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Only Time Will Tell	By : chrmisha Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 3087 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Chapter 14: Endless Journey

It was finally Friday, the last day of N.E.W.T.s. Hermione sat quietly reviewing her answers for her final exam, History of Magic. �Five more minutes,� the proctor announced. She�d done all she could. Shaking her head, she set down her quill. It wasn�t her best effort, but she was sure she�d still pass.

As the students filed out of the exam room, Hermione saw Professor McGonagall standing in the doorway. Her lips were pursed, her face ashen. Hermione�s heart fell.

�Miss Granger, please come with me.�

Hermione didn�t know where Professor McGonagall was leading her, but it couldn�t be good. She fought fruitlessly to keep her tears at bay.

�What is it?� Hermione finally asked, her voice shaking, as they arrived at Professor McGonagall�s office.

�Please, have a seat. Would you like some tea?�

Hermione shook her head.

Professor McGonagall handed her a letter. �This arrived first thing this morning.�

Minerva,

I have called an urgent meeting at Headquarters for this afternoon.

Your presence is requested. Please bring Miss Granger as this concerns her as well.

~Albus

Hermione closed her tear-laden eyes. This is it, she thought to herself. She felt Professor McGonagall�s hand rubbing her shoulder.

�Here, dear, drink this, it will help calm your nerves.�

As Hermione looked into McGonagall�s eyes, she saw that McGonagall was clearly as nervous about the upcoming meeting as she was. Hermione put her head in her hands and sobbed. All she could see was Remus�s naked, mutilated body; just like Alicia Greenberg�s had been.

***

It was almost 11 am when Sirius woke Remus with a tray of breakfast and a steaming mug of healing potion.

�Sorry, Moony, time to get up. Dumbledore will be here in an hour, as will the rest of the Order.�

Remus rolled over and groaned. �I feel like I fell off a broomstick from 150 feet up in the air.�

Sirius helped Remus sit up.

�How�s Hermione?� Remus asked.

Sirius had a mischievous glint in his eyes, �I was just speaking to Dumbledore about that situation.�

�Really?� Remus said, raising his eyebrows.

As Remus showered that day, he got the first real look at himself. The outside of his body had healed rather well, but his insides ached. The healing potion was helping, but he had had so many injuries, it would take a while before he felt like himself again, even with the wolf�s incredible healing abilities. His chest was bruised and, taking a deep breath, he felt like his chest was on fire as his lungs inflated against his broken ribs. The gash in his stomach was healing well, but looked terrible nonetheless. Pulling his eyes away from his body he looked into the still steamy mirror, noticing how much younger he looked. His hair was golden and his face, although weary, was less lined. He laughed. So much for the aging potion, I don�t know why I bother. By now everyone has seen me oscillating between old and young, I might as well just give up the charade. He shaved and dressed and headed downstairs to meet the masses.

***

Hermione still felt a bit dizzy as her feet landed on solid ground. Traveling by port key was a bit disconcerting. As she and Professor McGonagall concentrated on 12 Grimmauld Place, they saw the house squeeze itself in-between the two adjacent houses, a space in which there shouldn�t have been room. Hermione was shaking as Professor McGonagall quietly opened the front door so as not disturb the portrait of Mrs. Black. Professor Dumbledore and several other members of the Order were sitting around the common room, discussing various bits of information. Hermione didn�t recognize many of them, but she saw Sirius Black in the corner who raised his head and nodded at her solemnly.

�Miss Granger, I�m glad you could join us.� The headmaster�s voice rang through the air. �Would you mind waiting in the kitchen while we finish up some last minute business here?�

Professor McGonagall looked anxious, but nodded to Hermione.

It was bad enough that she had to be here to receive what she was sure to be terrible news, but to have to wait even longer, alone, was more than she could bear. As tears filled her eyes, Hermione headed for the kitchen.

***

Harry and Ron relaxed in the Gryffindor Common Room over a game of wizard�s chess after completing their N.E.W.T.s. The rain beat hard against the windows.

�Nothing we can do about it now, mate,� Ron bemoaned. �Hey, where�s Hermione?�

�I don�t know. I thought her last exam was this morning,� Harry said, considering his next move.

�So have you figured it out yet?�

�Figured what out?� Harry asked, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he studied the chess pieces.

�Who this mysterious man is that Hermione�s in love with.�

�No, but I take it you have some ideas.� Harry said, rolling his eyes at Ron.

�Well, it had to be after me, right? So who else did she seem interested in at the end of sixth year? There was that Scott Philky, a Ravenclaw, who was after her. And he was a seventh year, so he�d have graduated already.�

Harry shook his head. �I don�t think so. I mean, I know he was interested in her, but I never got the impression that she had the least bit of interest in him. Besides, I think Ginny said he was dating someone else by the end of last year.� Harry carefully made his next move.

