While he waited for Dumbledore to arrive, Remus demanded that his friends fill him in on everything he had missed while he had been in his coma. Reluctantly they filled him in and nobody came off very well.

"How could you do that to her?" Remus asked angrily. "You should have been taking care of her while I couldn't."

"We know," said James. "Believe me, we feel awful about what happened."

"She was so tired," said Lily miserably. "She just kept saying that she had an awful day and…"

"What else happened that day?" demanded Remus.

Lily looked at her husband anxiously and then turned back to Remus. "She was here before she came to us. James and Sirius talked to your parents when we started looking for her and found out that your mother and Hermione had words."

"What?" asked Remus through clenched teeth.

"Now don't get upset," warned Lily.

"Don't get upset," scoffed Remus. "I thought I could count on you guys to take care of her if anything ever happened to me."

"You can," said Lily.

"Obviously not," he replied angrily.

"Remus," began James, stepping forward and putting a reassuring hand on his wife's shoulder. "We made a mistake and we're doing everything we can to find her. But I don't think she wants to be found."

"I'll find her," promised Remus.

As he said this, Dumbledore walked into the room. "I'm delighted to see you awake, Mr. Lupin," he said with a warm smile.

"James, Lily, Sirius, can you give me a minute with Professor Dumbledore?" asked Remus. The three friends immediately stood and left the room. Remus waited until they closed the door before addressing Dumbledore. "Professor, where is Hermione?"

"She's safe," he assured him.

"Safe where?" insisted Remus.

"When you're well enough to travel, arrangements can be made for you to join her," said Dumbledore. "Until then, I'm afraid it would be unwise to disclose her location."

Remus started to get out of bed. "I'm well enough to travel now."

"Remus, you must conserve your strength," said Dumbledore. "You've just been through a tremendous ordeal. Your body…"

"I won't be able to rest until I see her and know she's safe," Remus interrupted. "So either you take me to her or I'll find her myself," he said.

"Very well, Remus, but you must rest for at least a few days."

"No," said Remus. "From what Lily's told me, she's been alone for months. I have to see her and she would want to know I was okay."

Dumbledore nodded in agreement. "She only agreed to go if I promised to allow her to return if there was any change in your condition."

"Then bring her back," said Remus, thinking this was a much better plan.

"I can't. She's doing important work for the Order and her mission's at a critical stage. Even she would acknowledge that she can't abandon it."

"Then you'll just have to take me to her," said Remus, but he could tell Dumbledore was still hesitating. "I swear I'll rest once I see her. I'll do anything you ask. Please."

"Very well," agreed Dumbledore. "We'll go in the morning." Remus started to protest. "That's your only option Remus," said Dumbledore sternly. "You will rest until then and I will make the arrangements to send you to Hermione."

"Thank you," said Remus.

"You're welcome," said Dumbledore. "Now rest. I'll speak with your parents and return in the morning." Dumbledore left the room and Remus fell back against his pillow. He wouldn't admit it to anyone, but he was exhausted and felt like he could sleep for an eternity.

Once Dumbledore left, James, Sirius, and Lily returned to the room. "Did Dumbledore tell you where she was?" asked Sirius immediately.

Remus shook his head. "No, but he's taking me to her in the morning."

"Remus, you're too weak," protested Lily.

"Then he did know," said James indignantly at the same time.

Remus ignored Lily. "He says she's on a mission for the Order."

"I wonder if it has anything to do with Snivellus. Maybe that's why she was meeting him," said Sirius.

"Whatever she's doing," began Remus. "You can bet it's dangerous. And I don't plan on leaving without her."

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Hermione was out of bed as soon as the sun started to peak over the hillside. She hadn't been to bed until very late, but she had gotten herself used to operating on very little sleep. Most of her days consisted of sitting and waiting and she didn't require a whole lot of energy to do that.

Per her routine, she paid the three owls that delivered various newspapers to her every morning and then went to her small kitchen to conjure a cup of tea, coffee when she had a rough morning, and made breakfast.

She was almost through the first paper, when she heard a noise at the front of the cottage. She pulled her wand out of her pocket and set her tea cup down. Cautiously she moved along the wall and slipped out of the kitchen. She could hear someone in the front hall so she made her way out the back door and circled the cottage to the front door.

