Chapter Seven

St. Mungos, London

Due to the demand in healing after The Battle of Hogwarts and the violent chaos weeks afterward, St. Mungo's built the Apparition Station. The large rectangular area functioned as a holding area for visitors and an added layer of security between the public and patients. On each side of the long room were booths with varying sizes in space. In one of the empty booths, Remus Lupin appeared slightly shaken and worn. Upon quickly orienting himself to his surroundings, he did a double take when he noticed a thick circular wall of glass from floor to ceiling separating the booths from the round shaped checkpoint with three workstations.

Eyebrows raised and mouth pursed, Remus glanced around the area again. Several people sat chatting amongst themselves in one of the three waiting areas on his side of the glass wall. He gripped his wand as his light brown gaze noticed that the information desk was not staffed. The three workstations each had a tall chair, magi-com which worked much like a combined muggle computer and fax machine, and black regal owls - one each on their own perch.

Security had become laxed as time went on, however he knew someone was always expected to be stationed at this security checkpoint disguised as another waiting area and preliminary triage center. He slowly walked through an opening of the large glass wall. He narrowed his eyes as he touched his tongue to his bottom lip.

BAM.

THUD.

A tiny woman with long electric blue hair appeared from under the countertop high desk. She held the top of her head gingerly as she said, "Apologies, mate. I dropped my last radish."

Remus blinked as he turned his head to the left in confusion. He did not lower his wand. He repeated in a slow tone, "Your radish?"

"Yes, radish." She replied in a confident tone that belied radishes were perfectly acceptable snack option. Without turning her back toward him, she climbed unto the tall chair with ease. She smiled as she waved a thick slice of radish in the air before placing it upon a napkin on her desk space. "Quite a nutritious snack. Name's Scarlea." She tapped her name badge which was attached to a Weird Sister's lanyard.

Remus glanced at the official badge then nodded in acceptance.

Scarlea slid her wand out of her sleeve. She pointed it to the sign listing the floors and departments of the hospital. "How may I direct you?"

He lowered his wand to hip level as he said, "Emergency."

"Ah, yes." She said in a concerned tone as she glanced from one superficial scratch to another to faded scars on his face and neck. "Your wounds should be looked at. Are there more severe wounds under your clothing?"

"Under my…my…my wounds?" Remus said, discombobulated by the appearance, actions, and words of the woman before him. Realization hit him and he shook himself. "Ma'am, my wounds are fine. Most are healed or on the verge of healing. My wife is the one in need of Emergency services."

"Ah, yes." She repeated in a concerned tone then muttered as she typed the keys of the magi-com keyboard. "Invisible wife needs healing. Self-harm evident. Psych emergency stat."

"Scarlea, my name is Remus Lupin. My wife Nymphadora Tonks-Lupin, an Auror, arrived not too long ago. I presume she is in the emergency department."

"Oh, my," She said, repentant after typing the name into her Magi-Com. She grimaced. "Apologies, sir."

Scarlea swirled her wand around her right shoulder then pointed it toward the three closed elevator/lift behind the information desk. The doors of elevator/lift in the middle opened.

As he walked away from her and toward the lift, Scarlea asked, "Do you know where Emergency is or may I direct you?"

He responded wryly, "I am intimately acquainted with the Emergency department."

"The Magi-Com record indicates so, but ya know, must ask the question, anyhow. Or, at least, that's what my trainer reminds me quite frequently." She shrugged. "Not sure if I'll stay here much longer. Not my style."

Remus shyly smiled then said. "Have a wonderful day, Scarlea."

In the elevator/lift, Remus waited until the doors closed before he sighed.

He was so tired and hoped tonight's emergency visit was shorter than their average visit – between a clumsy Auror, aging werewolf, and adventurous child – they visited at least once a month. Depending on the reason for the visit, their time there could be as short as thirty minutes or long as several hours.

Grimmauld Place, Library

Several hours had passed since the meeting. Most had left upon Harry concluding the meeting shortly after Percy had revealed what he had. Neville had been the first to leave. Then, Narcissa and Draco, however not before Draco promising her that he would write her later. He had yet to do so. Harry and Sirius had left with Ron, Fred, and George with all, but Ginny leaving shortly after they had. Ginny had stayed behind to help Molly clean the kitchen.

Hermione and Teddy had found solace in the library. On the couch opposite the pair of armchairs, she sat curled under a light blanket as she hugged Crookshanks. The book she had been reading to Teddy laid beside her on the couch. The glow of the fire and hall light peaking underneath the door was the only light. Crookshanks purred in rhythm to an unfamiliar, unheard song. He comforted her as he often had since her third year. As her thoughts raced about her future, she debated the thought with reason and logic. She felt the shifting in the wards indicating that Ginny and Molly had left.

She was alone in the dark library with a slumbering Teddy and nurturing cat…or so she thought. She began to silently sob as to not awake Teddy who had chosen to sleep in one of the armchairs across from her instead of on the couch beside her. Crookshanks nudged her chin with the top of his head as if to comfort her as she cried. Minutes later Crookshanks was in the air then tenderly landed on the floor with an irritated hiss. Hermione went to grab her wand in both surprise and fright.

