A/N - Hello, my lovely readers! Thank you all for continuing to read and review! Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 13

Arguments

9 May 1998

"No," Andromeda said flatly, rising from the table and turning her back to him.

"Andromeda," Remus began, but his mother-in-law spun around, fury on her face.

"I cannot fathom why, in Merlin's name, you would think that I would be at all interested in attending their trials. They killed Ted and Nymphadora!"

"Snatchers killed Ted and Bellatrix killed Dora, not your sister or her family."

"She is not my sister," Andromeda snapped. "She made that perfectly clear years ago, when she cut off all contact with me. And they may not have wielded the wand, but they certainly agreed with the principles!"

"All right," Remus said, holding up his hands in an attempt to placate her.

"Why would you want to defend them, after everything that has happened?"

"I don't," Remus assured her. "There is no doubt in my mind that your sister is a Pureblood supremacist and I know from being his professor, that she taught her son the same."

"Then why?"

"I want to be sure they are given a fair trial, that's all. Draco is a child."

"He is an adult," Andromeda retorted.

"He is a child," Remus repeated. "I'm not saying that Draco is innocent, far from it, but he was Marked when he was only sixteen in retaliation for his father's failures." She sighed.

"Be that as it may, that does not excuse my sister's actions."

"Did you know that she lied to Voldemort during the Battle and as a result, Harry is still alive?" Andromeda looked up at him sharply. "Neither she nor Lucius had a wand that night."

"So, that just absolves them of all guilt, does it?" Andromeda demanded.

"No, that's not what I'm saying and I honestly couldn't care less if Lucius Malfoy rots in Azkaban for the rest of his miserable life. But I do think that all their actions should be taken into consideration. I don't want either Draco or Narcissa to be given the same sentence as Lucius simply because they are his family."

"My sister made her own choices," Andromeda said tiredly.

"Did you ever stop to consider that perhaps Narcissa made the choices she did to protect Draco as much as possible? Especially after Voldemort's return."

"She could have taken him and left," Andromeda said.

"You know that's not how Pureblood marriages work," Remus reminded her. "And you know as well as I do, that if she had, she would have been found and punished for trying to run away." Andromeda looked up at him sharply.

"Regardless of what else he was, Lucius Malfoy loves Narcissa and, I assume, his son. He would not have killed them," she said.

"I wasn't talking about Lucius." Andromeda stared at him for moment before she sighed.

"I don't know why you are pushing this so hard, Remus."

"I just want you to be sure," Remus said. He paused for a moment, before continuing quietly. "I saw your face, that day at Hogwarts when you saw her. And I remember what you told me later about how close the two of you were." Andromeda shook her head.

"Someone needs to take care of Teddy."

"I'm sure Molly Weasley would love to." Andromeda fell silent as Remus continued. "I am fine with whatever decision you make. I just want you to have the chance to go if you wish."

"I will think about it," she finally said.

"All right," Remus replied. "I do have other news."

"I'm not sure I can take any more news today," she said dryly. Remus chuckled.

"Minerva has offered me a job."

"Remus, that's wonderful! What kind of job?"

"It's only temporary, mind you, but she would like me to be a tutor. They are offering O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. exams at the end of June and will be holding revision sessions for two weeks beforehand," he explained.

"You told her yes, I hope."

"I told her I would speak to you about it first and then let her know."

"Well, of course, it is fine with me," Andromeda replied. "Nymphadora always told me how much you loved teaching."

"Are you sure?" he asked. "I expect I will be spending longer hours at the castle than I am now."

"We will be fine," Andromeda assured him with a smile. There was a wail from upstairs.

"I'll get him" Remus said. He rose from the table and walked toward the stairs. He had decided to stay home from Hogwarts to spend some time with Teddy today.

Walking into his son's room, Remus couldn't help the smile that formed. Teddy's arms were flailing about and his hair was cycling through colors more quickly than Remus could even keep track of. Andromeda had assured him that it was perfectly normal, as Dora's had done the same thing whenever she was upset as a baby. Remus reached into the cot and lifted Teddy to his shoulder, patting his back gently.

"It's all right, Daddy's here," Remus said soothingly as Teddy's cries diminished in volume. Remus changed the boy's nappy before carrying him downstairs for the waiting bottle Andromeda had no doubt prepared. Teddy was gnawing on his own fist by the time they reached the kitchen.

