Chapter 2:
October 13th, 1981 marked Hermione's first full moon. Remus was at least five when he first phased, but according to Dumbledore who'd found her records she'd be two-years-old in September. They didn't know what would happen when she changed, how bad it would be, if she'd attack herself. Remus sighed as he and Hermione apparated into the shrieking shack. Sirius wasn't far behind them. Hermione's wounds were mostly healed now, but she wasn't talking and mostly clung to the adults, especially Lily or Remus.
Sirius started padlocking the doors as the sun began to set. He set the keys up on a shelf and moved to sit by Hermione. Remus sighed leaning his head against the back of the wall. Everything was covered in dust, and grime. It was clear no one had tried to take care of the area.
"So I think we need to move James and Lily Halloween if old man Dumbles hasn't found a new place by then." Sirius grunted as he sat down.
"Are you alright? I mean it's one thing to clean up your childhood home, but to agree to live there for the next year or two..."
"I have to be, it's not like I can leave you five in the dark. You and James, you're my brothers, and now with Lily, Harry and Hermione… I finally have a family Moony," he sighed looking out seeing the last of the light fade and stretching Sirius shifted taking the form of a black dog.
Remus's shift into a werewolf was far from easy as the light of the full moon filtered into the small room through ragged planks of wood. His body screamed as he changed forms, nothing like the ease at which Sirius became a dog, but soon enough he was finished. His clothing in tatters on the ground beside him. Sniffing at the black dog Moony seemed thrilled to find his old pal Padfoot.
Hermione's transition was worse than his, but the first ones alway are. She screamed panting harshly as her bones broke and reformed into something else. Fur sprouted from her skin, and her claws dug into the wooden floor. Her screams turn into howls, and shrieks. Finally as the transformation completed the girl just laid down, panting.
Moony nosed the pup slowly. Gently he licked her head trying to ease the pain. Hermione's snout sniffed the air as she gently raised her head. Sirius was stricken by the oddness of a baby werewolf. Undoubtedly she'd tear him limb from limb if he showed his human side, but she looked almost like a bear cub. Cute, and yet so deadly. The little wolf sneezed at the dust, and Moony nuzzled the child helping her up.
The first night was an easy one, with Sirius and Moony there Hermione didn't start tearing at herself, she trotted along in the house and tried to catch moths. She tried to pounce on Remus' tail and clawed apart furniture.
As the night turned into day Hermione and Remus changed back each without new scars, and only a few aches and pains. Remus forced himself to put on the extra clothing he brought, and Sirius clothed and diapered the toddler with ease. The three of them apparating from the Shrieking shack and straight into Number 12 Grimmauld Place.
"You filthy halfbreed," shrieked Walburga's portrait and Kreacher popped in onto the stair landing. "Shh Mistress, it is your blood traitor son," Kreacher soothed.
"That bloody elf," Sirius cursed, walking back into the sitting room. Much of it had been cleared out much to the displeasure of Kreacher. Sirius was trying to make the place safe for the kids.
"It's the best we can do without burning the place down." Remus carried Hermione to the kitchen, Kreacher following.
"Out," Kreacher mumbled, "Kreacher will make food for the baby, the rest of you leave."
"Kreacher you can't be alone with her," Sirius scoffed.
"Kreacher, raises all babies from the noble house of Black, even mud blood, werewolves," Kreacher spat, holding out his hands to Remus.
Hermione for her part quite liked Kreacher, even though he bemoaned her existence while it was just them. He frequently made Hermione laugh, and made the best porridge and oatmeal.
Kreacher actually smiled and took the toddler. "Kreacher's little beast Miss Hermione is," he said defiantly glaring at Sirius.
"She likes him," Remus shrugged and Sirius's eye twitched. "How could she like him, he's vile."
Hermione hugged Kreacher tiredly and Kreacher's eyes narrowed. The normally inquisitive child who had yet to speak, but made it clear she was listening had never felt so weak to him. "What did the master do to her?" Kreacher spat.
"Kreacher, it was a full moon last night, Hermione's first full moon, she's very tired and sore," Remus explained, putting a hand on Sirius's shoulder.
Sirius was turning almost purple at the implication. Kreacher for his part blinked his foul yellow eyes, and then looked down at Hermione. His hold became more protective. "Kreacher will make soup."
"For all of us," Sirius ordered soup sounding good to help ease the long night. Kreacher's teeth gritted but he nodded. Carrying Hermione to the kitchen ignoring Sirius and Remus behind him. Hermione would soon be taller than the old elf, not that it seemed to bother Kreacher any.
"He's not going to be good for her," Sirius glared at Remus.
"She might be good for him," Remus countered. "She likes him a lot."
