She shook her head trying to relieve herself of the memory, but even when she shut her eyes the image burnt into her eyelids.

She was sitting in the library, her head in her hands as her entire body quivered. She willed herself to make the flashback stop but it was pointless.
She sobbed softly as the memory continued to play out.

"Hermione Granger." A cold voice sneers. She whirls around, cautioning Ron and Harry that someone is following them.
"Malfoy." She replies stiffly. Ron has his arm curled around her waist in an overly protective manner and she reminds herself that she needs to talk to him when they get home.
"Ah, Weasley and Potter! What a pleasant surprise. It's not every day that one gets to witness the dynamic trio." He scorns taking an unnecessary step towards them. Ron backs up slightly, allowing Hermione to disentangle herself from him.
"What do you want?" Harry spits, his eyes filled with disgust and fury. Lucius chuckles as he eyes Harry, his mouth curved into his notorious smirk.
"I'm afraid that if I told you I'd have to kill you." He replies patronizingly.
Before any of them have time to react, he grabs Hermione by the arm and crushes her against his chest, his arm around her throat and his wand pointing at her temple. She curses inaudibly as she realizes that they are in an unfrequented street, not a single being in sight.
Ron bellows in fury and rushes towards Malfoy, but before he's able to throw his first punch, Lucius has paralyzed him with a flick of his wand. Harry freezes, the older man's wand is driven painfully into Hermione's pale, sweating forehead.
"You see, I have to arrange something very important but recently I' ve been feeling a little uninspired." He says airily. Hermione tries to wriggle free from his grip but his arms are like a vice.
He removes his wand from her temple and instead lowers it to the sleeve of her shirt. His movements are slow and deliberate as he pulls the material away from her arm, revealing the scar Bellatrix Lestrange engraved into her skin whilst she was being tortured.
Mudblood, it says.
Harry looks helpless as Malfoy's wand traces the scar. He's doing something that ignites a fire under Hermione's skin, making her throw her head back and scream in pain. His face is contorted in sick entertainment as he watches her writhe, but soon he's bored.
"Shut up," Lucius growls, pushing her away from him, causing her to collapse to the floor, her face pressed against the hard ground.
"I see my sister in law left you a souvenir." He mocks, straightening his cloak as she scrambles to her feet, Harry's arms encircling her as she moves towards him. Lucius sneers at her, his eyes alight with hatred.
"My dear, I feel obliged to thank you. Showing mudbloods like you what they're really worth has invigorated me once more." He states, then with a flick of his cloak he turns on his heel deflecting the hex Harry sends his way.
"Your next, Weasley." He snarls, kicking Ron's paralyzed form, as he passes.
When he's finally out of sight. Hermione rushes towards her friend's, well technically boyfriend's, limp body and casts a spell that thaws Ron's limbs.
"Merlin, are you alright, 'Mione?" Harry asks worriedly, his eyes wide and his nostrils flaring.
"Yes." She answers stiffly, helping Ron to his feet.
"Are you sure?" Ron presses. She gives him a quick look over to see if any other damage has been caused but he seems fine.
"I don't want to talk about it." She snaps, her face burning with humiliation and the lingering pain of her arm.
Before the boys can react, she flounces off, Harry and Ron following, perplexed looks upon their faces.

She exhaled slowly as the memory finally receded. The encounter with Malfoy wasn't the thing that scared her. On the contrary, she had survived much worse than him and his sadistic ways. It was the threat that lingered, which terrified her so.
He had threatened Ron and made his opinion on muggleborns quite clear.

Your next Weasley.

