Title: Wish You Were Standing Beside Me

Disclaimer: If I owned HP, I would sue my fans for trying to publish an encyclopedia.

Summary: Hermione breaks up with Sirius because she wanted no one to find out about their relationship. But as time passes by Hermione realizes the mistake she made. Will she be able to right her wrongs? Or will Sirius let go this time? ShortStory. Sirius/Hermione. Lemons.

Rating: NC-17

Chapter 5 - Haunting Memories

“This shit is tiring Potter!” snarled a very angry and exhausted Sirius Black.

Harry fought the urge to roll his eyes. “It’s only two in the afternoon!” said Harry wryly.

“I am hungry!” whined Sirius, “Plus, we looked at five flats! Let’s call it a day mate!”

“It’s not my fault we looked at five different flats! It’s yours! You are too damned picky Black!” muttered Harry. “No this is too small. The bathrooms are tiny. How the hell is someone supposed to sleep in that? This is too homey. Ugly neighbors.” mimicked Harry in a high pitched girlish voice.

Harry’s little act earned him a punch on the arm by a smirking Sirius. “And now you’re abusing your own godson!” whined Harry, rubbing his arm where Sirius had hit him. “What would my father say?” he added dramatically.

“Shut up you little pansy! Where is the next flat?” asked Sirius, rolling his eyes at Harry’s dramatics.

“Near Old Palace Terrace, in Richmond Green.” said Harry automatically, having memorized the addresses of thirteen different houses and flats.

Sirius raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that in Surrey?” asked Sirius. Harry nodded mechanically.

“Sirius, if you don’t like this house, then I guess you will be living with Ginny and I for the rest of your days.” said Harry, smirking at Sirius.

“Then the only thing to do in that situation is to kick you out, so I can have my way with your lovely wife.” replied Sirius, winking and wagging his eyebrows suggestively at Harry.

Harry scowled at his godfather, and aimed a punch at him, which Sirius dodged. Laughing at his godson’s scowling face, he said “Meet you there, Potter”, and with a loud crack the lean form of Sirius Black disappeared.

Sighing and admitting defeat, Harry followed Sirius, and apparated to Richmond Green as well.

Ginny was sitting on the sofa, next to a sleeping Sage who promptly fell asleep right after she ate lunch. It was an old habit she inherited from Ron, who always took a nap right after lunch.

Ginny smiled as she ran a hand through Sage’s red tresses. She sighed, she had yet to see Sage so happy, and it was all because of Sirius.

Ever since Sirius set foot in their home, Sage and Sirius formed a very unique bond. Ginny smiled wistfully, it broke her heart when she saw Sage and Sirius together. Ginny and Sirius had always been great friends, Sirius shared with her thoughts that he never shared with anyone else, not even Harry.

Ginny understood the depths of his pain, his past, and his present. She was probably the last person to see him before he left England.

Flashback

The rain was pouring hard, and she stood there alone waiting for Sirius to meet her. She had received an owl from him earlier that day, telling her to meet him near the broken down cottage near her childhood home. Ginny knew something bad must of happened, or otherwise he would have just told her normally, Sirius was never the one for dramatics.

Near the edge of the forest a faint crack was heard, but she could tell that the pounding of the rain lessened the sound of apparition. Slowly a dark figure approached her, and she could tell without a doubt that it was Sirius, mainly because his black dragon hide jacket gave him away. Ginny watched transfixed as the lean form of Sirius Black walked steadily towards her. The closer he got, the more terrible he looked. She had never seen him looking so utterly broken before. His face was unnaturally pale, his eyes were bloodshot, and his usually arrogant demeanor shattered. Ginny’s heart twisted uncomfortably, something truly unbearable must have happened, and she knew she couldn’t do anything to help the man who slowly became her best friend.

Finally they stood a foot away from each other, and the sound of his splashing foot steps died down. Ginny was inhaling the strong scent of fire whiskey that seemed to emanate from him. They stood in silence just watching one another. Until finally the silence was broken by Sirius hoarse voice “I am leaving” he said.

