Remus woke up first and reached for the witch he fell asleep next to and felt empty space. He opened his eyes and saw that Sirius was still asleep, but Hermione was missing. The werewolf frowned deeply and smelt the air trying to find the source of her absence. He climbed out of bed and threw on his pants from the night before.
Scratching his chest, he wandered down the stairs and started hearing the arguing. "I told you I wasn't shagging them, Ginny!"
"You were squeezed between them like a canine sandwich, Hermione," Ginny snickered and Hermione groaned. "I have to ask, just between me and you. What are you thinking?"
There was a snort and Remus smirked to himself. "If I knew, I would tell you."
"Well, are you happy at least? You seem happier."
"I am so happy. It is crazy to think that a week ago I would have laughed if you told me a couple of young Marauders would fancy me."
"How did it feel to introduce them to Teddy?"
Hermione sighed and he could hear the smile in her voice, "it was perfect, Gin. I know that Remus is quite a bit younger than when he conceived him, but you didn't get a chance to see his face when Teddy took his hand."
"Hermione, we have to talk seriously for a moment."
The two women were silent and Ginny cleared her throat, "if they do stay how is this going to work?"
"I don't know, Ginny."
"You don't like one more than the other?"
Remus leaned closer to the entrance to the kitchen in anticipation and he could see Hermione shake her head. She hung her head and shrugged her shoulders. "They are different and I feel different with each of them."
Ginny giggled and patted the other woman, "completely like you."
Remus walked into the kitchen fully and held his finger to his mouth when Ginny caught him in her eyes. Hermione's back was to the door so she did not see him as he snuck up on her. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and nuzzled her neck. She gasped and glanced back to see his soft brown hair.
"Such a naughty werewolf!" she giggled and he smirked against her skin.
"You weren't there when I woke up," he breathed and the hair on the back of her neck stood up.
"Ginny decided to come find me for tea and saw us all cuddled in Sirius' bed." Hermione declared and Remus buried his face in her hair.
"You are awfully affectionate for not shagging, Remus," Ginny said suspiciously and Hermione patted his arm.
"The full moon is only a couple of nights away," Hermione replied and Remus pulled away.
"Oh, we shagged like rabbits last night. First me then Sirius and then..." Remus trailed off and Hermione glared up at him.
"Remus Lupin! You are not a liar by nature!" Hermione exclaimed and the werewolf grinned mischievously before making himself a cup of tea.
He gave her a crooked smile and sat down next to her. "Wishful thinking."
Ginny crossed her arms and was grinning. "Here I come over to tell you that I and Harry set a date and I find you sleeping with two men." She told Hermione and the other witch jumped up and screamed for joy.
"Ginny! Oh, Ginny!" Hermione cried and jumped up a few times. "When?"
"September ninth," Ginny said smugly and Hermione clapped. "Will you be my maid of honor?" She asked and Hermione gasped.
"Me?" The woman sat down and stared with big eyes at the red head.
"Yes, you. My best friend. My confidant. The woman I aspire to be half as smart as." Ginny told her and Hermione hugged her.
"You aren't pregnant, are you?" Hermione said pointedly when she pulled away.
Ginny snorted and rolled her eyes, "unlike you, I am far from baby crazy. I have my first practice match for the Harpies after the honeymoon."
Remus leaned closer to the two girls and smiled, "congratulations, Ginevra," he murmured and Ginny raised an eyebrow.
"If you are still here don't think you are getting off easily, Remus Lupin. You and Sirius are expected to participate." Ginny told him and Remus grinned.
"I would expect nothing different."
"Ginny, that's months from now... What if..." Hermione skewed her face unnaturally and Ginny shook it.
Her voice was stern, "Hermione, no negative talk today. You and both your boyfriends are expected to go. Period. End of story."
Hermione gasped and blushed, "they aren't boyfriends yet, Gin. Have some tact."
"I, for one, do not mind being one of two as long as I am boyfriend number one." Remus teased and Hermione shook her head.
"Honestly, I think they just want to shag you, Mione. You don't need to call them boyfriends for that." Ginny jeered and Hermione pointed a finger at her.
"Do not encourage him." Hermione declared and Remus frowned.
Without telling the women why, he stood up, left the room and answered the front door. "Good morning, Professor." He declared as he ushered the older witch in.
"Ah, Remus, sometimes I forget you can catch a scent before one knocks. I hope this year has been treating you well." Minerva declared and Remus escorted her into the living room.
"Would you like some tea? I have a feeling you do not decide to visit without intentions." Remus offered and she made a dismissal with her hand.
"No tea, but I was wondering if Sirius Black was around? I must speak to you both." Minerva spoke simply but her eyes were focused.
Remus nodded, "give me two minutes and I will return, hopefully with Sirius." The werewolf left and Hermione watched from the hall as he climbed the stairs.
"Remus?" She asked and he glanced back at her but kept climbing.
