The Biggest Sacrifice

August 1977

They had been discussing things for hours, days really, about objects somehow connected to Voldemort, why they needed to be destroyed and how they needed to be destroyed. Three of them stood over her desk looking down at the list of said objects, how they were destroyed, and every detail Hermione could remember written out like some nonsense story that was missing its key points and characters. 

She would have joined them, or removed herself from the little break she was taking, but the constant bickering was grating on her last nerve - and her brain seemed to be warring with itself about the pros and cons of letting Remus Lupin in on her little secret. Another person who would have to be trusted, another person who could spill her secret, another person Voldemort was already after and in danger - but someone who was smart, evasive and able to keep things to himself. Plus a new pair of eyes to possibly see what they might be missing never hurt anyone. 

He had theories and ideas that seemed to go on for miles, and when he stopped looking so hurt over the whole thing, he actually seemed happy to have been included, and in all honesty he hadn't even takien the truth that bad, all things considered. 

“Remus.” It was James who spoke first, gently moving himself from Hermione so he could stand up with his hands raised as though approaching a scared animal. Remus didn't blink as he looked between the three of them, closing the door behind him and stepping further into the room - at least he still had some sense to know this wasn't the type of conversation you had with the door open.

“I came hear to apologise, to try and get everything back on track – but I walk in on this and suddenly I’m thinking why the fuck am I apologising when clearly I was right.” Remus spoke, voice cold and detached as he glared at Hermione, waving a singular hand towards her face. 

Hermione sat herself up properly, glaring at the man. “There is nothing to be right about.” It was muttered so low that she thought he hadn't even heard it but those light green eyes glared at her, flashing gold with his anger and for a second she wondered why she was still denying it. Why she was so willing to push this with him. There were no answers, nothing but the tinge of fear that settled in her stomach and worry. 

“Because your friend laid on the floor, pale like she’s seen a fucking ghost and with a bleeding nose while her heart races in her chest is nothing.” Remus hissed out as Hermione pulled herself from the floor, stumbling slightly as Lily reached out to steady her. “You’ve been lying to me – to us all for years, or I had thought you were, turns out two of them have been involved.” He gestured to James and Lily who frowned back, before moving to stand closer to Hermione.

James sidestepped rapidly, putting himself between Hermione and Remus, his hands now down by his side and hazel eyes narrowed dangerously, as he spoke lowly. “Remus, mate, leave this alone for the day – we’ll talk about it tomorrow.” 

“Fuck off, Prongs, I’m leaving this alone – this isn’t some random thing, you forget it's happened before.” Remus pointed out as he leaned around James to look at Hermione but didn't come closer. Some of his anger seemed to die as he looked over Hermione's face, no doubt pale and streaked in the blood from her nose. What a sight she must have made. "What are you guys hiding?” He asked softer as he looked between the three of them.

“Why do you need to know?” Hermione asked back, despite the fact that her brain was screaming for to just say something, anything that would make this situation better for all of them and would stop all the lying and hiding. "Why not just be comforted with it’s nothing bad or anything to do with you?” She questioned as Remus clenched his jaw slightly and looked away. For most it might have been enough, might have bought them some time before they started asking questions again but most people weren't Remus.

"What I am was nothing to do with any of you, yet I trusted all of you in the end -" He cut himself off, running a hand through his hair before he spoke again, more restrained in his anger. "I care about you, and seeing you like this...and you're hiding something big, lying about it - about whatever it is you need to destroy and some person called Harry..."

"Did you just stand outside the door and listen to everything?" Hermione snapped, her anger back in full force as she pushed herself away from Lily and glared at the werewolf before her, a single finger pointing at him. "It has nothing to do with you, so stop fucking listening and leave it alone or I'll -"

He cut her off, leaning around James who kept his arms spread, stopping either of them from whatever he thought they were about to do. “You think you can try and intimidate me, a fucking werewolf?” He asked with a cold laugh before he pointed a finger back at her and clicked his tongue. “You’re delusional, and a liar Hermione, and fucking manipulative.”

It hurt more than it should have, even if she didn't show it, the pain in her chest and the words thrown at her but she wouldn't break down in front of him. There was more to his anger, more than secrets and lying because he had done it before, he knew exactly what it meant to have something you had to keep a hold of. It was an anger mixed with months of self loathing, of worry and of the war hitting his family in full force. It was from weeks of him shutting her out only to know exactly what that might have felt like.

But it would be fine, because they all knew he would yell and scream but he would always come back, she could be the friend he could show true anger too and know she wouldn't walk away.

“Mi’, maybe we should just…”

It still didn't mean it didn't hurt.

“Manipulative?” Her voice was softer than she wanted to be as she cut off James. “Liar?” He flinched as she stepped around James, coming face to face with her and everything she was feeling in that moment. “Have you ever just thought that I don’t tell you things for your own good? To protect you?” Her voice was a mere whisper as his anger dropped and he looked away from her, tense and unwilling to hear what she was exactly saying.

“Isn’t that my choice.” He snapped, looking back at her with golden eyes once more.

“Because we all saw how well you handled choices and secrets before, forgive me if I don’t want to tell you my own.” Hermione hissed, wincing slightly as he glared at her. It was a low blow and one that really had nothing to with anything around them, and her stomach twisted and her mouth opened to apologise. To say something else that would deter him from this already cramped secret they were keeping.

“Unless you are somehow pregnant with my kid then I think I’m going to be fine with whatever it you are keeping amongst yourselves.” Remus snapped back, before he seemed to soften, understanding something in a single second. “You won’t know unless you tell me.”

“Remus -”

“Just tell him.” James spoke then with a sigh, rubbing a hand over his face as Hermione turned her glare onto him. “How many more months or years is this going to have to be something we hide?” He whispered as Hermione gulped guiltily. “I get it with certain people, even if I think it’s unfair – but Remus isn’t in the same boat, and he’s smart and he could help.” She knew who he was talking about and she didn’t need another hit of guilt.

It had been mentioned a few times in passing, whispered between them with reasons explained, even if neither of them really truly got it because she didn't either. Sirius and Marlene, she cared for them both in different ways but they weren't exactly the most logical of people. Marlene was blunt and honest, and sometimes she didn't think about what came out of her mouth, which might have been fine if she wasn't with Regulus, who Hermione could only trust so much.

And Sirius...it was hard, eating her up inside, but she saw the look in his eyes when something happened, saw the way he seemed unable to control what he wanted to say or spill in order to get a reaction from someone. She had seen what had happened with Snape because of a mere comment, and she couldn't risk that he wouldn't get upset, drunk or do something stupid that would reveal everything and put them all in danger. It was cruel, and she promised herself that one day she would tell him everything, but right now she couldn't.

It was easier to put faith in people who would never leave her side when upset than someone who would, even it made her begin to wonder what future they might have.

