Chapter 3
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AN1: Thank you for all the support. PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW.
April 4th 1983
Four months have passed since Remus and Hermione ran into Hagrid in Hogsmeade and after being talked into it by Dan and Emma Remus actually did go and have a drink with Hagrid, and to his surprise, even though he was worrying about Hermione the entire time, Remus actually found himself enjoying his time out with his large friend.
It is mid-morning on a Monday, just before lunch, a week since the last full moon, which Remus is still recovering from and he and Hermione are both in the bookshop. As there are currently no customers at the moment both Remus and Hermione are sitting at the table that Hermione spends time at drawing or colouring at.
"J, K, L." Remus reads, "That's good Hermione, really good." Remus says with a smile as he's started to teach Hermione to write. At first he thought that it may be a bit too soon to start to teach her to write but she's picked it up quickly, even faster than he was expecting.
"Really?" Hermione asks, looking very proud of herself.
"Really." Remus assures his daughter, as he gives her a proud smile, "I think before too long you're going to be able to write your own name." Remus informs his daughter.
"Hermione Jean Hope Lupin-Black." Hermione says with a smile.
"Yes, that's right." Remus says as the bell telling him that there is a customer has arrived, "I've got to go help this customer, but I'll be right back." Remus tells his daughter.
"Okay Papa." Hermione tells her father and Remus gets up and heads over to the woman who just walked in, as Hermione continues to happily write on her own.
For the next few minutes Remus helps the customer, looking over at Hermione every few seconds, while Hermione continues to write on the paper she has in front of her.
"Have a nice day." Remus says to the customer as she leaves and once she does Remus walk back over to Hermione and once more sits down next to her, "Now where were we?" Remus asks as he sits down and as he does Remus notices just what is on the piece of paper that is in front of his daughter, "Hermione, did you do that?" Remus asks his daughter, sounding amazed.
"Yes." Hermione answers, "Hermione Jean Hope Lupin-Black." Hermione says, looking up at her father, "That's me." She tells her Papa as they both look at the words that have been written on the paper.
"Yeah, it is." Remus tells her, smiling proudly, "You wrote your name. I'm so proud of you." Remus says, hugging his daughter and being pretty sure that he is going to display this piece of paper proudly somewhere.
"Thank you Papa." Hermione says smiling back.
"Do you want to try to write some other things?" Remus asks his daughter.
"Yes." Hermione says looking excited at the prospect.
"Okay, how about Papa, do you think you can write that?" Remus asks his daughter.
"Um, yes." Hermione says as she looks like she is concentrating, "P, A, P, A, Papa." Hermione says, saying the letter as she writes each of them, "Right?" Hermione asks, looking at her father.
"Yeah, it is. Well done, Hermione." Remus says with a smile, "What do you want to try to write now?" he asks and once more Hermione looks in deep thought.
"PADDY." Hermione says excitedly, looking down at her toy that is on the table next to it.
"Of course, Paddy." Remus says, not at all surprised and even though it still hurts to hear Remus has gotten used to his daughter saying Paddy at least a dozen times a day.
"P, A, D, D… Um." Hermione says, writing the first four letters before looking confused, "What's the last letter?" Hermione asks her father.
"What do you think it is?" Remus asks, "What does it sound like?" he asks, wanting to help Hermione figure it out on her own rather than give her the answer.
"Um, E?" Hermione says, looking uncertain.
"Close, it's actually Y." Remus says, pointing to the letter, "You see Hermione, sometimes the sound made is similar for different letters." Remus explains, "Do you understand?" He asks curious and Hermione nods, "Good." Remus says and Hermione writes the letter.
"Papa, is Daddy with Unca Jame, Anty Lily and Pete?" Hermione asks her father and even though Hermione speaks properly now she asks for James and Lily by the names she knew them by.
"No, Hermione's, he's not." Remus says, still being able to remember the day when he had to tell Hermione that her godparents and someone else she knew were gone and she'd never see them again.
"Where is Daddy?" Hermione asks, looking up with Remus with wide eyes.
"Daddy is far away." Remus reveals, choosing all his words carefully.
"Will he come home?" Hermione asks curious.
