Greetings everyone! Hope you like this chapter, please review!
Remus' POV
Hermione was kneeled below Lucius, her hand crushed under his foot.
"You filthy little bitch!" Lucius sneered and stomped down harder on her hand. Hermione let out a blood curdling scream and Remus' stomach flipped. Lucius pointed his wand at Hermione and muttered something Remus couldn't comprehend; Hermione fell limply to the ground. Remus felt like he was on fire, desperate to help his mate, he growled.
"Protego!" Remus screamed at the Rosier, who easily deflected it. The duel went on much like this. Daring a glance at Sirius, he saw him in very much the same position. Remus' eyes darted around the scene, and found Severus standing towards the outskirts, wand in hand but a fearful look in his eyes. He was breathing heavily, and almost looked like he was crying? No, that's not right, Severus didn't have feelings. Right?
"Let her go!" Remus growled as he threw another hex at Rosier. The man laughed loudly and turned to look at Malfoy for a moment.
"Why? Wouldn't want us to dirty up your little girlfriend?" Rosier sneered as he sent a curse to Remus. He knew that Sirius and he wouldn't be able to fight off the Death Eaters forever; it would be a tireless fight.
"I've got her," Lucius called from behind and Sirius growled next to Remus. "Let's go-" Lucius was halted by a stunner sent straight to the back of his head, his body toppled on top of Hermione's and Bellatrix let out a loud hiss.
"You're filth!" She screamed at Sirius as she ran towards Lucius. She raised her wand high, and grabbed him around the shoulders. "Macnair! Rosier! We're leaving!" She hissed. The two men who were fighting with Sirius and Remus nodded their heads slightly. Remus was about to throw a curse back at Rosier, when there was a loud popping noise, and the Death Eaters were gone.
Remus sprinted towards Hermione's body which lay lifelessly on the dirt floor. He grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her up, towards him. He shook her in his arms and choked back a sob that ate at the back of his throat.
"Wake up!" Remus hissed into her ear, shaking her a bit more violently. "Hermione, please!" He begged with the unconscious girl and held her tightly. Remus could feel Sirius standing behind him, silent and in awe of the situation.
"She needs help!" Severus' voice hissed from the other side of the clearing. Remus head shot forward and he let out a low growl. This was Snape's fault, this was his doing.
"I'll kill you!" Sirius yelled from behind Remus and Sprinted over to Severus, wand pointed menacingly at the boy. Severus shivered at the threat, but remained still.
"She needs help," Severus said a bit more calmly, causing both Remus and Sirius to growl.
"She needs you to not betray her every chance you get!" Sirius hissed as he shoved Severus to the ground. The Slytherin shied away from the attack, and slowly crawled away from Sirius. "You awful little rat! First Lily, now this?" Sirius spat as he stepped towards the Slytherin.
"Sirius," Remus called from behind him. "She needs help; we need to get her to the castle. We'll deal with him later." Remus pleaded. Sirius gave Severus an evil glare before nodding his head slowly. "I'll help her to the castle; you make sure Severus doesn't run away." Remus said boldly as he easily lifted Hermione up into his arms. Sirius followed suit and grabbed Severus by the collar and lifted him off the ground easily, shoving him in front of the group.
"If you move, I'll hex you." Sirius threatened as he jabbed his wand into Severus' back. The Slytherin nodded slightly and stumbled forward.
The four of them made it up to the castle without incident; it was helpful that Sirius was still carrying the Marauder's Map. They made their way quickly up to the Hospital Wing, nearly throwing Hermione down on a bed and screaming for Madam Pomfry.
"Oh dear," Madam Pomfry winced as she looked at the unconscious Hermione. "What happened to her?" She asked the three boys.
"One of Lucius Malfoy's specialties, I'm guessing." Sirius snapped as he looked over a pale Hermione. "Well, what was it?" Sirius demanded from Severus who promptly shrugged.
"I'm not sure, I need to see Dumbledore." Snape told the boys and the two Gryffindor's nearly growled.
"Oh, trust me Severus, you'll see him." Remus spat and Snape glared at the boy menacingly.
"I did what I had to do Lupin. We're living in a war." Snape said so quietly only Remus would hear. Remus turned his head to Snape then shook it disgustedly.
"You don't betray friends in a war." Remus said simply and Snape sneered.
"Who said she was my friend?" Snape hissed and Remus had to grab Sirius to stop him from attacking Snape. "And I didn't betray her! I knew there would be a meeting but I had no intention of bringing her into the middle!"
"Boys! No fighting, you'll need to leave now, she'll be fine, but you need to leave!" Madam Pomfry hissed at the boys, pushing them out of the Hospital Wing. The three boys fumbled over each other, and Sirius was the first to react.
