AN: This week has been weird and I completely missed my Wednesday update! Sorry, guys. Posting two chapters today - I hope you love them! :)
TW: Mention of a past Death Eater attack.
The first full moon of the school year was the following Tuesday, and Hermione woke up that morning with an ache in her heart. Tonight, Remus would transform. And it would be painful and horrible. The thought physically hurt her. She was also trying not to be angry. She walked down the stairs to the common room in half a daze.
"You alright, Hermione?" Remus asked. He always waited for her in the mornings. Today he was resting on the chair. He looked honestly terrible. He'd been irritable - though not with her. With her, his wolfish side had come out in rather different ways. She flushed slightly, remembering his ardour the night before.
Hermione offered him a tired smile, then crossed the floor to press a kiss to James' and then Sirius' cheeks.
James' eyebrows raised. "Wha-"
"Remus, you duffer," Sirius interrupted.
"Ohhh."
Remus frowned. "You don't need to worry about me," he said firmly. "I'm used to it by now."
The anger Hermione had been pushing down for days suddenly flared up. "Bullshit," she said quietly.
Everyone looked at her in surprise.
"It is," she said fiercely. "It's bullshit. That's like someone saying they're used to being abused. Or that you get used to going into battle. Go ahead and be strong, but don't bullshit me. I've known you for a long time, Remus Lupin. And you never got used to it."
"Wow, um, Hermione, that's a bit—"
"Shut up, James."
Lily, who had no idea what was going on, reached for her boyfriend's hand. "We're all just gonna go down to breakfast now and let you guys fight it out."
Sirius looked from Hermione to Remus, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. "You should probably take it upstairs," he said finally. Then he turned and together their crew of friends left.
"Yes, let's," Hermione said, though the anger was already starting to leave her.
Remus led the way up the stairs to the boys' dormitory. Hermione paused uncomfortably at the door. Unlike Lily and Tracey - and even Mel, who had snuck up here the other day with Andrew - she'd never set foot in the boys' room. It was empty, save for Remus. Everyone else was down at breakfast.
Remus looked at her. "I won't bite, you know," he said flatly.
And suddenly Hermione realized what her outburst looked like to him. She stepped abruptly into the room and shut the door behind her, adding a locking charm and a silencing spell for good measure - just in case.
"Oh, Remus," she breathed, moving forward into his arms. "I'm sorry. It's not- I'm not… I don't have a problem with you being a werewolf. I'm not afraid of you, you silly wizard. I'm hurting for you." She pulled back and fixed him with a gentle-ish glare. "And I'm so bloody angry that you won't talk to me."
He released a long breath, looking hesitant and uncertain. "You're really not… rethinking things?"
Hermione kissed him then, so fiercely she surprised even herself. "Not for a second," she breathed against his lips.
Remus growled and pulled her lips back to his. Before she knew what was happening, he was pressing her gently into his (she hoped) bed, his lips trailing down her neck.
"Remus," Hermione said weakly, "Remus, we're going to miss breakfast."
He paused to look deep into her eyes. "Do you want me to stop?"
She swallowed thickly. Her heart was racing, and the way he was looking at her was… intoxicating. "I… No, definitely not," she whispered.
"Good." He recaptured her lips. His hands were roving over her body and she let them, her own reaching up under his shirt, shivering up his sides and around his back. Pulling him closer and deeper.
She could feel his hand sliding up the outside of her thigh, slowly pushing her skirt higher and higher toward her waist. A part of her longed to see what would happen next. A very persuasive part of her. But instead she reluctantly reached down and grabbed his hand, bringing it back to her waist. She felt him smile against her lips.
"Sorry," he said in a gravelly voice. "Got carried away." He rolled onto the bed beside her, and she carefully avoided looking at his obvious… excitement. He ran his fingers through his hair. "I don't know what you want me to say, Hermione," he sighed.
