She awoke with a start. A ringing in her ears made it difficult to concentrate and she found the effort of opening her eyes to be overwhelming. She realised that she didn't have solid ground under her feet and that she seemed to be hovering in mid-air. Only then did she realise that she was being carried.
Her eyes fluttered open, her lashes still wet with tears. A dull ache pounded in her head and her entire body felt boneless.
"Hey, it's Ok, Hermione." A soft voice murmured.
She tried to turn her head but a gentle hand hindered her from craning around.
"Don't move too much. I think you might have broken something." The voice continued, tinged with anxiety.
Only then did she recognise the voice of her saviour.
Neville Longbottom.
"Neville?" She whimpered softly.
Only then did he look down at her, his familiar friendly face giving her some comfort.
"Where are we going?" She asked.
"St. Mungo's."
"Where is he?"
There was a heavy silence.
"He's gone. For now." He replied darkly.
"Won't muggles see us?" She asked quietly, a heaviness coming over her once more and making it increasingly difficult to stay awake.
"Don't worry about that. I borrowed Harry's invisibility cloak a while back, and today was the day I actually wanted to give it back to him." He responded.
If she had had the strength she would have rolled her eyes. Of course, Neville just so happened to have the cloak.
"Thank you." She breathed.
"Go to sleep, 'Mione."
However, when she woke up again, things weren't quite as pleasant.
Her head felt as if it was splitting in half and this time there was no one around to comfort her.
She sat up, wincing as she felt an ache close to unbearable in every cell of her being.
Neville had indeed brought her to St. Mungo's. She recognized the light, clean interior of the hospital and the sterile scent was oddly comforting.
"Where is she?" A panicked voice inquired abruptly, pulling her out of her numb trance.
"Mr Lupin, please she needs to rest. We have yet to perform a full examination." A calm voice replied.
She could imagine Remus' shaking frame behind the door, his face twisted in fear.
"It's fine." She croaked, loud enough for the nurse to hear.
She laid back, her body already exhausted. Remus pushed the door open, stepping cautiously towards her.
Never before had she been so glad to see him. His beautiful hazel eyes taking in her appearance, and his sandy hair falling into his handsome, mature face.
"You're here." She murmured, not caring if she sounded pathetic.
"Of course I am." He replied instantly, his hands carefully stroking over her bruised face.
"What happened?" He asked hoarsely.
She shook her head, not yet ready to relive her encounter with Lucius.
"It's OK, tell me when you're ready." He said hastily, but she could hear the need in his voice.
"Is Neville still here?"
"Yes, he's waiting outside. He said that Lucius-" He trailed off his body shaking with the effort to restrain his fury.
"How did you find out?"
"Neville sent an owl immediately. Oh, Merlin, Hermione."
"Hush, it's fine. It's over now."
"But what if-"
She sat up on her elbows, letting her mouth find his, and pulled him into a soft, gentle kiss.
He melted into her embrace, his strong arms crushing her against his chest.
"Where's Teddy?"
"He's with Sirius. They're waiting for you at home. Sirius is out of his mind with worry." He explained.
"Ok." She breathed.
"I'm so sorry I wasn't there to help you." He whispered, his head bowed in shame.
She was used to him managing to convince himself he was guilty of things he had no fault in.
"Remus, you couldn't know, any more than I what was going to happen this morning. But you're here now and that's all that counts." She said firmly.
He didn't reply, but she could almost hear the internal battle raging in his mind.
"You are the most incredible witch I have ever had the pleasure of knowing." He finally managed to say.
She laughed softly, tracing the planes of his face with her fingertips, then a coy smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
"And you have the pleasure of shagging me." She said.
A deep laugh erupted from his throat and for a moment she felt happier than she had for days.
"You're impossible." He muttered, his mouth pressed into her hair.
"And yet you still love me." She replied.
"Always."
The examination had been quick and painless. Some dark magic still lingered in her body but it hadn't caused any lasting damage and Neville had intervened soon enough to keep her from going mad.
The wound decorating her forehead had been cleaned and healed, a faded bruise the only thing left of her encounter.
Remus refused to let her walk and insisted he carry her piggyback style. She relented and secretly she was relieved that she didn't have to walk, unsure if she could trust her shaking legs.
She wasn't allowed to apparate or floo, so Remus valiantly carried her all the way back to Grimmauld Place.
Her arms were slung around his neck and her legs wrapped around his waist.
She buried her face into his hair, the familiar scent of his apple shampoo comforting her.
She laughed as they walked through the streets of London. Remus moving agilely through the narrow alleyways. Remus chortled underneath her, his body shaking with laughter.
Their walk back home reminded her of her time at Hogwarts with Harry and Ron. They had been so happy and carefree. Watching Remus delight in the simplest of things gave her an image of how he must have been twenty years ago.
He was beautiful. And he was hers.
