A.N.: I know, I know. I'm a totally awful person. RL has been total hell. I had to go up north to visit my in-laws for Christmas (and we all know how in laws are), and then as soon as I got back I had to register for classes, because I'm FINALLY going back to school. And everyone in the financial aid department is apparently stupid. So I've been under quite a bit of stress, and that is why this has taken so long. The next chapter I already pretty much have planned out, and there will be much Hermione/Remus action. Depending on this week at school, it shouldn't take toooo long for me to post the next chapter.

Thanks for your reviews guys. You really are the best.

Chapter 9

Hermione came through the floo into the Burrow, Remus and Sirius right behind her. They had decided to get there last so they would only have to tell the story once. They cold hear all the voices chattering away in the kitchen and Hermione felt her heart speed up a little. She looked behind her to see Sirius give her a rather large grin. She could tell he was loving the dramatics of his return, even if he was a little incensed at having missed another year of Harry's life.

Remus made sure that he was in front of Sirius just in case anyone thought he might be an imposter. He followed Hermione through to the kitchen and saw everyone sitting around the large table, and some hanging around the edges of the room. Molly was running around serving tea and coffee, and there were several large plates of various sweets and snacks sitting on the table.

Hermione heard a gasp and then everyone stopped talking and turned to look at them. She could tell that everyone had spotted Sirius with them. Remus started talking immediately.

"This is the real Sirius, we rescued him from the veil with a little help," Remus said, looking at the twins and Charlie sitting at the table. Professor McGonagall looked up from her place at the table next to Moody with Arthur at his other side.

Complete silence met Remus's declaration. The twins were grinning and Bill was gaping with his mouth open. Ginny was no where to be seen, but Hermione had a feeling she was standing in a stairway somewhere with a pair of extendable ears.

Kingsley and Tonks were both silent since they had already known that Sirius was back and had even been to see him since he'd gotten up.

Suddenly there were voices where there had been none as everyone tried to speak at once. Hermione glanced at Remus beside her and he gave her a small wink that went unnoticed by everyone but her. Hermione moved out of the way so that everyone could see Sirius. She had a feeling that everyone would be asking her and Remus questions rather soon.

"It was you that broke into the Ministry!" Moody said in his booming voice.

Everyone quieted down after that and looked at her and Remus.

Hermione nodded. "Yes that was us. We had to get to the veil. I didn't think they'd let us in."

"Why doesn't everyone calm down and we'll relate to you what we found and how we got Sirius out?" Remus asked.

Hermione was ushered to a empty place next to Ron and across the table from Remus where the Weasley twins had gotten up so he could sit down with Sirius.

"Where did you find it?" Ron asked, knowing full well she'd probably found it in a book.

"I just came across it," Hermione said. She looked over at Remus and she could tell that he didn't like her sitting next to Ron. Hermione wanted to roll her eyes, but she didn't. She'd spent last night researching werewolf mating habits, and she knew he couldn't help it. His wolf wanted to claim her, and until he did he'd wouldn't like other males even being around her, let alone one he knew had romantic feelings towards her.

There was nothing Hermione could do at the moment though, so she launched into her story about how she'd found everything about the veil right there in the Black family library. She got to the part where Remus had went with her to find Ariel when everyone started asking questions about the vampire and how they knew she could be trusted.

Charlie cut it, "They know because she gave a blood oath that she would not harm anyone under their roof for as long as she lived."

Everyone went silent. Charlie raised an eyebrow.

Hermione realized that Charlie seemed to have developed a healthy respect for Ariel in the time that he'd known her, especially compared to the contempt he'd felt for her at the beginning. Hermione remembered his shielding of her when she was weak when Kingsley had pulled his wand on her.

Even Moody seemed to accept that answer. Hermione had a feeling that it was kind of like an Unbreakable Vow, but decided she would have to look it up later. If she could ever find the time. She had Remus to deal with, horcruxes to research, and Harry to rescue from Privet Drive.

Ron put his arm on the back of Hermione's chair and Remus barely held the growl back. He wanted to rip the redhead's arm from his body so he would never be able to put it next to his mate again. Only Sirius's warning squeeze on his arm stopped him.

