New Year, Empty Feelings

[ADELAIDE CANIS BLACK]

Adelaide walked into the common room to see that it was empty except for the usual furniture. She didn't know what to expect now that Sirius was dead and that there Elementals in the school. She didn't mind at first, but when some turned out to be some that she believed that she could trust even though she wasn't close to them, Adelaide didn't want anything to do with them. Especially now that they were moved to Slytherin House.

Adelaide sighed, wishing that she knew what to do. She wanted to write home, but the only that she felt that would understand would be Sirius, and he was dead due to her. She had suggested that they go without making sure that he wasn't at Number 12 or at home in Godric's Hallow. Adelaide looked around the common room and wondered if Sirius knew before he died that she had gained her animagus form.

[HERMIONE JEAN GRANGER]

Hermione stalked into the common, placing her books down onto the table rather loudly. She had been in the library doing research for S.P.E.W. and getting in some extra studying before heading to find Ron and Harry. Of course, as soon as they heard her new ideas for S.P.E.W. they immediately found other things to be doing. Hermione sighed. ’Boys…..’ She glanced around the common room after stacking her books more neatly and saw that there was only one other person there. Adelaide was a good friend to Hermione; especially since she had been part of the DA and had broken into the ministry with them in the previous year. ‘Brilliant how that one turned out….’ she thought to herself, sadly.

Hermione knew she would never understand how Adelaide and even Harry felt after the loss of Sirius. Hermione had really liked Sirius despite the way he had treated Kreacher. He had been a really great person with a good heart. Hermione was brought back from her own thoughts by the other girl’s sigh. She glanced at her books and decided that she could study some more later. She just wasn’t interested right now, which was very unusual for her. “Hey, how are you?” she asked, trying to make conversation.

[ADELAIDE CANIS BLACK]

Adelaide jumped a bit when the books were set down loudly. She looked up to see Hermione there. Why am I not surprised? Adelaide asked herself. Hermione has always been a bookworm. Even in their first year together, Adelaide had seen how big of a nerd she was. But she's grown to like her and seen her as a friend that she could trust. Adelaide glanced at the books that Hermione had brought in and thought she saw something that may be related to S.P.E.W. She won't let that die, will she?

Adelaide circled the couch and sat down, saying, "Depressed." She shifted and bent her legs up to her chest. "Like not doing anything. You know," Adelaide looked to Hermione. "Aiah tried getting me to play a game of fetch over the summer... Wasn't into it." Adelaide could feel her eyes begin to tear up. Just thinking about that made her want to cry her heart out.

[HERMIONE JEAN GRANGER]

Hermione watched as her friend sat down and gave her books one final glance before picking the worn bag up and setting it out of the way. She crossed the room and joined Adelaide on the couch. She winced slightly at Adelaide’s reply. Depressed…. Harry had been that way lately too. If this continued Hermione would become that way as well, or maybe she’d just throw herself into studying even harder. Hermione didn’t like seeing someone who was normally so adventurous and curious being sad and well… depressed… and even disheartened. Of course, Hermione couldn’t blame her for it.

She came back to herself when Adelaide continued speaking. “Aiah tried getting me to play a game of fetch over the summer." She inwardly winced at the word ‘fetch’. ”...wasn’t into it...” Hermione tried to give her quick cheerful grin but it came out as more of a sad smile. She could tell that her friend was inwardly struggling with her feelings and Hermione felt herself begin to tear up as well. She fought back her own emotions and took Adelaide’s hand in her own. “I don’t think any of us could have done anything. It wasn’t meant to happen. It just… It just did… I… He was adventurous and spirited. He never handled being cooped up like that very well… He had to fight… For you and for Harry.” Hermione managed to stutter after a few moments of silence. She thought back to last years events and felt her own regret bitterly. If I had just encouraged Harry ti practice controlling his mind better, or suggested we make sure Sirius wasn’t at the house more thoroughly than we did…. she thoughts to herself.

[ADELAIDE CANIS BLACK]

Adelaide didn't fight when Hermione took her hand. "I know. It's just... If we had someone physically check at headquarters, or even home in Godric's Hallow, we wouldn't have gone." Adelaide choked up, trying hard not to let the tears forming in her eyes to roll down her cheeks. She could have begged someone in the Order to check both places. But the best that they had was the warning Harry gave Snape in Umbridge's office last year. "They've got Padfoot where it's hidden." Did her father even know where the Hall of Prophecies was in the Ministry? He must have somehow since he Apparated into the Death Chamber with others in the Order.

"I had just wanted more time with him. It's unfair." Adelaide sniffed, a tear finally had gotten loose. "He was locked up for twelve years. I wasn't even old enough to know him before that." Adelaide sniffed again, feeling a few more tears escaping down her cheeks.

[HERMIONE JEAN GRANGER]

Hermione felt a few tears fall down her face and quickly wiped them away with her free hand. She hadn’t been watching when Sirius had fallen through the veil but she understood what had happened. She could only imagine her friends pain. “I should have insisted that we wait and make extra sure but everything was so confusing. We should have gone back to the castle and found Professor Snape….” She said quietly. “But we can’t dwell on what might have happened if we had done things differently. What’s done is done and dwelling on that won’t bring him back, Adelaide.” Hermione said gently though only moments earlier she had been doing just that. Dwelling on what she could have done that might have changed the outcome.

She moved a bit closer to Adelaide hoping to comfort her. “I know that it’s not fair. Things like this should never happen. We just have to keep fighting. You have to keep fighting for him.” She said trying to find the right words to express her feelings. “He knew the risks and he would want us to fight. He was brave like that and you’re the same way.” She said soothingly with a sad smile though she was truly at a loss for words right now. She pushed her hair away from her face and hoped she was being of some help.

[ADELAIDE CANIS BLACK]

Adelaide couldn't stop the tears now. She had been right next to Harry and Sirius when it happened. She didn't even know who held her back when her father finally fell through the veil. Must have been Tonks, she just couldn't be sure. But Adelaide had given chase after Bellatrix along side Harry. "We shouldn't have gone in the first place, Hermione! I was just as eager to go, but not at the expense of knowing if dad was there or not." Adelaide wiped away tears, only for them to be replaced by more. She sniffed back nose mucus and put her head on her still bent-up knees.

She felt Hermione move closer and didn't fight her off. She was right in a way, Adelaide was aware of that. He knew the risks, and would want them to keep fighting. "But it feels like it's a hopeless battle, Hermione," Adelaide replied calmly. "How brave can a daughter be when she sees her father, whom she has barely gotten to know, be killed with the Killing Curse right before her eyes?"