A/N: I apologise for the long delay in posting this. College took up most of my time these past few years, and I haven't written anything new in a very long time. I don't want to abandon this story though, and I hope I will find the time to finish it soon. Please read and review, constructive criticism is always greatly appreciated.

Chapter 3

Hermione went to bed again soon after dinner, curled up with Crookshanks and slept through the night, and when she woke up the next morning she felt much better. She was up early and when she got down to the kitchen to make herself some breakfast no one was up yet, not even Molly. Hermione hoped she would be able to finish her breakfast before meeting her, because she really wasn't in the mood to have to deal with her chatting and wanting help with all kinds of stuff, even though Hermione felt much better, she felt too tired to do everything people wanted her to. She got out a frying pan and some toast and made some grilled cheese, which she had loved since she was a kid. She was glad Mrs. Weasley didn't come down early, as she felt sure she would have berated her for eating such fat food. But just as she placed the two pieces of toast on the pan, Remus walked into the kitchen dressed in loose jeans and a t-shirt.

"Morning Mione, feeling any better?" he asked and smiled at her.

"Loads," she smiled, "Want me to make you a toast too?" she then asked, and Remus nodded gratefully. It didn't take many minutes before they were done, and the two sat down to eat. A couple of minutes later Dumbledore walked in. Nobody was staying at Hogwarts over the Holidays so he had decided to join the Weasleys, Harry, Hermione, Remus and Sirius for Christmas, and he had brought Snape with him, as he was without a family.

"Good morning" he announced cheerfully as he walked into the room, and Hermione and Remus answered him politely. Dumbledore waved his wand and a plate of eggs and bacon appeared in front of the seat he had taken.

"So what are your plans for today, miss Granger?" he asked, "I heard Molly needed your help with some cleaning…" Remus looked seriously at Hermione. He knew she didn't want to be bossed around by Mrs. Weasley, but he was unsure if she would tell Dumbledore so or not. But at the same time he was sure that Hermione would hate if he tried to fight her war.

"I actually had other plans, sir," she answered and looked down at her food. Dumbledore raised a questioning eyebrow.

"And what might that be?" he asked. Hermione didn't answer at first, but then after a small while she raised her head and looked at the older man.

"That's my private business, sir," she answered in a clear voice. Remus smiled slightly, he was quite impressed, and it was clear no one was going to talk Hermione out of whatever it was she had planned. Dumbledore looked a little shocked, but didn't protest. This surprised Remus a bit, because Albus Dumbledore had never been a man to stay out of anybody else's business, even if they wanted him to, but Remus was secretly very happy that he had chosen to do so today. Hermione finished her toast in silence and went upstairs to take a shower and get dressed. Half an hour later she walked down into the hallway and put on her coat.

"Going out?" a sweet voice asked behind her as her hand found the doorknob. She turned around.

"Please don't tell anyone, Dumbledore and Mrs. Weasley would kill me, but I need to get out of here for a while," she said, looking at him with pleading eyes.

"Hermione you know it's too dangerous to go out, not all death eaters have been caught yet, and you're still…"

"I know Remus, but I really need to get out, I've been trapped in this house far too long, and there's somebody I need to see," she interrupted him. Remus held her gaze for a long while.

"At least allow me to escort you then," he said with a sigh.

"I suppose I can trust you, and you'd probably be a good moral support," she smiled and turned the knob and opened the door, and they slipped out. The two of them didn't talk much as they took the bus to the edge of London, close to where Hermione's parents had lived before the attack.

"Would you mind telling me where we're going and what we're doing?" Remus asked quietly when they stepped off the bus.

"First I'm going to pick up some flowers down the road," she pointed down to a small florist shop further down the small road, "And then we're going to the church, where I'm meeting the priest. It may be a little alternative, but dad will get a funeral, where at least some of his loved ones will attend. He deserves that." Remus just nodded. Hermione's mom had ordered two large buckets of flowers for the funeral that Hermione picked up, and then she bought one herself.

"I'm so terribly sorry to hear about what happened to your parents Hermione," the lady behind the desk said earnestly, "Is your mom still in hospital?"

