"Youre not working today?"
Hermione lifted her head slowly. "Ah no."
"Good," Algie nodded.
"Good," she repeated, sounding unsure.
"Yes. We're going out for lunch."
"We're going out for lunch?"
"Are you just going to repeat everything I say today?" he teased, "It's going to be a terribly boring afternoon if you do."
She scowled, "Why are we going to lunch?"
"Because you're my daughter and even if you weren't I want to get to know you. I'm sure we've already had this conversation, my girl." he paused, pursing his lips as he stared at her, before blurting, "The Order meeting was..well it wasn't great, was it?"
Hermione sighed, "No. I…I'd been talking about Harry with Severus and then mentioning Ron. It wasn't…I've been trying to ignore how much I miss them."
"Why?"
"Because there's too much to do. And if I give into it, I don't think I'll get back up," she admitted honestly.
"Merlin Hermione," he replied with a look of pained understanding before it changed to determination. "Right, up. Go and get your shoes and a cloak."
"Where are we going?"
"Out." he replied shortly, making her huff.
Twenty minutes later, she met him in the foyer, "Good," he nodded despite her petulant expression, "Floo Diagon, we'll take it from there."
She kept her mouth shut as she did as she was told, intrigued despite herself about this man she had wanted to dislike for his treatment of Neville but who was proving to be nothing like she'd expected.
"This way," he commanded, taking her arm as he led her down the Alley and onto a tiny side street she'd never seen before.
Above the building he'd stopped in front of was a simple sign declaring the place The Tavern. "Don't let the outside put you off," he advised, guiding her into a cosy little space that reminded her of someone's living room. Sofas and armchairs littered the floor with a roaring fire on one side and charmed windows on the other.
"Sit down Algie love, I'll be with you in a minute," a voice called, before it laughed, "Bit young for you isn't she?"
Algie sighed heavily, pulling an apologetic face, "I've known Maura for a long time, can you tell?"
Hermione bit back a laugh as an older witch with vibrant red hair and an amused look on her face sauntered out.
"No introductions? Come on now love, you know better than to bring someone new here without expecting the inquisition."
"Nobody expects the Spanish inquisition," Hermione mumbled reflexively, making the other witch grin and her father frown.
"Muggleborn?" she checked, "What are you doing with old Algie here?"
Algie sighed, "Maura, might I introduce my daughter, Hermione."
Maura froze, "Say that again, love?"
"Daughter. Hermione. Do you need smaller words?"
"Don't get cheeky with me, old man!" she chided, "It's not like you've mentioned her before. Where in the name of Merlin have you been hiding her?"
Algie grimaced, "Her mother was not my biggest fan. Hermione was educated at St Ursulas in Oxford. I only found out about her recently. The young Black lad was playing with magic he shouldn't have been and summoned her for his friend. Our Frank took her to Alastor, he's her Uncle and well ... .it seems Frank managed to wrangle the truth from them."
"My God," Maura muttered, "That's…have you always known?"
Hermione shook her head, "I had no idea who my father was. My mother forbade Aunt Cora from mentioning it. She died when I was little. Uncle Alastor said he'd tell me after NEWT's if I still wanted to know. And well…before he could I found myself in a strange wizard's lap after a ritual went wrong."
"Handsome wizard?" she checked with a wicked smirk.
"I'll thank you not to be marrying off my daughter before we've had her for more than five minutes, Maura." Algernon cut in grumpily, "Now can we sit down or are we to stand to eat?"
"Fatherhood has made you grouchy," she chided, "Off you pop then, sit where you like." she turned eyeing Hermione speculatively, "I expect you back with that lovely cousin of yours at some point soon. He's always a delight to have here."
"I'm sure he is," Hermione agreed with a slight grimace.
"Now," Algie began once they were alone, "How's work?"
She snorted, but allowed it, "It's…alright. Some of it is fascinating. I was working with the group who build the timeturners this week, which is far, far more interesting than monitoring the timeline." she paused, "I feel like I should know but ah…what is it you do?"
He looked faintly amused, "I grow ingredients for apothecaries, those greenhouses right at the edge of the wards? Those are business ones."
"I see." she murmured.
"That doesn't surprise you?"
"Not as much as it probably should." she admitted, "Frank's son…well. He was a genius at herbology, he had to get it from somewhere."
"You were close."
She smiled sadly, hearing it for the statement it was but answering anyway, "Yes. He was my first ever friend."
"Ever?"
"I was…a strange child. Too studious, too socially awkward and when you combine that with odd moments of inexplicable accidental magic? Kids learn to stay away."
"Oh Hermione," he murmured.
"No. It's…fine. Although on the subject of unusual children," she took a breath, eyeing him sternly, "If you ever dare drop a child out of a window and I hear of it, I will avada you."
He reared back, clearly startled, "I beg your pardon?"
"Frank's son. You thought he was a squib. He wasn't. Far from it, his magic was just never showy, and his temperament meant he felt he had to take up less space than he did. Another thing I wont be allowing. Amongst many other ill-advised things, you dangled him out of a window, dropping him when you got distracted." he paled violently, "Thankfully he bounced. But those actions destroyed his self esteem."
"Good godric," he muttered, "I…I promise. I will never….why did no one stop me?"
