So days came and went and about two weeks later the group of friends found themselves wandering through a shopping mall in Muggle London. Charlotta and Chaylse had a stack of four or five gowns draped over their arms and were nearly running towards the dressing room. James and Sirius had already excused themselves to go to the food court.
Where those two ever not hungry?
Hermione and Remus walked through one of the shops hand in hand. Hermione spoke animatedly to Asha and Lily while Peter kept Remus company.
"OH, Asha," Hermione gasped suddenly, releasing her hold on Remus's hand as she rushed forward to one of the racks of gowns. From it she pulled a beautiful piece. It was an orchid pink with a shear bronzy overlay that shimmered beautifully in the light. "This would go wonderfully for you. Wear your hair down in those ringlets that look so perfect on you…it would be perfect!"
Asha tilted her head curiously as she approached the gown, taking it carefully from Hermione and holding it up to herself before examining the fabric and the design. She bit her lower lip in thought then smiled, "I'm going to go try it on," she said, thoughtfully.
Hermione grinned has her friend made her way towards the dressing rooms in the back of the store. Her smile brightened slightly as a set of hands wormed their way around her waist and Remus pressed a kiss to her shoulder. "Have you found anything for you yet, Hermione?"
The witch shook her head and shrugged, "I said before, I'm no good at this stuff for myself."
"You'll look amazing in whatever you decide on," He said softly. "I'm going to leave you girls be for now. Peter and I are going to go find James and Sirius for a bit. We'll all meet back up in about an hour or so, okay?"
Hermione smiled and nodded, "Okay."
She'd turned and started browsing through the dresses when there was a tap on her shoulder. She turned back around and smiled at Remus who still stood there. Though before she could ask what was wrong, he kissed her softly. He pulled back and winked, "I'll see you in a bit," he said before turning and walking from the store, an amused Peter in toe.
She smiled again to herself and as she turned back to the dresses, Lily caught her eye and grinned, "That was sweet."
Hermione nodded softly and continued her browsing, "So what's going on with you and James? It's really hard to tell sometimes with you two."
Lily blushed and shrugged, "I don't know…I guess we've…sorta…been seeing each other for a little bit."
It was Hermione's turn to grin, "Good, I'm happy for you. So you're going to the ball together, then?"
"Yes, I actually made him work for that though," Lily grinned. "I made him actually ask me properly."
"That's good. Nothing wrong with teaching his arse some manners," Hermione chuckled.
"Oooh, Hermione," Lily gasped, green eyes wide as she lifted a gown from the rack she'd been searching. Hermione made her way through the racks and made her way towards her friend, who, rather than handing her the gown, proceeded to shove her towards the dressing room. "Just try it on. Trust me, if it doesn't look absolutely fabulous you can get me back for it later, promise."
Hermione arched an eyebrow but accepted the gown and closed the door to the changing room, locking it behind her. Slowly, she examined the gown that her friend had chosen. It was a sleek number in a deep, rich sapphire blue. She slowly stripped down and pulled her regular clothes off and slipped into the smooth silky dress.
For the most part it was form fitting, hugging Hermione's curves almost perfectly. The straps were triangular, bunching elegantly where they attached to the rest of the dress. The neck line was low but not too low as to be inappropriate and the seam followed the line of her bust. Hermione noted the base of the gown was a midnight blue. It started out very dark and faded into the deeper but lighter sapphire blue just above her knees.
Hermione studied herself in the mirror for a few moments. She turned to look at her back, admiring the V that exposed her upper back and how the fabric on the back of the dress was bunched just right down over her rear end making the curvature smooth yet defined.
She'd just turned back around to decide if she liked it when she heard her name being yelled through the door. "Hermione you'd better get your arse out here and let me see that dress!"
She rolled her eyes and opened the door, stepping out so her redheaded friend could examine the choice. "Turn around," Lily instructed, nodding in approval as she looked over her friend. "It looks great, Hermione."
Hermione made to respond when a startled 'Oh wow" drew their attention. Both girls looked to see a wide eyed Regulus staring. The brunette witch blushed and smiled, "Hello Regulus."
"Hermione, you look amazing," the young Slytherin managed. "I'm sorry if I'm being rude…but…wow."
The witch blushed slightly deeper, "Thank you…Good choice Lily."
