Disclaimer:  Anything you recognize belongs to the goddess, JKR. 

Chapter 15:  Even a Malfoy Has His Uses

Hermione had awoken first that particular morning and she stretched luxuriously, relishing in the warmth of Remus' embrace before realizing, with a sudden start, where she was and the mortal danger in which she found herself.  She looked at how Remus' arms were wrapped around her protectively…shielding her from anyone who might harm her.

He truly did love her.

But he would not be able to save her this time.

It seemed that no one could.

Now, she was fighting to keep that sick feeling of despair firmly down in the pit of her stomach.  Trying to summon up some of that famed Gryffindor strength and bravery to sustain her from the approaching horror.  For one terrifying moment, she thought she would start crying but she managed to hold back her tears and stifle the sobs that threatened to shriek out of her.

It was so unfair.

She could only hope that someone would pay for doing this to them.

She snuggled closer to Remus and listened to his steady, sleepy heartbeat in an attempt to calm her frayed nerves.  She thought back to his last transformation.  He had frightened her despite knowing that he would not hurt her.  She had not been able to completely control her instinctive reaction to flee from him and she wondered if he had sensed her unease.  He probably had but had never commented on it afterwards.  If he had been hurt, he had hidden it well from her.

Breathing in his musky scent, Hermione wondered what would happen the next morning.  What would Remus do?

And this frightened her more than anything.  But, she found that her fear was quickly fading, being replaced by an anger at those who had played with them in this grotesque and macabre way.  She knew she could never achieve justice on her own and, with a sudden flash of intuition, she realized that Remus would not be able to either unless…she gave him a reason to.  She had to give him a purpose…a determination to avenge this horrible fate that he had always feared and she had underestimated.

She would die…but not before asking one last thing.  And Hermione knew that Remus would not refuse.  Because he loved her.  And because he knew she loved him as well.

Settling down once again, Hermione closed her eyes and tried to focus on happy memories.  The taste of their first kiss so many years ago was still fresh in her mind.  She almost smiled as she remembered.

Feeling someone caress her hair softly, she opened her eyes and looked up to find Remus staring at the dingy window which was not letting in a great deal of sunshine.  It appeared that the day was brighter…the light was a paler shade of gray than the day before.

"I was thinking that I would dearly love to take you for a walk.  It looks like such a lovely day," he murmured.

"A walk along the lake at Hogwarts would be very nice.  I'd love to be able to stretch my legs," she replied quietly.

"My parents would have marveled at you, Hermione."

"You've talked about your parents before, Remus, but I still have the feeling that there is much you have left out."

There was a short silence and, for a moment, Hermione feared that she had offended him.  But, it was true.  Although he had talked about his parents in general terms, he had never really gone into their relationship after the attack.  She realized suddenly that she did not know anything about how he was treated while he was a teenager…or a student at Hogwarts.  How they might have reacted when he received his letter.

"My parents were very loving but they had great difficulty in accepting what happened to me.  My father felt guilty and became rather withdrawn.  My mother tried but I could always see fear in her eyes.  Guilt and pity as well, perhaps.  Sometimes I wonder what might have happened if my older brother had not died."

"You've never really talked about him very much." Hermione said quietly, hoping that she was not opening old wounds.  "Please tell me about him."

Remus sighed sadly.  "He died when I was very young…before I was attacked by the werewolf.  My parents adored him.  He was intelligent.  He was handsome.  He excelled in sports and almost anything he set his mind to.  He was my hero and he always made time for his annoying little brother."  A half smile appeared on Remus' face.

"He must have been wonderful," Hermione affirmed.

"He was.  In a way, I am glad that he was not around when I was attacked.  It was hard enough to face my parents after my first transformation.  They had known, of course, that it would happen but they did not tell me.  I suppose they were frightened of my reaction and, in this, I cannot blame them.  I was put into a cage…to protect them and the neighbouring houses.  I hate cages," Remus muttered emphatically as he looked around the prison with a shudder.

"They tried to protect you in the only way they could," Hermione suggested, having heard this part of the tale before.

"True.  But would they have tried so hard if my brother were alive?  I sometimes think that the only reason they did was because I was all they had left.  If my brother had not died…perhaps I would have."

"You're not suggesting…"

"I am.  It is not unheard of, Hermione.  You heard the Headmaster.  You know why there are not that many werewolves in the world despite the increasing number of bites.  Part of it is because of the new potions that prevent the lycanthropy curse from being transmitted.  The other part is that, in more rural areas, the bitten person is killed before they can hurt someone else."

Hermione got up and looked at Remus carefully.  There were unshed tears in his eyes as he looked upwards.

"I do not believe for a moment that they would have been so cruel," she stated.

Remus shook his head.  "When you embraced me so long ago… I was startled more than you could have imagined.  Do you know why?"

"No," Hermione replied, more than a little confused.

"Since the night I was bitten, I had barely been touched by anyone…not even my own mother and father.  Hesitant touches on the arm…a brush of fingers across my brow but that was all.  I was not embraced or kissed by anyone.  No one at all," he muttered bitterly.