"Because Aunt Augusta was drowning in grief and was unable to see him as anything other than a disappointing extension of his father."
"Frank will be fine this time," Algie muttered almost as if to himself.
"Yes, he will be." she agreed.
"Right well…" he looked shaken, "We have nothing to worry about."
"I would hope that regardless of Frank, we have nothing to worry about," Hermione shot back pointedly.
His mouth quirked into a faint hint of a smile, despite his pallor, "No, I imagine not. If nothing else my fear you'll make good on your threat should be enough to prevent it." His voice softened suddenly, "Given your grandfather, I cannot believe…" he trailed off looking at her helplessly. "I do not care if a child is a squib, surely you know that?"
She shrugged, "I admit I'm confused given what you said about grandad, but I know what Neville said."
He hummed, offering an unsure smile, "I promise it won't happen. Just the thought of it…"
"Good." she nodded sharply, before allowing him to redirect the conversation, deciding to take him at his word given the very real horror on his face.
"Thank you for accompanying me." Algie bowed exaggeratedly, sending her eyes rolling as they stepped back out of the floo a couple of hours later, his equilibrium having slowly returned over the course of lunch.
It had been soothing in some ways, helping Hermione feel like she belonged somewhere, and giving Algie something he had had no idea he'd been missing. He'd never wanted children, but this contradictory witch made him wonder if he'd made a monumentally stupid decision and he'd found himself wondering what it would have been like to have had a daughter he'd seen grow up rather than one he'd acquired through a strange quirk of magic and who he was forced to learn as an adult.
"Cousin!" Frank's voice called, Hermione smirked, turning on the spot to summon his wand before sending a modified incarcerous at him.
Algie's eyebrows shot up sharply as a tightly woven net glided down on top of his nephew, a sticking charm anchoring it to the floor. "Hermione! Let me out! What was that for!"
"That was for your behaviour at the Order meeting. Good luck getting out."
She almost laughed at the increasing volume of his shouts as she walked away from him, leaving her father laughing to himself, muttering something about having brought it on himself. Perhaps, Algie mused as he watched his nephew snarl out a diffindo in order to free himself, it was better to be faced with a grown-up daughter. Merlin knew he'd have been unlikely to survive her childhood mischief with Frank if they had grown up together.
Severus wrenched open his door, his face falling into an exasperated expression. "No."
"You brought this on yourself," Hermione chided, pushing past him. "Now unless you'd like me to dress you, go get ready."
He groaned, clearly wondering if he dared evict her, before eventually deciding that he did not. "I don't want to."
"That's sad. Move."
"Hermione! I do not dance."
She grinned; he registered it was all teeth and shuddered slightly. "You do tonight. Go!"
With a defeated huff as she began to ruminate on the colours she thought might suit him, gold…of all the ungodly suggestions, he spun on his heel, heading up the stairs. He didn't actually trust her not to follow through with her threat of dressing him. Despite regularly rubbing shoulders with their world's most dangerous people, he thought she might scare him the most. She held no regard for the usual niceties, he clearly didn't intimidate her in the slightest, and she had no qualms with following through with any threat she happened to make. And unlike his brothers in arms, she'd be unlikely to simply crucio him, she'd draw it out, needling him and forcing him to concede to her way of thinking once she'd convinced him that he now agreed wholeheartedly. It was rather disconcerting given that he appeared to bloody like the witch.
Half an hour later, eyeing himself in the mirror, he gave a defeated sigh. It was as good as it was getting. Unfortunately. Trudging back down the stairs, his eyes fell on the witch making herself at home on his sofa with one of his books. He'd barely been paying attention when she'd arrived, too intent on trying to convince her not to make him do this, now he was less frazzled, he realised that she was wearing the ridiculous leather mini as threatened combined with a fitted halter style top that showed half her back in the most obnoxious Gryffindor red that matched the shoes he had no idea how she could walk in. All in all, she looked absolutely nothing like the witch he'd been getting to know, especially given the leather jacket dangling from her fingers. It was jarring and confusing and he wasn't sure he liked it.
"Where is your wand?" he blurted suddenly.
"Oh good, youre ready," she beamed, taking in his entirely black ensemble before turning his t-shirt white.
"Oi!"
"Oh hush!" she ran another critical eye over him, sending the book back to its place on his shelves, "Who knew lifting cauldrons was so good for the arms?"
He flushed red, not at all sure what to reply to that. "Let's go," he muttered finally.
"I knew you were excited really," she teased, sauntering past him with a muttered, "Thank god for stabilising charms. Side along?"
With a groan he accepted her arm, hoping that the night wasn't as painful as he was anticipating.
"Oh good you're here!" Alice beamed the moment they appeared.
"Where are we going?" Hermione hedged, her arm looped through Severus'. He assumed it was so he didn't run.
"This way," Alice gestured vaguely, tugging on Frank's arm. "Come on!"
"Why did we agree to this?" he muttered, eyeing Hermione, "I don't like it."
"Tough," she countered, "your wife dressed me."
"I know." he sighed, sounding so defeated that Hermione giggled. "Please…just…no random men."
"So one man would be alright, as long as it's not multiples?" she shot back with exaggerated innocence.
"No!" he howled. "None. No sex. Never."
