AN: I would like to apologize for such a long delay between chapters! I knew classes starting back up for fall would slow me down, but catching a cold and even a lack of Internet for a bit were unexpected! Well, enough of my pity party…here's a shiny, new chapter…

Disclaimer: If you understood the last disclaimer in Greek, then you know what's going on.

Reviews: /me looks around all teary-eyed I HAD SO MANY GREAT REVIEWS!!!

Fuzzyfurry – Ahh…well I had quite a fun time thinking up the most horrid things for JK's beloved characters. Haha I think I need to up this to 'R' rated. Glad to hear you like it! Deal-with-it/Laichi – Wahoo my first 'long' review! Isn't Remus just the greatest?! Never fear I will convert you over to HG/RL, I myself being a former HP/HG. Haha loved your review and hope to see more. Captain Oblivious – Wow thanks for such an awesome review. You never really know how much a review means until you author up a story! Haha yeah this plot is slightly messed up…but hopefully in a good way. Oh, just wait until I bring dear Severus back later… LaurelinElentari – I'm flattered you put me as one of your favorite stories! Hope you enjoy the rest of the show!

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Last Chapter: Neville Longbottom stepped forward, his scalp seared from his head. He pointed at Hermione and said, "It will destroy us."

...A piercing sound caused Remus to grip his wand tighter and rush up the steps, taking them by threes. Hermione's desperate, frightened screams.

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Hands clutched her shoulders; their firm grasp easily felt through the thin hospital gown. Hermione struggled against them, pushing and shoving. Even in her semi-conscious state, Hermione knew she was not having any effect. They had even started to shake her slightly. "No," she murmured in protest.

"Hermione, you've got to…" It was Remus' voice again.

"NO!" The shaking intensified. She could still see the faces and smell the flesh.

"…wake up. It's only a dream."

As Hermione felt herself awakening, the horrific images slowly melted away until there was only one face looking intently back at her. Remus Lupin's raw face hung in front of her. Slowly, his nauseating features dissolved back into his regular face. Now restored lips continued moving, speaking to her. Hermione slowly lifted her hand to touch Remus' cheek as to assure her that it was real.

Lightly, she traced down the length, noticing that the only roughness on it was not curled skin but stubble. Relieved and still in a slight stupor, she let her hand begin to fall back to the bed, but instead it was caught by Remus.

He had seen the fear in Hermione's eyes at her first glance up at him, a full onslaught of terror. Yet a needing desperation was all he sensed with the contact. Now watching her sit up with her hand still in his, he wondered what had happened to cause this.

"Hermione."

"Remus?" she whispered, her eyes looking him over.

"Hermione, I'm here now. It's going to be alright." He felt her petite hand shake in his larger one.

"How is it going to be alright?"

Thanks to his good hearing, Remus caught her nearly inaudible question. He was caught off guard by the fragile sound her voice held. "I'm not for sure yet, none of us are, but I'm here for you. You know that. Whatever it was you saw wasn't real. "

"You didn't see them," she shivered again and placed her hand over her mouth as if she was going to be sick.

"Who?" he asked gently.

"Harry…Dumbledore…you," Hermione's voice cracked slightly. "Oh, Remus…you…you…were covered in silver…it was so awful."

"I'm safe here, nothing is going to happen to me. I might be old, but I can still put up a good fight." His slight, wry smile was lost in the dimness of the room.

With help from the light in the hall, Remus could see the tears shining on Hermione's face. Her expression was torn and she seemed to be avoiding his face, instead they focused on the bed sheets. Smoothly he extracted his hand from hers and proceeded to softly wipe the new tears gliding down her face.

"'Mione, look at me." Remus tilted her head up. "I know you're scared. Merlin, I'm scared too. Though I may not show it, I am. Everyday when you were gone, I'd wake up and pray it was a just a dream. But it wasn't, that nightmare never ended until yesterday. Now that you're back, I am never going to let him hurt you again. I will protect you…Merlin knows I will."

Remus felt his face flush with emotion while speaking ardently to Hermione, even feeling a bit foolish at letting such feelings show. Though his words seemed not to help at all. Tears were threatening to spill over her lashes and she quivered a bit. Diverting her watery eyes, she pushed off the covers and gave his arm a fluttering touch before a teary mutter of needing to use the bathroom.

His hand steadied her as she pushed herself onto the floor and then she swiftly advanced toward the door ajar at the end of the hallway. Remus kept his watchful eyes on Hermione's retreating back and the now closed door. He was too busy pondering to hear Hermione's muffled words, "But can you protect yourself from me?"

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Miles away in a dark room a man, if one could call him that, leaned back in his chair, regarding a kneeling figure at his feet. He tapped his lengthy wand idly against his knee, causing green sparks to emit from the end. A cruel smirk played upon his lips watching the bowing man squirm in his position. How he loved to watch them wriggle with fear.

"Any leads?" Voldemort began, still tapping.

"My…Lord," came the halting reply, "I'm – I mean – we are still…looking…but I assure–"

"But you assure me of what, Wormtail? That you will once again come back here without a single clue, not as though you ever had one to begin with. Is that it?"

Wormtail's watery eyes focused on the Dark Lord's right hand. The past hours he had not managed to avoid such fate. Seeing his master's eyes change from malicious amusement to a fierce cold stare, he knew that his information would not be getting him out of trouble anytime soon.

"We…we…don't have anything new since the last update." Noticing the tapping stop, Wormtail quickly stuttered out, "B-but Avery n-noticed an unusual disturbance in the transp-portation networks."

"And you didn't think that was important to me?" asked Voldemort icily.

"My Lord, he said it could be just…cosmic interference…since Mars and Pluto are aligned that bent the spell's parameter. Avery thought it would be foolish to bother you with it," he finished in a squeaky rush.

"Idiots! That spell's purpose is to track magical transportation, and if there is a disturbance, then someone is moving about by abnormal means! It must be her…Dumbledore cannot have her appearing on my radar…"

Wormtail shifted from side to side. Hopefully this would be considered good enough news so that he could follow up on it and maybe escape the Master's wrath. How he had wanted to find that Mudblood. Maybe this time the Dark Lord would allow him a few moments alone with her just to show her how glad he was to have her back.

"Go tell Avery to recheck the blip in the spell. Trace it and do not disappoint me again."

"Yes…yes my Lord," Wormtail scuttled toward the door.

"Wormtail?"

"Yes, Lord?"

"Cruico!"