Precious Metal
By Katerina*Elise
AN- just so you know... Remus thinking is \\...\\ and Hermione
thinking is //...// !!! I hope you understand! Also, kudos to
a great beta, MountainDewChika!!! You're the coolest!!!
* * * * * * * * * *
Chapter One:Questions and Realizations
* * * * * * * * * *
Hermione smiled and waved as Harry and Ron left on the Hogwarts Express.
They were going to Harry and Sirius's house for the holidays. Hermione,
however, had opted to stay and study for the N.E.W.T.'s. Or so she had
told Harry and Ron.
Her smile faded as the train sped off into the distance. She sighed and
headed back toward the castle. She needed to get started.
* * * * * * * * * *
Three days later, there was a knock on Remus Lupin's office door.
"Professor?" someone called. "Are you there, Professor?"
Remus rose from his desk and opened the door. "Hermione! What a
wonderful surprise. To what do I owe this visit?"
He gestured toward a comfortable chair next to the fire. Hermione smiled
nervously and sat down. She began slowly. "Professor, I'm sorry if I
disturbed you."
"Not at all. Was there something I could help you with?" Remus smiled
and looked at Hermione. \\She's changed since her third year,\\ he thought.
"Professor, I want to become an Animagus." Seeing the startled look on
his face, she hurriedly continued. "I asked Professor McGonnagall, but
she is so busy with the N.E.W.T.'s that we wouldn't be able to begin until
after Easter. She suggested that I ask you."
Remus grinned. "Of course I'll help you, Hermione. We can start today
if you would like."
Her face glowed, and then fell. "I would, but you probably have plans.
After all, it's Christmas Eve."
Remus allowed himself a grim smile. "Actually, I don't have any plans;
I was going to spend Christmas curled up with a book."
Hermione felt sympathetic. //Poor man. No one wants to get close to him
because he's a werewolf. Just like no one wants to get close to me because
I'm not pretty,// she thought. Suddenly, it hit her. "Professor, would
you like to spend Christmas with me? Harry and Ron went to Sirius's for
the holidays. I would be honored if you would."
A smile lit up Lupin's face, and his whole aspect changed. //What a
handsome man!// she thought, then mentally slapped herself. "I would be
the one that would be honored, Hermione. Thank you." He said. \\She's
as sweet as she is beautiful.\\ he though. \\Where did that come from?\\
"We can start on the Animagus spell tonight. We'd need the potion from
Severus and we'd have to have somewhere away from people to do it. One
of us would have to stay with the potion every second, or close to it."
Hermione smiled. "Got it covered. Professor McGonagall gave me the two
potions that we need to combine and instructions for the preparation. She
also gave me the antidote in case something goes wrong. As for the place,
Hagrid is with Madame Maxime visiting the giants. We can use his house.
I can stay with the potion as well."
"Well, you seem prepared. What do I need to be there for?" Remus asked,
teasingly.
"I need someone to make sure I don't do anything wrong. And, if I do, I
need you there to help me take the antidote." She replied while grinning
widely.
Remus grinned back at her. "OK, then. Meet me at Hagrid's in thirty
minutes and we'll begin. Be sure to bundle up, it's cold outside."
Hermione nodded and left the room, leaving Remus deep in thought.
* * * * * * * * * *
TBC
AN2- ok, i need 7 reviews before i'll post the next part!!! and
i'm not going to go easy on you again! ciao!
By Katerina*Elise
AN- just so you know... Remus thinking is \\...\\ and Hermione
thinking is //...// !!! I hope you understand! Also, kudos to
a great beta, MountainDewChika!!! You're the coolest!!!
* * * * * * * * * *
Chapter One:Questions and Realizations
* * * * * * * * * *
Hermione smiled and waved as Harry and Ron left on the Hogwarts Express.
They were going to Harry and Sirius's house for the holidays. Hermione,
however, had opted to stay and study for the N.E.W.T.'s. Or so she had
told Harry and Ron.
Her smile faded as the train sped off into the distance. She sighed and
headed back toward the castle. She needed to get started.
* * * * * * * * * *
Three days later, there was a knock on Remus Lupin's office door.
"Professor?" someone called. "Are you there, Professor?"
Remus rose from his desk and opened the door. "Hermione! What a
wonderful surprise. To what do I owe this visit?"
He gestured toward a comfortable chair next to the fire. Hermione smiled
nervously and sat down. She began slowly. "Professor, I'm sorry if I
disturbed you."
"Not at all. Was there something I could help you with?" Remus smiled
and looked at Hermione. \\She's changed since her third year,\\ he thought.
"Professor, I want to become an Animagus." Seeing the startled look on
his face, she hurriedly continued. "I asked Professor McGonnagall, but
she is so busy with the N.E.W.T.'s that we wouldn't be able to begin until
after Easter. She suggested that I ask you."
Remus grinned. "Of course I'll help you, Hermione. We can start today
if you would like."
Her face glowed, and then fell. "I would, but you probably have plans.
After all, it's Christmas Eve."
Remus allowed himself a grim smile. "Actually, I don't have any plans;
I was going to spend Christmas curled up with a book."
Hermione felt sympathetic. //Poor man. No one wants to get close to him
because he's a werewolf. Just like no one wants to get close to me because
I'm not pretty,// she thought. Suddenly, it hit her. "Professor, would
you like to spend Christmas with me? Harry and Ron went to Sirius's for
the holidays. I would be honored if you would."
A smile lit up Lupin's face, and his whole aspect changed. //What a
handsome man!// she thought, then mentally slapped herself. "I would be
the one that would be honored, Hermione. Thank you." He said. \\She's
as sweet as she is beautiful.\\ he though. \\Where did that come from?\\
"We can start on the Animagus spell tonight. We'd need the potion from
Severus and we'd have to have somewhere away from people to do it. One
of us would have to stay with the potion every second, or close to it."
Hermione smiled. "Got it covered. Professor McGonagall gave me the two
potions that we need to combine and instructions for the preparation. She
also gave me the antidote in case something goes wrong. As for the place,
Hagrid is with Madame Maxime visiting the giants. We can use his house.
I can stay with the potion as well."
"Well, you seem prepared. What do I need to be there for?" Remus asked,
teasingly.
"I need someone to make sure I don't do anything wrong. And, if I do, I
need you there to help me take the antidote." She replied while grinning
widely.
Remus grinned back at her. "OK, then. Meet me at Hagrid's in thirty
minutes and we'll begin. Be sure to bundle up, it's cold outside."
Hermione nodded and left the room, leaving Remus deep in thought.
* * * * * * * * * *
TBC
AN2- ok, i need 7 reviews before i'll post the next part!!! and
i'm not going to go easy on you again! ciao!