With a patronising expression, Hermione laid her hand on Alice's shoulder, "I am so sorry. If you like we can arrange for a Bob until we arrange the divorce."
"A…Bob?" Alice asked hesitantly as Frank spluttered.
"Battery operated boyfriend. "
Stopping abruptly, Alice almost toppled Frank. "A what?"
"Oh. well.. There are a few options. But ah…they're well…penis shaped. Some vibrate, some don't. I ah…actually you'd probably be better considering one that doesn't given what magic does to electricals."
"And I can get one where…exactly?"
"What? No!" Frank interjected, at Hermione's side, Severus remained in horrified silence, desperately trying to pretend this conversation wasn't happening.
"Oh, Ann summers. I'm sure it's a thing. I think it's a thing. I have no idea. Let's find out."
"Let's not." Frank howled.
"Oh but you said no sex." Hermione returned sweetly, "And well…a girl has needs Frank and if you're not willing to satisfy your wife…."
"Hermione Jean Longbottom!" Frank howled, his face so red he was almost shining.
"Frank Hector Longbottom!" she countered bitingly, "I. am. an. adult!"
"But…but…you're my baby cousin," he finished piteously.
"And more dangerous than a pack of rabid wolves," Severus muttered, "Surely you've realised she'd eat any man she considered sleeping with alive?"
"I think it's spiders who eat their conquests after sex," she mused. "Not wolves."
Severus let out an exasperated sigh, "I never want to consider the words you and sex in a sentence again." he muttered.
"Me either," Frank agreed.
"Gods we should have left them at home," Alice groaned.
"Yes. Please. Let me go home." Severus immediately begged.
"Ah. No." Hermione scoffed, "Come on, I've been desperate to see you dance since you threatened it."
He groaned, following the Longbottoms down the street.
Three hours later, utterly unwilling to admit it out loud, Severus was having fun. Hermione was a surprisingly competent dancer. Frank was not. Which had been funny sober but now he was close to being utterly pissed, it was hilarious. Every now and then he would have to stop to laugh. Which made Hermione and Alice laugh. Which made Frank pout. Which in turn made them all laugh harder. He'd never had anything this easy. It wasn't in his nature to be anywhere near this free, but for some reason, he trusted this bizarre curly-headed woman who had barreled into his life and demanded space. It was enough to make his head spin.
"Gods we need to do this again," Alice shouted, leaning heavily into her husband.
"Yes!" Hermione agreed, flagging down a passing barman to request more drinks before handing them around, nudging Severus, "Don't pretend you're not enjoying it."
"I couldn't possibly agree with that statement."
She snorted, downing whatever was in her glass, tugging Alice forward, "Let's dance!"
"You're not what I expected, " Frank stared slightly blearily at him. Severus arched a brow. Or he thought he did. He wasn't sure, his face wasn't cooperating as it should. Deciding it was safer, he kept his eyes on Hermione and Alice who were merrily dancing with constantly increasing enthusiasm. "I didn't think I'd like you. But Hermione..she insisted. And well…she's not an easy witch to say no to."
"Indeed," he drawled.
"Shall we rescue them?" Frank checked suddenly looking uncomfortable.
"I don't think either of them would appreciate the sentiment." He spotted Hermione's frown as a man wrapped his arms around her waist, "But before your cousin maims that man, we should probably intervene."
"Good call," Frank moved swiftly with surprisingly little swaying, Severus following behind him.
"Miss Longbottom," Remus bowed slightly, a faintly pink tinge to his cheeks.
Mr Lupin," she curtseyed looking amused, "How formal."
He flushed darker. "I ah…don't really know how to do this?"
"Go for lunch?"
"No, I ah…damnit." Hermione waited patiently for him to get himself together, not quite ready to admit that it was adorable how flustered he was. The Remus Lupin she had known had been the ultimate adult. Collected, calm, battered by life but wise, with an air of grown-upness that fourteen-year-old Hermione had desperately wanted to cultivate. This version of him had none of it. "Did you have somewhere in mind?"
Shaking her head, she gestured him forward, "I was warned to stay somewhere close. Saul thinks there might be something I need to see but he can't predict when. So, canteen?"
He nodded, clearly relieved she made a decision as he followed her in, his eyes lighting up at the options he saw.
Orders placed, they found themselves at a table having argued over who was footing the bill, him winning this time much to her annoyance. "What did you think of the interview?" she asked, smiling at the elf who placed their lunches in front of them before disappearing with a crack.
"It all sounds insane," he admitted. "Like it's too good to be true and a warped nightmare all in one."
She laughed, understanding the sentiment perfectly. "Are you taking the job?"
"Merlin, yes! I'm not an idiot, I'm not getting a better offer."
"Which is wrong," she offered softly.
He shrugged, looking truly uncomfortable. "It is what it is. How…how did you know?"
She sighed, "One of my professors was a…" he tensed and she changed her wording, "afflicted. It's obvious when you know what to look for."
He grimaced, "Great."
With an eye roll she pinned him with a look, "He was the best Defence teacher we had. The prejudice is idiotic at best, dangerous at worst."
"Dangerous?"
"How many people are we forcing into situations they don't want because of fears and scaremongering?"
"But we are dangerous, surely it's sensible…"
"To judge someone on something they have no control over, in many cases no say in, all for something that is only dangerous one night a month?"
