Chapter 3

Hermione didn't unpack her bags. She suspected she would not be staying at Grimmauld Place much longer, if that talk from Tonks was any indication. That had been the most awkward two minutes of her life. She just couldn't comprehend someone seeing her as a threat. Had Remus said something to his girlfriend? Had he thought the hug they had shared had been inappropriate? Had she upset him somehow? That thought disconcerted her infinitely more than the idea that she'd done something to offend Tonks herself, for as much as she liked Tonks, Remus was a true friend.

But he'd acted completely normal toward her...genial and platonic, as always. Hermione had a sneaking suspicion that Tonks had done this before, but she would do as had Tonks implied, and stay away from her man.

She woke up slowly the next morning, her first morning in years waking up alone. She felt bereft. More than missing Ron, she missed the idea of Ron. What he represented: security, company, friendship, the idea that she would not grow old alone. She missed the abstract warming comfort that was Ron. But she just couldn't bring herself to miss him, him in all his flaws and features, the things that made him Ron. She was sure she'd made the right choice, but she could still admit that she would not be okay right away. She'd given a lot of her life to him.

Hermione didn't bother getting dressed. She wasn't planning on going downstairs until Tonks got home later. She had heard the Auror leave over an hour ago, and then she'd fallen back asleep. Now she was propped against her headboard with her borrowed book in her hands, trying to figure out exactly how long she could go without food. She figured if she really wanted to torture herself, she could last until Tonks returned. Contradicting her positive thoughts, her stomach growled and suddenly felt empty. Hermione groaned.

Biting her lip, she put the book down. There was nothing to be done for it. She would have to go downstairs during the day. She showered in the adjoining bathroom, grateful for the products that Remus or Tonks had provided, for she'd been in too much of a hurry (and a rage) to bring her own. It had made perfect sense to her to pack her bedraggled copy of Famous Witches in History and the Wizards Behind Them and not her toothbrush.

She walked hesitatingly down the stairs, trying to suss out where Remus was so she could avoid him. She hated that it came to this, but she didn't want to invoke Tonks' wrath, and she worried that Remus had asked Tonks to say something. It was a humiliating thought.

But as her luck was wont to run lately, Remus was sitting at the kitchen table, tea in front of him, and a heavily worn, dog-eared book in his hand. He looked up as she entered and graced her with a smile. It wasn't as brilliant as his others had been, and Hermione's stomach sank.

"Hi, Remus," she said softly, opening the fridge and taking out some orange juice. "Mind if I make some toast?"

"Of course not. For as long as you're here, please feel free to help yourself. You don't have to ask every time you're hungry, love." His words were kind but had an edge to them, like he was frustrated at something. Hermione nodded complacently and set about making her toast. She sat at the table, as far from Remus as she could, considering the table only sat six. She quietly nibbled on her breakfast, relieved when the empty feeling in her stomach dissipated. How on Earth had she thought she could make it all day without food? It was barely eleven in the morning!

Remus kept glancing over at her, looking like he wanted to say something. She tried not to meet his gaze, but felt his eyes on her. Finally, he sighed and roughly pushed his hair back from his forehead.

"Er, Hermione... I know what Tonks said to you. Or at least, I have a good idea. I want you to know I had absolutely no hand in it. She's always been very... possessive, though I've never given her reason to feel jealous. I know she probably hurt your feelings, but I hope you don't let it bother you. She's young and impulsive, and you are a beautiful woman..." Remus stopped, looking as though he'd said more than he'd meant to.

"My gods, Remus, I would never! If I did something to make either of you think..."

Remus cut her off, waving his hand dismissively. "I know that. And that she said those things to you only a day after you left Ron, well, it was in exceedingly bad taste, to say the least. I know you don't see me like that, nor would I want you to. I count you among my good friends and would never jeopardize that."

"Neither would I." Hermione smiled at Remus, relieved it was just Tonks' insecurity and not something she herself did. The warmth was back in his smile, and they shared an easy conversation.

Remus left to get some chores done, and Hermione relaxed on the couch in the sunroom, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the beauty of her novel. She would have to go to work the next day. Her shifts were sporadic and had been cut down considerably in the last month. She worked for the Ministry as an executive assistant, one of three, and she had the least seniority, so she suffered when the Ministry experienced cutbacks. She wouldn't be surprised if she were laid off completely in the next month, things were getting so bad. The worst part was that she'd been promised a full-time gig once she'd paid her dues, but it had not been given to her, and now it looked like she would never get it. It was a very disheartening situation, but she tried to enjoy the free time by catching up on her reading...not that she'd exactly fallen behind.

Hermione was jolted from her page when she heard a knock on the front door. She couldn't see Remus and wasn't sure which room he was working on at the moment, but since he didn't come to answer it, she doubted he'd heard it. Uncertain what the protocol was for answering someone else's door, she walked slowly to it.

She waited another brief moment to see if Remus would come, but when he didn't, she shrugged and answered it.

