Severus waved his wand over Hermione's hand, though his eyes never left the quivering small man on the hospital wing floor.

So it's true…Pettigrew back from the dead.

"Harry Potter was telling the truth?" Fudge gasped.

"It wasn't just the boy, Minister."

"And we weren't confunded either," Potter narrowed his eyes at the minister.

"Are we going to talk about the foolish actions that led to endangering three children for ten months?" McGonagall said.

"Perhaps we should ask the minister?" Dumbledore peered over his glasses at Fudge.

"Headmaster–"

"Ten months?" Weasley scoffed. "He's been in my family for twelve years!"

"Don't interrupt me, boy," Severus warned.

"Does that clear Sirius?" asked Potter. "He can't have murdered someone who's standing there!"

"I was under duress!" Pettigrew wailed, groveling at the hem of the minister's green robes."H-he w-w-would've killed me! I wouldn't have-please, minister!"

Fudge's face contorted as if he were capable of thought, considering the tiny man's words. A consideration ill-deserved.

"You'll have your day in court," he said, standing as tall as his stout frame would allow. "As should Sirius Black."

Potter didn't take kindly to this, clenching his jaw and balling his hands into fists at his sides. The boy grew pink in the face and he shouted, jabbing a finger in Pettigrew's face. "He can't have murdered him when he's standing right there!"

"But he did flee," Fudge insisted.

"It doesn't bode well now, does it?" Severus said.

Hermione's face grew pale and she bit her lip, her large brown eyes darting from Potter to Pettigrew and Fudge.

Of course you were involved, couldn't you stay out of this for once? He eyed his daughter wondering how the hell he was supposed to keep her safe when she kept throwing herself into trouble?

But he wasn't about to implicate his own child in this mess. A child that acted rashly didn't need to be thrown into a legal affair. But she would tell him everything once they were alone.

Potter opened his mouth to argue when Dumbledore silenced him with a peer over his glasses.

"I'm certain that he'll be recovered in time to plead his innocence. For the time being, I think everyone has been through quite enough and will need time to process what happened."

Fudge's mouth pressed into a thin line, bulking at the threat to his authority. "Very well."

The night ended with the adults escorting Pettigrew to the Minister's carriage. The small man sniveling and moaning the whole way as if he were the true victim in all of this.

It wasn't your corpse found on the nursery floor… Severus shuddered. But you're not entirely blameless now, are you?

Severus put it from his mind and watched the small man, with bound hands wail as he was loaded into the carriage.

"I hope they crucify him."

Hermione paced the length of her father's office, waiting for him to return. She wondered if this was a deliberate attempt to put her on edge and make her more likely to confess. She hated this.

If you didn't let Sirius go his innocence could have been proven, you stupid little girl! Hermione chastised herself, digging her nails into her hands. Or he could have been Kissed…there was no right answer…

You're supposed to be the smart one, you should have found it! Stupid peice of shit.

Hermione continued to pace trying to calm herself. She thought of Hiro's hazel eyes and mischievous smirk, his kiss, the letters she saved in a lock box from day one. Luna's large silver eyes and bright smile. .

You're not enough for either of–SHUT UP!

"No one said anything, Hermione," her father said from behind her.

"Gah!" she jumped. "H-h-how long were you-erm-here?"

"Just now. Which begs the question; who were you talking to?"

I didn't realise I was speaking aloud? I can't say that…Nor can I say I was talking to myself. He'll commit me.

He paused for a moment, his pale face once more impassible and he folded his arms over his chest. "Given that I just saw Potter and Weasley on my way here I can assume neither of them are hiding under an invisibility cloak. I'm going to assume you were arguing with the damn bird again."

Hermione stared at her feet and warmth rushed to her cheeks. That wasn't true, but how often was it? She spoke to Archimedes like he was a person and she didn't exactly have the same way of communicating with him as she did with cats.

I can not believe I'm embarrassed at a time like this about something like that…

"Black's miraculous escape," he said slowly. "I find it hard to believe that you and Potter had nothing to do with it."

Here it is, Hermione clasped her hands together, digging her nails even harder into the gaps as she wondered how she could even…What did he already know? How would he react? The time-turner? Her being an animagus?

She remembered what he'd said to Fudge in her defence and wondered just how much he meant. He seemed sincere, but even if he was, she couldn't bear the thought of bringing even more shame and disappointment to him after that.

And would he be complicit if she told him?

She churned her thoughts wondering how the hell to answer him. Everything was so complicated. How could she tell him everything she did? She didn't even know why she did some of it. And the way he looked at her when the dementors–could she take that again?

Hermione's racing thoughts were interrupted by a gentle placement of a hand on her head.

"Actually," he sighed. "I don't think I want to know. Just–look at me, Hermione."

Hermione ventured a glance upward.

His expression was much softer than imagined. Rather than the impassible, hard expression moments before, his jaw relaxed and his black eyes emitted a rare warmth.

"Just promise me you won't keep something like this from me again."

Hermione nodded wondering if 'something like this' was terribly likely or even what he meant. Her wonderfully vague father didn't elaborate. Though looking at him, it didn't seem to matter, he wasn't upset or disappointed and that meant more to her than she cared to admit.

"I promise," she leaned her head into his hand.

"Now," he smiled. "About that time-turner…"

"What?!" she choked.

"Professor McGonagall told me after we escorted Pettigrew," he sighed. "I can't believe I never caught on. I simply never thought anyone would be so irresponsible as to trust such an item to an un—to a thirteen-year-old."

Unstable, he was about to say "unstable"...

Hermione bit her lip and looked down again, hating McGonagall and herself in equal parts. Maybe she wasn't stable enough to handle something so profound. She often felt as if she were going mad, and her diagnosis made things less instead of more clear. But still…

"Dad," she breathed. "It wasn't like-I never wanted to-I-erm-I–"

"She also told me she swore you to secrecy. I'm not upset, but in light of everything, I think it's best you turn it in."

"But–"

"Divination is utter rubbish and I can't imagine Muggle Studies will be terribly useful, dropping those would allow you to have a normal schedule."

He's already decided for me…Hermione swallowed and tried to ignore the twisting in the pit of her stomach. It wasn't fair, she was just trying to keep her options open, and the time-turner literally saved all their lives. How could he ask her to give that up?

"I'll turn it in at the end of term, sir," Hermione mumbled.

"It's for the best, love."

"You're leaving?"

Lupin ran a hand through his greying hair and made eye contact, dark circles ringed his pale green eyes and the man simply looked exhausted.

"What would you have me do, Severus?" he shrugged helplessly. "I don't have any options after last night. I–"

"Forgetting to take your potion was stupid, Re–Lupin."

"I know, I know," he sighed, leaning against his desk. "But what choice do I have? They all know now. There's no going back fr–"

"They know?" Severus blurted, trying to keep his voice level.

No one who knows would have told. Dumbledore is beyond reproach, Hermione would never, and I can't imagine Potter or Weasley telling either. Even if I considered…

"That's what happens when you tell a bunch of teenagers a secret, Severus," Lupin could barely manage contempt, it seemed he tried to glare but exasperation won.

"Remus, I–"

"Forget it," he recoiled. "And don't worry I won't tell anyone your secret. You know I–Merlin–I just wanted to be your friend and you couldn't let go of the past."

"I didn't tell anyone, Remus," Severus placed a hand on his arm.

Remus Lupin stared at him, blinking in confusion and his jaw fell slightly open. "You-you didn't?"

"Of course, I didn't."

He wished it'd been as easy as he said but anger at the betrayal led him to the Slytherin Common Room to "let slip" that Professor Remus Lupin was a werewolf under the guise of their safety.

"What is it, Professor?" Pansy Parkinson asked eagerly.

Suddenly it wasn't the Parkinson girl, but Hermione staring up at him, her large brown eyes shining and tiny hands clasped together. The imaginary phantom begged him to do the right thing and he couldn't bear to disappoint her again.

"You'll be hearing some things about last night. I wanted to say that everything is still under investigation and warn you not to believe the wild rumours you'll hear…"

"I was certain when you went to talk to the Slytherins–and after the Order of Merlin—and you trusted me. I sheltered Sirius–and Hermione—She–"

"She's perfectly safe. And yes, I believe this would be a very different conversation if she wasn't. Very different, indeed. But she's safe and sound—or as sound as a thirteen-year-old girl can be."

"So, you didn't say anything?" Remus swallowed and bit his lip. "I can't believe—wait, did you just call me 'Remus'?"

Did I? When the hell did I start doing that? Did I—Must you smile like that?!

"I suppose I did," he tried to keep his voice even.

Remus rolled his eyes and laughed. "God, I feel like I'm thirteen!"

"Merlin no," Severus couldn't help but laugh. "I'd never do that again—well, maybe if it'd help me understand Hermione."

Remus laughed again. "Us at thirteen? Do you really think we'd have a chance of understanding another person?"

"I suppose not," he sighed and held out his hand. "Friends?"

"Friends."

"So, do you think you'll be staying?" Severus asked.

Remus averted his gaze and his posture slumped. It was as if the wind had been taken out of him. He didn't understand, the man was good with the kids, his secret was safe. But he could still see the resignation in his pale face.

"I'm sorry, Severus," he sighed. "It's too much. I can't believe I forgot my potion, but I did. I almost killed kids. I almost killed Harry. Hermione. I couldn't—-if I ever hurt them—"

"If you had hurt Hermione," he averted his gaze, tensing at the thought. "Things would be different. And I'd be lying to say I wasn't worried. I—"

How the fuck do I say this? Severus mulled over his thoughts and fought the instinct to say that neither of them would be there at that moment if he had hurt Hermione. He didn't know why he wanted to give Remus a chance, but he did. Admitting any such thing was—well, he just wasn't ready.

"I'm worried too," Remus sighed. "I can't risk it. I have to leave. I'm sorry, Severus. I'll write."

"You were just going to leave without a word?" he leapt to his feet and turned away.

"I thought you—" Remus choked. "I shouldn't have assumed. I told Harry this morning."

"And Hermione?" Severus turned back to look at him.

Remus fidgeted with his hands, looking at his worn shoes. His silence said it all.

"I can't believe you!" he snapped. "You just waltz into her life with that smirk and your fucking promises. You promise that oh you care, oh, you care so damn much. Despite herself you win her over with that meek demeanour of yours. You make her care and then just abandon her?! And to think I thought you changed!"

Remus stared at him, blinking confused. He bit his lip before knitting his eyebrows. "This isn't about Hermione, is it?"

It wasn't. Even after that violation of trust, Severus grew to like him. Now he wished he didn't. But images flooded his mind regardless of every time he caught Hermione with him. Remus spoke to her with respect, and she trusted him. What once horrified him was the fear that Remus would replace him. Now seeing how good he was with her, it was part of what endeared him to him.

Remus might have been like a second father to Hermione. There was a reason he entrusted her to him if he died. Yet, here he was abandoning both of them.

HIs initial rage, he had to admit, was not about Hermione. But it was now.

"After everything you owe that poor little girl an explanation. And you can forget about writing."

"Sev–"

Severus didn't stick around long enough to hear what was coming after.

I'm going to miss that idiot…