"I don't know." Remus says, telling the truth as even though he is pretty sure that the answer is no there is a chance, all be it a tiny one, that somehow it will be revealed that Sirius is in fact innocent and he can come home and, until Hermione is old enough to know the whole story, he wants her to have, even the smallest, but of hope that she might see her Dad again.
"Oh, I miss him." Hermione tells her Papa.
"I know; I miss him to." Remus admits, telling the complete truth as he puts his arm around his daughter.
"Do you think he misses us?" Hermione asks curious.
"I think… I'm sure he does." Remus answers, finding himself changing his words half way through his sentence as he realises that even with all his doubts that's not one of them, or maybe he's just fooling himself.
"Daddy should come home." Hermione says in a defiant tone, "Magic bring Daddy home?" she asks, looking at Remus like she expects him to pull out his wand and bring him home.
"I'm sorry Hermione, but there are some things that even magic can't do, and brining Daddy home is one of them." Remus explains to his daughter.
"Oh." Hermione says, looking disappointed, "I wish it could."
"Yeah, I know." Remus says, honestly having no idea what to say to that.
"What about Harry?" Hermione asks curious as she vaguely remembers a darkhaired boy that she used to play with.
"Harry is with his Uncle and Aunt, but I hope that one day soon he'll be able to spend time with us." Remus says, honestly he hopes that he can Dumbledore to agree to let Harry live with them, but he doesn't want to tell Hermione that while things are uncertain.
"Oh." Hermione says and she looks disappointed at that.
As he sees the look of disappointment on Hermione's face Remus tries to think of something to do or say, but only one thing comes to mind, "Do you want to write something else?" he asks.
"Um, yes." Hermione answers after looking uncertain.
"Okay, what do you want to write?" Remus asks his daughter.
"Daddy." Hermione answers.
"Okay." Remus says and as Hermione once more starts to write Remus finds his mind on Sirius and he wonders if he did the right thing by not telling Hermione that Sirius likely will never come home. Honestly Remus isn't completely sure why he answered I don't know to that question, but he suspects that he wanted his daughter to have hope as a tiny part of him does. There is a part of him, a part that he does his best not to listen to so that he can continue to function, that doesn't want to believe that Sirius is guilty. There is a part of him that believes he'll see Sirius again, and even though he tries his best not think about that he sometimes finds himself doing exactly that.
July 17th 1983
It has been three months since Hermione wrote her name for the first time and ever since then Remus has been impressed with how much Hermione's skill has grown and he has kept basically everything she has wrote, in fact the piece of paper that Hermione wrote her name on for the first time is framed and on the mantle place.
It is just after a lunch on a Sunday and having just finished doing the dishes from lunch Remus is walking back into the living room where Hermione is sitting on the couch, holding Paddy, and a book.
"What are you doing, Hermione?" Remus asks his daughter as last time he checked his daughter wasn't at the stage where she could read books yet.
"Reading to Paddy." Hermione answers without looking up.
"Oh, you are, are you?" Remus asks as he sits down on the couch too.
"Yes." Hermione answers.
"Okay, do you want to read to me too?"
"Okay." Hermione answers, "I am Sam. I am Sam. Sam I am…." Hermione reads.
"Hermione, you're reading." Remus says, sounding both shocked and amazed.
"I told you I was, Papa." Hermione tells him, sounding like she thinks he shouldn't have doubted her.
"So, you did." Remus says, reaching over and picking up Hermione so that he is on his lap, "Do you want to keep reading to me?
"And Paddy?" Hermione asks.
"And Paddy." Remus confirms.
"Yes." Hermione confirms, "That Sam-I-am. That Sam-I-am! I do not like that Sam-I-am." Hermione reads, Remus feeling his proud smile grow with every word that his daughter reads, "Do you like grrreeen eggs and ham I do not like them, Sam-I-am. I do not like green eggs and ham." Hermione reads.
"That's amazing Hermione, I'm so proud of you." Remus tells his daughter, placing a kiss on her head.
"Do you think Daddy will be proud when he comes home?" Hermione ask her father, and honestly Remus feels a sick feeling rise up inside up at that, as his daughter seems to have so much hope that she's going to see Sirius again, and that's his fault.
