Review offering insight to the story:
"Once again your flow astonishes me. I felt like I was right there in the story. I love this one..The way that hermione interacts with the Marauders you would think she knows them in and out. Remus must have told her loads of stories while they were married. The way she baited them in class was priceless I love it. Well at least it was nice of Mione to save Snape from whatevere was planned. This story has got me on the edge of my seat I am dying to know what happens next..."- mskiti of FanFiction net.
Thank you to the following reviewers: Jester08, Hotkat144, Black-Rose23, Galleon-to-Galleon, DramaQueen4eva, killing u with umbrellas, Legessa, untamedspiral, PurpleRose44, Li-chan, quiet-mg, bethygirl94, Caligirl-HPLVR, nelygirl and especially annieca, Lupin's Mistress (Erika), Danielle, galloping-goose (Zeus) and laugh.live.learn.
Dedicated to: laugh.live.learn
(I almost put up your review, but it was just so big, lol. I loved reading it! I was very flattered! So, I hope you enjoy this chapter as well!)
The Werewolf Tamer
Seven
Remus found the first day of classes flying by. DADA was the only one that seemed longer than the rest, and it was his first class of the day. He had gone in thinking that Professor Granger would undoubtedly become like all the other professors to him. She would be sharp, impersonal, strict, and maybe even a little dull. Instead, he found a woman who had a sense of humor, a great love for humanity, and a good grasp of how to deal with troublemakers. She was able to put both James and Sirius in their places without turning harsh or even wilting under their act of superiority. In fact, Remus was pretty sure that she had gained respect from her response to the Marauders. She had certainly gained their notice, especially since finding her roaming the halls in nothing but a white nightgown and a man's robe the night before.
He knew they'd be caught, he'd been waiting on it. He had warned his friends, but they were hungry. Their prank had gone off earlier than expected and they hadn't had sufficient time to eat dinner. McGonagall had them cleaning before they could protest that they were still hungry. So they took a chance on going to the Kitchens and lo and behold, Hermione was out walking around. He had to admit, she was sharper than other professors. Most would have assumed they were hearing things or their mind was playing tricks on them, but she knew right off the bat that it was an Invisibility Cloak. She had shocked them even more as the night wore on however, with her easy going personality on everything. She didn't chastise Sirius' back talk, but instead met it head on. And she was even forthcoming with a part of her past that was obviously quite hard for her to live with. Remus had been shocked to see the woman, who always seemed to put together, fall apart before his very eyes. He didn't know what he and his friends had done to give her the belief that they were trustworthy enough to hear of what had happened, but whatever it was he was glad for it. He'd never seen James so serious and understanding with anybody who wasn't a Marauder before, and it was enlightening.
The new professor was undoubtedly beautiful, he had no problem admitting it. Even Sirius told them later, after she'd left them with their Cloak and a simply warming, that she was really quite fetching. They all knew what Peter thought, since it was really the only opinion on her he seemed to share with them. James thought she was pretty too, but Remus got the feeling that he saw her in an entirely different light. He spoke to her easier than Remus had witnessed with most others. It wasn't teasing and it wasn't flirting, which was all he really did with girls. But when he spoke to Hermione, he sounded friendly. As though he trusted her and was reaching out to try and get to know her. It was odd, given that James wasn't really friends with girls. There was Lily, but even then everything he said was linked to his adoration for her. His friends were all males, and he didn't seem interested in changing the fact. Sirius was still wary of her, though he did seem to be cooling off from his first fears that she was out to get them. Slowly but surely, she was having an effect on the Marauders.
Remus had planned to go and see her that first morning, but when she didn't arrive for breakfast he figured she might be too busy for him. So instead, he decided he would see her when classes were over. They made it to DADA just before the bell, as was their regular routine. The class went off not to her way of planning, he could see that right away. Her statues caught the attention of everyone and he too had to admit that they were quite diverse and eye catching. He wondered if she would openly admit that she was a Werewolf Tamer, and the opening came when Swick, a Slytherin girl, lashed out at her for correcting her mindless idea to reach out to the werewolf who was obviously in a mood. Remus felt a little on edge when the whole class began throwing out their opinions of werewolves but didn't want to show his fear. It was Snape's comments that really worried him, and he wasn't sure what to say or how to act when he realized so many agreed that werewolves should be killed before they could do any harm. And then she surprised him again.
Hermione's short and to the point speech made him swell with pride. For one stark moment, he didn't feel like the monster he was labeled to be. In fact, his decision to take her up on her offer of becoming part of her program had just been confirmed. He had been uncertain about whether he should or not but learning of how close she kept the freeing of werewolves to her made him sure. Sirius had thought aloud about how she could just be someone searching for fame by making up some ludicrous idea that wouldn't work out. He could see though, the way the werewolf statue came to her, the way she spoke, she had a passion for it. And he believed in her, believed that she could tame him and numerous others. It was a startling understanding, one that felt as though it rocked his whole world. She could give him what he had been searching for since he was a small child. And she wouldn't give up on him, he could read it in her stance, in her eyes, in her heart that she had sewn on her sleeve.
Classes ended quicker than expected and before Remus knew it he was pacing the Common Room wondering how he should approach Professor Granger and tell her of his decision. His friends sat around him, having no knowledge of his final conclusion. James and Sirius were playing Wizard's Chess while Peter sat cross legged in front of them, watching with avid fascination, his eyes going back and forth from his two best friends in admiration. "What's with the pacing, Mooney? You're distracting me from demolishing Jamesie and his pathetic Chess skills," Sirius called out.
"You demolish me, Padfoot," James replied with a snort, "Not possible, friend, you've obviously been suckin' back the Firewhiskey between classes."
Sirius chuckled, "I wish," he muttered, before turning his attention to Remus again. "I'm Sirius," he said, smirking, "What's the problem?"
"Nothing," he replied quickly, shrugging his shoulders. "I... uh... think I'm going to go for a walk."
"Down to the DADA class perhaps," James said, grinning.
