Protecting His Bookworm

Chapter Three

Jane Granger

Sirius, Remus, Harry and Hermione appeared in the back yard of a two-story brick house, and a wooden patio with rocking chairs, chairs and a few small tables. In the yard there was a small kiddies' pool and a swing set with a tree house.

"What do you think?" Hermione asked the trio.

"Its great." they answered at once.

She smiled at them and looked at the sliding glass door. There she saw her little sister, Faith. The witch smiled at the two year old. Hermione walked up the steps and opened the small gate at blocked the edge of the stairs. The wizards followed behind and Harry locked the small gate.

Hermione opened the door carefully and Faith ran over to her big sister. "Sissy! Sissy!"

She laughed and picked up bouncy blonde. She wrapped her arms around her neck. Hermione kissed her sister on the nose and tickled her tummy. She quickly ducked when book zoomed through the air hitting Sirius in the head. Faith giggled at the wizard.

"Owww," Sirius said, rubbing his head.

"I am sorry about that. Faith's magic is a little out of whack."

Harry's eyes followed a small ball, about the size of a snitch, flying around the kitchen. He quickly caught the ball with ease.

"Show off." said Hermiione, rolling her eyes.

The seeker stuck his tongue out at her and threw it back in forth his left and right hand. "How are you Mrs. Granger?"

Jane smiled and took Harry into her arms. Harry gasped when the breath was knocked out of his body. Mrs. Granger sometimes hugged tighter than Mrs. Weasley. She pulled back and smiled at the wizard.

"It's great to see you again Harry."

"Mrs. Granger this is my godfather Sirius Black," and motioned to the wizard. "This is Remus Lupin," and motioned to the werewolf.

Jane smiled and shook the men's hands. "I've heard a great deal about the both of you. Please have a seat and we'll discuss what has brought you away from school."

Hermione chewed on her bottom lip and looked around the room. Remus squeezed her shoulder in comfort. She visible relaxed under the gentle touch. Jane noticed how the wizard relaxed her daughter. The last person that was able to that was her father. She smiled weakly at the man.

"Go get settled in cub," whispered the werewolf. "We'll handle the major part." Harry and Hermione looked at him. "Go on cub," kissed her forehead and she nodded.

Harry looked at Sirius. He jerked his head to the door. "Go on." Harry nodded. Hermione handed Faith to her mother and the couple walked out of the kitchen.

Jane led the wizards to the living room. She sat Faith down on the carpet floor with her toys. She motioned for them to sit down. They sat down on the love seat. Jane sat down on the couch. Remus pulled out his bag and tapped it with his wand and it grew to it's normal size. Remus pulled out the copy of the Daily Prophet.

"It's best you read this. It's the morning edition. This explains what brings us here. I have to ask you to please be understanding, because Ginny and Ron haven't…well, not been very supportive."

"I didn't know that Moony."

"Well now you do, Padfoot. Now get your mind out of the dungeon."

The marauder raised his hands in the air in defeat. Remus looked down when he felt a tug on his pants. He smiled and picked up Faith. She giggled, but frowned slightly at the werewolf. Remus cocked his head to the side and his eyes shined amber in the light.

Jane was about to open the paper when her daughter's interaction with the wizard caught her eye. "Professor Dumbledore told me Faith can sense people's emotions. She senses your emotions and from what I can tell is-"

"Sad. Ouchy. Sleepy."

Remus sighed heavily, that's how he felt around the time of the full moon. He was sad, in pain and very tired. He smiled weakly at the little girl.

"Woffie." Faith said as she looked into his amber eyes.

Sirius's eyes widened in shock there was absolutely no way a two year old knew what he was. No way. The marauder shook his head in disbelief.

"I am sorry. Faith come to Mommy," handing out her arms.

"No, it's fine Mrs. Granger." Remus sighed, "You're a bright little witch," tapping his finger on her nose.

"Good woffie."

Sirius couldn't help but bust out into fit of laughter. Remus raised a brow at his childhood friend. He bit his jaw to stop laughing.

Jane chuckled. They acted like an old married couple. She mentally shook her head it was none of her business if they were. She opened the paper and gasped at the headline.

"Oh dear lord," and looked up at the wizards. "A muggle marriage law. What's going to happen to Hermione? I don't want her to lose her magic. She's so happy. She has friends. She has both of you. I know you," looking at Remus, "love Hermione like a daughter. I am so grateful for that." Jane turned back to the paper and turned to page six. "What in the hell?"

"Mommy bad."

