"Of course I will," Remus took off his boots and jacket then slid into the bed beside her and pulled her against him. "I'll stay forever."
Both fell into a peaceful sleep for the first time in nearly a year.
Remus opened his eyes to brown hair fanned out across the pillow next to him; he looked down in relief at the image of Hermione laying his arms. Knowing it wasn't a dream made him smile softly, he marveled at her beauty as he trailed his fingers over her cheek. It amazed him that someone could be so forgiving and loving after all that she had undeservedly gone through. Remus placed a kiss on her head and whispered, "I love you."
"I love you too." Remus startled, and jerked his gaze up to meet the sleepy brown eyes of Hermione."Good morning."
"For once it is a good morning, I am not waking up from nightmares," Hermione yawned as she rubbed her eyes.
"How did you deal with them before?" He questioned.
"I either didn't sleep or use dreamless sleep. Severus sometimes—" Hermione trailed off, remembering who she was talking to.
"—Held you so you could sleep." He finished for her. "He eagerly rubbed that in my face."
"He's my best friend Remus." She stated a slight reproach in her voice.
"I know. He was trying to hurt me the way I hurt you. Pay back I guess," Remus commented as he pulled her closer to him.
"He's rather protective."
Remus smirked, "I've noticed."
"What time is it?"
Remus glanced down at his watch. "About one. Why you have somewhere you need to be?" He asked her teasingly?
"No—" She said simply. "But I know my grandfather is around, and he should be here by now. So, I probably need to get up." Hermione made to get up when Remus stopped her. Hermione felt a thrill as he pressed his lips against hers; the war, the threat of Voldemort and his followers, and the uncertainty of the future all faded away, replaced by the safety that flooded through her.
Remus pulled back, "Sorry I couldn't stop myself. I have missed you."
"I have missed you too." Hermione smiled, her attention was diverted to her wrist where her bracelet lay and her smile turned to a frown.
"Hermione, where did you get a moonstone?"
"You gave it to me before I left to come here." She answered distractedly, still studying her bracelet.
"These bracelets are normally given to a person the werewolf wants to protect, mainly their mate." Remus explained running his fingers over it.
"Then that explains a few things." Hermione laughed.
"Explains what?"
"Why you were so protective of me and why you kissed me," She rolled over and grabbed her shoes to put them on, Remus studied her for a few minutes before he moved to mirror her.
A knock on the door caused Remus to answer it, feeling the blood drain from his face and his eyes grow wide at the sight of Dumbledore on the other side. Remus acknowledged that they were adults, but there was a reason why Voldemort himself feared Dumbledore.
"Hermione, there's breakfast ready, and Alastor needs to speak with you, privately." Albus smiled at her as she slipped past and headed for the stairs.
"I'll be with Alastor then," Remus made to follow when Albus's voice stopped him.
"Remus, I would like to speak with you."
"Yes sir." Remus said quietly, he had the odd urge to tuck tail and run especially when Remus noticed the lack of twinkle in the older wizard's eye.
"I know that I never said anything back at Hogwarts about what had happen between all of you. Mainly because I knew she could handle her own problems, but I am warning you now. If you ever hurt my little girl, again you will answer directly to me." Albus spoke not once taking his eyes off Remus. "If that day comes and I am not alive, Alastor will be taking my place in that. Do we understand on another?"
"Yes, Sir. I won't hurt her."
"I thought that the first time, so we shall see."
HGRLHGRLHGRLHGRLHGRLHGRL
Hermione got to the bottom of the stairs to see that Alastor was indeed waiting for him.
"Morning, Papa said you wanted to speak with me?" Hermione asked as she took a seat across from Alastor and the food.
"Me? No, I am just to keep you here while he talks Mr. Lupin," Alastor stated drinking his coffee continue with "If you think of going back up there I will hex you to that chair." When Hermione moved to go back up the stairs.
"Yes sir." Hermione said quietly as she retook her seat.
Remus entered the kitchen sitting by Hermione quietly; he grabbed a cereal bowl and filled it with cereal, freezing with his hand halfway to the milk when he noticed Alastor watching him.
"I have already said my peace. They won't find the body boy," Without another word he left the room.
"Remus, are you ok?" Hermione looked at him concerned noticing he had paled slightly.
"I'm a dead man if I hurt you. I have warnings from two of the most powerful wizards, not to hurt you. One already knows where to hide my body," Remus groaned laying his head in his hands.
"I would honestly laugh right now—" Hermione stated pulling his head up. "But I know their serious."
At that moment Lily ran in the kitchen wide eyed.
"Lily, what's wrong?" Hermione said pulling her hands from Remus.
