Chapter 3 Petals of Wisdom

It was nearly dinner time and Hermione stood in the kitchen, a knife in her hand and a bowl of homemade icing beside her. She carefully spread the icing over the carrot cake she had made herself not long ago and used a fork to press small designs in the top. When she was finished she took her mold out of the freezer and pushed the flowers out of it onto the cake. Now the cake had a border of chocolate daisies, lilies and amaranths all around it, something that didn't usually go on a carrot cake but Hermione wanted it to be special. She smiled as she put down the last flower and washed her hands. It was perfect.

A week had passed and Remus had given her gifts five days in a row. First she had received that very intriguing book which she had thanked him for several times. That wasn't all though. On the second day she woke up to find a pink pigmy puff squeaking at her and it just continued from there. The gifts stopped yesterday and to be honest she was glad although she wore her silver locket everywhere and always wrote in the red velvet journal. She didn't know what she would do with all the gifts and she wanted to return the favor. Today was Remus's birthday which gave her a perfect chance.

"That looks lovely dear," said Mrs. Weasly. "I'm sure he'll appreciate it. It'll be his last meal here after all, well maybe not his last, but he probably won't come here as often now."

"What do you mean," said Hermione, her heart jolting in her chest.

"Oh didn't he tell you, he's got a job in the library at Diagon Alley and he just bought a house," said Mrs. Weasly, taking the casserole out of the oven. "I thought he would have said something to you, seeing as you're being courted by him. Oh well, the separation will be good for you too. Personally dear I think you should have stayed with Ron, he's much more thoughtful. You know the only reason I took you in after you broke up with him is because you had no where else to go and Ron wanted to move out."

"You have no idea what I've been through Mrs. Weasly," said Hermione hotly. "Your son abused me. He raped me and beat me and all you can say is that's it's good Remus is moving out. I would've stayed in Grimmauld Place but that was where Ron was and I had no money to buy an apartment."

"I don't believe it," said Mrs. Weasly. "Ron would never do such a thing. He's my son, he knows how to treat a lady. You're just seeking attention from Remus because he's handsome and you want a man between your legs."

That was enough for Hermione. She took the precious cake and ran from the room, tears streaming from her hot face. She passed Ron who tried to grab a chocolate flower, Harry who tried to hug her, and Ginny who tried to take the tilting cake from her. She slammed the door to her room and plopped the cake down on the night stand. She wasn't letting Mrs. Weasly anywhere near it, for she knew instinctively that the old cow would take and try to pass it off as her own.

She curled up under the blankets and sobbed into the cold pillow. Her pigmy puff squeaked at her but she ignored it, wrapping her arms around her knees and wailing with sheer misery. She ignored the shouts outside her door and the loud insistant knocks, clutching her knees and hiding from the world. She only relaxed when the noise stopped and lay there quietly sniffing. Eventually she drifted off into a fitful slumber, the cake forgotten and her wand clutched tightly in her hand.

"Wow this dinner looks amazing Molly," said Remus, trying to be cheerful. "Where's Hermione? I have some news for her."

"She's in her room Remus," said Molly. "She's feeling a little ill so we decided to eat without her. She had a busy day today."

Ginny and Harry glared at her as Ron continued to stuff his face. Arthur frowned but didn't say anything as Mrs. Weasly merely smiled and continued eating. Remus knew something was amiss. He felt it deep in his bones. The room fell silent as Remus picked at his food and Ginny and Harry exchanged some knowing glances.

After dinner, Mrs. Weasly went into the kitchen and brought back a large apple pie. She plonked it in the center of the table and lit the candle in the middle of it. Harry opened his mouth to say something but Ginny pinched him and he fell silent. Remus blew out the candle and received a generous slice of pie, Molly smiling warmly as she served it.

"What about the cake Hermione took to her room," asked Ron. "It had flowers on it and some words I couldn't quite make out. I thought that was for you. I don't know why she took it though. She could have at least shared."

"What cake," asked Remus through gritted teeth.

"Oh noo need to worry dear, it didn't turn out so she went to through it out," said Mrs. Weasly jauntily.

Remus dropped his fork onto the table and got up, his face like a thunder cloud. Mrs. Weasly tried to stop him but he pushed her out of the way roughly. Not even Arthur did anything as he sprinted silently to Hermione's door and knocked softly on it. There was no response so he unlocked it with his wand and walked in.

Hermione lay curled up under the blankets, a pillow clutched to her chest and her wand gripped tightly in her hand. Beside her on the night stand sat a magnificent cake with the words "happy birthday Remus" written on it and a border of chocolate flowers around it. He reached for a chocolate daisy then stopped himself. It wouldn't be right.

"Hermione my love what's wrong," he said, kneeling down beside the bed and stroking her hair. "Come on wake up sweetie. Tell me what's the matter."

Hermione stirred and opened her eyes. She met his warm gaze and burst into tears all over again. He pulled her close and she cried into his shoulder. His hand never halted as he continued to stroke her hair.

"It's all right now, I'm here," he said. "Oh beloved, please tell me what's wrong. Has someone upset you?"

"Mrs. Weasly said you were moving out," sniffled Hermione. "She yelled at me for not staying with Ron and didn't believe me when I told her the truth about him. I took the cake because I didn't want her to pass it off as her own and I came in here. Ron even tried to steal on of the flowers, the amaranths which took me forever to find a mold for."

"Oh Hermione," soothed Remus. "I am moving out but the house I bought is not just for me. I bought it for the both of us so we could live together in peace. You do not deserve this beloved. Are you willing to go to Saint Mungo's to have a check up to prove to Mrs. Weasly that you are telling the truth."

"Oh Remus, please take me away from here," she cried. "I can't stand it. I'll do anything you want to prove her wrong. I'm so sorry you didn't get your cake. I guess you can have it now."

"There will be time enough to have cake later," Remus growled. "Now it is time to act. I will not have my beloved tortured like this. Come on, let's get you ready to go. I will not wait for this."

"Okay," she said shakily. "Let's go."

A/N Well there you go, a nice fighting chapter. Hope you like it. Next chapter should be up soon, just have to write it lol. Please r and r.