(A/N) Yay! Quick posting! I hope this explains some of your questions. The other unanswered will fall in on later chapters. But keep asking questions because it gives me more writing abilities! Thanks for the reviews! Love you all! -Rain Of Freedom.
This chapter was edited by the wonderful Of-butterbeer-and-frogs
Chapter 1 - Welcomings and Surprises
The car stopped just outside the Leaky Cauldron. It was a rainy morning just two days before the train to Hogwarts would become loaded with old and new students and would begin the long journey towards the school. And it was pouring, but that didn't stop the passengers from stepping off, cloaks covering them completely. Two young men, a girl, and a couple came out and hurriedly walked inside the bar. Their luggage was brought to them and taken to their rooms without further questioning. As the couple went up the stairs, the trio walked off toward the counter. They sat and each ordered a warm drink.
From left to right were Ronald Weasley, Harry Potter, and Ginny Weasley. They hadn't spoken to each other since they came in and just when the silence became unbearable a cry of joy sounded from the stairs. The three turned around and watched as their best friend raced forward to greet them.
Hermione Granger looked positively radiant. She first tackled Harry with a bear hug. He grinned because she was in a good mood and that made him happy as well. Then, Hermione hugged Ginny. The two embraced for a long moment, murmuring among them in a secretive fashion.
The boys raised their brows at them and looked at each other briefly. 'Women' –Ron thought. Harry chuckled. It was Ron's clearing of his throat that made Hermione release Ginny to look at him. The two exchanged looks neither Harry nor Ginny could understand, but Hermione soon crossed the distance between them and hugged him. He, of course, hugged her back and smirked.
"I've missed you guys! A month seems like a short time but it's been like an eternity! I'm so glad to see you all again." –she said cheerfully. Harry nodded.
"Ginny missed you at the Burrow, so did mum and dad. We got a visit from Bill and he brought you a book. I bet mum has it somewhere in her bags." –Ron commented, searching her eyes. It was a bit awkward to have him stare at her. Hermione simply smiled and shrugged, saying "I had a lot on my hands this summer."
Ron decided, probably for the first time in all summer, to ask no further questions. Most likely, and as a matter of fact, Ginny was going to ask. He turned around to look at a recent issue of the Daily Prophet the man beside Harry had left. "Hey, Harry, do you know who our Headmaster is this year?" –he asked, looking at a few pictures of several Ministry Wizards.
"I don't know. As long as it's not the old hag that looks like a toad, or someone that has her personality, then he or she will be fine by me."-Harry said, taking another sip from his drink. Ron nodded thoughtfully and browsed through the next few pages.
Hermione had settled down on a chair next to Ginny and as usual the two became lost in their conversations. About half an hour later, the Weasley couple came down accompanied by one of the members of the Order. Mrs. Weasley came running towards Hermione, hugging her when she finally had reached her.
"My dear, I am so happy to see you! We missed you so much!" She looked from Harry to Ron and back at Hermione. "Oh! And congratulations! I never thought you-"–she stopped when Hermione gave her an alarming look. Harry noticed but didn't say anything.
"Never thought what?" –asked Ron. "Never thought I could pass the Apparition test so quickly." –Hermione answered for her, smiling despite her racing heartbeat. Molly was surprised at the news but took the hint and played along with it. The man, who was Remus Lupin, chuckled and patted Molly's shoulder. The professor greeted each student and smiled at everyone. He was noticeably different and it didn't take the three young wizards to know why. He looked young now; his scars barely visible, and had a healthy coloring in his skin.
Together, the seven of them had a long dinner where they discussed their summer vacations. Everyone except Hermione, Remus and Harry gave much detail about their time off. Mrs. Weasley had gone about reviewing the latest news on the Daily Prophet, saying there wasn't much gossip going around for the first time in years since she remembered. "You think they finally got rid of Rita Skeeter?" –Ron asked, causing several to laugh.
Arthur Weasly raised his mug in a toast. "To a new year and to all the surprises that await us all!" –he called out cheerfully.
Harry had decided to look at Hermione at that moment, noticing as she raised her mug that there was a hickey like mark on her neck. It had been barely visible before through her turtle neck shirt.
"Hermione, what is that?" –he asked, lowering his cup. Hermione looked at him and furrowed her brow. "What?"
"That mark on your neck?" Hermione visibly swallowed but before she could answer, Remus spoke with all certainty and smoothness.
"That nasty hairball she calls Crookshanks did it just a couple of days ago."
Ron eyed the man carefully. "And you know this because..?"
"Ronald Weasley!" –Molly scolded.
Remus, unabashed, replied calmly. "She was at Grimwald Place when it happened. She came to visit us and tell us of her Apparition news."
Still not satisfied, and slightly hurt that she had gone to visit others and not him, Ron eyed his ex-Professor of DADA.
Dinner went smoothly and quietly after that. Afterwards, everyone said their good nights and went to bed. They had decided on buying their books the following morning so they needed a good rest. Molly, Arthur and Remus remained.
