A/N: Aww Hope I was kinda pleased to hear that I made you cry, means I'm doing my job properly! Thanks for the reviews guys. This Hermione-thing is an interesting twist, I just thought I'd give Tonks a bit of time off, what with the pregnancy and all. But fear not, she will return shortly. This chapter was not meant to be as long as this, and I never planned it to have anything to do with ice-cream but I guess I was hungry!
Hermione Granger sat looking glumly into her evening meal. She was sitting at the wooden table being closely watched by Molly Weasley, who was determined to see that the girl eat every mouthful of the meal she had made for her. Remus Lupin sat near by in the chair at the other side of the kitchen. He appeared to be deeply engrossed in the book he was reading and did not seem at all interested in this new eating ritual that Hermione and Mrs Weasley had formed. Hermione played with her food, pushing it around morosely with her fork. Molly gave an impatient sigh.
"Hermione, dear, are you going to eat anything sometime soon or am I going to have to sit here all night and wait?"
"You're going to have to sit here all night and wait," Hermione mumbled to the table.
"It'll go cold," Mrs Weasley pressed.
"So? I don't care, I'm not hungry." She raised her head to look at the woman squarely. The females locked glares until Molly caved. She rose from her seat, scraping it against the floor.
"Fine. I'll go home. I have other things to do, you know."
"Fine, go do them!" Hermione snapped. Remus looked up.
"Hermione," he said in a warning tone. Molly didn't acknowledge the man at all.
"Goodnight Hermione, I'll see you in the morning. Try to sleep tonight." She headed to the stairs, ignoring Remus as she passed him, and left the kitchen.
Hermione threw her cutlery down on her plate noisily. Pushing it away from her, she gave a sigh of annoyance.
"That woman drives me mad," she announced. Remus put his book down in his lap and looked at the girl, noticing her cheeks were pinked with frustration.
"She cares about you Hermione, we all do. She just wants what's best for you." The girl hung her head, knowing he was right and feeling slightly ashamed. Remus rose and crossed to the table, placing a hand on Hermione's shoulder.
"So you're not hungry then?" He picked up the plate, and took it to the counter.
"Well…" Hermione said quietly.
"What?"
"I could really do with some chocolate ice-cream," she admitted. Remus gave her a warm smile.
"With hot fudge and chocolate sauce?"
"And chopped nuts," she added
"And a chocolate flake."
"And two spoons!"
Remus gave a laugh.
"Ok, ok. I'll see what I can do. But don't you dare tell Molly."
Remus conjured up one of the largest ice-cream sundaes that Hermione had ever seen, before taking a seat beside her and handing her a spoon.
"There you are Miss Granger."
"Thank you Professor Lupin."
"You're very welcome, but like I said don't tell Molly. She hates me enough as it is right now." Hermione gave a nod of promise, and began to lick chocolate sauce off her spoon. Remus took a scoop of the chocolate ice cream and enjoyed every second that it lasted in his mouth. He had not tasted chocolate ice cream in a very long time, and wondered why on earth not.
"Chocolate ice cream before bed, that can't be good for you," Hermione mused but continued to eat.
"Well, if it gets you eating again then we will have it for every meal that you eat under this roof … Would you listen to me, I'd make such a bad parent!"
His words triggered a memory in Hermione's mind and she looked up sharply.
"What?" Remus asked. "Oh…I'm sorry, that was insensitive of me." Hermione gave a small frown then shook her head. Clearly, he had no idea of the significance of his own words. Hermione gave a weak smile and carried on licking her spoon.
"Don't worry about it, it's not that."
Remus gave a little frown in return. Hermione lowered her spoon and licked her lips; they were cold and tasted sweet. "Lupin listen…" She paused, wondering why she had even thought of sharing Tonks' secret. Hermione shook her head again and picked up her spoon once more. "Forget it, it doesn't matter."
They sat in silence for a long while after that. Hermione was shocked when her spoon tapped on glass and she realised that they had reached the bottom. She turned to Remus who looked slightly disappointed.
"I can't believe we just ate all of that."
"What do you mean girl? I'm ready for round two!" Hermione gave a small giggle. She liked Remus. He had been such a comfort to her over the past month, and she was going to miss him when she left. She knew he would miss her too; Grimmauld Place was not a nice place to spend your time, especially without company. But Remus had been there for her, and she for him. And when the next week came, and she took the trip to the Ministry, she knew he would be at her side.
"Lupin, thank you," she said all of a sudden. He smiled at her.
"Hermione, it's a pleasure. Really, don't mention it. I hope you're feeling better." The girl nodded. "Good. And thank you too. It's been nice to have someone around, even under the circumstances. You know, you and me we're quite similar…then again there are major differences." He gave a laugh. "More ice cream?" The girl shook her head.
"No, I'm afraid I'll be sick."
"Ah, well perhaps not then. Maybe for breakfast, we'll see if Molly's around–"
"Hermione!" a familiar voice suddenly filled the room. The two frown at each other and looked around.
"Hermione!" the voice called again. It was coming from the fire grate. Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Harry…" she whispered to herself. Getting to her knees, shesat before the hearth. Remus turned around in his seat and saw the boy's head in the fire. He did not look happy.
"What the hell is this?" he demanded, without any greeting whatsoever. Remus could see a piece of parchment protruding from the green flames.
"It's–" Hermione began but Harry cut her off.
"I'll tell you what it is, it's a load of bullshit! That's what it is!" the boy shouted. Hermione gave a shudder.
"Harry," Remus said, in a tone of caution. "What are you doing up at this time? And where are you?"
"Tonks' office," he supplied casually, then turned his attention back to his friend. "Hermione, what are you playing at?"
"I really can't talk about this right now, Harry," she said quietly.
"Tough! Come on, I want to know! What part of this," he waved the piece of parchment again, "was I supposed to 'understand'? The bit where you said you wish you had never met me–"
"I didn't mean it like that!"
"– Or the bit that says you want me out of your life? That the last six years meant nothing to you!"
"Harry, please don't be angry," Hermione pleaded, tears forming in her eyes. Her friend just glared back at her, the fury in his green eyes emphasised by the emerald flames.
"Well I am," he said quietly, and the gentle tone hurt Hermione so much more than if he had screamed at her. The rustling of paper could be heard, and then a ball of parchment landed by Hermione's side. "Thanks a lot, Hermione. Have a nice life." And with that the flames crackled and Harry was gone, leaving his best friend to cry.
Remus joined her on the floor and took her hands in his.
"Come on, don't cry," he soothed. Hermione gave a sob.
"I thought he would understand," she said through a staggered breath. Remus put his arm around her and she cried onto his shoulder.
"Perhaps he will, in time. He's bound to be angry and upset, Hermione. He's losing a best friend and that's never easy," Remus spoke, knowing all too well of the truth in his words.
"You think I'm making a mistake?"
"Only you can answer that. Give Harry some time, and then talk to him. He deserves the chance to say goodbye at least." Hermione nodded onto the man's shoulder.
"You're right," she sniffled.
"Of course I am. Now I think it's time you went to bed, don't you? And by bed I mean sleep." He kissed her lightly on the head and then helped her up. Hermione rubbed at her eyes. She had to admit that she was tired, but she doubted that she could sleep (she never couldthese days), especially after her confrontation with Harry.
"I'll try," she said wearily and climbed the stairs.
"Goodnight, Hermione."
"Goodnight, Professor Lupin. Thank you for the ice-cream."
