A Secret Long Buried

A/N Hi guys, I'm back. You may notice that this is another story focused on Hermione and a teacher... weird how that keeps happening isn't it? Anyway, to those who haven't read any of my other stories, I hope you enjoy this one. And to those old hands, welcome back.

Basically this story will start with the present, then jumps to the past and fill in the gaps, just so you understand the time frame. I also changed the original story slightly as in my version Remus tags along with the trio in DH. It doesn't affect the plot because my story will end shortly after. I hope that doesn't sound too confusing, it should become clear as we progress through the story.

Summary: Hermione had tried for so long to hide the feelings she felt for Professor Lupin, but all secrets come out eventually

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, the setting, or a birth certificate stating that I am in fact J.K Rowling. Shame really.

Chapter 1

Hermione sat in the kitchen alone, absently listening to three voices murmuring in the living room. Remus was filling the boys in on everything that had occurred since they left, and Hermione had taken the opportunity to escape into much needed solitude. She needed to think.

Remus had left Tonks, and civilisation, to run away with them. He would be staying an unknown amount of time with the three of them, in the same house.

She wasn't sure she could handle this.

For years she had avoided eye contact with him, whilst every fibre of her being pleaded to watch him, to soak in every detail of his appearance. But she didn't want him to see the lust which swam in her eyes. Because Hermione knew it was wrong that she was attracted to him, especially now that he had a child on the way. She was his ex-student, and decades his junior, but she couldn't get him out of her head.

Later...

Remus knocked slowly on Hermione's bedroom door, taking in a deep breath as he did so. There was an obvious sign of hesitation before he heard someone move on the creaky wooden floorboards inside. Then the door opened slightly and Hermione's face filled the small gap between the door and the wall. Her brow wrinkled slightly when she identified her visitor.

"Can I come in?" he asked, quietly.

"I'd rather be alone right now Remus..." Hermione couldn't look at him as she spoke.

"I know. You've been avoiding us all day. Although I suspect you've only really been avoiding me." He stared deeply at her face, wishing she would look at him so he could work out what she was thinking.

"That's not true." Her voice was hollow as she spoke, and her words didn't convince him at all.

He sighed, regretting what he had to do, but knowing that it was necessary. If the four of them were going to do this then they would need to be open and comfortable with eachother, neither of which Hermione could contest to at present. So Remus pushed past her and made his way swiftly towards the opposite wall, and turned towards Hermione, not sure what he would find when he did.

She looked like she was in pain, and Remus worried for a moment that he had somehow hurt he as he had barged into the room. He didn't think so. He scanned her body for any obvious sign of injury but couldn't find any.

"Hermione..." he whispered "what's wrong?"

"You" she pleaded "you need to leave, please."

Remus froze for a moment, what had he done?

"No, not until you tell me why? I deserve to know what's going on Hermione!" His voice was becoming slightly raised now as he became more impatient.

"I can't be around you Remus-"

"-Why?" He cut in, his voice more of a bark now.

"Because..."

And then her face crumpled like a piece of paper, tears seeping for the chocolate brown eyes that were melting in agony.

"Please Hermione" Remus begged, moving towards her and placing a hand on her should, which he squeezed in an effort to comfort her.

"Because" she said, finally looking up at him "I love you."

As soon as her eyes had met his he knew what she was about to say. In her case, eyes really were a window to the soul. Devotion and affection had saturated the orbs, but also conflict. And this new revelation held Remus, transfixed by the shock with had seemed to stop time itself. The scene around him dissolved and all he could hear in his ears were those three words.

"I love you."

A/N Right guys, I know this was a short one, my first chapters usually are. The end of this chapter, which is the present, will be the last chapter in the story chronologically speaking. The chapters between will fill in Hermione and Remus' story. I hope that makes some sense.

Let me know if you like it so far, or if you have an advice, improvements etc. Or just let me know you're reading, even if you don't have an opinion yet.

Love from Jess x

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