Hi,

Hearing back from some of you, even if it is about the formatting problems, really motivated me to post the next chapter as well in thanks!

Hope you are liking where I am taking this.

"Hello girls." Arthur greeted as he walked into the war room followed by Harry. Molly quickly shot up and gathered the men into her arms. Only after firmly planted kisses on Arthur's lips and Harry's cheek, she released the men to give their appearance a once over. "How did it go?"
Arthur kindly smiled at his wife as grasped her hand. "It was…, it went fine. Grimmauld is safe for the children to return. Bill has a lead on him based on his scent that he will explore in the morning. As of now, we are to return to normal and we will move forward based on Bill's findings."
Hermione nodded to assure Arthur she understood what he was saying. Yet, through her lashes she studied Harry. She could read him and Ron like a book for first years. His expression showed hints of frustration and his posture was tightly wound.
Molly and Arthur turned to each of them to give them a hug and a kiss goodbye before leaving. Hermione squeezed Molly extra tight before letting go of her.

Alone again, Harry handed her back her wand. His hand found the back of his head again and he gently raked through his messy hair as he sighed. "I'm left with more questions than answers, yet again."
Hermione simply nodded. She turned back to her workstation and made sure to copy all information of the charts onto pieces of paper before safely tucking them into her folder with her Arithmancy calculations. "Let's get some sleep, we have to be up in a few hours."
Harry nodded as he followed Hermione out of the room. Standing in the opening of the door both casted a last glace towards the clock and Remus' unchanged status. Muttering a spell to magically lock the door, only specifically keyed to himself, Harry put his hand on Hermione's back and took her home.

Back at Grimmauld Place, Harry and Hermione dusted off the residual Floo powder and dust. Harry laid back on the settee and closed his eyes. Hermione walked over to him and tapped his legs. Harry pulled up his feet. As Hermione sat down, he lowered his legs again and let them rest on her cloak, well actually his cloak, covered lap.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Hermione softly inquired
Harry groaned. "I'm sorry, 'Mione. You had a shitty night, and I am not being a good friend." He took of his glasses and put them on the coffee table.
"That is not true, Harry. I'm the bad friend. You were great, you didn't rush into things, had a clear head all night. You truly are a great Auror. I should apologize for not treating you the way you clearly deserve."
"No, please, stop." Harry sarcastically deadpanned through a smirk.
Hermione just rolled her eyes at him. "So, do you want to talk about it?"
"Do you?"
"Harry,-"
"Mione, you were practically assaulted by one of our best friends. Someone that lives with us. I need you to be and feel safe in our own home!"
"I understand that. I was, I am… It's just, he didn't do anything I didn't want." Hermione mumbled.
"Excuse me," Harry sat up. "Do you have a thing for Remus?"
Hermione's cheeks reddened. "It's just a thing, let's not get crazy here. For Remus, I have a thing for Remus. But Moony, he wasn't the Moony we´ve seen every month. He was even more wolf-like then usual and in Remus' body instead of his own. Something isn't adding up."
"Yeah, but they are the same person. You can't have Remus without Moony."
"Well, at the moment I'm still just his friend. And we need to help him." Hermione said, steering the conversation away from feeling she hadn't processed herself. Silence overtook the pair.
"Do you want to tell me again about what happened, I'll be a better listener this time."