However, as they arrived at the narrow brownstone they called home, Hermione became oddly silent. Remus mistook her sudden silence as exhaustion, and quietened down, moving slower and gentler as he entered the house.
"Sirius?" He called, gingerly setting her on her feet, his hands however on her waist to keep her from toppling on to her side.
"Is she there? Merlin, is she alright?" Sirius called his hurried footsteps thundering down the stairs.
"Yes, I'm here." She said, laughing as Sirius wrapped his arms around her, then pulled back catching the stern glare Remus threw his way.
"Oh yeah, you're all fragile." He muttered jokingly, disentangling himself from her, his eyes however were wide with unfiltered worry.
"Where's Harry?" She asked, clearing her throat as her voice cracked pathetically.
"I-I don't know. He left as soon as we got Neville's owl. I'm sorry Hermione, we couldn't stop him." Sirius explained regretfully.
"Why? Why would he leave?"
"Lucius," Remus replied.
She shook her head. Of course, that was where Harry had gone. Worry coursed through her veins. Lucius was dangerous, she had gotten a first-hand experience of his wrath. Harry would never find him, Neville had already sent him running. For now.
"Don't worry about that." Remus murmured.
"I'll bring her upstairs, you take Teddy. He needs another feed." Sirius ordered, brushing past Remus and sweeping her up in her arms.
She was too tired to complain. She yearned for her soft mattress and her warm duvet.
However, before she let sleep take over her once more, she needed to get something off of her chest.
"Sirius?" She asked softly, as they arrived in her room, Sirius tenderly placing her onto her made-up bed.
"Yeah, Kitten?" He replied, brushing a few strands of hair from her face as he tucked her in.
"Don't leave yet. I need to ask you something." She pleaded.
He didn't argue, instead, he settled down beside her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and letting her lean her head onto his shoulder.
"Ask away, Love." He murmured.
"You are one of the kindest and understanding people I know..." She began.
"Just a few of my best qualities" He replied, his voice humorous and patient.
"And you know Remus better than anyone else." She continued.
"That's right."
She blushed, unsure how she should formulate her next words.
"Today at St. Mungo's the nurse told me something and I- well I-."
Sirius tensed beside her, whether it was fear that made him pause or residing fury at Lucius for what he had done, she didn't know.
"Tell me." He said, trying to sound unobtrusive.
There was the slightest of pauses, then Hermione cleared her throat and forced the words out of her mouth.
"I'm pregnant." She stammered, gasping as she realised the weight of the words she had just uttered.
Sirius froze.
"You mean, the child of you and Remus is-" Sirius began, then trailed off.
She looked up anxiously, but Sirius's face was alight with unfiltered joy.
"Yes." She breathed.
"That's incredible! This is amazing!" Sirius exclaimed.
Then he saw the troubled look in her deep brown eyes. His expression mellowed and his hand took hold of hers.
"Is this what you want?" He asked solemnly.
She paused then nodded slowly.
"Yes. Absolutely. I want to raise this child with Remus more than anything. But I don't know..." She breathed deeply, trying to gather her thoughts.
"You don't know how Moony's going to react?" He suggested.
"Exactly. I mean...Tonks, then Lucius...Ron's death. It's just so much." She blurted.
"Remus will be overjoyed when he hears the news. Hermione, I've rarely seen him as happy, as when he's with you. You mean the world to him." Sirius said softly.
She nodded, swallowing the lump of doubt in her throat.
"You're right."
"Of course I am." He said, pulling her into a fierce hug.
"I'm so happy for you." He breathed.
She felt the familiar sting of tears in her eyes, but she didn't brush them away. These were tears of joy.
"When are you going to tell him?" Sirius asked.
She shrugged, her hands fiddling with her hair in a nervous fashion.
Sirius relented, smiling guiltily.
"Sorry, 'Mione. You need to sleep before you think about such things."
She nodded gratefully. He gently disentangled himself from her, letting his thumb catch the tears that were trickling down her cheeks.
"Everything is going to be alright, I promise."
Then he made his way towards the door, but before he left the room he turned back toward her. His face was no longer friendly but hard with grim determination.
"Lucius will pay for what he's done. He's hurt my family and friends, and that's something I can't forgive." He muttered darkly.
But the coolness in his voice comforted her. She wasn't the only one intent on ending Malfoy.
Soon she'd be able to tell them what had happened to her that morning. Soon but not yet.
Neville had yet to explain how he had managed to intervene, how he had succeeded in saving her life.
First, she needed to sleep.
She drifted off before Sirius had fully closed the door.
Harry came back late that night, exhausted and frustrated, but he stayed by Hermione's side until morning. They didn't talk, instead, they held each other. Unable to let go. Harry had already lost Ron, he couldn't lose Hermione as well.
"Alright, I've had enough," Remus announced abruptly.
She whirled around, sloshing hot tea all over the countertop and her hands.
"Bollocks!" He exclaimed, rushing towards her and gently guiding her reddened hand towards the sink.
