The witch walked in the door early and did not bother announcing herself. She kicked off her heels and picked them up, placing them against the book. Her request was in and she was taking a leave of absence for the duration of her pregnancy. Her boss did not ask why medical leave from Hermione Granger was grave news. Fortunately for her, they did not ask because she did not plan to die this time.
She knew the chances that Lucius had her answer already. He was too calm. Too reserved. He wouldn't chance his son's livelihood on her if he could help it, but hers... well, he would be more than willing to. Him not knowing the father of the baby was the only thing saving her from being scooped up and locked in a room at Malfoy Manor for seven months.
Suddenly too tired to care, she wandered toward the stairs quietly. Hermione thought she heard the wizards with the boy in the library and was trying to slink off for some rest. She had walked up three stairs before she felt his hands on her back.
"You are home early," Remus murmured and Hermione smiled back at him.
"I decided to take a bit of leave from work, I am far too tired to deal with it lately." She told him and they climbed the rest of the staircase.
He nuzzled her and she sighed before his voice caressed her ear, "Hermione, why do you seem so worn, my wonderful witch?"
She leaned into him and ran her fingers over his chest, "I had an unforgivably long day." Remus started to nuzzle her neck and the witch moaned softly. "I missed my tender marauder too much," she whispered and Remus continued to enlighten her with wonderful actions.
The werewolf grew passionate and pressed her against the wall, kissing her deeply. She climbed in his arms, dropping the book and shoes on the ground. Remus growled and ran his hand over her thigh as her skirt rode up to her hips. "Remus," she breathed when they pulled apart.
He placed her down on her feet and bent to grab her items. "Do you mind if I help you change?" He asked gently and she smirked.
"Are you planning a big Christmas Eve for us, my witty werewolf?" She murmured and he raised an eyebrow, giving her a sly smile.
"I am and I am very happy to have my family together," he whispered and escorted her into her room.
He set her book down with her shoes and started to slowly peel away her clothes. She sighed and enjoyed his touches which were soft and deliberate, much as she would expect the older man to be. Gentle yet full of intention as he tenderly grounded her from the horrible day she had. Hermione did not want to speak about it yet. Christmas was tomorrow and she wanted it to be joyous.
"Uncle Draco!" Remus heard his son shout with joy and the werewolf groaned.
"Sorry, my darling, seems we have a guest," Remus grumbled and pulled away from her. "You might need to get dressed, Draco is here." He finished and left her room.
Hermione exhaled heavily and closed her eyes. Why couldn't he just let her have one solid night of peace? She placed on her pajamas which were skewed across her bed and wandered down to the kitchen where all of them sat around the table. They all gazed at her entering the room and Sirius stood to greet her.
"I didn't realize you were home," he declared and kissed her cheek, helping her to the table.
"We need to talk," Draco grumbled and his frown grew.
"It is Christmas Eve, Draco..." Hermione started and he waved her off.
"It is actually more important than a holiday. My father told me he came to see you today." The blond said and she cringed as she took in the expressions of her marauders.
"Lucius visited you?" Sirius asked and Hermione sighed and nodded as she ran a hand through Teddy's hair.
"He did. He gave me some very... interesting things to think about in regards to our situation." She said vaguely and Remus sighed heavily.
"More twists in this adventure, love?" Remus inquired and Hermione's expression turned grim.
"Draco, you did not tell me about your dreams..." Hermione grumbled and the blond's cheeks turned pink.
"I wasn't sure until after I spoke to my father about Astoria. After I realized that they weren't just projections of your insanity."
The fireplace went off and Remus frowned at the doorway. "Are we expecting another unannounced guest?" He asked Draco who nodded.
"As always, so very perceptive, Lupin..." Severus grumbled and came into the kitchen.
Sirius groaned loudly, "Not Snivellus!"
Teddy stared at the man and then glanced at his father, "Dad?"
"Don't worry, Teddy. Your Uncle Sirius is a drama queen," Remus murmured and Hermione giggled.
"Come and sit if you like, Severus." Hermione offered and the potion master gazed coolly at the table before moving to sit next to Draco. "So where do I start..." She trailed off and Draco rolled his eyes.
"She read that big blue book and performed an incantation in it prior to all of this. Adding it to the actual spell that brought you all back. We all at one point have read the spell and performed it in another lapse of time. Our dreams aren't dreams. They are different lives." Draco finished and Hermione sighed and nodded.
Remus rubbed his face and nodded, "good, I thought I was a bit insane." The werewolf admitted and Hermione gasped.
