The stay wasn't as eventful as it was eye-opening. Harry spoke about the past and even the events of the last year. It was a heavy subject, but both marauders were open to the dialog. Hermione seemed an odd creature from another time as she remained on the edge of the group. As far as feeling ill or queasy, neither marauder was affected by either symptom. That surprised Remus due to the ample warnings he received.
However, the more than a quiet little witch, looked worn by the time goodbyes were given. Hermione struggled to pace herself over the hill to the portkey and disappeared up the staircase. That left the marauders to go over their exciting afternoon.
"He's so much like James," Sirius sighed while sitting at the counter.
Remus was cooking over the stove and stirring a pot as he hummed. "I agree, but he has Lily's temperament. Little James, now that boy is going to be true mischief at Hogwarts…" he trailed off when realizing what he was saying.
"If we can fix this, yes," Sirius huffed.
"When we fix it," Remus corrected him.
Sirius shifted on the stool and grunted. "Yes, when."
Remus paused his stirring and glanced back at Sirius. "Do you think she's alright? She was looking quite ill."
"I don't know. She was dead set on staying," Sirius said. "How many times did we ask her if she was alright?"
The werewolf inhaled as he shook his head. "Pads, I feel so guilty, and I can't place why."
"Because we died, leaving them this mess? I've been feeling it too. I don't even remember the war, but it's an open wound after seeing the kid. Well, he's not so much a kid now, is he? And her. I can't even begin to imagine what this last year was like for her," Sirius sighed.
Remus glanced at the empty doorway as if he hoped to summon her to the spot. "It's not just that," he paused and looked over to the animagus. "It's almost as if she didn't realize how much she needed us until today. For the life of me, I cannot summon up a word to define my feelings."
"Feelings of?" Sirius asked.
"Of, well, I'm not sure. It's as if it's an itch that is under my skin. I can't reach or define the source."
Sirius rolled his shoulders and dug in his pocket, pulling out a cigarette. "Well, when you find out, tell me. I know what I want. A bubble bath, a fag, and some wine."
Remus snorted and returned to his task. "She might have something to say."
"She can fuck off, it's my house," Sirius said around his cigarette as he lit it with a match from his pocket.
"Really mature, Sirius," Hermione's voice entered the space.
Remus smiled over at the witch, who was wrapped in a blanket. "Are you feeling alright?" He asked.
"I'm fine, just a bit worn," Hermione murmured. "Don't tell Kingsley, alright? I don't want him to know I overdid it."
"Love, you are looking a bit grey in the face. Are you alright?" Sirius asked through a puff of smoke.
Hermione nodded and breathed. "Yes, I'm fine," she murmured.
Remus didn't like the fatigued scent coming from the witch. "Hermione…"
He had an instant in time to react. There wasn't much else than to drop the spoon on the stove. Hermione nearly landed on the floor as Remus scooped her up in his arms. "Hermione," he whispered as she was limp in his embrace.
"Merlin, Moony, is she dead?" Sirius stood up and paced around the counter.
"No, she's breathing," Remus murmured as he grunted and moved her into a cradled hold. "I'm not positive what we need to do."
"Get her up the stairs, she needs to sleep," Sirius ordered as he went to the stove. "I'll finish the chili."
Remus grimaced and stalled.
"Seriously, Moony. Take the witch up to bed," Sirius finished with a smile.
"You're a thorn in my arse, Padfoot," Remus grumbled.
"Yeah, yeah. Go be a good werewolf and do what you're told," the animagus grumbled and waved as he stirred the pot.
Remus breathed and took the slumbering woman in his arms up the staircase with fragility. He was still uncertain what to do with her now that she was asleep. Once she was in bed, what then? He was always too wounded to care for others that he felt almost blind-sighted that she was ill.
"Hermione, where's your room?" Remus murmured as he stopped on the second floor.
Hermione sighed in her sleep, and the werewolf winced. He wasn't going to receive an answer. The recollection over breakfast of her tidying up the master room gave him the incentive to check there. She wasn't burdensome to carry as Remus climbed to the floor.
