A/N: Heya guys! Firstly, sorry for the long A/N. The other chapters will have none most likely. Second of all, Merry Christmas, and welcome to my Christmas drabble special. This is a short, 7 part series called "Christmas in July" which is originally written for GrangerEnchanted's December Challenge. I decided I would write myself a cute, fluffy, Remus/Hermione story.
Warning: May be a little out of character at times, and it's AU since I decided to leave some characters alive and switch a bit of things. Why? The challenge said I could. Go to GrangerEnchanted (google it; my penname is GenericWit) to see it posted in live time. I don't have to wait for it to be posted there. It automatically is since I'm a pre-validated author there (woot woot!). So, for anyone home and bored... here you go!
Word Count: 3,397 (for the whole story)
Just to save you confusion(I've gotten several PMs), a new chapter will be posted every thirty minutes until chapter 7 comes out at midnight. That's where the story ends.
Enjoy!
Part Un: It started with a touch…
It started with a touch- an accidental brush of her hand on his fingers when she helped him grade third year papers. In reality, it actually started when Flitwick retired and her apprenticeship was either to be transferred to Professor Longfellow or extended to Professor Lupin. She chose Remus.
It continued with a bite- a taste of his favorite Belgium chocolate that he could only afford to buy every few months. Actually, it was watching him eat any piece of chocolate, his eyes fluttering shut and his mouth letting out the faintest of moans as he indulged, that really got to her. He always shared.
It ended with a missed glance- a look of longing that each sent the other but they could do nothing about. Truly, it had begun with heated gazes they hoped the other never noticed, and when they had, they ignored it because of one simple fact. She was his student.
The year passed by in ignorant bliss, Hermione working hard to achieve her goal of perfect N.E.W.T.s and Remus busy making sure the first and second years didn't kill themselves, watching to make sure beasts didn't kill his third and fourth years, and making sure his fifth, sixth, and seventh years didn't kill each other. They worked together almost every night though the apprenticeship only required three to four nights a week to work on spells and independent research. She helped him grade papers, and many times, long past curfew, they could be found in his office drinking tea and discussing life in general. It was always in his office or classroom and never in his rooms. It was always appropriate. There were no lustful words spoken or ginger caresses.
With a wide grin on her face, Hermione pushed the thought of her Defense Professor out of her head. She spoke to the seventh year students who would be on a train in less than twenty-four hours, heading into the real world. She advised them to keep pushing to achieve their goals and to always look on the positive side even when life seemed to be falling apart. She congratulated them on making it through seven years, most of which were plagued with morbid thoughts of dying at the hands of Voldemort himself. Looking around at her peers, she fell silent for a second, not knowing what else to say, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked at her two best friends in the front row, beaming at her. Harry's scar looked more faded than malicious, and it caused her to spout appreciation to everyone for making her own seven years at Hogwarts so beautiful.
With her last words said, she raised her wand, fireworks flying into the air. Everyone else followed, and the graduate ceremony officially started. Hermione almost floated back to her seat on the magically elevated stage next to Remus and Draco, who had managed to become second in their year.
"Not bad, Granger," Malfoy said under his breath, prodding her side. She knew it was as close as he would ever come to complimenting her.
She prodded him back, grinning when he poked her back, initiating a very immature poking war of sorts.