A/N: I'm so sorry. Don't hate me. I'm trying! Enjoy!
Chapter Six
The fear that flooded through her, pulsed through her veins, and made her act instinctively, The moment she grabbed a hold of both Harry and Ron, she knew she needed somewhere quick, fast. The first thing that popped into her mind was a place she frequented often with her parents. They landed in the middle of the road and moved quickly out of the way of oncoming traffic. The momentum of being propelled by apparition, the quick movements of getting out of the way, and the speed of the vehicles that sped past them was enough to make her vomit. She took some steadying breaths, clutching Harry and Ron's hands as though if she were to let go, they'd disappear, leaving her all alone.
"Come on, let's go," she said, pulling them with her. They walked quickly down the crowded walk.
"We have to get out of these clothes, Hermione," said Ron.
"That's what we're doing," she said. She pulled them into the first alley she saw, her robes swishing around her feet. "Keep watch."
Harry looked around as Hermione dug in her beaded purse. She started pulling out pieces of clothing. Jeans, shirts, socks, shoes. Once everything was out, she piled them together and handed them to the recipients.
"Geez, Hermione, how did you manage to fit all that in there?" asked Harry.
"Oh, there's more. There's so much more. It's an undetectable extension charm. I've got potions, books, food, emergency supplies, a tent, clothes, and so much more in here. I have for weeks. I wasn't sure when we'd be leaving, so I've made sure to have everything we need in here."
"That's why you're the smart one. What would we do without you?"
"Be out here without supplies."
"Touche."
Ron stepped forward, fully dressed.
"I hate to break this up, but we should get off the streets and find somewhere to go."
Hermione nodded. She led them up the street a bit to a little cafe. They sat and she ordered from them, knowing Ron wouldn't know what to get and Harry probably didn't care. The order was a pretense anyhow. They didn't need to linger in one spot, but they didn't want to get kicked out too early, and shop owners didn't like when people came in but didn't order. As they sat and talked, trying to figure out what to do, Hermione was overwhelmed with fear. Charlie. What happened? She couldn't bear the thought of not knowing if everyone was okay. She couldn't bear the thought of not knowing how to protect the ones she loved while she was away. She knew Charlie could handle himself. He was a dragon tamer, after all. But the fear still gripped her in a way she'd never been consumed by before, and that frightened her. She felt Harry nudge her shoulder.
"Hmm?"
"I was just saying that, even though it's risky, Grimmauld Place might be our only option. We can't linger here too long, and anywhere else we can think of is not an option. At least Grimmauld Place is warded by Blood Wards. Sirius told me before he died. The bad news is, is that not only can I go in, but so can Narcissa and Bellatrix."
"Do you really think that they would go there?"
"I don't see any reason why they would."
"Well, that's good enough for me," Ron said, interjecting himself into the conversation, tired of listening.
"Voldemort shouldn't use it, I don't think."
"Well, we'd better hope not," said Hermione, twisting the ends of her hair.
The creepy feeling consumed her once more, making her panic. Every time she'd had this same feeling, something bad happened. She had this feeling before going into the trap door. She'd had this feeling before looking around a corner. She'd had this feeling when Buckbeak was sentenced to death, when Harry's name was pulled from the Goblet, when he had that stupid vision about the department of mysteries, and when Harry didn't come back from his meeting with Dumbledore. This feeling that crawled its way inside her and snuggled up into her soul was one of danger. It wouldn't be long before they ended up stumbling across something unpleasant.
True to her sense of danger, two men came into the cafe. Thanks to Harry's sharp senses, they were able to avoid the attack. They dodged the curses sent their way, and fired their own back at the Death Eaters. Hermione wondered how they were able to find them so quickly, but didn't have time to really think about it. After a few curses were thrown back and forth, they finally were able to disarm and stupify the men.
"Dolohov," Hermione spat, venom in her voice. "He's the one who tried to kill me in the Department of Mysteries."
"This other one is Rockwood. I recognize him from the wanted poster," said Ron.
"So, what should we do," asked Harry, looking around nervously. "Wipe their memories?"
Ron nodded stiffly.
"Go on, Hermione, your the best at spells."
Hermione nodded, gripping her wand tight in her hand. She uttered the words she loathed more than anything else in the world.
"Obliviate."
Her voice was cold and detached. She missed the worried looks Ron and Harry exchanged. She turned away from the men and started walking out of the cafe, the boys closely on her heel.
Once outside, they grabbed a hold of her arms and she apparated them to Grimmauld Place. The dark building loomed high in the sky. Her nerves wracked her, every step closer to that blasted house was another pain in her chest, one that made it hard for her to breathe. Hermione seemed cursed to have a thing for older men. Her crushes, to date, were all older by, at the least, four years, and at the most, twenty. Sirius had been one of them. Seeing him killed ruined her. Not only for her sake, but also for Harry's. He had lost so much. To lose Sirius, his godfather, had taken its toll. For Remus to lose his best friend, was too much. The loss they faced with his death would forever be engraved in Hermione's heart and mind.
So, it was with a heavy heart and teary eyes that she with Ron and Harry, walked up the steps of Grimmauld Place, and inside the godforsaken building. Entering in was unlike anything Hermione had ever felt. It felt… wrong. The big empty building echoed the silence and misery that used to fill the place, no matter how hard Sirius tried to make it better for everyone.
