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Communication Avenues

Remus eased Hermione onto the bed, his heart lighter. There, that ordeal was over. She had given him hope that she would recover by managing to open her eyes, a significant improvement. He was eager to get her to do it again. Since massaging seemed to help her, he decided to give it another try. "Hermione, I'm going to help you open your eyes again. Please don't get upset if it doesn't work, I'm sure you will be able to open them again soon, if not now."

He lightly touched his fingertips to her face, and she flinched slightly. "Does that hurt?" he wondered, grabbing his wand. When he had obtained her memory, he plunged his head into the Pensieve.

He was at the Yule Ball at Hogwarts, which was thrown to celebrate the Tri-Wizard Tournament. He glanced around and saw Hermione dancing with Viktor Krum nearby. He hastily followed the pair. For some reason, it bothered him to see Viktor holding Hermione so close.

"Haffing a good time?" asked Viktor.

"Yes, splendid," Hermione replied. Suddenly Viktor tripped and stepped on her foot.

"Sorry, Herm-oh-ninny," he apologized. "Do you want to stop?"

"No, I'm fine," Hermione insisted. Remus could tell though, that Viktor was more at home on a broom than on the dance floor.

The memory faded, and Remus lifted his head. So she was not in pain, or insisted on taking it if she was. Then why did she flinch? Oh, well, he would never know. It didn't matter. He began massaging her face again, concentrating mostly on the eyes. He liked her eyes, how kind they looked, unless she was scolding Harry and Ron, who usually deserved it. He smiled to himself. He missed her, the way she used to be. She just had to get better, or a big bright part of his life would be missing.

He could feel her trembling a little, probably from trying too hard, he supposed. He began stroking her lightly just below her eyes. To his joy, her eyes shot open at his touch. "You did it," he stated proudly. "Let's see how long you can keep them open."

It was darker in here than in the bathroom, so it was less painful to keep her eyes open. She squinted as her eyes adjusted, and her eyelids shook from the effort to keep them open. She could feel her eyes tearing up again, but she determinedly ignored it. She blinked slowly. Her eyes were adjusted now, and she could see the room more clearly. As she couldn't turn her head, she did not see much of it. Instead, she focused on Remus's face.

"I want you to try something for me, Hermione," said Remus, getting an idea. "Can you wink your right eye?" She did. "How about your left?" That side proved to be harder, but he could tell she was winking, even if it wasn't all the way. "How about when you wink your right eye, it means yes, and when it's your left, it means no?"

Hermione winked her right eye.

"Great! Now, I'm going to go make us some lunch." He told her the menu, and, through the Pensieve, he was able to find out what she preferred. He was about to leave the room when there was a sound that made them both freeze with fear.

A Phoenix call sounded up the stairs. 'It's Fawkes,' realized Remus. The bird was the only creature that would be able to penetrate his sealing spells. Sure enough, Fawkes swooped into the room, a letter attached to his leg. He landed on Hermione's bed and held his leg up. Remus carefully untied the letter an opened it. Hermione looked at him expectantly.

"You want me to read it to you, right?" Hermione winked yes, then closed her eyes to rest them. "All right." He began reading. "Dear Remus, It has come to my attention, via the Daily Prophet, of what happened yesterday." Remus paused a moment. He was in the Daily Prophet? That didn't bode well. "After several attempts to contact you, I have reached the understanding that you believe that nobody is siding with you. I assure you, Remus, I am most anxious to hear your side of the story, since the Daily Prophet found itself incapable of even deliberating the real reason for your actions. Furthermore, I will not report your whereabouts to the Ministry, provided that you promptly respond to this letter. I wish to know exactly what happened yesterday, why you removed Hermione from St. Mungo's, and most of all, we would all like to know if Hermione yet lives. Signed, Dumbledore. P.S. I thought you would like to know what the Ministry has charged you with. They are keeping the charges quiet for now, at the request of Dr. Clint. The accusations are numerous: Kidnapping, threatening a Ministry official (the doctor), attacking a Ministry official, removing a patient against the doctor's wishes, breaking and entering, theiving, insanity, posing a menace to society, resisting arrest, failing to obey a supeona to court, se–" Remus broke off as he read the last accusation. He glanced over at Hermione, who had a questioning look in her eyes. He felt too embarrassed to say the last accusation, especially after what happened this morning. She really did not need to know, did she? "These accusations would earn you a lifetime sentence in Azkaban. Don't fret, Remus, we'll find a way out of this, if only you give me a strong case in your defense." Remus set down the paper on the table, trying not to look as down-hearted as he felt. He had to be strong for Hermione.

