Chapter 1:
Remus paced back and forth in the filthy space he'd been forced to occupy. He was supposed to be humiliated into watching the new pup. Her parents had called her Hermione, before Greyback had let the deatheaters have them. Remus shut his eyes trying to catch a bit of sleep, but as soon as the curly-haired toddler whined his eyes shot open and he put a bit of water to her lips.
"Shh, Hermione," he whispered, taking the gauze off the bite on her arm and the slash across her face. Greyback had locked her away so she'd have a higher chance of survival. Unfortunately werewolf wounds didn't heal with magic, there was no magic healing of lycanthropy. To make matters worse the wounds were weeping because Greyback didn't have any powdered silver and dittany to help the healing. Remus grimaced taking a bit of clean bandages to rewrap the girl's wounds.
It hadn't been her fault that her mother had accidentally bumped into Greyback, nor her fault he'd seen the accidental magic. Remus sighed, he'd try to spare her this fate, he'd sent patronus after patronus to Dumbledore, and yet the professor had told him not to bother. There were going to be casualties in any war, and his position was far too precious.
Remus' jaw clenched at the thought of it, but still he decided to wait. Remus was foolishly holding out hope the Order would raid the camp. Now he was dealing with a child who'd been cursed with this existence just as he'd been. He couldn't stand being here any longer, and he wouldn't allow Greyback's influence into her life. He'd help her remember her parents, maybe even return her to her family.
If only he could ensure that she survived this transition. He stood wincing as his wounds bled freely. The two of them were left alone in a cave on the outskirts of the camp. Greyback choosing to punish Remus by keeping him outside of the pack and with the injured child.
Carefully he wrapped the thread bare blankets around her and started walking out of camp shushing the toddler as she whined with every step. He knew the pain, but there was nothing to be done about it now. As he got further away from the encampment his pace picked up to a steady jog.
Remus clutched the child close to his chest, his breathing ragged as he ran. It was the night after the full moon and everything hurt. His bones and head hurt because of the transformation. And to make matters worse he challenged Greyback after he bit the girl. His wolf briefly connecting with the human side of him. The act of rebellion causing him to get beat by his pack. After the beating he'd received at the hands of Fenrir, he had deep cuts in his ribs and face. He tasted the coppery tint of blood on his tongue his cracked lip started bleeding again,
He had to get out of the camp before he was caught and the bleeding bundle was turned over to Fenrir. If that happened Hermione would be raised and indoctrinated into the mad man's ideals
Remus almost felt it when he'd finally left the boundaries of the hidden encampment. As soon as he was out of the wards he apparated one second in the woods, the next in a small dingy apartment staring down the wand tip of one Sirius Black.
Sirius' eyes were wild until he made out the steady features of Remus' face. "Merlin, Moony, send an owl next time would ya?"
"Sirius," Remus was so sore and tired he just shoved the toddler into his arms before collapsing. The act of apparating having taken the last of his strength he just sat on his knees.
Sirius frowned holding the whimpering bundle finally realizing exactly what he had. A child, a child with a big gaping wound across her face, and blood staining the blanket. Grimacing Sirius set the bundled up girl on the ratty couch; before, bending down and heaving the heavy lump that was Moony to the couch beside the baby. For a brief moment Remus blacked out, and Sirius sighed taking in the amount of wounds on the two in front of him. Finally he sent a patronus to the Potters, before settling himself in front of the couch cleaning first the girl's wounds. He flinched as he saw the bite mark, he looked up at Remus, his heart pounding in his ears.
Sirius didn't even blink James apparated into his apartment with hair disheveled and shirt on backwards in pajama pants. He'd sat there unable to move for at least 10 minutes.
"Padfoot?"
He didn't answer, staring down at the bite mark. James came up and stopped his eyes flickering to Remus.
"Prongs, she's…"
"We need some powdered silver, and dittany," James ran his fingers through his disheveled hair, "Lily has some for Remus at the house."
"Do you think Remus did this?"
"I don't know, poor thing," James sighed, "I wonder where her mummy is."
