Chapter 7

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

AN1: Thank you for the support. PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW.


December 25th 1988

It has been almost five months since Remus, Neville and Hermione went camping together and to all of their joy it was an incredible five days and the three of them had a lot of fun.

It early Christmas morning and because it was a full moon two days earlier Remus is still asleep while Hermione is wide awake. Since learning of her father's condition Hermione has been able to tell when it's been a bad full moon or a slightly better and so she knows that the full moon that just passed was on the bad side. Wanting to make things easier on her father Hermione spends a couple of minutes collecting their presents that are down by the tree, as well as the stockings, and taking them upstairs and puts them on the side of her father's bed that she doesn't sleep on.

"Papa, wake up." Hermione says, climbing onto the bed and shaking her father awake, "Papa, wake up." Hermione tries again when Remus stirs slightly but doesn't wake.

"Hermione?" Remus asks, being slightly sluggish, "Are you okay?" Remus asks concerned.

"It's Christmas, Papa." Hermione informs him.

"So it is." Remus says as he opens his eyes and realises that it is morning, early morning but still morning, "Merry Christmas, Hermione." Remus says, smiling at his daughter, as he forces himself to sit up.

"Merry Christmas, Papa." Hermione says, smiling back and hugging him, "I love you."

"Oh, I love you to, so much." Remus says as he holds his daughter tightly.

"Look I brought our presents and stockings up here so that we can open presents while you rest, because you need to rest." Hermione tells her Papa in a matter of fact tone.

"You're incredible, Hermione, you know that?" Remus asks, and Hermione nods, "But you don't have to look after me. It's my job to look after you."

"We look after each other Papa, we always have." Hermione tells Remus.

"Yeah, I guess we do." Remus realises, putting an arm around his daughter, "Why don't you open one of your parents." Remus suggests.

"Only if you open one too." Hermione says as she picks up two of the presents in the small group of gifts. Once she has two Hermione hands one to Remus and keeps the other for herself.

"Do you want to open them at the same time?" Remus asks Hermione who nods, and together the father and daughter open their presents while sitting side by side, both of them having smiles on their faces.


May 21st 1989

It has been five months since Christmas and since then Hermione has realised that her father has had more bad full moons than good ones, that have caused her to worry about her dad even more, which is exactly why, the day after the full moon Hermione is finding herself becoming more and more worried when another hour passes without Remus coming home.

As it reaches four o'clock in the afternoon without her father arriving home Hermione feels her worry reaching a level of almost panic. Needing some news Hermione heads downstairs to the kitchen where Emma is.

"Emma, have you heard from Papa?" Hermione asks concerned, "It never takes him this long to come home after a full moon." She says, it being clear that she is worried.

"No, I haven't heard from your Papa." Emma informs Hermione, "But, I floo called Albus about half an hour ago. He and Minerva are going to check the place where your Papa goes during the full moon and he'll let us know." Emma explains, "But that being said there is no reason for you to worry."

"Too late." Hermione mutters to herself before walking over to the living room where she just sits in front of fire, staring at the flames, waiting for them to spring to life.

For well over twenty minutes Hermione sits in front of the fire, Emma noticing that her eyes are barley blinking, when it finally bursts into green flames and Minerva steps out.

"Minnie, did you find Papa? Is he okay?" Hermione asks worried, jumping to her feet, her voice fast and panicked.

"Yes, we found your Papa." Minerva confirms, her voice not giving away what that means.

"Is he okay? He's not is he?" Hermione realises, "He'll be okay right? How serious is it?" Hermione asks, fear and pain in her voice.

"Come sit down Hermione." Minerva says, leading Hermione over to the couch, "Yes, your Papa is hurt. He's at Hogwarts now being treated by Poppy, and some of his injuries are quiet server." Minerva explains as Albus elected to take Remus to Hogwarts rather than St. Mungo's as taking him to Hogwarts means the ministry won't get involved, something which wouldn't be good for Remus considering he is a werewolf.

