Ahoy, there.

So, Chapter 13's super-quick reviewer award goes to….GISingerJayne! Yaaay! Lily, Hippiechick, Hand3, good to see you all again. Welcome back, Ruby. Nope, I don't have a livejournal, sorry :(

Few things: yep, Narcissa's a character, but then I kind of thought she'd have to be. With a husband like Lucius and a son like Draco, she's got to have some sense of irony. I'm not sure if the Dementor's kiss kills, I really didn't check my facts (sorry, laziness attack). We'll pretend it's like AIDS and say Fred died of secondary complications, eh?

Also…Remus and Hermione sorta kinda allude to past experiences in 'Normal' but nothing's ever said explicitly. They just fall into bed together, actually.

This chapter's gonna have to hold you all over for a good long while, I'm taking a three-day road trip as of tomorrow morning. I'll post again on Tuesday. In the meanwhile…review! Well, review if you want to; I'm not going to force anyone (and couldn't if I wanted to).

Enjoy!

--Aimes

When Hermione awoke again, Poppy Pomfrey was speaking in low tones to someone next to her. Remus? Ugh, down, girl.

"She'll need to be watched carefully. She's not in any dire condition but she needs rest and attention. Here are the potions she'll need to take. When she wakes, I'll ask her if she feels well enough to leave. If so, I'll remand her to your care." Who would you happen to be?

"I'm awake," Hermione mumbled. Pomfrey looked over and smiled widely.

"So you are, my dear. I'm releasing you into the care of Professor Lupin. Is that acceptable to you? He's been watching over you for the last few days," she whispered revealingly. Oh lord, this is going to be spread around so fast…

"That's fine," Hermione assured her. "When can I leave?"

"As soon as you wish, my dear. I hate to let you go so soon, but there are others who need to be treated as well…" she let the statement trail off as a fretful look swept across her features.

"Don't worry Madam Pomfrey, I'm sure Remus will take excellent care of me," Hermione said comfortingly. "If I may ask, when will Callah be released?"

"Oh, that one," Pomfrey said disapprovingly. "She'll need at least two or three more days, I think. Even then, we'll see. Seems like the type who'd try to run a marathon a week after being forced to jump out a window several stories up." She clucked her tongue reproachfully. "Young people today take terrible care of themselves." After bestowing a quick hug upon Hermione and one last warning to Remus to watch her carefully, Pomfrey moved on to another patient.

"Is she gone?" Callah sounded wary.

"Yeah, and in a few moments I will be too. I'll come back and visit in a couple of days though…maybe you'll be released by then," Hermione replied as she struggled out of bed, leaning heavily on Remus. He smiled down at her.

"Well I'll have nothing better to do than recuperate and whine to Madam Pomfrey to let me go," Callah said with a shrug. "You're the only person who'd visit me."

"Somehow I don't think that's the case," Hermione grinned. "Ron, Ginny, Harry and Draco are headed this way."

"Hey, 'Mione! Up and about then?"

"She's being released to my care," Lupin volunteered. "She's not to overexert herself for the next few days and she's not to get out of bed unnecessarily."

"Pomfrey got to you too," Draco said knowingly, leaning on Ginny. "My mum's head was spinning after all the directions she was given."

"I'll see you guys in a few days," Hermione said with a chuckle. Note to self, laughing hurts. "Keep Callah company, eh?"

"'Course," Ron replied with a smile. "She'll be so sick of us she'll be begging to get out of here."

"I'm already begging to be out of here, and it's not because of you!" Callah groaned.

Harry laughed as he handed Hermione's bag to Remus.

"Take good care of our best friend, Remus," he warned teasingly. Lupin smiled in response.

"Feel better, 'Mione. We'll see you in a few days, right?" asked Ginny.

"Yup. I'm just going to rest up for a bit while Remus waits on me hand and foot. You'll see me soon, I promise," Hermione replied. Ginny gave her a gentle hug, and Ron and Harry quickly followed suit. Hermione gave a quick wave as she and Remus departed. Remus shifted slightly to take on more of her weight as they walked, while Hermione searched for something to say.

So, how are you? How's it going? In the mood to shag me silly? Great, sounds good, no backing out last second this time, okay? Damn. How long am I staying with him? This could easily be a nightmare.

She grunted as they started down the stairs and Remus looked over with concern. "Are you okay, Hermione?"

"Yeah, sure," she managed. "Stairs. Love 'em." He raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Yeah, shove off, werewolf. A moment later: So do I want him to shag me or shove off? They say women are fickle, but this is a bit absurd.

"Have you been released, Miss Granger, or are you simply making a run for it?" The smooth voice startled her and she almost tripped on the stairs. Remus' arm tightened around her and she shot him a grateful smile.

"If I'm making a run for it, I'm not doing a very good job, am I? Can't even make it down the steps by myself," Hermione replied, amusement sparkling in her eyes.

"So it would seem," Snape said mildly. A moment later, he had her in his arms and was carrying her gracefully down the stairs. Remus watched with a look of…irritation? Does it bother him….? Nah, can't be. Snape's like family to me.

Snape set her down at the bottom of the steps and looked impatiently at Remus, who sped up his descent. His arm wrapped around Hermione once more, holding her up.

"So, going to see Callah?"

His omnipresent glare turned glacial. "What on earth would give you that impression, Miss Granger?"

Oh, I don't know, you waiting at her bedside for the last few days? You thought I was sleeping, didn't you? You are so smitten, Severus.

