Unofficial Portkey Archive

Belong to Nowhere

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Thanks to Acoustics1220 for the beta!

Chapter 17: About life and Death

"W-What do you mean your dog?" Ron asked looking between the dog and Harry. Had Harry just proclaimed Hermione as...his?! "I didn't know you-"

"Well, now you know!" Harry replied a little more rudely than he intended.

"Sorry, for asking…" Ron said, holding up his hands in defeat. "I just found this dog…"

"Star. Her name is Star."

Ron wanted to laugh. Was it possible that Harry was jealous of a dog?

"I named her after Sirius," Harry said simply.

Ron gasped. "W-What?"

"Merlin, look at her! She's exactly like Sirius…in his Animagus form of course."

"Yeah, of course…" Ron didn't know what to say. If he didn't know any better, he could have sworn that Hermione was glaring at him. Merlin, that was surreal!

"Now, Ron…can you please answer me…what are you doing here?"

"Er, I was taking a walk..."

"You weren't at dinner."

"I wasn't hungry." Harry raised an eyebrow at him. "Okay, right...I ate in the kitchens."

"But why?"

"Er.." Ron shifted, feeling uncomfortable, running a hand through his red hair. "Okay, Harry! I was in the kitchens with Hermione! Satisfied?"

"Oh. H-How is she?"

"How do you think she is?" Ron snapped angrily. "After what you've done!"

"Me? Ron, you know very well…"

"Harry, really, I don't want to talk about it. Just be sure that you now what you're doing." He looked sadly to the dog and sighed. "I am off. Luna might be wondering where I am."

"Ron-"

"No, Harry. I know I am the funny guy, the comic relief but today, er, tonight…I am really tired," he said and knelt in front of Star. "Nice to meet you…Star." Star barked and then licked his face. Thank you, Ron.

"See you, Harry."

"See you, Ron," Harry replied absently, watching his friend leave in the direction of the Castle.

"So, you met Ron?" Harry asked, sitting on the grass. Star by his side. "He's a great guy, you know? My best friend. Him and…Yeah, he's my best friend." He sighed. "You know, Star, today I just want to sit for awhile, you know, in silence…do you mind, or do you want to talk?"

Star barked.

"Well, I don't know what you said but…well I guess its okay."

Gryffindor Tower

Boys Dorm

Harry was really hoping that when he got to the sixth year boys dorm, his dorm mates would be sleeping. No such luck! Neville, Ron, Seamus and Dean were in an animated discussion about the next visit to Hogsmeade.

"Harry, mate!" Seamus exclaimed after seeing Harry come in. "Neville was just telling us that he has a date tomorrow to Hogsmeade!"

Merlin, I have totally forgotten about Hogsmeade. "That's great, Nev," Harry commented, trying to sound cheerful. "Who is the lucky girl?"

Neville blushed deep red and mumbled something.

"What Neville, we didn't hear you!" Seamus asked laughing.

"Susan Bones," he blurted.

"She's a nice girl, Nev. Good luck." Harry said, smiling. He was truly happy for his friend.

"And you, Harry? Who are you going with?" asked Seamus.

"I'm going alone. To tell you the truth - I haven't thought about the trip to Hogsmeade at all."

"Finnegan, you've asked everyone here but you haven't told us who you are taking," said Ron.

"Well...well…Parvati!" he answered, a dreamy look on his face.

"Way to go, Seamus!" Ron and Neville together.

"And you, Dean? Any lucky girl?" Neville asked.

"I am the lucky one…I am taking Hermione," Dean replied and the room got quite. Harry felt a strange sensation burning in his chest. He could feel the glances the boys were shooting at him.

Well, that was obvious, right? Dean and Hermione were dating…maybe they didn't want to hide anymore.

The truth was, Harry just wanted to die.

"Er, guys, I just remembered that I have to ask McGonagall something," Harry mumbled awkwardly and not waiting for a reply, left the dorm

"Oh god. Oh god," Harry whispered to himself as he wandered around the Castle. The pain in his chest didn't seem to ease.

Everything seemed to be so chaotic! Everything was so…wrong! The map was missing…Hermione could be a traitor….and his heart…Merlin, why was fate so cruel to him?

"Harry?" he heard Lupin's voice behind him. He turned around and saw his former professor. "What are doing here?" The werewolf noticed the red eyes. "Are you alright?"

"No…" the young wizard whispered. "I can't take anymore."

Remus walked closer to Harry and put a hand on his shoulder. "Tell me, did something happen?"

"Yes, yes, something happened!" Harry cried, wiping angrily at his tears. "Everything happened!" He looked hopelessly at Remus. "I-I don't know what to do anymore…"

Remus sighed. "Harry, why don't we go to the Room of Requirement and have a chat?"

Harry nodded sullenly.

Room of Requirement

"Now, tell me, what's going on?" Remus asked. "Why do you look so desperate?"

"It's everything, Remus. I don't know what to think, what to say…Hermione-"

"What about Hermione?"

"Come on, Remus! You know very well! Everybody knows! Everybody knows what I saw!"

"And what did you see, Harry?"

"She has the dark mark!"

"Does she?" Remus asked. "I can assure you this, Harry…Hermione is not a death eater."

"H-How do you know?"

"I just know, Harry."

"B-But I saw…"

"No, what you saw was not the dark mark… and you know it."

"So, what's the big secret? You know, don't you? Well tell me! Tell me what's wrong with her!" Harry demanded.

Remus shook his head. "Harry-"

"You aren't going to tell me, right? I knew it! I-" He sighed in defeat.

"You know what, Harry? Something is telling me that there's something else bothering you. Please, Harry-" Remus said gently.

