Sirius woke before everyone the next morning, his dreams filled with images of a prison cell, dementors, the Veil and Hermione.

Shaking the sleep from his head, Sirius headed to the bathroom to shower before James woke and used all of the hot water. As he dried, he heard the door behind him squeak open and a soft "Oh, shit, sorry!" before the door closed again. Drying and dressing quickly, Sirius found Hermione walking out of her bedroom as he left the bathroom.

"See anything you liked, kitten?" he said, smirking.

"To be honest, Sirius, I wasn't even awake enough to figure out who was in there," Hermione said, reaching for the bathroom door. "But I am sorry, I'll have to remember that you take a shower first thing when we go to Potter Manor."

"I don't always," Sirius said, softer. "You just gave us a lot to think about last night and I needed to clear my head."

"Imagine how I feel," Hermione said, just as softly. "I spent years of my life hating Peter for what he put my best friend, my brother, through and I acted like I didn't know what he was capable of when I told him everything."

"After you fell asleep, I all but told James we should take care of the problem now," Sirius replied raking a hand through his hair. "I was talked out of it."

Hermione smiled. "Let me guess, Remy?"

"James, actually," Sirius said, still surprised at his friend.

"Really?" Hermione said thoughtfully. "I was expecting the Potter temper to show honestly. Harry was awful about leading with his emotions."

Sirius chuckled. "James is a hot head alright, but only when it comes to defending his friends. Following his emotions though? That's all Lily."

Hermione smiled, reminded of her own redhead friend. "That sounds like Ginny, she's a Weasley, Molly and Arthur's youngest. She'll be born a year after Harry and Ron. Hey, how many kids do the Weasleys have right now?"

"Three," Hope said, stepping from her bedroom. "William, Charles, and Percy. William is seven, Charles is five, and Percy, the baby, will be one in August. I have tea with Molly once a week."

"Not for long," Hermione murmured to herself as she went into the bathroom.

When she exited, Sirius was still standing in the hallway, but Hope was gone, off to brew coffee and tea for the teenagers that were about to rise.

"Hey, what did you mean when you said 'not for long'?" Sirius asked her.

Hermione smiled brightly. "The twins that even gave the Marauders a run for their money should be conceived sometime in July, they were born on April first."

"They give us a run for our money?" Sirius asked, gobsmacked. "How?"

"Easy," Hermione replied cheekily. "Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs had a certain map confiscated before their graduation, and the Weasley twins liberated it from Filch."

"We get the map taken?" Sirius asked sadly.

"Oh, don't worry, Harry uses that and James' cloak more than I care to admit to get away with things he shouldn't have been doing," she said, grinning. "Come on, let's go get some tea before Remy wakes up and drinks it all!"

"One more thing," Sirius said, grabbing her hand. "Why do you call Moony Remy?"

"It's a holdover from my past," she said, softly. "When we all stayed at Grimmauld after your escape, Remus and I went through the house and took care of a lot of it's creature inhabitants. I called him 'Remy' once when a doxy tried to bite him from behind and it stuck."

Sirius smiled. "Did you have any nicknames for me?"

Hermione laughed at that. "Now that you mention it, when you wrote to Harry when you were hiding after leaving Azkaban, we used the name Snuffes."

Hermione laughed anew at Sirius' expression to hearing that, while Sirius grumbled. "Never should have told Remus that was what Ma P called me when I had a cold..."

Hermione was still smiling when James, Remus and Peter finally joined them for breakfast.

"What's got you so happy, Mione?" Remus asked between bites of food.

"Reminiscing. I told Sirius that we used a code name when he'd write us at school - Snuffles." Hermione giggled again.

James and Remus laughed loudly, while Sirius pretended to sulk, and Peter was clueless.

The teens milled about for a few hours before James decided they should all leave, so Remus had two days to prepare Hermione for what she was going to experience when Remus transformed.

After Hermione had said her goodbyes and watched each boy leave through the Floo, Hope called her to the other room to talk.

"Yes, Aunt Hope?" Hermione said, curious.

"As you know, the full moon is in two days," Hope began, shakily. "Remus and I wanted to prepare you for what's going to happen."

"We have a room in our basement, assessable to only those blood related to me," Remus began. "So, that does include you. I'll go down there an hour before the moon rises. We can't cast strong enough soundproofing charms so, unfortunately, you may be able to hear it all."

"Oh, Remus," Hermione said softly. "Remember, I saw one of your transformations in third year. It doesn't bother me that you're transforming, the fact you'll be in pain bothers me."