Hermione had followed Ginny up to the bedrooms but never went in with her. Instead, she said she was going to stay with Molly a little longer and would be shortly up. Ginny had agreed but as soon as her friend had disappeared down the stairs, she ran up to the boy's room.
She didn't even bother knocking and entered the small room so suddenly that Ron jumped and Harry quickly covered himself. They both had been changing their attire to something more 'light' to sleep in. At their shocked expressions, Ginny waved her hand in the air, exasperated.
"Come off it, Ron! It's not like I've never seen you before in all your glory!" –she retorted at his bewildered look.
"What about Harry?" –Ron countered. Harry immediately blushed and was trying to say something but Ginny silenced him with a hand.
"What about him? He's cute as ever." –she teased. Harry wanted to die as Ron looked at him accusingly. "What? I haven't done anything to her!" –Harry said, sitting at the edge of his bed to adjust his sleeping pants.
"I was just kidding, Ronald." –Ginny said, taking a seat beside her brother. The room fell silent for about a few minutes.
"I wonder what's up with Hermione." –said Ginny to no one in particular. "She's… changed somehow. There's something she isn't telling us." –Harry said, looking towards Ron.
"She's keeping something from her best friends. You all saw when mum came at her and she was about to say something and Hermione sent her a look. Not just that but professor Lupin is a bit off too." -Ron pointed out.
Harry shrugged. "I guess we'll just have to find out. Are you coming Ron?" Ron turned towards Harry, a bit puzzled, "And how are we supposed to do that?" Harry chuckled, "I guess we haven't done enough mischief this summer for you to remember my invisibility cloak." –Harry stated.
Ron turned a bit red, "Oh, I knew that." –he muttered as Harry covered the two of them with the cloak. Ginny shook her head at the boys. "You should wait and let her tell you." At this, Harry poked his head out. "She told you something?" –he asked, trying not to sound resentful. "Only hints and not something specific. But I assure you that if she has come to me, even with hints, she'll come to you with words." –Ginny reasoned, silently pleading for the two boys to remain put. "For your sake, I hope you're right." Ginny turned, a bit stunned, at Harry's threat. "Or what?" –she challenged. "I'll figure that out later." –he replied, eyeing the young witch. Ron looked at them and made a gagging sound.
"RON!"
He had a tough time falling asleep. When he managed to do so, his awaiting dreams were less than pleasant.
Harry stayed awake long after everyone was asleep. He was looking out the window at the sky and the stars. He even heard when the other four came up. Strangely, no one entered their room. 'Maybe she thinks we're asleep.' –Harry thought dimly. He closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep.
The two days passed like a breeze and the seven found themselves in the traditional 'hurry to catch the train' routine on Platform 9 ¾ before it charged onward. Their trunks secured inside, the four seventh year students said goodbye to the Weasley couple. Professor Lupin boarded the train, surprising the trio.
One of them wasn't surprised by the occurrence. By the time Harry, Ron and Ginny had secured a compartment inside the train, Hermione had disappeared. The three exchanged glances, wondering where she'd gone to. They decided she was doing a round or something, maybe looking for her cat or someone and would be back soon.
Not for a moment did they see Hermione during the train ride. They wondered what was about with her lately, but their thoughts slowly drifted away to other things, like the cover of the Daily Prophet. "A raid in St. Mungos. Apparently, one of the Healers was a Death Eater. Unbelievable!"
.x.X.x.
It wasn't until the Sorting Banquet that they saw her…
She was sitting on the Staff table! Everyone in the Great Hall was talking about it and not just that but the fact that the Headmaster's seat was occupied by the Minister of Magic.
Order was called forth after the Sorting took place. The Minister began with his speech which was mostly filled with warnings and precise information. Neither Harry nor Ron paid any attention to it. It sounded memorized and cold; most unwelcoming and foreboding. Harry had the slight feeling of Umbridge part two speaking up there. Still, their minds were set on one thing… figuring out what Hermione was doing up there in the Staff table.
When he was done, he gestured towards Professor Remus Lupin, who curiously was sitting on the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor's seat. Prof. Lupin stood and smiled brightly. Hermione was sitting beside him to his right. "I leave you with Professor Lupin, who wishes to speak to all of you. After him, each professor will have the opportunity to say a few words." –the Headmaster said, giving a final gesture towards Lupin as he sat down. Lupin nodded and took a deep breath before he began.
"Good evening, students and welcome to your new year. I have a few announcements to make and I'll start off with this one. I will be your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher again this year. This year will be harder for everyone since it is my sole mission to teach you how to defend yourself based upon Ministry of Magic standards. I expect each and every one of you to come ready for class. Second of all, I will not be alone teaching you. The Ministry has allowed me an assistant. This assistant is Miss Hermione Granger."
At this, the Great Hall burst into murmurings. Ron shifted in his seat and looked in bewilderment at Harry.
"Silence!" –called the Headmaster. Remus thanked him and resumed, unfazed.
