With trembling fingers, Hermione dialled Ginny Weasley's number. It had been four days since her two friends had left the safe confines of Grimmauld Place to hunt down Malfoy. Before they had left, Hermione had given Ginny a mobile phone, believing that that would be the easiest and safest way to contact her. Now, she wasn't so sure anymore. The other end of the phone stayed silent and Hermione was just about to hang up when-

"What? Why is it making such an awful sound? Harry, help!"

Ginny's frantic voice squawked through the speaker, followed by a muffled voice and then Harry was speaking to her. Hermione's detailed tutorial on how to use a phone had obviously been wasted on Ginny.

"Hermione?" Harry asked, his voice making her audibly exhale with relief.

"Harry! Thank god," she breathed, loud enough for him to hear.

"Are you alright? What's happened? Is Remus okay?"

"No! Everything's fine here. I was worried that something had happened to you!"

She heard him laugh heartily and say something to Ginny, who then replied with a snort.

"Are you making fun of me? Because there's nothing remotely funny about this! For the last few days, I've been worried sick that Malfoy might have kidnapped you, or-"

"Hermione, stop. I was just laughing because Ginny was the one worried about you. She hasn't been able to stop fretting about you and the baby," he replied, soothing her frazzled mind.

"Oh, I see, well there's no need for that. I'm fine," she replied, a smile tugging at her lips.

"Hey, I have an idea," Harry began.

"This had better be good," she replied sarcastically, failing to hide the relief in her voice.

"We'll look after ourselves and you'll look after yourself and the baby. Then we can all stop worrying and take care of ourselves."

"I like the sound of that, to be honest," she replied.

"I thought you would."

"Stay safe, Harry."

"You too, Hermione. We love you."

Remus who had been listening from his armchair next to her sat up and took hold of her hand, squeezing gently.

"We love you too," she whispered into the phone.

"Can I help you?" Remus asked as he entered the kitchen.

After her phone call with Harry, she had decided to prepare dinner, whilst Remus put Teddy to bed.

"No, I'm managing. Thank you, love."

He stepped towards her, wrapping his arms around her waist. She leaned into him, momentarily tearing her eyes away from the stove, to gaze into his heated eyes.

"That's not what I meant," he murmured, trailing kisses down her neck.

She exhaled shakily, dinner completely forgotten. His hands trailed from her hips to her chest, until his fingers were deftly unbuttoning her blouse. She pressed her hips against his growing arousal, loving the sharp exhale the movement elicited.

"Remus," she breathed, as he stroked over the silky material of her bra, her top lying forgotten on the stone floor.

"I need you."

She turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him until they both gasping for air. He looked at her, his eyes hooded with desire.

Then before she could respond, he had hoisted her into his arms and set her onto the kitchen table.

"You look so fucking perfect," he growled, his voice laced with urgency.

She pulled him down on top of her and wrapped her legs around his waist.

"Make love to me," she whispered.

He made a sound in the back of his throat, pulling her jeans down her slender legs, exposing her creamy skin to the cool air of the room. She tore his shirt over his head and flung it to the far side of the room. Then she unbuttoned his trousers, her eyes examining the tanned torso of her lover as she did so. She kissed the crescent scars adorning his skin, moaning when his hands brushed against her centre.

"Merlin," she breathed.

"Look at me," he growled.

Then gazing deep into her chocolate brown eyes he closed the remaining distance between them.

Afterwards, when they were both lying on the kitchen floor, she turned to him, her hands absentmindedly drawing patterns on the bare skin of his chest.

"Where did that come from?" she asked sleepily, pressing her lips into the crook of his neck.

He didn't reply at first, then he looked at her.

She was taken aback by the emotion in his eyes.

"You've ruined me, Hermione," he whispered.

She froze, troubled by the anguish he so blatantly displayed.

"If I lose you, it'll destroy me."

Then he looked back up at the ceiling, a stray tear running down the side of his face.