A/N - Thank you for all your reviews last chapter and thanks for reading!

Chapter 61

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12 April 2000

War Heroes Spotted in Intimate Embrace

Phillip Bradley

Remus Lupin and Hermione Granger, heroes of the Second Wizarding War and recipients of the Order of Merlin, First Class, were spotted walking arm-in-arm down Diagon Alley last night. After sharing a brief kiss, the couple had a romantic dinner at the Alley's newest restaurant, Bellucci's.

Sources close to the pair say they have been friends for years, but only began seeing one another romantically about a month ago. "They're perfect for one another," a source says. "And they are extremely happy."

This appears to be the case, as they were laughing and smiling when they left Bellucci's before joining friends for a drink at the Leaky Cauldron.

"I wonder if we could get a copy of that photograph," Hermione said, pointing to the one of them coming out of the restaurant hand-in-hand, both with smiles on their faces.

"You don't want this one?" Remus asked smirking, as he indicated the picture of them kissing.

"You can't see our faces in that one," she said with a shrug. He laughed and leaned over to kiss her.

"I'm sure Bradley will do anything you like," Remus said. "After all, we got him on page two." The outcome of Hughes' trial, had, of course, dominated the front page which suited Hermione just fine.

"I had better go, love. Teddy will be up and I'm sure Andromeda will want to talk about this." He tapped the paper.

"All right," she said. "Give them both my love."

"I will," Remus said and kissed her one more time before he stepped into the Floo.

Hermione looked back at the newspaper in her hand. Post would be coming, she knew. Harry would likely want to divert it all to Grimmauld Place as he had when the article about the two of them came out after their lunch where they spied on Satterfield. Maybe Hermione would just have Remus go through it all. He likely knew similar, if not the same spells as Harry. And then Ginny wouldn't have to deal with it all, as she was home for another week. Hermione set the paper aside and gathered up her things to Floo to the Ministry.

"Daddy!" Teddy called as Remus walked into the kitchen.

"Hello, little man," Remus said, picking up his son and kissing his cheek. "Were you a good boy for Nanna last night?" Teddy nodded his head emphatically.

"Where go, Daddy?"

"I had dinner with Hermione."

"My-nee! Me see My-nee," Teddy insisted. Remus chuckled.

"How about tonight?" Andromeda asked. "Shall we have her to dinner?"

"Yes!" Teddy said. "Me see My-nee."

"All right," Remus said. "I'll ask her. Now, it looks like Nanna has your breakfast." Remus put Teddy in his highchair and Andromeda set eggs and fruit on the tray, along with a cup of milk. Teddy immediately tucked in.

"From the newspaper, it seems as if things went well last night," Andromeda said.

"For the most part," Remus replied, dishing up his own breakfast. She raised an eyebrow and he glanced at Teddy. The little boy was completely engrossed in his food. Remus quickly explained what had happened at the Leaky. Andromeda was incensed, of course, but Teddy's presence kept her from voicing just what she thought of the women that had made the comments.

"How did Hermione handle it?" she asked in concern.

"In typical Hermione fashion," Remus said, hint of a smile on his face. "Insulted them and pretended that it didn't bother her." Andromeda smiled and put a hand on Remus' arm.

"Are you all right?" she asked. He sighed.

"It's not as if I wasn't expecting it," he replied. "I just wish that Hermione wasn't going to get caught up in all of this. She doesn't deserve it."

"Neither do you." He patted the hand that was on his arm.

"We're most concerned about her proposal," Remus said. "I'm sure there will be fall-out from this." Andromeda's lips pursed in thought.

"Who is aware of what she is working on?" she asked.

"Her department of course, Kingsley, a few people from the DRCMC, Harry and Ginny, Minerva, the rest of the Weasleys, I'm sure. I'm don't know who else. Why?"

"If the details of her proposal get out to the public, they can be dissected in the press before she even presents anything."

"I wonder if Kingsley has put it on the Wizengamot's schedule yet," Remus mused. "He told Hermione he wanted her to present it to them as soon as the trials were over."

"I am sure that the Minister has already thought of this, but he may want to be sure that the details are not given to the Wizengamot until Hermione actually presents it. There are enough that are not going to be open-minded about it. You do not need those that might be in the middle being swayed beforehand." Remus nodded.

"I'll speak to Hermione about it," he said, glancing at his watch. "I had better get going. Warrington's trial begins in less than an hour." He moved to kiss the top of Teddy's head, guilt creeping in when he saw Teddy's pout that he was leaving again.

"I promise I'll be home for lunch," Remus said. "And we'll play, all right?" Teddy nodded.

"Bye, Daddy."

"He'll be fine," Andromeda said in reassurance when Remus hesitated. He motioned Andromeda to follow him into the living room.

