When they got back to 12 Grimmauld Place, Kingsley sat down with the two newest additions to their group, and Hermione shuffled through the office she made herself. Inside was a large area for potion brewing, astronomy notes, and even things she wrote out from old alchemy books. It was a room that she wasn't fond of sharing with anyone.

While situated the ingredients from the box, there was a knock at the door. "Hermione, can I come in?"

"Yes, Remus," Hermione called.

The werewolf appeared as the door swung open. "There you are. Sirius was asking for you."

"Just preparing for tomorrow," Hermione sighed.

He joined her and attempted to assist, but she stood in front of him. It was clear that Hermione wanted to do it herself. That left Remus standing a bit too close for his liking with the witch. Her smaller frame was only inches from his.

"You don't want my help?" He asked.

Hermione shrugged as she set out the moonstone. "I'm used to planning things on my own."

Remus reached out and lifted a piece of parchment up, reviewing the constellation notes. "This isn't about the crisis," he mused.

"No, that's about something else," she responded after emptying the box. "It's a project I was working on."

"This looks ambiguous," Remus remarked.

Hermione glanced back at him with a smirk. "It is."

The werewolf set down the page and tilted his head. "What were you working on?"

Hermione turned around to lean on the desk. "You really want to know?"

"Yes."

"That's my secret," She said with a shrug.

Remus narrowed his eyes as he shifted closer. "What are you hiding?"

"Plenty, but none of it is life-threatening," Hermione said.

"When are you going to trust me?"

"Broken hearts don't mend," Hermione sighed with a head shake.

Remus touched her face and ran his thumb along her cheekbone. "They do with tender hands and time."

"You can't fix time, Remus. Believe me. I've tried. The only thing time keeps doing is going. That's all I have," Hermione sighed.

"What truly happened during the war? What happened to you?" He questioned while caressing her cheek.

Hermione lost eye contact briefly before meeting his gaze. "I lost things no witch should have."

He knew he had to be pragmatic with his next question. "Is that what happened? You couldn't have normalcy after?"

"Always the smart one, professor. Yes, I couldn't be normal and have ordinary things," Hermione sighed with a sad smile.

"No one would abandon you for that," He whispered.

Hermione patted his chest and breathed. "No, it's never that easy. Abandonment is an uncomplicated answer for a life of the cup being half-empty. Please don't tell anyone?"

His free hand covered hers on his chest. "Of course. I will keep that to myself."

"I missed you, Remus. I missed having someone who understands," Hermione sighed.

"Understands?" He repeated.

"Understands why we hide secrets from those we love most," Hermione agreed.

Remus inhaled with a nod and squeezed her hand. "When you're ready, you can tell me about it. I will take the words to my grave, but that way, it releases you from their burden."

Hermione rocked her head and chewed her bottom lip before speaking. "I can see why she loved you. You are soulful and witty, but so loving. Thank you, Remus."

The werewolf chuckled while shaking his head, causing his hair to shift on his forehead. "Oh, Hermione, you're likely the most interesting witch I've had the chance to be reintroduced to. I expect we had a different friendship before, but I hope to do it justice."

The witch hemmed and pulled from the space. "Yes, me too," she agreed. "That's what friends are for."

A knock at the door invaded the questionable retreat. "Moony, Kingsley is about to leave," Sirius announced as he popped his face inside.

Hermione straightened her jacket and nodded. "Right, I better go see him off," she declared.

Sirius stepped inside and allowed the witch to disappear out the door. The animagus glanced around with an arched eyebrow. He lifted a few jars off the shelf before clearing his throat. "Things were toasty in here."

"Padfoot," Remus huffed.

"Moony, Moony, Moony. When are you going to open those big green eyes and see? She was dancing around flirting with you, and you flatten her with that rubbish," Sirius grumbled while rolling his eyes.

"What rubbish? She respects us, Sirius. We need to respect the past she had with us," Remus spat.

"I forgot, we only respect it when it suits you. That witch is throwing herself at you, and you play those cards. She's thirty, and by the looks of us, we're just a bit older. Times change, and so do influence," Sirius retorted.

Remus raised his index finger to the animagus. "Don't."

"Don't what? Don't push for her to shag your grumbly arse? Don't insist you open your bloody eyes to see she might actually like that? What shouldn't I do?" Sirius hissed.

"Just don't, Padfoot," Remus said in a stern tone.

Sirius straightened his jacket and hemmed. "I'm going to talk to that little Weasley about her. Find out what makes her tick and continue on like we agreed. The past is the past, Moony. I happen to enjoy her and want her happiness. I can only hope you agree to at least that."

Remus tossed his hand at the animagus. "Go find out where everyone is convening."

"Fine," Sirius snapped and left the room, slamming the door on the way out.


After the last load of books, Hermione sat down and huffed with a nod. "This is all that I have. Everything I gathered on unique magical phenomenons."

Severus paced around the enlarged table and sneered. "This isn't as substantial as I was hoping."

"Well, I did what I could," Hermione sighed.

Fred was drifting a feather in the air with his wand as he grimaced. "I never enjoyed extra school work, Hermione."

"I know," Hermione laughed. "But, you know me."

"Yes, well. Where's my twin?" Fred asked.

"He's at home with his wife. I'm not going to tell him yet, Fred. We need to get an idea of what's going on before he flips."

