The train ride back was similar to the previous ride. Ron looked a bit grumpy but wouldn't leave the compartment, except for using the loo. Neville decided to join them and was smart enough not to let any of the secrets out. Luckily, Malfoy didn't visit them this time.
–..–
Professor Lupin asked Harry to stay a bit after their DADA lesson. Hermione left the class, like all other students, but waited for Harry near the door. Ron was hungry again, as usual. "You don't need to wait. Just save seats for Harry and me. I want to wait for him."
Harry came out a few minutes later. He grabbed her hand and they walked silently until they reached another corridor, where Harry felt free to tell her.
"Professor Lupin offered to teach me the Patronus charm, which is the only known protection against Dementors. I gave it a thought and asked, 'Can you teach Hermione too? She's my best friend, you know, and the only girl who is my friend. Besides, being better at charms, she may learn it quicker than I and then help me master it.' I didn't want to tell him we're actually a couple."
"And what did he say?"
"He looked pensive for a moment, and then smiled. 'Of course, you may ask her to join you. I noticed you were becoming very close lately.' I hope he isn't too attentive to how close we are, but I think that as my wife, you should also learn everything that may help us when we encounter dangers."
Harry turned more serious. "Based on our previous experiences, I'm quite sure we're going to encounter some dangers sooner or later, probably much sooner than we'd like."
Hermione was really glad that she could join Harry for these lessons. Her presence gave him the extra push he needed to make his Patronus gain form and power. He was still unable to hold it for long, but even a few seconds were more than enough in most cases, as Lupin told them. Hermione did just as well. Lupin didn't seem surprised to find that Harry's Patronus took the form of a young stag. He seemed somewhat surprised to find that Hermione's was a young doe. "I think that you two are becoming much closer than I expected."
Hermione thought they could not get any closer, at least physically.
"You two also remind me of your parents, Harry. You look a lot like your father. I'm sure you've already heard it. Hermione doesn't look like Lily, but she seems to be as smart and as fierce as your mother was at that age, only she didn't like James at all before the sixth year."
Hermione wasn't sure if it was safe to dwell on these comparisons. She already had some suspicions that Lupin was a werewolf, based on the times he was too ill to teach. If so, she suspected he had already noticed the smell emanating from them both. She was sure that after being so close every day, even taking showers and using perfume could not fool him.
Lupin stopped them after another Patronus lesson. "Please sit down. I'd like to get some answers to a few questions that are nagging at me since I started teaching you both."
Hermione felt very apprehensive. She was sure that their secret would be disclosed, and she had no idea how to prevent it.
Lupin smiled at them, as if reassuring them that he was not posing any danger. "You should know that due to some medical condition, my sense of smell is much more sensitive than usual. In a way, it's about as sensitive as a dog's. This is why I'm feeling confident in saying that you're much closer than just best friends. I believe you're lovers, and very active at that. Am I right?"
Hermione could feel her face heat. She was sure it was also turning red, just as Harry's, that she noticed when glancing in his direction. 'I think you should answer. I'm not sure how much I can tell,' she sensed Harry.
'Fine. I'll speak,' she replied, and then lifted her face to the professor. "Yes, we are lovers. We became an item at my birthday, and we've been together since."
Lupin didn't seem surprised, only slightly worried. "I hope you take appropriate precautions, both of you. Becoming parents at your age is highly not recommended. Getting pregnant at such a young age may even pose health problems for the girl."
Hermione smiled despite her deepening blush. "I cast the contraceptive charm every morning and every evening. I should be well protected, no need to worry."
Lupin nodded reluctantly. Hermione thought he didn't really trust teenagers casting that spell, but after seeing her performance in class, he couldn't really doubt her casting ability. "But why hurry? As far as I know, most girls your age don't even contemplate sex."
Hermione smiled at that. "I can tell you that most girls start contemplating it during the second year, and some even earlier. Besides, I'm already fourteen, so it's quite natural at my age. Then, I love Harry."
Lupin turned to Harry. "And you, how do you feel about Hermione? Is there anything else there besides lust?"
Hermione could sense that Harry felt offended. "You should know that I would not have cooperated with her had I not liked her to start with. She's my best and closest friend. In a way, it was natural for us to turn lovers. I'd like us to stay that close for the rest of our lives. I plan for us to have children and raise them together."
Lupin smiled, some mischief creeping into his smile. "Aren't you skipping at least one important step? Most couples who intend to raise a family get married first, I'm sure you know."
It was evident that the professor cared for them, Hermione thought. Another would have berated them for acting irresponsibly and may have even deducted house points and assigned detentions. Lupin seemed only concerned with them staying safe and happy. She decided to trust him, despite their initial reluctance. "Actually, professor, we've already way past that stage."
He looked sharply at her. "What do you mean by that, young lady?"
She commanded her ring to regain its original form and moved her hand forward, displaying the magnificent Lady ring. Lupin looked at it as if stunned. It took him a moment to digest the new information. "You're… already married?!"
