*Author's Note* This is my first Harry Potter fanfic, well the first one that I've liked enough to write down. It's sort of a sad and sappy, I guess. I hope you like it and please be kind! :) -Maddy

A Bit of Rubble

Hermione stepped over the piles of rubble that littered the floors of her beloved school. She had just escaped the cloud of death that shrouded the Great Hall by feigning a headache. It wasn't exactly true, though. She was sure she did have a headache, and probably many more aches, but the numbness she felt from the day's events made it impossible to really feel anything. She hoped it would remain that way for as long as it took to heal.

She scoffed at that thought. Healing was out of the question with all of the friends she had lost in the hours passed and over the last seven years. She thought of her parents. Having the time of their lives in Australia with no memory of her. Of course, she would retrieve them and their memories after everything had settled in her world. She couldn't bare worrying them anymore than she had so far.

Trailing a hand along the soot-stained and broken stone wall, Hermione thought of all of the people she loved who were roaming around the castle, of all the bodies lying in the Great Hall, and of the many souls they had yet to recover. She thought of Fred's blank eyes as George held, unrelenting, onto the lapels of his tattered jacket. She mourned with the Weasley's and all those who suffered.

She thought of her professors, so brave and unselfish in the heat of battle. Professor Snape's body had been retrieved from the Shrieking Shack and place near the front of the Hall per Harry's request. She thought of Headmistress McGonagall in her new role and how easily she had faced the task of leadership. She would be a wonderful Head for the school. Lastly, she thought of Remus. His body had not been recovered and Hermione had know idea whether he was still alive or not. She wondered if he would be willing to talk about the First War, what it was like and how he survived. She hoped the people searching the grounds would find him passed out in the Forbidden Forest or something along those lines. She prayed to anyone who would listen that he was not dead.

During Hermione's silent musings, she had forgotten to watch her footing. She soon found herself on all fours, scraping her palms, after having caught her foot on a fallen brick. She sighed in annoyance and looked through the veil of thick hair covering her downcast face. Through the tangles, Hermione saw that a large chunk of the wall had been blown out. She saw the giant squid poking it's tentacles out of the lake experimentally. Smiling, she pushed herself to sit on her heels.

All of a sudden, Hermione heard a strangled groan several feet down the corridor. Slowly, she pulled her wand out of her boot and crept quietly in the shadows. She suspected it wasn't a Death Eater as all of them had either fled or been apprehended. Still, she refused to risk the chance of another duel. She reached the noise and noticed there was a person trapped under a pile of fallen stone. She could only see a hand scrabbling to move the rocks.

"Who's under there?" She called, wand pointed at the center of the rocks.

"Hermione..." Came the rasped reply. Hermione knew that voice, but it was far too quiet to recognize. Hermione thought to simply blast the rocks away, but feared the possibility of further injuring whoever was trapped underneath.

She pulled rocks away for what seemed like hours until the body underneath was able to sit up. The figure rose stiffly and dust fell off his form in streams. Hermione continued working, with the added help of the person beside her, and was finally able to uncover the entirety of whoever had called for her help. She sat back and dusted her hands on her jeans, turning to see her mystery survivor.

At first, she looked upon the scarred face and faded amber eyes and no one came into her mind. She squinted her eyes and reached up to wipe the gray dust from the man's handsome face. His eyelids drooped and he pressed his cheek farther into her palm, as if he craved her touch.

Hermione's eyes widened at the realization that the man was in fact the professor she had been worrying over. She breathed out his name, a soft 'Remus', and the small smile that tugged at his lips was enough to make Hermione launch herself at his chest and wrap her arms tightly around his neck.

She felt like sobbing and laughing all at once, and Remus would tell her later on that she did. He would also tell her that he did too. She clung to this raggedy man as if she was clinging to life. She had never felt so relieved; not even when Harry had come back to life. Hermione knew that she would never be able to get passed the war without her favorite Marauder by her side.

Once she was calm enough, Hermione untangled herself and sat back to peer at his face. He was smiling through his exhaustion and it made Hermione's heart ache. She watched Remus for several more moments, tentatively tracing his arms to make sure he was actually there and not a sleep-deprived hallucination.

"Hermione, are you aright?" He clasped her wrist to still her movements.

"I-I'm fine, I promise. I just...I didn't think you were alive and I'm just so relieved," She gave him a watery smile. "Remus, what happened to you?"

"I didn't get a good look, but I remember a couple of Death Eaters being chased by Peeves. Then there was an explosion and I blacked out until I heard your voice. It's so good to hear your voice, Hermione."

"Yours too, Remus. Come on," Hermione carefully helped Remus to his feet, wrapping an arm around him to keep him steady. "We need to get you to Poppy."

