Hermione slowly drifted back to consciousness. Her head hurt and someone was shouting. She turned her head from side to side trying to figure out where she was. As far as she could tell she was lying in a bed, in someone's arms, in a sterile looking room. She didn't know where she was, but it definitely wasn't Hogwarts.
Suddenly she remembered what had happened and her hands flew to her stomach. Her belly was still large and round, but she couldn't feel any movement. Her hands pressed into her sides, pushing and prodding to the point of pain. Then to her great joy she felt the familiar movement. She uttered a strangled sort of gasp as she felt her child moving within her.
Now that she knew her baby was safe and still inside her, she let herself think back to the moments before her collapse in Dumbledore's office. Her blood ran cold as she remembered the chilling words of the prophecy. A baby boy born at the end of July would be responsible for ridding the wizarding world of the most evil wizard who had ever walked among them.
Hermione felt sick and angry and guilty all at once. Harry must have known about the Prophecy. How could he not have? Yet he had never told her or Ron. Probably because of some misguided attempt at protecting them. The worst part of it all was that she had been trying to save him from a life that he now seemed destined to have no matter what she did. She had risked everything for him.
She sunk into her pillow feeling despair threatening to overwhelm. She had been so damned arrogant. She actually believed she could save them all. Now, thanks to the prophecy, Voldemort wouldn't stop until he killed them all.
'No', she thought, 'she had made things much worse.' Not only were the Potters and Longbottoms doomed to their fate, but now she had put herself, Remus and their unborn child in the same danger. 'Terrible things happen to wizards who try to change time,' she thought bitterly to herself.
There was more shouting coming from outside the room she was in. She sat up and was about to try getting out of bed when the door burst opened. Sirius and James were pushing their way inside her room, being held off by two wizards dressed in what appeared to be Healer robes.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"You can't be in here," one of the Healer's shouted indignantly. "You haven't permission."
"We've got all the permission we need," Sirius snarled back, throwing the Healer off him and to the floor.
"Sirius," gasped Hermione.
"Come on, Hermione," he said reaching her bedside. "It's time to go."
"Go? Where? Why?" she felt confused and it was making her nervous. She had woken up alone in a strange room. Remus wasn't by her side and now James and Sirius were fighting Healer's and dragging her out of bed.
"Can you walk?" asked Sirius.
"Yes, of course." Then she hissed as her bare feet hit the cold floor. "What's going on, Sirius?" she demanded. "And where's Remus?"
"We've got to get you out of here," said James. He had pulled out his wand and was pointing it at the now still Healers, one of whom was still on the floor.
"That's enough," said Hermione. "I'm not going anywhere until you answer my questions."
"We're at St. Mungo's, Hermione," said Sirius brusquely. "Apparently you collapsed at Hogwarts and they had to bring you here. Remus thought you were going into early labor. When you all got here, they took you in right away. But thanks to decree 47, St. Mungo's is required to check and see if anyone they admit is on the half-breed's registration list. Your name popped up in connection with Remus and these bastards," he indicated the Healer's with a stabbing motion, "called the Ministry. We've got to get you out of here before they show up."
"What about the baby?" she asked anxiously. "What if something's wrong?"
"Mrs. Lupin, I can assure you that you must be monitored. We cannot guarantee the health of you or your child otherwise."
"Shut it," snapped James. "You can't guarantee the health of her child if she stays."
Hermione looked worried and indecisive, but the boys wouldn't allow her to go against them. They ushered her out of the room and into the hall.
"They'll not stop looking for her now that they know she carries a half breed's child," one of the Healer's tried to argue. "They will find…" James shut him up with a well aimed stunner.
"Where's Remus?" she asked frantically, as James and Sirius hurried her out of the building.
"Hogwarts," whispered Sirius to her, "where you'll be soon."
"It's the first place they'll look," she argued.
"They won't dare try anything while you're under Dumbledore's protection," said James. "It's the safest place for now. You really had us worried for a while," he added.
"Is the baby okay?" she asked anxiously. "Maybe I shouldn't leave, something could be wrong."
"No worries," said Sirius. "Madam Pomfrey will be waiting for you at Hogwarts. They were just trying to scare you back there. Everyone has lined up like good little soldiers for the Ministry," he said bitterly. "We have to end this war soon or our side won't be any different from Voldemort's."
Hermione went quiet. She didn't want to think about the war or Voldemort. She didn't want to think about anything.
Whether through luck or skill, James and Sirius managed to get them all out of St. Mungo's and back to Hogwarts without being stopped. Remus was waiting, looking frantic, as they arrived.
He rushed to his wife and took her into his arms. "Careful," she whispered, "the baby." He nodded, remembering himself and helped her to the hospital ward.
"Are you in pain?" he asked.
"No, not anymore," she replied. She hadn't felt a twinge. "The baby's moving, if that eases your mind at all," she confided.
