"What are you doing here? I told you not to unless it was an emergency," Hermione hissed as she escorted the wizard from the hallway.
"Relax, Granger. I'm not going to tell on you," Draco chuckled. "I needed some help."
"With what? What could be so important?" Hermione spat as she pulled away from him.
Draco pointed back to the room. "Was that Sirius Black and Remus Lupin in there? What are you doing?"
Hermione glanced back at the door to see Sirius had stuck his face out to watch. "Sirius!" Hermione snapped.
Sirius groaned and disappeared from view.
"What are they doing here? Granger, did you do this? What did you do?" Draco growled as he glared at her.
"I didn't do anything, they just appeared," Hermione retorted. "Now, are you going to tell me what's wrong or not?"
"Can we address that first?" Draco gestured to the door.
Hermione waved her hand in that direction and breathed. "I don't think that's your business."
"Well, selective as always. Even when you ask me for a potentially lethal dose of a potion when you found out I was doing Alchemy," Draco declared with an arched eyebrow. "Or am I not remembering that correctly?"
"I'm not talking about this here. Why don't you go home and write to me your question, Malfoy?"
Draco folded his arms and glared. "You think I like being at your mercy, Granger? I'm only here because I need the approval to visit my mother, and you so happen to be the ministry personnel to ask."
Hermione moaned as she tossed her face toward the ceiling. "Malfoy, I said write to me. I'm not at your beck and call because you did me a favor."
"A large favor. A huge favor!" Draco snapped.
"Sometimes you make me so angry," Hermione huffed and threw her hands to her side. "Why do you need to visit your mother?"
Draco dropped his defensive pose and exhaled. "Astoria is sickly, and we think if she stays with my mother and father for a little while, it might help."
"I told you, it doesn't work like that," Hermione sighed.
"Anything is better than this, Granger!" He snapped.
Hermione was about to reply when a hand landed on Draco's shoulder. "I don't think you should be raising your voice at her," Remus declared with a steady glare.
"Remus, stop," Hermione held up her hand.
Draco smirked at the werewolf and rose an eyebrow. "Big strong Professor to the rescue. Granger, did you tell him how much you loved his class?"
Hermione struck her forehead with her hand. "Draco, please. Don't."
"It's sweet, you know? You always had a soft spot for him," Draco taunted with a risen eyebrow. "Is this what you used that little potion for? Bring back someone who can tolerate your incessant reading?" He questioned with an expression of resentment.
Hermione's nose twitched with a sneer. "Don't be so bloody bitter. What do you want me to say?"
"I believe she told you everything she needs to," Remus growled.
"What's this bugger doing at my house? I thought there were restrictions on who knew about this place," Sirius grumbled as he came into view.
"So, did you find a loophole to the whole, 'dead is dead, Malfoy,'? How are these two here?" Draco snorted, the curl to his lips told of his joy at her discomfort. "I mean, I asked about Severus, and you dismiss it. Fancy seeing two people you favored here."
"We don't know how they're back, but they don't have their memories if you must know. It's not public knowledge, so can you keep your mouth shut?" Hermione asked with a grimace.
Draco shifted away from Remus's hand and folded his arms again with a smug smile. "Oh, another favor? Granger, I should take you up in collecting some return."
Hermione pulled out her wand. "I have several memory charms in mind."
Draco drew his wand. "And what? Shall we test this theory? You can keep lying to me if you like, but I have ways of getting to the truth, Granger."
"Now girls, girls, you're both lovely, but let's play nice," Sirius declared as he stood between them.
Draco rolled his eyes. "I just need an answer, and I'll be going."
"The answer is no," Hermione confirmed.
"Why! What the bloody hell have I done to you lately?" Draco shouted.
Hermione breathed as she politely moved Sirius aside. "I'm not going to let her get any sicker, Malfoy. We've seen people inflicted with magical issues die from this crisis. I'm doing this for you."