The redhead grinned and nodded, "I agree if I do say so myself. So what's taking Asha so long?"
Hermione frowned and knocked on the door of the dressing room a few down from her own, "Asha? You in there?"
"Um…yeah, just a moment 'Mione. I can't seem to get this thing laced up properly," the other girl replied through the door.
"Here, let me in and I'll help."
The lock on the door clicked and Hermione slipped into the cramped little dressing room and relocked the door behind her before turning to her friend.
"Oh wow, Asha," Hermione said approvingly. The gown dipped low in the back but had crisscross laces that tied the two sides together creating a keyhole at the small of her back. Hermione finished tying off the back and turned her friend around and nodded with a smile. "You look so beautiful."
The girls embraced one another and Hermione left and returned to her own little changing room to change back into her normal jeans and sweatshirt. She hung the dress back on its hanger and draped it carefully over her arm as she left the room. Not seeing the other girls right a way she moved over and casually started glancing over the accessories the store had to off.
"You've been avoiding me, Hermione," a quiet voice said just behind her, causing her to jump slightly.
Hermione looked up to see Regulus, a guarded expression on his face. One that she could not quite interpret. "I've not, I've been busy Regulus."
That was a lie. She had been avoiding the young Black, but she wasn't going to admit that to him. It wasn't so much that she was regretted what'd happened between the two of them a few weeks prior…but she wasn't quite sure what to make of it either.
"Hermione…I'm not going to argue about something completely irrelevant. I don't know why you've been avoiding me—I have an idea but I'd thought we'd cleared that up already," he said exasperatedly. "I'm not asking anything more from you than to be a friend and at least one dance at the Ball. I know how you feel about Lupin, I'm not going to mess that up for you either. But please…stop avoiding me, Hermione."
Hermione sighed heavily and leaned against the rack, facing him, "I'm sorry, Reg. I've just…not really known what to make of it all and I don't want to end up leading you on. I'm happy to be a friend and I'm happy continue helping you with…with everything. I just…Don't want to mess things up either, you know?"
Regulus nodded, "I know. That's why I came by to talk to you. That and I had to tell you how absolutely amazing you look in that gown. Lupin's a lucky bloke. Take care, Hermione. I'll see you back at school." With that, the Slytherin gave a small wink and disappeared through the racks of clothes and out of the store.
"Mind explaining that one?"
Hermione turned to see Asha staring at her quizzically. "Later, Asha. When I can talk to you…just you. I'll explain later."
The other witch just nodded slowly. The two girls knew each other all too well. Asha knew there was something that was bothering Hermione. It irked her to no end that there was no way for her to help…at least not until Hermione deemed it time enough to tell.
The two girls glanced toward the entrance of the store in time to see Remus enter as Regulus made his exit. The werewolf stopped midstep and looked at the departing wizard quizzically and then an expression of dawning realization formed on his expression. As quickly as it appeared, however, it was gone again and Remus proceeded forward towards the girls.
Hermione smiled brightly as he reached her, "Did you find anything you were looking for?"
"We weren't really looking for anything," Remus shrugged, "just trying to give you three a chance to shop."
Something was off but Hermione couldn't quite place it, there was a switch in his attitude…something had grown colder. She pushed the thought aside for the time being and moved to hold his hand and pressed a kiss to his cheek, "Well, I think we've found what we're looking for, we've just got to pay."
He smiled thinly and followed the girls to the counter where they paid for their dresses. Once they left the store, they made their way towards the food court to find the rest of their friends, an almost awkward silence falling between the trio. Why should it be awkward though? Hermione frowned inwardly.
A few hours later, the group made their way back through the castle towards the common room and Hermione couldn't help but notice that one particular Gryffindor had taken to keeping his distance from her. Her mind started reeling over all the reasons why he'd be upset at her. Had he found out about Regulus? How? Was that even it or was her mind complicating things? It was almost the Full, maybe he was just getting nervous about that. Yeah, that had to be it.
A little later she found said Wizard on the couch by himself staring into the fire. She slowly made her way over and sat down next to him, taking a hold of his hand as she did. "Everything okay, Remus?" she asked softly.
He turned his head slowly to look at her and something that looked like a combination of hurt and disbelief flashed briefly behind his eyes before they took on a blank and guarded sense to them. "Yeah. Everything's fine," he said turning his eyes back to the fire. "I have to ask, are we actually 'together' right now?"