Emotion drove Marlene and Sirius, but the people before her were logical and her brother, able to see the deeper meaning underneath everything and put aside their anger and hurt for another day. Not the other two, they wouldn't know how.

Her throat felt tight as she spoke, trying to find a way to defend her actions and her secrets as she looked at James with unshed tears. “And what happens if Octans comes around and gets his hands on him – all it takes is one spell – one quick look inside his mind and it’s all out in the open.”

“Isn’t that the same with Lily and I, but you trusted us with it, and you trust Remus, don’t you?” James asked softly, using her own logic against her, but it was different and they all knew that. Lily was nothing more than a Muggleborn on a radar, they wouldn't think she had anything useful because they would underestimate her at every turn, and James...well he was always going to be connected to her, always in danger because of their last name and...and because of her.

“Of course but -”

“Then he can learn occlumency – you will, won’t you?” James asked sternly, turning back towards Remus who frowned, his mouth opening and closing until he nodded his head.

“If that’s what I need to do then that's what I'll do.” He answered slowly, like he couldn’t figure out why they would need something that big if he wanted to know when she hadn’t asked that of the other two, not really, hinted and suggested but nothing else.

“It’s what we all need to do, mate, it’s nothing personal but this isn’t some secret like whose going out with who – this is dangerous and there is one person we need to protect above all others.” James whispered as he patted Remus’ shoulder and looked pointedly at Hermione.

“I’ll do anything.”

“Tell him, Mi’.”

A sigh left her mouth as she pulled herself away from her thoughts and focused back on the conversation still happening before her. Guilt whispered in her mind, willing itself to be heard even as she tried her very best to push it away - it was something she could think about in the dead of night while she laid awake staring at her ceiling trying to make sense of everything, trying to convince herself that it wouldn't be so bad if all of her friends knew. Only to come up with the same conclusion when she finally drifted off to sleep. Not now.

“So it's established that only two of these don’t exist yet or don’t need destroying.” James' voice rang around her room as he pointed at the list with a deep frown that didn't suite his face in the slightest.

"How can we know for sure it's only two?" Lily asked with a raised eyebrow before looking at Hermione and letting out a sigh, face scrunching up in an adorably annoyed expression as she looked back to the list. "Right, your dream." She muttered more to herself than anyone else. "And why do you think one of them is Hermione's friend...Harry?" Lily asked, looking back to James as he kept his eyes downward.

"Just reasons - he hasn't been born yet, we don't think." He spoke as Hermione finally stood up, grimacing. Lily looked between them both, her mouth opening to say something before it snapped shut as James blushed where he stood. It didn't take a genius who knew who Harry was and how he was connected to know where his mind was going, even more so as he sent a sly look to Lily. "I think the other one is the snake." He spoke quickly before anyone else could say anything.

“The snake?” Lily asked, letting out a little laugh as Remus rolled his eyes, grabbing the list and sitting back in her desk chair with a tea in his other hand. He looked rather comfortable, even as it seemed Lily and James were more than willing to carry on with their bickering. "Why would it be the snake?" 

"I think it would be well known by now if Voldy had some snake with him." James countered, giving Lily a stern look that made her eyes narrow slightly and her cheeks turn slightly pink. Great, it was like there version of foreplay, Hermione thought as she cringed and shook her head. 

Lily stepped forward, tearing the list from Remus' hand and shoving it in James' face. "He could be hiding it somewhere...unlike the diadem which just so happens to be described and incribed with the same words as the lost diadem of one Rowena Ravenclaw which in case you haven't figured out has been lost for the past century - Wit beyond measure is mans greatest treasure." As if to prove her point she grabbed the parchment with Hermione's dream and shoved that into his face too, pointing a finger at the description of the diadem. 

"Unless he found it and hid it like Hermione saw in her dream, because he's not exactly wearing any of these enough for people to take notice." What an image that would be, of Voldemort, tall and pale blinged out with all this old and slightly tacky jewellery. "I dislike this anger on you." James added after a second pushing the parchments away from his face to frown at Lily.

“You love it.”

"And that's enough of...whatever this is -" Remus commented, waving his hand at them both before looking back to Hermione. "What do you think?" Her eyebrows raised as she shrugged her shoulders slightly, too tired and worn out to really get into it right now. "You're the one who understands this better than the rest of us, the one whose actually seen and knows all of this so it has to be your call." Like a military leader, a general made to order people around - like fucking Dumbledore.

Merlin, she hated it but she understood. "It's not as easy as that, we don't know how far ahead the future actually was and what could happen between them and now." She explained slowly as she sat herself back down on her bed, wanting nothing more than to crawl under the covers and just sleep away the frustration. "The ring, I think is still in the Gaunt Shack which is just too annoying to know how close we were." She sighed out, resting her chin on her hands as James nodded in agreement. 

"Literally could have gone in and grabbed it." He muttered more to himself and she didn't want to add what the ring might have been, hadn't even written it down because she couldn't deny that most people in this room would be interested in the amount of power a hallow could bring, even if they had no one to call back, and that was the only saving grace in not actually getting the ring.

"The cup, the diary they seem like they might be moved around, and the locket -" She cut herself off, bright blue eyes a burning vision in her mind. "- I don't think we'll know for a bit more time." Until Regulus knew, or something else happened that would allow her to get to it. She hoped it was the latter, because while she might not completely trust Regulus, she didn't want him doing something stupid and getting himself killed. "As for the diadem -"

“You know, we could figure out that one quite easily.” James spoke with a teasing grin as they turned to look at him. “When we go back in a few weeks, we could just speak to Helena, and see if she has any clue.” Hermione's mouth curled into a wide grin as Remus nodded his head and gave a small smile, only Lily seemed to find the news worthy of a emerald green glare and crossed arms as she stood in front of James.

“Whose Helena?”

James' hazel eyes turned wide as he looked to Hermione and then Remus to help him explain, not doing very well at comforting the annoyed redhead before him as she tapped her foot impatiently on the ground. "Erm...she's a woman...a ghost woman...she's the Grey Lady - you know the ghost of Ravenclaw." He stammered out nervously, hands twisting together as her eyes narrowed further and Remus let out a small chuckle. "She's Rowena Ravenclaw's daughter!" He all but shouted in her face, whisps of hair flying backwards.

“She’s – wait...is this common knowledge?” Lily asked, turning to look at Hermione and then Remus, almost with a pout like she was sad she didn't know before she turned to look back at James with a raised eyebrow as he wiped sweat from his brow.

"Yes and no, it's not as if she has ever hidden it but it's not like she speaks to many people outside Ravenclaw - probably because a million plus people over the years have wondered where her mother's diadem might be." Hermione explained, sending a look to her brother and then slumping back against her pillows, half laid down.