"Bit hungry then, are we?" Remus said with a laugh as Andromeda handed him the bottle. She gave them both a fond smile before she turned back to the kitchen, putting away the dishes that had just finished washing.

"You're doing what?" Ron exclaimed.

"I'm going to testify at their trials," Harry repeated.

"Are you completely mental?" Ron demanded. "They tortured Hermione!"

"Bellatrix tortured me," Hermione said.

"And the three of them just stood there and watched, probably ecstatic!"

"It wasn't like that, Ron," Hermione said. Ron rounded on her.

"I can't believe you're all right with this," he snapped. "After everything that happened to you in that house!" Hermione sighed. She had known this wasn't going to go well, but she had hoped that Ron might at least listen before flying off the handle.

"Look, Ron, I hate Malfoy as much as you do," Harry said. "But his mother did save me in the forest. If she hadn't lied, I'd be dead. And if Voldemort had found out she lied, she'd be dead."

"That doesn't give the ferret a free pass," Ron said. "He almost killed me or have you conveniently forgotten that little fact?"

"Of course, I haven't," Harry retorted. "If you'll remember, I nearly killed him too and you don't see me on trial for anything."

"So, that makes it okay, then?" Ron demanded.

"No!" Harry shouted. He raked a hand through his hair in frustration and they both glowered at each other. Hermione was glad she had cast a Muffliato around them, even though they were in Ron's room.

"Can we all just calm down a bit and discuss this like adults?" Hermione asked. She saw Harry visibly force himself to relax, but Ron's face was nearly as red as his hair. "Ron?"

"Nothing you can say to me, Hermione, nothing will make me think this is a good idea."

"Harry isn't trying to get them off the hook," she said. "He just wants to make sure the Wizengamot has all the information." Ron looked back and forth between the two of them, disgust clearly evident on his face.

"All of sixth year, you insisted Malfoy was a Death Eater," Ron said to Harry. "You were convinced he was up to something, convinced that Voldemort had given him some kind of mission. Even when Hermione and I tried to tell you otherwise, you didn't budge. Then, he almost killed Katie and me, he let Death Eaters into Hogwarts and Dumbledore died."

"And now, now, you're defending him. I don't understand you, Harry." Ron turned to Hermione. "And I don't know why you would go along with it." Ron's voice had been rising as he was talking and now, he was yelling. "He stood there and watched while she tortured you, Hermione! Watched while she carved that word into your arm!" Hermione flinched.

"Ron, calm down," Harry said, looking at Hermione in concern.

"Calm down? Calm down! No, I bloody well won't calm down, Harry!"

"You think that I don't care about what happened to Hermione? To Katie? To you? You think I don't see what happened at Malfoy Manor every single night in my nightmares? That I don't blame myself every fucking day for being the one that said his name and brought the Snatchers down on us?" Harry snapped.

"Then why are you doing this, Harry?" Ron demanded.

"Because I have to!" Harry thundered. "I can't let anyone else suffer because of what Voldemort did!"

"Malfoy made his own choices!"

"Maybe he did! And if he did, then he'll suffer the same consequences as any other Death Eater. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to provide the information that I have!"

"Why not?"

"Because it's the right thing to do!" Harry and Ron stood staring at each other. Harry was breathing heavily and Ron was still as angry as he had been when Harry first started the conversation.

"And perfect Harry Potter always does the right thing, doesn't he?" Ron nearly spat.

"Ron!" Hermione said in shock.

"Oh, of course you're taking his side again," Ron said. "Why should I be surprised?"

"That's not-" but Ron held up a hand to silence her.

"Don't bother, Hermione." Ron glanced at the two of them for a few more seconds. "I'm going to Hogwarts." He turned and wrenched the bedroom door open and then slammed it behind him.

"I'm sorry, Hermione," Harry said, running a hand through his hair again.

"It's not your fault," Hermione said.

"It sort of is," Harry argued. "You're not planning on testifying." Hermione shrugged.

"Only because I don't really have anything to say." There was a knock on the door before Harry could say anything else.

"Come in," Harry called out.

"What's going on?" Ginny demanded. "Ron ran out of here looking angry enough to spit fire."

"Where is he?" Hermione asked.

"Said he was going to Hogwarts," Ginny said. "Mum's upset." Hermione turned to Harry.

"What if he splinches?"

