"Do you have everything you need?" Remus asked worriedly, running his hands through his hair as he eyed Harry and Ginny.
Ginny had been given a potion to sober up, whilst Harry had hurriedly run into his bedroom to grab his cloak and wand.
"We'll apparate to the Burrow to get Ginny's stuff, Kingsley will pick us up from there. The others are already there," Harry replied, wrapping his cloak around his shoulders.
"What do you mean the others are already there?" Hermione asked shrilly, the fact that she would not be allowed to join the arrest was setting her teeth on edge.
"They've set up camp there. Malfoy is a snake and we'll need a lot of patience to flush him out," Ginny replied, squeezing her friend's shoulder gently.
"So, this is going to take a while? You don't know when you'll be back?" she pressed, her hand unconsciously wondering to her abdomen, stroking the soft material of her blouse.
"It's going to be alright, Hermione," assured Sirius, giving her a reassuring smile.
"We don't know that," she hissed.
Remus pulled her towards him, in a slightly protective manner.
"But we shall presume so," he murmured in her ear.
She nodded reluctantly, leaning into him.
"I hope you find him."
"So do we, 'Mione. So do we," Harry said, giving her a tense smile.
"I wish I could come-" she began, her hands clenching and unclenching restlessly.
"You will stay here, Hermione, to keep you and your child safe," Sirius snapped, his face no longer friendly.
She bit her tongue, walking her friends to the front door instead.
"Look after yourselves, and remember Malfoy never operates alone. He'll have a dozen cronies following his every command," she warned.
"We know. Don't worry. All you need to do at the moment is rest, we'll look after the rest," Ginny called over her shoulder, as they walked down the garden path.
"I don't like your patronising tone!" Hermione exclaimed, her voice humourful, but her eyes wide with worry.
No words were exchanged as Remus, Sirius and Hermione watched the two young Aurors travel down the street. There was nothing to be said, at least not out loud. All that was left to do was pray to Merlin that they would return unscathed.

She couldn't sleep that night and after tossing and turning for what felt like an eternity, she gently shook Remus awake.
"I'm going to be extremely selfish right now," she began, letting her hand run through his hair.
"You're carrying our child, Hermione. You are excused from being selfless," he murmured his lips against her bare shoulder.
"I'm not supposed to get up," she continued, but before she could finish her sentence, Remus had jumped out of his sheets and was already lifting her into his arms.
He held her as if she weighed no more than a child.
"Hot chocolate?" he guessed, smiling down at her, his eyes heavy with sleep.
"You know me so well," she replied, brushing the faint circles under his eyes.
Although his features were relaxed, the slight wrinkle between his eyebrows and the tension in his neck, suggested that he too was worried about Harry and Ginny.
"They're going to be ok," she whispered, unsure if she was stating a fact or asking a question.
He nodded, adjusting her slightly in his arms. She leaned into his chest and closed her eyes.
"Let's go and make some hot chocolate then," he declared.

"Right, Miss... Granger, is it?" the receptionist asked as Hermione entered St. Mungo's the next morning.
"Yes, Miss Granger," she replied absentmindedly, returning the younger woman's smile.
"You're here for your check-up?"
"I am," Hermione responded.
"Lovely. Take a seat, and the healer will be right with you."
She nodded gratefully and made her way towards the waiting area. It was the first time she had been out in two weeks and the sight of the fully packed room set her teeth on edge. She leaned back against the hard wooden chair and was just about to close her eyes... And that was when she saw it. A flash of red hair, the glimpse of a freckled face. Her heart stopped.
And before she could stop herself-
"Ron?"
The man looked up and with a sinking feeling, she realised that she had mistaken George for her dead friend. He smiled up at her, his eyes friendly and warm.
"'Mione!" he said, getting up and sitting down beside her.
"George," she breathed trying to hide her disappointment.
"Checking up on the little one?" he asked.
"Yes. What are you in for?"
"My ear," he replied simply, gesturing awkwardly to the place where his ear had indeed once been.
"Is the operation today?"
"Yep, I will be walking out of here a whole man once more," he replied jokingly.
There was a short pause, and then George seemed to deflate beside her. He placed his warm hand onto her knee and gave her a weak yet resolute smile. She had seen him do the same thing to Ginny on numerous occasions and she was touched by the brotherly gesture.
"The same thing happened to me at the Leaky a couple of nights ago. For a second, just a second, I forgot. I thought he was sitting at the bar and I called over to him, but- well..." he trailed off.
"It wasn't Ron." she murmured,
He flinched slightly when she said his name.
There was another short pause, as they watched their surroundings. Patients were being called into rooms by healers and nurses were bustling around noisily.
"Sometimes, I feel like everyone's forgotten him," she murmured, her voice cracking slightly.
"We all miss him. Only that some of us hide it better than others," he replied.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Hermione smiled up at him, her eyes wet with unshed tears. He beamed down at her, but somehow his expression still managed to mirror her pain.
"Miss Granger?" A voice called out.
She disentangled herself from George and gave him a quick hug before she made her way towards the healer.
"See you soon," he called after her.
"At the wedding?" she asked over her shoulder.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world!"
She shook her head, grinning widely. The healer smiled and led her into his office.

