Chapter 6: Polite Conversation

"Professor Lupin?" Hermione knocked on the door.

"Come in," he told her. "You've come back from Diagon Alley then?"

Hermione nodded, "Yes, we've just collected the books for this semester. They were missing Defense Against the Dark Arts though. The clerk at the store made it sound like they hadn't received the book yet, but I clearly get the impression that we don't have a professor yet…and that's why the book isn't there."

Remus nodded with a smiled, "I'm certain you are correct. Please," he gestured to the nearest chair, "have a seat. I was just going to have some tea."

"Thank you Professor," Hermione said.

"Hermione," Remus said as he poured each of them a cup, "you have to stop with the Professor thing, since I am no longer your Professor."

Hermione shook her head, "I suppose you're not, are you? It is a bit strange," Hermione admitted and then shook her head, "Remus…"

"That's better," Lupin said handing her the tea cup. "Are you uncomfortable Hermione? Is that what you meant by strange?"

She shook her head quickly, "Not at all, in fact it is quite the opposite." She frowned, "I suppose I'm lucky, many girls don't even have one father in their lives…I have two."

"Hermione," Remus said turning instantly serious, "you must understand, I wanted nothing more than to keep you."

"You don't have to say it, I understand the circumstances. And I must admit, I am very glad I know."

"I'm glad to have told you." Remus said. "And I do apologize about not explaining sooner."

Hermione stood and went to him. She smiled. Remus watched her, she reminded him so much of Beth with a little hint of himself at that age. He was very sad that the Ministry had stolen her from him, they should not have been allowed to take his own child from him. Hermione reached up and wrapped her arms around him, "You know I love them, my parents I mean, but there is plenty of room in my heart for you as well. I want you to know that I love you too."

Remus squeezed her, "Hermione, I've always loved you and I've always missed you."

Hermione pulled back and sat down again taking up her tea cup, "How old was I when they took me?"

"About four, almost four." Remus nodded.

Hermione closed her eyes, "I remember…a little."

"I fought long and hard to win you over, but the Ministry wouldn't have it. That was how I kept you for so long."

"I remember a big house, and green hills that I used to play in, and a forest?" Hermione was thinking hard on it, and Remus could tell she only had vague and nondescript visions of what little she remembered.

He nodded, "Yes, you are remembering the Terra province. You mother, Beth, she owned it. We, you and I, lived there for some time, after the mess with Sirius…and Bellatrix."

"What was she really like?" Hermione asked.

Remus picked up the journal that was sitting on his desk, "She was very much like her words here. She was very brave and incredibly charming. She knew just what to say and when to say it. She had it rough with her parents but, despite that, she was still very bold and honest: loving and brilliant. She did have a mean streak though," Remus furrowed his brow with a half hearted grin, "and that horrible down fall, always having to do what she believed was right. She was not all that different from you; like your house elf rebellion – you get that from her."

"I wish I could have met her," Hermione said. "I suppose things wouldn't have been the same had I met her though, she'd probably still be here now, if I had met her. She never came back…you know…as a ghost?"

Remus shook his head, "No, they never do when they are cursed the way she was…so suddenly."

Hermione nodded sadly, but then she smiled, "I've come to show you this." She pulled out a silver badge and handed it to him. "I received it just today, by owl."

Remus smiled and ran his finger over the words "Head Girl". He chuckled, "Forgive me Hermione, I'd be lying if I said I was surprised."

Hermione blushed accepting the badge back, "I suppose it doesn't come as a surprise to Ron or Harry either."

"Make no mistake Hermione," Remus said placing a hand on her shoulder, "I'm very proud of you…you've gone through a lot. I still hold that you're the cleverest witch of your age."

"Thank you," Hermione blushed harder. Then she got to her feet, "Well I'll be going to help Mrs. Weasley with dinner now. Tomorrow morning we're leaving for the Burrow; school starts in three days and she wants to go have Ron and Ginny put everything together for Hogwarts. I suppose we'll be taking Harry along and you'll be left here to watch over the Order."

Remus nodded, "That's what I've been told."

"You don't think that you'll, by any chance, be making an appearance at school this year – you know, in the vacant position?"