Hermione strolled into the living room and saw her former headmistress. "Good morning, Headmistress, how are you?" She asked the woman.
The older witch's eyes narrowed and her lips pursed tightly. "Hermione, what are you doing here?"
"I was just- I mean they were- well..." Hermione could not find a proper explanation for her being at 12 Grimmauld Place with the two young marauders.
McGonagall exhaled heavily and shook her head. "Hermione Granger, you just made this a very complex situation, indeed."
The Marauders appeared quickly and haphazardly dressed as they stood behind Hermione. "Sit, gentlemen. Hermione, maybe you should wait in the kitchen?" The older witch asked and the Marauders frowned at each other.
"Are you sure she cannot sit in?" Sirius asked and Minerva nodded.
Hermione patted both their shoulders and gave them a smile. "It's alright, fill me in after." She kissed each of their cheeks and left.
0o0o
Ginny decided to get Hermione dressed and take her out of the house while McGonagall was talking to the marauders. The red head had no clue how long she was going to be there, but it was an ill omen that she even showed up. Hermione wasn't ignorant to that fact either and as they sat in Ginny and Harry's flat, the witch was pushing food around on her plate.
"It isn't fair, is it?" Ginny asked her and Hermione glanced up.
"No, it isn't," Hermione said flatly and Ginny scowled. "I don't want to say good bye to them. I don't want to not have them make me laugh or groan in frustration. It hasn't even been a week yet, Gin, and I have been more satisfied listening to their stories than ever shagging your brother, no offense."
Ginny nodded and shrugged her shoulders, "it was always them having to leave. We just wanted to believe they could stay."
Hermione shook her head, "what is the point? I cannot say."
Ginny felt sorry for her friend but there was nothing she could do to heal this wound, "would you like to watch one of those sad films and cry?"
Hermione smiled and shrugged her shoulders, "I am sorry this ruined your big news."
Ginny waved her off with a smile, "plenty of time to make it up to me, Maid of Honor..." She trailed off with a smile and Hermione giggled.
"Who is going to be Harry's best man?" Hermione asked and Ginny made a face.
"Ron..."
"Oh, kill me now..." Hermione grumbled and smiled at her friend.
"Trust me, I am not thrilled either. I would have even preferred George over Ron. Harry is still having high hopes, twit." Ginny replied and rolled her eyes.
"I have seen what men look like, Ron is by far not my favorite." Hermione spat and Ginny giggled.
"So, you did shag them?"
Hermione shook her head and sighed, "no, unfortunately not. I tried to get Sirius to last night but he felt too guilty and that was how we all ended up talking for hours in bed. Two very dashing marauders, but very worried about the other. I had no clue both of them fancied me until last night. Sirius has always been a flirtatious wanker, and Remus very quiet and affectionate, but I never knew they were serious."
Ginny snorted and cast her head to the ceiling, "not one clue? If that were the case I should have told you before. They have been undressing you for days with their stares."
Hermione sighed and bobbed her head, "Well, your brother is a shining example of how well I know men. Viktor could hardly speak English when I met him. I don't know much about that. Books are never a problem, but relationships..." she finished with a grimace and Ginny giggled.
"How about this, we do the girl thing and you let me tackle that rat's nest you can a hair do. I can drum up enough things to occupy the afternoon and we can take things from there."
Hermione frowned and ran a hand through her hair, "it isn't that bad, Gin."
"It is bad enough for me to need to do it. Please?" Ginny replied and Hermione gave her a nod.
"Alright, if you insist."
Later on...
Hermione stepped from the fireplace at 12 Grimmauld Place and looked around. The house was especially quiet and she checked the rooms, one by one. There was nothing there. No one in the living room. The kitchen completely vacant. The library was quieter than a tomb. Hermione felt a small panic as she sought them out.
Climbing the staircase, she was hoping to find them singing in the bathroom as they showered, or even having a screaming match in one of the spare rooms; nothing. She finally climbed to the top of the house and saw Sirius' room open. Her hands were shaking and the hair on the back of her neck stood up.
"Sirius? Remus?" She shamed herself for her voice being so shaky.
She entered the room and saw it had been cleaned, clothes neatly folded and put on the bed. There, right next to their jackets rested a note.
Dearest Hermione,
We are so sorry that we have to leave in such a rush. If we could go into the details we would, but it is imperative that we must go. Neither of us wanted to, in fact, we begged to stay, but some things don't work out that way. I wish that we could have said goodbye properly, but Professor McGonagall said it was better that we didn't. Thank you for everything you have done for us. We will miss you more than you ever will know...
Love,
Your Marauders
PS Moony doesn't know I snatched the letter before we left. I want to tell you we will try to do what we can to return to you, Hermione. Don't look for us, we will find you, I promise.
Hermione crushed the letter to her chest and shook her head. She hadn't realized she was crying until she saw water spots on Sirius' leather jacket. She didn't even get to say goodbye...