He blinked back at her, "I ah…but….
"Stop it," she commanded and he shut his mouth with an audible clack.
"You are…nothing at all like what i expected," he muttered.
"Oh? What did you expect?"
"I don't know." he admitted, "Not this. How ah…how do you know Snape?"
"We work together occasionally, we're friends. He likes that I push him out of his comfort zone even if he won't admit it. Seeing him in a club with Frank was quite possibly one of the funniest things I've ever seen."
"You actually went dancing?" Remus checked incredulously.
"Oh yes," Hermione grinned. "It was fun."
"Sweet merlin. I ah…you're just friends?"
She arched a brow. "Does it matter?"
He flushed again. "Ah no…not…I mean…yes?"
"Yes?" she repeated.
"That ritual gone wrong…it ah…"
"I know what it did," she agreed.
"And we're ignoring that?" he hedged.
"I don't know," she admitted, Tonks' face flashing painfully through her mind alongside her still confusing feelings in regards to his treatment of Severus. "What happens if we've all got more than one option?"
"Pardon?" he frowned.
"Well…I might be your best shot now, but what if in ten years someone else is?"
"I don't think I follow. I ah…look. You know about the…well…we call him Moony. He ah…knows things on a far more instinctual level."
"Does he really?" Hermione asked, leaning forward.
He gave a huff of laughter at the interest on her face, "Yes. it's..complicated. And something I don't particularly want to discuss here." She gave him an apologetic grimace, forcing herself to sit back in her seat. Looking supremely uncomfortable, he continued, "He calms when I'm touching you."
"Oh."
"And now I've gone and freaked you out," he muttered.
"No! I ah…well. Not completely." she contradicted. "I just…wasn't quite expecting that." She reached over for his hand experimentally, noting with some surprise the way his entire body seemed to deflate as some of the tension loosened from his shoulders. "Huh."
He snorted, but did not let go of her hand, "I am under no illusions that I am what any sane person chooses voluntarily, especially not the daughter of a Sacred 28 family" Her eyes narrowed and he rushed on, "But I'm really hoping that ritual might count for something and you'll give me a chance."
She hummed, "I find myself torn," she admitted slowly.
"Oh?" he tried hard not to visibly tense at her words.
"Severus and I are friends."
"I am aware," he replied carefully.
"You said you appologised for your…less than honourable behaviour at school and he confirmed it." Remus nodded, "And then you sat back and watched your friends assault him for nothing more than being in the vicinity while they were bored."
Remus froze, shame suffusing his features. "I did," he replied softly. Hermione hummed, studying him but she kept her mouth shut, watching as he slumped in his seat. "I shouldn't have. And he deserves another apology…assuming he accepts it. Not that I'd blame him if he didn't. Gods…"
"I don't imagine he'll believe it," Hermione offered.
"No. I don't imagine he will. But I…will try to be better. I don't think there's any point in hiding that we don't partially like each other, but I don't want to be that man."
"What man is that?"
"The man that watches and allows others to abuse someone just because they can." he offered softly.
Hermione nodded slowly, "Tell me what room you're considering?"
He looked startled by her abrupt change of subject but nodded, "I was considering thought." he admitted.
"Oh?"
"It's fascinating, and there's a surprisingly large crossover with Defence against the dark arts."
"Is there?"
"Yes, the obvious, spells and potions that can be used to control and mind magics, but beyond that, it considers motivators, how curses affect the mind and then in turn affect the body." She smiled slightly, seeing the genuine enthusiasm on his face. "And then of course, using known events and motivators, it also plots timelines and uses arithmancy and runes to predict certain trends or events, it's something of a collaboration with the time room I believe."
"Fascinating," she murmured. "When do you start?"
"Officially, tomorrow. I'm meeting section Heads this afternoon and getting fitted for the uniform."
"Ah the wonderful robes. Although I gather they are resistant to just about everything so there's an upside."
He snorted, "Probably wise if I'm playing with hexes."
"Is that what you're planning?"
"I don't know," he admitted slowly, "I think I should probably meet them all and see. I was told I could rotate through them all or a few if I wasn't sure. I might."
Hermione pouted, "Be grateful you got a choice."
"You didn't?"
"No. Saul is overseeing my education personally. It means I do need to cycle through the entire room and probably most of the other departments."
"Why is he so interested?"
"Ah. My situation is rather unique and not something that can be discussed here."
He nodded, "But he intimated it could be discussed."
"Why don't we try getting to know each other," she hedged, "then we'll see."
He nodded slowly. "Just maybe try to persuade Frank he doesn't want to avada me?"
Hermione snorted, "We'll see," she replied cheerfully, making him groan.
"Good lunch?" Saul asked with a slightly mischievous twinkle in his eye, making her whine.
"Stop it," she muttered, focusing on the fiddly manipulation of gold as she attempted to build her first-ever time turner.
Unseen he grinned, perching on the edge of her workstation, "But Miss Longbottom," he purred, "Soulmates are endlessly fascinating. Add in the werewolf and time travelling element and I desperately want to shove you in a room together and study you."
"Saul!" she shouted, her head whipping up to stare at him incredulously, letting out a heavy sigh at the amusement on his face.
