Chapter 4: A Secret Engagement

"I think this is good." Hermione gazed down at the timeline she'd just drawn on a length of parchment.

"Let me see that," said Ginny. "So, it looks like Remus proposed to you two weeks ago. But you've been already seeing each other secretly for…" – she squinted – "five months."

"How're you going to prove that?" Ron asked, looking nonplussed, gesturing towards the timeline. "The secret relationship bit."

"The beauty of it being a secret relationship is there wouldn't be any proof," Harry said. "It'd just be Hermione and Remus' word against the Ministry's suspicions."

"So when will you two tell everyone about the engagement?" asked Ron. "Or are you going to keep it secret?"

"No, we can't keep it a secret," said Hermione. "Remus is going to move in with me so that it looks like we've decided to live together now we're engaged. So we'll have to tell everyone about the engagement, now that we're serious."

"Who else knows about this plan?" Harry asked.

"Just you three, and Remus. The others would probably try and stop me," Hermione admitted, "so I'll have to pretend it's real to them."

"But – are you sure we shouldn't be trying to stop you?" Ginny asked, quietly. "I mean, are you absolutely sure about this?"

"We don't know what the Ministry'll do to the werewolves they lock up," Hermione said, feeling a little vexed. "It could be nothing. Maybe they'll just break their wands in two and just let them…just make them sit in a camp. But it could be worse. The Ministry – Umbridge and Rand – there are those who don't see werewolves as humans, even. And if they don't see that, then they wouldn't have a problem torturing them, or even killing them. And Remus – not only did he associate with Dumbledore, he lived with Greyback's pack. We don't know what they'll do to him. Like I said, maybe nothing…but I'm not willing to take that risk. I just don't think I could stand by and do nothing. Not when I can at least try."


Hermione arrived back at her flat to find Remus already inside, which meant he had used the spare key she'd given him. The wizard was sitting at the dining table looking lost in thought, his battered old trunk on the floor beside him.

"Hi, Remus," she said. She felt a fleeting, unexpected sensation of shyness, somehow, seeing him like this in her flat. He'd only come over once or twice before. She usually saw her ex-Professor only when they had group dinners with the Weasleys at the Burrow, or with the Order, at Grimmauld Place. It was strange spending so much time alone with him. You'd better get used to it, said a small, sardonic voice in her head.

"Oh, hello," he said, breaking out of his reverie and rising at once from his seat. "I've brought my things. Where would you like me to put them?"

"Oh good," she said. "Did you bring some of your books, and old photographs, things like that?"

Remus nodded. They proceeded, speaking when needed, to set up the flat together. Hermione expanded her dresser's drawer space and shifted her clothes to one side, did the same with her closet and the potions cabinet. They had decided not to use Grimmauld Place because some of the paintings couldn't be trusted not to blab.

"One more thing," said Hermione, dusting her hands off. Remus' trunk was empty by now, and they'd just finished slotting all his books in beside hers on the shelf. "You should get me a ring." She purposefully gave him an overly expectant look, and he laughed. She continued, "Any old thing will do, just so it looks like we're really engaged."

Remus said nothing in return, but looked thoughtful. Later that evening, as Hermione was poring over the evening paper in the living room, Remus sat down beside her on the sofa. She turned to him questioningly and stopped short when she saw what he was holding out: a small square box.

"That was fast," she began, but her smile faded when Remus opened it to reveal a tremendously beautiful ring, set with a diamond-like stone that shone with subtle lights, as if it were a pensieve set small. "I…what?"

"It was my mother's," Remus said, quietly. "My father gave it to me when she passed."

Hermione bit her tongue, hard. Something ached a little in her heart. "Remus, this isn't how you planned on giving it away."

Remus shook his head, already taking the ring out of the box. "I'll start by saying I'm very grateful to you for doing this. But knowing you, Hermione, I should also say this…that it adds a layer of realism to our engagement." He gave her a small smile.

She found herself beaming at him. "If you're sure, then." She would be returning it in any case, she thought. When Remus gave her a decisive nod, she held out her hand. Remus' touch was warm and firm on her skin as he held her finger steady and slid the ring on. Hermione was surprised to feel a warm tingle suffuse her cheeks as he did so. It was always nice, she reasoned, having a man slide a beautiful ring onto your finger.

Remus leaned in and gave her a chaste peck on the cheek. In that moment her nostrils filled with a pleasant soapy scent, and the tingles just beneath her skin intensified, a thrill running down her spine. It was all rather unexpectedly romantic. She found she couldn't stop smiling at Remus.

"Thanks for making our sham engagement so lovely."

He looked so pleased at her enjoyment that Hermione laughed and gave him an affectionate hug.

"Thank you, again," Remus said, seriously, patting her on the back as they parted. "For doing this."

She shook her head. "How could I not?"


