A week had passed since the full moon and Remus was becoming agitated. The wolf within him has been restless for the past few days, as if prowling inside his mind, trying to push and press on his thoughts. Remus had never before communicated with the wolf within him, even though he heard some werewolves could, but he was on edge himself because of the wolf. Never before did it feel this way and he wanted to know why. Another puzzling thing was that Hermione appeared to be..well, avoiding him almost. She was pleasant enough when they met in the kitchen, or when she handed Teddy over to him, but there was something skittish around her. As if she would not stay longer in his presence than necessary. It was positively maddening. He asked, several times actually, whether something had happened during the full moon but she only smiled as said the transformation was much easier to the eye of observer.
The house was suspiciously quiet when he returned from work early that afternoon and quickly found out that Hermione was still out with Teddy. After a moment of consideration, Remus climbed the stairs into the renovated library and slipped inside the large chamber, intent on consulting the few tomes they had on werewolves. He appreciated the way Harry renovated it, with personal touches from Hermione here and there, before focusing on one of the tables. The other three were clean and spotless, but the furthest one from the door was covered in folders, notes and books. Hermione's research. No one ever came here, so he understood she kept her notes spread out. He could not help himself however and stepped around the table, looking at what she was reading. And his heart almost stopped its beat.
Werewolf mating rituals...the Calling of the Wolf...The Mate – In love with a beast...Magical beasts and their mating...the Lunar Cycle – A Guide to the changes of Moon and female hormones...he looked over the titles, realising these were all new materials, books Hermione had to glean for her own research purposes that they never had in their library. He read through a few of the passages highlighted by bookmarks before opening her private notebook, leafing to the last page that held her neat handwriting.
Werewolf mating rituals include three stages for the man, the wolf and the mate:
1. acknowledgement
– Moony's communication through a mental link, appearance of Moony inside Remus' body
2. marking
- mark made by human by scarification or bite where blood is drawn, on occasion marriage could be seen as marking of a bond
- mark made by the wolf through a bite where blood is drawn (Moony)
3. joining
– after bond and mark are acknowledged, the man and the wolf no longer remain as separate entities but their traits combine and they become one with another, and one with their mate
Marking by werewolf – possible consequences include turning of mate into a wolf, gaining of wolf animagus form or heightened senses on the full moon – DEPENDING ON BOND AND MATE!
Beneath the passage was one more note:
Which one of the consequences will affect a mate known only to the wolf? Will Remus acknowledge me as mate after Moony has already marked me? What will happen the next full moon?
Remus stood there in shock, reading over the page several times until it began to sink in. Hermione was his mate. She had known of this because his wolf was communicating with her...that's how she knew she would be safe on the full moon! Moony had apparently promised her the safety... And he had marked her?
He tried to think about any marks or scars he could notice on Hermione, but was coming up blank. She wore no bandages, did not hide her arms or legs as he often saw her in shorts and light blouses as the weather was getting hotter with the arrival of July. But then he paused. The square plaster she had been wearing on her hand for a week now. It was the morning after the full moon, which seemed to have left his body with little ache thankfully, and he remembered her making tea after he shuffled downstairs from the shower, and she was wearing it. Not evening before he shifted, but the morning after. Oh Merlin what has he done...
The doors on the library opened and Hermione came inside, humming a soft tune as she headed for her table, head in a large bag of books from the public wizarding library where she had apparently stopped by earlier. She looked up and the smile froze on her lips when she saw Remus standing beside her table. Her eyes fell to the notebook he was holding, instantly recognising it as her notes and her breath stuttered a moment. "Remus...what are you-"
But she had no time to finish the sentence as Remus threw the notebook down and crossed the few paced between them swiftly, grabbing her wrist none too gently. "Ow, Remus, you are hurting me!" she fought his grip, trying to slip out of his grasp, but his werewolf strength was just too much for her. The man growled at her, the sound of the beast within rather than of the man whose face was twisted with anger, and he tore the plaster off her hand.
"Let go of me, Remus! You are crushing my wrist!" she protested and tried to move her hand out of sight, but it was no use. Remus twisted her hand and brought it up to his face, looking at the wound clearly left behind by two sharp canines. He sniffed her hand and smelled the change in her blood. She was marked.
"Remus!" she cried out, finally managing to shove him off and cradled her aching wrist to her chest protectively, breathing hard with the effort.
"You are marked...why did you not tell me of this? You and my wolf? How long has this been going on?" he questioned, his tone harsh like Hermione never heard before from the usually composed and gentle man.
She shook her head and turned away. She could not talk about this now. He was too enraged and she could feel her wrist swelling where he had pressed to hard on the small carpal bones.
"Don't you turn away from me, Hermione. Answer me!" He gripped her shoulder and turned her around.
Her unharmed right hand flew up on instinct and landed with a sharp crack across his cheek. "How dare you raise a hand at me?!" she hissed and took a few steps back. "Don't come near me again until you calm down and are ready to talk about this!" she said before running out of the library, leaving a stunned Remus behind.
Harry was just heading upstairs with a cup of tea when he saw Hermione running down, her face streaked with tears as she cradled her hand protectively to her chest. "Hermione!" he called and set down the tea on the first available table as he stopped her pushed the wild curls away from her face. "What's wrong?" he asked, looking her over before gently touching her forearm.
She flinched away for a moment before looking at her best friend and allowing him to take a look. A dark bruise was forming on her wrist, and Harry could clearly see the imprint of a large hand. "Hermione, who did this to you?" he asked in shock, pulling her close into a protective embrace. She finally let go and sobbed softly into his shoulder, trying to calm her heart from the fright Remus gave her and the adrenalin coursing through her veins after the encounter. Harry held her close and rubbed her back, looking at the direction from which she ran – the library. The very same library he saw Remus walking into half an hour ago. Dammit.
