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Their home!

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Rare Passionfruit

"It smells amazing, Molly." Hermione complimented as she stepped into the kitchen at Grimmauld Place.
"Thank you, dear." Molly said as she levitated a new batch of home-made wraps into the oven. "Are you finished downstairs? Or do you need a hand?"
"No, thank you. I'm finished. All furs were cork dry after the washing, just as you said they would. I've laid yours folded on the couch for you on the way out." Hermione and Molly had been preparing for Remus' return all day. Remus hadn't allowed anyone to make changes to the basement saying it was just fine for Moony as he was used to spend his transitions in the Shrieking Shack. Now Remus was momentarily indisposed they had decided to make it as comfortable as possible. Molly and she had spent all morning shopping for food and furs. Actual wolfs didn't need the furs as they had their own or each other's to keep warm, but Hermione had learned from the Werewolves she had worked with that they liked the furs in both human and wolf form. Especially the ones without packs, it kept them feeling more connected to their primal nature. And Remus didn't even have one. It had been a search as Britain didn't actually have that many wolves anymore, unprotected that is. And that is something Hermione was very proud of. For that reason, Harlow Hall had secured them a Portkey to Bulgaria where a former colleague of Charlie had met them and taken them to a sketchy market. Walking around the market and seeing the products sold, that were illegal in Britain made her sick to her stomach. But they were here for Remus, and that was the most important thing right now. If they were honest, they had gone overboard, how many furs could a Werewolf need? As a small joke Molly had bought one for herself as she spoke it reminded her of Bill long tresses. Hermione had laughed and Charlie's friend, Konstantin, had chuckled. Before returning they had thanked the man for escorting them and Molly had invited him and his family to dinner sometime as Charlie would love to catch up. With the promise of a warm home-cooked meal he had accepted. Back in Britain they had made a stop at Hogwarts. Breathing in the brisk Irish air Hermione immediately felt nostalgic. Lunch in the Great Hall had brought back a lot of memories. After lunch McGonagall, Poppy and Hagrid had taken them aside and gave them all the advice and potions Remus could possibly need.

As of right now the basement, besides the magically powered cage, it looked the part of a Werewolf's den. Furs had been spread over the queen size bed, comfortable chairs, and floor. A large side table against the wall was filled with fruits and chocolate. Outside of the cage the cabinets were filled with potions, healings salves, and bandages. In the corner right next to the cage on the side of the bed stood her chair and her small bookcase. It was filled with adventure novels. It was a genre Moody and Remus enjoyed most during full moons. She wasn't ready to admit the anyone, even herself, she had chosen to lay the fur most like Remus' over her chair. She told herself it was an aesthetic must to pull together the wolf's den both inside and out of the cage. Scoffing she accused herself of being a 'Lavender Brown' silly. It was a blatant lie, but Molly hadn't asked nor needed to know.

Hermione resumed setting the large table. Molly's positive and giddy nerves were contagious. She had to admit it had been some time since they've eaten all together outside of the holidays. Even though Harry, Remus, and she liked their peace and quiet she had enjoyed it. Both women were startled as their watches beeped. They were returning. The Floo was heard activating from the living room. Molly and Hermione all but ran to meet the person arriving. An equally anxious Tonks stepped out with Teddy on her arm followed by her mother. "They found him!" Tonks unnecessarily yelled in Teddy's ear as they were standing not so far from each other. Teddy gave a displeased yelp and tried to wiggle out of his mother's hold. Tonks sighed and lowered him to the floor. It didn't even take half a minute for Teddy to locate the folded fur and pulled it down, so it fell and covered him completely. Joy filled giggles came muffled from underneath it.
"Come on, let's get the kettle on. I could use a hand with dinner." Molly took charge and led Tonks to the kitchen with a wink towards her mother.
"Of course, Molly, that's a great idea." Andromeda smiled.
Hermione walked over to Teddy and adjusted the fur so his head could peak out. Both Hermione and Andromeda each grabbed a hand of the fur covered toddler and made their way to the kitchen.

