Remus Lupin stood before the looming townhouse that was Number 12 Grimmauld Place. A slight morning breeze whipped through his hair as if urging him to take the final steps into his friend's former home.
It was August. Summer was coming to a close. It had been seven years since he last stood on these steps. Seven years since the final battle and death of Voldemort. Seven years since he'd ended his relationship with Nymphadora Tonks and quietly slipped away. Five years spent at the mercy of the brilliant witches and wizards testing a new wolfsbane potion on him. Two spent after its success traveling between wolf packs, attempting to help them trust the wizarding world and reintegrate into society.
Two years had been enough. Another physical altercation amongst one of the packs had solidified it. He was tired and ready to do exactly what he'd been trying to convince his kind to do. Return to a somewhat normal life. However, he wasn't sure exactly how to do so. He'd written Harry, as he had done occasionally over the years. It felt wrong to ask, but he needed a place to stay until he got his bearings about him.
Harry had responded to his letter in a quick fashion, more than happy to allow Remus to stay in the old Black home. But now that he was here, he wasn't certain he was ready to relive the memories of the dark, quiet house.
"Blast it." He took the steps lightly, the muscles in his leg protesting. Another month and he would be fully healed but for now, he had to remember to take it easy. Pushing open the door, he prepared himself to hear the screeches of Walburga Black from the wall. Remus expected there had been little activity in the house since the end of the war and guessed the movement would be enough to wake the bigoted old witch. He was met with silence, however, and instead of the dank dusty shadows of the house, he saw bright sunlight and clean walls.
The old wallpaper had been stripped clean. Fresh paint donned the walls, and Walburga's painting was blissfully missing. The troll heads at the end of the hall were gone, replaced with portraits of those lost during both wars. James, Lily, Sirius, Dumbledore, and Fred, amongst others. Even Cedric.
Still struck by the change, Remus shrugged his dark brown traveling cloak from his shoulders and reached behind him to hang it on the hook. His fingers met a second material there and he turned, finding a light grey cloak hanging closest to the door. Casting his eyes downward he spotted a pair of sensible black trainers. A woman's, by the size. Yes, he was not alone in the house.
He stepped into the dining room which had likewise been transformed. The grand table remained, but the white paint from the entryway continued into this space. He stood still for a moment, listening. A creaking came from across the room, past the hallway, beyond the door to the library. Sliding his fingers along the table, reminiscing in the time spent there with James and Sirius, Remus walked through the room and to the library. Pushing open the door he found a young woman.
She was standing on a stool, her back turned to him, scanning the massive shelves of the Black Family Library. She had a quill in one hand, a book enchanted to float beside her. Her honey-colored curls were piled on top of her head in an attempt at a bun, tendrils hanging loose, her wand stabbed through the center. A curious band sat atop her head; a cord attached that traveled down her side to a strange disk tucked into the backside of her shorts. His werewolf senses aided him again and he could faintly hear music coming from the pads covering her ears.
"Hermione." She didn't turn. He didn't want to shout but obviously, the music drowned out his entrance and voice. He walked up behind her, reaching up to tap the elbow closest to him. She let out a loud squeal, jerking her arm back and turning to see who had intruded on her space. The stool wobbled and Remus reacted with catlike reflexes, reaching out to grab her as she fell. His leg wasn't strong enough, however, and he found himself hitting the floor unceremoniously, Hermione dumped in his lap. Their eyes met as she ripped the band off her head, her surprised look turning to shock.
"Professor?" She was slightly breathless, eyes wide and questioning. There was an ink smudge on her cheek and dust along her forehead. Remus surmised she frequently brushed her hair from her face, leaving a trail of dust from the shelves in its place.
"Hello, Hermione. I didn't mean to startle you." before either had the chance to speak again, the front door slammed open and shut. Steps moved quickly toward the library, a disembodied voice following.
"Hermione! I've only got a minute, but I wanted to let you know Professor Lupin asked to stay at the house. I figured you wouldn't mind. I expect he'll be here later…" the door opened, and Harry entered, cutting his sentence off at the sight of the two still piled on the ground. "I guess you know that already. Everything okay here?"
Hermione scrambled to her feet, brushing her front down and pulling the disc from her shorts. A blush had flushed her cheeks. "I fell."
