AN/ Big thanks for all the wonderful reviews. Thanks to AprilGrey for
keeping me on track and betaing.
Comfort
Chapter XVI
Bereavement-: the state or fact of being bereaved; especially : the loss of a loved one by death
Bottom of Form
****
Hermione was sitting on her bed talking with Ginny when Molly and Tonks entered looking grave.
"Hermione," Molly's voice was strained. "Get your jacket. Remus was hurt and is at St. Mungos."
"How bad is it?" Hermione asked, her knees trembling as she grabbed her jacket.
"We don't know. Dumbledore told Tonks to come get you straight away. Mundungus is waiting with a car." Harry and Ron appeared in the doorway. "We heard and want to come," Harry said.
"Me too," piped Ginny.
"Yes, all right," Molly said. "Just hurry."
In minutes they were piled in the car Dung had 'borrowed' speeding along to St Mungo's. Hermione and Molly sat in front while the rest crammed in the back seat. Biting on her lip, Hermione pressed her hands together to keep them from shaking. "He will be okay, dear," Molly assured her, putting an arm around her shoulder.
"Yeah," Harry added. "They fixed Mr. Weasley right up after the snake bit him." Tonks smiled approvingly at Harry who was sitting next to her and slipped her hand into his. He blushed, but gripped hers as their fingers intertwined.
****
At St. Mungo's, Hermione's heart sunk when she saw the line at the reception desk.
"Hermione," Tonks called, gesturing. Dumbledore stood near the lift. The group made their way quickly towards him.
"How is he?" Molly asked.
"Molly," Albus said softly, "I need to talk with Hermione alone."
Molly's face paled. "Right. We will wait here in the lobby." "Come with me, Hermione," Albus said gently.
"What is this all about, Professor?" Hermione asked as they walked down the hall. "Where is Remus?"
Dumbledore's eyes were bright and she saw a profound sadness in them. "How are you feeling?"
Hermione's heart skipped. "Fine, really. Please, Headmaster, where is Remus?"
"I will take you to him in just a moment, but first I must tell you that he is only alive ...only holding on, because he wants to see you." The old man's words were broken and weighted as if he did not have the strength to speak them. "And to have the Wizarding marriage ceremony performed, for your sake and the child's."
She looked at him wide eyed. He had to be lying. "What? If he is alive then he will be all right, I mean, if he is able to hold on... my gods how badly is he hurt?" She whispered, her throat contracting.
Albus put a hand on her shoulder as they walked. "The wound was fatal, Hermione. He should not even be alive right now. His lycanthropy has afforded him the strength to withstand the immense pain he is in and barely keep in check the damage being done to his body." He stopped and stared into her pale face. "Remus is in misery beyond anything I can even comprehend. He is waiting for you and, Hermione," Albus' hand squeezed her shoulder, "you must be brave enough to let him go."
Hermione blinked, staring at the tired, old face before her. "No, I'm sorry, Headmaster, but you are mistaken. If he's fighting as you say, with his lycanthropy, he will be able to get well, you will see."
"No child, he cannot get well. Remus was stabbed in the side..."
"See, that's a simple wound," Hermione interrupted, not wanting Dumbledore to continue.
"And the blade, you must hear me, shattered when it struck his rib bone."
"Again a minor thing..."
Albus grabbed her shoulders and shook her very gently. "The blade was silver, Hermione, silver-- do you hear what I am saying? Do you remember what silver does to a werewolf? Tell me, Hermione."
"Acid," she mumbled
"What was that?"
"Acid!" she screamed at him, causing an orderly to jump and stare at them. Lowering her voice, she blinked back the tears. "Silver acts like acid to the werewolf."
"Yes," he said gently, gripping her upper arm and leading her down the corridor. "And it is coursing through Remus' bloodstream as we speak. Had we found him earlier... It will not be very pleasant, Hermione, when you see him. It has affected his eyes, his kidneys, and his lungs. Do you understand?"
"Yes," she muttered feeling the burning tears in her eyes. They stopped outside a door.
"Hermione," Dumbledore said hesitantly. "I wouldn't suggest what am about too if there were another way..." Hermione tensed. "There might be a way to buy Remus more time, to give the potions a chance.
"What?" she asked urgently.
Dumbledore eyed her intently "The soul bonding spell Remus cast before. If it is cast during the wedding ceremony the affects will be stronger than before."
