Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling. All characters, places, descriptions, etc. (unless original and created by me) belong to her.
Summary: It was a small pack, of course, just the five of them, but together they were something wild. Hermione finds herself in the Marauder's Era with four new best friends.
A/N: To the guest reviewer who ranted about Regulus: Your review made my day, my week. I took it in the best way. Thank you.
To everyone else: Enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think!
Chapter 60: Alea Iacta Est*
16 July 1978
To: 12 Grimmauld Place
From: The Shelter, Yorkshire
Regulus,
Merlin, I don't even know where to start. Probably with an apology for barging in on you last night. I hope my sudden appearance didn't cause you any more trouble. There's so much I want to tell you, to explain, but I should think on it before I go spewing out every thought in my head.
I just want you to know I'm so thankful for you and quite frankly don't know what I would do without you.
Let me get my thoughts in order and I'll answer whatever questions you may have. I'm sorry to be so cryptic, but I hope you can be patient with me.
How are you otherwise? Merlin, that sounds awful, doesn't it. Well, I've missed you. A lot. I'm living with your brother now, did I tell you?
I hope you're enjoying your summer. I hope you're okay.
I know you have a lot going on, Regulus, and I know I'm just adding to it, but I'm here. If you need to rant or complain or talk, don't forget I'm here.
-Hermione
16 July 1978
To: Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts
From: The Shelter, Yorkshire
Professor Dumbledore,
I'd like to set up a time to discuss my future. Please let me know when we can meet at your earliest convenience.
-Hermione Granger
16 July 1978
To: The Shelter, Yorkshire
From: Hogwarts
Ms. Granger,
I find a cup of tea with a friend at 10 o'clock on Mondays is a good way to start the week.
-Albus Dumbledore
17 July 1978
The Shelter
There was a knock at her door at an ungodly hour, but Hermione was already awake. She'd been running ragged through her mind trying to plan out a course of attack for her meeting with Dumbledore. And it was day one of her pre-moon syndrome. She couldn't sleep in if she tried.
The knock came again.
"Pup? You awake?"
"Come in." Hermione sat up in bed as Sirius pushed open the door and peeked his head inside.
"You're still in bed? At this hour? Blimey, Pup, post-grad life has made you lazy." Sirius smirked at her and then ducked as Hermione threw a pillow at his face.
"Why are you up so early?" Hermione stretched out in bed, letting herself fall deeper against her remaining pillows.
"I had an idea." It's at this moment she took in his appearance. Trainers, bits of an old quidditch kit, clean white shirt. "I think it'll help. Come on, Pup, up you get."
Hermione groaned as she moved around her room, dipping into her closet for a moment to change before grabbing her own trainers and following Sirius down the stairs and out the door. He bounced on his toes in front of her. The sun was just peeking out over the horizon.
"I thought a run could help. We can lap around the edge of the property a few times."
Hermione blinked against the morning air. Running? That wasn't really something she did. But then again, fighting with her fists in a secret room at Hogwarts wasn't really something she'd ever done either. At the thought of fighting, she became hyper aware of the growing tension in her muscles.
As hesitant as she was to admit it, Hermione liked the fighting, but looking at Sirius before her, she knew this idea was as much for him as it was for her. She thought back to what Regulus had once told her. That the Marauders—Sirius—they couldn't help her like Regulus could. They couldn't see that part of her that needed the release of fighting because they wouldn't let themselves see her as something dangerous. But it was more than that. She'd seen it in Sirius' eyes. He didn't like causing pain, causing her pain. And as much as she wanted someone to push her to her limits, she couldn't ask that of him.
So she nodded and laced up her shoes and they ran.
17 July 1978
To: The Shelter, Yorkshire
From: 12 Grimmauld Place
Hermione –
I'm glad you wrote. I woke up thinking I'd imagined the whole thing, or at least some of it. It's not that I don't trust you, because I do. It actually explains a lot, but it's fucking strange, isn't it?
Merlin, of course I have questions.
Why here? Why now?
Who else knows?
Who is familiar to you?
Did you know me before?
Fuck, I can't decide what I want to know. About the world, me, any of it.
This summer's been shit, I won't lie. As awful as it sounds, seeing you crying in my room has been the highlight. Don't know what's happening on your side, but everything seems to be picking up speed over here. I don't typically meet with the others, but I've been asked to join a few times recently. The invitations are starting to come more often. I'll be fucking glad when school starts again and I'll have a better excuse to avoid it all.
How's living with Sirius? Does he still leave half-drunk cups of tea everywhere? Used to drive our father spare.
Full moon coming up. Is he helping you? Never thought I'd miss getting beat up by you. Still getting my fair share of bruises, but it's just not the same, you know?
Don't worry about me, Granger.
-R.A.B.
17 July 1978
Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts
Her hand was clamped around Regulus' letter in her pocket. This was a mistake. It was too close to the full moon. The rope in her mind was fraying and she was angry. She came here looking for help, for guidance, for a plan to save her friends. Instead, she'd been hit head on with the realization that Dumbledore was more complex than she'd ever thought. He wasn't simply the kind, eccentric headmaster. He wasn't simply the brilliant wizard who always has a plan.
His words were like static in her ears, and she had to focus on synthesizing exactly what he was saying.
"Things have been planned and in the works since before you landed here. Do not test me, Ms. Granger. You will not change my plans."
"I'll tell them," she blurted out. "I'll go home right now and tell them everything."
"I think you'll find you won't." He was calm, so bloody calm, and it was driving her crazy. "You won't interfere, you know you won't because of everything you know."
"But some things can be changed from what I believe happened—It's happened before. Things still happen, just not in the way you originally thought." Was she making sense? She thought she was. Her arms were waving around. She knew she'd raised her voice, that she'd lost control of the conversation, but she couldn't help it.
"Ms. Granger—"
"Regulus Black, sir. He's a good man. If we could-If the Order could reach out—"
"I am aware of the young Mr. Black and where his loyalties lie. He is not a concern of the Order at this time." Dumbledore's tone almost pushed Hermione back a step. She'd never seen him so cold.
"He is a boy. We can help him. He's a child. We're all children."
"I wonder if the elder Mr. Black knows you are still in contact with his brother."
"Excuse me?" This time she did take a step back.
"I'm trying to explain your situation, Ms. Granger. You are alone in a time that is not your own. Didn't you ever wonder why the Department of Mysteries never came knocking? You are free to live your life here because of me. And look at all you've managed so far."
Hermione clenched her jaw. She stuck her hands in her pockets so Dumbledore couldn't see the fists that had formed.
"You've carved out a life for yourself here, but you've been amongst us for less than a year. No past, no history, nothing to back up your existence. You may know some of the events to come, but it is clear you do not know what becomes of yourself. I would only advise that you act in your best interests."
"Is that a threat?" Hermione snarled. She felt her wolfish side sidle under her skin like it was putting on a coat. "Are you threatening me?"
"I am merely informing you, Ms. Granger, to the status of your place in this world."
"An unbreakable vow." It's the only thing she can think of. Something that will bind Dumbledore to his word. Something that will give him… something, anything he might want from her. "I'll make an unbreakable vow."
"Intriguing, Ms. Granger, but I do not take vows lightly. This is serious magic indeed."
"I know, but it's important. We'll negotiate, come to agreeable terms, and if we can't—" She gulped. "—then there will be no vow."
Dumbledore was quiet for a moment. The room was suddenly unbearably quiet beside the quiet insistent ticking of a clock hidden somewhere amongst the bits and bobs and the intermittent chirping of Fawkes from his perch in the corner.
She could see Dumbledore thinking. Surely he couldn't resist, right? She'd be a nuisance to the Order, to his plans. She was a variable he couldn't account for. He didn't know her, not like the students he'd had under his influence since they were eleven. He didn't know what she knew, didn't know if his plans worked out like he hoped they would.
Finally, he looked over his half-moon glasses at her and spoke.
"Pick your battle, Ms. Granger. You can only ask so much of an old man like me."
Hermione closed her eyes. What could she change? James – his body was found, buried, mourned. Lily – had to sacrifice herself for Harry to be protected. Peter – he betrayed James and Lily; Hermione couldn't change that. She thought of Remus and Sirius and the years they would have alone. But they'd be alive and they'd forgive her. She was wasting time with these considerations; she knew that. She was trying to assuage her eventual guilt, but it didn't matter. She knew why she was here, what she was asking for.
"Regulus, I choose Regulus." Saying the words out loud filled her with a saving breath of hope. She met Dumbledore's eyes with newfound confidence. "You'll promise to use all your resources to help him, to save him."
"Ms. Granger," Dumbledore tutted at her like a teacher scolding a rambunctious child. "That is much too vague. Some would say with that mark on his arm, he can never be truly saved."
"Just-just help him, Professor. He is a student at your school. Help him."
"And in exchange?"
"What do you want?" She braced herself.
"You will not change anything, not even attempt such a feat."
"No." It takes everything she has to keep a blank stare and a quiet voice, but she manages. "It's like you said, Professor, a task that would inevitably fail. From my perspective, I have already changed things. That is much too vague."
"Fine," Dumbledore grit out. "Then you shall not tell another soul about the truth of your travels in time."
"Fine." She nodded, her mind already thinking of possible loop holes as Dumbledore pulled out his wand.
The headmaster moved from behind his desk to stand before Hermione. He held out his arm for her to grasp. A small part of her was transfixed in grotesque curiosity as he started to move his wand over their clasped hands. She'd never seen an unbreakable vow cast before.
Strands of silver light circled their arms like snakes waiting to attack. She looked up to Dumbledore. He nodded, and she spoke.
"Do you, Albus Dumbledore, promise to help Regulus Black, to aid him in the coming times, to—"
"I do."
He cut her off before she could add anything else. The threads tightened, but Hermione knew it was a weak promise. This? This was all she could get from the leader of the Light?
"Do you, Hermione Granger, promise not to tell anyone else, by revealing or confirming, that you are from the future?"
"I do."
The threads tighten again, and the strength of this promise buckled Hermione's arm. Was it worth it? Would Dumbledore really help Regulus? Did she make a mistake?
The second the threads of the spell fade, Hermione wrenched her hand away. Her lip curled up in disgust as she whirled around to head for the door. Dumbledore's calm voice trailed after her like drips of cold water from a melting spear of ice.
"I'll see you soon, Ms. Granger, for the Order initiation."
"Do you think it wise?" She stopped at the door, closed her eyes and spoke without turning around. "I'll know some of the other members in the future."
"The Order would benefit from your talents, Ms. Granger."
"I think you want to keep me under your thumb." She pulled open the door, desperate to get away from this conversation.
"Perhaps. Perhaps I know your friends will question you if you don't join. Keep an eye out for my owl."
17 July 1978
To: 12 Grimmauld Place
From: The Shelter, Yorkshire
We need to talk in person. Diagon Alley, 2pm.
17 July 1978
From: The Shelter, Yorkshire
To: Amanuensis Quills, Diagon Alley
Dear Mr. Kannan,
As per your advertisement in the Daily Prophet, I would like to apply for the open part-time sales position at your shop.
I am a hard-working recent graduate of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. While at Hogwarts, I served as a Prefect for several years, developed leadership and research skills, and earned four Outstanding and two Exceeds Expectations marks for my N.E.W.T.s.
As per Ministry Ruling #1252(e), I am required to disclose to potential employers that I am registered with the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures as a Level XXXXX Being. I assure you this registration has no impact on my ability to work hard and perform necessary duties. If needed, please reach out to Professor Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, as a reference to my character.
I hope you will consider me for the position. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best,
Remus J. Lupin
17 July 1978
Diagon Alley
She took a moment to watch him walk around Diagon Alley before approaching him. Her nerves surrounding the vow she'd just made completely disappeared the moment she saw him. He looked… Well, he was all in one piece. He looked every bit the pristine pureblood heir, but Hermione knew him well enough to see the compensation in his gate to hide a slight limp, the way he favored his left hand when he opened doors, the shadows in his eyes. She watched and waited as he moved through the street before he passed her nook in the alleyway. She reached out a hand and pulled him to her side.
"It's me," she whispered. "We can't talk here. I'm going to apparate us, okay?"
Regulus barely had time to nod before she turned and whisked them away.
The Shrieking Shack
"Merlin, Granger, this shit hole? Really?" Regulus looked around the Shack before smirking at Hermione. She let out a hysterical breath before launching herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. And Regulus hugged her back.
"It's good to see you, Regulus."
"It's good to see you, Granger."
She pulled back from the hug, not letting her arms drop away from Regulus. Her eyes searched his face, and once satisfied with whatever she found, Hermione let him go. She moved around the room, waving her wand, clearing dust and pulling out the chairs and unbalanced table that were pushed in a corner.
"This is where we'd spend the moons at school," she explained as she motioned for Regulus to join her at the table.
"Ah, so you and Lupin are to thank for the state of this lovely décor."
"Yes indeed." She managed a smile. "Regulus—"
"Wait." Regulus held up a hand. "Don't-I don't want to know anything about my future. I've thought about it, thought of little else really, but I don't want to know. At least not now."
Hermione just nodded and let him continue.
"I need something I can control, right now. This—" He looked down to his arm, where she knew the Dark Mark sullied his skin. "—isn't allowing me to control anything about my life. I'm-I'm losing control of my own life, Granger. So please, don't tell me anything about what I do or-or what I say or anything. Okay?"
"Okay." She nodded, reaching forward to place a hand on Regulus' arm. "Regulus, yes, yes, of course. Whatever you want."
"Okay," he let out a breath. "Okay. Wow, sorry, just had to get that out there first. Okay, so… you're from the future."
"Yep," Hermione nodded.
"When exactly? You mentioned the other night, but wait—Does you telling me you're from the future change the future? Is the future you know even there anymore?"
"Regulus, stop. Just—Let me explain a few things. I know it's a lot. I know, but hopefully I can explain it."
"Right, no of course. Go on."
"Right, okay." Hermione took in a deep breath. "This isn't my first time travelling in time. Do you know what a time turner is?"
"Yes."
"Okay, great. So I have had previous experience with a time turner which allowed me to travel back in time a few hours at a time. I was, to an extent, supervised while I possessed this time turner, and I was educated on the basic theory of time travel."
She waited for Regulus to nod before continuing.
"Though there are many theories on time travel, I have had personal experience confirming one. That is that time is essentially a circle. What has happened will always happen. It is consistent in and of itself." Hermione winced as she found herself repeating words Dumbledore had spoken to her almost a year ago. "Nothing can happen that hasn't already occurred."
"What does that mean exactly?"
"It means I was always meant to come back to this time. I was always meant to be here."
"But you're from—"
"1997."
"Fuck."
"I know."
"Okay," Regulus groaned and his head fell into his hands. "Fuck, Granger, this is doing my head in. Can you explain in terms I'll actually understand?"
"Sorry, I know. I'll try. Er, okay okay, right. An example, right? I was, er, running late to… class one day. I was caught up talking with some friends, but I was hit with a pebble and realized the time and wasn't late. Later, I had gone back in time and managed to come across myself in that moment, talking with friends and almost late. I was waiting for that pebble to hit my past-self when I realized that I was the one who had thrown it. I was the reason I noticed the time. The past events wouldn't have occurred without my traveling back in time to be a part of them."
"Right," Regulus said slowly. Hermione was quite while he took a moment to digest the information. "Wait, so you can't change things? How does that work?"
"Er, okay, so you can't change things that have already happened, otherwise you wouldn't be able to go back in time. There would be a paradox. But—" Hermione sighed. "You might not know exactly how things have worked out. So you can change how you think things have happened."
"Lost me again."
"Okay, another example. I once went back in time because I thought a friend was about to be hurt. At the time I went back, I didn't know if he was okay, if he was being hurt, about to be hurt, and so on. When I went back, I was able to find him and bring him to safety."
"So you changed things?"
"In a way." Hermione nodded. "I was always going to save him, but I didn't know that he would be safe until I did. I changed the future, not the past. Does that make sense?"
"Okay, I think I've got it." Regulus nodded back. "Granted, you may need to re-explain all this again and again, but I think I've got it."
Hermione let out a big sigh and fell back against her chair. She let her eyes close for a moment.
"So what does that mean for you, here and now?"
"It means there's a lot I want to change that can't." She opened her eyes again and looked at Regulus. "But, it also means there may be things I can."
Regulus was quiet for a minute. He turned his eyes from Hermione.
"I still don't think I want to know about the future. I'm sorry."
"No," Hermione almost gasped out. "Regulus, no, I'm not going to try to tell you anything you don't want to know. I would never—I don't want to put that on you. I'm just—Merlin, I'm so thankful I can tell someone else about this. Dumbledore knows, of course, but Regulus, this is so freeing."
Regulus looked back at her. He moved slowly to wipe at a rogue tear that had fallen unbidden down her cheek.
"So 1997, huh?"
"Yes."
"When were you born?"
"I thought you didn't want to know about the future?"
"Not mine. But I want to know your past."
"I was born in 1979."
"You're not even born yet?" Regulus gaped at her. "So that means I'm what? 18 years older than you?"
Hermione nodded.
"Did you know me?" He leaned forward, the table tipping on its uneven legs. "No, fuck, don't tell me. I want to know, but don't tell me."
She smiled but kept her mouth shut.
"Did you go to Hogwarts?"
"Yep, Gryffindor then, too."
"Figures." Regulus smirked. "Okay, so how did you get here? With a time turner?"
"I don't know how I did it. I didn't have the time turner this time. It was…different, not completely. It felt familiar, but wilder, less controlled. I-I apparated and then I appeared by the Forbidden Forest."
"Were you trying to get to the Forbidden Forest?"
"No, I—" Hermione blinked. "I wasn't trying to go anywhere in particular actually. I didn't have a destination. I just-I just apparated."
"Okay," Regulus looked at her intently. "Look you may not like this, but my uncle who was home when you showed up the other night, he used to work for the Department of Mysteries and still consults with them when they call on him. I could ask him—be vague about it of course—but see if he can give us any answers."
"Does he have experience with time?"
"Honestly, I have no idea, but it's the best option I have."
"I'm tentative about involving anyone in your family, Regulus." She winced.
"No," he pulled back from the table, nodding vigorously. "Of course, of course, no, I totally understand. Granger, I'd never do anything to put you in harms way, you know that right?"
"No, I—" This time she leaned forward. "Of course, Regulus. I know that. If you can be vague enough about it, I think it'll be okay to ask."
"Alright."
"Oh." Hermione winced and ground her teeth together. "There's another thing. I went to talk to Dumbledore today."
"And?"
"And he—he's—" Hermione jumped to her feet and started pacing the room. "He's a controlling egomaniac who thinks he's the only one who can make plans and doesn't care about the people he puts in harms way as long as his precious plans are playing out exactly how he wants."
"Whoa, Granger, tell me how you really feel."
"Sorry," Hermione paused and looked at Regulus. "Actually, no, I'm not sorry. I'm trying to do good with my time here and he's being bloody ridiculous."
"Not that I don't disagree, but what happened?"
"Imadeanunbreakablevow," she mumbled, turning away from him.
"What?"
"Imadeanunbreakablevow."
"Granger, come on."
"I made an unbreakable vow," she spoke quietly through clenched teeth.
Regulus closed his eyes and brought his palms up to press against his head. He started swearing under his breath.
"Are you fucking kidding me? An unbreakable vow? With Dumbledore? Albus Dumble-fucking-dore?"
"Yes. I know."
"What even—why—Merlin's bloody balls, Granger, what the fuck did you even swear?"
Hermione walked over to one of the boarded up windows, peeking between the slats of wood. She sighed and turned around.
"I promised not to tell anyone else that I'm from the future. I can't reveal or confirm that fact to anyone."
"But I know?"
"Yes, but thankfully, you already knew before I made that vow." Hermione sank against the wall to sit on the floor. "I promised not to tell anyone else."
"Okay. That's, well, that's not as bad as I thought it would be." Regulus stood and moved to sit beside her on the floor. "What did he promise?"
Hermione clenched her eyes shut. A lump formed in her throat. She bit her lip to stop it from trembling.
"I wanted him to help me change things. I wanted him to swear to it."
"Did he?" Regulus' eyes went wide. Hermione huffed beside him.
"What do you think?" She shook her head. "No, he promised to help, in the vaguest terms. It means nothing. It means he could-he could open a door for someone or pass someone a cup of bloody tea and satisfy the vow."
Hermione stewed silently beside Regulus. A moment passed, and then two. All the while, Regulus stared at her.
"What do you want to change?" he whispered. She looked up at him with sad eyes, a pathetic excuse for a smile on her face.
"I thought you didn't want to know about the future."
Regulus moved to wrap his arm around Hermione, pulling him into his side. They leaned on each other, sitting there in the dusty remains of the Shrieking Shack. The moment stretched on.
