A/N: I find that I'm a better author when I participate in challenges. They help hone my skills and force me to stretch my writing chops in different ways. I can't fulfill the commitments of the more intense challenges, but the ones that I've listed below are slightly more relaxed in their timelines. Both can be found in the HPFC (Harry Potter Fanfiction Challenge) Forum.

NeonDomino's The 2016 Monthly Prompt List Challenge—Prompt #6 Hermione/Remus

DolbyDigital's Acrostic-y Challenge of Chapter Titles II—Prompts for the 2nd 'H' in 'The Sorting Hat': Hermione Granger; Half the Truth - Kaiser Chiefs;

Helpful

Word Count: 384

Half-Truths

"How are you?" She asked with a worried frown.

"I'm fine," he lied effortlessly. It was easy after so many years.

"Your hand is bleeding." She made an abortive attempt to touch him, and ended up balling her hands in her lap.

He stared at his hand in surprise. She was right, but then again she usually was. He went to the kitchen and found a clean cloth so he could dab carefully at the wound. His magic was never the best after a full moon, and Muggle methods seemed to work better. He fumbled through the cupboards until he found a sticking plaster, and then stumbled back out to the living room where she was waiting.

"Sorry."

"Don't," she protested. She stood up abruptly. "I didn't mean to... I just wanted to make sure that you were all right."

"I'm fine," he repeated quietly.

"Teddy's in his room," she offered. "He fussed a bit, but eventually he went down."

"Thank you. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you doing this," he replied.

She nodded. "Of course, any time," she murmured. A half-smile gave her lips the merest curve. "I'm happy to help any way that I can."

They both knew that it wasn't any time. It was always the full moon. When Dora had been alive, she had been the one that stayed with Teddy and then bandaged him up, afterwards. Now, it was Andromeda, or Harry, or her watching Teddy, and he bandaged himself up once they left and he was alone.

Curiosity made him wonder if she meant it... if she really did want to be helpful in any way that she could because if she did, Moony had a few choice suggestions as to the forms that help might take. He closed his eyes tightly and took a few deep breaths, hoping that his eyes weren't betraying him with tell-tale amber. He opened them again to see her watching him, worry shining her open, innocent face.

"Good night," he blurted out.

Hurt seemed to flare in her eyes for a moment and then she gave him a stiff little nod. She gathered up her things and headed toward the Floo. She paused in front of the fireplace, and looked back at him over her shoulder.

"Good night."