"Sorry sir, just me being silly I suppose. How are you feeling?"

"I'm just fine, Miss Granger."

"The remaining Deatheaters have been attacking you through the Dark Mark and you were nearly killed in that battle," Remus contradicted him. "If not for your decidedly stubborn insistence on leaving the infirmary, you'd still be on more potions than most people consume in a lifetime."

"Someone needs to brew the potions being used," Snape hissed. "I am most capable."

"And as fascinating as this pointless argument is, can we continue it when I'm sitting?" interjected Hermione. "We all know Severus is a stubborn mule who wouldn't stay in the infirmary if his arm had just been sewn back on; I have no doubt Albus has already lectured him or will lecture him about it later."

"Sorry, Hermione," Remus said contritely. "Let's go, shall we?"

"Feel better, Miss Granger. I shall try to find time to visit you," Snape promised. He leaned down and gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead, followed by a glare that promised great pain if she ever spoke of his fond gesture. Hermione smiled up at him and he stalked away.

"Well that was a ray of sunshine," Remus commented.

"Be nice," Hermione chided. "He's your friend, remember? And my surrogate father."

"He needs to take better care of himself," Remus groused. "He's begging for an early grave."

"Don't worry, we'll set him straight. Give it time." How fucking far is this apparition point? Honestly.

"We're almost there," Remus encouraged. Hermione started slightly. Did I say that out loud? No…weird.

"Where are we going?" They had exited the castle and were trudging across the grounds.

"To my parents' old place in the country. I'll apparate us there. Just focus really hard on me, okay?"

Hermione nodded. No problem there.

They got to the edge of the grounds and Remus turned to her, staring into her eyes. Hermione's knees went weak and his grip tightened. His other arm snaked around her so that she was enveloped in his embrace. Um, yeah, my knees are weak because of the potions I'm on. That's it. Sure.

"Focus, Hermione," Remus murmured.

Hermione focused. Focused on the silvery grey eyes, the placid features, the strong arms around her. Focus less, Mya. There was a crack and she struggled to regain her footing in the foyer of a decently sized house.

The ceilings were high and she could tell the house was sprawling. The rooms were nicely furnished from what she could see. Very muggle modern. Natural light filled the rooms, fading as the sun set.

"Nice place," she complimented.

"I don't come here a lot. Too damned big for one person, in my opinion. And we're in the middle of Muggle territory, so you have to be really careful." He steered her towards a door. "I'm going to put you in the master bedroom since it's on the first floor. I'll sleep in the living room so I can hear you if you need me." He handed her fresh pajamas from her bag. "I'll be back in a minute with your meds."

Hermione nodded absently looking around. The room was large, with one wall almost entirely of windows which currently had the drapes closed, and a large fireplace on the adjacent wall. The bed was huge, taking up most of the wall facing the windows. She changed quickly and sat down on the bed. Damn, pathetic when changing is enough to make you tired. This bed is huge. Hell, this room is huge. A pair of overstuffed black leather armchairs sat facing the fireplace, with a bearskin rug in front of them and a small table between them. Hermione peered through a doorway behind her bed to the left and saw bookcases lining the wall visible to her. Behind the bed to the right was another doorway that she assumed led to the bathroom. She slumped onto the soft comforter and waited for Remus to return.

After a moment of thought, she pulled out her cell phone from her bag and clicked it on. Should work here, Remus said this is Muggle territory. The start-up chime rang merrily and the phone quickly caught a signal. Hermione dialed the last number she'd called and began to speak.

After ten minutes or so, Remus entered the room with a cocktail of potions and some orange juice. He watched her silently as she laughed and hung up.

"You ready for these potions?" he asked easily.

"Yeah," she said with a grateful smile. "I was just calling to change the reservations on the island vacation I worked out for Draco and Harry. I doubt they'll be ready by next week. I had the new reservations mailed to my parents' place. I can have Harry pick them up there."

"Sounds good. They deserve it."

"Yeah, we all deserve a vacation." Speaking of which, you plan to take a very long vacation, don't you Mya?

She took a deep breath. "Remus, we need to talk."

"Yes," he agreed. "We do. But you need to rest first. Take your potions and when you wake up, I'll order some pizza and we'll talk. For now, relax a little, okay?"

"Yeah," Hermione yawned. "You're right." She took all her potions and drank the orange juice then burrowed beneath the covers. "What are you going to do while I sleep?"

"I'm going to get some rest too. I've been up for quite awhile."

"You can sleep in here if you want," Hermione offered. "The bed's more than large enough for two." What are you DOING?

"Are you sure you're comfortable with that?" he asked cautiously, eyes narrowing.

"Yeah, it's fine. Not like we've never shared a bed before," she replied lightly. You're an idiot, Mya. Why do you like to torture yourself? Is it fun for you? You would be a bloody masochist, wouldn't you? Her body rebelled by smiling easily at Remus, even as her brain screamed warnings in languages she didn't even know.

Remus smiled at her in return, reassured by her apparent nonchalance. He disappeared into the bathroom to change into pajamas as Hermione cast a blackout spell on the room. She snuggled under the comforter, waiting for him to return.

A few moments later she heard a rustle and felt the bed shift as he settled in.

"Goodnight, Hermione," he sighed.

"G'night Remus," she replied as exhaustion swept over her.

They both fell asleep quickly, as far apart on the bed as humanly possible. This could easily become a nightmare.