"Poppy? Are you just on a first name basis with everyone now?" He grinned down at her as they limped down the hallway. Hermione tried her best to steer him around any hindrances.

"After what we've all been through, I'm pretty sure we're all familiar enough to call each other by our first names." The comment came out harsher than she intended and she murmured an apology.

He smiled at her again before his expression turned darker. "What are the numbers?"

"There not sure yet because not everyone's been recovered. It's hard because they have no idea who stayed and who ran off. The toll is pretty high though. Professor Snape's gone and..." She took a breath to calm herself. She felt Remus squeeze her shoulder. "And Fred. George hasn't let go of him since they found him. Tonks hasn't shown up either."

"She fought with me early on, but she ran off after she caught sight of Bellatrix. She'll probably turn up." They had almost reached the Hospital Wing and Hermione could feel how drained Remus was.

"I hope so," She ground out, extremely tired herself. "Oh, speaking of which! Mrs. Weasley got Bellatrix. She was going after Ginny, but Mrs. Weasley swooped in and finished her off with a "That's my daughter, you bitch!" Hermione received a scandalous look from Madame Pomfrey as they stepped into the large room. Poppy broke into a relieved smile when she caught sight of Remus, even in his bedraggled state.

"Oh, Remus," She exclaimed. "Thank Merlin you're alright! Why didn't you come see me sooner? And what are you covered in?" Remus laughed as Poppy pushed him onto one of the sickbeds.

"He was involved in a little explosion," Hermione smiled at Poppy's horrified expression. "I had to dig him out of a pile of rubble!"

"Well, I'm glad you found him, dear," The nurse was busy sweeping Remus for injuries and he kept giving Hermione exaggerated looks. "Remus, are you hungry? Oh, of course you are! Hermione, I hate to ask, but would you be a dove and run down to the kitchens? The House Elves are overwhelmed with work at the moment and I don't want to burden them with a breakfast order."

"Of course, Madame Pomfrey. I'll be back as quick as possible." The last sentiment was intended for Remus' terrified look at the thought of being left alone with the nurse. Hermione smiled before slipping from the room and heading towards the dungeons.

Half an hour later, Hermione was sitting beside Remus on his bed. He had taken a quick bath and redressed in the time it took for Hermione to make them sandwiches and fill a pitcher with pumpkin juice. He looked much better without all that dust and only a few scrapes and bruises marred his skin. His eyes even looked brighter from the time they had spent laughing together. Remus reached to the hand in her lap and grasped it in his own, rubbing lazy circles over her knuckles. It was so soothing; Hermione almost fell asleep. She opened her eyes when she heard Remus clear his throat.

"I'll be forever grateful to you for finding me Hermione. It means so much to me that your face is the first one I saw when I woke up," Remus looked down at their entwined hands. "Hermione, I'm tired of all this simple flirting. I know I don't have much to offer you, being an old man and a werewolf, and you deserve so much better than me, but-" Hermione sighed and placed her free hand on Remus' shoulder.

"Remus, none of that matters to me. I don't care about the age difference or your monthly friend," Another smile graced his handsome face. Hermione was extremely glad she was the cause of all of his recent grins. "All I care about is that we want the same thing. I want to be with you Remus, especially now. I'm going to need you to help me through the next couple of years."

"Years? You sure do plan ahead, don't you?" He sat up and Hermione scooted closer.

"Not so much anymore, but I would like to spend the rest of my life with you. You're the only one I can see myself spending it with. We are so similar, after all."

Remus cupped her face with his large hands. Hermione could feel the roughness of his palms and closed her eyes. She opened them to the feel of his lips on hers, sweet and gentle, before closing them again and submitting to the feeling. Remus pulled away several moments later, resting his forehead against hers.

"And yet, so different. Hermione, can you promise me something?" Remus pulled back to look at her. His eyes were stormy with nerves and something that looked like fear. Fear of rejection, maybe.

"Anything." She breathed.

"When the crazy nurse lady eventually deems me healthy enough to leave, will you promise to let me take you on a proper date? Even though you worrying at my side while I recover is romantic, I would much rather learn more about you over a nice dinner or cup of coffee."

Hermione was the one to grin widely this time. "I promise. Will you promise to kiss me every chance you get?" Hermione wiggled her eyebrows at him.

"I promise." Remus' thumbs ghosted over her cheekbones before he pulled Hermione in for the best kiss of her life.

FIN

*Author's Note* Well, maybe... If you guys like it and would like me to continue their story, I would be more than happy to! I love Remus and Hermione as a couple and I've always wanted to write something for them. Anyway, let me know what you think and whether you would like to see how it pans out! Thanks so much! -Maddy