Hermione's eyes widened as she took in Remus's face. She realized that Ron had put his arm on the back of her chair and she felt herself blush. She mouthed and apology to Remus and scooted forward in her chair. She didn't want to make a scene, since at the end of 6th year she would have been ecstatic to have him showing her any attention. She realized quickly that she much preferred Remus's older, lined face, to the goofy smile of Ron's.

Remus nodded his head to her slightly and took up the story where she left off, going into their encounter with Ariel, taking her to Grimmauld, her swearing the oath and how they got into the Ministry.

Hermione listened the strong cadence of Remus's voice and felt herself get lost in the rhythm of his speech. She couldn't help but keep her eyes glued to him, so she missed the knowing looks that passed between the twins and Charlie.

Remus finished his story, feeling Hermione's eyes on him the whole time he was talking. It went a long way to soothing the wolf, knowing he had her complete attention and that she wasn't giving any to Ron. Remus knew as soon as the meeting was over he would have to leave so Hermione could talk to Ron in peace. He didn't know what Hermione was going to tell him, but he knew he wouldn't be able to be near. It was best if he left as soon as the meeting was over.

Everyone started talking, wondering about how having a vampire on their side could do for them.

"When are we getting Harry?" Sirius asked loudly.

"We have a few plans," Moody said. "Although Mundungus's sounds like the best. We'll use Polyjuice potion and have identical Potters, all going to different places."

Hermione nodded. That did sound like a good plan.

"We need volunteers to be Harry," Moody said. "And volunteers to be protectors."

"I'll go as a Harry," Hermione spoke up immediately.

"Me too," the twins said together.

"And me," Ron said.

"I'll go," Remus said immediately.

"Me too," Sirius said.

"No," Moody said immediately. "We can't have them knowing you're back yet, Black. Right now we have a small surprise."

Sirius's face got a little red before Hermione cut in.

"Sirius, if something happened to you, just when Harry got you back, he would never forgive himself. He already has enough on his shoulders right now. Be here waiting for him when he gets back."

Sirius still looked like he wanted to argue but Remus put a hand on his arm. "I'm going. I'll make sure he's safe."

Moody nodded. Kingsley, Tonks and Bill all said they would go as well.

Remus looked across the table at Hermione. He didn't want her going, but he knew that there was no way that he could stop her if she had her mind set to it. He would try and be the one that was with her when they left. Then he could protect her.

Remus tried to keep his mind on the meeting, but he couldn't focus. They would be getting Harry in a few weeks, and soon his transformation would be here. He knew that the days before his transformation, he would have to stay away from Hermione if he hadn't claimed her by then. The wolf would be dangerous, trying to get close to his mate.

Finally the meeting broke up and everyone started talking in little groups.

Ron pulled Hermione off to the side.

"Now that you're done with all that you can come to the Burrow," Ron said with a big grin on his face.

Hermione scowled at him and pulled him farther into the corner so no one can hear. "I'm still looking for the stuff on the…" she looked around, and didn't see anyone but she didn't want to push it, "you know what. If I can find even one small thing, then it will help. Right now, I'm where I need to be Ronald. It's where I can be the most help."

Ron's face formed into a scowl. "You don't really want to be at nasty old Grimmauld with them do you?"

Hermione's scowl deepened. "Yes Ronald, I do. Now if you'll excuse me." Hermione stalked away from him, towards the floo. She had to get out of there away from him. She was angry, and she felt a little sorry for Ron. She didn't really have those kind of feelings for him anymore. He'd taken to long to act, and now Hermione had finally moved on. To someone that respected her for who she was, and genuinely appreciated her.

Hermione looked across the room where Sirius and Remus were talking to Arthur. She motioned her head towards the floo to tell Remus she was leaving. He nodded slightly to her and watched her leave through the fireplace.

Remus watched her go and politely broke off the conversation with Arthur so he could follow her. He had a feeling that Ron had upset her somehow. He was sure Sirius wouldn't get into to much trouble if he left him there alone. His mate was distressed. There was nothing he could do but follow.

