Hermione stayed by the lake for a long time after Remus left her. She went
over to the nearest tree and sat comfortably against its bark. Winter's
chill had long gone and she began to feel a bit warm even under the trees
thick covering of leaves.
She felt completely defeated. She had always thought she could count on Remus to support her and the thought of doing something that obviously made him so unhappy only made her feel worse.
She felt all the answers she wanted and needed were now suddenly out of her reach. She began to wonder what others would do in her place. What would Harry do? What would James do? What would her parents do? What would Dumbledore do? "This isn't helping," she screamed out loud in frustration.
"Hermione?"
Hermione nearly jumped out of skin. She turned to see Sirius standing a few feet away from her. "You scared me half to death, Sirius," she accused, holding her hand to her heart.
"Sorry," he said sincerely. He approached her and took a seat close to her. "You doing okay?"
"Remus talked to you," she stated.
"Yeah," he acknowledged. "He's really upset. We all are." He took a deep breath. "You're not really going to leave are you?"
"Did he tell you everything?" she asked. Sirius nodded. "Then what would you do?" she asked curiously. Sirius turned away uncomfortably. "No, seriously, what would you do?"
"Let me ask you a question," he said changing the subject. "What are you hoping to get out of going to the Department of Mysteries? Are you hoping they'll be able to send you back? Because, if Albus Dumbledore can't figure out a way to send you home, then no one can."
"You've never been inside the Department of Mysteries, have you?" asked Hermione. Sirius shook her head. "Well I have. And if you'd seen the things I'd seen in there, then you might not say that."
"So then you are trying to get home," said Sirius with a touch of sadness in his voice.
Hermione frowned deeply. "I don't know," she admitted. "I guess deep down, I haven't resigned myself to the fact that I'll never see my family again."
Sirius's eyes lit up with hope. "If that's it, Hermione, then you can. James, Remus, and I will take you back to your parent's house. You can see them again if you want. We'll figure out something to tell them."
"No," she said, shaking her head sadly. "Those weren't my parents. They don't belong to me, not yet anyway. I'm just a dream in their heads right now. Besides, it's more than just them. Ron and Harry are like my brothers and the Weasley's have practically adopted Harry and I into their family."
"What about us?" asked Sirius. "Wouldn't you miss us, if you left?"
"I never said I was leaving," she argued.
"That's because you're too chicken to admit that's the question you want answered. You want to know if you can go back."
"Even so," she conceded. "That doesn't mean I will go back if I can."
"What if they don't give you a choice," he challenged. "Do you honestly think they'll let you stay in this time? And what happens when they find out you changed everything you possibly could? Hermione, do you have any idea how many regulations there are about time traveling?"
"Of course I do," she snapped. "I'm sorry if your lives meant more to me than some bloody regulation."
"I know Hermione," agreed Sirius. "I understand why you did it. I'm just not sure they will. And have you considered that the time you remember doesn't even exist anymore."
A cold realization fell over Hermione. As many times as Dumbledore had begged her to consider what she was doing, she never really did. What other choice could there have been? How could she possibly let James, Lily, and Sirius die when she could save them?
Sirius spoke more softly now. "Harry will have both his parent's, he won't be the same person you left. You might not even be his friend anymore."
"Or Ron," she whispered. She grew very still, thinking hard. If she and Harry were never friends, then she and Ron would never be friends and she would have never gotten close to Ginny or the rest of the Weasley's. She thought back to the girl she was before Harry and Ron and shuddered.
"I'm not trying to scare you," he said, putting his arm around her and holding her close. "I just don't think you've considered everything."
They sat together in silence for a few minutes before finally Hermione got to her feet. "I understand what you're saying, Sirius. But I'm not a Gryffindor for nothing. Whatever happens, this is something I have to do."
Sirius slowly got to his feet. "When will you go then?"
"As soon as possible," she answered. "If I don't I'll change my mind."
"We'll get in awful trouble when Dumbledore finds we've gone," sighed Sirius.
"We?" asked Hermione, raising one eyebrow at him.
"You don't think I'd let you go all the way to the Ministry by yourself, do you?"
"Oh, Sirius," she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. "Remus may never forgive you once he finds out you've helped me, but I'll never know how to thank you."
Sirius kept one arm around her shoulder as they walked back to the castle, happy to be able to touch her, even if it was just as a friend. "So when shall we leave? Tonight?"
"No, I think Friday after classes will be soon enough. That way we won't miss anything."
"And I was hoping I wouldn't have to finish that essay for Transfiguration tomorrow."
"You're still not done with that," Hermione scolded.