“Well it’s either ask her or try to find that room that none of us have ever seen or heard about before.” James said with slight amusement as Hermione sent him a quick glare. How shameful it was that her brother knew every secret passage out of the school but had no idea about a secret room that held thousands of secrets. “You know if we could see inside your mind then -”

“Are we doing this again – I told you learn occlumency and then I might let you have a look.” Hermione snapped at her brother who rolled his eyes and pouted out his bottom lip, a look that had always worked on their mother when he was young and cute, a child who could do no wrong, but now just looked awkward on his adult face with his slight stubble and barely any hint of baby fat left. Though Lily seemed to melt slightly, so what did she know.

“I’ve been trying but it’s hard to know if you are doing it without practice.”

“Theory first then practical.” Hermione muttered as she sat herself back up and looked around her room. It was a mess and one she didn't want to deal with but would have to if she didn't want anyone stumbling across her parchments or ruining any of the stacks of books that seemed to cover every inch of the floor.

“I could always try.”

“Remus -”

“Werewolves have many types of defences against magic, maybe -”

“We don’t know if they do against a legimens, not like many people have tried.” Lily's voice was softer than Hermione's would ever be, easing the frown from Remus' face. “Maybe I should do it, I am Muggleborn, if I get captured then I’m probably just going to be tortured and killed, no mind invasion necessary.”

“That’s not funny – none of this is funny.” Hermione snapped, as Remus and James both turned to glare at Lily with her. “Listen, if you just study -”

“Have you studied?” Lily asked back with a raised eyebrow and a slight smirk as Hermione rolled her eyes and stood up from her bed, ignoring her friends question to snatch the notes still in James' hands to look over them.

“Are you seriously asking that question?” James scoffed for her instead, letting out a small chuckle. “It’s Hermione for Merlin’s sake – you’d be better off asking what magic she hasn’t studied, honestly Lily.” He added as Hermione raised her eyebrows. The weird defense was nice but it wasn't needed.

“Really?” Lily asked dryly as James’ smile dropped.

“I’m sorry – still on for our third date this weekend?” He asked timidly as Lily narrowed her eyes at him and gave her a sarcastic smile.

“We’ll see.”

Before James could open his mouth and utter a single comment, there were loud footsteps pounding their way up the stairs and no doubt towards her room. Her eyes grew wide as she threw the parchments back to Remus where he sat on her desk, using her wand to undo the spell surrounding her room and threw a quick glance to James and Lily who had picked up random books and sat themselves down on her floor, as though trying to seem natural all while she dived onto to her bed and Remus tucked the parchment into her draw, sending a quick locking spell at it just as the door slammed open.

"Kitten!" There was a large grin on his face as he all but ran and jumped onto her bed, landing beside her and placing a kiss on her lips before turning to look at the rest of the group. "Ah, I was going to look for you all...what are you all doing in here?” He asked after a second as he took in the books all over the floor with a frown.

“Studying.” Hermione muttered as she wiggled her way out from his arms, while he snorted and pointed to James. 

“He’s studying?”

“Fuck you.”

“Maybe when your sister is done with me.” Hermione rolled away before he could grab her, landing on the floor and side stepping out of the way as James stood up, brandishing his book as a weapon and charging towards Sirius with what sounded like a war cry, while Sirius attempted to curl into a ball to avoid being hit. “Not the face!” He screamed as the book collided with his shoulder, and James stepped back with an amused smirk.

“What is happening in here?” Hermione turned as Marlene leaned against her door, fully dressed with a cup of coffee in one hand and a half eaten slice of toast in the other, amused icy eyes taking in all of them, and though she may have questioned Hermione didn't actually think she cared all that much about what was happening.

“Why is everyone in my room?” Hermione moaned, all but stomping her feet on the ground like an over grown toddler. “You have your own rooms!”

“Yeah!” Sirius shouted with a wolfish grin as he threw an arm around her shoulder and tugged on a curl, her eyes closed as she dreaded the next sentence that would come out of his mouth though she had no energy to actually try and stop him from saying it. “The only person who should ever be alone with her in her room is -”

“Don’t finish that sentence.” James, it seemed, did, and he was more than happy to keep showing his weapon and to grin when Sirius flinched backwards and used his free hand to rub his shoulder.  “What did you want anyway?” He asked after a second, throwing the book onto Hermione's bed and narrowing his eyes at Sirius, as though daring him to say something else.

“What?”

"You came bounding upstairs, ran in here and then said you were looking for us." James explained, pinching the bridge of his nose and shaking his head. Sirius frowned, silver orbs swirling in confusion as he looked at the rest of the group as though they could explain his actions before something seemed to click and a large wolfish grin stretched across his face.

“Oh...oh, it’s here!”

“It’s here?”

“What’s here?” Marlene asked for the girls who seemed to be in the dark as the boys, even Remus who had been content to not move most of the morning and spend his time occupying her desk chair, all but bounced around the room, knocking over books and all speaking over each other. Like Emmeline and Jenny did before they went shopping, or some magazine detailing the latest heartthrob was owled.  

“You finally got it!” James screamed, punching a fist into the air, ignoring Marlene as his face suddenly became serious and he moved forward to grip Sirius' shoulders. “Mate, we have to have a go.”

“Why do you think I came up here – other than to try and cop a feel of your sister?” Sirius asked, flinching out from under James' hands and pulling Hermione to stand before him before James could even throw a punch in his direction, his hand clasped tightly by his side and his eyes narrowed. “I’m joking – do you want to join me or not because if you carry on with this violence then I will have to -”

“Let’s go!”

Like three children at Christmas with presents waiting under the tree, the boys sprinted from the room, almost throwing Marlene onto the floor with a high pitched squeak as her coffee landed on it instead. Hermione followed, throwing a quick don't worry sign to Marlene as she looked back guiltily, one of the boys would clean it up when they weren't so eager in tripping down the stairs in their rush to get to whatever it was.

The front door open and slammed shut, echoing off the walls and Hermione was just glad that Euphemia wasn't here to fret over them leaving, especially when the girls followed, slipping on shoes and stepping into the warm air of the front garden and down the path to the street where the little bubble of protection left.

"Oh fuck." Marlene mumbled from beside her as the three girls stared at the boys. Sirius was sat on the front of a motorcycle while James and Remus pushed each other and bickered between them.

She could ignore her brother and friend for a second, focusing on her boyfriend as he lit up a cigarette and waited, in a way that reminded Hermione of that James Dean that Lily's mum loved, only much more handsome and unfortunately missing a leather jacket. Still he fit the part, with wind swept hair, torn jeans and leather boots, and Hermione was tempted to push the boys out of the way and see if he would take her for a ride instead - it seemed he was too as he raised an eyebrow and gave her a smirk.

