"So no one has heard from Bill or Charlie?" I asked. Ron shook his head.
"Nor from Percy. Mum's afraid they're keeping him against his will but I don't know." Ron shrugged.
"But everyone else is safe?"
"Yeah, I caught them before they left for Romania to look for Charlie. Ginny was pretty broken up about the news…." He trailed off, looking a bit sick.
"Poor Ginny. The way they looked at each other…" Every time I thought of Harry lately I experienced a deep sadness but also intense hatred towards Voldemort. Usually it ended with my blood boiling, longing for revenge. This was one of those times.
"She asked to come with me, but I want her with mum. I know nothing will happen to her that way. Mum's vicious when it comes to protecting us."
"How did she take you leaving again?"
"Not well, but she understood." We shared a moment of silence, watching the sun fade slowly in the early evening sky.
"Any news on the others?" I asked finally. Ron sighed.
"Not much. There have been rumors that Kingsley is in London. And then there's this." He pulled a worn piece of paper out of his pocket and unfolded it; it was a picture from a muggle newspaper. The story was about unseasonably cold temperatures and unusually high numbers of patients diagnosed with depression reported in Scotland. The picture was of a long line of rough looking people waiting outside a clinic.
"So the Dementors are in Scotland then. Probably making themselves comfortable at Hogwarts." I said bitterly.
"That's not all though." Ron said. "Look." He pointed to the background of the picture. Just barely visible was a small figure poking out of an alleyway. A tabby cat with distinct rectangular markings around the eyes was peering at the people in line. I let out a sob and clamped a hand over my mouth.
Professor McGonagall!
*/*
"It certainly does look like her animagus form." Remus said, finally handing it over to Severus. I had almost immediately fled back to the house, Ron trailing after me. We were upstairs in one of the bedrooms, Ron telling them what he had told me. I was chewing my lip like mad as Severus examined the picture.
"Well?" I asked, unable to wait any longer. He glanced up at me and raised one eyebrow.
"I cannot be completely positive…"
"Oh, Severus," Remus sighed, "We're not asking you for confirmation. We're asking what you think – what you feel." Severus gave Remus an almost comical look of exasperation.
"Very well. I feel that it would certainly suit Minerva to stay close to the school and keep an eye on things."
"Well I believe that is as close to a 'yes' as we shall get." Remus said to Ron and I. He put an arm around each of us and led us towards the door to the hall.
"I'm afraid I must go. I can feel the time is drawing near." He said quietly. I nodded.
"We've been expecting it. Please be safe and come back to us soon." Without realizing what I was doing, I found myself hugging him. Over time, we had shared so much that in some ways he seemed more of a friend than mentor. I pulled back, feeling somewhat embarrassed. Remus, however, simply gave me a smile.
"I will do my best. In the meantime," He leaned in closer and glanced back at Severus. "Do what you can to help him. I can't imagine it will be long before he is summoned and it won't be a walk in the park."
"Done." Ron nodded.
"And work on where we're off to next. I would say London – Kingsley is quite an asset, though so is Minerva… when I return, we'll go. But – ", He broke off, looking at me with an odd expression.
"But?" I asked. He hesitated another moment before replying.
"If I do not return within a week's time, you must go without me." I shook my head vigorously, but Ron spoke first.
"I'll make sure we continue on if we don't hear from you." Remus nodded thankfully at him. With one last look at me, he stepped out into the hall, turning back for a small wave before he went on his way.
*/*
A couple of days later, I had left mine and Ron's bedroom while Ron napped to go in search of something to read. Downstairs, I wandered into the living room and browsed through the books on the solitary bookcase. Smiling when I found a guide book about off-beat attractions in London, I figured it was a good place to start finding ideas of where to look for Kingsley.
It was a rainy, overcast day; Jayne had put on coffee that morning, so I poured myself a small cup and curled up by the fire. We had been lying low since Remus had left. So far, Jayne had not reported anything of concern in the nearby farming community which was a relief. While it would be nice to know he was nearby and well by hearing that an animal had been taken, or something had been seen, we couldn't risk the suspicion. I quickly lost myself in the book, making mental notes on anything I deemed a decent hiding place.
"Planning a holiday?" His voice startled me, causing me to spill a bit of coffee out of my cup and onto the rug.
"Blast." I breathed, putting the cup down and examining the stain.
"Let me." Severus said softly, crouching down and touching his wand to the plush material. "Tergeo" He whispered. The stain disappeared and a heavy tension hung in the air.
"Thank you." I whispered. He nodded, but remained crouched down beside me.
"Just returning the favor – besides, it was my fault to begin with." I turned to look at him finally.
"You remember the cave? You seemed so out of it." He looked at me with intensity in his eyes.
"I remember." He said simply. He looked down and as I followed his gaze, he flexed his left hand. The sensation of holding his hand in the cave came rushing back to me, along with the worry that we might lose him. I bit my lip, not able to pry my eyes from his hand, though I could feel his eyes had settled back on my face. When I didn't say anything, he stood.
"I apologize." He muttered, turning back towards the kitchen. I finally looked up at him.
"You can stay." I said quickly, the words pouring out of my mouth. "If you like." I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks. I wasn't sure what had changed between us, but I found myself longing to know more about this man who had done so much for me.
He hesitated a moment, then turned back, his expression a vaguely suspicious one. I gestured to the armchair across from me. He glanced between it and me and then crossed to it and sat gracefully. He, too, had a book, though I couldn't make out the title.
"Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde," he said wryly, "it has a few interesting parallels I can relate to." He said it in what I would assume was sarcasm or some attempt at humor (it was hard to tell with him), but it only made me sad. I couldn't imagine what his life had been like – or what he was facing in the coming days, weeks, months… the overwhelming thought that he may never know life without this burden crushed me.
"Severus, I hope you know how much we appreciate you and your help with everything." I said earnestly.
"It started long before your time, Hermione."
"But here you are still helping us, even when you have no obligation to do so."
"No obligation but promises to the dead and a nagging conscience." I smirked a bit at that, and enjoyed the touch of humor that graced his dark eyes.
"And that nagging conscience requires you to keep us safe as well?" His lips twitched.
"Perhaps there's more to it than that." He said so quietly, I barely made out what he said.
"Is there?" I asked. In that moment, looking into his eyes, I felt a strange, warm feeling spread through my belly. The moment stretched and seemed to freeze time. He blinked quickly and looked past me.
"Afternoon." His deep voice betrayed nothing.
"Good afternoon!" Jayne's voice sounded from the entrance to the kitchen. "Severus, would you be willing to lend a hand? I can't quite reach the platter I need for dinner."
"Of course." Severus said, placing the book on a small table beside his chair. He then rose and crossed to the kitchen, leaving me acutely aware of how empty the room felt without him.