The door was still open, so she let herself back in and found herself staring at the back of a man who was leaning wearily against the wall, beside what appeared to be a small carpet bag.

"Who are you?" she said in a low threatening voice.

The man jumped a little and started to turn.

"Don't move," she ordered. "Just tell me who you are and how the hell you got in here."

"Hermione, it's me, Remus," he said.

Hermione gritted her teeth. "You're not Remus," she said. "And if you tell me another lie it will be the last thing you say."

"Honey, it's me," he turned very slowly and faced her.

A rage filled Hermione when she saw the face of the person she loved more than anyone in the world. "How did you get a piece of him?" she demanded.

"What?" he asked incredulously.

"For the Polyjuice Potion," she said. "How did you do it? Because I swear, whoever you are, if you hurt him…"

"Hermione, it's me. Professor Dumbledore brought me. Professor," he called out.

Hermione tightened her grip on her wand and felt a moment's indecision. Part of her wanted to stun whoever it was and ask questions later, but another part of her froze. Within seconds, Professor Dumbledore stood behind Remus.

"Professor," she asked uncertainly.

"It's me, Hermione," said Professor Dumbledore. "You don't need to worry. The only way anyone could find you is through me. And I shared the secret of your location with Remus." He could see that she was still uncertain. "Our agreement was that you could come home if there was a change in his condition."

"But I can't leave now," she said.

"So I brought him to you," said Professor Dumbledore. "I'm sorry we startled you. It's why I asked him to wait in the front of the house. I wanted to ease the shock for you, but it appears you're getting as good at detection as Alastor Moody."

Hermione wasn't listening to Dumbledore anymore. Her entire focus was on Remus. "Remus," she mouthed silently.

He nodded and took a cautious step toward her. In less than a second, Hermione crossed the room and closed the gap between the two of them. She threw herself into his arms, nearly causing them both to fall. She couldn't speak for several minutes. She just held onto him, trying to reassure herself that he was really here.

After a few minutes, Dumbledore gently interjected. "Hermione, we need to let Remus sit. He's been through a lot in the last twenty-four hours.

"Oh," exclaimed Hermione, recovering her wits. "Of course. Come, sit down." She led Remus to the small kitchen and made him sit in one of the two chairs. Once he was seated, she didn't release him. She touched his arm, his shoulder, anything not to lose contact.

"How are you?" he asked.

"Me," she laughed. "I'm fine. How are you?"

"I'm better, now that I've seen you. When you weren't there when I woke up…"

"I'm so sorry," she interrupted. "I didn't want to leave you. I…"

"Shh," he hushed her. "I know everything. You don't have to explain a thing." He put his hands on her waist and brought her closer. "I couldn't rest until I knew you were okay."

"You must be exhausted," she said brushing a lock of hair off his forehead. "You look so tired." Remus leaned into her touch and closed his eyes.

"Hermione," interrupted Dumbledore. "Remus has only just recovered. He'll be weak for some time. But he's chosen to recover here and I hope in time he can be of some assistance to you."

"Then I can fill him in on the mission?" she asked.

Dumbledore nodded. "But not right away. I suggest he go to bed and rest. I will allow you to use your judgment on when to fill him in on the details of your mission. You have some time. Your next meeting isn't scheduled for another ten days. That should be enough time for Remus to regain some of his strength."

"Thank you, Professor," said Hermione. "For everything."

"I'll leave you two now," he said. "You know how to reach me if you need anything."

"Let me walk you out, Professor," said Hermione, but Remus seemed reluctant to let her go.

"That's okay, my dear. I can find my own way out. Goodbye."

"Goodbye," they both replied.

Once Dumbledore left, Hermione took a hold of Remus' hands and helped him stand. "Come on," she said. "I'm going to put you to bed."

She led him into her room. It was the only bedroom in the cottage. "Sorry the bed's not made," she said. "I wasn't expecting company."

"Don't worry about it," he replied, sitting down. She sat next to him.

"It's been so long," she said. "It almost doesn't feel real."