He breathed a sigh of relief. "It does," he said. "Once they found out they wouldn't let me be with you. I was afraid you were losing the baby."
She shook her head, but she'd feel better once Madam Pomfrey took a look.
Madam Pomfrey was waiting for them in the hospital wing. She pushed everyone but Remus and Hermione from the room before examining her. When she finished she smiled widely at the pair of them. "Everything seems well," she reassured them. "Your water hasn't broken and you haven't begun labor as far as I can see."
"Then what happened?" asked Remus. "She passed out in my arms."
"I think what you experienced, Hermione, was a panic attack," explained Madam Pomfrey.
"I don't panic," said Hermione, feeling her cheeks heat up.
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about," clucked Madam Pomfrey. "Expectant mothers often get nervous. You're particularly stressed because of your circumstances and the war. It's not entirely surprising it happened."
"But the baby's okay?" asked Remus.
"Perfectly fine," assured Madam Pomfrey. "There's no reason you shouldn't go to full term, which would put you somewhere around the end of July. Then you'll have a beautiful baby boy who will consume all your time."
"A what?" gasped Remus and Hermione together.
Madam Pomfrey clapped her hand over her mouth. "I'm so sorry," she said. "I'd forgotten you didn't want to know."
Hermione started crying and Remus put his arms around her. Madam Pomfrey smiled, mistaking her tears of fear for joy and left them alone.
Hermione cried great heartbroken sobs into Remus' shirt. He pulled her from him so he could look into her face. "I know you're scared, but you have to calm down. This can't be good for you or the baby."
"You don't understand," she sobbed.
"Then tell me and make me understand," he replied.
"He never told me," she moaned.
"You said as much before you passed out," said Remus. "I'm not going to pretend I understood half of what you were saying, but I did get one thing loud and clear."
Remus' voice had taken a decided edge to it and it caused Hermione to stop crying and just sniffle.
"I know this has been a very shocking day for you. It's been one for me too," he continued. "But if you ever talk like that again…" he trailed off, not wanting to finish his thought.
"What?" she asked, confused.
"When are you going to let go of that part of your life?" he asked. "When am I going to be your priority?"
"I don't understand where this is coming from," she said. "You're my husband. Of course you're my priority."
"No, I'm not," he said simply, with only a small trace of bitterness laced in his voice. "At best, I'm your second priority. I had hoped now that we were having a baby it might be different, but after today…"
"Remus," she reached for him and he let her hold him close to her.
"I know you love me," he said quietly. "But it kills me when you say things like the ones you said today."
Hermione was truly confused. "What did I say?" she asked.
Remus stepped back and looked her in the eye, "that if you had known about the prophecy you would have gone straight back to your time."
Hermione stared at him. Had she said that? Judging by the look on his face, she must have. "I was upset."
He nodded. "I know. But that doesn't mean it wasn't the truth." He rushed on before she could interrupt. "You vowed until death do us part," he reminded her. "If it was just me, I might be able to share you, but now we're going to have a son. He deserves all of you, especially now."
"Our baby will be fine," she said. "It James and Lily and Harry we have to worry about."
"You don't know that," said Remus.
"Of course I do," she replied. "That prophecy was about Harry. Everything about it makes sense to me now. Which means that nothing I've done has made a bit of difference. That's why the door hasn't appeared," she explained. "I haven't completed my task. They're all still in danger."
"We're in danger," snapped Remus. He put his hands on her stomach. "Our baby is in danger."
"He's not," reasoned Hermione. "And neither is Frank and Alice's baby. It's Harry Voldemort will choose."
"You can't possibly guarantee that," said Remus. "You've changed everything. Voldemort keeps coming after you. You may have saved Harry's life at the expense of our son's."
Hermione paled and Remus could see he was finally getting through to her. "You and this baby mean everything to me," he said. "And I intend to do whatever is necessary to keep the two of you safe, even if that means keeping you safe from yourself."
Hermione felt torn. She would never put their child in danger, but she really believed there was no danger, at least not the danger Remus was afraid of. "What does that mean?" she asked.
"It means that if I have to, I'll take you and the baby away from here," he replied.
"Remus," she began, trying to reason with him. "You couldn't get us far enough away to be safe. It's not possible."
"I'll do what I have to," he said stubbornly.
Suddenly Hermione was angry. "Everything I love is here," she said. "I know you're scared about this prophecy, but you're just going to have to trust me."
They faced each other, neither speaking. For the first time, their wills were set opposite each other.
"I won't go," she said quietly. "I'm sorry, but I won't."
Remus turned and walked slowly out of the room.
"Remus," she called after. "Remus, please don't leave. Remus!"
He never turned around and Hermione was left in the room alone. Slowly she followed Remus out of the room. James, Lily, and Sirius were waiting outside of the room and Hermione had no doubt they'd heard her entire conversation with Remus.
They all had the decency to at least look guilty.
