A rather timid looking Healer walked into the room, holding a file of papers in front of her. At first Remus thought she was lost. She wasn't one of his Healer's and she was shaking like this was her first day on the job.

"Mr. Lupin, we're going to – we have to ask you to leave."

"A hospital refusing to treat someone?"

"I… your – your paperwork is…..well….St. Mungo's new policy is to only treat…well…we don't help…dark creatures."

"I should hardly think I'm a danger to you," Remus pointed out, struggling to get to his feet.

"Werewolves…well….you might not…be dangerous now…but….surely – surely you know what you are?"

"I know full well what I am and what I am capable of, thank you," Remus snipped, panting at the effort it took him to stand upright, even with his hand on the bedpost for support.

A high pitched voice rang out behind the Healer. "Is there going to be an issue, Lupin? I should hardly think you want to cause a scene. We wouldn't want to call in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, would we? Although," she let out a shrill giggle, " I am sure your wife would support the decision."

Remus was silent, glaring at her through hazy pain. The Healer at least had the good-grace to look down at the floor. Umbridge maintained her innocently evil look.

"Is there going to be an issue?" She repeated.

Remus kept his silence, but slowly moved past her. His face was burning with humiliation. Of all the things he couldn't do and the places he couldn't go, a hospital was now one of them. As he passed through the doorframe, Umbridge waved her wand at him and his bandages fell to the ground. The release of pressure around his ribs caused the pain to soar back again. He wrapped his arms tightly around his chest.

"St. Mungo's property."

"Of course." He pushed past her, arms still wrapped around tightly around himself. As he walked down the hospital halls, Healer's backed away from him, muttering to each other. Remus had no idea where to go now. He couldn't heal himself, not with injuries like this at least. He could go to a muggle hospital he supposed, but he knew enough to know that without a muggle social security number or a health insurance, he would be unlikely to treated without a fair bit of questions. That, and he had no car or muggle transportation to get himself to a muggle hospital, even assuming he knew where the nearest one was.

Stepping outside of the hospital, he realized he had a bigger concern. He had no wand. He didn't have it when he transformed, although he couldn't remember if they had taken it or if he had dropped it when he was stunned. Either way, he was stuck in the middle of muggle London with no money, no wand, and broken ribs. He started his slow and agony-filled walk down the street. He had gone one block and his breath was coming in short, harsh wheezes. He felt like he had been running a marathon. Each breath he took was like a shard of glass being thrust into his lungs. He leaned against the window of an abandoned nail salon, eyes closed tightly as he focused on his breathing.

"Hermione! Over here!"

Arthur Weasley was running towards Remus. A few feet away from, Hermione was making her way to him, pushing through the crowds of people intent on their shopping.

"Remus!"

"They – kicked – me – out. Umbridge – "

"We know, Remus." Arthur told him gravelly. "The entire Ministry got the memo that Umbridge was headed to St. Mungo's to…deal with someone. And everyone knows that all she bothers with these days are her ridiculous laws. I don't know she found out so quickly where you were, normally things like that in the Ministry take a few days."

"You knew?"

"I did too." Hermione said sadly. "Harry told me to keep quite about your condition and how you got your injuries. I just…didn't think they would kick you…at least…at least not until you were healed."

"Well, let's get him in the car."

Remus looked a little bit alarmed for a few seconds. He could vaguely recall stories about Mr. Weasely's last car that was still roaming around in the Forbidden Forest.

"I'm driving, Remus. It's my car. I don't use it all that much, but….here's my chance."

She and Arthur carefully guided Remus towards Hermione's car. He looked almost worse than when he had been brought to St. Mungo's to begin with. Arthur laid him down on the backseat while Hermione started to cast protective charms around him.

"We'll take you to the Burrow. I'm sure Molly will be able to fix you right up."

Remus was unconscious by the time they could bring him to the Burrow. Molly fixed him back up as best as she could by replacing his bandages and trying more charms to heal the deeper cuts. She left Remus on the well-worn couch. Hermione sat nervously on the chair nearby. She had been hesitant about bringing Remus to the Burrow seeing as Ron wasn't exactly thrilled with the pair of them. Molly and Arthur assured her that Ron hadn't been back to the Burrow for weeks. Besides, Molly was far better and more experienced with complex healing spells than Hermione.

"Hermione?"

She looked up from her book. Her gaze wasn't exactly the most welcoming, but nor was it hostile, which Remus took as a good sign.

"I – Merlin, Hermione. I'm so sorry. I never – "

"– you don't need to apologize."

"Hermione, I have to apolo – "

"– no, you don't." "I understand. You're worried about me. I should have told you." She walked over to the couch and lightly kissed him on the lips.

Remus looked up at her startled.

"I am allowed to kiss my husband."

"I…Hermione, just remember we're only married on paper. Don't…don't get emotionally invested past that."

She smiled lightly. "A little too late for that, don't you think? Unless," her smiled vanished quickly, "you don't feel the same way…"

"I…I love you, Hermione. But that doesn't change the fact that I could easily kill you. For the short time while this law is in affect it works fine. Can you imagine 5 years with me? 10? I can't find a job. I'm no longer permitted in a hospital. A lifetime of me draining your money and not just for food and housing. New clothes every month as I shred mine. Wolfsbane potion, healing potions and medicines. I know you, Hermione. You would feel like you had an obligation to buy everything for me and to care for me. You would give up your own life just to patch up my own pathetic one."

"Yes. You're right. I can imagine life with you in 5 or 10 years. The idea of waking up next to you every morning and coming home to you every night is wonderful, Remus. I know no one will hire you. And I don't have an obligation to do things for you. I want to, Remus. I love you. I am not going to let you suffer every month! Not when I can help it."

"I appreciate your concern, Hermione, I really do. I just can't in good conscious take advantage of you like that."

"Remus, if our positions were swapped, what would you do?"

He didn't answer. He didn't need to. Hermione knew that is she was inflicted with lycanthropy, Remus would give her anything and everything that she needed. He was overprotective and they both knew it.

"I would care for you."

"So why can't I do the same for you? Why are you so against us actually being together?"

"I… I just can't imagine you'd want to stay with a monster for that long."

"Your scared." She crouched down and grabbed one of his hands and held it in her much smaller ones. "I promise, this isn't some short fling. I'm not just in it for the idea of danger and then running out. We've been together for months, Remus. I know what being a true werewolf's wife involves. I'm ready for it."

"We'll see, Hermione. It's not that I'm against the idea…I just…"

"You need more time. I understand." She stood up and kissed him again. "I'll be here whenever you're ready."