AN/ Thanks to AprilGrey for beta services rendered. Thanks to reviewers, wow, you guys are great! Have a Merry Christmas and may the New Year bring hope and peace. Andrian
Comfort XII
Repercussions-b : a widespread, indirect, or unforeseen effect of an act, action, or event
****
Silence filled the room. Hermione was stunned. After several minutes of silence Remus cleared his throat and chuckled. "I think I have my answer."
Swallowing hard, Hermione felt his disappointment. She chose her words carefully. "Remus, I don't know what to say. I never expected, well, I mean I am still in school…"
Kissing her forehead, he tightened his arms around her. "Don't worry, Hermione," he said softly. "It was foolish of me to say anything. Of course you have many years before you consider marriage."
Hermione nodded. A part of her wanted to scream at him for asking such a thing while another part wanted to say yes. I am much too young to think of marriage, she thought, though her mind kept thinking of being here with Remus everyday and night. It was a pleasant thought.
****
They spent the next day in the village. Hermione was surprised that so many of the Muggles greeted Remus warmly. Stopping at a small tearoom for lunch, Remus grinned at her as the old woman pinched his cheeks when she brought the tea and biscuits. "I take odd jobs around the village," he explained. "Muggles don't seem to mind that I only want to work now and then." She smiled as he took her hand. "And now you shall be the subject of local gossip." He glanced towards the old woman who was grinning at them. "Odd, lonely Lupin, finally found a girl." Hermione giggled and shook her head, her heart light and happy.
The freedom of being alone without the fear of discovery brought out their playful, inquisitive sides. A day of stormy weather had Remus, with a gleam in his eye, chasing her around the house, vowing to christen every room with their lovemaking. He held true to his word and by the time supper was ready Hermione felt too tired to chew. She wasn't complaining, although Chadrick gave a few choice hoots from being disturbed by their laughing and noises.
After supper, in front of a warm fire, Remus kissed every inch of her body until she was trembling with desire. He made love to her slowly, almost reverently, his eyes locking with hers, drawing her into the depths of the love she saw there.
****
Hermione entered the bedroom still drying her hair. Remus was lying on the bed, his bathrobe opened as he watched her. It was their last night together and she had felt his melancholy and hers. Dropping the towel, she knelt on the bed and crawled over to him. A gentle smile crossed his face as she brushed her lips across his. "I love you, Remus."
His arms went around her, pulling her down as he cuddled her to him. "And I you. This house is going to be very lonely tomorrow evening."
"Maybe you could stay at Grimmauld place," she said hopefully.
Remus shook his head. "I will not stay where I am not wanted. Don't Hermione," he touched her lips with his. "It is all right." His kiss deepened. There was a small 'crack' and they pulled apart. A gold feather fluttered to the ground. Remus jumped out of the bed and picked it up and Hermione was amazed to see it had turned into a parchment.
"I have to go," he said urgently, pulling on his robes. "It is Order business." Hermione chewed on her lower lip as she watched him get ready, feeling the adrenaline rush through her. He picked up his wand and bent to give a swift kiss. "Listen, if I am not back in time tomorrow, take the Knight Bus to Hogwarts."
"Yes, she said hugging him. "Be careful."
"Always," he grinned and kissed her once more. With a loud crack, he Apparated.
Feeling apprehensive, Hermione pulled her bathrobe tighter around her. Getting up she pulled out a book from her carefully packed bag. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep until he returned, so she headed to the kitchen for some tea.
****
Tonks was waiting for him on the sidewalk outside Grimmauld Place. "The Ministry," she said urgently and they Apparated.
They appeared in the Atrium of the Ministry. Running across the hall, they met up with Kingsley, Bill and Moody who were waiting for the lift.
"Bout time you got here Lupin," Moody growled.
"Sorry. What's up?"
"That tip you gave us about the interest in the time turners and whatnot seems to have panned out. Podmore was keeping an eye on this place and it seems eight of the blokes are down there now."
Remus felt a shiver run down his spine. The Order had discussed the implications of Voldemort having access to a way to alter time. The results would be disastrous and it was decided that a guard would be kept on watch to prevent the Death Eaters from getting their hands on the Ministry's supply of Time Turners. Even after the events of last summer, the Ministry had not taken the necessary precautions of issuing guards, believing the extra wards they installed would alert of intruders. Not very effective when Voldemort had his own people inside the Ministry.