"There is not much to add. I came down and found Remus. He was reciting something, again and again. He didn't notice me at all, which is the first thing that worried me. He promised me he was fine, wanted me to go back to sleep, I didn't listen. Now that I know it was Moony, it makes sense. He was talking to him, and his body seemed like…, like a string poppet. But it was as if he was being handled by two different people, you know? Not just his body, but his mind as well. He was just struggling so much. I couldn't bare to let him be. I was on my way to see you when he grabbed me. But it wasn't Remus. He didn´t act, move, or sound like Remus. His words and actions were purposeful. It was all Moony. Then, Remus probably fought for the upper hand and just yelled at me to run. For a second it was as if I could hear the both of them at the same time. Howling, groaning, and whining. Oh Harry, I'm just so afraid that Remus is hurt or trapped or something."
"Did he say anything that could be of help?" Harry peered down his nose at Hermione.
"Hmm," Hermione contemplated. "Not concerning his whereabouts but Moony did say some things that could help me find out what is wrong with him, or them."
Harry nodded.
"It was as if Moony could see right through me. And then he said something about me seeing something. Remus didn't know what he was talking about either." Hermione continued. "Umh… He said that I didn't have to alert you, his cub, because I would be fine. He would be fine if we'd be together. I think, I don't really know what he meant. Later Moony mentioned something about being able to tell my desires and emotions ever since, ever since I've howled for him." Hermione said as she laid her head against the back of the settee and twisted Harry's pant leg around her fingers. Harry just kept nodding pondering, to Hermione's annoyance.
"That's helpful, 'Mione." Harry said as he sat up again and put his hands around hers. "That gives us a starting point as to figuring this out, it helps."
Hermione turned her head. "Now, do you want to talk about it? I am always a good listener."
Harry quirked his left eyebrow up before cuddling up to her and putting his head next to hers. "I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't take it as seriously as I should've when you first came to me. I should've known, of course, as you are always right." Harry softly bumped his shoulder against hers. "I think it just all truly sank in when we'd searched the house. He was gone, he had left. I feel so bloody immature, but it hurts. I never even considered him leaving again. Especially not when he came to live here. It's rather stupid." Harry sighed.
Hermione squeezed their entwined hands. "No, it is not."
"There is this job opening. I'll stay within my current department and still in Tonks' team but there is a specialized training and a pay raise. Everyone from my year just became eligible to apply for the position. After all the help I received preparing for my Auror exams, I wanted to make you guys proud. Tonks, you, and Remus. I've been preparing on my own and lately I haven't been spending an awful lot of time at home because of it. Now I feel guilty. It feels like I've lost a father and a best friend all over again, and now Teddy's has too." Harry whispered. "Oh Harry, there is not a person, alive today, that is prouder of you than Remus. Whenever we'd didn't see each other around the house because of your working hours, Remus would tell me all about what you were doing, learning, and what a quick study you are. Just plainly bragging." Hermione smiled with wet eyes. "There is truly no need to prove yourself to any of us Harry."
Harry snorted at her story. "I know, I know. It was just supposed to be a surprise."
"He'll come back, because he would never actually leave his family. And we won't stop looking until he has." Hermione didn´t miss the paradox of her comforting words to Harry as she has expressed the same concerns earlier to Molly.
"Can we crash on the couch tonight?" Harry asked. Hermione nodded and enlarged the settee. Harry Accio'd the pillows and blanket from Remus' bed. After covering Hermione, he laid down beside her and grasped her hand. "Let's go to sleep. I'm thinking of interviewing everyone to establish a timeline. Maybe with everybody's input and perspective we can put some more pieces together on when it started and what this shift might have triggered."
"That's sounds really professional, Auror Potter." This time it was Hermione that smirked and Harry that rolled his eyes. "Nox."

