This chapter starts to get a bit more intriguing - should be good for you impatient people! :P Remember this story does not fit exactly with the books - Hermione is 17 and Lupin is 24. I know this doesn't make sense. I know. Just enjoy it please! XD

The three of them sat in the common room that evening finishing their charms homework, which consisted of the boys copying Hermione's charms homework. She then told them she needed to research something in the library, which they understandably didn't question since she 'spent most of her life there anyway' according to Ron. She made her way out of the portrait hole and headed towards the library. Before reaching it however, she took a detour to their Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. She subtly went inside and, seeing it was empty, crossed the room and made her way up the stairs to Professor Lupin's office. She knocked nervously and waited. When no response came she knocked again, a little louder. Finally, her curiosity getting the better of her, she tried the handle and was surprised to find it unlatched.

Stepping inside Hermione found the room deserted and cold, as if no one had lit a fire for a few days. The only sound was a gentle bubbling that was coming from a clear tank that stood next to a door that presumably lead to another chamber of the office. Inside the tank was a grindylow, which appeared to be asleep. The moonlight shining through the window cast just enough light to make out a desk and chair near the centre of the room. The walls were almost invisible behind the many bookcases the lined them, each one full to bursting with books, scrolls and all manner of unusual artefacts. She pulled out her wand and whispered 'Lumos', causing a small sphere of light to engulf the tip of her wand. This light allowed her to read some of the book titles, which were composed of literally hundreds of books on magical creatures. Mermaids: rulers of the Sea; Banshees, Boggarts and other Befuddling Beasts; Living with Centaurs; Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Hermione was impressed by the collection - many of these books she knew for a fact were not in the library. These were followed by many more on curses, spells and hexes, both friendly and not so friendly, including the history of them, as well as how to cast and block them. Some of the artefacts were also truly astounding. There were shrunken heads, some clockwork machines that she didn't recognise and an assortment of bones, teeth and claws all labelled like a small museum. Although she didn't look at everything in the room, she couldn't help but notice that there wasn't a single picture of Professor Lupin, or anyone that could be his family or friends. It was as if he had devoted his entire life to collecting old and rare books and relics. There was a world map on the wall that had many pins in it - places he'd visited, she assumed.

She finished her circuit and made her way over to the desk. Again, no photos. To one side was a pile of scrolls and, by checking the top one, Hermione confirmed that it was students homework. On the other side was a whole terms lesson timetable. She didn't think much of it until she noticed that some lessons were crossed out, and written next to them in looping handwriting were the words 'Set cover work'. She frowned, and scanned up to the lesson they had had with Snape that day. Sure enough that lesson was crossed out too, as if he had known he wouldn't be there. Not just a coincidence then, she thought.

Suddenly she heard footsteps coming from beyond the door leading to the classroom. Hermione hastily extinguished her wand light and hurried into the second chamber where she quickly hid behind a curtain, her heart beating fast. She heard the office door open and then close, followed by footsteps within the adjoining office. They were heading for the chamber in which she was hiding. She only then took in her surroundings for the first time, and almost swore out loud when she realised where she was - Professor Lupin's bedroom.

There was nothing she could do but remain stock still as the chamber door opened and in walked Professor Lupin, completely unaware that she was standing a few metres from him. She held her breath as he walked right past the curtain that she was standing behind on his way to the dresser and out of her line of view. She heard the dull scraping of a wooden drawer, followed by other faint noises and a few more footsteps. All she could think of was of how much trouble she would be in if she was caught.

She was startled when he reappeared on his way over to the four-poster bed. He was topless and trouser less, and Hermione was shocked at just how thin he was, as if he hadn't eaten in weeks. He also walked with a slight limp and, upon glancing over his body, Hermione found the source of this. His legs, as well as his arms and back, were almost invisible under the layers of fresh red cuts, each at least 6 inches long. Looking closer she saw faded scars beneath these, as if this were a regular occurrence. He looked as if he'd been tortured. She watched transfixed as he lifted back the cover and climbed into the bed, visibly wincing as his wounds touched the fabric. He exhaled deeply and closed his eyes, exhausted.

Hermione waited motionless until his gentle snores drifted across the room, before slipping out of the room and out of the office. She barely managed to control herself enough to walk calmly across the classroom, and back to the common room so as to not seem suspicious of running guiltily around the castle at night.

She climbed through the portrait hole, heart racing and breathing fast, and found Ron and Harry in the exact same position as when she had left. Glancing at her watch she couldn't believe that only half an hour had passed. It had felt like a lifetime. Ron frowned,
'No book?'

'Uh..' she hesitated, then cursed under her breath for forgetting she had pulled the library excuse,

'I didn't find what I wanted.' she lied.

The boys looked unconvinced but let it go. She excused herself saying she was very tired, and made her way to bed, falling asleep almost instantly.

So is Hermione starting to work it out?