Molly and Andromeda had joined forces in finishing dinner to feed the assembled army they were expecting. Tonks and Hermione had helped the older women here and their but were mostly entertaining Teddy as he danced to music still covered in his fur. All women just had to laugh as he had pulled up his arms, formed claws with his chubby little fingers and staggered through the kitchen. Out of nothing Teddy stood still and turned his head towards the living room. "Daddy!" He yelled. Tonks sprang up and picked him up to hold him tight. Hermione quickly lowered the volume of the radio. From the kitchen the only thing they heard was the continued flaring of the Floo and the rampage of multiple feet against the old wooden floor of Grimmauld Place.
"Stand to attention, ladies, their home." Molly said.
Soon after Ginny, George, Ron, Dean and Harlow made their way into the kitchen. Molly quickly stepped up to look over and kiss her children. Though she didn't stop at her own children. Dean and Harlow also fell victim to Molly's inspection. After that they were ushered to find a seat at the table as Andromeda had already began serving tea.
"I reckoned there would be enough to feed them also." Ron spoke as he nodded at Dean and Harlow. As soon as Dean had turned his head away from him, he sent a wink towards Harlow.
"Yes, yes, of course. Sit, sit, sit." The proper level-headed Molly, she had become seemed to have ran for the hills as Grimmauld was overtaken by the small army. Together with Andromeda they served everyone. Hermione stepped up to Ron as they swiftly kissed each other's cheek. "Are you guys okay?" Ron softly asked.
"Yeah, we are fine. You?"
"It went rather smoothly. He didn't come on his own though. He might need some minor patching up. Nobody further was hurt. Not a scratch on us." Ron spread his arms just as he had down for his mother moments ago and turned on the balls of his feet in mock surrender. As he turned back to face Hermione, he sported his signature goofy grin.
"Thank Merlin for that, I didn't think your ego would survive it." Hermione joked as she swatted his still spread arms. Ron barked out a laugh and took a hold of her hands. He bowed down towards her and laid his forehead against hers. "Let them get him settled, then after dinner you and Tonks can go fuss around him. A lot is happening right now, and the wolf isn't very happy. Let's just give him time. Okay?" Ron checked with Hermione. She nodded and gave him a small smile.
Ron straightened and bellowed out: "Merlin, something really must be in the air. 'Mione just agreed with me out right without a peep!" It sent the room into laughs and giggles. Ron softly squeezed her hands before taking a seat at the table. His mother had already served a teeny-tiny piece of today's dessert. Ginny and George had already eaten theirs and were eyeing Ron's portion. Laughing along Hermione made her way to Tonks who was trying to calm a snivelling Teddy. Watching Hermione approach Tonk sent her a pleading look. Hermione took her to a corner of the kitchen and turned them so that Teddy would be with his back to the group and could only see her and his mother. Hermione softly gripped his pudgy hand and looked up to Tonks. With a small smile she then addressed Teddy. "Your dad is a little tired, he is fine and is going to sleep. First, we'll eat some yummy dinner and then we'll see if daddy is awake. How about that?"
"That sounds great, huh Ted?" Tonks nodded towards Hermione to let her know she understood what she meant.
"Daddy eat?" Teddy uttered with furrowed brows.
"Yeah, of course. After his nap." Tonks said trying to satisfy Teddy.
"Go see Grandma Molly, Ted. I believe she made your and your daddy's favourite pastries with chocolate and caramel for dessert." Hermione appeased the boy. Teddy's head whipped around just as he saw Ron but the last of his 'appetizer' in his mouth. The boy gasped and wiggled out of his mother's arms. "Gramma, chocolate!"
"Thank you, Hermione, sometimes I forget he still has his own wolfish tendencies. He wouldn't stop crying for Remus. How is he?"
"Ron said the wolf isn't happy. The others are getting him settled in. He advised us the just have dinner and then check up on him when things have died down. If you want, I can make up a spare room. That way if he isn't amendable tonight, he might be tomorrow morning."
"That would be great, I don't think Ted will want to leave tonight."
"It's nothing, Tonks, you just go sit down." Hermione squeezed Tonks' upper arm before exiting the kitchen.

In the hallway she encountered Kingsley, Arthur, Harry, Bill, and Charlie as the came up from the basement.
"Oh hi," Hermione greeted.
"Hermione," Kingsley greeted back. "Just let him be for now."
"Yeah, Ron told me already. I'm on my way to get the spare ready for Tonks tonight."
"Nice, slumber party." Charlie spoke as he winked at Hermione.
"You guys just go through to the kitchen, dinner is pretty much done, and some lucky sods have been awarded with some dessert before dinner by Molly."
Without another word the men made their way to the kitchen leaving Harry and Hermione on their own.
"Are you okay, Harry?" Hermione asked peering in his eyes as he massaged the back of his neck.
"Yeah, 'Mione. I just feel terrible. We duelled three to one and just stunned him. Now I understand what you meant with the fact that it didn't seem like the Moony we know. He seems rabid. There was no talking with him."
"Don't Harry, you did great. Ron told me nobody got unnecessarily hurt and Remus only needs minor patching up. That's a win in my book since you brought him home."
"Yeah," Harry sighed. "He's home now."
"Go let Molly check you out, you will not get you cake a second sooner." Hermione kindly smiled at Harry.

