So I read your reviews and love them all! Keep them coming, I am like an addict to your fabulous reviews!
BUT NOBODY MENTIONED MY AUSSIE REFERENCE!
All the sads guys n girls! I worked so hard to find a way to add some Aussie flair into this story.
(Chapter 8 - if you were wondering!)
So now aside from my slight disappointment in these small details here is chapter 10.
(If you are lucky I may post another before this day ends. Maybe.)
BIGGEST THANKS TO MY BETA BABE!
(She got the reference straight away!)

Much Love,

Natstar
XOXO
P.S. There may or may not be a test at the end of the next chapter for what I put in there...
P.P.S. IF someone happens to review and mention the above I will 100% post next chapter as soon as I see the review and there will be no test.
P.P.P.S. Jokes - there will be no test.

SHATTER ME

Chapter 10

Sirius was surprised to find Hermione already downstairs curled up in one of the high winged chairs in the library sipping her coffee as she was reading her potions textbook taking notes. She didn't seem to notice him as he moved to the door leading to the kitchen. Remus was sitting reading the daily prophet finishing his own breakfast, looked up as he entered and grinned.

"Hermione will be disappointed that she can't return the favour on the usual morning wakeup call." Remus mused as Sirius grabbed a cup and poured himself a coffee. He snarled at Remus. Anyone who spoke to him before his first cup was snarled at. It never stopped Remus. He simply chuckled, watching as Sirius drank half his coffee in one go.

"Late night?" Remus asked as he drew his wand pointing it at his plate, sending it to the sink to be washed and stacked on the dish rack.

"In a way. Did she eat breakfast?" Sirius asked as he pulled his covered plate to him, choosing to stand as he ate. Remus nodded, summoning the coffee pot over, topping up his own cup.

"She was chatting with Dobby as she ate when I came in this morning." Remus took a sip of coffee and slid a letter towards his friend. It was a letter from Professor Dumbledore. Sirius read through it raising an eyebrow at its contents.

"He wants her to be back at school after Halloween?" Sirius looked up to Remus.

"She was always going to go back to school, Padfoot. The Healer must have sent a report to him. Given that the Healer is insisting Hermione can begin to walk without crutches, it is a good sign she is returning to health." Remus pointed out to his best friend.

"Yes, but moving around a two storey townhouse is not climbing the equivalent of the astronomy tower every day." Sirius growled, stabbing at his chipolata aggressively. Remus shrugged, and checked his pocket watch sighing heavily.

"I better go see our student." Remus drained his cup, putting it on the bench.

"Isn't she studying Potions this morning, Moony?" Sirius asked raising his brow at the topic.

"Yes, so it will most likely be me asking the questions and learning." Remus grimaced as he slid out from the counter and left Sirius to chuckle as he finished his breakfast.

Hermione had her hair pulled back into a bun held up by her quill. She looked up from her text book, giving him a small smile.

"Oh good, I need to ask a question regarding the subject Professor Slughorn set for the essay, regarding time and it's effects on brewing potions." Hermione shifted in her seat, a movement that Remus recognised was when Hermione the student was awaiting for her lessons, giving him her undivided attention. Remus sank into the chair beside the desk and put his hand out for the textbook in front of her. Hermione dimpled slightly as she handed it over to him as well as her notes on what she had extrapolated on the topic.

She waited patiently as he read through both sets of information. Remus looked up at his student feeling some regret for what he was about to ask, because neither her notes nor the text in the chapter gave him a clue on where she was going with the subject she had just brought up. He was glad that she was patient and understanding on his and Sirius's limitations as tutors when it came to Potions; especially when it was Potions.

"What is your question Hermione?" He asked, feeling like he may regret asking. He put down the book and notes and picked up his own notepad he used when they were on the subject of potions, feeling more like the student rather than the teacher. Yet he didn't complain. She had helped him understand potions in a way that he never did at school.

"It states 'that to ensure the strength of potency in any potion is the freshness of the ingredients'. However, most ingredients have a freshness charm put on them so they don't go stale or bad if you do not use the ingredients frequently." Hermione began, she paused allowing him to write down what she was saying, smirking slightly at the slight change of roles.

"Would using ingredients that were extremely fresh then make a stronger potency to ingredients that have the freshness charm on them and would the freshness charms on said ingredients affect the potion in such a way we would need to account for that?" Remus stopped writing and looked up at Hermione, slightly baffled.

"Hermione, what was the question regarding the essay?" He asked, trying to find a link to her complex question and the essay itself.

"Oh, I already finished the essay." Hermione answered moving stacks of parchment and pulling out a thick roll of parchment, handing it to Remus.

"The question topic was extremely straight forward: How do seasons, phases of the moon and time of day affect a brewing potion and describe a potion that requires any of the above requirements to brew the potion effectively." Hermione said.