Her mouth opened to speak, to ask and snapped shut as the logical part of her brain seemed to register what she was looking at.

A fucking motorcycle. With a seventeen year old sat on it that had no license.

“I’m first.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m his best friend.”

“So am I.”

“He lives in my house.”

“So do the rest of us most of the time.”

“Fine – play for it?” James asked, narrowing his eyes and holding out his fist in a challenge. Remus studied him for a second, jaw ticking slightly before he gave a stern nod and held out his own fist. It happened rapidly, the pair of them counting down and then drawing a shape before James was jumping up and down with a high pitched scream that would surely have the neighbours looking and wondering about them family they rarely saw anymore. “I win!”

“Fine, I was supposed to be going to Diagon Alley with Hermione anyway.” Remus mumbled as he stepped back onto the pavement and crossed his arms over his chest, while Sirius head snapped up to glare at the both of them.

"Try not to sound too excited.” Hermione snapped back, as she barged past him, her shoulder hitting his so she could stand beside the bike and glare at Sirius and her brother. “And none of you are riding on that thing.” She added as all three boys groaned at her, rolling their eyes. “At least not without a license – that’s what you need to legally ride it, right Lil’?” Her best friends eyes widened and her mouth opened.

She looked ready to protest, holding up her hands, wincing as Hermione sent her a glare. “Yeah – yeah, you need a license.” She affirmed as Hermione smirked proudly, turning back to the boys as James frowned at Lily who sighed behind her. “Hermione's right, I don't think it's a good idea but I am in no position to tell anyone what to do here.”

“I don’t think that was the answer she was after.” Marlene whispered gently to their friend before she grinned impishly at Hermione, who had turned to glare at the both of them.

Lily grinned warily, moving to grip Marlene's sleeve and pulling her down the path slightly, chuckling nervously. “Marlene, please tell me you're ready to go and see Regulus.”

“Yes, I still don’t know why you have to come with me on a date with my boyfriend – it's not like I'm going to meet his family, I’m literally going to be in some Muggle town.” Marlene snapped back, rolling her eyes and shaking herself free from Lily's grip.

“You know why – so lets go.” Lily all but sang before reaching out to grip Marlene’s golden wrist and pulling her into the street, a nervous grin on her face as she carried on speaking. “Bye everyone, be safe and don’t let Hermione kill you before our date - oh and don't fall off the back of that thing or I'll kill you myself.” She pointed at James, who nodded his head, watching with a sigh as she walked away.

“Lily!”

“Hermione, Kitten, I like you and I want you to remember that and hold it close so that when I do this…” The engine rumbled to life, loud and making it hard to hear anything as she stared at her boyfriend, mouth ready to protest and hand itching for her wand, even as he gave her a wide grin. “Don’t kill us when we return.” And then he was a gone, speeding in the opposite way of their friends with her brother on the back, leaving Hermione and Remus alone.

“I’m going to kill them both.”

...

Knockturn alley was left behind them with hurried footsteps and hood covered heads, their cloaks fanning out behind them dramatically. People didn't seem to notice or care about the two young adults passing by them, maybe it was a sign of the times, or maybe they thought something else but Hermione nor Remus cared enough to slow down and allow people to take a closer look.

For what good would it do if word got out that a Potter and a werewolf were seen walking around darker areas. Or that they had been to Borgin and Burkes to ask questions from a man, hidden behind glamours and faking interest in his multiple artifacts until he finally shrugged his shoulders and told them he hadn't heard from Tom in years, nor did he care what he was up to now.  

That had been enough for them to offer thanks and rapidly leave before he could start trying to sell them something.

Hermione sighed in relief as they turned the corner, removing the glamour from their faces and pulling down her hood, Remus copying her and giving her a wide eyed look. She couldn't help the small laugh that left her mouth, the strange rush of adrenaline that came it. It could have all gone wrong from the moment they stepped inside, away from watching Auror's and the people who walked the streets before them now, but it didn't.

They were here and as safe as they probably could be in such an open area, and it was relieving, and Remus seemed to think so too as he blew out a long breath and rested his head back against the wall. “Well that answered nothing - guess we'll be going home empty handed, figuratively speaking." 

“Merlin, I don’t want to go back home.” Hermione groaned as she turned her head to rest on the top of his arm, pulling back as he moved slightly away from her, brown eyes peering up at the slightly flushed face and uncomfortable expression. She didn't need to be told in words to know that it would be better to move away, giving him a small smile as she leaned back against the wall and pretended that nothing had happened.

She wasn't stupid nor blind, and she didn't want to be cruel. Not to him.

“Then let’s not, I could do with a walk and some new books.” He spoke, cheeks still red as he stepped onto the street, nodding his head towards the book shop.

Her teeth dug into her bottom lip as she looked around the practically empty street, a few people littering the corners with sharp eyes and wands tucked neatly into their sleeves, ready for an attack or ready to attack. "It might be better if you put your hood back up, just in case there are some unfriendly people around." She whispered to him as she moved to stand by his side with a sympathetic smile.

It would do no good to have some Death Eater who had spoke to Octans shouting something out and spreading rumours that Remus had tried his whole life to avoid. He sighed but ready for his hood, pulling it over his head and looking at her, a smile carving his lips. “Happy?”

“Ecstatic.”

She did the same, offering a quick smile before leading them towards Florish and Blotts. There wasn't anything she really needed to buy, not until their lists came in the next week, but she doubted Euphemia would be willing to let them all go out themselves without some kind of escort service or maybe she would just go out and buy everything herself and lock the doors at home so no one could follow or escape. 

There was no one inside, the shop empty except for the cashier who could have been a couple of years older than them and seemed to care little about who was walking inside as he looked over some book and tapped his crossed feet to the low music that was playing from his radio. Hermione rolled her eyes, but didn't drop the smile on her face as she perused through the shelves, picking up books and putting them down with little interest.

How she would love to work in a place like this, organising books and being paid to read, making people respect the books. Perhaps in a few years she could, once the war was all over and everything back to normal, maybe she and Remus could buy their own place and fill it to the brim and live their days in the happy quiet that came when people came into these types of shops. They could be excited over books without people rolling their eyes, and they could speak about a love of work.

A far fetched dream, and one that came with a nice little house and a couple of kids, not too far from Jamie and Lily, and not too small that it didn't get crowded when Sirius brought all his drama home and their friends came round for weekly dinner. A dream that was as distant as the end of the war and Voldemort.

A sigh sounded before her as Remus pouted down at a book in his hands, glancing briefly to Hermione as she raised her eyes in a silent question. "I didn't bring my wallet." Remus was the only person she knew that didn't use a sack for their coins but instead a very muggle leather wallet that had little money inside it regardless.

