Hey all! This is my first HP fic. It's experimental for the moment. So tell me if you like it and want me to continue!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters. I wish I did.
What is and what should never be
Beads of sweat clung to her brow as the young witch held her breath, not wanted to make a single sound. She remained unblinking and frowned, ignoring the tears that were now threatening to fall from her eyes from being held open so long. She would not allow herself to fall into a false sense of security, only to make an error. It would be that sort of careless mistake that could cost her this mission. Hermione Granger did not make mistakes.
After what seemed like hours, she made the tiniest move towards the iron gates of the large white mansion, the hairs on her arm prickling in response to the chilly night air. Fingering her vine wood wand in her pocket, Hermione continued to edge forward towards the gate, glancing backwards every few seconds towards Ron, who had been assigned her mission partner. The target had now come into sight. Large black robes billowed as the cloaked man took out his wand. He was not alone. Another large man soon joined him, startling the cloaked figure. They were soon deep in conversation. Hermione strained her ear to pick up on what they were talking about, wishing she had brought one of Fred and George's extendable ears with her, but to no luck. They were too far away. Hermione weighed her options, choosing to apparate behind a bush closer to the pair. She kept her eyes on the target and was relieved that she could now make out some of what was being said.
"Lestrange wants to attack in two months time."
"Two months? Doesn't that seem a little soon considering the details of the plan?"
"If you have a problem with it Avery," the larger man sounded strained. "I suggest you take it up with Lestrange. He's the one in charge not me."
"No, no problem. It just means a hell of a lot of more work for us though. Who does Lestrange think he is anyway? Prancing about that mansion like he owns the place."
"He does own the place Avery."
"Well who made him boss?"
"Have a better plan do you?" The first wizard shook his head grumbling to himself. "You realize that Dumbledore's order is still operating don't you? Which means we have to be on our guard. They can't find out what we're planning otherwise we'll be chucked into Azkaban before you can blink."
Hermione opened her mouth in surprise. The death eaters weren't supposed to know about their underground missions. The Order had made sure that secrecy and discretion was the top most priority. She shifted her weight to her left leg, unaware of the twig that lay beneath it. A small snap filled her ears and Hermione felt her breath hitch in her throat, horrified that she was heard. She froze as she hoped that the sound would go ignored.
"Did you hear that Knott?"
"Hear what?" said the man irritably.
"That noise. I think we're being watched." The man whispered. Knott now tensed up visibly and began peering into the dense foliage surrounding the house.
"Do you see something behind those bushes?" Knott pointed to a group of large bushes, one of them hiding a petrified Hermione.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hermione felt her heart stop as she moved her gaze millimeters to where Ron was stationed outside the gate. She widened her eyes and gave a series of miniscule shakes of the head. Understanding her meaning, Ron looked alarmed. It was time to leave. The mission had failed. Hermione clenched her wand and apparated with a tiny crack back outside the gate.
"We have to go!" she whispered hurriedly. "Now!" Grabbing Ron's hand, Hermione apparated back to the door outside the headquarters. Ron made a light tapping noise on the door of Grimmauld Place and waited for an answer.
"I doubt there are many people up at this hour." He whispered, looking at his watched. It was half past two. The pair had left at ten o'clock.
"Still, we have to wait. We can't just apparate into the house." Hermione replied frustrated, sighing. Although the initial panic of being caught was gone, Hermione was still anxious about being forced to abandon the mission, feeling as though she had let the order down.
"It wasn't your fault you know." Said Ron, sensing her distress. "It could have happened to anyone. I'm just glad that we managed to get out of there before it was too late." Not wanting to think about what might have happened had they been seen, Ron shivered and returned his attention to the door. Hermione knocked a little harder, eliciting a shuffle of footsteps from within.
"Who is it?" spoke a soft voice.
"Remus is that you? It's Hermione Granger. My favourite book is Hogwarts: A History." She spoke calmly.
"Uh, Ron Weasley. Biggest Chudley Cannons fan. I have three posters of them in my bedroom."