Now even Draco, Lucius' only son, had confirmed her suspicions. Lucius was a cruel human being that she didn't doubt. However, one small question had niggled its way into her mind and refused to leave.
Why kill someone as insignificant as Ron? Why not go straight for Harry?
Not that Ron had been unimportant to her. Not at all! He had been one of the people she cared most about. But when she forced herself to look at the situation with a wider perspective she couldn't help but wonder why Lucius would waste his time with such a petty murder?
Hadn't he made things unnecessarily complicated? Hermione and the others now had time to investigate the murder and prove his guilt. If he had killed Harry first, the entire wizarding world would have crumbled together in panic and dread.
But what if, by killing Ron he thought that he could break Harry. Maybe he thought that he could make Harry beg for Lucius to kill him. After all, Harry had lost so much. What if, Lucius was going to slaughter Harry's loved ones one by one until he had nothing to live for.
Dropping the book she had been holding in her lap she pushed herself off from the sofa and left the library. Her head was buzzing from her overthinking and she needed to calm down before she exploded. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't see Sirius barreling towards her.
It was too late for her to move out of the way and the two of them collided. The impact threw Hermione off balance and she crumpled to the floor.
"Oh, Merlin! Hermione, are you OK?" Sirius' distressed voice called as he helped her to her feet. This had been the second time in a week that she had made a complete arse of herself. Blushing she apologized to Sirius, but he shrugged it off.
"My fault. I didn't look where I was going." He said in a firm voice, making it clear that he didn't want her to feel bad. A soft bruise was blossoming on his forehead and Hermione felt terrible but didn't press the matter.
"What's the hurry anyway?" She asked lightly even though her backside hurt like hell. This time it was Sirius' turn to blush. His eyes had a child-like excitement in them and she held back a smile. He looked twenty years younger when he smiled.
"I wanted to show Harry the new broom I brought him as an overdue birthday surprise. After all, I missed his birthday last year and well the year before and basically every birthday he's had so far..." He trailed off, his eyes distant and she could tell that he was remembering his period in Azkaban as well as the years he had spent trapped behind the veil. She could see the guilt spreading across his face and she decided she needed to intervene quickly.
"Well, I think to let him live here and buying him stupidly expensive gifts every few weeks has made up for your lack of presence before." She scoffed. Sirius grinned and shrugged.
"Jealous, are we?" He mused. She slapped his arm playfully.
"No! Of course not! I just think you're spoiling him rotten. He refused to come camping with me this summer because he 'doesn't see the point in living like cavemen. Honestly, you wouldn't think he hid out in the wilderness for almost a year." She ranted, smiling inwardly. Harry deserved extra care. He'd been through too much.
"Sounds like a personal problem." Sirius laughed, already moving past her and jogging up the stairs, the broom shaped package clearly visible. However, just before he was out of sight she glimpsed a sight of the paperless handle of the broom. She froze.
She could've sworn she saw the word 'Ronald' engraved in the dark, mahogany wood as well as the date '8th of August, 1999'. This small gesture made hot tears pool in her eyes and she hurried downstairs, quickly wiping them with the back of her hand. She had to be strong. If not for herself, then for Ron, Harry and all of the other people she loved.

The mood was tense at the dinner table as Hermione served up her favourite casserole. Harry seemed happy enough, chatting with Sirius about his new broom. Hermione was pleased to see Harry have one evening where the death of his friend didn't weigh him down as it had the days before. Soon she realized what was causing the melancholy feeling in the air.
Tomorrow was the day that they would visit the Weasleys. Ginny was coping and working harder than ever, but the other members of the pureblood family had been silent until now. Of course, the residents of Grimmauld Place had immediately sent their condolences but had decided against visiting straight away. The family needed time to mourn.
"We're driving to the Burrow tomorrow," Remus said abruptly. Hermione looked at him in surprise.
"Why would we do that?" Harry asked, sensing the heavy air.
"We don't know how powerful Lucius is. I'm not saying he's as strong as Voldemort was but he's definitely clever enough to infiltrate the floo network." He explained haughtily.
"Remus, I'm not going to live my life in fear of what Lucius Malfoy plans on doing next. If he somehow manages to find me, I'll be ready." She replied with just as much conviction.
"Lucius isn't Voldemort. He's not immortal. He's just a bloody wizard like you and me. We'll apparate tomorrow, oK?" Sirius chimed in. Harry nodded in agreement. Remus' face became even more irritated and without saying another word he stood up and departed from the room.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other in apprehension and confusion.
"It's close to the full moon. He's feeling a bit on edge." Sirius explained.
Hermione nodded slightly and continued to eat. The rest of the meal was spent in complete silence.

