Chapter 4: Healing Lupin and Order Meetings, and a Chat with Dumbledore

Hermione was sat working on her summer project for transfiguration, and was trying the keep her mind busy. It was well past midday when she woke up, so she had already lost working hours. She supposed she slept so long due to the potion that her professor had forced her to take the night before, she had been avoiding her professor and only left her room when it was absolutely necessary, as she didn't want him to ask questions which she knew he would.

Of course he would ask questions, she had been screaming so loudly and alerted him in the first place, she had then thrown up everywhere and pissed herself. There was no way that she would be able to play that off as not a big deal, she just prayed she could avoid him long enough to come up with a decent excuse.

For a Monday, things were really boring. She no longer wanted to be at Grimmauld and she knew that Snape had placed wards on her room last night, she could sense it. The only problem now was that she wanted those wards to remain in place, so that she would have some form of protection. However, she knew that asking him to put up wards again would raise suspicion and that was the last thing she wanted. No, she needed to be clever about this and she knew she had to tell someone.

Telling her professor would be a huge mistake because he would just go after Sirius, and then Sirius would know that Hermione had peached. She also knew that there was an Order meeting taking place here tomorrow night and decided that she would inform Dumbledore, he would be discreet and only reveal what was necessary and hopefully this would mean that Sirius wouldn't accuse her of telling. She just hoped Dumbledore would help her and then she could hopefully start getting over the incident and move on.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

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Severus Snape had tossed and turned the rest of the previous night, trying to figure out what the hell had been the matter with the Granger girl but had come up blank. He had no information to go on, and she had not even screamed out any information verbally whilst in the midst of her nightmare. So, he had nothing to help him and it was frustrating him. He was also getting frustrated that he cared enough to let it get to him. Snape knew he would have to be sneaky if he wanted answers, or to gain information without the girl suspecting him of ulterior motives.

Luckily for Snape, the wolf had returned this morning after going through his transformation and promptly collapsed through the front door. Lupin had been wounded and now needed rest to help recover. Snape knew that he could go to the girl and say that he needed help in attending to the wolf, and hopefully her Gryffindor characteristics would shine and she would jump at the chance of helping a man who had been injured.

After helping the wolf get up to Lupin's bedroom, Snape approached Miss Granger's room and knocked on her door. A moment of silence and the light footsteps could be heard from the other side approaching the door.

The door opened.

"Professor?" the girl questioned.

"Well your eyesight is fine" Snape stated sarcastically. He then sighed, thinking about his ulterior motive approach.

"Look, Lupin returned this morning and it looks like he's had a bad night whilst in his wolf form, he seems quite injured. I was wondering if I could ask for your assistance for the healing process as I will need you to fetch and pass me things" Snape carefully worded his request.

When Snape had mentioned that the wolf had been wounded, Hermione's face turned to one of shock and she immediately pushed everything else aside and focused on the fact that Remus had been hurt.

She liked Remus, he was a really good friend and he had helped her more times than she could count and now she could return the favour by helping him in his moment of need.

Hermione immediately responded to her professor's request, in the affirmative, and followed Snape as he led her to what she assumed was Remus' bedroom. Once she was through the threshold, she caught a glimpse of her former defence professor and her friend.

He looked awful, he had cuts and scratches all over his body, he was pale and his breathing was shallow, which suggested he had a punctured lung or some broken ribs. Snape immediately ordered Hermione about, telling her what he needed her to do and, like a good little soldier, she followed his instructions.

After a couple of hours of complex healing spells, salves, potions and bandaging. Lupin had settled and now it was a case of letting his body rest until it was ready to function again.

Hermione found herself in a tense silence with her professor, as they say by Lupin and ministered his progress. Hermione knew what was coming next and she was prepared for it.

"Miss Granger, last night-" Snape started, only this time it was his student that cut him off.

"With respect sir, I'm not ready to talk about it but, when I do feel ready to talk, I will come and tell you, just give me some time. I want to let you know, I appreciate what you did to help me last night and I will forever be in your debt, you did more for me than you realise and I just wanted to thank you for that" Hermione said.

Snape was going to argue with her and demand that she tell him everything, but he knew that would get him nowhere and could even push him back in his aims. So, even though he didn't like it, he relented and accepted what the girl had said and trusted that should she need help, she would come to him.

"Very well Miss Granger, as you wish" Snape responded, and he let the subject drop.

After another hour of uncomfortable silence, Remus began to stir. His eyes shot open and he looked around frantically trying to piece together where he was and who he was with. He looked over and immediately saw Hermione and Snape looking at him, Hermione seemed concerned for him and Snape seemed bored of him.

"Thank you" Remus stated weakly.

He may not like Snape that much, but he was still appreciative of everything the sour man had done for him. Remus was especially happy to see Hermione and tried to hold a conversation with her.