"Dead," Remus rasped,clutching his side trying unsuccesfully to sit up. "Greyback gave her parents to Death Eaters, they were dentists I believe, in the muggle world. He saw her change a balloon into a bird by accident, and decided he'd add a new child to his collection after her mother accidentally bumped into him."
"That's horrific."
"I called the Order, begged them to send help, but Dumbledore said I couldn't stop spying, and that she was just another casualty…"
"Spying?" Sirius frowned, "spying for Dumbledore?"
"He said he'd tell you," Remus frowned.
"No mate, we," James sighed, "you've been pulling away since Harry's birth we were afraid that you'd turned on us…."
Remus looked up at his 2 best friends in the world, both had their heads hung low. He'd heard there was a traitor in the Potters' mix, he'd had no idea they'd assumed it was him. "No, Dumbledore asked me to go deep undercover, but when I saw her and her parents get brought in, I knew I had to save her from this fate. He killed her parents the first night, invited Death Eaters into our camp to do it. It endeared us to You-Know-Who, to provide muggle playthings… Her mom kept begging us to spare her, spare Hermione… I just," Remus couldn't finish his words but his throat constricted tight.
"You did the right thing mate." Sirius pulled the lanky man into a tight hug, and everything Remus endured poured out of him in that moment as he sobbed. His knees buckling into the shorter man. "I couldn't leave her, I couldn't save them, but I had to save her."
"Dumbledore is mad, he sacrificed 3 lives," James said, picking up the once again whining child. "How long ago did she eat?"
"She hasn't, not since her parents," Remus tried to breathe attempting to stop the tears. "That's why she's got those lacerations, she cried for hours after the death eaters left asking for her Mum, and finally Greyback lost his temper. He clawed into her face, and then locked her away in this dog kennel. He kept her there until after the full moon, he thought it'd give her some protection so she'd likely survive."
"Moony," James put his hand on the back of his shoulder, a bounce in his sway to soothe the child in his arms. "I'm taking her to Lily, so she can get cleaned up with a new nappy, and Lily can try to heal these cuts…"
Sirius looked at Remus who stiffened at the mention of taking away Hermione. "We'll come to James, besides Moony hasn't seen Evans in a while, and hasn't even met my godson yet."
James looked at Sirius and nodded, pulling out a piece of paper from his pocket.
"But this," Remus frowned his eyes watering as he swallowed thickly, looking closer, "This is Peter's handwriting?"
"Peter is the secret keeper, thought it'd keep us in the clear," Sirius shrugged, "No one would suspect it."
Remus looked between the two men and sighed nodding, they were right after all, he'd assumed it'd been Sirius from the start.
Sirius took Moony's arm while James had Hermione. The two apparating to just outside of Godric's Hallow. James slipped on the invisibility cloak while Sirius put his scarf up around his face, trying to keep Remus on his feet.
Moony couldn't believe they were in Godric's Hallow. He thought for sure this would be an easy guess. The streets were clear but the pubs were loud. This was a mostly magical village, and Dumbledore grew up here. Remus knew there were death eaters here, there had to be.
Sirius popped his free hand in his pocket keeping a grip on his wand. Remus sighed, he kept his wand at his side. "Alright look at the parchment and think about it," Sirius shrugged.
Remus looked down at the parchment thinking about the number and the place as Sirius instructed. The more he thought about the street and number, the clearer a house between the two neighboring houses became. Slowly the almost identical white and brown cottages moved aside as the third sprung from seemingly nowhere a gate in front. James opened the gate walking into the house with Sirius following, and finally Remus tagging along behind. Lily threw her arms around Remus' neck. While James took off the cloak the door slammed shut and locked. To the outsiders nothing changed, but to Remus being back in such a warm home was everything.
"Who is this?" Lily gasped, taking the whimpering child from her husband inspecting her face, pausing at the bite on her arm.
"Her name's Hermione, she's muggleborn, her parents were captured by Greyback, and killed by death eaters," Sirius mumbled.
"Lil," James took a deep breath and smiled, "I'm going to get her cleaned up so we can heal her, if you'll get her some food, Padfoot can get Harry."