Fawkes waited patiently. He had been ordered not to return until Remus gave him a letter to carry back. Remus hurriedly summoned a quill and parchment and scribbled a reply, explaining everything. He glanced at Hermione. "Would you like to say anything?"

After the usual procedure, he dipped his face into the Pensieve. It showed a very young Hermione lying on a bed in Hogwarts's hospital wing. She sat up and yawned. "What happened?" she asked.

Madam Pomfrey answered her. "You were petrified for a couple months," she explained. "I just woke you up."

"What happened while I was gone? How's Harry and Ron?" she wondered eagerly.

"They've had their own visits here, but they're fine," Madam Pomfrey assured her.

As the memory vanished, Remus smiled to himself. He should have known. Of course she would want to ask after Harry and Ron. Suddenly Remus had an idea. He was sure that Hermione would be thrilled with it, if it worked out.

"All right, I can do that," he said to Hermione, adding her request to the letter, as well as his own suggestion to Dumbledore. He tied the letter to Fawkes's leg, and the Phoenix promptly disappeared.

"I don't know about you, Hermione, but I'm hungry," said Remus. "I'm going to make lunch now." He left the room, and it was not long before he returned. He fed her before eating himself.

Hermione wondered to herself what Remus had skipped in the letter. He appeared quite disturbed when he read it. What was wrong? Why did not he tell her? 'Perhaps I'm being too nosy. But it is my fault this is happening. I want to know exactly what trouble I'm causing him.' She seethed with mounting frustration from not being able to do anything for herself. She turned her eyes as far as they could go towards the letter. It was no good; she would have to turn her head. Unfortunately, that seemed just about as impossible as Remus moving a mountain with a mere 'Wingardium Leviosa.'

Remus noted a frustrated look in Hermione's eyes. "Do you want to ask me something, Hermione?" He proceeded to immerse herself in the memory she offered him.

Harry and Ron sat in the Gryffindor common room, reading a letter. Remus leaned over their shoulders and noted it was from Fred and George Weasley. He grinned to himself, wondering what they were up to.

Hermione marched over and raised an eyebrow. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing," said Ron.

"No, you aren't, you're hiding something from me. Out with it," Hermione demanded.

They looked at her, guilty smiles on their faces. "You'll find out," said Harry dismissively.

"Harry, I'm your best friend, you don't keep secrets from your best friend," she insisted. "What's in the letter?"

The memory ended. Remus's heart sank. She wanted to know the part he had omitted. What else could she have meant? His face turned red. "Hermione," he groaned, not looking at her. It entered his mind how close they were. His false accusations brought to mind something that was nagging him. 'Is she afraid of me?' he wondered. 'Does she not want me this close? Does she not like being stuck here alone with me? Should I try to find a way, some way, to get someone else to take care of her? But then I would get caught!' "Hermione, are you afraid of me? Do I make you uncomfortable? Would you like me to keep my distance? Do you feel like I've been inappropriate with you at all? Do you think I should risk trying to find a girl to take care of you?" He asked, all in one breath.

Hermione winked no emphatically to each question, beginning to master moving her left eye on its own. The question, why?, was clearly written in her eyes. 'I couldn't bear for him to be caught, and... I like him taking care of me. I hate the thought of being with someone else. Remus is so kind and encouraging. He almost seems to understand what I'm going through. Of course, he knows what it's like to lose control of your body, it happens every month to him,' she sadly realized.

He sighed. Perhaps it was best if they did talk about what he was accused of. He certainly would never make those accusations come true, but it the general subject was an issue that needed discussing. "I've been accused of sexual harrassment," he said, grimacing. The thought of anyone doing that was disgusting, but especially to someone in her condition.

Hermione's eyes narrowed, and she glared fiercely. Remus, wondering exactly what was making her angry, extracted another memory from her.

He found himself in the kitchen here at Number 12, Grimmauld Place. The Order was assembled, and he turned and saw - himself! Hermione was talking to him, a disgusted look on her face. "Really, the way they treat werewolves is horrible! You know, I've been thinking about starting a group for werewolf rights, just like S.P.E.W., the discrimmination needs to stop!"

It ended there, and Remus turned back to Hermione. He smiled lightly. "Thanks, Hermione. However, I still think we should talk about my behavior towards you, considering we're alone in this house, and communication isn't quick and easy." He paused. "I guess I'll ask you a series of yes and no questions." He took a deep breath. He wished she could talk normally. It would make him feel less uncomfortable. "Am I allowed to show affection?" 'Maybe she would prefer that I emotionally distance myself.'

Hermione winked in the affrimative. He smiled and picked up her hand, squeezing it. He stopped a moment, and, for the first time, he began examining his feelings towards Hermione. She was just a friend, right? His ex-student. His friend's son's friend. Or was she? Did he feel something deeper for her? After all, he had found himself taking a big risk for her. "Do you have something more specific to say?" he asked, pointing his wand at her forehead.

Hermione hesitated a moment. She was beginning to develop a crush on Remus, but that wasn't something she wanted to tell him. It would never amount to anything, anyway. How could she define her relationship, so that he knew she trusted him in all situations? How did she prefer to be treated by him? She got an idea, and winked her right eye.

Remus found himself in a strange house. The only thing like it he'd seen was Harry's house. 'It must be her house,' he realized. 'Why in the world would she send me here?' He heard a door open and shut, and the running of feet. Hermione came into view. She was about eleven. He followed her into the kitchen, where she promptly ran up to the man who had entered the house and threw her arms around him. "Daddy, you're home!" she said happily. "Guess what I got today!" She pulled out a letter with the Hogwarts seal on it. 'It must be her official invitation to the school,' Remus realized as the memory faded.

Remus lifted his head and looked at Hermione critically. The meaning of this one was a bit unclear. It didn't seem to have much relevance to what he was asking. "Do you have another one, Hermione? I'm not quite sure I got what you're trying to tell me."

She gave him the affirmative wink and he got another memory. In this one, Hermione was about seven years old, sitting on a weird looking device with two wheels. Her father removed a pair of small wheels from the big back wheel, holding Hermione tightly. "I think you're ready to bike without your training wheels. But I'll hang on to you until you say to let go, I promise," he said.

"I know, I trust you, Daddy," said Hermione, beginning to pedal. At her signal, he let go, and she began biking around the driveway in front of her house. She biked back to her dad and jumped off. She hugged him and said, "I love you, Daddy!"

There was no more to it. Remus sat up, a thoughtful look on his face. He was beginning to catch on to what Hermione was trying to say. "You want us to have a father - daughter relationship?" he questioned.

Hermione winked. He was beginning to understand what she was trying to say!

"So you want me to treat you exactly like you're my daughter?"

Hermione winked her right eye again.

He smiled and chuckled a little. "You know, I've never had any kids, but I think I know what you mean." He felt relieved and disappointed at the same time. 'Disappointed? Why would I be disappointed?' he wondered. Then he shrugged it off. He was just glad the air was clear.

Replies to Reviewers:

BrennaM: Yay! BrennaM! I was wondering what happened to you, LOL. :) Thanks so much for reviewing!

Dancing In Rain: Great, I'm happy you think I pulled it off in a believeable way. :) I thought about writing this story in other fandoms at first, but then I decided that Harry Potter would be the easiest to do it in, and the most appropriate too because of all the death and choice themes in the books. Hope you liked this chapter, and thanks for reviewing!

Radingsouls4u: How dare you laugh at my characters! LOL! Yeah, it was pretty funny, wasn't it? Thanks for your review!

MoonyNZ: Wow, brilliant and exciting? Really? Thanks!

LupinLover99: I'm glad it's up to scratch. :) Thanks for reviewing so faithfully!

Lunatik27: Wow, you think it's unique? Cool, thanks! I have a beta reader now, that's why updates are a bit slower. I love my beta reader, she really helps to improve my chapters! Yeah, the shower part was hard to write, I have no experience with which to relate to that, LOL. Thanks for reviewing!

JTBJAB: LOL I'm glad you like it! I hope this update was fast enough. :) Thanks a bunch for reviewing!

Preview of next chapter: Harry impatiently endured his Occlumency lesson with Dumbledore. The headmaster had promised a surprise at the end of the lesson, and he was dying to know what it was. Fortunately, Dumbledore's tactic of saving it for the completion of the lesson proved to be useful. Harry did an above average job of preventing Dumbledore from raiding his mind. Finally, after what seemed like ages, Dumbledore announced that the lesson was over. He picked up an envelope, and, smiling, gave it to Harry. "Fawkes came in handy today," he said simply.