Disclaimer: The usual stuff applies

Rise and shine. Today, thoughtful person that I am, you get fifteen minutes to be downstairs. It's a muggle train for us, were headed to Germany.

An indistinct groan



~

At breakfast that morning, Hermione was half-asleep and absentmindedly transfiguring the dishes and silverware on the table, a habit she'd picked up fifth year when she'd studied nothing but transfiguration for two weeks.

Bad habit that.

Hermione woke up a bit, I know, I freaked out my parents last Christmas hols. . . . Parents. Christmas. What day is it today?

December 6th, St. Nicholas day.

I'm not going to see them, am I? My parents I mean.

I think you know the answer to that.

Of course I do. And I know all the reasons and I know its the right, the only way. But that doesn't mean I have to like it.

True. But you can make the best of it.

Hermione didn't look angry now, and she wasn't crying. She just looked blank. Remus couldn't take it anymore; he went over to her side of the table and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Sometimes, Hermione, we don't get choices. Believe me, I know. I also know that we have a very important mission, and you have a lot to learn in only a short time.

Thank you for not being all horribly sympathetic.

Your welcome. Well, we're off then. My I make a lovely muggle.

Somehow, even though there's nothing the matter with those clothes, you look all wrong. And we'll have to get some muggle things to read on the train. You can't go flashing the Daily Prophet about. Hermione's sadness was gone as quickly as it had come.

~
In the train

Ughh so Snape. How many does that leave for us to find?

Four. You've the Runes of Iona, Snape has Alexandria, I've Odessa. That leaves: Rome, Geat, Ghent, and Iberia.

Well, we have work to do. Does Voldemort have his suspicions do you think?

If he did, I don't think professor Snape would be alive.

Hopefully he's no idea. What are you reading there, the auto classifieds?

Yes, is that odd?

Well it wouldn't be if you wanted to buy a car, but otherwise yes, not to mention dull.

Oh, what do you recommend then?

I recommend you tell me, who we are looking for in Germany.

I suppose. You look quite fearsome with that black eye, you know. Dulmbledore thinks the Runes of Ghent currently belong to Johann Hesse. He works in the German department of mysteries so it may take some time to find him. Remus stopped talking as Hermione quietly fell asleep on his shoulder. He waited a few minutes and then gingerly did something he'd wanted to do for weeks: he let his fingers comb through her slightly mussed hair. If anyone had been watching very closely, they would have seen Hermione's eyes flutter open for a split second, and a small smile form on her lips, before she went back to
~

a/n: Thank you, thank you to everyone who reviewed! My brain is simmering with ideas for this story. Remus and Hermione are going to have a happy Christmas.