"Sorry Faith, but consummate the marriage in two weeks and have baby within a year! There's no way to put a time frame on a baby! It took me nearly three years of trying to have Hermione!

Remus looked at Jane with worry and then looked at Faith. She kissed his cheek and giggled at the wizard.

Hermione stood on the bottom step and slowly sat down on the steps. She couldn't believe what she had heard. They had to have a baby within one year and consummate the marriage within two weeks. Harry walked down the stairs and saw his best friend's face white as a ghost. He had also heard the news. The wizard looked at her closer and notice she was going to have a panic attack. Harry sat down next the witch and lowered her head between her legs. Hermione gasped for air and tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Relax Mione. Breath love," rubbing her back and continued to whispering comforting words than stopped all of sudden, and realized he was calling her love over and over.

'Where did that come from? Oh well its helping.' he told his self.

Harry sighed in relief when Hermione's breathing normalized. He took her into his arms and let her cry into his chest. The law was getting harder and harder on his best friend. The wizard knew this was going to cause more problems between Ron and Ginny, but he didn't care of what was to happen with the two red heads his main concern was Hermione. He had fallen in love with 'His Bookworm' as he called her to his self. He would never call her bookworm to her face. The name hurt her feelings and it made him so angry when Ron called her that.

"Harry," he looked up, "is Hermione alright?" Sirius asked gently as he watched her slowly fall asleep.

"We heard the last part of the law. When I told her about the law we missed the last part of it." he explained brushing her hair from her face. "I love her Sirius."

"I know you do."

Remus and Jane walked over to the trio. Faith was asleep in her play pin in the living room. Jane looked at her daughter with worry and knelt down in front of the couple. She gently lifted her left hand and looked at her diamond ring and smiled gently.

"I understand Harry. I ask of you to just keep my baby girl safe. All I ask of you is for a muggle wedding and if this law is over turned you may have a divorce if you wish. I want to at least hold to my husband's wishes."

"Yes ma'am. I'll honor your wishes," and he carefully rose to full height and shifted Hermione into arms. "I'm going to lay her down, this is such a shock to her system and she's coping the best she can." He walked up the stairs.

Jane walked into the kitchen to call her friend at the court house to push for a marriage license. She explained things to Hermione when she woke up from her nap. The witch only nodded and went outside. Jane realized that this was tearing her daughter into pieces and it pulled on her heartstrings. She wanted to protect her daughter, but she could do nothing to stop this from coming.

"Your daughter is strong Jane. Hermione will make it." Remus said from the kitchen doorway when he saw her hang up the phone.

"I know," turning around, "but Remus Hermione's not as strong as she lets on. She's vulnerable and needs someone be strong for her." She motioned to the kitchen table. They sat down. "Remus, the reason Hermione has grown so close to you is because she sees you like a father. You understand her, read her emotions and know how to comfort her, and in her mind and her heart you are her father."

"She had a father Jane."

"Yes, she did, and he was a great man. She sees so much of her father in you. So she's in away adopted you as her father."

Remus nervously ran his fingers through his graying sandy blonde hair. He looked out of the sliding glass door. He watched Hermione closely. She pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her forehead on her knees. The wizard saw what Jane was talking about. It was all a front. He didn't know why he didn't realize it before. It was because she was always around her friends and that was the reason behind her always studying so hard was to hide her weakness.

Harry walked into the kitchen with Faith in his arms and looked out of the sliding glass door.

He sighed, "She's finally dropped her mask. It's about time. Hermione needs to let out whatever she can before we return to school."

"You've seen her like this before?" asked Remus.

"Yes. I have many times when I couldn't sleep I would go down to common room. I've seen her fall apart."

Jane smiled weakly, "She's turned to you many times over the years."

Harry nodded and walked outside with Faith. "Swing! Swing!"

Hermione turned her head and threw her arms around Harry and Faith. The wizard wrapped his arm around her waist. He led her to the swings. She sat down in the swing and he sat Faith in her sister's lap. He gently pushed them. Hermione smiled and held her little sister close and kissed her on the cheek.

Remus walked outside and sat down on the patio. Sirius sat down next to his fellow marauder. Jane handed them each a cup of tea and sat down. She smiled at the couple and realized that Harry knew what to do cheer Hermione up.

"He loves Hermione."

"Harry has loved Hermione for a very long time. I just hope he tells her in time." Sirius said with a smile.

Remus nodded in agreement. The trio talked and watched the couple play with Faith as Jane got to know the men that had been her daughter's life for so many years.

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