"I used for my examples to answer the question Polyjuice Potion and Wolfsbane Potion as both each effectively covered the purpose for the question regarding season, moon phases and time of day, even though the essay asked for one potion as an example. As I had successfully made the Polyjuice in my second year I know that it can take some time to brew. I have been looking into trying to create the Wolfsbane Potion since third year." Hermione rambled as Remus read through the essay she had written, still trying to figure out her initial question.

"When I finished the essay it lead me to think about potion potency, particularly regarding the Wolfsbane in comparison to the Polyjuice and the potency over time." Hermione explained. Remus looked up from the essay, as he finally understood Hermione's thought process for the hypothesis she had originally presented to him.

"You want to know if you can make a Wolfsbane Potion that won't lose potency?" Remus asked, genuinely curious if that was even possible. Hermione smiled at him as she saw where she was leading the topic. Remus sat back in the chair letting out a long breath of air.

"Hermione, if you managed to find a way to make that particular potion not lose potency when it's bottled, it will mean that it would have the potential to be more accessible to more of my kind. It could also mean a huge perception change within the magical community as well regarding werewolves." Remus said admiringly.

"However, moving back to topic, I would suggest that you would save the question for Professor Slughorn in person, or even Professor Snape." Remus said, handing her back her essay, "I am sure either of them would be happy to discuss the topic further with you."

Hermione wrinkled her nose, as she moved her notes and potions textbooks aside. "I already tried to ask Professor Slughorn. His response on the subject was inviting me to a Christmas Party at the castle, completely avoiding to even answering the question at all. And Professor Snape seems to feel his time is not worth the effort to discuss anything extra-curricular, unless you are of course a Slytherin. Now that he is no longer teaching the subject, he refuses to comment about something apparently no longer in his domain. At least that was his response was when I received it." She grumbled.

Remus snorted. He knew Professor Slughorn from his own time. He had been to those parties. He had also been part of the group that pulled pranks at them to stop the invites for those parties. Shaking his head he moved them on from Potions to Defence Against the Dark Arts, a topic both of them were familiar with.

Severus Snape had set a gruelling pace for Hermione to what the rest of her class were teaching. And due to her inability to attempt the practical aspect of the coursework he insisted that Hermione was to provide additional essays on the topics she needed to study. However, as Harry, Ron and Hermione had lead a group to learn practical spells the previous year, quite a few that were at newt level, the additional work Hermione was required to do was not an issue.

Also from what Remus knew of Hermione from his own past experiences; was that she was very adept at spell work. Her only concern was that all the classes requiring practical spell work now insisted on practicing non-verbal spells. Something she wanted to practice. They were deep in discussion regarding spell weaving, in a defensive setting when Sirius came in with lunch.

"I swear the essay's that Professor Snape is setting, are phrased in such a way I need to see it in a practical sense to understand what he means instead of extrapolating it from various textbooks." Hermione grouched, accepting a sandwich from Sirius.

"What do you mean?" Sirius sat down, selecting a sandwich for himself and biting into it.

"This is the third time that I have had to search for the reference regarding the topic on the essay question from about four different text books. Several of them I have had to ask Dobby to borrow from the library at Hogwarts." Hermione glared at the parchment containing her latest assignment from Snape.

"What I wouldn't give to be able to be back at Hogwarts. I have a feeling I would be able to research it far easier." Hermione grumbled and finally took a bite of her sandwich. Remus looked at Sirius, before selecting his own sandwich, taking a large bite.

"Funny you should say that Hermione." Sirius said, glaring at Remus's cowardice, "Professor Dumbledore has said that it would be best for you to head back to Hogwarts. At least for the weekend initially. Then if you are feeling fine within the castle you may be able to resume your lessons normally."

"Really?" Hermione looked up at Sirius with a raised brow, then frowned as she considered all aspects for the change of location.
"I don't know if I'd be able to manage the stairs. But it would mean I could talk with my professors with questions I have." Hermione went silent, eating her sandwich as she thought about the positives and negatives of going back to Hogwarts.

"How will we be getting there?" Hermione asked looking up at the two wizards. Sirius and Remus had been having a silent conversation which consisted of both men pulling faces at each other. Both turned and smiled sheepishly at her.

"I had a conversation with Albus on that." Sirius replied, "He seems to think that while you probably could handle going through the barrier at Kings Cross, it would be more prudent to apparate directly to Hogsmeade." He took another bite of his sandwich.

"I have to agree, especially as Death Eaters are still searching for you." He added, after swallowing his mouthful.

"Which brings me to what we will be doing for this afternoon's lessons." Sirius dusted the crumbs from his hands and stood. Offering a hand to Hermione he led her back to the kitchen to open up the ballroom.

"More dancing?" Hermione asked as they entered the ballroom. Sirius chuckled.

"Of a sort. No, Professor Dumbledore wants to make sure that you can start doing some magic. Despite the Healers caution, the Headmaster feels that you should begin to catch up practically." Sirius let go of Hermione's hand and moved across the room to stand opposite her. Remus stood in the doorway with his hands in his pockets. Sirius drew his wand slowly. Hermione raised a brow and hers flashed in her hand raising it ready to go.

