By the time Hermione made it back to the library her tears were freefalling. She knew she had to clean her face up before anyone saw her. Ron was always a bit jealous, but this time he was beyond acceptable. The lithe woman walked up the stairs quietly to the restroom and went to open the door, only for it to swing open.
Her eyes caught his gaze, and his expression hardened. "What happened?" Remus asked, and Hermione wiped her face and smiled.
"Nothing, I am fine," She mumbled gently and he glowered.
"You realize that lying isn't really achievable around a werewolf?" He questioned her, and she shook her head.
"Just prattle at home, nothing to worry about," She murmured and tried another smile.
He brushed a few strands of hair from her face. "He is a twit, Hermione. You can stay here as long as you like."
She shook her head, and Hermione shivered with a wave of laughter. "Oh, no, Remus. We just had a row, nothing horrible. He is just a jealous arse."
The werewolf barked out a stream of hilarity. "Jealous? He is sorely mistaken if he thinks you or I would ever do something so foolish."
Hermione beamed, and hair waved at her agreement. "I have been with him for seven years, Remus. I am faithful and would never do something so appalling."
He moved from the bathroom and offered it to her. "Go ahead and get cleaned up, we are all down in the kitchen."
The werewolf glanced back at the closed door and shook his head. He had a feeling that when she told him that she was with Ron, it wasn't an easy route for Hermione. Remus could smell the trickling of fear left over from her argument and knew the young man was more than a little unstable. He realized maybe he wasn't just here for his son, but to help them all heal a bit as well.
Remus walked down the steps with a heaviness in his heart and with stealth, watched the Potters with his son. "Aunt Ginny, my dad is amazing, isn't he?" Teddy said with bright orange hair.
"He sure is, Teddy. Aren't you glad you are going to be able to live with him now?" She asked while waving her wand about in the kitchen.
Teddy nodded and made a sound of agreement. "Uncle Harry? Do you think Mione will stay too? That would be absolutely wicked."
Harry frowned and shook his head. "She has to go back home eventually, Teddy."
Teddy tilted his head from one side to the other in thought. "Maybe dad can have them move in, and we all could live together?"
Remus held back a chuckle and saw plenty of his late wife and him in the child. "What if I told you that Hermione and Ron have Magipox and will give them to you if they live here?" Ginny teased, and Teddy glared at her.
"Magipox isn't real," He corrected her and Remus stepped into the kitchen.
"You are correct, son." He confirmed for the boy who beamed.
"Maybe they can then?" Teddy pursued the conversation, and Remus shook his head.
"Not right now, Teddy. They have their own home to live in. Hermione is visiting, and she will come back to see you too."
The boy bobbed his head and smiled at his dad. "Okay, that will be fine."
Hermione came in just as Remus sat beside his son. She was in changed clothing; a maroon t-shirt with some tight black leggings. The werewolf tilted his head in confusion as to when the teenage girl became a lovely woman, but pushed those thoughts back and turned wholly to his son.
"Someone let this stranger into this house!" Ginny hollered with a grin and handed Hermione a wine glass.
"That is the last time I dress up for you then, Ginny. Back to my old comfort clothes!" Hermione exclaimed and sipped the glass.
"Gin is right, who is this woman? She is smiling and laughing." Harry harassed, and Hermione rolled her eyes and went over to Teddy.
"It isn't every day that I can see my favorite little Lupin," She muttered and kissed the boy's hair.
Remus shot a look at her and leered. "Can you really say he is your favorite now, Hermione?"
She giggled and bobbed her head. "Most definitely. Teddy is my favorite Lupin in the entire world."
Teddy was glowing, but he held a finger up, "I believe that my dad and I are tied."
Hermione feigned a frown and motioned disagreement. "Well, there is no use arguing with my favorite, so I will end it there."
Ginny was stirring the pots with waves of her wand and Harry put James in a transfigured child seat. "Get your Granger ballocks in here and help me drink this wine!" Ginny jested, and Hermione moved next to Ginny.
The redhead leaned toward Hermione and breathed, "You better not be toying with Remus; he might take you seriously." She hissed and narrowed her eyes spiritedly.
"Mrs. Potter, I believe it is only right to tell you that I can still hear you. Werewolves have an outstanding hearing range." Remus turned to them and was slightly pink.
