Late One Night

Disclaimer: I own Romulus and Maria.

Cutieak88: Thanks for reviewing!

Katie: Ah constructive criticism, always good as long as it isn't rude, and yours wasn't. First of all, I'm glad you like the story! Anyways, I know Maria is hardly ever mentioned, I'm trying to put her in more but five year olds aren't that exciting. As for Sev, he does love Remus but he doesn't like to let his guard down often. And Hermione, well, I wasn't aiming for pretentious, whiny bitch, but hey, if that's the way she comes off then I'll just stick with it. I was just trying to give her a bit of an attitude change because of what happened in the summer.

Eleonora1: Oh I used to love torturing my favourite characters, my friends couldn't believe I loved Remus so much because of what I was doing to him in stories. Ah, Sev's reaction to what happened, I want to make it scary but I don't I'll succeed, he will hopefully terrify the culprits though. Ah, what is Severus brewing? I probably should have mentioned that particular potion making a few chapters ago…it relates back to something mentioned in Chapter 3. But no, it has nothing to do with werewolves.

Hipa: Ha ha, I can only picture Sev as the submissive one to Sirius or Lucius…

Tall oaks: Ah, if the other readers don't like bad language then they shouldn't be reading my stories :-D Several mis-spelled words? Well, I was writing most of last chapter after midnight, I finished it around 3am, so I'll blame my bad spelling on that. Yeah man, they do love each other, Sev just doesn't want to always show it. Thanks for your other comments!

Chang Wumei: Ah sadly, Ron and Hermione will not be a featured couple in this story, so don't get your hopes up. As for Hermie, sorry I hurt her.

MajinSakuko: Thank you.

Eve27: Ah more Sev/Rem, I'll do my best with that!

Wishingstarr: Thank you! I'm glad you like it that much.

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Warning: There will be resurrection in this story from now on, but don't get annoyed, I did mention it in Chapter 3 and I have been planning it since I started this story. I'm just saying this because I know some people don't like the dead coming back.

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AND JUST A LITTLE CHANGE: Now that I have your attention, still… At the end of last chapter when I said Hermione would wake up with some unexpected by her bed, well, I've changed that. She will see this unexpected person in the Infirmary though.

Woah, I think I should stop answering reviews unless they really call for an answer…nearly 2 pages in Word and the chapter hasn't started yet.

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Chapter 10: Awakening

Remus had barely left Hermione's side since he had gotten to the Infirmary the night they were informed by Romulus. He was refusing to leave his first born's side while she was unconscious from whatever it was that had happened to her, so Romulus was substituting Defense Against the Dark Arts for his brother.

Much to the horror of many students, even the Slytherins, Professor Snape was in an even fouler mood than he had ever been in before. It was only really the Gryffindor Sixth Year boys, Ginny and Draco who knew why he was so angry, his daughter had been attacked after all.

It had been two weeks since the attack and yet no punishments had been handed out as nobody had come forward with information yet. Though Severus was very suspicious of his own House upon remembering what Hermione had said about them plotting something, but Dumbledore had forced him into not giving out random punishments in revenge.

………

Remus sat in the armchair beside Hermione's bed with a book in his lap, he wasn't really reading it, he just had the book to try and keep his mind off worrying about his daughter. There was something else on his mind, as well, he knew it should make him happy but he couldn't really feel any emotion other than worry at the moment.

As he sat there staring at the pages of his book, Severus turned up after classes fuming, but upon seeing the look on Remus' face, his foul mood soon dissolved into one of concern. "Any progress?"

Remus shook his head, "No…And Poppy said if she doesn't wake up within the next few days then we should really start worrying."

Severus sat down on the arm of the chair Remus was in and put an arm around Remus' shoulders; they were safe from prying eyes as the curtain was drawn around Hermione's bed. "She will wake up."

Remus huffed, "What makes you so sure?"

Severus kissed Remus on the top of the head, "This is Hermione we're talking about, she hates letting people down." He let Remus lean against him. "I will not repeat this, but I do miss having her in class…she is the only sixth year that can answer my questions. So she had better wake up."

