"Hermione, are you sure he never – "
"If you ask me that one more time, I will hex your mouth shut. I appreciate your concern, Harry, but you know Remus. He would lock himself up in Azkaban if he ever hurt me."
"If he ever does – "
"Do you think I can't handle myself?"
Harry grinned. "Remus wouldn't know what hit him. I just want you to know we're here for you."
"I know. And I appreciate that. But Remus wouldn't do anything like that. If he does, I promise I will go straight to you. But all those pictures and articles have not been us."
"So where is Rita getting this from?"
"The same place as everywhere else. You remember what she said about Harry and I our fourth year. She makes up everything she can."
"But you think Tonks is in this?"
"She's the only one who can morph, Remus says werewolves can't be polyjuiced. She and Rita must have planned this out for publicity."
Ron came walking into the kitchen and sat down between Ginny and Hermione.
"What's up with Lupin?"
Hermione looked at him puzzled. "Isn't he still talking with Dumbledore? The Ministry hearing is in a few days and he offered to help. Dumbledore feels horrible that Remus was fired, but the Board of Governors has never really been on his side…he can't go against them or the Ministry."
"He wasn't with Dumbledore when I saw him. He's was sitting in the library, looks like someone died…"
"Thanks. I better go find out what Dumbledore told him."
Ginny tilted her head to the door. "Or you should just ask him."
Hermione started to rise from her chair, but Remus shook his head and walked over the other end of the table.
"He recommends we go out in public, Three Broomsticks, Leaky Cauldron, places like that so people can see us – the real us. He also wanted to know if you three could be witnesses. Hermione will have to testify, obviously…but – but they will most likely accusing me of coercing her. Most of the Order can't testify for me because they've only known me through meetings."
Not surprisingly, all three of them agreed to testify for Remus.
"Who else can testify?"
"Only those considered my co-workers, so Minerva and Albus. They'll see Albus as biased though…hiring a werewolf discredits him. Severus will have to testify against me for – for what happened at school."
"Can't Sirius say it was his fault?"
"An ex-convict whose friends with a werewolf? He won't be allowed in the court."
Remus' tone was so dejected and monotone it left the others unsure of what to say. Harry started to eye Hermione uncomfortably. She took the hint.
"Remus, why won't we start of this "good publicity" idea. We could head to the Three Broomsticks for lunch."
Remus nodded. Hermione said her goodbyes, whispering an apology in Harry's ear before she left.
Hermione and Remus walked into the Three Broomstick with their arms linked together, walking a bit closer than they normally would have. As usual, the pub was crowded. As soon as the entered, people's gazes drifted towards Hermione and Remus. The volume in the room went down as furious muttering broke out. Remus made to turn back out the door.
"Why don't you order drinks and I'll grab us a seat?"
Remus walked off towards Rosmerta and Hermione got a seat as far away from the whispers as possible. Hermione sat uncomfortably for a few minutes, fully aware that of the stares she was still receiving. Remus came back to the table with a mug of butterbeer and another one with hot chocolate.
"I never knew you didn't like butterbeer."
"Oh, I have nothing against it, but after coming here for so long it does lose a bit of the attraction."
"And you have a horrible chocolate addiction."
"That may have something to do with it. Rosmerta always made the best…none of the watery stuff other places serve."
"Was she – alright with us being here?"
"She gossips enough, but she knows better to listen to Rita Skeeter."
"At least someone here has enough sense. You would think that after the war we'd be less of a interest."
"You, Harry, and Ron will always be people of interest, I'm afraid. I imagine you'll be in history textbooks in a few years."
"Oh, I hope not."
They sat in silence for a few minutes, sipping their drinks. Remus was first to break the silence.
"Listen, I'm sorry for how I've been acting.. I know I haven't been quite the conversationalist lately. I didn't want to pull you away from the others like that."
"You've been stressed. It's normal. It will all be over after the trial. Harry and Ginny understand and Ron isn't that observant."
"Hermione, if the trial doesn't – " he broke off as Rosmerta came over to their table with a tray of empty glasses, clearing away their empty mugs.
"Can I get you anything else?"
"No, thank you." Remus told her and she meandered off to the other tables.
"Remus, they have nothing to hold you on. It will be Tonks' word against everyone else."
"Perhaps. You do have the distinct advantage of being my wife."