"Er, no..." Remus replied, his eyes turning away.
Sirius sighed, leaning back and stretching his arms up in the air. "You know, I could go for a walk right about now, too," he said, his brows lifting. "How 'bout you Prongs?"
"A walk sounds great," he responded, nodding. He smirked, "Besides, I can only beat you so many times, Padfoot, before the the game loses its appeal."
"I was letting you win," Sirius shot back, crossing his arms as he stood up from the sofa. "I didn't want you to look bad in front of Wormtail!"
Remus watched them uncomfortably, "We should go to the library," he announced, hoping to deter them.
"Oh, but I thought we'd make a nice trip over to see Professor G. Maybe she's marked our essays," he said, walking over and nudging Remus with a wink. "And you know how Sirius loves his studies, we wouldn't want to keep him waiting."
"Oh yeah, I've been dying to know how well I did on that," Sirius said, his arm around Peter's shoulders and he ruffled his friend's hair and smirked at the other two Marauder's ahead of him. "Werewolves come out only on Christmas and eat rat babies on Easter, right?" he asked, his brows furrowed with feigned confusion.
"Yup," James said, nodding. "And they have a great fondness for frozen Butterbeer on a stick on every third full moon."
Remus snorted, rolling his eyes upward. "Really guys, I kinda wanted to talk to her alone."
"Oh..." Sirius said dramatically, his brows rising. "Does Mooney have a crush on the new professor?" he teased.
"No," Remus replied quickly, feeling awkward. "I just... came to a decision on... on the program is all." He sighed, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
"Great," James exclaimed, "So you're going to do it then."
"No, he isn't. He doesn't know her well enough for that," Sirius replied, shaking his head.
"Actually--"
"He knows her just fine. How well can you really get to know her, anyway? I think she's his best bet and she's offering him something that could change his whole life, Padfoot. If you were in his position, wouldn't you want what she's saying he can have?" James said, sounding rather defensive.
It was weird seeing Sirius and James disagree, it happened so rarely. Remus wasn't sure if he should interrupt or let them voice their dispute. Usually they thought the same way, acted quite similar, and even spoke at the same time. He was mildly shocked to hear their conflict over Hermione. James was all for the program while Sirius was still very suspicious of it. Even if he rather liked Professor Granger, he didn't agree with her program. He couldn't understand why.
Deciding not to hang around as they began arguing again over how she could be setting him up for disaster, Remus left the Common Room, his hands stuffed in his pockets and his resolve firmly in place. He walked quickly, not wanting them to distract him before he got to her. When he reached the double doors, he stared at them a long moment, before finally wrenching them open and walking inside. He came to a shocked stop, his eyes wide and his breath catching in his throat. She stood in the center of the room, dressed in Muggle attire. A simple pair of jeans covered her lower half, bare feet peeking out from the hem. A large, long, pale blue sweater covered her top; it was obviously a man's because it was far too big for her. She was running around in circles, smiling lightly as a three headed puppy chased her, yapping and tripping over its own feet every few steps. Its tail wagged excitedly and it finally stopped, rolling onto its back and beckoning her to pet it. Her hair was swaying all around her, thick curls that seemed to move with her every movement. The sun fell through the window, creating an angelic glow around her. She was really quite stunning and he felt his heart skip while his stomach twisted up into knots.
He was brought out of his reverie when the door opened behind him and his three best friends joined him. He heard the sharp inhalation and then watched as Hermione noticed their presence. She looked surprised to see them and stopped her patting of the three headed puppy's stomach. Lifting it up without a worry in the world, though Remus knew for a fact that the type of dog she was holding was known to be quite vicious and unfriendly, she walked toward them. "Hullo boys, what can I do for you?" she asked, gracing them with a small smile. He noticed that her smiles never reached her eyes, and her laughter had a very sad ring to it. It was as though she were carrying her pain and loss in everything she did and it rather saddened him to know.
"What's that you have there?" James asked, peeking over at the dog that lay panting in Hermione's arms, looking like an adoring child that couldn't get enough attention.
"This is Fluffy," Hermione said, sounding amused as she righted the dog up from its position in her arms and held it so all three heads were facing the four Marauders.
"Fluffy?" Sirius asked, incredulous.
"Yes, he's Hagrid's. I have no idea why he named him that, but..." she shrugged as if it meant nothing. "He has a very sweet disposition and loves to play." She held the dog out to them, "Would you like to pet him?"
Everybody but Remus took a dramatic step back, especially since Fluffy growled at them immediately.
"Hush," Hermione chastised and the small puppy immediately listened. All six ears went back in proper apology and then Remus was pinned with six curious gold and black eyes.
Clearing his throat, he reached out and pet the middle head hesitantly, before reaching out with his other and running it down Fluffy's back. The dog took a liking to him and panted with gratitude to the attention, licking his hand with each head as it went by. Remus laughed, his shoulders losing their tension. Hermione passed the puppy off into his arms and Remus was surprised to feel how heavy he was. He looked back at Sirius and James, who watched with wide eyes. Taking a leap of faith, Sirius came forward and reached out to pat the far left head, scratching its ear. James followed, half grinning as he lavished the pup with attention too. Peter watched from the sidelines, looking too worried to come close.
Remus looked up to see Hermione perched on the side of a desk, watching the boys with something in her eyes that he couldn't decipher. When she caught his gaze, her face cleared and she walked over to her desk, searching through it for something. She came back with their essays and sat herself on the corner of the desk again. Fluffy gave a loud ruff and Remus put him down on the ground to run around. He went over to Hermione, each head sniffing her for a moment before she nodded at them and they ran off to tumble around in the middle of the DADA classroom. "I'm happy to say each of you did quite well on your essays," she informed them, handing them over to each boy. "Far better than the other students, though you do have an obvious advantage," she said wryly. "The chocolate thing though, that isn't a werewolf thing. That's just something Remus has," she said, glancing at Peter, who blushed.