"I want you to start with non-verbal spells. I want you to try and cast a spell at me. I will block it." Sirius explained, raising his wand. Sirius nodded and readied himself, ignoring the smirk on Remus's face as Hermione drew in a slow steadying breath. For a few minutes she did nothing, not even move her wand. She narrowed her eyes slightly as she concentrated and began attempting to cast.

Within the first ten minutes Hermione not only managed to cast her spells non verbally she also managed to get three consecutive spells past Sirius's shields. The third time he picked himself off the ground and dried himself off. He scowled as Remus was shaking in silent laughter. Hermione had shocked him by sending an icy jet of water at him, which passed through his barrier as it wasn't exactly dangerous, however his shock made him drop his shield and she had him sprawled in a wet heap across the ballroom floor. Hermione looked a little breathless and nodded that she could continue.

"Very well." Sirius rolled his shoulders, narrowing his eyes at Remus. "Let's see how well you can block my spells."

Hermione stood ready and watched Sirius carefully. She blocked each of his spells with an efficiency that surprised even Remus. The first one that slipped past her defence hit her and she fell to the floor giggling. Sirius stopped the tickling jinx and moved over to her to help her up. Her face had gone white when it hit.

"I think that will be all for today." He said quietly, helping her up. Hermione nodded and stepped away. She swayed on her feet Sirius catching her and keeping his arm around her waist.

"Were you dizzy casting spells?" Sirius asked as he led her to the kitchen and sat her on a stool.

"No, but I felt tingles. Blocking was harder. It seemed to take more out of me." Hermione said, accepting a glass of water from Remus. She took a few sips of water. After ten minutes some colour had come back to her face.

"I think I might get started on the reading list I have for Ancient Runes." Hermione said standing and walking slightly unsteadily back into the library, leaving the two wizards in the kitchen.

Hermione sighed as she settled in her favourite wing backed chair before the fireplace. The little table next to it held a large pile of books, each requiring her to read them. It was one of the things in which she could manage with ease in the Terrace House as no one interrupted her like her friends would at school. Yet as Hermione began to read, she realised it was those interruptions she had begun to miss.

Hermione yawned as she turned the page on her book she needed to read for Ancient Runes. She no longer needed the translation book, except on the rare occasion, usually when the phrase in ancient runes was in Latin or French. Yawning again Hermione tried to focus on the page. Her eyes grew heavier the more she tried and very soon her head lulled to one side and she was asleep.

Hermione was in the fractured grey landscape, the shards around her seemed to have sharper edges as she floated in the fractured grey scape. She looked past the coloured shard to try and find a point of origin but there seemed no point of marker except for the pieces of coloured glass full of movement.

She felt the greyness press around her, her hair moving on a non-existent wind blowing through her. Hermione watched the shards, none seemed to clash against the other, instead reacted the way magnets did when encountering the opposite force pushing each away from the other. Like a magnet Hermione almost felt herself be pulled towards them. She tried to fight the pull but, with so many shards around her she turned too late colliding with one.

Instead of shattering into it she fell through it like falling into a pool. She didn't notice this shard until too late as the image was as grey as the shattered greyness she had been floating in. Now Hermione felt a pull of gravity that was previously lacking. The grey she was falling through flashed blindingly around her leaving her near blind in the afterimages of the lightning.

Hermione began screaming. She came out into clouds high above the world falling through a thunderstorm. Wind lashing her and rain soaking right through her. She tumbled thousands of metres above the earth. The after images cleared as she now saw the roiling blackness of the ocean below, and an even darker marker of land directly below her. Screaming again she couldn't stop her free fall…

Sirius and Remus came running into the library hearing the terrified screams. Hermione was on the floor thrashing about, having slid off the couch as she dreamed. Sirius slid to the ground gathering her into his arms as she screamed again.

"You're safe Princess. I've got you. I'm not letting you go. You're safe Princess. You can wake up now." Sirius crooned holding her close stroking her hair. He felt her cling to him as she was locked in her dream, her nightmare. Her arms wound around his neck and she took a shuddering breath in, inhaling his scent.

"You won't let go?" She whispered in her sleep. Sirius pressed his lips against her forehead.

"Never, Princess." Sirius whispered. Hermione relaxed in his arms, and her breathing deepened as she fell into a deeper slumber, her head nuzzling into the crook of his neck, sighing against him.

"She is going to remember soon." Remus said quietly, watching as Sirius shifted to lift her onto the long couch. Hermione rolled facing the fire. Her hand still gripped tightly to his shirt. Sirius gave up trying to pull his shirt free from her iron grip, so he slipped the shirt off. Hermione pulled the shirt tightly against her mumbling into it.

"Yeah, but until she really starts to remember what she dreams…" Sirius let the sentence go unfinished. What if she remembered and changed her mind about him. He had a way of making her angry at him on an almost daily basis. Perhaps her going back to Hogwarts was for the best. He didn't like the thought of it. Sighing he headed back upstairs to get a new shirt, wondering how to explain the shirt she was going to wake up with.