Remus groaned slightly as he used the shelves to pull himself to his feet. "And I tried to catch her." He winced as he rotated his shoulder, the wounded muscles straining against the action. It had slammed into the shelf behind him as they fell and now throbbed angrily. Harry nodded and glanced to the grandfather clock on the wall.
"Shit. I've got to go; I'm going to be late for work. Sorry, Hermione!" He turned to dash back out the door, pausing momentarily to shout back over his shoulder, "Don't forget Hermione, Sunday dinner at the Weasley's tomorrow. Please come, you promised Gin."
As quickly as he came, he was gone again. There was silence for a moment before Hermione sighed and turned back to Remus. "Tea?" Remus smiled, grateful for the break in the tension. "That would be lovely dear, thank you."
Remus followed Hermione as they rounded the hall and down the stairs to the kitchen. Hermione had clearly enchanted the ceiling here like the Great Hall of Hogwarts. It depicted the light summer sun giving the kitchen a brighter feel. He eased himself into a chair and watched as she busied herself with the tea. She freed her wand from her hair, letting it tumble down her back, and enchanted the tea to the perfect temperature before levitating the two cups to the table. She was silent as she dropped two cubes of sugar and a splash of cream into his cup, sliding it toward him. Their eyes met again and if he was surprised that she remembered how he liked his tea, he made no show of it.
"Thank you my dear." He sipped the tea slowly, holding her gaze. He desperately wanted to ask what she was doing staying at Grimmauld Place but didn't want to pry.
"You're wondering why I'm here." Ever astute, Hermione didn't miss a beat. She wasn't questioning, stating what she knew was on his mind.
"Is it that obvious?" he asked with a smirk, always impressed with Hermione's observation skills. "I didn't want to pry. I'm sure you weren't expecting a housemate, I can find another place to stay…"
"Absolutely not. Harry said you can stay and stay you will." She interrupted. Her tone made it clear, they would not discuss it further. She took a sip from her tea before leaning back, tilting her head to look up at the enchanted ceiling.
"Ron and I separated a few months ago after I resigned from my position with the ministry."
Remus kept his facial expression neutral. If one was to ask him if he was surprised, he'd have to lie to say yes. He was honestly surprised they had made it as long as they did. The ministry resignation was a bigger revelation.
"I asked Harry if I could stay here. It's familiar, comforting, and gives me space to figure things out. He agreed and said Grimmauld Place would always be open to anyone who needed it. So, I spent some time cleaning it up and now I'm cataloging the Black collection."
He was not going to ask her to explain. If she wanted to tell him why the relationship ended, she would; why she left the ministry. She lowered her gaze from the ceiling, meeting his eyes. There was fear behind them. It was clear this hadn't been well received by others.
"Hermione, I'm not going to judge, question, or criticize you. You're an adult who can make her own decisions whether it's a relationship or employment. Your happiness is all that matters, especially after the dark times you survived. If the relationship or job were not fulfilling you, find ones that do."
Hermione let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. Remus reached across the table to give her hand a squeeze and winced, pulling his arm back to rotate his shoulder. "Getting old sure makes these injuries last. There was a time I bounced back within days." Hermione rolled her eyes, pushing back from her seat to take their cups to the sink.
"You aren't old Professor. Fighting with werewolves is bound to cause an injury or two." His head shot up and it was her turn to smirk. "Harry kept me up to date on your activities. I'm surprised he didn't tell me sooner you were coming home." She was quick that one. That she cared to know what he was doing, that was a surprise.
"I have a salve if you would like. It's my own concoction. A mix of bitterroot balm and some muggle herbal medicines." Before he could answer Hermione was out of the room and up the stairs. She returned breathless, having jogged up and back down. She placed it before him and returned to her seat, smiling. Remus found himself unable to meet her gaze.
"Is something wrong Professor? I promise it won't hurt anything." He shook his head slightly and sighed. "I'm very grateful Hermione. The problem is, I can't apply it." It took her a moment before he heard the gasp that signaled her recognition.
"And they call me the brightest witch of my age. Of course, you can't reach! Here," the chair scraped the ground as she pushed free of it, and she moved to stand behind him. "Come on then. Off with the shirt." Remus began to protest, but she cut him off. "Do I need to remind you that I spent a year in a tent with two teenage boys getting attacked at every turn? I've seen and tended to my fair share of injured torsos." There really was no arguing with the young woman. He unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged the right shoulder free. The smell from the jar assaulted his senses. He could smell the bitterroot, but the muggle herbs were foreign.