"Hermione, are you ready?" Molly and Tonks cornered Hermione as she sipped the last of her after dinner tea.
"Yes." Determined she stood. At the door of the basement stood Harry waiting for them.
"Alright, ladies." Harry spoke as he his wand keyed the lock open.
Tonks just rolled her eyes and have Harry a slight push for addressing her as a 'lady'. Harry just smirked at his boss as he stepped down the short stairs first. "Mind your st-"
Whilst Harry's warning Tonks' already managed to get her laces stuck on a splintered piece of wood. "I'm fine." She firmly whispered as she nudged Harry to keep moving. Stepping down the stairs Remus came into view. They had laid him on his new mattress, he had turned to lay facing away from them. His clothes looked ripped and filthy.
"Merlin's sake, men!" Molly scolded before hitting Remus with a Darning Spell and a Scouring Charm. For a second his body was covered in little twinkles and soap bubbles as he was cleaned top to bottom. As the visual signs of the magic of the Scouring Charm disappeared, Remus clothing swept itself up into small waves as it restored its mangled areas. Having repaired every rip and tear, the waves of fabric calmed down until it laid back down to rest against its wearer.
"Sorry about that," Harry murmured. Tonks quietly sat down in Hermione's chair and kept her eyes locked upon her ex-husband.
"How do you want to do this? When we brought him home, we Rennervated him but he just went berserk. We had to stun him again, figuring he could use the rest." Harry asked.
"Let's just leave him for now. Open the cage." Molly stepped in as Harry opened the door. She cast her wand towards Remus and Levitated him a little above his matrass. "Hermione, healing salves and bandages, please.".
Hermione quickly awoke from her daze and Accio'd the needed supplies. She strode up next to Molly and put the supplies on the little space left on the side table. As she opened the salves, Molly had already Accio'd his outer clothing from his body. Remus' body was now floating in the air with nothing on besides his boxers.
"How bad is it?" Molly asked Hermione.
"Not as bad as it used to be, but there is significant more damage on his chest than usual." Hermione pointed her wand at Remus as cast the spell Poppy taught her discern his injuries. Different parts of his body glowed in a soft red. "Notebook?"
Harry quickly passed her his notebook. Hermione found a blanc page and tapped her wand to it. On the paper appeared every injurie and ailment discovered at the moment. Hermione held the notebook at an angle so that both Molly and she could read it. "Most of his injuries are one or two days old. Nothing is broken. I'll start with the gashes." Hermione spoke as she started putting on gloves to protect her own skin against the Wound Cleaning Potion and started rubbing the gashes on his chest, disinfecting the wounds. The aurors, Tonks and Harry, were very familiar with that potion. On contact with the skin of the stunned Remus the potion smoked. Hermione casted a silent spell Poppy had taught her to clear the smoke whilst keeping working on the next gash. His chest disinfected, she moved on to his arms, then his legs and at last his back. Molly had swivelled Remus to give Hermione better access. As Hermione worked Molly kept studying the diagnoses of his ailments. "He really needs his rest, yet due to remedy his headache I'd rather give him just the Calming Draught with a Healing potion to restore his health and stamina and leave out the Sleeping Draught. Unless you would like him to be knocked out for some time?" Molly asked as she first looked at Hermione and then at Harry. Harry lifted his hand in surrender towards Hermione for her to decide what to do.
"I think you're right. Sleeping Draught can be our plan b. When he is able to decide for himself or turns out to be uncooperative, we can always go back to that. Remus doesn't like to take it; he is afraid to become dependent off it."
"That's a good plan, dear." Molly said kindly. Hermione gave a small smile before returning to her next task of rubbing Murtlap Essence on his cuts and agitated skin. This time starting at his back and ending with his legs. She side stepped to check if she had covered it all. Hermione then straightened and nodded towards Molly. Together, Hermione and Molly tapped a pack of bandages. "Ferula." The bandages wound and secured itself around Remus' body. Molly then looked around the room. "Where did you put those pyjama's, dear?"
"Oh, here!" Hermione pulled a new set of matching pants and shirt from one of the drawers.
Harry whistled. "Silk, huh."
"Don't be jealous, Harry. We've bought you two sets as well." Hermione rebuked.
"Oh, that's fantastic. Thank you so much!" Harry genuinely exclaimed. Molly smiled at Harry before turning back and spelling the set onto Remus. Hermione had carefully twisted around Remus' hovering body to fluff his pillows and pull back the duvet covered by a fur. Molly delicately lowered his body to lay upon his bed. She got the potions and magically fed them to Remus due to his stunned state. Hermione pulled up the duvet and the fur and tucked Remus in.
"Well, that's that, for now at least." Molly spoke as she slapped imaginary dust off of her hands. "I'll be on my way then; you know where to find me." Molly kissed Hermione forehead.
Harry walked her out saying that he was sorry Remus wouldn't be able to eat her cooking, but he didn't mind picking up the slack as it was wrong to waste such a treat. Their footsteps retreated upstairs. Hermione turned to the still silent Tonks. Muted tears fell down her cheeks.
"Tonks?" Hermione crouched down at her side.
"I've spent months thinking about why we couldn't make it work despite our love for each other. Now I know." Tonks softly spoke as she turned to Hermione with kind eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"I couldn't do this for him. What you and Molly just did. He knew that."
Hermione tried to make sense of her words but came up empty. "Tonks, I still don't understand what you mean."
"Taking care of him like that."
"I'm sure you could've-" Tonks swiftly cut her off.
"Sure, once or twice. Not every month, and not when this wasn't even the worst you have seen."
"Well, you have Teddy and so much more things to complicate it further. And Molly makes it look easy when it really isn't. Don't beat yourself up over this." Hermione pleaded and held Tonks' hand. "Remus didn't want me to do this either. I just wormed my way into doing this. Once in need he couldn't actually muster up the energy to stop me." Hermione weakly smiled.
"Exactly. Even though I was his wife for two years I don't know Moony. If I'm really honest with myself I never took the time. Isn't that awful?"
"I,-" Hermione sighed. "I don't know, Tonks. But doesn't that mean that Moony didn't as well? That means neither one of you is more at fault than the other."
The women just looked at each other for a moment. Hermione followed Tonks up as she moved to stand. "I have to put baby wolf to bed." Tonks softly uttered whilst wiping away her tears with the sleeve of her sweater. "I just hope he won't fuss too much with not having seen his dad."
"Don't worry about that, I'll do it. You just go hang out with Harry and Charlie. You best take what you can get with the extra hands available, right?" Hermione joked.
New tears rolled down Tonks' cheeks. "Thank you, Hermione. For everything." Tonks pulled Hermione into a tight hug. Stepping back Hermione watched Tonks walk up to Remus' bed in his cage. She couldn't help but overhear.
"You scared me, you git. I'm glad you're back. I love you." Tonks spoke to his unconscious body before bowing down and placing a kiss on his cheek. Once Tonks stepped out of the cage again Hermione spelled it shut and locked it. Holding each other's hand, they made their way up to the living room to join the rest.

