checkmate | remus lupin.

chapter three | 3.

November 8th, 1970

As the hours passed by, Hermione's nerves seemed to be getting the best of her. Her stomach was doing somersaults, the back of her neck was slick with sweat and she couldn't stop biting her bottom lip. The day was dragging by and it felt as though something was laughing at her.

After Dumbledore came to tell her the news, Hermione went back to her comfortable sized room. With a few flicks of her wand everything tidied itself; the comforter straightened out the wrinkles, the chairs pushed themselves back in and her parchment rolled themselves back up and flew into her beaded bag. Hermione dug out a fresh pair of undergarments and walked over to the small en-suite bathroom.

She turned the water on and stripped herself of clothing, knowing that her uniform would get washed by a house-elf during her shower. She quickly ran a brush through her hair and hopped in.

Hermione took her time in the shower, shampooing and conditioning her hair, and washing her body before getting out and drying. With a few pumps of lotion that the bathroom had stocked, she slathered it on, enjoying the nice shea and cocoa butter scent.

She walked over to the mirror, rubbing a circle to clear the steam, she brushed her hair once more and proceeded to brush her teeth. Being as her muggle parents were dentists, she took great care of her teeth, brushing them faithfully twice a day. She never once had a cavity or needed any kind of dental help, aside from the annual teeth cleaning.

She took a moment to refamiliarise herself with her body. Her hip bones stuck out, her legs were too long, her arms too skinny and she had barely any body fat. With a scowl she grabbed her fresh uniform and changed, grabbing her wand to charm her hair into two wet braids.

She made sure that she took her shower before her appointment, giving herself plenty of time so she wouldn't have to rush but also that once she was done, it would be time to meet up with Professor Dumbledore.

Without giving herself another look, Hermione slid her wand into her arm holster; charmed so it would magically alter itself to fit whatever arm it was attached to, and began her walk to the Headmasters office.

Within ten minutes, she was there giving the Griffin statue the password. She stepped on the moving staircase, her fingers twirling at the end of her hair as she waited. She could only pray to whatever deities were listening that Alphard Black decided to take her as his charge.

Hermione timed herself to arrive just before the meeting, leaving no time to spare for small talk with the Headmaster. She was too nervous to handle herself in a conversation. She truthfully didn't want to think about having to obliviate Mr. Black only to meet Augusta Longbottom and go through this all again.

She knocked on the door as soon as she arrived, stepping into the large office when she was granted permission to enter. She nodded at the old Headmaster, watching as he stood up from his desk, walking over to the fireplace. He grabbed the container of floo powder, holding it out to her. Hermione walked over and grabbed a handful, stepping aside to let Albus go through first. She took in a deep breath and rolled her neck, trying to release some of the stress that had built back up over the short walk.

"12 Grimmauld Place!" She called, stepping into the green, heatless flames.

In mere moments, she was standing behind her old Professor, looking up at Alphard Black's stern face. It held no amusement that she saw at the previous meeting. Hermione braced herself, feeling as though a weight had dropped in her stomach.

He was going to refuse.

It would be understandable, she guessed, but it still sucked. As Ron would say, 'bollocks!'