15
"- - love me when I'm gone!"
Hermione sobbed again against his chest. Whatever it was that Riddle had done to Harry had caused an enormous change in him. Before he left, Harry was nervous but strong and confident. He had stood up to Riddle before and walked away. This Harry... this Harry who had been forced to spend an evening with him, looked shattered. He was drained, almost unrecognisable to the person he was several hours ago.
Emma didn't want to interrupt Harry and Hermione together but she had to make sure he was okay.
"Harry?" Emma said softly. "Are you all right?"
Good question, Harry thought. Am I ok? He nodded but Emma could see it was for her benefit. The hand that had held the crystal ball had no more strength and the ball fell to the floor with a soft Thunk.
"What's this?" Tonks asked.
"Tonks," Harry said seeing her with Ginny and Gabrielle. "Can you get word to Remus? I need him, it's important."
"He's back - -."
"Can it wait until tomorrow?" Hermione asked while sniffling. She hadn't let go of Harry and she didn't intend to.
"Tomorrow, of course. I'm too tired for anything else now."
"Good," Hermione replied. "You need to sleep. You look exhausted."
Tonks looked at the crystal ball and saw the scene in it. She looked at Harry, who nodded.
"Are you sure you're all right?" Emma asked again.
Harry staggered and started to fall but Hermione caught him. Tonks quickly helped her get him to the lounge where he fell into a sitting position.
"Thanks, everyone, I'm fine now that I'm home."
Hermione looked up at him and smiled through her tears to hear him call her place home.
Emma turned to Ginny and Gabrielle. "I can't thank you all enough for waiting with Hermione. But you should be getting back or Molly will be worried."
"Mum would be worried anyway," Ginny said with a yawn. "Anything you need, Harry?"
Harry shook his head. "Tomorrow. We'll go through it tomorrow."
Hermione stood and hugged Ginny and Gabrielle with soft but heart-felt thank-yous. And then the Weasley girls were gone with a Crack!
"I'm going too," Tonks said. "I hope Remus is still awake."
"He will be," Emma told her. Tonks Disapparated leaving just Harry and the Grangers.
Emma took Hermione's elbow and led her in the direction of her room.
"Mum?" Hermione started to protest.
"Come on, bed now. I'll send him in in a minute."
Accepting this, Hermione and Emma disappeared leaving Harry and Dan.
Dan looked closely at Harry and sat beside him.
"Some night, eh?" Dan asked. Harry was now out of words and nodded his head weakly. They sat in silence for a while before Harry spoke.
"She's in danger. Just me being here has put her in danger. All of you."
Dan thought about this before responding. "Wasn't she before? Weren't we all? You said anyone that stood up to Voldemort was in danger. What's changed?"
He was right. Harry's initial reaction was to run, but Dan was right; they were stronger together.
"We can go to Grimmauld place tomorrow, but Remus has to change the Fidelius Charm first. As long as he doesn't give it to me, you will all be safe."
Dan wasn't sure he fully understood but nodded anyway.
"And tonight?" Dan asked.
Harry thought about that. The vision in the ball showed that he, Hermione, and Ron were together when it happened. Harry tried to search his mind for an answer.
"We're okay tonight. Probably until Hogwarts opens. I still think he means to make his stand there."
"Harry, you need to sleep," Dan told him.
"I know. But I'm not sure I can. It's like I have my own personal nightmare running in my head."
"Emma can give you something to help if you like."
Harry grinned. "A sleeping draught?"
Dan was surprised to hear a soft laugh escape his lips. "Not quite, but something that works the same way. Em has probably already given one to Hermione."
"Good," Harry said. Everyone needed to sleep this night.
"Can I get you anything?" Dan asked.
Harry shook his head and Dan left him alone. Harry sighed deeply and ran a hand through his perpetually messy hair and Emma returned.
"Your turn," she told him and led him towards Hermione's room. Hermione tried to smile but she couldn't keep her eyes open.
"Let me get changed," he told Emma and she nodded.
"Do you need - -?"
"No, Dan already mentioned it. I'll see how I go."
"All right, but if you need me - - ."
"Thanks. I promise I'll come see you if there is anything I need."
Emma smiled and left, leaving just Hermione and Harry. He trudged across the hall to his room and sat on the bed. It seemed to take an eternity for Harry to change and put his pyjamas on. Just removing his shoes took more energy than he thought he had. Finally, ten minutes later he walked back and found Hermione already asleep.
He stood unsteadily and watched her breathe; her eyes were still puffy and her nose was red. Harry felt terrible for having put her through what must have been an ordeal waiting for him. Her brown bushy hair was all about the pillows and she lay sprawled out in the very centre of the bed.
Deciding Hermione needed to sleep more than he needed anything in return, Harry returned to his room. Turning off the light he lay down on the bed, knowing he wouldn't sleep. He remained like that for a few hours: not sleeping, not moving, and trying not to remember. There was no warning when his door opened and an almost zombie-like Hermione walked in, her eyes hardly open at all. Harry sat up and she gently took his hand before leading him back to her room. They lay down together and she nestled into Harry's arms before drifting off again.
Harry was asleep a minute later.
***
The lovemaking had been intense. Unbridled passion and lust combined as one and the bodies thrashed against each other furiously. That had been the first time. The second time was slower and more controlled, and as a result had lasted longer. Again she felt his entire body spasm as he climaxed again, accompanied by a strangled animal sound.
The third time was slower still and far more tender. His lips and tongue had travelled the entire path from her lips to her thighs and back. And back again. He had gently cupped one breast as he began to move into her again and she arched her back, giving him more room to move.