Lily looked at James Potter, the man who she once thought would never grow up and smiled nodding as he took the girl upstairs. She could hear the bath as Sirius winked going to get his godson. "C'mon Remus," Lily smiled.
"Thank you for letting me in your home Lily," Remus said quietly.
"I knew you weren't a traitor, Remus," Lily looked up at him. "I've always trusted you."
Remus blinked trying to keep the tears back, it seemed it was an emotional day for him.
"Remus, you and Hermione, you can stay with us okay," Lily smiled, "Do you know how old she is?"
"She can walk, and she was talking a little. I think she's older than a year…" Remus rubbed his hands over his tired face.
"I'm going to get some yogurt and cereal for her then," Lily smiled, grabbing the high chair and scattering some cereal along the tray putting a container of yogurt out for the child. She hummed getting a snippy of milk
Lily still warmed the milk up a bit with a small spell and came out to find Sirius cuddling his godson. "They're obsessed with each other," she confided in Remus, her eyes crinkling at the edge and sparkling. "Too bad Dumbledore thinks that Sirius shouldn't be over as often."
Sirius scoffed, "That manipulative old man has no say in what the Marauders do, right Harry," Sirius cooed as the boy cooed, stretching in his arms.
"Pad" Harry cooed happily, his chubby hands pulling the silky black locks.
"What do you mean? Lily frowned, "We trust Dumbledore."
James walked down struggling to contain the wriggling mass of towel. Hermione peeked out her ringlets bouncing. She took one look at Remus and immediately reached for her protector.
"She took the bath well enough, but she's got a bad diaper rash, luckily mum sent me just the charm to clear it up for Harry." James ran his hand through his hair and handed Hermione off to Remus. Hermione's brown eyes focused on the wolf and she burrowed herself in his arms.
"Your wife still trusts Dumbles," Sirius said without looking away from Harry. "Not even Moony trusts the old man anymore."
Lily looked at Remus who looked away clutching Hermione tight. James sighed and put his hand on her back. "Evans, he's right, I don't trust Dumbledore not to sacrifice us for the greater good. I've been thinking that maybe we should move. Peter's been avoiding me and Sirius for months, and I've just got a bad feeling.
"My Mother died last year, and no one has heard from Reg for years," Sirius said quietly. "It's not exactly a place for children, but Grimmauld place might be the last place they ever look."
"You 3 can't be serious."
"I'm always Sirius," Sirius quipped, smirking up at her.
"He told me she'd just be another casualty, that I couldn't blow my cover with the wolves," Remus said, looking down at the girl in his arms.
"You mean," Lily's frown marred her pretty freckled skin.
"I sent a patronus to the Order as soon as they brought her in, begged him to save her and her parents," Remus said his voice hoarse."He's the reason why she has to live with this curse. I don't think I can ever forgive him." Remus sighed as the girl put her hand on his cheek and he looked into her brown eyes.
"I can't believe it," Lily sat down, her eyes going from Harry to Hermione. "How could anyone leave a child to that monster."
"I think, given that he let us believe Moony was a traitor, knowing all along that he was spying. I mean, I just don't trust him." James ran his hand again through his already disheveled hair.
"I agree," Sirius said, looking up at Lily.
"I want to move the two of you," James looked at his wife. "I'll stay here, if Voldemort comes we'll know Peter sold us out."
"We aren't leaving you," Lily frowned.
"I need the two of you safe," James turned, taking her hands.
Remus felt dizzy, the sudden understanding of what was happening. If he was not the traitor it was Peter. Remus gently sat down holding Hermione in his arms. She was feverish, and weak, and despite the bath her wounds had started weeping again. "Lily, could you get the powdered silver and dittany?"
Lily nodded, going straight to the potions cabinet. She pulled the two things out and walked over as Remus laid the child on the couch. Sirius put a thicker blanket over Hermione after handing Harry to James. Lily shooed both boys out of her way applying the mixture to the girls cheek and arm.