Hermione blinked in confusion and frowned slightly, "I had thought so…why? What's wrong, Remus?"
"I think it's time I tell you one of my secrets, Hermione," Remus said flatly, his gaze never moving from the dancing flames. Hermione waited uneasily, waiting for him to continue. "I told you before that it wasn't your ability to keep my secrets that I was afraid of but that it was your ability to leave me once you learned about them. That's the truth. Hermione…Have you heard of Fenir Greyback?"
Hermione's eyes widened slightly, here it was, and she knew where he was going with this. "Yes, I've heard of him. A foul excuse for a wizard. A wizard turned werewolf who targets individuals who've done him wrong by turning them. Yes, I've heard of him."
Remus turned his head slightly in surprise and studied her for a moment, his expression returning to its guarded state once more. "My father was one of those who Greyback felt did him ill. That was ten years ago."
Hermione nodded slowly, watching him quietly before speaking, "You're a werewolf."
He cringed and nodded reluctantly. "Yes, I am…."
The young witch rose to her feet, knowing she had the werewolf's attention, knowing he thought she was about to walk away from him for good. She smiled softly as she lowered herself into his lap. She lifted his chin with her fingertips and pressed a kiss gently to his lips. "I told you that your secrets wouldn't change how I felt," she said quietly once they broke apart. "Greyback is a foul, evil being with not an ounce of caring or love in his soul. But you're not Fenrir Greyback. You're Remus Lupin, one of the kindest, sweetest, loving, most caring people I've yet to meet. You've got a strong mind, a strong will, and a strong heart and you're loyal to those you care about and to those who care about you."
His arms snaked around her waist and held her to him as she spoke. His face was buried into the crook of her neck and it wasn't until she felt the warm wetness of his tears that she realized he'd started to cry. "Remus?" she said worriedly.
"For a long time, despite what even James and Sirius would say I've always viewed myself as a monster. A shadow of what the one who created me was," Remus said quietly. "I know how most people look at 'half-breeds' like me."
Hermione shook her head and kissed him again, "I don't think any differently of you. I still care and I still want to be right here with you."
He smiled then it faded as he shifted uncomfortably, "That's something I wanted to ask you about, Hermione. I don't want to be confrontational but…I got to ask. What happened between you and Sirius's brother?"
"Regulus?" Hermione said. He was a werewolf. She'd run into him after her encounter with the Slytherin. Oh Merlin, he probably caught the other wizards sent the moment she'd gotten near. How could she have been so recklessly foolish?
He seemed to take her silence for confirmation and he sighed heavily and rested his head against her shoulder, "Hermione…you know what the second worst thing about being a werewolf is?"
"What's that?" She said softly.
"Right now, I would love to tear his throat out because my jealousy and anger are so interwoven right now. And the worst part is…I know I could if I really wanted to," he said, his voice eerily even.
"I'm sorry, Remus. I don't even know why it happened. I've regretted it since and I've made a point to try avoiding him. I wasn't trying to hurt you." She said, her head bowed, ashamed of herself.
"What led up to it?" Remus asked, unsure why he wanted to know.
"I was talking to him about things from before I came here. My friends, the things that'd happened. How much I missed them…And he kissed me and then…yeah…I guess when I mess up, I really mess up, huh?" she replied quietly.
"The weird thing is, as much as it stings that you were with him…I can't bring myself to walk away from you, I've already come too close to the edge of falling for you to pull back," he said, looking up to meet her eyes. "I care about you a lot Hermione. I think that what you and I have got is something worth fighting for. Just please. Please, promise me that you won't do that again?"
"I promise, Remus," She said sincerely.
"You'll have to excuse me if I become a little more possessive when I see you around him," Remus said pointedly.
"Just leave him alive, he's helping me out with something very important," Hermione said.
"Such as?" the wizard pressed, not liking that his girlfriend had confided in the other wizard something that she didn't feel able to share with him.
"Remus, I promise you that I'll tell you in time. I'm also working with Asha on this so it's not just Regulus that I'm talking to. Nothing more's going to happen between he and I, you have my word," Hermione replied.
Reluctantly, Remus nodded, "Okay, I'll accept that for now."