Ron was standing on the stoop, looking very awkward and out of place. His face lit up briefly when he saw hers.

"Hermione," he said, taking a step into Grimmauld Place. "Tonks told me you were staying here." So much for solidarity, Hermione groused.

"Ronald, I'm not sure we should see each other right now. It's still too soon."

"What are you talking about? I gave you space to cool down, now it's time you came home. Everyone misses you. I miss you." His face was sincere, his tone pleading. Hermione cringed at the realisation that he wasn't aware they were no longer together. She'd thought she'd made that indisputably clear.

"I miss you, too. But I'm not going home. I'm so sorry. I don't want to be with you anymore. I still love you, but it's like a friend. I hope..."

Her words were cut off by the urgent grasp of his fingers on her upper arms. He looked into her face searchingly, and she held her breath, meeting his eyes. Obviously not finding what he wanted there, he began to shake her, his grasp tightening to the point of pain.

"Do you know what I've given up for you? All that I could have given you, if you'd given me half a chance? You are the only one for me! And I love you so much... you can't tell me you'll ever find someone else who loves you like I do!"

Hermione tried not to cry out, but his fingers were digging into her flesh and her neck was snapping with the force of his shakes. "R-Ron!"

The sound of her salvation came in Remus' voice as he called from upstairs, "Hermione? Are you all right?" She could hear him running for the stairs, and just as he was descending, Ron threw her harshly to the ground, looking close to tears and shouting, "I love you! Only me, Hermione." He went to throw himself at her prone form, but Remus intercepted him. Despite the fact that Ron was physically larger and looked stronger, Remus threw him against the wall by the front door, his arm pressed tightly against Ron's throat, a look of pure rage on his normally docile features.

Without looking at her, Remus bit out, "Hermione, are you hurt?" She was in shock, certainly, but she thought she was okay except for a sore back and bottom and rapidly bruising upper arms. She drew a shaky breath and shook her head.

Realising he couldn't see her as his gaze was trained on Ron...who was turning an interesting shade of blue...she answered quickly, "I'm okay. Don't hurt him!" She wasn't sure if she actually believed Remus would really hurt Ron; she only knew that Ron was one of her oldest friends, and though he was enraged, he would never intentionally hurt her. She would think about what had just transpired later; now, she had to stop Remus from actually killing her ex-boyfriend.

Remus snarled at her words, pressing his arm even harder against Ron's neck. Ron was spluttering, his eyes beginning to roll back in his head, and he was no longer actively fighting, only making small jerks.

Terrified of his anger, but knowing she had to stop what was happening, Hermione lurched to her feet, ignoring the temporary blindness that assailed her. She stumbled to Remus and placed her hands on both of his upper arms from behind, pressing her body against his back in the hopes of calming him. "Remus," she whispered desperately into his ear, "Please stop. If you do this, I'll lose you, too." A sob choked her, though she wasn't crying.

Immediately, Remus' grip loosened, and Ron promptly fell to the floor. He wasn't unconscious, but he didn't move. Remus took a few steadying breaths, and Hermione stroked his arms with her hands. Ron was watching them avidly, for once wisely remaining silent.

Remus nodded, and Hermione knew the danger was over. She took her hands away and stepped back from his body.

Remus stepped back as well and offered a hand to Ron. Ron stared at it incredulously, but took it. Remus yanked him to his feet and before anyone could react, Remus had him up against the wall again, a hand on his chest this time, but no less threatening than before.

Hermione stood close behind Remus, ready to intervene again if she had to, but she felt confident that Remus was in control again.

His words were sharp and promised violence, and Remus fairly spat them at Ron. "You are no longer welcome here. Do not ever come back here. You are to never touch Hermione again. I will not allow myself to be restrained if I hear of any violence, verbal or physical, against her. Do you understand me? " His voice had lowered to a whisper, and it was more frightening than the growled words.

Ron nodded, looking extremely uncomfortable, but to his credit, not quite scared shitless. He looked over Remus' shoulder at her and began to whisper, "I'm sorry..." but Remus interrupted.

"Do not speak to her in my presence. Leave. Now. "

Remus lowered his hand, and Ron took the opportunity to ungracefully bail out the front door. He left it open behind him, and Hermione watched as he ran past the wards and Disapparated without a glance back.

Hermione and Remus both stood motionless, breathing heavily. She wasn't sure if she should say something, do something. Ron had just... barged in here and assaulted her. He'd pushed her. He'd never been violent with her before! Her things, maybe; inanimate objects that he'd deemed expendable, sure. But never before had he so much as laid a hand on her with hurtful intentions. She drew a shaky breath, then another and another, faster and faster. This can't be happening. And Remus was just standing there, facing the wall, shoulders twitching and hands clenching.