"Hi, how are you holding up?" Charlie Weasley stood in the doorway of her office smiling kindly.
"Hey, I wasn't expecting you today! Did I miss something?" It wasn't unusual for the two oldest Weasley's to grace her with their company. As Project Manager for the Being Division, she often worked closely with both of them. Bill was known to deal with the Goblin Liaison Office as the Goblins themselves didn't want to bother with the Ministry if they could help it. Charlie was now one of the Heads at the Dragon Research and Restraint Bureau at the Beast Division.
"No, no, I was in the area and wanted to check in with you." Charlie said as he stepped in and closed the door. Hermione motioned for him to take a seat on the cushy chair opposite of her on the other side of her desk. With a flick of her wand her tea set appeared out of a cabinet on the side, and she set out to make tea. "Oh, nothing that some Wideye and Pepper-up can't fix." Hermione smiled.
"Good." Charlie said holding the scolding cup of tea in his callused hands.
"Did you want to discuss something particular, or am I to actually act as if this is a cosy social call?" Hermione said with kind eyes as she offered him her tin filled with goodies like biscuits and candies.
Charlie chuckled as he picked out a Jammie Dodger. "And here I thought I was pulling it off."
"Nah, you were way to nice. Usually, you demand my attention. I can honestly say you've never just checked in with me." Hermione chose a small Lion chocolate bar.
"Noted." Charlie nodded while taking a bite of his biscuit.
"How are you and Tonks doing?"
"I believe she is doing fine, under the circumstances."
"She is a tough nut." Hermione agreed.
"I understand that this may be me stepping out of line, but I spoke with Bill and I think I would like to know what happened yesterday. I am sorry, Hermione, but I need to know how I can support Tonks and Teddy to the best of my abilities. You must understand. Besides, Remus is Teddy's father and my friend. I know I am not someone but I'm not no one either."
Hermione sighed. "No, I understand. And you're absolutely right, it's about your family."
Charlie's cheeks reddened by her words. Hermione snickered. "Are you embarrassed? Now I have seen it all." Hermione joked.
"Ah, well, Tonks is pregnant. Nobody knows, besides Bill but he sniffed it out even before we knew. We wanted to tell Remus first, and Teddy of course."
Hermione eyes lit up and quickly stood up. With an uncontrolled girlish shriek and a clap of her hands she made her way around the desk to congratulate him.
"Thanks Hermione, I appreciate it." Then Charlie sighed. "Since Bill told us about the change in Tonks' scent, she has been avoiding him with drop-offs and such. Just to, you know, gather herself so she could actually tell him. And now, with this situation, she feels even more guilty. I do too, he said he was happy for us, but I can't shake this feeling. I am honestly so happy to have this family of my own now, at the same time I feel wrong because it's like I took his."
Hermione wrapped Charlie in a big hug. "Stop it, he is happy for you guys. He told me himself, he was happy it was you. You're great. And look at you now, you're being such a good dad."
Charlie chuckled but let the hug linger a second. Hermione squeezed his upper arm before taking her seat at her desk again. "There isn't much to tell. He couldn't sleep. He seemed to be fighting, or at least struggling with Moony. And then Moony took control. He was…, let's call it in a mood. Before Moony could actually do anything, Remus told me to run. And I did. I am the guilty one. I just left him, and now he's gone."
"What do you mean, in a mood? Did he hurt you?" Charlie's tone of voice betrayed him. He was trying to sound calm and collected, yet the hints of impatience echoed through.
"No!" Hermione quickly. "I am not being purposefully obtuse, Charlie. I promise you that if we had an actual idea of what is happening with him, I would tell you. I love Teddy and Tonks as well, and I love Remus. I would never endanger any of them!"
"I'm sorry, I know that." Charlie lamented. "I'm just on edge, is all."
"You have nothing to be sorry for, I understand." Hermione answered.
"So, if I understand correctly. Moony is causing this." Charlie searched Hermione's face for a response.
"I don't know, Charlie. Harry reminded me that Remus is Moony and Moony is Remus. But for now, until we have more answers, let's just say I agree with that statement."
"Ok, then I think Bill needs to be more involved. Bill understands the most of what it means of being a Werewolf out of all of us. And he knows more than he is letting on."
Hermione's eyebrows scrunched up as she took in his words.
"That's not what I mean. Listen, ever since I started having pints with Tonks, I've confided in Bill. When the situation shifted from friends to more on my end… Bill had his concerns, about Moony. He told me; you don't mess with somebody's pack. But then it turned out his concerns seemed irrelevant since Remus took it so well. Bill and I had our reservations ever since. And now, I need to be sure my friend is going to be okay. I won't allow to be kept in the dark."
Hermione had sat back in her desk chair and just regarded him.
"Please," Charlie gently added.
"I see your point. I think I agree with you," Hermione softly tapped the edge of her desk and pulled her underlip in between her teeth in thought. "I believe Bill is currently the only one with actual orders, besides pretending everything is all right, so I think that is proves that the Order agrees."
A moment of silence fell upon the small office before Hermione continued: "What is Tonks going to do?"
"She is meeting Kingsley today, informing him of the baby. She'll probably be put solely on the training of Aurors applying to some new position until she goes on maternity leave but that is still months away."
"Ah, Harry is applying."
Charlie smiled at that. "Tonks mentioned something about hoping that he would."
"The fact that she is telling Kingsley, will probably mean she'll be left with a lot of time alone in the office. Nobody would want to put any extra strain on her. I was thinking, finding him will only be the beginning of figuring this out. Do you think Tonks can get her hands on some confiscated items?"
"What are you looking for?"
"Anything that can lead us to what is harming Remus. Harry once spoke about tons and tons of books and notebooks found at Greyback's. I'd ask Harry but his rank is too low, and I can't ask Kingsley because he can't be involved."
"I'll ask."
"Thank you. I am really happy for you; I know Remus will be too." Hermione assured.
"No. Thank you, you will let me know when and where I can help." Charlie said. As he stood, he slurped up the rest of his tea and waved his wand towards the goodies tin back in its cabinet. Several wrapped chocolate bars found his way into his pockets. "You know, 'Mione, we should do this more often." He smirked.
Hermione shook her head and with a wave of her hand shut the door of her office behind him. She had work to do.