"Thank you," she replied. The two fell silent, enjoying the others company while thoughts ran through their heads about what they'd just learned about the other and what they'd nearly lost.
It wasn't until Hermione's stomach started grumbling did the two realize how long they'd been wrapped up in one another. "I think it's time for dinner," the witch said sheepishly.
Remus grinned as she rose to her feet and then brought himself to his feet, his hand resting at the small of her back, "After you." And then a brief moment later, Hermione felt a hand close around her wrist and she was pulled sharply backwards against him and he kissed her firmly as soon as she'd turned her head. He released her from the kiss and with a blank, yet amused, expression, motioned for her to lead the way.
"Hermione, you think you could help me with this essay?"
Said witch lifted her gaze from her own homework and rested on Peter Pettigrew. With a small smile she uncurled herself from the couch near the fire place and she moved to take a seat at the small table, next to the wizard, "Of course, what's up?"
"It's this stupid Potions essay that Slughorn assigned us. I know the potion and I made it right along with the rest of you, but I don't understand what I'm supposed to be writing," the wizard said, voice revealing how unsettled and frustrated he was. "It just doesn't make sense."
"Calm down," she said softly. "Basically all he's asking for is why you use the ingredients that you do for the specific potion, in this case the Sweet Dreams potion. What's the purpose of the potion, Peter?"
Peter frowned in thought as he answered, "it's just as the name suggests, to give the person who drinks it good and pleasant dreams. It's similar to the Dreamless Draught but instead of no dreams and a solid sleep, you have dreams, but only pleasant ones, and it's not nearly as strong as the Dreamless Draught."
"Exactly," Hermione nodded. "Now, which is the primary ingredient that separates the Sweet Dreams potion from the Dreamless Draught?" The crease between the wizards brown deepened as the thought over the question. "It's a relatively easy ingredient, Peter. Rather obvious once you figure it out."
"I know it should jump right out at me, especially since we only just made this potion yesterday, but I can't think of it, Hermione," Peter groaned.
"Cocoa, the basis of Chocolate," Hermione smiled. "Just in the way chocolate warms you in the cold or pushes away the cold and haunting effects of some spells and some of the magical creatures we may run into, the cocoa in the Sweet Dreams potion, allow the cold and dark feelings that cause bad dreams and nightmares to fade away."
"That's right! That's the reason why a lot of people prefer to that the Sweet Dreams potion either warm or with a mug of hot chocolate. The hot chocolate increases its positive magic and drinking it warm likens it enough to hot chocolate to make it easier to drink," Peter smiled. "So basically, he just wants us to write an essay on the importance of the different ingredients, like, why the cocoa is so important? Right?"
Hermione nodded with a small smile, "That exactly it. Do you have anymore questions?"
As soon as she'd asked the question she felt her head start spinning, similar to what'd happened only a few weeks ago. She saw Peter speaking to her but his words weren't reaching her ears. "Not again," she mumbled.
"Hermione? Are you alright?" Peter asked. No sooner did he speak the words and everything around her went black once again as she collapsed from her seat.
"Granger, wake up."
"You bloody, stupid idiot, could you not have chosen any better of a time to pull this than in the middle of a class or when I'm in the middle of tutoring some one in the middle of the common room!" Hermione flew awake, seething. As soon as her head had begun to spin, she'd known exactly what was going on. "How could you be so completely stupid? Are you tryingto get my cover blown? Do you actually want this to work? Because you are having the worst possible timing!"
"Whoa, Granger, calm down," Malfoy said with an almost amused smirk. "I'm just buzzing in to see what progress you're making, because I'm not seeing any differences around here."
Hermione glared at the blond wizard, "I know the time of day is relatively the same in both are timelines, Malfoy, you're doing this intentionally. I'm working the best I can at making my changes. Chances are the changes I'm making are subtle enough that they're changing things at small increments. Exactly as it's supposed to. And I swear next time you do this to me, pull me unconscious during a time you know weakens my credibility, I will find away to give those boys permission to strangle your arse. And you know I'm not joking."
The smirk never faded as he gave her a single small nod, "Very well Granger. I suppose I ought to bid you good luck on this mission. I only hope…."
His words were interrupted as two sets of pounding footsteps entered the room. "Hermione! Where've you been?"