Remus smiled slightly, "I'll make sure to let her know that."

"I heard…" Both men looked to the bed as Hermione moved a little and let out a groan, "Someone turn off the sun…"

Remus let out a huge sigh, "Oh thank god."

Hermione opened her eyes slowly, blinking rapidly when she caught some bright light, "What happened…" It took her a few moments to get her eyes to focus on her parents properly.

Severus frowned a little, "We were rather hoping you could tell us." He stayed right where he was, an arm resting casually around his pregnant lover's shoulders. "Do you remember anything?"

Hermione squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed her forehead before opening them again, she looked a little more alert now though still quite dazed, "Should I remember something?"

Remus sat up straight, a faint frown on his face, "Don't worry about it right now… How do you feel?"

Hermione pulled a face and rubbed her forehead again, "I feel like I have a hangover…stop glaring at me, I bet you two were getting drunk at sixteen as well… My head hurts."

"I bet it does." Replied Remus, "You were pretty bashed up when Ginny and Ron found you."

"Found me…what the hell?" Hermione had a very confused look on her face. "Was I attacked or something?" she raised her eyebrows at her parents who both stayed silent. "Oh god, I was attacked wasn't I?"

"Well, unless you broke your own ribs and threw yourself down the stairs-" Severus was cut off by Remus' elbow connecting with his own ribs. "Yes, you were attacked. But we were hoping you could remember who did it."

Hermione shook her head slowly; "I don't remember anything…how long have I been in here?"

"About a fortnight." Replied Remus leaning back into the chair again, one hand protectively on his stomach.

"I've missed two weeks of school?!" Exclaimed Hermione; she tried to sit up but found it too painful to do so. "Ow…"

"How'd I know that would be the next comment?" Remarked Severus in minor amusement. Hermione scowled at him. "Your missed work is not what is important right now."

At that moment, Madame Pomfrey came bustling into the cubicle tutting as usual, "Ah good, both my patients are awake today."

"Oh joy." Muttered Severus sarcastically. His comment earned a glare of Madame Pomfrey and another elbow in the ribs off Remus.

Hermione raised her eyebrows curiously, it seemed Madame Pomfrey's other patient was someone Severus did not like, though that hardly narrowed it down, he didn't like anyone except for his own family and even that was subject to doubt.

"Now Granger, how are you feeling?" Questioned Madame Pomfrey.

"Painful and groggy."

Madame Pomfrey nodded, then she looked to Remus and Severus, "Right you two, clear you off." She gave Remus a stern look as he opened his mouth to protest; apparently he thought better of it and stood up pouting before his lover dragged him out of the cubicle. Poppy sighed, "That man hasn't left your side since it happened, you know?"

Hermione raised her eyebrows, "Really?" Poppy nodded. "Shouldn't he be resting though, with the baby and all…"

"Mm well, Remus has always thought he knows best." Replied the matron before going to get Hermione a few potions. "Here, you need to drink each of these potions for the next week at least, to make sure you heal properly."

Hermione nodded and started drinking down each of the small goblets of potion, each just as fowl if not worse as the one before it. "Ugh…these are disgusting."

"Yes well, your father did make them." Replied Poppy sighing, "Now, the Headmaster was hoping to have a word with you about what happened when you regain consciousness, so I shall inform him that you have woken up."

"But I don't remember anything." Said Hermione before the matron left, "It came as a complete shock to me when I woke up and was told I was attacked…"

"Ah…well, I will still inform the Headmaster and see what he says, all right?"

Hermione nodded again, "Ok…"

The injured teen was left alone for a while until a blond haired boy peeped into her cubicle to see if she was awake.

"Hi."

Hermione looked up from where she was staring at the end of her bed, "Hey."

Draco came right into the cubicle looking quite guilty to say the least, "How are you?"

Hermione smiled slightly, "Ok I guess, I've been given a whole heap of foul potions and apparently I may have amnesia, and you?"