"Easy, kitten. No cat was harmed by this paw."

Hermione groaned and pushed Sirius with her shoulder as he sat down beside her. He turned to face her side as he rested his right arm on top of the back of the couch, fingertip length away from her hair. She whispered as to not awake Teddy, "Have you ever heard of knocking?" Her brow furrowed as she realized the room had not lit up with the foyer hall lights as it should have if he had entered through the door. The room had stayed dark when he appeared and removed Crookshanks from her arms. "Did the door even open? Did you lift the anti-apparition ward?"

"Knock?" He said exasperated as he performed a wordless and wandless silencing bubble charm around Teddy. He ignored her questions. He playfully stated, "This is MY library."

"Semantics, Lord Black." Hermione said smartly as she subtly wiped away tears. "This is MY safe space."

He smiled at the knowledge that she felt safe in his home, her home, their home. Through the darkness of the room, Sirius still saw her tears but decided to allow her to keep her pride intact by not sharing his observation. Instead, he intertwined a joke with a light flirting tone, "Soon, this truly will be your library…unless you choose to marry someone else."

She tensed then ran her top teeth across her bottom lip. She said bitterly, "As if I have a choice to marry. This law, the ideology behind it is wrong."

Sirius gently placed the knuckles of his left hand under her jaw. She inhaled quickly as she asked in an uncertain tone, "What…?"

"You have a choice…" He said firmly before jerking his hand away from her skin. He stood abruptly moments before a crash occurred outside the door of the library.

Hermione stood when Sirius had, because she had wanted an answer. She had thought he would flee the library. He had flirted with her for ages. She had returned the flirtation, at times. But their flirtation had never included such an intimate, physical touch. Never…except once, perhaps twice if she were completely honest with herself. She was confused about many things at the moment, but she refused to be confused about her friendship with him any longer. Confusion was her enemy. Knowledge was her power. She grimaced when she heard the crash then a rebuking voice. She mentally noted that she must not have felt the wards change due to being distracted. The wards usually notified her of an entrance or exit - the identity of the ones coming or going was not always clear to her.

"Nymphadora." Remus said, annoyed. "Must you break your other ankle?"

Sirius strode toward the door whereas Hermione rushed to it. Shoulder to shoulder, they were, when Sirius opened the door of the library. He asked pointedly, "Where's the love, Moony?"

Hermione elbowed Sirius in the ribs as she sprinted to Tonks who was prone on the floor of the foyer. Tonks' left pant leg was cut to her knee to showcase a neon purple cast from knee to toes. Hermione furrowed her brow when she noticed the muggle crutches. Hermione said, "I thought you went to St. Mungos?"

"Yes, I did." Tonks said, her voice strained from pain. "The Healer thought best to treat me the muggle way." Hermione went to help Tonks up, but Tonks held up her hand then verbally refused in a pained yet dramatic tone. "No. Please. Leave me here."

Remus gripped the bridge of his nose as he elaborated in an exhausted tone, "Dora has met her quota this year for skelegro ingestion. The Healers say she has broken more bones this year than any quidditch player they've treated. This injury is being treated and I quote 'the ancient way'."

Sirius cupped Remus's shoulder in support. "Mate, Teddy is sound asleep. You both," he nodded toward Tonks on the floor. "Need to sleep, too. Stay the night. We can all compare notes about tonight and regroup in the morning at breakfast…or brunch. Sleep in. Wake whenever."

Hermione immediately agreed, "Yes. Please. Your regular room can be ready in a matter of minutes."

Tonks groaned as she raised her head then gently placed it back on the floor. "The library is fine, it's closer, if that's okay?"

"Yes." Hermione immediately replied. "We can transfigure the couch into a lovely bed," She paused then looked at Sirius as she said, "Sirius, is that okay?"

"More than okay, transfigure away." Sirius answered before needling Tonks. "The third floor is rather a long way from where you are on the floor."

Tonks performed a vulgar hand gesture toward Sirius before she accepted Hermione's help to stand with the aid of the muggle crutches. Hermione patiently guided Tonks to the library.

"Already playing mistress of the manor, isn't she?" Remus said once the door had closed behind the pair of witches. "Have you two played transfigure the library couch into a bed before?"

"Remus," Sirius said angry at the insinuation. He then paused as he decided to not respond to the question. Instead, he responded to Remus' demeaner. "Get some sleep. You remind me of James when you're exhausted." He chuckled, goodheartedly with a twinge of grief in his tone as he said, "That isn't always a good comparison, you know."

"I remember." Remus yawned as he walked toward the library door. He turned his head to look back at Sirius. He smiled sadly as he said, "He was a right prat when inconvenienced."

They shared a look as they simultaneously said, "But we love him."

Remus entered the library as Sirius walked toward the staircase.