Chapter Nine: Visiting Remus

Severus was quick to contact his colleague the next day. He was very curious about their research and offered to help, as long as he was given some of the credit in discovering a cure. Severus, of course, did not care who got credit. He was trying to save a dying child, first and foremost.

Hermione was given the task of talking to Remus about collecting his blood. She didn't know the details, but she knew she had to get his consent first.

At ten o'clock, she floo-ed to Grimmauld Place to discuss the next step in finding the cure. When she arrived, Tonks was feeding the twins. She smiled half-heartedly at Hermione.

"Where can I find Remus?" She nodded her head towards the living room.

"He's reading Harry and Lil a story, last I know, but they could all be napping too." Hermione frowned remembering how much Charlie's health was disrupting the happiness of the family. She wanted to fix it all and she felt it was her duty to because of how much Remus and Tonks helped to make her feel better after the attack at the Burrow.

"Thank you." Tonks wrestled a spoon away from Fred. They always dressed one in stripes and one in plaid to be able to tell the difference.

"Afterwards, do you think I could have a word with you?" Hermione smiled.

"Of course." Tonks tried to return the smile, but couldn't. Hermione walked through the door into the living room to find Remus holding a sleeping Lil and Harry on his lap. She walked up quietly and gently tapped him.

"Remus, are you awake?" He opened his eyes quickly out of shock.

"Hermione, how are you?" She couldn't help but frown. No matter what Remus was going through, he couldn't help but be cordial.

"I was wondering if we could talk."

"Yes, give me a moment." He easily picked them both up with him and disappeared upstairs. He was back in a few moments. "What is it?" He tried to play casual, but she knew that he was just as tense and she was trying to find a cure for his son.

"It's about you."

"Okay." He said hesitantly.

"Well, Severus found some interesting information that he didn't know previously. He thinks there is a possibility of finding the cure, but in order to create it, we need to collect werewolf blood."

"I see." He sat down and she followed. He leaned over, resting his elbows on his knees. "The full moon comes in a week and a half."

"Yes, and unfortunately we have to collect it from a werewolf that hasn't taken Wolfsbane potion." He shuddered at the thought.

"Hermione, you do understand how hard that could be. I don't even know what I do when I transform, but I could easily kill whoever was collecting the blood."

"We have considered that, but we need the blood and we have to collect it the next full moon."

"It's not going to be easy." He was breathing heavy. "I don't want you or Severus to get hurt."

"We want to do this for Charlie."

"Is it worth your life to risk getting the blood to possibly cure my son?" Remus asked and Hermione let out a loud breath.

"We have faith that the blood will work, and yes it is worth it." Hermione was on the brink of tears. "We would both do anything for him, Remus."

"I know." Remus was silently sobbing into his own sleeve. Hermione walked over to where he was and sat down next to him and hugged him. He hugged her back tightly.

"This is going to be really hard, Hermione. Are you sure that it can be done?"

"Yes." Remus let go and stood up.

"Then I consent to not taking the Wolfsbane. I think we should have a designated safe spot where this can all take place. I don't want to release myself to the world in my werewolf form."

"I understand. The night of your transformation, we are going to have you in a room, chained up. I hope you don't mind."

"I won't even know."

"Okay. I needed your permission."

"Permission granted." Hermione stood from the couch and walked over to give Remus yet another hug. He returned it and they both walked into the kitchen to find Tonks covered in peas.

"That's my Georgie-boy." Remus began to laugh lightly. He scourgified his wife.

"I have to talk to Hermione; you think you can take the boys?" Tonks asked, handing Fred to Remus.

"Sure." He pecked her on the cheek and left the room, a baby in each arm.

Hermione remained relatively silent as she and Tonks both sat down at the table. Tonks was frowning miserably for a good two minutes before she broke down in tears. Hermione quickly moved to where she was and put her arms around her consolingly, remembering very well all she and Tonks went through together, close to nine years ago.

"What is it?" Hermione said as she combed Tonks' dark brown hair back.

"I should be really happy right now." She said through sobs. Hermione tried to piece it all together but was still very confused.

"Why, sweetie? Why should you be really happy?" She mumbled something into Hermione's shoulder. Hermione could vaguely make out part of the sentence. She pulled Tonks away from her and looked into her eyes. "What is it, Tonks?" Tonks let out a hiccup.

"I'm pregnant." She frowned and began to cry. Hermione hugged her and smiled into shoulder.

"That's great news." She whispered near her ear.

"But I can't help but want to cry for my Charlie."

"That's only human. Charlie is your baby, but you have to believe that everything is going to be just fine." Tonks nodded miserably.

"But I can't bring myself to tell Remus. How do I?" Hermione shook her head sorrowfully.

"Just tell him. You need to be happy in a moment like this. You have another baby on the way and now that is your duty. Remus will be happy too. And when Charlie is better, you know he will be ecstatic."

"Remus is already worried that he might have infected Harry, Sirius, Lil, or the twins. He will worry about this baby too."

"You have to tell him, everything will be okay." She hugged Tonks tightly again and cried tears for her friends. She left a half an hour later, feeling miserable. She wanted nothing more than to fix their family again. For years, she admired how wonderful it must be to be Remus or Tonks, but now, they were going through a rough patch. In moments like this, Hermione would forget all about her own problems, believing them to be entirely pathetic in comparison.