"Can I see him? Please. I need to see Papa." Hermione informs Minerva.

"I'm not sure that that's a good idea." Minerva says as she saw Remus and he is in pretty bad shape.

"Please Minerva, please, I have to see Papa." Hermione says, giving Minerva her pleading look that reminds Remus so much of Sirius.

"Okay." Minerva says, seeing the desperation on the nine-year old's face and knowing that she really needs to see her Papa otherwise she is going to picture the worse, "We'll floo to Hogwarts, but when we are there I need you to listen to what you are told. Do you promise to do that?" Minerva asks Hermione.

"Yes, Minnie." Hermione says with a nod.

"Okay, I want you to take my hand, not let go of it, and keep your eyes closed while we are in the fireplace." Minerva tells Hermione.

"I can do that." Hermione assures Minerva.

"Okay, Emma, I'm taking Hermione to Hogwarts to see Remus." Minerva says to the other woman.

"Okay, give him my best." Emma requests and Minerva nods, knowing that she might not be able to do that for a while as Remus was still unconscious when she left.

"Let's go, Hermione." Minerva says and the two of them head over to the fire place.


Two floo journeys later, one from the Remus and Hermione's house to Minerva's office and the other using the Hogwarts internal floo network, Minerva and Hermione are stepping out of the fireplace into the Hogwarts Hospital wing where they find Albus, Poppy, and a man with dark greasy hair that Hermione doesn't know, helping Remus.

"PAPA." Hermione yells, letting go of Minerva's hand running towards her father, but she doesn't get close to her Papa as the greasy man turns around and grabs hold of her.

"Stay away child, if you want us to help your father then you'll stay out of the way" The man, Severus Snape, says, saying father in disgust, "You make things worse if you don't." Severus says, pushing Hermione back.

"Severus." Poppy and Minerva say, neither sounding very happy.

"Hermione, you need to stay back." Albus says in a kind voice.

"Why's Papa so hurt? He's never been this hurt before." Hermione says, tears coming to her eyes as she steps back.

"We're not sure why this full moon was so much worse. We just know your Papa was hurt very badly." Minerva explains to Hermione, from where she is standing next to her.

"The child knows?" Snape asks surprised, and honestly disapprovingly, though honestly he disapproves of Remus being around a child all the time, and Albus nods at that.

"Could something have hurt Papa, or did he hurt himself?" Hermione asks.

"It looks self-inflicted." Poppy answers.

"He'll be alright, right?" Hermione asks, worry in her voice, as she knows that there is one thing she can't handle and that's something happening to her father.

"Unfortunately." Severus mutters.

"Severus." Albus says in a warning tone of voice, looking over at Hermione and being relieved when he realises that she didn't hear what the potion master said.

"I believe so, but I need a little more time to be sure." Poppy tells Hermione.

"Why don't you come sit down." Minerva suggests gently leading Hermione over to one of the chairs.

"Okay." Hermione says, not really paying attention to what Minerva is doing as she is staring at her father.


For half an hour Minerva, Poppy and Albus do the healing charms they can while Severus administers the potions that he can, and after working constantly the four of them step back from Remus.

"Is Papa okay?" Hermione asks, standing up.

"We've managed to stabilise him. Over the next day he's going to require more potions, healing and substances to help him heal completely." Albus explains, walking over to Hermione.

"Potions which I need to brew, excuse me." Severus says before leaving, honestly he doesn't want to spend any more time with Lupin, and what he considers to be Black's Spawn, than necessary.

"Your Papa isn't going to wake up for a while. It might be best if you go home." Minerva tells Hermione.

"No, can't I just stay with him?" Hermione asks, "I won't be any trouble, you won't even know I was there, promise." Hermione says, looking at Poppy, as she really doesn't want to leave her father.

"I don't mind." Poppy says as she is pretty sure that Hermione just being around Remus will help him, "But that's only if it's okay with the headmaster."

"It is." Albus says.