"Yes," Hermione nodded, "but she's getting better, and she will be all right."

"You must tell her I wish her all the best, won't you dear?" the lady continued, "And for you too. Please Hermione, you must take care of yourself in these hard times, and not only worry about others, promise me that, won't you?"

"Yes Mrs. Morrison, I promise," Hermione smiled. Mrs. Morrison laid a hand on her should and asked them to wait just a bit longer before she bound one more bucket of flowers.

"This is from Oliver and me," she said, "Take it with you to the church yard, won't you. I know it's not a lot, but I hope you're aware that your mother and you are always welcome with us at anytime." Hermione nodded and greeted Mrs. Morrison, before she turned to leave, but then she though better of it.

"Mrs. Morrison, can I ask you a favour?" she asked.

"Of course, dear. Anything," came the answer.

"When mum gets home, will you please visit her, and insist to spend time with her instead of just telling her she's always welcome? I know my mum, and so do you, and she won't ask for help, even though she needs it, because she would never admit it," Hermione said, and Mrs. Morrison nodded and agreed to do as Hermione said.

"Your mother sounds remarkably like someone I know," Remus said with a small smile. Hermione returned it.

"I know," she said, "But thankfully you didn't take no for an answer, and since that night I've seen that it actually helps, so I wanted my mum to get the same." Remus just looked at her with a smile and put his arm around her shoulders, hugging her close.

The sky was grey and cloudy and it was windy. There was still lying some snow around on the small churchyard, but most of it had melted away. The priest met the two of them outside the small chapel. He greeted them silently. Inside stood an older lady, and looked down at a man in a coffin. Hermione ran over to her and hugged her tightly.

"Oh I'm so happy to see you grandma," she said, her voice relieved.

"Oh Mione, little Mione, are you okay?" her grandmother asked. She was probably in her late 70's. Hermione nodded.

"Yes, considering everything, I'm doing all right," she said, then proceeded to introduce Remus, "Grandma, this is Remus. He agreed to come with me so I could get out. And Remus, this is my grandmother, Josephine Granger." Remus greeted her silently, but otherwise remained in the back. Hermione walked over to the coffin and looked down. It hadn't been closed yet, and she looked down at her father. He had been a handsome man, tall and with dark brown hair, his eyes had been a greenish brown, but they had been closed now. He looked peaceful, but his mouth was twisted in a way that witnessed he had died in pain. Hermione shut her eyes tightly and a few tears dropped down onto the white sheet that covered her father's body. Her grandmother gently laid her hand on the young girl's shoulder, trying to silently comfort her.

Remus thought the small funeral very beautiful. The priest said a small prayer and they sang a psalm. Then a couple of workers in the church closed the coffin, and helped carry it to the churchyard and burry it. Then they went into the chapel again and came back with flowers.

"A lot of family members and friends sent flowers," the priest said as they were all laid down. The news of Mr Granger's death had been in the paper, but it had said that the funeral would take place in silence, and so, people had just sent flowers. Hermione couldn't hold back her tears, there were so many flowers and she was quite impressed. The whole grave was filled with flowers in all colours.

"Wouldn't the two of you like to go with me out to lunch?" the older Mrs Granger asked when they had stood silently for a while. Hermione looked pleadingly at Remus, who nodded. They had been gone for hours anyway, what would it matter if they stayed away for a few more. They went to a small café in muggle London and had a beer and a sandwich and talked about this and that. After a little hour Hermione excused herself to go to the bathroom, and Mrs Granger turned to Remus.

"I just want to thank you for helping my granddaughter," she said.

"Really, it's nothing, ma'am," he answered, but the older lady shook her head.

"Yes it is," she insisted, "I can't be there as much as I want to and with Helen in hospital in the States she isn't able to either. And every time Hermione has mailed me since the accident she has seemed lonely, even though she never said so specifically. I don't suppose her peers have been able to understand what she's going through, and it's important for her to have someone she can turn to and who's close to her."

