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Rose
Chapter Five
The morning after Hermione's arrival, Remus and Rupert awoke to a very shocking sight. Sometime in the night, Willow had risen and went
and got into bed with Hermione. They were now very nicely wrapped up
in each other's arms, sleeping peacefully.
<Oh, dear God, don't let her have seduced the girl.> Giles thought a second, before catching and chiding himself.
Of course Willow wouldn't do that. She would never take advantage of an innocent girl, especially with her being in much the same state as she herself was in. Maybe this was what Dumbledore had in mind when he had said that they could help one another.
Well, Hermione certainly wasn't minding the closeness. But of course, she was still asleep. They would have to wait and see how she reacted when she awoke.
Giles motioned for Remus to back out of the doorway with him so that the girl's could rest a bit more. But before they could shut the door, they heard a movement from the bed. Remus stuck his head back into the room to find Hermione Granger awake and staring at the red headed girl beside her in a wierd way. She looked like she half way wanted to stay where she was and bolt as far away as she could at the same time.
Remus silently watched as Hermione hesitantly reached her hand up and touched the sleeping girl's face. She had a look of wonder in her eyes, which glistened with unshed tears. Hermione cocked her head to one side and continued to stroke Willow's cheek.
The sensation of someone touching her face, roused Willow from the first peaceful nights sleep she had had in quite a couple months. She slowly opened her eyes, and looked up at the brown haired girl that lay in her arms. She had meant to go back to her own bed before Hermione had woken. But it seemed she had fallen asleep, and now Hermione was awake. And she wasn't freaking out about how close Willow was to her. This was a good sign. Definitely a good sign.
Willow lay there motionless, and allowed the girl to continue to stroke her face, both unknowing that they were being watched.
Remus Lupin had never seen anything more beautiful than what he was witnessing at this moment. The red headed witch, who had stolen his
heart from practically the moment he had laid eyes on her, was lying
in bed with one of his friends, allowing her to caress her face.
Not like a lover's caress, but something different. Something more personal than even that. Something that was more theraputic than emotional. Hermione was apparently wanting to touch and be touched, but her mental state was fractured, for lack of a better word. Her emotions were split in to. She wanted to be comforted, to be held, but another part of her at the same time wanted to be left alone. To be in solitude. To be shut off from the world of feelings. Feelings like pain, loss and sorrow.
Yes, this was all for the peace of mind of Hermione Granger. And, maybe a little for the peace of mind of Willow Rosenberg as well.
Remus watched for a minute longer, then as quietly as he could, he slipped out of the doorway and eased the door closed. Giles had went to start a pot of coffee and was just coming into the living room as Remus turned from the bedroom door.
He looked at Remus with a questioning look.
"Well, Rupert, it seems we might not be needed here." Remus said, chuckling a bit as he sat down in the couch that was his bed.
Giles took the armchair. "What do you mean, Moony?" Giles asked.
"I mean, that as we speak, Hermione Granger and Willow Rosenberg are in that bedroom, wide awake and still in each other's arms." Remus stated.
Giles got a panicked look in his eyes. Remus saw this and was quick to settle his fears.
"No, not like that Rupert. I just meant that, well, they are helping each other. Just like Dumbledore said. Hell, I should have known he would be right, he always is."
Shaking his head, Remus got up from the couch and went into the kitchen to start breakfast, leaving Giles on the couch, wondering what the hell he had missed.
Ten minutes later, the door to Hermione's bedroom opened, and the two girls walked out side by side. Although neither of them said a word, they both nodded at Giles and moved to sit side by side on the couch.
"Yes, well then, um, W-Willow would you and Miss. Granger like some coffee? Remus will be finished with breakfast any moment, I'm sure." Giles offered.
Willow looked at Hermione, and it was as if they were speaking to one another telepathically or something, because the girl didn't nod her head in either approval or in decline. But still, Willow looked back to Giles and smiled slightly as she nodded in the affirmative.
Giles started for a second. If he hadn't known for a fact that there wasn't an active Hellmouth anywhere nearby, he would have sworn that
there was something wierd going on around here. But he didn't know
what to say to the situation, so he simply nodded and got up to go and fix two coffees.
After breakfast, Willow, Remus and Hermione sat in the living room. Giles was in the kitchen doing up the breakfast dishes. Suddenly, Hermione got up from the couch and walked into her room for a moment, and came back out with a piece of paper and a pencil. She sat back down on the couch, and wrote something on it. Then she nudged the paper over the re-transfigured coffee table, until it was sitting in front of Remus.
Surprised, Remus picked up the paper and looked at it, then looked back in shock at Hermione, then back to the paper once more.
There were only four words on the paper, written in wobbly, but ledgible letters.
Where's Harry and Ron
Remus didn't know what to say. His heart constricted so hard it was almost unbearable. She wanted her best friends. She wanted them here with her, and she couldn't reach them. Well, the could reach Harry, but from what Dumbledore had said, the contact wouldn't be accepted graciously.
"Oh Hermione, I'm sorry, love. The Dursley's won't allow Harry to leave, and Ron is in Romania with his family."
Hermione simply nodded, then got up and went into her bedroom and shut the door firmly behind her.
Remus looked to Willow in confusion. He had no idea what the girl needed. Willow seemed to sense what he was feeling because she inclined her head toward him, then with a slight jerking motion toward Hermione's door. As if saying, 'go to her, she needs you'.
Remus smiled and without realizing what he was doing, leaned over and brushed the red-head's lips with his own.
"Thanks, darlin'." He said, and went to knock on Hermione's bedroom door, before opening it and going inside.
Behind him in the living room, Willow sat on the couch with a silly grin plastered on her face.