"Go," Harry said. "I'll explain here." Hermione nodded and ran out of the room. She passed Mrs. Weasley on the stairs but ignored the woman's questions and hurried to the Apparition point. Taking a deep breath, she tried to center herself. It wouldn't do either of them any good if she splinched herself too.

"Ron!" the word was out of her mouth, even as she was landing. She looked up and saw him already through the gates and on his way to the castle. "Ron!" He slowed but didn't turn and it was then that Hermione saw he was clutching his right forearm. She started to run.

"Ron, let me see," she said as she caught up to him.

"No," he said petulantly, yanking his arm away from her.

"Did you splinch yourself?"

"Oh, right because I can't do anything properly, can I?"

"That's not," she began then shook her head, nearly jogging to keep up with his long strides.

"Go home, Hermione."

"I won't," she said stubbornly. She ran a few steps and stopped directly in front of him.

"Let me see."

"No."

"Please." He stared at her for a moment and then sighed and uncovered his arm. There was a long scrape that was only oozing a bit of blood, but it didn't look like it was from a splinching. She looked up at him in question.

"I fell when I landed," he finally said. "There was a branch lying there and I scraped my arm on it."

"Ron, I-"

"Just leave it, Hermione."

"We need to talk."

"Why?" he asked. "You and Harry seemed to have made your decision." Hermione opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again. He was right in that sense. Hermione knew that Harry wouldn't change his mind about speaking at the trials and Hermione wanted to go with him for moral support.

"Thought so," Ron said, pushing past her and resuming his walk towards the castle. Hermione hurried after him.

"Can't you try to understand why Harry is doing this?" Ron rounded on her, anger back in his eyes.

"I understand that my girlfriend was tortured in their house. And now, my best friend, who professes to love you like a sister, is going to speak up for people that stood by and did nothing about it. Nothing, Hermione! That's what I understand."

"What Harry is going to say at Mrs. Malfoy's trial has nothing to do with that!"

"Oh no? And what is he going to say about the ferret?"

"He's just planning on telling them that Draco didn't identify him at the Manor."

"And what about us? Good old Draco didn't seem to have a problem identifying us." Hermione said nothing. Draco had identified them, but only after his parents had recognized them first and only very reluctantly. "If he hadn't, you wouldn't have been tortured."

"You know that's not true, Ron. They were going to call Voldemort until Bellatrix saw the sword. That's why I was tortured."

"Maybe."

"Not maybe, yes."

"Even if you're right, Hermione, I still can't believe that Harry is going to speak for them."

"Despite the fact that your delivery left much to be desired, you were right about what you said, that Harry always wants to do the right thing," she reminded him.

"And if I don't think this is the right thing?"

"You're entitled to your opinion, just like Harry is." Ron sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Hermione took a step closer to him. "I know you don't agree with this and I'm not asking you to change your mind about that. I'm just asking you to understand why Harry feels the need to do it."

"And what about you?" he asked.

"What about me?" Hermione returned.

"Why do you feel the need to do it?" It was her turn to sigh.

"Everyone deserves a fair trial," she said. "Even the bad guys." Ron stared at her for a minute before looking off into the distance. She stepped towards him again and wrapped her arms around him, resting her cheek against his chest. His good arm came around her and squeezed her gently. They stood there in silence for a few minutes until Hermione pulled back slightly.

"Let's find Madame Pomfrey and get your arm healed." Ron gave her a half-smile and followed her into the castle.

Remus had spent the day entertaining Teddy when he was awake. While his son was napping, Remus had pulled out his old trunk and looked through the books he had used when he taught Defense. Andromeda had offered the use of her small library as well. As Minerva had asked Remus to tutor, not teach, he assumed he would be helping with a wide range of subjects and so had selected a few books on Charms, Transfiguration and Magical Creatures from Andromeda's bookshelves. He wondered if Harry would mind if he looked through the library at Grimmauld Place as well.

He sat down in the armchair in the living room and opened one of the Charms books. He idly paged through it, while trying to remember what had been on his own Charms O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. Likely things had changed a bit in twenty years, but the theory was still the same.

Closing the book, he opened one of the Transfiguration texts. Flipping through the pages, a small scribble in one of the margins caught his eye. Stopping, he found he was on the chapter about human Transfiguration. In the margin, next to a paragraph that discussed how difficult human Transfiguration was, someone had written 'unless you're a Metamorphmagus', in very familiar script.

