Greetings Everyone! I hope you like this chapter! I was rereading this fanfic and the beginning was so rough, so I just wanted to thank you guys for hanging in there and reading it all. You are seriously the best. I want to write either a Post War/ Veil Return Sirmione fic, or a Marriage law next. Which one would you prefer more? Let me know. Anyways like usual, please review and tell me what you think. I can't tell you enough on how much that just makes me want to update faster!
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns everything HP related.
Hermione's POV
Hermione woke up with Remus' arm tightly around her waist, his chest pressed firmly into her back, and his head nuzzled into her curls. Her first reaction was to wiggle in closer, loving being so close to Remus. As she wiggled closer to him, she felt a hardness press into her lower back and her eyes shot wide open. She attempted to pry Remus' arm off of her waist and slide away, and escape an embarrassing conversation, but it was useless. He was out cold and he was completely dead weight. She pried at his arm one last time, slowly she scooted farther and farther away from him, successfully making her escape, until Remus let out a loud sigh in his sleep. Hermione froze as Remus found Hermione again and dragged her back over to him, snuggling up against her once more. Hermione attempted to hold back her giggle as he squeezed her tightly and nuzzled his head back into her neck. Hermione froze as she heard a sharp inhale and then a low growl.
Was he smelling her? Hermione's eyes went wide once more as Remus threw a leg sleepily over her waist and held her tightly. She felt the familiar hardness pressed into the side of her, and she groaned inwardly. She lay like that for a few minutes as she watched the sun rise higher into the sky. She had no idea what time it was, but judging by the sky, it was probably still early in the morning. Remus instinctively grinded his hips against her and Hermione panicked. She awkwardly cleared her throat, hoping that it was loud enough to wake Remus up, but quite enough to let the remaining boys sleep.
The first indication that Remus had woken up was the hitch in his breathing. Hermione listened for an exhale but one never came. She slowly turned her head to face Remus. His eyes were wide but sleepy and his face was pale. Hermione lifted a brow and he quickly recollected his thoughts. He shoved Hermione away quickly and threw himself across the bed and scrambled onto the floor, landing directly on a squealing Peter.
"Moony!" Peter gasped from underneath his friend as he stuck his hand out to shove him off. Hermione cringed and slapped a hand over her face in embarrassment. She hadn't wanted to wake everyone up. She leaned over the bed and saw a mortified Remus lying on the ground, a pillow shoved in his face.
"What happened?!" James jolted awake and Hermione cringed.
"Remus fell on me!" Peter groaned as he sat up, his hair pointing in every direction. From across the room, Sirius groaned very loudly and shoved a pillow over his ears. The sound of Sirius groaning brought memories of late last night into Hermione's head. She didn't think she still had feelings for Sirius, she was with Remus now. And she was happy and she loved him. But there was something different about Sirius. Hermione wasn't sure if it was because he was her first serious boyfriend, or that there was actually more there. Hermione was just silently thankful she decided to go to sleep when she did. She never thought she'd do anything to risk her relationship with Remus, but she just wanted to be careful.
"If you don't shut up now, I'm going to curse you Peter." Sirius warned. James chuckled from where he stood and put his hands on his hips.
"Does the little baby have a hangover?" James said in a mock baby voice that made Hermione cringe and Sirius groan.
"Prongs, I swear." Sirius warned and it only sent James into hysterics.
"Alright, I bet the house-elves have breakfast ready so let's go eat. I'm absolutely starved." James smirked as he walked out of the room, followed by Peter and a groaning Sirius. Hermione remained sitting on the bed as Remus laid on the ground, pillow still covering his face.
"Remus," Hermione called, "Let's go get breakfast." She told him as she walked over and knelt down on the ground near her. Remus slowly pealed the pillow off of his face and groaned loudly.
"Hermione, I'm beyond sorry. I cannot even begin to explain to you—"
Hermione interrupted Remus with a kiss. With one hand on his cheek, and the other supporting her weight she sat back up reluctantly and sighed. "Remus, its fine." She told her boyfriend and he nodded sheepishly. Hermione couldn't help but smirk. "Although...I wasn't aware that you loved to snuggle that much, Remus." Hermione giggled as Remus sat up and paled a bit more.
"Oh Merlin, Remus absolutely LOVES to cuddle!" Sirius shouted from the doorway and Remus face palmed himself, causing Hermione to laugh even more.
"Remus," Hermione said as she poked him in the chest, "I want to hear about that fantasy with Professor McGonagall." Hermione reminded him, causing the werewolf to cringe.
"You remembered," He noted as he rubbed his head and Hermione nodded eagerly.
"And I remembered the little bit about the two of you kissing," Hermione motioned from Sirius to Remus and smirked. "And I think I want to know that story as well," She decided and both of the boys laughed nervously.