The door was cracked open, and the werewolf made his way into her domain. It was shocking. Hermione had organized the bedroom to be a study. Scribblings, notes, and diagrams littered the desk and bed. Whatever sleep she was succumbing to daily, it was surrounded by her work.
"Busy girl," Remus mused as he approached the bed.
Hermione moaned and tugged her form closer to his chest. "Remus, you're so warm," she whispered.
"Let me get you to bed, Hermione," He whispered.
She held up no fight. Hermione's body went limp against the bed when Remus set her down. He slid off her shoes and released her feet from their socks. Once she was free, he tucked her into the sheets, minding the pages.
Gathering the different notes, he set them neatly on the night table.
"Don't go just yet," Hermione murmured as Remus paced to the door.
"What's wrong?" Remus asked as he turned to see her staring out from her eyelashes.
"I don't want to be alone yet," she replied.
Remus viewed the doorway before pivoting to the witch and carefully sitting down next to her. "Why did you wait to leave?" He questioned.
"I was worried about you and Sirius," Hermione yawned.
"I wish you would have told us you were feeling ill."
Hermione rocked her head. "I know."
"You need to trust us to assist you," Remus chided.
"I know."
The werewolf glanced away from the sleepy witch. "Like telling me, I have a son."
Silence. That drew Remus's attention back to her. Hermione's eyes were glassy as she looked up at him. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to overwhelm you both."
"Harry told me why he has to live with you. It isn't that I don't agree, but I was disappointed you waited to tell me. If Andromeda trusts you with his care, you should trust me to honor that."
Hermione nodded and swallowed. "I know, but I just wanted to take this one step at a time. Give you a chance to adjust."
"Do you trust us?"
"Irrefutably," Hermione sighed.
Remus reached out and took her hand. "Then you need to give me some of your burdens. Be vocal and let's fix this together. Doesn't that sound easier than being careful of everyone?"
"Okay."
"Okay," Remus repeated and released her hand, only to swipe a curl from her forehead. "You don't always have to do things alone. I was lucky enough to have friends that forced me into that realization."
Hermione closed her eyes as her lips drew a pout. "My friends are those I have to save, Remus."
"Then lean on Sirius and me. He can be a stubborn wanker, but he'd do anything for the people he cares about," Remus chuckled as he brushed another curl from her freckled cheek.
"It's unfair of me to ask that of you," Hermione mumbled.
"And it's a disservice to you if you don't," Remus replied.
Hermione exhaled and relaxed against the pillow. She was breathing deep as sleep overtook her, but Remus didn't depart. He stroked her tresses and relaxed in thought. Something was calming and familiar about the witty witch. Even in the silence, she spoke in volumes.
Hermione yawned and ran her nose against warm fur. She couldn't remember the last time Crookshanks wanted to snuggle in the morning. However, the cat had been gone for five years, and the scent of stale wine came from the animal.
The witch jerked awake and blinked at the black mass next to her. "Sirius, what are you doing in my bed?" Hermione growled.
The dog melted back into the man, causing Hermione's hand to fall over his chest. "Moony said you had a rough night, and my room is in shambles," he replied with a smile.
"You don't just come into someone's room unannounced," Hermione snapped.
"I bloody well did not," Sirius said through a yawn. "I asked, and you said yes. I even stayed as your furry friend so you wouldn't screech at me for sleeping with you."
Hermione scrubbed her face and groaned. "You're a child."
"And you're quite grumpy without your tea. Moony is too, so I won't take it personally," Sirius mused as he stretched his arms behind his head. "I like what you've done with the place. My mother would be screaming from her grave."
"She did until I blocked off her picture."
Sirius grinned and crossed his legs. "You surprise me, Hermione. How did you plan such a task?"
"Research and a growing urge to kill a dead person. I found a spell that would help with a wall over it," Hermione sighed as she rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?"
"Half-past seven by what your clock says," Sirius grumbled.
Hermione sat up and winced. "Where did Remus sleep?"
"Spare room across the way. He was worried you were going to get ill again."
Hermione scrubbed her face with both hands and groaned. "Hand me a potion in that night table, please?"