"That's what Dumbledore said, but we weren't sure," James said, shrugging. "How did you know about it, if it's only a Remus thing? Dumbledore did say you investigate those you bring into your program."
Hermione stared at them a moment, her arms crossing. "I took a chance. He acts quite like someone I knew did right after his transformation. He was my partner in creating the program. He always had painful stomach aches whenever he tried to eat anything at all, which is natural. But he found that chocolate calmed him and took away the pain for awhile. It has magical properties, of course, and it's widely used to keep from becoming too sad." She shrugged and turned her head away.
"Was?" James asked, walking closer to her and looking at her with a furrowed brow. "You spoke of your partner as if he was in the past."
"James," Remus interrupted, trying to stop his friend from bringing up something that could be quite painful, if the look on Hermione's face was any sort of warning.
She lifted her hand then, rubbing at her neck in a way that told them she didn't like the question. The sunlight glinted off her wedding ring and Remus felt a sudden twist of jealousy and sadness grip his stomach. It was uncalled for, given the circumstances, but he couldn't control his feelings.
"You're married," Sirius pointed out and Hermione's face, if possible, became even more drawn. Remus wasn't sure if he was trying to change the subject from James' obvious folly, but he had managed to make it worse.
She cleared her throat, looking as though she wanted to run.
"You don't have to answer either of those questions," Remus told her, stepping closer to give her a way out, suddenly feeling as though he didn't want to know her answer just as much as she didn't want to tell it. His eyes thinned for a moment and he tipped his head, his nose sniffing the air. There was an incredibly familiar scent in the air, though he couldn't quite pin what it was. It was coming from Hermione, possibly her sweater, and he felt as though he should know what it was, but it wasn't quite clear.
"Sorry, Professor G, didn't mean to get so personal," James told her, his hands stuffed in his pockets and his eyes turning off.
She cleared her throat, "No. I understand." She shook her head, her eyes darkening with memories. "My partner in the program was my husband. It's what started our relationship actually." She bowed her head, her mouth thinning in thought. Her hand fell into the sweater, pulling up a chain and holding a gold ring up to the light. It winked at them, looking brilliant and beautiful as it hung from her fingers. "He was killed... two months ago," she whispered, her eyes set firmly on the rings.
Remus felt himself still, his breath rushing out of him. He could see James' sorrowful expression from the corner of his eyes and Sirius wince, acknowledging their mistake in bringing up the subjects they had. It had been so recently, there was no wonder that she had been so sad looking. Her eyes were void of any real happiness, and everything that should promote enjoyment came out hollow and empty most of the time. She seemed to radiate pain, and in that moment he had to stop himself from not actually hugging her. He wasn't naturally a very physically comforting person, but when she was the one in need of it, he had an urge that came out of nowhere that he should be there for her. It was as if he had known her longer than he had, perhaps always. Kindred spirits in a manner that had no explanation.
Her chin lifted, mouth quivering with her next few words, "Death Eater attack. They'd been after us for years, more so in the last while though. They'd... they'd already gotten all my friends, my parents, my allies. But..." She sighed, tears filling her eyes, "They had yet to get us and he..." She swallowed audibly, "He was all I had left. He kept telling me that we were going to make it. If no one else did, we'd still have each other. But then... then he was laying in the street and there was nothing but blood all over him. It was just pouring from his stomach and he kept telling me..." She exhaled heavily, her words becoming croaky and tear filled. "He kept saying I had to go on, I had to finish it. That he loved me but he couldn't... That his journey had ended," she breathed. She sniffled, her voice shaking horribly, "He was the last person I had left. Everything else had been taken from me." She closed her eyes tightly, shaking her head.
Suddenly James was holding her and Remus followed after him. She was sobbing against James' chest, her hands hanging limply by her sides. Remus wrapped one arm around her back and the other around James. When another person joined the unexpected hug, Remus looked up to see Sirius there, his expression one of compassion. For that moment, if never again, she was not their professor. She wasn't a Werewolf Tamer, or Remus' last chance at a real future. She wasn't anything but someone suffering, and they were offering her the embrace she so dearly needed. She shook against them, her hands slowly lifting to grab hold of them. Her fist balled up the side of Sirius' shirt, clinging to him, while her other one snaked around Remus' back, holding him close, her fingers pressed against him as if worried he might disappear from beneath her hand.
When her crying subsided, they drew back, but not far. They looked to be crowding her, but she didn't force them away, instead giving them a sad half-smile. "I'm sorry," she whispered, shaking her head. "That was inappropriate and unprofessional," she admitted with a soft chuckle. "
"Don't worry, we won't tell," Sirius promised, giving her a wink.
She nodded, wiping at her face furiously. "I don't usually talk about him. I haven't..." She shook her head, her eyes tightly closing. "I usually react with anger. I've been forcing myself not to feel and to instead focus on justice and redemption." She inhaled shakily, hugging her arms around herself. "Albus keeps trying to bring it up, but I change the subject when I can." She sniffled, shrugging her shoulder lightly. "I don't know why I keep telling you boys these things, you shouldn't have to... You shouldn't have to think about what goes on out there, not yet anyway."
"We should know," Sirius told her, nodding. "We shouldn't be kept in the dark. People are dying! They're fighting and they're losing their lives. We shouldn't be told we're safe and that there's no threat when there isn't. We should be getting ready to fight too, we deserve to be apart of all this. We're strong and capable. We can fight them!" He sounded incensed and sure of himself, as though he could destroy any Death Eater that appeared right then. He had the right idea. Remus didn't think it was right for the students to be purposely misinformed, but they weren't ready to fight in a War just yet. They were all still children.
"Have you ever dueled, Sirius?" Hermione asked him, her eyes staring at him pointedly.
"Of course," he boasted, grinning, "And I've won every time."
"Yes, and did you or your opponent use any of the Unforgivables?" she asked, her brow lifting.
"N-no, of course not," he replied, looking shocked.
