The Witch the Snake and the Werewolf *Repost*
AN:// The rumors that Hermione was the only child of her parents had. However it did not rule out the existence of half siblings from either parent.
Remus Lupin was sitting in the waiting room of St. Mungos surrounded by friends and fellow survivors; Harry Potter, Katie Bell, Susan Bones, Kinsley Shaklebolt, Lavander Brown, Cho Chang, Ginny Weasley, Charlie and Fleur Weasley, Nymphadora Tonks, Viktor Krum and Draco Malfoy.
He was looking around at his stunned friends, at a loss for what to say, struggling to hold down his rage. Remus had taken Hermione to Saint Mungos after a mysterious collapse that left the healers mystified. They knew that Hermione had some sort of a shock but they were unable to sort out from what or how to treat her. Tonks and Ginny sat on either side of him in the small square-like waiting room, waiting news on his mate. They must have considered it their duty to keep him calm, as she would have wished, being her best girlfriends knowing his rage at the idea of his mate hurting and unable to help her. How could it have gone so badly wrong?
They were finally together after everything they had been through in a long and bloody war that had claimed many people that they had cared about. They had scratched out a place for themselves, and they were happy. He was stubborn in the beginning about not letting her share a life that would make her outcast and fill her life with nothing but misery. He was poor, he was dangerous at times, and he was older than she by nineteen years, hardly a suitable match for someone as brilliant, beautiful, loyal and wonderful as she. His favorite witch was not willing to take no for an answer and began to wear him down. Two months after the war ended, she finally convinced him that she did not care about the age difference, his status as a werewolf or his finical standing. The new administration under Kingsley Shacklebolt was more accepting and protected most legal rights of most magical creatures including that of werewolves. Kingsley was a good at his job, but Remus suspected he achieved such accomplishments because Hermione went to work at the Ministry after she finished Hogwarts.
On their one-year anniversary the rights of the werewolves to marry had not been finalized so he decided to do the next best thing; he asked her to mate with him. The ceremony of the pack was performed three nights later. He really saw no reason to wait, and she had no objection. As far as he was concerned she was his wife, a fact that made him proud and grateful every day since then. Remus could sense that something was bothering her and finally she admitted that she wished to be married in the church she grew up in where the many generations of her mother’s family, the Wyatts, wed. She had essentially given up her privileged life in the Muggle world to be with him. He saw no reason why he should not grant her that request. He had waited until two days previous when it was legal for him to take a wife before he proposed to her. He had taken out his mother’s engagement ring, got down on one knee and proposed to her, a proposal that she accepted happily, making him the luckiest man alive. It was all perfect until this evening when the unimaginable happened.
Hermione had gone about her business as she always did that morning. She went to work as she did for the Ministry, carrying her briefcase and kissed him goodbye, saying that she loved him. he felt something strange through their bond in his studio where he was developing pictures. He did not know what it was that was wrong, but he knew that he had to get to her right away. He had never been so terrified in his life when he saw her lying there, motionless, pale as a sheet, her eyes open and unblinking. Never in his life had he ever known of an instance when Saint Mungo’s didn’t know what was going on. They didn’t always have a cure, but they at least knew what the problem was. The strange thing was Cho was with her and a man he never saw before. Remus did not remember ever seeing this man yet somehow he seemed familiar. His confusion about what happened would have to wait until he knew Hermione was alright.
Finally a healer came out and talked with him.
“I’m sorry Mr Lupin, I honesty don’t know what to say, I have never seen anything like it in all my years as a healer. There is no enchantment on her, no potions detectable, however her entire body is shutting down. We managed to stabilize her for now, but until we can sort out what it is exactly there is not that much we can do. Again I’m very sorry” he said as he left.
Remus felt like his legs were like jelly and was unable to stand. He was caught by Tonks and Ginny and returned him to the chair.
Kingsley looked at Harry and asked “Do you know if Hermione would have anyone to call in such instances?
Harry shook his head solemnly “no. She has family but they have been estranged since the death of her parents. There was a godfather but he is out of the country, perhaps her solicitor would know. “
“Right Harry please take care of that. There is no point for us waiting here, Ginny will you stay a while and floo us if there is more information?”