"Don't tell me youre not intrigued," he taunted. "You want knowledge just as desperately as I do."
Her eyes narrowed, "Do you think we have more than one soulmate?"
He paused, losing his teasing demeanour as he eyed her seriously, "Maybe." he replied finally, "Why do you ask?"
"Because he had a wife before. And…he mentioned that Moony goes quiet when he's touching me. But…he knew me before."
A thoughtful look passed over Saul's face. "With an almost twenty year age gap." he reminded her, "With everything you've said I doubt he'd ever have acted on it."
"And yet there was a thirteen year age gap with Dora."
"Which makes less sense," he admitted. "You said he fought it?"
"In the beginning, yes. Fiercely and then when they found out she was pregnant, he ran."
"Has it crossed your mind that he was lonely? Wanted someone to love?" he paused pulling a face, "Even if he apparently wasn't mature enough to cope with the consequences."
"Honestly, no. It doesn't…match the wizard I knew."
"How well did you know him?"
She paused, "I imagine as well as a former student can know any ex professor they spend a reasonable amount of time with," she answered slowly.
"Then is that perhaps not your answer?"
"You think I didn't know him at all?"
"I think you knew what he allowed you to know. Your descriptors are telling, Hermione. You were his ex-student. He your old professor. They would have been barriers, for both of you. You have no idea what he was like as a man, how could you?"
"Huh." she paused, running through his words, "Thats…I don't like it."
He snorted, "I imagine not. Doesn't make it any less true. The question is, are you going to truly get to know him this time, not as a token effort, but genuinely or are you going to let the ghosts of a wife he might never be interested in under these circumstances prevent you?"
"I…I don't know," she admitted slowly.
"Then might I suggest you spend some time figuring it out?"
She hummed, turning back to her time turner, her mind whirling.
Several hours later the outer case lay finished in front of her, tiny wolves banding around the top and bottom of the gold.
"Fuck," she muttered, glancing over at her work. Saul snorted, shaking his head.
"You wanted to see us, Auror Moody?" James and Sirius looked warily around Alastor's office trying not to show how rattled they felt as he eyed them silently from behind his desk looking menacing and disapproving all at once.
"Aye," he agreed finally.
"Why?" James asked slowly, stepping hard on Sirius' foot when he went to open his mouth.
"Tell me…what is the penalty for not registering as animagi?"
They paled, "Ah a fine first," Sirius squeaked.
"How much?" Alastor asked almost idly.
"1000 galleons."
He hummed, "And how long are you allowed to be unregistered for that to be your punishment?"
"Six…six months," James stammered.
"Six months," Alastor repeated softly, "And after that?"
"10000 for a year."
"10000 for a year." he smiled faintly, the look utterly out of place given the hard look on his face and how rigidly he was holding himself, "and say…three years? What then?"
"Azkaban," Sirius croaked. "A month for every month you don't register."
Alastor hummed, his smile dropping, his expression turning glacial. "Then tell me, you absolutely irresponsible idiots, why the fuck you are unregistered!"
"Well the war, and ah,...well…"
"Mr Lupin?" he supplied, cutting off James' stammering.
James stared back at him horrified, making Alastor scoff. "Hermione is my niece, you think I didn't look into the lad?"
"Right but she knows."
"Aye," he agreed. "She does. It still doesn't answer my question. Those are excuses, not legitimate reasons." James flushed and Alastors voice turned dangerous. "You are going to march yourselves up to the registry and fill out those forms the minute I let you leave. You will pay the 10000 galleon fine. Good luck explaining it to our mother Potter. And if you make such a stupid decision again I will allow the trainees to use you as target practice. Am I clear?"
"Yes, Sir!" they agreed quickly, all but bolting from the room.
"You went easy on them," Saul pouted from the door. "I expected at least one hex."
With a snort, Alastor shook his head. "Tempting, but too many questions would be asked. I've still to vet their skills. I'll get to hex them then."
Saul laughed, "Wonderful. Now, I've a free hour, your niece is well engaged with her time turner, so it's my turn to be vetted."
With a groan, Alastor hauled himself to his feet. "Let's get this over with then."
"I was summoned?" Severus eyed the frazzled witch carefully over a week later. She was waiting in one of the meeting rooms, her hands ceaselessly fidgeting with the chain of what looked like a completed time-turner. She jumped at the sound of his voice. "Ok," he sighed, sitting down, trying desperately not to show how much her absurd reaction unsettled him. "What's going on?"
"I think I might be going insane."
"Why?" She tangled the time turner from her fingers and he frowned. "It's a time turner."
"Yes. My first."
"Ok." he nodded, eyeing her with something close to worry.
"Look at it!"
He jumped at her hysterical, shrill tone. "I am looking at it." he agreed carefully, "Hermione, when was the last time you slept?"
She waved him off, "I napped."
"Oh…ok. So. lets go and find saul and tell him I'm taking you home." he spoke slowly as if to a spooked horse, privately marvelling that she'd managed to hide her complete unravelling from him given the number of owls they sent each other.
"I can't go home!" she exclaimed, standing abruptly. "I have too much to do!"
He nodded slowly, "Ok but Hermione, your hair is sparking."
She growled, throwing her hands up in frustration, "I know!"