Taking the hint, he increased his length of motion, his back and brow as wet as if he had just stepped out of the shower. Rainbow patterns of colour rippled through her hair like wind through a field of corn. His breathing was forced; he had expended all his usual reserves of stamina, but still he moved into her. Once more she spasmed as her hands squeezed against his shoulders and she arched again. He had nothing left to give.
"Remus!" she moaned. "Oh my God!"
Remus had tried to say something but his chest was heaving; he was struggling to draw breath.
"Oh my God!" she said again, as the fingers of their hands entwined. "Oh, oh, oh!"
Spent and exhausted, Remus rolled to her side and squeezed her into his chest. He planted a deep kiss upon her. The tingles and sensations Tonks was feeling from her own body had taken away all reason.
"You're going to kill me," he said and laughed. "I'm not a young man anymore."
"Young?" Tonks replied. "You have more energy than someone half your age. If you keep going like that, you're going to kill me!"
"If I keep going like that I won't be able to walk tomorrow," Remus replied, laughing again.
"It IS tomorrow," she reminded him, nestling into his arms.
"We probably should sleep," he told her.
"Probably. Otherwise you won't have any strength to do that to me again in the morning," Tonks said.
He looked at her to see if she was joking. Tonks had her eyes closed and was beaming. Her body was still sending signals of ecstasy throughout. She wasn't joking.
"And before you say anything," she said, "if I hear one word of protest, I won't let you marry me."
He looked at her again; she had opened her eyes and he saw that they dazzled with delight. Her breasts were in contact against his chest and each small movement from Tonks' body sent ripples of delight through his own.
"You aren't even going to let me ask you properly?" he asked.
She shook her head. "I've waited too long as it is. When were you going to get around to asking me anyway?"
"AS it turns out," Remus said with a wry grin, "I was taking you out to dinner later tonight."
Tonks squealed as if the news had come as a complete surprise. "Yes!" she said.
"I haven't asked yet - -" he started to protest, but was cut off by her kiss.
Many minutes later they broke apart, both still panting for air. "You know what would make this moment really special?" Tonks asked.
Remus knew immediately what she had in mind. "No, no, no! You ARE going to kill me at this rate."
"What are you complaining about?" she asked. "You'll be the happiest corpse anyone's ever seen. And I promise when I get finished with you they will NEVER get the smile off your face."
They lay together silently as each felt their heart rates returning to normal. Their fingers were still entwined and their bodies remained in contact with each other.
"I suppose this means I have to give you your own underwear drawer," Tonks said.
"Hmmm, I've been thinking about that. As nice as this place is, it isn't really big enough for both of us," Remus told her.
"What do you mean not big enough? It's got a bed and a bath. What more do you need?" she asked playfully. Tonks knew Remus was right and that they couldn't both stay here once they were married.
"What more do I need? How about a shower that's big enough for two." Remus grinned at her, knowing his words would get the reaction he sought.
"You are SO bad, you know?" Tonks laughed. "I'm sure you're going to be a bad influence on me."
"It's the other way around and you well know it, Tonks. You're the very worst influence and the very best thing that has ever happened to me." He hugged her closer and she responded. "I love you and want to marry you."
"You win," she said simply and started to feel that drowsy feeling come over her.
"So where are we going to live?" she asked.
"Hmmm, before we decide anything, I have to choose a best man."
"Harry will say yes," Tonks told him.
"Yes to being best man or yes to letting us stay there?" Remus asked.
"Both!" Tonks said, and then started to drift off to sleep. Remus, still holding her close smiled, knowing she was right on both counts. He closed his eyes and also felt sleep starting to take him.
***
She woke slowly, still groggy and immediately reached out but found he was gone. Eyes still closed, she smiled and asked herself how he was able to do that. Hermione knew she was ordinarily a light sleeper, but somehow Harry was able to get away from her without waking her up. She couldn't hear or smell him; she obviously couldn't see him because she hadn't opened her eyes
But she could FEEL him. She sensed Harry was watching her. But if he wasn't in bed...
Hermione turned her head towards her desk, and the chair that would be before it. She opened her eyes slowly and saw Harry sitting there, watching her.
"Hey," she said to him.
Harry gave her a weak smile. She wondered how long he had been sitting there.
"How are you feeling?" he asked her.
"Better than you, I suppose," Hermione replied. "How much sleep did you get?"
"Enough."
Hermione shook her head. "Not enough. Come back here." She opened her arms and for the briefest instant, Harry thought he was going to remain where he was. Right now he had no idea what he thought, about anything. But he knew one thing.
Harry spanned the meters between them with a single, large, fast step and threw himself onto her body. The speed Harry moved startled her; he obviously needed her.
"What were you doing sitting over there anyway? Scared of Dad catching us?" she asked mischievously.
"He's gone already. They both have."
Hermione wasn't expecting that answer and moved her head around to gauge how much light was streaming through the window. "What time is it?"
"Nine," Harry replied. Hermione knew she was tired and still felt drained from events of last evening but it was rare indeed for her to sleep in so late.
"How are YOU feeling, Harry?" she whispered.
"Empty! Empty and afraid. But not alone."
She smiled at his answer and kissed him.
Harry went back to hugging her and Hermione ran a hand through his messy hair. Neither spoke for a while and Hermione sensed again that he needed to tell her something.
"'Mione?"
Her face changed into the widest smile Harry had ever seen, her eyes dancing with delight. "Hey!" she told him. "That's the first time you've called me anything other than my name."
"Is it okay?" he asked, slightly worried he had overstepped some important boundary.