"I'm sure there will be post today," Remus said. "Likely even Howlers. I don't want Teddy hearing, or you for that matter."

"Do not worry, a silencing spell and a quick 'Incendio' and Teddy will not hear a thing," Andromeda said. Remus nodded.

"Just set the rest of it aside and don't open anything. I don't trust that there won't be curses or jinxes in some of them. I'll scan everything when I get home."

"Or, we could just burn the entire lot," she suggested. Remus shook his head.

"There's always a possibility something could be in one of them that would react with the fire. I'll have to go through them all before we burn them."

"All right," Andromeda replied.

"Thank you," Remus said, kissing her cheek before he walked back into the living room to Floo to the Ministry.

Hermione walked to her office amidst stares and whispers. She had expected this, of course, given the article in the Prophet this morning. What she hadn't expected was to be met by Margaret's secretary, Cecily, as soon as Hermione walked into the department and immediately led into her boss's office.

"Good morning, Hermione," Margaret said. Hermione could see a copy of the Daily Prophet lying on her desk.

"Good morning," Hermione replied nervously.

"I suspect you know what I would like to talk to you about."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Sit, please." Hermione sat in one of the chairs in front of Margaret's desk and clasped her hands tightly in her lap, if only to keep them from shaking.

"I do not make it a habit to interfere in my employees' private lives," Margaret said. "Who you date is your business. However, this, Hermione, cannot be ignored." She tapped the picture of Hermione and Remus kissing.

"May I ask why?" Hermione said. She wasn't sure what, exactly, Margaret was upset about.

"Need I remind you that Mr. Lupin is a werewolf?"

"No, I'm very much aware of that fact," Hermione said, bristling a bit. She had never thought that her boss had a prejudiced bone in her body.

"And it didn't occur to you that the Wizengamot might feel there is conflict of interest when you present your proposal?" Margaret asked. Hermione blew out a breath, relieved that this was what this meeting was about.

"It did," Hermione replied.

"Then why, in Merlin's name, would you allow this to happen?" Margaret demanded, tossing the paper across her desk towards Hermione. "The proposal comes up before the Wizengamot in less than two weeks. You couldn't have waited until after?"

"I apologize, Margaret. I should have come to you yesterday, but with everything that happened, it slipped my mind."

"Explain," Margaret said crisply. Hermione proceeded to recount what had happened with Rita Skeeter, leaving out the part about Rita being an Animagus, of course. The story was just as plausible without it.

"I've had run-ins with Skeeter before," Hermione explained. "She wrote many unflattering, not to mention untrue, things about me during the Triwizard tournament, as well as all the lies she told about Harry Potter after Voldemort's return. Remus and I both knew that the only way to keep her from writing some sordid tale about us, was to allow someone else to report it first. A friend of mine knows Mr. Bradley and felt that he would report what we wanted, fairly and without sensationalism." Margaret sighed again.

"Well, I am certainly familiar with Ms. Skeeter's idea of 'truth'," the older woman said. "But you have put me in a difficult position, Hermione."

"I understand," Hermione said. "And I apologize, but we didn't feel we had any other option."

"I suppose not," Margaret said.

"If you feel it's necessary, I'm willing to offer my resignation," Hermione said, coil of dread forming in her stomach. She loved her job.

"I don't think we need to go quite that far," Margaret replied, a bit of a smile on her face. "I will have to speak to the Minister and decide how to proceed from here."

"If it's any consolation, the Minister already knows," Hermione said. "Remus spoke with him yesterday."

"Well, I am glad to hear that," Margaret said. She pulled the newspaper back towards her. "Cecily has informed me that Mr. Lupin has spent quite a bit of time in your office lately. She assumed it had something to do with your proposal until she saw the paper this morning." Hermione reddened.

"We've been attending the trial together," Hermione managed. When she looked up, she thought she saw a smirk on Margaret's face, but it was gone a second later and Hermione decided she must have imagined it.

"Under the circumstances, I think it would be best if that did not continue."

"I'm sorry, Margaret, but I can't do that," Hermione said. The older witch's eyes narrowed. "I won't bring him to my office, but I can't let him sit alone at the trials."

"Can't or won't?"

"I won't," Hermione replied, sitting up straighter in her chair. "The trials are difficult for him. He knows who many of Warrington's victims were. I won't allow him to go through that alone." She met Margaret's gaze and refused to break eye contact.

"Well, I can't say that I don't respect your compassion," Margaret said after a few moments. "But do remember that you're sitting in front of the body you want to present to in less than two weeks."

"I understand that," Hermione said. "And if you feel that it would be better for someone else to make the proposal, I understand. I will even remove my name from it, if necessary."

"You've spent months on that proposal," Margaret said.