Harry looked into Remus eyes and then lowered his head. "I-I'm in love with her, Remus." Remus couldn't help but smile. "I don't know what to do…"

"Oh, Harry…you are so much like your father! Talk to her, Harry!"

Harry's eyes widened in shock. "I can't talk to her! First…well…first I said terrible things…and she's hiding something from me and second…"

"And second…?"

"I can't okay? I am not supposed to think about her that way. T-That's simply not right."

"Why? Why is it not right? You like her and she-"

"She likes another bloke, okay?" He stood up from the arm chair he was sitting in. "I better go, Remus. Thanks for the chat."

"Harry-"

"Bye, Remus." Harry left without a backward glance.

Gryffindor Tower

Common Room

"Harry," Ginny called him. He was about to return to the boys' dorm.

"What, Ginny?"

"I-I just want to say that I'm sorry."

"...for what?"

"Er, you know..."

He shook his head. "No, Gin, it's me who should say sorry."

"So...still friends?" she asked smiling sweetly.

"Friends." He smiled at her.

"Harry...do you want to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow with me? I mean, as friends...I mean, if you won't go with that girl you like," she asked uncertainly.

"I would love to go to Hogsmeade with you, Ginny, as friends."

"Oh, great!" She clasped her hands happily. "We could share a table at the Three Broomsticks with Ron and Luna!"

"Yeah...that should be great."

The next Day

Harry watched with a heavy as heart Hermione and Dean entered a carriage to get to Hogsmeade. He noticed that her eyes were puffy and red. She looked extremely sad and pale.

All he wanted to do was to come towards her and take her in his arms. But he knew he couldn't. All he wanted to do was go to her and…

"You know, Harry, you should talk to her," said Ron.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"For Merlin's Sake, Harry!" his friend hissed. "Everybody can see the hopeless glances you're giving her! J-Just talk to her!"

"Be quiet, Ron! Let's go! The girls are waiting!" Ron shook his head and followed Harry.

Hogsmeade

(Hermione and Dean)

"Now, how about taking a walk around Hogsmeade? Then when can go to the Three Broomsticks," Dean suggested as he and Hermione left Honeydukes.

"That's sound good, Dean," Hermione's replied.

Hogsmeade

Three Broomsticks

(Harry)

"I am dying for a Butterbeer!" exclaimed Ron. "What about you Harry?"

"Sure, Ron…whatever," Harry said absently. Ron and his girlfriend exchanged glances. Ginny looked very annoyed.

(Hermione and Dean)

"Oh, the cave..." Hermione whispered after seeing the Cave that she, Ron, and Harry had gone to when Sirius had been there. Merlin, it felt so long ago. Merlin, it felt so far away...

"Oh, have you been here before?" Dean asked, entering the cave. "I haven't."

"I-I came here with Ron and ... Harry. Fourth year. You know, to escape from Skeeter."

Dean nodded in understanding. He indicated a big rock; Hermione sat on it, Dean sat by her.

"Hermione..." Dean began softly, taking her hands. Hermione started feeling uncomfortable. "You are a great girl..."

"Dean..." He put a finger on her lips making her stop. "Please, Hermione let me finish." She nodded. "I know...you have some problems and...you don't like me this way. I can almost guess who you do like." She looked away. "I-I am just asking you for...for a chance."

Hermione looked at him, without knowing what to say or what to think. He was a great guy, really great but...she didn't feel that way towards him...To tell the truth, she felt about that way towards another person. But no...that other person liked someone else.

She thought about what Ginny had said to her that day in her dorm.

Well, why don't give him a chance? Maybe, he could make her forget about...

"Dean..." she whispered. He only smiled at her and moved, their faces came, inched closer. He leaned his head until their lips finally touched.

They kissed.

Hermione felt uneasy kissing Dean but then a dog barked, breaking them apart

A big black dog was barking at them.

Sirius...Oh boy...

"Dean, I'm sorry but..."

He smiled sadly at her. "T-That's okay, Hermione...you can't blame a guy for trying..." She nodded, putting a hand on his cheek. "I hope we can still be friends."

"Of course...Dean, can I stay here - alone?" He raised an eyebrow at her. "I-I just what to think about ...everything."

"B-But are you going be alright?" He looked unsure at the dog unsurely, which was staring intensely at him.

Hermione grinned. "Yes, I will be alright." She kissed his cheek. "Go, I will meet you in the Three Broomsticks."

He nodded and left, still a little unsure.

"Come on, Sirius, you can change back now."

"Can you please explain to me what the hell was happening here, missy?" Sirius asked mockingly.

Three Broomsticks

(Harry)

Harry wanted to go home. He wasn't enjoying himself and it was all a front, pretending to be happy. The air was suffocating. Ron shot him an apologetic glance and Luna looked...well, like Luna and Ginny, she was ready to explode. Harry knew he wasn't the most fun to be with at the moment

He was about to tell Ron he was going to head back to the Castle when Dean entered the pub. Alone.

Alone.

Without Hermione.

And he looked…

Flushed.

Flushed!

Ron and Harry exchanged a glance.

"Thomas, where is Hermione? Aren't you supposed to be with her?" Ron asked.

"Er..." Dean shifted uncomfortable. "S-She wanted to be alone…to think. I left her in that cave…"

"What did you do to her, Thomas?" Ron demanded. Harry stayed silent.

"Er…nothing."

Harry couldn't take anymore. He stood up and groaned, "I'm going to go for a walk." Ginny started to protest but Ron stopped her; he nodded at his friend and Harry left.

He would talk to Hermione.

It was now or never.

Harry was near the Cave's entrance when he heard some voices coming from it. One of the voices was Hermione. The other…

No, it can't be.

He entered the cave and saw Hermione talking in a hushed tone with someone.

No…

"S-Sirius?"

++++++

So, what do you think?