No more crying, she told herself as she slipped into the inky blue dress she had found in the back of her wardrobe. She didn't own a black dress, so she had opted for the darkest and most modest one she had. She ran a brush through her wild curls and applied a hint of makeup. Enough to his her red eyes and blotchy skin from crying all night.
She hadn't been able to sleep at first and when she was finally able to slip under, she had been plagued by nightmares. Nightmares in which Ron was brutally murdered in front of her and the Weasley family followed her with ghost-like faces, crying and screaming the entire time. Then in her dream, she had jumped and relived the time where Bellatrix had tortured her. That dream stayed with her most nights.
She had awoken clammy with sweat and shaking with fear. Thank Merlin, she slept in the room closest to the attic. She hoped Sirius nor Remus had heard her. She didn't worry about Harry hearing, after all, he experienced the worst dreams of them all and nearly every night she could hear him talking and struggling in his sleep.
She struggled with the zipper of her dress, unable to reach it and with a frustrated sigh left her room to search for one of her housemates.
She found Remus in the hallway. He was leaning against the wall, his face in his hands. His entire frame was trembling and silent sobs wracked his body. Without thinking she walked towards him and wrapped her arms around him. He didn't struggle for one second, instead, he let her support him for once.
When his crying finally subsided she pulled back, giving him space to breathe. He smiled gratefully, his magnificent hazel coloured eyes sparkling with repressed tears and his body still shivering.
"Merlin, I'm sorry. You weren't supposed to see me like this." He muttered, sniffing a few times. She shook her head.
"You're allowed to be sad, Professor." She replied. He groaned slightly, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.
"Don't call me that, please, Hermione." He implored. She laughed, then looked at him solemnly. They stared at each other for a long while. And her thoughts, inevitably, drifted back to Ron and all the things she was unsure of at the moment. It was enough to make anyone break down.
"It's scary, isn't it?"
All he could do was nod and pull her back into his arms. He knew that she was referring to Ron's death.
"Remus." She mumbled into his shoulder. He took a step back and looked at her. She smiled bashfully and turned around.
"Can you zip me up, please?" She asked.
He nodded instantly and with practised hands closed her dress. He took in her elegant appearance for a little longer than was necessary. Then mentally shaking himself, took hold of her hand and led her downstairs, where Sirius and Harry were already waiting. Teddy was cradled in Sirius' eyes.
"Time to go," Sirius announced, each of them grabbing hold of one another and with a click, they apparated to the Burrow
Hermione noticed that Remus was holding her hand a little tighter than was necessary.

