CHAPTER FORTY FIVE

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November 5th 2006

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Hermione sat quietly in the nursery with Remus suckling away, quite content as long as his little tummy was full, as his mum gazed down at him with a soft, proud smile on her face. She simply couldn't get over how full her heart felt, how incredible her life had become over the last year and how wonderful Charlie was for all of them. Hell, even waking up in the night to feed Remus was a rare occurrence for her since Charlie had convinced her to express some milk. He seemed to be doing everything with twice as much effort and enthusiasm, probably trying to make up for what he had missed the first time around and Hermione was incredibly grateful to have him by her side to see their boys grow.

The window of the nursery had the most amazing view out over the glade and Hermione let out a content sigh as she turned her head, looking out over the place that had seen the start of everything. The moon cast it's low light over the trees and their shadows danced across the floor as the wind moved the branches. Everything was normal until Hermione saw something move out of the corner of her eye, snapping her head around to get a better look but she was distracted as Remus let out a shrill cry.

"Oh, baby boy," Hermione cooed, standing up and holding him over her shoulder, patting his back as she bobbed up and down, "mummy didn't mean to scare you, sweetheart. It's ok."

She stood to the side of the window, just looking out at the spot where she had been so sure she had seen something out of the ordinary. Remus let out a tiny little burp and she chuckled as she transferred him to lay in her arms, rocking him to and fro gently. Just as the tiny baby yawned, Hermione saw the same dark shape that had surprised her before, this time in the trees that she was looking directly at. She squinted as she stepped closer to the window and frowned as she saw something, big but not definitely human, step out of the treeline. Hermione didn't hesitate before she quickly left the room and headed straight for their bedroom where Charlie was still asleep. Cradling Remus in one arm, she prodded Charlie in the shoulder and he woke up with a start.

"Hermione?" He asked, frowning up at her as he noticed Remus in her arms, "what's wrong, love?"

"There's someone outside," Hermione hissed, gesturing to the window and Charlie, having hurriedly got out of bed and pulled on his pyjama trousers, crossed to the same window, "in the trees opposite dead opposite th-"

She didn't get to finish, a loud bang from below them echoing through the quiet house as Remus cried again in her arms. Charlie, turning to Hermione with wide eyes, pulled them both toward him and guided them out into the hallway before dragging them in to Arty's room. Hermione, confused and worried about what was going on, laid Remus down next to Arty, who was awake from the noise and curled his arm around his brother to keep him safe, before rushing back to Charlie.

"What the hell was that?" She hissed and Charlie shook his head, shrugging.

"No idea," he muttered, his wand in his hand after he had grabbed it from his bedside table on the way out of their room, "Stay with the boys, I'm going to check."

"What?" Hermione gasped, grabbing his arm, "no, what if it's dangerous?"

"Then better me than them, right?" He said, gesturing over to Arty and Remus while Hermione sighed.

"Please be careful," she said and he nodded, kissing her on the lips before he left the room, shutting the door behind him and Hermione sighed as she turned to Arty, "are you ok, my little love?"

"What was that noise, mummy?" He asked and Hermione forced herself to remain nonchalant as she sat next to him, shrugging as she picked Remus up again.

"I don't know," she said, not letting her worry show on her face, "daddy will tell us as soon as he gets back."

"Ok," he nodded, sitting up and pulling a book from his bedside table as he looked up at her with innocent eyes, "can you read to me while we wait?"

"Ok," Hermione sighed, though she couldn't help but smile, "you'll have to hold the book and turn the pages, though, because I need to hold onto Remus."

"Ree can lay next to me?" He suggested, smoothing out the blankets and making enough space and Hermione, smiling at the first mention of a nickname for Remus, nodded before laying the baby there.

Even in a time where she had something weighing heavily on her mind, Hermione was left in awe of how naturally Arty had adapted to his new role of big brother. As she settled in next to him with the book in her hands, she told the story while watching their interaction from the corner of her eye. Arty had instinctively laid a hand on Remus' chest when the baby had began to fuss and Remus', who so obviously already adored his brother, settled right down as he opened and closed his tiny fists around Arty's fingers. The beautiful and heart warming moment was enough to distract her until Charlie pushed open the door, looking concerned.

"Is everything ok?" Hermione asked and Charlie nodded, gesturing for her to follow him, putting a finger over his lips and only then did Hermione notice that both boys were fast asleep.

"I couldn't find anything," he sighed, pulling her into a hug and, "maybe a bird flew into a window, because everything seems fine."

"So why are you shaking?" Hermione asked quietly, pulling away just enough to frown at him.

"I don't know," he sighed, putting his forehead against hers, "just for a moment, I honestly thought that you three were in danger and it scared the hell out of me."

"We're ok, Charlie," Hermione said, kissing him gently, "go back to bed. I'll be there as soon as I've put Remus back in his cot."

Charlie sighed and nodded before he headed back into their room and once Hermione had retrieved Remus from beside Arty, who had tightened his grip protectively which made her smile, she put him down in his cot and returned to bed herself. She found Charlie laying on his back with his hands behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling. She sighed as she crawled into bed next to him and lay her head on his shoulder, his arm wrapping around her shoulders as her own wrapped around his stomach.

"Hey," she said, looking up at him, "we're all ok. I probably imagined it, or it was a deer or something."

"I doubt it," he snorted, kissing her forehead as he sighed, "I'm going to get Bill to come and help me strengthen the wards at the weekend. I hate the thought of anything happening when I'm not here."

"Well, it's a good thing that Kingsley is a terrific boss then, isn't it," Hermione reminded, squeezing Charlie around the middle, "i still don't know how you managed to convince him to let you work from home for a month."

"What can I say? Kingsley loves me." Charlie snorted and Hermione chuckled as she kissed his jaw.

"I love you." she told him and Charlie hummed as he wrapped both arms around her.