"Happy you two are back together," Lily said quickly looking between the couple. "But I need you like right now." Lily grabbed Hermione's arm and pulled her from the room.
"I'll be back!" Hermione yelled down the hall as she was dragged away. Remus shook his head as he watched the girls leave the room. Remus took a deep breath in an attempt to relax, but his eyebrows bunched together. He sniffed the air again and cocked his head, Lily smelled different.
Hermione sat on the bathroom counter watching Lily pace back and forth biting her nails. She knew something must be wrong for Lily to do that, she never bit her nails.
"Lily, can you please stop pacing, you're making me nauseous." Hermione said jokingly. Lily stopped pacing and sat down on the tub; she put her hands over her face and let out a long sob.
"Tell me what's wrong, you're scaring me now." Hermione spoke worriedly. Lily shook her head; Hermione cast a silencing charm over the bathroom.
"Now no one can hear us."
Lily looked up with tears still on her face and popped up to pace again, "Hermione— I— I think I am pregnant."
For once Hermione was at a loss for words, "Um—are you sure?"
"I think so. I am about two and a half weeks late but I don't know the spell to check and the only person I could ask is Mrs. Potter," Lily started crying again. "Oh god what is she going to think of me?"
"Lily, she will not think of you any differently but no matter what, you will have to have someone check and soon." Hermione said softly but somewhat stern.
"Can you please go get Mrs. Potter?" Lily said quietly sitting on the toilet lid.
"I'll lock the door on the way out so no one bothers you." Hermione left the bathroom and passed Sirius on the way down the hall.
"Sirius, where's Helena?" Hermione said quickly.
"Kitchen I believe. Everything alright?" Sirius asked concerned.
"Feminine problems," Hermione smiled.
"That's my queue to make an exit." Sirius said with a gag walking away.
Hermione rolled her eyes but continued to the kitchen where Helena was drinking tea with Charles and her grandfather.
"Helena, can I speak with you for a moment?" Hermione asked poking her head in the door.
"Well of course." Helena smiled and turned to face Hermione. The younger girl flicked her eyes from Charles to her grandfather then returned to Helena with a wince.
"Privately?"
"Oh ok," Helena followed Hermione up the stairs. "Hermione, is everything ok?"
"Lily needs you," Hermione said as she unlocked the bathroom. Helena followed her into the room and frowned when she saw Lilly sitting on the toilet seat crying.
"Lily what's wrong?" Helena said worriedly as she hurried to
Lily opened her mouth to speak but just shook her head and began to sob again.
"Hermione, do you mind telling me what's going on? I am rather worried," Helena asked at a loss.
Hermione sighed, "Lily believes she is—pregnant."
"I am so sorry, Mrs. Potter. I can only imagine what you think of me." Lily cried from behind her hands.
Helena grabbed Lily's hands and removed them from the hysterical girl's face. "Why would my opinion of you change? You may be young but legally you are grown. My opinion of you has not and will not change," Helena consoled as she pulled her into a hug. "Also, if I remember correctly, it's takes two." Helena smiled. "Unless Charles and I were doing it wrong."
Hermione gaped at Helena in shock at her joke, and Lily had stopped sobbing and was giving Helena a look that resembled the troll in Hermione's first year when Ron hit it in the face.
"There's a small fact James doesn't know about his father and I. We were pregnant before we got married. After we married, I unfortunately had a miscarriage. So, I cannot think differently of you if I have done the same." Helena pulled out her wand and muttered a spell that made Lily's abdomen shine blue.
Helena nodded looking at Lily, "You are pregnant."
Before anyone could speak someone knocked on the door. "Ah, Snape just come in the door like a bat out of hell. No pun intended." Sirius spoke through the door.
"We'll be out in a moment." Hermione called out. "Do you want to tell James now?"
"Can I wait just a little while? I have to be able to say it first." Lily said quietly.
"Of course."
RLHGRLHGRLHGRLHGRLHGRLHGRL
Hermione entered the living room some of the Order was there but the boys were missing, Severus was pacing back and forth. What is up with people pacing today? Maybe something in the tea. Hermione studied Severus closely and could see rage written in the tense set of his shoulders and the brisk, gait of his steps.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked cautiously.
Severus stopped to look at Hermione and she saw fear in his eyes, the sight set a cold feeling down her spine to settle in her stomach.
"Hermione, he has a price on your head," Severus announced.
"Severus, it's a death threat it's nothing new," Hermione said confused. Unsure why this was so important, it had been that way for months.
"NO, NOT A DEATH THREAT, HE WANTS YOU INFRONT OF HIM!" Severus hollered, his cool control slipping.
"Oh." Hermione said quietly, looking down at her hands.
