It was a full two days before they saw her again; though, Harry confirmed she had spent the first night out with he and Ron, and judging by the amount of baked goods and fresh casseroles now cooling on the sill, she'd spent the second at the Burrow.

She was curled up at the kitchen table when the pair came down for breakfast, wrapped in an afghan from the den and nursing a cup of tea. Tucked in against her chest was a well worn paperback, most likely muggle. Upon hearing them enter, she marked her place with a ribbon and smiled.

"Morning."

"Good Morning, Hermione." Remus took the muffin she offered, while Sirius blew past them both, heading for the icebox. Both brunets twisted in their seats to watch the dark-haired man slam through cabinets and drawers with undirected violence.

bangbangbang! until he found the jam. Then, grabbing some toast, he flounced into the seat next to Remus with the grace of a third year Hufflepuff.

"Have I done something wrong?" Hermione asked, cautious of Sirius' foul mood.

"No," Remus assured her.

"Yes."

He elbowed Sirius in the stomach, fixing him with a stern look before turning back to a quizzical Hermione. "No," he repeated, smiling genially.

Sirius took an overlarge bite of his toast and snapped open the Prophet, muttering another 'yes' under his breath; though, it was so unintelligible through a mouthful of food that only Remus caught it. Hermione, who'd been looking between the two like they were a very interesting tennis match, shook off their strange behavior and allowed herself to smile.

"I know I'm a horrible inconvenience," she said. "I really ought to get my own place – even if I am always gone..."

"Don't be ridiculous," barked Sirius, who'd yet to reappear from behind the paper.

Remus sighed, and placed a comforting hand over Hermione's. "What Sirius means to say, is that you're always more than welcome to stay here. The house is large and empty, with only two old men to fill it."

"That's kind of you to say," she said and took back her hand to grab a scone. "At any rate, I've been called out to Germany – they've a centaur there being held for a crime without any sort of council; utterly barbaric!"

"Germany?" Remus looked shocked; even Sirius had turned down the pages to look at her. "When?"

"Tomorrow," she said, biting into her breakfast.

"So soon?" asked Remus in alarm.

"Mhmm." She wiped the crumbs from her mouth, and started to clean up. "I've got to run into the Ministry to fill out some paperwork – make sure my officers have enough to keep them busy while I'm gone."

Remus stood. "I'll come with you. Minerva has some things for Kingsley I ought to deliver."

Hermione beamed. "Alright." Scooping up her book and tucking the blanket around her shoulders she slipped out of the kitchen, leaving the two men behind at the table.

Sirius dropped the paper onto the floor and pushed back his chair. Remus fidgeted with his cardigan and then folded his arms over his chest; he didn't look at him.

"Remus..."

"Don't."

Sirius' dark eyes fixed on him; confused, wary. "I don't know what—"

"It's nothing. I have to go," Remus rushed.. A quick kiss and he was gone.