The Wolf Who Loved Me

Chapter Ten: Love

Harry dragged Ron away from a cart of jellies and down the hall towards Hermione’s room. He had never seen a person, wizard or muggle, eat like Ron. Even Dudley’s piggish appetite couldn’t compare to Ron’s. He prayed that his friend maintained the metabolism to burn it all off or he would end up as big around as he was tall.


“I hate hospitals, Harry,” he whined.


“I’m not overly fond of them but Hermione is hurt and I want to make sure she is alright before we have to go back to the academy,” Harry said, readjusting his uniform coat.


“I can’t believe you got to go on that call and shot Remus, the most exciting thing I’ve done is get a kneazle out of a whomping willow that kicked my arse! Only to be clawed by the bloody creature for my troubles,” Ron groused.


“It wasn’t exactly a joy to walk in on a pair of fighting werewolves while my friend lay naked and bleeding out on the ground, Ron.” Harry didn’t take what Ron said as offensive, he knew that he was just as concerned for Hermione as he was; Ron just had a different way of reacting to stress than other people. If he didn’t talk directly about it, or made a joke about it then it didn’t hurt quite so much.


“I suppose…but you shot Remus!”


“I didn’t mean to, all I saw were two werewolves and an injured Hermione, I didn’t care who they were right then,” Harry shrugged. “Besides, I didn’t kill them.”


“Wonder where Lupin got off to? He wasn’t in his room and the nurses said they haven’t seen him,” he said as he followed Harry into Hermione’s room.


“Found him,” Harry said quietly as he stared at the couple in the hospital bed. They were curled around one another as much as their injuries would allow bathed in sunlight and sleeping soundly.


“Uh…did you know about this?” Ron asked, eyeing them as if he couldn’t quite get a grasp on what he was seeing.


“Noooo…though I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, she’s always been a bit sweet on him,” Harry said, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot.


“I thought she was always sweet on me?” Ron said, almost pouting.


“You were before Lupin,” Harry said. “He came later.”


“Do you think they’re…you know…” Ron waggled his brows and Harry had to fight his gag reflex. He didn’t like thinking of his friends as sexual beings; it was like imagining your parents shagging, wrong and sickening.


“None of your business, Weasley,” Remus said quietly from the bed, his eyes open and taking measure of the men in the doorway.


“We came to check on Mione,” Harry said, moving further into the room. “I wasn’t expecting to find you…here.”


“Are you going to be difficult about this, Harry?” Remus asked softly as he stared at the young man he loved as if he were his own son.


“Should I be?” Harry asked as he pulled a chair up to the bedside. “I mean…you haven’t done anything to her, have you? You haven’t hurt her or anything…right?


“No, I would never hurt her, but I am twice her age and well…she is your friend and she was my student and ….well…I am a werewolf,” he said. Harry smirked and shrugged his shoulders.


“My parents didn’t have a problem with it, neither did Sirius or Dumbledore so I don’t see why I should have any issue with it so long as you are careful with her,” Harry said. “If she’s happy, I’m happy.”


“Me too…though it is a bit weird,” Ron said around the spoon full of mixed fruit he had swiped from Hermione’s lunch tray.


“I am happy,” she said sleepily, looking up from where her head rested on Remus’s shoulder. “Very happy…stop stealing my lunch, Ron!”


“Oh…thought you were sleeping,” he said sheepishly. “You gonna finish it?”


“Not now,” she shook her head and sat up, groaning as her back protested. It still amazed her how quickly she could recover with magic as opposed to muggle medicine. “What are you boys doing here?”


“We have to get back and wanted to check up on you,” Harry said. “I still can’t believe that I ended up on that run last night.”


“I still can’t believe that you shot Remus,” Ron said around a mouth full of fruit.


“I’m never going to live it down am I? I go on my first mission and shoot one of my best friends,” Harry said, shaking his head.


“I forgive you, Harry,” Remus said chuckling. “Don’t worry over it.”


“I didn’t mean to,” Harry said, glancing at the clock on the wall. “Oh damn! We’ve got to get back….we can talk about why you two didn’t let us in on your secret on our next weekend leave.”


“Cant wait, but Hermione and I are going to go on holiday for a bit just as soon as we are recovered,” Remus said, rubbing her shoulder. “It may have to wait until closer to the holidays.”


“Alright…you know it’s weird to see you two together, right?” Harry laughed.


“Yeah, it’s going to take some time to get used to it,” Ron added as he shoved packets of crackers into his pocket.


“As long as everyone gets used to it I don’t care how long it takes you,” Hermione said smiling at Remus.


“I guess we will see you two later—Mione, call me if you need me,” Harry leaned over Remus to kiss her forehead and he and Ron left.


“That was easy,” Remus said, still staring at the door.


“The boys love me, if they thought you would make me unhappy they would have been jerks, trust me,” she sighed and snuggled back against him just as the door opened again.


“Forget something….oh…” It wasn’t Ron or Harry as she expected, but Paine Greyback who entered her room.


“Good afternoon, Ms. Granger and Remus,” he said, bowing slightly.


“Mr. Greyback, what are you doing here?” She asked clearly surprised.


“I have come to apologize for the actions of my son,” he said, his hand clenched over his heart. “I can not make up for what he has done, he has gone astray from the beliefs of the Rom and I am ashamed to call him son.”


“It’s not your fault, Mr. Greyback…”


“He is my son, his actions shame me and my family, he is my responsibility, therefore it is my responsibility to make amends to you, Ms. Granger,” he insisted. “Please, tell me what I may do to make it right between us.”


“Coming here was very kind of you, sir, but you have nothing to make amends for. Please, just make sure that your son gets the help he needs and do what you mist but peacefully.” She smiled at the older man and saw the curt nod he gave in reply.


“She is a fine mate for you, Remus Lupin, she will give you many fine children,” Paine said. “She will be a blessing to your house and to your name.” With another brief bow he turned and left them alone.


“How strange,” she said softly as the door closed.


“I don’t think that you understand the respect he showed by coming here, Hermione, to apologize to a gadje female,” Remus said. “It is almost unheard of and a great honor for you in his people’s eyes.”


“He blames himself,” she observed.


“He is ataman, he is Gilford’s father, he is responsible for the actions of his tribe according to their customs,” he explained, stretching gingerly beside her.


“What happened to Gilford?”


“He is in Azkaban awaiting trial…you will probably have to testify, most likely it will be a closed statement given to the minister, my identity will be kept secret however,” he said, stroking her curls as she once more reclined in his arms.


“I look forward to our holiday, Remus, I can’t wait to leave it all behind,” she said softly.


“One day you will look back on this as a great adventure. You’ll tell your grandchildren about the time you spent with the gypsies and how you danced around their bonfire,” he smiled and pressed a kiss against her temple as she snuggled close.


“And Ill tell them all about their grandfather, the wolf who loved me.”

And they lived happily ever after…..


Thank you for reading =)