"Hey," said Sirius, cutting off the impending lecture. "I certainly don't need a lecture from someone who is about to sneak out of school for the second time in a month."
Hermione only smiled. Sirius could always make her smile. By the time they got back to Gryffindor Tower they were no longer arm in arm. Hermione looked wistfully up at the boy's side.
"He'll be fine in the morning," said Sirius, reading her thoughts. "Just give him some time."
Hermione nodded. "You're right. It isn't like Remus to stay angry long. I'll talk to him tomorrow at breakfast. Good night, Sirius."
"Night, Hermione."
But Remus wasn't at breakfast the next morning and he didn't show up to their first class together until about two minutes after it began. He got ten points taken from Gryffindor, but he effectively managed to avoid talking to Hermione.
By dinner that day, Hermione hadn't managed to get two minutes alone with Remus. She sat dejectedly with James, Sirius, Peter, and Lily and poked at her food. The others tried to keep her in the conversation, but once they realized she just wasn't interested they talked amongst themselves.
Halfway through dinner Peter excused himself and left. Except for Lily, none of them were sorry to see him go. Though they had promised Hermione they wouldn't treat him any differently, it was often hard for James and especially Sirius to keep their tempers with him. Peter found a lot of excuses to limit his time with them.
Not five minutes after Peter left, Hermione pushed her plate across the table and rose.
"Hermione you barely ate," said Lily.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I'm just not hungry."
"Why don't you just talk to Remus," suggested Lily. She felt very bad that her two friends were fighting.
"I would," said Hermione. "He just doesn't want to talk to me right now. I wish..." she paused. "Never mind," she turned and walked down the long row leading to the entrance to the Great Hall. Two thirds of the way down she saw Remus enter. Their eyes met and Remus looked as if he wanted to make his escape.
"Hi," she said softly when they met.
"Hi," he said, equally uncomfortable. They stood in uncomfortable silence until Remus spoke again. "I thought you'd be gone by now."
"No."
"Did you decide to stay?" he asked, almost hopefully.
"No," she replied quietly. "I was thinking of going Friday."
"Oh," said Remus dully.
"Remus, I..."
"Good luck, Hermione," he interrupted before continuing his trek to where their friends were sitting watching them.
Hermione gritted her teeth angrily, but didn't respond. She quickened her pace out of the Great Hall.
James, Sirius, and Lily stared at Remus as he sat next to them.
"I guess we don't have to ask how that went," said Sirius sarcastically.
"Butt out, Sirius," said Remus.
"Remus," began Lily gently. "If you'd just talk to each other..."
"No offense, Lily," interrupted Remus, "but you have no idea what this is about, so I wouldn't form an opinion if I were you."
Lily looked affronted. "Whatever you're fighting about," she said enunciating every word. "It's childish to give her the silent treatment."
"I'm not giving her the silent treatment," argued Remus. "She's the one..."
"She wants to talk to you," Lily argued back. "She doesn't want to fight."
Remus looked to James, who had been sitting in silence listening to the exchange.
James shook his head. "Sorry mate. Lily's right. Considering all the circumstances," he said carefully. "I really think you ought to talk to her, the sooner the better."
"What do you three know?" said Remus sulkily. He put his arms on the table and rested his head on them. After five minutes of silence he stood up angrily and walked back out of the Great Hall.
"I'd check the library if I were you," shouted Sirius after him. Remus only responded with a rude gesture before disappearing behind the double doors.
"Now," said Lily, turning her attention to James and Sirius. "The two of you are going to tell me what they're fighting about."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Hermione was indeed making her way to the library, although it was an unconscious decision. She was really just wandering through the castle, her mind on Remus and nothing else. She had hoped if she could talk to him she could make him understand. She hated fighting with him. It made her feel so lonely.
"How could I have let myself fall in love with him," she whispered to herself. She often thought it hadn't been one of her smarter moves, although, if she was honest, falling in love with him had been the most wonderful experience of her life. She sighed. There was no use regretting it or analyzing it. She loved him and she always would, it was something she knew instinctually.
Hermione rounded the corner and walked down the corridor that led to the library. She smiled at herself when she realized where she was going. 'I might as well get some studying in,' she thought. 'There's no sense in moping in my room.'
She was almost to the library when she heard the unmistakable voices of Peter and Snape. She whipped out her wand and moved toward where she thought they were. If Snape was bullying Peter, she'd put a stop to it before he knew what hit him.
She moved closer to where she thought they were and listened carefully.
"I've already told you I don't care, Pettigrew," snapped Snape.
"But I'm telling you, Severus. It means something. I know it," returned Peter.
"Enough," said Severus. "If you don't have anything else to add, I'm going back to the Slytherin Dungeons."