"So, you're in the clear for now. Your concussion has indeed passed and so I see no problem with you returning to your original routine, I do however strongly advise that you stay well away from work," the elderly man said, glancing at the form she had filled out earlier.
The examination had been quick and painless and the healer had been efficient as well as friendly.
"Well, that's lovely. I'll be back in a few weeks," she replied, grabbing her bag and coat.
"Ah, Miss Granger," he continued as she made her way to the door.
She paused, already disliking the pitiful tone in his voice.
"What is it?"
"I see here that the father of your child is Remus Lupin," he pronounced her partner's name with such distaste that you could have thought he was talking about Voldemort himself.
"I don't see why that should in any way concern you," she spat, glaring viciously.
"I thought you might say that and you are right. It doesn't concern me in any medical capacity, but as a fellow wizard I feel obliged to-"
"Thank you, but you're not obliged to do or say anything," she snapped haughtily, disgusted by his attempt to speak poorly of Remus.
Did he think she would listen to him? That she hadn't heard all of the unfair assumptions and vicious rumours about Remus?
"But, I don't think you understand how unnatural-" he attempted but was quickly shut down.
"Listen to me, Mr Braithewaite, you have no right to speak to me about my relationship. It is not your job nor your concern. Many medical professionals have assured me that my child is healthy and well. You will not persuade me with your intolerance."
"Lupin is a creature. A dangerous animal! He is in no way fit to take care of a child. I should know, I treated him all those years ago."
"You don't know the first thing about Mr Lupin and I'm afraid I no longer feel comfortable in your presence."
He scoffed, but the unsettled look in his eyes suggested that he hadn't expected their conversation to escalate so quickly.
"Don't make me report you, sir," Hermione hissed, as she finally opened the door of the stuffy office.
"I apologise. Really, I do," he began, flustered.
"Speak no more of it."
He bowed his head, colour rising to his cheeks. She was sickened by the pathetic display and quickly made her way down the corridor. As she passed the reception, she was greeted by the devil himself. Well, in the sunlight shining through the large glass windows, he looked more heavenly than hellish. Remus sat in one of the hard chairs of the waiting room, an easy smile on his lips, immediately jumping up when he saw her. She walked towards him, uncomfortable. She had hoped she would have some time to digest what the healer had said so that she wouldn't have to do so in Remus' presence.
"Hello, darling. I finished the nursery a bit sooner than expected and I thought I'd pick you up," he trailed off as he took in her solemn expression.
"I don't want to talk about it," she said quietly, accepting his outstretched arm.
"Is something wrong with her?" he asked worriedly, his eyes jumping to her rounded abdomen.
"Oh, Merlin, no!" she exclaimed, squeezing his arm gently.
"Ok..." he trailed off, his brow furrowed.
"I'm sorry. I'll tell you later," she mumbled, leaning into him.
"Whenever your ready," he said simply, beaming down at her.
She let his smile wash away some of the anger coiled in her chest, and leaned up to kiss him. He stopped walking, pulling her to the side of the pavement, then returned her caress. It was sweet and tender.
He pulled away, his face lit up with an emotion she couldn't quite place.
"You're so fucking perfect."
Love?
"Very eloquent, Remus," she replied, biting her lip to keep the smile off her face.
"I know," he murmured, his breath smelling of mint and pine trees.
Then he pulled away, taking her hand in his.
Mr Braithewaite, and others like him, would never understand the deep emotion they felt for each other. But at that moment none of that mattered to Hermione. For all she cared, it could be her and Remus against the world. As long as they were together.