The lift finally arrived and they climbed in. Remus felt the adrenaline rush of pre battle nerves surge through him though he rued that once again he would be forced down into the bowels of the Ministry.
"Should be an easy battle," Tonks said brightly. "Almost one on one."
"Don't be flip, woman," Moody said sternly. "Never underestimate your enemy even if outnumbered. The most deadly animal is one that is cornered."
"That is right," Kingsley said in his deep voice. "According to Podmore, Voldemort has sent his best."
Remus' stomach lurched. That meant that Bellatrix would be among the number.
The lift stopped and they got out cautiously. Seeing no one, they opened the door into the Department of Mysteries. "Sturgis," Remus said quietly.
Sturgis nodded at him and pointed to the door to the right. He handed a silvery cloak to Moody. "They went through about five minutes ago."
"On the count of three then," Remus directed, as everyone readied his or her wands. "One, two, three." He threw open the door and they rushed through each taking a different direction. The Death Eaters greeted them with a volley of spells.
Remus sent his own spell flying as he dodged. In grim satisfaction, he saw a Death Eater fall forward stunned. He spun around, to see Tonks engaged with a tall Death Eater and winced as his spell hit her fully in the face, grateful the light from the wand was purple and not green. "Impedimenta!" he shouted. The Death Eater toppled almost landing on Tonks.
Moody and Kingsley were holding their own against three Death Eaters. "Weasley went that way!" Moody shouted as he parried a spell. Remus saw the open door across the room and sprinted through it. Entering a darkened room, he heard spells being cast and saw Bill go down. Sturgis was scurrying around, dodging the bolts from the other two Death Eaters.
Starting across the room to help him, Remus spun on his heel when he heard someone laugh.
"Lupin!" said Bellatrix gleefully. "A friend of yours sends his greetings!" Remus cast a shield charm as Lestrange lifted her hand. He was puzzled as he saw not a beam of light but a twirling object fly towards him. It struck his upper thigh, only tangling in his robes. Pulling it out, he saw that it was a silver dagger.
"Stick to magic Bella," he said grimly casting a spell at her which she reflected. She grinned at him as she cast spell after spell at him. Remus ducked and parried as they weaved into the room, avoiding desks and tables.
Breathing hard, Lestrange gave him another wicked grin. "My dear cousin should have trained with you. Maybe he would have lasted longer."
Remus grimaced, his eyes narrowing as he tried to still the anger rising in him as he cast a spell. He missed his marked and Bellatrix cackled as she sent her own spell that caught Remus' wand hand. His wand went spinning.
"Another mongrel put out of his misery!" Bellatrix shouted gleefully, aiming a spell at Remus. " Avada Kedavra!"
Remus dropped and rolled as the green beam flew over his head and grabbing his wand, he came to his knee. He felt his heart lurch as he saw out the corner of his eye the green beam soaring straight towards Sturgis who had his back to them. "Sturgis!" he cried, but it was too late. The spell had hit Sturgis squarely. He was dead before he hit the floor.
Eyeing the three Death Eaters approaching him warily, Remus tried not to think of Hermione as he prepared himself.
"Stupefy!"
Bill had gotten to his feet and his spell fell the tall Death Eater Sturgis had been fighting. Through the door, three more Death Eaters came with Kingsley, Moody and Tonks on their heels.
"Get out of here!" hissed one as he cast a spell. The room became dark, all light extinguished. There was a curse from Moody then a squeal from Tonks. Remus headed in the direction of the door, but stumbled as his foot connected on a body.
"Damn!" he cursed, scrambling to his feet. This time he found the door and ran swiftly through the room of Time, into the corridor and toward the lift. Bill and Tonks were already there and by the time he reached them the lift door had opened and they climbed.
When they reached the Atrium, they were in time to see the last Death Eater Apparating.
"Bloody hell!" Bill swore, shaking his head dejectedly. His left arm hung at an odd angle.
The lift rumbled to a stop and they held their wands at ready. Moody stepped out, levitating a bound Death Eater in front of him, Kingsley following close, carrying Podmore's body.
"At least they didn't get these," Moody sighed heavily, tossing a heavy shoulder bag at Tonks. Her eyes were wide and bright as she stared at Kingsley.
"Couldn't leave him there," Kingsley said quietly. "Knowing the idiots that work here, they would try to pin it on him."
