AN/Thanks to AprilGrey for beta services. Sorry about the slow update. Hopefully the next one will be quicker. Cheers
****
Comfort XIV
Resolution-3 a : something that is resolved b : firmness of resolve
The sun danced on the faded blue hangings, creating striped shadows across the sleeping girl. 'Girl, yes, but a woman also. A woman who is carrying my child.' Remus was lying on his side, propped up on one elbow, staring at Hermione. 'My child.' He felt giddy every time he thought of this. Try as he may, he couldn't feel anything but wonderment, and not even the guilt could intrude. 'My child', he thought again. I am not supposed to have children, it isn't allowed. 'But I am and they can't do a damn thing about it'. His heart felt full.
Gently he picked up one of her brown curls, wrapping it around his finger. Merlin, how he loved her. If only things could have been different, if he had waited until she was older…'then I might have never known'.
Hermione stirred, rolling onto her back and stretching.
"Morning sunshine," Remus said smiling.
"Morn…" she put a hand over her mouth and jumped out of the bed, running out of the room. Remus flinched in sympathy as he picked up her robe and followed her into the bathroom. He held her hair back as she vomited into the toilet.
"I am a mess," she laughed shakily after she had rinsed her mouth.
"You are beautiful. Something I can get you?"
She nodded. "In my bag, my toothbrush and a brown bottle. A potion for morning sickness," she said blushing.
Once the potion took affect, Hermione found that she was ravenous. Grinning Remus filled her request for sausages, eggs, tomatoes and toast. Hermione smiled as she watched him expertly flip the eggs.
"I'm glad you can cook," she sighed contently, helping herself to more eggs. "I burn water."
"My mother was a wonderful cook and most insistent that I learn to fend for myself." He gave her a mischievous look. "Don't tell anyone, but I can knit also."
She giggled.
A sharp knock on the door startled them. "Go to the bedroom," Remus instructed as he picked up his wand from the counter. Hermione got up quickly, picking up Crookshanks who was winding around her ankles in hopes for a sausage.
When the bedroom door was safely closed, Remus went to the front door and looked through a small hole. Surprised he opened the door. "Moody? What are you doing here?"
"Remus," Moody greeted him. "Need a word with you."
"Come in," Remus said stepping aside. He quickly shut the door. "Is it Order business?"
"No, it is business but nothing to do with the Order." Moody's magical eye was rotating.
"Have a seat. Care for some breakfast?" Remus asked as he and Moody sat at the table.
"Seems you already have a dining companion."
Sighing, Remus saw him looking at Hermione's plate. "Yes Alastor. Hermione arrived late last night."
"I figured as much," Moody said gruffly, picking up a piece of toast and sniffing it. "That is the 'business' we need to discuss."
"I see," Remus said slowly.
"May as well have the lass join us. No sense in repeating myself later."
"Come out, Hermione," Remus said, knowing she was probably listening. Crookshanks bounded out of the bedroom first, going over and sniffing Moody's leg. Blushing, Hermione sat down next to Remus who reached over and took her hand. "It's okay. Moody knows about us," Remus said quietly
"Oh." Her blush deepened as she looked at Moody's grizzled face.
Moody coughed. "Damn cat hair," he growled as Crookshanks leapt into his lap. "Like I told Remus, it isn't any of my business what young folks do, until today that is."
"Why is that?" Remus asked as Hermione gripped his hand.
"Because this young lady's dad is a bit miffed. Seems he has it in his mind that a wizard named Remus Lupin kidnapped her in the middle of the night."
Hermione gasped. "But that isn't true. I took the Knight Bus."
"I know Remus would never do anything like that," Moody said assuredly, "but it doesn't change the fact that your dad is accusing him of it. I stayed at the Leaky Cauldron last night, business for the Order, and at dawn your dad was pounding on the door demanding to speak to any wizard on the premises. Well, we can't have a Muggle standing out on the street announcing to the world our business, so I cast a Silencio charm on him out the window. Time I got downstairs, Tom had him sitting at a table with quill and parchment as he wrote out what he wanted to say.
"Told Tom I would handle it and took the charm off," Moody scratched his ear. "Almost deafened me. Had to threaten him with a full body lock if he didn't stop the caterwauling."
"Oh dear," Hermione said horrified at the thought of her dad being so upset.
"I got him to calm down and drink some coffee before I would listen to him. He wanted to see someone who could help him get his daughter back and press charges against the man who had molested and impregnated his little girl."
Remus and Hermione blushed.
Moody cleared his throat. "I see. Don't know whether to congratulate you, Remus, or smack you on the side of the head for not going through the proper channels of marrying her first. Wouldn't have all this fuss."
"I will take the congratulations, thanks," Remus said sheepishly.
"Anyway, I talked to your dad and got him to agree to go home. He only went because I told him I would have you home before this day was over. Didn't want Remus carted off while the Ministry tries to sort this out."
Hermione nodded. "I will get my things."
"I will take Hermione home," Remus said firmly
"That's not the best idea you've had Lupin."
"I should have met with her parents in the first place. Thank you, Alastor, for intervening with Mr. Granger; however, it is time I met the man."
"Oh my," Hermione said breathlessly. "Remus, my dad is very angry at you."
"He has every right to be, Hermione, and to vent that anger on the person who deserves it."
Moody snorted. "Sentimental nonsense. Marry the girl and get on with life if you want my advice." He scratched Crookshanks behind the ear before he put him down. "I need to be going. I have your word then? You will have her back?"
"Of course," Remus said rising.
After Moody left, Hermione cleared the table. "I am so sorry, Remus. I had no idea my dad would accuse you of kidnapping me."
Taking the plates from her, he sat them on the counter, and then put his hands on her upper arms, caressing them. "Marry me."
Hermione looked into his earnest face. "Remus, everything is happening so fast…I don't know what to do. Besides my parents would never accept the Wizarding tradition of handfasting as being legal."
"Then we will get married the Muggle way," he said softly. "If I remember my Muggle Studies, it is common practice to end the marriage in your society if it doesn't work out. You know that a Wizarding marriage cannot be dissolved. Marry me in the Muggle way and if you decide that you no longer want to be married to me, I will not stand in your way."
"That's not very romantic, Remus," she said irritably.
"I am sorry, love," he smiled at her, "but it is realistic. I want you to have my name for the child's sake should something happen."
Hermione frowned at him. "What are you keeping from me, Remus?"
Remus smiled. "I didn't want to say anything yet, but I shall be away most of the summer on Order business. If something should happen to me, I want to know you are taken care of. I have a little gold that Sirius left me and it will be much easier on you if the baby is not born out of wedlock."
Chewing on her finger, Hermione walked over to the counter and began doing the dishes. "Hermione?"
She turned to look at him, tears in her eyes. "Yes Remus. I will marry you."
"Thank you," he said, kissing the top of her head. "I need to take care of a few things and will be back in an hour or so. Are you all right?"
Nodding, she leaned against his chest as he hugged her tightly.
****
Several hours later, in the front room of a small vicarage in Scotland they were married.
Hermione was surprised when Remus slipped a rose gold band, decorated with vine and leaves, on her finger and handed her its mate. With a trembling hand, she put it on his finger. He kissed her chastely on the lips and they were husband and wife.
Over lunch in a small pub in the village, Remus reminded her that they were to go to her parents that evening. Hermione felt the dread in her stomach and had to race to the ladies.
****
"Hermione!"
Her mother pulled her into a hug as her father put his arms around them both. Remus stood in the doorway waiting, Crookshanks carrier in one hand. Henry Granger looked at him and smiled. "Thank you sir for bringing back my girl," he said, vigorously shaking Remus' hand.
"You may want to save your thanks, sir," Remus said, quietly looking Henry directly in the eyes. "I am Remus Lupin."
Henry's smile froze on his face, the hand gripping Remus' sliding out. "You son of a bitch," he growled.
"Henry," Janice warned her husband. "Not out here."
"You want me to invite this…this child molester into our home?"
"Remus is my husband," Hermione said quickly. Silence filled the entryway.
"Come in, Mr. Lupin," Janice finally said as Henry reluctantly stepped aside. "Everyone will have a seat and, Henry, you will help me fix some tea," she said firmly, giving her husband a look that brooked no protest. The corners of Remus' mouth twitched as he noticed the resemblance between Hermione and her mother.
Hermione released Crookshanks and went to sit beside Remus on the sofa. "It will be all right," he said encouragingly as she slipped her hand into his. They sat in silence waiting her parents to return.
Janice came into the room, with Henry following carrying a tray. After tea was poured and offered, Janice cleared her throat. "Mr. Lupin," she said setting her untouched tea down, "you must understand how disappointed we are about this situation." Mr. Granger snorted.
"Hermione is our daughter and we only want the best for her. She is only sixteen and yet we find out she is pregnant. She disappears in the middle of the night and then she returns with the father of her child and tells us she is married— well we are in shock.
"And Hermione, we never had a chance to discuss anything and you made the situation worse by getting married."
"She is getting an annulment," Mr. Granger said firmly.
"No, Dad, I will not. I am sorry I disappointed you, but when I heard you telling Mum that I wouldn't be going back to the Wizarding world and that I would have to give up my baby, I just couldn't stand it."
"Mr. Granger, Mrs. Granger," Remus spoke quietly, "I realize you are upset and have every right to be. The blame of all this lies on my shoulders."
"Damn straight," Henry growled.
"Henry," Janice said sternly. She looked at Remus. "Yes, Mr. Lupin. The responsibility does lie on your shoulders. You are the adult in this situation. How could you take advantage of a young girl?"
"Mum—"
"No, she is right. I think they need to hear what happened." Remus smiled encouragingly at Hermione. "It started with admiration for a clever, sensitive young witch who offered comfort to me at one of the lowest points in my life…"
Remus told them about Sirius' death, about the war with Voldemort, his injury and stay at Hogwarts, how he fell in love with Hermione, while skirting the more intimate details and the bonding spell. Hermione looked warily at her parents. She had never told them everything about Voldemort, only that he was an evil wizard who had tried to kill Harry as he had Harry's parents.
Her mum sniffed and wiped at her eyes with a napkin when Remus was finished.
"I love Hermione with my whole being," he said softly. "And should something happen to me during this conflict I want the child she carries to be taken care of in the Wizarding community. Though I am not well accepted, a legitimate half-breed's child will have it easier than a bastard's."
"Half-breed?" Henry asked dully. He looked a bit dazed at what Remus had told him about a war. "You are only part wizard then?"
Hermione bit her lower lip, hoping Remus wouldn't tell them he was a werewolf.
"Something like that," Remus said quietly. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hermione," her mum said shakily. "Why didn't you tell us how dangerous life has become in the Wizarding world?"
"I didn't want to worry you and I knew you wouldn't want me to return."
"Of course, we wouldn't, " Janice said. "We want to keep you safe."
"But don't you see? That is where I belong now. I love you both and I will always be a part of this family but my real home is there."
A silence filled the room. Remus gripped Hermione's hand in understanding. The clock chimed eleven times.
"You have given us a lot to think about, Mr. Lupin," Henry said finally.
"It's Remus."
"Remus," Mr. Granger said slowly. "I think we all could use a good night's sleep and resume this conversation in the morning."
"Henry," Janice said looking thoughtfully at the couple on the couch, "could I see you in the kitchen a moment."
After they had left, Hermione leaned her head on Remus' shoulder. "I think they are warming up to you a bit."
"I wouldn't have blamed your dad if he had punched me," Remus said with a small laugh. "In fact it would have made me feel better."
Her parents came back into the room. Remus stood getting ready to leave. Mrs. Granger nudged her husband.
"It is late and you are welcomed to stay, " Henry said, "in the guest room," he added quickly. Hermione tried not to giggle as her mum rolled her eyes.
Remus knew it had taken a lot for her father to make the offer and he appreciated the gesture. "Thank you." Hermione hugged her father who returned it wholeheartedly.
****
Hermione felt happier than she had for a while. Dressed in a flannel gown with teddy bears, she turned down the bed covers. There was a soft knock at the door and her heart fluttered. Surely Remus wouldn't come to her room?
"It's Mum. Can I come in?"
"Yes," Hermione said, sitting down on her bed.
Janice shut the door behind her and sat down next to her daughter holding a box. Eyeing her she said, "Somehow I don't think teddy bears are appropriate for honeymoon attire."
Hermione laughed. "Seeing as my husband is down the hall, I really don't think it matters."
"Here." She thrust the box into Hermione's lap. "I bought this for our vacation next month, but I think you need it more than I do."
She opened the box and lifted the black, satiny fabric. "Mum," Hermione blushed as she held up the negligee.
"Now don't go all virginal daughter," said Janice briskly, "not with a baby in your belly. Your young man is going into danger and I know you want to be with him and your dad is asleep," she said with a smile.
Hermione threw her arms around her mother. "Thank you so much. And I do love him you know."
"And I love you," Janice said patting Hermione's back. She stood and gave a small sniff. "Just be happy."
She gave her mum an encouraging smile as she left.
****
Hermione knocked softly on the guest room's door. She smiled shyly at Remus' startled look that quickly turned to one of admiration as he stared at her. "Hermione," he whispered, his voice husky. "Come in."
She lifted the skirt of the negligee to keep from tripping on it. "My mother's," she explained, blushing as Remus kept staring at her.
"She has excellent taste," he murmured running his hand down her chest, brushing her already hardened nipples. Gazing into her eyes, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately. "My beautiful wife," he said solemnly as he brushed her hair away from her face. Bending a bit, he swept her up and carried her over to the bed, laying her gently down.