Hermione rubbed the salve between her hands, warming it before massaging it into the wounded shoulder. She heard Lupin hiss slightly as her hands made contact with his skin. He sat stiffly in the chair but relaxed within moments, groaning slightly as she applied pressure to the offending muscles. The salve was melting into his skin, seeping deep into the muscles. Her hands fell away as quickly as she started, and his stomach twisted at the loss.
"Thank you so much my dear that was lovely. I think I feel better already. Perhaps you should have considered becoming a medi-witch." His soft smile met her beaming one and she laughed lightly. "I don't think I could handle too many patients complaining of a bellyache." Remus chuckled, followed quickly by a yawn. "If you don't mind, I think I'm going to head up and take a bit of a nap. I find myself needing a bit more sleep than before."
"Not at all! This is your home as well after all. There's plenty of food in the house, help yourself when you get hungry." Remus stood, reaching for the jar she had given him. "Do you mind if I take this with me? It will probably help my leg as well." Hermione shook her head profusely, sending more curls tumbling down around her face. "Of course not! Please take it. Let me know if you need anything else."
Remus smirked, raising a single eyebrow. "I'm sure I can manage to apply it myself this time." He watched as color flooded her cheeks and she was momentarily speechless. "Professor I wasn't implying…" he let out a barking laugh. "Hermione, I was teasing you. I'll let you know if I need assistance or more of it." As he turned to leave Hermione attempted to regain her composure and find a biting retort. Before she could he turned to shoot her another smile over his shoulder as he left the room. "And please Hermione, call me Remus. I'm not your professor anymore."
Remus made his way up the steps, a dozen different thoughts bouncing in his head. He was silent in his musings, not sure how well the young woman downstairs could hear. He passed the first landing, making his way up to the next floor where his usual room resided. He paused a moment at his door, ghosts of his youth dancing around him. Sirius' childhood room was across from his, though once it became a home for the order, he had taken the master directly above. He waved the memories away with a sigh and entered his old room.
"What were you thinking?" he voiced to no one in particular, tossing his shrunken trunk onto the bed. "Just because you're a marauder doesn't mean you can go making suggestive comments to your best friend's child's best friend."
Best friend's child's best friend. Sirius' voice filled his head. Just because she's Harry's friend doesn't mean she isn't a woman, any less than Harry is a man all in his own now; married with a child. With a wave of his wand, his trunk was back to normal size and Remus began making quick work of returning his few belongings to their places. He didn't have enough shirts to fill half the wardrobe and even fewer trousers. "You would say that, you'll say anything to justify lusting after a woman." I'm not sure who you're talking to mate. I'm you. Just 'cause your mind is using this voice doesn't change it's still Moony in here.
"Oh sod off." The inner voice chuckled as it faded away and Remus flopped onto the old bed. He pulled the jar from his pocket, turning it in the light to examine it. It really did work. The throbbing in his shoulder had faded to a dull ache. With a sigh he stood again to undress and applied the salve to his leg as Hermione had, massaging it into the muscles. He placed the jar on the nightstand and crawled under the covers, trying to will away the feel of her hands on his skin as he drifted to sleep.
Remus woke to a delicious smell wafting under the door into his room. He blinked away the sleep in his eyes and glanced to the window. The light was just beginning to fade toward sunset. He'd slept most of the day away. He swung his legs over the bed and stood, testing his injured leg. Hermione's salve had worked wonders and he found himself able to walk with a minimal limp. Dressing quickly, he took the steps down the stairs at a quicker pace than he had coming up.
Hermione was in the kitchen, charmed plates stacked with baked chicken and sautéed vegetables settling themselves on the table. The strange disk was tucked into her shorts again and she swayed slightly to the music around her head. Remembering her surprise the last time, Remus took a seat at the table and waited for her to turn, content to watch her dance.
"Remus! You're awake!" she turned from the counter, obviously having sensed his presence in the room. A slight blush flushed her cheeks as she pulled the band from her head. She untucked the disc and placed it on the table. Remus chucked, a wry smile ghosting over his face.
