Chapter eight: Love

Hermione and Severus got down to brewing almost immediately. She didn't ask about the meeting in Hogsmeade with Lucius Malfoy. It didn't really matter. He didn't ask how her trip with Lily and the Marauders went. He didn't want to know. So they set their things up in the Room of Requirement, which Severus had had no prior knowledge of, and got to work. Any free time they had was spent there and no amount of protest from him would make her relent. Remus and she of course stayed up late in the common room together and whenever Severus was pressured into being with the other Slytherins for image.

Two weeks after the Hogsmeade trip, Hermione couldn't sleep. She sat at the window with her father's journal. With each entry she felt more connected to him, but at the same time wanted to stop reading. She was beginning to be afraid of what she'd find there. Where her father looked after her closely from the shadows. He mentioned Remus occasionally, and knowing him it was safe to say he was watching after her too.

Halloween 1994
Fucking Harry Potter: champion. For once, I want there to be trouble that he's
not in the middle of.

November 25 1994
Today's paper had my daughter slandered all over the front page. Although I know they're only friends, I can't help but find it amusing. Especially picturing Lupin's face.

Christmas 1994 (Machiavelli)
My Hermione walked down those steps to the Bulgarian champion like a princess. Everyone seemed to be staring at her, the girl no longer a little girl. My chest nearly burst with both pride and sorrow. My daughter, but not.

Inside the journal at this page was a picture of her and Viktor in their Yule Ball garb. She was smiling as he spun her around. There was a tap on the window and Hermione jumped, looking up at Remus, who was waiting outside on his broom. She opened it quietly, looking back to be sure everyone was asleep. When no one stirred, she turned back to him.

"What are you doing here?" She whispered.

"Isn't it obvious?" He asked with a mischievous smile. "I'm here to rescue my fair maiden."

She bit her lip to stop her own smile, but it didn't work. "How do you expect this to work?"

"Hold onto to me," he told her, moving closer so she could. "And trust me."

Hermione wrapped her arms around his shoulders and closed her eyes tightly as he lifted her onto the broom and flew away from the window. She squeaked and buried her face in his neck so as not to look down.

"I take it you don't like flying?" Remus asked, not bothering to hide his amusement.

"I'm not terribly fond of it, no."

"Look up, love." Hermione slowly opened her eyes to where they hovered a foot off the roof of the bridge. It was a beautiful view, the moon glinting off the Black Lake. On the roof was a pile of blankets and some butterbeer.

"What is all this?" She asked.

"I wanted to surprise you," he whispered as he landed softly. "Come sit down with me. The sun will be coming up soon."

"How did you know I would be awake?"

Remus rubbed the back of his neck. "That, I didn't know. I was just going to wake you up if you weren't already."

She kissed him soundly and laid her head on his shoulder as they sat with their legs dangling off the edge, huddled close together under a couple blankets. She had often in the past wondered what it would be like to be in a relationship with Remus, though she never expected to be able to find out from experience. She knew he'd be a gentleman. He always was to her. He opened doors for her and stood so she had a seat, once even giving her his coat. It was just Remus. But, being with him was so much more. This- she'd never have been able to imagine something as wonderful as this if she tried.

"What's that?" He asked. "The journal?"

Hermione broke from her thoughts and looked down at it, not having realized she brought it. "Yeah, I just read the Yule Ball." She showed him the picture.

"You look beautiful. Who's that with you?" He asked with a tight jaw. Moony growled at the threat. She was his mate.

"Viktor Krum," she said. "He played Seeker for Bulgaria."

"You look like you're having fun."

"It was very fun. I didn't even know this picture was taken." Then Hermione put her face in her hands. "How could I not see it?" she asked desperately. "Me, the brightest witch of her age not knowing. Why didn't I figure it out?"

"Brightest witch of her age?" He asked, trying to get her to focus on something else. Otherwise, he knew she would start hating herself for something she couldn't change.

"You called me that." She told him. "My third year. The press just sort of adopted the term."

