"Are you sure that you want to do this?" Kingsley's voice caused Hermione to lift her eyes from the pages.
"Of course, Minister. What if I can do it?" Hermione asked with a nod.
They were in his office and pouring over her paperwork to return to Africa. It took him several days to sort the business, but there they were. He was the only other person alive that knew of the extent of her plot with her holiday. "I can't tell you no, as we have discussed, but I do have a right to tell you how dangerous it is. This is magic that isn't to be taken lightly, Miss Granger."
Hermione stood up and pointed to some of her notes. "Yes, but it has been done."
"It has also killed countless amounts of wizards. If the setting isn't right, if the timing isn't spot on, even if the subject is reluctant, it could end their life," Kingsley said with more force.
"Do you trust me? Do you trust that my intentions are of clear mind?" Hermione inquired with a scowl.
Kingsley exhaled and gazed up at her. "Hermione, I know you love him, but this is absurd."
"Don't," she raised her voice before shaking her head. "Don't accuse me of being absurd," she continued with more of a leveled tone.
"You love him despite his illness, that should be enough," Kingsley voiced with a stiffness.
"But he doesn't love himself, and I won't sit back and watch him live in fear of himself any longer," Hermione sighed.
Kingsley pinched the bridge of his eyes before groaning and signing the paperwork. "I hope you are certain what you're asking for. He could end up loathing your very name for what you're asking."
Hermione gathered up the parchment with a broad smile. "It will be well worth the trouble. I do appreciate your consent," she responded.
"I'm not consenting to you attempting suicide, Hermione. I'm only allowing this plight to take place because I know in my heart that I cannot stop your task. You would do this without my approval and without help."
She just rocked her head and exhaled. "I know, but I promise you, it will be worth it."
Kingsley scrubbed his face and groaned. "Alright, anything else?"
Hermione thinned her lips, and her shoulders drooped. "One more page?"
The minister glanced down and let out a growl before lifting his quill. "Merlin, you're a tough one, Miss Granger. You've never asked me for one thing in six years, and now you need a miracle," he grumbled while reviewing the document.
"I will make it up to you upon my return, I assure you," Hermione said with a smirk.
"He is quite possibly the luckiest man alive, Hermione. I don't know many who love someone as deeply as you love him," he sighed and signed the request.
She took the paper when he was finished and nearly jumped in elation. "I promise, Minister, I will return intact!" Hermione exclaimed and rushed out of the office to finish filing the paperwork for her vacation.
It had been two weeks of a new routine in their new home, and Remus was now sitting with Andromeda outside her house in the garden. They spent most of the last couple of hours catching up on the renovation and work on Grimmauld Place, to Teddy's full disclosure, but the conversation lulled. The boy was engrossed in catching frogs and letting them hop off before repeating the act- leaving the adults to speak plainly.
"How is my lovely Hermione?" Andromeda asked.
Remus smiled and breathed in deep measure. "She's always an inspiration. As always, working without fatigue, consuming books like a living requirement, and very gratuitous about my work on the house."
"Has she been doing well outside of her usual unyielding passion? It must be difficult for her to work so hard," Andromeda said with a slanted head.
"Yes, she finds time to relax," Remus chuckled.
Andromeda knitted her fingers together- a tell of the woman's if Remus could define any of her mysterious actions as such. "And this trip to Africa?"
Remus winced and scratched at his chin. "She thinks she might have an answer to my condition."
"You don't believe it?" Andromeda asked.
"It isn't that I don't see her intentions are full of heart, but there isn't a cure. There never will be one, and I hope she isn't disappointed when it doesn't work," Remus grumbled.
Andromeda rested further on her metal lawn chair. "Remus, my wonderful son-in-law, do you think you'll ever address the hippogriff in the room?"
The werewolf let out a sound of annoyance. "Drom, for the last time, she isn't in love with me. Love comes in many shapes and forms; for her, it's endless at how much she provides. Don't you think our most verbose favored witch would have said anything by now if she was?"
"Are you say this because you hope she isn't? Do you hope that she'll find a nice wizard and settle down with a dose of normal? I will let you in on a little secret- normal isn't what that witch wants."
Remus growled and sat up straighter. "She's had two weeks to come out and say anything she wants in the comforts of privacy and hasn't. Not an utterance of yearning for more. No sound of disagreement. If I told her anything close to how I feel, she would feel obligated to give it to me. I will not take advantage of a young, beautiful and kind witch," he spat with venom.
"And we are at the cusp of your anxiety," Andromeda responded with a finger in the air. "You're afraid she will feel obligated to comply to your wounded heart."
"Do you hear the snickering? The jeering that she'll suffer. Hermione isn't like Dora; she won't wave it off and snort- that girl will take the world on for me, just because I love her. I don't want her to be my protector, that's my job," He huffed as the color rose in his cheeks.
"So, your position is to keep your distance to protect her?"
"My position is to respect the line I drew in the sand so that she'll never have to need it."
Andromeda shook her head and sighed. "Oh, my dear, you're missing the whole point."
