A/N: So here's my next chapter. I didn't get any reviews (quite sad) but I'm not letting it stop me! Enjoy…there's more coming, I promise.
Also, I've got some ideas for another story, again a Remus/Hermione, but not based on this story or 'Normal' (and it'll be a little less development and a little more relationship…) comments, suggestions? Go for it? Never write again? Help me out here!
--Aimes
Hermione was sitting in bed writing in her journal with a piece of lilting harp and orchestral music playing. Her eyes were closed as she lost herself in the music and Remus went to put her things on the bedside table, believing her to be asleep. He reached for her pen but she dropped it on the bed and pulled him in for a hug without opening her eyes. He suddenly noticed Hermione's red rimmed eyes and felt her sigh against him. Remus pulled her completely into his arms as he sat on the bed, rocking her as he'd done the night before.
"This music…my mum loved this piece. I used to love it too…the arrangement is amazing…"
"Used to love it?"
"Can't you feel the pain in the music?"
He looked at her in surprise. It seemed like an upbeat bit of music.
"It's like he's playing fast enough to escape. It's so…proper. And yet, the harpist, he plays faster and faster, running from the pain of existing by playing like the devil. Can't you hear it?"
Remus suddenly sensed it. "Yes, I hear it."
Hermione murmured something and his clothes changed into pajamas. She slid down in bed, holding him tightly till she fell asleep.
Remus looked down at her, his face sad and gentle, and gave her a quick squeeze. Hermione mumbled incoherently and tightened her grip, nestling her face in the crook of his neck as Remus settled himself against the pillows. He yawned, inhaling the citrus scent of her hair, and fell asleep.
Hermione dreamt.
"Where am I?" she asked a woman walking by her on a crowded street.
"You're wherever you need to be, naturally, Miss Granger," replied Minerva McGonagall, and kept walking.
Hermione looked back at her and then looked ahead. There was a house in the distance, focused and clear while everything else was fuzzy. It looked like her parents' home. Hermione began to walk towards it.
As she approached she heard music and she strained to recognize it. It didn't sound like something she'd heard before. She walked faster and someone caught her wrist.
"Are you sure you want to go in there, Hermione?" Snape asked.
"Severus? I…I don't know. What's going on?"
"If you are not confident, you cannot face yourself," replied Snape. He released her and vanished into the crowd.
"Severus? Severus, wait! Where are you going?! Come back!"
In the waking world, Remus drifted into awareness as Hermione moaned.
"Severus? Severus, wait! Where are you going?! Come back!"
Remus felt a pang of jealousy then realized that she was probably dreaming that Severus left her during her torture. He stroked her back reassuringly.
"I'm here, Hermione. No one has abandoned you."
"I'm here, Hermione. No one has abandoned you," came the gentle voice behind her. Hermione turned quickly.
"Remus? Will you walk with me to the house or are you going to leave?"
"There are some things you must face alone, Hermione."
"I already faced them alone. Now I want someone to face them with me," she retorted.
"This is your dream, Hermione. Whether or not I come with you is entirely up to you."
"You're coming with me," she said firmly, grabbing his hand. They began to walk towards the house and Hermione saw faces in the crowd. Harry and Ron stood in Quidditch robes, holding brooms, and waving. Ginny Weasley looked up from tending to an injured child and smiled. Draco was walking with Severus, along the sidewalk and on the other side of the crowd. They paced her and Remus, separated by a sea of people, but walking with her nevertheless.
Albus Dumbledore looked up from eating gummy bears while Minerva McGonagall patted him on the back. Tonks was riding a thestral that Hagrid was leading on a harness. Both of them turned to smile at Hermione and Remus.
Hermione saw childhood friends and familiar faces as she approached the house, but the crowd thinned and disappeared as she stepped onto the sidewalk and stared at the door of her life's home.
She squeezed Remus' hand tighter.
"I'm scared, Remus. Will you stay with me?"
"I'm scared, Remus. Will you stay with me?"
"Of course I will, Hermione," he murmured gently.
"Good…"
"Good. Let's go." They entered the house as Boieldieu burst into symphonic cacophony around them.
"Francois-Adrien Boieldieu," Hermione murmured. Remus remained silent as they walked to the living room.
Hermione's parents sat, drinking tea and talking. They turned to look at the visitors.
"My-my! You're home!"
"Mum! Dad!"
"You have guests," her father said cheerfully.
"Oh, yes, this is Remus Lupin. He's—"
"No, not him. Other guests, silly," her mum chided.
"Mum, you sound odd," Hermione said softly.
"Well of course I do, My-My. I'm dead, and you didn't even TRY to save me. Either of us! AND we have to entertain your guests."
"Mum, I wanted to help you, you know I did! It was so hard to leave you behind, but I would have died too!"
"Excuses, Hermione. You know we don't tolerate that in this house," her father said sternly. "Oh, here are your guests!"
Dayrin and Bellatrix walked out of the kitchen carrying teacups and chatting.
"Hello, Princess…"
She turned to Remus, trying to pull him from the room and run…and the scene changed.
Hermione hung from the wall as Dayrin Lestrange ran his hand up her side.
"That's it, Princess. Be afraid, it makes it so much better for me…Have you done this before?"
"Been raped by you? I must say the scene DOES feel somewhat familiar."
"Are you a virgin, Princess? Taking that from you would be such fun. Only one real way to find out, though, I suppose. You're so reticent sometimes." He shoved a finger inside her and she gave a guttural groan.
"No, not a virgin. But still tight enough to be one. You must have only had sex once or twice, right? Well, I'll take what I can get."
Hermione groaned and pulled away from Remus, struggling in his arms. He tightened his grip on her instinctively, and for a moment he was there with her. He watched Dayrin Lestrange force Hermione's legs apart and slam into her. She hit the concrete wall behind her rhythmically and Remus saw blood streaming down her back from other wounds reopened by the new round of violence. He watched helplessly as Dayrin raped her and the blood from her ripped vagina streamed down his cock.
Hermione was looking like a doll, limp and detached, wincing in pain occasionally, but generally vacant. Remus wanted to help her, to do something, but found he could only watch.
Hermione looked in his direction and something registered in her face. She looked strengthened for a moment, then began replying to Dayrin's sick murmurings with her sharp wit. Every once in awhile she looked back at Remus. She fixed her gaze on him when Dayrin picked up the pipe.
Remus woke up, shivering and nauseous. He turned to look at Hermione who was watching him.
"Are you alright?" she asked gently.
"Yeah, um…I…" he stumbled.
She moved closer and stroked his head and cheek gently. Her palm rested on his face.
"Relax. If I can have nightmares so can you. What were you dreaming?" He didn't answer, averting his eyes.
"I dreamt of my parents…and the night Dayrin raped me. I dream about that a lot. I used to wake up with Snape patting my back and almost hit him. He's lucky he's got quick reflexes. I dreamt that someone was there though, someone other than Dayrin. I'm not sure who it was but he, I think it was a he, was so reassuring. I felt stronger than I was before. Like I could take on Dayrin and win." Her thumb stroked his cheek. "What did you dream of?"
He inhaled sharply. "It was nothing, Hermione. Go back to sleep, sweetheart. We'll talk in the morning."
She nodded sleepily. "If you wish," she replied. She fell back asleep with her hand on his face.
Remus waited till she was deep asleep, then got up and went downstairs to get a drink.