Amarantine

Chapter 1 Lovers in the Long Grass

The air outside was cool and breezy, just the right kind of weather for Hermione Granger as she sat, reading a book and watching the clouds scud across the sky. The grass around her was long and full of clovers and tiny white flowers. It needed a trim, she thought as a particularly long piece of grass tickled her ankle. She brushed it away and continued reading.

"Did you know there is a four leaf clover under your knee," said a soothing male voice. "I would pluck it for you but that wouldn't be proper."

"Hello Remus," said Hermione, plucking the tiny plant. "I've only seen one of these once. It was pressed in the pages of my mother's old prayer book. Oh and look, an amaranth flower. Those are my favorite."

She put her book down and tried to reach for the flower but her legs got caught in the long grass. She pushed the grass aside with her hands and crawled forward a bit to try and get it. It wasn't there. She looked up and saw something red dangling from Remus's fingers. She reached for it but he pulled his hand back and smiled knowingly.

Hermione sighed and sat back down beside her book. She could always get another one. She picked up her book and began to read again, brushing grass off her bare legs every now and then. Turning the page, she looked up to see Remus sitting before her, the flower now crystal and intertwined with a pale white rose. Remus leaned forward and stuck the flowers in her ponytail.

"Amarantine," she said, realizing how close he was and trying not to blush. "Everlasting, immortal, very beautiful flowers."

"Only for you," said Remus, taking the book from her hands and putting it down in the grass. "You are beautiful, more beautiful than the flowers. Unlike the flowers, your beauty is truly everlasting, immortal, Amarantine. I would like to court you Hermione. I know I'm a bit old for you but you are the only one for me. It's you I see when I think of love and I want to be with you for all eternity. Amarantine."

"Why," asked Hermione. "I'm just out of school and you could have anyone you want. Why pick me, the bossy no it all?"

Remus said nothing, just looked deeply into her golden eyes. His hands were warm and she wished he would come closer but she knew it wouldn't happen. She put her hand to her head and felt the two intertwined flowers, their petals now cold but still beautiful and perfectly shaped. Hermione thought for a moment and then opened her mouth to speak.

"I have liked you for quite some time," she murmured. "I do want to be with you. I think you would even me out. I agree that there is something more between us and I want it to grow."

"Thank you Hermione," said Remus. "I will treat you with nothing but respect and I will not rush you. I will let you set the pace and on the nights of the full moon I will keep very, very, far away from you. I could not live with myself if I bit you."

He leaned forward further and brushed his lips lightly against her cheek bone. His lips were warm and soft, making Hermione want more, but she wanted to take it slow, needed him to be more than Ron ever was. Ron had been a terrible boyfriend, cheating on her, drinking, and beating her. Ron had also taken her virginity and Hermione still had a scar on her left breast that was shaped like a wand burn.

Remus sensed her stress and moved his body so he was sitting right beside her. He wrapped his warm arms around her and she laid her head on his hard chest, his chin resting on the top of her head. He held her like that before finally kissing her cheek again and beginning to speak. She listened to his soothing lyrical voice, marveling at how soft and low it was until she felt a finger tap her cheek and she jumped. Remus laughed and spoke again.

"Harry told me what happened between you and Ron," he murmured in her ear. "I will not beat you. I will not abuse you. I will not cheat on you. Above all, in my eyes, you are still as pure as you once were and I will make our first time something to cherish forever. Our love will be amarantine and it will only grow. Right now it is but a tiny spark of heat. As I court you, nurture you, our love will grow until it is a hot, blazing fire. These things I vow on my life and if I break them may my life be forfit."

Remus shivered and Hermione felt magic course through his taught body. He had made an unbreakable vow, not one that required a wand but one that was unbreakable nevertheless. It was a one sided vow that was an old tradition among witches and wizards. The dominant partner would make a vow and if he or she broke it, they would lose their life and the submissive partner would be free.

"Why Remus," she asked. "Why would you risk your life like that. I'm not worth it. You made an unbreakable vow, something not to be taken lightly. I don't want to lose you Remus."

"Oh my Hermione," he said. "I wouldn't have made that vow if I didn't know I could keep it. Don't you have any faith in me? I love you Hermione and I know you don't love me yet but I know you will some\day. I am willing to wait as long as I must for that day, and when it comes, I will be the happiest man alive."

"Oh Remus," she said, wrapping her arms around him and beginning to cry.

He held her tightly, stroking her hair and murmuring in her ear. When that didn't work as well as he hoped he began to sing. He sang of love and joy, wind and rain. As Hermione began to quiet down and close her eyes, he picked her up and stood. Still singing, he carried her inside The Burrow and up to her room. He laid her down gently on her bed and kissed her cheek again.

"Good night sweet amaranth," he said, plucking the hairband and flowers out of her hair. "Sleep well. I will watch over you and will be here when you wake."

He placed the elastic and flowers on her night stand and sat down in an arm chair to keep watch over her. He summoned the book she had been reading and started where she left off, reading aloud to keep her asleep. She needed the rest, living with the Weasly's and having to deal with that git Ron. He promised himself he would find a place for them to live as soon as he could. For now he was comforted that Ron was with Harry in Grimmauld Place.

A/N Okay this will be a multi chap Remione fic. Amaranthine means immortal, everlasting, and eternity. The amaranth flower is like the Narcissus but unlike the Narcissus, the man who was turned into the amaranth flower used to be with Artemis the huntress. Also I spelled amaranthine amarantine because that is how Enya spells it in her famous song. Hope you like it. R and R.