July 17th

The loss of Albus Dumbledore seemed to shake the Wizarding World to its very core; the Ministry was almost as much of a mess as the Order as they tried to sort things out. Voldemort seemed to shrink back into the shadows; assumedly the tyrant was watching the chaos, waiting for his next moment to strike. Kingsley doubted the Ministry would be safe for much longer; it was simply a waiting game now. However, despite this, life seemed to return to some semblance of normal. Harry returned to the Dursley's but only for an afternoon as we explained the situation to them and then moved the obtuse family into hiding.

Hermione turned the library in Grimmauld Place into her own personal research centre, warding it against all but the five of us as she scattered books and parchment around. The destruction of the locket had spurred her into research mode as she continued looked through different artefacts and options.

"Argh!" Hermione's screeched, having grown slowly more frustrated over the course of the last several days.

"What is it, Mine?" I questioned softly, peaking over the history book I had been reading. This one talked about the rise and fall of Voldemort in the first war.

"There is NOTHING to go on." She said, pacing in frustration. "We have no leads, no clues! We know that one might be the cup and the other something of Ravenclaw's, but really we don't know! I just- I've read everything, Remus...and there is nothing...I just- I don't know what to do. And I hate not knowing what to do!"

"I think…and don't hex me now, but I think we need to take a break... we have all the information we can get at the moment and well... why don't we spend a few days just relaxing, maybe something will connect once we stop trying to force it?" The scowl that she levelled me with made me feel like I was 12 years old rather than 19 years older than her. "Please?" I added softly, I both felt and saw the war of emotions as they moved through her...then finally, she relaxed dropped into the couch next to me with a heavy sigh. I wrapped my arms around her, waiting for her to speak.

"Molly invited us to stay at the Burrow before the wedding. I think she knows what's coming and just wants us together." She said quietly.

"What would you like to do?" I asked, not particularly interested in staying in the overcrowded Burrow, but not unwilling either.

"I think…I think I would like to, at least for a few days... It's…it's something that I will never get to experience again...I know it will be crowded and loud and frustrating, but my times there have been some of my most favourite in my childhood and I would like to hold on to that for a little bit longer, because we don't exactly know what's coming and those crazy redheads are family." She said softly. "And well, it's not like we've got a lot of that between us anymore." She sighed; I felt the tears drip onto my shirt. I pulled her closer again, trying to offer her comfort.

*****Flashback*****

"Oi, you think we can stop following them soon?" Sirius questioned, he and I were following the Dursley's as they fled the country, making sure they got away without being intercepted or attacked.

"Not until their plane leaves." I grumble, I didn't like this either, but we had promised Harry, who didn't want any more deaths on his conscious. Hermione had kissed me long and hard before I left and had been blocking bits and pieces from me since we left Hogwarts. Something was troubling her, but she wasn't ready to share and I didn't want to force her...she had a right to her own thoughts and secrets. I trusted she would tell me when she was ready.

"'Mione opened up to you yet?" Sirius asked curiously, as if he could sense my train of thought.

"No, not yet. I wish she would talk to me!" I sighed, an announcement over the airport speakers let us know that the muggles were finally boarding for departure.

"She is a strong witch, she will when she's ready." The Animagus assured me.

"I know, I ju-" I cut of, my breath caught in my throat as an overwhelming amount of despair flooded my body.

"Moony, what's wrong?"

"Hermione, I have to go!" I gasped, clutching at my chest, she wasn't hurt physically, but she was definitely not okay.

"Go mate, I'll get Tonks over here till the plane takes off." He said quickly, I nodded before standing and almost running to the nearest bathroom, silencing myself before Apparating with a crack!, letting the bond take me to my mate.

I landed in the alley not far from her parents' house; Hermione was on the ground sobbing. I immediately fell to my knees in front of her and wrapped my arms around her.

"What happened, Mine?" I whispered, desperately trying to work out what was breaking her heart so thoroughly.

"Take me home, Remus?" She sobbed while clinging to my shirt. I lifted her in my arms and Apparated us to the steps of Grimmauld Place before carrying her inside and directly to our bedroom.