"I don't know why, yesterday I caught him feeding her and telling her what a terrible beast she is in baby talk."
"He seemed worried that she was so tired." Remus yawned himself.
"If I wasn't so afraid of him slipping maggots into our soup I'd go get Hermione and lay her down to sleep." Sirius mumbled, yawning himself thumping down onto the dusty couch. "Bloody mess of a house," he coughed curling up on his side. Sirius' coughing subsided and his yawns grew, and quickly sleep overtook the twenty-one-year old.
Remus gave a small smile walking down to the kitchen, he looked in and laughed. Kreacher had conjured a bed for Hermione who was asleep tucked in perfectly with a blanket over her shoulders. "Kreacher," Remus said softly, the house elf whirling on him about to spew a bitter tirade. "Thank you," Remus interrupted, "for taking such good care of her."
Kreacher's anger softened, "She is the first baby of the Noble House of Black since Master Regulus. Even if the mistress would not have approved of her filthy blood, and dangerous condition, Kreacher serves the House of Black."
"Yes, but she's not really Sirius's child, and you hate Sirius." Remus sat down at the kitchen table causing the elf to bristle for a moment. Kreacher's ear sank for a bit, and he looked at Remus tilting his head.
"Master Sirius takes care of the little beast, she is a child he cares for, and takes care of. She is the Master's," this time Kreacher spat out the title.
"I suppose you're right, Kreacher if it's not too much trouble, when you're done with the soup would you please make me some hot coco?"
At the please Kreacher blinked tilting his head and squinting as if to sense falsehood. Slowly his eyes drifted to the sleeping girl, before again nodding slowly.
"Thank you, if you'd like I hope you'll make yourself a cup as well," Remus smiled kindly standing to pick Hermione up.
"Kreacher can take care of the beastie, she is a good beastie, better than the others with such filthy blood. Never cries, just listens, learns, she's a smart beastie."
Remus's lips quirked, they'd have to work with Kreacher on accepting muggleborns, and half-bloods, but it was a start.
Remus yawned and Kreacher walked over to him, "Kreacher will tell you when food is ready."
Remus nodded slowly before standing up and going to his bedroom. He fell onto the bed and sleep soon took over.
Hermione awoke to Kreacher the funny little elf putting her in a high chair. She smiled and gently tugged his ear.
"Feel better beastie?" Kreacher's voice croaked, "stay here Kreacher is going to get the werewolf."
Hermione looked around as Kreacher vanished with a pop. Remus came downstairs slowly a few minutes after. He leaned down pressing a kiss to the top of Hermione's curly head causing her to smile at him, the scar on the side of her face pulling her skin upward. "Get a good nap?" He asked.
Hermione nodded but a yawn still escaped and he laughed.
"After we eat I'll take you to James and Lily, and you can get a good rest there," As the words left his mouth Sirius' voice carried down to them as he screamed muffled curse words. Kreacher popped back into the room, while Sirius thundered down the stairs.
"You bloody," Sirius was soaking wet, his blue eyes narrowed dangerously on the elf. Hermione's lower lip trembled at the yelling, her eyes starting to well up.
"Calm down Padfoot," Remus stood looking down at Hermione.
Sirius regained his composure the moment he saw the girl's lip tremble. He cast a simple drying charm and took a seat at the table.
"I'm sorry 'Mione," Sirius smiled, kissing her scarred cheek.
"Kreacher won't tolerate it if you make his beastie cry." Kreacher put a warning finger in Sirius's face.
Remus chuckled quietly, as it turned out the demented House Elf really liked small children. "Hurry up Padfoot, we've got to get to the Potter's. I've missed a year of Harry's life, I don't plan to miss much more."
Sirius smiled and tousled Hermione's wild curls, "I don't know Moony, I wanted to sleep a bit more, maybe see if we can finally get Hermione to talk."
Hermione sensed the ease returning to the room, and proceeded to feed herself soup. Of course more of the food ended up on her than in her, and Kreacher muttered about the mess from his spot in the kitchen.
Sirius plucked Hermione from the high chair. "We're going to get cleaned up, right my smart girl," Sirius cooed and Hermione smiled. A full smile with chubby cheeks, and baby teeth lit up the child's face.
"Since when are brains the first thing you think to compliment?" Remus teased.
"Since I realized that I want our baby wolf here to know how smart and important she is. Regardless of her appearance, or her lycanthropy either, so-"
"You're a proper Dad now Pads," James smirked as he walked into the kitchen. I apparated outside so I wouldn't wake any of you, but seeing as we're all awake," James grinned. "How's my messy girl?" He grinned, taking Hermione from Sirius immediately.
Kreacher whirled on James, "You blood-traitor filth! Unhand Miss Hermione!"