"We're going to Dumbledore," He said firmly as he grabbed Snape by his shoulder and thrusted him in front of the two boys. Once they reached Dumbledore's office, Sirius cleared his throat. "Barganese Berries" Sirius said quickly and the Gargoyle slowly moved out of his way. The three boys scurried up the stairs and Sirius threw Snape to the ground in Dumbledore's office.
"Headmaster!" Sirius nearly yelled and the old wizard happily looked over at the three of them.
"Please sit down." Dumbledore smiled at them. Sirius gave Remus a confused glance but sat acrossed the old wizard anyways.
"I think you have something you'd like to share, Mr. Black?" Dumbledore asked Sirius. Sirius nodded his head slowly, and then launched into the long ramblings of the past event. After he was finished explaining in length detail, Dumbledore nodded appreciatively at Snape. Remus noticed the glance, and before he could stop himself he slammed his fist impatiently down onto the desk.
"Why are you condoning this?!" Remus asked bitterly. Sirius continued to glare at the old man. Dumbledore cleared his throat and turned to the boys.
"Do either of you have any idea of what The Order of the Phoenix is?"
Hermione's POV
"You won't be able to do it," Harry said, smiling down an evil grin at Hermione. She took a step away from him quickly, and glanced around at her surroundings. She was in a large dark room, with a small fireplace in the corner, roaring with life. The light from the fire made it possible to see her friend, sitting across from her on the ground.
"Harry!" Hermione squealed and threw her arms around the boy tightly. "I've missed you, I've missed you so much." Hermione said quietly as she pressed her head into Harry's neck. She held him closer, she wouldn't let him go this time. The boy in her arms shook violently, vibrating almost within her grasps. Hermione pulled away quickly and held the boy at arms length, just enough to closely inspect her friend. He was Harry alright, messy dark hair and bright green eyes, the scar directly on his forehead. His glasses were even as crooked as Hermione remembered. The smile however, wasn't Harry's. It was larger than normal, forced even. It didn't quite reach his eyes. Hermione smiled at him sadly.
"You won't be able to do it." Harry repeated. Hermione didn't see his mouth move, but she was sure it was Harry's voice.
"Do what?" Hermione asked.
"Save them." Harry's mouth opened wide and he let out a loud cackling laugh, much like Bellatrix's. He laughed and laughed and Hermione slowly stepped back. Harry followed, but his movements were jerky and quick. Not human. Hermione gasped as she slammed into something behind her, turning around she faced Ron.
"Ronald!" Hermione cried as she inspected him. Much like Harry, he was wearing a large grin, too large and not anything like his original smile.
"You'll fail." Ron giggled crazily and Hermione gasped, it wasn't his laugh, it wasn't his smile.
Hermione took a few steps to the left, into the dark and away from Ron and Harry. It was from that view; she could see thin strings tied to the boys that lead up to the ceiling. Puppet strings, tied to the head, arms, back and legs of each boy. Hermione followed the strings up, and in the midst of the dark room, she could make out Dumbledore, happily jingling both Harry and Ron around and making them dance. A blood curdling scream brought Hermione's eyes back down. Before her on the floor, were bodies piled on top of eachother. Naked and pale, sallow and dim. They were dead, numerous dead bodies stacked on one another before her. Hermione's hand shot to her mouth to hide her shock. She fought the urge to vomit and reached into her pocket for her wand, but found it was empty. Hermione retched and wiped the tears away as she walked toward the pile. Slowly inspecting it, Hermione paled. Sirius' eyes were wide and pale, staring past Hermione, a ghostly smile haunted his face. Underneath Sirius was Marlene. Her usually bright blonde hair was soaked with blood and her eyes were slightly opened. Hermione began to sob when she saw a dead Lily and James cradling each other. James' face was blank, but the pain was still apparent on Lily's. She shook her head violently from side to side; she covered her ears and let out a heart wrenching scream.
"Your plan will fail, and everyone you love will die." A casual voice rang out loud in the room. Hermione curled into herself and slowly sobbed. Slowly, the room became brighter. And Remus was standing at the center, a bouquet of flowers in his hand. Hermione sprinted towards him and threw herself around him, thankful for a familiar face.
"Remus," Hermione began and sobbed into his shoulder.
"How could you do this?" His voice suddenly cold and bitter. He stared at her frigidly, and then shook his head in disgust.
"Remus, what are you-," Hermione began but Remus stuck his arms out and shoved her back.
"You killed them." Remus spat and Hermione flinched. But Remus remained angry. "You promised they would live, and you promised you would save Sirius. You promised you wouldn't let me be alone. I'm alone." Remus closed his eyes tight. "This is your fault."
Hermione's mouth opened wide. "Remus!" She screamed.
"Remus, Please!
"Hermione, Hermione dear, its okay!" An older women's voice rang loud in Hermione's ear. Hermione's eyes slowly blinked open and she took in her surroundings. The hospital wing, she was in the hospital wing. It was a nightmare, and an awful one at that.