Remus' chest felt tight and there was a lump in his throat. Marking the page with his finger, he flipped back to the inside front cover. 'Property of Nymphadora Tonks' had been written in the same familiar script, although Nymphadora had been crossed out. He traced a finger over the name.

"Remus, I thought I would," Andromeda trailed off. "Are you all right?" Remus nodded, unable to speak over the lump in his throat. He heard Andromeda step closer to him and inhale sharply.

"I'd forgotten," she whispered. He looked up at her in question. "I'd forgotten that she'd left some of her books here after she got her own flat when she started her job at the Ministry. I think Ted just shelved them in with the rest." Andromeda's hand came to rest on Remus' shoulder. He reached up a hand of his own and gave hers a small squeeze as they both stared at the name in the book.

It had only been a week, he realized. Only seven days since she had been here in this room with him. It seemed like so much longer and just yesterday all at the same time. A quiet sniff alerted him to the fact that he was not the only one affected. His hand tightened on Andromeda's.

"I'm sorry, I should have remembered," she said, but Remus was already shaking his head.

"No," he said. "Don't apologize for this." He rose from his chair and turned to look at her. "This is not something you need to be sorry for. I want these little reminders, no matter how painful they are. I don't want to just shut her things away and pretend she didn't exist."

"Of course not," Andromeda said, taken aback. "I don't want that at all."

"I know you don't," Remus said. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I said that." His voice was gruffer than usual, the lump in his throat affecting his ability to speak. He looked down at the book again. "I'll just…excuse me." He hurried from the room and out the back door to the garden.

He stopped in front of Andromeda's flower garden and sank down onto the bench there. He still held the book tightly in his hand and he drew in a shaky breath before opening the cover once more. He didn't realize he was crying until a tear dropped down onto the book. Remus closed the cover and clutched it to his chest, letting the tears continue to fall.

Madame Pomfrey had healed Ron's arm in a trice. She had rubbed some salve on it afterward to prevent infection and sent him on his way. Harry and Ginny still hadn't arrived by the time Ron had been healed and so after discovering that Remus was not going to be working today, Hermione had convinced Professor McGonagall to allow Ron to help her continue the repairs on the tower. Hermione thought it prudent to keep Ron and Harry away from each for the time being. Despite Ron's grudging acceptance that he wasn't going to be able to change Harry's mind, Hermione knew that Ron's temper would flare again with the slightest provocation.

Hermione climbed the ladder Remus had transfigured as Ron mounted the broom that Remus had left behind. Instead of teaching Ron the spell to set the mortar, she had him levitate the stones after she had cast the mortar spell herself. They worked in relative silence, purposely ignoring the argument from earlier, until the wall grew too high for Hermione to reach it from the ladder. She climbed down and looked up at the wall with a sigh as Ron landed next to her.

"Should I get you a broom from the broom shed?" Ron asked.

"I'm not getting on a broom," Hermione scoffed. Ron's brow furrowed in confusion.

"Well, how are we going to finish then?" Hermione didn't respond, simply squinted up at the tower. The battlements on either side of where the tower stood were still higher than the height of the rebuilt tower, but it was possible that Hermione could stand on the walkway behind and still set the mortar. If not, she could surely levitate the stone and teach Ron the mortar spell. There had to be an entrance to the battlements somewhere.

"If I can get up there to the walkway behind the battlements, I think I can levitate the stones from there. You'll have to set the mortar though," she said.

"No problem," Ron replied. "I can fly you up."

"I'm sure there's a door somewhere in the castle, Ron. It's almost lunch. We can ask Professor McGonagall then." Ron looked at her quizzically.

"Why don't you want to just fly up?" She turned to him, incredulous look on her face.

"I hate to fly."

"Well, sure, but it's not that far. It would only take a minute to get you up there and it's not like you've never done it before." He mounted his broom. "Come on, I'll take you up there now and we can make sure it's safe." Hermione crossed her arms over her chest.

"Go ahead, fly up and look at it. If it's safe, I'll find out how to get up there from inside the castle."

"Hermione, it's not even that high. Don't be daft, just come on."

"I said no, Ron." Ron sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Fine." He kicked off from the ground and flew up to the battlements Hermione had indicated. Hermione watched as he landed and moved as far to the end as the walkway would allow. It would be a bit of a stretch for the next two of three rows, but she could do it. Ron landed next to her a few minutes later.

"Everything looks all right," he said. "Stable anyway." Hermione nodded.