Draco shrugged and sat down in the abandoned chair, "All right, I've been worried sick about you and I have been officially dubbed the Outcast of Slytherin."

Hermione raised her eyebrows, "Why?"

Draco smirked slightly, "Apparently I am a disgrace to Purebloods everywhere mainly because the rest of my House found out I warned you about their attack-" he broke off when he saw Hermione's shocked look. "What?"

"The Slytherins attacked me?"

Draco nodded slowly, "Oh…is that what you meant by amnesia?"

"Yeah…" Hermione sighed, "Oh god…" she squeezed her eyes shut. "It's all coming back now." She opened her eyes again and gazed back at Draco. "Could you maybe get-"

Hermione broke off when two more people appeared at the entrance to the cubicle, both glaring straight at the blond next to her bed, who was now glaring straight back at them.

"What the hell are you doing here, Malfoy?!" Demanded Ron straight away.

Hermione groaned, "Please don't start you three." She spoke loudly as she looked between Draco, Ron and much to her surprise, Harry. "Look, Harry, Ron…Draco and I have been friends since we were babies, that is why he is here. Now if you three are just going to stand there glaring at each other then you can just get out."

Ron folded his arms and refused to stop glaring at the blond, "It was Slytherins who landed you here, I wouldn't trust him."

Draco snorted quietly, "Yes, but you may also notice Weasley, that no one in my House actually speaks to me now because I stuck up for Hermione. I had nothing to do with the attack, I warned her about it."

Ron and Harry both looked to Hermione who nodded, "He's telling the truth…I remember it vaguely…anyway, you guys should clear off before my parents come back, I don't think you'll want to be present when I tell them what I remember. Can't wait for dad's reaction, that ought to be terrifying."

………

Severus' reaction to what happened was rather terrifying, or at least Hermione thought it would be for the Slytherins when he got to their common room after storming off looking murderous. It seemed no one hurt his children and got away with it, even if they were in Slytherin. Hermione just hoped he wouldn't get at Draco as well as he was innocent in this case, for once.

Remus frowned slightly; "You know what's going to happen now, don't you?"

Hermione stared blankly at him, "No. Should I?"

Remus smirked, "Those kids are probably going to get expelled-"

"Good."

"So of course their parents will find out, and that will get back to Voldemort-"

"Not seeing the problem yet."

"I never said this was a problem. Anyway, the Dark Lord still wants you in his clutches, once he finds out that his future Death Eaters attempted to kill you, he will most likely kill them and their parents."

Hermione's eyes widened slightly, "Really?"

Remus nodded, "And if Voldemort wipes out half his Death Eaters, it really gives the Order more of a boost."

"So in some weird way, me getting bludgeoned into a bloody and broken pulp with a beater's bat is helping the Order?"

"Yeah."

Hermione nodded slowly, "And Dumbledore is letting dad sort out their punishments."

"Mmhmm." Remus leaned back in the chair, "Dumbledore knows he's not going to keep that man quiet about this and as Head of Slytherin, he can expel them for some pretty minor things."

Hermione bit her bottom lip nervously; "H-he's not going to do anything to Draco is he? Because he didn't do anything…"

"He knows." Replied Remus, "He told me about the warning Draco gave you beforehand after you told him, but we've been powerless to do anything about it until now because we didn't have any evidence. Although Ron and Harry jumped straight to the conclusion that it was the Slytherins."

Hermione scratched her head and winced when she touched a sore bit, "So…Harry's been coming to visit?"

Remus nodded, "Yeah he has, along with Ron and Ginny…and Draco has as well when he knows its safe."

"You don't know why Harry stopped talking to me do you?"

"No I don't." Remus rubbed his stomach gently, "But he did look quite guilty about whatever happened between you two."

"I don't even know what happened." Grumbled Hermione, "He didn't attempt to apologise earlier, even if Draco was here."

Remus rolled his eyes, he was so used to his daughter complaining about her friends now that it didn't phase him anymore, "Well, I think he probably has other things on his mind right now."

"Oh? Like what?"