He went to open his mouth but Hermione shook her head and refused to let him say a word.

"You've been hurt Remus, badly, you need rest. Here is some water, please drink it and then you must sleep more so that your body can heal" Hermione explained as she held the glass of water to Lupin's mouth so that he could drink. Once Lupin had drained the glass he looked at Hermione and nodded his thanks and let sleep take over once more.

Hermione let out a sigh of relief; she could relax now that she knew Remus was responsive and would be alright.

"Everything's alright now professor. So if you don't mind, I will be leaving now" and without waiting for a response, Hermione walked out the room.

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Hermione realised she hadn't eaten all day, and it was now fast approaching the evening and was time for dinner. So, Hermione headed for the kitchen. As she walked into the kitchen, she took a look around the room and instantly froze.

There, sat at the table, was Sirius Black. Hermione gulped nervously and tried to act calm and collected as she bustled around the kitchen and fixed herself something to eat. She felt Black's gaze on her the entire time, and tried desperately to ignore it. She could feel her breathing become uneven, as she slowly started to panic. Then she heard footsteps on the stairs, and knew someone was coming. So, she forced herself to make it seem like there was nothing wrong. She began to hum a tune to herself, and played nonchalant, as Snape swept into the room.

"Miss Granger, do desist from making that infernal noise. It is highly irritating" Snape snapped at her.

She immediately stopped and thanked Merlin that Snape had not noticed anything unusual as he had focused on her humming instead of the tension in the room.

"Sorry sir" she replied respectfully.

"Can I get either of you something to eat, as I am fixing something for myself anyway?" She asked politely.

"Not for me Hermione, I've already eaten tonight" Black responded before he excused himself from the kitchen, and made his way to his study.

Hermione had fought back a wince when Black had addressed her, and spoke her name. It seemed too familiar, like a good friend giving a temporary farewell. Sirius Black was completely unfamiliar to her now, and she did not know how she felt about him calling her by her name. Despite what was running through her mind, she didn't think she had given anything, about her thoughts, away. She continued without further pause.

"Anything for you sir?" She queried.

Snape stated at her for a moment more before responding.

"What are you having Miss Granger?" He asked.

"I was thinking new potatoes, with some salad, and perhaps some chicken" she stated.

"That would be acceptable, if you don't mind. Do you think you can manage to do it without burning the place down? Although, would that really be a bad thing?" Snape said.

Hermione held back a laugh at his joke and then responded.

"Don't worry professor, I know my way around a kitchen, and I can most definitely cook" she said proudly.

"Well Miss Granger, you can do more than I can. I wouldn't even know where to begin in this room" he confided.

Hermione stared at him in shock at the implication of what he had just told her.

"Are you telling me sir that you haven't had a proper meal in over a week, because you are too proud to ask and so would rather starve?" She gasped.

Snape raised an eyebrow.

"Not that it's any of your business Granger, but you are not my babysitter. I had the house elf get my meals for me but that elf is not the best of cooks. Need I remind you to watch the tone you take with me?" He warned.

Hermione instantly turned and went back to cooking. The meal took about thirty minutes to make, and she presented it to Snape, who was sat waiting patiently, at the kitchen table.

They ate in silence, which Hermione took as a good thing because it meant Snape could find nothing to critique. She ate her meal in smug satisfaction; she had probably surprised her professor with her cooking abilities.

"That was satisfactory Miss Granger, thank you" Snape stated civilly once they had both finished eating.

"You're welcome sir, would you like me to cook for you again? You only need to ask, I don't mind, and it gives me something to do in this boring place" she grinned.

"That would be appreciated Miss Granger, but only if it does not cause any more hassle for you than is necessary" Snape replied.

Once again, he thanked her and headed towards the library.

Hermione was left with her thoughts once more, and couldn't believe that she had just had her first, civilised, conversation with her potions professor. She hoped there would be many more conversations like that, he seemed almost nice, and at least he could hold an intellectual conversation instead of talking of all things Quidditch and chess.

She quickly washed up, and put everything away before heading back up to her room. She had a few hours before she would settle down for bed, and so she worked on her projects until she decided to get some sleep. She knew tomorrow would be emotionally exhausting for her when she spoke to Dumbledore and would need all the rest she could get.

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Tuesday afternoon saw a busy Grimmauld Place; all the Order members were moving around preparing for the Order meeting.

She was so glad to have a bit of female company for once, and greeted Molly and Tonks with such excitement that both women had been caught completely off guard. Still they conversed with her, and Hermione found out how the Weasley's were. Harry was still pissed off, and jealous, of her spending the summer here and so, Ron and Ginny had quickly taken his side. None of them would write to her. She knew nothing of the outside world at the moment so it was good to get a bit of gossip from the women.

