Haunted Memories

-Chapter Six-

A Little Bit of Rest

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters within J.K. Rowling's story.

Remus stared at Hermione, judging her reaction and finally burst out in laughter. Pulling her closer to him, he embraced her and held her gently against his chest. "Oh Hermione! You're not going mad my dear, dear girl." Chuckling harder he stroked her brown bushy hair and tried to calm the young woman down.

Hermione sighed as she laid her head against his chest. His warmth enveloped her and helped her to relax, letting her stress roll away with each chuckle that rocked her head back and forth, gently and wonderfully. Closing her eyes, she remembered the many times that she had come to Remus for advice after the war. She had been suffering from headaches and bad dreams. Although, Hermione would have liked to go to Professor McGonagall instead, she had found that the Headmistress simply had too much to do and could not entertain her as often as Hermione needed comfort. Remus had always welcomed her and helped her sort out their problems. There was much that they shared in common. Her friend now sat laughing at her.

"Hermione…"

She looked up into the eyes of her close friend with a questioning in her eyes.

"Hermione, if the dreams are back, please tell me."

Remus looked solemnly at the young woman in his arms. She sighed and held onto him tighter. Her head placed comfortably on his chest. "Remus. They are never gone. Over the years, they have perhaps ebbed in frequency but they are never gone."

The man peered at the doorway to see Tonks standing against the opening, and motioned for her to come in. The woman with the orange hair shook her head and smiled reassuringly at Remus. Hermione trusted Remus and had always looked to Remus for advice before. Tonks would not intrude on her private matters, not when Hermione didn't invite her to share them.

Remus sighed and continued to stroke Hermione's hair absently. "Hermione, the fact that it's been five years doesn't change anything; you still have to grieve for your friends. Take some time off work. Ever since the end of the war and your graduation, you've merely put all your energy into working. If it's not working to free the house elves, you've been taking tutoring jobs and finally working at Hogwarts. You know you have to relieve all that stress and relax!"

The woman nodded, placing a hand on Remus' chest and felt his heartbeat. It was rather relaxing; she smiled for a moment before she realized that she had done the same thing with Ron as they cuddled on the couch mere weeks before the Final Battle. She frowned as this brought a pang to her heart. Remus looked at the young woman as her frown deepened. Holding the hand on his chest, Remus shook Hermione gently to have her look into his eyes.

"Let it out Hermione. Tell Minerva you need time off. You've been working non-stop. You need a break from it all. After this school year. Relax and take a vacation. One year off wouldn't hurt."

Interlacing their fingers for a moment, he hugged her. Hermione didn't say a thing but started to move away. She had tears in her eyes as she watched Remus straighten up and smiled at her. "Thanks Remus. I needed that." He nodded and kissed her on the head before heading towards the doorway and to Tonks. "Anytime Hermione, anytime."

She sat on the couch for a while longer, before remembering that she had to go back to Hogwarts. As she spelled clean the table of books, she headed out the door. Remus was holding Tonks' hands and telling her a joke. Hermione laughed and walked towards the two. "Sorry to bother you two love birds, but I must announce my departure. The students will be coming back from Hogsmeade soon, and I should be returning."

Tonks smiled and playfully punched Hermione on the arm. "Come here girl."

Pulling Hermione into a great bear hug, Tonks straightened the young woman's hair and clothing before letting her go. "Thanks Hermione for visiting, I missed you."

Hermione smiled. "I missed you guys too."

Then frowning she looked at the two before saying, "Remus, as I was saying before. The dreams are back," looking over at Tonks she smiled reassuringly as Tonks looked worried. "but there's also a problem with me seeing things."

Remus looked at Hermione. He was worried but he didn't show it as he encouraged her to continue. "I keep on thinking about Professor Snape and --- and sometimes I see him in my dreams. Also sometimes I see the images of him at Hogwarts."

A look flashed through Remus' eyes at the mention of Snape. He gazed at Hermione, remembering how she had told him everything that Bellatrix had mentioned to her. He had shrugged off the notion that Snape may be innocent, although his rational part of his mind knew that there was something off about the way Snape acted right after Dumbledore's death.

"Hermione, take the break that you need. Go away to someplace relaxing. Maybe visit Harry and then when you're finally relaxed, see if you still get these visions. We'll talk afterwards." Tonks smiled and said, "Oh, and bring us some souvenirs or photos while you're gone."

Hermione nodded thoughtfully and then enveloped her two friends into a hug. "Thanks guys! I love you."

They both smiled and returned their hugs before watching her walk away from the house a few feet and apparate away.

Back at Hogwarts, she tried to eat her supper but she found that Professor Adigios was very excited after the trip from Hogsmeade. All through the years, Professor Adigios had never been to Hogsmeade, having been raised in a foreign country and then as a young man, started working with the Ministry in foreign affairs. Afterwards, Adigios was sent to cover the Azkaban prison and he supervised in that cold environment from time to time. Leaving him exhausted and tending not to go traveling. However, the atmosphere at Hogsmeade seemed to bring a certain youthfulness to him. His eyes sparkled. His silver hair caught the light and his face was a cheerful pink. The man seemed years younger.

"Professor Granger, you should have been there. I never knew how much ingenious products the Weasley twins had in their shop!"

At the mention of the Weasley's, Hermione sat more rigidly. She should really visit Mrs. Weasley more often. Every Sunday, Hemione tried to find some time in the afternoon to visit the woman. Mrs. Weasley was stronger than she let on. After the deaths of her youngest son and daughter, she watched over the Order with fierceness. She had adopted every member of the Order as her family and moved to protect them no matter what happened, and each member of the Order swore to protect her from having to witness the deaths of any other member of their family again.

Politely excusing herself from the conversation, she turned to the Headmistress and waited to be acknowledged. Remarkably the elder woman turned to Hermione immediately after drinking from her goblet of pumpkn juice. "How can I help you, Professor Granger?"

Hermione smiled, "Headmistress, I would like to talk to you after dinner if it is alright with you?"

Minerva McGonagall smiled. "Of course. See me in my office afterwards."

Hermione nodded and continued with the dinner with little mishap and Professor Adigios' constant chatter about how the children were remarkably energetic and very happy relieving their stress during the visit.