"The most important thing is that is passes," Hermione said. "Not that I get public credit for it." Margaret studied her for a moment, then nodded.

"I will think on it and let you know."

"I apologize again, for the timing of all of this."

"I think we have Rita Skeeter to thank for that," the older woman said in disgust. "If you would give me a copy of the proposal by the end of the day, please. I'd like to review it before I make my decision."

"Of course," Hermione said.

"That's all, thank you, Hermione." Hermione bade her boss good-bye and left the office. Cecily had a copy of the Prophet on her desk and she quickly covered it with a stack of parchment as Hermione walked by. She sighed, glad she was going to be in court all morning.

Remus stood in the Atrium, near the lifts, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible. There had been whispering, staring, pointing and out-right glares as he made his way from the Floos and through the security line. One elderly witch had even shaken her finger at him accusingly. No one had said anything to him directly, however. At least not yet.

Remus was aware of the two witches behind him whispering to one another. In fact, he could hear their entire conversation, his hearing enhanced given he was less than a week from the full moon, although they obviously didn't know that. He was quite certain they wouldn't be discussing his…attributes quite so openly if they did. He felt his face heat and was glad that they were behind him. As Remus waited for the lift, a wizard a bit older than Remus stepped up beside him. He glanced at Remus, then did a double-take and grinned when he recognized him. The man carried a copy of the Prophet under his arm.

"Quite the coup there, mate," he said, winking at Remus. The witches behind them fell silent.

"Sorry?" Remus said.

"Pretty young thing like that," the man said with a shrug of his shoulder. "I think we've all had those fantasies, haven't we?" He grinned in a lascivious way. Remus' first instinct was to grab the man by the throat and slam him into the wall. But as they were in the Ministry and there were witnesses, he refrained. It was a near thing though. Instead, he glared at the other wizard and took a step towards him. The man had the sense to look nervous.

"Woah, I didn't mean anything by it," he said. "Just having a conversation."

"Keep your 'conversation' to yourself, if you don't mind," Remus snapped.

"Sure thing, mate, sure thing."

"And I'm not your mate," Remus nearly snarled. The lift arrived and Remus stepped in. While there were already a few people inside, it wasn't full, but the wizard had the good sense not to get on. Remus glared at him until the lift doors shut. He was glad he only had to go one floor to reach the courtrooms.

Hermione made her way to the lifts to head to the courtroom. As she passed the Auror office, the door opened and Ron stepped into the corridor. He stopped when he saw her. Hermione slowed, not really wanting to have this confrontation right now. The trial was starting in twenty minutes and Remus was probably already there waiting for her. They had agreed to meet in the courtroom, figuring they could possibly avoid Skeeter, at least for the morning, if they were already inside before she arrived.

Ron stared at her for a few moments and it was then that Hermione saw the copy of today's Prophet tucked under his arm. She glanced at it and looked back up at him.

"Ron," she began, but Ron just shook his head and turned and walked back into the Auror office. Hermione watched him go, then sighed and continued to the lift, cursing Rita Skeeter once again.

The doors opened and Hermione stepped inside, an older witch the only other occupant. Hermione nodded politely to her, then pressed the floor for the courtrooms. They rode in silence for a few seconds before the witch turned towards her. Hermione braced herself for some scathing comment, but the other woman merely smiled.

"My husband was eighteen years older than me," she said conversationally. The lift stopped. "Don't let them get to you, dear. As long as you're happy, that's all that matters." Hermione smiled as the doors opened and suddenly felt like crying.

"Thank you," she said. The woman winked and stepped off the lift, replaced by a group of wizards that studiously ignored Hermione until they reached the courtroom level.

Hermione hurried down the corridor towards the courtroom, keeping an eye out for Rita Skeeter as she did so. Remus would likely be inside by now, but that was probably better than them walking in together, especially after what Margaret had said.

Hermione wasn't stupid enough to think that Rita still wouldn't try to print whatever ridiculous nonsense she liked, even now that Hermione's relationship with Remus was out in the open. Still, the fact that the article that had come out about them was straightforward and truthful had to help with at least some people. Anything Skeeter published now would just be guessing and innuendo. Once Hermione's proposal had been presented, she and Remus would have no further reason not to appear in public together. The gossip would eventually go away.

Hermione had nearly reached the doors when she saw Remus step from a shadowy corner. She couldn't help but smile that he had waited for her despite their conversation about it this morning. She had opened her mouth to greet him when someone stepped in front of her.

Hermione stumbled as she stopped quickly so as not to run into the person in front of her. When she got her balance and looked up, the apology died on her lips. Rita stood in front of Hermione and she wasn't happy.