She ran the nickname through her mind, wondering if she liked it. She decided she didn't; she LOVED it. "More than okay, Harry. You can call me that anytime; but ONLY you."
Harry fell silent again for another minute.
"Didn't Ron call you `Herm' or `Hermy' or something once?"
"Once!" she replied.
Pulling his head back to look at her he asked, "Why only once?"
"Because I gave him a look," Hermione replied laughing.
"What look?"
Hermione threw an `I'm-not-impressed' look at Harry and he playfully started to pull back.
"And if I ever call you `Herm'?"
"You'll get the same look."
"But if I call you `Mione?"
She gave him that brilliant smile again and he returned it with one of his own. He hugged her again and she responded. "What were you going to ask me, Harry?"
He paused, considering what he had to say. "Don't let me pull away again `Mione. I'd hate myself if I did that."
She moved her head so as to look into his eyes. "I will NEVER let you pull away again, Harry. You need me. You need all your friends and I know full well we all need you."
Harry was going to say something but his bottom lip trembled and quivered. He started to cry and she drew him into her again.
She held him for a long time and he cried and cried. Hermione hoped she was helping as her mother had helped her last night.
"What is it?" she asked him, but Harry couldn't respond. He could only cry, and hold her. And so she held him.
After a very long time Harry had regained some composure and tried to give her a smile. It was barely half a smile but Hermione could see he was trying to get back to her.
"Are you up to telling me what happened?" she asked.
Harry considered the question. "I'll have to go over it again for Ron and Ginny, won't I?"
"If it's too hard to go through twice, I can tell them what you tell me."
"Thanks, but they'll ask something I won't have thought to tell you. I know I'd rather not go through it even once again but I also know you'll insist."
"No one will insist, Harry. I can see how painful it must have been already. No one likes to have to relive that sort of thing."
"But it's important that you know. You'll make sense of it."
Hermione had an idea that she thought might save him some pain. "What about if we use the Pensieve again?"
Harry thought about that, and could see some obvious advantages.
"You won't even have to watch it again, Harry," she told him.
"I don't need to. I've played it through in my mind a hundred times since. I think I've committed every word to memory. I could probably quote them all while you watch."
"Just think about it first."
She sought his hand and was going to wrap her fingers around his but she could feel his hand was shaking. Hermione drew the covers back and saw his whole body was shaking.
"What DID he do to you?"
"Any damn thing he wanted," Harry said. "He was toying with me the whole time. He had me thinking - - that - - ."
Hermione slowly turned to him; her voice was now almost a whisper.
"Thinking what?"
Harry shook his head. He couldn't tell her and lowered his head to the pillow.
"Don't go there, Harry!"
"Where?" he asked weakly.
"Wherever it is in your mind you go when you get like this. You told me not to let you pull away, but you have to help."
He agreed; he didn't want to go back there but could feel his mind returning on its own accord.
"I told you I was high maintenance. You should have listened to me `Mione."
"And I told you that you weren't, that you are adorable."
She kissed him and he let himself give into her. He broke the kiss and sighed. "So Mum and Dad have left?" she asked.
He nodded. "Your dad said he had to get back to the office and your mother said something about a meeting. She doesn't expect to get back `till late."
"So," Hermione said, leading to something. "That means it's just you and me."
"I guess," Harry replied, not seeing where the conversation was going. "You, me, Crookshanks, and Hedwig."
Hermione smiled. "But right now, right here, it's just you and me."
Harry looked at her, finally understanding.
"I mean," she continued, "ANYTHING could happen."
Harry's eyebrows raised and Hermione giggled until she saw his mood go dark again.
"What? Would it be so bad?"
"No. But there is one other person here we are forgetting about."
"Who?"
"Him. He's here, somewhere. Either him or one of his Death Eaters. `Mione, he knows every bloody thing we've said to each other. He may even be listening to us right now."
She thought about what Harry had said as she tried to read his expression.
"Remember when we were talking about the Horcruxes?" he asked; she nodded.
"He quoted it back to me. He said there were seven and then he showed them to me." This puzzled Hermione. The Horcruxes were so important Slughorn had even managed to modify his memory to keep the knowledge of them from anyone else.
"Why?" she asked.
Harry started to tell her but could feel his eyes starting to fill again. "He's going to destroy them so he can make new ones."
Hermione's eyes opened wide; she knew full well they couldn't stop Riddle for good unless there were NO Horcruxes. Even just one could bring him back again. "More?"
"Thousands," Harry was crying again and shaking as she held him. "He's going to make thousands of them. It's already too late."
***
She picked up her mother's note from the kitchen table. Harry had finished his shower and she had told him she would make breakfast when he was dressed.
Hermione, sorry I couldn't stay for you, but I'm guessing you'll both be all right while you have each other.
Hermione smiled and wondered what she would have done if things had been slightly different an hour ago.
"I mean ANYTHING could happen."
What would she have done if Harry had reacted differently? She knew what she would have done: she wouldn't have stopped him. There! She had admitted it to herself and smiled even more. What would Tonks say if she knew what Hermione was thinking? Hermione knew the answer to that too. Tonks would say `You go girl!' or something very like it. And Ginny? Quite probably she'd give the same answer.
"I mean ANYTHING could happen."
Hermione's smile had now turned into a laugh.
"Would it be so bad?"
Not bad at all, she thought. Hermione mentally banished those thoughts away.
I couldn't put the weekly staff meeting off for another week. Call me if you need me. If it's really important, tell my service to put you through wherever I am. Hell, if it's THAT important just Apparate here yourself.