At the door, Remus eyed them both with genuine surprise. "Saul sent me….is ah everything alright?" he checked when both Hermione and Severus swung to look at him.
"Yes!" Hermione shouted at the same time Severus drawled, "Clearly not."
"Right," Remus' eyes darted between them. "I ah…were you aware you're hair is sparking?"
"Yes!" she howled.
Severus eyed Lupin with distaste before coming to a decision. "Be prepared to restrain her," he muttered too low for her to hear but loud enough that Remus heard. He turned to look at him frantically shaking his head.
Holding out his hand imperiously, Severus ignored him, Hermione's wand sailing into it. "This is where you restrain the witch," he intoned at her howl of fury.
"Right," Remus caught her around the waist as she lunged at Severus. "Merlin if I get hexed for this."
"Of course I'll hex you!"
"No, you won't," he contradicted, manhandling her into a less precarious position, her head tucked under his chin, her arms pinned by one of his. "Breathe," he murmured, pressing her head against his chest, testing that Moony's instincts were right. "You need to calm down and breathe before you do something you'll regret once you've slept." He felt her relaxing in minute degrees until she eventually slumped into him completely. Despite his general demeanour of carefully cultivated indifference, he saw Snape's shoulders relax minutely.
Pushing his luck, he manoeuvred Hermione over to a chair, all but collapsing into it tucking her further into him, feeling the contentment radiating from Moony inside his head.
Severus slumped into one across from him, leaning to the side, he blew out a breath, "And she's asleep."
"What the fuck happened?"
"Honestly?" Severus sighed, "I have no idea."
Saul smirked, poking his head around the door, "Ah, jolly good. It seems you've got it all under control so I'll leave you to it."
"No wait…what are we meant to do!" Remus demanded, trying to hide his panic. He might have subdued her through some quirk of magic he was too scared to consider closely at the moment, but once she woke and was aware of what they'd done, surely she'd eviscerate them. He might not know her well, letters and a few lunches only gave so much away, but he was fairly confident that he wasn't underestimating how vicious the witch could be.
"Let her sleep," he shrugged. "Merlin knows the stubborn witch needs it."
"How exactly did she get into this state?"
"She finished her first time turner." Saul replied, "actually, do you know what she did with it?" Severus nodded to her hands, "Ah, I'll be taking that for just now then. Did you see it?"
"No." Severus frowned.
Plucking it from Hermione's hands, Saul smirked, dangling it in front of him. "Now can you think of any reason that this…unconscious design might send our Miss Longbottom into a spiral?"
With a frown, Severus squinted, his eyes widening as he spotted the wolves not only around the edges of the gold casing but etched into the glass alongside a tiny gold wolf in place of the dial. "Ah."
"Quite."
"What is it?" Remus blurted, watching them closely.
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with just yet," Saul dismissed before he winked, "I'll keep Auror Longbottom occupied."
Remus groaned as he slipped back out of the room looking far too pleased with himself. "Are you going to explain that?"
"I think not," Severus replied briskly.
"But…" he blew out a frustrated breath. "Fine. Then…" he hesitated, glancing down at the sleeping witch. "I never thought I'd ever be in this position."
"Am I supposed to care?" Severus drawled.
"You care about her." Remus pointed out softly. "And I'll admit i don't quite understand your relationship given that I don't really know her at all but…she is my soulmate. And I would like to at least attempt something real." he blew out another breath, "Which means I owe you yet another apology. I shouldn't, I should have learned from my last bloody one."
Severus' eyes narrowed, "And why would I trust another one?"
"Apparently you shouldn't," Remus admitted quietly. "But, we're no longer in school. I…I don't want to be that man. Five minutes in Hermione's company tells me she wont allow me to be and so I need to be better. I will not deliberately give her cause to write me off entirely and I have a feeling that that starts with you."
"I think you overestimate…
"No." Remus cut him off. "I don't think I do. She made it very clear that she intends to keep you. And so I've spent a bit of time thinking since that Order meeting. Sirius was completely out of line, he's learned nothing since the incident in fifth year and that's…not ok. I don't want to be associated with that sort of reactionary behaviour. And Peter," he swallowed convulsively, "I think the less said about Peter the better to be honest. Hermione was right, this is a war and we need all the allies we can get. I can only imagine how painful it would be if you were caught spying and yet you're doing it. That takes…more balls than I imagine most would have. So. I apologise. Again. I should have stepped in, gone for help. Something other than bloody pretending it wasn't happening. And I don't imagine that it'll fix anything, Merlin knows sorry probably isn't enough. But I hope, for her sake, we can attempt some level of civility. I'll try and rein Sirius and James in."
Severus hummed, eying him contemplatively, "I will….attempt civility. But you are correct, sorry is not nearly enough. Now if you've got this under control, I'll go and do something far more productive than watching an insane witch sleep."
"No, but…." Remus groaned as the door shut behind Severus as he all but ran out of the room. Not seeing any other option, he settled himself in for a long afternoon, realising much, much later than he should have that he could summon a book to entertain him while his mate slept.
He felt Hermione stirring several hours later, just as he was beginning to seriously contemplate whether he could manoeuvre her through the floo like this.
"What?" she raised her head, blinking owlishly at him.
"Good morning." he offered.
"I…what?"