Draco scrubbed his face and glared at her. "What am I supposed to tell Scorpius? He can't see his grandmother or grandfather, his mother is sick, and I'm actively trying to find a cure. It's not like he has it any easier."
"Tell him she'll get better soon," Hermione sighed. "I'll see if I hear anything regarding your issue after today."
Draco shook his head and paced by her, shouldering her as he walked. "By the way, I went by your office. Your ridiculous package is in the dining room."
Hermione huffed as she turned to see him walking off. "Thank you, Malfoy. I'm sorry."
He stopped. "Me too," and then he was gone with the fireplace sounding moments later.
Sirius groaned and marched into the sitting room. "Fucking ridiculous," he huffed.
"Sirius," Hermione started.
"Seriously, love. Do you know how much I truly dislike surprises? This floo should be cut off," Sirius continued his rant. "Of all the most ridiculous things. Worse yet, he pulled his wand. What the bloody fuck."
Remus patted her shoulder and pressed his finger to his lip. "Just hold on," he breathed.
"Absolutely ballocks. That boy," Sirius growled.
Sirius reappeared and scowled with a finger pointed to the ceiling. "You, witch. You're ridiculous and too kind."
"Sirius," Hermione tried.
The animagus twitched his nose and bent to her eye-level. "Listen, whether you like it or not, we're going to protect you. None of this ballocks on leaving the floo open, or dealing with work at home. I don't trust the world, and neither should you."
"Okay," Hermione sighed.
Sirius smirked and touched her cheek. "Good, now let's get going."
"What?" Hermione questioned with wide eyes.
"We're going to clean this place up, get out some of that wine I hoarded last night, and have an evening of no stress and no work."
"Sirius, I haven't worked all day. I have to get some research done," Hermione groaned.
Sirius turned her around to face the werewolf stifling a smirk. "Ask him. Do I ever let up?"
Remus shook his head. "Never. Sirius knows when work should be shelved."
Hermione rubbed her face and breathed. "You both are going to drive me batty. You're supposed to be the reasonable one, Remus."
"I am. You need to relax a bit, Hermione," Remus responded.
"You're supposed to be helping me."
"We are, now why don't you get into something comfortable, and we take care of you this evening?" Sirius asked as he tucked his chin over her shoulder.
Hermione pinched down her smile as she tilted her head at him. "You promise we'll get some work done tomorrow after I get back from work?"
"Cross my heart," Sirius snickered as he traced an 'x' above Hermione's left breast.
Her cheeks bloomed with color as she pulled away. "Alright, I'll be right back."
The little witch paced to the kitchen and disappeared momentarily. Hermione returned with the box in hand before nodding at them. "I'm just going to put this in my study."
When she walked by Remus, his gaze followed her up the staircase.
"Oh, I've seen that look," Sirius teased.
Remus snapped his vision back to the animagus. "What?"
"You think she's all sorts yummy," Sirius teased. "It's cute."
"Stop," Remus huffed while holding up his hand. "Not going to help the situation at all."
"Moony acting up?" Sirius asked.
Remus twitched his nose. "When's the last time I lived around a woman, Padfoot?"
"Good point, the common room had a nice little spot for you away from the fray," Sirius declared as he leaned against the wall.
The werewolf walked toward Sirius. "We need to do what we can for her. We were in her life before," he stated while resting next to Sirius.
"She is pretty," Sirius mused.
"And remarkably witty," Remus sighed.
Sirius grinned. "Yes, it's going to be interesting."
Hermione had pages in one hand and a wine glass in the other. She was laughing and enjoying the stories. Some of which she's heard, others were relatively new. Every time Hermione tried to start talking about her work, the marauders distracted. Somewhat loudly at times.
"So, Lily had a thing for me first," Sirius snickered.
Hermione gulped her glass and waved. "No, no, I won't believe that lie. Lily Evans would have never found you attractive."
"She's right," Remus laughed.
