They both jumped at the knock on the door having been lost in their newest experiment. "Come in." Saul frowned. "Oh!" he exclaimed when he realised who was standing there. "Is it two already?"

"Ah, yes." Remus fidgeted, hesitantly offering, "I can come back?"

"What? Oh! No," Saul waved him off, "No. just….go and wait in room 9. We'll be ten minutes."

Hermione fidgeted with her hands as they stepped into the room, feeling an almost overwhelming wave of anxiety as Remus looked at them expectantly.

"You wanted some answers." Saul prompted as they sat.

"Yes," he agreed hesitantly.

"Splendid, we just need a teeny tiny vow."

"What type of vow?" his eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"An unbreakable one," Saul retorted, a hard edge to his voice.

"Why?"

"Because if this gets out Hermione will be murdered."

Remus blanched. "Murdered?" he demanded, his voice slightly shrill. Grimly, Saul nodded as Hermione's anxiety fought for dominance with the urge to laugh at Sauls dramatic expressions. She had a sneaking suspicion that he was enjoying this. With a slow, audible exhale as he ran a hand through his hair, Remus nodded. "A vow binding me to you?"

"No, I don't think so," Saul mused, "Given the circumstances I think the vow should bind you to her."

"Of course," he muttered. "This is the only way I'm getting answers?"

"Yup," Saul smiled so insincerely Remus' eyebrows rose involuntarily.

"Very well"

"You're up kid," Saul gestured her forward, "it'll be nice to be on the other side of the wand this time though, no?"

Hermione just rolled her eyes at him as she stood, ignoring the feeling of wholeness when she clasped Remus' hand. She also ignored the way the tension in his body dropped at the contact.

"Really close to locking you in a room," Saul muttered, drawing a confused frown to Remus' face.

"Don't ask," Hermione interjected quickly as he opened his mouth.

"Right." he agreed slowly, clearly wanting to ignore her but reading something on Saul's face that had his mouth clamping shut.

"Ready?" Saul beamed, not waiting on confirmation before he began speaking the words of the vow, watching with satisfaction as the golden ropes bound them. "Now then." Saul turned to look at Hermione expectantly once they were done.

Startled, she stared back. "What?"

"It's your story, kid."

"Oh. But I…" she blew out a breath, turning to look at a spot just left of Remus' shoulder, blurting, "I ah…technically, I won't be born until the 19th."

"What?"

She chanced looking at him, regretting it immediately when it became clear he thought this was an elaborate joke. With an exasperated sigh, Saul shoved a piece of parchment into his hands.

"What the fuck is this?"

"Hermione's original heritage test."

"You're not a Longbottom?"

"That's what you're asking?" Saul demanded incredulously.

"Well…" his eyes darted back down. "September 1979…" he mumbled before raising his head to look at her, "How?"

"Sirius and that fucking ritual," she muttered. "He called me from 1998."

"1998!"

"Yes. As for me being a Longbottom, Algernon is not my father, he's my great-uncle. My grandfather was a Longbottom squib."

"And Moody?"

"Is also my great-uncle. Great-aunt Heather was obviously my great-aunt, my grandmother was their other sister, also a squib."

"Right," he murmured quietly, his eyes on the parchment in his hand before he clearly realised something and his head shot up. "You did know us! I thought…when you arrived."

She pulled a pained face, "After a fashion,"

"What the hell does that even mean?"

She blew out a frustrated breath. "James Potter's son was my best friend, alongside the youngest Weasley boy. He won't be born until March, James' son will be later. July."

"Holy fuck." Remus breathed, staring at her in complete shock.

"You…you were our Defence professor in third year."

"The professor who was a werewolf," he murmured. "Fuck you were bloody talking about me."

Sending him an apologetic smile, Hermione nodded. "Yes."

"And Sirius?"

"Was Harry's godfather, obviously."

"Oh obviously," he snarked. "What about Snape?"

"He was our potions professor, Merlin help us. He absolutely loathed me."

"Then how the fuck are you friends?" he demanded, sounding bewildered.

"Because he was a genius. And he was lonely and bitter and…I was absolutely fascinated by his intelligence."

"Should I be worried?" he checked wryly a flash of something appearing on his face through the shock.

She flushed, "We're just friends."

"This is insane."

"Try living it."

"What ah…" he froze suddenly, clearly changing tact as something seemed to occur to him, "What happened that you and Harry both were having nightmares?"

Hermione flinched, "I ah…the war. It drags on a bit." she mumbled.

"For that long?" he asked softly, his eyes glued to her face.

"There's a lull from 1981 to…well for us, 1991, but for everyone else 1995."