Remus put one hand on the side of her face and leaned over and kissed her. He lingered over her lips, tasting her again as if for the first time. Hermione melted into him, closing the gap between them. "Does that feel real?" he asked softly.

She nodded. "How long can you stay, really?" she asked.

"Forever," he replied.

She smiled. "Promise?"

He nodded. "Promise."

Reluctantly, she pulled away from him and went back to the front of the house to get his bag. Then she helped him change and put him into the bed. "Can I get you anything?" she asked once he was settled. "Are you hungry or thirsty?"

"No," he replied. "Just come here. Stay with me, I can't let you out of my sight yet." Hermione readily joined him in bed, cuddling close to him.

"I missed you," she said. "Some nights I would lie awake and it hurt so much that you weren't next to me."

"That's never going to happen again," he reassured her. "We've been through enough. Things are going to be better for us. We're going to get married and then nobody will separate us ever again."

"Do you remember that month in our first flat?" she asked. "Wasn't it perfect then?"

He nodded, smiling at the memories. "We'll have that again. We'll have a place where neither the Ministry or Voldemort will be able to find us. Or my parents," he added bitterly. Hermione didn't say anything. "I know what my mother did to you," he said quietly. "It will never happen again."

"I'm not angry with your mother," said Hermione. "Everything she said was the truth. I did lie."

"Not to me," said Remus strongly. "And you don't owe her the truth."

"She's your mother," she said. "And my future mother-in-law, maybe we ought to tell her the truth."

"You know what," he said turning to her. "I don't actually want to talk about my mother right now. I just want to hold you."

"You are holding me," she reminded him with a smile. They lay together in comfortable silence for a long time before Hermione broached a question. "Remus," she began. "There's something I have to tell you." She waited. "Remus?" She lifted her head slightly and could see that he'd fallen asleep. She didn't even bother trying to extricate herself from his arms. She just relaxed and listened to the happy sound of his steady breathing.

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As Remus began to wake, he swore he could feel somebody's eyes on him. Slowly he opened one eye and smiled when he saw Hermione's smiling face.

"Morning," she said softly. "Or perhaps I should say good evening."

"What time is it?" he asked sleepily.

"Nearly seven," she replied.

"It's so late," he said, stretching and reaching out for Hermione and pulling her closer.

"I didn't want to wake you," she said, stroking his stubbly cheek.

"Have you been here this whole time?" he asked.

She nodded. "I fell asleep for a little while, but mostly I just watched over you."

"That's my job," he protested with a smile.

"It's my job too," she returned. "Are you hungry?" she asked, changing the subject.

Remus nodded. "But I'm not sure what I can handle. It's been a while since I've had solid food."

"Don't worry," said Hermione. She disentangled herself from his arms and got up. "I'll find something suitable." She returned in a few minutes with a tray and set it on a table near the bed. "Just try a little," she cautioned him. She leaned over and kissed him. "I'm going to get you well again," she promised.

While Remus ate, Hermione bustled around the bedroom getting things together. She made room in her dresser and closet for Remus' things. The small bag Remus had brought with him had been charmed to hold most of his personal belongings. Hermione happily hung his robes next to hers and turned the rest of her bedroom into their bedroom.

Remus ate very little. Mostly he watched her and felt a tremendous wave of peace wash over him. Their relationship had been full of one dramatic upheaval after another, but now it felt like they might actually be able to have a normal life together. He had always been afraid to look too far into their future. He preferred to stay in the moment because no matter what she said, he really didn't know how long they had. And now for the first time Remus let himself think about their future together. He could see her with his ring on her finger, with his baby on her hip, with their grandchildren surrounding them.

"What are you thinking about?" asked Hermione when she saw him watching her.

"Us," he replied.

"No wonder you're smiling."

"Come here," he said, patting the space next to him. She sat next to him. He took her hand and kissed it lightly. "I love you."

"I love you too," she said back.

"I'm glad," he said, "because I want to marry you."

She laughed. "I know. I want to marry you too."

"Tomorrow," he finished.

Hermione froze.

"Don't look so nervous, honey," he said with a laugh. "I thought you wanted to get married."

"Oh I do," she said, recovering her voice. "But Remus, we can't just get married tomorrow, even by muggle law. We need to file notice and then you have to wait at least fourteen days."