Ginny glanced over and gasped lightly. "Well, uh, thank you for reminding me, Remus." She said awkwardly, and Hermione hid a giggle.
"What was Aunt Ginny saying?" Teddy asked, and Remus smiled at him.
"That Hermione needs to pick out her room, did you want to show her the one you picked for her?" He asked his son who lit up.
"Of course! Come on, Mione. I picked the best one my dad said." Teddy jumped from the chair and beckoned Hermione up the stairs.
She followed the child from the room, and Remus cleared his throat. "I am not here to take advantage of her, just so we are clear."
Ginny blushed brightly and shook her head. "I never thought that, Remus. I was only jesting."
Harry smirked over at his wife. "You really are something wicked, love. Hermione is actually laughing again, and you rain on her parade."
Ginny frowned and sighed, "You're right, I just was happy to see my friend back."
Remus shrugged his shoulders and turned from the woman. "You know, werewolves are out of season for affairs anyway." He said smartly to Harry who roared with laughter.
"Here I thought that you weren't the funny marauder."
"Sirius took all the best jokes from me, Harry." Remus purred and sipped the glass of liquor Harry handed him.
"Have you decided how you are going to handle transformations?" He questioned the werewolf.
Remus exhaled slowly and shook his head. "Not for certain, alone I assume. Probably send Teddy away for a few days and recover."
Harry sipped his glass and swayed his head with a small smirk. "I could come help you. I am an animagus now."
Remus smiled brightly and spoke. "Outstanding, Harry! But I am not about to burden my best mate's son with the same task he had. No, I will manage as I have before."
Ginny cleared her throat and gave Harry a nod. "There is always Hermione."
Remus narrowed his gaze and scrunched his nose in disgust. "I would decline her help as well, even more so. The last thing I need is a young woman helping me off the floor the day after."
Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I can at least come over and check on you after the full moons, Remus." Harry offered with his eyebrows knitted.
Hermione came in and sat down in a huff next to James. "Minie, kitty. Meow." The boy told her, and she mimicked a cat.
"You are the cutest," She said after, and he giggled as she kissed his cheek.
He reached for her hair and tugged it lightly, "love you, Minie."
"Christmas is in two weeks?" Remus asked, and Hermione turned her vision toward him.
"Oh, yes, two weeks." She said, and James tugged her hair again.
Ginny handed Hermione her glass again and ran a hand through her son's hair. "I might want you to come over and be my nanny at this rate, Mione." She stated to the other woman.
Hermione grinned and sipped her glass before speaking. "I most certainly doubt your brother would be too fond of that. He practically twisted my arm tonight about helping other people before him."
Harry glared and rolled his eyes. "He can be a real tosser, Mione. I love you both, but I think I need to box his ears. Ginny told me what you said last night and when I confronted him about it, he just told me to bugger off."
"That would be my boyfriend," Hermione grumbled and gulped a big sip of her wine. "Next thing I will find out that he really has been cheating on me," Hermione jested, but it came on suspiciously pathetic.
Teddy reappeared and hugged Hermione before sitting back down. "Do you know what?" He asked the table.
"What is it, Teddy?" Harry replied, and the boy rubbed his hands together.
"This is the best day ever," he said, and Remus leaned down and kissed his son's hair.
"It has been, that is certain."
Ginny started placing plates down on the table, and they all started to dine. "Thank you, Ginny, for making me feel welcome in my new home," Remus told her, and she grinned.
"I am glad you feel welcome, Remus. This place needed some life."
Hermione seemed sullen after their previous conversation and had fallen from the activity around her as she ate. Remus noted her actions and saw the broken woman trying to talk herself into whatever she was going over. The werewolf had little time to reflect on it because the Potters had contagious happiness and enjoyed the meal with his family.
0o0o
Remus watched Hermione tuck the boy in from outside the room. She had pulled his teddy bear out that had his dad and mom's initials over its heart and tucked it in bed with the boy.
"Mione, I am so happy," The boy murmured hugging the bear, his hair a soft pink.
"Me too, Teddy. I am so glad your dad came back." She leaned over to the boy and whispered. "I wished for him too," she admitted, and the boy kissed her cheek.
"Can we decorate the house tomorrow?" He asked her as she pulled away.
"Maybe, depends on your dad. He is the man of the house," She professed, and he nodded.