"Ready for lunch?" Harry asked poking his head in her office.
"Yeah, one moment." Hermione dabbed her quill in ink before signing the document she was reading. "Where are we going?" She asked putting on her coat.
"I think some privacy is in order. Let's go Muggle."
Harry and Hermione made their way out of her department and made it to the Atrium. Harry let her go first. Hermione stepped in the Floo and called Diagon Alley. Stepping out of the communal Floo she stepped right into the busy street. Harry was right behind her as she passed the boundary of Whizarding London. They'd used to go often. To the two of them it still sort of felt like going home. To the others that would join them occasionally it was truly like travelling to a different world. They had a running joke that they were part of a theatre group and that they just took it seriously. Experience had taught them it was best to simply go with what the Muggles thought was happening. That way, they'd just think they were weird instead of thinking that it would be prudent of them to alert the authorities.

Harry and Hermione were quickly seated at one of their favourite café's. They didn't need to look at the menu. Harry ordered his usual BLT-sandwich with a side of crisps and a coke. Hermione ordered a tea with a salad with a side of small soup.
"How was your morning?" Hermione asked.
"Good, thanks to potions." Harry smiled. "Didn't go as I had planned. McGonagall owled Kingsley if I could take on Remus' DADA student. It went fine. How was yours?"
"Fine, I had a meeting regarding my housing project. And then Charlie came around."
"Yeah, what did he want?"
"Just checking up on me."
Harry looked up at her suspiciously. "What did he really want?"
"Wanted to know what happened. We shared some ideas. We decided to make a start on the research of possible causes. I have no doubt that our fantastic Order will be able to find him, I need to start looking for some answers on how to actually help him."
"Where are you going to look? Because I don't believe you haven't read and can't actually recite every written word backwards on Werewolves in all the divisions of Department of Regulations and Control of Magical Creatures combined."
Hermione and Harry kindly smiled at the waitress as she served them their lunch. They simultaneous thanked her when she told them to enjoy their lunch.
"Very good, Auror Potter." Hermione smirked. "I am branching out."
"I am intrigued. I've missed rule-breaking Hermione."
"Yes, well. Necessity knows no law, as they say. Charlie is asking Tonks to retrieve Greyback's documents." Hermione watched Harry for his reaction. He kept eying his sandwich and complemented her for her smart thinking before taking a large bite. For a while they simply ate their lunch.
"Do you really think Remus' crazy corresponds with Greyback's crazy?" He softly inquired gently pushing his empty plate away.
"I don't know. What I do know is that any step forwards concerning Werewolves since the beginning of time is then nullified by those Ministry asshats. Just the number of documents and rapports on projects and registries that have simply vanished as they were deemed no longer relevant will blow your mind. I have to try, and I truly believe it can help me at my job and in understanding more about these complex beings. I am a little disappointed in myself I didn't think of it sooner."
"I suppose so, that's what happens when you become respectable Ministry employees. Hagrid once warned me that that is how they get you. He said something weird and vague Whizardry but it was along the line of keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."
"When did we stop listening to Hagrid?" Hermione mused.
"I actually spoke with him today, as well as McGonagall and Tonks. Give me another day or so and we can but the timeline together. I will speak with Bill and Charlie tonight."
"That is quick! I'm impressed," Hermione said. "And proud of course." She whispered at the end.
Harry retrieved some Muggle money from his pocket. They waved goodbye to the waitress before exiting the café. Harry put his hand on her lower back and kissed her temple. "Thanks, 'Mione."

Preview next chapter:

"Ooh, you're just soooo in love." Harry cooed, trying to lighten the mood.
"Stop." Hermione groaned, but couldn't hide the small blush staining her cheeks.
"When did you guys fall in love?" Harry asked seriously.
"Excuse me, Remus doesn't love me." Hermione answered shook.
"Eh, I sort of told Bill and Charlie about what Moony said to you."
"Harry! I trusted you…"
"'Moine, I only mentioned the howling part. Not the dirty pillow talk that you seemed to like."
"Harry!"