The next couple of days were a blur for Hermione. Madam Pomfrey had allowed her to go back to her quarters, but sent a basket full of potions that Remus had to make sure she took. She felt like she did nothing but sleep and feed Teddy as the scar on her side started to heal. Almost one whole side of her stomach and back were bruised, but the actual puncture marks were a lot smaller than she had thought.
Werewolf bites never truly healed, so it was easy to see that only four of his teeth had broken her skin. The Matron told her that her transformation would have opened the wound more, causing her to bleed. But traditional magic had healed the tears so she was left with only the four small red marks.
The Daily Prophet had reported her abduction on the night of the full moon. Kingsley had been interviewed and he told them of her kidnapping and that she had killed Greyback and Lestrange. He didn't mention that she was now a werewolf and she was eternally grateful to him.
Pain still coursed through her body when she was awake, but she avoided taking anything for it because pain potions, unlike the others she was taking, could be transferred in breast milk. She found that her pain lessened when she was surrounded by Remus and soothed the anxiety she felt over her status as a wolf, as well.
On the third day, Remus explained to her that new wolves usually healed faster if they were with their pack. Hermione was fascinated by the information and made him tell her as much as he could. She was slightly disappointed that she couldn't hear or feel NeNe yet. Remus had told her Moony was always inside of him and she was looking forward to experiencing that herself. When she mentioned this to Remus, he nodded his head in understanding.
"You'll hear her soon enough, I'm sure," he told her.
They were sitting on her bed, Teddy asleep between Remus' spread legs. Hermione felt a wave of pain relief wash over her as she settled her head on Remus' shoulder and he sat his hand on top of her thigh. She didn't move as she heard the door to their quarters open or footsteps coming towards them. Harry would only allow a few people in, and she knew all of them well enough that she wasn't about to try to look her best for them.
"Hermione, Remus," Minerva said as she walked through the open bedroom door.
"Please come in," Hermione said, removing her head from Remus' shoulder and sitting up straighter.
"Please don't move on my account," she said. She moved to sit on the edge of the bed where Hermione had patted. "I came to see how you are doing."
"Physically I'm still tired and sore, but it gets better everyday. I don't think I'll have a problem going to classes next Monday."
"I'm glad to hear it," she said then paused. "I just want to say how very sorry I'm for what happened to you."
"Thank you. But I'll recover. And I have Remus to help me through the transitions."
"I know you will, but I also know how hard life can be for someone with your condition. I promise you, anything you need, I'll do my best to help you."
"Thank you, Minerva," Remus said, reaching his hand out to lay on hers.
"I shall be leaving now," she stood and smiled at the family on the bed. "As you know, Severus Snape's portrait hangs in my office. When he heard what had happened, he directed me to a small notebook he kept with notes on an improved Wolfsbane potion. He said it is easier to brew."
"He found a way to improve it?" Hermione asked.
"That's what he said. He told me he wants you to have it, Hermione. I have left it for you in the sitting room."
"And you're sure he wants me to have it? Because I'm pretty sure he hated me."
"I don't think he hated you. He had a job to do, and he did it well. Being nice to Muggleborns was against his assignment. I know he liked teaching someone who actually enjoyed learning. It was a treat for him."
Hermione sat in shock and didn't even say goodbye to the Headmistress as she left their room. Severus Snape wanted her to have a book with his notes. Moving quietly so she didn't wake Teddy, she slid off her bed and made her way to the sitting room. Finding the notebook on the coffee table, she picked it up, returned to the comfort of her pack, and started to read.
"Hermione? Remus?" Harry called as he and Neville walked into their quarters.
It was two days before term resumed, and the rest of the student body would be returning on the Hogwarts Express in a few hours. Hermione had seen Madame Pomfrey earlier in the day and had been given the all clear to return to lessons tomorrow. Remus was in his office double checking his lesson plans.
"Hi, Harry. Hi, Neville," Hermione called from their dining room table.
It was mid-day and she was feeding Teddy chicken and mashed carrots. Or she was attempting to. Teddy was happily slapping his hands on the tray in front of him, letting the food spray around the room. It was times like this that Hermione was extra thankful to be a witch. Before the food could hit the ground she was able to magic it back onto the tray. And anything she missed could be vanished in a moment.
"We just got a message from Kingsley," Neville explained. "He needs you to come down to the Ministry right away. They want to talk about what happened."
A herd of angry Hippogriffs started stampeding in Hermione's stomach. Why was Kingsley asking her to go to the Ministry? If it was good news, wouldn't he have just sent it in a letter? Hermione was lost in her thoughts when a glob of carrots hit her in the face.
"Ahh!" she screamed, causing Teddy to laugh.
"Nice shot, little man," Harry said, rubbing Teddy's hair.
"Don't encourage him, Harry!"
"Parents are there to teach their children manners, uncles are there to teach them how to break rules."
"Harry Potter, he is the son of a Marauder and Tonks. I don't need you teaching him how to get in trouble. Merlin knows he inherited that trait already." Hermione stood and kissed Teddy on the head. "Winky!"
"Mistress bes calling?" Winky said as she popped into the room.