"Right, and d'you think that the Death Eaters will be so generous?" When he didn't answer, she continued, "I have been cursed, hexed, and turned into a statue. I've faced Mountain Trolls, giant Wizarding Chess boards, Giants, werewolves, fully grown three headed dogs, Basilisk's, Devil's Snare, Dementors, and Death Eater's, all since I was just eleven years old. Don't be so quick to grow up, Sirius, you might not like what you find." She frowned, "Now I agree that you are unprepared and not properly informed on the war and the people who are fighting in it, so I take no issue in telling you everything I can. But you will not become a part of this war until I've trained you to properly defend yourself. Do I make myself clear?" she queried, staring at him. "If I find out you've run headfirst into any battle, I will personally see to your punishment," she warned.
Everybody was silent for a long moment, before James queried, "You've had an Unforgivable put on you?"
She licked her lips, "Numerous times. The most recent was the day before I arrived here," she admitted.
Remus' eyes widened in shock, "Then what were you doing walking around and appearing in front of werewolves?" he asked incredulously. "You would have been weak, tired, and likely very sore!"
She shrugged, "I was strapped for time, I had to do what had to be done. It was fine. My injuries were taken care of shortly after it happened and I was all right to come here." She rose from the desk, looking at each of them. Even Peter had come closer, taking an interest in what she had to say. "It wasn't the first time and it won't be the last."
"How do you do it?" Remus asked, taking a step closer to her and finding himself pressed against her leg. His hand sat near hers, wanting to reach out and take it but not moving. She was so close he could smell her even more than usual. There was a scent all her own mixed in with a muskier and more male smell. It reminded him of the woods, of trees and fresh air. He deduced that the sweater was her husband's, but couldn't understand why the scent was so very familiar. He didn't want to be rude, so he didn't lean in like he very much wanted to. It was bothering him that he couldn't figure it out.
"Do what?" she wondered, her brow wrinkling.
He was caught off guard by the need to smooth out her forehead and soothe her, but looked away to gather himself. "Keep fighting when so much has been taken from you. You said it yourself, you've faced so much already. You've lost everyone that mattered and you've been harmed for twelve years. When are you going to just... give up? I mean when is the right time to just admit defeat?"
She stared at him, her head cocked to one side. "Never. There is never a time to admit defeat, not for the right side. The world is made up of the good and the bad. Yes, many of those who were good have been taken, so many I can't even count them anymore," she admitted, her eyes glossing over as she gazed up into his eyes. "But, all of them, everyone I've lost, they would want me to keep going. They... They trust me to finish it. Believe in me to make their deaths worth it. If I were to stop, if I were to just lay down and tell everyone else to go on without me, then it would be as if they all died in vain," she explained, staring up at him searchingly.
"But it's not up to you to save the world, Professor G. You're only one person," James told her quietly.
"Call me Hermione in private, James," she replied, before shaking her head. "And you don't quite understand. It's not something I can't really explain to you, not yet anyway." She sighed, pursing her lips for a moment. She looked at Sirius, her expression one of uncertainty. Finally, she said, "If James were to be killed when you walk out of this classroom, how long would you spend on finding his killer and fighting for his memory?" she asked him.
Sirius' eyes fell and then looked over to James. He blinked, "Forever," he admitted simply. "I'd never rest."
"And you, Remus," she said, turning back to him. "If you lost Sirius, James, and Peter, how far would you go to make sure that their deaths were not for nothing?"
"As far as I had to," he replied, his eyes falling.
"James," Hermione said, turning to look at him. "I've lost every person who has ever meant anything to me. I've seen innocent children slaughtered, honorable people killed, and devoted families murdered without second thought. I've faced Voldemort on the battlefield and I have the nightmares and scars to show for it. Many have seen what I have, felt what I have, and some of them will give up. My friends, my family, my husband, would never give up. They would turn the world over fighting for what they believe in." She shook her head, her mouth tightening. "You're the one who reminded me that Harry would never simply lay down in defeat, he would have fought to the bitter end. And I would have thought him courageous. You all think it was courageous what I did."
She shook her head, her eyes washing over all of them. "One day, when I'm long gone and you're living in a world where you're all free to be who and what you want, you'll look back on this day and you'll know..." She shook her head, her eyes tear filled and her smile warming, "You'll know that it was all worth it for me. You'll know that when I died, I died knowing I was doing it for a cause. And I'll have no regrets, not one. Because when I'm dead, he'll be dead. I won't rest until Voldemort is nothing but a bad memory for everybody," she vowed.
"You're not like anybody I know," Sirius told her, his brow furrowed. The other three Marauders nodded their head in agreement, each looking at her in a different way.
Hermione shrugged it off modestly, "Maybe you should get out more," she said, trying to play it off humorously.
Sirius smiled but then shook his head. "I'm sorry I doubted you."
The three remaining Marauders turned to him in rapt shock. Sirius Black never apologized. It just wasn't done. He could hold a grudge and believe he was right even if it was proven that he was wrong. He didn't admit defeat to anything, and he hardly ever took back his first assessment of a person. The only people he ever apologized to were the Marauders and James' parents. Any other apology was forced and a complete lie. But he sounded quite honest and actually apologetic.
Hermione stared at him a moment and Remus wondered why she even hesitated to believe him. She wouldn't know him well enough to think he wasn't one to apologize. "You had right to be suspicious, Sirius. If you took everything at face value, you're quite likely to get yourself killed prematurely." She shook her head, "I'll tell you now because I don't want you to later think that I've lied to you, but my reason for being here has a great deal to do with all of you. Now it doesn't have to do with your deaths in any way, like you probably worried about, but instead your lives." She sighed, frowning and rubbing at her eyes. "It's too dangerous and far too important for me to tell you right now. But I want you all to know that no matter the situation, no matter what happens, your lives are my top concern. I don't care if I'm in the middle of a class, or if its a full moon out and you're out in the Forbidden Forest in your animagi forms," she told them, shaking her head. "I will always be here to help you and make no mistake... I will do everything in my power to keep you alive," she promised, staring at them seriously.
