DISCLAIMER:
I do not own these characters. They are all owned by J. K. Rowling, the only creative control I have is the plot.
Under the Moonlight
Two-Shot
Remus's POV
She was elegant at her worst, and heart stopping at her best, and tonight, she was better. I had tried to snub the feelings I had grown for her the instant I realized they were there, but it seemed each time I had come close to abandoning them, there she was again, to whisk my heart away and remind me of all the reasons I cared for her: her beauty, her wit, her elegance, her kindness and her smile… the way she would curl her lip when she would concentrate enough. How she would twirl her hair in her fingertips when she would run out of words to say, or how she would sing when she thought no one else was around. Her uncanny ability to know the answer to every question, before the whole of it was spoken to her, or her determination to find out when she did not. The sound of her laughter, the sparkle in her eyes and gentle glow of her ivory skin. She was the brightest witch of her generation, and of all the generations before and after her.
I watch from afar, sipping on my wine, as she smiles and laughs, sitting on Ron's lap and twirling his hair with her fingers. The dress she wears is stunning by itself, and breathtakingly divine on her. It's a dress that looks like it is a hundred years old: off-white with a simple corset. The straps are thick, made of floral lace that wrap around her upper back above the top of the corset, where in the front it cuts off at a vertical angle, covering about three-quarters of her breasts, which are pushed up and amplified by the gentle pressure of the corset. The skirt is layered in several rows of smooth off-white cotton, each layer longer than the next, stopping just above her knees.
She wears a pair of heels that match the same shade of her gown, and look to be from the 1920's, with a thin strap wrapped around her ankles and a vertical strap in the center of her feet, where it meets with the toe of the shoe and is connected to the ankle strap. A long pearl necklace comes down from her neck and hangs just past her waist; a pair of matching double-layered pearl bracelets adorn each of her wrists, and on her ears hang dangling pearl and diamond earrings. Her fingernails are painted midnight magenta, and stand out against the white fabric flower and feather clip she wears tucked in her hair, at the nape of her neck behind her right ear, where it holds all of her hair in a loose, elegantly disheveled bun. Her makeup is flawless and simple, with pale pink circles on the apples of her cheeks, and deep plum lips. Her eyes are brushed with dark shades of brown, and a modest amount of black eyeliner and mascara highlight her almond eyes. She is mesmerizing, and I am completely lost in her beauty and serenity.
"So much for not outdoing the bride, eh?" George Weasley asks as he sits himself down beside me, a mug of firewhisky in his hand, as he gestures over to Hermione. "My little brother is one lucky man… He better hold on to her."
"A rose amongst a field of daisies," I agree, pulling my gaze from her. "And I know he most certainly will, after all those years of wanting to be with her. Now that he has her, I am sure he will not let her go."
George shakes his head and takes a drink from his firewhisky. "I want to say I agree with you, but lately… I just don't know."
"Oh?" I ask, with a bit too much interest. George raises his eyebrow, but continues all the same.
"You remember that Lavender Brown, back from their sixth year at school?" I nod. "Well, apparently, according to Hermione, she has been spending a lot of time around Ron lately. And he has been displaying a little bit too much interest. She is holding on, it's him that seems to be averting his attention elsewhere."
"You think that he is being unfaithful?" I ask, struggling not to jump out of my seat and go knock some sense into him. I will be the first to admit (to myself, at least) I have feelings for Hermione, and want nothing more than to be with her… But to hear the person she is with, the person who is supposed to be devoted to her is possibly cheating on her, it makes me shake with anger. For anyone to hurt Hermione, my Hermione, is the absolute biggest crime anyone could ever commit.
"I wish I could give you a definitive answer, but I honestly can't," he tells me. "Hermione has been coming to me a lot, actually, it's the only reason I know any of this. She's actually broken down in tears a few times. She's confused, she doesn't know what she did wrong to make him loose interest in her, and so fast, so bluntly, like he's not even trying to pretend otherwise. And, speaking of blunt," he goes on, turning towards me. "You were staring at her for quite some time before I showed up," it isn't a question. "And, I haven't been able to help but notice that is not exactly an uncommon thing for you lately."
"I…" I hesitate, quickly thinking up an escape route. "I'm… She was my student, and I care for all of my former students. I am concerned for her wellbeing."