Hermione took a step back, expecting Snape to discover her at any moment.
"Wait, Severus," begged Peter. "Just hear me out." Hermione didn't hear Snape respond, but he must have waited because Peter continued. "From what I heard from listening in on Remus, James, and Sirius, she's going to the Department of Mysteries. That's why they're fighting."
"Well why didn't you say that," snapped Severus. "This isn't a game, Pettigrew. Tell me what you know."
"He doesn't want her to go," said Peter awkwardly.
"Yes," returned Severus impatiently, "but why?"
"I don't know," said Peter quietly.
"You really are useless, aren't you, Pettigrew," said Snape snidely. "Why is she going to the Ministry?"
"I don't know," said Peter again.
"Then I suggest you find out," said Snape icily. "If the Dark Lord has to move his plans forward, we'll need to know right away."
Hermione gasped and immediately put her hand over her mouth. She started to back away, but Peter and Snape were on top of her almost immediately. Snape quickly disarmed her and they both pressed her against the wall. "How long have you been here?" growled Snape.
"How could you, Peter," she spit out, ignoring him.
Snape scanned the corridor. "Everybody should be done with dinner by now. I can't afford to be seen with her. Can I trust you to perform the memory charm?"
Peter nodded once and Snape handed him Hermione's wand, which he quickly pocketed. "Too bad we don't have time to get some Veritus Serum," said Snape. "Make sure she remembers nothing."
They both backed away, but continued to point their wands at her. Hermione knew her best chance of getting out of this would be to make her move after Snape left so she stayed motionless.
Snape swept away and Hermione returned her attention to Peter. He was holding his wand high and Hermione knew there was a very real chance she was going to end up like Professor Lockhart, spending the rest of her days at St. Mungo's. Peter was hopeless with charms.
"Peter please," she began.
"Shut up, Hermione," snapped Peter and she could see he was enjoying the position they were in. "Not so clever now, are you?"
"Peter you don't know what you're doing," begged Hermione.
Peter smiled. "I know exactly what I'm doing." He raised his wand and Hermione closed her eyes and braced herself for the spell that never came. She heard someone coming fast from their left. Both she and Peter turned just a second before a body rammed into Peter, sending them both to the floor.
Remus didn't bother using his wand to jinx Peter. He hit him first in the stomach, causing Peter to double over and then his fist connected with Peter's jaw.
Peter and her wand went flying. Hermione quickly picked hers up and pointed it at Peter, but she couldn't get a clear shot. She could only watch as her boyfriend pummeled Peter into pulp. At one point Peter managed to throw a punch that connected with Remus' side, but it only served the purpose of angering him further.
"Remus, stop," shouted Hermione. "It's enough." She could hear people beginning to come down the hall and she was afraid their professors would be in the throng.
Remus ignored her. He pulled Peter to his feet and threw him against the wall. "You did try to kill her didn't you?" snarled Remus.
"Fight," someone yelled from down the hall. Immediately people rushed toward them.
Hermione put her hand on Remus' arm. Peter glanced over Remus' shoulder at the fifteen or so students advancing on them. "Get off of me, werewolf," he shouted.
There was an immediate hush. Hermione gasped loudly and tightened her hold on Remus. He stood and stared at Peter, whose lips had curled into a small smile. Remus took several steps away from Peter, feeling the eyes of everyone on his back.
Peter slumped down the wall. "Beating me to a bloody pulp won't stop me from telling everyone the truth, Remus," said Peter loudly. "The whole school's going to know what you are."
Remus rushed forward, but Hermione threw herself between them. "Don't," she whispered fiercely. "You'll only make things worse." She pushed him back, trying to lead him away. His whole body was limp and he allowed her to maneuver him away. Without releasing her hold on Remus, she turned to Peter and said lowly, so no one else could hear, "I swear I will make you pay for this. Not even Voldemort will be able to protect you from me."
Peter's eyes grew wide and she wasn't sure if it was from her threat or for her use of the Dark Lord's name. She didn't care. She led Remus away and was pained to see how the students parted as he neared. Remus either didn't notice or didn't care about their response.
She got him back to Gryffindor Tower as fast as she could. They went straight to his room, which was thankfully empty. He sat heavily on his bed. She watched him carefully, not sure what to say or where to begin.
"It's over," he said quietly. "The letters will come tomorrow or the next day and I'll be expelled by Monday."
"No," said Hermione forcefully. She sat next to him and took his bruised hand in her own. He winced as she made contact with his scraped knuckles. She held his hand gentler and brought it to her lips and kissed it softly. "You won't be expelled. Dumbledore won't allow it. You've done nothing wrong."
