((Hey, guys…I completely neglected my disclaimer, heh, so here you go! Disclaimer: I do NOT own HP nor any of the characters, and I am NOT JK Rowling. There you go! Enjoy the first chapter.))

I felt my heart start to race as she touched my arm and squeezed. Lupin grew to twice his normal size, damn him. Idiotic Black tried to stop him from changing! Impossible, that is. A werewolf will forget all that he knows once he starts to change. Lupin is no exception! Granger doesn't know what she's gotten herself into, chasing after grown men. These past eight years have been tough on her, yes I know, but this is getting ridiculous. Boys are for girls. She's a woman. Men are for women. Lupin might be a man, but he's nowhere near the man he used to be.

It's depressing. I worry too much over these things. These stupid memories, I never fathomed they would stab at me like this. They cling to my mind, my soul, anything they can find to tear at. And it certainly doesn't help to have Granger clinging to my robes right now. As much as I've tried, it's impossible to get her off.

She fell asleep about an hour ago. It's nearly three o'clock in the morning now. I'm worried, and I never worry about anyone. Well, that's not true. I do worry, but I don't tell, I suppose. I keep it to myself. I concur with the old saying, 'It's never right to tell one you hate them when you really live off of their company'. You couldn't really call it a famous saying. Simply something I heard from my mother when I was young. It was one of those things that sticks with you… Like heartache, it's always there no matter how hard you try to rid yourself of the damned, wretched thing.

It's been a while since I've had a woman curled on my lap. No matter how much I lie to myself about why she's here, I know the truth. I don't want it to be this way. I love her. Finally, I've said it. I love her. I love Granger.

She just opened her eyes, but soon closed them again and curled up a bit more. I didn't dare move her or even say a word. In fact, I relaxed and closed my eyes so she would think I was asleep… I don't want her to move. I know she's safe with me. Even though the war is over, and Potter saved the day (we were all expecting that, weren't we?), I know that it still isn't safe… There are still Death Eaters alive. Even traitors, like me. Damn myself for saving Potter's life in his sixth year! Damn myself for doing it! And he still treats me like I am the scum of the earth. Albus had to die… It was either him, or the rest of the school. He asked me to kill him rather than have Malfoy go to Azkaban for murder. Personally, I agreed with him.

Granger moved again. She's warm… And soft. I pretended not to notice her. I think she just realized who I am. Oh God… She got up. What do I do? Do I let her see that I wasn't asleep? Will she think I'm strange? She's seen me now.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, voice drowsy.

"No, it's fine," I said softly back, and smiled. Why did I smile? I'm going to scare her away. "If you'll excuse me," fine I'll just go… I swept off for the door to the library, now I'm out. Finally…

"So strange," Hermione muttered to herself before setting off for a long, hot bath.

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