As one, they all nodded, apparently agreeing that she really was to be trusted with their lives. Remus knew that he meant it when he agreed, it was a natural reaction. He didn't even have to question whether she was to be trusted, he felt it was right and he didn't take issue with the fact that he'd only had five encounters with her thus far. James' firmly set jaw told him that he too agreed she was to be trusted, while Sirius' downcast eyes said the same thing. It was meant in a way that said he wasn't questioning her, but instead admitting that maybe he needed someone to look out for him. And Peter's anxious nod could be taken as his need to be like his friends, which Remus assumed it to be. He obviously didn't feel the need to reach out or even take much interest in the intriguing new DADA professor.
Hermione nodded, "Okay, now that that's out of the way, and I've already embarrassed myself by crying all over you," she said, smiling with the odd way things had turned out, "Was there a specific reason you all came to see me?" she wondered.
Remus nodded, crossing his arms as he felt rather uncomfortable. "I, uh, I've thought over your offer and I want to... accept," he admitted, nodding uncertainly.
"Wonderful," she praised, her eyes shimmering with excitement. "I already had the potion made for you if you wanted it, so we'll give you half this coming full moon." She turned to the other three boys, "You can join us if you like, but there's a possibility that a young man named Brighton will also be joining us. He's a first timer for the program also, and just a year older than you. He's a little shy, or at least he was with me. He was just released from the Ministry for a minor indiscretion--"
"Is he a criminal?" Peter cried out, shocked.
"Not exactly," she replied, shortly. "He was charged with a few minor crimes, but I had his record cleaned when I went there a few days ago." She shrugged daintily, "I spoke to the Head of the Magical Law Enforcement and promised that he would be a changed person under my supervision."
"You have that power?" James asked, surprised.
She blushed lightly, "Well, I didn't when I walked in. I'm very persuasive though. I explained my program and told them that I'd be back every day until they released Brighton into my care."
"Why?" Sirius asked, lifting his brow. "Why does he matter so much?"
"Everybody matters, Sirius," Hermione told him, her brow furrowing. "And Brighton has the makings of a wonderful man. He's trainable, all werewolves are. He has the drive to become a controlled and good person. He made a few mistakes, but I'm almost certain that he'll make the right choice and join us for the full moon."
"Doesn't he have to?" Sirius hook his head slowly, "They released him to you, so he has to do what you say, doesn't he?"
She shook her head, chewing her lip for a moment. "Well, I told him it was up to him actually. I gave him some money and told him where he could find me." She shrugged as though it was nothing.
"You broke this bloke out of jail, gave him some money, and told him he could either believe in something that seemed utterly impossible or go on with the life he had before you showed up?" Sirius looked so incredulous Remus had to laugh.
"When you put it that way I sound nutters," Hermione sniffed, frowning.
"Well it wasn't the most sane thing to do," James said, grinning.
Before anybody could say anything else the doors suddenly opened and a girl walked in, slowing as she noticed who else was there. Bright red hair that shimmered like a blazing fire hung straight down the girl's back, while bright green eyes stared out in a welcoming way. "Miss Evans," Hermione said, looking over at her questioningly. "How can I help you?"
"Hullo Professor, I was just... I just wanted to talk to you about the assignment earlier and, well, coming assignments," she said, her eyes darting from the grinning Marauders to the professor.
"Professor G, this is my lovely Lily," James proclaimed, hurrying over to stand beside her.
Hermione smiled lightly, "Lovely Lily, is it? And what does she call you?" she queried, amused.
"Potter the Pest," she replied, glaring up at him. Her eyes suddenly widened as she realized who she was speaking to and she turned to look at Hermione with surprise. "Oh, I mean--"
Hermione laughed, shaking her head. She waved her hand to stop Lily's apology and then smiled at them. "Still in that stage, I see," she commented.
"Been in that stage for years," Sirius told her, hopping up on the desk beside her and shaking his head with feigned exasperation. "He says this is the year, but then he said that last year."
"And the year before that," Remus added, smirking.
"And the one before that, too," Peter put in, slowly gaining more comfort around Hermione as he stepped a little closer.
"Unless the next stage is Potter realizing I don't share his feelings and finally giving up, then I'm afraid we'll always be stuck in this one," Lily replied firmly, though her eyes said another thing, and her blush was telling of her like of James' attention. He kept taking steps closer to her, bumping her as he tried to stand close enough to wrap his arm comfortably around her.
"You rather remind me of how my friend Ron was with a girl named Luna. She was always standing near him and telling him how wonderful he looked that day, or how she'd quite like to go out with him if he wasn't busy. But Ron was very adamant on telling her that he wasn't interested in her that way, even got disgruntled with her a few times," Hermione said, nodding.
"What happened to them?" Lily asked, curiously, her brows lifting. "I bet she finally gave up and he was left in peace," she said pointedly, staring up at James. He grinned back at her before looking over at Hermione, as if knowing what she was going to say.
"He finally gave in and they dated for a year before they got married. They had a beautiful little girl named Brooke," she informed them, her eyes twinkling.
Sirius and James clapped their hands to each others in a form of triumph, while Remus laughed and Peter smiled out at the couple knowingly. Lily frowned, casting her eyes downward. Remus was fairly sure that she was smiling beneath her forced frown however. "Well, I don't see that happening in the near future," she claimed.
"Ron would've said the same thing. Actually, he said, 'You're bloody nutters! Me an' Luna are too different to like each other. She doesn't even care for Quidditch! She keeps askin' me what the bloody hoops are for! I tell ya, it'll never happen!' He was wrong, of course, they were in love in no time." She swung her legs back and forth, "He'd liked her for awhile, he just wasn't sure she could handle the lives we led or that anybody would approve. She was a little... odd. And well, Ron had a tendency of saying the wrong thing. Not very good with emotion that one. Wasn't the quickest wand of the pick, either, but he was very brave."
