The Sorrow That Comes With It

It wasn't an easy decision to make, moving in with Remus over the holidays, but still Hermione like felt she had no choice. Well aware of the difficult weeks that lay ahead of her in Grimmauld Place, she wrote home to her parents explaining that she'd be staying at school for Christmas.

All of my friends are staying as well and I really enjoy it here.

She wasn't going to enjoy this Christmas, that's for sure, but this wasn't about her. And besides, she wouldn't be alone in this the entire time - which was a huge relief - since Harry would join them shortly after Christmas. But for now, she thought, stepping into the fireplace in Dumbledore's office, I am on my own. As the emerald flames engulfed her and her body spun round and round, she hoped that it wasn't all in vain. She probably wouldn't be able to make Remus happy, but perhaps less miserable, by staying with him and keeping his mind of Sirius, as well as all the other things that were bothering him.

Hermione stumbled out into the kitchen of Grimmauld Place 12 and found Remus sitting by the kitchen window as usual. Without greeting her he got up from his chair and said: "I'll show you to your room."

Hermione followed him up the stairs in silence, watching his scrawny neck and shoulders sticking out of the grey wifebeater as she did so. On the second floor, he stopped in front of a door and turned to her.

"This is it. It's the same room you stayed in with Ginny last summer. Make yourself at home."

He opened the door and stepped aside to let her pass, and she brushed pass him. Her trunk was already there, waiting to be unpacked, in the middle of the floor.

"Thank you for letting me stay with you, Remus."

Remus made a vague smile. Hermione felt guilty for lying to him; for she hadn't been completely honest when she asked if she could come here. After her last visit, during which she had stumbled upon Remus' journal, she had consulted Dumbledore about him. She confined in him what she'd read, what Remus had told her about death and that she was worried he'd do something bad if no one was there to watch him. Of course she told Remus none of this. As far as he knew, her parents were abroad and she didn't want to be the only girl in her dormitory.

Remus left her to do the unpacking and went in to his room on the fourth floor. But Hermione couldn't concentrate and instead she ended up lying on her bed, thinking.

Meanwhile, in Sirius' old room, Remus had frozen in front of the window, his hands resting upon the cool sill. He seemed to be doing this a lot lately; staring blankly out at the sky, lost in his thoughts for hours at a time. In fact, it was the only thing he seemed to do these days.

Hermione was worried. Things were going to have to change if Remus was to outlive the year. She'd have to work hard, but in the end, if it made him feel better, it would all be worth it. She'd even have to neglect some of her studying for the sake of taking care of Remus and getting this wretched old house into shape.

"Better get started," she said to herself, as she got up from the bed and began to unpack.