"I did file notice," he replied.

"What?"

"Months ago, when we first talked about getting married. And our muggle license is valid for one year."

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked.

"I was hoping we wouldn't need it. I guess, ultimately, I wanted you to have a traditional wizard's wedding. I thought you deserved that, but I can't wait for them to repeal that law. I have to marry you before another thing happens." He paused and added a little half heartedly. "But if you have your heart set on a big wedding…"

"I'm muggle born," she interrupted him. "And I'm not one of those girl's who dreamed of a big fancy wedding. I couldn't ask for more than marrying the sweetest, most resourceful," she leaned over and kissed him, "most handsome man I've ever known."

"So you'll marry me tomorrow?" he asked cautiously.

She nodded. "I will."

They spent the rest of the night talking about their future together until they fell asleep sometime after midnight. In the morning they apparated to the muggle part of town and were married. Their witnesses were two muggles they had never met before. The ceremony was simple to the point of being plain, yet they both felt it was the most beautiful moment of their lives.

Once they were married, Remus couldn't wait to get his new wife back to their temporary home. They apparated back to the cottage and for a moment stared at each other almost shyly. Then Hermione held out her hand and Remus took it. "My husband," she whispered before kissing him and pulling him into their bedroom.

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A few days after they were married, Hermione found herself bustling around their kitchen trying to cook dinner. Her marriage had released feelings of domesticity she hadn't known she had. She waved her wand and set the table with china and candles. Then she twirled her wand again and transported the food to the plates on the table.

"Remus," she called. "Dinner." She was very anxious to have a nice dinner because she had something very important to discuss with her husband. She had wanted to tell him everything about her mission on the first day, but then they had gotten married and nothing seemed important but that. Now, however, she was running out of time. In a few short days they would be receiving a visitor and Hermione wanted Remus to be prepared.

Remus entered the kitchen, looking tired as usual, but very happy. He smiled at his wife, kissed her, and sat down.

"Everything looks delicious," he commented. "I like the candles," he noted.

"Thank you," she replied sweetly. "Eat," she commanded. "Before it gets cold."

"Yes ma'am," he said quickly. They ate in silence for a few minutes before Remus spoke. "I wrote to my parents this morning," he said.

"Oh," replied Hermione in surprise.

"Yes," he continued. "I told them we were married."

"Have you heard any reply?" asked Hermione, trying to keep her voice even.

"Not yet," replied Remus. "I'm not certain I will."

"Your mother will write," Hermione reassured him. "She loves you very much."

"Yes," acknowledged Remus. "But she doesn't respect me or my choices. And that's all I really want from her at the moment. No matter what her reaction is, I want you to know that you come first in my life. That's what my vows meant to me. I won't allow her to treat you badly."

Hermione smiled thankfully at him. "Who knows," she said, trying to lighten the tone of the conversation. "Maybe now that we're married, she'll come around."

"Maybe, but it doesn't matter to me if she doesn't."

Hermione thought it best not to call her husband a liar. She knew Remus loved both his parents a great deal and he desperately wanted their approval, but she also knew that no one was more important to him than she was and nothing would change that.

"Have you written to James and Lily or Sirius yet?" she asked, trying to change the subject.

"No," said Remus. "Have you?"

"No. I kind of like the idea of showing up at Godric's Hollow married and surprising them."

"That might be fun," said Remus. "James will be green with envy."

"Why do you say that?" asked Hermione with a laugh.

"Well, I didn't have to go through any of the things he did to get you to marry me. Do you have any idea how many shops Lily dragged James to trying to find the perfect set of robes for him to be married in?"

"If I recall correctly, I got dragged into a few of those shops myself," replied Hermione.

"True," acknowledged Remus. "But nearly as many as James, I sure did dodge a bullet."

"Watch it," warned Hermione, but she was smiling.

"This is really good," said Remus.

"Don't act so surprised," said Hermione. "I was bound to get it right eventually." Her first few tries at cooking hadn't been as successful. "Remus," she said, clearing her throat. "There was something I wanted to talk to you about."

"Yeah?"