"It's a pleasure to help her," Remus said, "Hermione has been a lot for everyone, and she's scared to tell many of the others because she's afraid they won't be able to handle her breakdown. And I'm very sorry to say I think she's right. She's been a rock for everyone during this war, the one with the cool and calm overview, and that's how everyone sees her. And most of her friends her age have been lucky enough to get out of the war unharmed. Their families are all right, well except from Harry's of course, but he lost his parents when he was only one year old, so he doesn't really know what he's without, and because of that it's hard for them to take part in her grief. They are all just really relieved that the war is over, and somehow Hermione, and I, don't think they'll be able deal with a sad Hermione…"

"Well, I'm glad you are," Mrs Granger told him earnestly.

"Oh where have you two been?" Mrs Weasley shrieked when Remus and Hermione walked through the door to Grimmauld Place an hour later. Hermione didn't answer and Remus looked sternly at Molly, silently requesting she didn't ask. Molly glared back at him, but didn't say anymore. Hermione walked upstairs where she found Harry, Ron and Ginny talking in the boys' room, and she decided to join them, in their fun, at least they were still there when she needed to laugh.

Remus joined Molly in the kitchen after Hermione had gone.

"Would you please tell me what's going on between you two?" Molly demanded when they were alone.

"What do you mean, what's going on between us?" Remus asked, having a vague feeling he knew exactly what she meant.

"The girl didn't get up yesterday, and went out today without permission, and you were with her all the time. I'm not stupid, Remus, and I won't let you use her!"

"Use her? I haven't, and I won't," Remus stated.

"Why else would she be acting as she is? She was fine up until yesterday morning, and then she suddenly stays in bed, and you were with her. And today you were gone before anybody was up. And she doesn't talk to anyone! She's sad, and it's obvious it's got something to do with you!" Molly was angry, and Remus knew that there was nothing he could say to her without breaking Hermione's trust, that would make the woman change her mind.

"Molly, think this through!" he demanded, "Doesn't Hermione have a reason to be sad? Hasn't she been through more than most people twice her age? Are you really surprised by her behaviour?"

"Yes I am" Molly said, "She's a strong girl, and she was doing more than fine until you came along Remus. I'm so disappointed in you, and I won't have you near Hermione again. Leave her be, Remus!"

Remus just shook his head and walked out of the kitchen. He didn't know how to deal with this, Molly's state of denial was obviously worse than at first anticipated if she would go as far as to accuse him of forcing the girl into some sort of relationship she didn't want. He was sure that if he told Molly what had happened she would think it through more closely, and think twice about it, but he couldn't do that to Hermione. Something in him thought her far more important than Molly, and frankly he would rather have Molly thinking about him as some sort of pervert than hurt Hermione.

He didn't see her for the rest of the day, and he supposed she was with Harry and Ron. So he went to the library to get some peace and quiet, but when he opened the door he found Sirius lying on one of the couches with a book.

"I didn't think you would be home until tomorrow," Remus said, eyeing his old friend.

"I decided to come home a day early, missed everyone…" Sirius shrugged, "So, what happened between you and Molly just before?"

"You heard that?"

"Only vaguely…" Sirius answered, "I couldn't hear what you talked about, only that she was apparently cross with you."

"She was angry that I stopped her from waking Hermione up yesterday and that I went with her out this morning… And as that behaviour isn't like Hermione, Molly has gotten the strange idea that I'm somehow forcing her to participate in something she doesn't want to be a part of," Remus answered with a deep sigh, and sat down on the sofa.

"Like what?" Sirius asked with a cheeky grin. Remus chuckled.

"I think you know," he smiled, "And I hope you know there's no truth to her ramblings."

"Of course… But why didn't you just tell Molly what's happened? I suppose something has…" Sirius said.

"Yeah, something has, but it's Hermione's story to tell, not mine, and I respect that…" Remus answered. Then he leaned back and closed his eyes.

"I suppose that's fair enough…" Sirius contemplated, "and look at the bright side, Molly's probably not going to be bothering you about this and that for a while."

"No, I suppose not, but she will be bothering me to stay away from Hermione," Remus said.

The two old friends stayed in the library throughout the afternoon and evening. They skipped dinner too. Remus didn't think it wise to piss off Molly further, and staying out of her hair was probably the best way to do so. Sirius wasn't really hungry, and he wanted to catch up with Remus anyway.