A/N: Many thanks go out to my beta, debjunk! Thank you so much for the love and reviews! I love them!
To answer the question, "Who was that?" left by a guest review: Chris is just a Muggle who carelessly threatened Severus. He really liked/likes Hermione. I'm probably not going to mention him anymore in the story though. Muggle vs Severus? We all know who would win, with or without magic.
Chapter 28
Ashley's hand twitched as they walked down the street, side by side.
Just grab his hand, you prat.
She glanced sideways and glanced at Remus. He stared straight ahead, a look of deep concentration on his face.
Perhaps he thinks he's too old for me? Or worse, he won't ever want to date a Muggle. Why would he? her brain argued with her heart.
What do you have to offer him? Take a quick shag and be done with it!
She choked back a sob.
Remus looked over at her with concern.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
Ashley nodded her head and forced a cough.
"Yeah, must have overworked my vocals."
She massaged her throat for emphasis.
"Oh, I have something you can suck on," Remus replied.
Ashley stopped walking and whipped her head around to face him.
"I beg your pardon?" Her voice shrill.
Remus had his hand in his inside coat pocket. He paused and looked up, confusion etched on his face.
"I have a…" he pulled out a small candy from his pocket.
"Cough drop," Ashley said softly.
She reached out for it, her fingers brushing his. Her hand froze as she looked up at him.
"I thought…" she took a deep breath.
"…Something else," she finished.
He replayed the conversation in his head. He closed his eyes and hung his head down.
"I apologize; I didn't mean to offend you," he chuckled.
She laughed. Taking the candy from him, she smiled.
"Thank you," she whispered.
They made it to the beginning of Gaunt Street.
"This is my street," she said, softly.
"How far down is your house?" Remus asked.
"Fifth house down," Ashley said. She started walking slowly.
"So, I needed to tell you something," Remus said.
"Yeah?" Ashley replied, hoping her voice sounded light even though her chest felt heavy.
She couldn't explain it, but there had been something equivalent to a lasso around her, pulling her to him when he had sat down next to her at the wedding.
Love at first sight? No. Not that fairy-tale garbage. Whatever this was, she wanted more, though, and obviously…he didn't. He was going to rip her heart out and stomp on it.
Why do I always do this? She asked herself. No matter who it was, she always fell…too fast and too hard.
Whatever you do, don't cry.
Remus took her hand in his and turned her to face him.
"I don't want to frighten you, but there is something you need to know," he said.
Ashley took a step back but left her hand in his.
"Please," she pleaded. "Just…do it quickly."
The snap of a twig behind him had his senses on high alert.
"Run," he whispered.
"What?" She cried as a dark figure came out of the shadows behind them.
"RUN!" he cried out as he pulled out his wand.
Hearing the desperation in his voice, she took off running, only to scream as she collided with another dark figure coming out from behind a tree. The man grabbed her and pinned her arms to her sides with one arm and covered her mouth with his other hand.
"Well, well, Lupin. What do you have here?" the man behind him asked.
"Does she know who you really are, Lupin?" he continued.
"Let her go, Dolohov!" Remus demanded.
"Oh, but she's such a pretty thing," said Dolohov, holding her as one hand grasped her breast.
Ashley squirmed and tried to pull out the man's grasp.
"And feisty. I like her," the other man said.
Dolohov flicked his tongue out and licked the side of her face. She shuddered at the unwelcome invasion.
"And tasty," Dolohov chuckled.
Lupin didn't look away.
"What do you want, Yaxley?" he asked.
Yaxley walked up and stood before Lupin.
"You know what we want. The Dark Lord wants you," he said.
"Dead or alive wolf-boy," Dolohov supplied.
Dolohov pulled the top of her shirt aside and his hand quested down over her bared breast.
Ashley stiffened and she looked at Remus. Her eyes were filled with hurt and betrayment.
"Scream for me, girl; I want to hear it." He pinched her breast roughly.
She opened her mouth but instead of screaming she bit down hard on his finger that has slipped in her mouth. Rearing her head forward and then back she hit him on his nose. She spun around as he loosened his grip, his hands flying to his bloodying nose.
