Reunion

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Reunion

Hermione and Severus had stopped by the Great Hall to grab a small bite of breakfast. Because there were no students yet, the teachers were just sitting in a group at one of the students tables.

Severus lowered his head, hiding his smile, as she was immediately wrapped in Minerva's warm embrace. "Hermione," she said softly. "Welcome home, dear."

Remus Lupin had also risen upon seeing her, and Severus enter the room. "It is good to see you again Hermione." Although he did not move to hug her, he smiled warmly before turning to acknowledge Severus.

Severus just stared at Remus. The look of warning crossed his features in a way that the other man did not miss. Raising an eyebrow, the werewolf looked away quickly.

Hagrid, who had been sitting talking to Tonks, turned and smiled broadly upon seeing one of his favorite people. Not a word was said as he rose to his feet and moved to stand beside her. He gave her a hug that even after all this time could still render her breathless.

Severus scowled and bowed his head again. Taking a deep breath, he kept a sharp retort to himself. He knew that Hermione had friends here. He knew that all too well. But knowing it and accepting how many of her friends would encircle them were two different things. He added another verse to his ever growing mantra. Hermione can have her friends. She has chosen me as her lover. They are only friends. Easily said, coming from a man who has no friends. His scowl deepened.

When Hagrid released her, they both had tears brimming in their eyes. She had not said goodbye to him when she had chosen to leave. It had hurt too bad to face him.

She smiled before saying softly, "Hello Hagrid."

Hagrid nodded his head, and returned,"'Ello 'ermione. It's glad I am to see ya."

Hermione nodded to him, then looked at everyone who now stood before her. "It is good to see all of you again." Looking at all the familiar faces, she said, "It is good to be back." she said softly before turning back to Severus.

He gave a small half-hearted smile before reaching out to grab two pears off the table. He held one out to her and she took it gratefully, smiling. He bit into his before giving her a tight lipped smile in return.

Hagrid cleared his throat before saying, "I fed your horses, but I think they won't have no more of me until after they see you."

With a smile, Hermione nodded, "I think I need to go to them posthaste." She said, "They aren't used to not having me around every day."

Hagrid agreed, "They are in the clearing right past my cottage." He smiled, "I'm thinking they'll be expectin' ya."

Biting her bottom lip, she looked in silent question to Severus. His smile was gone while he remained silent with his jaw clenched. He nodded and moved to accompany her out to see them.

Smiling once they were away from the others, she asked, "That wasn't so bad, was it? I forgot how much I had missed them all."

Severus shook his head, although his smile was absent. He was fighting to not feel threatened by Lupin's presence.

"If Remus is here," she started cautiously, "then why is there a position open for DADA?" She wasn't even certain why Albus wanted her for DADA in the first place. It certainly wasn't her best area of expertise.

Severus was walking beside her as they made their way from the castle. He sighed raggedly as he fought to not feel jealousy over her concern for the werewolf. "Remus is not a teacher, Hermione. His malady does not allow for our tight schedules." He looked out at the grounds, admiring what was left of the sunrise. "However, he is acting as a tutor of sorts for the students that need extra help in their studies.

Understanding dawned,and she found herself thrilled with the idea. "That is a good idea for him. It makes him still able to do something useful and not feel so isolated." She was happy for him. This new situation had to be much happier than the one he had been in before.

Severus nodded, "Yes, but he is only at Hogwarts during the time that is safe to students. During the phases of the moon where there can be a threat, he leaves and goes to a cottage he has on the other side of the Forbidden Forest.

Hermione frowned at that. "So, he still has to live in isolation." she said, almost to herself.

Her companion stopped and his eyes held a certain amount of the usual snarkyness that she had become accustomed to when he was her professor. "What do you expect? Would you have us lock him in the deeper dungeons of the castle while he is under the influence of the change?" His voice held an air of impatience.

"Although the Wolfsbane still does help slightly, he is becoming somewhat immune to it, therefore, it is not safe for him to always remain," he sighed, turning from her, dejected. "I have a friendship with him now. It is hesitant, because we are both still who we are. But I don't like his having to be so isolated any better than you." Although if there were any chance that you saw him in a romantic light I would be investing in some silver bullets,He added silently to himself giving in to a moment of jealousy.

He continued walking even as he spoke, and his pace was gaining speed. "However, my main concern will always be for my students." He shook his head. "Honestly, you must understand why he cannot be here at those times when he is prone to change?"

Hermione had to speed up to match his pace. She hadn't meant to touch a nerve on him, but it was apparent by his quickness of foot that she had. Hurrying to catch up with him, she panted out, "I understand what you are referring to, Severus, I only meant..." she stopped and stared after him. "BLOODY BLASTED HELL! Would you slow down?" Holding her side, she had to bend over to catch her breath.

Rolling his eyes, he turned. He felt immediately contrite for having forced her to race to keep up with him. "I'm sorry," he said gently. "There was no cause for that."

Hermione shook herself off and moved to stand beside him."Severus," she said in a patient voice, "I know that there is no other choice for Lupin. I know the safety of the students is important, and I would never choose to let him stay during the times that are risky. I only empathize with how isolated he must feel."

Severus nodded. "I do too." he answered. Then squaring his shoulders, he said, "Come now, your horses await." He smiled at her raised eyebrow.

He was right, she reasoned. Her horses had become her children. After Ron had died, she had given up any notion of having any babies of her own.

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When they reached the field, Hermione saw all of the horses standing huddled together as if in a group discussion. They reminded her of a posse forming to discuss potential routes of escape.