Silently, she held out her hand with a small smile, waiting until Remus dumped the book in her hand and she looked at the title with raised eyebrows. "Laws regarding beasts and- what in Merlin's name do you want this for?" She asked, turning to frown at him a small smile, one that often came when his friends got defensive, appeared on his face and his cheeks turned slightly pink again as he mumbled something. "What was that?"

"Edith mentioned it, she said something about how it's hard to change laws when they aren't explained." His voice was slightly hushed as he reached for the book again only for it to pulled away from him as Hermione stepped back with a knowing smirk.

"Oh she did, did she?" She teased as his cheeks turned slightly pink. "Is she planning on heading into law after school?"

"One of her ideas, regardless she thinks the treatment of 'beasts' should be changed." Remus spoke, shrugging his shoulders but there was something there that Hermione hadn't ever seen before. Normally the word was uttered with contempt and followed by dodging eyes, shame at what he was, and it was still there and as strong as ever but there was also a strength there, a hint of defiance that she had only ever seen a few times.

"I couldn't agree more." Hermione spoke with another grin as she turned on her heel and marched towards the cashier, slapping the book down onto his desk and waiting as he raised his eyes slowly, Remus appearing behind her so he could hiss in her ear.

"What are you doing?"

"Buying a book." Hermione said, pulling out her pouch and avoiding Remus' grabbing hands as he tried to pull it away from her, all while smiling at the cashier who watched them both with a frown, his hand held steadily out so he could catch the money Hermione all but threw into it. "Keep the change." She grinned, grabbing the book and turning on her heel again, all but rushing from the shop as Remus followed behind her.

"Hermione!" He caught her before she could open the door, glaring down at her as she smiled up at him.

"Oh relax, Remus, I bought you a book - it's not a big deal." She muttered with a wave of her hand as she pushed the book into his chest only for him to push it away with a deeper glare and a clenched jaw.

"I don't need you to spend -"

"My money on you, I know, I've heard it before - the thing is though, a single book is hardly going to break the bank or even make a dent in my vault." It would probably go unnoticed in reality, she would forget she ever spent money on, and by the end of the day the money would be back in a few investments, and ten galleons from her purse would mean nothing once it was filled again. Plus what was the point of having money if it couldn't be spent on people who deserved it more.

"Your parents -"

"James gets Quidditch supplies and I get more books than I know what to do with, they aren't going to be upset that I bought a book, in fact they'll probably be surprised I didn't buy more for either of us." And they would be upset that all of the children had gone out of the house without saying anything, but that was a problem for later on when they all returned and faced Euphemia's wrath and disappointed look that made people want to curl up in a ball.

"You're spoilt." Remus mumbled back but the anger seemed to have gone as he stared down at the book with what could only be called longing.

"I hardly call it spoilt when half of them get shared between you and Lily." Hermione commented, laughing slightly as she pushed the book back into his chest, happy he didn't push it back but instead reached for it, her hands pulling away and resting on her hips. "Now shut up and take it."

"Fine, but this is the last -"

"Unlucky for you, you do not get to tell me what I can spend my vast elite fortune on, so take the book, read it and share your thoughts and ideas with the pretty girl whose been writing to you all summer." And with that she opened the door and stepped outside before Remus could utter a reply or tell her how it really wasn't like that between him and Edith, and that she was a friend and whatever else he wanted to say.

The minute her foot stepped outside a ball of what seemed like orange crashed into her, causing her to stumble backwards into Remus, his hands resting on her back as he straightened her out. "What in the -" 

Her words cut off as she looked down. Two children with bright red shaggy hair, long noses and smattering of freckles stood staring sheepishly up at her, between the ages of four and seven, with freckles and wide eyes, and something so familiar about them that it made her heart thud in her chest and her throat constrict a bit. But in her minds eye she could almost see another redhead, tall and gangly with freckles and blue eyes that seemed so kind and so mean at the same time.

Remus coughed behind her, his hand resting on her shoulder as he gave her a look and tugged on her hood which had fallen down in her slight stumble, her hands reached for it almost instinctively, only stopping as a loud and familiar voice seemed to echo off of every stone in Diagon alley.

"WILLIAM! CHARLES!" Hermione shivered slightly, a strange mix of warmth and cold flooding through her. She could almost imagine warm hugs like ones a mother would give but a strange coldness that came in being seen in doing something wrong like...like a small easter egg and delicious homecooked meals. Shaking it off she made her face neutral, stepping aside from Remus' hand as the woman barrelled up to her children. "What have I told you two about running off - did you even apologise to the young lady?" Her tone was sharp as she stood behind her children, and Hermione felt like she couldn't breath.

Small and plump with flaming frizzy red hair than her children's but still very red, a stern look on her face and bright brown eyes, and an equally redhaired toddler on her hip gripping her old and worn robes. A Prewett by the looks of things, so similar to Gideon and Fabian, which meant she knew who the woman was before her even if it was just through passing though it didn't feel like it should be.

Brown eyes met hers, wide and slightly scared as Hermione stared back, barely taking in the children that had hung their heads and were speaking softly, almost as if rehearsed or done so many times that the pair of them had it down. "Sorry Ma'am and Mister."

"Oh it's...oh..." The woman muttered as Hermione looked away, to the children instead with an easy smile.

"I don't think we are old enough to be called that, but we thank you anyway." Hermione spoke softly as Remus chuckled behind her and the boys eased, wide grins taking over their face as they looked back to their mum who still wasn't speaking and then stepped forward.

"I'm Bill, I'm nearly seven and this is my little brother, Charlie." He spoke clearly, tilting his chin up high as what looked like a clip on earring dangled and hit him in the chin. Hermione wanted to laugh, she would have if his mother didn't look so terrified and ready to hex Hermione the moment she got out of her shocked trance.

"I like dragons!" As if to prove a point, Charlie tugged on his top and grinned down at the dragon printed on it.

Remus laughed for them both, stepping in front of Hermione and almost covering her from view as he held out his hands for the boys to take, green eyes hard as they darted to the woman. "I'm Remus Lupin, I like books, and this is my friend, Hermione - she also likes books." He didn't say her last name but the woman had already focused back on her just as the two young boys shook his hands with matching grins.

"That's cool...I think Percy will like books, mum is always reading to him, aren't you mum?" Bill spoke as he tugged on her sleeve and widened his eyes as Percy clapped his hands together and mumbled something that sounded like complete nonsense. "Muuuuum..."

"Yes...yes dear, I think we better leave, we don't want to be annoying these...these people."

"It's not a problem at all -"

"We went to school with your brothers, they were a few years ahead of us but I'm sure they'd remember us, cheeky little Gryffindors that we were." Hermione spoke, cutting off Remus before he could say anything else and peaking around from his side despite the hand that was ready to push her back. "And your cousin, Alice, she was great - I don't see her much anymore but she's a good friend, if you see her please tell her that Hermione says hi and we should catch up." The woman's mouth tensed as she looked away, nervous and scared.