Remus watched her, his mind drifting to Peter. The blonde mousy looking boy, who'd clung to them throughout their Hogwarts years. If it was any of them it likely would be Peter, while they were in school he sought them because they offered protection. If he thought even for a moment that the order would lose he might save himself first.
"Moony?" Sirius' voice broke him from his reverie.
"Sorry Padfoot, I'm just thinking," Remus shifted to sit at the end of the couch.
"Moony we can take care of her, she'll have it easier than you," Sirius promised.
"We should find her family, Hermione isn't a common name…" Remus looked at the child feeling that maybe that wasn't an option anymore.
"What if she doesn't have any?"
"I don't know," Remus sighed.
"She's been bitten," James sighed, "We can't knowingly unleash a baby werewolf on unsuspecting muggles."
"She could live with you," Remus looked up, "Harry could have a sister, and we can spend the full moon together."
"Remus, she knows you," Sirius glanced at his friend. He walked to the kitchen, coming back with a damp cloth to put on her forehead.
"Pads?" James leaned against the couch with an easy grin on his face, "I knew I made the right choice in godfather."
"Oh shove it Prongs."
"Da," Harry whined trying to get out of James' arms to Lily.
Lily finished putting the silver dittany mixture on Hermione's bite wound, and took Harry pressing a kiss right between his eyes. "I'm actually going to make her some broth."
"Broth might be easier to get down her," Sirius offered.
"Dumbledore will likely be here soon," James sighed, "So we have two options, follow through with what he tells us, or smile and nod and when he's gone do what we want."
"Or we tell him to bugger off," Sirius rolled his eyes.
"I think maybe we should hide Remus," Lily said softly.
"I'm not hiding."
"What if he takes Hermione?" Lily asked.
"I don't know many people that would take in a werewolf, child or not." Remus' face seemed grim his lips a firm line.
"Well what are we going to-"
Suddenly the light of shimmering magic was outside and James checked the window grimacing. "Too late now." He mumbled at the knock on the door. James groaned rubbing his face moving to open the door and let the crooked nosed headmaster inside. "Professor."
Sirius stepped out with Lily and Harry flashing his eyes at Remus in warning.
"James, Sirius," Albus smiled pleasantly, "Lily, and of course little Harry." Standing to his full height the blue eyes twinkled at all of them. "I take it you all know Remus and I's little secret."
"Yes professor, they know," Remus said, not moving from his spot beside Hermione on the couch.
"So this is the little one you saved?" Albus smiled, "I did some digging, not many Hermione's in the world."
"I didn't save her," Remus spat.
"Well, she's here," Albus shrugged.
"She's forced to bear this curse for the rest of her life because you just saw her as a casualty of war."
"Did you find her family Professor?" James asked.
"I'm afraid all she had was her parents," Albus frowned, not meeting Remus' eyes.
"Which is why you left us, no one would ask questions, just another casualty."
"Well, now your cover is appropriately blown." Albus looked down his crooked nose at the young man. "I suppose we should put you and the girl into hiding."
"They're going to stay with us," Lily said, her chin lifting slightly.
"I'm afraid, Lily that isn't..."
"It's not like they can go out anywhere, and you know that Remus wasn't the traitor," James said, meeting the man's eyes.
"We also think that we need to find a new safe house," Sirius said, "This may be a surprise but none of us have heard from the secret keeper in months."
"You mean you're not…" Albus frowned.
"Nope," Sirius popped the 'p' not giving any more information, in case they were wrong about Peter.
"I see," Dumbledore frowned. It was a cool September night, October would start in a few days and he'd have his hands full with preparations for the Halloween ball. "I don't know if I can move you anytime soon," Albus warned.
"You have until the end of October," Sirius looked up, "Or else I'm taking them."
"Remus the full moon, where will you go? Where will she go?"
"I guess I'll figure it out," Remus looked up at the man he at one time felt he owed everything to.
"I must say I advise against this, but I will try to find a place by Halloween."
"Thank you," Lily said, moving to the door.
Albus looked at the red head and at the door she opened taking the hint. "Very well then," he nodded and walked out Lily shut the door firmly behind him locking it securely.
"Alright Remus, let me see those wounds."