�You know what I think is odd,� Ron continued, �Why didn�t he come to the Spring Ball? I mean, it wouldn�t matter if he didn�t go to school here.� Ron made his next move. �Unless he was a Muggle!� Ron looked expectantly at Harry.

�If he was a Muggle, he wouldn�t be using owl post. Not to mention, when would she have met a Muggle? She spent all summer hidden away like us. And besides, Hermione�s too smart to hook up with a boring, old Muggle.�

As those words left his mouth, something occurred to Harry. He quickly ran through a mental checklist in his head. When had they noticed the change in her? After summer. Who had she spent the summer with? Who couldn�t she bring to the Ball? Her secrecy. Her final project in potions. Her conflict with Snape. Snape�s hatred of the Mauraders. His disappearance. The Death Eaters. The Order. Sirius�s letter to her. Sirius�s silence with Harry.

�Harry, it�s your turn,� Ron said before he caught the shocked look on Harry�s face. �Harry, what is it? You look like you�ve seen a ghost.�

�Ron, we have to contact the Order. RIGHT NOW!�

Harry ran out of Gryffindor tower, Ron on his tail.

�Harry, slow down, what is it?�

�I have to be wrong, please tell me I�m wrong,� Harry muttered to himself, running towards Dumbledore�s office.

Professor Sprout was walking by when Harry and Ron arrived, out of breath.

�Professor, we need to see the Headmaster immediately. Do you know the password?�

�I�m sorry, Mr. Potter, he left late yesterday evening, some urgent business to attend to.�

Harry looked anxiously at Ron. Professor McGonagall. They raced towards her office. When no one answered, they headed to the staff room. Professor Flitwick informed them that Professor McGonagall had left earlier that afternoon.

�Harry, will you please tell me what�s going on!� Ron begged, trying to catch his breath.

�No, not yet. I want to make sure I�m right.�

Ron rolled his eyes.

�Who else is in the Order, Ron, that we can talk to?� �THINK!� Harry said, as much to himself as to Ron.

�Sirius?� Ron offered.

Harry shook his head. �Order Headquarters is not on the flu network anymore, too dangerous, and an owl would be too slow.�

Snape was out of the question, there was no need to bring him up.

Harry and Ron�s eyes met at the same time, �HAGRID!�

They raced across the castle lawn to Hagrid�s hut, pounding madly on the door. �HAGRID! HAGRID are you in there?!?�

Hagrid opened the door as Harry and Ron burst in.

�Well, hello ter yer too!� Hagrid called over his shoulder to them, looking bewildered.

�Hagrid,� Harry was doubled over fighting a cramp in his side. �Hagrid, I need you to tell me something about the Order.� Harry panted, trying to catch his breath.

�Well, I will if I can.�

�Hagrid, did something happen to one of its members? Did one of the members get captured by Death Eaters?�

Hagrid shifted uncomfortably at the question. Ron looked confused and wished Harry would hurry up and tell him what was going on.

�Well, I ain�t supposed ter talk about it, yer know.�

Harry waved his hand, still bent over, �It doesn�t matter. I know who it is. It�s Professor Lupin.�

Ron�s mouth dropped and Hagrid�s face looked ashen.

�I�m afr�d so,� Hagrid said, shaking his head. �Fine man, he was. Always real nice ter me��

Harry�s head flew up. �WAS?� Harry gasped. �Is he dead?�

�Well, we jus� don� know. But I �spect he is, after all, those Death Eaters aren�t very friendly.� Hagrid said, shaking his head. �Why don�t yer sit down, I�ll make some tea,� he said.

�Professor Lupin,� Ron parroted, still looking dazed and confused, shaking his head. Slowly, the comprehension dawned across Ron�s face. �HERIONE!�

Harry just nodded, his head in his hands. Professor Lupin had been the best DADA teacher they�d ever had, not to mention Sirius and his father�s best friend.

***

Hermione looked around the empty kitchen, her vision blurred. She closed her eyes and shut the door, leaning her forehead against the cool wood, feeling the tears slide down her cheeks. She remembered the last time she was in this house. She�d spent the latter part of the summer after her fifth year here with Harry and the Weasleys and Sirius. And, Remus had been there too, of course, she recalled, stifling a sob.

She jumped as two hands slid along her waist from behind. She spun around to find gray eyes smiling down at her.

�REMUS, YOU�RE ALIVE!� She threw her arms around him with wild abandon. He flinched involuntarily beneath her strong embrace. She released him immediately, a fresh wave of panic washing over her face.

�Gentle, my love,� he whispered in her ear; not letting her go.

�You�re injured!� she cried.

�Shhh� I�ll be fine,� he said, stroking her hair, trying to calm her fears.

�But what happened? What did they do to you?�

The fear he saw in her eyes made his heart sink. �Hermione, love, I�m here now, that�s all that matters�� He barely caught her as she collapsed to the floor, sobbing.

