"I took all the precautions I deemed necessary, but..."

"But?"

Hermione's mouth pressed into a thin line. "The last agent from our division to try and help the centaurs did so by insisting that their "brutish mentality and monstrous ways" deemed them too much of a hazard to even be negotiated with."

"You can't be serious!" exclaimed Remus. "What was he even doing in Magical Law Enforcement?"

"A remnant of Umbridge's pernicious power play. I fired him three years ago – but not before he'd done some serious damage," Hermione relayed with a tired sigh. She cleared her throat, looking as though she'd swallowed something bitter. "I'd thought time might have dulled the injuries done against them, but I, ah, underestimated the strength of their feelings towards humans."

"No you didn't."

"Excuse me?"

Sirius pointed an accusing finger at her, saying, "You knew exactly what they'd do if a Ministry official walked into their forest – and you did it anyway!"

"I had to!" She snapped back.

Once again it was up to Remus to mediate a brewing fight. "Sirius, please...let her finish."

But Hermione looked suddenly hesitant to speak. She'd had no problem up until now, no problem relaying the less-than-savory details of her latest mission, which could only mean that what came next in the story was something she knew not even her silver tongue could gloss over. Sirius' supposition was confirmed when her eyes drifted sidelong to Remus.

"Not much to tell," she said with forced levity. "They assumed I had come under pretense – another ill-seeking human; even believing that I had something to do with the charges against Balfour. They...surrounded me; requisitioned my belongings – I knew that I would have to abide there until I could prove my intentions otherwise – so I gave up my wand and went peacefully into their charge."

"Oh god," Remus whispered; Hermione winced as he looked away.

"Paint it anyway you like," barked Sirius. "You were kidnapped."

"They didn't hurt me—"

"What do you mean they didn't hurt you?!" He exploded, jumping to his feet with such sudden vehemence that Hermione actually shrunk back. "They're centaurs, Hermione. They are barbaric towards humans at the best of times – they almost attacked you seven years ago when you were just a child. And you just went into that? Alone? What were you thinking?!"

Utter silence. Those brown eyes were once again filled with disappointment and Sirius couldn't understand why until she spoke – softly, so as to insure that he caught every word. "Would you be saying all this if it had been werewolves?"

Sirius froze.

"People think they're just beasts too – mindless killing machines. Would you demand to know if I'd been bitten?" Hermione was on her feet now; Sirius pinned to the spot by her steely gaze. Her voice dipped low, imparting dark words in a voice meant only for lover's whispers, and her next words caused the darkest of shadows to fill his face: "I hear they're very fond of young women."

Sirius swallowed hard as she stepped into him, overwhelming his senses with her smell, her feel, and the taste of her breath against his lips. "Would you, Sirius?" she asked, and standing this close, she sounded nearly breathless. "If I'd been kidnapped by werewolves, would you stand here – in front of Remus – accusing them of brutality? Would you ask if those 'monster's had violated me? If they fucked me?"

Her eyes flashed as the last words left her lips, and Sirius knew. She hadn't forgotten and she hadn't forgiven.

"Hermione...please." Remus whispered, repeating himself when she didn't immediately break her fierce staring match with Sirius. When she finally looked back over her shoulder at him, Sirius – now free from scrutiny – quickly left the room.

Amber eyes met chocolate and Hermione ducked her head. "I'm sorry Remus," she said, her sincerity evident. "I just – this is exactly what I've been fighting against all my life."

"Sirius spoke rashly," the brunet agreed. "But only because he was worried about you. In his own way, Sirius was expressing that concern – and believe me, he'd be asking these same questions, making these same accusations if it had been wizards holding you captive for three weeks."

He stood and took her hands in his, a gentle squeeze causing a hesitant smile to light her face. He lifted they're joined hands to tweak her cheek and she laughed. Remus smilled too. "As long as you're okay."

"I am," she said. "Really. The centaurs were beyond civil. They even allowed me to send a letter home. I didn't say much because I didn't want to worry you."

He tsked her foolishness. "Don't think you can help that," he teased. "And then?"

Hermione sighed. "Must I?" she asked.

He relented to her plea. "Abridged version."

She laughed. "I cleared Balfour, made peace with the centaurs, and saved the day."

Remus tweaked her again for her cheek, but he couldn't help smiling; not with Hermione grinning up at him. "Good work, Miss Granger," he said. "That'll do for now."

"No more questions?"

"Just one more."

Hermione eyed him curiously and Remus had to bite at his lip to keep from laughing. "Do you think that pie's still warm?"

Her whole face light up in pure delight and when she threw herself into his arms, Remus' heart flipped hard inside his chest. Merlin –what was he going to do…