"Well, who could sleep through that incredible smell?" Hermione blushed again as she took a seat, sliding a fresh cup of tea to him. "It's nothing, but I figured you'd be hungry." Remus was already tucking in, savoring the meal. Meals amongst the packs were simple and quick, with little thought to taste or seasoning.
"Might I ask what that is you have been wearing? It plays music, but how?" Hermione blinked a couple of times, her fork paused halfway to her mouth. "You can hear it?" Remus grinned again, tilting his head to the side. "Being a werewolf has its advantages."
"Heightened senses, right." Hermione made a mental note and tucked the information away in her brain. "It's called a discman. It's a muggle invention. The case holds a cd, or compact disc that has music on it. It spins and the music travels from the player through the cord to the headphones. Most discs only have a handful of songs on them, but I charmed a disc with all the music I like, and the player never to need batteries. Combining magic with muggle items really is wonderful."
Having a muggle mother, some of what she said made sense to Remus. "Leave it to you to take the best aspects of the muggle world and make use of them in ours. You really are brilliant." They sat in amicable silence, finishing their meal together. Remus stood to clean the mess which really wasn't more than casting a few cleaning spells. He followed Hermione to the library where Remus pulled out his own reading while she continued her cataloging. He would glance up occasionally, watching her work. It had been near an hour before she spoke.
"I'm supposed to have dinner tomorrow at the Burrow. It's a party of sorts. Harry was promoted. Head of Magical Law Enforcement." She was still facing the shelves, but her hands had stilled. "You should join us."
Remus closed his book, setting it gently on the couch beside him. Her voice had slipped to but a whisper. He wasn't sure if she was asking him for his company or reminding him that as a member of the Order, he had a duty to attend.
"I'm not sure I have anything appropriate to wear to a party." He gave her a sheepish smile, absentmindedly running his fingers through his hair.
"I have to go out to Diagon Alley. I owe Ginny a birthday present, it was a few weeks ago. You should come with me. We'll pick you out something nice to wear." She was climbing down from her stool now, brushing the dust from her clothes. "I was planning on heading out first thing in the morning. I like to get to the shops before they get too busy, especially on the weekend before the term begins. People still…" she trailed off and Remus nodded his understanding. The Golden Trio's activities were regular features in the Daily Prophet gossip columns, even now. It didn't surprise him that she would try to avoid crowds and anything that would draw too much attention to her.
"Tomorrow morning then." He said, recognizing her intent to wind down for the night. "It's a date!" she said with a smile, exiting the library and leaving him alone with his thoughts. He held his breath a moment while she retreated before falling back into the chair with a groan. Sirius' laugh echoed in his head again as Remus tried not to overanalyze her use of the word "date".
Hermione was dressed and ready by the time Remus entered the kitchen the next morning. Wearing a pair of muggle jeans, a green blouse and dark grey cardigan; her hair piled into a loose bun. He imagined having her hair pulled up helped disguise her appearance some. There was sausage, bacon, eggs, and a warm cup of tea waiting for him.
Remus however, walked into the kitchen with his shirt undone and hanging loose from his worn brown trousers. Hermione did her best not to let her eyes linger on the silver scars woven around his torso, or how some disappeared below the line of his belt. If he noticed her wandering eyes, he didn't show. He held the open salve in his hands, requesting her assistance without words.
"Good morning, Hermione. You should be careful; I could get used to waking up to homemade meals." She gave him a soft smile, handing him his tea and a plate of food and taking the jar from him. "Well don't get too used to it. So far, I've made two of the five meals I know. Once we go through all five, you'll get rather bored." She massaged the salve into his shoulder the same as the day before.
He took a few quick bites, knowing she was waiting on him to get going. "Well then, perhaps I'll need to teach you some more recipes." Hermione's eyes widened in surprise. "You cook?" Remus wiped his mouth and placed a warming charm over the food, fully intent to finish it upon their return, before standing and quickly buttoning his shirt. Hermione turned to allow him his privacy while tucking it into his trousers. It was only proper… and hid the pink flushing her cheeks.