"Yeah, I do." Remus answers, needing to force the words out, "Why don't you keep reading." Remus suggests and Hermione does just that, as she does Remus once finds his mind, like it does all too often, drifting to Sirius, but as he finds himself wondering how Sirius would react to seeing their daughter reading he forces himself to focus on the words his daughter is saying and nothing else.
November 20th 1983
It has been four months since Hermione showed her father that she can read and ever since then it has become very clear to Remus that his daughter is very intelligent, a fast quick learner and loves books.
It is a Saturday and as the full moon Remus is feeling pretty weak, so there he is a little glad that Hermione wants to read rather than play, and he hates himself for feeling that way. Sitting on a comfortable chair with Hermione, who is clutching Paddy, on his lap, Remus is reading The Chronical of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, or more specifically he is reading some of it as Hermione is insisting that she tries to read some too.
"They'll come back to Narnia, right?" Hermione asks, looking up at her Papa.
"I'm not going to answer that. We're going to have to keep reading." Remus tells his daughter.
"But Papa. I want to know." Hermione tells Remus who has to smile at the tone of voice she is using as it is a tone she doesn't use often.
"I know you do Mione, but part of the joy of reading is finding out the answers as the story unfolds, don't you think so?" Remus ask.
"I guess." Hermione answers, looking uncertain, "We need to read faster, more." She informs her father as the telephone that Remus only has to talk to Dan and Emma, rings.
"Okay, we'll do that." Remus tells Hermione, "But first I have to get that." Remus says as he stands up, holding Hermione, puts her down on the seat and then walks over to the phone, "Hello. Hey, Emma. I'm so sorry, how are you doing? Of course I understand. Of course you have to. I'll figure something out. Yes, I'm sure. It's okay, I promise. Have a safe trip." Remus says before hanging up and even though she is only four as her father walks back over even Hermione can see that her Papa looks worried, she just doesn't understand why.
"Has something bad happened?" Hermione asks her Papa.
"Yes." Remus answers, walking over to his daughter, trying to figure out how he is going to explain this to Hermione, "Hermione you remember meeting Emma's Dad at Christmas?" Remus asks his daughter as he kneels down in front of her.
"Yes, Emma has a Daddy and a Mommy, I have a Papa and Daddy because I'm special." Hermione says, remembering what Remus said when she asked him why that was.
"Exactly." Remus confirms, "On the phone just then was Emma, her Daddy died this morning." Remus explains, not entirely sure whether it is the right thing to do but when it comes to anything other than where Sirius is and him being a werewolf he tries his best to be completely honest with his daughter.
"Like Uncle James, Aunt Lily and Pete?" Hermione asks, looking sad.
"Yeah, just like them." Remus confirms.
"That's sad." Hermione answers.
"Yeah, it is." Remus confirms, with a sad look.
"Is Emma okay? Does she need Paddy? He always makes me feel better." Hermione says in a matter of fact tone.
"You know; I think she'd want you to keep Paddy for yourself." Remus tells his daughter, smiling at her kindness.
"Okay." Hermione says with a nod, "Emma and Dan aren't coming over, are they?" Hermione realises.
"No they're not. They have to go to Emma's Mum, she needs them." Remus explains.
"Okay." Hermione says, "Does that mean you're not leaving?" Hermione asks, looking hopeful as she hates that her Papa goes away sometimes.
"No, I have to go away tonight." Remus tells his daughter, knowing that he doesn't have a choice.
"But why?" Hermione asks, "I don't want you to."
"I know you don't Sweetie, I don't want to either, but I have to." Remus explains to Hermione.
"That's not fair!" Hermione says, crossing her arms.
"I know; I know it's not." Remus says, as there is a lot that he thinks isn't fair to Hermione and the fact that she has a werewolf for a dad is top of the list.
"Who will stay with me?" Hermione asks, looking at Remus with wide eyes which causes, just like whenever she is sad, or curious, or afraid, the grey flicks in her eyes to be even more noticeable.