She knew what Molly saw, the same as other people who didn't know her saw, a girl that carried some amount of resemblance to Octans Potter. She didn't doubt that Molly's brothers and cousin being Aurors and in the Order meant that Molly might have heard some things, might know what kind of Potter branch she biologically came from and who she was connected to, because everyone knew and everyone judged. 

But she had never expected someone who went against the Pureblood norm, to a certain extent because she had heard the rumours about a squib cousin that wasn't spoken to or didn't speak to them, to be so judgemental and scared of her. 

Molly squirmed, reaching out to pull her children back towards her. "I'm sure she'd prefer to hear from you herself." The elder woman sniffed, looking back around. "And we really better be going, my husband will be worried if we don't come back soon." Hermione frowned, it wasn't like she was stood there with her wand out and making the woman stay, but it seemed like Molly thought she was, so she nodded her head and stepped back.

"Well it was lovely to meet you." She muttered more into Remus' back as she fought against the tears that seemed to spring to her eyes, something inside her making her want the woman to stay, to like her and to wrap her in a warm hug and offer comfort.

For what she wasn't quite sure.

Molly gave a tense smile back, gripping Percy to her chest and reaching out for Charlie before pulling him along, his little legs struggling to keep up. But Bill remained, inquisitive eyes watching the both of them before he grinned, his mouth opening to speak when his mother shouted. "Bill, come here now!"

"It was nice to meet you both." He grinned one last time, waving a hand before he was running on long legs and rolling his eyes as his mother hissed something to him.

Remus turned to look at her, understanding on every inch of his face as he rested a hand on her shoulder. "Did you - do you know her?" He asked softly as she sniffed away the tears and shook her head. "But in the future -" He cut himself off, looking around before he gave her a sad smile as she shrugged her shoulders. "Regardless of what might have happened or will happen, she shouldn't have treated you like that." His voice was softer still as he waited for her to agree.

"Side effect of being related to a bunch of crazed murdering maniacs, it wasn't the first time it happened and I doubt it will be the last." She muttered, straightening herself up and sniffling one last time as Remus opened his mouth to speak. "It is what it is, and I really don't want to talk about it anymore, so can we just go get a drink before we go home and see what hell awaits us." She mumbled as he nodded his head.

"Yeah, of course, though you're paying."

...

Despite the empty streets outside, The Leaky Cauldron was packed to the brim, though with one dazzling smile they had been offered a more private booth, away from the drinkers at the bar and the loud groups of gossiping friends. Tom had smiled back as he placed two butterbeers on their table and a steaming bowl of chips, and stumbled slightly when Hermione smiled back as she handed him her galleons.

"That's not fair, you know." Remus commented as he rolled his eyes. Hermione frowned as she nibbled on a chip, tilting her head to the side and waited for him to explain. "Giving a pretty smile and getting what you want." He answered as she laughed slightly.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes you do, makes the old man think he might have a chance - James does it too though it's normally followed by a wink that has the barmaid laughing and Sirius does it with Rosmerta -"

"Does he now?" Hermione asked as Remus gulped, grabbing his drink and downing it so he didn't have to answer as Hermione laughed. "I know he does, though unsuccessfully, for someone so handsome he really lacks an actual talent at flirting, and it's more amusing than annoying." She chuckled again, shaking her head as Remus put down his drink and let out a small laugh though slightly nervous and unsure. 

"It doesn't bother you?" Remus asked, a frown on his face as he reach for the chips, grabbing a bottle of ketchup and pouring it on as Hermione rolled her eyes. Unnecessary amount of sauce but she'd eat them anyway.

"I mean...it's not like I'm jumping up and down in excitement at the prospect, but he's not he's flirting with other women, and honestly I can't blame him, Rosmerta is quite beautiful." She teased with an easy smile as she pulled the chips back towards herself while Remus rolled his eyes. "What? I thought you had a thing for blondes?" She added innocently as he glared at her, cheeks tinging pink once more.

"I don't have a preference for hair colour or anything really - and we weren't talking about me!" He snapped half heartedly. Hermione shrugged, she could honestly believe that. Remus seemed more the personality type - like it wouldn't matter if the person had pink hair so long as they were kind. "If anyone has preferences then it's you!"

"Me?"

"With your tall pretty boys." He teased, batting his eyes as Hermione rolled her own, mouth opening to defend herself and closing once she went through her short list of boyfriends. "Though these days I suspect it's more just one pretty boy with black hair, grey eyes and a motorcycle between his legs." He whispered, winking slightly as it was Hermione's own turn to blush, her eyes narrowing and her hand reaching out to snatch a kid.

"The motorcycle doesn't have to be there." She whispered as Remus laughed slightly.

"Though it helps doesn't it - and I bet you wouldn't complain if he were to wear a leather jacket and offer you a ride." 

"Shut up."

"If it helps in any way, I'm sure Sirius has had plenty of thoughts about you on the back of his motorcycle in leather." Her cheeks turned pink, as did his own, but she wouldn't let it be awkward nor bring to light what might be going on in his head as he coughed, a strained smile making its way to his face as her mouth opened. "We'll have to see what our dashing motorcycle riding bad boy says when we get back." He spoke before she could as she raised an eyebrow.

"You sound more excited than I do about seeing him, maybe you are enjoying that image of Sirius a bit too much." If he could tease her then she could tease him, but really she was just glad to see his face with less blush and his eyes meeting hers without so much worry. He grinned back at her as she reached for her butterbeer and took a sip, waiting for his response.

“Yeah because I’m the one getting hot and bothered about the whole thing, in fact I can’t wait to get back and lay one on him – oh no wait, that’s you.” He laughed, slapping his hand against the table as she rolled her eyes and shrugged her shoulders.

“Fucking -”

“Well if isn’t a couple of my favourite Gryffindors.” The pair turned with amused smiles. Belby stood at the end of their table, a half drank Butterbeer in his hands and a grin on his cute face as he slipped into the booth like he didn't need an invitation. He didn't, but it would have been nice to be asked, still Hermione couldn't help the slight sigh that left her mouth as she looked at his pretty face, ignoring the smug smirk Remus was giving her. "How are you both?"

"We're good, and you?" Remus asked as he sipped his drink.

"Same old, same old, though maybe you could speak to your dad about trying not to work us to the bone." Benjy spoke, gesturing towards Hermione with a grin so dazzling that she almost wondered if this is what Remus referred with Tom, it made her wince and blink, looking away from the man in favour of her drink.

"I'll see what I can do." She promised though she wasn't sure what she would actually be able to do to ease the workload from Benjy. It wasn't like her father was prepared to listen to his seventeen year old daughter about how his Aurors might need less work and how her friend was exhausted because of him. She might have some pull with her father but it wasn't that much.