Lily stared at her a moment, curious confusion in her eyes. Finally, she shook her head. "What d'you mean by the 'lives that you led'?" she queried, her brow furrowing.
Hermione pursed her lips, her eyes moving away for a moment. "It's a long story. Now, were you interested in seeing your grade for you essay then, Miss Evans?" she asked, hopping down from the table and averting the girl's attention. "You were quite well versed in the background of werewolves, any particular reason why?" she wondered, pulling out a rolled up piece of parchment and handing it to the Headgirl.
Lily paused, her shoulders stiff and unmoving. "I like to be well read on most things," she said finally.
Remus stared at her and then looked at James to see if perhaps he looked guilty. Did Lily know then? Had she figured out Remus' 'furry little problem'? He felt cold all over and though he knew Lily to be a good person, he still worried over what she thought of him. Did she see him as a monster and only treated him civilly because it was the right thing to do outside of the full moon?
"Have you really spent time with werewolves, Professor Granger?" Lily asked curiously.
"Lots," Hermione replied, nodding. "I know numerous werewolf clans actually. They're all quite wonderful people. A little rambunctious one night of the month, but kind all the same."
"And they've never attacked you, or even looked as though they might?" she asked, sounding surprised. Her green eyes were wide and staring straight at the professor with something akin to wonder and excitement.
Hermione chuckled, nodding. "Oh I've been attacked tons of times," she told her.
Remus turned to look at her in shock. "You have?" James and Sirius too were staring at her with wide eyes. "But you said you weren't..."
"I'm not," she told them, shaking her head. "No, they've come at me numerous times. I've been saved by the other werewolves, most often my husband. They became very protective of me in my line of work." She smiled softly, "The youngest one, Jacques, started the name Mère Loup, which means--"
"Mother Wolf," Lily interrupted, blushing seconds later as she realized she had cut off a professor. "Sorry."
"It's fine," Hermione told her. "And you're right. Another friend, he was much older than me, he always referred to be as copil or, on occasion, pui de lup. The first means child, cub, baby, that sort of thing, and the other means wolf pup." Crossing her arms, she leaned back against a desk. "My husband and I were very welcome in the clans, honored even. He used to kid that I was the Queen of the Werewolves," she told them, shaking her head and wrinkling her nose.
"Exactly what kind of work would bring you close to werewolves?" Lily asked, her eyes staring at her in confusion.
"A teaching position," Hermione replied easily, shrugging her shoulders. "They teach me the ways of the werewolf, and I teach them control."
Lily's eyes widened dramatically, "Control," she repeated in shock. "But... But you can't... Werewolves have a natural reason to attack humans. If your theory is correct and they attack out of fear, what gives you the ability to assure them that they're safe before they could attack? Even if your husband is a werewolf, he wouldn't have his right mind set when he changes," she exclaimed, looking more excited than disturbed by the idea.
Hermione stared at her a long moment and then turned her eyes on the Marauders, as if seeking whether the young girl was safe to share the information with. "You can tell her," Remus assured, shrugging. "She's not going to spread your secret if you don't want her to." He realized in that moment that even if Lily did know about his monthly change, she hadn't told anyone. So even if she was scared or repulsed by him, she cared enough not to ruin his life by telling the school. He silently thanked her for that.
"There's a potion that you'll never have heard of," Hermione told her, shaking her head when Lily tried to interrupt. "It's called Wolfsbane and it gives a werewolf back its human senses during a transformation..." From there Remus and the others listened to her explain how she gave half of it to the werewolf subject, just enough for it to understand her when she tells it to do something or not to attack. Then she went on to tell them about how she studied similarities in werewolves and soon learned a language from them, one that involved body movement and certain noises. She explained to them that she could have conversations with werewolves, though stinted, and that she knew enough to tell them quite simply that she wasn't any harm to them, easily deterring them from attacking her.
"What does this movement mean?" James asked, waving his arm down in an arched swipe. He didn't elaborate on how he knew it when Lily looked at him skeptically, but Hermione nodded, knowing what he was talking about.
"Protector," Hermione told him, smiling lightly. "Basically it tells the werewolf that you're there to protect it, not attack it. It's not usually used to ward off werewolves, usually you just tell them you don't want to harm them with a completely different movement and a sound. However, if you plan on being around the same werewolf for long periods of time and you want to mark them as your own, you make that movement. The wolf will never forget you and will honor that vow for the rest of their life. It's a trade off. If you make the sign and they nod agreeably, then they're telling you that they'll be your protector too."
Remus looked at James who was grinning and Sirius who shoved him and winked. He had no idea what they were talking about or why they really knew the movement until it suddenly dawned on him. When Hermione first met him, she must have swiped it in that direct way, and the wolf inside him must have agreed. "So you're safe then? If you ever see that same werewolf again? No matter the situation, it won't ever harm you?" he asked, anxious and hopeful.
"Never," Hermione agreed, smiling. "It made a conscious decision to protect me as long as I protect him."
"Fascinating," Lily breathed, shaking her head. "I only came here to talk to you about future work, but I never expected to learn all this. It's really quite brilliant, professor, how did you think of it?" she wondered, leaning in eagerly to hear the answer.
She hesitated again, but then replied, "At the time Voldemort was recruiting werewolves for his side. I was working with an elite group of people who were very much against Voldemort and his influence. Werewolves are incredibly strong, even outside of their form. They have a natural ability that aids them in every situation. Heightened sense of smell, sight, hearing. They can move with great agility, attack with maximum force, and all around be a huge asset in wars. One of my professors when I was younger was a werewolf, and he was ostracized terribly for being what he was. He was my initial inspiration really. He was brilliant and very capable but society wouldn't accept him because of his... affliction. It wasn't right at all. They're just as human as everybody else. They're actually very kind and childlike in their werewolf forms. If it wasn't for people hunting them, we could all live in peace." She sighed, shaking her head. "So, I spoke to a friend of mine about starting a program, the Wolfsbane potion would be used as an aid. For one full year I worked with him, learning all that I could about his ways. Soon, others joined in and before I knew it, I had drawn most of them away from Voldemort. They just wanted equality and Voldemort was promising them a world where they wouldn't be different. It was a lie. He was sending them out first so that they would take the brunt of it. He only hoped that they would take down a lot of people when they died. He doesn't care for life, only for power. I offered them what they deserved."
