A/N: I send out a cry for help. I have a million ideas and no direction L
This story's finished (sketched out, I'm just filling it in at my leisure) but it stops short of what everyone apparently wants. Will some kind soul who's read both my bits review/email/message me if they want to help a poor addled pseudo-author out? I just need someone to bounce ideas around with. (Ouf, ended with a preposition, didn't I? My Professor would cry if he saw that.)
--aimes
PS—hand3, thank you again for your lovely words of encouragement, you're fabulous.
This chapter is for magicmare87: I'm very excited that you reviewed and even more excited that this is one of your favorite fics! I do hope you read 'If Life Were Normal What Would We Do for Fun' as well…though there will be a gap between the events of that story and the events of this one…(see above note). Also, I've read two of your fics (whatever was posted of them at the time)! There is a Light in the Darkness and The Unicorn's Death. I loved them both!!! But I wasn't a member at the time and couldn't review…so here are your reviews now ;)
On with it, then.
Three hours later he was thoroughly smashed and tears were streaming down his face. "Where's Severus when you need him?" He mumbled. Remus now knew that he would not have been able to do for her what Severus did. He deeply suspected that somehow their magic had touched and he had been thrown into her dream and experiencing the memory was overwhelming for him. He had felt so angry and helpless, so sad at what had been taken from her. Even now the emotions washed over him and he took another shot of scotch.
Hermione watched him from the doorway. It must've been some dream he had. I think he's had enough now. She walked in and put her hand on his back. Remus didn't move. She turned his face towards her and realized she had waited too long to come to him. He was wallowing. Oi. Should've stopped that last shot from happening. She stroked his back comfortingly.
"It's okay, Remus. I'm here for you just like you've been here for me." He wrapped his arms around her face and sobbed into her. She stroked his hair and spoke comfortingly.
Eventually he calmed enough for her to help him up. They stumbled upstairs, where she stroked his hair and murmured to him for another half hour till he fell asleep. He WILL tell me what he dreamt! Can't be any worse than what I dream…
The next morning, Remus was gone when Hermione woke. Coward. I'll kick his arse. She crawled out of bed and stretched. Remus walked out of the shower with a towel on and stopped dead in his tracks.
"Sorry, I thought you'd still be sleeping," he said sheepishly as he retreated. Stop staring, Mya. Damn but those arms are nice. She suddenly had a flashback of her captivity, of watching the muscles in Dayrin's arms flex as he twisted a knife in her. Stop it! The room is not spinning, you're being an idiot! Hermione took deep calming breaths.
"Hermione? I know it's shocking, but I didn't think I was THAT bad looking," Remus teased, although his tone was serious.
"No, sorry, I just had a flashback. You know, a memory you don't realize you have? It…shocked me."
"Oh. Um, well, let me just get dressed and you can have the bathroom. Take a few minutes to collect yourself if you need," he replied gently, grabbing his trousers and disappearing into the bathroom. Inside, he berated himself.
"What are you doing, idiot? She's a young girl who's just been through a traumatic experience. Distance yourself, genius!" He groaned irritably, cursing himself for not using another bathroom, took a deep mental breath, and walked out.
"I'll leave you to get dressed, Hermione. I'll be downstairs." He exited quietly. Hermione went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face.
Get dressed. Yes. And what shall I wear today? Hermione went over to the cd player she had brought and changed cd's. Sade's low, sultry voice came on, and Hermione skipped the first song.
……If I tell you, If I tell you now… Hermione began to sing along as she rifled through the closet. …You give me the sweetest taboo…That's why I'm in love with you... She pulled out a black tank top and another long skirt, this time a bright emerald green. She considered jeans for a moment, then shook her head. Ugh, tight pants still hurt. Skirt is a wise decision. Hermione went to the bathroom and pulled her hair into a loose bun, letting tendrils hang around her face. She applied green eyeshadow and dark brown eyeliner and a light lip gloss. What shoes? Black strappy sandals, I think. And long black coat to top it off. Hmmm…maybe change the coat color to match the skirt and take a black handbag? Yeah, that'll work. Oh, change toenail polish color too. She grinned as she belted out the last few lines of the third track.
"Coast to coast, LA to Chicago, western male…Across the north and south to Key Largo, love for sale…Smooth operator…" Hermione switched off the cd and went downstairs for breakfast.
"Enjoy your medley?" Remus teased.
"Immensely. What do you think, am I ready for my own album?"
"You're actually very good, Hermione," Molly commented.
"Yeah, I wish I could sing that well," Tonks commented.
"I wish I could change my haircolor at will, so we're even," Hermione retorted. "Besides, you're not that off key."
Remus snorted. "You obviously haven't spent much time with her." Tonks threw a biscuit at him. Hermione laughed.
"Are you ready, Tonks?"