"Yes. I need to leave for a while. Can you finish feeding Teddy?"
"Winky be happy to be feeding Master Teddy," the elf said with a bow.
"Thank you." She turned to Harry and Neville. "I'm going to go get cleaned up and changed. Will one of you let Remus know?"
Remus and Hermione stepped through the Floo into Kingsley's office followed by Harry and Neville. Hermione had tried to convince Remus to stay behind, but he had insisted on coming with her.
"Thank you for coming so quickly," Kingsley greeted them as they removed the soot from their clothes. "The committee wanted to talk to you before they made their decision."
"Is that bad?" Hermione asked, her knees slightly weak.
"I'm not sure. Sorry, I don't have more information for you. They wouldn't tell me anything, just that they needed to talk to you."
Kingsley was leading them towards the committee room when Remus took her hand in his. He rubbed his thumb across her knuckles and leaned to whisper in her ear.
"Whatever happens, I'm beside you."
"Thank you," she said, squeezing his hand.
Hermione recognised most of the people that sat around the conference table from when she had attended Narcissa Malfoy's trial. The Wizenagamot had questioned her about her time at Malfoy Manor, but Hermione assured them that while Narcissa thought she recognised Hermione, it was Bellatrix who tortured her.
"Thank you for joining us, Miss Granger," an old man said. "We have a few questions for you if you don't mind."
"I don't mind," she said as she took the seat he gestured to. Remus sat beside her, his hand still holding hers.
"Did you know the two men who kidnapped you and your son?"
"I knew Greyback. He was one of the men who captured me, Harry, and Ron while we were on the run. I had seen pictures of Lestrange in The Daily Prophet and briefly fought against him in the Final Battle."
"How did you know to call a house-elf to you?"
"Harry used a house-elf to rescue us when we were being held at Malfoy Manor. When I was in that room, my mind flashed to that night and I remembered Dobby, the elf that saved us. He was able to Apparate in and out of warded houses."
"Did you know the two men were wanted fugitives?"
"I'm sure I did in some part of my mind, but honestly I wasn't concerned with who they were because I was incredibly worried about my son."
"Were you aware that there was a reward for their capture?"
"No. Are you asking if I planned this with them for money? That I would risk my child in the clutches of a werewolf the night of the full moon?"
"Yes, I am," the man spoke plainly. "There was evidence found at the crime scene that says you did exactly that."
He flipped through the stack of parchment before him, pulling out a single ripped sheet and pushing it towards her. Hermione bit back her gasp as she recognised the handwriting; the lack of a signature didn't stop Hermione from knowing who wrote it immediately. And if she had any doubts, the low curses from Harry and Neville behind her cleared them up. She had corrected Ron's homework enough times to know it was him.
"That fucking arse," she muttered, low enough that only Remus heard. His body stiffened beside her.
"I know who sent that letter, and I am happy to testify under Veritaserum that I did not plan this."
"How do you know?"
"I recognise the handwriting."
"So do we," Harry cut in, Neville nodding beside him. He turned to Kingsley. "All we need is for you to issue the arrest warrant, Minister ."
"Who is it?" Kingsley asked, conjuring a blank warrant before him.
"Ronald Bilius Weasley."
"I thought he was your best friend," a woman halfway down the table called.
"He was," Harry answered and the room visibly reacted to the emphasis on was. "Which is how I know that is his writing. I sat next to him in classes for six years and recognised it instantly."
"Does he have a reason to write something like this?"
"He and Hermione had a row after the Final Battle. They haven't spoken since," Harry said.
"Is this true, Miss Granger?" the woman asked.
"Yes," Hermione confirmed. "The last time I saw him was at Christmas and we did not speak."
Kingsley signed his name to the warrant before handing it over to Harry and Neville. They each nodded goodbye to Hermione as they left the room. Hermione wanted to follow them. She wasn't sure if she wanted to hit or hex Ron. Remus was vibrating beside her and she could feel his rage. It was like something inside her could feel his hackles and wanted to join him.
NeNe! Hermione gasped in her head as she realised she was finally feeling her inner wolf. It was like another person had moved into her head, claiming that part as its own. That section held all her fire, her drive, her inner 'arse-kicking, warrior woman' self. She wasn't sure if it was the same for Remus, but her wolf wasn't talking to her with words, but more spoke through feelings. And right now, NeNe was angry. Someone had tried to harm her human and make her out to be a bad mum.
Remus' hand tightening on hers brought Hermione back to the conversation going on around her. The committee members were trying to decide if she should take the Veritaserum or if they believed her. Most people seemed to believe her, but there was one guy who thought they should have her take it just in case. After a few minutes, the old man at the head of the table turned to her.
"Miss Granger, thank you for answering our questions today. We are ruling that you acted in self-defence and no charges will be filed against you. The Galleons for the reward money will be transferred into your vault tomorrow."
"Oh," Hermione started. "I don't need the reward money."
"Needed or not, the money is yours now. And while we know it was a horrible ordeal for you to go through, the magical community is safer because of you."
A/N: I was gifted two AMAZING pieces of art for this story this week. You can find one by KoraKwidditch and the other by Ada_Lovelaced on my Tumblr (tridogmom).