Author Notes: Hard to believe we're already at the big 2 0! My goodness, I haven't even gotten into the complexities of after Hermione finds out their big secret they're all holding! Muhahaha. I hope you all are ready. This is going to start the real drama of bringing the family back into the mix! Don't forget to share your thoughts!


Hermione spent a decent amount of time in the restroom and cooked; however, over the span of the next three days, she was scarce. Had something happened? It was irritating Remus beyond wit's end. Nothing was going to work if she was going to avoid them. Her excuse was plausible. She had to run and help Kingsley at the ministry in preparation for an international visit.

However, sleek black shoes marched up the steps of 12 Grimmauld Place with determination. The man, quite perturbed at the concept, knocked at the door with a huff. What a piece of work? He shook his head, and breathed as the silence of the street was deafening.

The door creaked open, and black eyes among pale flesh met his gaze. "Draco, what are you doing here?"

"Trust me, Severus, I don't want to be here," Draco huffed. "I need to talk with you."

Snape moved aside and let the man enter the house. Shuffling from the kitchen was a half-naked Sirius Black yawning. "Morning, kid," he grumbled.

"Cousin, please stop calling me that," Draco hissed.

Snape twitched his nose and led Malfoy into the dining room. "Well, what can we do for you? Today is not really a decent day to chat. Lupin is quite flustered these last few days."

"That's what I'm here about, Severus. Granger has been over for the last two evenings before coming home. I don't know what you've been planning, but she's been making her own plans," Draco voiced as he sat down at the table.

Snape scowled as he sunk to a seat. "What type of plans?"

Draco scratched his beard and hummed. "She's been digging through her notes at my residence. Trying to figure out what would be the resolution. You know, the one you took so she wouldn't find it."

"Why, why can't that witch just leave well enough alone?" Severus huffed as he tossed his hand.

"Because that's her. She sees a conflict she caused and needs to fix it. It's that horrible Gryffindor mindset," Draco groaned while shaking his head.

Severus folded his arms and relaxed in his chair. "Then what do we do? How do I end this for her?"

"I suggest telling her after tonight. She might not last at this rate. Something needs to be done to quell her propulsion."

"Do you believe it's her choice?" Snape questioned.

"I do. Just as it was my wife's. Life is about decisions, and she chose this potion and intention. Granger must be the one to complete its intention," Draco sighed while shaking his head.

Snape's hair bounced in agreement. "How's the potion recipe for your wife?"

Draco smiled as relief etched across his face. "Very well, thank you. She's recovering nicely."

"So, what's the next step?" Remus questioned as he entered the room.

Malfoy glanced over at the werewolf and pursed his lips. "Well, you best prepare. Tomorrow is a new day. The rules change. Starting with the boy coming from Hogwarts. I'd insist on her focusing her energy on what really matters."

"Living?" Remus asked.

Draco snorted and tilted his head. "Family, Lupin. She needs family to bind her to this event."

Fred wandered into the room with a piece of parchment. "Uh, we have a problem, smart ones."

"What's that," Remus huffed as he shifted in his jumper and leaned against the wall.

"Mum says that Ron is coming on Sunday," Fred grumbled. "That's going to be a problem, isn't it?"

"Her ex-husband?" Snape hissed.

"The very one," Fred sighed.

Draco stood up and straightened his coat. "Well, that's my cue. I'm not touching that subject."

"How bad is it, Draco?" Remus inquired.

"Let's put it this way, Weasley helped drive her to the insanity of seeking out this potion. I would hold up on telling her about what has to be done in completion until after she sees him," Draco voiced as he walked away from the table. "Good luck. They're insanity together."

"But we all die if she doesn't complete it," Severus groaned.

Draco exhaled and nodded. "Then you all have work to do. He might send her spiraling. Try to have a good evening." He finished and left through the doorway.

"I have an idea," Sirius's voice traveled from the hallway as the front door announced Draco's exit.

Remus glanced over to see the animagus peeling into the room. "Oh? Is it that ballocks of not telling her again?"

Sirius winced while shaking his head. "No, I tried that, it didn't work. She wouldn't shag me."

"What?" Severus spat.

"She told me until the potion was solved she didn't want to get involved," Sirius grumbled as he ran a hand over his bare chest.

"Dammit, Sirius," Remus snapped.

"Don't you dare judge me, Moony. She wanted to suck your knob, and you told her no," Sirius retorted.

Fred pocketed the page and breathed. "So, what's this deal with the tarot reading? Anyone else get anything from her? She's so tight-lipped about everything."

"Tarot reading? When was this?" Severus asked

"I don't know. Sometime before all this happened. I think she believes it has to do with how to fix everything."

Remus hummed as he ran fingers through his facial hair. "Well, we'll have to ask her."

"I will tonight," Severus announced.

"We better find out soon. I don't like the idea of her ex being around. Especially after she wouldn't shag me," Sirius grunted.

The Potion Master moaned as he tapped the table. "Black, I implore you to keep your mouth shut. You've done enough damage."

