Disclaimer: I do not own any Harry Potter related stuff, characters or anything else. It belongs to J.K Rowling. I also do not own any Lord of the Rings stuff; it belongs to J. R. R. Tolkien.
(A/N: Please, if you take the time to read my story, please spare just a few of your minutes to click the review button and send me your comments. Thanks! Smiles.)
Hermione's Troubles:
Chapter Fifteen:
"Wow. Hermione, did Remus give you those!" Lily gasped as Hermione emerged from the bathroom.
"Yesterday." She said quietly, smiling shyly.
"They're beautiful." Lily breathed; staring as the butterfly slowly opened and closed its golden wings. The Evenstar necklace gave off a faint silver glow, and Lily's eyes grew wide.
"Liar." Renae's voice cut across the dormitory. "Remus doesn't have the money to buy those." She sneered. "It's obvious you're just making it up."
"Renae, just because you're jealous that Remus likes Hermione, not you, that's no reason to be so mean." Angelica said viciously, standing up so she towered over the willowy blonde. "I happen to know that Remus did buy those, and that he's been hoarding his money since around Christmas to buy them!" The chocolate skinned girl retorted. "Sorry about this, Hermione." She added. Renae looked affronted.
"He said himself he wasn't over Lily!" She said shrilly, flicking her blonde locks. "So if he still liked Lily at Christmas, why would he be saving money to buy those for Hermione!" She yelled back. Lily cast an apologetic glance at Hermione, and then opened her mouth, emerald eyes flashing.
"Because he wanted time to be sure he didn't care about me any more!" The redhead stated scathingly. "Because he's liked Hermione since around when she arrived and Dumbledore called him to show her around!" Hermione blushed scarlet, one slender hand reaching up to touch her necklace gently. "Because he liked her, but he's always liked me, and needed to deal with that, yet he realized he really wanted to be with Hermione." She finished in a deadly voice. "If you can't deal with the fact that he doesn't reciprocate your feelings, go somewhere else."
"If you truly cared about Remus, it wouldn't matter to you if he liked Hermione. Because if caring about Hermione makes him happy, then his happiness should be enough for you, even if he doesn't feel the same way about you." Angelica stated, her eyes drilling into Renae.
The willowy blonde whipped out her wand. Before she could even open her mouth, Vanessa, who had been sitting on her bed, mildly watching the proceedings, whipped out her wand.
With just a twitch of her raven black wand, in dead silence, Renae was gone.
"What did you do?" Angelica gasped, eyes wide. Everyone looked shocked. Vanessa shrugged.
"Simple Non-verbal Banishing Charm." She explained, avoiding everyone's eyes.
"That was… fast." Lily said quietly. Vanessa shrugged, looking uncomfortable.
"Did you guys really mean all that?" Hermione said quietly, staring at Lily. They looked uncomfortable.
"Well, yes." The red-head replied uncomfortably. "You weren't really supposed to know." She admitted. "But it's true." Hermione smiled, her face lighting up.
"Couldn't be helped. Renae was being a git." Sirius's girlfriend giggled. "Where'd you Banish her to, anyway?" She inquired. Vanessa mumbled something.
"What?" Lily leaned in to hear, missing the words. Hermione was staring out a window, one hand clasping her necklace.
"Slytherin Common Room." Vanessa mumbled. "She'll think her own spell backfired. All three girls looked at Vanessa in shock.
"Remind me not to make you mad." Angelica said with a weak smile. Vanessa stared down at her hands, dropping her wand. It hit the flagstones with a clatter, rolling across the floor. A single tear dripped from her eyes, falling onto her robes.
"Vanessa, don't cry!" Hermione said in surprise, walking over and hugging her friend. Lily sat down on the raven-haired girls other side, concern shining in her jade coloured eyes.
"I'm sorry. 'Tis just that for the first time I felt like I had friends." She sniffed.
"That's not going to change simply because you sent Renae into the Slytherin Common Room!" Angelica exclaimed. "Why would it? She was being a prat, and probably would have cursed Hermione, Lily, and me, had you not intervened!" Vanessa smiled weakly.
"C'mon, let's go downstairs. Hermione's got one special guy who's been waiting for her to come downstairs since she went to bed about nine hours ago." Lily joked, pulling Vanessa to her feet, and passing the ebony wand back to its owner.