His shoulders slumped. "Nobody's going to want their kid attending school with a werewolf. It's okay," he said and his voice sounded dead. "I always knew this day might come. I can accept it."
"Don't talk like that," begged Hermione. "We'll get through this. It might not be as bad as you think it will. You're very popular and James and Sirius will stand by you." She had started to cry. "I'll hex anyone who bothers you."
This brought a small smile to his face. "So I can look forward to hiding behind my girlfriend and my two best friends for the rest of my life."
"Don't joke," she cried. "Oh, this is all my fault."
"No, it's not," he said reassuringly. He pulled her into his arms. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"
"No, but Remus, he's turned on us. Peter's a Death Eater. I overheard him talking to Snape. They're plotting for Voldemort."
"Plotting what?"
"I don't know. Peter's been sneaking around. He knows I was going to go to the Ministry. He told Snape."
"Do you think he knows you're from the future?" asked Remus.
"No, I don't think he knows that yet. Remus, what are we going to do?"
"I don't know," said Remus softly, holding her even closer. They were interrupted by thunderous footsteps coming toward them. The door burst open, admitting Sirius, James, and Lily. They all looked at each other.
"You've heard then," said Remus quietly.
"Everyone's talking about it in the common room," acknowledged James.
"That was quick," said Remus bitterly.
"Apparently there were four or five Gryffindors who watched you beat the crap out of Peter and then heard him call you a werewolf. They're downstairs putting all the pieces together now," said Sirius.
"We got bombarded with questions as soon as we came into the common room," said Lily.
"We ran right up," finished James.
"Why were you fighting," demanded Lily.
"He was about to attack, Hermione," explained Remus. "He's a Death Eater."
Lily shot a look at Hermione. Hermione was surprised to see distrust in her eyes. "Why would you say that?"
"I overheard him talking to Snape," said Hermione. "They're plotting something for the Dark Lord."
"I don't believe it," said Lily doubtfully.
"Believe it, Lily," said James. "There's more going on here than you know."
"Then explain it to me, James," she shouted. "I'm sick and tired of being in the dark. The four of you have something going on and I don't like being left out."
James looked at Hermione, who shook her head slowly.
Lily narrowed her eyes. "You're getting permission from her," she said coldly. "I didn't think we kept secrets from each other," she said to James.
"It's not his secret to tell," interrupted Sirius.
"I wish I could tell you, Lily," said Hermione. "But I can't." She paused. "Dumbledore won't allow it," lied Hermione.
"So Dumbledore know?"
"Yes," said Hermione quickly, seeing how that news seemed to relieve Lily somewhat.
"I hate to change the subject," interrupted Sirius. "But what are we going to do about Remus?"
Lily and James turned sympathetic looks on Remus. He stood up angrily, nearly knocking Hermione backwards on his bed. "Don't do that," he said sharply. "I don't want your pity. I don't want it and I don't need it."
"We not pitying you, Moony," said James calmly. "We're just worried about you."
"Well don't," snapped Remus. "I'll be damned if I let Peter ruin my life." Hermione smiled widely behind him. Anger was definitely better than self- pity and depression.
"That's right," she agreed. "We won't let him win. Whatever happens, we'll deal with together."
Remus turned to face her. "Together?" he asked.
She nodded. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise." He opened his arms and she went willingly into them. "I promise," she repeated.
The five friends stayed up talking late into the night. At one point Lily and James went down to the common room and yelled at everyone to go to bed, but they both came back almost immediately. At around two in the morning Lily reluctantly said goodnight. Eventually Sirius and James got into their own beds and fell asleep quickly, leaving Hermione and Remus relatively alone.
"I guess I should get back to my room," said Hermione.
"Stay," said Remus.
She smiled. "I shouldn't."
He took her hand and wove his fingers through her own. "I don't want to be alone tonight," he said quietly.
"All right," she agreed reluctantly. "Let me just go get changed."
Remus moved over to his trunk and pulled an over-large shirt from it. "You can wear this if you want," he said, offering it to her.
She took it with a smile. "Turn around," she ordered. He did obediently. He could hear her shuffling behind him. "Okay, I'm done," she announced.
He turned back to find her in his T-shirt, in his bed, with the cover pulled up over her legs. He took a deep breath before joining her in the bed and drawing the curtains around them. He settled next to her and reached for the bottom of his own shirt. "Do you mind?" She shook her head and he pulled his shirt off and tossed it through the curtains. They laid back on the bed, both their heads resting on his pillow. He wrapped his arms around her and turned her away from him so they were settled comfortably against each other.