It took her distracted brain a minute to remember what the hell he was talking about. "Oh, I… I don't know either, Remus. I just… I want to be here for you." She bit her lip in uncharacteristic reluctance. "I want you to trust me. With anything. I know that's maybe a lot to ask. I realize you have a hard time with this stuff, but-"
Remus grabbed her hand and kissed it softly. "It's not," he said quietly, and with more feeling than Hermione knew what to do with. "It's not a lot to ask. Not for you. I do trust you. And I'm sorry I've been shutting you out this week. I just… it's a habit, I guess. I never talk about this stuff to anyone. And…" He trailed off.
"And what?"
His eyes roved across the ceiling, back and forth. "My dad, he told me something this summer. Something I didn't know before. And it's just… it's messing with my head. I've been a werewolf for as long as I can remember, but suddenly… suddenly it feels like something that was done to me. I know that's dumb. It's always been that way. But something about what my dad said… It just… I don't know."
Hermione caught herself holding her breath and shifted closer, resting her head on Remus' shoulder. "What is it?" she asked softly.
"It's about… about how I was turned. About why. It's all I can think about this week. I wish I didn't know. I wish I knew sooner. I don't know… He didn't want to tell me, he said, but he thought I should know… Because of you. Because I told him about you and how determined you are to fight this war, and he knew I'd follow you. And he thought I should know about… about…"
"Greyback," Hermione breathed.
She felt Remus stiffen.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know you didn't know. And I'm sorry I knew and you didn't. And I'm sorry for—"
Remus kissed her. "Stop being sorry," he said with a smile. "I'm not upset."
She rose up onto her elbow and ran her fingers soothingly through his hair.
"You know the story then?" he asked.
Hermione nodded solemnly.
"Have you… you know… met him?" Remus asked quietly.
Hermione hesitated. "Once."
"In… Before? Or… or here?"
"Here," she whispered.
Remus sat up abruptly. "On the full moon?"
Hermione forced all of her emotions down. "Yes."
"Can I… Was it…"
"It was bad." Memories from that night wrapped themselves around her. The terrified screams of Muggle children. Their confused and horrified parents. The smell of blood in the air. Greyback, unmasked, cackling in the clear night air as the Death Eaters cast their mark and disappeared and he began to transform. "An attack in Muggle London this summer." She fixed him with the most level gaze she could. "Don't ask, Remus. Please." She wasn't sure if she was pleading for his sake or for hers.
He leaned in, with empathy in his eyes, and gently kissed her forehead, then relaxed back onto the bed, pulling her with him and holding her close.
Hermione must have fallen asleep because suddenly she was waking to the sound of someone pounding on the door. She and Remus jerked up, and Hermione quickly removed the spells from the door.
"Alright you two lovebirds, cover yourselves, we're coming in!" Sirius bellowed. The he threw open the door with a smirk, but also with his hand in front of his eyes just in case.
Laughing, Hermione chucked a pillow at his head.
"Aw man," James said, pushing past Sirius. He pulled a sickle from his trunk and tossed it to Sirius with a scowl. "Moony, you just cost me a sickle. Get your shit together, mate."
Hermione arched an eyebrow.
Sirius' smirk deepened. "Jamesie here bet me a sickle that you two would be naked."
Hermione's other eyebrow lifted to join the first. "Oh he did, did he?"
"Er, all in good fun, Hermione," James said hastily. "Honest. I mean, take your time or whatever."
It occurred to Hermione, for the first time, that Remus might not be a virgin. The thought settled uncomfortably in her stomach. Sirius seemed to notice the shift in her mood.
"Look, we brought food! From the kitchens, you know. Since you two missed lunch."
"Excuse me, what?"
"Yeah, you've been up here all day. Sleeping, apparently," James said with the barest trace of disbelief.
"Shit!"
"Hermione," Remus said calmly. "You don't even have any classes Monday mornings."
She let out a slow breath. "Oh. Right. Whew." She gratefully accepted the food and was just about to dig in when Hatty appeared. The boys jumped ferociously, but Hermione stood on immediate alert.
