The rest of the gang woke up early and snuck to the girls dorms. Sirius and James thought it would be a good idea to "wake" Hermione and Remus up. Lily went to make sure they didn't do anything stupid. When they opened up the room and yelled surprise, no one was there. Sirius shrugged his shoulders and lewdly commented, "Moony must have worked up an appetite and they are in the great hall already." Lily smacked his arm and rolled her eyes as they all headed down for breakfast.
Remus and Hermione were excused from the hospital wing just after breakfast started. They had to walk a little slower because of Hermione's injury, which caused her to walk with a limp. They pushed the doors open and made their way to their seats. James nudged Sirius and they both watched Hermione limp to her seat by Lily.
"So Moony, things get a little rough last night? I know you're an animal and all, but you've got the poor girl limping this morning!" James said to his blushing friend.
"That didn't happen last night." Remus was so red he matched the Gryffindor house colours.
Sirius looked at him in disbelief. "Yes, of course, I always make girls limp and sore when I do nothing to them, too." Remus mumbled something and looked down at his bowl of porridge.
Further down the table Lily and Hermione were talking.
"Lily, I'm telling you, we didn't have sex. We slept beside each other, but not the other thing."
"Alright, I believe you. What I don't understand is why not? We heard a bunch of moaning, so it couldn't have been that he repulsed you."
"No, he doesn't repulse me at all, in fact the complete opposite. That moaning you heard was Remus giving me one of the best back rubs I've ever had."
"Ok, we better get going before we're late for DADA." Both girls grabbed their books and followed the rest of the students heading out to classes.
In class, Lily sat by Hermione and the two copied notes. They had a double DADA class three days a week with the Slytherins. The first day was note-taking and practical theory, the second, wand movement and wording and the third they would put everything together and practice the spells on each other or some other object if it was too dangerous to practice on other people. Hermione liked this method of learning, but she already knew most of these spells because of the DA and since she had already completed half of her 7th year in her own time.
Today they finished their note-taking and Professor Right announced they would do some practice dueling. It had been announced a couple of days earlier that a dueling club would be starting. Hermione smiled when she remembered the dueling club she had been a part of. She, Harry and Ron had all practiced wandless magic as part of their training for the club, DA and the final battle. They hadn't really gotten a chance to use it before the final battle erupted. Hermione was almost as good as Harry, who seemed to be a natural at it. She snapped out of her day dream when she heard her name and Lucius Malfoys called to pair off.
"Sir, I don't think it's fair to pair Hermione off with Malfoy. He tends to fight dirty and she is new to this school. It would only be fair for her to first see what kind of dueler she is going up against."
"Mr. Black, when you are dueling an emeny, do you get to see what their technique is like or watch them duel someone else first?"
"No, sir."
"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger?"
"Now bow, wands at the ready. You will keep it clean and no Unforgivables, is that understood?" Both nodded their heads in understanding. Lucius smirked to his friends and commented how easy this win would be.
"Begin!" Professor Right shouted.
"Serpensortia!"
"Relashio!"
"Sectumseptra!"
"Protego!"
This went on for a little while; Lucius firing spells at Hermione and her blocking them. Lucius was looking more and more smug and decided he was growing bored. He wanted to end this and threw another spell at her.
"Impedimenta!" The spell hit Hermione and everything slowed down. Lucius then yelled, "Expelliarmus!" Hermione's wand flew to him and he smiled at the rest of the Slytherins.
"Well, Professor, it seems that Miss Granger no longer has her wand, so I guess that means I win this duel." Lucius was being very condescending and arrogant.
James, Sirius and Remus all shook their heads and felt bad for Hermione. The spell lifted off her and her movements went back to normal.
She stood up and rubbed her hands together in a ball. Quickly, she started opening her hands more and in between them was a fireball. It only took a couple of seconds until it was the size of a softball. She called out to Lucius.
"Lucius, I do believe I am still in this duel!" Everyone turned and looked at her, astonished. She then blew the fireball towards Lucius. It surrounded him and grew in size.
Lucius yelled out, "Waddiwasi!" while pointing to various objects around the room. Several of these were weapons that were hanging on the walls. Hermione's instincts took over and she jumped into the air, doing a back flip. She landed on Professor Right's desk and spun around to face Lucius. Everyone watching gasped; it seemed that everything was going in slow motion. She had a feral look in her eyes and she crouched down looking ready to pounce.
Remus had been watching and he was fighting the urge to shred Lucius. Hermione looked to be holding her own, but he was having trouble fighting his instincts to protect her.
Hermione held up her hand and yelled out, "Reducto!" All of the objects that Lucius had sent towards her blasted away and dissintegrated. She stood on the desk and again held out her hand. She casually flicked her wrist and ropes came flying around Lucius. She then turned her palm over and Lucius flipped in the air and was suspended midair. She hopped off the table and bowed to Lucius and then to Professor Right.
Professor Right had been quiet this whole time. He went over to Lucius and released him, taking back Hermione's wand before giving it to her.
"Miss Granger, where did you learn to do wandless magic?"
"By reading and practicing it."
"You mean to tell me that you learned to do a nearly impossible thing just by reading it and practicing?"
"Yes, sir."
"You do realize that most adult wizards can't do what you just did, even with years of learning and practice? Although it shouldn't come as a surprise, considering who your grandfather is." The class started whispering at this point and Hermione just smiled at the professor.
Class was almost finished when a note came fluttering down onto Hermione's desk. She put it on her lap and opened it. It simply said, "I really need to talk to you. Meet me at dinner in the main entrance. SS" Hermione knew who this was. She looked towards Severus and saw he was looking ahead. She gave him a small smile and went back to work. He acknowledged that he saw with a small, unnoticable nod.