"Thank you." Hermione says, walking over to the bed where her father is and she pulls the chair up as close to the bed and sits on it, making herself seem so small in the way she sits down, "I'm right here, Papa. Please don't leave me." Hermione begs, tears once more coming to eyes.

"Keep an eye on her. I'll make sure some food is brought up for her." Albus says to Poppy in a quiet voice.

"I will." Poppy promises, not being able to help but feel sympathy for the young girl.


It has been a few hours since Hermione sat down next to Remus and to the concern of Poppy, Minerva and Albus, Hermione didn't eat much of the food that was brought up to her. Something else that makes them concerned is the fact that Hermione has been silent since she sat down next to her father, all she has been doing is staring at her father and holding his hand.

"What are you doing?" Hermione asks, speaking for the first time in hours as Snape applies a substance to Remus's wounds.

"Helping your dear father." Severus says, his voice sarcastic, as he rolls his eyes.

"Will he get better soon?" Hermione asks, wounding who this man is and why he has a problem with her Papa, though if she had to guess she would say that his problem is either the fact that Remus is a werewolf or that he has had a relationship with Sirius Black.

"Yes." Severus answers simply before walking away, as he does Poppy walk over to Hermione.

"Hermione it's getting late. Why don't you lay in one of the beds and get some sleep?" Poppy suggests.

"I want to be awake when Papa wakes up." Hermione tells Poppy.

"Hermione, Remus's likely not going to wake up for a while." Poppy explains, "You should get some sleep."

"No, I'm okay." Hermione says, "I'm not leaving, Papa." Hermione says and as she does Poppy realises that she seems to be just as stubborn as both her fathers.


A couple of hours later, as she checks on Remus, Poppy realises that Hermione has fallen asleep, in her chair, still holding her Papa's hand. Seeing that Poppy conjures a blanket and covers Hermione, then finishes checking on Remus before heading back to her office.


Twenty-four hours after Hermione was brought to Hogwarts by Minerva and just like she has been doing most of the last twenty-four hours Hermione is sitting next to her father, holding his hand. As she is watching her father Hermione starts to notice his eyes flickering.

"Papa?" Hermione asks, "Papa, can you hear me?"

"Hermione?" Remus asks, as he opens his eyes.

"Oh thank you. I thought you were going to die. I thought you were going to leave me. I was so scared. Please don't leave Papa." Hermione says, hugging her father as she starts to say, "Please don't ever leave me." Hermione begs.

"Oh, Hermione. I'm okay. I'll be okay. I'll recover, I always do" Remus says as he returns his daughters hug and rubs her back, hating that he's caused her so much pain, "But Hermione, I can't promise that that nothing will ever happen to me, but I do promise to always do my best to always come home to you." Remus tells Hermione, "I'm sorry I scared you."

"I love you, Papa." Hermione says as she buries her chest in Remus's chest.

"I love you too, Hermione. More than anything."


August 6th 1989

It has been almost three months since Remus had a full moon so bad that he ended up in the Hogwarts Hospital wing and to the relief of everyone close to him neither of the full moons that have happened since have been anywhere near as bad.

It is a sunny Sunday afternoon and Remus and Hermione are in their back yard, throwing water balloons at each other to try and cool down, and honestly it's hard to tell who is having more fun.

"How do your water balloons seem to have so much more in them than mine?" Hermione asks her Papa as she tries, and fails to dodge one.

"It's a learned skill. You fill put the balloons to the point where they are really full but won't burst when you're holding them, just when they hit something." Remus explains to Hermione as she throws a balloon at him that hits his leg.

"How'd you learn that?" Hermione asks curious.

"Funny enough it was Uncle James and Dad that taught me." Remus admits, an amused look on his face.

"Really?" Hermione asks, it not hurting as much or making her afraid to hear about her Dad like it once did.

"Really." Remus confirms as he gently tosses a balloon at Hermione, "We used water balloons a lot in our pranks."

"Why did you pull so many pranks at school? Didn't it make it hard to study?" Hermione asks her Papa, as she doesn't see why her Papa would pull pranks rather than studying.

