A/N: This fic is now finished! There will be 45 chapters in total. I was going to put Tonks in this chapter, purely for the sake of putting her in. But she wasn't used well or needed so I cut her out. Don't be mad :D grins apologetically
It had been two weeks since the attack on the Ministry, and the hubbub of the Order was finally beginning to calm down. Hermione Granger had found it rather flattering that the Order members no longer asked her to leave the room when an urgent discussion took place. In fact, during a visit from Professor Snape, Hermione's heart had been lightened by Remus Lupin's words.
The girl had been sat in the corner of the kitchen, reading her Transfiguration book (for the fifth time that year,) when Snape had stopped mid-sentence and sneered at her.
"I was under the impression, Lupin," he drawled, "that this was the Order's Headquarters, not a crèche." Lupin had eyed him squarely.
"You are right of course, Severus. However this is also Hermione's home, so one could say she has more of a right to be here than you, don't you think?" Snape glared at the man, who smirked to himself then offered Hermione a wink. Hermione smiled gratefully, then hid her pinked cheeks behind her book.
And so, it came rather as a surprise when Remus had passed Hermione in the corridor one morning, carrying her jacket, with a bag slung over one shoulder. She had stopped and hesitated before speaking to him.
"Professor Lupin, are you doing anything today?" she had enquired timidly. Her former teacher had raised his hands casually, indicating that he was indeed free.
"What can I do for you, Hermione?"
"Well…I'd like to go back to school please." Remus blinked at her for a moment.
"Are you sure?" he had enquired doubtfully. The girl had nodded firmly. "Then I'll take you back to school Hermione, if that's what you really want."
The pair ate breakfast together, and prepared to leave for Hogwarts. Remus helped the girl carry her trunk down the flights of stairs. He turned to her, out of breath.
"Now, you're sure about this Hermione?" he breathed. "I don't want you to go back before you're ready."
"I am ready, Professor Lupin…besides, if I say no then you'd have to carry my trunk all the way back upstairs." She smiled at him playfully.
"Right," he panted. "Of course you're ready to return. Let's get going shall we."
The weather was fine, and the two made their way down the to the end of Grimmauld Place. Remus was reminded of the time he had escorted Harry back to school after the Christmas holidays. The weather had been so different then, bitterly cold. Hermione smiled as the sun shone on her, it had been a while since she had left her confinements of Number 12. They chatted lively about Hermione's approaching exams. Lupin had done his best to tutor her, for which she was very grateful. In fact, Hermione felt rather confident in her Defence Against the Dark Arts work, and was surprised at how much Lupin knew about Potions and Transfiguration also. A man of many talents, Hermione had decided.
Remus extended an arm reluctantly and the Knight Bus appeared in all its purpley glory. When the passengers were on board, they set off with a bang. Remus smiled as he remembered his conversation with Harry, the last time they had travelled on the bus together.
You pretty much wanna bang Tonks against a wall. Oh don't start that again!
Instead of continuing down that trail of thought, he turned to Hermione.
"Are you positive about this? We can always turn back, you know." Hermione looked at him, placing a timid hand on top of his.
"I know you're going to be lonely, Lupin. I'm sorry, but I have to go back sometime. Better now than never," she told him. He nodded, feeling selfish.
"You're right. I'm sorry Hermione."
"That's ok," she smiled, patting his hand gently before removing her own. Remus studied the girl beside him. She really did seem to have changed, grown stronger. And he couldn't deny that her mood had lightened a great deal in the recent weeks. Perhaps seeing her friends again would move her a step closer to closure.
"I've missed Harry," she was telling him. "And Ginny too. I guess I didn't realise how much they meant to me until we'd been apart. And my Crookshanks, I bet he's missed me."
"What about Ron?" Lupin asked mildly, trying his best to hide a smile as the girl looked startled.
"What? Oh, didn't I mention Ron? Well, I guess I've missed him too. You know Ron…" she trailed off, and turned to look out of the window as she felt her cheeks warm.
The Knight Bus dropped them off at the other side of Hogsmeade village, and they began to make their way to the main road. The trunk followed them noisily on the cobbled pavement and Remus worked an Accio spell.