"Which is what?" Remus snapped.
"That she loves you enough to share an adventure with you. Regardless of the outcome. She wants your heart to open up and live. If that isn't the nature of love, I'm not sure what you're doing."
"I only agreed because she wouldn't have me say no," Remus exhaled.
Andromeda just smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "Then, you have your answers."
"To what?" Remus questioned.
"To everything, Remus," she responded with a nod.
Their conversations were interrupted when Teddy shouted from the pond and ran passed them. Remus turned to see Hermione standing at the door in her work clothes, holding onto the soaking child. "I caught frogs!" Teddy shouted.
Hermione laughed and tapped his nose with a finger. "I can see you also caught some water, Mr. Lupin. Let me change, and we'll go fishing."
"What are you doing home so earlier, darling?" Andromeda asked.
The younger witch glanced over at her and tilted her head. "Well, I wanted to spend some time with Teddy before tomorrow."
The full moon was tomorrow night, and Remus exhaled. He hated that their lives were ruled by the waxing and waning of the moon. Pivoting in his chair, he gazed out at the lovely land before them. It was indeed a beautiful day, soured by the concept of another transformation.
A small hand touched his shoulder. "Moony, don't. I want to, alright?" Hermione asked next to his ear.
"I know, but it's hard not to feel guilty about it."
She kissed his cheek and reached over to pat his chest over his blue jumper. "You let me do the hard work, Remus. I'll shoulder the moon while you promise to stay in good spirits."
"Yeah, dad. You're the greatest," Teddy added before hopping over to his father's lap.
"Oh, aren't you full of an invigorating draught today!" Remus declared before hugging the wet child.
"You are the greatest. Now, Lupins, give me two minutes to conjure up some clothing, and we shall venture down to the lake," Hermione announced before striding off toward the house.
"Dad, I love Hermione so much."
Remus nodded against his son and exhaled. "Me too, son, me too."
The werewolf grunted and moaned on the attic floor as his mind climbed back to alertness. His body felt weak as usual, but he shuddered at the chill in the room. The door sounded, and small bare feet appeared near his vision. "Moony, are you awake enough to take some potions?" Hermione whispered.
Remus glanced up to see the curvy witch holding onto a blanket in one hand and a box in the other. He attempted to sit up, but his body shook, and he collapsed to the wood. She sunk to her knees and wrapped the warm blanket around his torso. The witch had already given him the modesty of placing his trousers on, which made him inwardly cringe.
"Water," he croaked.
Hermione reached behind her and handed him a large glass before removing his blanket. The witch pressed her body against his and assisted in him sitting up to drink from it. It was such a difficult duty, and he never understood why she refused Harry's help a few years back.
When he drained the cup, she pressed his back to her pert chest and reached for a potion. "I never understand why you do this," he grumbled and drank the vial.
Her hands were working on his bare torso while she used his weight to help reach his chest. "I always answer the same way, Moony: I care too much about you to leave you to ruins," she sighed.
"This shouldn't be your mission, Hermione," he whispered.
"It's not a mission. It's just us," she confirmed.
His head lulled back against her shoulder as the salve started to work, making breathing all the more easier for him. "You're my blessing."
"You would do the same in a heartbeat. I'm only beating you to it," Hermione teased in a low tone.
She was quiet as her hands worked on his arm, placing the remedy she created on his flesh. Hermione about three years ago came up with a lovely alteration to a skin irritation salve that helped with his body after the transformations. At first, the act seemed more than a bit intrusive to have a witch rubbing him down monthly, but as the treatments continued, his quiet enjoyment was all that was left.
Her fingers on his skin, delicate and tender. They caressed him with soothing skill and occasionally was the star feature in some of his more illicit thoughts. The kneading, the massaging of the salve, the utter relief of what her hands gave to him. A groan left his mouth as she worked her way up to his shoulders.
"Merlin, Hermione, I'm in your debt," he groaned as her thumbs swirled against his shoulder blades.
"Oh? When are you going to stop promising me debts when I give it for no cost?" She murmured with a hint of teasing to her tone.
"Drom says nothing, not even love, is free in this world. For love is the most costly, you give everything you have for someone without requiring return," Remus said as she finished her work on his back.
"I have a counter," Hermione said as she placed the warm blanket back around him.
"Hm?"
"Love can only be free. If it costs you something, it isn't love. To give yourself willingly to love, without promise or regard is to be the freest of all."
Remus glanced over at her and smiled half-heartedly. "What would you do for love?"
"Anything, Moony. Absolutely anything," Hermione responded and tucked a loose strand of his hair. "Now, let's get you down the staircase and into bed. I have breakfast waiting when you are hungry and a chocolate bar already on your night table."
The dark feelings of watching her sit across him as a lovely guardian with wild curly hair. Hermione smiled and tucked the blanket around his chest, tugging it affectionately. This young witch has dedicated years of her life to his well being. He couldn't even understand or reason with how bloody insane that was… it was the silent moments just after the full moon when he knew just how much he loved her.