Having bathed Teddy, Hermione quickly dried off his body and wrapped him up in the overly large towel. It was one of Remus, he preferred his bath towels the size of that of beach towels. Happy to have played in the bath with Hermione, Teddy threw his head back in a fit of giggles as Hermione gently poked his side. Leftover waterdrops fell down his still damp purple tresses and wet the fogged-up mirror. Hermione couldn't help but laugh with him. "Come on, Ted. Let's get you lotioned up." Hermione took the towel al quickly rubbed the ends of his hair before hanging it over the side of the tub. She turned on some children's music on her phone and secured it on a high shelf. A naked, dancing Teddy looked at himself in the top to bottom mirror mounted on the bathroom wall. His chubby hand moved towards his mirrored self and then flattened against it to steady himself whilst shaking his bottom like the animal in the song supposedly does. Hermione just grinned as she kept an eye on the child whilst grabbing the lotion. Squirting some in her hand she rubbed it between her hands to make it less cold. She quickly rubbed the lotion into the dancing boy's bottom and upper legs. Hermione grabbed a sleeping diaper and pulled it over his bottom. Teddy had chosen his favourite underwear and was now struggling to put the other foot in by himself. With Teddy occupied Hermione finished rubbing the lotion onto the leg and foot that had already been put through the leg hole with Hermione's help. With minimal help to hold the underwear steady so he could put his own leg in the briefs found their way to where they belonged. Hermione did his other leg quickly before giving him is pyjama pants. Teddy was able to put one foot through successfully on his own. How to keep balance and the clothing item still to move it onto the body was still too challenging whilst standing up. If you gave him enough time whilst sitting down, you had a small chance he would figure it out in a half hour if he was interested long enough. "Show me that belly of yours." Hermione softly poked his side again to get his attention. He let out a small giggle before taking a big breath and pushing his belly out. Hermione swiftly rubbed his tummy, sides, and part of his back. "Well done, Ted. That is an amazing belly!"
"Now party people, put those hands up!" Teddy's hands quickly shot up as the rest of his body kept moving to the children's song. It had stuck after Harry had bathed Teddy once. Hermione started rubbing the lotion at the tip of his fingers and moved it down. It wasn't effective as his finger were almost always covered in too much lotion, but it was the routine. You'd move down to his armpits and tickle him. Giggles of anticipation left the small boy as he kept moving his arms up and down with Hermione as she massaged his skin. Finishing up the routine she moved to tickle his armpits. The clean and happy boy let himself fall against Hermione giggling. This way she could try to rub his small back and shoulder blades disguised by the hug according to his bath time routine. She handed Teddy his shirt, with some rough pulling he was able to put his own head through the correct hole. Hermione helped him with his arms. With Teddy dressed she pulled out a children's step from under the sink and held his hand as he made his own way up to the top. She prepared his toothbrush as he kept singing along with the song and making funny faces to himself in the smaller mirror above the sink. She gave him some time to do his own thing as she grabbed his used towel and wiped the larger mirror clean of his lotion covered handprints.
"Let's see how you did, huh Ted." Teddy happily handed her his toothbrush and gave her a big toothy smile. "Look at you, you did really great!" Before he could answer she carefully popped his toothbrush back into his mouth and gave his teeth a quick but thorough brushing.

