"What do you mean you're leaving?" asked Snape angrily.
"There's something we need to check on at home," said Hermione. "You're welcome to stay here until you have to be back."
"And you can't owl home like a normal person?" he questioned.
"This is something that needs a face to face," replied Hermione.
"Hermione, need I remind you that we don't know when I'll be able to get away again. You can't just leave."
"I have to," said Hermione.
"Why?" demanded Snape.
Hermione paused. She wasn't exactly sure why she was feeling this desperate need to check on Lily. She just knew that she had to. "Because I do," answered Hermione.
"If you can't do this job anymore then maybe Dumbledore should replace you," said Snape, and Hermione heard the underlying threat.
"You do what you have to do, Severus," she replied quietly. "Remus and I will be leaving."
Remus entered the room, with a bag slung around his shoulder. "Ready?" he asked.
Hermione nodded.
"No problems, I trust," he said, looking directly at Snape.
"Nope," said Hermione quickly. "Let's go." They were heading about a half mile away from the house, just beyond the apparition wards and then they were going to apparate directly to Godric's Hollow.
"Remember," said Hermione. "Not a word about Lily's pregnancy. She probably doesn't even know she's pregnant yet."
"How can you be so sure?" asked Remus.
"Simple math," she replied. "Harry was born at the end of July, which means she has to be pregnant now."
"I suppose so," agreed Remus. "Not that I mind, but why do you have to see her? You know everything will be okay with the pregnancy."
"No, I don't," she said. "I've changed things, a lot of things. I have to make sure she carries Harry to term." Hermione paused and got a far off look on her face.
"What?" questioned Remus wearily.
Hermione smiled widely. "Molly Weasley's pregnant too, over four months."
Remus paused. "What about you, or uhh, your mum?"
Hermione smiled a little uncomfortably. "Technically my birthday was a month and a half ago."
Remus stared at her open mouthed. "Your birthday or your Birth Day?"
"Both."
"You mean there are two of you, now."
She nodded.
"Whoa," breathed Remus. "That's a bit much to take in."
"Tell me about it."
Remus looked around. "I think we've gone far enough," he said.
"Huh?"
"We can apparate now," said Remus. "Ready?"
Hermione nodded. "See you there," she said and apparated. Seeing the Potter's house brought a wide grin to Hermione's face. She hadn't seen them in months and she suddenly realized how much she missed them. Remus was watching her, seeing a peacefulness settle over her face, and he felt a rush of affection for his wife. She knocked on the front door and waited. In less than a minute it was flung open by Lily.
She stared in shock at her guests and then threw her arms around Hermione. "You're here?" she cried. "Remus, you did it. You brought her home. Oh I missed you so much." She pulled away. "James," she shouted. "James, come quick."
James came running from somewhere in the house. "Lily, what on earth," he said and then stopped short. "Hermione?"
"Hi," she laughed.
James approached and gave her a tight hug. "I'm so glad to see you," he said. "We were so worried."
"I'm fine," she said. "I'm so happy to see you too."
"Are you really?" he asked.
"Of course, James. I've missed you so much," she said.
"We've missed you too." He released Hermione and ushered her into the house. "Hi Remus," he said, greeting his best friend.
"Hey James," replied Remus.
"James, floo over to Sirius' apartment and make him come over," commanded Lily. "I'm going to make dinner for our family."
"Okay," agreed James. "Remus, why don't you come with me?" The boys left and Hermione went to help Lily prepare dinner.
"So how are you feeling?" asked Hermione as nonchalantly as she could.
"Never better," said Lily. "You know, despite all the madness surrounding us, I've never been happier."
"That's good," Hermione smiled.
"Yeah, I love being married," said Lily. "I mean it was hard at first, especially since we lost James' parents so early in our marriage."
"How's he doing with that?" asked Hermione.
"Better," said Lily. "We both still miss them so much, but it doesn't seem to hurt as much as it did."
"I miss them too," said Hermione, feeling a bit choked up. "They were so wonderful to me. They treated me like a daughter."
"They were like that," agreed Lily. "They sort of took in people who needed them. But anyway, what about you? How are you doing?"
"Really well," said Hermione.
"How have you been keeping yourself busy?" asked Lily.
"With work, nothing very interesting," she said evasively.
"Lily," called James from somewhere in the house.
"In the kitchen," she yelled back.