"Why?"

She glanced at Saul wanting to run when he nodded minutely, "Tom Riddle has horcruxes."

"Tom Riddle….Voldemort? And why do I get the impression a horcrux is not a good thing?"

"Yes, Voldemort! Although how anyone can take him seriously with that name is beyond me. He sounds like a cartoon villain. And a horcrux is a soul tether. It means that if we don't find them all he cannot be killed."

Remus paled as he stared at her in horror. "What?"

"We're working on it," she rushed to assure him. "It's just…slightly complicated."

"Complicated! What happened in that war?" he demanded. "You said your nightmares started at twelve!"

Hermione nodded slowly, desperately not wanting to do this. Reaching out, Saul squeezed her hand. "From the beginning, kid."

Remus was ashen and trembling by the time she'd finished. "We were all dead." he murmured dumbly.

"Yes," Hermione whispered.

"James…Peter," his eyes flashed suddenly, "that fucking rat!"

"Who has been dealt with."

Amber eyes swivelled to stare at her, the fury in them clear "He is alive!" Remus snarled. Giving in to Saul's nudging, despite not being sure it was a good idea, Hermione moved to sit beside him, wrapping both of her hands around one of his. He stilled comically before some of the tension began to leach out of him. "He murdered James and Lily" he murmured in a pained whisper.

"I know. But he's not in a position to do that any more. We've dealt with him. Severus turned early. And while we cannot guarantee it, we are hoping to be finished before the prophecy is ever spoken."

"How…how the fuck do you do this? How do you look at us and not see what we were?"

"It's hard," she murmured. "So very hard sometimes. I cannot…the thought of being around James and Lily makes me want to vomit. Or scream…or cry. I actually don't know what I'd do if I saw them together. Euphemia wants me to go for dinner but i…honestly, I don't know if I can. Harry was the centre of my world for so long, and we hadn't gotten out of the habit of checking in with each other frequently. It feels like I'm missing part of myself without him.

"Fuck," he hissed slowly, "I…I don't know what to say to any of this."

"You realise that despite having been forced to give up her childhood and now the future she expected, that we are working to end this." Saul interjected sharply.

"Saul!" Hermione could hear the warning in her own voice.

He waved her off, "He looked like he was going to bolt."

"I…this is all insane." he mumbled again, before startling her by physically lifting her onto his knee, his arms banding around her tightly.

"What…what are you doing?" she squeaked.

"You have nightmares about being almost murdered," he growled, "And then nightmares of being fucking tortured and one assumes about the deaths. So be bloody quiet, it is clear you cannot be trusted to keep yourself safe."

Hermione's eyebrows rose as she tilted her head, meeting Moony's amber eyes. "Fascinating," Saul breathed.

"Moony, you cannot keep me here."

"Watch me," he growled.

"How…how is this possible?"

"We are one and the same little witch, man and wolf. My instincts are his, I'm just willing to act on them."

"For fucks sake," Hermione whined, "So you're not separate?"

"Not in the way he thinks we are."

"You realise that makes no sense."

The laugh that erupted from him had a gravelly quality that Remus' did not. "He fights the integration, so we are separate. But I am him, in the same way he is me." he cocked his head like a puppy, "it would hurt less if he didn't fight our nature."

"How…how exactly would he do that?"

"Stop hating what we are." was the succinct response. Across from them, Saul was practically bouncing in his seat as he watched them avidly. "You'll help. Our pack helps." he gave a slightly dangerous grin, "pups would help immensely."

"Yeah no." Hermione protested immediately. "Absolutely not."

"Not ever?" he probed.

"Not…not now?"

"But someday?"

"Maybe?"

He hummed, tightening his arms, grinning when Hermione's head thunked against his shoulder in resignation.

It took over an hour to coax the green back into Remus' eyes. Almost immediately he began to apologise. "Do you remember what he said?" Saul checked.

Remus flushed. "It is…he isn't wrong, it's not separate. I am…aware but perhaps not in complete control."

"But it's your thoughts and feelings." Saul stated.

"I ah…" he seemed to deflate, "Yes. But the ones I try not to act on."

"Why?"

"Because they are based on impulses. Whatever Moony wants, I am aware Hermione will hex me if I dare try to prevent her from doing what she wants to do."

"Now I really, really want to lock you two in a room, "Saul whined.

"No," Hermione replied firmly.

"Spoilsport," he groused.

With a heavy sigh, Hermione stood, reaching out to pull Remus up when he visibly tensed. "We're going home so you can write up whatever little notes you're desperate to."

Saul grinned, "This is why I like you kid."

