Anything recognizable is the property of J.K. Rowling. I do not make any claim to ownership, nor do I make any money from this.

Please do not read if you are not of legal age in your country. There are adult scenes, however short and to the point.


Riddikulus

Two days later found the blond man pulling on a well worn jacket and waiting for Hermione to retie her shoelace. She had insisted on applying the salve to his back every evening and he was feeling much better than he had in a long time. As they exited the house and started down the walk, Lupin felt positively cheerful, as if nothing in the whole world could go wrong. He was proved wrong not long after they reached Diagon Alley.

Pansy Parkinson had been browsing the displays outside of the apothecary when she caught sight of her former professor in the reflection of the window. She couldn't help having a jab at the tattered old man now that they were far from school. Swiftly the Slytherin stepped in his path and caught sight of the woman pressed tightly to his side, arm around his waist and her revenge was complete.

"Oh, why am I not surprised to see you slumming it with a professor, Granger."

"Pansy." Hermione greeted the simpering girl cooly.

"This answers so many questions about why you were such a know-it-all in school."

Remus' arm tightened around the young woman's shoulders as her nails dug into his hip.

"How is it having the teachers pet all to yourself, Lupin?" Parkinson looked at her former professor.

"I'm not!" Hermione started to object but Remus cut her off.

"It's very refreshing to have found a proper lady out of your classmates." He smirked at the blond before hissing dangerously. "At least she isn't a simpering lapdog who enjoys going behind everyone's backs to cry to daddy. Who is it now that Lucius is dead?"

"Why you dirty werewolf." She fumed, going beet red and stomping her foot.

"Do remember to pick your fights better dear." He stood tall and propelled a sputtering Hermione past the puggly blond and into the apothecary.

It took several deep breaths for Hermione to calm down, all the while Remus was amused and the shopkeeper looked ready to duck behind the counter. "I can't believe that ugly little good for nothing snot." The brunette balled up her fists at her sides and paced a few feet.

"Don't worry about Miss Parkinson. All she has left is her bark."

The image of Pansy Parkinson as an ugly little pug with her terrible makeup and ridiculous hair trying to bark but failing was enough to make Hermione crack a smile. "All right, I'll let it go if you'll let me buy you a new jacket." She slipped her finger through the hole worn in the shoulder.

"Deal. Let's get the ingredients first."

The shopkeeper seemed to be very nervous as Hermione approached him, despite her slight smile. Apparently he seemed to recognize who they were and was not sure how he felt to have them in his shop. Hermione snapped her fingers in front of his face impatiently.

"Hello? This is a monthly 42 galleon order, do I need to take it to another apothecary?"

"Um, no Ma'am. I'll have it delivered right away."

"Thank you. And this is to be delivered exactly every 4 weeks from here on out. If you cannot deliver it on time, I will find another shop that can."

"Very good Ma'am."

"And stop calling me Ma'am."

"Yes Ma- um, yes Miss Granger."

"That will do." She laughed at the ridiculous man and handed over the Gringotts vault information to charge the purchase.

"Did you really rob Gringotts?" He asked almost reverently, holding the bank information.

The brunette studied him for a moment. "Yes, I did."

"I saw the dragon fly away." The shop keep sounded breathless.

"I suppose you would have." Hermione spoke flatly before turning to leave.

Before the door shut behind him, Lupin heard a heartfelt "Thank you," from the man behind the counter.

He had to jog to catch up with the young woman and he caught her arm as she turned down Knockturn Alley. In the dark recesses of the shady alley she clung to him, crying into his chest again. A filthy man approached and slipped one emaciated arm around her hips.

"Does the miss need help home?" He leered hopefully.

Remus automatically tightened his grip on her and snarled at the dirty man. Instantly, he backed away, hands raised to show they were empty. "Beggin' yer pardon." He ran back down the alley and out of sight.

Lupin rubbed her back and turned, apparating them home to Grimmauld Place. Hermione didn't even make it into the library, she just sunk down in the entryway and cried. Before his body could protest, he scooped up the brunette and carried her up the stairs to her room, placing her in her bed. The young Gryffindor hiccuped and refused to release her hold on the older man.

Gently he pulled the blanket up to her shoulders. "Let me make you some tea to calm you down. I'll be right back."

"I'm sorry. I don't know why that upset me so much."

"Don't worry about it in the slightest." He pressed a kiss to her forehead and returned to the kitchen.

Hermione sat in her room, thinking over everything that had happened in the alley. Pansy had insinuated that she was sleeping with the older man, which shouldn't really bother her as she found him attractive. But the apothecary had just been too much. It reminded her of the war and how she had lost Ron so suddenly. She was sure it was how the rest of the Weasleys had felt but they had each other. She felt like she had lost her brother, but didn't even have the rest of the family for support. The Burrow hardly felt as welcoming as it once did. And she was not about to admit that she still had nightmares about being covered in her best friend's blood.