"I have an idea, but it might be a horrible one," Remus sighed as he approached the table.

Sirius strolled over and collapsed on the bench next to Remus's chair. "Explain."

"It might be considered deceit," Remus grumbled.

"Deceit? Tell me," Severus ordered.

"Alright, but it might not work," Remus said while grimacing. "I don't like playing so dirty."

"It might be all we have. There's now a new complication," Snape replied.

Fred marched over and slid on the table, creating a circle between them. "Let's hear it. We don't have many choices."


Hermione arrived home with a bag of groceries as she walked inside. She didn't want to admit she was nervous about the full moon. No, that would be absolutely miserable for the werewolf inside concerned himself. There was this concern. Not for herself, but for the future circumstances. What if she couldn't fix this? She'd scoured Draco's research but to no solid answer.

She set the bags down in the lonesome kitchen and breathed. What was she going to do? Her fingers touched on the steaks and hummed. The plastic felt odd below her hands, but she was focused on the future. Consuming them. Devouring their proteins and fortifying. The metaphor of what her life meant if she didn't mend this.

"Were we going to have a quick dinner?" Remus whispered.

Hermione jumped and turned around. "Remus, you gave me a fright!" She hissed as she leaned on the counter.

The werewolf stepped toward her and lifted the steak package. "These are a lovely cut," he murmured.

Her breath was caught in her throat. "I went to the muggle store down the street," she whispered.

"Shall we talk about work then?" He asked, setting down the meat.

"It was decent," she murmured while looking away from his looming form.

"You smell tired and," he paused, and his face lowered next to hers. "Guilty?"

Hermione's eyes narrowed as she shifted in the slightest to catch his eye. "Why are you concerned with my emotions tonight, Remus? I need you focused on your transformation."

"I am," he insisted while touching her shoulder. "I also need you to relax. I'll be fine."

Hermione couldn't help the heat building in her cheeks as he breathed next to her face. "Remus."

"Hm?"

"I think you need to step back into your own personal space," she whispered as his nose pressed against her jawline. "This isn't good for you so close to the moon," Hermione barely got out.

"Just a moment," he breathed.

Was that his tongue? It slithered along her jugular, just below her ear. Her heartbeat was thrumming in an abnormal rhythm as his mouth encased the flesh he had been torturing. What was that sound? The loud bestial groan that filled the air. She moistened her lips and realized she had released it as he closed the gap between them.

Within a split moment, his mouth popped from her neck, and he had her facing the counter. Merlin, where had her mind gone? Hermione didn't know, all she could do was shudder with anticipation. His fingers lifted the hem of her skirt. Remus had decided what he wanted, and even as the alarm bells went off in her mind, she hadn't the heart to deny him.

"Oi, Moony!" Sirius bellowed in the room.

The werewolf was torn away from her, and the snap of a slap on skin caused Hermione to shake from the heady trance. She turned around after righting her skirt and saw Remus rubbing the red mark on his face and wincing.

"I'm sorry, but you were too wolfy. You know what that means," Sirius huffed as he stood between Hermione at Remus.

"Yes, I know, but that bloody hurt, Pads," Remus grumbled.

"Go splash some cold water on your face, and I'll find some chocolate for you," Sirius commanded.

Remus's eyes touched the floor as he exhaled. "I'm sorry, Hermione. My impulse control wanes at this time of the month."

"It's alright, Remus. I would have told you if I felt wronged," Hermione sighed.

The werewolf left the room at a quick pace, and Sirius turned to her with a shrug. "Seems he wanted dessert before dinner. I can't blame the bugger, but he gets rough on days like these. I couldn't afford to have to nurse both of you back to health tomorrow."

Hermione swallowed and chewed her bottom lip before speaking. "Sirius, you didn't have to," she admitted.

"I did, and not for you. For him. He would have been abashed at hurting you because of his wolfish friend whispering in his ear. That little lovebite is a precursor to the nibble he would have taken later."

Hermione covered the spot with her hand and huffed. "How do you know so much about his habits, Sirius? Why doesn't any of this bother you?"

Sirius patted the empty portion of the counter and pulled out a cigarette from his pocket. Hermione complied and sat down on the surface as he struck a match and smoked. "Moony and I love each other very much, Hermione," he paused and took another drag. "We dated in school but realized quickly that witches were really our realm of passion. So we accepted that we loved each other, would do anything for the other, but ultimately we needed someone feminine for other whims."

Hermione scowled and thinned her lips. "What made you realize that?"

"Moony's furry problem did. He had little interest in pursuing much with me because there's no substitute for a lovely witch. Not that I blame him. We love who we love, right? He's not so flexible, but I can for the right one, ya know?" He asked with a wink.

"True," Hermione hemmed.

"So, that brings us to this point. You see, Moony and I, we have shared much in our lives. Books, assignments, interests…" Sirius trailed off with an arch to his eyebrow as he stared off to the cupboards.

"You mean," she stopped. The concept was gritty and foreign.