"Yes, umm… something I wanted to tell you from the first day Dumbledore brought you here, something about why I'm here."

Remus looked up with interest. They hadn't discussed anything about her mission and he hadn't wanted to press her. He knew she would tell him everything at the right time.

"Right," she mumbled. "This is probably going to be a little surprising for you."

"Honey," he began, reaching across the table and taking her hand in his. "Just tell me. It can't be too bad."

"We're going to be getting some company in a few days," said Hermione. "He's a spy, a Death Eater who decided to join our side. He comes here to pass along information and he usually stays for a day or two, sometimes more depending on the reason he gives his friends for his trips."

"I see," said Remus evenly. "Why does he stay so long?" he asked. "Surely he can pass along any information he has in a few hours."

"Well you see," continued Hermione, "that's part of the cover. If anyone asks, he tells them he's visiting a very close friend, if you catch what I'm saying, and that explains why he's gone overnight. Dumbledore thought that would raise less suspicion than if he just met me somewhere for a few hours and returned to his associates."

"I see," repeated Remus.

"We tried meeting in secret at first," Hermione rushed on, "but we were caught."

"What?" exclaimed Remus.

"Caught by a member of the Order, not a Death Eater," explained Hermione hastily.

"Who?" asked Remus suspiciously.

"Sirius," said Hermione quietly. "He got very angry."

"Oh God," interrupted Remus. "Please don't tell me the spy is Snape."

Hermione looked down at her plate and didn't answer.

"Hermione," yelled Remus. "What were you thinking? Snape can't be trusted. He was one of the Death Eaters who held us at Malfoy Manor."

"He helped us escape," interrupted Hermione.

"James and Sirius helped us escape," said Remus.

"And Severus," added Hermione. "He was the one who told James and Sirius where to find us."

"I can't believe you're doing this," said Remus. "Do you have any idea how dangerous this is?"

"We're taking all the right precautions," argued Hermione. "The location of the cottage can only be revealed by Dumbledore, he's the secret keeper for our location and only Severus, you, and I know the secret."

"That's if Snape can be trusted," said Remus.

"And I'm telling you he can be," said Hermione. "Look, I know you boys have never gotten along, but there's more to Severus than any of you ever bothered to find out. He's sullen and cross, but he's not evil. And I have a long history with him, so you will just have to trust me."

"You're playing another one of your future cards, aren't you?" said Remus sulkily. "So I'm just supposed to accept this?"

"I hope you'll do more than that," said Hermione. "I hope you'll help me. Severus brings a lot of information, but it doesn't always make sense. Voldemort is very careful about his plans and he only tells his followers what they absolutely need to know. There are always a lot of holes in the stuff Severus tells me."

"Of course I'll help you," said Remus. "But don't expect me to like the fact that Snape is here." He paused. "Wait a minute. You said he stays two or more days. Does that mean he's spent the night here? Alone? With you?" With each word his voice got a little louder.

"Remus calm down," said Hermione. "He sleeps on the couch, not in my room."

"But Hermione," he said, clearly outraged. "He could have done anything to you. He's not trust worthy. He…"

Hermione stood and went around the table and put her hand over her husband's mouth. "Darling, I'm still in one piece. He obviously isn't a danger to me personally. Besides, I think I've proven I can take care of myself don't you."

Remus tried to speak, but Hermione wouldn't let him. Instead, she lowered herself onto his lap and kissed him. "Now, you don't really want to talk about Snape anymore, do you?" she asked moving her mouth from his lips to his ear. "Because there are so many other things I'd like to do tonight besides that."

"Hermione," began Remus, trying his best to keep his mind on their conversation, but the things Hermione was doing to him proved to be too distracting.

"Yes," she said. "You were saying?"

"I umm… I…," he stuttered.

"Yes," she prompted, as her hands explored lower and lower.

Remus moaned. "Not fair," he breathed deeply.

"I can stop if you want," she said, removing her hands from his body.

"Don't you dare," he growled. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer, then thought twice and stood, lifting her as he did.

"Remus," she shrieked, surprised but delighted at his sudden aggression. She shivered in anticipation as he carried her to their bedroom and kicked the door open.

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A/N: Merry Christmas to all!