The pale red-head nodded and sat with Remus holding him as he struggled with his tears. Tonks sat on his other side and put her head on his shoulder. Draco who was devoted to Hermione decided not to go anywhere and sat next to Ginny. The lycan’s friends all went home to their homes with the promise of returning the next day. Just before he left Kingsley had a peculiar look on his face before he left.
Tonks Remus and Ginny were dozing off when Kingsley retuned to talk to Tonks. Kinglsey Shook Tonks awake and took her into a corner. Remus was able to pick up the conversation with his sharp ears.
“What is it that you remembered, Kings?” asked Tonks who knew the Auror’s expressions better than anyone did.
“I was thinking about the situation, and if anything odd happened to Hermione today. Then something came to me. I checked the manifest to be sure. Hermione went to see Rabastan Lestrange. The guard who let her in and out said that she appeared to be fine but tired looking when she was done.”
“Why would she see Rabastan Lestrange?” asked Tonks.
“I don’t know; it was not any assignment that I sent her on. It was rather strange how quick it was from the jail to the time she collapsed,” replied Kingsley, as troubled about it as Tonks was.
Remus could also hear movement from Draco’s direction and that his breath was not as deep as the people next to him. Little sneak was listening to the conversation Tonks and Kingsley were having. He could almost hear the wheels turning in his head at the sound of his uncle’s name. Remus could not blame him for wanting to do what it took to help Hermione, but he had the tendency of acting rash. Remus knew he had to keep an eye on him. That was the last thought he had before he feel into an exhausted sleep.
Meanwhile
Cho Chang was smoking a cigarette outside of the hospital when she saw a figure in a cape approach her. “Hello cousin” he said.
“Hello Akira” replied Cho
“Hello Cho”
“Checking up on Hermione or remus?” asked Cho
“How much does Remus know?”
“Nothing, but he will ask me what happened he saw me with Hermione”
“What are you going say to him?”
“ Nothing because I don’t know anything, you never told me much” shot back Cho annoyed that she was caught in her cousin’s secret dealings.
“ Don’t get mad at me Cho I did you a favor by telling you that Hermione was ill”
“I don’t know everything yet so I don’t know if it was a favor or not” replied Cho.
“ Believe me when I say it is better that Hermione never remembers” answered her cousin mysteriously.
“Why are you here Akira?” asked the younger cousin suspicious
“I am making sure that Hermione is safe while she is recuperating” as he entered the hospital with a slight bow before he Cho could ask him any more questions. He pulled his cloak over his head becoming invisible.
Akira made his way to Hermione’s room and past the healers without any trouble and sat down next to her and took her hand
“Forgive me Neko, for failing you.”
He waved his hand over her face tried to sense if her aura was still there. He was grateful that she was still there but saddened to know that she was too far away to help her. He prayed that she had enough strength to will herself back.
His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of another figure in an invisibility cloak with a doll under his arm. He put the doll by her side with a strange stone around it’s neck. Akira could see Hermione’s expression change. The man who was his rival kissed her on the forehead and left confusing the other man about his true motives
Hermione was standing in her grandparents mansion in their drawing room staring out the window watching a teenaged girl with straight black hair. The girl turns and smiles and enters the room and hugs her.
“Hello Rory, it has been a long time”
“Hello Alex” she said to her older sister.
“Forgive me Alex but aren’t you dead?”
“Guilty as charged” replied the girl with her characteristic humor “Care to take a walk little sister?”
Hermione simply shrugged and followed her sister into the garden.
“Am I dead Alex?” asked Hermione
The girl lost her smile and said “No love, you’re in between”
“In between where?” asked Hermione confused
“You’re the witch Rory” replied Alex her humor returning
“You never knew that” said Hermione suspicious
“Let us just say you have a different perspective when your in this other life,” replied the older sister looking at a familiar wizard with dark hair
Then Hermione could see her mate in the distance looking at her with sad eyes.
Hermione then felt the presence of her friend Akira and heard him speak to her
“Chose your path ”
Hermione gave a sad smile to her sister. Alex seemed to understand and kissed her on the cheek
And hugged her goodbye.
Hermione ran into Remus’s arms
“Time to wake up sleeping beauty” he said before kissing her soundly
Remus woke with a start from a dream that felt more than a dream. He was worried when the powerful bond he felt with Hermione was weakened. He went to her room and was shocked to see the robes she was wearing was folded neatly on the bed and the wardrobe open and empty.