Chapter 79: Tuesday, August 11, 1981

"Barring love and war, few enterprises are undertaken with such abandon, or by such diverse individuals, or with so paradoxical a mixture of appetite and altruism."

-Aldo Leopold

"No way," Hermione whispered to herself, running a hand through the front of her hair. "It can't be that simple…"

She sat back against the chair, staring at the formula in disbelief. She had spent the last few days working on deconstructing the spell that killed Fabian Prewett, consulting several different texts and trying to figure out how to reverse engineer the spell work. She had had a bit of a break through about two hours ago, when she realized the charm used to boil the blood was a simple household charm, simply altered to accommodate the thicker viscosity. From that moment, she had begun digging into the wand movements and the latin phrases pieced together and realized that it literally just translated to "hot blood." She nearly laughed in her disbelief. It was so stupidly simple. So annoyingly simple, that she hadn't even thought about it. It didn't make sense, for something for horrendous, to be just a few adjustments on a run of the mill household charm.

But of course, that was the genius of it.

While Hermione could never respect Antonin Dolohov, she had come to understand that he wasn't quite as gifted with his spell work as she had originally come to think. One spell, for instance, caused the receiver's flesh to melt. The foundation of that spell being a simple pest repellent charm—one that Molly Weasley had taught her when she was sixteen to help clear the Billywig infestation from Grimmauld Place.

There were more complex curses, ones that were taking far more effort to break down, but the moment she realized the Death Eater had been using mundane charms as the foundation of the curses and then building upon them, all she had to do was break down the formula he used and she could reverse it.

In Fabian's case, a simple cooling charm hadn't been enough to bring down the molten temperature of his insides, however a freezing charm that had been slightly altered, would have been able to save his life. She could have stopped the burning by stopping his heart momentarily, and then simply restarted it with a modified Rennervate.

To say the last several days had her frustrated, would be an understatement.

In addition to this revelation, she had received a letter from Dumbledore explaining that he had spoken to Snape, and that Snape had brought it to his attention that she felt they no longer needed the memory potion. Dumbledore advised against it, and requested they continue with the project "a momentous breakthrough in memory potions" he had called it—a momentous reminder of the argument she had gotten into with Remus that nearly got her killed was what she really thought of it.

And when she obliged, and allowed Snape to gloat, she had wanted nothing more than to throttle him. Both of them, really. Albus Dumbledore had puppeteered too much of her life, for her liking. He had played Harry, Ron, and herself as pawns on a chess board for much of their school years and she was irritated with having to follow his orders again. Perhaps, once she presented him with the information she had, she could finally be out from under the thumb of an old man who made mistakes and refused to pass on all the information.

She pressed the heels of her palms into her eyes and rubbed them vigorously for a few seconds. They stung from staring at the parchment and going through arithmancy texts all day and when she pulled her hands away, she blinked a few times. She sighed and got up from her spot at the table to make herself yet another cup of coffee. She hadn't been to bed yet, and the sun was beginning to break through the open window, but the breakthrough she had wouldn't allow for her to sleep.

While she waited for the coffee press, she began moving around the kitchen to make herself a spot of breakfast. Finish this page, then you can sleep, she told herself—and she shook her head, reminding herself of what she had been like while attending Hogwarts. She pulled the bacon from the fridge and felt a strange sensation in her chest, a tugging, almost.

"Okay, maybe sleep and then finish," she muttered, rubbing at the twinge that had started in her neck.

"Are you talking to yourself? I thought that was my thing."

Hermione's heart jumped into her throat and she spun around on her heel, a smile breaking out over her face at the sight of Remus in their kitchen.

"You're back!"

He smiled and nodded, stepping forward to envelop her in a tight hug. "Only gone a month," he laughed.

"A month too long," Hermione said. The pain in her neck seemed to dissipate the moment she stepped into Remus' embrace. She took in a slow breath, breathing him in as she knew he was doing to her, as well. "Missed you."

"I missed you, too. Are you making breakfast?"