"You have been having dreams?" She asked and Remus frowned.
"Well, yes. Odd ones. Ones that didn't make sense. I thought it was just Veil clutter." He confessed and Sirius nodded.
"I agree. When we got back I was having just, very... hot dreams of moments I did not..." He trailed off and glanced over at the boy who seemed very confused.
Hermione rubbed her face and shook her head, "this is horrible, how come no one told me?"
The wizards aside from Snape all shrugged their shoulders, "well, to be honest, most of us probably thought we were just experiencing your writing first hand," Remus declared and Draco nodded.
"It wasn't until I realized they were personal memories that I was able to note the differences." The blond declared and Severus raised an eyebrow and scowled.
"I would rather not go into details about the strenuous images of our previous lapse." He growled and Hermione stifled a giggle.
"Mione? Are we having dinner with Uncle Draco?" Teddy asked and Sirius pursed his lips.
"He is not your uncle, kid," Sirius grumbled and Remus shrugged.
"Not quite positive, son," Remus ignored Sirius and Teddy frowned.
Hermione sighed heavily, "After Christmas, we are going to start to go over to Malfoy Manor." Hermione said and the marauders glowered.
"Why?" Sirius asked incredulously.
"Because, mutt, if we do not find the answers to this... problem, we will likely end up where we were months ago. These lapses are almost a year long. That is all we will have." Snape growled and Remus paled.
"My father has volunteered our books to find the answers we are seeking. I am not sure what you did, Granger, but he seemed wickedly happy when he got home today." Draco mumbled and Hermione blushed.
"I had to negotiate with him. That is it and part of the terms was I agreed not to speak about them. Don't give me that look, Sirius, I did not shag him. He may be a git, but he is smart enough to know I would never agree to something like that." Hermione declared and Sirius turned red with anger.
"You made a deal with Lucius? What were you thinking, Hermione!" Sirius exclaimed and Teddy's hair turned red.
"Uncle Sirius!" The boy yelled and Hermione ran a hand through his hair.
"Not to worry, little love. Uncle Sirius isn't yelling at me. He is just surprised I am trying to make sure, everyone is alright... including your baby sibling..." She trailed off and glared at Sirius.
Sirius released some of his tension and Remus nodded, "alright, if that is what it will take. We just have to trust you made a good decision." The werewolf knew not to argue with a pregnant mother.
"The day after Christmas, we will start." Draco voiced and Hermione exhaled and motioned agreement.
"The sooner the better. I don't want to give birth in that library." She grumbled and Draco laughed. "Are you coming over for Christmas at the Burrow?" Hermione asked him and the marauders frowned.
Draco seemed surprised and pursed his lips, "did you want me to?" He inquired and she nodded.
"I do, would you please?" She asked and the blond wizard smiled and laughed.
"Sure, Granger. Would you like me to see if Astoria would like to come?" He inquired and Hermione smiled and gave him another nod.
"That would be lovely. If she cannot don't worry," Hermione murmured and he waved her off and stood up.
"Alright, we will get started after Christmas." He reaffirmed and walked up to her, kissing her hair.
If the marauders weren't so sensitive to someone else giving her affection, they might not have been bothered by her invitation. It bothered them greatly. Lucius coming to her work, making some sort of dealings and now she was offering an invitation to Draco... Something seemed very off about her.
Draco waved at the others, "Happy Christmas, see you tomorrow. Come on, Severus, mother will ask where we have been soon. Thank you for covering me." Draco muttered and the potion master sneered.
"Mr. Malfoy, consider it your Christmas gift..." He trailed off and followed the blond from the kitchen and out the front door.
Hermione threw on a smile and sighed, "Christmas celebration time!" She shouted and Teddy clapped.
"Mione, come let me show you what presents we were wrapping while you were at work!" Teddy jumped up and tugged the witch from the room.
The marauders stared at each other before Remus spoke, "you can tell too, hm?" He asked his animagus friend.
Sirius nodded slowly and grumbled, "she is hiding something big, Moony. Do we want to ask?"
Remus held up a hand, "not until after Christmas. We may not want to know yet. Let's not spoil the holiday for Teddy's sake."
Sirius exhaled heavily and patted Remus's shoulder, "Alright, but right after Christmas, I want answers."
The werewolf gave him an agreeing gesture and patted Sirius's back. "Let's enjoy Christmas." With that, they left to follow their pregnant witch and the boy into the merriment of Christmas.