"Then we must," she said quickly.
"Do not be so hasty to agree," he warned. "Remember you will share his feelings and his pain. And if it does not work and Remus dies..."
"Then I will die," she said in a whisper, her mind reeling. Could she face that? "Professor, if it works, will it harm the baby?"
Dumbledore stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I do not know. The creation of a child broke the original spell. I have never heard of a case of the spell being cast on a pregnant woman. So yes, there is a chance it may harm the child."
She clasped her hands tightly together as she paced. "Remus will never agree to it," she said simply.
"I expect so."
"Then we will not tell him," she said firmly. "Professor, I want to try the spell."
Dumbledore smiled sadly. "Very well." He opened the door and stepped aside for her.
Hermione felt like she was in a bad dream. The whole thing seemed surreal as she entered the room. Remus lay on the bed, pale and still. Two I.V. s hung by the bed, dripping slowly. 'I didn't know they used those', she thought dully.
"They are trying to neutralize his blood," Albus explained. "He chokes too easily to give him a potion so they had to give it to him intravenously."
Tentatively, she touched his hand. "Remus?"
Remus' eyelids fluttered open. A sob escaped her lips when she saw his eyes. The whites were completely blood red, the small capillaries having ruptured. Lifting his hand, he reached up to cup her cheek. She grasped his with hers, holding on tightly.
"I love you," he said.
"And I ...love you."
"I'm so sorry, so sorry."
"Remus..."she couldn't finish. Tears ran down her cheeks.
Albus cleared his throat. "We must hurry," he urged gently.
"Yes," Remus agreed. He began coughing, flecks of blood appearing on his lips.
"Join hands," Albus prompted. He pulled out a length of white ribbon and wrapped it around their joined hands and wrists. Opening a small book, he began chanting in Latin. After several minutes he closed the book.
"Remus."
"I pledge my heart, soul and love to you, Hermione, for as long as life is." Hermione repeated the words, her voice strong and steady. She watched as the ribbon that bound them turned silver colored.
"I need you both to repeat what I am about to say together," Albus instructed. Hermione repeated the words. Through her tears she saw Remus' eyebrows rise slightly as he repeated the words almost cautiously. Again Albus spoke a phrase and they echoed him. Now a crease was forming between Remus' eyes and Hermione was afraid he was in pain. She repeated the next phrase Albus spoke and grew worried when Remus did not.
"Remus?"
Dumbledore held up his hand to quietened her. "Remus, you need to say the words,"
Shaking his head, Remus looked at Albus warily. "No."
"It's the only way."
"Remus, please," Hermione begged, "for me."
"Hermione, no. I am not worth it."
"Yes, you are," she said steadily. Remus groaned as his body jerked.
"Say them," Albus commanded.
Hermione grasped Remus' hands tighter as he began to writhe in pain. "Say it!"
Choking, Remus repeated the words. Hermione cried out as pain coursed through her body, burning, searing pain. Her breath was coming in gasps and black spots appeared before her eyes.
"Hermione," she heard Remus' alarmed voice as from far away. "What have we done?"
****
"Good morning!" Molly's cheerful voice made Hermione wince, as the older woman bustled through the door of Remus' bedroom carrying a tray with breakfast on it. "He made it through the night just fine."
Hermione closed her eyes thanking God. She had been so afraid that Remus did not have the strength to withstand the transformation last night. "Where is he?"
"In the study. Dumbledore wanted a word with him," Molly said. She noticed Hermione stiffening at the mention of Dumbledore. "He still wants to talk with you..."
"No."
Molly studied the young woman. "You will have to see him sometime. School starts in a few days." Hermione did not answer. She stood looking at the wall with her arms crossed.
"I will send Remus up when he is finished," she said, leaving the tray on the dresser.
Picking up a piece of toast, Hermione chewed on it, her mind on Remus. She was so grateful that he was alive, she couldn't have borne to lose him too. Her hand strayed down to her abdomen, feeling the slightly rounded flesh. A cramp ran through her and she threw the toast against the wall.
Dumbledore had led them through the Anima Uigumus in the hospital that day. Once again their souls had been bonded and Hermione had felt the excruciating pain Remus was in. In exchange she had given him her strength. It had been enough to help him fight; to allow the potions to dilute the silver tainted blood in his body. But at a great cost. The child she had carried had not been able to withstand the pain his mother was in.