Remus finally saw Hermione hurrying towards him. Regardless of what they had decided, he had no intention of going into the courtroom and leaving her to deal with Skeeter or some other idiot, like the one that he'd run into this morning, on her own. When Hermione was near enough, he stepped from the shadows and was about to greet her when someone else stepped into her path.

Hermione stumbled. Remus made a motion to move forward before she righted herself and looked up at the person that had nearly tripped her. Hermione's eyes narrowed and Remus recognized Rita from the back.

"Just the person I was looking for," Rita hissed. Remus made to move towards them again, but a subtle shake of Hermione's head stopped him.

"Well that's unfortunate, as I definitely wasn't looking for you," Hermione said, crossing her arms over her chest. Rita grabbed Hermione's arm and pulled her to the side, away from the open doors to the courtroom. Most everyone was inside, there were only a few stragglers still hurrying in.

"I'm sure you weren't," Rita snapped, pulling the Daily Prophet from her bag. "Thought you'd get the jump on me, did you? And with a Quidditch hack, no less."

"I thought the photographs were lovely," Hermione replied sweetly.

"No matter," Rita sniffed. "Just because you've gone public doesn't mean there isn't much more I can report about." She gave Hermione a smile, which Hermione returned. Remus could only see the side of Skeeter's face from his angle, but he could have sworn her smile faltered slightly.

"You could," Hermione agreed. "But I wouldn't."

"That threat doesn't work anymore, remember? Your precious Satterfield still hasn't been tried yet, has he?" Rita looked smug, but then, so did Hermione.

"That's not what I was talking about," Hermione said. Rita stared at her. "Now if you'll excuse me, they're about to close the doors." Hermione pushed past the reporter and Remus stepped from the shadows. Hermione glanced at him and he looked at her quizzically.

"Later," she muttered, low enough that only he could hear. Remus followed her into the courtroom. As it was nearly time for the trial to start, most everyone was already seated. He could feel the stares and hear the whispers as they walked up the stone steps.

"Honestly, don't they have anything better to talk about?" Hermione hissed quietly as they sat down. Remus made to move closer to her, but she shook her head again and he remained where he was. Before he could ask her anything else, the Wizengamot filed in and two Aurors led Warrington to the accused's chair. Kingsley called for everyone's attention and the trial began.

The entire morning was horrible. Listening to what Warrington had done made her stomach turn and bile rise in Hermione's throat. She kept her hands clasped tightly in her lap, when all she really wanted to do was take Remus' hand and hold on for dear life. Every time she looked at him, he was sitting rigidly, staring straight ahead, his face a mask. She wondered if he wanted to scream and throw things as much as she did.

Cyrus Warrington was arrogant and uncooperative in equal measure. He did nothing to help his own case. He refused to admit to anything but didn't deny it either. Kingsley was so frustrated with him at one point, she thought the Minister might draw his wand and curse him. Even the majority of the Wizengamot was looking at him in disgust. While that boded well for his conviction, Hermione really wanted to know why he'd done it. When asked that very question by one of the Wizengamot members, he simply blamed Umbridge. When further questioned as to why he continued even after her arrest and incarceration in Azkaban, he gave a long, rambling reply that made no sense and didn't have much to do with the question at all. Finally, Kingsley had had enough.

"Do you have anything else to say for yourself?" Kingsley asked when it was nearly lunchtime. Warrington seemed to think for a moment, then smirked.

"Tell that woman that brings my lunch to make sure it's hot this time." Kingsley, with a look of disgust, dismissed the Wizengamot for lunch. He gave them the afternoon to deliberate. They would reconvene in the morning for the verdict. Hermione didn't expect it would take all that long.

"Remus," she said quietly. He turned to her and rose from the bench. She didn't like the look in his eye, but there was nothing she could do about it now. She couldn't bring him to her office and with Skeeter still hanging about, it was out of the question that they would sneak off to some shadowy corner or alcove. Remus followed her down the stairs and out of the courtroom. They waited for the lifts together in silence, trying to ignore the looks from the rest of the crowd.

"Hermione," a voice said and she turned around to see Harry standing behind them.

"Harry," Hermione said in relief.

"Remus," Harry said, brow furrowing when all he got was a curt nod in reply. Harry glanced at Hermione, who bit her lip and looked at Remus worriedly. The group of people in front of them got on the lift and filled it completely. When the doors closed, Harry grasped both their arms and pulled them to the side, ignoring the looks they were getting from the rest of the people waiting for the next lift.

"Come on," he said, loudly enough for everyone to hear. "We'll take the stairs to the Atrium. I'm starving." None of them spoke as they reached the stairwell. Harry locked the door behind him and turned to Hermione. "I'll keep watch a flight up." She hugged him gratefully and Harry hurried up the stairs to the eighth-floor landing.

