August 30th, 1979.
It had been two weeks of the Potters being at St. Mungo's and that left a strain on those left behind. Hermione failed her friends. To add insult to injury, she now was going to be escorted by Remus and Sirius to a new safe house. The witch had no clue where else she could be safe. The students would be arriving in two days, so Hogwarts was no longer her sanctuary. Nothing on the collar in the books. Not a bit of information on anything useful about Voldemort- she's hit a wall.
Hermione was hanging her feet off the edge of the Astronomy Tower and gazing out at the setting sun over the forbidden forest. This world was complicated, and now, an overwhelming growing stirring took over her feelings. "How's Lily?" Hermione asked as steps climbed up the final few stairs.
The animagus collapsed next to her and stroked her hair. "She's alright. James is a bit beat up over losing the baby, but they're gonna get through it," Sirius sighed as he pulled her to his chest.
"And Remus?"
"We'll be going soon," He told her- clearly avoiding Remus's state.
The werewolf has avoided her for two days. Hermione could only imagine it was due to her being responsible for the loss of the baby. It was her fault. Why didn't she think it was odd that Severus came for a job interview? Why didn't occur to her that the Death Eaters would do just about anything to stop her?
"I wish I could help you," Hermione mumbled with a pout.
Sirius kissed her forehead and exhaled. "You can by staying inside. Don't come out, don't even think about checking on us. That would help us."
Hermione chewed her bottom lip. "Can I do anything? Sirius, please, I feel so helpless."
The animagus nosed her hair and chuckled. "You need a mission, love? Okay, I have one for you. Poppy isn't here to help him. You seem to be pretty witty about survival, so, you wanna take care of Moony in the Hospital Wing when I bring him up?"
She pulled from him to nod firmly. "I can do that- it's the least I can do."
Sirius touched her cheek and sighed. "Darlin', what's gotten you so twisted?"
"I failed them, Sirius," Hermione whispered as her eyes dropped to her lap. "I don't want to fail you both either."
"You didn't fail her. She ate a chocolate cake thinking Remus was apologizing to you, which made no sense to her- he's just a guilty soul. You wouldn't have agreed to the apology, so she wanted to try what he had the elves sent up. Had we not been ignorant of the dangers still following us, we likely would have been more aware. Let's not put the blame on anyone, love," Sirius finished and stroked her cheek.
Hermione let a tear trickle down her cheek as she nodded. "Okay, Sirius."
"My lovely little Hermione," He murmured and brushed away the tear.
"Please don't hurt yourselves tonight," Hermione mumbled as her teary eyes met his gaze.
Sirius grinned wildly and slanted his head. "Really, as if we could manage not causing a ruckus." He finished and climbed off the floor, helping her to her feet.
"Please, Sirius," Hermione said with a mild frown.
"I promise, love. I'll take care of him."
Remus whimpered as he was summoned to the land of the living after a blurry end to his transformation. His legs felt on fire, and the sickly smell of blood was surrounding him. Cold fingers touched his shoulder, and he grunted. "How long was I out?" Remus croaked.
"Longer than usual, can you move? I'm worried about that gash on your shoulder," Sirius whispered.
The werewolf stretched and whined as his body shuddered in pain. He saw stars enter his vision and curled back into the fetal position.
"Come on, Moony, please?" Sirius breathed as he rubbed his back. "Hermione is likely pacing the floor; she's so worried."
Remus succumbed to hopelessness and covered his face. "I can't, Pads. I don't want her to see me like this," He murmured through his fingers.
"I'm going to pick you up, fuck propriety. I'm not going to let you die on this floor," Sirius growled and cautiously scooped up the werewolf.
Remus howled in pain as he felt the audible snap of his collarbone. "Sirius!" He screamed and pressed his hand to his chest.
"Hold on, Remus, just hold on," Sirius huffed.
Remus must have passed out from hitting his pain threshold in a weakened state because the next thing he could remember was the sound of glass and feet crossing swiftly on the floor.
"What did he break?" A soft voice questioned.
"I'm assuming it was his shoulder or arm," the familiar timbers of Sirius announced.
The heat from a spell reached his body, and he attempted to open his eyes. "Pads?" He squeezed out.
Sirius reached for Remus's hand and squeezed it. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Moony," Sirius whispered as his free hand stroked the wounded werewolf's hair.
"He's lost quite a bit of blood and broke his clavicle," Hermione declared and then shifted from the bed.
Sirius pressed his forehead to Remus's and nuzzled his cheek. "She's going to make sure you're alright," he breathed.
Remus managed to observe the witch digging through a cabinet. She was glancing at bottles before putting them back, but he noted how she was in his ratty jumper. It looked pleasantly right on her as she stood on her toes and reached in the back of the shelving for vials. Hermione's revealed calves seemed to flex with her movements.
"Alright, it will have to do," Hermione sighed as she pivoted toward the marauders.
Hermione wandered over with half a dozen potions and pouted at the sight of the wounded werewolf. "Remus, I need you to take these, and we'll have to sling your arm for at least two days while it heals," she directed before setting down the vials.
Sirius assisted Remus in sitting up, to the werewolf's displeasure. "How bad is it, doc?" Remus groaned with a strained smile.
"Well, you could have died if we didn't get a blood replenisher in your body earlier. I healed the major wounds, but a broken collarbone is not something am going to tamper with in your wounded state," Hermione replied as she handed him the first bottle.
"Thank you, love," Sirius exhaled and met her gaze.
Remus took the potions, one at a time. Hermione then handed him some water, and he reluctantly drained the glass. Sirius changed back into a dog and jumped on the small bed with the werewolf, letting him curl up against the warm fur of his companion. Hermione spent a decent amount of time fussing over the blankets and setting aside many potions he would need later. It was well after Sirius was snoring that Remus cleared his throat.