"Appreciated." Benjy spoke with a laugh, sending her a wink that almost made her want to blush. It wasn't fair, and not that she was looking to do anything, but it wasn't fair that he was so pretty and played for the other team. "And in return I'll see what I can do between you and Zach." A frown took over her face as Remus coughed on a chip and looked between them with wide eyes.

"Erm...Zach's great, and even if I wasn't with Sirius, I'm not looking into getting back together with him." Hermione spoke slowly as Benjy waved his hand.

"Oh I know, I just meant getting the moping twat to stop pouting and whining about how you haven't written to him in so long, and how you were supposed to be friends." His accent lessened as he did an impression of what Hermione thought was meant to be Zach pouting, but she wasn't quite sure, still she laughed slightly and rolled her eyes. It had been months since she heard from Zach and it wasn't like she crying everyday over it.

Still, there was a part of her that missed him and the easy friendship that seemed to have come after their break up. She had been so used to the letters and the brief visits that it had hurt when it stopped. Still she wasn't going to admit that, so instead she settled on rolling her eyes and leaning onto the sticky table. "Is he incapable of picking up ink and parchment and saying he's sorry for being a dick?"

"Clearly, and something I've told him time and time again." Benjy muttered in agreement as he downed the rest of his drink, looking around the pub and grinning as he spotted someone. "Arthur!" He shouted, waving his arm in the air before turning back to them both. "You're going to love this lad, proper weird and crazy about Muggles but one of the soundest people I've met." He turned back around as Hermione groaned.

"Is that -" Remus began before wincing as Hermione nodded her head.

A tall thin man with ten years on them, bright red hair that was beginning to bald and glasses was making his way over and Hermione wished he would just wave and turn, go to wherever his wife was waiting for him, but instead he stopped at the end of their table with a large grin that almost made her feel guilty, reaching forward to shake Benjy's hand. "Benjy! Surprised to see you out the office today, what with what just happened twenty minutes ago." Benjy grimaced, looking back at Hermione and then back to Arthur.

She sat up straighter, almost like a cat, and narrowed her eyes as Remus sipped his drink. Her head tilted as she stretched out her hand. "Hermione Potter - twenty minutes ago, that ironically seems like the time you joined us - what happened?" She asked as Arthur shook her hand and Benjy looked away.

"Auror business - ask your dad." Benjy muttered, no longer grinning even as Arthur let out a small chuckle, letting go of her hand to shake Remus' who mumbled his name and let go rapidly.

"You must be the ones who gave my wife a bit of a fright - sorry about that." He cringed slightly before sitting himself down in the free seat and resting his clasped hands on the table. "I know she probably acted a bit rude and maybe said some...things, but she's not a horrible person and I would hate to think that's your lasting impression of her." He seemed so worried and Hermione couldn't help but smile slightly even as Remus scoffed. Protective and ready to defend.

"It's fine, she didn't do anything wrong." Hermione spoke back, waving her hand and sipping her drink as Arthur offered her a kind smile that reminded her of someone else, someone far away and fuzzy in her mind.

"You're very kind but I want to apologise from the both of us, she doesn't have a good relationship with the Black family, which is why my mother hasn’t been round in a while.” He joked as Benjy let out a laugh that sounded more forced and Remus rolled his eyes while Hermione kept the polite smile on her face. He seemed clueless, like he hadn't just lumped her in the same category that his wife did, forgetting her last name and her family. "Though maybe she can make an exception for a few distant cousins."

"Possibly." Hermione bit out tightly, the smile more forced on her face before she patted her thighs and looked back to Remus with wide eyes. "We better head off soon, mums going to be freaking out when she finds out none of us are home." Remus nodded his head eagerly, downing the rest of his drink and sending a smile to the two men.

"Nice to meet you Arthur, and see you soon Benj." He spoke as he gently pushed Hermione out of the booth.

“Wait, I’ll walk you out – see you at work Arthur.” Benjy spoke, placing his empty glass on the table as Arthur waved his hand, nibbling on the leftover chips without a care in the world. Hopefully Molly wouldn't be too pissed she found out.

Benjy ushered them outside and into Diagon Alley instead of the front of the pub, as Hermione turned to frown at him. "What -"

"Thought you might need a few minutes to calm down before you go home." Benjy answered softly, shrugging his shoulders as Hermione offered him a gentle smile and reached out to pat his shoulder. Such a kind hearted person that he almost looked guilty as his shoulders sagged. "Sorry, I didn't know that Molly had said anything nor that Arthur would -"

"Benjy it's fine, I'm fine, thank you though but I really would like to head home now before I'm grounded for the rest of the year." She spoke as Remus gave a small laugh and moved to give Benjy a hug as he nodded his head. Hermione moved next, wrapping her arms around him rapidly as Benjy awkwardly hugged her back, his hand patting her like he would with a guy but softer and lighter and his face in a grimace.

Understandable, but tell your mum -"

"Well, well, well look what we have here - seems little Miss Potter has moved on from my blood traitor of a cousin to Mudbloods." The voice was haunting, like something that she might hear in her vaguest of nightmares, cackling in the background and screaming spells. It made Hermione pull away from Benjy, feeling as though her body was being stabbed with a thousand needles as she turned to look at the woman.

The last time she had seen Bellatrix Black, or Lestrange, as she was known now, well she couldn't exactly remember as it wasn't something she spent much time thinking about in her everyday life, but she had only grown more crazed. Hair wilder than even Hermione's, skin stretched tight over her frame, and hooded eyes swirling to show the madness within as she regarded them all with a wide smile that could have been pretty on anyone else but only made Hermione's skin crawl.

Behind Bellatrix there were a few others, cloaked and hooded, faces hidden from view, not a smile or snicker in sight and nothing to give away who they might be though Hermione had some ideas, and she would have said so if her whole body didn't feel exhausted with pain.

"Cat got your tongue, Potter?" Bellatrix taunted, her wand in her hand as she sauntered forward. Hermione's mouth opened and closed, a faint scream inside her head along with a voice, a taunting one much like the woman's before her. 

"I’m going to ask you again! Where did you get this sword? Where?”

"We found it—we found it—PLEASE!” That was her own voice, in pain as she screamed again.

There was nothing to see, no images and for that she was glad. Nothing but the faint voices and the pain that seemed to be running through her up and down now. Still she straightened herself up, grimacing her teeth and giving a sweet smile. "Cousin, I would say it's nice to see you again but I don't want to lie." She hissed out, shaking off the rest of the pain. Benjy stood to her left, stern with his wand in his hand and Remus was pointing his directly at Bellatrix.