"So how have you been Hermione?" Tonks asked.

"Bet there's so much testosterone going on that you can barely breathe" Tonks suggested with the cheesiest grin.

"Oh hush, we don't want our young, and underage, Hermione to be getting any ideas or learning anything nasty from you" Molly warned Tonks.

Molly Weasley may have been a woman who liked to talk about sex and discuss dishy men. But she was also a mother to children older than Hermione. This meant that maternal instinct came first and she would mother Hermione first.

"Don't worry Molly, I'm always the one bullying the boys into doing things my way" Hermione grinned hoping to appease the Weasley matriarch.

"That's my girl" Molly encouraged.

Eventually the meeting was called and Hermione was sent away from the room. She decided to go and wait in the library as it was next to the kitchen and she would see the Order members leaving. She waited patiently as the meeting commenced.

Snape was sat completely bored, as usual when it came to one of these meetings, and pretended like he was focusing on what was being said but instead spaced out.

"Tom plans to break his old loyal death eaters out of Azkaban-" Dumbledore was relaying the information Snape had obtained from the death eater meeting.

"Unfortunately as we don't know when, or how, this will happen. We just have to remain vigilant for the time being" Dumbledore state and paused waiting for the predictable uproar.

"Bollocks!" Moody exclaimed.

"If the dungeon bat here was as good of a spy as you make him out to be, he would surely have more information" Moody spat, looking viciously at Snape.

"Alastor, my faith remains with Severus" Dumbledore implored.

Alastor gritted his teeth and held his tongue. Merlin, he wished he could tear shreds off Snape and really show him what an Auror could do.

There was not much more to be discussed, and so the Order members slowly disbanded. Sirius, Remus and Tonks headed towards Sirius' study, as he wanted to show them what research he had been doing recently. Everyone else left except Snape, Dumbledore, Arthur and Molly, who was preparing some food for the four current full time occupants of Grimmauld Place.

Arthur noticed Hermione was timidly stood in the doorway and announced her presence to the room, hoping that Snape and Dumbledore were not still discussing order business.

"Hermione! Good to see you girl! I managed to obtain a bidet the other day; a marvellous invention is it not?" Arthur exclaimed proudly of his new muggle find.

Hermione laughed, she adored Mr Weasley. He was always bound to cheer her up when she was feeling a bit down.

Snape and Dumbledore now had their attention focused on her, and Dumbledore spoke up.

"Good to see you Miss Granger! How is Grimmauld Place? I trust you have settled in well by now?" Dumbledore said politely.

Hermione just nodded, and tried not to look nervous.

"Headmaster, I was just wondering if I may beg audience with you for a few moments, if you are not busy?" She asked shyly.

Severus looked confused at the girl, and wondered what information the girl had for the headmaster that Severus was unaware of. The Weasley's just smiled at her reassuringly and encouraged her as a parent would encourage a child and Dumbledore nodded.

"Why of course dear girl! Shall we move to the library for privacy?" He asked rhetorically, already headed for the library itself.

Once inside, he locked and warded the doors, silenced the room and safeguarded it too.

"This room is sound Miss Granger, no one will ever hear or know of what will be discussed in here" Dumbledore informed her.

"However, I have an inquiry myself dear. Have you spoken to Mr Potter at all since you have been moved here?" he asked politely.

Hermione shook her head.

"No sir, Harry is still a little bitter about the situation, but I'm sure he will come round" she answered.

Dumbledore nodded.

"Of course, I'm sure he will. Miss Granger I ask one favour of you, just one. That you will not send any letters to Harry, at all, for the rest of the summer, or try to inform him of any events that are happening in the wizarding world. I just want him to be kept out of matters he needs not to worry over at the current time" Dumbledore asked.

Hermione agreed, it sounded fair. She had been reading the Daily Prophet and what it had to say on the topic of Voldemort returning after all. Harry didn't need to worry where it didn't concern him; it would just cause him unnecessary stress.

"Now what is it you needed to talk to me about Miss Granger?" He questioned.

Hermione hesitated for a moment before she decided to bite the bullet and just say it.

"I've been sexually assaulted headmaster, and I don't know what to do" she whispered, defeated.

Dumbledore stared at her for a moment in shock. He couldn't believe what he had just heard, and knew he had to approach this new development with caution.

"Who was it Miss Granger, when and where?" He asked her gently.

"It was Sirius Black sir, he was drunk and he came into my room on Saturday night, and he threatened me to not tell anyone. Told me I would be sorry if I did" Hermione said through fresh tears. She was relieved that she had finally told someone and could get help.

The headmaster looked thoughtful for a moment before he voiced his reply.

"This unfortunately causes us a big problem Miss Granger, and you are not going to like it" he said almost regrettably.