"Let's eat then and I'll talk to the professor."

"I still think you should just let me fly you up there," Ron said as he rested his broom against the side of the castle and followed Hermione towards the Great Hall. "Who knows what crazy passageway you're going to have to take to get there from inside the castle."

"I'm sure it won't be that difficult."

"I didn't see any doors anywhere."

"Well, there's got to be, doesn't there?" she huffed. "You must have just missed it."

"Doubt it," Ron muttered. Hermione pressed her lips together to keep from saying something she knew she would regret. Ron could be so infuriating sometimes.

They walked in silence, Ron not seeming to want to continue arguing with her either. As they neared the Great Hall, Hermione couldn't help but compare Ron's reaction to her not wanting to fly to Remus'. Remus had been concerned and had asked questions to try and understand her fear. When he realized that she really didn't want to fly, he had come up with a different solution without making her feel like an idiot. Ron, even though he was well aware of her fear of flying, had ignored it and just insisted she do it.

Hermione shook her head. She had no idea why she was comparing the two of them. It's not as if Remus was any kind of competition for Ron. She snorted thinking of the idea that Remus would see her as a possible romantic prospect, even if he hadn't just lost his wife.

"What?" Ron asked.

"Nothing," Hermione replied. Ron's eyes narrowed, likely thinking she was laughing at him for something. "I promise, it's nothing." Ron didn't look convinced but asked no further questions.

When they reached the Great Hall, Hermione looked around for Professor McGonagall. Spotting her, Hermione grabbed Ron's hand and pulled him with her.

"Professor," Hermione said as they reached the older witch.

"Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, how is your project coming?"

"Very well, Professor, but we have a bit of a problem," Hermione said. The professor looked at her expectantly. "The wall of the tower has gotten too high for me to reach it from a ladder." Before the professor could suggest a broom, Hermione continued. "I was wondering where the entrance is to the walkway that runs next to the tower." The professor frowned brows furrowed.

"I have not been in that part of the castle for quite some time," she said. "I admit that I've forgotten. I will need to consult the portraits about it. I will have an answer for you after lunch."

"Thank you, Professor." Hermione turned to Ron but he was already walking towards the Gryffindor table.

"Let's eat, I'm hungry." Hermione shook her head but followed after him.

Lunch had been uneventful, thankfully. Harry and Ginny had joined them, but it seemed that everyone had silently agreed not to discuss the trials. Hermione wondered if Ginny knew about their row and if she did, what the other girl thought about Harry's plan.

"Miss Granger." Professor McGonagall's voice interrupted Hermione's thoughts.

"Yes, Professor?"

"I have checked with the portraits and the entrance to the battlements was in the tower itself." Hermione's face fell. "Do not worry, we will be able to cut a door from the stone once the tower is finished," the professor continued, misinterpreting the reason for Hermione's expression.

"Is there no other way to get to the battlements from inside the castle?" Hermione asked.

"I'm afraid not," the professor said. "However, the school brooms are available for your use."

"Thank you, Professor," Hermione said with a sigh.

"What's the matter, Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Hermione isn't happy that she has to fly," Ron said around the food in his mouth. Hermione scowled at him.

"Fly where?" Ginny asked.

"The tower has gotten too high to reach from the ground or the ladder I was using," Hermione explained. "There's a walkway that connects to the tower that I could stand on, but no way to get there from inside the castle."

"I told her I could fly her up," Ron said with a shrug.

"Hermione doesn't like to fly," Harry reminded him.

"I know that, Harry, but it wouldn't take more than thirty seconds to get her up there. It's not that big of a deal," Ron said with a bit of exasperation in his voice.

"It is to Hermione," Harry said.

"Honestly, why? I mean, it's not like she has to go on an hour-long broom ride or something," Ron said throwing his hands into the air.

"Ron, you know-" Harry began, but Hermione interrupted him.

"I'll thank you both to stop talking about me as if I'm not sitting right here!" Harry had the sense to look sheepish, but Ron just rolled his eyes. Hermione huffed and got up from the bench. "I'll be outside." She stomped off, not caring that she looked like a petulant child.

She was still staring at the tower, arms crossed in front of her, when Ron appeared.

"Glaring at it isn't going to make a door appear," Ron said.

"Shut up, Ron," Hermione snapped. Ron sighed.

"I'm sorry, Hermione," he said. "I'm just trying to lighten things up."