Lupin quickly turned his wand on Yaxley, who had Disapparted that quickly.
Ashley kicked Dolohov in between the legs as Lupin grabbed her hand. She threw a punch his way and hit him in the jaw.
"Oh, shit!" she cried out.
"Come with me," Lupin gasped.
Binding Dolohov, he sent a Patronus to the Auror office. He then sent a Patronus to Albus, telling him to meet him at the front gates at once.
He gathered the shaking woman in his arms and Disapparated.
SSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHG
Severus stood in his study, pacing. Hermione had gone to bed about an hour before. He told her he was going to bed as well. He was exhausted, but he couldn't help the nagging feeling he had.
Something was wrong.
He looked down at this left arm. Was it the Dark Lord? Would he be summoned within minutes? He shook his head with a long-blown-out sigh and continued pacing.
TAP TAP TAP
Severus quickly walked over to the door, he opened it.
"What's happened?" he asked of Albus, who was still in his nightshirt.
"I don't know. Remus asked me to meet him at the gates…" Albus said and quickly stepped back as Severus walked past him.
Albus quickly caught up with him.
"Weren't you just with Remus?" Albus asked.
Picking up his pace he gave a short nod.
"I bloody knew something didn't feel right," he said.
"What do you mean?" Albus asked looking sideways at Severus.
He sighed.
"Ashley and Remus insisted on him walking her home so they could talk." He shook his head.
"Even Hermione said it was fine. I just had this feeling that it would not turn out well…" He paused and looked at the older man.
"Is Ashley all right?" he asked.
"Remus did not say," Albus said, and he too quickened his pace.
They came upon the gates to see an agitated Remus and what appeared to be a shaking woman in his arms. Making short work on the gates, Albus stepped up.
"What happened?" he asked.
Remus shook his head, looking at Severus.
"Yaxley and Dolohov were there. Dolohov held her and…groped her breast," Remus shuddered.
"How did you get away?" Severus asked.
Remus hung his head.
"After he called me 'wolf-boy', she lost it. She bit Dolohov, headbutted him, and then kicked him. I looked over to Yaxley, but he was already gone."
"And Dolohov?" Albus questioned.
"I contained him and sent for the Aurors," Remus sighed.
"No!" Ashley cried out and thrashed in Remus's arms.
Albus quickly placed a hand on her forehead, and she stilled her movements, her breathing even.
"I suppose Mrs. Snape is sleeping?" Albus asked.
"Yes," Severus replied.
Albus rubbed his temples.
"Take her back to her house, she'll sleep until morning. Put her in bed. Severus will assist you," Albus said in a tone that brokered no arguments.
"Will she be safe?" Remus asked.
Albus looked down at the sleeping form.
"Hermione's house has wards. She'll be fine," Albus assured him.
Remus nodded his head.
"Of course," he shifted the sleeping bundle in his arms.
Severus sighed and stepped next to Remus.
"If Hermione wakes before I return, do not tell her what has happened. I will inform her," Severus said.
Albus nodded his head.
Severus and Remus both Disapparated.
SSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHG
Hermione padded into the kitchen to find Severus already dressed. He was pacing back and forth.
"Do you have an early errand?" she asked as she made her way to the tea kettle.
"Hermione."
His tone was so grave she stopped in her tracks and turned.
"What's happened?" she asked.
In two quick strides he was in front of her, holding her hand in his.
"Remus and Ashley were attacked last night."
"What? Are they okay?" She cried out.
"They both are fine. It was two Death Eaters. Thankfully they didn't know Ashley was related to you, or she would be in front of the Dark Lord, I'm sure," he said.
"Who were the Death Eaters?" she asked.
"It was Yaxley and Dolohov," he said.
"Dolohov. He almost killed me," she whispered.
"He's in Azkaban now," Severus replied.
"And Yaxley?" she asked.
Severus shook his head.
"He Disapparated after Ashley bit Dolohov, and possibly broke his nose," he gave a small smirk.
Hermione smiled.
"She's taken a few self-defense classes," Hermione muttered.
"They were handy, then. I believe you should check on Ashley," Severus softly said.
He continued.
