Chapter 4

Hermione actually enjoyed talking with Harry, Ron and Ginny again. She found that she could once again appreciate the company and laugh freely, probably because she had gotten her balled up grief out of her system, and she was so thankful to Remus. She did note that he was missing at dinner, but as Harry had told her Sirius had arrived home from his holiday a day early and he was missing too, she supposed they were probably catching up, the two of them were after all, very close. So instead she decided to just enjoy the company of her friends. When dinner was over she excused herself to go find Sirius and Remus. Mrs. Weasley very obviously tried to get her out of it, but Hermione brushed it off and went upstairs. She found the two of them in the library.

"Hi Hermione, good to see you," Sirius waved her over. Remus looked up with a start and smiled.

"So you got passed Molly?" he raised his eyebrow.

"Hi Sirius, good to see you too" Hermione acknowledged Sirius' greeting before turning to Remus, "well, she did try to stop me, but I don't know why… What have you said to her?"

"Nothing, she just… well…" Remus couldn't really go on, and Sirius started laughing hard. Remus shot him a look, but that only made him laugh harder. When he calmed down Hermione looked questioningly at him, knowing he was more likely to give her a straight answer than Remus.

"Well, let's just say Molly thinks Remus is forcing you into some kind of perverted relationship you don't want," he said matter-of-factly.

"WHAT?" Hermione shrieked, "She said that?" this came more quietly and turned to Remus.

"Not so directly, no, but it was implied," he answered, ever so slightly blushing. Hermione started laughing.

"Well, at least she's taking it well," Sirius remarked to Remus.

"Seriously, the woman is demented, but you're not getting rid of me that easily, Remus," Hermione shook her head and rolled her eyes.

"I should hope not," Remus remarked as she sat down between them on the couch and leaned back. A smile crossed her lips.

"Actually I just wanted to thank you again, Remus," she said turning more serious, "Today, after we came home was the first time in days I've been able to have fun with the others without wishing I could be somewhere else, without just wanting to ball up in a dark room and cry my eyes out. And it's probably because you were there to help me through it." Remus pulled her close and hugged her.

"It's nothing Hermione, I'll be here anytime you need it," he whispered.

"I know," she smiled, and raised her head again.

"So let me get this straight," Sirius said from her other side, "It's about your dad, right?"

"Yeah," Hermione answered, "I found it really hard to deal with his death, but I didn't really dare to tell anyone, because I was so afraid that they wouldn't be able to handle it. So I carried on as if nothing ever happened, and balled up everything inside. But when I was alone I couldn't keep up a façade, I couldn't fool myself and I would cry. Remus found me once, but though I tried to push him away he would have none of it, and thinking it over that probably saved me from going completely mental," she continued her explanation, and Sirius listened closely.

"You know what amazes me?" he asked at the end of her story. Hermione shook her head no.

"It amazes me that you, in a situation as the one you just described, are still able to think of others before yourself, to make sure they're able to handle everything before letting anything on. It's a wonder, Hermione. And sometimes Remus is probably right that it isn't always a good thing."

"I know that now," Hermione said, "But everything worked out all right, thankfully."

"It's not the end of anything yet, Hermione," Remus said, "It's only just begun."

"I know that," she answered, "What I mean is that I can see light at the end of the tunnel. I'm actually able to enjoy what I have and think back on my memories with happiness now. And it probably won't take long before I can talk about things with Harry and Ron either." Both Remus and Sirius smiled, knowing she was going to be all right.

"Well, then we only have Molly to worry about," Sirius chuckled, and the three of them started laughing. They just sat and talked for a while and eventually Hermione fell asleep on Remus shoulder. He carried her to her room an hour later, trying not to wake her up. He succeeded too, but when he came out of her room he came face to face with Molly.

"I thought I told you not to come near her!" She hissed at him.

"Please be quiet Molly," he said quietly, "she's asleep."

"I don't care if she's asleep," Molly said harshly, "I want you to stay away from her, Remus, is that clear? I will not let you harm the poor girl!" Remus breathed in deeply trying to calm himself. He placed his hands on Molly's shoulders and stirred her away from Hermione's door.

"I have not harmed Hermione, and I never will," he started to explain patiently, "she fell asleep in the library and I carried her to bed, there's no more to it. And you are in no place to decide who she can and cannot associate with, that is Hermione's decision, and hers alone, is that clear?" He opened the door to the room she shared with her husband and gently shoved her inside, closing the door before she could say anymore. He sighed deeply and frustratedly and shook his head as he walked to his own room.