"What is it?"
"The Headmaster is calling you, Miss." Hatty put her hand out expectantly.
Hermione nodded her understanding and bent to give Remus a quick kiss. "Mission," she said quietly. "I'll see you later."
"What? What!?" Sirius exploded. But Hermione had already gripped Hatty's hand and the two popped immediately away to Albus' office.
"Hermione," Albus greeted gravely. "I know we said we'd de-prioritize your team for the sake of school, but this is urgent. Alastor will be here in a moment to brief you. I must get back to the Order."
"Of course."
Albus disapparated moments before Alastor stepped through the Floo.
"The Minister of Magical Transportation was compromised yesterday."
"Shit," Hermione breathed. Tracey.
"Aye. He had impressive at-home protocols and is no longer compromised. But when he got to the office this morning, he recalled that he had issued 10 portkeys… into various Magical Embassies across London."
Hermione stared at him. "Is that… even possible?"
Alastor shrugged. "Guess so. All teams are being deployed right now. It's 1:14 right now. The portkeys are timed for 3:13. Our team has been assigned to the French Embassy, where nearly half of the Portkeys are headed."
"Because of the French Minister of Magic's statement last week? I thought it was a pretty weak show of support - but Voldemort is concerned?"
"So it seems," Alastor growled. "Let's get going. The others are already there."
They stepped through the front doors of the French Embassy and into chaos. Dammit, Hermione thought, seeing the panic on the Embassy employees' faces. There was no way France would help Britain in the war against Voldemort after this. Nor any other nation. Even though their employees would all make it out safely.
"Voldemort will wonder how we knew his plans," Hermione said sharply. Though, perhaps (hopefully) her comments to Lucius on the train would make him suspect a spy rather than Tracey's father. "Are there protections in place for the Minister of Magical Transportation and his family?"
"Aye. We've got it covered," Alastor assured her. His bright blue eyes met hers seriously. "Look, Hermione, this is going to be an a-typical operation. We've had to team up with the Auror division so as to keep this on-the-books and official-like. Can't have the French Minister thinking our ministry didn't take the threat seriously - and we don't have time to waste trying to convince these people we're legitimate."
"What does that mean for the mission?"
"It means extra bodies in the space. People you won't know or recognize. I vouch personally for every single one of them," he said, a touch of pride in his voice, "But they aren't going to trust you; they aren't going to listen to you."
Gideon, Fabian, and Emmeline came over.
"This is a real mess," Gideon said cheerfully. "We're clearing this lot out, right?"
"Heya, Hermione," Emmeline greeted with a small smile. "We weren't sure you'd be coming. It's good to see you."
Hermione smiled back. "I'm a member of the Order. End of story."
"Damn straight," Emmeline said.
"So what's our play?" Fabian asked.
"Our team doesn't get to play lead on this one," Alastor said. "Which I know is going to be a rough adjustment. But make it fast because the next surprise is a doozy."
Hermione froze. "You're not here as an Order member, are you?" she breathed.
"Right in one."
"What!?" her teammates shouted.
"I'm here to lead my fellow Aurors. That's a good thing because it means I'm in charge, and I'm giving the four of you free reign. Pick a leader. Trust them. You lot have got this in the bag. I'm posting the Aurors in hidey-holes around the Embassy building. Throw the Death Eaters off a little. Beyond that, it's going to be chaotic. We've got four Portkeys' worth of Death Eaters headed our way, and our forces are highly divided between all the Embassy buildings. We have no idea if Voldemort is actually hitting them, or whether his entire force will be directed here, with those as decoys. Assume the worst."
"How many Aurors are in the building?" Emmeline asked.
Alastor's expression was almost grave. "Fifteen."
"And our team is it from the Order?" Hermione asked, almost afraid of the answer.
"Aye."
"Bloody hell," the twins said together.
Emmeline went with a more colourful, "Fuck."
Hermione took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay."