"Hermione, you can't be upset that you didn't know. One thing you can say about Snape is if he doesn't want you to know something, you won't. I can only imagine that he gets better at that."

There was a wink of light ahead as the sun began to rise, it's rays stretching out to them to say "Good morning". Remus held her tighter, not wanting to let go and spend twenty years without her. She looked lovely in the first breath of dawn, her eyes shone brighter, her smile more genuine and soft.

"I love you."

She looked up when he said this and his heart skipped. What if she didn't? Then she resumed her smile and he couldn't doubt.

"I love you."

"I'm so glad you didn't say 'I love you too'." He babbled. She found this adorable. "It's silly it seems, but when saying I love you too, it just feels cheaper. It always seems like one person is 'I love you too' more than the other. Then you wonder if they really do."

Hermione kissed him. "I see it. Remus?"

"Yes, Hermione," he whispered against her breath.

"I love you."

*

"Ariel, stop! You have to add the lavender after the fluxweed oil. Then stir three times clockwise."

Hermione pursed her lips, looking very much like her grandmother when doing this. "The book very clearly states before the fluxweed oil, then stir counter-clock wise."

"Well the book is wrong."

"It can't be wrong, it's the book."

"Have you ever read the Muggle story, Cinderella?"

"Of course I have."

"Then are you suggesting the mice could actually speak?"

"That's preposterous!"

"But it's in the book."

Hermione's cheeks reddened and she glared at him, one so familiar he blinked in surprise. She made sure he wasn't looking when she followed his directions rather than the books, and he made sure she wasn't looking when he smirked at his victory. She relished these afternoons working on these potions with her father, locking the memories away for later. Especially as Christmas break was coming up and they both knew that meant he would be called to more meetings as he wouldn't be at school. She drilled him every day on carrying them everywhere. She would randomly ask for one of them to be sure he was, which vexed him to no end.

Later in the common room, everyone was talking about the upcoming break.

"What are you planning on doing, Ariel?" Lily asked, her head in James' lap while he fiddled with her hair.

Lily and James were sitting on a loveseat with Sirius perched on the arm, Peter was in an armchair, and Hermione found herself siting between Remus' legs on the floor.

"I don't know," she said. "I planned on just staying here, but I'm thinking about going to London so I can go to Diagon Alley."

"Well, you both are welcome at my place." James said. "They always do anyway."

Peter shook his head. "I can't this year."

"Why not?" Peter's eyes shifted from side to side and Hermione refused to look at him. "My dad is getting sick. I told him I'd go take care of him. He's staying with a cousin in France."

Hermione could have scoffed and Remus could feel her anger. His heart sunk and he looked carefully at Peter. Why did she hate him so much? What did/does he do?

"Well, Lily, Ariel, you two will have to come stay."

"Your parents won't mind terribly?" Lily asked, looking up at James adoringly.

"Not at all. Mother loves to dote on my friends, ask Padfoot. He came over once and decided not to leave." James laughed. "And they'll both want to meet you."

Lily finally agreed to go out with him and the two hit the ground running. Hermione knew they got married soon after they left school. She smiled, she'd be able to attend before leaving. Then she frowned. She'd have to leave in a year. She didn't want to leave. She didn't want James and Lily to die. Or Sirius.

"I'll come," Hermione said, leaning back against Remus.

"Actually," he whispered in her ear. "I was wondering if you'd come home with me for the first few days. Then we can go over together."

"Home with you?"

"I've met your family. Come meet mine."

"She smiled a lovesick smile and threw her arms around him with a sloppy kiss," Sirius said, then in a high voice, "'Oh of course I'll come home with you.'"

"SIRIUS!" The two couples groaned.

"What?" He asked innocently. "I was just doing commentary."

*

February 24 1995
Goddamn meddling old man, sending her down to the Lake for the Bulgarian like a prize. I hate them both. I hate this job.

June 24 1995
He's back and I suddenly realize Albus was right all along to keep me from her as I once more go back into the fold, possibly to not come back.

