A week to the full moon...

A flash of red and the witch groaned as she tucked herself behind the couch. "Come on out," A gruff voice ordered.

She poked her head out and swished her wand. "Expelliarmus!" She shouted swiftly before sliding forward across the hardwood.

Hermione snagged his wand and pointed hers from right below him; settled right between Fabian's legs. "Yield?"

He growled and tackled her, grappling with her on the floor for his wand. "Not even close, Luna!" he shouted.

Hermione howled as he yanked at her arm and slugged him roughly on the face, kicking him off her. "Wanker!" she yelled as she shoved him away with her wand pointed at him.

The witch launched at the redhead struggling to start another attack. She pressed his arms down and stood on top of them, causing him to shout in pain. "Alright, alright, I yield!" He cried, throwing her off him.

Draco and Regulus were looking wide-eyed at each other as she climbed off the floor and bounced on her heels. "Where did she learn to fight like that?" Regulus questioned.

"When did my brother and I become so weak?" Gideon huffed, rubbing the red spot on his chin.

Fabian clamored off the floor and exhaled. "I agree, Gid."

"Don't feel too banged up, fellas. I don't like to be trapped," Hermione murmured as she rubbed her neck.

Remus and Snape arched an eyebrow at each other in the mirror expression. "I didn't teach her that," Remus snickered with a smile.

Sirius rolled over off the loveseat where he and Scorpius sat. "Love, come here and let me see that scrape." Hermione padded over and turned as the animagus climbed off the floor. He checked her calf where she scratched herself jumping over the sofa. It was a surface injury, and he healed her quickly before patting her bum. "Right as rain," he chuckled before kissing her.

"Hello everyone!" Lily's voice entered the sitting room.

"Good evening!" James followed as they appeared.

"Lils! We're so glad to see you," Sirius declared, skipping over to the Potters.

Hermione glanced over to Severus and nodded toward the door, which he motioned agreement. While the greetings were taking place, Hermione leaned over and kissed Lily's cheek before disappearing with Snape. They walked silently to the next floor, and Hermione straightened her tank top as they went to the library.

"I have a question for you Miss Granger," Snape finally spoke as they walked into the room.

"Yes?" she questioned as they approached their workstation.

Severus waited a moment in front of the three cauldrons. "Are you nervous for this week?"

It was the first time he asked her about her feelings. Hermione arched an eyebrow at him as the started to organize the ingredients. "A little. I have faith that things are turning out well," she explained.

Snape rocked his head as he handed her the mortar and pestle. "What about after?"

She frowned over at him as she started grinding the moonstone. "Well, I suppose I'll adjust."

"Would you like me to teach you a better potion after the full moon? The one you're using might not be advisable in your new position," he murmured, a tint to his cheeks could be hardly seen.

"Are you suggesting I don't know how to," she stopped when he shook his head sharply.

"No, silly girl. I am merely suggesting that Regulus told me how you felt about the situation," he hissed sharply.

Hermione exhaled slowly as she waved her wand over the ground ingredients and separated it evenly into three separate bowls. "He does confide plenty in you."

"He does. I happen to know quite a bit," Severus mumbled as he placed chopped up roots into the cauldrons.

Hermione chewed her lips as she slid on her gloves and started grating the leaking blue plant. "Draco mentioned children today."

"I heard," Severus voiced as he started to stir each cauldron with a wave of his wand. "It is not my business to speak to anyone about it."

"I know and appreciate it. I haven't told anyone, not even Ron and Harry knew," Hermione murmured as her voice cracked slightly.

Severus cleared his throat and stopped the cauldron from stirring. "Well, I could help you find a way if and when you would like to," he murmured.

Hermione turned to him with a frown. "Why are you being so nice to me? This was never a prospect before," she said as she evaded the previous subject.

The potion master rolled his eyes as he added several ingredients to the brews. "Well, Regulus insisted I help you, and unfortunately I do owe him a favor," Severus sneered as he tossed in the powder moonstone with a flourish.

Hermione was silent as she took the bowls and used tools away from their workstation. "It could have been cured," she confessed with a sigh.

Severus eased his posture and exhaled. "The reaction to the lycanthropy introduction to your body?" He inquired.

She nodded slowly with pursed lips. "Another reason I couldn't tell Ron. He would hate werewolves for the entirety of his life."

"I am sorry that you had to go through that," He murmured. "I will be discreet about our discussion. I have quite a bit of control over what others receive from my mind," he mused as he flicked his wand again at the cauldrons counterclockwise.

"It does help that it wouldn't happen regardless. It isn't like this will be conventional after the full moon," Hermione murmured as she handed Snape the monkshood.

Severus hemmed and gingerly placed amounts of the ingredient into the brews. "The full moon might change things."

"Not for that," Hermione sternly voiced.

"Well, Miss Granger. It seems you know better than I about poison reactions to conditions," He retorted with a crisp tone.

Hermione scrunched her nose as she watched each of the cauldrons' smoke turn blue. "I didn't mean to offend," she responded as she started scooping some out with a silver ladle.

"To offend implies the desire to take your opinion into account, which I do not," Severus said as he handed her a goblet.

Hermione stifled a smile as she set the full cup down. "Well, then, I suppose I don't need to apologize," she stated with a nod.

"Groveling has never been an interest of mine. It doesn't earn respect. Remember that when you join us," He responded as he handed her another silvery cup.

"I like you better like this, Professor," she snickered with a bright smile.

He groaned and shook his head as she filled another dose. "You were always an insufferable girl," he retorted.

"Did you stop your meddling with the blood curse?" Hermione asked as she set the full cups on a tray.

Severus rocked his head with a sigh. "It's permanent. Every piece of older text that I have found and translated has made it quite clear. We do not need to live with our caster, but we will always be attached due to his ignorance."