"I love you," he whispered into the darkness.
"Not as much as I love you," she replied pulling his arm tighter around her and closing her eyes.
She felt completely defeated. She had always thought she could count on Remus to support her and the thought of doing something that obviously made him so unhappy only made her feel worse.
She felt all the answers she wanted and needed were now suddenly out of her reach. She began to wonder what others would do in her place. What would Harry do? What would James do? What would her parents do? What would Dumbledore do? "This isn't helping," she screamed out loud in frustration.
"Hermione?"
Hermione nearly jumped out of skin. She turned to see Sirius standing a few feet away from her. "You scared me half to death, Sirius," she accused, holding her hand to her heart.
"Sorry," he said sincerely. He approached her and took a seat close to her. "You doing okay?"
"Remus talked to you," she stated.
"Yeah," he acknowledged. "He's really upset. We all are." He took a deep breath. "You're not really going to leave are you?"
"Did he tell you everything?" she asked. Sirius nodded. "Then what would you do?" she asked curiously. Sirius turned away uncomfortably. "No, seriously, what would you do?"
"Let me ask you a question," he said changing the subject. "What are you hoping to get out of going to the Department of Mysteries? Are you hoping they'll be able to send you back? Because, if Albus Dumbledore can't figure out a way to send you home, then no one can."
"You've never been inside the Department of Mysteries, have you?" asked Hermione. Sirius shook her head. "Well I have. And if you'd seen the things I'd seen in there, then you might not say that."
"So then you are trying to get home," said Sirius with a touch of sadness in his voice.
Hermione frowned deeply. "I don't know," she admitted. "I guess deep down, I haven't resigned myself to the fact that I'll never see my family again."
Sirius's eyes lit up with hope. "If that's it, Hermione, then you can. James, Remus, and I will take you back to your parent's house. You can see them again if you want. We'll figure out something to tell them."
"No," she said, shaking her head sadly. "Those weren't my parents. They don't belong to me, not yet anyway. I'm just a dream in their heads right now. Besides, it's more than just them. Ron and Harry are like my brothers and the Weasley's have practically adopted Harry and I into their family."
"What about us?" asked Sirius. "Wouldn't you miss us, if you left?"
"I never said I was leaving," she argued.
"That's because you're too chicken to admit that's the question you want answered. You want to know if you can go back."
"Even so," she conceded. "That doesn't mean I will go back if I can."
"What if they don't give you a choice," he challenged. "Do you honestly think they'll let you stay in this time? And what happens when they find out you changed everything you possibly could? Hermione, do you have any idea how many regulations there are about time traveling?"
"Of course I do," she snapped. "I'm sorry if your lives meant more to me than some bloody regulation."
"I know Hermione," agreed Sirius. "I understand why you did it. I'm just not sure they will. And have you considered that the time you remember doesn't even exist anymore."
A cold realization fell over Hermione. As many times as Dumbledore had begged her to consider what she was doing, she never really did. What other choice could there have been? How could she possibly let James, Lily, and Sirius die when she could save them?
Sirius spoke more softly now. "Harry will have both his parent's, he won't be the same person you left. You might not even be his friend anymore."
"Or Ron," she whispered. She grew very still, thinking hard. If she and Harry were never friends, then she and Ron would never be friends and she would have never gotten close to Ginny or the rest of the Weasley's. She thought back to the girl she was before Harry and Ron and shuddered.
"I'm not trying to scare you," he said, putting his arm around her and holding her close. "I just don't think you've considered everything."
They sat together in silence for a few minutes before finally Hermione got to her feet. "I understand what you're saying, Sirius. But I'm not a Gryffindor for nothing. Whatever happens, this is something I have to do."
Sirius slowly got to his feet. "When will you go then?"
"As soon as possible," she answered. "If I don't I'll change my mind."
"We'll get in awful trouble when Dumbledore finds we've gone," sighed Sirius.
"We?" asked Hermione, raising one eyebrow at him.
"You don't think I'd let you go all the way to the Ministry by yourself, do you?"
"Oh, Sirius," she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. "Remus may never forgive you once he finds out you've helped me, but I'll never know how to thank you."
Sirius kept one arm around her shoulder as they walked back to the castle, happy to be able to touch her, even if it was just as a friend. "So when shall we leave? Tonight?"
"No, I think Friday after classes will be soon enough. That way we won't miss anything."
"And I was hoping I wouldn't have to finish that essay for Transfiguration tomorrow."
"You're still not done with that," Hermione scolded.
"Hey," said Sirius, cutting off the impending lecture. "I certainly don't need a lecture from someone who is about to sneak out of school for the second time in a month."
