"I just want it out in the open, here and now, that I'm not fully behind this decision."
"Everything will be fine, Hermione."
"It might be fine. Might. That was all the conclusion we got."
"Stop worrying. If Dumbledore thought it would be a bad idea, he would have said no."
Hermione huffed and crossed her arms, frowning deeply as her husband removed his clothes in the abandoned classroom on the fifth floor. The moon was about to rise and even though he'd been taking the Wolfsbane, even though she'd be there with him, she wasn't sure about what they were about to do.
"But what if something goes wrong? What if Moony doesn't listen to me?" She hated sounding whiny.
"Hermione," Remus said with a chuckle and a shake of his head. He tossed his shirt on top of his trousers and pants and walked up to her naked. After so many months together, she was finally beginning to get comfortable with seeing him completely nude. He took her shoulders gently in his large hands and smiled into her eyes. "Moony will listen to you. The last thing he would want, even if I weren't on the Wolfsbane, would be to scare or hurt you. You're his other half. Stop worrying."
She relaxed at his touch and leaned forward into his chest. Sighing melodramatically, she wrapped her arms around his smooth waist.
"Alright," she murmured.
"Dumbledore will be there if you need him," Remus continued. "No one else is here, except for McGonagall and Snape, and they won't be anywhere near me. We have the grounds to ourselves."
She nodded. Yes, the school year was over and the students and most of the teachers had gone home for Summer break. Harry was back at his Aunt and Uncle's house. Ron was at the Burrow. It was just Hermione, Remus, Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape at Hogwarts and even they sometimes left.
It was hard watching her friends board the Hogwarts Express, leaving her behind. But while she missed them, she found that she liked having all of Hogwarts pretty much to herself. Unbeknownst to the student body, when they left for the summer Hogwarts changed in some ways. Some rooms, like classrooms, vanished and were replaced with other things.
Like a swimming pool.
Hermione got the shock of her life when she had left the library one day and was going to go into a classroom to work on her summer homework (she always did like the feel of classrooms) and found, instead of desks and chairs, that whole walls had vanished and that the entire floor was one big swimming pool complete with a short, medium, and tall diving board.
Another room held a sauna, the old Charms classroom was now a Jacuzzi, and the Muggle Studies classroom had turned into a sandy beach that reminded Hermione of pictures of Hawaii.
When she brought the changes up with Dumbledore, he'd merely chuckled and explained that some of the teachers liked to relax after the school year and the castle liked to help when possible. Some of the enchantments had been done centuries before by teachers and the castle remembered. He'd then pointed her in the direction of what he'd said was his favorite room and she found a room full of candy that seemed to refill itself.
Three weeks later and it was the full moon and they were trying something new. Instead of keeping Moony cooped up in a small classroom (well, small for a huge wolf) they were going to see how he did out on the grounds. It was Remus' idea and Dumbledore seemed to like it as well, since the students were all gone.
"I look forward to being able to run," Remus said softly.
"Really?"
"There's no greater joy for Moony than being able to run."
She smiled and squeezed him around the middle before stepping back. Remus' face was fuller now, healthier. His skin was starting to get a nice glow since he liked to be outdoors as much as possible in the nice weather. It warmed her soul that he looked so good. He no longer feared his transformations, saying that she made it bearable. He healed much faster afterward because he could relax now while a wolf and because of the extensive healing potions that Hermione kept stocked in their bathroom.
He caressed her cheek before going still. "The moon's rising," he said softly. She nodded and held her breath, preparing herself for the next few moments. She hated his transformations. They were obviously painful and there was nothing she could do for him.
He tensed and grimaced but made no noise as his bones started to break, as his skin began to shift. Fur sprouted all over his body and grew as he fell to all fours. She winced in pity but soon it was over. Moony stretched and shook out his fur before looking up at her letting his tongue loll out of his grinning mouth.
"Hey there, handsome," Hermione murmured, reaching out and scratching her fingers though his tawny-silver fur. He licked her wrist in welcome before bounding to the door and prancing in place. Amused, Hermione laughed. "Aho, so you know where we're going, eh?"
He responded by rearing onto his hind legs and scratching the door.
"Hold on a moment, let me open it!" she said.
Moony backed up a little and watched her intently as she unlocked the door, but he seemed too excited to sit still. He jostled her hands and headbutted her shoulder in his anticipation, obviously wanting her to hurry. When the door opened, he wriggled by her and shot into the hallway.
"Hey! Wait up!" Hermione called. Moony skidded to a halt and whined.
Dumbledore was on the other side of the door in the hallway, waiting for them. He was going to accompany them to make sure that nothing went wrong. He looked at the wolf, then at Hermione with an amazed expression. His half-moon glasses glinted in the light of the torches on the wall as he shook his head.
"How curious," he said. Hermione left the classroom and shut the door behind her.
"What's curious?" she asked as they set off down the corridor. Moony walked at her side, though it was obvious that he thought they were going much too slowly.
"He seems to understand you," Dumbledore replied. "That's most curious because he's an animal, and animals don't understand human forms of communication unless trained."
"Maybe we're different because of the soul-mate aspect," Hermione said.
"Possible," Dumbledore said with a slow nod. "Your case is so rare that I'm afraid we have no way to really find out."
