Alrighty…Hand3 was my super-quick reviewer last chapter! Yay!

Childofnite: thank you for the awesomely flattering review. I really appreciate the support. Welcome to the party, my dear.

Lil: lol, I swear I've made you listen to that song before…

Hippiechick: maybe you did review and I just didn't get it in my inbox? Either way, glad to have you back!

PotionMuse: Welcome, welcome. I'm glad you liked last chapter and infinitely happy that you reviewed. Here I am updating, just for you!

So…I'm thinking of a sequel to 'If Life Were Normal, What Would We Do for Fun?'.

Yes? No? Have I tapped out that particular line of stories?

--Aimes

Hermione and Remus apparated on the edge of the Hogwarts grounds. It had been a full week since Hermione had left and she wondered briefly about her schoolwork. Gods, what a time to be concerned with schoolwork, Granger. Your family is dead and you're in love with Lupin. Although that's not a new development. You've been attracted for quite some time, but chose to shut the hell up about it like a smart girl not looking to become the laughingstock of her school. And now you're his lover. Oh god.

She squeezed his hand and walked forward with him. The Hogsmeade weekend ensured that they would reach Dumbledore's office relatively unaccosted. The pair proceeded into the castle and skulked towards the Headmaster's office. We're not skulking so much as slinking, really. Okay, it's the same thing, but still.

Lupin muttered the password and they stepped on the stairs as they ascended. Hermione stepped into Dumbledore's office with Remus close behind her.

"Miss Granger! What a relief to see you safe and sound!" Okay, he's glad to see you, that's a good sign…

"Thank you, sir."

"Please, both of you, be seated. Miss Granger, you received a letter this morning and while I am not in the habit of reading the personal correspondence of others, I thought it prudent to read this letter in the hopes of helping you. Perhaps you could explain it."

Hermione took the letter and scanned it warily. En garde, ma petite.

Smoke—

Your cell is off and not receiving text messages. I wanted to ensure that you returned to school safely and that there have been no further complications. Please contact me immediately.

z.t

PS—Craven has asked me to include a letter from him as well. I send it to you sealed, as he requested, safe in the knowledge that you will tell me if there is anything important contained therein.

Hermione picked up the other letter, also opened, glancing at Dumbledore before opening it. Please let Craven have been discrete.

Sweet Girl—

I shall be calling in that favor sooner than expected. In three weeks I have the opportunity to liquidate Matthew Shams, the man who got us captured in China. I shall thank him before I kill him, since it is to him I owe our friendship. It will be a large scale operation and I will need a second. You have been chosen. I thought you may appreciate the gesture.

I hope all is well with you and your darling ex-Professor. Keep him, Sweet Girl, he's a catch if I ever met one. Looks like he'd probably be good in bed too…

Yours with Love,

C

Did he have to make the good in bed comment? Although Remus is good in bed…

She put the letters in her pocket and met Dumbledore's hard gaze.

"I'm a spy," she said flatly. Blunter is better? "In the muggle world. I've been trained since I was a very young child and have been an agent ever since. Coming to Hogwarts did not change who I am, it merely forced some adjustments and concessions. This weekend, one of my assignments went very wrong. I was sold out by a former instructor and the short of it is that my entire family was caught in the crossfire."

"I am so sorry, child," Dumbledore said softly, genuinely sad for her loss.

Hermione shrugged tiredly. "It's a job risk. Professor Lupin found me on the floor of my parents' house, unconscious and beaten to a pulp. He took me to safety and healed me to the best of his ability. Lupin urged me to return here, however everyone associated with me was in danger. He helped me do what needed to be done and now…here we are."

"I see," Dumbledore replied after a pause, apparently considering all the angles. He seemed to decide in her favor for the moment. "And you are feeling better now? Do you wish to see Madam Pomfrey?" Hermione stiffened.

"I'd rather not, thank you. I'm fine now. Remus had some potions that helped quite a lot." Ugh, shoot me before letting a doctor poke at me. Hm, maybe I should've refrained from using his first name. Dumbledore chose to ignore the faux pas and continued, cutting to the point.

"And what do you intend to do about your…job, Hermione?"