"Okay, I got you, you're safe. Come, we need to have a look at that wrist of yours. I can apparate us to St. Mungos safely.." he tried, coaxing her with a soothing voice but she shook her head, getting herself a bit under control.
"They would ask questions.." she wiped the tears away the best she could. "I just can't..right now.." she said softly, still a bit in shock at Remus' behaviour. Yes, she had kept a secret, and understood he might be angry with her but not this...never like this. And it was tearing at her heart.
Harry nodded and thought of something better. "Alright, no St. Mungos. But there is someone else who could help, just down the hall.." he led her gently towards Severus' rooms and smiled at her encouragingly as he opened the door and led her inside.
Severus looked up from the potions journal he was reading, looking forward to the cup of tea that Harry had offered to bring him but immediately set it aside and stood when he saw the state Hermione was in as Harry led her in. He motioned at the armchair near the window silently and headed for his potions cabinet, picking out a calming draught and pain relieving potion when he noticed the way she held her hand.
"What happened?" his voice slipped into Harry's mind freely, but the young man just shook his head, not quite sure himself.
Severus pulled up a chair beside Hermione's seat and gently lifted her chin with his potions stained fingers to make eye contact and slip into the mind that was unfamiliar to him more easily. "Miss Granger..Hermione..." his mind spoke to her almost gently but she flinched nonetheless at the sudden presence in her mind. She nodded her consent for him to continue however and looked him in the eye to keep the connection. "I have a calming draught and a pain relieving potion for you, if you would drink them now so I may examine your arm." he handed her the two vials.
She took them and accepted the glass of water Harry summoned for her, drinking them down, her lips curling in distaste for a moment before drinking the whole glass and soon felt much calmer.
Severus nodded. "Very well. May I ask who caused you this injury?" he inquired.
Hermione shook her head. "It doesn't matter, it was just a misunderstanding, professor." she said softly.
Severus' lips pressed together in disapproval at her answer and he watched her silently for a moment, giving her time to answer correctly as he would in potions lesson. It was Harry however who answered the question. "It was Remus. Couldn't have been anyone else by the size of that bruise and the strength it would take to hurt her." he said surprisingly calm from his place where he was leaning against the wall.
Hermione shook her head. "It was not like that, Harry. Remus lost control for a moment, yes. But he had a reason to be. I just didn't think he would-" she didn't finish the sentence however, her lips clamping shut.
Harry gritted his teeth but said no more, nodding to Severus to do the best he could. Every potion master had at least some knowledge of healing and he hoped he could humour Hermione's wish to stay out of St. Mungos if Severus could help. The man nodded and pulled out his wand, scanning the bruised are for a long moment and checking all the readings closely.
"Your carpal bones are out of alignment. I will need to cast a spell to rearrange them, and apply a salve." he explained as he held her hand gently.
Hermione only nodded numbly and let him treat her, only wincing slightly when the bones ground together while arranging, but otherwise stayed still. Harry passed Severus a bandage and held Hermione's hand while the man bound it safely to keep the salve in the skin. He then lowered it and brought in the cup of tea he left outside in the hall and reheated it for her.
Severus looked at the young man over Hermione's head. "She needs peace."
Harry shook his head silently and pressed a thought through their connection as Severus was teaching him for silent communication. "She needs a distraction. Hermione was never one to stay idle. But I think I should take her away from here for the evening or for the night. I think it would be possible as Teddy is eating more than just milk." he suggested.
Severus nodded. "If that is what you believe would be best." he said and left to the bathroom to wash his hands and give them a bit of privacy.
Harry crouched before his best friend. "I was thinking of taking you out for dinner or a cup of tea, get away from this house together for a little while. We used to do this remember? Just the two of us and a cuppa." he smiled encouragingly.
Hermione shook her head. "Really Harry, I'm perfectly fine. Maybe I should just...I don't know.." she sighed and put her face into her palm for a moment as she took a deep breath.
Harry hugged her tightly. "Come on. One evening. Or one night, London is a great place at night! We could go see a drag show, I always kind of wanted to see one after I read about it in one of the magazines." he used his puppy eyes.
Hermione chuckled, feeling a bit better with her best friend there. "Alright, let's go. But what about Teddy?"
Harry shook his head. "He will be alright for one night, I'm sure." he reassured her.
Hermione nodded. "Alright, I'll go change. Pick me up in my room?" she asked, feeling a need not to be alone for too long for the moment.
Harry nodded. "I will be with you in 15 or 20, okay?"
She hugged him for a moment. "Thank you..." it was but a whisper but she knew she could rely on Harry to be there for her. Perhaps one evening to clear her mind of the worries of the past week and this whole mate business would give her a new outlook on things and refresh her to get through the talk she would need to have with Remus later.
Harry nodded and watched her leave for her room. Severus returned into his bedroom, wiping his hands dry on one of the towels before cleaning the jar with the salve as well. "Are you certain Hermione will be well?" he asked.
Harry shook his head. "I have no idea. But for her, I would try. And I think an evening away would do us both good. Just two friends, no pressure, no worries...I know I need a break from the renovations and dealing with Gringotts." he sighed and rubbed his neck tiredly.
Severus looked at him for a moment and handed him a vial with a soft purple liquid. "An energy potion, to enjoy your evening and look well after Hermione." he offered.
Harry accepted it with a smile and raised on his toes to press a surprising but much welcome kiss to Severus' cheek. "Thank you..for helping Hermione as well. I really appreciate it."
Severus nodded. "Anytime." he said honestly and watched Harry leave, his hand rising to touch the place where the young man kissed him for but a moment, before realising he was acting silly and went to read his journal again. Merlin forbid if Harry turned him into a bloody Gryffindor...