Hermione sank back down to the floor against the wall, eyes wide in shock. Remus must have heard her, because he turned around to face her. She nearly flinched at the look on his face, one of rage and hate. She'd never seen him lose himself like that; he'd been truly formidable. But he had... saved her? From Ron? That didn't feel right, but it was the truth. Merlin only knew what Ron might have done; he'd been beyond her reach and about to throw himself at her.

Remus must have seen the fear in her face at his expression, for he immediately schooled it. And then all at once he seemed to come back to himself. He gasped, and his face flooded with regret. He knelt beside her quickly, but gave her space.

"Hermione, I'm so sorry! I don't know what I was doing. He just... he hurt you, and I saw you on the floor and then all I saw was red. I didn't...I didn't hurt you, did I?"

His eyes searched hers, and she could see he needed reassurance as much as she did.

"Of course not, Remus. I'm not hurt at all. He just...I've never seen him so... and I was scared! I've never, ever been scared of him. But somehow I knew...and then you were there. So... thank you. Thank you."

Through her stilted and hitching speech, Remus only looked dejected. He didn't acknowledge her gratitude, and she put her hand on his arm, trying to make him meet her eyes. When he did, she was shocked at the emotion there. His eyes were turbulent, a dark gold she'd never seen before. He touched the hand that she'd put on his arm with his fingers, gently reassuring her.

"I just wanted to protect my..." he stopped, took a breath, and continued, "...friend. I do hope Ron's all right, but I meant what I said. Even if you do decide you want him back, he is no longer welcome here as long as I live here." His words were stern, and he seemed to be beseeching her to understand.

And she did. "I don't want him back. I didn't before, and I certainly don't now," she said firmly, knowing it to be true. Even if she'd entertained the notion of their reunion, it had been under duress, and this latest episode just cemented her already formed decision. He would no longer be in her life as a lover, never again.

Feeling somewhat out of control from the adrenalin, she couldn't stop the tears that welled in her eyes, but she was able to restrain them from overflowing. Mistaking her glistening eyes for heartache instead of relief, Remus gathered her into his arms. He tucked her head under his chin and rubbed her arm with one hand as the other circled her back. He held her so snugly that she couldn't help but feel completely safe.

Remembering all too well the last time he'd held her in his arms when she'd cried, she vowed not to make a spectacle of herself again. She willed the tears away and they obeyed, letting her appreciate his warmth and wordless noises of comfort. The hand that had been soothing her arm found its way into her hair, and he carded his fingers through it with a little difficulty. His fingertips brushed her neck and her breath caught. His hand gently settled on her neck with his fingers on her nape, his thumb stroking the soft spot beneath her ear. It felt so sweet, so peaceful, that Hermione allowed her eyes to fall shut, her head resting on his warm chest, his even breathing lulling away her sorrow.

She was startled awake before she even realised she'd slept. The door banged open and Tonks crashed in. Remus and Hermione were still embraced on the floor in the foyer, leaning against the wall. Hermione blinked to clear her blurry vision in time to see Tonks' gaze settle upon them. Remus didn't thrust her away as she expected, but stood up slowly, helping her to her feet.

Hermione felt a little fear...perhaps unreasonable, perhaps not...at the anger she saw simmering beneath the surface in Tonks' normally mirthful eyes.

Remus must have seen it, too, for he pre-empted whatever she was about to say.

"Ron came over. He got violent with Hermione, and I returned the favour. She was understandably upset."

Tonks looked at Hermione and bit her lip. When she spoke, her voice was full of compassion as she crossed the floor and gathered Hermione in her arms.

"Oh, no. I'm so sorry! Are you hurt? Do you want me to file a report?" Tonks pulled her back and took in her bruised arms. Her face hardened. "Thank Merlin Remus was here. Who knows what that little shit would have done, otherwise."

Hermione nodded, saying, "I don't think I want to press charges against him, Tonks. I don't think he'll ever be back here. I'm safe here. And he's never acted like that before, I swear. I wouldn't have put up with it."

Remus shook his head. "Of course you're safe here. After all, Tonks is one of the best Aurors in the force." Hermione didn't doubt that...but it wasn't Tonks who made her feel secure. Remus was continuing, anyway. "But I think you should at least file a report, Hermione. That way, if it ever happens again, there will be something on paper to support you." Tonks was nodding in agreement.

Hermione bit her lip. She couldn't erase so many years of knowing Ron as relatively peaceful, if hot-headed, with one moment of anger. Really, he'd scared her more than he'd hurt her.

"I'll think about it, but I'd rather just forget it even happened, to be honest." They both looked disapproving, but accepted her decision.

"I... I think I'll go to my room for now. I'm feeling a little tired." Tonks nodded understandingly, but Remus looked as if he were going to protest. He met her eyes and she sensed urgency there, though what it meant she couldn't be certain. Giving him a shaky smile, she retreated up the stairs to her bedroom, where she finally felt able to draw a satisfying breath. Not wanting to analyse what had just happened, Hermione lay down atop the bedclothes and closed her eyes. The scene with Ron played out before her eyes a few times, but she mercifully fell asleep shortly.