"Very well actually. I'm just not used to having a consistent place to do so, or the funds to buy the ingredients." Hermione's face had settled into a hard line. She'd spent years on werewolf legislation, ultimately successfully repealing the registration laws. She'd finished her career with the ministry after securing free, newly updated wolfsbane for all; no strings attached. Yet still, the stigma lingered, and many werewolves had been unable to integrate into a society that refused to hire them. Despite the increase in werewolf population following the war, the old fears lingered. She loved the wizarding world, but they were eons behind muggle society in addressing prejudices. Remus saw her mind spinning and held out his arm to her.
"Hermione, don't. I know you spearheaded the changes in legislation. You did more for my kind than anyone. I'm doing alright. You aren't the only one who spent the last few years working for the betterment of werewolves." Hermione linked her arm with his as they left the manor and walked toward the apparition point.
"You were one of the test subjects." She didn't have to ask. It made complete sense. She hadn't been given the names of any of the subjects, but early in the project she'd been given information on them. One of the first volunteers had been a man in his late thirties who'd been bitten as a child.
Remus nodded, covering her hand with his as they apparated. They reappeared just outside the Leaky Cauldron and separated, continuing their walk into Diagon Alley.
"Yes. It felt like the right thing to do. So many were bitten during the war. I didn't want them alienated or left to join a pack when most had spent their lives in the wizarding world. If I could assist in the development of a better wolfsbane, I wanted to. And besides, it meant free food and lodging until the project ended. And those of us who stuck it out were given a generous paycheck."
It was early still, most of the shops just beginning to open their doors. Hermione steered them to Flourish and Blott's as they walked past a small group of students staring at the newest firebolt on display at Quality Quidditch Supplies. It had taken time, but most of the shops had either returned after the war or been replaced.
The shop was quiet, Remus and Hermione being its only patrons this time of day. The two spent some time browsing the shelves but Hermione found she had read most of the volumes provided. Finally, she settled on "A History of Quidditch" and tucked the book under her arm before making her way to the counter. Remus raised an eyebrow knowing quidditch wasn't exactly Hermione's favorite activity.
"It's for Ginny. She started writing for the Daily Prophet as a sports journalist after she retired from the Harpies." He simply nodded and followed her from the shop, hands clasped behind his back as they headed into Madam Malkin's.
Madam Malkin still ran the establishment, though she had hired a few young women to assist her. The shop had changed dramatically in recent years and now housed a muggle clothing department off to one side. Jeans, muggle band shirts, and pop culture references that Remus didn't grasp hung on the walls. Music played from an invisible speaker, reminiscent of many a muggle shop in London. A young blonde witch stood behind the counter and gave them a welcoming wave as they entered. Outside the streets were beginning to fill with excited students preparing for the term and more shoppers filtered into the store behind them.
The pair separated, Hermione wandering off to peruse the fine cloaks displayed in the window while Remus looked through the stacks of slacks. After a time, Remus settled on a pair of charcoal grey slacks and added a pair of black jeans in, for variety, he told himself. He circled the shop to join Hermione and found her waiting in a short line before the counter. She held a beautiful plum traveling cloak in her arms as well as a forest green men's oxford. She gave him a warm smile as he stepped up behind her, extending the oxford to him. "This color would be lovely on you."
He reached out to take the shirt from her and noticed her stiffen as her gaze shifted to something behind him. "Is something wrong?" he started to turn but she squeezed his elbow, shaking her head almost imperceptibly.
"Don't turn. I've just been spotted is all." Remus glanced to the mirror behind her and used its reflection to find the small gaggle of women whispering in the shop entryway. Their eyes were glued to Hermione. "What do you suppose they're talking about?"
Hermione huffed and shifted her weight back and forth. "The same thing they always do. Why did I quit working for the ministry? Why did Ron and I separate? Was he seeing someone else? Was I? Are Harry and I having an affair? I even heard I was having an affair with the Minister." Remus snorted at the thought of Kingsley and Hermione, hiding a sordid passionate love behind ministry walls. The women continued to whisper, and a wicked thought entered his mind.
"Would you like to give them something to really gossip about?" he asked, a Cheshire grin forming on his face.
"What do you have in mind?" she was apprehensive. After all, she had a marauder standing before her. "Trust me?" Hermione nodded her assent silently.
