Good chapter here

Please review. I do appreciate it.

--Delilah

Chapter 6 – Friendship

"GEORGE!" Hermione gasped and immediately embraced him.

"How've you been Hermione?"

"Oh. Fine."

"Yes I can see that. You look great." His eyes roamed over her thin hair and her sunken in face and the cheekbones that protruded out of her young skin.

"Well I haven't been living at Hogwarts you know. I've been living abroad, in forests. It's a different environment. I imagine I'm still adjusting."

Lupin reached out to shake George's hand, but George didn't take it.

"Remus." He said coldly.

Hermione looked shocked. She looked questioningly from George to Lupin. George continued to look at Lupin distastefully before turning back to Hermione.

"Anyway Hermione, I just came to check up on you. You know the full moon is coming and all that-"

Of course! That's why Professor Lupin's been looking more tired than usual recently.

Oh dear. What an ordeal that's going to be for him…

I wish there was something I could do for him.

"And I just thought you'd like a warm bed at the Burrow for a change instead of you know, hiding from a beas-"

"George!" she said sharply, "what's the matter with you?"

"I'm sorry. Can I come in for a bit? I'm dead tired."

"Well of course." Hermione was very uneasy. This wasn't like George at all.

"I'm sorry Lupin, I've just been over stressed at the ministry recently and I'm afraid I took it out on you. Forgive me." He stuck out his hand.

Lupin shook it but furrowed his brow.

"Since when have you been working at the ministry?"

George was silent, but his face broke into a smile after a minute or two.

"KIDDING Professor! Kidding! You know me. Always joking."

"Ah right," said Lupin with a hearty smile that Hermione saw through at once. He was just as uneasy as she was.

"So why don't you tell me about what you guys have done so far," George said to Hermione, "you know I regret not coming with you in the first place. I should have. I shouldn't have left you." He took her hand is his and kissed it softly.

"George," Hermione's voice was higher than usual, "I think maybe you'd better lay down."

"Oh I feel fine sweetheart."

Lupin just watched. He felt anger bubbling in his chest. But he tried to control it and focus on what was more important. Something was definitely wrong with George.

"Well I think I'm going to go into the forest and maybe-"

"Oh don't go dear. I'm sure if you need anything Professor Lupin will be more than happy to help you out. After all," he leaned in closer so their faces were inches apart, "we have so much to catch up on."

Hermione tensed.

Lupin grabbed Hermione's arm somewhat roughly wrenched her hand away from George.

"Actually George I think we do need to go into the forest to fetch some things for our dinner tonight. Besides we don't want to keep you from anything you might need to do-" the hint was in his voice, but George didn't seem to take it.

"Oh. Well I was going to ask you two a teensy favor. Might I stay here for a few nights or so? You wouldn't mind would you? It would give us a chance to catch up anyway."

Lupin's grip on Hermione's arm tightened.

"Of course not George. Well then we're definitely going to be needing a few more things for dinner so um… we'll see you in a bit then." She edged closer to the door with every word.

"I don't want to inconvenience you two. So off into the woods you go. But remember," he winked at Hermione and patted a place next to him on the grass, "I'll be here waiting for you when you come back."

"Great," she gave him false grin.

Without speaking Lupin pulled her out the door.

They walked in silence until they were deep into the forest, Lupin was still holding on to her arm. It was only when she squirmed and said "Professor let me go." That they stopped and he whirled her around to face him. She was taken aback by his strength.

"Who are you?" he snarled.

"Professor what are you talking about…I think the question is more who is back in our house?"

"Why would you offer to let him stay?"

"Because-"

"Do you know how dangerous this could be?"

"Yes but-"

"But what?" his voice was rising in anger.

They were staring at one another.

"He's our friend and something is OBVIOUSLY wrong with him."

Their faces were getting steadily closer as their voices continued to rise.

"How do you know he's our friend?"

"It's George! Only possessed or something. We have to help him we can't just-"

"Listen Hermione, we need to help ourselves before we begin helping anyone else."

"But he's our friend!"

"It don't care."

"Sirius would care!"

Her chest was heaving, but she stood firm and didn't drop her gaze or cower under Lupin's ferocious eyes .

The only sound was wind whistling. When Lupin spoke, ever syllable shook with anger.

"Don't you talk about Sirius like you knew him!"

"I know he'd die trying to help a friend!"

Twilight was sinking slowly through the leaves of the forest, but even in the dimming light they could see the rage in each other's eyes as they glared at each other.

"Hermione's you're absolutely the most stubborn witch I have ever met."

"But I'm right."

"No. We're leaving. Come one we're Apparating."

"NO WE'RE NOT!"

"YES WE ARE!"

"NO! I'm NOT leaving him!"

"You're willing to risk our entire mission for him!"

"Some things are worth risking everything for!"

"He's worth it?"

"Friendship is."

"You don't know who he is!"

"He's GEORGE! He's my friend and I'm not leaving him."

He whipped out his wand.

"We're leaving now, or I'll stun you and take you with me."

She whipped out her wand.

"Try it."

They stared at each other, wands pointing at each other and the fire of anger still blazing behind both of their eyes.

"Hermione you are naïve," he hissed slowly putting emphasis on each word.

Hermione hated him then.

"Naïve? NAÏVE!" she was almost hysterical, "I've been through more than witches and wizards twice my age-"

"And bully for you. This is the real world Hermione. You can't memorize the answers for it."

Anger flooded her entire body.

"I've BEEN in the real world Professor! Don't you think Voldemort is the real world! I've seen more than people twice, or in your case, three times my age have seen."

She touched a nerve.

He stepped toward her slowly, his anger was tangible.

She wanted to shiver in fear, but she stood her ground.

"Fine."

He turned away from her and began walking away.

"Where're you going?"

He didn't respond.

"What-?"

"Since you're so experienced and so clever, carry on."

He vanished.

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How could he leave like that!! More coming more coming not to worry. Quite a row there eh?

I'm on such a roll writing this right now. But I have to go eat dinner and all that. But maybe I'll have chapter 7 up tonight. Because like I said before this part all kind of runs together.

Please review!

--Delilah