Hermione only smiled. Sirius could always make her smile. By the time they got back to Gryffindor Tower they were no longer arm in arm. Hermione looked wistfully up at the boy's side.
"He'll be fine in the morning," said Sirius, reading her thoughts. "Just give him some time."
Hermione nodded. "You're right. It isn't like Remus to stay angry long. I'll talk to him tomorrow at breakfast. Good night, Sirius."
"Night, Hermione."
But Remus wasn't at breakfast the next morning and he didn't show up to their first class together until about two minutes after it began. He got ten points taken from Gryffindor, but he effectively managed to avoid talking to Hermione.
By dinner that day, Hermione hadn't managed to get two minutes alone with Remus. She sat dejectedly with James, Sirius, Peter, and Lily and poked at her food. The others tried to keep her in the conversation, but once they realized she just wasn't interested they talked amongst themselves.
Halfway through dinner Peter excused himself and left. Except for Lily, none of them were sorry to see him go. Though they had promised Hermione they wouldn't treat him any differently, it was often hard for James and especially Sirius to keep their tempers with him. Peter found a lot of excuses to limit his time with them.
Not five minutes after Peter left, Hermione pushed her plate across the table and rose.
"Hermione you barely ate," said Lily.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I'm just not hungry."
"Why don't you just talk to Remus," suggested Lily. She felt very bad that her two friends were fighting.
"I would," said Hermione. "He just doesn't want to talk to me right now. I wish..." she paused. "Never mind," she turned and walked down the long row leading to the entrance to the Great Hall. Two thirds of the way down she saw Remus enter. Their eyes met and Remus looked as if he wanted to make his escape.
"Hi," she said softly when they met.
"Hi," he said, equally uncomfortable. They stood in uncomfortable silence until Remus spoke again. "I thought you'd be gone by now."
"No."
"Did you decide to stay?" he asked, almost hopefully.
"No," she replied quietly. "I was thinking of going Friday."
"Oh," said Remus dully.
"Remus, I..."
"Good luck, Hermione," he interrupted before continuing his trek to where their friends were sitting watching them.
Hermione gritted her teeth angrily, but didn't respond. She quickened her pace out of the Great Hall.
James, Sirius, and Lily stared at Remus as he sat next to them.
"I guess we don't have to ask how that went," said Sirius sarcastically.
"Butt out, Sirius," said Remus.
"Remus," began Lily gently. "If you'd just talk to each other..."
"No offense, Lily," interrupted Remus, "but you have no idea what this is about, so I wouldn't form an opinion if I were you."
Lily looked affronted. "Whatever you're fighting about," she said enunciating every word. "It's childish to give her the silent treatment."
"I'm not giving her the silent treatment," argued Remus. "She's the one..."
"She wants to talk to you," Lily argued back. "She doesn't want to fight."
Remus looked to James, who had been sitting in silence listening to the exchange.
James shook his head. "Sorry mate. Lily's right. Considering all the circumstances," he said carefully. "I really think you ought to talk to her, the sooner the better."
"What do you three know?" said Remus sulkily. He put his arms on the table and rested his head on them. After five minutes of silence he stood up angrily and walked back out of the Great Hall.
"I'd check the library if I were you," shouted Sirius after him. Remus only responded with a rude gesture before disappearing behind the double doors.
"Now," said Lily, turning her attention to James and Sirius. "The two of you are going to tell me what they're fighting about."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Hermione was indeed making her way to the library, although it was an unconscious decision. She was really just wandering through the castle, her mind on Remus and nothing else. She had hoped if she could talk to him she could make him understand. She hated fighting with him. It made her feel so lonely.
"How could I have let myself fall in love with him," she whispered to herself. She often thought it hadn't been one of her smarter moves, although, if she was honest, falling in love with him had been the most wonderful experience of her life. She sighed. There was no use regretting it or analyzing it. She loved him and she always would, it was something she knew instinctually.
Hermione rounded the corner and walked down the corridor that led to the library. She smiled at herself when she realized where she was going. 'I might as well get some studying in,' she thought. 'There's no sense in moping in my room.'
She was almost to the library when she heard the unmistakable voices of Peter and Snape. She whipped out her wand and moved toward where she thought they were. If Snape was bullying Peter, she'd put a stop to it before he knew what hit him.
She moved closer to where she thought they were and listened carefully.
"I've already told you I don't care, Pettigrew," snapped Snape.
"But I'm telling you, Severus. It means something. I know it," returned Peter.
"Enough," said Severus. "If you don't have anything else to add, I'm going back to the Slytherin Dungeons."
Hermione took a step back, expecting Snape to discover her at any moment.