August 31 1995
Circumstances being what they are, I shouldn't be as happy as I am now. However, I've spent the better part of the summer around my daughter- even if the rest of my time was spent playing court jester to a madman.
Today she received her prefect badge and danced around the house switching partners with Black, Lupin, the Weasley's, Potter, and even "forcing"
me into a spin. I couldn't help but smile, shocking everyone.

September 1 1995
This Ministry bitch is fucking insane. Truer words have never been spoken or penned, and even though Mother grumbled about my language I saw her amused smirk. She'd better stay away from my little girl.

Remus and Hermione said good bye to their friends, and Hermione to Severus with orders of checking in as often as possible, before he led her through the crowds by her hand to where they could Apparate- already having shrunk their packages and sending Ierathel ahead.

The Lupins lived in a homey cottage outside of London at the end of a long driveway. She'd never been there in the future, but knew his mother was still around. It looked like something out of a fairytale. He held her hand tight with a smile.

"Ready?"

"Ready." They walked up the path to the front door. There was a large frozen pond to their left with a tire swing over it that she could imagine him swinging off of into the water. Hermione was warm in his coat, and he was just as warm in his jumper.

Remus opened the door where it was warm with a wonderful smell. He hung her/his coat up along with her hoodie.

"Don't forget to take your shoes off!" A voice said from the kitchen. When they'd done so Hermione followed him through the house towards who she guessed was his mother. "I'm making chocolate biscuits, your favorite. I was surprised to get your letter, I thought you'd be at the Potter's."

Remus hugged her and she fussed over how thin he was, though not as aggressively as Mrs. Weasley was known to. He looked like her, having the same hair and facial structure.

"I want to hear all about your classes. And you'll be sure to put on a few pounds before you go back."

"Mum, we're not staying the whole break. Just a few days and then to James'."

"We?" And she stopped, catching sight of Hermione. Remus pulled her towards him with a smile, holding her close to him.

"Mum, this is my girlfriend Ariel Mason."

"It's wonderful to meet you, Mrs. Lupin," Hermione said. "Remus has told me so much about you."

She made a choking sound in the back of her throat, looking back and forth between them, before she hugged Hermione tight enough to rival the Weasley matron. "Just Hope, dear. Oh! Remy's never brought a girl home!" Remus blushed and Hope held Hermione's face in her hands to get a good look at her. Then she stage-whispered to Remus, "She's gorgeous!"

"Is that Remus?" Another voice asked, with the shut of a door.

"Yeah, Dad." A tall man with blue eyes came through the door to the kitchen and Hermione could definitely see the resemblance.

"He brought home a girl." Hope gushed, nudging Hermione over.

"I see that," the man said, clapping his son on the back. "Nice job." Then he held his hand out to shake. "Lyall. None of that 'Mr. Lupin' stuff."

"Ariel Mason." She said, shaking his hand.

"That's a nice, firm grip you have there, Ariel. Good eye contact. Keep this one, Remus, I like her."

Hope and Lyall shared a look as Remus went to show Hermione around. They'd tried not to deny him anything because of his condition. They wanted everything else to be normal, so they fought for him to go to Hogwarts like everyone else, they encouraged him to spend time with his friends, but they hadn't really thought about girls. And Remus had never really shown any interest in them. Now, they could see how serious he was about this one with his look. He watched her carefully when he didn't realize they were looking. And she looked back at him the same way. They were fluid with each other.

"So, Ariel," Hope said over dinner. "Tell us about yourself. Are you in Remus' year?"

"Yes I am. I was homeschooled until this year when I decided to go to Hogwarts to be closer to the rest of my family."

"Ariel is Professor McGonagall's goddaughter." Remus said, smiling at Hermione. "And top of our class."

Hermione blushed. "Severus is still ahead of me."

"Only because you let him stay there," he teased back.

Hope and Lyall watched from opposite ends of the table. Their son was in love.

"What are your plans for after you graduate?"