Sirius arched an eyebrow and pulled the drawer out to see tons of small vials. He recognized the green-tinted bottles. However, he handed her a red vial and scowled. "Why do you need a reviving potion?"
Hermione took the bottle and uncorked it before answering. "Because I still have to work, Sirius. I have no choice."
"You don't have to work if you don't want to. The ministry won't shut down for one day if you don't show up," He responded.
Hermione swallowed the potion and groaned. "Yes, it will."
"No, it won't. You're far too important healthy than to work yourself to death," He retorted with a smirk.
"Sirius, despite your clever idioms, it's true. If I don't work, the ministry doesn't."
Sirius tapped his chin and breathed. "Well, ballocks. I guess I shouldn't have written a letter to Kingsley telling him about yesterday then. He told me you needed to rest."
Hermione squealed and launched herself from the mattress. "Sirius! I will kill you all over again!"
The animagus watched as the witch clamored to the fireplace and tossed in floo powder. Soon the minister's face popped into the flames with a glare and pursed lips. "Minister," Hermione started.
"Hermione, why didn't you tell me you pushed it yesterday? I had to find out you were recovering from Sirius Black," Kingsley voiced.
"I stayed a bit too long. I'm sorry. However, neither Sirius nor Remus had been affected by lingering," Hermione replied.
Kinglsey lessened his expression. "We will go into that in a moment. Hermione, you promised to take care of yourself. How am I going to stand by your task of curing the affected if you risk everything around them?"
Hermione exhaled and tossed her hair from her shoulder. "I know. I thought I was alright until I got home. I won't push my limitations again."
"You tell her I'll come over straight away," a feminine voice announced through the flames.
"Tell Glenda that's unneeded," Hermione said.
Kingsley rolled his eyes with a small smile. "She's itching to talk to more than her fans about this. You'll have to engage her desires soon."
"Minister, I'm still coming in today," Hermione declared with a frown.
"No, you're not. I'll have your package shipped home. You need a day, Hermione."
The witch groaned and huffed. "For what? What do I need to rest for when I have so much work to be done?"
"To figure out why they weren't affected. If they aren't a part of this crisis, then possibly they could help us. Do your work from home, but take it easy. You know that's what you'd be telling me as well."
Hermione moaned as she scrubbed her face. "Alright, fine. I'll work from home."
"No magic," He added.
"No magic," Hermione conceded.
Kingsley nodded and hemmed. "Sirius, make sure she listens. I hear you chuckling in the background. No one could mistake that barking," he chuckled.
"Affirmative, Minister Kingsley," Sirius snickered.
"Good, now I have breakfast on the table and a list of regulations to go over. Get your rest, Hermione. We have a large task of figuring out how they fit into solving this conflict," Kingsley conveyed with a nod.
"Have a good day, Minister," Hermione sighed.
The fire resumed it's natural flickering as Hermione turned to see Remus standing at the doorway. "We're apologetic that we didn't respect your wishes, but you gave us little choice," he declared with his arms folded over his chest.
"I know," Hermione grumbled.
Sirius jumped from the bed and stretched. "So, shall we get breakfast? I'm craving something greasy and full of fat."
Hermione and Remus both grimaced. "How about an omelet?" Hermione offered.
"I don't want to go out," Remus huffed.
"Well, tough luck, Moony. I'm buying, and I say we go out and trek as the muggles do," Sirius replied with a sneer.
Hermione rubbed her forehead and shook her head. "I don't remember you being this incorrigible."
Sirius straightened his grey t-shirt and shrugged. "Probably doesn't help that I don't remember being held captive in Azkaban for twelve years."
"That's true. Without our memories of your past, Hermione, we're likely going to have a different perspective. Sirius and James were very pig-headed in school," Remus mused.
"I'm not pig-headed. I just hold true to what I know is the best alternative to how our day is spent," Sirius replied.
"You aren't pig-headed? That's a laughable conclusion," Remus snorted.
Hermione's brow knitted as she glanced between them. They weren't who she had recalled. Remus wasn't as spineless with Sirius. In fact, they were almost confrontational. That was an oddity, to say the least, mostly because Remus was Sirius's most prominent advocate.