"Hermione, you haven't slept. Why don't you relax?" He suggested.
The witch waved him off and straightened the sweater. "No, I will make sure everything is fine," she argued.
"Hermione, crawl into bed and get some sleep, that's not a request," Remus ordered with a wince.
The witch sighed and pulled up a chair next to him, altering it to be a fair amount more comfortable than it was. The cozy armchair reclined and she propped her feet on the bed next to Sirius's tail. "There, I'm relaxing," she huffed while grabbing a book off the night table.
That pleased him, and he nodded. "Alright, I'm just going to nap," he yawned.
Hermione cracked her book open and started to read, but Remus watched through his eyelashes as she soon tilted her head against the side of the chair and nodded off. That was enough for him- he soon found a more restful sleep himself.
It was well into the day before anyone stirred in the hospital wing. Sirius was first awake, noting the witch had stretched awkwardly in the chair. He jumped from the bed and formed into himself, taking the girl into his arms. She sighed and snuggled against him, causing the animagus to grimace at how gentle she was. He set her down on an empty bed and covered her with a blanket.
Remus grunted and moved his free hand over his face. "What time is it, Pads?" He whispered.
"Nearly lunch. Albus will be here soon," Sirius responded quietly.
"I'm worried about her," Remus and reached for the glass of water.
Sirius assisted the werewolf and sat down in the armchair. "Me too. Are you sure it's wise to involve them? What if it makes them a target?" Sirius murmured.
"It will be the safest place next to Hogwarts for her."
Sirius rocked his head and pouted. "I believe you."
"It's only going to be a short stay. We'll visit my parents in a couple of weeks and from there decide on the next point of action. No one but us knows that the Potters are back at home. Lily promised she'd visit with Hermione after we're settled," he paused and glanced over at the nearly snoring witch. "I feel horrible for lying to her, but it's too sensitive," Remus whispered.
Sirius exhaled and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I understand. Prongs needs time with his wife. I couldn't imagine what they're going through," he mumbled.
"They're fine, and she wasn't that far along. I wouldn't be surprised if in six months they start trying again," Remus grumbled and rolled his neck with a grimace.
"What of our girl?" Sirius questioned as he glanced back at the sleeping witch.
"Our?" Remus said with a sneer.
Sirius turned his vision back to the werewolf and grinned. "Come on, Moony. She saved your life and would do anything for you. Of course, she's ours. You take care of her, and she takes care of you."
"Still not seeing the 'our' part," Remus snickered as he snatched a potion up.
"Well, anyone who's that crazy is our people," Sirius declared with a nod.
"Touche," Remus sighed.
Sirius scratched his chin as his head tilted. "You think she's a virgin? Pretty little witch like that probably had tons of suitors in Hogwarts. I didn't really bother with that query until this morning. The way she looked at that party…" he trailed off.
Remus's cheeks filled with color as he cleared his throat. "Pads, don't."
"I'm not a virgin," Hermione growled.
Sirius jerked his vision back toward her and noted her sitting up in bed and scrubbing her eyes. "Good to know, love."
"I also don't think that's your business, Sirius Black. You're the one who said you don't shag your friends," Hermione retorted before climbing from the bed and stretching.
"Don't mind him, Hermione. He's bloody mental the day after the moon," Remus said and tossed an empty bottle at Sirius's chest.
The witch wandered over to Remus and pressed her arm to his forehead. Her arm felt so much cooler than his skin, but she seemed satisfied and pulled away. "Good, your fever broke," she noted.
Remus touched her hand with his fingers and smiled lightly. "Thank you for tending to me so diligently."
Albus Dumbledore chose this calculated time to walk into the hospital wing. "Good afternoon, seems you all have quite the eventful morning," he observed.
Hermione pulled away from Remus and tucked her hands behind her. "Good afternoon, professor," she murmured.
Sirius scratched the side of his neck. "Why don't you go get your things, love," he suggested.
The witch rocked her head and exhaled before leaving- it was quite clear that they wanted to speak without her. She still wasn't apart of the Order and vaguely recalled memories as a child of not being allowed to listen in, especially when Albus had information to give.
The wizened older man waited for the girl's footsteps to fade down the hallway before he ran a hand over his lengthy beard. "I thought we had made it clear- she's not to be exposed to this," Albus said with a stern tone.
"Albus," Remus started.
Dumbledore raised his hand with a pinched brow. "Enough, Remus. I said she wasn't allowed to be exposed to your transformations."
"But, sir, she only cared for him after," Sirius interjected.
He rocked his head. "I good and well know, Sirius. However, we agreed to you both escorting her under the condition that she would not be introduced to any reasons to focus on anything but remembering the key to beating the dark lord," Albus said while glancing over his glasses at them. "Your friends suffered a loss. This brings even more of a reason to focus on her protection until it comes to the point where she must play her part."
"This isn't about her!" Remus resounded.
Albus scratched his face as he tilted his head. "How is that?" He looked slightly amused as he asked.
"She said the prophecy is about the Potters," Sirius mumbled.
Dumbledore straightened his posture and nodded once. "Very well, make sure the Weasleys understand the reason for your stay, but not the why. It's important that she finds out on her own. Now, I have to prepare for the students' arrival, and you must catch a portkey in Hogsmeade in an hour."
"Professor," Sirius grumbled with a nod.
Remus couldn't bear to say anything and just bowed his head. The Headmaster just gestured farewell and left the Marauders to think. He waved at the witch, standing near the doorway and winked before walking down the hallway. Hermione felt confused at the disfigured imaging of the Headmaster. What was his point?