"Brilliant," Lily replied, staring up at Hermione with awe. She turned suddenly, staring straight at Remus. "So will you do it? It would be such a great opportunity for you Remus. You wouldn't have to be afraid any more. People would have no reason to look at you differently." She looked eager and excited for him. Remus stared at her, surprised that she would just come right out and say it. Lily seemed to realize her mistake almost immediately and turned to look at James and then Hermione. "She does know right, I didn't just completely ruin your life?" she asked meekly.
"No, she knew," James told her, his brow high. "But we didn't know you did!"
"Oh," Lily shrugged, "I've known since third or fourth year. It wasn't that hard to figure out."
"And... and you never told," Remus said, his voice a breathy whisper.
Lily looked mildly hurt by the assumption. "Of course not. It's something very personal and I don't have any right to tell people something that is so obviously yours to tell. Besides, if the parents of certain students found out, you could be expelled." Her expression twisted with displeasure. "That wouldn't be right at all, Remus." She glanced at James, "I mean, honestly, you're the only sane Marauder!" she exclaimed, hiding her smile with a frown.
Remus laughed, though it came out rather strangled.
"Group hug!" Sirius shouted, throwing his arms out wide. Only James accommodated him, leaping off the ground and into his best mates arms. "I'm so glad we could all have this moment together!" he said, fake sniffling and wiping a non-existent tear from his cheek.
"Me too, Padfoot," James said, moving to sit by him but keep an arm around his shoulders. "Me too!"
Lily rolled her eyes at them before turning back to Remus, "So you're going to do it, aren't you?" she asked hopefully.
"Yeah," Remus said, nodding before turned to look at Hermione. "Yeah, Professor Granger told me all about it a few days ago. She's going to be working with me this coming full moon."
"Wow," Lily said before turning around and looking at Professor Granger again. "D'you think you could teach me? Or, that I could learn just a few more words from you? I'd really love to learn more about this."
Hermione looked quite surprised, "Nobody's ever asked me to teach them, actually."
"Oh," Lily said, her brow furrowing. "Is it teachable? Could I learn?"
"I've never thought about it, but I'm sure it is." Hermione shrugged, looking thoughtful. "I'm going to have my hands quite full, but I'll teach you a few words so you can speak to them. I don't think it would be terribly smart to invite you along to the first few meetings. Especially if Brighton is going to be there."
"Why are you so sure he'll show up? I wouldn't if I were him," Sirius told her, shaking his head.
"Yeah, Professor G, I don't know if I'd be so willing to come chasing after a dream when I was given money and sure freedom,"James admitted, frowning.
"He'll come," she replied, softly. Glancing up, her eyes must have caught the clock because she announced, "It's nearly dinner time. You should all head down to the Great Hall."
"Oh," Lily said, sounding quite disappointed. "Well, if you aren't too busy tomorrow after classes, then perhaps would could talk more..." she said hopefully.
"Sure." Hermione turned to the Marauders, smiling lightly. "I'm glad you all came by. It was really nice talking to you all."
"You'll be seeing a lot of us in the future, Professor G," James told her in what sounded like a humorous warning.
"Likely not always in the best of situations either," Sirius admitted, smirking.
"Well, I was never under the assumption you were perfect little angels," Hermione told them, smiling.
A sudden shriek drew their attention. Lily had spotted the three headed dog and after shouting her shock, she stumbled back into James and grabbed onto his arm. Remus chuckled as James looked quite smug about her attaching herself to him and was grinning madly over it. "Have no fear, my lovely Lily, I will protect you from the vicious beast."
Remus snorted, shaking his head. "I don't think Fluffy is anywhere near vicious, Prongs."
"There's a glint in his eye, wouldn't you say Padfoot?" James announced, stroking his chin and casting a fake suspicious look down at the cute puppy who now sat panting up at the people around him, eyes wide and curious.
Sirius bent down and picked the heavy dog up. "Oh yeah, real killer this one," he said, petting it affectionately.
Hermione smiled, reaching out to take the dog from his arms. "He's perfectly harmless, Miss Evans. Just a whole lot of bluster in the beginning and then he becomes a little baby." She smirked, glancing up at the boys, "Like every male is."
"Oi!" Sirius exclaimed, frowning. "I bow to no one! I'm as mean as--" He was cut off when Hermione reached out and scratched him behind the ear. His foot suddenly started jumping up and down against the floor and his eyes fluttered shut. He leaned into her hand and made something akin to a bark of gratitude. He only noticed his actions when the laughter around him interrupted his thought process. Shaking his head, he glared at her, though it held no edge. "Low blow," he mumbled.
"All bluster," she countered, shaking her head. Petting Fluffy's head, she looked around them. "All right you lot, off to dinner with you. I'll see you all bright and early tomorrow," she assured, walking toward the stairs leading to her office.
"You coming to dinner?" Sirius wondered.
"Why? Planning on playing another prank?" she asked, glancing back at them. "Make sure you get enough dinner this time. You can only be sleepwalking your way to the library so many times," she said, winking.
"No pranks, not tonight," James told her, shrugging. "Noticed you didn't show up for breakfast though."
"Nerves," she admitted, leaning against the railing on the first stair. "That and I wanted to be sure the classroom was set up."
"Nerves over what, you seem to know what you're doing," Remus told her, shaking his head.
"I'm only six years older than you, I figured I'd have more problems," she admitted.
"How did your other classes go?" Sirius asked, leaning against one of the desks.
"Great, actually. No problems." She smiled. "This teaching business is easier than I expected."