Hermione turned and waited. Within a few seconds the boys entered the kitchen. Hermione rushed forward and into Sirius' arms. He held her tightly for a long time.
Sirius let her go and held her at arms length. "Don't you ever do that again," he said sharply.
Hermione's eyes widened in surprise.
"I mean it, Hermione," said Sirius. "Don't ever disappear like that again. You have no idea what we went through."
"Sirius," began James.
"Promise me," he demanded, ignoring James.
"I promise," said Hermione quietly. "And I'm sorry."
Sirius nodded once and released her. "What's for dinner, Lily?" Everyone laughed.
"Why don't we go sit down," said Lily. They all went to sit, but Sirius stopped Hermione.
"I want to talk to you," he said.
"Okay, now?" she asked.
"No, later," said Sirius. "Alone, after dinner."
"Okay," said Hermione, hesitating a bit.
"Guys," called Lily. "Come on and eat."
They enjoyed one of the happiest dinners they had ever had. Everybody felt like they were home. When they finished eating, Remus cleared his throat and stood. "I have an announcement to make." He looked at Hermione who smiled and took his hand.
James, Sirius, and Lily looked at Remus. "Well, what is it?" asked Sirius.
"Actually, Hermione and I have an announcement," said Remus. He tugged Hermione to her feet and she started giggling.
"What are you laughing at?" he asked with a smile.
"Nothing," she giggled. "Go on, tell them."
He turned back to his friends and took a deep breath. "Hermione and I got married a few days ago." Hermione held out her hand and showed off her wedding ring as proof.
There was dead silence around the table. Hermione leaned close to her husband and whispered. "I think they're in shock."
"Oh my God," laughed Lily. "That's wonderful."
James stood and clapped Remus on the back, then hugged Hermione. "Congratulations, you two," he said.
Sirius stood as well and hugged both of them. "Congratulations," he said. "I know you both will be very happy."
"Thank you," said Remus. "I'll do my best to make sure that happens."
Lily sat back in her chair. "Now all we have to do is find Sirius a girl and we'll just be three old married couples."
"Think again," said Sirius. "I will be a bachelor for life."
"You just say that because you haven't met the right girl," insisted Lily.
"You're probably right," he replied softly, glancing over at Hermione.
Lily yawned suddenly. "Oh man, I'm so tired lately," she sighed. "I think I'll just get the guest room ready for you guys," she said, standing. "Sirius, do you want to stay?"
He stood. "No, I'm going to get back to my place. But I'll come over in the morning for breakfast," he said with a smile.
"Goodnight, Sirius," said Lily, rolling her eyes.
"Night, Lil," he replied.
"James, do you think I could talk to you for a few minutes?" Remus asked suddenly.
"Yeah, sure," James replied. "We'll see you tomorrow morning, Sirius."
"Night," said Sirius. "Oh and Remus, I'm glad you're home."
"Me too," said Remus. "Night."
Once everyone had cleared the room, Sirius turned to Hermione. "Want to come outside for a few minutes?" She nodded and followed him out.
"It's beautiful tonight," she said, breathing in the chilly fall air. Then she shivered. "But cold," she added.
Sirius stepped behind her and rubbed her shoulders. She stiffened slightly at his touch. "What did you want to talk about, Sirius?" she asked quietly.
Sirius felt her tension and dropped his hands to his sides. "There's something I need to know," he said.
"What?"
"Why did you leave?" he asked.
Hermione didn't answer right away so he continued.
"I can't forget what our last conversation was about," he said. "I said awful things to you. It would serve me right if you never forgave me. For months all I could see every night before I went to bed was your face. I never saw so much hurt in it before and I did that."
"No, Sirius," said Hermione. "You're not responsible for me leaving."
"Hermione, I accused you of being a traitor."
Hermione flinched at the memory. "You didn't know."
"That's no excuse. If you were meeting with bloody Voldemort I should have given you the benefit of the doubt."
"Sirius, it wasn't the only reason I left. I needed some distance from everything. It doesn't say much about my character, but I just couldn't stay here and watch Remus die and I did think he was going to die," she said and took a deep breath. "If he had it would have been my fault. I just couldn't watch it happen. I am so sorry that I made you worry so much, and James and Lily. It was selfish."
Sirius gazed at her, his heart full of affection. "If anyone has a right to be selfish once in a while, it's you."
