say or what to do!" Star leaned closed and licked his face. He smiled. "Thanks, Star."
The days after the Great Hall Incident (as they called it) were a living nightmare for Hermione. Every place she passed, everyone suddenly became quiet. People simply stopped to say something to her, and when they did, it was to yell and say nasty things...
... And all she did was cry, cry and cry. Never in her whole life had she felt like that. Even the rumors that Dean had gotten her pregnant were better than this.
But what really made her heart break was Harry. Oh, Harry…he simply didn't look at her anymore. It was like she didn't exist. Ron, sometimes managed a nod in her direction -a reaction that Hermione suspected had something to do with Luna.
Flashback
Hermione was in Hagrid´s hut, alone. He let her stay there when she didn't have classes. She was pretending to read a book when someone knocked at the door.
"Hermione, it's me, Luna. May I come in?" she heard Luna's voice.
"Sure, Luna," Hermione replied without enthusiasm.
"Hey," the blond girl said, entering. "I-I just want to talk with you."
"What do you want to say? Do you want to remind me how terrible a person I am?" Hermione spat.
"No, Hermione," Luna replied calmly. "I just came here to say that I know you are not a Death Eater or a traitor for that matter."
"Oh. Sorry." Hermione mumbled.
"That's okay," Luna said smiling, hers big blue eyes shining at Hermione. "You have the blue phoenix, that's why I know you aren't a…bad person."
Hermione looked at the Ravenclaw in surprise. "How-?"
"How do I know? I am empathic. I have known since you returned from your ´absence´. I don't know who you brought back…but I can guess. That's why you can't show your mark to Harry, right? You made it for him."
"Yes," Hermione whispered. "But now he hates me. Everybody hates me."
"No, he doesn't hate you. He's confused. He thinks he saw something but in the end everything will be alright, Hermione."
"Thank you, Luna" Hermione said.
"You are welcome, Hermione. Just one thing, be careful…someone might be wishing you ill things."
"Who?" Hermione asked, slightly surprised.
Luna shook her head sadly. "I can't say. It's one of requirements of my condition. Just be aware and don't believe what some people say. There're so many lies in the world…"
Luna didn't wait for Hermione's reply, she left the hut.
End Flashback
'Luna, Luna, a strange but good girl', thought Hermione. She was so glad that someone believed in her. Fortunely, Luna wasn't the only one.
Dean also didn't believe she was a traitor.
"I-I just want to say, Hermione," he said a little shyly and awkwardly. "That I don't believe in what Potter said. I know this can't be true."
"Thank you, Dean."
"And, oh, Hermione, next weekend is Hogsmeade, would you like to..."
"I would love to, Dean." she replied with a smile.
Yes, at least two people believed in her. At least she wasn't totally alone.
Room of Requirement
"Harry, look at yourself!" Ron cried. "You look terrible!"
"I feel terrible, Ron!" He shot back.
"You have to do something, mate. Talk to her…I'm sure…"
"God, Ron, you saw…she has the Mark! The Mark!"
Ron shook his head. "No, Harry, I just saw a blur on her arm…nothing more."
"I asked her…I asked her to show me her arm and she wouldn't." Harry said stubbornly.
Ron sighed. "Harry, you know how hot tempered I am…how I always jump to conclusions…I'm telling you, Harry…I don't believe she is a traitor. She just can't be."
"No, Ron…she has the Mark…like Snape." He replied bitterly.
Ron looked at him. "What did you say?"
"I say she has the mark…like Snape."
"Snape! That's makes sense!" Ron said suddenly.
"What? What makes sense?" Harry was confused now.
"Did it even come to your mind that Hermione may have been working as a spy? You know, like Snape?" Ron was SO proud of himself!
Harry almost laughed. Almost. "Ron, come on-"
"No, Harry, I am dead serious…it makes sense. Her absences…McGonagall hidden some facts…and now this…mark."
"I don't know, Ron…if it's the truth, then why didn't she tell us the truth. Why didn't she tell me the truth?"
"You didn't really give her the chance to explain, did you?" Ron countered.
Harry didn't know what to say. Ron was right. He hadn't given the chance the chance for Hermione to explain. God, if he had misunderstood everything?
"Ron-"
Ron raised a hand to make him stop.
"Just think about the possibilities, Harry," Ron said seriously. "Now, I'll leave you alone. Just think about it, Harry."
Ron had just left the Room of Requirement when someone called his name.
"Ron." It was Hermione. "I want to talk to you."
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AN: So, what you think?
Thanks to Brooke and Acoustics1220!!