"It's only the first day, it'll get more interesting as the year goes on. Just you wait, things will be exploding, students will be dueling, and you'll become so frustrated, you'll hex Snape horrible," Sirius told her, grinning.
"And why would I take my anger out on Mr. Snape?" she queried, her brows lifted with amusement.
"It's a natural reaction. You'll see!" James told her, nodding.
"Potter, Black!" Lily chastised, shaking her head. "You really shouldn't be so mean to him. Maybe if you guys weren't so cruel, he wouldn't be so mean back. It's a never ending circle. If you left him alone, everybody could live in peace and quite for once," she scolded, looking quite angry.
"You just don't understand, Evans," Sirius said on a sigh.
Remus had to admit that they could often be quite cruel to the Slytherin boy. It wasn't always undeserved, but it had become a rather mean game for Sirius and James over the years. Snape was rather weird though, always so interested in the Dark Arts. He had a lack of good hygiene that was always up for ridicule and ran with a group of Slytherin's that tended to pick on kids just as much as James and Sirius picked on Snape. It really was a never ending circle but Remus didn't want to get in the middle of James and Sirius' affairs. They had their reasons and he didn't want to make them mad at him for disagreeing with their treatment.
"There are some thing that I accept, boys," Hermione announced, bringing their attention back to her. "Late night strolls to the Kitchens for a snack, small pranks on fellow classmates as long as they aren't out of control, and friendly banter between friends. But I won't tolerate bullying!" she told them firmly. "You may not agree with Mr. Snape, and you may not like him, but I don't want to hear about you terrorizing the boy. He has his own reasons for being the way he is."
"But Professor, he's always trailing behind us, trying to find a way to get us into trouble," Sirius exclaimed, looking mildly worried.
"Then don't do anything that'll get you into trouble, Sirius," she told him, sighing exasperatedly.
She had a point, Remus admitted. As long as they held back just a bit, maybe Snape would just back off after awhile. He'd eventually get bored if they weren't even acknowledging him any longer.
"But..." Sirius sighed, crossing his arms and shaking his head. "Fine. If he doesn't attack us, then we won't attack him. Simple as that."
"Verbally, magically, or physically," Hermione told him, pointedly.
Sirius turned his head to her quickly, acknowledging that she had found his loophole. Through grit teeth, he admitted defeat with his growl of, "Fine!"
"Good," she said, sounding rather cheery. "Now, off to supper, all of you. By the Gods, I never thought any of you would put off eating this long!" she joked.
"She has a point, Padfoot!" James said, his eyes wide. "I believe we've missed ten minutes of very important eating time!"
"Merlin, Prongs," Sirius exclaimed, throwing his arms out. "If we don't hurry, I may just starve to death right here."
"To the Great Hall," James said, throwing his finger up in the air and marching toward the classroom doors.
Lily snickered, but called goodbye to Professor Granger and followed the two Marauders out, telling them how childish they were. Peter trailed along behind her, looking anxious and excited as he hung around James and Sirius, admiring their boisterous personalities. Remus hung around, watching as Hermione ascended the stairs, still looking radiant in her over sized sweater, Muggle jeans, bare feet, and holding a three headed dog in her arms. Her waist length hair swayed behind her, curls shimmering in the faint sun light coming through the windows.
"Hermione," he called, the name sounding rather foreign to his mouth, but melodic all the same.
She turned, smiling down at him expectantly. "Yes, Remus?"
"I just... I want to..." He shook his head, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Thank you. I can't tell you how grateful I am. I never really thought that I could be... well, normal. And..." He sighed, feeling as though his words weren't enough. "I don't know how to repay you."
She stared at him a long moment before telling him, "You will live a long life. Far past your forties! You'll enjoy the friendships you have and bask in the freedom life is giving you for this moment. You'll fall in love one day and have a big family. You'll look society in the eye and firmly tell them that you are a person too. And when all is said and done, you will live this life, Remus Lupin. You will live it to farthest reaches of life itself." Her voice was shaky and emotional, though he had no understanding of why. "Promise me that, do that, and you will have repaid your debt already."
He stared at her, for once feeling as though he could truly do as she asked. "I promise. I will!"
She nodded, and he was sure that a tear had fallen from her eyes. "Live free, Remus," she told him, before turning around and entering her office.
He didn't know what to make of her really. She was an anomaly; unlike anybody he really knew. She believed so much in things, but her beliefs were centered around those around her. She worked for the rights of others, fought for the freedom and redemption of people around her. He admired and respected her already, something he had never really felt for anyone but James and Sirius. It was an odd feeling and he wasn't sure what to do with it. He hardly knew her and still she was having a strange effect on him. The next year would be a troubling and confusing one, he could already tell. Oddly enough though, he felt as though Hermione would be there for him no matter what happened. There was a feeling of content that went along with that conclusion and he wondered if perhaps he was getting too close to the new DADA professor. They hardly knew her, but the Marauders had committed to going to her if ever any danger arose. Usually they dealt with everything on their own, but it was as though each of them felt it was right to offer her the position of protector over them. In the past, they believed each other to be their own protectors, so why would they now entrust their lives with her? He couldn't find a logical reason, but somehow felt it was right. Whoever Hermione Granger was, whatever her purpose for being there, Remus knew that she was somehow going to effect the lives of everyone he knew and cared about, hopefully for the better.
A/N I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Sorry it took so long for me to post it! If you haven't already, I'd love for you to check out my new 4-part story "Survivor," a Harry/Hermione romantic/tragedy told from Ron's POV. It's already posted and complete, just waiting to be read. I'm received wonderful feedback for it so far, and even I cried while reading and writing it! So please drop on by and check it out. A new chapter to Blood Is Thicker Than Tears was posted about an hour ago! I'm working on "Growing," and I hope to have another chapter to "A Family Affair" out soon, too. Thank you for reading and reviewing, it's very appreciated!
On a personal note, my 20th birthday is this Monday! WHOO! lol. A lovely present would be some feedback from my wonderful reviewers ;)
Much Love,
-Amanda