Chapter 6: An Encounter with A Well-Known Werewolf

A/n: Thanks to all of you who reviewed for me! I'm so happy! I have a lot more reviews now. I'm so sorry about that last Chapter with the messed up paragraphs. That's what happens when you try to double space these things. It won't happen again. Another thing: about the two children, Augery and Noss, they aren't important to the story, they are just an apparition(with a lot of fallacies, but oh well) to help 'Mione and Ron on their way to marital bliss. Don't give them too much thought. Anyway, here's to all my reviewers:

Yoo- thank you for reviewing and letting me know about that horrible mistake in my chapter! Please keep telling me what you think of my story!

Mitzi- Thanks for reviewing! I'm happy that you think the plot is original, it's one of the things I strive for when I write fanfiction, please keep reviewing, and let me know what you think, thank you again!

Mione Weasley- *bows deeply, and smiles widely* Thank you so much for your devoted and helpful reviews! They help me a lot when I'm writing. As you'll see at the top, Augery and Noss are just God's little helpers with bringing Ron and Hermione together, finally, so don't meditate on that point too much, I'm sorry about making it sound so important. Oops! But anyway, Dumbledore as the Secret-Keeper is an interesting idea, but just keep reading. Ah, the room! Keep that idea in your head for a few more chapters. *wink wink*

Owl post 1992- Thanks for the nice review, and please continue reading!

Margaleit- Oh, you have no idea. There are many chapters to come in this story, I hope you keep enjoying it, and please keep reviewing, I appreciate them a lot. Thanks! Marron04- Thank you for the review! Well, don't think too hard on Augery and Noss, but they do tell you some of the future, so what they say is relevant. But only to the future. This is going to be a Ron and Hermione romance, because I just can't see them with other people, the pair is too perfect, but please, keep reading and reviewing, because I love when people read what I write. If you have any flames, don't hesitate to throw them at me. Thank you very much!

RainDancer- Thank you so much! I already have written you an email and stuff, but I'd like to thank you anyway, and I will send the next chapter to you very soon, I just had to get this one up.

Anyana- here's the next chapter, I hope you like it! Please continue to read and review, lots of thanks!

Bookworm2000-Here's what happens! And there are many chapters to come, but be patient! Thanks tons for the review!

Disclaimer: A word to Warner Brothers- Harry Potter belongs to the great mind of J.K. Rowling, not to you. You're just enjoying the profit and power that you're getting from buying it away from her! Oh, and Lupin's house, and the plot, and good Draco, well, oh, nevermind. But they're mine!

Everyone! I'd like to thank RainDancer for becoming my beta-reader! Yay!!! * loud applause and whistles are heard from the house* And here, is the next scene in our production! *bows, and leaves Center stage. The scarlet curtain opens, to show a dark wood, and three young characters walking through it carefully, quietly.

Through the clouds, a spot of moonlight shone on the dark forest. Ron leading the way, they crept through the woods cautiously, but nervously. They had been nervous around this forest since their horrible detention when they were first-years in Hogwarts.

Draco was last in line, jumping at small noises, including that of his own feet. He, of course, acted as though this wasn't true. In front of him was Hermione, she was very tired and trying to read a book on dangerous transfiguring potions while walking. She realized that this was very difficult, especially in a dark forest at night, so she put it away.

There wasn't much to do except try to be quiet while walking through the forest, and think. Think about Harry, Ginny, Voldemort, Death Eaters, death, their dodgy plan, their safe houses (they thought about that more than once during the trip), and what they would do when they got to Lupin's house. Hermione trudged through the leaves, branches and brush, and gazed at Ron for a moment. He was glancing uneasily up at the sky. What's so important about the sky? She wondered, looking up, too.

"Ron?" She asked.

"I was just wondering if Lupin will be alright. I mean, the moon looks almost full, and-" "No, he'll be fine. The full moon's not until two days from now. If he needs help with the potion, I'll make some. It's not a big deal."

"How do you people." Draco began.

"Know what we're asking each other?" He finished for him. Draco nodded wanly, bewildered.

"Well, I guess it comes with being friends. Hanging around them a lot, and knowing their personality, and the tone of their voice, like second nature, you can tell what they're going to ask," Hermione concluded.

"There's the human textbook for you," said Ron, a laugh in his voice, which earned him a glare from her. But Draco hadn't noticed this; he was very pensive, almost sad.

"Friends." he muttered under his breath. At this, Ron stopped, walked back to him, and looked him in the eye. "Friends." Ron said. There was a sense of certainty and finality in his voice that reminded Hermione of Mad- Eye Moody. He then smiled, and gave Draco a fake punch in the arm.

"Can we rest here for a few minutes?"