"Hey!" Hermione retorted, smiling.
"Just out of curiosity, what's the core in your wand?" Lily asked, diverting the subject.
"A gold phoenix feather. It was my mothers' wand. It's all I've got left from her, along with a note saying she loved me, and to guard it well. Apparently it is a family heirloom, and…" She trailed off, and Hermione's eyes widened.
"Uh, yeah, apparently it's a family heirloom. My father was killed by a rampaging manticore. My mother couldn't get him to St. Mungo's in time. He died three months before I was born. My mother died when I was three. I can just remember her. Maya." She whispered. There was an awkward silence.
"Anyhow, I've got to go. I jut realized I need to see Professor Dumbledore about something." She said evasively, rising from the bed and wiping her tear streaked cheeks.
As soon as the group of four emerged down the spiral staircase, Remus walked up to Hermione, who kissed him lightly on the cheek.
"Hi Remus." She said quietly.
"Good morning Hermione." He smiled wryly.
"Oi, Lily, we heard yelling from up there. What's up?" James said loudly across the room.
"Oh, uh, there was a little argument. Nothing big." She shrugged.
"Anyway," Remus began, turning away from the discussion and back to Hermione, "Since we have no classes today, it being a Sunday, and it's finally stopped raining," He glanced out the window, looking out over the grounds, which were bathed in a golden, sunny light, and took a deep breathe. "Did you maybe want to go for a picnic?" He asked shyly. "I mean, yesterday was… but…" The werewolf trailed off. He looked down, causing his light brown hair to flick with the motion.
"Of course I'll come!" Hermione said, smiling brightly, and acutely aware that everyone's attention was focusing vividly on them. "Why wouldn't I?"
"I guess I was afraid that…" He trailed off again, shrugging. Then he smiled.
"So, now we're all paired up," Remus and Hermione turned scarlet. "I think a picnic is definitely in order. Unless?" Sirius looked at Remus with a raised and suggestive eyebrow.
"No, it's fine! You can all come." Remus said hurriedly, glancing at Hermione, who was still crimson.
"Yeah. Cool." Sirius replied, nodding knowingly. "So where is this supposed 'picnic' to be held?" He grinned evilly.
"Far side of the Lake. The clearing. You know where. Fly there. One o'clock." Remus stated, his hand sliding to hold Hermione's as he smiled.
----------
"So it's James in the lead – no, wait – Lily's gaining fast – C'mon James, fly faster – James, you pansy! Can't let a girl, let alone a non-Quiddichy girl beat you! James's fallen behind – Lily punching the air – big mistake there, Potter's catching up – only a few centimeters behind – and – and… PRONGS IS THE WINNER!" Sirius yelled triumphantly from a tree branch, firing gold sparkles up into the air with his wand. "GO PRONGS!" Sirius yelled, pumping his fist.
"Sorry Lil." James said jokingly, swinging an arm around his girlfriends' waist. "But honestly, he called me a pansy! I had to defend my honour!" James fortified, smiling wildly.
"What honour, James Potter!" Lily laughed. "Beating your girlfriend in a race. Very un-chivalrous!" Sliding out of his embrace, she wrapped her arms around herself. James knelt on the ground infront of her.
"Oh my dear, glorified – er, glorious Lily." James corrected himself hastily, smirking. "I am truly sorry if I have somewhat besmirched your pride, beating you un-chivalrously in a simple race." He said with a mocking smile, using one hand to flick his hair dramatically.
"Oh James!" Lily said, collapsing beside him in laughter. "You are so weird!" James smirked again.
"Oh, trust me, Lily darling, I know. It's one of my most defining attributes. That and my perfect, gorgeous body, along with my genius and Quidditch honed senses, is what makes me so irresistible." He gloated. Sirius laughed so hard the pine tree shook. Unfortunately, it shook so hard he fell out of the tree. Right on top of Remus.
THUD!
"AUGH!"
"OW!"
"HA HA HA HA HA HA!" James and Lily collapsed, clutching at each other, laughing so hard they cried.
"That hurt." Sirius moaned, rubbing his shoulder.
"You don't say." Remus rolled his eyes. "Sirius, get out of my lap."
"If I was Hermione you wouldn't mind." Sirius retorted, batting his eyes.
"Hey!" Hermione said indignantly. "Sirius!" Remus smiled.