Remus stepped closer, his hand sliding around her waist to the small of her back, and pulled her into him as he turned them parallel with the gossiping witches. Flush with his body, Hermione was acutely aware of how much taller than she the werewolf was. At 6 feet 2 inches, he towered over her 5 and a half feet. She instinctively placed a hand on his chest, her other loosely dangling the traveling cloak at her side. He lowered his head to whisper in her ear, his breath ghosting over her neck. "Laugh as I've just told you something hilarious and wildly inappropriate."
The rest of their environment melted away and Hermione did as she was told, giggling into his chest. Goosebumps appeared and her skin flushed. A flash registered off to her side and the witch at the counter calling "next" pulled her back into reality. Remus pulled away but kept his hand at her back, guiding her to the counter. "Time to pay, love." The whispering witches scattered as Remus and Hermione headed for the exit. Hermione knew she was likely going to pay for that little display but somehow, she didn't care.
They had returned to Grimmauld Place and continued their routine. Lunch, and tea, followed by comfortable silence in the library while Hermione worked, and Remus read. Occasionally Remus would read a section aloud to gain her opinion. Other times he would offer knowledge on a work contained in the Black collection. Before long Hermione left him to dress.
Hermione found herself standing before her wardrobe in a pair of sensible black knickers and a matching bra. She'd been staring at her clothes for what felt like an eternity. She never put much thought into her attire, especially for something as simple as dinner at the burrow. She was telling herself it was because she hadn't seen many of them for a time and she wanted to show she was okay. However, a piece of her she was trying to ignore was shouting about the handsome werewolf currently getting ready a floor above her.
With a groan, she settled on a black cocktail dress. A-line and knee length with a lace bodice. She pulled out a pair of red pumps and a matching red traveling cloak, the irony not lost on her. She'd put on minimal make-up, enough to brighten her face. Her hair was in a loose ponytail.
This time when she reached the bottom floor Remus was waiting for her. His new charcoal slacks fit his slim frame perfectly and as she suspected, the forest green oxford was a perfect color. His green eyes sparkled, flecks of amber an ever-present reminder of the wolf inside. With 3 weeks until the next full moon, his eyes and scars were the only physical signs of his ailment.
Remus gave her a dashing smile, his eyes lingering on the red cloak she was fastening around her neck. A raised eyebrow was becoming a signature look given to her. She found she was eager to earn it from him. He said nothing, simply donned his own cloak, and walked beside her to the apparition point. They apparated separately this time, arriving outside the burrow and walking together.
The door to the burrow opened before they reached it, Ginny rushing out the door with little James in her arms and pulled Hermione into a tight embrace. James squealed between them until his mother relented. After they separated Ginny gave Remus a beautiful smile and silently passed the baby to him without question. James was just over one with dark hair like his father and the brown eyes of his mother. Remus didn't have time to think before grasping the child and laughing as Ginny used her now free hands to smack Hermione repeatedly on the arm.
"Don't you ever do this to me again Hermione Granger! I haven't seen you in months! You left me with Harry and a baby and you're lucky I haven't murdered the former. Welcome back Professor, keep an eye on your godson for a moment I need to have a few words with Hermione." Ginny dragged Hermione into the house and off to the kitchen while Remus wandered in, James now settled comfortably on his hip. It felt no different than carrying a young Harry all those years ago.
Harry crossed the room to join him, looking more like his father now than ever. He lifted his son from Remus and pulled the older man in for a hug. "It's good to have you home. I hope Hermione isn't putting you to work too much. The house has been a pet project of hers for a bit now." Remus shrugged and looked about the room. Order members and others filled the space. In a corner, Ron played chess with Percy. Bill and George were huddled nearby. Remus could hear bits and pieces of the conversation, it seemed to revolve around a new version of exploding snap. In front of the mantle Luna, Neville, and Charlie were having an animated conversation about the use of wracksputs in dragon breeding. Ron waved Harry back over having beaten his brother and was setting up a fresh game.
Remus wandered to where Arthur and Kingsley sat. In the kitchen, he could hear Hermione, Ginny, and Molly. Other less familiar voices drifted out. Arthur took his hand and shook it vigorously. "Remus! Good to have you back. Harry kept us apprised of your work, and Hermione of course."
"It's good to be back. I'm getting too old to play with wolves." Kingsley laughed, smacking the other man on the back. Remus was impressed when his shoulder twinged only lightly. "Remus, we had more interaction with the packs with your involvement than ever. You did us all an immense favor."