"What is keeping you here then? I made it to where you could have a job and live comfortably with this condition. You don't have to hide out," Hermione said as she turned fully to the werewolf cleaning up the station.

He placed the remaining ingredients away before tilting his head. "Because Lupin requested help until he has no need for it."

"Regulus asked you to stay?"

Snape groaned and swiveled his head. "He might have."

Hermione removed her gloves and patted his arm. "I'm glad you're here, Severus."

His lips twitched, and he nodded. "Well, let's get this wretched potion delivered."

They left the room and went to dose the seven werewolves for their first night of Wolfsbane Potion together.


James was washing the dishes in the kitchen as Hermione and Lily were reading. They had just enjoyed a cake that Lily made that day, and Hermione felt a stirring in the flat. She wasn't sure what the Potters were debating, but it seemed to be humming just out of her reach.

"Hermione," Lily finally said as she set her book down.

Hermione slanted her head and arched an eyebrow without looking up. "Yes, Lily?"

"I think what you're doing for Draco is very selfless," the redhead murmured.

The curly-haired animagus glanced over at her and noted the exhaustion running through her expression. "Thank you," she responded with a nod.

"Do you want to talk about the possibility of us moving out?" Lily questioned.

"No, of course not. I think it's important that you have your space and I talked to Sirius about it today. He agrees with me. I think I'm going to convert one of the sitting rooms at Grimmauld and actually relinquish this flat to you and James," Hermione finished with a bob of her head.

James turned in a jerking motion. "What?" He asked.

Hermione scratched her face with a grimace. "I can't very well live here if Scorpius won't have his own room. I have to live with him to be eligible to take full custody of his care once I sign the waiver. Also, I don't want Lucius to keep pestering the boy to come to live with him either. The safest place for them is at Grimmauld and by due course, I must remain there as well."

James skipped over with a burst of energy and sat down next to Lily. "Well, this is a turn of events. Does Moony know?"

Hermione laughed with a shake of her head. "No, I haven't spoken to him about the possibility, so he doesn't get all grumbly that I will refuse to take his room. I know Remus well enough to know that he would try to give me the room."

"Well, that's true," Lily said with a smirk.

James fidgeted and chewed the inside of his cheek. "So, marriage? That's a big commitment," he murmured, but somehow it seemed he was underlining something else.

"Yes, it is, and so is adopting his son," Hermione agreed as she set aside her book.

"Do you plan on increasing your relationship?" Lily asked with an arched eyebrow. "It would make sense."

The curly-haired witch shook her head as she reached for her teacup. "No, I plan on remaining as tangible to everyone as I have been learning to be."

"What about children?" Lily questioned bluntly.

Hermione laughed while rolling her eyes. "No, I don't want to have his children if that's what we're getting at. It would ruin the dynamic and role I am in if that were the case."

"That's rather unromantic," Lily grumbled with a pout. "Not even Remus's?"

"Not even Remus's," Hermione confirmed with a nod. "I don't want you two thinking that maybe I'm going to be some den mother to a bunch of children. Harry and Ginny are similar in that respect. Always pushing for me to settle down and have offspring. It's not something I had ever planned for, even with Ron. That's why he left me," Hermione confessed with a sigh.

"Padfoot would be an excellent father," James mused as he scratched his chin.

Lily snorted loudly as she nudged him. "He's the wizard that thought he could feed Harry treats like a dog," she responded.

"It's just not going to happen, Potters. I decided that a long time ago and stand by the decision even more so in the present. I can't even think of how any of them would act with a pregnant witch in the house. It's just not feasible to believe it wouldn't go up in smoke," Hermione explained while stretching out on the chair a bit more.

"Okay, Hermione," Lily pouted and slumped closer to James.

He kissed his wife's temple before glancing at the otherwise relaxed wolf animagus. "Have you told anyone that's where you stand?"

Hermione sipped her teacup and watched them. There was a reason why they were pressing, but Hermione couldn't put the finger on what. "I would think that would be obvious. There's no way in our state of ranking that a child from any of them would work."

James scrunched his nose and huffed. "I really want another baby around," he grumbled.

"Well, owl your son and see about having your grandchildren over when I move," Hermione suggested then giggled. "That's a story and a half."

Lily chewed her bottom lip and looked over at James. "I don't think so," she said as if they were finishing a conversation.

"Lils," James responded with a huff.

"No, she said no, leave it at that," Lily growled.

James pulled away from her and bent toward Hermione. "Okay, here's the deal," he started, and Lily wrenched forward, covering his mouth.

"Don't worry about him, he's barmy," Lily told Hermione as James grumbled under her hand.

James pushed her hand down swiftly and hollered. "I think it would be fantastic if Sirius had a baby! Harry agrees!"

Hermione scowled darkly at the Potters who were nearly grappling on the couch. Lily shoved James off and exhaled sharply. "I told you not to say a word."

"Harry? Harry thinks Sirius should, that I should, but why?"

James pouted as he sat in front of the coffee table and Lily winced slightly at the hurt developing on Hermione's face. "Well, it was just a side comment. How great he is with the children. How much he loves Teddy and our grandchildren. It wasn't a normal run of the mill conversation. Harry just said how it would be nice to see him having a go at being a father. Don't listen to James; he is batty as a boggart. I guess Ginny told Harry about your previous development and they had their own personal feelings on it."

Hermione felt kicked in the chest. "I think I'll retire for the evening," she murmured and stood up. Lily erected herself off the couch and Hermione waved her off. "I'll see you tomorrow, mind opening shop for me tomorrow?" Hermione asked.

Lily shook her head with a sad expression. "I will, I'll see you tomorrow," she murmured.

Hermione disappeared into her bedroom, and the Potters felt the weight she left behind from the conversation.