"Sometimes it made it hard to study, but not always." Remus explains, "And we pulled so many pranks because it was fun, and you need fun in your life Hermione, it's important" Remus explains to his daughter, "Things were…. Tense when we were at Hogwarts." Remus explains, struggling to find the right word, "People were frightened, didn't know when the next bad news would come only that it would. So, your Dad, Uncle James, Peter and I thought that it was our job to make people laugh, to make them happy, to cause trouble so people relaxed a bit." He explains.

"That makes a lot of sense." Hermione realises as she throws a water balloon at her Papa that hits him on the chest, "Did your pranks ever go wrong?" Hermione asks.

"Sometimes." Remus answers, not needing to think about it, "But when they did we tried not to do something like that again." Remus explains to his daughter, purposely not thinking about what became known as 'The Willow Incident.'

"Okay." Hermione says with a nod as she side steps the water balloon that Remus threw at her, "Why did you decide to call yourselves Marauders?" Hermione asks curious.

"I'm glad you asked." Remus says with a smile and as he and Hermione throw water balloons at each other he explains all about the origin of the name Marauders.


November 25th 1989

It has been a little over three months since Remus told Hermione about the origin of the Marauders while they threw water balloons and at each other and even though Hermione isn't completely sure how she feels about pranks, especially when they interrupt study she has to admit that she loves hearing about them as they sound really fun, though she doesn't think she will ever pull one.

It's Saturday night and Hermione is in her father's study looking through the books trying to pick the next one she is going to read. As she has gotten older her father has loosened his rules about her reading the books now that she is older, but at the same time he still asks that he shows her the book first to make sure that she's not reading one that he thinks she shouldn't be reading yet.

"No, no." Hermione says moving from one cupboard to the next, "Ouch." Hermione says as she accident hit the desk as she moves, causing papers to full down off the table, "Opps." Hermione says as she stars to pick them up, but as she does Hermione can't help but read the papers, "Wolfsbane potion?" Hermione asks herself and she starts to read.

For the next couple of minutes Hermione reads about a potion that in her opinion is amazing as it is a new invention that will allow her father to keep his mind when he transforms. Flipping to the next page Hermione wants to know what else there is about the potion but on the next page she finds what seems to be a list of ingredients with her Papa's hand writing having added the price of everything next to it and it looks to Hermione that it is expensive list and judging by the 'could never afford' comment written on the bottom her father agrees. Flipping to the piece of paper Hermione sees, what she quickly figures out is a weekly budget, and that even without trying to put money aside to afford the ingredients for the Wolfsbane potion her father sacrifices buying things for himself and goes without a lot to be able to afford to buy her whatever she needs.

"Oh Papa." Hermione says to herself as she realises what that means.

"Hermione, do you want me to help you pick a new book?" Remus's voice asks form the other room.

"No Papa. I've picked one." Hermione calls back as she quickly puts all the papers back on the desk and grabs the closes book that she hasn't read before heading out of the room. As she goes Hermione promises herself that she will try and make thing easier for her Papa and that she will find a way to get him the Wolfsbane potion because he deserves to have something that can make his life easier and that potion looks like it can, and that's what she wants for him.


March 18th 1990

It has been almost four months since Hermione found her father's budget and since then she has been trying not to ask for things so much as she doesn't want to make things harder for her father.

It is a Sunday and Hermione and Remus are at the Longbottom house. While Remus is inside having tea and talking with Augusta and Minerva Hermione and Neville are out in the Longbottom greenhouse planting some new plants.

"Are you alright?" Hermione asks Neville after they have been working in silence for a few minutes.

"Yes… it's just…..." Neville says stuttering, "Do you ever think about your Dad?" Neville asks, it being clear who he is talking about as both he and Hermione know what happened to each of their respective parents and as such Neville knows that Dad, for Hermione, means Sirius.