Hermione saw Hogwarts in the distance and her heart lightened. She really was glad to be back. She felt Remus stiffen slightly beside her and frowned.
"What is it?" she asked in concern. He glanced around them hesitantly.
"What? Oh nothing. Let's keep moving now."
As they made there way down a side road that led to Hogwarts, a chilly wind picked up causing Hermione to shiver. She stopped to put on her jacket. Remus looked around them, and then back up the path. There, halfway between them and the castle gates stood a figure. The person was moving towards them. Remus braced himself then turned to his companion quickly.
"Hermione. Hermione stop that and listen to me. I want you to run back to the village. Go to the Three Broomsticks and wait for me there. Do you hear me, Hermione?" The girl wasn't looking at him however; her eyes were now fixed on the squat, middle-aged man who was getting closer to them. So close in fact that Hermione could see the man's greying skin and rat-like features. Those of Peter Pettigrew.
"No Lupin, no," she insisted firmly.
"Hermione, just do it!" Why was she arguing now? The girl stood her ground defiantly, and her hand went for her wand in her jeans pocket. Remus did the same and turn as his old school-friend approached them, his wand also out.
"Hello Remus," he said almost pleasantly. "You won't be needing those," he indicated to their wands with his own, but did not disarm them. "Miss Granger," he addressed the girl. She scowled at him menacingly. "Dora not with you, Moony?" Pettigrew asked casually. Remus swallowed but refused to speak. He stepped to the side, putting Hermione behind him. "I trust it she got my message," Pettigrew continued with a smirk. Remus continued to stare at the man but said nothing. Peter grew impatient. "Come come, Remus. Lost for words? That's not like you."
"I have nothing to say to you Peter," Lupin snapped. He grabbed Hermione's arm tightly, causing her to wince in pain, and circled past Pettigrew until they were nearer the castle. Remus never removed his wand from Pettigrew's face.
"Go Hermione," he demanded but she didn't move. Her wand remained raised and her face set. "Hermione!" Remus barked at her. Peter gave a laugh.
"Quite the little firecracker this one," he said, taking a step towards the girl. Hermione took a step away and Remus once again placed himself in between them.
"Leave her alone, Peter. Leave Dora alone, and leave me the hell alone!" Remus pushed Hermione and she began to walk, the man walking backwards so as not to take his wand off the traitor.
"I wonder if you could pass on another message to Dora?" Peter called. Remus glared at him. "Tell her that she'd better be ready to join us…because we're ready to take her." He challenged Lupin with a smug expression. Hermione grabbed at Lupin's arm.
"Come on, Lupin. Let's go." But the man pulled away and took a few steps towards the man he had once called his friend. Wand raised, he jabbed Pettigrew under the chin, detecting a flicker of fear.
"I swear Pettigrew, if you hurt her, or our baby in any way then I'll hunt you down personally and kill you myself," he snarled. Peter blinked at him.
"Baby?" Pettigrew laughed. Remus heard Hermione give a little gasp from behind him. "Ooh, has Remus been a naughty boy now?" Remus felt his stomach drop. He hadn't known. And he, the fool, had just told him! Remus felt like kicking himself and knew he would when he reached Hogwarts' grounds…several times. For someone so smart you really are an idiot, Remus Lupin!
"Well, what would Padfoot have said about that? I would offer my congratulations Moony, but I doubt it's a time for celebration…in fact, I almost pity you…still, you should be used to losing things by now Moony, especially to me." Remus didn't respond; his body and mind were numb with guilt. "Tell Nymphadora I'll be in touch," the man sneered, before Disapperating with a pop. Remus blinked at where the traitor had stood. He heaved a sigh, and jumped as he felt Hermione's hand take his elbow and lead him up the path.
"I told him. How could I have been so stupid?" the man murmured numbly. Hermione gave him a look of pity.
"You don't know that he didn't already know," she reasoned. "He's probably just provoking you. You heard what Dumbledore told Tonks; don't play his game!" The man nodded to her, but knew that he had probably made the biggest mistake of his life. He only hoped that he wouldn't live to regret it.