"I need to make a call about that, but I need to use the fire so I need you to stand stay right here, to not move of this chair. Can you do that?" Remus asks Hermione as even though he doesn't use the floo network often whenever he does he makes sure Hermione understands the danger.
"Yes." Hermione answer.
"Good, it's very important that you do, the fire is hot and it will hurt you if you touch it, do you promise to stay on this chair?" Remus asks Hermione.
"Yes Papa, I promise." Hermione tells Remus.
"Good." Remus says before standing up, it being hard on his body to do so with the full moon being soon, and heading over to the fire. Once he is at the fire Remus picks up a handful of floo power and then kneels down in front of it.
"Minerva McGonagall's Office, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Remus says after throwing the powder into the fire and sticking his head into the flames
As his head travels through the floo network, Remus knowing that he will never get used to the feeling and he can't help but wonder whether it was a good idea to call the office instead of the cottage, but as the office comes into view and Remus sees Minerva sitting at her desk he realises that he made the right decision.
"Minerva." Remus says and she looks up, "Sorry, I'm not interrupting am I?"
"Not at all, just the usual paperwork that comes with being a teacher." Minerva comments, "Is something wrong?" Minerva asks concerned as Remus doesn't usually fire call without a warning.
"Yes." Remus answers, "Emma's father unexpectedly passed away this morning and so she and Dan have to go to Cardiff to be with her mother which means….."
"You have no one to watch Hermione tonight." Minerva finishes, realising the problem as she knows what the day is as she has taken to keeping track of the full moons.
"Exactly." Remus says, "I was hoping, if it wasn't too much to ask, that you'd be willing to look after her." Remus explains.
"Of course I will." Minerva says, without hesitation, "What time do you need to be out of the house by?" she asks.
"Five thirty." Remus says, feeling an incredible amount of gratitude towards his old head of house.
"I'll be there at five." Minerva assures Remus.
"Thank you, Minerva. Thank you so much." Remus says.
"You don't have to thank me Remus, I'll be there at five." Minerva promises him.
"Thank you." Remus once more says, "I'll see you there." Remus says before pulling his head out of the fire.
"That looks strange." Hermione says as Remus tries to get his bearings once he is back in his living room.
"It feels stranger." Remus admits, standing up while doing his best to ignore the fact that the room is spinning.
"Can I try it one day?" Hermione asks curious.
"Yeah, one day I'm sure you will." Remus admits, as he walks over his daughter, doing his best to make it look like he's not about to fall over, "So, Minnie is going to look after you tonight."
"Okay." Hermione says, not looking all that excited.
"I thought you liked spending time with Minnie." Remus says to his daughter.
"I do, it's great." Hermione answers, her voice sounding flat and not sounding all that excited, "When will you be home?" she asks.
"If all goes to plan tomorrow afternoon." Remus tells his daughter, knowing that it sometimes takes longer for him to be able to travel after a transformation.
"Okay." Hermione says, climbing down from the couch, "I'm going to play in my room." Hermione says, walking across the room.
"Are you sure, do you want to maybe talk about how you feel?" Remus asks his daughter.
"No. I'll be in my room, Papa." Hermione says before heading upstairs, and as he goes Remus watches his daughter go with a sad look on his face, hating that he is causing his daughter pain every time he has to leave her because he's a werewolf.
Having decided to give his daughter some time Remus waited ten minutes before he headed upstairs and straight to his daughter's room where Hermione is lying on her side, on her bed, holding Paddy close.
"I'm sorry that you're upset that I have to go away tonight." Remus says as he sits down next to his daughter and uses his hand to push her curly brown hair over her shoulder so that he can see her better.
"I don't want you to go." Hermione once more says, it being clear that she is close to tears.
"I know you don't, and If I didn't have to go I wouldn't, but I do need to." Remus explains.
"Why? Why do you have to go away all the time?" Hermione asks as she rolls onto her back, it being clear that she doesn't understand why.
"It's just something I have to do." Remus says, trying to think of the best way to explain as he doesn't think Hermione is old enough to understand the truth yet, "One day you'll understand, but sometimes there are things that you have to do, even if you would rather be doing something else." Remus explains, "I need you to know Mione that no matter where I am or what I am doing I would rather be with you, always, there are just some times that I can't be." Remus explains, "I love you, Hermione, more than anything." Remus tells his daughter.