Her brow furrowed, making him want to laugh. "You fell asleep."
"I feel asleep." she mumbled before she stiffened. "That arsehole took my wand!"
"He did," Remus agreed, nodding to the table, "He left it though. You were…well. Your hair was sparking."
"I'm going to hex him bald,." she hissed.
"Do make sure I get to watch," he grinned.
"What time is it?"
"Six or thereabouts."
"Well fuck."
He snorted, "Apparently you needed it."
"I can't remember the last time I slept that long without a nightmare," she mumbled, making him frown.
"Why are you having nightmares?"
He felt her stiffen on his knee. "I…I…i can't explain that just yet."
"Did someone hurt you?" he demanded, hearing the growl that indicated Mooy was awake and reacting.
"I…oh christ. There is no easy answer to that."
"Who hurt you?" Hermione bit back a grimace as his eyes flashed amber.
"Remus. Moony…I really need you both to calm down. Im not…im reasonably ok now."
"Reasonably! You've just said you don't sleep without nightmares!"
"Yes," she sighed, slumping back into him, sending whatever he had been about to say careening out of his head. With a disgruntled huff, he wrapped his arms back around her tightly, torn between a muted sense of rage, fear, because Merlin knew he had never felt anything like this, and bone-deep contentment, Moony all but muttering something about keeping her there to keep her safe. Remus couldn't find it in himself to disagree.
"Going home tonight?" Saul poked his head around the door half an hour later, wanting to gloat at the sight that greeted him.
"Yes," Hermione mumbled, making no effort to move.
"Anytime soon?"
"Uhuh."
"Shall I just transfigure a bed?" he laughed.
"Might be best," Remus muttered, "Bloody witch isn't sleeping properly."
"Oh?"
"Nightmares," Hermione muttered, seeming half drugged.
"Has she taken something?"
"No." Remus retorted, "she's just exhausted."
Saul's head cocked to the side, "Huh, and her reaction has something to do with your…connection?"
"Maybe," Remus murmured, "I don't know, there's not a lot of information."
"No. No there is not," Saul sighed, "Which is frustrating. She mentioned your wolf feels calmer when you're touching her.
"Yes."
Saul nodded, looking thoughtful, "I wonder if you have an effect on her." he mused, continuing with a quiet, "Augusta Longbottom is going to avada me."
"Why?"
Shaking his head, Saul continued to study them, "Stay here I'm going to speak to her father. I think…I think she could do with a few decent night's sleep."
"Are you suggesting…?" Remus trailed off, looking at Saul incredulously.
"Are you against it?"
"I…" Remus gazed down at the witch now dozing on his chest, "No," he whined, "But Madam Longbottom is terrifying."
Saul snorted, "Indeed she is. Which is why I'm contacting Algernon."
"I don't think her father's anymore of a comforting thought!" Remus protested.
He could hear Saul laughing as he walked away.
Twenty minutes later, he self-consciously stepped out of the floo at Longbottom Hall, Hermione still half asleep in his arms.
"I don't like this." the wizard waiting on him announced.
"No," Remus agreed, assuming that this was Hermione's father "I didn't think you would."
"Croaker said it would help though." Algie muttered, eyeing his daughter. "She's sleeping that badly?"
"She mentioned nightmares,"
"Aye, I imagine she did," he sighed, startling Remus as he fought the urge to ask more questions.
"Right, let's not let Augusta hear about this tonight," he nodded sharply, "Follow me."
"What?" Hermione seemed to rouse herself enough to lift her head, "I don't…"
"Croaker was worried about you." Algie replied soothingly, "He suggested a nap with your living equivalent of a teddy bear." he paused on the staircase, pinning Remus with a look, "Do not make me regret agreeing to this. If I find out you've taken liberties with my daughter's virtue."
"Virtue," Hermione all but slurred, interrupting his lecture, "I gave that away ages ago."
Algernon blew a sharp breath out of his nose, "I don't want to know," he muttered.
"Stupid, made up, patriarchal concept," she muttered in response, pushing her nose further into Remus' neck.
"You're going to be the death of me, my girl." Algie grumbled, resuming his climb until he stopped outside a door. "That one. Breakfast is at seven. I imagine we'll have to deal with Augusta's wrath then."
"Great," Remus replied weakly.
Hermione blinked awake slowly, aware of someone else in the bed, "Harry? Did you have a nightmare?"
Eyes that were entirely the wrong colour of green stared back at her, sending her scrambling into a seated position. "Remus?"
"That would be me," he agreed, his voice still rough from sleep. "Who's harry?"
Hermione felt the sob before it escaped her, mixed with a slightly hysterical laugh, a harsh knot of pain sitting on her chest. She'd thought she was home for a moment, Harry safe next to her. They'd woken up in the same bed several times since the end of the war, the horrors they shared sending them scrambling to be with the only other person who understood their particular trauma. Ginny often found herself seeking out Neville for the same reason. They'd all learned not to judge.
"Hermione." he voiced hesitantly, reaching for her. "Hermione breathe."
He pulled her to him, utterly bewildered as to what had set this off. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I don't…." she sobbed, hissing a frustrated, "Fuck," when the tears kept coming.
"It's alright," he soothed slightly frantically, his wolf howling in his head to fix this, "It doesn't matter who Harry is. I won't ask again. Fuck please stop crying!"
