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.

They were both discharged at the same time, but Poppy pulled Hermione aside. Remus stood, scanning the now emptied room as he waited. He made an effort not to listen in – it was violation enough, he believed, to be able to pick up Hermione's scent a mile away, and that he couldn't help but steal glances of her whenever she was deep in thought, lost in the world of printed words and hardbound covers.

The Great Hall was restored in the same pace as the students' health improved – slowly, and not quite the same as before. The teacher's table was back in place, as were the Ravenclaw and Slytherin ones. The house flags, on the other hand, were nowhere to be seen, whether to indicate unity or to prevent more enmity Remus couldn't tell. The aseptic, pungent smell lingered, and the once enchanted ceiling was a dull gray, reflecting not the sky outside but rather the color of its occupants' souls.

He lifted his eyes to see if the conversation was over, only to regret his previous chivalry – Hermione's expression had turned somber, hardened in a way he had seldom seen. She crossed an arm over her chest, her hand gripping her left arm.

He frowned, and watched more intently. Whatever had Poppy said to upset her?

The medi-witch head was down, as were the corners of her lips as gave Hermione something. Remus caught only a glimpse of it –a vial of sorts, glass, by the way it shone under the light– before both women minded their surroundings and Remus got caught watching. Hermione slipped whatever it was in her pocket and gave him a tight-lipped smile. Poppy, however, diverted her gaze and busied herself undoing their cots and transfiguring them back into chairs.

"Is everything alright?" Remus asked as Hermione walked back to his side with a sort of deliberate strength to her stride.

"Yes. Shall we go, Professor? I honestly don't want to spend more time here than necessary."

"Alright." He agreed, letting the matter slide. Hermione led the way through the large wooden doors and into the Entrance Hall. Remus added, "But I haven't been your professor for years, Hermione. Call me Remus."

She stopped, and there was a pause before she turned to face, her lower lip caught between her teeth, and her brows drawn together as if his request was both complex and slightly disparaging. For a moment he believed she would refuse, but she freed her distressed lip and a smile crept in. "I…will."

But she didn't. He arched an eyebrow at her. "Just not now?"

A coy smile permeated her reply, "Just not now."

Remus chuckled, "Very well, I can settle for that."

She tilted her head to the side, a glint of amusement in her eyes as she teased him, "Shouldn't I call you Romulus instead, though?"

A breath escaped him, the memory of his –and the others – codenames still fresh in his mind. "So you've heard of that."

"No, we heard it–you, all four of you, when we were out there in the woods." Hermione looked down as if playing the memory in her head, "The Potterwatch… It was dangerous, and mad, not to mention the most brilliant idea I've ever heard of."

"It was nothing."

She shook her head, her lips parted. When she spoke, there was an edge to her voice. "How can you say that? We were isolated, and tired, and starving and it made all the difference. And that was just the three of us."

His lungs expanded inside his chest, and it felt like breathing in first day of snow. It was irrational, but he couldn't help feeling it. Hermione admired him – the feeling bled through her lecture, through her outrage in the most captivating way, and he found himself without words.

"Ah, Remus!" Kinsgley's booming voice echoed through the hall, and Remus took a step back, realizing he was leaning a bit too close to Hermione. "I've heard you were being released. Miss Granger, how do you feel?"

"Quite well, thank you, Mr. Shacklebolt."

"Call me Kingsley, please, if I may call you Hermione?"

"Seems to be a trend these days," was her answer. But she assented, her gaze flitting to Remus. Her expression turned worried. "You don't suppose Prof. McGonagall will have me call her by her first name as well, do you? Because that I can't handle."

"I believe you're safe of that for now."

Remus felt the Auror watching their little exchange, his eyes darting between the two.

"Excuse me," said Kingsley, "Have I interrupted your conversation?"

"Not at all, Kingsley, I've just said the same thing to Hermione earlier. We were talking about the Potterwatch. You see, the Trio listened to one of our transmissions."

"Oh, the last one, yes, Harry told me about it." He said, and then turned to Hermione, "Right before you were captured?"

There it was again, the same protective stance Hermione had while talking to Pomfrey. Remus wondered if her shielding was meant to protect her from them. And he wished it was, ironically, for knew the alternative quite well. "Captured?"

"Yes. I-I need to find Harry, and Ron. They're waiting for me." And she fled, escaped their sight as fast as her legs could take her.

She wasn't protecting herself. She was keeping something horrible within.

Remus resisted the impulse to follow her, turning to Kingsley instead, "Captured by whom?"

"Snatchers… Greyback."

Remus had to clench his jaw to keep his chin from trembling. His skin felt like ice, a mere illusion since the blood simmered inside his veins, carrying the scream his entire being craved to utter.

"Did he bite her?" he managed, but the answer didn't come fast enough. "DID HE BITE HER?"

"No," Kingsley replied, "They were taken to Malfoy Manor. Something happened there. If half of what I suspect is true, the girl may need you. Don't leave her."

A/N: Here's another chapter! Sorry for the delay, I'm studying for my finals (read: cramming like there's no tomorrow, lol). And the story has reached 100 followers – yay! Thank you so much, everyone! :)

I hope you liked it, and please review and let me know what you think!

Boxes and boxes of Sugar Quills to…

My reviewers: pianomouse, SereniteRose, IrishIris, Kim (guest), Ominouswolf, and Argella Storm.

To Pat17 S, SilverWolf1992, Doreen769, Katemae Black, shellyjb, and Argella Storm for adding the story to their favorites.

And to gahmeep, SilverWolf1992, Doreen769, scubadiver500, emmyemmy1234, xXxAngelxGirlx13xXx, Zninja, Kaleigh Windelynn, Mylla-chan, cr8zgurl, Reaca Rivers, Katemae Black, sakiy, carey905, sakura-kaede, LeoEbbie, Argella Storm, and LittleLottie187, for following the story.

You're pretty awesome! ;)

To Kim: I'm really happy you like it! It'll take a little while for her to find out, because there are a few things that have to happen first, but hang in there. ;)