Hermione cast some detection spells in order to determine if anyone was there. A protection spell went off, but after determining it wasn't anyone malicious, it went away. It seems as though Dumbledore had thought something was going to happen and he needed to protect this place.
"Let's look around, see what there is."
Hermione walked into the kitchen. There was some food in the cabinets still that would be good. She opened them to find several cans of non-perishable foods. She smiled, grateful for Molly stocking up the kitchen a couple years ago. She pulled down some noodles and a couple of cans of veggies and sauce. All still within date, thank Merlin.
"I'll cook," she said. The boys set off to look through the house. As Hermione started preparing the pasta, her mind drifted back to Charlie and how she left him. She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks, sad that she didn't get to say goodbye. Of course, she knew it to be a possibility. She knew that they were most likely leaving without saying goodbye to anyone, but with Charlie, it particularly stung. She felt a twinge, deep inside of her, at the thought of his name.
"HERMIONE! COME HERE!" She ran, pulling her wand out, and leaving the noodles on the stove, the water bubbling up.
She ran to the top of the stairs, right across from Sirius's room. Harry was standing in front of a door, staring at it, Ron, open-mouthed, beside him.
She turned toward the door to have a look at what held their incredibly small attention.
Her brows furrowed as she read the plaque.
Regulus Arcturus Black
"R.A.B." she said.
Harry looked at her.
"Do you think?"
"Yeah," she said. "Why not. It was said that Regulus was killed by Voldemort himself. Maybe this is why."
"Do you reckon Kreature would know?"
"Most likely. He'll still be at Hogwarts, right? Send for him. And Dobby."
"Good idea. I'll do that." Harry smiled at her.
She turned around to see Ron staring at her.
"What?" she asked.
"You always do that," Ron said.
"Do what?" she asked.
He sighed heavily and ran his hand through his vibrant red hair.
"Nevermind, 'Mione."
Her nose wrinkled in confusion, but she had no time to think on it.
"Hermione, your noodles!" Harry shouted from the kitchen.
"Oh no!"
She hurried past Ron, down the stairs, and into the kitchen. Harry had already taken the pot off of the stove. He tossed a piece of pasta into his mouth.
"It's done," he said. She smiled and ruffled his hair.
"Thank you."
She poured the sauce into the pot, opened and drained the veggies, and added some spices to it. Black pepper, salt, Italian seasoning, thyme, and oregano. It wasn't much, but it's what they were able to scrounge up, and at least they found some sort of seasoning.
Once it was ready, she made bowls for the guys and herself, and they ate, relishing what could very well be their last meal. Or their last decent meal. After they finished and Hermione cleared everything up, there was a pop, the sound of apparition. Hermione pulled her wand out, Ron and Harry following suit. The boys flanked her, as they moved slowly towards the door. As they crept closer, they saw the door handle turn. At the same time, they stopped, and took a few steps back. When the door opened, Remus walked through.
"Remus? What are you doing here?" asked Harry, who dropped his wand. Ron and Hermione kept their wands drawn. Remus held his hands up.
"My name is Remus John Lupin. I'm a werewolf, married to Nymphadora Tonks. I taught you lot Defense Against the Dark Arts in your third year. My nickname is Moony, and name my friends and I came up with while we were at Hogwarts. Harry, your patronus is a stag, Hermione, yours is an otter, and Ron, yours is a Jack Russell Terrier."
Hermione and Ron lowered their wands.
"Sorry, Professor, we had to check."
He smiled.
"Of course you did, but how many times do I have to tell you, Hermione. I'm no longer your professor. You can call me Remus."
She smiled at him in response.
"How's my family?" asked Ron.
"Everyone is safe."
Hermione let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
Ron nodded, the relief evident on his face.
Harry cleared his throat.
"What are you doing here? How did you find us? Not that I'm not happy to see you, but I want to make sure we can't be found."
Remus sighed.
"Honestly, I guessed. I figured you must have come here. I want to come with you."
Harry stared at him, unsure of what to say.
"What does Tonks think of that," asked Hermione.
Remus didn't respond right away.
"Remus, what did you do?" asked Harry.
His expression was now disturbed. Grief and pain were clear on his face.
"Come on, Remus, you can't have done anything too terrible!"
"Tonks is… she's… she's… pregnant."
"Oh, Remus! Congratulations!" Hermione smiled at him.
Harry frowned.
"So, if Tonks is pregnant, why are you trying to run off in the middle of a war? Why aren't you with her? Protecting her?"
"She's with her parents. And… Harry, I want to come with you, James would have wanted it."
"The hell he would have! He would want you to be with your family."
"I… I can't go back."
Hermione looked at him, long and hard.
"Oh, Remus. You can't pass on your lycanthropy. I promise! It's only transmittable on a full moon through a bite. You know this." Hermione's kind voice flooded him with shame.
"No, we don't know that."
Before anyone knew what was happening, Harry punched Remus in the face. Ron quickly grabbed Harry, holding his arms behind his back, while Hermione tended to Remus.
"What the hell was that for?" asked Remus.
"You're being a prick. Go home to your wife and child Remus. And don't use my dad like that again."
It took a great deal of arguing, and finally, Hermione was able to convince him to go home, and to let everyone know they were safe. Before he left, Hermione slipped a piece of parchment into his hand.
"Give this to Charlie for me, please."
He nodded, gave her a soft hug, and went back home. Hermione turned toward the living room, watching the boys playing exploding snap.
It's the little things, she thought.