Hermione awoke two days later in a hospital bed beside Remus', sore and with a thick pad between her legs. The emptiness within had been the worst. She felt numb and depression had veiled her mind for the past two weeks. It had soon changed to anger, anger she had directed at Dumbledore, fate and then finally herself for believing that it would all work out. She didn't want to see Dumbledore to hear him say that she had done the right thing. Molly had already done that often enough.
"It was the only way." Molly said trying to soothe her. "You knew there was a chance the baby might be at risk, but without the spell Remus would have died. Wasn't it worth it?"
'Was it?' She knew deep down it had been. Still, it did not ease the emptiness she felt inside.
"You are young, Hermione," Molly had told her. "There will be time for babies."
She had hated Molly for her words, had wanted to jerk her red hair out and scream at her. Deep down she understood. Perhaps that was why she was so angry. Why did it have to be either life?
"Hermione?"
Lost in her thoughts, she had not heard the door open. Remus stood there, pale and thin, but alive. She raced over and fell into his arms. They hugged each other tightly, comforting and healing. After several minutes, he broke away a bit. Placing his hand under her chin, he lifted her face and kissed her softly. Hermione looked into his still bloodshot eyes. His eyesight had suffered yet the healers had been optimistic that he would regain most of his vision.
"Don't you want to sit down?" she asked, worried as she felt him tremble.
He shook his head. "I love you," he said gently.
"And I you."
They stood there clinging to each other until she felt Remus stumble against her. "To bed," she said firmly, taking his hand and leading him to the bed. He didn't protest as she turned down the covers. Sitting wearily on the edge of the bed, he wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his head in her stomach.
Stroking his hair, she felt him cry silently against her.
"Sit down, Hermione, we need to talk," he said finally, wiping his eyes with the back of his sleeve.
Every nerve in her body seemed to come alive and fear seeped over her. "Remus, what is it? Are you in pain..."
"No. I am fine, physically..." He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. A nervous habit she had come to love as it tousled the gray streaked brown locks. "Dumbledore asked me to give this to you." He put his hand in his pocket and withdrew a small gold badge. Placing it in her hand, he smiled sadly. "Congratulations, Head Girl."
Hermione snorted softly. "Is this his way of trying to console me?" she asked sarcastically.
"Not at all," Remus said gently. "You were chosen at the end of last term. It was late arriving because he was not sure if you would be returning after getting married."
She looked at him curiously. "I had never thought of not going back to school, unless they forbade it."
"It is a moot point now." She did not miss the bitterness in his voice. "Remus..."
"Hermione, school is one point I want to discuss with you," he said seriously. "When you return, I want you to promise me that you will think about what I am about to say."
Feeling his sadness, she nervously waited.
"You deserve to be a teenager. A young woman with the world at your feet. I want you to explore your options in life, to find lovers, to be the person you could never be just because one year ago you offered comfort to me. I have thought over this the two weeks I was in the hospital." He closed his eyes. His face filled with grief. "I heard you crying, mourning the loss of our child and I realized you were just a child yourself. I stole that, Hermione. Don't you see? Things went too fast love. I didn't give you time to grow up."
"What?" She jerked her hands away. "Remus, what are you saying?" Her face fell. "Are you telling me you don't want me anymore...that it's my fault about the baby?"
"Never. I have not or never will think that, Hermione. What you did took courage and more love than I deserve and I love you with every fiber of my being, but I cannot be selfish any longer. If you want your freedom, I want you to promise me that you will not hesitate to ask. We can get the Muggle marriage annulled."
Hermione felt as if she were drowning. "But...but the Wizard Marriage, it is forever."
He shook his head. "It is, but it must be consummated to be binding. The ribbon is silver and will not turn to gold until we consummate it. After six months, the ribbon will turn back to white and it is null and void." He gave her a small smile. "Never doubt that I don't want you and love you. I will never love anyone more than I do you," he said cupping her cheek. "but I don't want you to wake up ten years from now full of resentment because you missed out on life. Just promise you will think about it."
"I will not change my mind," she said determinedly, "But I promise."
Remus relaxed. "That's my girl. I am so drained, I need to rest. Stay with me?"
