Phases of the Moon

Chapter Five: Reunion at Night

"Hold on to me love, you know I can't stay long, all I wanted was to say I love you."

-- "My Last Breath", Evanescence

Draco had gone off to work the same morning the half-breeds story was published in the Daily Prophet. He worked in Gringotts dealing with the goblins all day and Hermione had to admit she was rather jealous. She'd love to have a job, but Draco had told her that no girlfriend of his was going to be working.

It was worth it all, Hermione had reasoned endlessly during her lonely days at the flat when she wasn't shopping or reading. Pretty soon, she had told herself, he would marry me. I'll be Mrs. Hermione G. Malfoy, and then my life would be complete.

Would it really? Is that what she really wanted? She wanted to be married ever since she figured out why her parents lived together. Her favorite word has always been 'love' though only Ginny knew that in her Hogwarts days. Her greatest wish was for one great love. If she had that, she'd be happy.

She had it, once. Why wasn't she happy? Because I had a great love - once. And I'd do anything to bring it back again.

Hermione had thought of the Time Turner countless times. She could go back in her seventh year, and change everything she'd ever said about being in love with Draco. She'd continue to stay with Remus and graduate and get a job at the Ministry and then marry Remus and become a Hogwarts professor herself.

But she wouldn't. She was a strong believer in that fate decides your destiny, and the last thing she wanted to be was a hypocrite.

When she decided to pick up some fill-ins at Diagon Alley, she prayed that Draco would give her a ring soon, and if it would really all be worth it.

Remus had remembered Hermione telling him that she and Draco had gotten an apartment off the roads of Diagon Alley, in a Muggle neighborhood. No one knew the life of either of them; so no wizards were around to pry. When the neighbors wanted to gossip, all they knew was the "silver-haired boy" worked in some bank and his "lady friend" stayed at home all day.

He walked up to the brick wall (what was it? Two down, three across?) and tapped it so that it immediately opened at his will. He didn't know what end she lived on, and he could just Apparate easily, but he needed sometime to gather his thoughts around the old Wizarding town.

Quality Quidditch Supplies was having a sale on Firebolts; and at this, he smiled sadly. Sirius had told him how much he had saved on getting that broom for Harry. Why, damn it, Remus thought bitterly, why do I lose everyone I care for?

He walked past the Ollivander wand shop, where there wasn't any business, since not many new witches or wizards needed wands at the very beginning of a new school year. He went inside the Apothecary. That place reminded him of the times he and James and Sirius and Peter went there during the summer and found ol Severus poking around products, and they'd stick beetle eyes down his robes and snake skin in his hair, and...

Someone just poured some frog's legs onto his robes. It was clearly an accident because the wrong-doer was apologizing profusely, and as Remus turned around, disgusted, he was about to give the klutz a piece of his mind. "Try to be more careful--"

Then he saw her. "Hermione," he mumbled. Hermione stood next to him, an empty jar of frog's legs clutched in her right hand, and a pile of the legs on the floor. She stared, gaping at him with an open mouth, not saying a word. She set the jar down on the shelf and took a step back and blinked.

"What, what are you doing here?" He asked her before she could investigate the same question.

Hermione held up her handbag. "I...I just needed some things. Wait a minute. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at work?" This is so awkward, she thought desperately. How can I be making small talk with someone that I used to and still love?

Remus didn't say anything, but he stared at her for a long time and took her in. She looked the same, yet so different. She looked determined and open minded, ready to take on the world. She looked a bit confused. His gaze immediately went to her left ring finger. There wasn't a stitch of anything on it.

"You and Draco aren't married, I see," he said rather coldly. Hermione involuntarily rubbed her ring finger and frowned.

"Not yet. We will be soon, though." Hermione muttered, turning a deep crimson that could have easily resembled the Gryffindor flag. "You didn't answer my question. Why aren't you at Hogwarts?"

Mr. Lupin took Hermione's shoulders into his hands. "Did you read the paper this morning?" he asked, quite seriously. Hermione, taken aback at his grip upon her, still stared at him confidently and shook her head.

"No, Draco takes it to work every morning, I won't see it until tonight. Remus, what is going on? Why can't you tell me?" Hermione yelled, her voice rising considerably.

Remus took a deep breath and sighed. "I'm afraid I can't explain it as well as the Daily Prophet can. Hermione, I need your help." Hermione stared at him as if he had just grown three heads, like Fluffy the dog.

"You didn't need my help when you threw me out of your office," she sneered. He stared at her, horrified. Was this still the same girl he knew?

He blinked a few more times before speaking. "Hermione, please, this is serious! God damn it, what do you want me to do? I fucking love you, Hermione. I did and I still do. I always will. And if you can't help me, I'm as good as dead."

Hermione breathed in and out, not knowing what to say. What she would have done to hear him say those words when she was seventeen. "You're a day late and a dollar short, Remus. I'm sorry." Then she Disapparated so quickly Remus couldn't even say anything.

Draco frowned as he stared at Griphook. "You've got to stop lurching the carts. The customers are getting sick." Griphook grinned nastily. His beady eyes traveled along to the carts but Draco just shook his head no.

"Alright then, Mr. Malfoy. You win."

Remus stared at the retreating blankness that was Hermione. "Fuck," he muttered, "Hermione!" He shouted, though he knew she was safely back at her apartment now. Against his better judgement, he took a deep breath and Disapparated as well.

Hermione was in the living room, setting her packages that she had purchased at Madam Malkin's on the table. She had purchased a pair of green, silk dress robes to wear the next time Draco took her to a Charity Ball. She had her eyes set on the magnificent pair of satin white dress robes for a bride.

Arranging other knick-knacks in the house, she heard a pop behind her. She spun around suddenly and saw Remus standing in front of her. "You can't keep running from me, Hermione." He said huskily as he lowered his hungry lips onto hers. "You just can't."

Draco closed the heavy stone door of Gringotts behind him. He was about to go home after a long, stressful day at work, but he decided he needed time to think about things before heading home to Hermione. He grinned at the thought of her name. He was always eager to get home to her, but today he was particular anxious. He couldn't wait to see her bouncy brunette locks or her expressive bronze eyes. She made everyday worthwhile.

Patting the engagement ring box in the pocket of his pants, he headed towards Diagon Alley for a early-evening stroll.