"What happened, Mine? You're scaring me!" I admitted after I had gotten us settled on the bed. "Are your parents alive?"

She hiccupped and pulled back, wiping her face on her sleeve, although her tears continued to fall.

"They are alive, but they aren't my parents anymore, not really." She whispered.

I thought back about her recent interests, studies, questions she had been asking and it slowly fell into place.

"You...you obliviated them?" I asked with a frown. She nodded softly.

"I removed myself from their lives, changed their names and now they are on their way to the airport to travel the world. They have no recollection of having a daughter. They will be safe." She said, I sighed and pulled her back into my arms. I didn't know if this was truly the best solution, but I wasn't going to question her now and cause her more grief. "I had to do it this way; if we put them in hiding and we lost then they would still end up being killed. This way they are gone safe no matter what; if we lose or win they have gotten away." I nodded my head, before realising she couldn't see the movement.

"I understand Mine; I just wish you hadn't felt the need to do it alone!" I told her honestly.

"I had to, I know you are there for me, but I could barely stand thinking about what I was doing, I didn't have the strength to talk about it before the act. Please forgive me!"

"There is nothing to forgive." I told her honestly, stroking her hair. Despite the early hour of the day she had clearly exhausted herself both emotionally and magically so I sat there stroking her hair while she drifted into an uneasy sleep.

This war was tearing our world apart, how many more people would be lost in one way or another before it ended? While I had no delusions of thinking everyone would survive the current year, I prayed to whoever would listen that My mate and pack would make it through this with our lives intact. I was laying there, lost in thought when footsteps came bounding up the stairs, Sirius's voice preceding him as he burst into the room, startling Hermione awake and causing me to growl at him.

"Sorry, sorry!" He said, freezing mid-yell in the doorway. "I just finished with the Durbrains and had to make sure you were okay."

Hermione sat up and rubbed her eyes, there was no mistaking the fact that she had been in tears before drifting off.

"It's okay Sirius, I'm okay. Just had to make some tough choices today. Thank you for checking on me." She smiled at him softly and moved to climb off the bed. "I actually wanted to discuss something important with you both, do you mind meeting me in the library after I freshen up? And get Harry too." She said, wandering into our adjoining bathroom. I stood silently and followed Sirius into the hall.

*****End of Flashback*****

Hermione had found copies of old family laws that showed Grimmauld Place might not be safe as we thought, despite Dumbledore passing the role of secret keeper on to Sirius before he had passed. As it turns out, the blood of the house could overwrite the complex charm and since both Narcissa and Bellatrix had that blood this could prove to be a problem.

It had been decided that if the Ministry were to fall, the house would be cleaned out and abandon for safety. It was simply a risk that we couldn't take.

July 21st 1997

Hermione had done her best to relax, as much as she could, taking a break from the Horcrux research and throwing herself into her training and exploring the house for anything that might be of use for us in the coming months.

Currently we were eating dinner on the roof, just the two of us.

"I had a thought.." Hermione began, twirling her pasta around her fork.

I chuckled, "Should I be worried?"

"Har-har!" She rolled her eyes. "No, I was just thinking, maybe the other Horcruxes are with some of the other loyal followers. I mean, the first one was with the Malfoys, right?" I nodded in affirmation. "And well, the other two were in important places in his history. The only other important place I can find would be Hogwarts, I'm almost certain he hid one there." Again, I nodded. "The only other thing I can gather is that he entrusted them to loyal followers." She hummed, filling her mouth with food.

"That makes sense; if what Dumbledore found is true then we only have two to find as the third is the snake."

She nodded and swallowed. "So who would he trust, thinking back to the first war?" She eyed me.

"The Lestrange's and Parkinson's are the two who come to mind immediately after the Malfoys." I answered while trying to think of who else was high standing and known. "They are all among the first to be inducted and they're still alive."

"Okay, so their homes?" She asked, I shook my head.

"Unlikely in the case of the Lestranges as everything in the house was seized when they went to Azkaban, maybe the Parkinson's though?"