"Remus confided in me that he had yet to inform her of his…condition. However, Dolohov called him wolf-boy. Remus said all he saw was hurt on Ashley's face."
"Poor, Ash," Hermione whispered.
She headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"Getting dressed," she called over her shoulder.
As she pulled her jeans up, what if questions popped up.
What if Remus wasn't there? What if they stunned Ashley and Remus? What if they killed Ashley?
She choked back a sob and sat down on the bed. Tears fell down her cheeks. She shuddered and covered her face. She didn't realize she wasn't alone until she felt arms wrap around her body and pressed her into something hard and warm.
His chest.
"Shh…she's safe, Hermione. You will see for yourself," he soothed.
She felt his hands rubbing up and down her back, calming her. She took a shaky breath and pulled back. Wiping her eyes before he could see, she nodded.
"Sorry," she mumbled.
"Nothing to apologize for." He stood up.
"I will be in the sitting room whenever you are ready," he said and backed out of the room.
Throwing a tank top on, she checked her face in the mirror for any puffiness. Seeing none, she left the room.
"I'm ready," she said quietly.
They walked down the lane to the gates without a word, both lost in their own thoughts. He opened his arms for her and she stepped in, wrapping her arms around his waist.
They Apparated in her backyard. She unhooked her arms and stepped back.
"I will be back later," he said.
"You're not staying?" she asked.
"Do you want me to?" he asked in return.
Hermione sighed and rubbed her arms looking back at the house.
"Perhaps…" she turned to him. "…For protection," she explained.
Severus nodded his head.
"Of course," he agreed and walked with her to the backdoor.
"You still have the ring if you ever are in mortal danger," he said and ran his thumb over her ring.
She stopped.
"Oh, I'd forgotten about that," she said, looking down at it.
He pulled her hand up to his lips and kissed the back of it.
"Let's hope you'll never need it," he said with a small smile.
Hermione pulled out her wand and unlocked the door. Pulling it open she stepped through with Severus behind her. He shut the door.
"Ash?" Hermione called.
"It's likely she's still sleeping. Albus put a sleeping spell on her. She got a bit erratic while Remus was holding her," Severus said.
"Will she remember what happened? Or think it's a dream?" Hermione asked.
Severus walked over to the teapot. As he was filling it with water he looked over at her.
"Either way, she needs to know it was the truth." He put the pot on the stove and started the fire.
"I'm assuming she wants a relationship with Remus?" he asked her.
Hermione nodded her head.
"Should I summon Remus?" he asked as he pulled out three mugs.
Hermione scrunched her face in thought before slowly shaking her head no.
"Not yet. I'm not sure which way this is going to go."
She headed for the hallway.
"Don't be alarmed if you hear any yelling," she called out.
Hermione slowly made her way up the stairs. Deep breath in…out…in…out.
She knocked softly on Ashley's door. Hearing no response, she slowly opened it.
"Ash?" she called out.
Hermione looked at her cousin who was still in her clothes from last night-well really, this morning-considering they had left the club at two. She was tucked in. Remus must have put her to bed.
She walked in and sat down on the bed next to Ashley. Placing a hand on a shoulder she gently shook her.
"Ash, wake up," she said.
Ashley groaned, lifting her arm to cover her eyes. Suddenly, she shot up straight, pushing Hermine away.
"Get off me!" she screamed.
Hermione landed on the floor with a thump. She jumped to her feet.
"Ashley! Stop, it's me! It's Hermione," she cried.
Ashley stopped thrashing and looked around, her chest heaving.
"Oh, Hermione. What a nightmare I had," she said.
Taking the covers off, she slid out of the bed. She looked down at her clothes and back at Hermione.
"It was a dream, wasn't it?" she asked.
Hermione sighed.
"Why don't you get dressed. Severus is downstairs making tea. We'll talk about it over breakfast," Hermione crooned.
"Hermione, why didn't you tell me?" Ashley asked.
She pulled out a pair of jeans and a short-sleeved t-shirt. Taking her shirt off she looked down when Hermione gasped.
An ugly purple bruise the size of a quarter stood out on her right breast. She quickly threw on her shirt covering it up. Pulling her jeans up she looked at Hermione.