Sirius snorted and pointed a finger at the witch leaning on Remus. "Don't you listen to him."
"That's like saying I was attracted to Harry at any point," Hermione grimaced.
"You never were? Other than your ex, anyone makes you tick that we should know about?" Sirius questioned.
Hermione groaned and craned her neck backward. "I never had time for that, Sirius. My two best friends in school were boys and one of which turned out to be my ex-husband."
"Merlin, I'm so glad Sirius wasn't interested in one of us," Remus chuckled.
Sirius winked. "There's always time, Moony."
Hermione burst into laughter and set her empty glass down on the table. "I thought you two had a thing. I was near sure of it when Sirius would hassle you about Tonks."
Remus breathed and shook his head. "No, I'm very much into witches."
"If it weren't for how lovely you witches are, I wouldn't have minded Moony much. He's well behaved, enjoys chocolate, and probably is the most meticulous person I know."
Hermione smiled over at the werewolf. "Your school years would have been entirely different."
"Don't you dare assume I would have dated such a fool-hardy boy," Remus snickered with a grin.
"It's sad, really," Hermione sighed. "I would have given anything to be normal. I was envious of Lavender because she was such. When she and Ron dated, it enraged me that he wanted someone average. I suppose that never changed. We just didn't know how to see it after the war."
Remus brushed a curl from her cheek as he shook his head. "You would have just about killed us if you went to school with us. No one would have been able to handle your intelligence and fierce bravery. Dogs following a mistress with a bone would have been the story."
"I'm not brave," Hermione murmured.
Sirius bent over and poured her another glass before offering it. "Oh, yes, you are. I was worried you were going to curse my little cousin to cinders."
Hermione snorted before sipping her glass. "He and I have a past worth noting. Malfoy is just scared. His wife is ill, and his son is all they have now. I wish I had more to give him than the answers I don't have."
"We'll fix it," Remus voiced.
"I hope so," Hermione sighed. "I really do."
The animagus was tapping the side of his glass. "How about this? We say fuck the rules and go to Greece or Bali? Let's get the hell out of here for three days and regroup?"
"I can't," Hermione shook her head. "I have to work, Sirius."
Remus rocked his head as his eyes met Sirius's. "We do have to take care of this and not pause our efforts."
"Then let's come to work with you tomorrow. We can dig through old prophecies or writings from the Founders. Maybe they left something behind?"
Hermione swigged her glass with a nod. "That's a great idea, Sirius. I'm sure Kingsley will be thrilled to hear you're so interested."
Remus chuckled. "You must be sloshed. You just told him that it was a decent idea."
"I likely am," Hermione giggled as she rested against Remus's warmth. "I missed this. Feeling something as simple as touch. I went months without anyone ever sitting with me."
His fingers laced in her hair as he inhaled. "Yes, I can relate to that."
Sirius grinned at the werewolf as Hermione curled into him. "Well, we aren't going anywhere, love."
"I hope not. I've been so lonely. I nearly gave up," Hermione breathed.
Remus pursed his lips as she caved into the alcohol. Her body melted into his, and glass was drooping in her fingers. The werewolf plucked it from her hand and set the skewed paperwork aside, letting her drift. It probably was the safest this witch had felt in months. Unfortunately, Remus enjoyed it. Sirius caught that and crossed his arms with a sneer of bait-worthy glee.
"Let's get you to bed, Hermione," Remus murmured.
Remus waved Sirius over with a nod as she mumbled incoherently. The animagus climbed from his seat and scooped Hermione up. It was an easy feat, which was the second time in two days they had to carry her to bed.
"Don't leave me," Hermione whimpered as Remus stood.
"We won't, love. We got all night," Sirius whispered, and they left the drawing-room with glasses abandoned until morning.
Author Notes: Now don't be too disappointed. We haven't even gotten into the fun parts! Trust me, I have a plan worthy of wishful thinking.
