The Seriousness of Sirius Potter

Hermione always looked forward to her walk home into Hogsmeade. It was a chance to reflect on the day and all its little annoyances. Still, there was always the promise of a peaceful evening, or so she hoped. She was making her way down the grand staircase when her nephew, Sirius, came running out from the third floor corridor. He was keeping his head down as he ran, but Hermione could see the tears that were splashed down his robes. He ran straight past her.

"Sirius..."

"Go away! Just leave me alone!" His volume may have been weak but his tone was forceful. He started running up the stairs towards Gryffindor tower.

"Sirius, have I upset you?" she said in a calm voice. He stopped several steps up and turned slowly to face her.

"No," he said quietly. Hermione walked up the steps and place her hand on his shoulder.

"What's happened? I heard about the incident between Michael and Mr. Finnigan. Does it have something to do with that?" Sirius nodded but said nothing. A Slytherin fifth year was walking past. An arrogant smirk spread across his greasy face when he saw Sirius' tears. "Can I help you?" stated Hermione in her sharpest tone. The Slytherin lost his grin and carried on walking. Once he was out of earshot Hermione turned her attention back her distraught nephew. "Now take a deep breath, calm down and tell me what happened." In his hurry to get if off his chest, Sirius began speaking very quickly.

"I went to see my dad, I mean he wanted to see me because he thought Scott was bullying me, which he was but that wasn't what I wanted to see my dad about..."

"Sirius, please try to calm down. You're gabbling." Sirius stopped for a moment.

"I went to see him about me and Mike,"

"I take it that it didn't go very well?"

"No, it didn't. Dad asked me if Scott had been picking on me, I said he had but that wasn't what was bothering me, at least not anymore. I said there was something I had to tell him. When I actually told him, he freaked out. He started yelling at me, yelling that I couldn't be serious about it. I tried to tell him I am serious about it but he wouldn't listen. He basically disowned me right there in his office. I... I knew this would happen but I did it anyway ..." He dissolved into more tears as Hermione pulled him into a comforting hug.

"Sirius, you have every right to be upset. I'm sorry I wasn't more helpful when you came to see me, I had no idea your dad would react like this. Now listen to me, I want you to go back to the tower and be with Michael. I'll go and speak to your dad."

"He went home using the fireplace. I think he used the last of the Floo Powder in his office."

"Don't worry about it. Off you go," she gave him a warm smile as he walked up the steps in a much calmer mood than before.

Her mind was a blur as she approached her home in Hogsmeade. Harry had an infamous temper, but she never expected him to react so badly. Sirius was his only son, he understood him. Obviously he didn't understand him as well as Hermione thought. It almost made sense; after all, Harry was livid when Lily returned home from her sixth year pregnant with her son, Arthur.

The front door was unlocked. Sure enough she found Ron sitting in the living room. He looked up as she walked sullenly into the room. She was almost cheered up by the humorous sight of Ron's ridiculous moustache that he had insisted on growing over the past few months, but it wasn't enough to lift her from her depression.

"Hello love," he noticed the look on her face. It wasn't her usual 'Don't start with me, I've had a bad day' look, it was more of a 'Don't start with me, I'm too upset' look. "What's the matter?" She dumped her bag and books on the coffee table.

"I ran into Sirius just now, he's been really upset." Ron sat up slightly. He was very protective of his godson.

"By who?" Hermione hesitated for a moment, unsure if telling Ron was really a good idea.

"Harry," she muttered finally.

"Harry? But ...how?" Hermione explained the whole situation. Ron didn't bat an eyelid when she told him about Sirius and Michael. To tell the truth, he had suspected it for some time. She told him about Scott's blackmailing, the fight and Harry's reaction. She finished by saying that she planned to speak to Harry in the morning. That wasn't good enough for Ron. Hermione went into the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea; it had been such a stressful day. Suddenly she heard the faint roar the fireplace made when Floo Powder had been thrown into it.

"Where are you going?" she called.

"To have a word with Harry," was the blunt reply. Hermione rushed into the living room but it was too late. Ron was gone.