"Love you too." Hermione says as she leans up and hugs her father, as she does, Remus notices something,
"Hermione do you feel okay?"
"Yes."
"You're feeling a little warm." Remus says concerned as he feels her forehead, "I'll be right back." Remus says before breaking the hug with his daughter and leaving the room.
To Hermione's confusion Remus returns a couple of minutes later holding a red potion and a table spoon,
"I need you to take some of this Hermione." Remus says as he sits down next to his daughter, "It's not going to taste very good, but I need you to take it, can you do that?" Remus asks his daughter.
"Okay." Hermione says.
"Good." Remus says as he pours some of the potion onto the spoon and then helps Hermione drink it.
"Eww." Hermione says once she drinks, pulling a face as she does.
"Yeah, I know, it's not very pleasant, but it will help you." Remus tells his daughter, "Do you want to come downstairs and red some more?" Remus asks curious and Hermione gives a nod, "Okay, come on." Remus says and he and Hermione both head downstairs, Hermione holding onto Paddy for dear life.
It has been a few hours since Remus gave his daughter a potion to help with her fever and since then the two of them spent a while reading together before eating dinner and Hermione has gone upstairs to play in her room while Remus is waiting down in the living room for Minerva. He watches the clock strike five and he feel his worry grow more for every single second that passes until, at five past five the fire springs to life and Minerva steps out.
"Sorry about the delay I was heled up." Minerva tells Remus.
"It's okay. I'm just really glad you're here, thank you." Remus says sincerely.
"You really don't have to keep thanking me, Remus. I've told you that." Minerva tells him, "Where's Hermione?" Minerva asks curiously as she looks around the room and sees no sign of the four-year-old.
"Upstairs in her room. She's not really happy that I'm leaving." Remus explains to Minerva.
"That's understandable. It can't be easy for her." Minerva comments.
"No, it can't be." Remus says as the two of them head upstairs, Minerva being able to hear the guilt in Remus's voice even though he is trying to hide it.
About a minute later Remus and Minerva walk into Hermione's room where Hermione is once more lying on her side.
"Hermione, look who's here." Rems says as he sits down on his daughter's bed.
"Hello Hermione." Minerva greats from where she is standing several steps away from the bed.
"Hermione, I know you're upset but I need you to talk to me." Remus says as he gently rolls Hermione from her side to her back, but as he does he notices that there is something wrong, something more than Hermione just being upset, "Hermione, what's wrong?" Remus asks concerned.
"My tummy hurts." Hermione tells her father.
"Did you sneak chocolate again?" Remus asks his daughter as more than once Hermione has taken chocolate out of the stash he keeps, a stash that he does give her chocolate out of on occasion.
"No." Hermione answers shaking her head, and Remus reaches down and once more he finds that his daughter is rather warm.
"The potion shouldn't have worn off by now." Remus says, sounding worried.
"What potion?" Minerva asks as she walks over.
"Fever relief, I gave it to her not long after I called you to ask if you could come over." Remus explains, "It's supposed to last a lot longer."
"That it is." Minerva confirms, feeling her own concern grow, "Hermione where exactly does your stomach hurt?" she asks concerned.
"Here." Hermione says pointing to the lower right side.
"We need Poppy." Remus says as soon as he sees where his daughter is pointing, having spent so much time with the Hogwarts mediwitch that he is on first name bases with her.
"I'll go get her, but Remus you need to…." Minerva says, and because he knows what Minerva is going to say Remus cuts her off.
"No." Remus responds, "I'm not leaving my daughter."
"Remus, think about this, you know what will happen." Minerva says, trying to get Remus to see sense, though she doubts that she is going to be able to.
"I can't leave her, just get Poppy Minerva, please." Remus requests, as he takes his daughter's hand.
"Okay. I'll be right back." Minerva says, checking the time and knowing that she is going to have to get not just Poppy but the one person who may be able to convince Remus that he can't stay with his daughter when it's a full moon, before leaving.
"It hurts Papa." Hermione tells her father.