"What about their Vaults?"

"Their bank vaults?" I asked, she nodded. "Certainly a possibility." I hummed.

"Just something to think about." She said casually, as if we had been discussing the weather. I chuckled and nodded before continuing my dinner.

"Indeed."

July 29th 1997

"Mine?" I asked as I looked through my trunk, finding it almost empty. "Where all our things?"

"Hmm?" She said, obviously not having heard me due to the distraction of her latest read.

"I asked where our things are."

"Oh, they're in my bag. I've got everything packed in case we need to leave in a hurry." She looked at me as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I stared at the beaded bag, it was no bigger than my two fists put together. My brilliant little which!

"Undetectable extension charm?" I question, she nodded absently, already not paying attention to me. I stalked towards her, plucking the book from her hands.

"Hey!" she began to protest but I silenced her with a kiss, pulling back when we both needed to breathe.

"What do you mean by essentials?" We had discussed leaving with Harry and Ron to finish what Dumbledore and Harry have started, but we needed to wait until the trace on Harry was gone, which will be the day after tomorrow. The same day as Bill and Fleur's wedding at the Burrow. We would be leaving afterwards. Of course, no else knew that.

"Oh, you know, clothes, potions, books, a tent... I have the boy's things..." she trailed off, my eyes glowed. She was ready for bed, wearing just one of my shirts and underwear. I nuzzled her neck and she moaned.

"What about food?" I asked while licking up her neck and sucking her earlobe gently into my mouth.

"Oh!" she gasped. "I forgot about food, I'll add that tomorrow." I chuckled low in my throat. Just like Mine to pack books and not food.

"Yes, because you're not leaving this bed any time soon!" I said before sitting up and pulling her with me so I could divest her of the t-shirt.

"Wouldn't dream of it!" She assured me before moving forwards and kissing me hard, changing our positions so she was straddling my lap as I sat back on my knees. She broke away to kiss down my neck, sucking on my pulse point, I groaned loudly, thrusting my hips up into her heat. My eyes rolled back as I moaned loudly again.

"Silencing charms?" I asked, my eyes still closed as she covered my neck and shoulder with open mouth kisses.

"Yes, did them when I came in!" She answered, pulling back and smiling at me. I raised an eyebrow at her.

"So, you were planning on seducing me?" I asked, pushing her back so I was hovering over her. She wrapped her legs around my waist.

She giggled and then sighed, "well, one can only hope!" she pulled me towards her, thrusting up towards me and pulling a moan from both of us.

I leaned down, capturing her mouth with mine. Our tongues battled and I relished in her taste. As we explored each other's bodies it wasn't long before we were totally naked and panting. I smiled against her hair as she came undone around my fingers. I pulled my hand up to my mouth and licked them clean. She tasted like honey and strawberries in the best possible way, Moony purred. This was our own slice of heaven.

She looked at me through heavy lids as she came down from her high, then she pushed, I allowed her to roll us over so she was on top and in control. The view the position provided well outweighed my need to dominate her.

She braced herself with a hand against my chest, I lined myself up as she slid down once. We both moaned as our bodies joined. She felt so good, so tight, I fought for control as my hips moved upwards of their own accord.

She smacked my chest lightly. "Patience!" she scolded in a breathy voice, I grinned. Working hard to still my hips, my hands moving to her hips, gripping them loosely.

After an agonising wait, Mine finally started moving up and down slowly, savouring her moves she panted and moaned. She started bouncing up and down faster, my hips thrusting up to meet her, my hands moving again to fondle her breasts and nipples. She let loose a string or profanities that almost had me coming on the spot. Sweat poured off her as she reached her peak, tightening around me almost painfully and pulling me over the edge with her. She screamed my name as I called hers. Once she had rode out her high and collapsed on top of me, I shifted her so she was half lying in the bed, kissing the top of her head.

"I love you!" She whispered.

"With everything!" I replied. We let exhaustion take over as we both drifted into a peaceful oblivion.

**Beta'd by Darkness 93**