"Wait, Severus," begged Peter. "Just hear me out." Hermione didn't hear Snape respond, but he must have waited because Peter continued. "From what I heard from listening in on Remus, James, and Sirius, she's going to the Department of Mysteries. That's why they're fighting."
"Well why didn't you say that," snapped Severus. "This isn't a game, Pettigrew. Tell me what you know."
"He doesn't want her to go," said Peter awkwardly.
"Yes," returned Severus impatiently, "but why?"
"I don't know," said Peter quietly.
"You really are useless, aren't you, Pettigrew," said Snape snidely. "Why is she going to the Ministry?"
"I don't know," said Peter again.
"Then I suggest you find out," said Snape icily. "If the Dark Lord has to move his plans forward, we'll need to know right away."
Hermione gasped and immediately put her hand over her mouth. She started to back away, but Peter and Snape were on top of her almost immediately. Snape quickly disarmed her and they both pressed her against the wall. "How long have you been here?" growled Snape.
"How could you, Peter," she spit out, ignoring him.
Snape scanned the corridor. "Everybody should be done with dinner by now. I can't afford to be seen with her. Can I trust you to perform the memory charm?"
Peter nodded once and Snape handed him Hermione's wand, which he quickly pocketed. "Too bad we don't have time to get some Veritus Serum," said Snape. "Make sure she remembers nothing."
They both backed away, but continued to point their wands at her. Hermione knew her best chance of getting out of this would be to make her move after Snape left so she stayed motionless.
Snape swept away and Hermione returned her attention to Peter. He was holding his wand high and Hermione knew there was a very real chance she was going to end up like Professor Lockhart, spending the rest of her days at St. Mungo's. Peter was hopeless with charms.
"Peter please," she began.
"Shut up, Hermione," snapped Peter and she could see he was enjoying the position they were in. "Not so clever now, are you?"
"Peter you don't know what you're doing," begged Hermione.
Peter smiled. "I know exactly what I'm doing." He raised his wand and Hermione closed her eyes and braced herself for the spell that never came. She heard someone coming fast from their left. Both she and Peter turned just a second before a body rammed into Peter, sending them both to the floor.
Remus didn't bother using his wand to jinx Peter. He hit him first in the stomach, causing Peter to double over and then his fist connected with Peter's jaw.
Peter and her wand went flying. Hermione quickly picked hers up and pointed it at Peter, but she couldn't get a clear shot. She could only watch as her boyfriend pummeled Peter into pulp. At one point Peter managed to throw a punch that connected with Remus' side, but it only served the purpose of angering him further.
"Remus, stop," shouted Hermione. "It's enough." She could hear people beginning to come down the hall and she was afraid their professors would be in the throng.
Remus ignored her. He pulled Peter to his feet and threw him against the wall. "You did try to kill her didn't you?" snarled Remus.
"Fight," someone yelled from down the hall. Immediately people rushed toward them.
Hermione put her hand on Remus' arm. Peter glanced over Remus' shoulder at the fifteen or so students advancing on them. "Get off of me, werewolf," he shouted.
There was an immediate hush. Hermione gasped loudly and tightened her hold on Remus. He stood and stared at Peter, whose lips had curled into a small smile. Remus took several steps away from Peter, feeling the eyes of everyone on his back.
Peter slumped down the wall. "Beating me to a bloody pulp won't stop me from telling everyone the truth, Remus," said Peter loudly. "The whole school's going to know what you are."
Remus rushed forward, but Hermione threw herself between them. "Don't," she whispered fiercely. "You'll only make things worse." She pushed him back, trying to lead him away. His whole body was limp and he allowed her to maneuver him away. Without releasing her hold on Remus, she turned to Peter and said lowly, so no one else could hear, "I swear I will make you pay for this. Not even Voldemort will be able to protect you from me."
Peter's eyes grew wide and she wasn't sure if it was from her threat or for her use of the Dark Lord's name. She didn't care. She led Remus away and was pained to see how the students parted as he neared. Remus either didn't notice or didn't care about their response.
She got him back to Gryffindor Tower as fast as she could. They went straight to his room, which was thankfully empty. He sat heavily on his bed. She watched him carefully, not sure what to say or where to begin.
"It's over," he said quietly. "The letters will come tomorrow or the next day and I'll be expelled by Monday."
"No," said Hermione forcefully. She sat next to him and took his bruised hand in her own. He winced as she made contact with his scraped knuckles. She held his hand gentler and brought it to her lips and kissed it softly. "You won't be expelled. Dumbledore won't allow it. You've done nothing wrong."