Alastor eyed each one of them. "I've got to go clear these people out and get the Aurors positioned. Good luck." And then he was striding away.
Hermione turned to her teammates. "Well… this is auspicious," she joked weakly.
Gideon actually cracked a grin, but Emmeline and Fabian were more serious.
"Well, I suppose Emmeline ought to be our illustrious leader," Fabian said quietly.
Hermione nodded even as Emmeline's hands raised reflexively in protest. "You're the oldest and most experienced of us," Hermione pointed out. "And you know Alastor best."
Emmeline sputtered.
"You know, Em might be right," Gideon joked. "I don't think I want this kind of mental person for my leader."
"Aye. Lacking confidence," Fabian grinned.
Hermione raised a questioning eyebrow at Emmeline.
"Oh, alright!" Emmeline huffed. "But if we all die, I'm blaming you lot."
"That's the spirit!" Gideon cheered.
"Alright, alright," Emmeline said, "So what's our play here?"
Hermione shrugged. "We don't have much intel. A portkey can carry a maximum of 11 people. Four portkeys means a maximum of 44 Death Eaters."
"Alastor says two portkeys are headed for the third floor, one to the second, and one to here," Fabian added.
Hermione's mind was whirring. "Well… 11 Death Eaters on this floor then. Eleven against 20 is pretty good odds." She eyed the twins. "What do you say we try to keep it that way at least at first?"
The twins' eyes lit up and Hermione caught herself on the verge of a grin. "You mean keep the others upstairs?"
Emmeline nodded thoughtfully. "For as long as possible. Let's do this."
For the next twenty minutes, Emmeline and the twins did their best to impede the movement of the Death Eaters. Sticky floors. Touch-triggered spells. Warded doors. Hermione was in charge of disabling the elevators and explaining the plan to Alastor.
"Aye," he said with an almost-concealed smirk, "I'll let my people know."
Hermione felt herself bristle slightly at the "my people" but let it go.
"Don't forget," he said, "the Aurors have been authorized to kill."
Hermione made a face.
"Yeah, yeah. Don't get yer knickers in a twist. But remember, that means these battles are getting more dangerous. A stray spell from our side could end you just as easily as a Death Eater."
"I'll remember," Hermione said darkly.
"Stay safe."
She saluted ironically and headed to where Emmeline and the twins had gathered. There was nothing left now but to wait. Ten minutes to go.
"This is a weird feeling," Emmeline admitted. "Not a lot of waiting on our typical mission."
"Yeah," Gideon said. "I'm much more comfortable with our usual jump in and don't die plan."
"You think this is going to work?" Hermione asked quietly, trying not to fidget.
"I bloody hope so," Emmeline said.
The time dragged as they waited, their faces masked with the Order's spell. Hermione did her best to get into her battle mindset, but it wouldn't show up. Her teammates looked just as on edge as she felt. There was none of the confident calm they usually felt going into battle. The waiting was messing with their heads, and Hermione didn't know what to do about it.
Emmeline seemed to be thinking the same thing. They had two minutes to go, when she finally started talking, dragging their minds back to where they needed to be. "It's just like Quidditch, innit?" she said calmly. "We've got our play. We're just waiting for the refs to restart the gameplay. We know our team. We know our strengths. We know the play. That's all that matters."
Hermione nodded at the foreign metaphor. "Right. We're not waiting for the team to show up, uncertain who's going to be on it. We're just waiting for the whistle to blow."
"Yeah," Gideon added, "Which means holding the play in our minds. Just like Quidditch."
"We've got this," Fabian agreed. "Eleven Death Eaters. We know more about what we're walking into here than we ever have on any other mission. Eleven Death Eaters is cake. We've got the others covered."
Hermione smiled at the way she could feel them clicking into place. Their energy suddenly shifting toward focus and clarity. The nervousness lifted. "Ten seconds to go." Together they counted down… "Three, two… game time."
And then the Death Eaters arrived.