"Remus…"

"When you touched me, I felt burned.  I felt scalded by something so inherently good and pure that my very soul screamed for release.  It frightened me to feel so much from such a small touch."

Hermione did not know what to say to that.

"And later…when Gryffindor finally won the Quidditch Cup.  I thought that I was losing my mind."

"Why?"

"Because I felt that I was falling in love with you…a dangerous thing because of both my position and the fact that you were a child… and other considerations as well."

"You know I resented the fact that you left without saying goodbye."

"I felt I had no choice.  I could not face you after what had happened.  I could have killed you.  I could have bitten any one of you.  I was so ashamed…everything that had been said about me…it was all true."

Hermione had a sudden glimmer of understanding.  "It was not true.  You did not hurt any of us.  The only reason why you are so despondent is because you are experiencing the pre-transformation effect without the Wolfsbane Potion.  How stupid and thoughtless of me to have forgotten.  Remus…I love you.  I have loved you for a very long time.  I will love you as long as there is breath in me…and afterwards as well," she reached over to him and kissed him fiercely.  He responded immediately, crushing her in an embrace that both heartened her and frightened her.

He kissed her face and neck, practically growling in his need for her.  And Hermione tried not to think about anything except sharing something precious one last time…but, as they lay together, she could not hold back the tears and, when she looked into his face afterwards, she found that neither could he…

Sometime later they were sitting quietly together, scared to let go of one another…trying to make each moment last as long as possible.  It appeared that there were no more words to say.

The creaking door jarred them from their separate thoughts and Wormtail, smiling cruelly, entered with a tray of food.

"Good morning," the small man chortled.  "I have brought you both something to eat.  But, I am sure there will be something more to your liking tonight, eh Remus?"

Remus growled deep in his chest but refused to be baited.

"Cat got your tongue?" Wormtail laughed at his own pathetic joke.

"Leave us alone," Hermione hissed.

"Oh I will…but I will be back to watch the entertainment, Mudblood.  I relish the thought of hearing your screams as you beg Remus not to kill you," Wormtail's eyes had a glazed, fanatical look to them.

Hermione felt Remus' muscles tense but, still, he did not move.

"And then, I will stay so that when you change back to your human form, I can listen to your cries and moans when you realize what you did.  And what you enjoyed doing.  You see, Remus?  We are not that different after all, are we?"

"You maggot-ridden piece of flesh," Remus said, standing up.  "You and I are nothing alike.  I have never had a choice in being what I am.  It is the curse that I have borne for more years than I care to admit.  When I transform, I lose myself.  I am hidden away in the only bit of soul that has been left to me.  The wolf takes over and has free rein to do what he likes.  It is not me.  It never was me.  When the transformation is done, I have no residual desire to kill or maim or hurt.  The wolf is banished for another cycle.  I am myself again…responsible for my actions.  What is your excuse, Wormtail?  It would appear that you, unlike myself, had the choice."

"And you chose incorrectly," Hermione added, staying seated.

Wormtail took a step backwards at the accusation but then laughed nervously.  "It hardly matters, does it, Remus?  You will transform and you will kill.  You will take a human life…something you swore you would never do.  It does not matter about choices…sooner or later, all creatures of darkness like yourself, are drawn into the Dark Lord's circle.  And once you are there…you never come out again.  So, you had best get accustomed to your surroundings, Remus.  You will be residing here for a long time to come."

Remus gripped the bars of the prison so tightly that his knuckles turned white.  Wormtail laughed.

"It's almost noon.  That's the beauty of the shortening days at this time of year…you won't have to wait quite as long to transform," he cackled as he left the prison.

"How many hours do you think we have left?" Hermione asked quietly.

"The sun will probably set in five hours or so," Remus replied in a grim tone.

"Remus, you have to promise me something," Hermione stood up and softly put her hand on his arm.

"I could never refuse you anything, Hermione.  Especially not now," Remus placed his hand over hers.

"Promise me that you will avenge what you will be forced to do."  Hermione's voice sounded strained.

Remus looked at her curiously.

"No, I don't mean that.  I want justice.  True justice.  The kind that is served at Azkaban.  The kind that leaves a person without a soul…without a life…without anything."

Remus nodded.  "The Dementor's Kiss."

"I don't care how you do it…but promise me that you will see it done.  It is all that is left to me now.  Promise me," Hermione urged.

Remus looked at her.  She was trying to hold back her tears.  Trying to appear strong.  Trying not to show how truly frightened she was.

"I promise, Hermione."

And her smile, although small and tremulous, did not falter as she gazed at Remus.

***********Close by***********

"It would appear that even a Malfoy can have his uses, eh Snape?" Sirius asked gruffly as Severus sat down after a long round of questioning the veritable leader of the Death Eaters.

Margot brought over a glass of water to the Potions Master and he drank it down gratefully.

"Do you think we know all that we need?" She asked nervously, glancing over at the silver-haired man who stared at the wall blankly.

"I believe so," Severus sighed, wiping his mouth with a handkerchief procured from one of the many pockets in his robes.

"It's a bit odd to have him here so docile and quiet…there…there isn't any way for him to break away from the Imperius Curse, is there?" Sirius asked, noting Margot's nervousness.