Breakfast at the Potter household was an extravagant event. Pillars of food were sat upon the long elegant dining table. Fleamont Potter sat at one end, while his wife sat at the other. The two were quite a pair, smirking at one another every so often. Hermione found it very endearing.
"Peter and Remus, you'll be flooing back to your parents houses then?" Euphemia asked from her side of the table. Peter nodded his head, as his mouth was full of food and Remus cleared his throat and politely answered.
"Oh, Hermione dear," Euphemia said waving her hand in the air absentmindedly before pulling out her wand and flicking it towards the other side of the room. A letter zoomed quickly across the room and landed in front of Hermione. She looked up at James' mother with a raised brow. "Dumbledore's back from his mission, you're due to return to Hogwarts after breakfast." She explained to Hermione, who couldn't help but frown slightly. She hadn't expected Dumbledore to return this early, so whatever his mission had been it had probably been unsuccessful.
"Oh, I didn't expect him to be back so soon." Hermione admitted a bit awkwardly as she took a drink of her orange juice and read the letter.
"You're leaving so soon?" Sirius' sleepy eyes went wide and Hermione shrugged.
"I guess," Hermione spoke a bit distantly. Spending time with her friends was beginning to be too good; she didn't want to leave so suddenly. Next to her, Remus must have understood her feelings, because after a moment he spoke up.
"In a week you'll be visiting me and all the boys too. A week isn't long at all." Remus said with a forced smile. Hermione could tell that she wasn't the only one upset about her leaving to go to Hogwarts so soon.
Once breakfast ended, Hermione said her goodbyes, and stepped into the fireplace, she suddenly realized this was probably what Harry felt every summer. He had to go back to the Dursley's, people that absolutely despised him. Hermione waved goodbye before uttering Dumbledore's office into the fireplace and disappearing.
Remus' POV
"She seemed upset," James' father noted after Hermione disappeared in the fireplace. The group nodded their heads and shrugged.
"She's all by herself, I'd be upset too." Euphemia sighed deeply and rubbed her eyes. "I'd offer her a place here for the summer, but Dumbledore wants to keep her in close proximities." James' mother admitted and Remus raised an eyebrow before sharing a look with Sirius from across the room.
"Close proximities?" James wondered. Remus gulped. He knew why Dumbledore had wanted to keep Hermione close, but he wasn't sure anyone else but Sirius knew.
"Dumbledore didn't go into extent, but it's obvious that he fears for the girl. Poor thing, with all she's been through. Dumbledore said he got her a job at the Three Broomsticks so that he could keep an eye on her. Voldemort killed her family, did you know?" Euphemia asked her husband who shook his head. "I reckon Dumbledore thinks he probably wants to finish her off." She finished with a sad sigh. Remus recognized the lie, and from the look that Sirius wore, he did as well.
"She never really talks about her family," James recalled and Peter nodded as well.
"I'd assume it's easier to not," Fleamont said and his wife nodded. "Are you sure there's nothing we can do for her?" He asked his wife who shrugged.
"She can stay here!" James said eagerly. "Talk to Dumbledore, she'd be safe here. Safer even, I bet!" He said excitedly and Remus heart beat fast at the sudden offer. "Please just try and talk to Dumbledore."
"I can try," Euphemia looked at her husband who smirked and nodded his head. "So she's your girlfriend, Remus?" she turned her attention to the werewolf who awkwardly nodded.
"Yeah, she is."
"She seems like a very nice girl. Do you think she'd appreciate staying here?" Euphemia raised an eyebrow and Remus choked out a laugh.
"I think she'd absolutely love it." He countered and James parents nodded their heads and shared a quick smirk.
Hermione's POV
Hermione appeared in Dumbledore's fireplace and was greeted by a white ball of fur pouncing on her. Hermione fell backwards at the sudden attack and soon found Khons purring loudly in her face. She picked up the cat and stood up, whipping off the dust from her clothing. She stepped out of the fireplace and saw Dumbledore writing something down quickly at his desk. He didn't even bother to look up, before addressing her.
"Your little friend missed you terribly." Dumbledore noted. "What have you decided to call him?"
"Khons," Hermione told the professor as she walked over to the seat across from him and sat down. "It means Egyptian moon god." She explained a bit dumbly.
"Very unique," Dumbledore responded as he put his quill down and looked up at her. Hermione felt a bit awkward and cleared her throat.
"I'm guessing that the mission didn't go very successfully?" Hermione wondered and Dumbledore's eyes twinkled down at her.
"Au contraire, Ms. Granger." Dumbledore spoke softly. "I've discovered yet another Horcrux."
"And you haven't destroyed this one either?" Hermione raised a brow and Dumbledore nodded.
"As we discussed in our last meeting, I find it best we wait until the time is right." The old wizard responded. Hermione gently stroked the cat in her arms and sighed loudly.