Hermione crawled into the bed and snuggled up to him as he stretched out. "Always."
Comfort
Chapter XVI
Bereavement-: the state or fact of being bereaved; especially : the loss of a loved one by death
Bottom of Form
****
Hermione was sitting on her bed talking with Ginny when Molly and Tonks entered looking grave.
"Hermione," Molly's voice was strained. "Get your jacket. Remus was hurt and is at St. Mungos."
"How bad is it?" Hermione asked, her knees trembling as she grabbed her jacket.
"We don't know. Dumbledore told Tonks to come get you straight away. Mundungus is waiting with a car." Harry and Ron appeared in the doorway. "We heard and want to come," Harry said.
"Me too," piped Ginny.
"Yes, all right," Molly said. "Just hurry."
In minutes they were piled in the car Dung had 'borrowed' speeding along to St Mungo's. Hermione and Molly sat in front while the rest crammed in the back seat. Biting on her lip, Hermione pressed her hands together to keep them from shaking. "He will be okay, dear," Molly assured her, putting an arm around her shoulder.
"Yeah," Harry added. "They fixed Mr. Weasley right up after the snake bit him." Tonks smiled approvingly at Harry who was sitting next to her and slipped her hand into his. He blushed, but gripped hers as their fingers intertwined.
****
At St. Mungo's, Hermione's heart sunk when she saw the line at the reception desk.
"Hermione," Tonks called, gesturing. Dumbledore stood near the lift. The group made their way quickly towards him.
"How is he?" Molly asked.
"Molly," Albus said softly, "I need to talk with Hermione alone."
Molly's face paled. "Right. We will wait here in the lobby." "Come with me, Hermione," Albus said gently.
"What is this all about, Professor?" Hermione asked as they walked down the hall. "Where is Remus?"
Dumbledore's eyes were bright and she saw a profound sadness in them. "How are you feeling?"
Hermione's heart skipped. "Fine, really. Please, Headmaster, where is Remus?"
"I will take you to him in just a moment, but first I must tell you that he is only alive ...only holding on, because he wants to see you." The old man's words were broken and weighted as if he did not have the strength to speak them. "And to have the Wizarding marriage ceremony performed, for your sake and the child's."
She looked at him wide eyed. He had to be lying. "What? If he is alive then he will be all right, I mean, if he is able to hold on... my gods how badly is he hurt?" She whispered, her throat contracting.
Albus put a hand on her shoulder as they walked. "The wound was fatal, Hermione. He should not even be alive right now. His lycanthropy has afforded him the strength to withstand the immense pain he is in and barely keep in check the damage being done to his body." He stopped and stared into her pale face. "Remus is in misery beyond anything I can even comprehend. He is waiting for you and, Hermione," Albus' hand squeezed her shoulder, "you must be brave enough to let him go."
Hermione blinked, staring at the tired, old face before her. "No, I'm sorry, Headmaster, but you are mistaken. If he's fighting as you say, with his lycanthropy, he will be able to get well, you will see."
"No child, he cannot get well. Remus was stabbed in the side..."
"See, that's a simple wound," Hermione interrupted, not wanting Dumbledore to continue.
"And the blade, you must hear me, shattered when it struck his rib bone."
"Again a minor thing..."
Albus grabbed her shoulders and shook her very gently. "The blade was silver, Hermione, silver-- do you hear what I am saying? Do you remember what silver does to a werewolf? Tell me, Hermione."
"Acid," she mumbled
"What was that?"
"Acid!" she screamed at him, causing an orderly to jump and stare at them. Lowering her voice, she blinked back the tears. "Silver acts like acid to the werewolf."
"Yes," he said gently, gripping her upper arm and leading her down the corridor. "And it is coursing through Remus' bloodstream as we speak. Had we found him earlier... It will not be very pleasant, Hermione, when you see him. It has affected his eyes, his kidneys, and his lungs. Do you understand?"
"Yes," she muttered feeling the burning tears in her eyes. They stopped outside a door.
"Hermione," Dumbledore said hesitantly. "I wouldn't suggest what am about too if there were another way..." Hermione tensed. "There might be a way to buy Remus more time, to give the potions a chance.
"What?" she asked urgently.
Dumbledore eyed her intently "The soul bonding spell Remus cast before. If it is cast during the wedding ceremony the affects will be stronger than before."