Hermione giggled, thinking what a sight that would make.
Look after him for me. You two look so delightful together!
Again, Mum playing the matchmaker. "Thanks, Mum," Hermione said out loud to no one. "I can take it from here."
"Take what from here?" Harry asked, walking in.
"Nothing," she quickly replied, slightly startled.
"Who are you talking to?" Harry asked, looking around.
"Nobody."
Harry grinned, that grin was back. Why did it take so long for her to realise that she loved that grin, as well as the boy behind it. She squeezed up next to him and let him hug her.
***
It was just as bad as Harry thought it was going to be, seeing it again, though he tried not to let it show. Harry knew he wasn't fooling Hermione; she had seen the state he was in last night.
He probably wasn't fooling Ron either, and Ginny knew him better than he knew her. He managed to laugh a few times at some of Ron's bad jokes but his face gave him away when Voldemort started tormenting him. The four of them stood in the Pensieve together; Hermione never let go of Harry's hand for a moment. Ron had tried to kick Snape's butt, of course his foot sailed through clear air.
Hermione could see why Harry was so upset earlier that morning but before she could act, another thought jumped into her mind.
"Would it be so bad?"
Stop that, she told herself. Just put the hormones aside for a moment.
Hermione smiled and squeezed his hand. She was happy to feel he that he squeezed back.
"He didn't think you were really going to duel against him there and then, did he?" Ginny asked.
"That's the thing about murdering, psychotic bastards," Ron replied for Harry. "They don't have the same level of sanity we do."
"I'm sure he hoped I would, Ginny," Harry said. "Maybe his sick, twisted mind thought the threat of calling me a coward would egg me on. I promised `Mione I'd come back and I wasn't going to let him stop me." For a while though I never thought I'd see her again.
Hermione smiled sweetly, at both his name for her as well as the sentiments.
"Mion - -." Ron started to say and was immediately cut off by the look. Hermione glared at him until it was clear he wouldn't make that mistake again while Ginny laughed.
Looking toward the chair in the distance, Ginny tried to see what the items were.
"Those are the Horcruxes?" she asked.
Harry nodded, he was too far away to make them out clearly. And for some reason, his recently enhanced eyesight had deserted him.
"Looks like a wand, probably Ravenclaw's," Hermione stated. "And the cup will be the one that belonged to Helga Hufflepuff."
Harry nodded again.
"The book?" Ron asked. "Riddle's diary?"
"No," Harry said. "That one is intact. I destroyed the diary."
"What is that on the seat?" Ginny asked, squinting. "It looks metallic."
"It looks a bit like a shield," Ron said. "Maybe Godric Gryffindor had a shield to go with the sword."
"That makes sense, Ron, good thinking," Hermione said and was rewarded with his grateful smile.
"So where does that leave us?" Ginny asked.
Harry started to count, using his fingers. "Ring and diary both destroyed, that's two; cup - three; the book - four; shield - five; wand - six."
"Gee, Harry, I wish you had been closer so we could see better," Ginny said.
"That's only six," Hermione said. "Where's the seventh?"
The four sets of eyes tried to see the missing object until Harry let out a soft sound.
"Shit!" he said, realising something.
Hermione snapped her head at Harry's cry and watched his face looking for what it was he had thought of, finding it herself. "Oh!" she said. "You don't - - ?"
"Shhh!" Harry said, his finger to his lips. He shook his head frantically hoping Hermione didn't say another word.
"Oh!" Ginny said as well. She knew as well. Leaving just - -
"You don't think - - ?" Ron started.
"Shhh!" Harry, Hermione, and Ginny said as one. "Not here!" Harry ordered.
The expression on Ron's face indicated he knew what was going on. "So are we done here?" he asked.
"I smell it. The instant he arrived I could smell it. I smell HER!"
"Yeah and you smell like old socks!" Hermione said to the Pensieve Fenrir Greyback. "You don't scare me!"
"We're done," Harry said and the four found themselves back in Ron's room at the Burrow. Gabrielle was standing by the Pensieve with a sullen look.
"How do you feel?" Hermione asked him, still holding his hand.
Harry let out a sigh of relief to be out of there again. "Good, now that I'm out of there. Now remember, we can't say ANYTHING. Not here, not now." He was addressing the three of them and there was no misunderstanding.
"Am I allowed to agree with Hermione?" Ron asked "He DID smell like old socks."
Ginny and Hermione laughed together.
"Yes," Harry said relieved. "You can say that."
"He DID - - ." Hermione hit Ron and now even Harry laughed.
"I wished you would let me zee," Gabrielle said to the four.
"Not a chance!" Ron said. "It's bad enough you know what you already know. If Mum found out we let you in there she'd kill me."
"Ron's right," Hermione told her. "Fleur would never forgive us if something happened to you."
"But eet eez so boring."
"Sorry, Gabby," Harry said with a smile. "I'll do anything else for you but there is no way I'm letting you see that." Harry indicated the Pensieve with the thumb of his right hand. He looked back to see Hermione had already removed the silver strand of the memory and placed it back into the glass phial. She handed it to Harry who placed it in a pocket. "But maybe if you're really good we'll show you Buckbeak later."
This seemed to have the desired effect on the child and she no longer looked sad.
"What next?" Ron asked. The question was directed to Harry but he was not listening. He had a vacant look and his eyes appeared to be looking at his shoes. Ginny and Hermione knew what was coming next and even Ron laughed.
Harry took a step toward the door, then another and another. When he got to the open door he spun around on his heels and started walking back to his starting position. Once there he spun around again and proceeded to repeat the journey over and over.
