AN: Hey there everyone! It took me a while but here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. I've already started the next chapter so expect it at the beginning of next week! Please review at the end of your reading. Encouragement and feedback is always great. ;) Thanks for your support!

"We need to talk…"

Maybe it was the slow, tentative way in which she repeated his words, or the hint of withdrawal evident in her subtly slouched posture that stabbed his gut with guilt. His Wolf was growling low, warning his other half to tread carefully. As he slowly rose to sit against their bed's headboard, Remus couldn't help but feel apprehensive about the approach-style he'd chosen for the sensitive topic he was about to bring up. Getting caught on a lie and, shortly thereafter, swinging with the damnably clichéd phrase "we need to talk" had visibly unsettled his wife. Not the effect he had aimed for when he'd originally decided he couldn't keep last night's events from her.

However, before he could even begin to explain Hermione was inching closer, reaching for his arm. He met her halfway, taking her hand to bring it to his lips in a reassuring gesture. "I just wanted the opportunity to address certain issues regarding our present situation. I did not wish for it to happen this early for I, admittedly, have just come to bed. However, I did not intend for it to be an 'over dinner' conversation," He saw her nod approvingly and was thankful for her understanding, thus far. She was about to say something when he raised a finger to her lips, halting her questioning. "There are many things I want to tell you."

Never one to be quiet, Hermione drew his hand away from her lips to hold between her hands on her lap. "I can't help but be confused. You haven't mentioned anything about our situation these past few weeks so I thought things we alright, normal even. Now you're talking about issues. Why didn't you tell me this before?" She saw him look away, and frowned when he sighed deeply as if searching for a way to break something to her.

It took Remus quite a moment to figure out how he would broach the subject, and what to reveal or what to keep quiet about. Without looking at her, he began in a hushed tone as if speaking for himself. "I had control over the situation before. I'm afraid that control is slipping. I did what I had to do to extend whatever ounce of safety there is left for us all."

He glanced back at Hermione and frowned. He was sure she would not understand so readily the reasons behind his actions, but he hoped she would in time.

"What do you mean, Remus?"

"Last night I left our rooms to meet with Harry, Ron and Ginny. I know you miss them and you suffer from not being able to tell them the truth. So I decided I would divulge our memories to them."

"Divulge our memories? How? … My pensieve?" She questioned, her voice low as she took in his words, eyes moving over the patterns of their coverlet as she pictured what might have happened last night. When he nodded, a switch flipped inside her.

"You took my pensieve?" She said slowly, resentment bubbling deep inside her. "Remus, those are private thoughts! They're not yours or ours; they're mine! What if someone caught you?" Hermione paused, gesturing the rest of her thoughts with exasperation.

He knew he had it coming and, to some degree, she was right. However, "Hogwarts is not the place to explain such things anymore. I needed a fast and relatively secure way to explain important information or, in this case, an overdue explanation. I know it was wrong; I should have asked for your permission, but with so many things happening at once I could not afford to wait for your answer."

Her head snapped up, eyes that were once lost in her own musings now focusing on Remus' eyes in question. "So many things? What are you talking about?"

Hesitant and feeling on the edge, tired and weary, Remus pinched the bridge of his nose. 'Mate must know. Keep mate safe' the Wolf urged, his own unease intensifying his human counterpart's.

"I wrote to Arthur a couple of days ago. I have yet to receive an answer and by now I doubt there will be one. This could only mean one thing: our suspicions were correct. Hermione, you're the brightest witch of your age. Surely you are aware that the Ministry is not acting as it should, far from it. There is only one answer to this. The Dark Lord has gained a powerful ally and is using it well."

"But Remus, this isn't new. I've known this, as you have, since our last meeting with the Order this-"

"Yes," he cut in, urgency in his voice, "but there have been attacks. They're becoming frequent and closer to home than we had anticipated." He reached for her hands and held them firmly within his own as he continued.

"Fenrir Grayback has been tasked to hunt Order members and he was given specific names. Given his expertise, I trust you are clever enough to guess which names I am referring to."