As if his body knew the word, Remus' stomach rumbled loudly and Hermione chuckled. "Yes. Go take a shower and it'll be ready when you get out."

He pressed a lingering kiss to her temple and she could feel the smile against her skin, "I love you."

"I love you, too." She said, stepping away from him. "Now go shower. You stink."

"I've spent the last month in a cave with werewolves, shockingly enough, there's not a lot of soap involved."

Hermione rolled her eyes and shooed him to the bathroom, knowing that he enjoyed the heat of the water after being gone for so long.

His absence had been easier this time, something Hermione had chalked up to the bites on her neck and thigh. She could feel him, now. She could tell that he was alive and okay. Well, as okay as a man could be when surrounded by possibly hostile werewolves. It had brought her some modicum of comfort to know that she could feel his magic thrumming strong within her chest, knowing that the bond they shared could be felt by him as well.

She flitted around the kitchen, doing her best to fry the bacon and eggs and toast the bread. She would never pretend to be a naturally talented cook, but she could at least put together a decent breakfast and she knew he had to be starving. Werewolf compounds were not known for their abundance of meals, especially not when they had an extra mouth to feed that was attached to an estranged loner.

Remus emerged from the bathroom in a cloud of clean smelling steam, his pajama bottoms riding low on his hips and his face freshly shaven. He hadn't dried his hair, as he usually did with his wand and instead, left it to drip tiny droplets of cedar smelling water down his neck.

"You're in a good mood for just getting home," Hermione remarked, piling his plate high.

"You haven't been home the last few times I've come in from an assignment," he explained. "I'm just really happy to see you, is all."

Hermione carried the plates to the table, and set them down before summoning the coffee she had made and an extra mug for Remus. Just as she sat down to tuck in, Remus jumped up from his chair, as if a shock had jolted him.

"What?" She asked, nearly choking on a forkful of eggs.

"I forgot! Fuck, hang on!" Remus said, moving from his spot and heading out of the kitchen.

"Forgot what?" Hermione called, swallowing the bite of eggs down hard and coughing a bit.

Seconds later, Remus reappeared, sitting down and passing a phial over to her before picking his fork back up. She arched an eyebrow and turned the phial from side to side, eyeing the potion inside.

"What is this?"

Remus swallowed and took a large gulp of his coffee to clear his throat. "It's the potion they're using to turn werewolves out of cycle."

Her fork clattered against her plate when it slipped from her fingers and she stared at Remus with wide eyes, "I haven't been to sleep yet, so I know my brain is a bit foggy, but did you just say—"

"Yep," Remus said, with a small popping sound at the end of the word. "Why haven't you been to sleep yet?"

"I got caught up with my research, it doesn't matter! What do you mean this is the potion turning werewolves out of cycle? You were able to steal it? How?"

"Didn't have to steal it," he shrugged. "They're handing it out to anyone who shows a passing interest in it. The last pack I stayed with had loads of it! It was a small pack, their alpha said Greyback brings them bottles of it every month so long as they promise to remain loyal to him."

"To Greyback, you mean?"

"I guess. I reckon that really means to Voldemort, but they don't give a shit, do they? They're happy to turn out of cycle to hunt and kill whenever they want if they're promised the right things."

Hermione scoffed, "What is he promising them?"

Remus raised his eyebrows and pointed his fork at the phial, "You're holding it."

Hermione stared at him with her brows drawn together, "I don't…"

"Greyback's agenda is clear among werewolves," Remus stated. "He's pushing that they—we— are stronger than wizards. That we should be the ones on top and that Voldemort had called us to his ranks to become part of the elite."

"They don't realize that the pureblood agenda doesn't include werewolves?" Hermione asked.

"Apparently not. I think they're so desperate for some form of protection, that when they're seen as strong and useful, they'll do anything to be part of it. Pack mentality, I suppose."

"So they're taking this potion, turning out of cycle and...what? Killing people?"

"Worse," Remus said. "They're turning people."

"How? The only way to spread lycanthropy is through a bite at the full moon, Remus. You know this."