Looking down on the boyish face of Podmore, Remus felt a quiet rage run through him. Another friend gone. The pain of losing Sirius surged through him causing the barely healed emotional wound to reopen and fester. And now Sturgis was dead because of Lestrange.
"Lupin? Are you okay?" Tonks asked, putting a hand on his arm.
Remus didn't look at her and with a cry that was half a sob and half a growl, he Apparated.
****
Hermione gave a small cry when Remus appeared. "Remus," she sobbed, running over to him. "What happened? I felt you, hurting, so sad…" Her words were stopped as Remus crushed her to him in a vice like grip. She clung to him as he buried his head in against her neck and she felt his hot tears.
"Remus," she said weakly, wanting desperately to ease his grief.
Finally he lifted his head and looked at her. Tears filled her eyes as she saw his stricken face. "Oh Remus," she said gently, stroking his cheek. He put his hands on either side of her face, his eyes taking in every part of her.
"Don't leave me," he pleaded, his voice barely a whisper.
Hermione looked at him questioningly. "I am not going anywhere. Remus, please tell me…"
"Don't leave me." He looked at her with his heart in his eyes.
"Never," she whispered.
Remus brought his mouth down on hers, kissing her so hard that she winced in pain as his teeth pressed into her lips. Over and over he kissed her, the intensity making her gasp and she remembered another night, another time when he had begged her not to go.
Opening her bathrobe, he pressed her against the wall, picking her up as if she weighed nothing. His hands on her thighs, he lifted her and Hermione gasped as he entered her roughly,
"Promise me," he growled.
"Remus…I," she didn't finish as his mouth crushed hers once more. He drove hard into her making her gasp as she hung onto his neck. It didn't take long before she felt his building release, his triggering her own. "Remus!" she cried as he surged into her once last time. Releasing his grip on her legs, he eased her down till she stood.
He was kissing her face over and over as he murmured. "Please tell me I didn't hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you."
"You didn't hurt me," she assured him, hugging his neck.
Taking her face in his hands, he searched her face. "Forgive me, Hermione, but I need you," he said hoarsely as he picked her up. Carrying he into the bedroom, he did not speak as he laid her gently down on the bed and covered her once more with his body.
****
Resting her head on her arms, Hermione vaguely watched the landscape pass as the Hogwarts Express carried her back to school. Her body ached from the long night of passion and intense emotions. Remus had apologized over and over for what had happened until she had kissed him quiet which had led to another, though much gentler, bout of lovemaking. Finally as dawn had pushed the shadows from the room, he told her what had happened at the Ministry.
Kissing him thoroughly outside Kings Cross, Hermione felt tears in her eyes. She hated leaving him, but knew she knew he would be all right.
****
The rest of April and May passed uneventfully for Hermione. She experienced no rushes of emotions and assumed Remus also must be having a quiet spring though the Daily Prophet had disturbing headlines several times. The last letter she had received from him had been two weeks ago saying that he would be unavailable and would owl her as soon as he was able. Hermione knew he was on a job for the Order, but it didn't help the longing she had for a word from him. Finals were in two weeks and Hermione threw herself into studying. Keeping her mind busy was the best thing.
****
Hermione found it hard to work on the potion in class that Friday. Every time she looked at the swirling grayish liquid she felt her stomach turn over. Twice she had to drop her head in her hands and wait for the queasiness to pass.
"What's the matter Hermione?" Harry asked. "Not feeling well?"
"No. Guess it was something I ate."
"Well this stuff," he lifted the ladle and took a whiff making a face, "would make a skrewt turn green."
A wave of nausea flowed over her and she swallowed hard. Stirring the potion she tried to breath deeply but still her stomach rolled. Her hand over her mouth, she rose quickly and headed for the door.
"Where do you think you are going, Miss Granger?" Snape asked.
"I need to…" she gagged and vomited in Snape's wastebasket by his desk.
"Quiet," he growled at the class as several laughed and one person gagged. "Miss Granger, you are dismissed to go see the nurse."
****
"I think I have a bug," she said, sitting down on the stool. "I threw up twice yesterday, once this morning and just now in potions. The smell of food makes me nauseated."
Madame Pomfrey took her temperature and looked into her mouth. "Any other symptoms?"
"I have just been really tired."
Pomfrey looked at her intently. "When was your last menstrual cycle, Hermione?"