The bell went and the class poured out. The day went fairly quickly and before she knew it, it was time to head down for dinner. She lagged behind and told the rest she would meet up with them. She came to the entrance and saw Severus leaning against a wall.
"What did you need to talk to me about? I don't want you to get into trouble."
"Why are you being so nice to me?"
"You are a person and no one deserves to be treated the way you have. Is that all you wanted?"
"No, the real reason I asked you here was to see if you could teach me how to use wandless magic. Even in my own house I am not accepted and am sometimes caught with a disadvantage. My housemates think it is funny to take my wand away and practice certain spells on me."
"Oh, Severus, that is awful."
"I didn't ask for your pity. Can you teach, me or not?"
"Yes, I can. Meet me in the hall leading to the potions classroom tomorrow night at nine. If you are late, I will know you weren't serious. I won't tell anyone what we are doing and you can tell your friends that you hexed me. Sound fair enough to you?"
"Yes, that is acceptable."
Hermione walked away mumbling, "Always the same old Snape, you haven't changed much."
Severus thought it was strange that she would say this, he had only just met her. Shaking is head he went into the Great Hall and sat down by Lucius.
Hermione went to the loo and then into the Great Hall. She sat beside Lily and had a fairly uneventful dinner.
In the common room later, Lily and Hermione were almost finished with their homework when one of the other 7th year guys came up and sat beside Hermione. He put his arm around her shoulders and started to whisper in her ear. She shifted away from him and smiled politely. He shifted closer and placed one of his hands on hers.
"Ummm, Walter, right? I'm kind of seeing someone right now. Could you kindly move over and take your hands off of me?"
"I don't see anyone around here looking cozy with you, except me. I also haven't heard of you hooking up with anyone, so it can't be that serious."
"Actually it is very serious and I will not ask you again to take your hands off of me." Walter leered at her. Remus heard the last of the conversation and saw Hermione wiggling away from Walter. Walter had a reputation as a ladies man, but where he and Sirius differed was that Sirius knew to stop when a lady said no. Remus watched as Walter tried to kiss Hermione and she smacked him. Walter was not the type to let a female hit him and get away with it. He drew his hand back the room resounded with a crack. Hermione fell to the ground and grabbed her cheek. Remus growled and both James and Sirius looked at their friend, surprised. He stood up and stalked over to Hermione and Walter. He grabbed Walter by the collar and lifted the poor man up off the couch and hung him in the air. Walter was looking a little scared.
James and Sirius ran over and tried calming their friend down.
"Remus, just put him down. Whatever it is, we can all talk about it."
"Come on, Remus, don't do anything stupid."
Remus continued to stare into the mans eyes and growl. Walter was looking very scared by this time and tried to reason with his housemate.
"She was looking like she needed some stess relief." This was totally the wrong thing to say and Remus threw Walter onto the couch and circled the mans throat with his hands. Someone yelled to go and get Professor McGonagall. Remus could only think that this scum was trying to harm his mate. Walter was still pinned to the couch by Remus when Professor McGonagall came running into the room. She gasped at the sight before her. Remus was still choking Walter, who was turning a pale shade of blue.
"Mr.Lupin, unhand Mr. Ryerson right this instant!" Remus ignored his head of house. The rage he felt was almost threatening to overwhelm him. Hermione got her focus back and saw what Remus was doing. She walked over to him, but before she could get there, Sirius grabbed her around the waist.
"Don't go near him. I never seen him this way before, not even in his other form." Hermione knew what Sirius meant, but she also knew that she could calm him down.
"Put me down, Sirius."
"Ok, but don't say I didn't warn you."
Hermione walked towards Remus and Professor McGonagall yelled at her to stop.
"Miss Granger, please stay away from Mr. Lupin. There is no telling what he may do. I think we will have to call Professor Dumbledore to stun him. He would be the only one powerful enough."
"Professor, let me try and talk to him first." Hermione placed her hand on Remus' arm and he spun around to look at her and growl. The moment he growled Hermione said sternly, "Remus, that is enough. I am fine, I am unharmed. There is no reason for this nonsense. Stop it, now."
Remus could see his mate standing before him and knew she was saying something, but he couldn't tell what she was saying. He started to feel calmer the more she talked to him. He realized what he was doing and released Walter, who immediately scurried away. He reached over to Hermione and started to look her over. Hermione let him inspect her. She knew he needed to do this, as her mate. He needed to see that she was unharmed. Everyone in the common room watched as Remus felt over Hermione's body and sniffed her. He then rubbed his face into hers and nuzzled her neck.
Professor Dumbledore had stepped into the room when Remus released Walter and had seen him checking over Hermione. Professor McGonagall stepped over to him and quietly asked, "Is this normal, Albus?"
"Perfectly, my dear. She is after all his mate and his instincts tell him he needs to protect her and make sure she is not harmed. I wouldn't expect anything less from him. She is perfectly safe with him." He turned and walked out of the room again.
Remus put his hand on her cheek and noticed the red mark and heat that was still there. He growled again and James and Sirius, who had been kneeling beside the couple, stepped back. Hermione looked into Remus' eyes and put her hand on his cheek.
"Remus, I am fine. This mark will heal. Please don't do anything that will take you away from me. You are scaring me, please calm down." Hermione said quietly to him. Remus finally registered what she was saying and realized that he was scaring her. He hugged onto her and promised, "I will never do anything to harm you and I won't be seperated from you. I love you too much."
"I love you too, Remus."
The couple sat on the couch holding each other. James, Lily and Sirius all sat near Remus and Hermione. The rest of the group watched the couple snuggle into each other and soon Hermione drifted off to sleep. Remus picked her up and carried her into their new rooms.