He let out a groan when she just cried harder, even as he rocked her, feeling utterly out of his depth as he tried to comfort her, not having the faintest idea what he'd said to trigger her tears. It took almost ten minutes for Hermione to get herself back under control, not at all sure what to make of the fact she felt reasonably well-rested and utterly comfortable cradled against her old professor's chest.
"I'm sorry," she rasped.
"OK…I…" he stuttered before continuing plaintively, "What did I say so I can ensure I never do it again?"
She sighed heavily. Unconsciously burrowing closer. Above her head, despite the situation, Remus gave a small, pleased smile, relieved that she was as affected by this as he was. "I owe you some answers," she whispered.
"You don't owe me anything." he protested.
"I do. I need to speak to Saul first though."
"Is this about peter?" he blurted.
She stiffened automatically, "what about peter?"
"I…I know he was caught," his voice took on a strained quality as if he was voicing the unbelievable despite the obvious pain. "I know you had something to do with it."
She blew out a breath, manoeuvring herself to look at him. "Partially," she admitted. "But not exactly."
"Well that was clear," he muttered.
"Remus this is….i don't know how to even begin to explain any of this."
"Is…is this harry part of it." She stiffened, her face shuttering as she slammed her occumency shields up. "Fuck," he muttered surprise clear on his face at her completely blank look, "I'll take that as a yes."
Breakfast was beyond awkward. Augusta had been icy in her rage and Frank had been almost apoplectic.
"Are we going to get a reasonable explanation now?" Augusta bit out finally, setting her cutlery down decisively.
"I don't know what to tell you, Aunt Augusta" Hermione sighed, "Saul believed it to be best."
"Because of this…connection?"
"Yes," she nodded, "Combined with my getting lost in a project at work and the nightmares."
"They're still as bad?" she checked looking momentarily nonplussed.
Hermione shrugged self-consciously, "I've had them since I was twelve. I don't imagine they're going anywhere."
She blew out a harsh breath as Algie stepped in, "I did know about this." he reminded her, nodding his head towards his daughter, "And doesn't she look something close to well rested for the first time."
Augusta frowned, running her eyes over her new niece. Algie was unfortunately not wrong in his assessment of the witch. The dark circles under her eyes were less pronounced, Merlin knew they weren't gone entirely, one night couldn't fix everything after all, and her cheeks had some colour to them. She also looked something close to calm. It hit Augusta then that she hadn't realised how unsettled the girl had been until she suddenly wasn't. Whatever was between her niece and this wizard, the effects were good ones. Now she was watching closely, she could see the unconscious way she leant into him and whether they realised or not, Remus had kept a part of him touching her the entire time they'd been in her presence.
"I don't like it," she groused, "But Merlin knows the witch needs her sleep."
She pointed her wand at Remus who paled. "I will be casting impropriety wards in my niece's room."
"Ah,...Mother?" Frank hedged, "Are you…you're allowing this?"
"Yes," she nodded once, swivelling to look at her niece, "Do not make me regret this."
Hermione flushed scarlet. "But I…"
"Do not argue with me either! You need more sleep than you are apparently getting and whatever is going on with this," she gestured between them, "is helping." she pinned Remus with a look, "I expect you for dinner tonight, young man. Do not be late."
Alice bit back a laugh at the look of terror on Remus' face as he nodded. His poor future wife didn't stand a chance, whatever Hermione wanted to believe.
"How are you feeling?" Saul ran a critical eye over her when she stepped into the department. He had clearly been waiting on her.
"Better," she mumbled, her cheeks pinking.
"Good." he nodded once. "Now, we're working on something that could halt time, if you're interested?"
Hermione's eyes lit up, "Yes, but ah…" Saul arched a brow. "I thought Remus was Harry this morning. I….I'm going to have to explain."
"Yes, we always knew you would," he agreed placidly. "I'll request him this afternoon."
"This afternoon?" she squeaked.
"Best get it over with." he nodded, "Now. While we're on the subject, do document this…whatever it is between the two of you. It's utterly fascinating."
Saul!"
Well, it is! There is no information Hermione!"
"But…it's….I don't know how to describe it."
"Figure it out," he retorted, "I thought the wizard had drugged you, you were so out of it yesterday. There is obviously some magic at play there."
"But is it the wolf element or the soulmate element?"
Saul's eyes lit up with interest. "Or a combination of both," he mused. "Are all werewolf mates, soulmates?"
Hermione hummed, "And we work that out how?"
"We begin looking at past soulmates," Saul mused. "We've got information on them."
"Right," Hermione sighed with resignation.
"After we've played with time," he dismissed, waving an airy hand. "We can begin looking at that next week."
"We can?"
"Of course. Don't tell me youre not intrigued!"
"Of course I am but shouldn't we do something about the horcruxes before we dive into new magics?"
He'd deny it if asked but Saul pouted. "Fine," he groused. "Horcruxes first. Then the absolutely fascinating soul magic."
"I'm so sorry I'm forcing you to remove the mad dictator before giving into your whims." she drawled.
His eyes narrowed, "I'm going to show Lupin your time turner," he announced before turning away from her.
"What? Saul! Saul, no!"
He cackled as she ran after him.