"Alright, Mione. Good night, I love you."
She smiled and blew him a kiss, "Sweet dreams, Teddy. I love you too."
The witch turned and saw the werewolf standing there. Her cheeks grew bright, and she tried her best to smile as she squeezed by him. She went to her bedroom, which was down past the bathroom, and pulled out some pajamas for the night. They were fuzzy black pants and a long sleeve shirt which both kept her warm in the chilled mornings.
Slipping on a pair of slippers, she snuck past the little boy's room and down the stairs to the library. Hermione was thrilled that Edward Remus Lupin was a happy child. His grandmother did very well with him, but she knew what it was like to miss your parents. While in thought she went over the bookcases and gazed at the different volumes of books.
The witch had settled on a history of Transfiguration and sat down on the couch which was so cozy. Hermione would admit that this was her favorite spot in the house. She was enjoying the fireplace crackling in the room as she read when the door creaked.
"How did I know I was going to find you in here?" Remus asked as she glanced over at him.
The young woman smirked and held her book up, "We have the same compulsion?" She asked, and he nodded.
He walked the room, and her eyes followed him as he gazed at the books. "This has always been a substantial library. I never knew what book I was going to pick up when the Order was here."
"Remus, I know it seems like we rushed you into things, but are you happy?" She inquired, and he turned to her.
"Of course, I am, Hermione. Today went better far more than I thought was possible. I actually was scared that my son would see me and cringe at the sight." The werewolf admitted, and she shook her head with pursed lips.
"Still same old Remus Lupin. So worried that he is a burden he forgets the most important thing, you are worthy."
He took a book from one of the shelves and strolled over to the couch. Hermione resituated to give him room, and he sat down next to her. Hermione watched the man digest what she had said and frowned over at her.
"How long were you waiting to tell me that today?" He questioned with a small smile on his lips.
"All day long," she confessed with pursed lips, and they both laughed.
"You are still very much the same, Hermione."
"Oh, yes, aside from the concaved drive to better my life." She snorted and lounged on the couch.
His eyes grew sharp, and he shook his head. "Why are you doing this to yourself? You were so courageous and fierce. I remember being envious of Harry and Ron when I was at Hogwarts that year because you were such a loyal friend. You were the glue for them and clever glue at that. You only became that much more of a stronger woman."
Hermione sighed and placed her book down. "Because it is easier just to be the girlfriend or the bookstore owner or the outsider than it is to fight anymore. Ron and I fight so much. He wants children and marriage, and I just want to be me."
Remus chuckled and patted her shoulder. "You want those things, just not like this?"
The young woman nodded and covered her face. "I just want them to feel right, Remus. Nothing feels right. What is wrong with me?"
He watched curiously as the woman stifled a sob and could smell her despair. It was a bizarre occurrence for him to witness someone who felt parallel to how he used to feel. Pulling her into an embrace, she leaned into him and cried softly for a few moments.
"There isn't anything wrong with you, Hermione. Do you think that maybe you just don't want to have children right now? It isn't as if you are going to turn into an old woman tomorrow. You have time to decide for yourself, and no one should be telling you to do anything you don't want to do. Look at me. I am a thirty-six-year-old werewolf with a seven-year-old son who I is petrified to be a father too, but I am going to try my best because I want to be there for him."
Hermione looked up at him through tear spattered eyes, and he ran a thumb over her cheek. "I just feel like I am waiting for something, Remus," She murmured, and he smiled.
"It is called being too clever for your own benefit. You will know when it is time. Your boyfriend needs to respect that, not condemn it." He released her, and she straightened herself.
"You are right, and if he cannot then, I will tell him to sod off." She said pointedly, and Remus grinned.
"There she is," He declared, and she sighed.
"You are really inspiring to talk to, Remus. There is something so comforting about you."
He squeezed her hand and spoke sweetly. "We are on the same side of a brilliant coin, Hermione. It is understanding that makes life easier to cope with."
She smiled and started reading her book. Hermione was curled up on one side of the couch, and Remus sat where he could look up at her without her suspecting anything. The woman in front of him was so much different than he imagined her to be in the future. She was soulful and a bit broody, which the werewolf could only surmise to be because she was wasting her potential. He had many theories as to why, but it all came down to her life and who she thought she was. Hermione Granger thought she was broken.