"Sure, 'Mione, but not too long. We gotta get to Lupin's place in two hours," replied Ron, looking at his watch. It didn't tell him that, but currently it was pointing to both traveling, and mortal peril.

Hermione started a bluebell fire: her specialty. They sat down and warmed themselves. Draco asked to borrow the book she was reading before, and was soon absorbed in it. Hermione was rubbing her hands, and Ron caught her eye. His face was paler and a little more experienced than in school, now that she took a closer look. His hair was just as red, if not more vivid, yet cut in a much more flattering style on him, and he had more freckles than ever. But the biggest difference was his eyes. They had the same, bright, deep blue, and were just as playful and outgoing and fun. But there was something behind all that. His eyes were a door to his soul, more knowledged and responsible than in school, with a haunting whisper of darkness. A darkness that Hermione had only seen in one other person's eyes. Sirius Black. How similar they are, though, thought Hermione. A Potter's best friend, betrayed and taken away from them.

She felt a surge of anger welling up in her, an anger that she realized that Ron had had for a long time. Voldemort. He was the cause of all of this. He tore family and friends apart, and ruined their lives. Just like he was doing to them. Forced to live in terror and regret, missing your loved ones. The whole thing, it's not fair! She thought, her rage boiling. She furrowed her brow, thinking of this. After a while, her anger died down to a numb, dull pain, accentuated by her hate and longing for justice.

"'Mione?" Ron said uncertainly, seeing a new, strange, familiar darkness in her eyes, her brow furrowed as she stared into the fire. She looked up, a bit startled.

"Hmmm?" she asked.

"We should probably get going," he said, "are you alright? You look a little tired. I'm sorry about all this. We told you too fast. And then we found out about Ginny, and our job, the Death Eaters, and, well, I must've broken a mirror or something, because we don't seem to have the best luck, do we?"

"I'm okay, it's alright. I'll be fine after a good night's sleep, like you said. Thanks, Ron," she said. Ron smiled, and the darkness in his eyes flickered for a moment. Hermione got up, gave Ron a knowing, sympathetic hug, and got her belongings together.

After setting off, it took them about an hour and a half to get to the other edge of the forest. "Okay, the time has come for us to use Harry's faithful invisibility cloak," said Ron, taking it out of his bag gently, gingerly, as though it were made of glass. They covered themselves with it, and (very slowly) walked on.

In the distance was a cozy-looking, two-story house. It had a white exterior, with light brown shutters. A dim light shined on the small, wooden front porch. When they got there, they briefly used the convenient, brass knocker on the door. After a moment, the door creaked open.

"Come in, quickly please," they heard Lupin say. They stepped in, threw off the cloak, and Ron closed the door. "Ah, brave Ron," said Lupin, giving him a warm hug, then, "clever Hermione," He gave her a friendly hug, too. "Draco Malfoy, my new friend," he said, and smiled. He, again, gave a hug to Draco, and pulled back to look at them all.

The age and fatigue was clear in his face. His hair was a bit grayer, and his robes were a bit shabbier. There were a few wrinkles in his should-be younger face, and he trembled a little. He led them to the living room, which was very neat and clean, with full bookcases on three walls, and a nice set of whitish-beige furniture in the center of the room. The trio left their things next to the door, and sat down on the couch, exhausted.

"I'm sorry it's so dark, my phase is rather touchy right at this time of the month," he said. "Would you like some tea? I'll get you some. I've been wanting to talk to you. Then I can show you your rooms. I think you'll like them." He gave a terse smile, and hurried off to prepare the tea.

Hermione yawned. which caused Ron to yawn., which caused Draco to yawn.

About five minutes later, Lupin came back with a tray of teacups and a steaming pot of tea. "Thank you," said Hermione, as he handed her a cup. "Ahhh." said Ron, taking a gulp of tea. "Thanks," said Draco, awkwardly.

"So, I've heard what happened. As Dumbledore has always said, it's a secret, so naturally, everyone knows about it. What do you plan to do?"

Hermione took control of the conversation from here, because it looked as though Ron was going to bring up the Ginny thing again. "Er, we've found that Harry is under the Fidelius charm, so we're going to use polyjuice potion to find out who the secret-keeper is. Once we've done that, it'll be relatively easy."

"Relatively," Draco quickly added.

"Yes. And although we're not supposed to be working the Ginny case, we might be able to find some information pertaining to finding her in the meantime. What do you think?"

"Ahhh, so you're going to beat them at their own game, are you?" He said with a chuckle. "I remember. Moody, Crouch, that is, pulled that off very well in your fourth year. I have only one piece of advice for you. Research the person that you are going to be impersonating (A/N: Impersonating! Haha, get it?). I mean know them backwards and forwards, so that you'd know what they would do in any situation."

