All right, all right. I know it's been forever, but, well, yeah, no excuses really except lack of motivation and HBP totally making me say that my fic was no longer relevant. But, oh well. It's now AU. Who cares? I don't. HBP changed so many fics that haven't changed for it, so why should I? Anyway, just so you know, I'm not changing anything I had already planned to make it fit HBP. Anything that I could add without changing my story is fine, but, as you can see, not everything goes with it.

Anyways, enjoy this next installment!

Disclaimer: All you recognize to J.K. Rowlings

Chapter 14: Realizations and Departures

Night had fallen by the time anyone made any real movements. It was as though, with the news of Evie and Molly's disappearance, everyone had sort of fallen apart. While none, save Hannah and Remus, were actually distraught, the rest of the kitchen's occupants were on the point of resigned and reluctant acceptance. As the hour continued to grow later, no one bothered to light a candle or make a pot of tea. The only movement within the entire room was the tapping of Harry's fingers upon the table, the heaving of Hannah's shoulders with either tears or sighs, and Remus' pacing about the room.

Hermione, with patience amassed over a period of years with Ron for a friend then husband, continued to watch his progress over the worn wooden floors, occasionally sparing a glance for Snape, who remained leaning against the door frame as he'd been nearly all evening.

For a moment, their eyes meet, Hermione and Snape. And, for that moment, Hermione begins to wonder. What's he doing here, the great slimy git? Hasn't he caused enough pain and torment for one night? She stares at him, feeling her eyes narrow and watching his do the same. While she may respect his ability in potions and he respects her ability in everything, they are far from fond of each other. So, when he begins to speak to Remus, Hermione is on her feet immediately and standing between them in the hopes that she may be able to block some of the cruelty that is sure to come forth.

"It's, er, regrettable that this should happen to your daughter, Lupin," he says awkwardly as he steps forward from the door. Hermione froze with shock. "She is only a child and a good one at that. I look forward to teaching her in a few years."

Hermione stood completely gob-smacked. He was trying to comfort Remus? Albeit, awkward and unpracticed comfort, but a sincere effort nonetheless.

She stared, wide eyed, as he made to leave. He paused at the door and turned around; seemingly unaware of all the incredulous looks he's receiving. With careful steps, he went 'round Hermione and stopped before Remus. With obvious hesitation, he finally managed to set his hand companionably upon Remus' shoulder. Hermione continued staring, especially when Snape failed to remove his hand after one, five, even ten seconds.

He stepped away then, again making for the door, but this time his eyes met Hermione's. And, before she has a moment to begin understanding what happened or why her cold and heartless professor suddenly found an ounce of caring, he was gone. As she continued to stare at the door he had left through, she knew that both Remus and Snape had solved (for the most part) their differences and that they may yet become companions, if not friends. And Hermione found a whole new caring within her for the taciturn and cold Potions Master.

Remus stood still for a moment before falling into the nearest chairs and breaking into heavy sobs. Hermione, broken out of her reverie, hurriedly followed suit and sat beside him, holding him close to her, despite any earlier reservations she may have had. Tears from his eyes wet her robes and she didn't mind, nor did she mind the tight grip he had about her waist or the feel of his uneven breathing against her neck. She only knew how to hold and continue holding until his cries would end, and if she happened to find comfort in the comfort she was giving, well, what was the harm in that?

After a while, the tears slowed before stopping, but still he did not move his head from the crook of her shoulder. Not that she minded. They didn't speak or move, but there was still something to be said for simple contact between two hurting people.

Then, suddenly, he stood, scaring Hermione half out of her wits. He turned to her, eyes still red-rimmed and wet, but determined.

"I will not stay here," he growled about the room. "I can't just sit here, helpless, when my daughter--" his voice cracked, "my daughter is in the hands of some--some, I don't know, monster, I guess is a good enough word." And with that he made a beeline for the door.

Still dumbfounded, Hermione knew little other than that Remus was trying to leave and Dumbledore had said not to. So, within a second, she was on her feet and racing him to the door.

"Stop! You're not going anywhere," she cried, as she blocked the door. "Dumbledore said not to!"

Remus' figure slowed before her. "Hermione, move." His voice was calm, commanding. She wavered for a moment, but held her position.

"No."

"Hermione. If I must, I will carry you from the door."

Her eyes narrowed menacingly and she crossed her arms over her chest. "I'd like to see you try."

He made to move for her, but she had her wand out and pointed at his head within the second. "Hermione." He was in no mood for such trivial play.

"You will not go, Remus. Dumbledore said not to."