"I know. I know it does sweetie." Remus says as he pushes his daughter's hair out of her face, "But Poppy is going to make you feel better, she's really good at that. She always used to make me feel better." Remus explains to his daughter.
"Really?" Hermione asks.
"Really." Remus confirms, hating how helpless he feels at the moment, hating that he can't take away his daughter's pain.
For a few minutes Remus just sits with his daughter, holding his hand, knowing that there is basically nothing he wouldn't do to take away her pain while he waits for Minerva to get back. Then, finally, or what feels like finally to Remus but in fact hasn't even been ten minutes Minerva as well as Poppy and Albus hurry into the room, Poppy holding a bag.
"Mione this is Poppy; she's going to make you feel better." Remus says to his daughter as Poppy hurries over and sits down on the other side of the bed.
"Hi."
"Hello, Hermione, it's nice to meet you." Poppy says with a kind smile, "When did the fever start?" She asks Remus.
"A few hours ago. I gave her a fever relief potion and it seemed to cure it." Remus reveals, then realises something, "She didn't eat as much as normal at dinner but I thought that was just because she was mad at me." Remus explains, looking guilty.
"Remus this isn't your fault." Minerva assures him.
"I should have realised something was wrong." Remus says, guilt more than clear in his voice.
"It's not your fault, My Boy, you couldn't have known." Albus says, "But's it's getting late."
"No, I'm not leaving her." Remus says, knowing what Albus is going to say, "I can't leave her alone."
"She won't be alone Remus, Poppy, Albus and I will stay with her." Minerva assures him.
"It's not the same."
"Papa, I feel funny." Hermione says before vomiting, "Don't go." She tells Remus, begs Remus, looking so sick and so afraid, once she has been sick.
"I'm not going anywhere." Remus promises as Poppy uses her wand to clean the vomit.
As they hear Remus's words Minerva and Albus exchange looks, both realising what they are going to have to do to get Remus to a safe place before he transforms. Even though they know that Remus will be mad at them for what they are both going to do they also know that that anger will be nothing compared to how much Remus will hate himself if he stays around his daughter once he transforms, and so moving in a flash Albus pulls out his wand and stuns Remus.
"PAPA." Hermione yells terrified as her father falls onto the bed, "WHAT DID YOU DO TO PAPA?" Hermione asks.
"It's okay, Hermione. You're Papa's okay. He's just gone to sleep and he's got to go away for a little while." Minerva says as she moves and sits next to Hermione, near where Remus is.
"NO. PAPA WAKE UP. I WANT PAPA." Hermione yells.
"I know you do, but he can't be here right now." Minerva says as she puts her hand on Hermione's shoulder.
"NO, I WANT PAPA." Hermione yells, "I WANT DADDY." Hermione yells to the complete shock of the three adults in the room as they all know that Daddy is what she calls Sirius and only him.
"Hermione, I need to take your Papa with me, but he'll be back tomorrow and until then Minerva and Poppy are going to stay with you and I'll be back." Albus says in a grandfatherly like voice, planning on taking Remus to the Shrieking Shack.
"NO, I WANT PAPA, I WANT PAPA." Hermione yells as she tosses and turns herself from side to side.
"I know; I know you do." Minerva says as she runs her hand through Hermione's hair as Albus leave the room, taking Remus with him.
"I WANT PAPA." Hermione says as she, even in pain, manages to get up and runs out of the room.
"HERMIONE." Minerva and Poppy yell as they get up and chase after her.
About a minute later Minerva and Poppy find Hermione sitting in front of the fireplace crying, it being clear to both Minerva and Poppy that Albus must have just disappeared with Remus.
"Hermione." Minerva says as she sits down next to Hermione.
"I want Papa! Why didn't Papa stay?" Hermione asks through her tears, "I want Papa."
"Oh I know you do." Minerva tells her, putting her arm around Hermione, "One day you'll understand, but your Papa just couldn't stay tonight." She explains.
"That's not fair." Hermione says, tears rolling down her face.
"No, it's not." Minerva says as wipes away Hermione's tears, completely agreeing with the four-year-old words as this isn't fair to the young girl.
