Disclaimer: Characters are J.K. Rowling who rawks, and the title belongs to Savage Garden.
A/N: The story is short because I was just chattin' with my friends and suddenly I heard Remus' voice in my head. I had to write it.
How the hell could he believe he would be able to just walk away, without even telling her why? Maybe it was the continual nagging at the back of his head, telling him it was not right. Maybe it was the fact that when she looked up at him, there was no love in those dark brown eyes. Maybe it was because she never, ever said "I love you" without hesitating. Maybe he was just hoping to see these signs because he knew he could never compete with the other men who wanted her.
She lay on his bed, her breaths soft and even. Whenever they had fights like this, they always made love with a frenzy after, hoping it would smooth everything over, make things as they were previously. Not this time. He had to leave or they would both be doomed for a life full of hate and misery. He placed his face in his hands, rubbing his forehead.
This was not what he had wanted when he said yes to Hermione. He wanted to cram their lives with pleasure and laughter. Now he was an old man, and she was still an insatiable animal, always wanting more. She hid her disappointment well these days.
His fingers slid across her silken skin, so familiar it could have been his own. Except his was not smooth or creamy. It was marred with the years he had lived, wrinkled. His lips danced across her body, making her wake up, smiling.
'Remus.'
The name across her tongue inflamed more desire inside him. Cursing himself the fool, he sat up.
'Hermione, we have to talk.'
Hermione sat, her hands shaking. Why hadn't he ever told her about what he was feeling? They'd been together ever since Sirius had been found innocent, three years after she graduated from Hogwarts. Surely, that was enough time to tell her that he felt they were slipping apart.
She watched as he removed all evidence that he had lived in the house, taking his belongings and putting them in boxes. Tears ran down her cheeks, unheeded, splashing down on the bed, still warm from his body.
She stood, defiantly naked, walking over to the man who had given her so much happiness and contentment for so many years.
'Remus, look at me.'
He remained stubbornly fixated on the shelf, removing his small porcelain puppy dog that Hermione had given him as a rather terrible birthday gift. They had been so happy then.
'Remus, look at me.'
The pain that flowed through her voice made him turn and rest his gaze on her, keeping his eyes above chest level. She was so very beautiful in every way. Her fierce spirit, her body, her elegance and grace. He caressed her cheek with a tender hand.
Hermione kissed him, expressing herself in the one gesture. When they drew back, and he looked in her eyes, tears sprung. Love. Love was there, glaring him in the face, mocking him for disbelieving her.
'Do you have room in that bed for a doddering, old fool?' He whispered, putting the box down with a thud.
'Of course, love. There's always been room.' Her kiss sent him to the heavens and back down to earth, wondering why he'd been so stupid to believe that there was no love in their relationship.