"What was this Horcrux?" Hermione wondered, "If I may ask?"
"Helga Hufflepuff's cup," Dumbledore explained and Hermione blinked, baffled at his words.
"Was it here in Hogwarts?" Hermione wondered for a moment, before Dumbledore shook his head.
"Not here in Hogwarts, I'm afraid I had to travel for this one." Dumbledore began and Hermione nodded her head. "Severus is growing fast in Voldemort's ranks. He is believed to be a trusted spy amongst us. I would even dare say that Voldemort is growing a bit fond of Severus, but that may be stretching the truth. I'm not sure that Voldemort can even feel fondness."
"Because he was conceived under a love potion," Hermione added hastily and Dumbledore nodded.
"Exactly," Dumbledore praised and Hermione eagerly nodded, sitting at the edge of the chair.
"How did you get the Horcrux?" Hermione pressed.
"Severus has been quite useful, and it seems as though another young Death Eater has joined our ranks." Dumbledore nodded knowingly and Hermione leaned in closer on her chair.
"Who?" She questioned eagerly and Dumbledore held a bony hand in the air, motioning her to wait.
"It's best that he remains a secret, for his safety and yours." Dumbledore explained to the girl, who stiffly nodded her head, obviously slightly annoyed. Names floated through Hermione's head, although none of them seemed like they'd be willing to switch sides and be a spy.
"So you won't even tell me how you came across the Horcrux?" Hermione raised a brow and Dumbledore nodded his head.
"Actually, Ms. Granger that I will do. You see, the young former Death Eater who joined our ranks and Mr. Snape on my orders, switched the Horcrux out with a fake." Dumbledore exclaimed.
"And Voldemort didn't notice?" Hermione wondered in a hushed voice, amazed by such obvious foolery.
"He hasn't yet," Dumbledore responded quietly and Hermione's heart dropped.
"If he does…He'll kill them." Hermione said more to herself than to Dumbledore. "They know of the risks?" She couldn't help but ask.
"They all but begged me to be of service. It seems that Voldemort's views are stronger and more eradicate than what most thought they were in the beginning of the war." Dumbledore explained to her softly. It still didn't sit right with Hermione.
"So we have Severus to thank for at least two of the horcruxes?" Hermione said and Dumbledore nodded.
"He is an exceptionally bright boy who made the wrong choices." Dumbledore said a bit sadly.
"But without his wrong choices we wouldn't have two Horcruxes hidden away," Hermione challenged the old man, who only nodded.
"There is nothing we can do about the past now Ms. Granger, I think its best that we use it to our advantage the best we can." Dumbledore raised a brow at Hermione, who nodded anyways. She found the statement ridiculously hypocritical because here she was, changing the past. "Ms. Granger, there is one more thing." Dumbledore told her as Hermione began to stand up.
"Yes?"
"Be careful, we have a patrol from the Order around Hogsmeade, but the Death Eaters are getting more anxious. They're taking more risks. It would do well to remain in the castle." Dumbledore explained softly and Hermione bit her tongue and nodded. The castle was beginning to act more like a prison than the comfortable home she was used to.
"Of course, sir." Hermione said tightly as she walked out of the office.
Remus POV
Remus flooed home later that afternoon. His mother squealed when she saw him and wrapped him into a large hug.
"I was gone for a night," Remus smiled as Hope kissed one cheek, then the other.
"You were gone nine months at school, and then you were gone for a night." She corrected as she pinched a cheek. Remus smiled awkwardly as he took his bags upstairs to his bedroom. Once he was there he fell onto his bed and looked up at his ceiling. The longing feeling of when he wasn't close to Hermione returned shortly after she had left.
He sighed loudly as he thought about the recent events that had taken place. Remus thought back to the night before. He passed out soundly pretty early into the night, and he vaguely remembered waking up when Hermione crawled into bed with him. He cringed when she brought it up earlier in the day. She had teased him about his need to cuddle with her but he couldn't bear to tell her the truth as to why he had done it.
He could smell Sirius on her. Not in the way he had smelled Sirius on her after they were—er, intimate. But he could smell him on her nonetheless. His sent was draped over her neck and shoulders, making the wolf scream out in a possessive howl. Remus hadn't been completely aware of what he was doing of course, but he was sure his wolf subconscious was staking a claim. The urge to claim her was becoming more and more apparent. Remus pushed the thoughts to the back of his brain.
The thought made him sick. He didn't like being more animal than human, he didn't like thinking he didn't have control over his actions or over what he thought. It was pure instinct; instinct that he purely hated.
~Until Next Time~
A shorter chapter, I know. It was a kind of transitional one that needed to happen though. Thanks for reading, anyways, hope your guys' lives are going well, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter.