Braving the Past

Chapter 41: One More Night

Hermione peeled one of her bed curtains open to find that it was still dark. The sun hadn't even begun to rise yet. She rubbed her eyes and sighed. She knew sleep would be alluding her after the dream she'd had and the thoughts it provoked. With quiet movements, she crawled out of bed and tip-toed down to the common room. The fire had gone out, but its embers still glowed red and blue in the darkness. She sat down on the couch and stared into the faint light in contemplation.

It was silly of her to think she could keep Tom hidden while she stayed in the time she had grown to love so much. It wasn't realistic. And if what the time-turner was telling her was true, she had to get back to her time sooner rather than later.

Which meant Tom must come with her.

Merlin, when had this become so complicated? Hermione pulled her knees up to her chest and curled into a ball on the couch. How could she leave her family? A tear rolled down the side of her face at the thought of losing Remus, Sirius, all of them. They had become her home, her sanctuary and safety. She wiped the tear away with her sleeve.

The rest of the night was spent in her curled position. Her eyes had eventually become heavy, and she allowed them to droop closed just as the early orange dawn peeked into the common room. The next thing she knew, a gentle hand was on her shoulder to wake her up.

Hermione peeled her tired eyes open and saw Remus crouched down in front of the couch. She observed the red lines etched across his soft cheek and small nose. He was already dressed in his uniform, minus the robes. His tie hung loosely around his neck.

"Did I fall asleep?" she mumbled.

Remus chuckled. "It would appear so. Everything okay?"

Hermione nodded, then forced herself up and stretched her arms in the air.

"Oof, Hermione, you'd better save the wolfish hair for tonight," Sirius quipped from behind her. "Don't want to frighten any children."

Hermione made a face at him while Tom seemed to choke on air.

"Excuse me, did he just - ?" He angled his head toward Sirius with wide eyes.

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "They know, if that's what you mean."

"I see. So being a werewolf is no longer a terrible curse to keep secret, but something to share openly with anyone dull enough to listen, then, is it?"

"Tom, don't say that! Other students could be up any minute and hear you!" Hermione hissed.

Remus let out a low growl and stood up, his shoulders squared. "Don't you dare pretend to know what it's like to have this curse," he spat.

"What, and you do?" Tom retorted.

"Tom, stop!" Hermione said in a hard voice. She turned around and put a hand on Remus' forearm. "Remus, don't let him get to you."

He took a few calming breaths before plopping down on the couch next to her. "Why does he know about...this?" he asked, looking into her eyes.

Hermione shook her head with a sigh. "I didn't even know until I'd already begun to shift that first night. Tom saw it all. There was no way to keep it from him."

"Calm down, Lordy," Sirius said to a fuming Tom. "You're not the only one around here to encounter someone like Hermione."

"Enough with the names, already!" Tom demanded. "I will not be mocked by you imbeciles any longer."

"Bet ten knuts he'll blow up before the week is over," Remus said.

"That's hardly fair, Moony. He's blown up five times in the last twelve hours," Sirius commented.