Remus snagged a book off the table and sat down in an armchair. "Hermione, these are quite old. You must have tracked them down individually."

"I did," Hermione confirmed.

Severus glanced at the short witch with a small raise to his eyebrows. "How interesting. You weren't in Ravenclaw? This is uncharacteristic for a Griffindor," his last word riddled with an insulting tone.

"Our houses don't always represent everything about us, Severus. Kindness, though an elusive trait for you, was indeed part of your subtleties," Hermione responded with a nod.

"If he was kind, I was the bloody King of Ireland," Sirius grumbled.

Fred bowed in his chair. "Your highness."

Sirius barked out a stream of laughter as he shuffled through a bundle of pages. "You're trouble."

Hermione walked by Sirius as she glanced at the research, and he tugged her into his lap. "Love, tell me what this all means?" He asked.

"Well," Hermione cleared her throat. "This is the details leading up to the crisis."

Sirius stroked the pages with his thumb and nodded. "Yeah, well, this is interesting. You have plenty of detail in here."

"You have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?" Hermione laughed.

"Doubtful," Severus sneered.

Sirius maneuvered, and Hermione slid further into his lap. "I understand most of it. Give me the rundown?" He inquired as he turned his vision to her.

Hermione's cheeks were reddened as she swallowed. "Well, we narrowed down magic use to four hours before midnight."

"And?"

Fred shifted as he smirked. "Hermione, you look quite tongue-tied."

Severus rolled his eyes and twitched his nose. "Black, you're disgusting."

Remus twitched his nose. "You're pushing it, Severus," He murmured over his book.

"I can't deal with this," Hermione groaned as she attempted to climb off Sirius's lap.

Sirius grappled her and snorted. "Love, it's only bickering."

"Sirius, let go of me," She growled.

Hermione attempted again, and Sirius let her go, causing her to fall forward. The witch slid into the table, and Severus hissed and helped Hermione off the mess. "You're a bloody imbecile, Black," Snape said.

The witch winced as she attempted to right herself and stumbled. "Fuck," she hissed.

Remus, who was on his feet during the incident, reached for her. "Let me fix that," he offered.

"Back off, Lupin. You might infect her," Severus huffed.

Hermione shook her head. "This needs to stop!" She shouted.

Fred covered his mouth and snorted. "This is better than at home."

Snape reached for Hermione and rose an eyebrow. "Shall I?"

"Both of you, come with me now," Hermione ordered as she pointed at Remus and Snape.

"Both?" Sirius asked.

"You're in the doghouse, Sirius, don't start with me," Hermione growled.

Remus followed the hobbling witch out of the sitting room and into the restroom across the way. "This is improper," Severus mused.

Remus shut the bathroom door and flicked his wand. "I have a feeling she didn't bring us in here to shower, Snape."

Hermione sat down on the covered toilet and gestured to the cabinet. "Fetch me that paste while I chide you."

Severus groaned as he grabbed the paste and handed it to her. "Miss Granger," he tried.

"No, Severus. You both are too intelligent to be arguing so much!" Hermione spat as she pulled off her shoe.

"In my defense," Remus started, but her glare pierced his defense.

"I mean it. I'm not going to play mother to you all. The only person here that should be acting like a child is Fred! He's twenty years old. You are both grown wizards who have a history. Don't make me do this again!" Hermione shouted as she rubbed the paste on her ankle.

"I don't understand," Snape huffed.

"What?"

"Sirius Black assaulted you, and you're angry at us," Severus said.

Hermione touched her forehead and grimaced at the paste smeared on her face. "He will be dealt with later. I need you both to band together, please? I'm not the only intelligent person in this house, and it's going to be tight quarters. I know you two have your issues, but I'm asking you, please consider being pleasant."

Severus folded his arms against his chest. "What does that do for me?"

Remus fought back a snort. "This won't work."

Hermione stood up and grabbed Snape's robes, yanking him close to her face. "You listen to me, Severus Snape. I've gone through so much shit and pain in the last two decades of my life to deal with you a second time around. I'm brilliant, adaptable, and survived. Now, you're going to get over your bloody prejudice and get along. Do I make myself clear?"

"No," He challenged.

Hermione narrowed her gaze, and her upper lip twitched. "Then let me reiterate this. If you make me do this again, I will make sure you don't sleep. Your pillows will scream every time you close your eyes."

Snape stared at her and blinked. "Alright."

"Good, now," she released his robes. "Let's get to work."

Severus straightened his clothing with a nod. "Lupin," he said.

"Snape," Remus replied while stifling a smile.

Hermione snatched her shoe off the floor and stomped from the room.

Snape cleared his throat. "Is she always so passionate?"

"Yes," Remus smiled.

"Do you believe she can answer why we've returned?" Severus questioned.

The werewolf breathed and nodded. "With our help. She needs us. Don't you think we can be agreeable for her?"

"Fine, but if Black starts," Snape growled.

"I'll talk to him, but we need to do this for her. She's had difficulty."

Snape thinned his lips and scowled. "Did I contribute to her pain?"

"I suppose that's something you'll have to ask her later. She has the word, 'Mudblood,' carved on her arm by Bellatrix," Remus explained.

Severus winced and breathed. "That's cruel."

"Very."

Severus held out his hand. "I'll do this, for her."

"For her," Remus agreed, shaking his hand.