"That does give me a bit more authority doesn't it?" Hermione look thoughtfully at Remus. He wasn't looking at her. He was shifting awkwardly in his seat and beads of sweat were appearing on his forehead. "Remus? Are you alright?"
"I think – I think we should leave. I don't – let's just get out of here."
"Why? What's wrong?"
Remus looked around and said quietly, "I can feel the wolf. Something's wrong. It's not close enough to the full moon, I shouldn't be losing control to him like this."
"What does he want? Are you sick or…."
"The wolf…wants his mate. Badly." Remus groaned. "I've never felt him this strongly. You need to leave, Hermione. I don't think I can control him."
"It's not the full moon though. You won't transform."
"No, but the wolf is always in my mind. If he takes over…he won't be gentle."
"Then let's leave. We can stop at St. Mungo's."
She stood up and helped Remus up. He was shaking and muttering to himself, but as soon as he felt Hermione's hand on his arm and winced and drew back. Hermione frowned but took the hint and removed her hand. They were making their way out of the door when Remus gripped Hermione's arm tightly and growled.
"Leave. Now."
"Remus, what do you – "
She gasped as Remus suddenly grabbed her by the waist and pulled her around to the back of the Three Broomsticks. His eyes were glowing gold.
"You are mine. I want you. Now!" His voice was deep and hoarse, cruelly demanding, nothing like the Remus she knew. She reached for the wand her pocket, desperately trying to summon a cheerful thought for a Patronus. Remus grabbed the wand out of her hand, his nails cutting into her palms. As her wand fell to the ground, to her relief, a silver otter flew out of the end of it and scampered away.
Kicking her wand farther out of reach, Remus moved his hand around her neck, keeping her pinned to the wall, as his other hand clumsily fumbled to undo his pants.
"Remus! Remus! Stop!"
The grin she got in response told her this was most certainly not Remus.
"You didn't mind it before."
"You were never like this, Remus."
"A man only has so much patience and living with a woman as attractive as you." He started to push her skirt up her legs and she brought her heel into his groin. His hand on her throat loosened and she punched him in the stomach. He fell to the ground and Hermione ran to grab her wand. Remus grabbed her ankle and she smashed face-first into the ground. Blood starting to drip down her hands and face, she tried to scramble to her feet only to have Remus clamber on top of her. Hermione tried to push him off, but she didn't have the strength to push off his weight.
There was a flash of light and Remus fell limply off of her.
"Hermione!" Harry and Ron ran towards her, followed by Mr. Weasley.
"Are you okay? We followed your patronus here but there wasn't a message…"
Hermione got shakily to her feet. "I didn't get a chance. Remus – he – he – he tried to – tried to – it wasn't him. Something was wrong. He tried to warn me before he lost control. He told me to go away and I didn't listen."
Harry and Ron wrapped their arms around her and she rest her head on Harry's shoulder, grasping at Ron's hand.
"Hermione, what exactly happened before he attacked you?"
"We were in the Three Broomsticks and we had finished our drinks and then he started to say something was wrong and the wolf was taking over and he was afraid of losing control because – because he said something like this could happen but – but I didn't listen and now…"
"None of this is your fault, Hermione." Mr. Weasley told her gently. "We'll take Remus to St. Mungo's. There are some illness that only affect lycanthropes. It's also possible he was cursed. Did you see anything?"
"No. People were whispering and staring at us…and no one was near our table…Rosemerta came to pick up the empty glasses but she didn't have a wand on her."
"Hmmn. Well, I can't say for sure what it is, but why don't I take Remus and you three can join us."
He grabbed Remus' limp arm and with a loud crack vanished.
"Hermione – "
"I know, Harry. It was – it wasn't him, but…what happened? What if – what if no one cursed him? What if he's sick or – or…"
Ron finished what she was thinking. "Or if that's what the wolf is like now Remus is married."
Harry frowned. "St. Mungos' will let us know. But if that's what the wolf is like all the time, Hermione…"
"I know. Remus and I will deal with – deal with that if it comes up."
"There won't be much you can do, is there? I mean, that's why there aren't many werewolves around isn't it? Most of them go crazy even when they aren't transformed and they have to be locked up."
Hermione paled and tears started running down her face. "Remus will be fine. He has to be. It must have been a spell or something."
"We'll go to St. Mungo's and find out," Harry promised, handing her back her fallen wand.
A/N: Sorry this chapter was a bit dark! And I'm sorry for the wait! Please read and review!