"We're having a boy," she said solemnly.
Lily gave her a small smile, but it was laced with sadness. Sirius and James just looked grim.
"We have to make some decisions," she continued. "We have to get the two of you someplace safe," she said to James and Lily.
"Hang on a minute, Hermione," said James. "We can't overreact. We're all in danger here. But right now the most pressing issue is you."
"I feel fine," she said, waving her hand dismissively.
"That's not what James means," said Sirius. "It won't be long before the Ministry comes to get you."
"I'd like to see them try," said Hermione.
Sirius grinned. This was the Hermione he loved. "That a girl." She glared at him which only caused him to grin wider.
"Where'd Remus go?" she asked.
James and Sirius looked at each other and shrugged. "I think he just needs a minute," said James.
"That's not what I asked?" snapped Hermione.
"Hermione," Lily cut in. "Remus just went for a bit of fresh air. He just needs some time to clear his head. You should let him."
"I'll make you a deal, Lily," said Hermione coldly. "I won't tell you how to deal with your husband if you don't tell me how to deal with mine." Hermione was angry, and worried, and scared all at the same time and she didn't feel like being nice to anyone right now.
Lily didn't respond. She just held her hands in front of her. Hermione glanced from her to James and then Sirius, all of whom were staring at her, waiting for something.
Without her permission, tears started to fall down her face. She didn't cry out loud or even try to brush them away. She stood there, feeling her face getting wetter and not knowing what to do about it.
Finally, Sirius took her in his arms and held her close. She stood passively in his embrace, accepting his comfort. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I just don't know what to do. I hurt his feelings and I didn't mean to."
"He knows that," said Sirius. "He'll be fine, just give him a little bit of space."
"It's not just him. I've made a really big mess of everything and I don't know how to fix it."
"Maybe it's not your job to fix it," suggested Sirius.
"But it is my job," she said, trying to control her tears. "It's the only reason I'm here."
Sirius laughed loudly and Hermione stiffened in his arms. "No it's not," he laughed.
She pushed him away. "It's not funny."
Sirius held her arms. "Is that what you think?" he demanded.
"It's what I know," she said.
"You're blind then," said Sirius. "If you can't see that you came for Remus then I don't know what to tell you."
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Remus walked slowly along the edge of the lake, just thinking. His head hurt with all the information that had been pushed into it in the last hours. They were having a boy. Part of him wanted to fly at the news. He was going to have a son. But what should have been the best news of his life was tainted. From the moment of his birth, his son might be marked. It was too scary to think about.
Suddenly, Remus felt very young. How was it possible for a twenty year old to be responsible for two people, especially when one of those people kept throwing herself headlong into danger?
Hermione. The mere idea of her sent his mind spinning in a million different directions. She'd had this affect on him since day one. He knew she loved him. They'd been through too much for him to doubt it. But she was still so tied to her past and he hated it. God help him, but he hated having to share her with Harry and Ron and one of them wasn't even born yet. And he hated the idea that one day she might choose them over him.
He was kicking rocks into the lake glumly with his fists shoved deep into his pockets, when he noticed the figure approaching him. Even from the distance, he knew it was Hermione. He stood and waited for her to come to him.
"May I join you?" she asked.
"Of course," he said immediately.
She reached for his hand and he gave it to her, then they continued his walk around the lake. They walked in a kind of content silence for a long time.
"Remus," Hermione hesitated.
"Yes, darling?"
She stopped, wrapped her other hand around his and brought his hand to her lips. "I think I know the reason you're upset. And I don't think it has anything to do with what happened today." She waited. "You know that I love you, don't you?"
He nodded.
"Because it would just kill me if you thought I didn't," she insisted.
"Hermione," he interrupted. "I know you love me, I just…" he trailed off.
"I will never go back," she declared. "Do you understand? I would never abandon you or our son."
Remus just stared at her. Then he wrapped her in his arms and held her so tight she thought he was trying to come through her. He hadn't realized how much he needed to hear her say it until she did.
"How could you think I would go back now?" she asked. "We're married. That means forever for me."
"You never said," he murmured into her hair. "I wasn't sure."
She squeezed him tighter. "Are you sure now?"
"Yes," he said. "I'm sorry I ever doubted you."
"I'm sorry I ever gave you a reason," she replied.
"Let's go back inside," he said, leading her back to the castle.
"No," she resisted. "Not yet. I want to stay out here a bit longer."
"Hermione, you've had a long day. We both have. And it's nearly night. We should get back."
"Okay," she agreed. "It looks like we'll be staying here for a little while."
"At least until I can get the wards up at our place," he said. "I'll get James and Sirius to help."
"Good," said Hermione. "There's still so much I have to do before the baby comes."
"He'll be here soon," Remus smiled.
"Before we know it," agreed Hermione. "We have less than a month to go."
"I'm ready," he said. "Are you?"
She nodded. "I can't wait to meet him."