"Then we must," she said quickly.
"Do not be so hasty to agree," he warned. "Remember you will share his feelings and his pain. And if it does not work and Remus dies..."
"Then I will die," she said in a whisper, her mind reeling. Could she face that? "Professor, if it works, will it harm the baby?"
Dumbledore stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I do not know. The creation of a child broke the original spell. I have never heard of a case of the spell being cast on a pregnant woman. So yes, there is a chance it may harm the child."
She clasped her hands tightly together as she paced. "Remus will never agree to it," she said simply.
"I expect so."
"Then we will not tell him," she said firmly. "Professor, I want to try the spell."
Dumbledore smiled sadly. "Very well." He opened the door and stepped aside for her.
Hermione felt like she was in a bad dream. The whole thing seemed surreal as she entered the room. Remus lay on the bed, pale and still. Two I.V. s hung by the bed, dripping slowly. 'I didn't know they used those', she thought dully.
"They are trying to neutralize his blood," Albus explained. "He chokes too easily to give him a potion so they had to give it to him intravenously."
Tentatively, she touched his hand. "Remus?"
Remus' eyelids fluttered open. A sob escaped her lips when she saw his eyes. The whites were completely blood red, the small capillaries having ruptured. Lifting his hand, he reached up to cup her cheek. She grasped his with hers, holding on tightly.
"I love you," he said.
"And I ...love you."
"I'm so sorry, so sorry."
"Remus..."she couldn't finish. Tears ran down her cheeks.
Albus cleared his throat. "We must hurry," he urged gently.
"Yes," Remus agreed. He began coughing, flecks of blood appearing on his lips.
"Join hands," Albus prompted. He pulled out a length of white ribbon and wrapped it around their joined hands and wrists. Opening a small book, he began chanting in Latin. After several minutes he closed the book.
"Remus."
"I pledge my heart, soul and love to you, Hermione, for as long as life is." Hermione repeated the words, her voice strong and steady. She watched as the ribbon that bound them turned silver colored.
"I need you both to repeat what I am about to say together," Albus instructed. Hermione repeated the words. Through her tears she saw Remus' eyebrows rise slightly as he repeated the words almost cautiously. Again Albus spoke a phrase and they echoed him. Now a crease was forming between Remus' eyes and Hermione was afraid he was in pain. She repeated the next phrase Albus spoke and grew worried when Remus did not.
"Remus?"
Dumbledore held up his hand to quietened her. "Remus, you need to say the words,"
Shaking his head, Remus looked at Albus warily. "No."
"It's the only way."
"Remus, please," Hermione begged, "for me."
"Hermione, no. I am not worth it."
"Yes, you are," she said steadily. Remus groaned as his body jerked.
"Say them," Albus commanded.
Hermione grasped Remus' hands tighter as he began to writhe in pain. "Say it!"
Choking, Remus repeated the words. Hermione cried out as pain coursed through her body, burning, searing pain. Her breath was coming in gasps and black spots appeared before her eyes.
"Hermione," she heard Remus' alarmed voice as from far away. "What have we done?"
****
"Good morning!" Molly's cheerful voice made Hermione wince, as the older woman bustled through the door of Remus' bedroom carrying a tray with breakfast on it. "He made it through the night just fine."
Hermione closed her eyes thanking God. She had been so afraid that Remus did not have the strength to withstand the transformation last night. "Where is he?"
"In the study. Dumbledore wanted a word with him," Molly said. She noticed Hermione stiffening at the mention of Dumbledore. "He still wants to talk with you..."
"No."
Molly studied the young woman. "You will have to see him sometime. School starts in a few days." Hermione did not answer. She stood looking at the wall with her arms crossed.
"I will send Remus up when he is finished," she said, leaving the tray on the dresser.
Picking up a piece of toast, Hermione chewed on it, her mind on Remus. She was so grateful that he was alive, she couldn't have borne to lose him too. Her hand strayed down to her abdomen, feeling the slightly rounded flesh. A cramp ran through her and she threw the toast against the wall.
Dumbledore had led them through the Anima Uigumus in the hospital that day. Once again their souls had been bonded and Hermione had felt the excruciating pain Remus was in. In exchange she had given him her strength. It had been enough to help him fight; to allow the potions to dilute the silver tainted blood in his body. But at a great cost. The child she had carried had not been able to withstand the pain his mother was in.
