A Whole New Beginning (Completed)

Chapter 1

"You'll see me very soon, Harry," said Sirius, turning to him. "I promise you. But I must do what I can, you understand, don't you?"

"Yeah," said Harry. "Yeah…of course I do."

Hermione's heart broke for Harry as she saw the expression on his face. She couldn't imagine how Harry must be feeling right now, and the one person he needed more than anyone was leaving him again.

She wasn't even listening to Professor Dumbledore or Snape talk, and she completely ignored the fact that both of the professors left. Her eyes remained fixed on Harry, and the expression that had not yet changed.

Slowly, she found herself going over to his bedside, unaware of why she was doing it, but knowing that she needed to. She sat down on the small space beside him and grasped his hand.

"You need to get some rest," she said, squeezing his hand to reassure him.

"I shouldn't have told him to take the cup with me," he replied, his voice cracking. Hermione could see his eyes water, and her heart broke even more.

She had never seen him cry before.

"This is not your fault, Harry."

"I told him to take the cup. He wasn't going to, but I convinced him. If I hadn't told him to do that, he'd still be alive."

"Harry, dear, this is not your fault. You shouldn't be blaming yourself for this," Mrs. Weasley said, walking up to the other side of Harry's bed.

"This is You-Know-Who's fault, Harry. He set this up, not you. He killed Cedric."

Harry dropped his head to his knees. Hermione watched him for a moment before she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him in for a hug, feeling Harry's head fall into her shoulder. Her shirt where his head was resting was getting wet, but she didn't care. Harry needed her, and she was going to be there for him.

"Harry, dear, you need to get some rest," Mrs. Weasley said, picking up the potion bottle. He pulled away from Hermione.

"Get some rest," Hermione said.

He nodded, and took the vial from Mrs. Weasley. He drank the potion, put the bottle back on the table, and fell asleep the next moment. Hermione got off of the bed and sat in the chair next to it, grasping his hand in hers again.

She felt Ron come up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder. She let out a breath.

"Everything's going to be different now, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Ron said, sitting in the chair next to Hermione.

"Why don't you two go up to bed," Mrs. Weasley said. "I'll stay here with Harry."

"I'm not leaving him," Hermione said, squeezing Harry's hand. "I'm staying."

"Me, too," Ron said.

"Mrs. Weasley, Dumbledore's not going to make Harry go back to his aunt and uncle's, is he?"

"I sure hope not, Hermione, but I'm unsure. He doesn't need to be alone at a time like this."