"Remus," Hermione said, turning to him again. He said nothing, just pulled her into his arms and let go a shuddering sigh. She held him tightly, stroking his back and whispering quietly to him. He kissed her temple and pulled back, looking down at her.

"I'm sorry about today," she said. "About having to pretend again."

"It's all right," he said.

"No, it isn't." She sighed. "Margaret called me into her office this morning." Hermione explained what had happened. "And then after the run-in with Skeeter, I just, I didn't want to give her anything else."

"I know," he said. He kissed her forehead. "Speaking of Skeeter, what were you talking about at the end there?"

"Truthfully? Nothing," Hermione said. "I was bluffing completely." Remus laughed and Hermione smiled to hear it. When he looked back down at her, she stared at him in concern. "Are you sure you're all right?"

"I will be," he said. He blew out a breath. "I knew what he'd done, but hearing it described in detail was…a lot." Hermione nodded. She'd felt the same. "And then when Kingsley read the names." Remus shook his head.

"Did you know very many of them?" Hermione asked quietly.

"Enough," Remus said. Hermione hugged him again.

"Guys," Harry called. They separated and Hermione unlocked the door before they hurried up the stairs to where Harry stood, just as a wizard opened the door from the Atrium and walked in.

"Where do you want to go for lunch?" Harry asked as the wizard glanced at the three of them, then walked up the stairs to the next floor. When they heard the door shut, Harry looked up to make sure he was gone.

"I've got to go home," Remus said. "I promised Teddy I'd have lunch with him today. You're both welcome to come with me."

"I've got some work I've got to get done," Hermione said. While it was true, she also knew that Teddy needed to spend some time with Remus. Hermione had been occupying too much of his time lately. "I'll just have a sandwich at my desk."

"And I'll make sure that she does," Harry said, to Remus' unasked question. "I've actually got some paperwork to do myself."

"Then why'd you ask where we wanted to go?" Hermione said with a laugh.

"For show, Hermione," Harry said with a roll of his eyes. "Wouldn't want people thinking you were in here snogging or something." Hermione punched him in the shoulder as Remus chuckled.

"Ow!" Harry scowled. "You and Ginny sure do have hard fists for such tiny things."

"Just guard the door for a few minutes, Potter," Hermione said. Harry turned his back to them and Hermione was pretty sure he cast a silencing charm around himself. She looked up at Remus, who had a laughing smile on his face. He bent down and kissed her and she sighed into his mouth before letting herself relax against him.

"All right, break it up," Harry said a few minutes later. Hermione reluctantly pulled away from Remus and he kissed her chastely one last time before letting her go.

"Andromeda invited you to dinner tonight," he said. "Teddy insisted you come." Hermione laughed.

"I'll be there," she said. He kissed the back of her hand before he dropped it. They stepped out into the Atrium and Remus said good-bye to both of them before heading for the Floo. Harry and Hermione walked to the cafeteria to get sandwiches before walking to the lifts.

Remus stepped into his living room. Teddy sat on Andromeda's lap as she read him a book. Both looked up at his arrival.

"Daddy," Teddy said scrambling off his grandmother's lap and running towards his father. Remus picked him up. "Ows, Daddy, all the ows!" Remus glanced at Andromeda.

"It has been a parade of owls all morning," she said. Just as she finished speaking there was another tap on the window in the kitchen. Andromeda sighed.

"I'll get it," Remus said.

"I see ow!" Teddy insisted. Remus glanced at Andromeda again.

"There have been three so far," she said, referring to the Howlers. Remus nodded and carried Teddy with him to the kitchen.

"See, Daddy, see," Teddy said pointing excitedly to the owl outside the window.

"I do," Remus replied with a smile, opening the owl to let it in. Thankfully, it only had a letter.

"I do it?" Teddy asked, reaching for the letter on the owl's leg.

"No!" Remus said sharply, pulling Teddy back. The little boy jumped and looked up at Remus in surprise. Teddy's lip began to quiver and Remus swore at himself in his head.

"I'm sorry," Remus soothed, hugging his son closer to him, not sure how to explain to him that there could be something dangerous in the letter. He settled for a simpler explanation. "Daddy doesn't want you to get hurt. Sometimes, owls bite." Teddy looked up at him with watery eyes.

"I get owts?" he asked.

"Yes, you could get a very bad ouch." Teddy seemed to accept this and nodded solemnly at Remus. Remus hugged him and kissed the top of his head. He reached for the letter on the owl's leg, untying it and adding to the stack of letters Andromeda had put in a box on the kitchen table. There must have been close to twenty of them. Didn't people have anything better to do with their time? Remus felt guilty for leaving Andromeda to deal with it all morning.

"Shall we hear the rest of the story Nanna was reading?" Remus asked and Teddy brightened immediately. Andromeda looked up at him expectantly when they walked back into the living room.

