Staying Strong

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: As much as I would love to own Harry Potter, I do not own a thing.

"Over here," Dumbledoor said, pointing to an empty bed in the corner of the musty room.

Lupin nodded his head, rushing through the door and carefully setting Hermione's sleeping body on the bed. Taking a step back, he quietly stepped out of the room, Dumbledoor following from behind.

"Sir, do you really think this would be the best place for her? I mean, we really have to think about her safety."

Dumbledoor held up his hand, nodding his head. "Yes, Professor Lupin, this is the best place for her right now. Hogwarts, however, is not safe. Until we catch Mister Malfoy, Hermione is to remain here, and under no circumstances, step foot out of this house."

Lupin nodded in agreement and ran his hand through his hair. "I understand, Professor. I will do my best to make sure that Draco Malfoy does not come near her."

"I appreciate it, Professor." Dumbledoor sighed. "I wish I could understand why Draco did the things that he did? I know the horrid things that Malfoys have done, but I was sure that Draco was different. There was something about that I saw in that boy that made me believe that he was not like his father or his ancestors."

"We must remember that he is a Malfoy. We must also remember that there is a chance that Draco did not use any spells on that man. There is a possibility that the man could have simply had a heartattack, or even used a spell on himself."

Dumbledoor nodded his head. "Very true, Professor, very true indeed."

Both the men looked around the corner into the dust covered room as Hermione stirred in bed.

"Poor child, she must be having a horrible dream." Dumbledoor said softly.

"With all of the things that have been going on tonight, I don't know who wouldn't have a hard time sleeping."

Dumbledoor stepped away from the door and walked over to the stairs. "We should probably get on our way before we wake her. She has had a long night." Dumbledoor began to step down the stairs when Lupin stopped him.

"Don't you think that someone should stay here and guard the house?"

Dumbledoor looked back at Hermione and nodded. "Would you mind watching her, Professor?"

Lupin removed his jacket from his shoulders and placed it around a broken chair. "I would be more than happy to."

Dumbledoor smiled and started his way down the stairs, leaving Lupin sitting in the broken chair, in the broken down house, all alone in the darkness.

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As the sun shined through the broken windows that next morning, Hermione opened her eyes to a totally different environment. Sitting up in bed, she looked around the room in confusion at the thick layers of dust that covered the room around her. This was definitely not Hogwarts.

Getting up from bed, she quietly peeked around the corner at the next room and was surprised to see Lupin sleeping peacefully in a chair placed right next to a door. Drawing her wand from her pocket, she softly tapped him on the shoulder, making him wake almost instantly.

"Hermione, you're awake." He said cheerfully, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.

"Professor Lupin, what in Merlin's sake am I doing here?"

Lupin took his jacket from the back of his chair and wrapped it around his shoulders. "Well, Hermione, that is a very good question, but I am afraid that I am not the one to give you the answers."

Hermione crossed her arms over her chest. "Who can tell me, then?"

Lupin smiled at the attitude in Hermione's voice. "I was told not to give you any information until Dumbledoor returns."

Hermione rolled her eyes and turned to walk back into her room.

"Hermione," Lupin called. "I suppose that I could share a few things with you."

Hermioe smiled and leaned against the wall. "I'm listening."

"All I can tell you is that there is someone very dangerous after you and this is the best place for you to be until they catch him."

"S-Someone is after me? You've got to be joking?"

"I'm afraid not, Hermione."

Hermione took a long, deep breath, her knees wanting to give out from underneath her.

"Who is it, Professor?" She said softly.

Lupin cleared his throat and stared blankly at the wall in front of him. "I will tell you Hermione, but only if you promise me that you will never speak a word to Dumbledoor that I told you?"

Hermione nodded.

Looking at the door in front of him and then into Hermione's eyes, he opened his mouth to speak. "It was Draco Malfoy. Mister Malfoy escaped from Hogwarts right after we found him outside of the castle, apparently using the Avada Kedavra curse on an innocent person. Now, there is a possibility that Draco is innocent, and that he never used any spells on the man, but there has been no sight of Draco since he escaped."

Hermione gasped, her hand covering her mouth as tears threatened to fall from her almond shaped eyes.

"Not, Draco. No, no not Draco." She cried, falling to the ground and cradling her legs to her chest.

Lupin got to his feet and crouched down beside her, pulling her into his arms.

"Why, Professor? Why did he have to do this?"

Lupin shook his head. "No one knows, Hermione, no one knows."

Hermione wrapped her arms around Lupin's neck, her tears soaking through his jacket.

Authors Note: Hey there! I know that I said that I wasn't going to write any more stories until I finished WDILY but I couldn't help myself! This is my first Lupin story! I really hope you like it! Chapter 2 should be out soon. I have most of it done, I just have to correct a few things. Thanks a bunch to everyone that reviews! Love ya all!

Love,

Jess