Hermione put her arms around him and hugged him tightly. He held her back and for a little while neither of them spoke. "You know," Sirius spoke up finally. "Once upon a time I fancied myself in love with you."
"I know," she said softly. "And now?"
"Well I'd be a fool to be in love with someone who was so obviously in love with someone else."
Hermione pulled away from him. "Sirius," she began. "You are so special to me and I love you. You, more than anyone, helped fill the whole in my heart that Ron and Harry left. You've watched out for me just like they did and you've supported the decisions I've made."
"And I always will," he said. "You know, I really am very happy for you and Remus. I've known him a long time and I've never seen him so content. You're the best thing that ever happened to him."
"He's everything to me," she said. They stood in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Sirius broke it.
"I better get home," he said. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Okay," she replied. "Good night, Sirius." She waited until he had apparated before returning to the house. Remus was the only one waiting for her.
"Did Sirius leave?" he asked immediately.
Hermione nodded. "Are you ready for bed?"
"So you're not going to tell me what that was all about?" he asked.
"We were just talking, Remus," she replied.
Remus stared at the floor. "He thinks he's in love with you," he said quietly.
"Maybe, once upon a time," she said, repeating Sirius' words to Remus. "But he'd be a fool to be in love with someone who was so obviously in love with someone else."
Remus looked up and smiled. Hermione went to him and put her arms around his neck. "When are you going to realize that you are the only man for me? How much convincing do you need?"
Remus kissed her lightly. "Maybe just a little more."
"Maybe I should do a little convincing tonight," she suggested.
He lifted her easily into his arms and she gasped, tightening her hold on him. "I definitely need some convincing tonight," he said, then carried her into the bedroom.
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The next morning, while they all sat and ate breakfast, Hermione received an owl. She read the note and then folded it and put it in her pocket.
"Dumbledore knows we're here," she announced.
"That rat," began Remus, but shut up quickly when Hermione threw him a cold stare. No one could know anything about Severus, not even their three closest friends.
"What's Dumbledore want?" asked Sirius at the same time Remus spoke.
"He wants to see me," replied Hermione. "Today."
"What about?" asked James.
Hermione shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "I guess I'll find out when I go to Hogwarts."
"Do you want me to come with you?" asked Remus.
"No, that's okay," replied Hermione. "He just wants to talk to me."
"I don't mind," said Remus.
"No, really it's not necessary," Hermione assured him. She pushed back her chair and stood. "I better get going. The note seemed urgent. I'll just take the floo."
Remus stood and followed her out of the room. "Hermione wait."
"Remus it's not a big deal. I'm sure Severus told him we left and he's just checking to make sure everything's all right."
"I'm going to come with you," he insisted. "Who knows what kind of spin Severus put on it."
"Fine," said Hermione, not wanting to argue. "But I'm going to talk to him and you are going to wait for me."
"Hermione," protested Remus.
"Sorry honey, but this is my problem. This is my assignment and I'm the one who decided to leave it. I'm not going to let Dumbledore think you had anything to do with that decision."
"I don't care. I'm going," he said stubbornly.
"Fine," said Hermione, feeling exasperated. "But you'll wait for me outside Dumbledore's office. I mean it, Remus," she hurried on when he started to protest. Then her eyes brightened. "Oooh, I have a great idea."
"What?" he asked warily.
She leaned in very close to him. "Why don't I meet you in the Room of Requirement? You do remember how to get there, don't you?"
He nodded. "All right," he agreed reluctantly. "But you better tell me everything that happened as soon as you get there."
"Trust me, honey. The last thing you'll want to talk about is Dumbledore when I get up there."
They flooed together to Hogwarts and Hermione went to her meeting with Dumbledore while Remus did his best to skirt the teachers and students all over the castle on his way to the Room of Requirements. He had no real desire to explain where he was going to anyone. He made it all the way upstairs without encountering anyone, one couldn't be friends with James and Sirius without picking up ways of getting through the castle undetected, and entered the Room of Requirements.
He wasn't sure what Hermione had in mind when she told him to head up to the Room of Requirements, but he was pretty sure it wasn't what he saw.
The room was empty except for one thing. In the center of the room was a particularly large mirror. The mirror was as high as the ceiling with a gold frame and was standing on two clawed feet. Remus stepped forward to examine the mirror more closely. Inscribed along the top of its frame was writing. As near as he could tell, the writing said, "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi."