"I know what we agreed this morning," Hermione hedged once Saul had left them, feeling supremely awkward, "but I won't hold you to it."

Remus stilled, "If it's all the same to you there is no way I'll sleep without being able to check you're there." he muttered self-consciously.

"Ah," she murmured. "well. Ready for dinner with my family?"

"Not in the fucking slightest."

Dinner was just as awkward as breakfast. Frank was glowering, Alice was close to giddy, Augusta looked torn and her father and uncle oscillated between disapproval and resigned acceptance. And through it all, Remus had kept a tight grip on her hand.

"You can let her go, you know?" Hector voiced suddenly.

Remus flushed but held his ground, "I found out some rather horrific things today. I…i haven't quite convinced myself that if i let her go she's not going to go haring off into some situation that's going to get her murdered."

Alice hummed looking sympathetic, "She told you about Dolohov then?"

Remus swivelled to look at Hermione sharply, "No she missed that," he replied pointedly, his eyes on her face.

"Right well…it was fifth year so a long time ago and not important."

"Try again," he growled.

"He's dead?" she hedged.

"Already?" his anger turned to confusion. "But you said your fifth year…"

"Yes, well, I ensured that wouldn't happen this time."

"You ensured?"

"Like a fucking Valkyrie," Alice mumbled.

Remus blinked. "How…ah…fuck. Right."

"He needed put down, and the Prewett twins needed protecting," Hermione mumbled defensively.

"And that's meant to convince me to let you out of my sight?" he retorted.

"I can't decide whether i really like this one or I take offense at his highhanded manner," Algie mused.

"Like him," Augusta replied. "Merlin knows that the witch could do with someone to play babysitter."

Alice cackled at the offended look on Hermione's face as Frank continued to glower.

"This is weird," Hermione mumbled several hours later as she self-consciously got into bed. It felt absurdly intimate despite them being completely covered.

Remus hummed, a flash of indecision crossing his face before he reached for her. "Little bit," he agreed softly once they were nose to nose. "You knew me…before."

"Yes," she agreed, blowing out a breath. "You were married."

Startled green eyes stared back at her, "I was?"

"Yes. You had a son. Teddy."

"That's…Christ. Who the hell did I marry?"

"Nymphadora Tonks."

"Sirius' cousin's kid?" he demanded, sounding horrified.

"That's her. She's amazing."

He looked momentarily lost before he seemed to gather his courage, "Hermione…you have to know, there is no way I can marry her now."

"Why?"

"Why? For god's sake you infuriating witch! You know what you do to me! I know you can feel it! I know it's not just me!"

"I'm scared I'm taking something that I shouldn't," Hermione whispered so softly he had to strain to hear her despite how close they were.

He seemed to war with himself for a second before coming to a decision, tugging her closer still and kissing her. She stilled, her mind unable to understand what was happening before something close to overwhelming need seemed to flow through her and she returned the kiss, feeling something that felt wholly right click into place.

With a groan he pulled back, looking faintly embarrassed to find himself hovering over her, his hips cradled between her thighs. "I guess your aunt didn't cast those impropriety wards," he muttered, making her laugh before gazing down at her seriously. "You are my mate. My soulmate, Hermione, you have to understand, there is no way Dora can compete. I know you have…memories, but i dont. And I do not want to give up this feeling for some abstract idea of a wife and son, not when the only ones I can visualise involve you."

She blew out a breath, "But…"

"No." he shook his head, "Unless you're telling me you dont want me. And quite frankly I'm not sure I'd blame you…"

She growled, tugging him down to kiss him again, letting out a startled moan when he began trailing sucking little kisses down her neck and across her jaw. "Fuck they're going to murder me," he groaned pulling himself back with clear difficulty. "Am I to take that as we're doing this?"

Blowing out a breath, Hermione attempted to find a logical argument, realising she had none. This felt tight. It was baffling, absurdly quick and beyond terrifying, but he made her feel safe. He had always made her feel safe. But this version of him also made her feel something close to whole. "Ok," she whispered.

"Oh thank all the gods," he muttered before leaning down to kiss her again. Giving a strangled laugh, Hermione gave herself over to the kiss entirely, trusting that one of them would stop before things got out of hand, not at all sure her uncrossable line was as inflexible as perhaps it should be.

"Will the boy ask for my permission, do you think?" Algie grinned impishly at his daughter almost a week later, Remus having left to meet his friends.

Hermione flushed scarlet. "Pardon?"

Arching a pointed brow, Algie pointed to the visible mark on her neck. "I assume a request for your hand is coming shortly, my girl."

"Dad," she groaned, "it's…we're ... .god!"

"Well that was clear."