Sirius pouted but sighed, "Kreacher stop. James isn't hurting her, I promise." His voice was resigned, tired, but the order was clear.
Hermione giggled as James bounced her a simple dance in his step. "No you're not Padfoot's girl are you 'Mione, you should tell him you like me better," James teased tickling the little girl, causing roaring giggles to sound throughout the house.
"Not nice Prongs, you already have Harry," Sirius whined holding his hands out to Hermione who was far out enamored with trying to grab James's glasses.
"Yes, but Hermione isn't Harry," James smiled, "She's just as special, though honestly Padfoot, have you ever considered changing her name?"
"Her name is Hermione," Remus said, rolling his eyes.
"I mean but Elvendork, Moony, it's gender neutral," James whined. He tried not to, but he couldn't help laughing as Hermione put his glasses on her own face and whined at the blurry vision.
Sirius swooped in taking her from James when Hermione whined. James took his glasses back and Hermione smiled up at Sirius. "He is right Moony," Sirius quipped, "Hermione Elvendork Black, has a nice ring to it."
"No, it should be Hermione Elvendork Potter," James rolled his eyes.
"You're both wrong, it'll be Hermione Elvendork Lupin," Remus crossed his arms. "Finders keepers." Remus quickly cast a cleaning charm on Hermione and took her from Sirius making her squeal in laughter as he tossed her up.
"I'm going to change her, and then we can go." Remus cast a charm changing her diaper and clothes.
James grinned, "Isn't that book of parenting spells Mum left us so nice. I don't know how Muggles deal with things without them. Harry pukes on himself at least twice a day, I don't know if we'd get it out of his clothes without the spells.
Remus chuckled and lifted Hermione above his head. "Let's go see Lily," he cooed up at her and Hermione smiled, "Leelee," she agreed.
James froze, and looked over at the little voice, "did she?"
Sirius swept in and absconded the child, "Lily?"
"Leelee," Hermione's little brow wrinkled.
"Yes," Sirius grinned, tickling her tummy making her giggle. "Well boys let's not keep my girl waiting."
Remus rolled his eyes apparating with the other 2 into Godric's Hallow. James had himself covered in an instant Sirius pulled his jacket up around his ears. Remus pulled his hat out of his pocket, pulling it down and ducking his head. Sirius held Hermione tight, and the 3 made their way to the Potter house.
Lily met them at the door Harry behind her. "Hermione," Lily cooked taking the girl.
"Leelee," Hermione giggled, hugging her tightly.
At the sound of her name Lily's eyes brightened and she grinned at the boys. "I'm the favorite."
"Which means she's ours," James grinned, pulling off the cloak. "Hermione Elvendork Potter, it is boys."
"James," Lily rolled her eyes, "I told you I am not naming a child Elvendork."
Remus laughed and Hermione rather insistently squirmed so that Lily would let her down. As soon as her little feet touched the floor she toddled right over to Harry.
"Padfoot, Harry's starting to use the broom you got him today. He's finally balancing enough that he can whip around on it. He broke that horrible vase Petunia gave me and almost killed the cat. Poor thing's been under our bed all day," Lily laughed.
"He's going to be a Quidditch star,'" James grinned, scooping Harry up and tossing him in the air, causing Harry to squeal happily.
"He'll be better than you mate," Sirius grinned, "And MY Hermione," Sirius picked up the girl, "Will be better than him, a true Gryffindor."
"Quidditch is just a stupid game, and the kids don't have to play or like it," Remus rolled his eyes hanging his jacket by the door.
"Here here," Lily said with a laugh.
James and Sirius both gasped at the implication and held their respective child closer. "How could you even try to put that idea in their head?" James's voice was little more than a scandalized whisper.
"We don't need you putting ideas in their heads," Sirius's voice raised.
Remus just rolled his eyes and took Hermione who smiled up at him. "Hermione, you need another nap, love, let's go see if Harry has any good books to read."
Sirius watched them both climb up the stairs and smiled a bit. "Well, I think we can move the two of you by next week."
"Dumbledore has asked to borrow my cloak, so, I don't know how smart that is," James sighed. "He said he'd bring it back by the end of the month," James sighed.
"You guys can't stay here, you're sitting ducks. Might I remind you Peter is still avoiding us."
"I know, but it'd be more risky to move us out when I'm sure I saw Yaxley walk past into the pub today." James sighed looking down at Harry.
"I'm serious he has until Halloween and not a day longer." Sirius took Harry from James kissing his cheek. "I don't want to lose the three of you, and if it hadn't been for Remus bringing Hermione into our life I might not have had the chance to move you."
"I know you're worried about Padfoot, but nobody can keep James Potter down. Also nobody can beat Lily in a duel, not even You-Know-who."