Remus looked into the mirror and saw Hermione standing next to him. He turned quickly, but no one else was in the room with him. He turned back to the mirror, and stared in fascination. The image of Hermione was still there. They were standing together holding hands. After a few seconds other people began appearing in the mirror. First, his mother and father were there. They hugged and kissed both him and Hermione and then moved out of the frame. Next came James and Lily, followed by Sirius. They also greeted them warmly before moving away. One by one, people Remus knew approached his mirror image and greeted him including Professor Dumbledore and the Minister of Magic. Remus had never felt such acceptance in his life and he couldn't turn away from the image.
He wasn't even aware of the passage of time. He just kept staring into the mirror. He didn't notice when Hermione entered the room.
"I'm sorry I took so long," she was saying as she entered the room, "but Dumbledore…" she trailed off when she saw her surroundings. "Remus what is this? This wasn't exactly what I had in mind." She saw him staring into the tall mirror. "Remus?" she said as she moved closer.
Remus either didn't hear her or was ignoring her.
"Remus," she repeated, more forcefully this time. She touched his shoulder. "Remus, can you hear me?"
Finally, he turned toward her. His eyes had a far off look in them. "Hermione?"
"Remus, what are you doing?" she asked, her voice full of concern.
"Nothing," he said softly. "I was just waiting for you." He turned back to the mirror. "I found this."
Hermione scanned the mirror and felt nervous. She knew what she was looking at and she also knew Remus had been here alone too long, staring into it. She started tugging on his arm. "Remus, come away from the mirror."
"Hermione, you have to see this. It's amazing!" he said, ignoring her.
"No. Honey, please get away from it."
He resisted her and instead pulled her closer. "Look," he said. "Do you see us?"
Hermione didn't look into the mirror. She stared at her husband's transfixed face and wondered if she was going to have to get help to drag him away. Ron had told her about this mirror. He had told her about Harry's reaction to it and being Hermione she had gone to the library and read everything she could about the Mirror of Erised. Nothing she had read made her comfortable with her husband staring into it.
"Hermione, stop," said Remus as she tried to pull him away. He grabbed her and pulled her in front of the mirror. "Look," he insisted. "Do you see them all?"
Hermione, of course, didn't see what Remus saw. What she saw frightened and fascinated her all at once. "Remus please," she shouted, breaking the serene spell the room had cast.
Remus looked down at his wife and saw her face was very white. "Hermione, are you okay?" he asked in concern.
"No," she said, turning her face away from the mirror. "I want to go, please," she begged.
"Okay," he agreed reluctantly. He took one last long look into the mirror, before letting Hermione drag him away.
They were out of the castle before either of them spoke. "What was that mirror?" asked Remus. "I've never seen anything like it."
"It's called the Mirror of Erised," replied Hermione.
"Erised?" questioned Remus.
She nodded. "It's supposed to show you the deepest most desperate desire of your heart," she said. "It shows you the thing you desire more than anything else."
Remus nodded. "Wow," he whispered. "It was amazing. I feel like I could have stared into it forever."
"That's right," snapped Hermione. "It's not a toy. You could waste your life staring into that mirror."
Remus felt taken aback at her sudden sharp tone.
"Promise me you won't ever look into that mirror again," she demanded.
"Hermione, aren't you overreacting just a little bit?" Remus asked. "It's not that big a deal."
"You said you could stare into that mirror forever," she pointed out. "Wizards have, some have even gone mad staring into it. Promise you'll stay away from it."
"I promise," he said quickly, seeing how upset she was. Then a thought occurred to him. "What did you see?" he asked. "It certainly didn't look like you were enjoying it."
"I didn't see anything," she said.
"Come on, Hermione," he said playfully. "I'll tell you what I saw if you tell me what you saw." He waited. "If it helps, you were there with me," he said and he touched her cheek affectionately. "Was I there with you?"
She evaded his touch. "I think we've talked quite enough about that mirror. Why don't we go to Hogsmeade and do a little window shopping," she suggested and was already walking toward the village before Remus could answer.
Remus stared at her retreating back and suddenly he wasn't sure if he wanted an answer to his question.
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A/N: It has been a very long time since I've thanked any reviewers individually. It is nearly impossible to do so now, so I will just extend a very special thank you to everyone whose reviewed, whether it's been one time or 48. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