"Just a letter," he said. She nodded and opened the book again as Remus sat down with Teddy on his lap. Teddy seemed to have forgotten all about the incident with the owl and happily snuggled into Remus as Andromeda finished the story.

Hermione came through her Floo to feed Crookshanks before she went to Remus' for dinner. As she stepped out of the fireplace, she was greeted with the sight of no less than ten owls sitting in various spots in her back garden. She groaned and moved to the back door. When she opened it, the owls all took flight and Hermione quickly stepped outside and closed the door. She didn't need a mess in her house on top of everything else.

Conjuring a box, she quickly relieved the owls of their burdens. There was only one Howler, thankfully. She hurried inside, cast a Muffliato around it and then waited until it had exploded. She had no desire to hear what it said. Looking down at the letters in the box, Hermione sighed. She should just burn the lot, but Harry's warning while they waited for lunch echoed in her head. There were some substances that could react with fire and he wanted to scan everything before Hermione so much as touched it. Since she'd already touched the envelopes, Hermione decided not to push her luck and let Harry deal with the letters.

She stared down at the box again and then looked at Crookshanks. While Hermione doubted anyone would go so far as to have anything explode before the letter was opened, the senders had no way of knowing how long the owls would have to wait after all, she didn't want to take the chance leaving the letters here with her cat in the house. Sighing again, she went back to the Floo and stuck her head in, calling out for Grimmauld Place.

"Harry?" Hermione called. There was a brief silence and then Ron walked into the room. Hermione bit back a groan. This was the absolute last thing she wanted to deal with. "Is Harry there?"

"Not home from work yet," Ron said, his voice clipped.

"Oh," Hermione said. "He wanted to, erm, never mind. Just have him Floo me when he gets home, please." She was just about to pull her head from the Floo when Ron spoke.

"Saw the Prophet." She simply looked at him. Most people had seen the Prophet today. "Everyone was talking about it in the office."

"I think everyone's talking about it everywhere," Hermione replied. Ron shook his head.

"That doesn't bother you?"

"It's not as if I can really do anything about it," Hermione said.

"You could have not flaunted it," Ron muttered. Hermione's eyes narrowed.

"We should have just stayed in our houses for the rest of our lives?" Ron looked at her sharply.

"The rest of your lives?" he repeated. "What are you married now or something?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Hermione said, rolling her eyes.

"You're the one being ridiculous," Ron countered. "Do you know what people are saying about you? About Remus?"

"I have a fairly good idea." Ron just stared at her. She sighed. "I don't know what, exactly, your problem is Ron. No one else in your family seems to have an issue with my relationship."

"Mum," Ron began, but Hermione interrupted.

"I spoke with your mother yesterday. She apologized and she made sure to invite us to Sunday dinner." Ron's mouth opened and then closed again. "Maybe you should talk to her. Please tell Harry to Floo me." Hermione pulled her head from the fire and sat back on her heels, looking over at the box of letters. She really just wanted to go to Remus'. She could take the letters with her and have Remus look at them, but she didn't want to have them around Teddy. She supposed she'd have to Floo and have Remus come to her place first.

"Hermione." Hermione looked up to see Ginny's head in the Floo.

"Hey, Gin."

"Ron told me you were looking for Harry. He got stuck at work for a bit, which Ron knew since he's the one that told me when he got home. Git could have told me you were in the Floo."

"Oh," Hermione said, looking at the box of letters again.

"Can I help?"

"Harry wanted to run scans on all the stupid letters I got today," Hermione explained. "I'm supposed to go to Remus' for dinner, but I didn't want to leave until Harry had done it, in case there was something wrong."

"It sounded like he might be late," Ginny said. Hermione sighed again. "You know what? Give me the letters, I'll make Ron do it."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Hermione said.

"I won't let him read any of them and no matter how much of a prat he's being right now, he doesn't want you hurt."

"I don't know, Ginny," Hermione said.

"It will be fine, honest. I'll even come through and get them." Hermione bit her lip. "Come on, Hermione. You know I'm just going to do it anyway. I know how to get into your house."

"Fine," Hermione said shaking her head. Ginny's head disappeared and moments later, she was stepping from the fireplace.

"Are you sure about this, Ginny?"

"Of course. Ron doesn't want to be bat bogeyed." Hermione snorted. "Besides, Susan should be there any minute. She already thinks he's being an idiot not speaking to you."

"Really?" Hermione asked in surprise.

"We all do, Hermione." Ginny took the box Hermione handed her. "I won't be long."

"All right, I'm just going to go and change, in case you get back while I'm upstairs." Ginny nodded and turned back towards the Floo. "Thanks, Gin." Ginny flashed her a smile and stepped into the fireplace.