"Zis iz ze pacing?" Gabrielle asked.
"How do you know about that?" Ron wanted to know.
"Ginny and `ermooney tells me. `ow long will `arry be pacing?"
"It's hard to say, Gabby," Ginny replied. "Days - ."
"Weeks - ," Hermione added.
"Years," Ron finished.
"Harry," Hermione said but he seemed not to recognise she had spoken at all.
"Come on," Ginny said, taking Gabrielle's hand. "He's no good to us while he's doing that. I'm hungry."
Ginny, Gabrielle and Ron walked out of the room. Hermione remained where she was, watching Harry pace. After he had made two more trips back and forth, Ginny's head popped back around the open door.
"Come on `Mione!" she said, placing all the emphasis on the last syllable. Ginny's eyes dazzled at the use of Harry's nickname for her. "He's gone even from you when he does that."
Hermione grudgingly agreed and walked with Ginny to the kitchen.
"Where's Harry?" Molly asked. She had just walked into the kitchen and saw everyone but him siting at the table.
Ron made walking gestures with his fingers. His fingers walked a few steps forward and then back again.
Molly smiled, understanding completely.
***
"Where's Harry?" Tonks looked around the Weasley kitchen and saw everyone but him.
"Pacing," Hermione said with her chin in her hand. Ron was eating and managed to get out a struggling noise that sounded like `my room' while Ginny pointed towards Ron's room up the hallway. To Gabrielle, Harry's pacing stopped being fun ages ago and even Hermione was bored.
Tonks made a step to go toward Harry but Remus stopped her with a gentle hand on her shoulder.
Remus walked up the hallway and put his head around the corner of Ron's open doorway.
"Does Harry know about you two getting married?" Ginny asked Tonks.
"How could he?" Tonks replied. "I only talked Remus into it last night."
Ginny giggled, remembering something Tonks had said the night before. "So THAT was the `after'?"
Tonks picked up her meaning straight away and giggled back. "That was the `after' that came after the `before'."
"I don't want to hear about the `before'," Hermione said. She was still bored and slightly annoyed.
"I do," Ginny said, squealing.
Molly had an idea of what Tonks was talking about, while Ron didn't have a clue. But then he was ONLY a boy after all.
Tonks thought about what Ginny was asking. Ordinarily she would never confide something so personal to someone other than Remus. But then she knew she would enjoy talking to Ginny about it. "Okay."
Ginny practically ran up the hall taking Tonks' hand and called behind her.
"Hermione?"
"You go, Ginny. I'm not interested."
"Yes, you are," Tonks said with a wink. "You're just trying to hide from it."
"Would it be so bad?"
"I am not!" she said firmly.
***
Remus watched Harry pace back and forth before speaking.
"Harry?"
Harry didn't appear to have heard. Usually when he was like this nothing less than a bludger would get his attention.
"HARRY!" Remus said loudly and Harry stopped, looking up.
"I'm sorry, Harry, was I too noisy for you?" Remus asked
Harry looked around, wondering what was going on. He looked confused.
"Something on your mind, Harry?"
Harry looked at Remus as if he had only just recognized him. "Remus?"
"Yes?" Remus asked.
Harry paused, trying to put his thought into words. "I can't talk here. It might not be safe."
Remus nodded. The girls had already briefed him on why they had to be careful what they said. Anyone could be listening.
"Shall we then?" he asked.
"Hermione and - - ."
"They can come too. Between you and me, we can - -."
"No, Remus. I'd feel better if you got us all there."
"Why?"
Harry shook his head. "Not safe!"
Remus shrugged, deciding not to argue. "Come on." He put his hand around Harry's shoulder and led him out to the kitchen.
As they entered the kitchen of the Burrow Remus looked around and found Tonks was missing.
"Where did she go?" Remus asked.
"Geeny's room," Gabrielle told him.
"I'll get her," Ron said. He put down his knife and fork and walked up the hall.
"Hi, stranger," Hermione said to Harry with the smallest smile. "What did you come up with?"
"Not a lot," he confessed.
"Just another worn carpet?" she asked sarcastically.
"Am I in trouble?" he asked.
Remus laughed and tried to spare Harry any ill will. "Harry, guys are always in trouble. We are always doing the wrong thing, aren't we, Molly?"
"Always! Arthur was always saying or doing something stupid when we were courting," Mrs. Weasley said.
"You wouldn't, Remus," Hermione said.
"Wouldn't what?"
"Pull away. If you got something in your head that you couldn't get out, you would share it with Tonks. You wouldn't go into your cave. You would both work it out together." Hermione wasn't slightly cross any more; she was well into mad and turning the corner into furious.
"Is THAT what you think I was doing?" Harry asked her.
"Well, weren't you?" she scowled at him.
"I was thinking!" he told her, scowling back.
"It's called being isolated and withdrawn!"
Harry had nothing to come back with. He smiled but saw Hermione was still scowling at him.
`Mio- " Harry started but her look shut him down. Hermione turned her head, refusing to look back.
By this time, Ron had reached Ginny's room and placed his hand on the doorknob. Without warning he was flung across the hall, his head hit the wall behind him hard. Stunned, Ron sat up holding his head while the door opened. Ginny's smiling face appeared from behind the door.
"What the - - ?" Ron started but Tonks' head joined Ginny's
"I knew it would be you," Ginny said to her brother.
"That's a hell of a privacy charm, Ginny," Tonks said. "Wotcher, Ron, what are you doing sitting down there?"
"What are you two gossiping about, Tonks?" Remus asked.