"Remus wanted to tell you. As a matter of fact, he was going to tell you last night," Hermione explained.
Ashley threw her hands up in the air.
"I'm not blaming Remus! I fucking blame you!" Ashley cried out.
Hermione's mouth dropped open.
"What do you mean, you're blaming me?" Hermione asked, hands on her hips.
"You couldn't mention at some point that I was fucking dating a Werewolf?!"
Ashley stormed out of the room, Hermione on her heels as they both bound down the stairs.
"It wasn't my place to tell," Hermione hissed at her.
Ashley turned around to face her.
"Oh, so since it wasn't about you…" she jabbed a finger in Hermione's chest "…and your problems I don't matter?! I fell hard for this man, Hermione! I told you how I felt about him, and you couldn't have warned me?" Ashley demanded.
Ashley stormed into the kitchen. Two steaming mugs of tea were on the counter. Severus was sitting at the table, content with his mug, reading the Muggle newspaper.
"Are you so daft, you thought I wouldn't find out?" she asked.
"I'm NOT daft!" Hermione shrieked.
"So, tell me, Hermione, how angry would you be with me if I knew something about Severus…" she gestured to him before continuing "…and I didn't tell you. How would you feel?" she asked.
Hermione crossed her arms.
"It's not the same thing."
"But it is, Hermione. You withheld information about a soon-to-be boyfriend that could have determined if I wanted to still date him or not! What if I don't want a Werewolf boyfriend?" she yelled.
Hermione took a step back.
"You once told me looks aren't everything," Hermione said.
Ashley laughed.
"Hermione, it's not him looking like a Werewolf that's worrying me. It's the fact that he is a Werewolf on the inside," Ashley said.
"Hell, I don't know a damn thing about Werewolves!" Her voice was filled with despair.
Hermione sighed and took a small step towards Ashley.
"You're right. I should have told you before. He truly was going to tell you last night…that is until you were attacked. Are you hurt anywhere else?" she asked.
Ashley shook her head.
"Just the bruise on my right breast, and I think I punched Remus."
"You did," came a reply from Severus.
Hermione and Ashley both sucked in a breath. Severus continued.
"I have a salve you can use for your bruise if you want it."
"Thank you, Severus," Ashley replied.
Both ladies took a sip from their mugs.
"Do you forgive me?" Hermione asked as she set her mug down.
Ashley sighed, rubbing her forehead.
"Where would I be without you?" Ashley asked.
She sniffed, and they both embraced one another. Hermione, with tears overflowing, and Ashley with tear-filled eyes she refused to shed. Hermione pulled back.
"Let me make it up to you. How about I treat you and Remus to dinner tonight?" She suggested.
"Actually, your parents are away until Tuesday. If you don't mind cooking, we can stay here. Gives Remus and me a safe place to chat." Ashley shrugged as she thought.
"Where are Mum and Dad?" Hermione asked.
"Dental convention," Ashley explained with a wave of her hand.
"Severus and I would love to make dinner," Hermione said as she threw a smirk over at him.
Folding the newspaper, he quirked an eyebrow at Hermione before looking over to Ashley.
"We would love to," he said as he stood up. "Do you need me to go to the store?" he asked.
Ashley nodded her head.
"Yeah, there's not much here at the moment."
Hermione looked over at Severus.
"Ashley and I can handle that if you needed to do something else, until then?" she asked him.
Severus nodded his head.
"Yeah, there are some loose ends I need to tie up before the school year. Are you sure you'll be okay by yourselves?" he asked.
Hermione nodded her head.
"I have the ring, remember?" She fingered the ring on her finger.
Nodding his head, he stepped in front of Hermione.
"What time shall Lupin and I be here?" he asked.
"Five?" She turned to look at Ashley. "You two can talk, and Severus and I can start dinner?"
Ashley nodded her head.
"That sounds good."
Severus headed for the door.
"I will be back by five, then," He turned to face them. "Be vigilant while out," he said.
He stepped out the door, shut it behind him, and Disapparated.
A/N: Sorry it's a bit shorter than usual but hope you like it.