"Merlin, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you." He said hastily, turning the tap on, so that cool water streamed over her inflamed skin.
"It's fine. Don't worry." She said, too preoccupied with his initial statement.
What had he had enough of?
She turned the tap off but didn't pull her hand away from his tender touch.
They stood in silence, gazing into each other's eyes.
"I've had enough." He repeated.
She didn't reply, her body tensed and ready to flee. Was he breaking things off between them? Why had he suddenly changed his mind?
"No that's not what I mean." He murmured, a crooked smile tugging at his lips.
"You're not telling me something." He continued.
She understood what he meant. She hadn't been very subtle in hiding the fact that she was indeed keeping something from him.
Sirius had given her curious looks, inaudibly asking if she had told Remus yet. She didn't know what was keeping her from telling Remus. But she suspected that it had something to do with the deep-rooted fear that he would indeed leave her if he found out.
It was irrational and unfair to him.
She took a deep breath and looked up at him. He looked curious, gentle and patient, all at the same time.
She let her fingers brush over the faded scars on his cheek.
This was the man she loved, she had nothing to fear.
"When I was at St. Mungo's a few days ago. Well, the examination revealed something rather exciting." She began.
He silently urged her on with his hazel coloured eyes.
"I'm pregnant." She blurted.
"Pardon?" Remus asked incredulously.
"I'm pregnant with your child." She repeated, feeling an unfamiliar pride as she uttered those words.
He didn't move, but he didn't pull away either. She felt the tension leave her body, and she let her fingers gently brush over his lightly parted lips.
"Are you happy?" She breathed.
Still, he didn't reply, instead, he turned away from her his back facing her. She was unable to see his expression.
"Please, say something, Remus." She implored.
He took a few steps away from her, still facing the wall.
"Remus?"
He whirled around abruptly, wrapping his arms around her torso and lifted her into the air into one of his bear hugs.
She laughed giddily as he waltzed them around the room. His face shone with pure happiness and an exuberant smile stretched across his glowing face.
"Am I happy?" He asked rhetorically, setting her down carefully but keeping her in his strong arms.
She was speechless. This was not the reaction she had expected.
"I'm over the moon. I'm giddy with joy. I'm- I'm-" He faltered, his eyes wide with adoration.
"I thought, maybe you'd be upset." She said truthfully.
A look of guilt crossed his face but was quickly replaced by unwavering love.
"I apologise deeply if I ever made you feel that way." He said quietly.
"Teddy's going to have a sister." She whispered, her hands framing his face.
His hair fell into his eyes as he leant forward.
"You think it's going to be a girl?" He asked huskily.
She shrugged, blushing slightly.
"It just feels-" She began, but she noticed the dark flicker she had been waiting for, flash across his face.
"What is it?"
He shook his head, swallowing before he spoke.
"I just realised, this child might be-"
"Might also inherit your Lycanthropy." She finished.
He nodded heavily, his eyes seeming to search her face for fear it disgust.
"Then it will be so." She said shrugging and brushing a few strands of hair behind his ear.
He nodded again, then let his lips mould against hers in a sweet and loving kiss.
When they finally broke apart, the worry had drained from his face and had been replaced by excitement.
"Who do we tell first?" He asked animatedly.
She reddened in embarrassment, avoiding his gaze.
"What? What's the matter?"
"Sirius already knows."
He looked at her in surprise.
"You mean, Sirius has known about this all along?"
"I only told him a few days ago, when I came back from St. Mungo's." She explained hurriedly.
He pouted but it didn't elicit the desired reaction from her. Instead, she started laughing.
"I wasn't in my right mind. I'd just been pumped full of pain medicine." She said, still laughing, cupping his face with her slender hand.
"Still-" He began but faltered as another realisation dawned on him.
He didn't speak for a while, his breathing uneven and his eyebrows pulled together in an uncharacteristic frown.
"You don't need to tell me what exactly happened with Lucius, but could the things that he did in any way have harmed the baby?" He asked finally.
The smile fell from her lips and she realised that she had yet to recount that horrific experience. It wasn't fair of her to keep her friends and loved ones in the dark. She shook her head slowly as she tried to remember what the nurse had said that day in the hospital.
"I was told that the child remained unharmed during the attack." She said quietly.
He sighed in relief.
"But Remus, I think it's time I told you what exactly happened that morning, and I need Neville to tell me how he managed to find me. All of this could be a huge help in the Ministry case." She continued solemnly.
"Ok."
She nodded, feeling oddly relieved now that she would be sharing the events of that day. She wouldn't have to carry the memories around with herself. They would be released and eventually, they would be nothing more than a bad dream.
"But before we do any of the heavy stuff, we tell Harry. As godfather, he has the right to know." He said, his lips against her ear.
She grinned and wrapped her arm around his waist, he let his arm drape around her shoulder.
"My thoughts exactly." She replied.