"Last but certainly not least, Miss Granger will continue with her last year studies as will her classmates. I'd like to point out that Miss Granger will no longer be Hermione Granger. This is my greatest announcement. She will from now on be addressed as Miss Hermione Lupin. We are rightfully and legally married."
Now everyone stayed silent. The shock swept through the Hall and everyone just stared with their mouths agape. Hermione was blushing and had stood up to take the offered hand of professor Lupin. When she was ready to say her first words, two people fainted and caused a stir: Ronald Weasley and Draco Malfoy.
Hermione gasped and looked up at Remus who was looking quite calm. Hermione then saw the bewilderment pass from people's eyes and then saw something uncomfortable in its place. The whispering, the accusing looks… She abruptly rose and left the hall through the back door. Despite his uncaring demeanor, Professor Snape rose to the occasion and began to draw the attention of the students to him by beginning his rather 'welcoming' speech.
Hermione had begun to cry as she made her way towards her new quarters. Remus, trying to keep up, was unable to shake away the uneasiness creeping up his spine. His Wolf was very upset. Maybe even more so than his Mate was.
"Hermione, stop right there!" –he called, his voice full of authority. Hermione flinched when she heard that tone. Something inside her ordered her to stop and face the man, but her better part had her continuing her run.
When she reached her quarters, she curled up behind a great high-back chair and silently continued to cry. Now she had two reasons to be upset. The whole school would be on her heels with the 'shocking news' and her husband was angry at her. Before wasting another second, she bolted towards the bedroom and locked herself inside.
Remus had a tough time catching up. He wasn't old, but he wasn't that young either. When he arrived at his rooms, he walked in and sat on a chair to regain his breath. If he was to soothe his wife, he needed to be calm himself. If only for a minute.
His Wolf growled at him, pushing from the back of his mind to come forward. Remus shook his head, disregarding the command.
'Mate hurt' –it said, obviously displeased.
"I know. But she needs her space now."
'NO! COMFORT MATE!' –it demanded, all too aware of Hermione's tears staining the fresh scent of his rooms and her sobs like waves hitting his eardrums.
Surging forward viciously and, ripping through his other half's will, the Wolf emerged.
Moony rose from his chair, growling softly as it took in the scent of his mate in order to locate her. Still in his human form, Moony walked over to the bedroom door and pressed his hand to it. As he brought it down, his nails made a rasping sound.
Hermione thought she'd never get used to Moony's antics. She cowered back beneath the covers of their bed, wrapping her arms around herself.
Moony could feel her distress and pressed his forehead to the door. "Comfort mate." –he said, his tone soft and pleading.
She couldn't hold back much longer. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and climbed off, walking towards the door. "Remus?" –she asked, pressing her forehead to the door. He scratched the door, startling her. "Mate." –he answered simply. She swallowed and unlocked the door, stepping back and hurrying off to the bed.
When he grabbed the door knob and opened the heavy door, he wasn't ready to see her just lying above the rumpled covers, curled up like a child with her eyes puffed and a runny nose. He made his way to the bed and crawled up behind her, drawing her against him with an arm about her waist. She instinctively turned around and settled into his arms, receiving with gratitude the soothing vibrations of his chest. Those always appeased her inner self. Her inner Wolf as he would call it.
When he felt her relax, Moony buried his nose to her neck, brushing it against the bite mark he'd left a couple of full moons ago. About time he marked her as his mate. Since that night she howled to him, almost four years ago, the reasons whatever they be, he was having trouble keeping himself in check. The wolf wanted her. It knew she was his mate from there onwards. Partly, that's why his stupid human half had decided to leave the school in the first place. It knew what the Wolf was planning. What it didn't know was the Wolf would always come to her. It could hear her calling at night, her nostalgic howls traveled magically around the world to reach him. So, on every full moon, when the Wolf was in full control of body and mind, he would reach Hogwarts, by tricking the human side or by force indeed, and wait for her by the same tree. She would always come to him. It was the only time both he and his human side were at peace.
He looked down at her and caught her staring at him. He gave her a toothy grin. She smiled and even laughed a little when he brushed his tongue against the mark playfully. His mate was alright now. Moony receded. Remus drew back to look at his wife and saw that she was comforted and slowly drifting off to sleep.
"I can't promise to hex everyone who looks at you or us wrong. But I can promise I will never allow hurt and pain to fall upon you, my dear. You are most precious to me." –he murmured, playing with the brown curls in her head. She nodded in understanding and surprisingly growled. Remus raised a brow. His Wolf's antics were rubbing off on her. "I was a bit overwhelmed. I got carried away. I'm sorry." –she whispered, closing her eyes.
Remus kissed her forehead. "It's alright, love. I know what you feel. The looks, the whispers, the gossip, the angry vibes, I've seen them all. And I am not all that it's cracked up to be, am I? Do I look like I have rabies?" –he asked with mocking indignation. Hermione laughed and he smiled. "No… the only things that you have are the fleas you bring in on every full moon!"
He couldn't help himself. His playful mate got herself a night cap with a very playful and insulted Wolf.