"Nope, Remus is escorting you today. I've got training." Tonks grinned.
"Try not to break anything," Hermione teased. "We should go, Remus. It'd be rude to be late for my appointment."
"Sure, have you got everything?"
"Um, her cd, my cd, wallet, cell phone, journal, pen…yeah, I'm ready."
"Well, then, my lady, shall we?" He offered her his arm and they left.
"Hermione, how are you today?"
"I'm fine. I listened to the cd you gave me. I liked it, my mum used to listen to some of the music on there. Who's on the harp?"
"Nicanor Zableta. He's quite amazing."
"Yes, he is. He plays like lightning."
"Did it help to write in the journal?" Elena smiled kindly.
Hermione crossed her legs and returned the smile. "Yeah, it did. A lot. I had an odd dream last night, though." She explained it to Elena.
"Interesting," Elena said, her eyebrows furrowing. "And then you woke up?"
"Yes. I think I woke up because Remus was thrashing."
"Remus?"
Hermione blushed. "Yes, Remus Lupin. The man I told you about. He ends up in my bed some nights because I have nightmares."
"It's okay to need to be held, Hermione."
"Yeah, it's not okay to be tangling up my need for comfort with romantic love," she said irritably.
"Perhaps, perhaps not. What did you write about?" Elena asked.
"My mum. She was the most beautiful woman in the world," Hermione replied.
It began again. They talked for the rest of the day. Still Hermione did not cry, but felt a great weight lifted off her.
"Here's a new cd for you Hermione. It's Verdi's grand choruses."
"Here's a cd for you. It's Garbage, Version 2.0. It's the last thing I listened to the night my parents died."
"I have one more suggestion for you: hit something. Hit a bag, whatever. Just hit something. You need it."
Hermione grinned and hugged Elena, then returned to the headquarters.
She walked through the door, tossed her bag in the sitting room, and went to an empty bedroom. A few gestures of the wand and her clothes were changed into sweatpants, trainers, and a tank top. The room was quickly transfigured into a gym, with a suspended bag hanging in the middle.
Stretch but take it easy. Scar tissue everywhere can make for not so good times.
Hermione stretched and began hitting the bag loosely, the way her father had taught her, using only the first two knuckles and stabilizing her wrist in line with her arm. Within minutes she was hitting the bag hard in a steady rhythm and was beginning to work in kicks. She grunted as the scar tissue tugged and loosened and the adrenaline began rushing through her. The aches and pains disappeared and the pain in her knee subsided.
…Moon hangs around, a blade over my head, and reminds me what to do before I'm dead. Night consumes light and all I dread reminds me what to do before I'm dead. To see you, to touch you…
Hermione looked up, startled and lost her balance. Snape moved quickly and caught her before she fell. He pulled her up silently, steadied the bag, and waited. Hermione punched it tentatively and quickly moved into the rhythm of the music, hitting hard and fast. After a few minutes, Snape waved his wand, making the bag disappear and tossed his clothes in a corner. He began to counter Hermione's moves effectively. They went at it unrestrained and primal.
"What is going on here?!" screamed Molly shrilly.
Hermione froze and Snape's kick, already in motion threw her across the room. She grunted as she hit the wall.
"Bugger," she groaned. "Nice shot, Severus."
"Are you alright, Miss Granger?" he asked with concern. Molly shoved him aside and bustled over. Hermione shot Snape a look of horror.
"I'm fine, Mrs. Weasley. Professor Snape was helping me relieve some tension. It's fine."
"You should not be engaging in such activities in your condition!" Hermione groaned mentally.
"Molly, do you truly believe I would be irresponsible enough to let anything happen to her? After I cared for her for six weeks? Please refrain from such ridiculousness." Snape put on his most biting tone as he pulled Hermione up.
Remus appeared in the doorway. "Molly, Bill's on the floo network for you." Molly gave Snape and Hermione one last glare and bustled out.
"How convenient. Bill's really on the network?" Hermione asked as she wiped blood off her arm.
"He is now that I've called him," Remus replied easily. He tossed them towels. "I suggest you clean up before facing down Molly again." Snape shuddered and they set to cleaning themselves off.
"Do you need any painkillers, Hermione?"
"No, actually, my knee feels better than it has in ages."
"Probably because the rest of you hurts so much," commented Remus.
"Yeah," Hermione said, half laughing and half groaning. They left the room and walked toward the kitchens, hearing shrill voices echoing down the hall.
Ugh. Two to one it's Pomfrey.
A/N: Right, then. Songs are: Sade, Sweetest Taboo and Smooth Operator, both can be found on her Best of Sade album; the other song is Before I'm Dead by Kidneythieves off their Zerospace album. I had the regular version in my head, there's also an acoustic version; it's on the TricksterReprocessed album.