"By making fun of me?" she demanded, hands on her hips.

"I'm not making fun of you," Ron protested. Hermione snorted.

"Could have fooled me." Ron sighed again.

"Okay," he said, stepping towards her and holding his hands up in front of him in a surrendering gesture. "Can we start over?" Hermione crossed her arms again.

"Fine."

"Would you like me to fly you up to the battlements?"

"No," she said flatly.

"All right, I know you won't like it if I fly you up there, but do you want to do it anyway?" Hermione looked up at the walkway again and then at Ron's broom. When she didn't answer for a few moments, Ron seemed to lose patience.

"Look, Hermione, the only way you're going to get over your fear of flying is just to do it."

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

"It's what Mum always says and she's right," Ron defended.

"Oh really?" Hermione said. "So, should I go into the forest and bring back an Acromantula so you can pet it?" Ron blanched. "It's the only way you'll get over your fear of spiders after all."

"That's, that's not the same thing at all!"

"Why not?" Hermione challenged. "You're afraid of spiders and if the only way to get over your fear of something is just to do it, then why not pet one?"

"Lots of people are afraid of spiders!" Ron insisted.

"And lots of people are afraid of flying!" Hermione retorted. They glared at each other for a few minutes before Ron threw up his hands.

"You're impossible!"

"It's a wonder that you're dating me then," Hermione snapped.

"I didn't say that," Ron insisted. Hermione opened her mouth to say something else, but Ron had moved forward and wrapped his arms around her.

"Let me go, Ron!"

"No," he said. "Don't say anything else." She looked up at him. "We just, we have to cool off for a minute." All the fight went out of her. She sighed and rested her forehead against his chest. Ron ran his hands up and down her arms as they both calmed.

"We have to stop fighting so much," he finally said.

"I know," Hermione replied.

"Why do we do it all the time, do you think?"

"Years of practice," Hermione said dryly. Ron laughed and looked down at her.

"I am sorry," he said.

"Me too." He put an arm around her and looked back at the tower.

"So, I reckon we've got two choices."

"And what are those?" Hermione asked.

"Either I can fly you up there," he said pointing at the battlements. "Or we can ask Professor McGonagall for a different job." Hermione bit her bottom lip. She really didn't want to the professor to have to find someone else to take over for them. Ron turned her gently so she faced him.

"You know that I won't let you fall, right?" he said.

"I know," she replied.

"I'll go slow and have a hold of you the whole time. I'll even use a sticking charm if you want." He gave her a lopsided grin as she chuckled.

"I don't think that will be necessary." Truly, she was overreacting a bit. It wasn't that far and she had flown before.

"Would you rather Harry flew you up there?" Ron asked. She looked up at him in surprise. He looked at her solemnly. "If it's because you don't trust me, I'm sure Harry would do it."

"No, Ron, it's not that," she assured him, although there was something niggling in the back of her mind. Hermione shoved it away and looked at the tower one more time. "All right."

"All right?" Ron repeated.

"Fly me up there," Hermione said.

"Are you sure?" Ron asked.

"Yes." Ron smiled and picked up his broom. He straddled it and then motioned for her to sit in front of him. Hermione took a breath and held onto the handle as tightly as she could. Ron wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her snug against him. Hermione closed her eyes as he kicked off from the ground.

As the ground fell away, she felt the familiar swooping in her stomach. She squeezed her eyes shut tighter and tried to ignore the pounding of her heart. For his part, Ron climbed slower than she knew he would have had she not been on the broom with him. She was grateful, but a part of her just wanted it to be over.

"We're here," Ron said in her ear a few moments later. Hermione opened one eye a crack and saw that they were indeed behind the battlements. She let out the breath she had been holding as Ron climbed off the broom, then held out a hand to her to help her off.

"All right?" he asked. She nodded. He leaned the broom up against the wall and walked towards the tower. Hermione followed and peered over the edge of the battlements.

"I'm sure I can levitate the stones from here, but you'll have to do the mortar."

"Suppose you'd better teach me the spell then," he said. Hermione demonstrated the wand movements and made Ron practice until she was sure he had it right. He smiled as he mounted the broom once again and flew out in front of the tower. Hermione watched as he cast the spell for the mortar and then she levitated a stone to fit it into place. It was harder to do from this distance, but she managed. They fell into a comfortable rhythm and spent the rest of the afternoon rebuilding the tower.