Hermione turned her gaze to her two best friends and she gave a small, sad smile, suddenly realizing that this is probably be the only way she ever saw her friends again, at least her friends as she knew them, "I've had some things to take care of. How've you been?"
Harry frowned slightly but nodded, "We've been alright, I guess. Missing you, especially since you just…disappeared that day in the Shrieking Shack. We went to Dumbledore after it happened. He called Malfoy up to the office and told us to wait outside then brought us back in and told us there was nothing he could do to undo the spell that Malfoy had done. He wouldn't tell us where you went, or even when you'd be back. Just told us to carry on as we normally would."
"It's hard to carry on like we normally would without you though, 'Mione," Ron said, quietly. Hermione noticed how much more subdued the redhead seemed.
"I wish I could tell you more," Hermione said sadly. "But if Dumbledore won't tell you then it's probably better that I don't either. One day I will though. When all is said and done, and all this is over, I'll tell you first chance I get. I promise you that."
Hermione studied her two friends, sighing heavily inwardly. Her mind was elsewhere when she was caught in a strong hug that made her gasp, startled, at first. Her arms wrapped around Ron tightly for a moment, returning the hug, before releasing him and pulling Harry into a similar hug. It was all she could do to keep the tears that were brimming in her eyes, from falling down her cheeks. "I miss you guys. I really do."
"Then come back for good, 'Mione. We miss you too," Ron said pleadingly.
"I…I can't. I'm working on something right now. Something big. And if it works…If it works, I'll be home soon," Hermione said quietly, trying to keep them from hearing the strain in her voice.
"Hermione"
"I got to go guys, I'm sorry. I miss you and I wish I could stay but I've got to go," Hermione said, urgently pulling both her friends into a hug.
"Hermione!"
"Hopefully I'll see you again soon," she said, watching both of her friends avoid looking at her as she began to fade from their view.
"Hermione, wake up."
Hermione blinked her eyes open and looked up into familiar green eyes on one side of her and amber ones on her other side. She immediately turned her head into Remus's chest and proceeded to let the tears that she'd been fighting through her conversation with her best friends pour from her eyes. Her hands grasped tightly onto his shirt as the pain of having, once again, to leave her friends tore through her.
"Hermione? Love, what's wrong?" came Remus's soft voice as his arms wrapped tightly around her and he rocked her slowly.
The tears soon faded, but the emptiness remained as she stayed motionless, cradled in his arms. She couldn't bring herself to look at Lily, who still sat next to her on the floor. Those green eyes are what pushed her over to begin with.
"Here Hermione this'll help a little bit," a piece of chocolate was put in front of her face and she lifted her eyes to meet the worried gaze of Peter. She gave a weak smile and nodded, accepting the chocolate. She bit into it absently and felt a little warmer, but she knew better than to think a piece of chocolate would ease the ache of leaving her best friends in a place she couldn't return to.
She felt Remus lift her from the floor and lower her onto the couch. When he'd gotten her laid down he sat near her head, lifting it then lowering her head onto his lap. His hands brushed soothingly through her hair. She could hear his voice urging everyone else to go back to what they were doing, that she would talk to them all when she was ready. With a soft sigh she let herself slowly relax, and, within a few moments she'd fallen asleep, curled up on the couch with calming hands brushing through her hair.
Remus watched her sleep and sighed heavily. He only wished he could know what had her torn down so badly. He knew that she kept many secrets but didn't know how to go about getting her to trust him enough for her to tell him. It hurt that she didn't but he was sure that she had her reasons for keeping them. She's said that she'd confided in Asha, okay that was understandable, every girl confided in her best friend. But why Regulus? Why Sirius's brother? Why not him? What did Regulus do to earn her trust that he had not? Did she think of him like many people who knew of his condition? Did she think that because of that he couldn't be trusted? No…that wasn't it, he knew that. His mind was just being foolish.
Another heavy sigh escaped the wizard as he studied the sleeping witch, curled into him. Maybe one day she'd trust in him enough to tell her secrets. To get her to let him help in whatever mess she's been digging through. Maybe eventually.
Author's Notes!
I know, I know, it's been an awfully long time since I've put a chapter up and I am very sorry. However! What'd you think of this one? Preps for the Ball, Confessions, and a visit home. What are your thoughts on the story's progress so far? Things you liked? Things you didn't? Thoughts for the next chapters? Let me know, feedback is always more than welcomed.