Tie Your Heart at Night to Mine, Love

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

"You seem to be in perfect health." was Poppy's final verdict. An incredulous, yet final one. It felt like days had passed since the Healer squeaked at the sight of him awake and proceeded to cast all sorts of spells one must learn as a Healer apprentice and a few more, yet it was still the same day he woke up with Hermione in his arms, only now they were hours into the afternoon and she had been shooed away rather indignantly by Pomfrey.

"Glad to hear it." He replied and sat up, as he was allowed to move at last. Remus had had nothing but water, and was in desperate need of a shower. Harry had kindly brought him a change of clothes from his old room at Grimmauld Place, before being driven away and joining Hermione on a corner of the Great Hall as she waited. The pair hurried over to his cot as soon as he sat. Remus' gaze flitted back to Poppy, "What was the diagnosis anyway?"

Something about the way she froze, her hand and cloth poised over a yellow potion bottle, bothered him.

"Hasn't Miss Granger filled you in?"

All eyes darted in Hermione's direction, his included. Her eyes widened and a faint streak of pink tinted her cheeks. "I-I…"

Remus made an effort to keep a straight face, unwilling to make her even more nervous. Neither Poppy nor Harry would read anything into the situation, yet for her reaction one would think she was surrounded by Legilimens who would know at once where she had slept – and with whom. Remus cut in, "I'm afraid we were a little overwhelmed by my sudden awaken. I believe that my recovery wasn't a given?"

"Wasn't a given?" Poppy chided him, her eyebrows pinching together. "You ought to be dead by now, Remus, and I can't tell how it is that you live and breathe. It was the same, you know. The same unknown curse we faced twenty years ago."

Remus' stomach sunk and he suspected that all the color from his face went along with it. "Who knows about it, Poppy?"

"Minerva, Kingsley...these two and myself. We haven't told the others."

Remus let out a breath, his shoulders slumping. "Can we keep it that way?"

She set the cloth down on the nightstand, her features softening. "Of course, dear. You should rest now. I'll come back with something for you to eat."

As soon as the Healer left, Remus turned to the young witch. "Hermione, I need to know what you did."

"Nothing much, really." She began, and gave him a brief yet precise account of events. "It wasn't until yesterday that we figured it out. I assumed that if we maintained physical contact, you could borrow my magic as I borrowed yours. We share a bond, that's why it worked."

Remus tensed at the word, a reaction that earned him an askance look from Harry.

No, she couldn't possibly…

"Bond?"

"The life-debt."

He was careful not to let his relief show, sensing Harry's scrutiny. The boy was the first to ask, "Why should we keep this a secret?"

Remus still remembered the sight – the high fever that never gave out, the utter stillness until the very end, when silent cries marked the triumph of the curse and the death of its victim. "This is the curse that killed Gideon Prewett, Harry."

Hermione blinked. "Prewett as in…"

"Molly's brother. I wouldn't want her to be reminded of it, she's been through enough." More than her share.

"But we found a cure." Harry protested. "That's a good thing, isn't it?"

Hermione looked away, a hint of bitterness in her voice, "Accidental, and extremely rare circumstances don't make for a cure, Harry. We were just lucky."

Their gaze followed her as she crossed the hall towards the place Poppy was putting together some hospital food. Harry broke the silence, "This…bond isn't about the life debt, is it?"

He hesitated.

"No, Harry, it's not."

"You should tell her. Whatever it is, you should tell her."

Remus sighed. "It's more complicated than that."

"We're talking about Hermione." There was a bit of amusement in Harry's voice that spoke for itself. Harry patted Remus on the back, before heading after Hermione and leaving him with his thoughts.

Perhaps it really was only a matter of time before Hermione put together another of his secrets. In fact, it was a feat to have kept it from her for so many years.

Remus ran both his hands through his overgrown hair. The truth was that when Remus woke up that morning, he hadn't any need to ask who were in his arms. He knew exactly whom he kept from falling, whose heat he felt through the shirt.

He had known his mate for years – and it took all he had to let her go.

A/N: Chapter 7 is finally up!

I edited this chapter a lot… it's quite changed from the first version (hopefully for the better!).

I hope you enjoy and please let me know what you think!

Chocolate frogs to my reviewers LumosUnicorn31, SereniteRose, pianomouse, katriellejs, and Guest. To sln1987, neslihan13ismar, Jaclight91, Gemmortia, Megan750 for adding the story to their favorites. And to Manabemama, LoverOfAllThingsFiction, Prophetical, Slytherin's Perfect Princess, bartholemew, quirkycharm, adavi821, Jaclight91, JLang0523, kiwiroo, Fictionliker, Gemmortia, , Remy J Lupin, key94, RandomNonSequitur, wingsrookie, ChloeBarrowman, HPROTG1995, Megan750, missredkat, for following!

To Guest: thank you for the suggestion, I haven't forgotten it! But since this chapter was written in Remus POV and he had no access to a mirror, I couldn't describe him. But I'll make sure to do so next chapter!