"Sirius, as your girlfriend, I forbid you to sit in Remus's lap!" Angelica smiling, rubbing her abused sides, still sniggering. "Now come here and I'll kiss you better."
"Oh-KAY!" Sirius said gleefully, jumping up. He strode purposefully over to Angelica, pulled her to him, and kissed her theatrically.
"Whoa! Go Sirius!" James cheered.
"James!" Lily elbowed him in the side.
"OW!"
"Remy, I suppose you want me to kiss you better too?" Hermione said in a coy voice, surprising herself. Remus stared at her in shock. So did everyone else.
"Hermione?" Sirius said dumbfounded, breaking away from Angelica to stare at her. Everyone's eyes were glued on her face, which was quickly turning ruby red.
"I, uh, um, I…" In shame, she covered her face with her hands. "I didn't mean it like that!" She said, mortified. "That came out wrong." Beet red, she looked around at the others. Suddenly, James started laughing.
"H – Hermione!" James stuttered. "I mean, you are shy, and I can honestly tell you that sometimes you should be a bit more outgoing, but…" He shook his head, tears of mirth streaming down his cheeks. Smiles were slowly ebbing into the stunned faces around her. "That was totally brazen!" He gasped, wiping his cheeks with the back of his hand. James laughter was contagious, and everyone joined in.
"You know Hermione," Remus said with a raised eyebrow, "I wouldn't mind that kiss." He announced with a wry smile. Total silence reigned.
Slowly, eyes never leaving his face, Hermione rose, and strode over to Remus. It was so quiet you could hear her very footsteps crunching on the grass, and the swish of her cloak. The only noise in the clearing was the birds, cheeping and twittering happily in the background, their sweet song weaving magic through the moment.
"Well then, I guess I'd better live up to my startling promise," she pronounced, sliding down next to him. Slowly, she leant over and kissed him softly. After a stunned silence, Sirius let out a sudden whoop, startling them apart.
"Sirius!" Angelica wailed. "You ruined the moment!" Cuffing him lightly on the back of the head, she added, "That was so cute!" Lily tilted her head on one side, looking at them through her catlike emerald eyes, amusement and delight shining in their jade depths.
"Hey, can we eat now?" James complained loudly. "I'm hungry." Hermione laughed and got up, beginning to unpack the multiple baskets of food.
"Where did you guys get all this!" She exclaimed, pulling out a chocolate mud cake, several plates of sandwiches, bottles of butterbeer, chocolate, and finally, a roast beef, complete with gravy. James shrugged, and Angelica looked guilty.
"Kitchens." The black girl replied. "We asked the house-elves to give us as much food as they could cram into the baskets." A guilty grin played across her full mouth. "They didn't know I enchanted the baskets to make them twice as big." She added. "I know how much Sirius eats."
"Well, let's eat!" James announced, spreading the last of the food from the baskets onto a blanket, with Lily's help, and handing out plates and cutlery.
"They even packed goblets!" James said with an I-told-you-so look. Lily laughed and shook her head. James, sit down!" She said gaily, pulling him down beside her. Hermione curled up beside Remus, who had a misty smile flickering on his wry mouth.
"Well tuck in!" He announced to the group. Instantly, everyone began grabbing enormous amounts of food.
When the meal was over, and everything had been packed away, Lily rose to her feet, pulling James up, who was in a staring contest with Sirius. With a pointed look at Angelica, she announced,
"Well, this was so fun, but James and I really must be going. See you later!" She waved, passing James his broom.
"Ha, James, you lost man!" Sirius said joyfully. "I win!"
"She interfered!" James retorted.
"So?"
"Meh, Bye!" James called, being dragged along by Lily. Lily rolled her eyes, throwing her hands up in the air.
"Yeah, Sirius and I must also be… going." Angelica spluttered, hauling Sirius to his feet, which, even though Angelica was strong due to constantly playing Quidditch, was a hard feat, as Sirius was quite muscular and slightly broad shouldered, whereas James was quite thin in contrast.
"But, I don't wanna go!" Sirius whined.
"Come on, Sirius." Angelica said forcefully. "I'll give you a biscuit if you come." She lured.
"A biscuit! Score!" Sirius jumped on his broom, smiling idiotically. "Even though I don't really find biscuits very appealing." He said sardonically. The four of them flew off into the blue sky.