Harry also let his ring show. "Yep, we are. The first time we were intimate with each other, we got a magical bond that made us legally married. We're still not sure what kind of bond it exactly is, although it must be some variation of the soul bond."
Lupin leaned back on his chair, looking overwhelmed. "Your father would have been so proud of you. He barely started noticing girls at your age."
Hermione decided not to let him reminisce yet. "You should know that we keep our bond secret for now. You shouldn't tell anybody about it, especially not Dumbledore."
Lupin seemed as if slapped. "Don't you trust Professor Dumbledore?"
Hermione shook her head. "He left Harry on his magic-hating aunt's doorstep in the middle of the cold night after that fateful Halloween; he never checked on his welfare; he never made sure that Harry knew his heritage; then, at the bank, we found out that he took out some money from Harry's trust vault. He certainly doesn't seem to have Harry's best interests in mind, and he still keeps a lot of relevant information secret from Harry. Why should we trust him?"
Lupin scratched his head in annoyance. He didn't seem to have a ready answer to that question, but he had some information he could pass. "It may still be a bad idea to keep your bond secret for long. You see, the list of marriages and bonds is open to the public, and your names are surely listed there since you bonded. If anybody looks for new married couples, your names are bound to come up. It's actually a wonder that you managed to keep it secret until now. When was it that you bonded?"
"It was on my birthday, in September."
"And it still stayed secret?! I wonder how. I'll try to check this during the weekend, if you don't mind, but I suspect you should make your marriage known before it leaks to the press, or it may give you unwanted attention."
Harry grumbled. "Tell me about that! I get it all the time. That's why we decided to keep it secret."
–..–
The next time they met, Lupin had some information to share. "It looks like the list of bonds and marriages, which is actually a thick tome, has some protections on it, hiding the names of underage couples. When checking, I found your bond in that book on the right date and at dinner time. Your names were unreadable, but the time and place were clear to read. What it means in practice is that your bond can stay secret for a while longer. I asked the Ministry employee working there about that bond, and she said, 'Since the bond emancipates the couple, the names stay secret only until they announce their bond, but no longer than a year. It will all become readable on the year mark, if not earlier.' That should be enough for you, I hope."
Both teens fully agreed. Had it not been for the negative publicity and Dumbledore's interest, they would have made it public and moved into a married couple's apartment as soon as they bonded. Harry was sure he would have liked it better, especially when sex was concerned, but not only for that. Falling asleep while cuddling together and waking up that way was becoming an important aspect of their bond for both.
–..–
A few days later, Hermione had a certain idea nagging at her. "Harry, why didn't we ask to read your parents' will at the bank?"
He shrugged. "Why should they even have it? Normally, such things are done through the Ministry, as far as I understand."
She nodded. "True, but most people also have another copy stored in a safe place — a vault, if they have one, or at the bank. It's quite common even among muggles."
He gave it a moment of thought. "Then, we can just go there and ask for it, just the way we did the first time."
He got an approving smile in response.
–..–
They visited the bank a few days later, during the weekend. That evening, when they cuddled in "their" room before returning to the dorms, they spoke about the will again.
"It looks like Sirius Black has never betrayed my parents. He was my sworn Godfather, so he couldn't, even had he wanted to, and he wasn't their secret keeper. Peter was."
"And Dumbledore knew it all along, as one of the witnesses to the will," Hermione added.
"But I don't think Professor Lupin knows, despite being a witness. I think somebody made him forget about it."
They both growled, "Dumbledore!"
"Should we tell him?" Harry asked.
Hermione gave it some thought. "I think we should. That way, he'll know that Sirius is not your enemy. I'm still not sure that Dumbledore is your enemy, but he certainly isn't your friend, despite all his pretence."
"Then, we shall tell Lupin about it."
–..–
They spoke with Remus during their next meeting.
"We asked to read my parents' will at the bank. Do you know who the witnesses were?"
Remus frowned. "I think I once knew, but try as I might, I can't recall the information."
"We've seen it. Dumbledore was a witness, and so were you and Black. It also stated very clearly that Peter was their secret keeper and that Sirius is my sworn godfather."
Remus looked stunned. "Then… somebody played tricks with my mind. It could only be Dumbledore, I believe. But why?"
Hermione was the one to respond, although not quite answer that question. "Don't you find the way he tries to control every aspect of Harry's life a bit odd? He's the one who sealed his parents' will; he's the one who co-signed the order to send Sirius to Azkaban without a trial, knowing all too well that Peter was the culprit, not Sirius. He then obliviated you, so you'll know no better. Is he really light or is he a dark lord in disguise?"
Remus couldn't answer that. His head was pounding, and his feelings were in turmoil. He was sure he could no longer trust Dumbledore, but whom could he?
"Professor, I know it's a very bitter potion to swallow," Harry said soothingly. "We didn't trust Dumbledore, and it took us a day and a night to come to terms with what we found. It may take you the same, or even longer, for that. Can we come here tomorrow after dinner?"
Remus only nodded and waved the children out. He certainly needed some time to adjust to all that.