His shoulders slumped. "Nobody's going to want their kid attending school with a werewolf. It's okay," he said and his voice sounded dead. "I always knew this day might come. I can accept it."
"Don't talk like that," begged Hermione. "We'll get through this. It might not be as bad as you think it will. You're very popular and James and Sirius will stand by you." She had started to cry. "I'll hex anyone who bothers you."
This brought a small smile to his face. "So I can look forward to hiding behind my girlfriend and my two best friends for the rest of my life."
"Don't joke," she cried. "Oh, this is all my fault."
"No, it's not," he said reassuringly. He pulled her into his arms. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"
"No, but Remus, he's turned on us. Peter's a Death Eater. I overheard him talking to Snape. They're plotting for Voldemort."
"Plotting what?"
"I don't know. Peter's been sneaking around. He knows I was going to go to the Ministry. He told Snape."
"Do you think he knows you're from the future?" asked Remus.
"No, I don't think he knows that yet. Remus, what are we going to do?"
"I don't know," said Remus softly, holding her even closer. They were interrupted by thunderous footsteps coming toward them. The door burst open, admitting Sirius, James, and Lily. They all looked at each other.
"You've heard then," said Remus quietly.
"Everyone's talking about it in the common room," acknowledged James.
"That was quick," said Remus bitterly.
"Apparently there were four or five Gryffindors who watched you beat the crap out of Peter and then heard him call you a werewolf. They're downstairs putting all the pieces together now," said Sirius.
"We got bombarded with questions as soon as we came into the common room," said Lily.
"We ran right up," finished James.
"Why were you fighting," demanded Lily.
"He was about to attack, Hermione," explained Remus. "He's a Death Eater."
Lily shot a look at Hermione. Hermione was surprised to see distrust in her eyes. "Why would you say that?"
"I overheard him talking to Snape," said Hermione. "They're plotting something for the Dark Lord."
"I don't believe it," said Lily doubtfully.
"Believe it, Lily," said James. "There's more going on here than you know."
"Then explain it to me, James," she shouted. "I'm sick and tired of being in the dark. The four of you have something going on and I don't like being left out."
James looked at Hermione, who shook her head slowly.
Lily narrowed her eyes. "You're getting permission from her," she said coldly. "I didn't think we kept secrets from each other," she said to James.
"It's not his secret to tell," interrupted Sirius.
"I wish I could tell you, Lily," said Hermione. "But I can't." She paused. "Dumbledore won't allow it," lied Hermione.
"So Dumbledore know?"
"Yes," said Hermione quickly, seeing how that news seemed to relieve Lily somewhat.
"I hate to change the subject," interrupted Sirius. "But what are we going to do about Remus?"
Lily and James turned sympathetic looks on Remus. He stood up angrily, nearly knocking Hermione backwards on his bed. "Don't do that," he said sharply. "I don't want your pity. I don't want it and I don't need it."
"We not pitying you, Moony," said James calmly. "We're just worried about you."
"Well don't," snapped Remus. "I'll be damned if I let Peter ruin my life." Hermione smiled widely behind him. Anger was definitely better than self- pity and depression.
"That's right," she agreed. "We won't let him win. Whatever happens, we'll deal with together."
Remus turned to face her. "Together?" he asked.
She nodded. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise." He opened his arms and she went willingly into them. "I promise," she repeated.
The five friends stayed up talking late into the night. At one point Lily and James went down to the common room and yelled at everyone to go to bed, but they both came back almost immediately. At around two in the morning Lily reluctantly said goodnight. Eventually Sirius and James got into their own beds and fell asleep quickly, leaving Hermione and Remus relatively alone.
"I guess I should get back to my room," said Hermione.
"Stay," said Remus.
She smiled. "I shouldn't."
He took her hand and wove his fingers through her own. "I don't want to be alone tonight," he said quietly.
"All right," she agreed reluctantly. "Let me just go get changed."
Remus moved over to his trunk and pulled an over-large shirt from it. "You can wear this if you want," he said, offering it to her.
She took it with a smile. "Turn around," she ordered. He did obediently. He could hear her shuffling behind him. "Okay, I'm done," she announced.
He turned back to find her in his T-shirt, in his bed, with the cover pulled up over her legs. He took a deep breath before joining her in the bed and drawing the curtains around them. He settled next to her and reached for the bottom of his own shirt. "Do you mind?" She shook her head and he pulled his shirt off and tossed it through the curtains. They laid back on the bed, both their heads resting on his pillow. He wrapped his arms around her and turned her away from him so they were settled comfortably against each other.
"I love you," he whispered into the darkness.
"Not as much as I love you," she replied pulling his arm tighter around her and closing her eyes.