Tonks winked at him; he had a very good idea. "So we're off then?" she asked.
Remus nodded. "Let's go."
"Where are you off to?" Hermione asked.
"Aren't you coming?" Remus asked. She looked puzzled and turned to Harry for explanation.
"We're going somewhere where we can talk without being overheard."
"Can we -?" Ron started.
"I hope so," Harry replied, looking at his mother.
"Of course, dear. But there and nowhere else. I mean it!"
Hermione stood and walked to Harry. "Remus has to do it," he told her.
"But you - - ."
"I know, but I'm not happy to. What if he is - - ?" Harry touched his forehead, indicating he was afraid someone was in his mind.
"Harry," Remus told him. "That's not how it works."
"I don't care, Remus. Just this once, please? You'll have to take us all."
"For heaven's sake!" Hermione said.
"I'll have to make three trips," he told them.
Sighing, Remus put an arm around Harry and the other around Tonks. CRACK! and they disappeared.
"What was that all about?" Ron asked.
"He's afraid of giving away the secret. He doesn't want to be the Secret Keeper anymore. After Dumbledore died, Remus had to cast another Fidelius charm and he shared the secret between him and Harry."
"I didn't know you could do that," Ron said.
"That's the advantage of being Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, I guess," Hermione said.
"Ex - Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. He was the best we had."
"By a long way. Maybe McGonagall will give him his job back," Ginny suggested.
"Not a chance," Ron decided. "Not if he is still a werewolf."
"Ron's right, dear," Molly said. "The Board of Governors wouldn't allow it."
"But that is insane! It's Voldemort we need to be concerned about, not Remus," Ginny said.
Remus appeared where he had been with another CRACK!
"Ready to go?" he asked them and they went to his side. "I'll bring them back later tonight."
Remus put one arm around Ron and the other around Ginny. He smiled at Molly.
CRACK!
Hermione waited patiently for Remus to return. The silence between Molly and Hermione was staring to get awkward.
"He'll be all right, Hermione."
"When? He asked me not to let him pull away and yet he goes and does just that first chance he gets."
"Give him time, Hermione. He may be only a boy but he has a good heart. Besides, I think he knows just how much rests on his shoulders."
Hermione started to say something but was interrupted by -
CRACK!
"Bye, Molly."
"Bye, Remus. Hermione, I have plenty of sleeping draught left if you need any."
"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley. If he doesn't smarten up, I might take you up on that."
CRACK!
***
Remus and Hermione Apparated into the entrance hall of Grimmauld Place. Only Ginny was waiting to welcome them.
Hermione looked confused and saw Harry wasn't there. "Where's Harry?"
"He said something about finding Dobby and ran off," Ginny told her.
"This IS still Harry's house isn't it?"
Remus nodded. "Of course it is, why?"
"Oh nothing. I just thought it might be polite to welcome his visitors, that's all." Hermione was now very cross and looked around the hall. The carpet looked to be new, and any signs of dust and grime she had seen in her previous visits were gone. The place looked like it had been cleaned by an army of house elves; it looked fantastic.
As if reading her mind Remus explained. "Dobby and Winky have done a real job on the place. Harry told them to do whatever they needed to spruce up the place, hence the new carpet. A couple of the walls have been painted too and the wallpaper has been replaced."
"Speaking of paint..." Hermione looked over at the portrait of Sirius's mother. Her mouth was opening and closing as if she was shrieking but Hermione could only hear soft music as if a radio was nearby.
"Harry's idea," Remus told them. "We couldn't remove the picture or get her to shut up. So instead he changed her voice to sound like music. It's really ingenious when you think about it."
"Hmmmph!"
"Where's Kreacher?" Ginny asked.
"No idea," Remus answered. "Nobody including the House elves have seen him for months."
"He couldn't have run away," Hermione told them.
"No, but he may have crawled away and died somewhere."
"That's terrible," Hermione said.
"Well, Hermione, we'll either find him or we won't. This house can be funny like that. Sirius told me once he had to be careful if he was doing homework here in the holidays because it would always disappear as soon as he took his eyes of it but would only reappear after it was too late to hand it in."
"Hermione, Ginny! You HAVE to see this!" Ron's head could be seen hanging over the railing of the stairs overhead. He was up on the second floor and had a huge grin.
"Is Harry there with you?" Hermione asked.
"Yep!"
"Then tell him whatever it is I'll see it later." Hermione walked ahead towards the kitchen and muttered under her breath, "If at all."
The stairs rang with the sound of footsteps as someone came bounding down them. Harry and his grin could be seen at the foot of the stairs as Hermione walked into the kitchen
"Hey!" Harry said, and his face dropped with disappointment as she walked right by him.
Tonks was putting the kettle down after just having made six cups of tea.
"Sugar, Hermione?"
"Please."
"Hermione?" Harry asked. "Am I in trouble?"
"Hmm, good question, Harry. Let me pace around for a few hours and I'll get back to you with an answer."
Harry laughed and Hermione was surprised to find she couldn't suppress her own wry grin.
"You could get all moody and kick things too," Harry suggested.
"Like what?" Hermione asked. Her temper had gone almost as soon as she saw his grin. He had that effect on her and she knew it.
"My trunk. I thought I broke my foot once."
Hermione laughed and put her arms around his neck, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"You can do better than that Hermione," Tonks told her wickedly.
"I know," Hermione responded. "So does Harry. But right now I'm still annoyed at him so he can think himself lucky to get that."
Ron ran into the kitchen "Where is everyone? Hermione you HAVE to see this!"
Ginny was next in, and ran into Ron who was bustled into Harry.