"We will protect you Hermione. You don't have to worry." Charles spoke up quickly. "We can take you out of the dangerous missions—"
"No—"Hermione spoke up firmly. "Because I have a horrible idea."
"I don't like the sound of your horrible idea." Gabriel spoke up from across the room where he was watching her intently. Gabriel knew just how horrible her ideas could be.
"I know. I don't even like what I am thinking. Let's give him what he wants, let me get turned over." Hermione exclaimed.
"Have you lost your fucking mind?" Snape growled, glaring at her with rage in his eyes.
"No, how else do you plan on getting the Americans out from there?" Hermione growled, feeling her own anger raise at his overprotectiveness.
"SOME OTHER DAMN WAY. I WILL NOT SEND YOU INTO HELL LIKE THAT!" Severus yelled as he stalked towards Hermione to glare down at her, instead of being cowed Hermione glared right back. Hurried steps entered the room, Severus' yelling having caught the boys' attention. They looked between Severus and Hermione but before any questions could be asked the yelling had started again.
"I HAVE TO WATCH YOU GO ALL THE TIME. I NEVER KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO COME BACK!"
"THERES A BIG DAMN DIFFERENCE. I GO IN AS A DEATH EATER NOT AS A WILLING PRISONER!" Severus roared as he backed up, he rested his hands on the table as though he needed something solid under his hands to keep from strangling Hermione.
"THEN WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE US DO? YOU KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HE WANTS!"
"Of course you're not. He wants Potter and Lily as well but mostly you," Severus ground out. "They have also broken out some of the Death Daters from Azkaban, Peter Pettigrew among them. I saw him today; he's out for your blood."
"THEN SO BE IT! SOMEONE HAS TO DO THE MISSION NO ONE WANTS TO DO," She yelled back.
Severus' control snapped and a rush of magic swirled around the room. Chairs slung across the room and slammed into a wall, glass figurines burst, and Lily shrieked when the mirror above her shattered. Hermione was slightly mesmerized by the magic she could see churning wildly around him.
"HERMIONE, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU ARE ASKING ME TO DO? IF YOU ARE BROUGHT THERE I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT YOU WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE REVELS." Hermione never blinked at the mention of the revels which caused Severus to continue on his warpath. "I WILL HAVE TO SET BACK AND WATCH AS YOU ARE TORTURED AND RAPED; I MAY EVEN BE FORCED TO DO IT MYSELF. THERES NOT A FUCKING THING I CAN DO TO HELP YOU. I HAVE TO ACT AS IF I ENJOY IT. BEING A DEATH EATER IS NOT FUN AND FUCKING GAMES. IF YOU WANT TO DIE SO BADLY THEN GO AND GET YOURSELF TAKEN AND SEE IF I CARE." Severus growled once more and stormed past her, his magic slamming the door behind him. They could hear various things flying from the walls as his magic had free reign.
"Hermione?" Lily spoke softly coming to Hermione's side.
"I'm fine." Hermione sighed as she put her hands on her hips. "He wouldn't be angry if he didn't care."
Hermione turned to look at Remus, the look on his face causing her stomach to clench.
"I don't want you to do this." Remus declared quietly.
"I know, but the American Minister of Magic contacted the Order to get his daughters. This is a mission for the Order and I have to do it," Hermione spoke softly.
"Bound by the Order," Remus snorted.
"Yeah—" Hermione paused catching his eyes. "I'm sorry but this is what has to happen," Remus only nodded.
"Helena I am sorry about this," Hermione said looking around to the damage.
"It's fixing able." She said waving her wand, the room was set back to rights leaving everything in its rightful place.
"No one's going to try and stop this?" James exclaimed looking from his parents to Dumbledore.
"You're all really going to let her go to her death?" Sirius joined in. "I can't believe this."
"We need to start making plans," Hermione said trying to get things back on track.
"We will. Tomorrow." Albus spoke. "For now things need to calm down, Hermione go speak to Severus." Hermione nodded at him and left the room, waving her wand at the damage outside the room as wall.
Lily left the room in a daze, in all of an hour she had found out she was pregnant and she could possibly lose her best friend again.
" Lily, are you all right?" James's voice broke through her thought and Lilly remembered the news she had to break to him.
" James, I need to talk to you." Lily said quietly.
"We'll all go in the library," Helena spoke up from behind them, Charles looked questioningly at his wife but followed her from the room. James cast confused glances between his girlfriend and his retreating parents as they left and shut the door behind them.
Ok well here's another chapter. I hope you like it.
1: What's your favorite part or line?
2: Lily pregnant?
3: Hermione going straight to the dark lord. Whats your thoughts?
4: Oh no Pettigrew is out! What problems do you think he will cause?