Remus went through the floo to find Hermione in the kitchen making tea.

"What did he say to you?" Remus asked immediately.

Hermione turned to him with a smile on her face. She immediately went over to him and cuddled into his chest. Remus enveloped her in his arms, and Hermione felt safe and secure right where she was. She didn't want to move.

"He just tried to tell me that I had to stay there at the Burrow with him now that I've brought Sirius back."

Remus stiffened. He didn't want her near him, but if that was what she wanted…

"Don't even think of it Remus," Hermione said, looking up at him. "I want to be here with you."

Remus breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn't stop himself from leaning down to capture her lips with his. Her lips were soft and she was a little timid. His tongue begged entrance into her mouth and she let him in. He explored her mouth slowly, feeling every part of her mouth. The strawberry scent of her shampoo washed over him. His hands tangled in her hair, and her hands clenched parts of his robes. Remus let one of his hands slide down to her lower back. He pulled her against him.

Hermione gasped as she felt the unmistakable sign of his arousal against her stomach. She couldn't stop the instinctive reaction to buck against it.

It was Remus's turn to gasp. He pulled away from Hermione slightly and tried to catch his breath. He set his forehead against hers and let his fingers travel through her bushy curls. They were incredibly soft despite the bushiness of it. He took a deep breath in through his nose and realized that was a bad idea. He could smell the unmistakable scent of Hermione's arousal.

He took a step away from her. Hermione looked at him with a questioning look on her face, with a hint of hurt.

"I have stop now," Remus said. "Or I won't be able to."

Hermione's eyes widened for a second before she nodded. She wasn't quite ready for him to claim her, but she knew that eventually he would have to.

"We'll have to eventually," Hermione said slowly.

Remus held up a hand. "Not today." Not ever if he could help it. He didn't want to tie her to him, but he wasn't sure if he could stop himself anymore.

Hermione sat in the library with a book spread across her lap when Sirius and Remus entered. Both were clutching glasses of amber liquid that Hermione was sure was fyrewhiskey. She merely raised an eyebrow at both of them before turning back to the book, but she couldn't stop the smile from crossing her face as she looked down at the pages before her. It was a dark magic book that she'd found on one of the top shelves.

Sirius gave her a wary eye. "What are you reading, Granger?"

Hermione sighed and lifted the book up so they could see the title on the front of it.

Remus gave a small gasp. "That's really dark magic, Hermione."

Hermione turned to him, and gave him a look she was sure told him everything he needed to know, before she turned back to reading.

Remus sighed. She couldn't say anything again. He wished that he could help her. He'd done quite a bit of reading in his time, and he knew quite a bit about dark magic. He knew that whatever she was doing was incredibly important, he just wished, for probably the thousandth time, that he could help her.

Sirius leaned forward. "There's nothing you can tell us Hermione?"

Hermione looked up from her book and sighed. "No, believe me it would be nice to have a fresh set of eyes, but there's nothing I can tell you without betraying Harry's trust. We're getting Harry in two weeks so hopefully you can help then."

Sirius nodded. "Remus tells me you sent your parents away."

Hermione looked at Remus for a minute. He looked a little sheepish, like he wasn't sure if he was suppose to share the information. "They think their names are Wendell and Monica Wilkins. They don't remember they have a daughter, and their life's ambition is to move to Australia."

Sirius sat back in in his chair with shocked look on his face. Hermione could tell that he didn't think she had it in her to do something to that extreme.

Hermione sat forward in her chair, looking straight into Sirius's grey eyes. His black shaggy hair was artfully messy, and he looked older than his years, but his eyes told the age he was inside. "I've been apart of this war since I was twelve, since I became friends with Harry. I'm not going to balk at something now. I've been with him since the beginning and I'll be with until the end. I'll tell you what we're doing, if and only if, Harry says it's okay. So stop asking and stop wondering what I'm reading. You'll never figure it out, so give up."

Hermione picked her book up and walked back out of the library.

Remus couldn't help but smile at Sirius, and be extremely proud of his chosen mate. Even if he knew he couldn't have her.