"Come in." replied the voice, cracking open the door. Hermione and Ron slipped inside, hanging up their traveling cloaks beside the door.
"Sorry about the timing." Ron called into the hallway.
"Ron!" Hermione whispered. "Keep it down!" Ron blushed.
"Oops. Sorry." The two walked towards the kitchen where they found Remus sitting down at one of the chairs. Joining him, Hermione and Ron pulled out chairs next to him. He looked up at them expectantly.
"You're back early." He merely stated. A look of apprehension flitted to Hermione's face as she looked towards Ron for an explanation.
"We almost got caught. It was too dangerous for us to be there any longer."
"But I did manage to pick up some important information." Added Hermione, leaving out the reason why exactly they were forced to leave.
"You can tell everyone tomorrow." Remus calmly told her, aware of her tensed figure. "Now, I think its time you head off to bed. We can regroup in the morning." Ron headed towards the hallway.
"You coming Hermione?" he asked. Hermione snapped out the daze that she had fallen into.
"You go ahead Ron. I don't know if I can sleep just yet." Nodding, Ron made his way upstairs, tiptoeing to avoid awaking the rest of the residents. "Trouble sleeping?" Hermione asked her former professor. He simply smiled at her serenely and Hermione noted something melancholy in his grey eyes.
"I'm afraid so. Though I must ask why you are still awake. I would assume that you would be tired."
"I just…" Hermione's voice faltered. "It was my fault we had to leave. I stepped on a twig and I was heard though fortunately not seen. I just can't believe I botched up this mission." Hermione placed her head in her hands as she said this. Remus, realizing that Hermione was probably berating herself for her error, moved closer to where the witch sat silently.
"Don't blame yourself Hermione." His voice was soft and smooth. "It happens to the best of us. Just look forward. It wasn't a lost cause altogether from what I gather. There is opportunity to return." Hermione looked up at him. His sandy brown hair was disheveled around his face and Hermione watched his pale skin gleam in the moonlight filtering through the kitchen window. It was not full moon yet but Hermione could tell that it was coming soon.
"You look tired." She stated, bringing her eyes from his torso to his face as she felt a blush creep up to her neck. She was met another small smile from him as he nodded.
"I know. But I can't sleep."
"Me neither." Hermione replied, suppressing the urge to giggle at the situation. She would not be like Parvati or Lavender she told herself.
"Would you like me to make you a sleeping draught?" he asked after some time had passed between them.
"No thank you Remus." She said softly. "I'd rather sleep would come to me rather than force it."
"I guess that's where you and I agree." He grinned, flashing his canine teeth, which were seemed sharper than usual.
The pair sat in a comfortable silence, the moonlight beaming onto the kitchen table, as if another soul joining the company. Remus Lupin took the time to survey the witch before him. This was not the first time that he found himself examining her. He sometimes watched her study in the library, watching as she soaked in the knowledge of books she read, occasionally bursting with enthusiasm as she found a particularly interesting passage. He could understand her joy of learning as it was something that he too experienced. He often preferred the company of books rather than people. At least books weren't able to judge him, condemn him due to his unfortunate condition.
He continued to watch her and she had begun to shift nervously in her chair. Lupin scolded himself for letting his gaze intrude on her personal space. Hermione however merely turned the corners of her mouth into what a smile. Her eyes had lost the innocence they had once held when he first met her. Of course, they had all been forced to grow up much too quickly. War did that to a person. He returned a reassuring smile, knowing that she still blamed herself for what had happened on her mission with Ron. Standing up, Remus placed a calloused hand on her shoulder.
"Don't beat yourself up over it." He spoke softly. "And I mean that." He added before she had the chance to reply. "I'm going to bed to try and get some sleep. I suggest you do the same. Goodnight." Giving her shoulder a light squeeze he walked towards the door.
"Goodnight Remus. And thanks." He left the kitchen and towards his bedroom. He lay in his bed and tried to make the image of Hermione's haunting smile, which was now burnt into the insides of his eyelids, disappear.
Review! I would love to hear your thoughts and advice.