�I thought you were dead.�

Me too, he thought to himself, though he�d never admit that to her.

�I� I thought they�d killed you!�

She cried against his chest as he rocked her back and forth in his arms. �Hermione. Sweet, sweet, Hermione. I promised you I�d wait for you, didn�t I?�

She looked up at him. He smiled warmly at her. Gently, he cupped his hands around her face and kissed away her tears. �My love, how I missed you.� Ever so slowly, he worked his way to her lips, brushing them softly with his. He traced the sensuous ridges of her lips with his tongue before kissing her gently, not wanting to scare her. He felt a warm, tingling sensation spread through his body as his tongue met hers. He felt her breathing even out as he kissed her. He sighed, relieved to be with the woman he loved, the woman he�d almost lost forever. He cringed at the thought. She was the only thing that�d kept him alive, that had given him the will to survive, to keep fighting. Without her, he would have given up.

Gently, he laid her back on the kitchen floor. He gazed into her brown eyes, �Hermione, I love you more than you could ever know.� He felt a great weight being lifted away as the radiant smile she saved only for him finally spread across her beautiful face. He knew what he�d been through this last month; he could only imagine the torture she�d endured wondering whether he was alive or dead. She pulled him to her then and he felt the desire that always came in her presence as she ran her hands across his back, kissing him desperately.

�I love you too, Remus, I love you too.�

�Hermione,� he finally said, slowly breaking their kiss and glancing towards the kitchen door.

�Oh!� Hermione quickly sat up.

Remus put his hand on her shoulder. �Don�t worry, no one will interrupt us.�

She looked at him bewildered.

�They are waiting for us though,� Remus continued, �And as much as I�d rather stay her and kiss you all day, we really should join the others.�

�But I thought there was a meeting?� she asked confused.

�There is, it�s the Remus Lupin Welcome Home Party meeting.�

�I see,� she said, smiling with obvious relief.

�I think,� he said conspiratorially, �that this is Dumbledore�s way of letting me know that he still has faith in me. However, if we stay in here all day, I fear I may be testing that faith.�

Hermione giggled.

Slowly getting to his feet, he took her hand and opened the door to great cheers.

Professor McGonagall rushed forward and hugged Remus. �I�m so glad you�re all right, dear,� she said, wiping the tears from her eyes.

�Me too, Minerva� he whispered so that only she could hear him.

Stepping back, McGonagall put a hand on each of their shoulders, �I�m so happy for the both of you.�

Hermione nodded, feeling the heat creep up her face as everyone watched them. She did feel like a young school girl just then, standing next to Remus, giddy and embarrassed.

McGonagall and Dumbledore said their good-byes, making sure to remind Remus and Sirius to return Hermione safely to the castle before the End of Year Feast began. When everyone else had left, Hermione leaned against Remus, her head on his shoulder. Sirius was relating some story about their youth and a particularly good joke they�d played on Snape. Hermione couldn�t help but take pleasure at Snape�s misfortune considering how he�d treated her this past year.

Snape. Suddenly, she sat up, looking anxiously between Sirius and Remus. �Snape said he set you up,� Hermione said to Remus, a look of realization on her face.

Remus smiled gently and shook his head. �No, he didn�t. He was just trying to get a rise out of you.�

�But how can you be so sure?� She noticed the pained look in his eyes.

�He wishes he could take credit for it,� Sirius said, not trying to hiding the contempt in his voice.

�Believe me, if he�d known where I was, he�d have been the first to come get me. Not because he care�s about what happens to me, but because Dumbledore is very angry with him right now, and he�d do just about anything to get back on his good side,� Remus said, pulling her back against him and gently stroking her hair.

�Ahh, but Hermione,� Sirius�s voice rang with a new fervor, �I think you have out done us all when it comes to Snape.�

�What are you talking about?�

�We heard what you did to Snape.� Sirius was grinning madly. �Oh how I�d have loved to seen his face��in more ways than one,� he snickered, looking at Remus.

�What, that I slapped him? He deserved it!� Righteous anger rose inside of her.

Sirius and Remus exchanged glances.

Remus cleared his throat to get her attention. Looking into her eyes, he said with a sly smile on his face, �It seems, my love, that no one mentioned to you that that little slap you gave Professor Snape just so happened to fracture two bones in his face. Madam Pomfrey was most delighted.�

Hermione looked between Remus and Sirius. �You�re joking.�

�Remind me never to make you angry,� Remus said as he held her tighter, kissing her forehead.

�Yeah, me too!� said Sirius. Getting down on his knees, he added with mock trepidation, �I beg your forgiveness for anytime I may have offended you.�

At that, Hermione giggled and looked back at Remus. She felt her stomach drop. His eyes were smoky and longing. She closed the gap between them, melting into his arms as their lips met. They both laughed as they heard Sirius leave the room, grumbling to himself.
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Only Time Will Tell