"Ariel and I want to join Dumbledore's efforts in the war." Remus answered as they had already discussed this. She would stay as close as she could to both he and Severus, which meant some kind of position in the war, which meant the Order.

"Are you sure?" Hope asked worriedly. "It's an admirable cause, but very dangerous. I thought you wanted to be a professor?"

"Mum, this war is happening. I feel like I have to something to help. I can be a professor after it's safer for everyone to learn what I have to teach."

Hermione smiled at him, his words making her love him even more.

"But what about you, Ariel? Surely your family is against the idea of you getting hurt? Minerva?"

"Minerva understands my desire to help and my family will have to as well. This is what I want to do. Afterwards I always wanted to get into the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Their rights are barbaric and I want to help improve them."

Remus looked at her strangely, not knowing this. "Really?"

She nodded. "You should have seen me my fourth year, wanting to free all the house elves."

He shouldn't have been surprised, it was just like her to try and save everyone. House-elves, Snape, him.

"You must have been in for a shock then," Lyall commented.

"I was! They actually started to run away from me."

*

While Hope set Hermione up in the guestroom, Remus and Lyall did the supper dishes.

"She's a nice girl, Remus. Your mother and I fully approve."

"I'm very glad to hear that," Remus said evenly, n=ignoring the pounding in his chest. "Because I want to ask her to marry me."

Lyall was so startled, he dropped the plate he was drying. It crashed to the floor and he blinked. "You-you are? Isn't it a little early?"

"You proposed to Mum on the second date with two sickles in your pocket." Remus pointed out with a laugh. Then more seriously, "I love her, Dad. And she loves me. She accepts me. She's, my mate."

Lyall watched his son, the man he had become, with pride. "Then I think I ought to get you your grandmother's ring, huh? When are you planning on doing it?"

"I don't know. I'm going to ask her father first, but that man hates me. Then I guess just whenever feels right."

Lyall hugged him. "I'm proud of you, son."

He would never get to see his son get married.

*

Her door opened quietly that night around midnight and light poured in enough for someone to slip in quietly. Hermione scooted over to make room so Remus could lay next to her.

"Hey you." She whispered.

"Hello," he said before kissing her, his lips moving over hers. "I missed you."

"Your mother is going to kill you," she laughed quietly.

Remus rolled his eyes. "She'll just start wanting grandkids."

Hermione sighed, burying her face is his chest. He wasn't wearing a shirt and he smelled amazing, of chocolate, old books, and something that was just Remus.

"What's wrong, love?"

"I can't have children," she whispered. It was a large part of why she and Ron would never have worked. That and she might have thought they could be together once, but after he left her and Harry on the Horcrux hunt, she knew it wouldn't. She'd forgiven him as a friend, but it had killed any chances for them.

"What do you mean?" Remus asked. Though he'd never really thought of it, he had always just imagined having one or two. Lately he dreamed of a little girl with her curls and his dimples running around.

"I was tortured in the war. The healers told me it was unlikely I'd ever be able to conceive and if I did I would most likely miscarry or they would have defects and disabilities. So I had them go in and make it to where I couldn't conceive at all." She had tears as she said this and he realized she carried guilt about this and bitterness.

"Hey," he said, kissing her tears away. "It's going to be okay. We can adopt, or we don't even have to do that if you don't want to."

"I always wanted a little girl," she admitted aloud for the first time.

Remus smiled, cuddling her close to him. "Then at some point in the future we can do that."

"I love you." She whispered.

"And I love you," he said back. But she was already asleep.

*

Severus wheezed as he forced himself to keep going. Just a little further. He knew he was bleeding, though he couldn't remember all the places. His stomach definitely. His head. Atleast four ribs were broken as well as his foot. But he had to keep going. He would Apparate the rest of the way, but wasn't sure he could. The Dark Lord was in a foul mood, though no one could figure out why in particular. Maybe he was bored. Everyone was heading home tonight in similar states to him, some worse off.

Finally he was home and he collapsed in front of the fire, finding it harder to breathe now. He had one last thought before he was swallowed by the dark. "Ariel."