A Dance Through Thyme (Harry Potter)

In Sicherheit

Chapter 22: Safe

"The exams are only days away – hours really, when you think about it!" Remus exclaimed to his best friends as they stood before him, hands on their hips, demanding a reason for Remus' absence during Hermione's move to Godric's Hollow.

Sirius rolled his eyes at his friend.

"Remus, in case it escaped your attention, James and I shall be joining you for the exams, and we are not currently in a state of panic."

It was Remus' turn to be disgruntled.

"I don't think I have ever seen either of you willingly crack open a book for study. Your current attitude is not too far removed from your usual self. You might not care about your final grades, but I am counting on them to be able to get a decent job to support myself with when we leave school."

James knew that Remus was alluding to the immense wealth that the Potter family had accumulated over the centuries, and how there was a lack of such resources in Remus' own family tree. It hurt James that deep down Remus was bothered by such matters; however, he also knew that this was not the only reason for his friend's current non-compliance.

"Remus, is it about Hermione? Did something happen between you two?"

The volume of his voice was immediately hushed, Remus looked away, and it was not due to the fourth years which had currently deposited themselves only a few feet away from the armchair Remus had positioned himself in, close to the now extinguished fire place of the Gryffindor common room.

A sudden change in demeanour only meant two things with Remus: trouble with Hermione, a full-moon was approaching. It was definitely not the latter. This had occurred the previous week. James decided that he would need to probe a little further, however, now was not the moment.

"Suit yourself," he said to Remus. "You know where we are if you change your mind. Personally, I thought that you would welcome approval from Dumbledore to get out of the grounds and get into town, but I guess I thought wrong."

He turned to walk out of the common room. Sirius followed suit, clapping his hand onto Remus' shoulder in sympathy, not really wanting to be the person to come between James and Remus.

It was several moments of Remus staring blankly out the window before he realised that his friends had left him on his own. They were going off the help Hermione move her belongings into a safe house in Godric's Hollow. According to James, Dumbledore had spent the best part of several weeks making sure that it would be completely impenetrable from the outside world, except for those who already knew it existed.

It did not need to be said that each of the Marauder's would be privy to the secret, and be able to visit Hermione at any time, and for this he was a little grateful. However, it upset him to no end that Hermione did not name him as secret keeper. He thought that Hermione trusted him. It Remus' mind it was either him or Dumbledore, but no. James had been made secret keeper in his place.

Remus thought that it was a rather bold move given that there was James' girlfriend Lily to consider as well. What would he tell her? Would she notice all the times that he would inevitably sneak out to see Hermione? Would she think the same infidelity which Remus initially suspected of the pair?

Remus did not think that Hermione was capable of such an act, but he no longer knew what to think. She still had not told him of the great secret which she had been keeping from him all this time.

Thoughts continued to swirl across Remus' mind, and he tried to snap his attention back to his study only to find that it was a complete waste of time altogether. There was no hope of getting any study done today, despite the close proximity of the NEWT exams.