They nodded, thinking about this. Draco bit his lip. Ron smiled at Hermione and said, "I'm not drinking anything with Crabbe's toenails in it." Hermione gave a faint laugh. It was a little encouraging in the bleak situation to know that they could remember similar times from when they were only twelve. If they did it then, they could pull through now. But Draco spoke now, and may I add, being the narrator except for the clever Hermione, that it was in a very un-Draco-like manner.

"Yeah, I've been thinking about how we could do that, and, uh, how about since I know my father so well, I can pose as him, Ron can substitute for Crabbe, really, and Hermione for Goyle?" He was very serious about this, Hermione could tell. How could he do that, though? It's his family! He.

"Don't get me wrong, Draco," replied Hermione," but that would include capturing your own father. Are you sure you'd want to do that? I do agree, though. It's a great idea."

"Hmmm. I don't know if you remember, but I have already told you what I think of my father. It wouldn't matter to me what we did. Truly," he added, as if for confirmation.

"I say that if that's our best bet, then we should get on the train while it's still in the station. At least, that's what my Mum says," Ron added, his ears turning a bit pink.

"Alright. Then I guess we could go ahead with that," said Hermione.

"Deal, or plan I should say?" Draco asked.

"Plan." Ron and Hermione said together.

"Well, it seems that I have heard all I need to, and you three have come to an important decision, and that we all need a good night's rest. I'll show you where all of you can sleep." They were grateful for this, and just followed his lead.

He helped with some of their belongings, and walked upstairs, followed by Ron and Hermione, and bringing up the rear, was once again Draco.

The first room they came to was decorated in pale green. It was pretty big, and had a nice old leather armchair in the corner for reading. The next room was bright red, red walls, red carpet, red bed, even the furniture and curtains were red. There was a stack of games and old books in the corner. And the last room was mostly cozy, cobalt blue. It was pretty small, with a large window, and ripply curtains.

"Okay, I'm going to go to bed now. These are your rooms. If you need anything, feel free to call for me."

"Alright," they said.

Immediately, Draco set to the green room, yawning and shutting the door. He shouted a muffled, "G'night!" Ron and Hermione nodded to each other in agreement. Contented, Ron took the red room, as Hermione took the blue one.

After taking a shower, Hermione walked back into her room, in her periwinkle nightgown, and sat down in front of a large, oak desk. It had a beautiful mirror that she stared into, resting her head on her hand.

She stared at her mirror-self, the long, kind-of-bushy, brown hair, chocolate eyes, and somewhat slender face of Hermione Granger. The nerd, the know-it-all, the prefect, and finally, the head-girl. She thought that if she had had those, she would be set in life. But, curiously, that's not what had happened. What's wrong with me? What's wrong with this whole world? Something is wrong somewhere, but I can't quite place it. I wish I could, but I don't know. There's too much to think about right now. I guess., she thought, before her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Just a second," she said, getting up, and walking to the door. When she opened it, she saw Ron in his undershirt and boxers (which were red and orange plaid), hands leaning on either side of the door, his face worried.

"Come in," she said. He walked in, and started pacing, or as much as he could in such a small room. He finally satisfied himself with sitting on the bed. "Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"Do you feel like there's something wrong going on here? Something untrustworthy? I wish I had a sneakoskope, or maybe a remembrall. I have that feeling, you know, like you get when lose something, or forget something. Nevermind, you wouldn't know that, you don't forget-"

"Ron, stop rambling, I know what you mean, I've felt that feeling a lot, and I find what you said a bit offensive, but I have a bad feeling, too. There's something we're missing. Other than Harry and Ginny, of course. "

"I didn't mean offense by what I said, it's just that you never seem to forget anything. And I'm glad I'm not the only one who's getting a strange feeling about this. Do you have any idea what it could be?"

"No, I don't know right now, I can't put my finger on it. But why did you bother saying that remark if you didn't mean to offend me?"

"Listen, 'Mione, I was rambling, you said so yourself! And I'm sorry, but I've been frustrated lately, and ughhh!" He trailed off, mumbling violently, some incoherent words.

"What? Can't stand talking to me? Too painful? Too intelligent? Hmmm, what? Get out of my room, we can discuss it tomorrow," she almost shouted, shoving Ron out and closing the door. He banged on it in irritation and tried to yell through the closed door, "I just didn't want to fight with you anymore! I just, ughhh, "Mione, I'm sorry! Okay? Is that what you wanted to hear? Can you hear me? I said I'm sorry! I'm sorry."

He banged his back against the door, and said in a lower voice, "I'm sorry. Goodnight, Hermione."

~Evyfleur