Hermione started to say May the twelfth, but stopped. She hadn't started her period then. April? She came back from Remus' on the tenth of April and… "March eleventh," she said weakly. How could she have forgotten? She had skipped periods before so it really hadn't concerned her. Apprehensively she looked at Pomfrey who was scowling slightly at her.
"Is there any chance you could be pregnant?" she asked in a business like tone.
'No', Hermione wanted to say, to reassure herself. Remus had always been careful. Each night when they had went to bed he had cast the Contraceptous charm. Every night without fail…except for the last night. He had been called away. "Yes," Hermione said shakily. "I suppose there is a chance."
Madame Pomfrey nodded and told her to slip on a gown.
Hermione didn't need for her to confirm the diagnosis. Pomfrey had a serious look on her face as she finished the examine. "You are pregnant, Miss Granger," she said sternly. "I would say almost two months."
Gripping the sheet on the bed, Hermione felt the fear flow over her as Madame Pomfrey continued. "You must know I have to tell Professor McGonagall and the Headmaster." Hermione nodded feeling faint. Poppy's face softened. "It will be alright dear," she said patting her hand. "There are always options to take care of this."
Take care of this? Hermione's mind was spinning. Take care of this? This is a baby she wanted to scream. You don't just take care of it, you can't.
Her mind was still racing and she did not hear what Madame Pomfrey was telling her about the effects of a certain potion. What am I going to do? I am going to have to leave school. What will my parents say? With shaking hands she dressed and left the hospital wing.
****
Hermione entered Dumbledore's office later that evening with her head high though she was shaking inwardly. Professor McGonagall was standing beside his desk her lips pressed into a thin line as she greeted Hermione.
"Ah, Miss Granger. Please have a seat. Would you care for a drink or a sweet?"
"No thank you, Professor," she said nervously as she sat on the edge of a chair.
"Miss Granger," McGonagall said, her voice stern, "I am to understand that you are in the family way."
Hermione nodded. Well at least that was straight to the point, she thought. "You do realize that if you choose to continue with your pregnancy that you will not be allowed to return to school next year and will forgo any chance at a decent career…"
Dumbledore coughed loudly, interrupting her. "Professor, I am sure our young student has done nothing but think about her predicament, however she has only known for a few hours. Perhaps we should give her a bit of time to digest what has happened."
McGonagall sniffed.
"Minerva," Dumbledore said quietly, "I realize that this is upsetting to you, as well as Hermione, but now is not the time to act hastily. If Hermione decides to keep the child, and I will not mind telling you I think every life is a gift, I for one see no reason that she cannot continue her studies next term."
"Impossible," McGonagall said, though her voice sounded hopeful. "It is against the rules."
"As Headmaster, I do believe I am allowed to bend the rules from time to time."
Hermione looked at him surprised. "Truly?"
Albus laughed. "Yes, I do believe we can work something out. Still the decision is yours, young lady, and I would hope you want to include the father in this."
"Yes, of course," Hermione said quickly.
Albus' voice was gentle as he spoke. "Would you like for me to summon the father here, so that you may tell him?"
Hermione nodded. McGonagall looked between them. "Well?"
"Yes, Professor?" Dumbledore asked, a smile on his face.
"I will need a name if I am to go collect the young man responsible for this."
Hermione looked cautiously at Dumbledore. "That will not be necessary, Minerva. The young man is not in this school. I am correct in saying that, Miss Granger?"
Hermione nodded again, noticing the way McGonagall lips thinned even more. "Am I to understand that it is not a wizard at this school?" she said acidly. "Headmaster, surely we cannot allow a Muggle…"
"The young man responsible for this is very much a wizard, Professor, however it is not for me to say more." Dumbledore rose and walked around the desk. "I will inform him to get in touch with you as soon as he is able to," he said to Hermione.
"Thank you, Professor," she said shakily as she got up.
He put a hand on her shoulder. "Everything will be just fine, you will see. Sometimes the unexpected has the most wondrous results."
She tried to smile at him.
****
The week passed in a blur. Hermione kept hoping for word from Remus, yet she dreaded telling him. Would he want her to get rid of the 'problem'? She honestly didn't think so, but still the nagging doubt kept tugging on her. Ron and Harry kept asking her what was wrong, noticing that she seemed distracted and often broke down and cried in the common room. Tonight was no exception as she tried hard to keep back her sniffs.
