Written for Harry Potter Halloween Collection Challenge - October Event.

Prompt used: (feeling) suspicious


His Past is Her Future

His Excuse


Hermione looked at the wound for the first time as she stepped out of the shower. It was much deeper than she had pictured it, though she had known it would be bad due to the fact that it had all but killed her.

She should have realised - Antonin Dolohov was a powerful wizard after all. She let out a small sigh at the sight. It would take a while to heal, even with the daily applications of Essence of Dittany. She suspected that it was a hex that had a counter-hex to go with it. She knew Dolohov hadn't wanted to kill her, just incapacitate her.

She dried herself, winding the old bandages up and putting them into the bin, trying not to look at the word on her arm. She had kept that bandaged, just to keep it out of sight more than anything.

Hermione examined the rest of her body. The curse mark from the Ministry was still on her hip and across part of her stomach. It didn't give her any pain anymore. Her gaze moved to the new cuts from the cursed blade that Bellatrix loved to use so much.

She shuddered at the thought of Bellatrix Lestrange and she wondered what the woman was doing right now in this time-line - was she already a Death-Eater? Was she already out torturing and tormenting?

She tried to get her thoughts away from the witch, turning her attention back to the mirror, her gaze falling on her arm in her reflection. She frowned and tapped her wand on the mirror, making it so she couldn't see her reflection anymore and wrapped the towel around her hair and began to towel-try it.

She pulled on her jeans and held the towel around her chest and opened the door a crack, calling softly for Remus to get his mum.

She closed the door, and only a minute later, Hope came in.

After a look at Hermione's wounds, Hope applied more of the Essence of Dittany, and wrapped the bandages again. "I think this is the last day you should wear these," she said. "Some air to your injuries will do them good."

"Cursed blade," Hermione said, biting her lip. "My arm took a long time to heal, and... well, it was the same person who done the others. Except for this one." She gestured to her chest, "this was done with a slicing or cutting spell of some sort."

"Well, what about keeping the cursed ones bandaged through the day, but maybe for an hour or so in the evenings, you can take the bandages off?" Hope suggested.

Hermione nodded.

Hope and Hermione wrapped the fresh bandages, before Hermione pulled on her t-shirt.

"Dear, did Remus get you clothes?"

Hermione shook her head. "My bag has everything," she said. "It's handy, I have some of my old textbooks, so maybe some of them would come in handy for Hogwarts?"

She didn't miss the flash of relief that crossed the woman's face at the words, before Hope smiled at her. "Your owl arrived whilst you were in the shower, so I was thinking that we could check through what you already have, and then take a trip to Diagon Alley?"

"That sounds like fun," Hermione replied, eager to be out and about. She hated laying around in bed.

"And John and Remus are going to be having a boy's night tonight - John likes to watch the muggle rugby, and there's a game on tonight," she rolled her eyes and gave an exaggerated sigh, before grinning at Hermione. "Men... so how about the two of us stay in Diagon Alley?"

Hermione took in Hope's slightly too innocent expression. "That sounds like fun," Hermione replied, trying not to look or sound suspicious, although she knew something was up.

Hermione headed back into the bedroom, to find Remus looking through his books.

"I never had you down as a Rugby fan?"

"Huh?" Remus replied, turning away from the bookcase, a couple of books in his hand.

"Rugby - your mum said you and your dad are having a boy's night, so we're staying in Diagon Alley tonight."

"Oh, that's tonight?" Remus replied smoothly. "I didn't realise." He gave her a concerned glance. "Will you be okay in Diagon Alley? Can you manage?"

Hermione smiled and nodded. "I've been there before, though it's been a while. It'll be nice to go back and see it." She looked at Remus carefully, noticing that he looked a bit more tired than usual. "Are you alright? You look tired?"

Remus quickly shook his head. "Not tired - actually, my mum mentioned Diagon Alley. You don't mind if I tag along?" Remus asked, wanting to go with her to make sure that she was okay. "I won't be out all day though, but maybe till early afternoon?"

"Yeah, I don't mind," Hermione said.

"I'll meet you in the kitchen, I just need to sort my hair out," Remus said.

Hermione hesitated, not wanting to face Hope and John on her own. She felt a bit too shy.

"Or if you can wait a couple of minutes, I'll head in with you?"

Hermione nodded and headed back into the bedroom as Remus walked into the bathroom. He frowned at the blank mirror. He knew it wasn't one of his parents that had done that, so that left Hermione.

He wondered why would Hermione try to hide her reflection? Personally he thought she was beautiful, even if she was still malnourished and thin.

Maybe she didn't realise it? Remus decided that he would think of a way to show her she was.

When they got back to Hogwarts, he would have to call for an emergency Marauder-Meeting!


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