What Happens Next- Part 4
Hermione finished unpacking the many boxes in her room in only a few hours. By that time it was almost one o'clock, and she decided to go get lunch. When she reached the bottom floor she noticed that the door to Remus' office was closed, and she could hear him muttering something to himself. He's working. Well, this is my home now, let's see if I can make my own lunch.
In the kitchen she thought for a few seconds and decided that the refrigerator was the best place to look for lunch type foods. She pulled open the door, and the contents made her laugh: there was a bottle of ketchup on the shelf in the door, and a lone gallon jug of V8 Juice inside. That was helpful. She checked a small closet that she supposed was a pantry, and all that turned up was a Twinkie that looked to be older than her, and some dried herbs.
Hungry, she ventured to the door of Remus' office. Knocking, she called, "Remus, I don't suppose you have food somewhere do you?"
"That's what I forgot! I've been out of the house so much this week I haven't had time to fix anything, and if there isn't anything to heat up, or it's not served to him, Sirius eats out. He changes his looks so that none of the muggles in the village recognize him. It lasts for 24 hours, but he'd rather look like a young blond punk for a day than cook himself." The last bit was said with some sarcasm. Then he smiled. "Feel like a trip to the grocery?"
They climbed into Remus' rather old blue Citroen and talked as he drove to the muggle village. He told her what had happened in the wizarding world since she'd left Hogwarts less than two weeks ago. It seemed like ages longer than that to Hermione though.
"That git Fudge is still saying this isn't happening. He doesn't want to believe it. The night," he paused. "The night your parents died there were two other attacks. They were on Aurors who are living as muggles too. They're too cowardly to try anything on wizards with wands yet. Nothing has happened since then, but I think Voldemort wants everyone to understand he's back. The trouble is, the bloody ministry is screwing it up. Fudge keeps telling everyone who will listen that it's just former Death Eaters making nuisances of themselves.
"Right now it's just the old crowd on our own. The Circle of Hestia against Voldemort and without the support of the Ministry," Remus paused at the questioning look on Hermione's face. "Hestia is the Goddess of the hearth, she's also known as Guardian of the home. It's what we named ourselves, we thought it fit.
"Most of them were my age now, when we fought the last time. They're in their fifties now. Arabella Figg is seventy. It'll be different now. People like Sirius and I are the best in the group, and there are so many who went through training with us who aren't here anymore." Remus got a faraway look in his eye, and Hermione guessed that he was thinking about James.
She gave him a few minutes to be lost in his thoughts before she asked a question. "What exactly do you do?" She was thinking about something, but she didn't want to tell him yet.
"James, and Sirius, and I were all in an Auror group together. We did different things to capture Death Eaters. I guess that's what Sirius and I will be doing again. We do research type work once in a while, and I guess now it'll be our responsibility to train new recruits. Dumbledore said that there were several seventh years who want to join."
"Hmmm..." was Hermione's only reply. They road in silence the rest of the way, and when they reached the grocery Hermione remained silent, pensive.(Sorry to people who want to know what she's thinking, that's the surprise) She offered the occasional "yeah," or "okay," when Remus asked her about some food item or another, but she didn't really pay attention.
They were about half-way home when Hermione finally spoke. "I want to help."
It took Remus several seconds to comprehend what she was saying. "I can't let you do that. I'm supposed to keep you safe."
"I don't want to fight Remus. I know I can't do that. I don't have the skill, but I have to do something. He killed my parents. I can research, I can do paperwork, just tell me what I can do." I need to do something. I don't care if it's dangerous. What do I have to lose?
Remus sighed. "You sound like Lily and Diane when they were pregnant. They were Aurors before, but we made them stop because it was too dangerous, but they insisted on doing something." I don't want you to end up like they did.
Remus paused for a second and he seemed to be thinking. Hermione decided to take that as a good sign. She wondered who Diane was, but decided to let that go. Finally he spoke, although he spoke quietly enough that he could have been talking to himself, "Before Lily died, they were working on a project together. Harry and Neville were both so small they couldn't leave them to fight with us." He took a deep breath, "They were making a manual of all the dark creatures Voldemort uses, classifying them and finding all the ways to kill them. I still have all of it. If you want to work on that, I won't stop you. Hestia might need it in the coming months." He seemed chagrined at the last comment.
A/N-I'm not totally sure where this is going, I'm pretty much just along for the ride. Diane is supposed to be Neville's mother. It has to do with my other fanfic Not a World For a Child. Did they ever name his mother? I was thinking it was Anne, but I couldn't find it in the book. Thanks for reading, please review, and thanks to everyone who reviewed the previous parts.