Ginny’s eyes widened slightly, but a small part of her saw this coming. “Why?” she asked, knowing full well what the answer to that question was.

“Hermione” he said hoarsely trying to hide the contempt in his voice.

The rain continued to pour, and neither Ginny or Sirius could say anything.

Tears slid silently from her bright brown eyes, but it was camouflaged by the rain. “When are you coming back?” she finally asked after another long silence.

“Never” Sirius answered solemnly. Ginny didn’t argue, because she knew there was no point arguing with Sirius. She knew that he made his decision, and she would accept it, no matter how much she hated it.

“What about Harry?” she asked, knowing full well that nothing would change his mind, not even Harry.

“He has you,” he answered, stroking red hair, which was darkened by the rain.

“One last hug?“ asked Ginny, her voice trembling. A faint curve graced his mouth, and she could easily tell how forced it was, but Sirius nodded all the same. Ginny closed the distance between them, and wrapped her arms around his neck, like a sister saying goodbye to her older brother. She held him tightly, not wanting to let go, knowing that this would be the last time she will ever hug Sirius. Her best friend, her confidant, her mentor, and most of all her brother.

More tears slid from her eyes, as she continued to hold him, she didn‘t have it within her to let go, knowing that it would be a while before she truly held him like this again. Almost reluctantly they broke apart, and Sirius’ hand reached her face and wiped the tears that he had caused. His gray eyes looked into her brown ones and slowly he planted a sloppy kiss on her forehead. “Take care of Harry,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ginny nodded unable to speak. Her body was shaking with the effort to keep in her unreleased sobs. She couldn’t even bare to look at him, knowing that if he didn’t leave right now, she might not have the strength to let him leave at all.

“I am sorry, Gin,” she heard him whisper to her, and in a moment she felt his strong hands wrap around her in a tight embrace.

Her body began to shake uncontrollably, as he held her. Neither noticed that the rain stopped, the only thing they knew was each other.

Moments passed before Sirius withdrew, and kissed her forehead again. Ginny said nothing, she just relished Sirius’ last moments with her. “Keep Harry safe, he only has you now,”
Without another word nor glance at a weeping Ginny, Sirius apparated away, leaving Ginny to weep silently by herself.

She stood rooted to the spot, tears streaming endlessly down her freckled face. Her legs were numb, her eyes staring at the spot that Sirius had just occupied, and her hands shaking hysterically.

That was the night she lost her friend, confidant, and her brother. And she knew no matter how much she loved Hermione, she would never forgive her for what she did to Sirius or her family.

Flashback End

Ginny hastily wiped the stray tears from her eyes, it wasn’t good to dwell on the past. The important thing is that Sirius is happy and back in their lives, and this time to stay. And Ginny would make sure nothing like Hermione never crossed his path again.

But the bitterness Ginny felt wasn’t gone. No matter how hard she tried not to think about it, she couldn’t fight the urge to hex Hermione into a jelly. Seeing Sirius so carefree and happy around Sage awoke the inner demon she fought for five years. Truthfully, ever since Sirius left, Ginny felt a certain coldness towards Hermione, and she was pretty sure that the brunette noticed it too.

Every time Ginny saw her, she was reminded of Sirius’ broken face, and how it was her fault he left his friends and family.

Sighing Ginny got up from the sofa, and made her way into the kitchen, planning to make a cup of tea to calm her down.

Just as she lit the fire under the kettle, she heard a knock on the door.

A/N: Before anyone jumps into any conclusions. I have hinted in the past chapters that Ginny and Sirius had a strong relationship. But the strength of that relationship was revealed in this chapter. For those of you who think there is a bit of Ginny/Sirius action here, you guys are wrong. There is nothing between Ginny and Sirius, nor will there ever be, at least not in this fic! Ginny loves Harry dearly, Sirius is like an older brother to her, who she loves with all her heart. So no, there will be no Sirius/Ginny. There relationship is completely platonic. Btw, whoever guesses the person who is knocking on the door gets a hug from Sirius!