Hermione awoke two days later in a hospital bed beside Remus', sore and with a thick pad between her legs. The emptiness within had been the worst. She felt numb and depression had veiled her mind for the past two weeks. It had soon changed to anger, anger she had directed at Dumbledore, fate and then finally herself for believing that it would all work out. She didn't want to see Dumbledore to hear him say that she had done the right thing. Molly had already done that often enough.
"It was the only way." Molly said trying to soothe her. "You knew there was a chance the baby might be at risk, but without the spell Remus would have died. Wasn't it worth it?"
'Was it?' She knew deep down it had been. Still, it did not ease the emptiness she felt inside.
"You are young, Hermione," Molly had told her. "There will be time for babies."
She had hated Molly for her words, had wanted to jerk her red hair out and scream at her. Deep down she understood. Perhaps that was why she was so angry. Why did it have to be either life?
"Hermione?"
Lost in her thoughts, she had not heard the door open. Remus stood there, pale and thin, but alive. She raced over and fell into his arms. They hugged each other tightly, comforting and healing. After several minutes, he broke away a bit. Placing his hand under her chin, he lifted her face and kissed her softly. Hermione looked into his still bloodshot eyes. His eyesight had suffered yet the healers had been optimistic that he would regain most of his vision.
"Don't you want to sit down?" she asked, worried as she felt him tremble.
He shook his head. "I love you," he said gently.
"And I you."
They stood there clinging to each other until she felt Remus stumble against her. "To bed," she said firmly, taking his hand and leading him to the bed. He didn't protest as she turned down the covers. Sitting wearily on the edge of the bed, he wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his head in her stomach.
Stroking his hair, she felt him cry silently against her.
"Sit down, Hermione, we need to talk," he said finally, wiping his eyes with the back of his sleeve.
Every nerve in her body seemed to come alive and fear seeped over her. "Remus, what is it? Are you in pain..."
"No. I am fine, physically..." He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. A nervous habit she had come to love as it tousled the gray streaked brown locks. "Dumbledore asked me to give this to you." He put his hand in his pocket and withdrew a small gold badge. Placing it in her hand, he smiled sadly. "Congratulations, Head Girl."
Hermione snorted softly. "Is this his way of trying to console me?" she asked sarcastically.
"Not at all," Remus said gently. "You were chosen at the end of last term. It was late arriving because he was not sure if you would be returning after getting married."
She looked at him curiously. "I had never thought of not going back to school, unless they forbade it."
"It is a moot point now." She did not miss the bitterness in his voice. "Remus..."
"Hermione, school is one point I want to discuss with you," he said seriously. "When you return, I want you to promise me that you will think about what I am about to say."
Feeling his sadness, she nervously waited.
"You deserve to be a teenager. A young woman with the world at your feet. I want you to explore your options in life, to find lovers, to be the person you could never be just because one year ago you offered comfort to me. I have thought over this the two weeks I was in the hospital." He closed his eyes. His face filled with grief. "I heard you crying, mourning the loss of our child and I realized you were just a child yourself. I stole that, Hermione. Don't you see? Things went too fast love. I didn't give you time to grow up."
"What?" She jerked her hands away. "Remus, what are you saying?" Her face fell. "Are you telling me you don't want me anymore...that it's my fault about the baby?"
"Never. I have not or never will think that, Hermione. What you did took courage and more love than I deserve and I love you with every fiber of my being, but I cannot be selfish any longer. If you want your freedom, I want you to promise me that you will not hesitate to ask. We can get the Muggle marriage annulled."
Hermione felt as if she were drowning. "But...but the Wizard Marriage, it is forever."
He shook his head. "It is, but it must be consummated to be binding. The ribbon is silver and will not turn to gold until we consummate it. After six months, the ribbon will turn back to white and it is null and void." He gave her a small smile. "Never doubt that I don't want you and love you. I will never love anyone more than I do you," he said cupping her cheek. "but I don't want you to wake up ten years from now full of resentment because you missed out on life. Just promise you will think about it."
"I will not change my mind," she said determinedly, "But I promise."
Remus relaxed. "That's my girl. I am so drained, I need to rest. Stay with me?"
Hermione crawled into the bed and snuggled up to him as he stretched out. "Always."