Remus rolled his eyes and took the firewhisky Arthur now offered him. "It wasn't a favor, you paid me." Movement caught his eye from across the room. Bubblegum pink hair and it was coming toward him. He downed his drink and stood. "Excuse me, gentlemen."
The rest of the evening felt like a game of chase, one Remus wasn't inclined to play. He did not like being treated like prey and felt he'd made it very clear he didn't have any interest in talking.
Hermione for her part felt much of the same. She moved from one person to the next, finding herself in whichever group she could to avoid one on one conversation with a particular Weasley. Even dinner found her seated between Ginny and one Nymphadora Tonks. Remus sat across from her between Ron and Bill. Bill at least afforded him conversation on how the new werewolf legislation had affected them both. Hermione kept her conversation steered toward Ginny's work, but Ginny had other plans.
"How is the manor coming? Harry said it looked amazing when he dropped by yesterday. Though he said that was less surprising than finding you on the floor in the professor's lap." Hermione choked on her wine and the tabled went quiet. Next to her, Tonks gave an overly sweet smile before smacking Hermione firmly on the back. "Are you alright? Go down the wrong tube?"
Hermione coughed and dabbed her face with a napkin. "I'm fine, thank you Tonks." Next to Remus, Ron downed his own firewhisky before setting the cup down firmly. "What were you doing in Lupin's lap?" Hermione kept her eyes on her wine, hoping for the ground to swallow her.
"I startled her." Remus. She could kiss the man for coming to her rescue. Though, not here. "She had that damn, what did she call it… Discman? On her head and couldn't hear me. Knocked her off balance and tried to catch her. My injuries weren't quite ready for it. Not a young man anymore I'm afraid." Arthur and Kingsley laughed, the thickness of the air slipping away. Conversation slid to things age had done to them.
After dinner most left leaving behind the Potters, Weasleys, and Remus. Hermione stood before the fireplace mantle listening to George explain the new rules to exploding snap to Bill. Remus sat in an armchair nursing another firewhisky while Arthur voiced his opinion on the merits of integrating muggle technology in wizarding society. Remus nodded along but his focus was on Hermione. She'd shed her shoes and her hair was down again. The wine had given her skin a pink flush that rose from her chest to her cheeks. Her eyes sparkled as she laughed. She looked up from the game and met his gaze for a moment before her eyes flicked to movement across the room.
Ron and Tonks were standing together before both moved. Ron was moving straight toward her, Tonks to Remus. Hermione's smile faltered and she groaned inwardly. They'd both been obvious she felt. Why must they press it?
Remus caught the action as well and made a quick decision. He sat down his glass and made to stand. He let out an exaggerated groan and collapsed back down, clutching at his leg. Arthur sat forward reaching for the other man. "Remus are you alright?"
Conversation dimmed as concerned order members moved on him. "Oh, I'll be fine, this damn leg is just giving me fits. It seems it is done with me for today. I'm not sure I can walk myself to the apparition point." Arthur helped him to a standing position and waved for Molly to bring Remus' cloak. Tonks began moving faster toward him. "Hermione dear, would you be so kind as to help me back to Grimmauld Place? I'm sorry to have to pull you away from the party."
Hermione was already sliding her shoes back on and summoning her cloak. As she fastened it Tonks stepped between them. "It's alright Hermione, enjoy the party. I can take him home." Remus shot her an alarmed glance and Hermione felt Ron's hand at her elbow. "Yeah 'Mione, let Tonks take him home."
Hermione pulled her elbow free and stepped around Tonks. "That's alright Tonks. I really should be getting on anyway. Thank you, Molly, Arthur. Dinner was wonderful. Congratulations again Harry." In quick stride, she reached Remus' side. He draped an arm over her shoulders and limped heavily to the door, waving behind him as they exited.
As they left, Ginny slid into a chair next to Bill and George. "Bill, was he limping when he got here?" Bill shook his head. A curious look crossed his face as he waved his wife Fleur over to them. "No, he wasn't. In fact, after dinner, he told me Hermione had made a salve that he felt was going to make his transformation recovery much better." Fleur sat down in his lap with a knowing smile. George scratched his chin. "The red cloak is a little too on the nose, don't you think?"
Ginny laughed a conspiratorial laugh. "The red cloak is perfect. Who cares for wolves more than her?"