"Margot and I were Death Eaters, as you are well aware, Black.  Not something either of us is particularly proud of but one thing we did learn is how to cast an Imperius Curse that, without an extremely strong will, would be impossible to break," Severus rubbed his eyes tiredly.

"And Lucius has no will except for that of his fiendish master," Margot snapped harshly, a flash of hatred appearing in her eyes momentarily.

"Has the Veritaserum worn off?" Sirius asked, looking out the broken window of the room they were in and staring at the manor, which was their destination.

"Yes…it was carefully brewed to give an exact number of hours.  But, I did test him to be sure and he still thinks you are something akin to the scum that floats on the top of a rancid pond," Severus smirked without humour.

"The feeling is completely mutual…although I would like to think that I am a little more highly evolved than this windbag," Sirius muttered.

Severus stood up and went to where Sirius was looking.  "You are, Black.  Although I will never admit to it publicly."

Sirius turned to Severus and grinned, shaking his head slightly.

"We must hurry…it is already early afternoon.  The sun will set sooner at this time of year," Margot whispered.

"I know," Severus sighed heavily.  This was going to be dangerous and he would have felt better if he were on his own.  Risking his own life was something he was well accustomed to.  Risking those of people he considered to be friends…was another matter entirely.  But, sacrifices had to be made in order to save Remus and Hermione…and Severus could only hope that the sacrifices would not be more than he could bear.

Straightening his posture, Severus turned to Margot with a determined glint in his eye.  "Give Lucius the false wands and hide your own in your sleeve.  Black…you may look after the bindings.  Go for a bit of realism.  The Dark Lord is not an imbecile."

Sirius grunted as he conjured some ponderous ropes and charmed them so that they would crackle with magical energy, giving them the impression that they were spellproof.  Severus tested them and nodded in approval. 

Margot gave the false wands to Lucius and murmured her commands to the docile man, commanding him to be his normal, arrogant, brutish self.  Sirius then created similar bonds for himself and Margot and they both managed to hide their wands in their sleeves.

"Margot, you are certain that our real wands will be quiet?" Severus asked as they walked out into the open.

Margot nodded grimly, keeping her mind focused on Lucius, who was leading them onwards to the manor.

"Amazing," Sirius whispered.  "He looks like there is nothing wrong with him."

"Quiet," Severus admonished. 

They reached the door and Lucius, whispering the correct series of password charms, was granted immediate access.  They entered en masse into the gloom within.

Lucius had been instructed to bring them to where the Dark Lord would be waiting but, when they reached the main parlour of the manor, they did not find him there.

"Lucius…how nice of you.  You brought presents for Wormtail," Wormtail jumped up from an ottoman upon which he had been sitting, eating a cold chicken leg.  He threw the bone on the floor, wiped his hands on his robes and approached the group of prisoners.

"Well, this is quite the little gathering.  First, we capture the Werewolf and the Mudblood and now we also manage to ensnare the two Traitors and the person who killed me," Wormtail laughed so hard, he nearly choked.

"They are not for you, Wormtail.  They are for the Dark Lord.  I found them lurking about outside and managed to capture them.  Years of mingling with Mudbloods has dulled their reflexes…made them easy fodder for a Death Eater of my rank," Lucius said impressively.

Wormtail backed away slightly but then eyed Margot.  "I am especially glad that you are here, Margot.  Wormtail always thought you were pretty.  Mudblood will be going away shortly but there is no need for you to share her fate.  The Dark Lord will hurt you and, perhaps, Wormtail might be able to protect you."

"Filth," Margot hissed.  "You know what you did to my family."

Wormtail came closer to her and smiled.  "Ah yes, I remember.  Your mother and your sister, wasn't it?  Yes, I lured your father out on the pretext of Ministry business.  They were very pretty…just like you.   Your sister's hair was very soft.  I wonder if your screams would sound the same as theirs."

A vein was throbbing in Margot's forehead and her hands twitched convulsively as if she wished they were around the smaller man's neck.

"Your father did not live long after my little visit.  I had nothing to do with that, you know.  Who knew he had such a weak constitution?" Wormtail giggled.

"If I ever have the opportunity…I will be certain to geld you myself," Margot whispered hatefully.

"Ah, but you won't…not now and not ever," Wormtail clapped his hands in utter contentment.

"Wormtail…you are truly pathetic.  Where can I put this rabble?  I need to return home to Malfoy Manor.  There will be others waiting for me," Lucius drawled impatiently.

Well, Lucius, I don't know when our Master will return but you may bring them to the dungeons and…be sure to place them in the cell next to the Mudblood whore and her Werewolf lover.  Yes, that would be perfect.  I am certain they will enjoy the entertainment that the moonrise will bring," Wormtail opened the door that led to a flight of stairs.

"Here are their wands.  Keep them.  I don't want to take any chances," Lucius handed the three false wands to Wormtail who looked at them for a moment and then snapped them, one by one.  The three prisoners tried to look as shocked as they could.  They had not been expecting that.

"No, Lucius," Wormtail turned his evil face to the prisoners and gloated in their misery.  "You are quite correct.  We would not want to take any chances."

And the group went through the door and down the stairs to where the dungeons lay.