"Hermione - - ."
"I've heard! I simply HAVE to see it."
Hermione looked over to Tonks who had placed the last mug of tea on the table. "Don't look at me, I don't live here." As soon as the words were out of her lips Tonks let loose a laugh and looked to Remus. Remus responded by giving a secret wink.
Remus placed his hand on Harry's shoulder and turned him to face him. "Harry. I wonder if I could ask a huge favour."
"Of course you can!" Harry replied with a smile and he looked over to Tonks. "You both can."
Remus gave Tonks an inquiring look but she shook her head. "Not me. I didn't say a word." Remus looked at the others but they clearly had no idea what they were talking about; not even Hermione.
"Remus, Tonks told me how small her apartment was and there is plenty of room here. Stay for as long as you like. Both of you."
"Thank you Harry. That is very nice of you. But what about you?"
"When school goes back I guess I'll be there most of the time. I can come back here for the holidays."
Remus nodded and Hermione gave Harry a curious look.
"What about until then, Harry?" she asked.
Harry blushed and lowered his eyes avoiding her gaze and Hermione laughed. "Here's not nearly as much fun as your place, Hermione," he told her.
"Really?" Ron interjected. "Does Hermione have a - - ."
"Don't spoil it!" Ginny said. "Hermione has to see for herself."
Hermione sat and lifted her mug of tea to her lips, drinking slowly. She eyed her three friends and saw Ron was bursting for her to see whatever it was, Ginny was bemused by Hermione's reaction, and Harry simply grinned. That grin! Hermione thought she could get lost within it.
Remus and Tonks sat, followed by Harry and Ginny, all taking their tea.
Ron simply stood their, nervously twitching.
"He's a bit like an excited puppy isn't he?" Hermione said to Ginny.
"Yeah, we're still hoping he can be toilet trained." Ginny replied.
Ron smiled, seeing Hermione was not going to be in a hurry to see whatever it was that got him so worked up. He picked up his tea and tried to scoff too much.
"Hot, hot, hot!" Ron practically dropped the mug of tea back to the table and began jumping again.
"Hasn't your mother ever taught you how to drink hot tea?" Remus asked with a laugh.
***
"Eyes closed?" Harry asked.
"YES! They're closed for the third time!" Hermione stood with eyes closed. She had let Harry lead her from the stairs and she stood before something, not knowing what.
"Open!" Harry commanded.
Hermione opened her eyes slowly, wondering what it was that had everyone excited. She saw a wall. A wall; just a blank wall.
"It's a wall. I've seen one of these before, you know."
"You've seen one like this too," Harry replied. Hermione watched as he closed his eyes, concentrating. He then walked around in a small circle three times.
"Harry! You HAVEN'T? It ISN'T?!"
A door appeared where the blank wall was a moment ago. "It is and I did. Or rather Dobby and Winky did."
"Harry has his own Room of Requirement!" Ron said as if Hermione hadn't worked it out by now.
"Not quite, Ron. It's limited to only being able to perform about a half dozen functions."
"Like the D.A. room. Harry had Dobby bring it here from Hogwarts!"
"Not just Dobby," Dobby said standing behind them.
"Winky helped too," Winky added, standing at Dobby's side.
"Dobby!" Harry cried. "You've done an amazing job. The place looks amazing, and you too Winky. I can't thank you both enough!"
"So you have TWO personal house-elves Harry?" Ginny asked
Harry shook his head. "I don't even have one. Dobby and Winky are my friends and have only agreed to help me until Hogwarts re-opens." He looked at the house elves and lowered his head until he was almost at their height. "You two have done such a fantastic job I'm going to have to pay you double what I promised."
"Dobby doesn't needs - - ." Dobby was cut off by Winky's elbow being poked into his ribs; assuming house elves HAD ribs.
"Thank you, Master Harry sir!" Dobby replied, to Winky's satisfaction. Dobby and Winky then disappeared.
Harry opened the door and pointed within. "This way, M'Lady!" he bowed and Hermione giggled as she walked in.
Hermione walked in to see rows and rows of - -
"Books?!" Ron said disgustingly. "What happened to the D.A. Room?"
"I'll show her that in a minute. I wanted Hermione to see this first."
Hermione walked between the rows of books, a curious expression on her face. "You know, Harry, these seem familiar."
"They should be. These are most of the books at the library at Hogwarts. I got Madam Pince to give me a list. Here you'll have your own private library. I did this for you."
Hermione gave him a beaming smile "Harry, you're amazing! THIS is amazing." She hugged his neck and kissed his cheek.
"You haven't seen the Restricted Section yet!" he told her. She gave him another questioning gaze. "Professor McGonagall said it would be okay. I told her it was for you."
Hermione's smile grew even wider, and her eyes sparkled. She kissed Harry deeply and he held her, returning the kiss. Tonks and Ginny exchanged looks while Ron didn't see; he was looking at the - -
"Books! Who cares about them? Show us the D.A. again!"
"Go on," Hermione said. "Show him again."
They walked out and closed the door; it disappeared immediately.
"Go on, Ron," Harry told him. "You do it."
Ron closed his eyes and walked quickly around three times. He opened his eyes to see the door hadn't returned and Ginny giggled.
"Try it again, slower, and concentrate."
Ron closed his eyes and tried again. This time when he opened his eyes the door reappeared. Without waiting for the others he ran in.
"He still doesn't know about `Ladies First' I see," Harry said. Hermione and Ginny walked in, followed by Tonks and Remus. Harry walked in last.