"You mentioned gatherings?" Hermione started. She pulled on Regulus' arm with the Mark to hold onto it. "Are you okay?"
"It's a waking nightmare." Regulus' arm flexed under her hands. "Though I suppose I'm one of the lucky ones. I think I'm just there to represent the future of my House. It's disgusting."
"Have—" She paused. He didn't want to know the future. Was this teasing too much? She tried to sound comforting rather than curious. "Have you been asked to do anything?"
"Not since—" His voice broke. "Not since my birthday."
Hermione interlaced her fingers with Regulus'. She was fully crying now. A few tears had escaped from Regulus' eyes as well. He laughed darkly.
"We're a right mess, aren't we? Quite a depressing lot."
"Well, we're either fighting or crying. No in-between."
Regulus stood up and looked at Hermione.
"One of these days, Granger, we're going to be happy."
Hermione smiled and rose to her feet as well.
"I'm counting on it."
They sparred for a bit before leaving the Shack. Regulus had improved, dodging more of her hits. She tried not to dwell on it. When they settled up to leave, Hermione grabbed for Regulus' hand once more.
"You know you can always call on me, right?" She continued as he nodded. "No, you can always call on me. I will be there, wherever, whenever. You only need to ask."
"I know."
She squeezed his hand before dropping it and following him out the door. Just before he disapparated, he paused to say one last thing.
"Be careful, Granger. There's talks about trying to insert spies on your side. I'm sure Dumbledore's thinking of the same, but look out for yourself, alright?"
18 July 1978
To: The Shelter, Yorkshire
From: The Flat above Ancient & Antiquated
Mum's adamant I come home on Thursday to celebrate her birthday. Won't be able to make the moon. Hope that's alright, but let me know if you need me and I'll make it work.
- Wormtail
18 July 1978
To: The Flat above Ancient & Antiquated
From: The Shelter, Yorkshire
All good, Pete. Don't worry. We'll have the gang back together for the next one. Tell your mum we said happy birthday.
- Moony
19 July 1978
The Shelter
Sirius and Hermione kept running in the mornings, but they still sparred in the afternoons. Hermione still needed it. They still fought, but it was more playful now, less violent. Sirius seemed more comfortable, even smiling as Hermione pushed him to the ground.
"Gotcha," she smirked as she walked over. She stuck out a hand to help him up.
Sirius grinned wickedly as he grasped her hand and pulled her down beside him, moving quickly to throw her under him. Their chests heaved to different tempos as they caught their breaths.
"Hi Pup." Sirius looked down at Hermione beneath him.
"Hi." Hermione smiled.
Sirius bent his head down to nudge Hermione's nose with his own. His hair fell forward to frame their faces as his warm breath ghosted her lips. Sirius shifted his knees to either side of her hips, his body so close to being pressed to hers.
"Tell me you don't feel it too, Pup." He whispered the words against her skin like a prayer, his eyes searching hers. "Tell me it's not just me."
"It's not just you." Merlin, her entire body felt aflame. She wanted to move, to touch, to grab, to hold, but Sirius' gaze pinned her in place.
"Then when are we going to do something about it?"
"Sirius," she whimpered. This moment was just for them. Remus was asleep in his room, so no Alpha around to disturb them. She shifted below Sirius, doing everything she could not to surge up to meet his body, trying to urge him to touch her on his own.
"What do you need, Pup?" He turned his head to the crook of her neck and ran his lips against the soft skin of her throat. "Tell me what you need, Hermione."
Eyes wide she looked up at the ceiling of the garage. She knew what he was saying, what he was asking for. Sirius Black wouldn't kiss her, touch her, until she asked for it. Her hands flexed uselessly at her sides. Could she? Could she ask for it?
A loud chirping sound interrupted the breathy silence. Sirius jerked above her.
"Mother of Merlin, the fuck?" He pulled himself back from her and looked behind him to see a large tawny owl nipping at his bare foot. "Oi, fuck off, bird."
The owl glared as much as it could at Sirius before hopping off his leg. It wobbled over a few steps and leant over to Hermione's foot, looking unblinkingly at the pair before biting her as well.
"Ouch, my foot!" Hermione yelped, shuffling backward and kneeing Sirius in the leg. He fell over to her side with a grunt, and the two stared back at the owl. Sirius grumbled under his breath as he moved cautiously toward it, his hands in the air in surrender.