"Hermione," Ron said exasperatedly, laying down his Transfiguration book, "what is going on?"
"Nothing," she said, though her voice cracked.
"Ron," Ginny said, "Hermione's business is her own." Hermione gave her a small smile. Ginny raised her eyebrows at her. She had not confided in Ginny and Ginny had assumed she was having problems with Remus.
"Must be female things," Ron said sagely as Harry blushed. Ginny gave them a scathing look.
****
Sitting in potions, Hermione was grateful for the potion Madame Pomfrey had given her for nausea, as she sliced frog hearts. She made her potion quickly and with success. Bottling a sample for Professor Snape, she walked up to the front to hand it to him.
Looking at her intently, he took the vial from her. "Miss Granger, see me after class."
"What did you do wrong?" Harry asked her as she took her seat beside him.
"Nothing," she said, puzzled. The potion seemed to be correct. She spent the rest of the class going back over her work, worrying if she had done the assignment wrong.
"Don't bother to wait," she told Harry when the bell rang. "I will catch up with you later."
Hermione walked to the front of the room to stand before Snape's desk. He did not look up from the parchment he was grading and she stood there quietly until he finished.
Finally he put the quill down. His eyes, cold and expressionless, surveyed her. Finally he pulled out a drawer and produced a small bottle. "Madame Pomfrey informed me that you had need of this." He set the bottle on the desk before her as he stood. "You will need to check into the infirmary and be prepared to stay a couple of days."
Hermione stared at the bottle feeling Snape's eyes still boring into her. Hermione looked up at him, noting the smug, condescending look on his face. "If this," her voice cracked and she swallowed, squaring her shoulders. "Is what I think it is, I have no need of it, sir."
Snape raised his eyebrows and sat down, leaning back in his chair as he studied her. Hermione did not look away from his penetrating gaze. "Indeed. I was told that a certain Gryffindor needed to rid of herself of a mistake. Imagine my surprise when I learned the know-it-all apparently didn't know enough to use a contraceptive potion or charm."
Hermione flushed, but raised her chin higher. "I am sure that delighted you, sir," she said, pleased to see Snape scowl, "however my mistake is mine and I do not want to make it worse."
"Pity," he said silkily, leaning forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "Are you ready to give up your studies?"
"Professor Dumbledore told me that I would be allowed to continue."
"Not in my class," he said with a satisfied smile.
"But…"
"Really, Miss Granger, I had thought you intelligent enough to realize that it would be detrimental to your pregnancy to handle the ingredients used in potions, not to mention the fumes. This is a hands on class and you cannot just expect to hand in essays."
Looking down at the bottle, Hermione felt tears in her eyes.
"This also applies to Charms and Transfiguration. You will not be able to study Apparition, splinching could be deadly and a misaimed charm could leave you carrying a fetus that would resemble a nightmare."
She looked back at him. He was enjoying this, the bastard, she thought.
"Do you honestly think you could continue with your studies?"
Hermione stared at him, trying to will away the tears that had started to run down her cheeks. "If there isn't anything else, sir."
Snape smiled sardonically. "I will keep this for now. If you change your mind…"
"I wont," she said quickly.
"Very well," he said quietly, the smile still lingering on his lips. "However, I will say this as I know your Head of House is too soft to. Though you fancy yourself in love, if you continue on this path you will be as ostracized as Lupin." Hermione's head snapped up and she saw a knowing gleam in Snape's eyes. "A werewolf is forbidden by Ministry law to marry or procreate. The loophole in this law will allow you to marry him, if he has even offered to do the honorable thing, and being a Gryffindor I am sure he has, because you are Muggleborn." Hermione opened her mouth. "Do not interrupt me, Miss Granger," he warned. "There is a chance, a very small chance, that the child you carry will be infected with Lycanthropy. I would think about these things if I were you."
"You are not me," Hermione said angrily. "And it is not your place…"
"You are dismissed," Snape said, ignoring her outburst. "And I do not want to see you in this class for the rest of the term."
"But finals…"
"You will receive an incomplete for the course."
"But sir..."
"You are dismissed," he said with finality as he returned to grading.
She walked swiftly out of the classroom, keeping her head down as she hurried up the stairs. Finally she ducked behind a large statue and leaned back against it breathing heavily. A tear slipped down her cheek and she closed her eyes wishing Remus were there.