"All the time." Hermione answers without even needing to think about it, "It's going to sound stupid but there's a specific picture of Dad in my album, from seventh year according to Papa's caption, and I talk to it sometimes." Hermione reveals, "I ask the photo all the questions I wish I could ask him. I say everything I'd say to him if I ever got a chance, things I want him to know." Hermione admits, telling Neville something that only Remus has realised.

"That doesn't sound stupid." Neville tells his friend, "Mum gives me bubble gum wrappers when I visit, rubbish really, and I keep every single one of them. I can't throw them away."

"That's nice." Hermione says with a small smile.

"I think about what it would be like to talk to her and have her really understand, Dad too, I try and picture what their voices would sound like." Neville reveals, pain and sadness in his voice, "I don't even know what I'd say to them, I just want to be able to talk to them and know that they really understand."

"Maybe you'll have that chance one day." Hermione says to her friend.

"Gran says they'll never recover." Neville says, his voice full of even more pain so Hermione reaches out and takes his hand, "I'll never get to talk to them and know that they actually understand, never hear their voices" He comments and the two of them drift into silence, Hermione once more squeezing Neville's hand as they do.

"Can I tell you something?" Hermione asks, breaking the silence after a couple of minutes, "Something I haven't even told Papa?"

"Of course." Neville says, without hesitation, "You can tell me anything, Mione."

"I want to go see him." Hermione reveals, "I want to meet him, talk to him." she explains, hoping that Neville doesn't think bad of her because of that, "I know that after everything's he's done I shouldn't want to be anywhere near him but maybe that's why, I want to know why." Hermione says, there being sadness in her voice, "I want to know him and whether he was ever the person Papa believed him to be, and the worst part is that it actually hurts to know that will probably never happen; how horrible is that?" Hermione asks her voice having a vulnerability to it that it doesn't often have.

"It's not horrible." Neville assures Hermione, squeezing her hand, "It's normal. He's your Dad, Mione, you wanting to know him is okay."

"He's done so many horrible things, I shouldn't want to have anything to do with him, but I do. I really do." Hermione admits a tear coming to her eye as she hates that she wants to know someone who, apparently, killed thirteen people and betrayed his closest friends just because he's her father.

"It's okay, Mione. You wanting to know your father doesn't make you a bad person." Neville says, knowing that that is what his friend is thinking, "You're not a bad person, Mione, and you never will be. Who your Dad is and the fact that you want to know him doesn't change that."

"Thanks Nev." Hermione says with a grateful smile and the two of them drift into silence, both of them thinking about the parents that they will never really get a chance to know, but want to.


July 2nd 1990

It has been three months since Hermione admitted to Neville that she wants to see Sirius and since she made that admission Neville hasn't once judged her for that.

It is the first Monday of the summer holidays, the summer before Hermione will start her last year at Muggle school, a place where Hermione excels well above her peers, before Hogwarts, and Hermione is with Remus at the bookshop. As they have been at the bookshop for several hours Hermione is settled herself into a corner of the bookshop where she is surrounded by books in different piles.

"What are you doing Hermione?" Remus asks, walking over to his daughter.

"Organizing the books." Hermione explains, "These are books that are in the wrong place." Hermione says pointing to one pile, "These are ones that make more sense being in another section." Hermione says, pointing to the second pile, "And these are ones that I want to read." Hermione says, referring to the biggest pile.

"Of course they are." Remus says, sounding amused, "I just got a large older phoned in, would you like to help me track down the books and then learn to use the register?" Remus asks curious.

"Can I?" Hermione asks, looking excited.

"Sure." Remus says with a smile.

"Okay." Hermione says, standing up and together Hermione and Remus work together collect the books that have been ordered and then Remus shows Hermione how to use the cash register and ring up orders.


September 19th 1990

It has been two months since Remus showed Hermione how to use the cash register at the book shop and for the rest of the summer Hermione helped Remus put through orders at the register.

It's about ten to seven on a Wednesday morning and because it is a very important day, a very big day Remus is sitting on the reading chair that his daughter has in her room, watching her sleep, being amazed by how much she has grown, something which he has been doing for about two hours.