Remus smiled and held her hand. "I appreciate that Hermione. Unfortunately, I can't take anything before I transform to ease the pain."

"You can though!" Hermione suddenly said, remembering something. "I need my bag."

When she returned to the living room, she dug through her bottomless bag and withdrew a vial. "This is a potion that Snape and I developed before the war got really bad. You took it religiously before your transformations, it doesn't have anything in it that would harm the man or the wolf. Unfortunately, I don't have any Wolfsbane, not that it would help this month anyway, but I can have it for you next month."

Hope gasped. "You know how to brew Wolfsbane? How?"

"It was mostly self-taught. I found it in Moste Potent Potions and wanted to try it since the person brewing it for Remus previously wasn't available," Hermione said, shrugging. "It's not as difficult as one might think."

Remus jumped up and grabbed Hermione, spinning her around, hugging her tight and kissing her cheeks. "You. Fantastic. Cousin. Of. Mine!"

Hermione smiled, "I told you that you meant a lot to me before."

Remus finally set her back on her feet. "Mum, I'm going to show Hermione where I transform, just in case."

Hope nodded, tears in her eyes. Her son may not have relief this month, but next month? She couldn't wait to see the difference.

As Remus and Hermione made their way down the stairs to the basement, Hermione noticed Remus' shoulders getting tighter and tighter.

"Remy," she said, placing a hand on his arm once they were fully in the basement. "I know this must be difficult for you, but if it makes you feel any better, I don't have to look."

"I want you to," he replied, hugging her. "Mum has a hard time when I transform, having you here, knowing where I am, it helps."

The day of the full moon was upon them.

James and Sirius came over for dinner, set for three hours before sunset, and four hours before moonrise. Peter was conspicuous by his absence.

"Something about his mum," James told Hermione softly when she arched her brow after noticing only two of them exiting the Floo. "She's ill."

Hermione nodded, not sure if Matilda was legitimately ill, or it this was the beginning of Peter's turn to the Death Eaters. "I'll send him an owl after you lot are locked downstairs."

James nodded, grateful to Hope for distracting Sirius with food as soon as they exited the fireplace. "I think Hope knows something she's not telling at the moment."

"I think so too," she said, then spoke louder. "Come on, before Auntie gives Sirius the rest of the treacle tart that was meant for dessert."

A few hours later, Hermione was standing at the top of the stairs, hugging each of the boys she had become increasingly close to over the last few days. Starting with James, then Remus, who also got a kiss on the cheek, and finally, Sirius.

"Take care of him, Padfoot," she said softly as she hugged him tightly. She hoped using his nickname, he'd realize she was serious, as she never called them by their "Marauder names".

"I will," he said, just as softly. "I promise, no matter what."

Hermione smiled, glad he understood that she meant today, and in the future. She waited as the boys entered the basement, and when they were out of sight, she closed and firmly locked the door.

"Auntie," Hermione called, once she was sure the door was secure. "Can we talk?"

"Sure, love," Hope said, filling two teacups for them.

"Why did you immediately go to Sirius when the boys came over today?" Hermione asked softly, knowing Remus' ears were extra sensitive on the day of his tranformation. "Even James noticed something was off."

"I got a letter from Molly today," she said quietly. "She went round to Matilda and Peter's house this morning to have tea with Matilda, they were friendly in school. Molly said the house was empty, no sign of Peter or Matilda anywhere. She asked neighbors, and they said they haven't seen Tilda in weeks, and Peter only once a week. I wanted to distract Sirius from the fact Peter was missing, that's why I made all those desserts. Sirius thinks with his stomach."

Hermione was in shock. The fact that no one had seen Mrs. Pettigrew in weeks astounded her, as she had only known Peter a week and he never mentioned anything. Suddenly, Hermione's wrist burned for a moment, then faded. She glanced at her wrist, and then to Hope. "Peter just told everything I told him to someone that didn't already know. He made an oath to me, and the ribbon just burned me and disappeared."

"Hermione, ribbons only burn before disappearing when the oath is broken with ill intent," Hope said, her voice shaking. "I'm calling the Potters to come here."

Within moments, Charlus and Dorea were in the living room of Lupin Keep, Charlus' eyes angry, and Dorea's hardened, until they landed on Hermione. "You're the one I have to thank for trying to change what's meant to happen, aren't you?"