Now that they had their story straight, it was time to make the reveal to the Weasleys. Hermione was not looking forward to the announcement.

Everyone was sitting down at the dinner table, so it was now or in the middle of the meal, when someone was liable to choke on their food. Wincing, Hermione stood up, gingerly, and cleared her throat nervously. She looked at Harry and Ginny, who both gave her small smiles of encouragement. It was ridiculous, she thought, how nervous she was. She wondered whether it would be more or less nerve-wracking if she actually had had a secret relationship with Remus.

To her surprise, she felt her hand being squeezed, and looked down to find Remus' light eyes on her. He stood, leaning in, and said, in a low voice, "Hermione, it's not too late…"

Stiffening her resolve, Hermione shook her head, nerves fading. This was her idea. She was doing this for Remus.

Remus drew his hand away, but Hermione thought she saw Molly's eyes catch the movement. Blushing, Hermione pressed on. "Hi. I've got an announcement to make before we start dinner. It…it might be a bit surprising, but I hope you'll be pleased, too."

They were looking expectantly at her. She looked around at all of them: Arthur and Molly, Bill and Fleur, Percy, George, Harry, Ginny, and Ron. "We're engaged," she said, before she could think about it any longer. She clasped Remus' hand in hers and Molly and Fleur gave identical gasps. Arthur looked agog.

"Ees zees true?" cried Fleur, at the same time George exclaimed, "What?!" Molly stood abruptly, her mouth open but no words coming out.

"Yes, yes," Hermione said, putting an arm around Remus' waist to draw him closer.

"Congratulations!" said Ron, before unhelpfully adding, "I had no idea! Ow!" It looked as if Harry had stood on his foot. In all the confusion, no one else noticed.

"Congratulations!" added Ginny. "That's…I mean, when did you two even…" She was much better at acting than her brother was.

"Yes, when?" Molly demanded, having recovered her ability to speak. "Hermione, Remus, how could you two? When did this––" she flapped her hands at the two of them "––when did this happen? Why didn't you tell us?"

"We weren't sure you'd approve," Remus said, finally taking a hint and putting a warm, heavy arm around Hermione's shoulders.

But Arthur was giving them a sharp look. "When did this happen, Remus?" Unspoken, he was asking: since the Act was passed?

"A few weeks ago," Hermione said, quickly, when she caught the expression on Remus' face – a strange mixture of guilt and shame and something else. She was afraid he'd go back on the plan. "Now that Act's been passed, we'll have to get married much more quickly than we'd planned."

They eventually got around to eating, though the meal was punctuated with questions directed at Hermione or Remus or both of them. After the meal, as they stood, Arthur said, "Remus, Hermione, can I have a word?"

They went into the kitchen, which was empty except for Molly, who stopped the dishwashing spell when they entered.

"Forgive me if I'm being extremely rude," Arthur said, heavily, "but I just wanted to ask: is this marriage to protect Remus from the Ministry?"

For a moment, Hermione wanted to say yes. Perhaps she could say yes. There was a possibility Arthur and Molly would understand––

"Because we don't know yet what the Ministry is planning for the internment facilities," said Arthur. "And there are other ways…Remus could lie low for a while––"

No one knew whether it would just be for a while. She wasn't willing to run the risk. "Yes, we're really engaged," Hermione said, the resolve in her voice startling herself.

Arthur looked at Remus.

"I…" Remus looked at Hermione. "Yes, Arthur. We are." But he looked miserable saying it.

"We weren't sure you'd approve," Hermione said, echoing Remus' words earlier at the table. "But…I love him," she lied.

"Then congratulations," said Molly. But Arthur only nodded, and Hermione had a feeling the conversation wasn't over.


"There are other ways," Remus said, as soon as they had gotten back to Hermione's – now their – flat. He was speaking quickly, his voice intense. "Of course there are other ways. I could lie low for a few months, see how it turns out."

"No, you couldn't," Hermione said, frustrated, putting her purse down on the dining table. "We've been over this, Remus! The Ministry has been all over the country since after the War, and with Kingsley still gone and Umbridge and Rand in charge, we have no idea what they're capable of. They'll take everyone's fear and use it as an excuse to do awful things."

"There are other ways," Remus repeated, mulishly, not looking at her. He waved his wand, conjuring a bed beside the sofa. Hermione felt she'd never seen this side of him before, angry and stubborn and miserable. She wished they could go back to the evening he'd given her the ring.

"Remus, we've been through this," she said, finally. "If you…if we can find a better way, I promise, I promise we'll do that instead. Until then, please."

Later, alone in her bedroom, she thought how she'd never noticed how intimidatingly blue Remus Lupin's eyes could look, and how there was so much about the man in her living room she had yet to learn. She thought about the misery and guilt on his face, and for the first time, wondered whether her idea was a good one after all.