"Well it doesn't really matter, does it?" Hermione asked, settling her hand on Moony's large head as they descended a set of stairs. "As long as he understands, that's all that counts."
"Truly," Dumbledore replied.
The rest of the trek to the front doors was in silence. When they finally reached the Entrance Hall, Dumbledore stopped in front of the large doors.
"Do you need me to accompany you?" he asked.
"No, I think we'll be fine," Hermione replied with a smile.
"I think so too, but if you are in need of anyone, send your Patronus. It will find one of us."
"I will, Professor."
Dumbledore then turned his attention to Moony, who was staring at the doors as though they held the secrets of life. His ears were perked forward and he was perfectly still, waiting for them to be opened.
"Remus?" Dumbledore said softly.
"That's not Remus, Professor," Hermione said gently. "That's Moony."
"Hmmm quite right," Dumbledore said. "Moony, then."
Moony looked away from the doors and gave Dumbledore an annoyed glance. Dumbledore held out his long-fingered hand to the wolf and waited. Hermione's breath caught in her throat. Oh, this was not a good idea. Moony grumbled and approached the old wizard, snuffling his fingers before rolling his great shoulders and going back to the doors.
Dumbledore laughed. "I see there is no turning his attention from what he wants most."
"No, sir," Hermione said, breathing a sigh of relief. What had the old man been thinking?
Dumbledore then waved his wand and the doors opened. Moony was gone in the blink of an eye. Hermione sighed, thanked the Headmaster again, and went outside after her husband-turned-wolf. It took her a second to locate him, but indeed there he was.
Running in circles across the vast lawn.
She couldn't help but giggle. Skipping down the front steps, she watched run from one side of the lawn to the other. Ecstasy was plain in his furry face. Hermione settled herself on the last step and simply watched as Moony ran in an open space for the first time in years. After running in circles, he chased a few night-flying butterflies but apparently they were not fast enough for him and he abandoned them after only a few moments. He found a rabbit hiding in the bushes and chased them to the edge of the Forbidden Forrest, but did not follow it inside, much to Hermione's relief. The last thing she needed was for Moony to get lost. He then jumped in the lake and swam for a while before bounding out and running around in circles once more.
At some point Crookshanks had left the castle and settled at Hermione's hip. He watched the crazy antics of the wolf with an obvious look of disdain.
"Hey, he's happy," Hermione chided, scratching her cat's ears. "Need I remind you of the last time I gave you catnip?" Crookshanks' eyes narrowed up at her. "Then don't give him grief."
Moony charged up to them and came to a halt, staring at Crookshanks in curiosity. Crookshanks was not impressed, however, and commenced in cleaning himself. Moony edged closer.
"Now, be nice children," Hermione said warningly. Moony's nose brushed Crookshanks' fur and the half-kneazle jumped and hissed, which seemed to alarm Moony who flinched back and stared at Hermione as though offended. "Oh for goodness' sake," she said. "Crookshanks, grow up. Come on, Moony."
She stood up and marched into the grass and Moony followed, stopping every few steps to look back at the ginger cat, who was once again cleaning his paws.
"Don't let him get to you," Hermione said, reaching out and scrubbing her hands through the fur on Moony's side. "He's kind of a brat."
But it seemed that Moony had already forgotten Crookshanks. Sensing a new playmate, he pushed his head into Hermione's side and jumped back, wagging his tail furiously.
"Oh, you want to play, do you?" Hermione said in a sing-song voice. Gingerly, she reached out to Moony's nose and quick as she could, she tapped his muzzle and began to run, laughing all the way. She could hear his panting breaths behind her and it was obvious that he was letting her win, but he chased her around before finally tackling her gently to the ground.
Mirth bubbling up inside her, she wrestled with the wolf in the grass. The grass stained her knees and hands, but she didn't care. Moony made noises of delight as they rolled around and around.
The night was made up of moments were they wrestled, or of Moony running around more. The wolf was obviously in heaven and his happiness spread to Hermione, who played with him gleefully. They were safe, there on the grounds. No one bothered them, there were no dangers.
When the sky began to turn pink, Hermione led Moony back inside where Dumbledore was waiting for them. Crookshanks slinked inside before the huge doors closed.
"All is well?" he asked.
"Everything's great," she replied. Moony seemed to have worn himself out and was merely standing at her side with slightly droopy eyes. "I was thinking, though, that it would make more sense to just take him back to our quarters. That way he could just change and go to bed."
Dumbledore scratched his nose, considering. Finally he nodded. "I think that would be acceptable."
They nodded goodnight to each other and Hermione led the way to their private quarters with Crookshanks trailing them. When they crossed the threshold, Moony began to whine and pace. Recognizing the signals, Hermione ushered him to the bedroom where he collapsed onto the floor. Hermione kneeled beside him, swallowing back her sympathy, and wrapped her arms around the shuddering form. She closed her eyes and rocked him as he shifted, changed. In the stretch of a few heartbeats he was Remus once more.
He panted, his skin glistening with sweat and dirt.
"Are you alright?" she asked, brushing his fringe out of his eyes. He looked up at her and smiled.
"I'm fantastic," he wheezed. She laughed and shook her head.
After a quick bath (Hermione really didn't want him to get into bed while covered in dirt), they retreated to their bed and snuggled together, where Remus proved that he wasn't as tired as she had originally thought. It wasn't until an hour later that they went to sleep.