Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling. All characters, places, descriptions, etc (unless original and created by me) belong to her.
Summary: It was a small pack, of course, just the five of them, but together they were something wild. Hermione finds herself in the Marauders' Era with four new best friends.
A/N: It's short, but it's 1/4 of a group of small chapters. They'll be coming out quick. Enjoy.
Chapter 28: Causa Mortis*
The wolf was restless.
From the moment Hermione arrived at Remus' house, she felt the need to transform. She scratched at her skin until Remus grabbed her arms and held them tightly. He stood next to her, there in the middle of his kitchen, forehead to forehead until she felt some control.
Remus' parents were exceptionally kind, but Hermione couldn't help but feel awkward around them. What she didn't realize was that none of Remus' friends had ever visited his home before, that Remus' parents never expected him to bring home a girl, let alone another werewolf.
She kept her responses as short and polite as if was all she could muster, feeling bad that she wasn't acting the way she had toward James' parents. But from the looks of Remus' mother, she completely understood and only looked at Hermione with eyes full of pity.
Remus' home was far away from everything and anything. The Lupins' cottage was small, but the surrounding area was large enough for two werewolves to play without interruption. Remus' father had warded a large area that would deliver a shock if the werewolves tried to cross it. Remus assured Hermione that the area was large enough that it had never happened before.
Remus and Hermione retired to the woods with plenty of time before the moon rose. Hermione could feel her inner wolf trying to push out. She felt this way before, but somehow it was different this time. She tried to focus on her surroundings, on Remus, but she felt her thoughts being pushed aside.
Missing.
Hermione furrowed her brows. She shook her head and tried to focus on Remus who was telling her something.
Missing.
That thought came back.
Why are they missing?
But it wasn't a thought. It was more of… of a whisper.
Hermione reached out and grabbed Remus' hand.
"What is it?"
"Remus," Hermione whispered, afraid she might scare the voice away. "She's here."
"Who?" Remus looked around startled. "Who's here, Hermione?"
"No, not here, Remus." Hermione closed her eyes and lifted two fingers to her forehead. "Here."
Remus was silent.
"You've never heard her before?" Hermione shook her head. "What's she saying?"
Hermione opened her eyes.
"She's wondering where they are, James and Sirius." Hermione didn't mention Peter. She already knew her wolf wasn't found of him. "Remus, I haven't had a moon without them."
Hermione was suddenly filled with fear. Remus squeezed her fingers lightly.
"I'm still here. It'll be okay."
She took too long to change. She always takes too long to change.
I'm here now. I can breathe.
HE is here, too… but not the others.
Where are the others?
WHERE ARE THE OTHERS?
Run.
Oh, HE wants to play. Let's play.
Hungry now. Food.
Run. Run faster.
Where are they? Missing.
Abandoned.
My insides hurt. Must stop.
Run. RUN.
Moon.
Why aren't they coming?
HE's back. Did he find them?
Abandoned. Must be punished.
Rest.
Let's hunt. Hungry for blood.
HE's getting tired. But we can't sleep! What if they come back? What if we miss them?
Moon.
So tired now.
I think she's coming.
It took them longer to heal this time, but it helped that they were together. Hope Lupin was obviously well prepared, and empty vials of healing potions soon surrounded the two werewolves. But they still hurt.
Remus and Hermione hadn't even bothered to shower off the dirt and stench from the forest. They had immediately pulled on loose clothing and fallen asleep on Remus' bed. Hope was shocked to see the two wrapped around each other in the same bed when she went to check on her son, but didn't dare suggest Hermione move to the couch downstairs.
They spent two days in bed. Two days of pain potions. Two days of healing. Two days not talking to each other except for small, weak grunts. Two days with hair matted with dirt and blood. Two days before James' owl bumped its beak against Remus' window.
Tap. Tap.
Hermione groaned and picked up her head. It was barely light outside.
Tap. Tap.
She looked at Remus. He was fast asleep.
Tap. Tap.
She looked at the window and groaned again. Throwing her arm out, Hermione blindly felt for her wand on the bedside table. With a whisper and a small flick of her wrist, the window opened and James' owl came swooping over. He dropped a small folded piece of parchment and departed before Hermione could even let her head fall back down. Glancing at Remus, she cast a quiet lumos and read the letter.
The parchment fell from her fingers and Hermione just stared ahead with blank eyes. Remus fidgeted beside her. He was waking up.
"'Mione?" He was looking at her through one opened eye. "What are you doing?"
Hermione couldn't speak. She looked at Remus with eyes screaming with sadness and pity. She picked up the parchment as if it were made from glass and placed it in his hands. Remus struggled to sit up, but he managed to finally situate himself and read the letter.
Remus shut his eyes as tight as he could. He rolled over and screamed into his pillow. Hermione's heart broke. She scooted closer to Remus and let him rest his head on her lap.
"We'll go to them, Remus," she whispered. "We'll go be with them."
Hermione, Remus
Something terrible - - - happened.
Mom got sick Christmas night. - - - - dragon pox. - - - came on fast. We went to Mungos, but—
She's gone.
Come by if you can.
Sirius
Only half the letter was legible through the ink blotted with tears.
A/N: *Cause of Death