Remus stood as Hermione stepped out of the Floo. She took one look at him and hurried into his arms. He pulled her close and she sighed into his chest.

"What's the matter?" he asked quietly.

"Just…today." He tightened his arms around her, knowing exactly what she meant. More owls had arrived after lunch, including two more Howlers. While Teddy napped, Remus had run scans on the rest of the letters and found two that had hexes embedded in them and one that had been soaked in a love potion. He wasn't sure what the sender of that one had been trying to accomplish, it's not as if he would have eaten the parchment.

Andromeda had opened one and lit it on fire in disgust after only reading a few lines. The one Remus had opened held a photograph of a nearly naked witch along with a rather graphic love letter. He'd tossed it after the first paragraph. They had burned the rest after that.

"Did you get a lot of post?" Remus asked.

"Enough," Hermione said. "Harry was supposed to scan it all for me, but he had to work late, so Ginny made Ron do it."

"Ron?" Remus said in surprise.

"That was my reaction, but he did it."

"Did he find anything?"

"One with some kind of curse in it. Ron wasn't sure what it was, but he kept the letter to have it analyzed at the Ministry. Another had an embedded jinx. It wouldn't have done any real damage, but he kept that one too. What about yours?"

"Two hexes and a love potion," Remus said. Hermione looked up in confusion.

"A love potion?" Remus shrugged.

"Soaked into the parchment," he replied. "I've no idea what they thought would happen." Hermione shook her head.

"Howlers?" he asked.

"Only one. I didn't listen to it. You?" Remus hesitated. She looked up at him expectantly.

"Five."

"Five?!"

"I'm a bit surprised it wasn't more, to be honest."

"Why?" Hermione asked in confusion.

"There are plenty of reasons, Hermione," he said. "You know what they are." She sighed.

"You didn't listen to them, did you?" she asked.

"No," Remus said. "Andromeda dispatched them all straight away."

"I didn't read any of the letters either," she said. "Ginny burned the rest as soon as Ron finished."

"Andromeda and I each read one. That was enough." She looked up at him and put a hand to his cheek. He leaned down and kissed her.

"My-nee!" Teddy shouted and she and Remus pulled apart abruptly. Remus felt his face heat as Andromeda followed her grandson into the living room, slight smirk on her face. The little boy barreled towards Hermione and she laughed as she bent down to pick him up.

"Hello," she said kissing the tip of his nose. "I've missed you."

"Ows, My-nee, all the ows!"

"You've had lots of owls today?" Teddy nodded his head vigorously. "Me too."

"You pay?" Teddy asked. Hermione looked up at Andromeda.

"Can I help with anything?"

"No, thank you, most everything is done. We will eat in about half an hour," the older woman said. Hermione looked back at Teddy.

"Then we can play for just a little bit," she said to Teddy. He grinned and Hermione set him on his feet. He raced to his toy basket and began pulling things out. Remus stepped up behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist before kissing the top of her head. She squeezed his hand and knelt next to Teddy on the floor after being handed a dragon.

Two more owls had arrived during dinner. Remus had quickly scanned the letters and then thrown them into the fireplace. Hermione wondered how many more would be waiting for her when she got home.

She and Remus were sitting together on the couch. Teddy was in bed and Andromeda had gone up to her room. Hermione felt slightly guilty about that but was grateful to the older woman for giving them some privacy.

"What are you thinking?" he asked, fingers combing idly through her hair.

"How nice it would be to take a holiday right about now." He chuckled.

"I can't disagree with that." She tilted her head up to look at him.

"I was thinking about what my mum said about visiting them in Australia." Remus' brow furrowed. "I know we can't go now, not with everything going on, but once the trials are over and my proposal has been presented, maybe we could just, escape for a bit."

"It sounds wonderful," Remus began.

"But," Hermione prompted.

"The anniversary is coming up," Remus said quietly. Hermione put a hand on his arm. "And I'm still working with Will. He's been improving quite a bit lately and I don't want him to lose that momentum." Hermione smiled up at him. She couldn't possibly argue with that.

"Maybe this summer then," she suggested.

"This summer," Remus agreed. She leaned up and kissed him.

"In the meantime," she said, as his hand began to move up her side. Her breath hitched for a moment.

"In the meantime," Remus repeated, moving to kiss her neck.

"Maybe a little overnight getaway," she suggested, a bit breathlessly. "Away from London."

"Mm, I do like how you think," Remus mumbled from her collarbone. "After the moon."

"After the moon," she agreed, closing her eyes and pulling Remus to her for a kiss.