"She's right, Remus," Harry said, from somewhere behind him, startling them both. For the moment, they had forgotten the others.

Remus whirled about to face him. "Damn Dumbledore!" he cried fiercely, causing the occupants of the kitchen to jump. "He doesn't have a daughter out there somewhere, alone and scared, maybe dead! I'm not going to wait for him to give me the go ahead to get my daughter. And if he has a problem with that, well, he can just go to hell." He turned back to Hermione. "Hermione, you've got a choice. You either continue trying to stop me and I won't care what harm I have to cause you to get by, and I will get by eventually. Or you can let me by so I can save our daughter!"

The room was suddenly silent. Hermione stared at him. In all the weeks they had been married, this was the first instance she could remember him bringing it up, even in a roundabout way. And, in that instance of realization, she wanted nothing more than to see Evie back at the table with a mess of porridge around her and broken dishes all over the floor.

She looked back up at him, tears in her eyes. After a moment to gain her composure, she spoke. "Get our daughter back, Remus."

He looks at her for a while, carefully and strangely. With a quick movement he grabbed her hands from her and held them to his face. With deliberate care he placed two kisses on the palms of her hands. She stared at him in surprise. Then, with a swiftness she could not expect, he has her gathered in his arms and is kissing her with a passion she has not known for weeks. In the short space it takes her to respond with her hands about his neck and her feet on tiptoes, the entire kitchen gasped in shock.

As they kiss, she felt tears on her cheeks, though whether they were hers or his she couldn't say. The lips on her mouth were warm and rough, but it doesn't bother her. The arms about her were anything but gentle and the fingers digging into the soft flesh about her waist were a bit painful, but she doesn't care. And when he released her, it took all her self control not to force him to do it again.

He looked at her fiercely, his lips swollen and his face wet with tears. His eyes searched hers, longing and desperate. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. When they reopened, Hermione saw pain there and something else she couldn't recognize in him.

"I'm sorry," he croaked out. He released her. "I'm so sorry."

Hurt and uncertain, she looked back at him. And then it hit her.

He was saying goodbye. Just like Ron never got the chance to. He was apologizing for what had happened; what he had failed to do before and what he may now be failing to do later. She suddenly understood. He was trying to apologize in advance for not surviving. She stepped away, her head shaking fearfully.

"Don't apologize," she whispers. "Don't apologize for something you haven't done. You're going to come back, you understand? Even if I have to go there and bring you back myself, you're going to be here for me." Tears fell unchecked down her face. "I want to have a life with you, Remus! Don't you understand? I expect to be happy with you! I don't expect it to come immediately, but it will come, I know it will! And I will not lose you now, not when I've just found you!" She took a shaky breath and tried to wipe the tears from her cheeks. "Promise me," she whispered, looking back at him. "Promise me you won't be the martyr. Promise me you'll come back." Her voice is desperate. "Promise me you'll bring her back and stay here, with me. Promise me."

He shook his head, sputtering for an answer to give. "I can't promise you that, Hermione. I can't promise not to die. I can't make a promise I may not be able to keep."

She reached for him, grabbing his shirt in her hands. "Promise me." Insistent, she pulled him to her and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Without any hesitation, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him softly. "Promise me." Her voice was now on the brink of pleading.

Sighing heavily, he held her close and set his chin down on the crown of her head. "I promise, Hermione, that I will come back to you." She let out a muffled sob and kissed him again, longer this time. When they finally broke, he took her hand in his and held it to his face for a moment before again placing a kiss on the palm. He released her and stepped back and went out the door.

Hermione, along with the rest of the room, followed him and watched him as he stepped out into Grimmauld Place's dingy yard. He turned to face her and, with a small sad smile on his lips, he said, "I'll come back, Hermione." And with a half turn and a sudden POP he was gone.

Hermione stood still; staring at the place he had last stood, knowing she should go back into the kitchen with everyone else, knowing that is what everyone wanted her to do. She felt the pull of it, the comfort that awaited her. But as she was about to turn around, she remembered a morning not so very long ago when she had done what everyone had wanted her to do, and the heartbreak that had come of it.

She remembered then, the urgency in Ron's voice, the need that drove him from their home that first anniversary. The broken promise that he would be safe. Tears rose unbidden to her eyes and her mind was made up. She would be damned before she would stay at home waiting for the people she cared about most to come home.

Her decision made, she stepped out of Grimmauld Place and out onto the lawn. With one last almost hesitant look back, she turned and apparated to Raby Castle.

And there you have it, my next bit. Only a few more chapters to go. Five, probably. Anyway, thanks for reading!