even existed, and he was not in the mood to answer questions from curious and/or
frightened Muggles.
"Thank you for not telling my parents anything," Hermione said as she walked him
out.
"You were right. They wouldn't understand."
She nodded and folded her arms across her chest, letting out a sigh. The stress
played on her the same way it did him, making her look years older than she really was.
"They'd take me away. Make me leave Hogwarts and the Wizarding world. I can't do that.
Harry needs me."
Remus smiled softly at her. "You are the most loyal friend I have ever known."
When she smiled up at him, a piece of his soul he thought was dead along with Sirius felt
like it was trying to spark itself back to life. "Harry.. ." Remus cleared his throat. "Harry
is so lucky to have you."
"Are you going to be okay, Remus?"
"Don't you worry about me, love," he said and leant forward, pressing his lips
against her forehead in a chaste kiss. "Enjoy your summer, take care of Harry, and... and
I'll write when I can," he promised and turned around to Disapparate.
"Remus!"
He looked back to see her frowning. He sighed, hoping that she did not ask him
for details about what he would be doing or where he would be going. It was going to be
a hard enough day, followed up by a worse rest of his life.
"For after tomorrow," she said with a soft smile and slipped something into the
pocket of his overcoat.
Remus looked down and saw the familiar foil wrapping of a Honeydukes chocolate
bar. He smiled in gratitude but closed his eyes, unable to look at her as he Disapparated.
Dora was glaring at him, which, with the current colour of silver-grey eyes she was
sporting, left him feeling genuinely frightened of her.
"A Muggle bar," she said, looking around. "Very public. Somewhere I'm legally not
allowed to hex you without breaking the International Statute of Secrecy."