Tie Your Heart at Night to Mine, Love
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There was sadness in his eyes when he thought no one was looking. It was a common denominator these days, and most did a terrible job at hiding it, but not him. He'd look around the Great Hall sometimes, as if seeing it filled with cheerful conversation and students eager for the upcoming Quidditch game, until the picture faded to a skyless, sterile room with hospital beds and no owl post. But whenever a former student approached him, and many did, he'd offer them a smile, conjure up a chair and listen.
They weren't visitors per se, since most were also Madam Pomfrey's patients, and the ones who weren't had come to visit someone else, but Hermione would always catch the initial "It's good to see you, professor," before she walked away and let them unload their story on Professor Lupin.
It bothered her.
Not a single one of them had caught that look in his eyes, nor had they questioned his "I'm fine," reply, and prodded a little bit further to find the actual truth. Sure, he looked well – and Hermione had to tread carefully with this subject, since the point was not to point out that Professor Lupin looked good, although she quite liked the way he had parted his slightly overgrown hair to the left, but rather to stress that his cuts hadn't left any angry scars, and his bruises had faded quite nicely, plus he didn't seem tired, which was probably the only good side of being comatose. Surely he looked well, but how could they just assume he was, when even they weren't? And how could they just dump their burdens on him, then up and leave?
At some point, after yet another Gryffindor had left, she actually cast a Notice-Me-Not charm around their cots and sat on her bed, to wait for his actual visitors.
Remus watched as Hermione headed towards him, her annoyed expression dissolving into a self-satisfied smile as she sat down. The tingle of magic ran through his skin and he arched a brow at her, yet it only served to make her smile harder to contain.
Odd that after that no other student stopped by.
Poppy had yet to release her from the Infirmary, despite having no apparent reason to keep her there. He suspected it had something to do with his unexpected and inexplicable recovery, and Poppy's fear of a possible relapse, which would be oddly superstitious of her. But then, as was the lack of protest on Hermione's part.
He, on the other hand, was too much of a coward to send Hermione away or even to point out that their cots were too close and that they should space them further apart. But she had unconsciously reached for him that night, while sleeping, and he couldn't bring himself to give up the peacefulness of her touch. Something she wouldn't do if only she knew the actual nature of their bond. In that instance, at least, his cowardice proved itself useful – she'd always be safe from him because he would never tell her the truth. All he wished was that she never set out to find out.
Remus put the thought aside. At the moment, he welcomed her non-war related conversation; along with the subtle way she had tried to outsmart him into opening up to her. He dodged the first two attempts, and almost fell for the third, until their game was interrupted.
"They were here when I came this morning, I swear." Harry's voice bursted their bubble and Remus caught the quick swish of Hermione's wand.
"There they are!" Ronald was pointing at them, and the boys strode across the hall, followed by Minerva, Arthur, and Kingsley. Remus stood to greet them.
"I can hardly believe this." McGonagall stared at him, wringing her hands in front of her, her lips pursed. "Oh, to hell with it."
There was a moment when Remus' mind blanked, and he had the younger Weasley to thank for voicing his own astonishment, "Since when does McGonagall hug people?"
"Ever since she started cursing, I guess?" was Harry's hushed response.
"I do believe you forget I'm human." She scolded, letting go of him and turning to the two boys. But her expression softened, and she turned back to Remus. "It's nice to see you're well."
"Thank you, Minerva."
The other men shook his hand, and they talked about his recovery. The neutrality in Kingsley's expression was enough to tell Remus he wouldn't get away with an ill-explained, small-talk version of what had happened, yet they shared a silent agreement, and Remus changed the subject.
"How are things outside?"
He wasn't quite sure who cast the Silencing Charm, but Minerva was the first one to speak. "Hogwarts is in shambles. Most of the structure was compromised, but between the teacher and the volunteers we believe it's possible to finish the repairs by the next term. We have orphans on our hands, but we've been managing. The Ministry, however…"
"You mean the council, Minerva," corrected Kingsley.
"A Wizard's Council?" Hermione snapped, her lips curled. "That's retrograde! It was extinct ages ago, and for good reason. What of the Ministry?"
"It's not permanent, Hermione," Arthur assured her, "Just until the current members of the Ministry are investigated and another Minister is appointed."
Minerva clenched her hands. "And we need to make sure Dolores Umbridge stays as far away from the post as possible."
They all agreed.
A/N: Here's another chapter!
I really hope you liked it! And please review if you can ;)
Cherry-flavored Bertie Botts Beans to…
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