"Why are you two bickering so much?" Hermione questioned.
Sirius grinned at her with a wink. "I stole his girlfriend."
"You did not steal her, Sirius. I didn't even speak to her outside of NEWT classes," Remus grumbled. "At least when James was around, you weren't so flagrant."
"Well, she wanted to get sloshed, and you told her you had a book to read. I assume you chickened out," Sirius said with a tilt to his head. "James wasn't my conscience. I knew what I was doing."
Hermione thinned her lips. "This is a topic I'd much rather stay away from. I'm going to get ready for the day."
Sirius strolled to the edge of the bed and leaned with a toothy smile. "What's wrong, love? Didn't think we had an interest in the same type of witch?"
"No," Hermione huffed. "He married your cousin, so I'm assuming you both grew out of that."
Remus's eyebrows skated toward his hairline. "I think you're likely correct. However, Sirius growing out of destructive behavior, is a surprise. Even though I love the bugger, he can be unruly."
"Throw me a bone, Moony," Sirius sneered. "I have self-control."
"Only when it suits you," Remus grumbled.
"Why are you two arguing so much?" Hermione puffed as her fingers pressed against her temple. "I can't live with this if you aren't going to bury the hatchet."
Sirius twitched his nose before turning to the werewolf. "I'm sorry she left you, but I didn't shag her. I only said I did because I knew it would make you angry. James said it might make you do something for yourself for once. I wouldn't have minded if you just spoke out."
Remus exhaled and shook his head. "I wasn't angry; I was disappointed. It's difficult to find acceptance when the whole world says I shouldn't be alive. You were the only ones who accepted me for who I was."
"Well, I love you, wanker," Sirius chuckled.
"And you will learn that the world has moved on, Remus. I abolished all regulations on werewolves when I worked in the Magical Beasts Division. I even passed some anti-discrimination laws when I moved departments. You aren't going to be alone or abandoned due to your condition," Hermione concluded with a single nod.
"What?" Remus spat as he scowled at her.
"Your condition doesn't dictate the quality of the wizard. I spent months fixing that error," She reiterated.
Sirius swooped up the witch and barked out a stream of laughter. "You, witch, are absolutely infallibly amazing!"
Hermione giggled and attempted to push the animagus away. "Well, that's all good and grand, Sirius, but I just did what I had to do to make the world a better place."
"I don't remember you, but I imagine you were hellish at Hogwarts," Sirius teased as he set her down.
The witch hid her blush under the wild curls around her cheeks. "I helped keep Harry alive. Now, I'm going to get dressed and clean up for the day. Why don't you both do the same."
Hermione moved to the doorway, and Remus touched her shoulder. "Thank you. I don't have a better sum of how appreciative I am," He whispered.
Hermione beamed and touched his hand over her. "Of course, Remus. I'm glad you could see it come to fruition. I did so for people like you. You'll find out how much people go through for those they love."
"Thank you," he repeated and stepped from her space.
"Time to start our day," she hummed and walked toward the bathroom.
Remus gazed over at the animagus with a scowl. "Padfoot."
"Moony," Sirius said with a grin.
"We have a new reason to save them," Remus murmured.
"I know, let's get her in better spirits," Sirius announced and rolled his shoulders. "Getting older is the pits. I miss my old young body."
Remus inhaled with a bob of his head. "Well, it's our new old bodies that got us here. Let's let the past be the past and work on the present."
"Agreed, but is it too early to call dibs?"
"Pads," Remus warned with a glower.
"Oh, alright, I'll leave the witch be," Sirius sighed. "Probably wouldn't be sound. Who knows what type of issues that little witch has if she's willing to deal with us," He finished with a curl to his lips.
Remus groaned and turned to leave the room.
"Moony, I was kidding! You know I was kidding about that whole thing!" Sirius shouted, following him out.
The marauders went back and forth, finding comfort in the unusual morning. It was the start of their new lives. Without judgment. Without their group intact, and mainly without a clue as to what lay ahead. Either way, they were going to do this for her. They owed her that much.