Raising her head, she gave a whistle they would recognize. The horses turned, and immediately began to make their way to her. Severus-horse, and Hagrid -horse lead the way. The others followed at a small distance.

When Severus-horse reached her, he bowed his head and butted it against her chest, nearly lifting her off of the ground. She giggled and reached up to stroke his neck, "Whoa boy, here I am." She said softly, "See?"

Hagrid-horse had limped, but had still made his way swiftly to her side. His eyes turned to the man standing beside her, and he looked at him in an accusing way. Severus straightened his shoulders and said indignantly, "I did no such thing!"

Although the horse had no way of saying anything, it was evident he thought Severus had kidnapped his mistress. Hermione reached out and touched the horses muzzle gently. "There, Hagrid. We are in a magical place now. We can heal your foot better."

As if it was a reminder of the salve she held, she showed the container to the horse, for his inspection. When he didn't shy away from it, she rubbed the closed bottle on his chest, to show that it was no threat to him.

Severus-horse moved away and watched as Hermione showed Hagrid-horse what she held within her hands. Handing it to Severus she asked, "Show me how to apply it?"

Severus knelt down beside the huge Clydesdale and opened the bottle. Hermione crouched down beside him and watched as he spread the salve with his hand to the lower point of the horse's leg with a circular motion.

"The circles are very important. You must use small, counter-clockwise motions to reverse the damage done to the leg," he said, handing her the salve and gesturing for her to do as he had.

Placing his hand over hers, he showed her how to slowly use the circles to work the damaged muscles of the leg.

Her fingers began to tingle from the mixture of the salve and the energy that was being given to Hagrid-horse through her's and Severus's touch.

As they watched, a protective barrier of blue healing light began to glow over Hagrid -horse's leg. He whinnied and shifted his weight, placing more weight than he had in quite some time on that leg.

Rising, Hermione offered Severus her hand to help him stand. He took her hand and rose to look at her, with an affection that made her warm inside. Stepping into his embrace, she smiled.

An unfamiliar bird call drew Severus' attention from the woman in his arms. Turning, he looked at the bird that circled over their head. Hermione gasped, and smiled widely, before looking at him.

"Remember my friend I told you about?" she asked softly. At his nod, she pointed at the bird that soared high above them, "She's here."

Severus looked from Hermione to the large bird that was circling and coming closer by the minute. Some part of him bristled at the intrusion. But more than that, he was curious. Although he was sure he knew what manner of bird it was above his head, he was positive it was not one that was indigenous to this part of the world

The bald eagle landed a few feet away from them on a rock and gave Hermione a censured look before beginning to grow and change form before their eyes. Soon a beautiful, but naked, woman with dark skin, lustrous brown eyes, and raven black hip length hair stood before them.

Severus raised an eyebrow but stood silent, watching her. She was older than Hermione. 'But still fairly young, compared to me,' he observed. Actually if he were to guess, he would think she was thirty four years old, give or take a year.

Reaching into her mouth, she took a tiny piece of cloth out and began to enlarge it into a buckskin dress. It was tan and had different designs of beads across the collar of the gown. Pulling it over her head, she then turned and pinned Hermione with a stare. "You didn't think to at least leave me a note?" her voice was deep and flowed like warm honey over them. "Shame on you my friend." She tilted her head, then smiled, "I was worried."

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Remus Lupin was interested in seeing these horses Hagrid had been telling them about that had arrived right before Hermione did. He wondered at what would make her choose horses over people.

Making his way down the path towards Hagrid's hut, he was amused to think of Hermione taking care of horses. He wouldn't go too close. He didn't want to startle the beasts. They would sense his true nature. But he did want to look at them. Perhaps he would ask Hermione about them later.

Just as he rounded the corner, he saw the huge eagle land just feet away from Hermione and Snape. Instantly, his hand went to his wand as he prepared for the possibility of an attack. He knew that species bird did not live here. There was no way it could be just a bird.

Standing off to the side, he crept closer and watched as it began to change shape. Holding his wand poised, he waited. If the menace thought it would attack the only one left of the Golden Trio on her first full day back, it had another thing coming.

As the shape became true, Remus lowered his wand. His eyes were wide and his mouth had suddenly gone dry. 'She's a goddess,' he thought to himself as his feet brought him closer.

He watched, fascinated by the newcomer as she pulled her dress over her head, depriving him of the stunning view of her person. He felt a pang of disappointment as she opened her mouth and began to speak.

Listening, he was consumed by her voice as she spoke to Hermione. A smile spread across his face. She was a friend of Hermione's? There were women like this in America? Moving closer, he almost forgot entirely about the horses as he just had to get closer to her.

She was positively the most entrancing thing he had ever seen. His eyes couldn't tear away from her as he stopped just close enough to draw the attention of the three of them.

Severus recovered and turned to take notice of Lupin's allurement. He found himself smiling. If he had an interest in Hermione's friend, then Severus would have nothing to fear by way of him being interested in Hermione. His smile he never let anyone see grew big at the thought. That was, until the horses began to whinny excitedly and dance nervously away from the new man that was now standing just a little too close for their comfort.

Hermione rushed to calm the horses. Severus moved to push Lupin back a little out of the way, and the woman turned and looked from the horses to the man that could not stop staring at her with a look of awe on his features.

Her eyebrow lifted as she seemed to consider this, then looked to Hermione, "Is that the one you have told me of?" she turned without hearing Hermione's answer, "You must be Remus Lupin?"

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