"What happened?" Hermione asked suddenly as she attempted to sit up. A pair of gentle hands grasped her shoulders and laid her back down onto the bed.
"I'll go get the boys; they'll want to know that you're awake." Madam Pomfry told her kindly and marched out of the room. Hermione looked around quickly and memories came flooding back; going to Hogsmeade with Severus, being surrounded by Death Eaters, Lucius stomping on her hand. Hermione looked down at her right hand and found it in nearly perfect condition. Madam Pomfry was a miracle worker. Hermione slowly sat up, ignoring the blood rushing to her head. She steadied herself on the bed, and then slowly put one foot on the ground, then the next one. She felt extremely tired and groggy, like she had been sleeping for months.
"Hermione, sit down." Remus' voice commanded her from the doorway. Hermione looked up quickly and saw Remus, Sirius, James, and Peter all walking into the room towards her.
"Remus, shut up." Hermione said tiredly and attempted to cover a yawn. Remus rolled his eyes and gently laid her back down onto the bed.
"I'm going to kill Severus," Hermione said simply once all of the boys were around her. "I'm going to do it with my bare hands." She promised the boys and all of them looked uncomfortably around the room.
"I'd advise you to please, refrain from killing students, Ms. Granger." A soothing voice called from behind all of them. Dumbledore stood in the doorway, and smiled at the five teenagers. Hermione immediately paled, as much as she wanted Severus dead right now, she would never have said such a thing in front of Dumbledore. The old wizard walked towards her bed and turned toward the four boys.
"May I please speak to Ms. Granger alone? I know you have been waiting all night, but this will not take long, I promise." The four boys looked amongst each other anxiously then slowly nodded their heads. Hermione's jaw dropped. They had waited all night? How long was she out of it?
"Er, sure." Hermione heard Remus anxiously reply, before turning around and giving her a sad smile. Once all four of the boys sulked slowly out of the room, Dumbledore turned to Hermione.
"One would guess you are quite confused at the moment," Dumbledore hummed as Hermione looked up at him.
"One would be correct." Hermione said shortly, narrowing her eyes at Dumbledore. What sort of game was he playing here?
"Severus I'm afraid, had landed himself in quite the dilemma." Dumbledore spoke softly. "The boy had gotten himself mixed up with the wrong sort."
"Voldemort's sort." Hermione interjected quickly and Dumbledore nodded.
"He came to me, after a particularly hard meeting with the other Death Eaters," Dumbledore explained. "He explained his problems, and I offered him a way out."
"You made him a spy," Hermione quickly corrected him, putting the pieces of the puzzle quickly together. Dumbledore tilted his head at this, but nodded anyways.
"I did what had to be done," Dumbledore looked down at the girl with his eyes twinkling.
"He's just a child. We're all just children, fighting in a war that doesn't belong to us." Hermione snapped bitterly and Dumbledore nodded his head.
"I agree, but I also believe that if we do not try to stop him now, your own children will be fighting in a war that does not belong to them. You of all people should know that, Ms. Granger, considering you were one yourself." Dumbledore pointed out and Hermione groaned loudly. He was correct, in her own time, Voldemort was still at large. Hermione had no problem sacrificing herself for the cause, but she didn't want her friends to be at risk as well.
"I don't like it," Hermione firmly stated. "You shouldn't have asked Severus to do that, you should have protected him."
"What you must understand, and I hope you will because I have been told you are quite the brilliant witch, is that everything I do is for the greater good." Dumbledore explained.
"How is the Horcrux hunting going?" Hermione interrupted quickly. Dumbledore frowned at the harshness of her tone, and then cleared her throat.
"Ms. Granger, why do you think Voldemort summoned his Death Eaters to collect you?" Dumbledore asked. Hermione shrugged, she hadn't really thought about it.
"I, I'm not sure." She said after a moment.
"The Horcrux hunting is going quite successfully, if I may say so. Voldemort has his suspicions of you. From where, I am not completely sure. Severus is spying for our side, not Voldemort's. It wasn't him that betrayed you. But if one to guess, I would say you had made quite the impression on Mr. Mulciber and on the younger Black boy, no doubt?" Dumbledore raised a brow. Hermione sunk lower into her seat, she probably should have kept herself off of their radar, but she didn't know this would be the consequence.
"They wouldn't know my, er, secret though, would they?" Hermione asked quickly and Dumbledore shook his head.
"Severus explained to me that Voldemort seems to think you are a seer." Dumbledore explained. Hermione's eyes widened and she shook her head.
"A seer?" Hermione asked, "Why would he think that?"
"It seems an inside source has put it into his head that you may know some things you probably should not." Dumbledore said. Hermione nodded slowly, and then she blinked.