Watching his daughter sleep Remus smiles as she is the best thing in his life, sometimes, after everting that happened when he's struggling or when he thinks too much about everything he's lost, or even just thinks about Sirius, Hermione's the only reason he keeps going. She is the light in his life and he is so proud of her, is constantly amazed by her, and loves her more than he's ever loved anyone, and he really can't believe how much she has grown, how much she has changed. She's not a little girl anymore, she's becoming a young woman, and he's so proud of the person she's becoming.

"Papa." Hermione's voice says, snapping Remus out of his thoughts.

"Hey, Birthday Girl." Remus says as he stands up, walking over to his daughter with a smile on his face.

"Were you watching me sleep?" Hermione asks, sounding surprised, as she sits up in her bed.

"I was." Remus confirms, "I was thinking about how much you've grown, and how very proud I am of you." Remus tells Hermione.

"I haven't grown since yesterday." Hermione tells her father.

"I'm talking about how much you've grown in your life. I'm talking about the incredible, smart, amazing person you've become." Remus explains to his daughter his voice full of pride, and joy.

"Oh." Hermione says, not sure how to respond to that, "I love you, Papa." Hermione says, hugging her father.

"I love you too, Hermione, so much." Remus tells his daughter, returning the hug and placing a kiss on her head.

"Is my Hogwarts letter here yet?" Hermione asks, sounding excited.

"Hermione you heard what Minnie said, you'll get your Hogwarts letter in July." Remus tells his daughter with an amused look on his face as his daughter is very excited about getting her letter.

"That's so long away." Hermione says in an annoyed tone of voice.

"I know, but it will be here before too long." Remus says, not entirely sure how he's going to react to that day, "And, even though it's not the same there are presents downstairs waiting to be opened and we've got a long day wanting to start." Remus explains to his daughter.

"But, Papa, I have school." Hermione tells her father.

"Not today you don't." Remus tells his daughter as he spent a long time thinking about it and after a lot of debating he decided to let Hermione have a day off so that they can spend the day together.

"I can't miss school." Hermione says, her eyes widening, "Schools important, you tell me that."

"Yes, I do." Remus confirms, "But today is important too and so I think that, just this once, you can miss school and we can have some fun together, because funs important too Mione." Remus tells his daughter as while he admires how much his daughter studies he worries that she doesn't have enough fun, so he wants to help her have a bit more.

"Okay." Hermione says with a nod, "Can I go open my presents?" Hermione asks.

"Sure." Remus says and Hermione gets up and runs out of the room, yelling, "COME ON, PAPA." As she goes.

After watching his daughter go Remus opens the top draw of Hermione's bedside draw and pulls a frame, a frame containing the same picture he keeps next to his bed, a picture of him, Sirius and Hermione on the day she was born.

"You should be here." Remus says, looking at Sirius, "We should be celebrating this with her, together." Remus says a tear coming to his eye as even though he does his best for Hermione, and she has a lot of other support, he knows that she suffers by not having two parents, she feels the gap where Sirius should be and he hates that, "I miss you." Remus admits to the picture before he puts it back and heads downstairs being determine to focus on his daughter and making this an incredible birthday for her rather than thinking about her other father.


Far away from Remus and Hermione, alone in his cell in Azkaban Sirius Black is staring at a tally that he has been making on the wall with his claws. Looking at the tally Sirius knows what day it is and he feels a sorrow that has nothing to do with the Dementors.

"Happy Birthday, Princess." Sirius says quietly to himself, not even wanting to say Hermione's name in this horrible place, as he does he finds himself wondering the same things he wonders all the time, what is his baby girl like? Is she okay? How's Remus doing? Is he okay? All questions that he won't find the answers to in his cell, but at the same time Sirius believes that, after what his choices lead to, they are better without him, they will have better lives without him in it, that he's protecting them by staying away. So, he just turns himself into Padfoot and stares at his wall; thinking about his family.


PLEASE REVIEW