"Well, yes, we have. I like it when he's happy, just as I liked it when James was happy. We all shared a deep connection due to Moony. You've studied enough about werewolves to know that communication and packs are important," he explained while meeting her gaze again.

"What you're talking about is among werewolves. It's highly uncommon in animagus."

"True, but Moony was ours to care for," Sirius replied with a nod. "And I took the duty very seriously," he added with a grin.

Hermione waved a hand in the air and stiffened as Sirius flicked his ashes to the floor. "Wait, just a moment. Sirius, what you're telling me is that because you spent so much time tending to him in school, on top of your romantic history, is you're protecting him from me?"

"No," Sirius snorted. "I'm protecting him from him. He's insanely barmy about you. Sneaks off to the bathroom you just showered in to smell the scent of your shampoo, mental. I can relate, but I don't have primal urges telling me to pin you to the counter and fuck you silly. His decorum is a bit off during the full moon. It would cause unneeded shame for him in the long run."

The odd concept that this might have been a conversation, had Sirius been alive, that he would have had with Tonks. Hermione knew very little of their coupling but knew it was a rare evening of Remus's unfiltered emotions that brought it to a head. Hell, if he were alive, this conversation would have probably ended her moping swiftly.

"Sirius," Hermione sighed. "Thank you for looking out for him when I'm too close to see it."

"You were," he grinned. "It was nice to see you let your guard down. First time since we got sloshed and danced."

Hermione exhaled and slumped. "I don't know what to do. How I feel and what I know combat with each other. I know that I should care about solving this potion before anything takes place."

"But?" Sirius asked through a puff of smoke.

Hermione grimaced and waved it off. "But I feel things. I didn't sleep when you left the other night. I felt terrible and disappointed. I know that I'm all you have right now, but that could change. It will change."

"I don't think so," Sirius mused as he tossed the cigarette in the sink.

"I know so," Hermione groaned.

"No, you really don't," Sirius retorted. "This potion changed lives, love. You can't just send us on our way when it's over and done with. We all, for better or for worse, are bonded to each other."

Hermione pursed her lips as her brows knitted. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that the potion wasn't meant just to bring us back, it was to make you whole. Each of us represents something you need."

Her eyes grew as he stood in front of her. "What?"

"Snape was telling us this. He told us that your research was about filling a void. That's why we're all here. I don't know why you brought his stern arse back, but it's pretty clear why you brought us back. Freddy for family and reconnection. Me for the satisfaction of being able to live, laugh and roll your pretty eyes. Moony, well, he's what you relate to most. A division of duty and instinct. The paramour of your books and mind."

Hermione chewed her lips and nodded. "Sirius, I have something to tell you."

"Okay," he shrugged.

"I believe that we need to discuss how this is going to work passed tonight," Hermione declared.

Sirius rose his eyebrows before shifting in his boots. "Alright, I'm listening, love."

"I had a tarot reading a month before the crisis, and it announced you four coming. I didn't know it then, but I think that Severus is right. All of you give me the pieces I needed when I used the potion. In good faith of that theory, we need to discuss what that means for all of us."

Sirius's eyes glinted as he wore a toothy smile. "Love, you surprise me. I didn't peg you as a divination believer."

Hermione snorted as she rolled her eyes. "I didn't before this week."

"Then what? Shall we call corners? Draw straws? I'm not sure what you're proposing."

"I'm not positive either, but I wanted to open the dialog."

The animagus nodded and wandered over to the food on the counter. "Well, then, let's start with dinner. How do you feel about Teddy coming home?"

"I'm nervous. Anxious. Afraid," Hermione confessed as she hopped off the counter.

"Don't be. Moony is over the moon to see him. I'm sure it will go well," Sirius hummed. It was a half-lie. He wasn't sure about it going well at all. Especially after Sunday. "You should see if Moony will be your date for the party," Sirius snickered. Yes, that felt safer.

"I doubt he'll want to come so soon after the full moon. If you want to, I'm sure Molly would love an excuse to chase you around the room with a jelly-leg jinx," Hermione laughed and elbowed him lightly.

Sirius's eyes lit up, and he gasped. "Oh, love, I would be wickedly happy to as long as you don't mind a bit of public snogging for the role. I would be chuffed to have Molly wringing her wand in anticipation," he chuckled.

Hermione flicked her wand at the food, and it started floating to its respective pots and pans. "I can accept that. It would distract from the fact that I hadn't seen them since Ron and I ended it," Hermione sighed.

Sirius pressed a hand to her back. "Don't you worry. I have you, love."

"I don't, Sirius. You ease me in ways I haven't had relief before. It's so wonderful to know even in your more immature moments, that you have the larger picture in mind."

"Always and forever," he agreed before kissing her hair. "Now, I'm going to bring the poor bloke some chocolate and see if he's simmered enough to have an early dinner before tonight," Sirius announced and strolled to the cupboard.

Hermione went to work on dinner, and Sirius glanced back when he reached the stairs. The chocolate in his hand smelt delightful, but the witch's relaxed demeanor was sweeter. He could only hope that tomorrow brought a better day. Sirius, for once in his life, prayed for it.