Washing the toothbrush, she motioned for Teddy to clean his face. He happily splashed the water around but ultimately did as he was told. She dried his face with the other end of the towel and wandlessly dried his now soaked shirt. "So how was your day, Teddy?" As Teddy thought of what to tell her, Hermione ran a comb through his hair. There were only some tangles at the ends but that was easily combed through. Teddy had chosen to tell her about a friend, she couldn't make out if he had really played with another boy of just one of his stuffed animals but that wasn't the point.
"That sounds like a great time!"
"You wanna play?" Teddy asked sweetly peering at her through the mirror.
"Sure, we'll play tomorrow. I would love to."
His eyebrows had already knitted together in order to protest they play right now. Hermione had already laid away the comb and had lathered her hands with more lotion. "Now, let me see those big cheeks!" As Hermione's hands came closer Teddy firmly turned his head away. "Ah, those aren't big at all, I know you can do better." Teddy thoughtfully peered out the sides of his eye sockets for a second before actually puffing out his cheeks and allowing Hermione to finish their routine. "You did so well." Hermione pressed a kiss to Teddy's head as she wrapped him up in her arms and Accio'd her phone before leaving the bathroom.

"Let's say good night to everyone." Hermione set Teddy down in the living room. He immediately launched himself at his mother and Charlie who had cuddled up on an enlarged chair. With minimal fussing he made his way through kissing Harry, Ron, and Bill good night as well. Hermione quickly scooped him up again and moved towards the stairs in the hallway. Teddy's chubby finger digged in her cheek before pointing towards the basement. "Daddy goodnight?"
"Only if you promise you'll be a big boy and stay in bed tonight. Do you understand?"
Even though Hermione knew it was useless to make deals with the toddler she couldn't help but smile as Teddy roughly nodded his head saying: "I pwomise."
"Come on then." Hermione spelled the basement unlocked and made her way down. Once Teddy laid his eyes on his dad he immediately tried to wriggle out of her hold.
"Hey, just wait a second."
Teddy ran up to the cage and held a bar in each hand as he pressed his head against them. "Daddy!"
"Watch out," Hermione warned as the now unlocked cage swivelled open.
The toddler waddled up to the bed. "Up!" He demanded.
Hermione picked him up and set him on the bed. "Daddy!"
Hermione was startled as she heard Remus give a soft growl as Teddy's fingers moved over his face hoping to pry his eyes open. Teddy didn't seem to mind and giggled. "Woof woof." Teddy responded. Remus wasn't supposed to be awake. They had given him highly dosed Calming Draught especially brewed for him by Poppy. Hermione quickly moved onto the bed as well and grabbed a hold of Teddy's hands. Peering down Remus' face, he kept his eyes closed whilst not moving a muscle. "See, daddy is really tired, Let's give him a good night kiss and go to bed as well."
As expected, Teddy didn't care for her plan. He tried to wiggle out of her reach but as Remus let out another growl Teddy kept still and leaned into his father before pressing wet lips against his. "Good night, daddy."

Preview next chapter:

Remus' action just made Harry angry. "What, offended are we now? You ignore every one of us, when it's you its not so great is it?" Harry snarled.

Remus jumped up to the metal bars of his cage and towered over Harry. There wasn´t an inch between them that the bars didn't permit.

"You don't look so tough now, wolf, in your silk pyjamas." Harry noted his eyes kept flickering as they had been since he left and his fangs were clearly visible as he kept growling at him.