The room looked spacious with a few bookshelves and cushions scattered around. "More bloody books!" Ron said to himself and Hermione giggled. Down the centre of the room was a duelling strip.
"Does the room have the same safety precautions?" Hermione asked.
"It's the same room. McGonagall had to remove the Room from Hogwarts seeing what happened last time, and she allowed Dobby and Winky to bring some of the functions here.
"You're so lucky, Harry," Ron said. "Care to give it a try?"
"Not really," Harry replied. His mood changed immediately; Hermione could sense it before she saw his expression.
"You go if you like."
"Hermione?" Ron asked. She shook her head. "Ginny?"
Ginny thought about it before smiling. "Okay. Are you sure Ron isn't going to be seriously hurt?" she asked.
"I'm sure. All he'll have is some pain and bruises," Harry said.
"Yeah right!" Ron objected. "Ginny's the one who will be limping out of here." Harry smiled and turned to the door. Remus and Hermione joined him.
"I'm going to stay and watch," Tonks said.
Outside of the room, Remus placed an arm around Harry. "Now what couldn't you say at the Burrow that you can say here?"
"Tons! But first I want you to remove the Fidelius Charm from me." Harry touched his forehead, needlessly reminding Remus where the charm resided. "Obliviate me or something to get it out. Nobody is safe here until it's gone."
Hermione tried to say something but Remus cut her off.
"Hold on, hold on! Nobody is being Obliviated. Now start from the beginning."
"Voldemort could read my mind, read my thoughts. I'm afraid he'll find this place."
"He can't. You know how it works. Only the Secret Keeper can reveal the location."
"I don't care, Remus. If you want to stay here you have to do it. How could I sleep knowing you weren't safe?"
"Think about this, Harry. If I change the charm, how are you going to be able to come and go? This IS your house you know."
Harry thought for a moment, but no longer.
"Hermione. Give it to Hermione. Make her the Secret Keeper. As long as it is okay with you, Hermione."
Hermione smiled, it would be fun to have her own personal library.
"Are you sure, Harry? It would mean you would need me to get you to and from here."
"I'm sure. I'm as sure as I have been of anything. As long as it's okay with you it's more than okay with me."
"Okay," Remus said. "Come this way and we'll get cracking straight away."
***
Harry sat at the kitchen table with a fresh cup of tea. He tried to suppress a laugh but really couldn't when Ginny walked in with a smile, while Ron limped in painfully.
"Don't look at me like that!" he told Harry. "She just got lucky!"
"Lucky I didn't kill you!" Ginny replied. "You should have seen it, Harry. He bounced off every wall. It was so much fun."
"This one is a real terror," Tonks said her hand on Ginny's shoulder. "If the safeties weren't on, Ron would be on his way to St. Mungo's by now.
"She cheated!" Ron tried to explain.
"Yeah right, Ron, whatever you say." Ginny looked around the kitchen. "Where's Hermione?"
"Right behind you," she said, standing at the door. Hermione and Remus walked in and sat at the table. Hermione sat beside Harry, kissing him on the cheek again.
"Does she look any different?" Harry asked Ron and Ginny.
"Er - no. Should she?"
Hermione nodded. "Remus changed the Fidelius charm. I'm the new Secret Keeper!"
Ron forgot his pain for an instant. "No way!"
"Yes way," Harry replied. "Hermione AND Remus share the secret. So, Ron, if you ever want to come and play, you have to be real nice to Hermione."
"I'm always nice," Ron said.
"Really? Remember when you thought Crookshanks ate Scabbers?"
"Yeah!" Hermione said with her arms crossed. "Thanks, Harry, I'd forgotten about that." Hermione looked at Ron and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Hey, I said I was sorry."
"As I recall you didn't!"
"Okay then, sorry!"
"Good!"
Tonks looked at Harry trying to read him "Why did you do it, Harry? This is your house."
"I wanted to make sure Voldemort can't get in. He's in my mind sometimes. I was just worried that you would all get hurt or worse."
"Harry - - ," Tonks started.
"I told him," Remus finished.
***
Tonks walked down the stairs, looking lovely. Hermione and Ginny followed with a big smile. As they saw Remus's reaction, the girls all giggled.
"That means he likes it," Ginny said.
"Tonks! You look gorgeous!" Harry said.
"Hey, I'm supposed to say that first!" Remus half protested. "Tonks, you look gorgeous."
Tonks now giggled. "Thank you. You look quite smart yourself. Are you ready to go?"
"I'm ready. We'll take Ginny and Ron home first and leave from there."
Ron started to protest but Remus wouldn't hear it. "I promised your mother." Looking to Harry he asked "Will you and Hermione be all right?"
Harry nodded. "Yep, we're going back to Hermione's for dinner and then back here later."
Ginny gave a look that was intended to mean she wanted to hear more.
"Don't look at me like that, Ginny. We're coming back so we can talk about things we can't talk about elsewhere. And that reminds me, be careful of anything you say. You just may have someone listening in."
Remus nodded. "Good advice. Be very careful from here on. Ready, dear?"
Ginny moved toward him and he placed an arm over Ron's shoulder.
CRACK!
Tonks alone was left with them.
"Coming back just to talk, eh?" she asked. Harry blushed and Hermione laughed.
"Sounds like a waste of an evening alone together if you ask me," she said again.
CRACK! Remus had appeared.
"Ready?"
She nodded. "Bye guys. Be good!"
CRACK!
Hermione and Harry were alone together; the silence was deafening. She went to him and put her arms around his neck. Harry kissed her and she returned it.
"Does EVERYONE have to play matchmaker around here?" Harry asked.
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