"So Severus had to pretend to turn me over?" Hermione raised an eyebrow questiongly and Dumbledore nodded his head.
"Once he understood the situation he was in, he had to act as though he were on Voldemort's side. As you were ambushed by the Death Eaters, Severus had no choice but to betray you He did so on my orders. He needed to keep up his image." He explained.
"You trust Severus is working on your orders then? You trust he isn't actually with Voldemort?" Hermione raised an eyebrow at her headmaster and he nodded.
"Quite certain, Ms. Granger." Dumbledore reassured her. Hermione cringed, she wanted to believe that Dumbledore was correct, and she didn't think he would lie to her, but he would do whatever he could for, 'the greater good.'
"Can I talk to my friends now?" Hermione asked quietly, avoiding eye contact with the old wizard.
"Of course," Dumbledore nodded and walked away. Hermione slammed her head onto her pillow as soon as Dumbledore was out of sight. Moments later, the four Marauders came pounding in quickly.
"Mione!" James gasped as soon as he saw her again. Hermione smiled at the boy who looked just like her old friend.
"James Potter," She began, a wide grin growing on her face. "Are you by chance, in relation to a certain wizard name Fleamont Potter?" James rolled his eyes and nodded his head.
"My father, and a bloody great wizard he is!" James said proudly as he crossed his arms. Hermione giggled and shook her head.
"Oh, I don't doubt that," Hermione began, "I was just curious as to why the inventor of Sleekeazy's son, refuses to wear any of the product?" Hermione raised a brow curiously and James instinctively ran his hand through his hair and muttered something.
"What was that?" Sirius asked from the other side of the bed and James turned bright red.
"Shut it, Padfoot!" James snapped at him and rolled his eyes at Hermione. "How are you feeling?" He wondered. Hermione nodded her head.
"Okay, a lot better now that you lot are here." She admitted as she smiled at the four boys. As her eyes fell onto Remus she cringed.
"Remus, you look worse than I do." She said pointedly and Remus shrugged.
"Full Moon's tomorrow and it doesn't help not knowing if your mate was going to be alright," he said a bit bitterly and Hermione flinched.
"Sorry, I forgot." Hermione said sheepishly and Remus shrugged.
"I haven't."
"Hermione!" Sirius waved his hand in front of her face happily and changed the subject.
"Guess who just became the four newest members to the Order of the Phoenix?" Sirius gushed. Hermione's smile slowly faded. She knew that they were ready; she knew that they knew enough about the real world to be able to join, but she something had changed inside her; she didn't want them in danger.
"No," Hermione's smile fell as Sirius nodded his head excitedly.
"We just got inducted this morning, won't be doing much till we're out of school, but at least we'll be a part of something, ya know?" Sirius explained and Hermione slowly nodded her head.
"Maybe Dumbledore will let you join too!" Peter squealed excitedly. Hermione nodded her head, if only Peter knew that she was a part of something much bigger that the Order.
"Of course he will!" James said, "She's brilliant!" Hermione blushed at that then sighed.
"What happened after I was knocked out?" She turned to Sirius.
"Well, Snape hit Lucius with a stunner, then the Death Eaters apparated. We carried you back to the castle and you've been out since then." Sirius explained quickly. Hermione let out a large yawn and nodded.
"Thank you," She said quietly to Sirius and the boy blushed.
"Anything for you." Sirius said sarcastically and Hermione threw a fist into his side. The boys filed out one by one, eventually leaving because they wanted to rest before the full moon tonight. Remus hesitated about leaving, and Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"I, uh brought you this, in case you wanted something to read." Remus said hesitantly as he held out a book in front of him.
A Tale of Two Cities
Hermione read the title and smiled.
"Oh, I should probably get going then." Remus smiled at her then began to walk off.
"Remus, wait." Hermione called from her bed. "Stay, a little while longer?" She asked. Remus couldn't hide the grin he had if he tried. He nodded his head and walked back over towards the bed. Hermione rolled over to the farthest part of her bed, giving Remus plenty of room to join her. Remus stared at the bed timidly then gracefully hopped on it next to her.
"Read me the book," She asked as she curled up into his side and laid her head down onto his chest. Remus wrapped his arm around her lazily. Without any effort, they fit together so perfectly. It was nice.
Remus cleared his throat and with one hand opened the book and began to read.
" It was the best of times,
It was the worst of times,
It was the age of wisdom,
It was the age of foolishness,"
As the words slowly floated around Hermione's head, she slowly fell back into a sleep, not once lightening her grip on Remus' side.
~Until Next Time~
Please review! I know Snape's motives seem a bit confusing. But he was not the person who sold Hermione out to Voldemort. Someone else planted it inside Voldemort's head that Hermione was a seer, but it was not Severus. He gave Hermione up once they were ambushed, but that was just to keep up appearances.