"I do," Remus said, taking another long drink from his mug. "But, when the laws of nature are skewed already, what's to say you can't turn someone if you—yourself—are turned out of cycle? The reason lycanthropy spreads at the full moon is because that's the only time a werewolf is transformed."

"What's in the potion?" Hermione asked.

"Dunno. That's why I nicked a phial to bring back. I thought maybe you and Lily could figure it out."

Hermione nodded, setting the potion to the side, suddenly not feeling very hungry. She opened the phial and sniffed the contents, her eyes watering at the strong scent. Aconite, definitely. From the pearlescent sheen, she could tell moonstone was involved. The colour however...the colour was unlike anything she had seen before. Almost the same exact shade of crimson as the blood that pulsed through her veins. There was a pungent, coppery smell that accompanied it and her stomach roiled at the thought of werewolves swallowing a potion that used blood as a conduit. But, she couldn't think of any other liquid that would allow the same fluid movement and colour. Even flobberworm mucus would not give the same viscosity of the liquid in the phial.

A thought struck Hermione as she walked to the sink, vanishing the leftover food from her plate and emptying her mug down the drain.

"Did you take it?" Hermione asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"No," Remus said. He stepped next to her and rinsed his mug. "I stayed in the cave when they went out."

"They didn't hurt you?"

He shook his head, "I smell like them, don't I?"

Hermione bit her lip and nodded, "Yeah, I suppose."

"There's one more thing," Remus said. "I want to talk about it at the next meeting, but we may need to plan now."

She turned to face him, her hip pressing to the lip of the counter. "What?"

"I think they're planning an attack on Diagon Alley," Remus said, his hands gripping the edge of the sink.

"The pack you were with?"

"All of them," he said. "I think all of the werewolves that have taken a stand with Voldemort are going to attack with the Death Eaters. They're using them as attack dogs, Hermione. They don't care if the werewolves get taken down, what's one less halfbreed on the Earth? But, I think they're planning to do it—and soon."

Hermione took in a deep breath and nodded, closing her eyes as she exhaled. "I need to sleep."

She couldn't think of anything else to say. There were no words of comfort she could offer in this situation, nothing to make anything better. If Remus thought the werewolves were gearing up for an attack on Diagon Alley, then chances were, he was right. And she knew Diagon Alley had been targeted in the past, and in her own timeline.

After a few moments, Remus took her hand and led her to their bedroom. She changed into a tee shirt of his and climbed into the bed, which felt comforting and full with him next to her. She was growing tired of waking alone with cold sheets and worry. She laid her head on his chest and listened to his heart beat while she breathed in time with him.

As she drifted, images of Diagon Alley the summer before her sixth year floated to her mind. Boarded up windows and doors hanging off the hinges. News of Mr Ollivander being taken and the kiosks set up, lining the cobblestone with strange merchants selling amulets and potions that promised safety and protection. She remembered the fear in Molly Weasley's face as she ushered them all along the street, begging them not to dawdle and terrified that Fred and George's joke of U-No-Poo would get them killed.

She pushed the thoughts away, snuggling deeper into Remus' chest and breathing him in as he wrapped his arms tightly around her. The war was waging around them, and she knew that the tipping point was soon to come. But, a few hours rest with Remus would help her clear her mind and then she could start addressing some of the more serious things that were to come.

When Hermione's eyes finally fluttered back open, the room was painted in the deep golden glow of the afternoon sun. She was laying on her side, facing the room with Remus pressed to her back. His chin was tucked behind her neck and pressed soft kisses against her shoulder. His hand under the cotton of her shirt, splayed over her belly and his thumb rubbed against her ribs.

She took in a deep breath and shimmied backward, sinking into his embrace and smiling to herself when she felt his arms tighten around her.

"Have you been awake long?" She whispered.

"No," Remus said, pressing a kiss to her neck. "Just a few minutes."

His hand crept up to brush the underside of her breasts and she felt heat begin to pool between her legs. She pushed her hips back and her smile widened when she felt the hardness of his length pressing against her. He hissed in her ear and his hand trailed back down over her stomach and slipped beneath the elastic of her knickers. She arched her back when his fingers brushed against her clit, teasing her slowly as the kisses against her neck became a little more urgent.

