Rule 15

Remus was lying on his bed with a cold pack on his head. He had a headache. It wasn't surprising, really. After the day he'd had he was lucky he wasn't suffering from a nervous breakdown.

Breakfast had been normal. Eat what was delivered by the house elf assigned to him so he could avoid the Great Hall and by extension Madam Umbridge - who for some reason was utterly charmed by his cover legend of Gerald Hill, newly hired administrative assistant. Check his mail to see if he'd had an answer to one of his 'booking office' letters. The longer it took for someone to write back, the less likely it seemed anyone would. Remus would have to think of something else to do to investigate that mystery. After checking his mail and replying to anyone he needed to, Remus took his own mail up to the Owlery to send out, then spent the rest of the morning in the little office Albus had set up for him to complete the administrative tasks that were a part of his new job - that he actually got paid for. Thankfully, it left the rest of his day clear to do other tasks that the headmaster might need of him - and to keep an eye out for three rather trouble-attracting Gryffindors.

One of whom he'd just spotted. Walking calmly outside the castle towards the Forbidden Forest as if she had all the time in the world, and wasn't due in class, say, right now.

Remus frowned. Maybe if there had been three nutty Gryffindors skipping class to traipse around the Forbidden Forest, he'd not be so worried; they had certainly proved themselves rather immune to danger since they'd slipped into madness… but just one? Oh no. Not on his watch.

Finding Hermione was another story. He was an expert tracker; his human form borrowing from his werewolf the enhanced senses it possessed. His sight, hearing and smell could all be increased with just a little concentration… but there was no sign of her. He lost her trail after a few metres into the trees. It was like she just… flew away. Or something like it. There had been an odd smell where Hermione should have been, then even that had vanished. Remus decided to do the only thing he could do: continued on in the same direction Hermione had been travelling, and see if he couldn't pick up the trail again.

It was only after some time that he picked up on a different scent: the acrid smell of Acromantula. He stopped, worried. Hermione wouldn't come here, surely? What would she want with giant spiders? …though it would explain why the boys weren't with her. Ron still refused to go anywhere near spiders of any size and after the last time they encountered them, he doubted Harry wanted to meet Aragog again. Which was when he heard her.

"…that's right, just a little more… yes! Here you go!"

She was here. Remus hurried forward, to the sight that left him with the aforementioned headache and close to having a break-down.

Hermione was surrounded by young Acromantula, all of them about hip-height on her, with a bucket of bloody meat in one hand which she was hand feeding to the baby spiders. Where on earth had she gotten that bucket? …priorities, Remus!

"Hermione!" Remus hissed.

The girl turned around. "Oh! Hi, Remus!"

Hi Remus? This girl.

"What are you doing?" He demanded, keeping a close eye on the spiders, and an ear out for their parents.

"We're training," Hermione explained happily.

Again? "What for this time?" Remus asked in exasperation.

"Guard animals," Hermione answered. "For the school dormitories."

Remus took a chance on closing his eyes. Just for a moment. He swallowed. Opened them in determination.

"Hermione, time to go," he ordered.

She pouted. Oh, yeah - she knew what was coming.

Rule Fifteen: Hermione, you are not allowed to train Acromantula as guard animals for the dormitories.

Remus sighed. Maybe he should stock up on pain potions…