"I am, and something just happened that didn't happen before," Hermione said, quickly explaining everything. "The only person Peter betrayed in my past was James and Lily. This is all new, and I don't know what to do! Remus is going to transform any moment, I can't safely move him to the Shrieking Shack or the cellar at Potter Manor!"

"That's why Hope called us, Hermione," Charlus said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I know you just left one war, but if it comes tonight, we will stand by you, as will the rest of the Order."

"The Order?" Hermione gasped. "Why didn't I think of that? Charlus, the Bones family was attacked in the late seventies, as well and the Prewitt twins, and the McGonagalls."

"None of that has happened yet," Dorea said, softly, her mothering nature shining through. "Everyone you've mentioned is currently on this property, disillusioned just in case. Alastor Moody has also dispatched teams of Aurors to each of the prominent Order members' homes. Everyone in the Order knows what's happening, and we're all protecting you, and our boys down there."

Suddenly, a patronus came flying into the room. "Pettigrew, the Lestrange men, Bellatrix Black, and Lucius Malfoy have been captured together trying to gain access to the grounds. Transporting to ministry. Lupin Keep is safe, all others still being guarded," came the smooth voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt from his lynx patronus.

"Kingsley," Hermione breathed. "I thought he was the same age as the boys?"

"He's a few years older," Charlus answered. "This is his fourth year as an auror, Alastor is mentoring him."

"The last time I saw that patronus, chaos ensued," Hermione shuddered. "I'm relieved it's bringing good news this time."

Hermione realized she had spoken too soon. "Updated information. Subjects still in custody, Moody injured. Requesting entrance into Lupin Keep," the lynx patronus said.

Without thinking, Hermione sent her own patronus, shocked that it wasn't an otter this time, but a wolf. "Tell Kingsley he and Moody may enter, requesting subjects be locked in the most secure area Azkaban has."

No sooner than her patronus had left the room, Kingsley came in carrying a bloodied Moody, the lower half of his leg missing. This is when he lost his leg! Shit, remember your training Mione!

Hermione magically cleared and enlarged the dining room table, directing Kingsley to lay Moody there. She began casting diagnostic charms on him while Hope and Dorea ran to grab supplies.

They returned moments later laden down with cloths to clean the wounds, potions, and a small pillow to lay under his head. "It's been cursed off, I can't regow it."

"You're sure?" Dorea asked, cleaning the superficial wounds on Moody's torso. "I was a mediwitch before I had James, need a second set of eyes?"

"It wouldn't hurt," Hermione replied, wiping her brow.

After a few moments, Dorea spoke again, "You're right, we have to stop the bleeding and heal the wound."

"He's going to kill me for it later, but the only way I know to heal a cursed wound," Hermione began.

"Is muggle sewing and cauterizing," Dorea finished for her. "Let's get to it."

Suddenly, a tortured howl was heard from the basement. "Moony smells the blood, Dorea," Hermione gasped. "We have to work fast, he wants a feast, and he'll break through any precautions that are down there if we can't stop Moody's bleeding."

Hermione and Dorea worked furiously, finally getting the blood to stop when the door to the basement shook violently.

"He shouldn't have been able to get up the stairs," Hope said, shaking. "Dumbledore himself warded the room he was in, no one can break that except for a cursebreaker."

"When the wolf thinks a meal is being withheld, he'll do anything," Hermione said frantic. "I need to send a patronus to the boys." She summoned her wolf again. "Tell Padfoot and Prongs to distract Moony as best they can. Wormtail betrayed us earlier than previously and Auror Moody is bleeding in the kitchen, Moony wants to eat. Show them the side of beef I left under a preservation charm down there. Hurry!"

Hope watched the door rattle, then eventually stop. The basement was silent except for a snarl here and there, which sounded like a feral dog feeding. "I think it worked, Mione."

"I hope so," she said, turning her attention back to Moody's mangled leg. "Sew up the small lacerations and cauterize the rest, Dorea?"

Dorea nodded in reply, summoning a needle and suture thread from Hermione's bag that was open on the table next to Moody. "I'll sew, you do the rest."

After almost two hours of working on Moody, Hermione directed Kingsley to levitate Moody upstairs, down the hall from the occupied bedrooms. "That's all we can do for now, I'll check on him in the morning."

Dawn broke, and with it, so did Moony's hold on Remus.

Revenge. The wolf in Remus' mind growled. Threatened pack.

For the first time since he'd been bitten, Remus and Moony were in complete agreement.