"You’re lying, filthy Mudblood, and I know it! You have been inside my vault at Gringotts! Tell the truth, tell the truth!” Another scream and strike of pain, a flash of an image of that crazed face stood above her. “What else did you take? What else have you got? Tell me the truth or, I swear, I shall run you through with this knife!” Nothing but a whimper. “What else did you take, what else? ANSWER ME! CRUCIO!”

It was almost as if she was being tortured herself, a small puff of air leaving her mouth as she tried to focus on Bellatrix as her lip curled over yellowed teeth. "Do not dare to assume you are a member of my family, filthy bloodtraitor." She hissed, tongue lashing out wickedly as Hermione laughed.

"Such kind words -" How did you get into my vault? Did that dirty little goblin in the cellar help you? There were more muffled voices in her mind, but she pushed them away, trying not to focus on them, or the dizziness. "Tell me, does Voldemort know you have such a vicious tongue?" She couldn't help it, the words slipping out of her as the pain faded away, Remus tensing beside her and Benjy huffing out a breath as Bellatrix's face turned even more crazed.

"You dare speak his name!" She shrieked, like a banshee or a mandrake, making Hermione half tempted to cover her ears but instead she smiled, gripping her wand tightly in her hand. "How upset your father would be if he could see you now, disrespecting the greatest Wizard to ever walk the Earth and gallivanting with vermin." Her tone was levelled as she clicked her tongue, pacing back and forth before them like a lion with its prey, evil grin stretching across her face. "A shame really."

"For some maybe, I happen to think my actual father would actually be quite proud." Hermione spoke back, shrugging her shoulders as though it was nothing. "Though I have no qualms about you calling Octans here so we can see - hopefully he'll die of shock and save me the hassle of having to kill him."  Remus stiffened beside her, and Benjy cast her a quick look, sure it wasn’t great to threaten someone with murder while an Auror was beside her, but she doubted he would be going around telling people what she had said – though if Octans turned up dead then he might know where to look.

Or maybe he would understand and be a good friend, leave it alone and pretend he knew nothing.

Bellatrix let out a cold laugh, almost seeming amused by the idea, though she had stopped pacing and looked more like a snake ready to strike. “Perhaps I will – he and the Dark Lord have been rather eager to bring you home again, save you from the tragedy that befell your pathetic blood traitor of your mother." Though the words were spoken softly, there was a sharpness in them that almost made Hermione curse the woman before her.

But there was a fear in facing Bellatrix, one that either came from memories or from the knowledge that the woman before her was dangerous - more dangerous and powerful than herself, Remus and Benjy together. She could take them down with a strike of her wand and leave nothing behind, wicked and cruel with her wand that no one could compare.

Still she took a step forward, only pulled back by Remus' hand on her cloak and Benjy's arm flung across her waist. For a second she wanted to fight them both, tell them to fuck off and let her go for it like Bellatrix was egging towards but before she could say anything Benjy was speaking. "Enough with your taunts, Lestrange, before I find another reason to drag you, your husband and brother-in-law in for questioning - only this time it won't end with walking away but a nice little cell in Azkaban with your name on it." His tone was sharp, words twisting around his accent as Hermione's eyes widened. 

He didn't seem scared, but he should have been as Bellatrix almost lunged, her wand pointed towards them. “Filthy Mudblood - HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME!” Bellatrix spat, her ire turning towards the man who didn’t blink or back down, but the threat seemed to have done its job as she walked back a few steps and nodded to her little hooded group before her dark eyes turned back onto Hermione. “I’ll see you around – cousin.”

Benjy didn’t wait a second longer, half turning, his eyes still on them as he moved to push her shoulder and then Remus’, urgent and demanding. “Come on, back into the Leaky and then out the other door – we need to get you home.”

…

None of them spoke as they made their way out of the pub and allowed Benjy to disapparate them home, but Hermione had never felt so glad to see the Manor, a sigh leaving her mouth and her hands moving to rest on her knees the moment they passed through the wards. Benjy moved forward, towards the door only to be stopped by Hermione pulling him back. “What was that?” Hermione hissed, keeping her voice low as Benjy looked down at her. “How could you let them go? How could you stop me?”

His head turned slightly to look at Remus, only to find the boy scuffing his shoe on part of the stone floor, before he sighed and spoke. “Because, Hermione, in the eyes of the law, insulting someone doesn’t mean Azkaban, but you acting you ‘unprovoked’ could mean more than a slap on the wrist, especially nowadays.” He answered softly, as though speaking to a child, and it only served to irritate her more.

“Unprovoked...they’re Death Eaters!”

“And the Ministry is full of them now, and the only place they can’t get to are the Aurors, not really – that’s the only thing, apart from more dementors at Azkaban, that the Minister has managed to accomplish.” Benjy snapped slightly before running a hand over his tired face, looking so much older than he really was. “They aren’t stupid, Hermione, they knew if they poked enough that you would attack and the Wizengamot would see their retaliation as an act of defence.”

Hermione let her shoulders sag, as she let out a sigh. “I’m sorry – it’s just..she got under my skin.”

“She’s gets under everyone’s skin, and I don’t blame you – though I will say maybe don’t go out for a while, she’ll be looking for another excuse to catch you out.” Benjy spoke softly as he took a step back and knocked at the door, before offering her another kind smile.

Hermione frowned as he stepped around her and like he was about to walk away, her hand still gripping his wrist tightly so he would turn around and looked at her with a frown. "It's you who needs to be careful, whatever I said is nothing compared to you what you said, and she'll come after you, and unless you want to be blown to pieces then you need to be careful." A sick image filled her mid as he frowned down at her, her mouth opening in wonder of why she had even said that.

“Graphic, but I get what you are saying and I'll be as careful as I always have been.” Benjy chuckled but nodded his head, his mouth opening to say something before the door opened. Euphemia Potter stood on the other side, a frown on her face as she took in the three of them. “Evening Mrs Potter, I saw these two at Diagon Alley and thought I might escort them home.”

There was a wariness in her gaze, but she offered a kind smile and nodded her head inside. "Thank you Benjy, why don't you come inside for a tea - you two can go wait in the sitting room until your father comes home." Hermione groaned as Benjy grinned, slipping into the house and standing behind Euphemia as Hermione and Remus trudged forward slowly, worry flooding through every inch of them.

She was going to be in so much shit, and so was Remus. They would be grounded for the rest of their lives once everything came out and there was no doubting that her dad hadn't heard anything, being Head Auror would have it's perks. Like locking his daughter away so she wouldn't provoke anymore dangerous enemies or drag her friends down with her.

Euphemia shook her head, her mouth opening only for a loud rumbling to take over, the four of them looking outside the door as a motorcycle came skidding to a stop outside of the house, James and Sirius climbing off with pale face.

“James? Sirius? What – whose motorcycle is that?”