"Remus," he says, leaning forward and lowering his voice. "I think we are well past the point of you being any of our teacher. You care for her, and not in a teacher-cares-for-his-student kind of way. You fancy her. It is clear at the way you look at her, how angry you got when I told you about the Lavender situation. Just admit it," he says easily. "Look, do not misunderstand me, she cares for Ron, but how he's been treating her… She's slipping away from him. That much is obvious from all the times she has confided in me. She cares for him, but not in the way she once did… I can see at the way she looks at you, even if she doesn't, she cares for you, and if I may be so bold to say much more than she ever did my brother," he places his hand on my shoulder as he stands. He looks down at me and smiles, giving my shoulder a light squeeze, before walking off toward a small group of redheads.
Taking a drink from my wine I look back over at Hermione. Ron has left, and looking not far from where Hermione sits I find him flirting, openly, with Lavender Brown. She is running her fingers through his hair, smiling and giggling about something that sets his cheeks on fire. He smiles widely and looks down at her with a look of lust on his face. He runs his hand down her cheek and to the strap of her gown, which has slipped off her shoulder, and he slides it back up to its proper place. I look back to Hermione, who is just pulling her gaze away from them. She quickly dabs her finger beneath her eye to catch a tear before it falls. Her face is scrunched up as she holds back a fit of sobs, crossing and holding her arms tightly across her stomach. She closes her eyes tightly and bites her bottom lip, leaning forward.
Apparently no one else has noticed the weeping angel, sitting alone, except me.
Tilting my head back I empty the rest of my wine into my mouth. I have seen enough.
I pull myself to stand and make my way over to Ron and Lavender. Filled to the bone with rage, I force a tight smile as I place my hand onto his shoulder.
"Remus!" Ron smiles happily as he looks up at me. "It is great to see you! So glad you could come! Can you believe it? Harry and Ginny, married! Harry and I are finally real brothers, always knew it would happen, though. Knew from the moment I first saw him on the train we'd be family one day, and now here we are!" it is obvious by his loud voice and glazed over eyes he has had one too many. I look down at him, his arm hugged tightly around Lavender's side as she fawns over him.
"Indeed," I nod as I look over at Hermione, who meets my gaze with confusion, her makeup now running down her cheeks. "I am quite glad for Harry and Ginny, such a happy, happy occasion. And, speaking of happiness, Ron," I go on as I look back to him. "How are you and Hermione doing? Still happy?" I ask as I shift my gaze to Lavender. "Everything going well with you two?"
"Hermione?" he asks. "Hermione, oh, oh yeah, we are fine! Just as happy as ever," Lavender runs her hand up and down the length of his chest and stomach, grazing the tip of her nose along his earlobe.
"Honestly," I shake my head, forcing my hand away from his shoulder before I crush it. "Do the two of you have no decency?" I raise my voice; not caring as the room quickly falls silent; people watching us. "You, Ron, are in a relationship with the most beautiful witch the wizarding or muggle world has ever known! The smartest, kindest, most patient and loyal woman any man would ever be so lucky to be with! So patient, she still devotes herself to you, who have never done even one thing to deserve so much as her time! Even as you cheat on her! Day in and day out!
"And you!" I go on, zoning in on Lavender. "I never liked you when I taught at Hogwarts, and then when I heard about the stunt you pulled in the common room of your sixth year, in front of Hermione! You knew, everyone knew she cared about him, that she loved him, but oh no, you just couldn't let well enough alone, could you?" I demand. "You just had to take him for yourself, even at the pain of what it would do to her, you constantly and endlessly put yourself in her face, boasting and bragging about your little wan-wan! You don't give a damn about anyone but yourself; you don't care what it takes or who you have to hurt as long as in the end you get what you want.
"Hermione is crying her eyes out as you practically hump each other in front of everyone!" I shout. "The two of you sicken me, and I can not believe that I ever considered you a friend, Ron Weasley. You should be ashamed; you are an absolute disgrace to every man who has ever cared for a woman. This is a wedding, for Merlin's sake, and you are openly being unfaithful. You have seriously hit a new low. The both of you. And if you ever," I threaten, stepping up to Ron's face. "And I mean ever so much as look at Hermione, so much as touch her again, I will make you wish you had never been born."
The room breaks out in to hoots and hollers and applause as I turn away from them. Hermione is not in her seat. I do not see her anywhere as I look around the room.
"She went outside," George tells me as he steps up to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. I nod my thanks as I step away from him.
"Remus," I stop in my tracks, and look back towards him. "Well done," he tells me with a proud smile, before turning back towards the now simmering down crowd. I nod again, and make my way towards the outside.
To be concluded…