"It's new."

"It might be new," he retorted, "but you do not sleep without the boy."

"Yes but…"

"I discussed it with your uncle Hector, you know? Despite our reservations, you do look better. Perhaps it is best if he is invited to stay indefinitely."

"I…I…don't…what?"

"If you can live together here, you can survive anything," he retorted wryly before his face turned serious, "I know that we're in a situation none of us expected, but i would very much like it if you agreed to remain here. We can open another wing but…" he paused. "I never expected to be a father. But I intend to be an involved one if you'll let me. And if you and your wizard remain here, your children will eventually have cousins to grow up with."

Hermione's face softened at the very real fear on his face as she reached to squeeze his hand. "Let me speak to him. It's…I imagine it'll be an adjustment. And ah..the full moon?"

"We can ward part of the grounds." Algie dismissed.

"An Aunt Augusta?"

"Intends to help you plan the wedding," he replied pointedly.

"Jesus," Hermione muttered. "That's… horrifying." Algie merely laughed, she waited until he'd finished before continuing hesitantly, "Dad?"

"Yes?"

"How do I cope with his friends?"

"Merlin. I…i don't know." he admitted. "Maybe it's worth speaking to Alice? Start small. Not lily but another muggleborn, that Cassie is always entertaining. Get them to help you shop?"

"Right. But I'm going to have to work out how to cope with James and Lily potter."

"Yes," he conceded. "But not right now. And you met James."

"From a distance," she argued. "And I had a complete breakdown thanks to the memories he invoked."

"Then you build up slowly. Sirius Black first, perhaps Euphemia and Fleamont Potter next, then Lily Potter, she only has the boy's eyes followed by James. And then the both of them together."

"What…what if I'm not strong enough?" Hermione ventured.

"You are the strongest witch I've ever met," He countered.

"I don't feel it," she admitted.

"And yet, you are," he replied, chancing wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Now if you've nothing else to do today, how do you feel about helping me in the greenhouses?"

"Sure," she shrugged, "although I feel like I should warn you, Practical herbology was never my strong suit."

"You're a Longbottom you cannot be that bad!" he protested, guiding her towards the greenhouses, pointedly ignoring her sceptical look.

"So. My new dad wants you to move in." Hermione voiced once they were in bed; the feeling was still intimate but becoming normal. Or it had been until she had to brave this conversation.

Remus stilled comically. "Really?" he squeaked.

"Yes. Apparently so."

"And I ah…what…what..do…I mean…I'm a werewolf.

She blinked at his stammering. "I know." she agreed.

"But I ah…move in?"

Hermione stared at him, "Only if you want to?" she hedged.

"I…Merlin fuck." he breathed. "Your dad…he really said…"

"Well. Yes. he's a fan of me not looking ill."

"Understandable," Remus muttered "What ah..what did you tell him?"

"I said I had to speak to you!" she replied, sounding baffled. "It's not compulsory!"

"Shit. I didn't think it was," he retorted seeing the insecurity on her face, "How in the name of all that is magic believe that I don't want you."

She faltered, "Well I…you sound bloody horrified!"

"Because I'm a werewolf! And you're Sacred 28!"

"I thought we said we were doing this!"

Yes!" he whined "But your dads essentially approved and I don't really know what to do with that!"

"Oh, because you're a werewolf?"

"Yes!" he howled.

"You're really stupid sometimes" she muttered

"What?" he demanded looking offended.

"I know you're a werewolf. I have known you're a werewolf for years." she reminded him slowly "I don't give a flying fuck. I never have."

"Oh." he stared at her, "I ah…ok."

"Ok?" she arched a brow.

"Yes. Ok."

"Wow, so enthusiastic."

He huffed, "I've never lived with a witch before! Your father also lives here and your Uncle! Although your Aunt is more fucking terrifying than both of them and I'm about to be living in the same house as her too! On top of that…Merlin if she hears me she's going to avada me," he muttered, "It's rather difficult to sleep in the same bed as you and not accost you!"

"Accost me?"

He whined, "Have you any idea of the level of self control it takes to persuade Moony that we really can't just keep you in that bed?"

She arched a brow, "I thought you were one and the same."

"We are…sort of…but not."

"Well that cleared it up," she muttered. "And why do you think that you can't….accost me?"

"Hermione," he warned.

"Remus?" she countered.

He drew in a sharp breath, his eyes flashing amber momentarily before tugging her bodily over him, her thighs bracketing his hips, "You're playing with fire, little witch.," he growled.

"I've always been rather fond of fire," she mused, gasping when he pulled her hips flush with his own.

"We'll see," he muttered.