"It has never caused a problem before and it is unlikely to cause a problem again before I graduate. I can continue as I have been for the time being. I'm not intending to quit, if that's what you're asking. Nor do I intend to go full-time when I graduate. There's a compromise in there somewhere, and I intend to find it." Okay, don't kick me out here and now.

"I would not ask you to quit, Miss Granger. You have your reasons for continuing, as do all who share your profession," Dumbledore said quietly, glancing at Remus, and getting a somewhat faraway look in his eye. He's thinking of Snape. Dumbledore focused on them once again, his gaze firm once more. "However if it begins to endanger others under my protection, we shall have another conversation shortly thereafter. We should also discuss what unexpected benefits might arise from your…experience." Should've seen that coming. "Is there anything else either of you wish to tell me?" Dumbledore asked.

Hermione and Remus exchanged nervous glances and Hermione's hand snaked into his.

"Albus, at the risk of being kicked out of the Order and strung up by and angry mob, which may be what I deserve…I…erm…" he took a deep breath and squeezed Hermione's hand. "I am in love with Hermione. And she is in love with me."

Please don't hex us, please don't hex us.

Dumbledore broke into a smile. "Splendid! This means I've won yet another bet with Minerva!" What the hell? Did he just hardball me about my job, but he's okay that I'm sleeping with a man twenty years my senior? What exactly is the deal with him and McGonagall? I mean, that's the only explanation I've got for his being okay with this.

Hermione and Remus looked at him blankly. "What do you mean?" Hermione ventured.

"Minerva was convinced nothing would happen between you two young people until after graduation, however I have seen the attraction building in intensity…I am gratified to see I was right. I must, however, warn you to the utmost to be discrete." And I thought I was being all slick and secretive about my attraction…must be Lupin's fault.

"I have no desire to be creatively mutilated by everyone Hermione knows, sir. Nor do I have any desire to make her a target. Mainly the first part, though."

Hermione laughed. "No one would believe us anyway. Although I promise I'd protect you if Harry and Ron came after you."

"Harry and Ron I can handle. It's Ginny I'm scared of. And Molly. The two of them coming after me together?" He shuddered.

"I see your point. Ginny can be a bit…scary when she's being protective. And Molly's just scary," Hermione acquiesced. She turned back to Dumbledore. "We'll be discrete, Headmaster, you have both our words."

"I have no doubt, Miss Granger. There is the question of what you will tell your friends."

"The truth," Hermione sighed. "Harry, Ron, and Ginny at least deserve that much. And Draco. Everyone else can think my parents died in a car accident over the weekend and that my sister died in the hospital shortly thereafter and that's why I was gone. It'll fly well enough and explain Remus' presence to some degree."

"It seems settled then," Dumbledore said easily. "You look a bit tired, Hermione. Perhaps you'd like to rest and deal with your friends on your own time?"

"Yes, thank you, Headmaster. I'm still a bit weak, I think." Really need sleep.

"Hermione, you should have Poppy look at you later just in case," Remus admonished gently.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Hermione groused. "Let the mediwitch poke at me just in case, sure thing. After my nap, okay?" I'm not going to see a doctor for a bit of overwork. If I went to Pomfrey every time I strung myself out, I'd never leave. She stood and stretched before nodding at both men and exiting the office.

After she'd left, Dumbledore turned to Lupin. "You realize that this will be far from easy, don't you Remus?"

"I know, Headmaster. But I'm in it for better or worse and nothing will change that," Remus responded quietly.

"Will you be able to watch her leave, knowing she won't come back?" Dumbledore asked.

"No. But I'll do it anyways. And she'll do the same each time I'm sent to do something for the Order. All we can really do is love each other, right? That's how Arthur and Molly made it…and Lily and James."

"Then I shall tell you something I told James Potter many years ago in regards to his future wife: Love her well, child, and you will have a treasure more valuable than any on this earth."

Remus was quiet for a moment, imagining his childhood friend receiving these words of wisdom. "Thank you, sir. For my part, I will love her till the end of my days, however near or far that is."

"Hopefully that will be a long time yet, dear boy. It is good that you have returned, something has arisen that you will need to tend to. In the meantime, go be with Hermione before you depart. You will need to be ready by tomorrow morning."

With that, Dumbledore effectively terminated the conversation, purposely not mentioning where Remus would spend the night. Remus smiled and left quickly, before Dumbledore could rethink his position.