Realization

Sitting in the library in deep thought over her new advanced potions work, Hermione, for the fourth time that week, was avoiding her friends to get the massive amount of work she had to do done. The seventh year at Hogwarts was almost as stressful as previous years except without all the life threatening situations (unless you count the time she had to be Neville's partner in potions – a moment she's never been able to forget). It was tough trying to keep up in her lessons so extra revision time was needed whilst Harry and Ron found other ways of falling behind in classes.

She was deep in thought over a new potion she would be brewing the following day when the library doors swung open and in strode Remus Lupin. After the war the previous year, Hogwarts had seen a decline in applicants for teaching posts so the school was happy to welcome Remus back to take up post as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. The entrance of Remus made Hermione momentarily distracted. They had grown close after spending many days together in the burrow with the Weasley family and Hermione couldn't help but notice his amazing looks. He was exactly the type she was attracted too: slightly scruffy looking, and obviously smart.

As she let out a sigh in longing Remus looked over to see what the noise was and grinned.

"Miss Granger, no surprise to see you here," he stated with a grin. "Hard at work presumably. Don't let me distract you."

"H-hello Professor," Hermione replied with a stutter. The glint in his eyes and boyish smile was enough to make her look back down to her work and blush. "No I'm just trying to get this potion learnt. It's supposed to be the antidote to veratiseum but I can't quite follow the instructions."

"How many times have I told you, there is no need to call me professor when we're alone," clasping her hand closest to him he added, "We've been through far too much over recent years for so much formality."

"Sorry but the day you stop calling me miss granger will be the day I call you Remus," she said smiling.

"Ahh. Only fair I suppose," He answered. The friendly talk reminded Hermione of how much she loved being in his company. "So can I be of any assistance Hermione? Since you dropped Defense Against the Dark Arts I'm going to need to find a way of talking to you somehow."

"I couldn't help not taking it. My timetable was too full. I am sorry," Hermione blushed even further. Remus was by far her favorite teacher but unfortunately his subject was one she did not need anymore. Having learnt so much of it over the years out of school there was no need to go through another year of it.

"I forgive you," he said simply. "Of course I forgive you."

Hermione, not being able to hold his intense hold any longer, gazed down at their linked hands. Remus followed her stare and immediately after realizing he still had his hand around hers let go.

"Er I'm sorry Hermione. I've forgotten I've got work. Erm. Papers to mark," he mumbled as he stood up and stumbled towards the door. "I'll see you soon."

With one last smile he was out the door. Slumping down in her seat Hermione sighed. He obviously found that awkward she thought. It wasn't fair. She found it easy to talk to Remus and wished she didn't scare him away with her silly school girl crush. Rubbing her tired eyes she looked back to her work and continued even less enthusiastically then before.

Inside Conflict

"What is wrong with you?" Remus asked himself once back inside his office. "She's a school girl!" His mind couldn't help but wander to her image. A beautiful young woman not a school girl. She had experienced more in the last year than half of the wizarding community who were double her age. He had realized that over recent months he had found himself hoping to bump into her in school. And would often find himself going to the library when there really was no need. It was clear he had an infatuation with her. But his problem came when trying to work out how to deal with it.

'I should ignore these feelings. Stupid man! You clearly made her uncomfortable earlier,' he thought. 'It is wrong to even have these thoughts. She's my pupil!'

'Ex-pupil' he corrected himself. Technically he didn't teach her anymore.

'I would lose my job for definite.' He argued.

'Well you were never certain how long you wanted to remain teaching here for anyway. Plus, she's leaving at the end of the term once exams are over so there would be nothing against it.'

Slumping down into his seat behind the big oak desk he groaned.

"She would never want me." He said aloud. "I'm old, a teacher and there's the slight problem with my raw steak obsession." He almost chuckled to himself before realizing that this would be what would stop him from going for it with her. The most talented, beautiful witch he had ever met.

Sweet Dreams

Heart thumping she slipped one hand into his open shirt and ran it over his chest. Feeling the scars that laced his body she leant forwards and kissed the most prominent one scratched across the left side of his chest. She felt him groan.

He threw his hands onto her waist, bent his head down and kissed her passionately. Running his tongue over her lips he was granted almost instant welcoming into her waiting mouth. Their tongues met and Hermione felt her body melt into his.

Breaking the kiss he grabbed her white vest top and pulled it over her head. Leaning his head back down he nibbled at her neck.

This new experience was exciting Hermione and bringing out her impatient side.

"I need you. Please," she moaned into his ear. "Remus."

With a jump Hermione woke from her sleep and sat up. Shaking and sweating she looked around the dark, quiet girls' dormitory.

"Not just a school girl crush then," she whispered to herself before exhaustedly lying back onto the pillows to hopefully fall back into the dream she would never forget.