"I wish I could tell you otherwise, but I'm afraid not."

Hermione shrugged, "I could always hope, couldn't I?"

"Night Hermione."

"G'night Remus." He waited until the sound of her feet carrying her away subsided, then he flipped to his place in the journal.

I was functioning on nothing but the desire to prove that I was strong enough to not be bothered by the incident this morning – powered by the hope of covering my humiliation. However, by dusk, it was really starting to take its toll; I was beat.

Remus found Bethany sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard just before sunset, she looked utterly exhausted; so worn out, if fact, that she didn't notice him approach.

"Bethany." He sat next to her.

She blinked two wary eyes in his direction, "Hello." She said sadly.

"Where have you been all day? You look like you could have used some rest."

She gave him the best smile she could muster, and it turned out to only be a vague half grin, "Speak for yourself Remus, you often look far more tired than I feel."

"Fair enough." He nodded looking out across the horizon. The sun was just beginning to sink below the hills in the distance. The rain had subsided but the countryside was still dark from thick gray clouds, all but the sun (that is) which was disappearing rapidly. "I'm sorry about this morning."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Bethany looked at him half disgusted.

"We're just looking out for you Beth, really."

"I'm fine. You saw, I handled it."

Remus nodded, "It wasn't you 'handling' it that has us worried about you."

"Hey," she peered over to him and chuckled, "I can take care of myself."

"I have no doubt about that." Remus said patting her shoulder.

The two then proceeded to sit in silence for several moments, each nervously waiting for the other to say something. Both had things they wanted to say, but neither knew how to approach the issue. Bethany was fairly certain it pertained to the same thing.

Remus spoke first, "I have to be fair to you Bethany, about Hogsmeade."

"It's okay," Bethany cut in. "I understand."

"You know?"

"I figured it out."

"When?" Remus asked.

"Just today." Bethany nodded. "I felt like such a heel, because I screamed at you about Hogsmeade." She sheepishly eyeing the ground, "Your reason was far more plausible than mine. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry Beth," Remus said. "I should have been honest with you first, I should have told you I'd be there."

Bethany blushed, "It's all right."

"You're not mad? You don't hate me?" Remus asked unsteadily.

"Of course not! Why would I hate you? If you think it's because of your ascribed nature you're crazy. Remus, being a were – well – what you are makes you who you are. I can't entirely be sure that you would be Remus should you subtract something that makes you inherently you."

"Thank you, for believing in me," Remus said honestly, and then added playfully "About that patronus…"

Bethany felt her cheeks get hot and she looked away.

"It must mean," Remus said leaning a little close to her, getting a bit more serious, "that I am, at least, in your happiest memory."

Bethany turned to him quickly. She hadn't realized that he had leaned over, and they were very close now. She shook her head, "No."

"No?" Remus shook his head in response, "I'm not in your happiest memory, despite the patronus?"

"No," Bethany confirmed. "No Remus. You are my happiest memory."

"Bethany."

Both turned to see Severus.

"I've been looking everywhere for you," he said gently, then extended his hand to her, "come, let's go to the common room."

Bethany smiled and stood, taking Severus's hand, "All right then. I am very tired." She peeked over her shoulder, "Goodnight Remus."

Thank goodness for Sev. Had he not been there I would have found myself more embarrassed than I would have ever liked to be, as if today hasn't been trying enough. Not to mention the pending rejection I was about to receive that Sev saved me from. So, here I am, once more alone with my thoughts. Sissy wanted to see me, I think I'll go up and visit her in a few minutes; she was more than impressed with my Crouch exercise. She thinks I am a Death Eater though, and I just fooled those people from the Ministry. I'm too tired to think about telling her the truth though. To be honest, my heart is still racing from my admitting to Remus that he is what makes me happy…genuinely happy. Imagine, he thought I wouldn't like him because he's a werewolf…again, like Sev Remus would be misjudged if people knew the truth. I have to amend something I said previously…there was a time that I said I 'thought' I found the man I can love more than life itself…there is no more thinking about it; it's clear, I have found him…my patronus showed me that.

Thank You, once again, for reading this story. I promise more excitement soon. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review! :::Jo:::