"Sirius," Hermione cocked her head to the side, looking at the bird. "That's a Hogwarts owl."
Sirius pulled the letter free from the owl's grasp before holding a hand out to Hermione to help her to her feet. He turned the letter over in his hands before handing it off for Hermione to look at.
"Let's go wake Remus."
She nodded slowly, staring at the script on the front of the letter. Sirius put his hand at her lower back to lead her back up to the house.
Hermione couldn't stop staring at the letter and what she knew it held. She wanted to burn it, to rip it to shreds, to save it for the full moon so Pup and Moony could absolutely obliterate it.
Sirius paused ahead of her before opening the door. He turned to face her and his lips quirked slightly as he picked up her chin to look at him. He brushed his thumb over her lips.
"This isn't finished, Pup. We'll continue this conversation later."
19 July 1978
From: Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts
To: The Shelter, Yorkshire
To the attention of: Mr. R. J. Lupin, Mr. S. O. Black, and Ms. H. J. Granger,
Your presence is requested to attend initiation for new members of the Order of the Phoenix to be held Thursday, 27th of July at half after seven o'clock.
The Order of the Phoenix meets at Number 0107 Bellume St.
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
19 July 1978
From: The Shelter, Yorkshire
To: Potter Manor
Dad,
Got the letter from Dumbledore today. We're in.
It's starting.
I'll stop by after the moon. See you soon.
- Sirius
21 July 1978
The Shelter
The moon passed uneventfully. In an effort to keep Remus calm, Hermione didn't bring Pup in until the moon started to rise, though she was tempted. They could feel the loss of Peter and James, but the three of them fit here. In the open space of their home, they frolicked and howled and played for hours. It was more space than the Shack, more open than the tightly packed woods behind the Lupin home. And it was theirs.
The open space did, however, limit Hermione's privacy to an extent, but she managed to wiggle her way under a blanket she had left out when the moon finally decided to pack it in for the day. The mutual exhaustion, too, outweighed any embarrassment that could have been felt in the moment as the trio made their way back inside their home.
Sirius pushed his friends up the stairs to Remus' room before bustling back in with a litany of tea and snacks and minor healing potions. He pulled out the Whiskey Towel to wipe ceremonially at the dirt and grime that clung to Hermione's skin as she glanced at the low supply of potions. They certainly weren't at Hogwarts anymore. They'd need to figure out a way to maintain a steady supply of healing droughts, but that was a worry for another time.
Hermione winced before climbing into Remus' bed, letting out a euphoric sigh as her head hit the pillow. Remus groaned as he joined her and shoved his face into the mattress. Sirius twirled his wand at the curtains to draw them closed, set it on the bedside table and fell on top of the sheets beside Hermione.
They shifted and shuffled until they were all wrapped up in together, finding comfort in each other's presence. Sleep came for them quickly as they drifted off into their dreams.
A persistent tapping at the window woke Sirius. He blinked open his eyes, having to free his face from Hermione's wild curls before he could fully see. He pulled himself out of bed and padded over to the window to retrieve the letter from the owl waiting impatiently.
"All these bloody owls," he grumbled under his breath as he tore open the letter.
Seconds later, Remus and Hermione jerked awake as Sirius let out a victorious shout.
"What is it?"
"Finally," Sirius shouted as he pumped a fist in the air. "Finally, yes. Yes! Here we go."
"Pads," Remus groaned as his head dropped back onto his pillow. "Tell us what it is or shut the fuck up."
"Sorry, sorry," Sirius lowered his voice but couldn't stop his smile. "It's from the Auror Office. With our start date. Not for another month, but they're finally giving us some information."
"Happy for you, Sirius." Hermione smiled as she closed her eyes again, feeling sleep calling her back.
"Thanks, Pup." His eyes tracked over the letter again as he started moving toward the door. "I should—I told Dad I'd visit him. I should go see if he's got James' letter as well."
"Hmm, yes," Remus' voice was muffled by the pillow. "Go on, Pads. We're fine here. Just be sleeping it off."
"If you insist…"
"Go see your dad, Sirius."
"Alright, I'll just be a moment. Be back before you two wake up." Sirius' footsteps echoed from the stairwell. The front door was flung open and slammed closed, then flung open again as he shouted up. "I'll be back. Bye!"
"Bye," Hermione whispered as she readjusted her position. Remus turned beside her to snuggle closer.
"I'm jealous of Sirius and Peter for starting careers," he whispered aloud to Hermione before realizing he was voicing his thoughts. "Jealous of Lily and James building a life, finding love, someone to be there."
Hermione wrapped her arm around Remus and looked up at his eyes.
"I don't want to die a virgin." Remus was looking at her with open eyes, scarred with regret and a blush of nervousness.
Hermione blinked, and her mind traveled back to doodles hidden between paragraphs of notes, the crush she tried so desperately to hide after the embarrassment of liking Lockhart the year before. She remembered butterflies that took up residence in her stomach once she discovered his secret, how she considered it their secret. Then Remus in class, her professor; Remus at Order meetings, her mentor; Remus at Grimmauld Place, her friend and Alpha. Her memories turned then to a similar conversation whispered in the shadows of the common room her sixth year at Hogwarts. On the outs with Ron, Harry preoccupied with stalking Malfoy, and the castle still reeling from the attack on Katie Bell. A hurried moment, more laughter than she expected, and the sweet brown eyes of the first boy who had spoken to her on the train, asking for her help finding a toad.
"Remus, I-I'm not a virgin. And you don't want it to be me. Trust me. I didn't-I didn't think you saw me that way."
"I don't." He blurted it before he could stop himself. "No, I know. I just-I'm not even-I wasn't even asking. I just-I think I needed to say it out loud, and I trust you not to get weird or laugh at me or whatever. No, I—fuck, Pup. I know it couldn't be us."
"Would make everything a lot easier though, wouldn't it."
"Yeah." Remus groaned as he shifted onto his back. He opened his arms for Hermione to move closer. She shifted to rest her head on his chest.
"I've always wondered actually. Do you think we have mates? I mean Veela have mates, right? Do werewolves?"
"Your werewolf mentor never told you?" The earnest curiosity in Remus' voice made Hermione's head spin at the irony of the question.
"That's always been something we never talked about. He's seen my greatest fears and I've seen him at his lows, but we never talked about relationships."
"Ah, so we don't have any authority on the matter." Remus let out a long sigh. "I don't know. I think it sounds too good to be true. Someone who's meant for me in every way? I just don't see it working out that way. And wouldn't we feel it?"
"How would we feel it?"
"I mean pack bonds, right? Don't you feel them? I've got them with Prongs and Pads and Wormtail. It's stronger with Pads 'cause he's canine too, I think. And with you... I mean, can't you feel it?"
She was tentative. She'd shied away from this exact thing, not wanting to alert Remus to the truth behind the depth of their bond. But if he'd felt it, it would be fine for her, right? For the first time, Hermione opened herself to the magic and intentionally reached for the bond between her and Remus.
Her shoulder throbbed and she could feel it. It wasn't painful, per se, but it was enough that she knew it all stemmed from the bite. It was warm and safe. It felt like a worn cardigan, like the first warm day in spring. It made her want to cry, strangely enough. Not because she was sad, but it just felt like the thing to do. There was a weight, a burden on her shoulder that disappeared, and she realized she hadn't felt this safe and protected in seven years.
A soft gasp escaped her, and a rumble echoed from Remus' chest.
"That feels—Merlin."
"I know." And he pulled her even tighter to his side. His voice was muffled as he nuzzled against her head. "That's why I don't think we have mates. We'd feel the empty space, the loss without them."
Hermione was silent for a while, unsure of how she felt even though she agreed. It was good, she finally decided. This was good.
"So there's free will to choose at least. And no limit of people to fall in love with."
She could feel Remus grinning wolfishly against her hair.
"Oh, that's what gets a reaction?" Hermione laughs, sitting up to look at him. "You want a whole harem, Professor?"
Remus pinched her side, and they descended into laughter as Hermione listed out the colorful people that would make up Remus' litany of lovers.
21 July 1978
From: Lestrange Manor
To: Ancient & Antiquated
Mr. Pettigrew,
I'll be stopping by next week to check in on the object I left in your possession. Do make sure it is in pristine condition.
Rodolphus Lestrange
A/N: The Die is Cast*