13 April 2000

Hermione woke to an insistent tapping on the window. She groaned and pulled a pillow over her head, trying to ignore yet another owl. There had been three waiting for her when she arrived home last night, and she and Remus had been interrupted four times. Truthfully, that had probably been for the best, as she wasn't sure it would have been a good idea to shag him on the sofa in the living room with Teddy and Andromeda just upstairs, silencing charms or not. She'd come home frustrated in more ways than one.

The tapping continued and Hermione threw off the blankets and got out of bed. She pulled on a jumper over her t-shirt and pajama pants. She stomped downstairs and wrenched open the back door, glaring at the imperious looking owl. It looked down its beak at her and held out its leg. Hermione scowled as she untied the letter and the owl took off immediately afterword.

She carried the letter inside, intent on adding it to the small pile she was going to give to Harry this morning, when the envelope began smoking. Hermione cried out in pain before dropping it to the floor. Her fingers were red and starting to blister. She glanced at the letter on the floor and saw it was beginning to eat a hole in the carpet. Cradling her injured hand, Hermione summoned her wand and tried to vanish the letter, but it remained stubbornly where it was. She cast a shield around it and hurried to the Floo.

"Harry!" she yelled as Grimmauld Place came into view. "Harry, I need your help!" There was movement upstairs and then the sound of pounding footsteps as Harry skidded into the room, shirtless and barefoot, but holding his wand in his hand.

"Hermione, what is it?"

"You need to," she gasped in pain as she bumped her hand on the hearth. Ginny ran into the room, looking terrified. "Come to mine." Hermione saw Ron and Susan run in just as Hermione pulled her head from the fireplace. Harry followed almost immediately, Hermione barely having time to get out of the way before he was stepping through. Everyone else followed.

Harry crouched beside her, but Hermione shook her head and pointed to the smoking letter on the floor. Harry hurried toward it, casting all manner of spells on it as Hermione gritted her teeth against the pain in her hand. When the rest came through, Ginny and Susan immediately rushed to her side, Ron moving to help Harry.

"What happened?" Ginny demanded as Susan began looking over Hermione's hand.

"There was, a letter," Hermione panted.

"Do you have pain potions?" Susan asked. Hermione nodded.

"Kitchen, cupboard above the sink." Susan ran off.

"What happened with the letter?"

"I took it off the owl," Hermione said grimacing at a fresh wave of pain. "Came inside and it started to smoke." She glanced at Harry and Ron as Susan came back into the room.

"Here, drink this," she said and tipped the vial to Hermione's lips. The pain receded almost immediately.

"Thank you," Hermione said, pulling in a breath.

"You need to get to St. Mungo's," Susan said.

"We'll take you," Ginny said. "Harry, we're taking Hermione to Mungo's."

"Stay there until I get there," Harry said, still casting spells at the letter. He and Ron had put it in some kind of containment field, so the carpet was no longer burning, but the letter was still smoking.

"Crookshanks," Hermione said, not wanting her cat to get into whatever it was after Harry and Ron left.

"I'll drop him at Harry and Ron's then meet you at St. Mungo's," Susan said. "I'll get you some clothes, Ginny." Hermione glanced at her friend and realized she was only wearing a tank top and sleep shorts.

"You can wear something of mine," Hermione offered.

"No, we're getting you to a Healer," Ginny said. "Thanks, Susan. Come on, Hermione." She pulled Hermione to her feet and put her in the Floo. "I'll be right behind you." She threw in the Floo powder and called out for St. Mungo's.

Hermione stepped out in the waiting room and Ginny followed immediately behind. Ginny took her arm and they stepped forward to the Welcome Witch's desk.

"She's been burned by an unknown potion," Ginny said.

"Third floor," the welcome witch said in a bored voice. Ginny hurried toward the lift, leading Hermione with her. When they stepped inside, Hermione leaned against the wall, cradling her arm to her.

"How is it?" Ginny asked.

"The pain potion is starting wear off," Hermione said.

"Already?" Ginny questioned in surprise. Hermione nodded. This was far worse than the bubotuber pus incident in fourth year. Ginny looked at her in concern and the tears that had been threatening began to run down Hermione's cheeks.

"I'm scared, Gin."

"It's going to be all right," Ginny assured her. "The Healers will fix you right up."

"I couldn't even vanish it," Hermione said.

"What do you mean?"

"When I dropped the letter and saw it start burning a hole in the carpet, I tried to vanish it. Nothing happened." Ginny frowned. "What if they can't fix this?"

"They will, Hermione," Ginny said. "Harry and Ron will get other Aurors over there and find out what this is. You're going to be fine." Hermione nodded, wishing she believed her friend. The pain was getting worse as they stepped onto the third floor. Ginny hurried to the mediwitch station to explain what had happened. The woman took one look at Hermione's hand and called for a Healer while she whisked Hermione into a treatment room.