"My tummy still feels funny." Hermione tells Minerva.
"I have something that will help with that but I need you to be a brave girl for me while I run some tests, do you think you can do that?" Poppy asks Hermione as while she is pretty sure that she knows what's wrong with the young girl she needs to be sure before she gives the cure.
"Yes." Hermione answers with a smile.
"Good girl." Poppy says with a smile.
"I'm sorry, my Boy, but this is the for the best. I know you'll see that." Albus says as he places Remus's unconscious body on the bed in the Shrieking Shack, "I'll watch over Hermione until the moon passes." Albus promises before leaving, knowing that Remus will transform soon and that if he had to guess it's not going to be a pleasant transformation for him.
Within an hour of Albus leaving him Remus is conscious and is feeling the feeling of his body almost ripping in two as he transforms. As soon as he transforms Moony starts ripping and attacking himself so much more than normal because there is a part of him, even in his wolf state, or maybe because of it, that knows that his child is sick and needs him.
After one of his most painful transformations and difficult full moons Remus wakes up on the floor of the shack, feeling extreme pain in several places, and Albus standing over him.
"Albus, is Hermione okay? Where is she?" Remus asks as he sees the headmaster.
"She's at your home. Poppy and Minerva are with her." Albus explains, "Hermione did have appendicitis but Poppy cured it and she is currently resting." Albus explains, knowing that much as he got an update just before coming to the shack as he knew that Remus would want one.
"I need to get home." Remus says as he forces himself to stand up, his body yelling at him to lay down as he does, "I need to see her."
"I thought you would say that." Albus says, "Drink this first." Albus says drinking the potion and handing it to Remus.
Recognizing that it is a healing potion, one of the few that is able to help him to some degree after full moon, Remus opens the potion and quickly drinks it, "I need to get home." He tells Albus, once he drinks it.
"I know." Albus says as he picks up a piece of broken furniture and turns it into a portkey, "That will take you straight to your living room."
"Thank you, Albus." Remus tells him, "And thank you for making sure I didn't hurt her." Remus says before reaching out and taking the portkey.
"Remus." A voice says not long after he took hold of the broken piece of furniture, "Open your eyes, get your bearings." The voice says and Remus opens his eyes to see Poppy and that he is home.
"Where's Hermione?" Remus asks as soon as he realises that he is home again.
"Upstairs, in your room. Minerva's with her." Poppy explains.
"Thank you, Poppy." Remus says before heading upstairs.
"You need rest too young man." Poppy says as Remus hurries, or more specifically goes as fast as he can considering everything, upstairs.
About a minute later Remus hurries into his bedroom where Hermione is asleep on his bed holding Paddy in her arms and Minerva is sitting in a chair next to the bed.
"How is she?" Remus asks Minerva.
"Her fever broke a couple of hours ago and the pains gone, she's been sick a few times, but Poppy said that that happens with the cure she was given." Minerva explains, "She wanted to sleep in here."
"Okay, thank you for staying with her, Minerva." Remus says as he walks over to Hermione's bed.
"You don't have to thank me for that." Minerva says as Remus lays down next to his daughter, "I'll be downstairs." Minerva says before leaving.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here with you Hermione, I'm sorry that you were alone." Remus says to his daughter, placing a kiss on her head, as he does Remus finds himself looking over at the picture of him, Hermione and Sirius that James took minutes after Hermione was born, that he keeps next to his bed, "You should have been here, she shouldn't have been alone." Remus says to the picture of Sirius, as even though he completely blames himself for Hermione being alone when she was sick, he blames Sirius a little too.
"Papa?" Hermione's quiet voice ask.
"I'm right here, Mione." Remus assures his daughter who rolls over and turns into his chest.
"I love you Papa." Hermione tells her father.
"I love you too, Hermione, so much." Remus promises his daughter and he places a kiss on her head, "Get some sleep. I'll be right here."
"Okay." Hermione says, closing her eyes and within a few seconds she is fast asleep and Remus isn't too far behind her and together the father and daughter sleep side by side in Remus's bed. Remus sleeping because he is so tired while hating that he wasn't there for his daughter when she needed him.