Remus smiled, "Dumbledore's most recent successful plan." Hermione raised an eyebrow. "A eh, resurrection so to speak."

Hermione stared blankly at him again for a few moments before her eyes widened in realisation, "He figured out the veil?" Remus nodded. "…Sirius is back?" Remus nodded again. "I was wondering why dad didn't like the idea that two patients had woken up today."

Remus smirked, "Oh yeah, he's not happy at all, but that's understandable."

"How did Dumbledore do it?"

Remus shrugged, "I have absolutely no idea, he hasn't told anyone yet…though something tells me he probably won't."

"Oh…but I want to know."

"Don't we all?"

"If you're going to talk about me, at least include me in the conversation…" Came a weak voice from the cubicle next to Hermione's.

Hermione grinned, "Hiya Sirius."

Remus pulled back the curtain separating the two beds and checked his watch, "I have to go, behave you two."

"Bye dad."

"See you Moony."

After Remus left, Hermione turned her head so she could see Sirius, "Enjoying your new lease on life?"

Sirius snorted, "Oh yeah, totally…being unable to move and being force fed potions everyday is the greatest."

Hermione frowned and sat up a little, "What do you mean unable to move?"

Sirius sighed, "The veil does some serious shit to you…I can't do much except eat, talk and read."

"Wow…" Hermione nodded slowly. "So…has it left you weak or paralysed?"

"A bit of both."

"Isn't there something someone can do?" Questioned Hermione, her thirst for knowledge was back full force already. Especially now that she knew Dumbledore had cracked the mystery of that Veil in the Department of Mysteries. She wanted to know what it did, how it did it, and how Sirius was brought back through.

Sirius nodded, "Yes there is. But the only person that knows of my innocence and is capable of making that particular potion, is working on something else for Dumbledore at the moment…that and he hates me."

"Ah…"

……

Remus had let Romulus take care of Maria for the evening, as he was sure Severus would still be very angry when he finally came back to their quarters. He didn't particularly want their youngest daughter seeing that sort of temper, she was yet to witness, whereas he and Hermione had both been on the receiving end several times.

As soon as he entered the quarters a while after storming out of the Infirmary, Severus leaned back against the door and squeezed his eyes shut. He was very aware of the curious brown eyes on him and he sighed, "Don't start."

"I wasn't going to say anything." Replied Remus, "I'm just curious as to what you did to the Slytherins, that's all."

Severus huffed quietly and opened his eyes so he could see his pregnant lover; "I never had time to get to the punishments because Dumbledore turned up to take charge. Seems he doesn't trust my judgement."

Remus smirked slightly; "There's a surprise." Severus glared at him. "You would have expelled them wouldn't you?"

"Of course." Severus stayed leaning back against the door. "Seeing as Dumbledore has forbidden me to leave the school since the last Death Eater meeting I attended, it doesn't really matter how I treat the Slytherins now, does it?"

"Guess not." Remus got up from his armchair and went over to his lover. "Dumbledore said he was thinking of expulsion anyway, it was attempted murder after all."

Severus raised an eyebrow, "When has he ever expelled someone for attempted murder? I recall a certain incident in our sixth year." Remus gazed levelly at him; he knew what was coming. "But of course, Black was a Gryffindor wasn't he and Dumbledore's favourite mutt."

Remus sighed and folded his arms over his stomach, "As I have said several times before, you did bring it upon yourself and you did not actually have to listen to Sirius' instructions that night." Severus' eyes had narrowed. "Anyway, according to you I had a part in that prank and I happen to be carrying your third child. What happened to your grudge there?"

Severus gazed coldly at Remus for a moment before moving passed his lover and disappearing into the bedroom without so much as another word.

Remus just shook his head and went back to his chair, Severus could brood all he wanted but it wouldn't change the truth of that night.

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A/N: Yes I know, a serious lack of that mysterious potion Sev is brewing. As for the resurrection, there will be another one soon, so if you don't like that, stop reading.

Next Chapter: Hermione is out of the Infirmary and starting her Occlumency and Imperius lessons. Romulus and Remus sit down and have a chat.