"Remus," she whispered, a silent plea for him to do more on the edge of her voice.

He circled her clit a few times before dipping even lower and pressing a finger into her core. His other hand moved up, massaging her breasts in time with his strokes. She moaned and parted her thighs, throwing her leg over the backs of his knees and gasped when another finger pushed inside of her. Hermione rocked her hips forward, her breath coming in heavy pants and she moaned loudly again when his fingers crooked up and he sucked on her neck.

"N-need you," Remus stammered, still pumping his fingers.

"Yes, please, yes."

Hermione shifted her hips as Remus removed his hand from her to shove his pyjama bottoms off his hips. She shoved her knickers down her thighs and kicked them off, hooking her leg around the back of his again and moaned when she felt the head of his cock brush through her folds a few times before sinking into her.

Her hips pressed back to meet his as he rocked into her, his hands massaging every bit of skin on their way back to her breasts, holding her against him as he snapped forward. Remus whispered into her ear with every roll of his hips against her arse, singing praises and telling her he loved her. The slow pace he kept driving her breathless and needy for more.

His hand moved to hook under her knee, hiking her leg up to adjust the angle and Hermione cried out when he pressed deeper into her. Remus' breath became ragged with every passing minute, and when he pulled completely out of her, she thought she'd cry.

"I w-want to see you," he panted, pulling himself on top of her and settling back between her thighs. "I need to see you."

His mouth trailed blazing kisses up her throat, across her jaw and finally, to her lips. He sank into her and her lips parted against his, her moan swallowed by him as his tongue slipped into her mouth. He broke away from her, panting for air as his hips pumped into her. Hermione reached up to shove his hair from his forehead and twisted her fingers into the sweat-soaked waves that rested at the back of his neck.

Her thighs were shaking when they wrapped around his waist, her ankles hooked to hold in place as her heels dug into his arse, pulling him even deeper. He rolled his hips against her, causing a loud shout of pleasure to pull from her throat and she cried out when the tightened band in her finally snapped. Her entire body tingled, from head to toe, her back bowing off the bed. Remus' own cry came shortly after, the sound cut short by Hermione's lips as they crashed into his.

Remus collapsed on top of her, panting for breath and pressing his lips against her throat. Hermione hummed in content, her mind finally clearing from her orgasm as she raked her fingers through Remus' hair.

"I love you," she whispered. "I'm glad you're home."

"I love you, too."

They laid in silence for a long time, Hermione felt her eyes become heavy again, comforted by the weight of Remus wrapped around her. He hummed quietly, an off-key version of All You Need is Love to accompany his seemingly good mood. She couldn't help but smile to herself as his chest vibrated against her stomach and breath tickled her neck. It was selfish to stay, she knew that. She knew that changing things may not necessarily mean for the better, but she couldn't bring herself to think about it too much. What could be better than this? How could she possibly walk away from the beautiful man who wanted nothing more than to love her and hum silly love songs to her all afternoon?

Remus moved from his place on top of her and rolled to the side of the bed, pulling her against him and tucking her against his chest.

"This is nice," he hummed, his eyes heavy.

"Mm, it is."

"Wish we could stay here all the time."

Hermione smiled and pressed a kiss to his chest, "We'd get bored."

"I think I could find ways to keep us entertained."

She chuckled, "We'd get sore."

"Hm, maybe… Oh!" Remus said, jolting up a bit, "I forgot! I saw Dumbledore this morning."

"Do we have to talk about Albus Dumbledore when I'm not wearing any knickers?" Hermione groaned.

Remus laughed, "He told me Molly had the baby early this morning, a girl."

Hermione smiled, "Ginny."

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a/n: Just wanted to tell you all that I love you, and I can't tell you enough how absolutely amazed and thankful and humbled I am by the traffic this story has gotten. Thank you so much for every fave, follow, and review. They seriously make me so happy, you have no idea.

Your support has been everything. Thank you so so fucking much.

xo