She stumbled as they arrived in the warm interior of the Weasleys house. Molly Weasley was the first to greet them. Her eyes were tired and raw from crying, but she put on a brave face as she embraced her guests. Hermione hugged her nonbiological mother with all of her strength and swallowed the tears that threatened to fall.
No more crying.
Next Ginny rushed towards her, wrapping her arms around Hermione and thanking her for coming. Hermione and Ginny had seen each other at the Bucksley arrest but Hermione realized then that she hadn't been very helpful or approachable on the whole Ron matter.
She needed to spend some quality time with her best friend. Maybe the two of them could have a heart to heart later on in the evening.
Arthur greeted them warmly, but it was obvious that he was struggling to keep himself together. Hermione's heart wrenched as she thought about what Molly and Arthur were going through. First Fred and now Ron.
George greeted her with a tearful hug, and Hermione had never felt so protective of the roguish twin. Fred's absence was obvious in the Burrow as well as Ron's.
Hermione looked around as they sat down at the table. Remus sat down beside her and Ginny took the chair on Hermione's other side. Bill was standing in the corner, drink in hand and an arm wrapped around his wife, Fleur. He looked weak but he seemed to be managing.
"Where's Charlie?" She asked abruptly. Molly, who had been setting the table turned around and looked at Hermione, her eyes gleaming with fear.
"We haven't heard from him. He was staying with Ron in Romania, they were working together on some project." Molly explained, then her face crumpled and she quickly turned away.
"We don't know where Charlie is. We think something's happened to him." Arthur finished his voice heavy with worry.
There was a dejected silence.
"Charlie knows how to look out for himself. He'll be home soon, I'm sure of it." Bill said quietly out of the corner. Molly nodded determinedly and carried on with her cooking, a grim determination entering her eyes.
When the food had finally been served, they sat talking quietly and gently. Each person taking comfort from the people around them.
"We've decided to wait another while before there's an actual funeral. We haven't been able to get a hold of his...body. The ministry is safeguarding it for the time being. They want to find out whom the dark magic belonged to that was flowing through his veins when he was...recovered." Arthur told them as they tucked into molly's delicious banoffee pie.
Hermione had to hold back a scoff. The Ministry was probably removing the dark magic from Ron's body just to prove that there was nothing to be worried about. She had begged the Minister through several letters to start an investigation into Lucius Malfoy. She had even gotten Draco Malfoy to sign a contract in which he promised to testify against his father when the time came. They needed to nip this in the bud before Lucius had time to strengthen his following. But the Minister refused. Well, his secretary did. Apparently, the Minister himself was too important to reply to her letters.
She was brought back to the present when Remus' hand brushed over her leg, signalling to her that someone had asked her something.
"Sorry, I-" She began, flustered as she saw her friends' expectant faces. Arthur chuckled lightly and repeated his question.
"I asked if Teddy was behaving himself."
She blushed and nodded, gazing at Teddy's tiny body in Ginny's arms. Remus gave her an encouraging smile.
"Well he takes after his father, so obviously he's a sweetheart. He barely cries and he's a really quick learner. He has Remus' eyes."
Then she paused, trying to formulate her feelings for the little child.
"And I love him, I love him as if he were my own." She gushed then shut up when she saw Ginny giggling. Remus looked at her in bewilderment and she quickly averted her gaze.
She was rambling and embarrassing herself. Teddy was Tonks and Remus' child, not hers. The room was silent and everyone looked a little uncomfortable. She cleared her throat and excused herself, retreating into the garden.
She wrapped her arms around her torso as the cooling summer air hit her. God, why did she have to be so stupid? Low voices conversed in the Burrow, but she couldn't discern what they were talking about.
Remus didn't want her. She couldn't overstep any boundaries, it wouldn't be fair on him. Embarrassed tears stung her eyes as she looked across the fields of green. A slinky red fox, brushed against her leg as she stood there and disappeared into the undergrowth. She watched mournfully as it lumbered away.
"Hermione?" A soft voice asked as she heard footsteps behind her.
"Remus, not now, OK? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say all of those things out loud." She said her voice thick with tears. Remus didn't speak as he walked up behind her.
"I know he's not my child." She added.
"Hermione." Was all he said in a tone that made her feel like she was back in his classroom at Hogwarts.
She stiffened as he wrapped his arms around her waist, then she relaxed slightly letting her head rest on his shoulder.
"I love you for how much you do for my son. I couldn't have been there for him after Tonks' death if it hadn't been for you."
She could already hear the rejection in his voice and her heart raced in anticipation.
"But, Hermione, I can't-" He began, but a loud bang erupted from the dining room and Mrs Weasley's voice raised in anger drifted outside.

As it turned out, George had caused a minor explosion with another of his experiments, causing Fleur's hair to turn bright orange and the dessert they had been eating to splatter across the entire dining room. It was comforting to see George continue to be his old self and the family to react the way they had always done, but the interruption had kept Remus from telling her something.
Something that she was convinced she didn't want to hear.

Author's note:

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Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.