"Well, that was subtle." Remus said wryly, smiling and shaking his head. "Honestly."
"Well, after my extremely embarrassing comment earlier, I'm not surprised." Hermione laughed. "I felt so dumb."
"You're never dumb." Remus reassured her, tucking a lock of her bushy hair behind her ear. "Sometimes you say un-structured and slightly uncoordinated comments, but you're never dumb. Shy, beautiful," Hermione went scarlet. "Smart, book-loving, and sometimes rather brazen, but never dumb." He added with a laugh. "Come on, I want to show you something. I bet that's why they left us alone." Remus stated, climbing to his feet and collecting their brooms. "Follow me."
"Remus, where are we?" Hermione said worriedly, a slight frown creasing her forehead. "We've been walking for ages. And I can hear water."
"We're nearly there." Remus said quietly. "Look." Walking up to a thin, swishing curtain of ivy, he pushed it aside.
"Remus, it's, it's beautiful." Hermione gasped. Climbing up onto a rock, he leant down and gave Hermione his hand.
"Up here." He said, helping her climb up the rock. "Look."
Their view encompassed a beautiful waterfall, surrounded by high cliffs. "We're just on the very borders of Hogwarts." He announced. "That river," he announced, pointing down at the gushing icy water flowing turbulently down below, "feeds into the Black Lake."
"Remus, this is perfect." Hermione whispered, sitting down beside him. "How did you find this place?" Remus avoided her gaze.
"There's something I have to tell you." He said seriously, clasping her hand.
"Yes?" Hermione asked, already knowing what it was. She leant against his, but Remus wriggled away.
"I'm a werewolf." He stated flatly. "Once a month, every full moon, I turn into a bloodthirsty, dangerous killing machine." He stared into her chocolate brown eyes, seemingly searching for something. "You don't look surprised. Or horrified." He added mordantly.
"Why should I?" Hermione said quietly, meeting his gaze. "It doesn't change who you are."
"But-"
"Unless you purposefully went outside and taunted a werewolf, it's not something you could have controlled." Hermione said smoothly, her mind adding, "At least he doesn't know, yet, how I first reacted to him being a werewolf." She shrugged mentally. "Remus, I don't care." She said out loud. "Being a werewolf doesn't change who you are." Remus looked at her gratefully.
"Really?" He said quietly. "You don't care?"
"No." Hermione said forcefully, snuggling up against him. "Remus, I don't care. Not one bit. So you're a werewolf. It doesn't matter to me." He stared gratefully into her eyes.
"You're wearing the butterfly, I see. And the necklace. And they are not at this moment soaring angrily down into the river." He put his arm around her. "Good."
For over an hour they sat like that. Hermione leaning against him, Remus with his arm around the girl he loved. The butterfly fluttering, opening and closing its wings, and the necklace still emitting its silvery glow, as their owner and giver sat quietly, staring out into the misty waterfall, contented. At that moment, with birds piping their melodies through the air, and glossy green leaves swishing in the wispy breeze, to the two humans sitting in the dappled sunshine below, the only thing that mattered was each other.
(A/N: Can you believe I completely forgot about Remus seeing his lycanthropy as an issue? I totally forgot until I realized I should write that in, because he'd see it as a major divide between them. It may seem a bit sudden, but my theory is that he loves her, and trusts her, so with some (unseen) prompting from Lily, he reveals his darkest secret. Aww.
Also, I wanted to write in Renae's reaction, since it had to happen eventually. In addition, it also shows off Vanessa's unusual power.
Vanessa's Story:
Yes, as I hinted, her wand did belong to Rowena Ravenclaw. What I didn't include earlier was that after Slytherin split from the group of four, when Rowena became pregnant, she hid it well, so no-one knew about her daughter. When the child was born she fostered it with her closest friend, who'd just had a baby girl. They passed Rowena's daughter, Alenor, off as the other child's twin, for the girls' own safety, and no-one saw anything odd in Rowena and Godric visiting their best friends' children.
It seemed like too much to try and fit in, and unrelated to the story, so I'm including it here. That's why, after Rowena and Godric died, no-one, not even Slytherin or Hufflepuff, knew about the child. (Except the Sorting Hat.)
Well, that's Vanessa's story!
Ciao!)