Oh my gosh I want to thank everyone who has reviewed on the first chapter of this story. You have no idea how much i appreciate it and how much they drove me to continue. I warned you before I began that I wasn't sure if my muse would hold for this story, but I am trying my best to give yall something. This chapter has actually been finished for a while but this was the only chance I had to post it so I hope you enjoy. I tried to keep everyone as in character as possible, but you must realize that Remus is ment to be written this way becausethe werewold is most deffinately influencing him in this chapater. Drop me a line and tell be what you think and ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. And as always if you are enjoying this story check out my other one 'The box' it is alot farther along.
It all belongs to the wonderful J.K. Rowling!
Chapter 2: Destined Discoveries
Remus carefully laid out his best pair of robes in preparation for tonight. They were a deep blue that set off his eyes and fit him well. They were his last Christmas gift from Sirius and he tried to wear them in good memories. There was a chance that tonight he would meet his mate and Moony felt the need to impress her. To show her that he was the best choice for her life. Showing off like a bloody peacock, he snorted at his actions though he didn't attempt to change his wardrobe choice. He studied himself critically in the mirror after he donned the robes. His hair needed to be trimmed he realized brushing the fringe out of his amber eyes with impatient fingers. He wasn't horrendously ugly, far from it, but he was worn with age and numerous werewolf transformations had taken a toll on his body. The one effect Remus hated the most was the thin jagged scar that ran from his left ear lobe half way down his jaw bone. Well, there was nothing he could do about that as he tried to put it from his mind. Fastening his light cloak with a slightly tarnish sliver clasp that had once belonged to his father Remus was ready to depart...but just for good measure he popped the cork on a phial of calming potion and downed it in one gulp. A little extra protection wouldn't hurt he decided.
The Great Hall was just beginning to fill up when Remus made his way towards the teacher's table where an extra place had been set. Despite the potions he had taken only moments before Remus felt his frame tighten with alertness as his senses seemed to hone in scanning over the occupants of the room. His nose twitched as he searched for the unknown scent that he knew he would recognize as his mates the moment it reached his nostrils. Nothing came.
"Remus!" The werewolf swung around quickly but let his body relax as he saw who had addressed him.
"Harry, it's good to see you," Remus smiled at the boy he considered his own. His cub, his pup. "I've been worried about you." Oh Sirius if you could see the problems your death has caused with you godson you'd die all over again. Remus thought
"I'm fine Remus," the boy blushed and ran a hand through his already mussed hair. Remus didn't believe that for a second the boy reeked of sadness and guilt at the question. Strong emotions always gave off a peculiar scent.
"Don't lie to me Harry," Remus ordered softly giving the boy a one armed hug and felt him tense instantly. Remus sigh was tinged with grief, "Where are your friends this fine evening?" he changed the subject to lighter grounds. No use winding the poor boy up without cause.
"Oh they'll be along in a minute. Hermione's holding Ron hostage until he finishes his Transfiguration essay. It shouldn't take too long nothing can keep Ron from food." Harry laughed, "But you haven't told me what you're doing here?" Remus would have loved to spend longer with Harry, but Moony was demanding that he give his undivided attention to the search.
"We'll talk later pup. I promise," Harry cheeks reddened again at the endearment as he ducked his head in acquiesce before hurriedly taking his seat at the Gryfindor table.
"Well my boy any luck?" Dumbeldore prompted the former professor as he picked at his food. Remus couldn't hide his deep sense of disappointment as the wolf seemed to howl within him at what it perceived as lost time.
"She is not here," he replied his voice tight with repressed emotion his hand convulsing on the stem of his goblet.
"Then we will keep trying." Remus snorted at the aged Headmasters words, as if it was that easy! His heart was squeezing in his chest at the thought of how many more dead ends he would have to pursue before finding his chosen. Like chasing my own tail, he thought with a snarl. This was pointless he stood his chair scraping against the tile of the dais' floor before his senses were bombarded with pure ecstasy. Remus gripped the table as his knees buckled and his mouth watered in painful desire. His senses were on fire! She was here! She was here in this room and she smelled...Merlin she smelled divine! He felt himself go hard at her mer presence, the blood rushing to his groin. His eyes traced the scent back to its source as he made his way through the bewildered hall pushing passed obstacles until he reached his goal-his prize. He reached for her pulling the small body toward him with inhuman strength as he buried his nose in her bushy brown curls and inhaled letting himself be washed away by her scent. It was intoxicating and nearly felt as if he could loose himself in it. The girl went rigid in his grasp.
Suddenly all he wanted to do was be inside her, to burry himself within her tight depths. To make her his officially, forever. She was untouched and her innocence almost overpowered any other smell she possessed. It drove the werewolf wild as he growled his mouth descended on the junction between her neck and shoulder biting hard and swift drawing blood, a mark of his dominance. MINE! At the physical pain the shocked girl in his arms began to react jerking violently away from him with a yelp, but he held fast allowing her no escape. He growled a warning in her ear daring her to try leaving. She seemed to understand the position she was in as she fell limply back in his grip hoping to pacify the werewolf by permitting him to hold her. Moony gently lapped at the wound he had inflicted on her smooth skin hoping to comfort his witch. It had to be done, so no one else could claim his mate, but did wish it hadn't harmed her.
"Professor please," the voice that escaped his mates parted lips nearly set him afire all over again had it not been for the distressed pleading in her words that forced Remus to regain partial control. "Please." she whispered. Please WHAT! Moony thought frantically he would give her anything if she would just voice her needs.
"Remus– " Dumbeldore urged from the high table his voice soft to soothe him, "Remus I need you to release Miss Granger now so we can speak with her in a rational manner." Feeling threatened at the suggestion Moony held his mate to one side with a firm hand and snarled at the older man. The Great Hall was holding its breathe to see how this would play out. "Calm down Remus if you are that adverse to the idea there is no reason to release your mate. None of us wish her any harm. We simply want her to understand. We don't want to scare her. Do we?" The Headmaster released a sigh as he saw the animalistic madness fade from his friends eyes slowly but surely.
"Perhaps we could speak somewhere a little more privately," Remus said hoarsely not releasing his iron grip on his mate which he had yet to identify properly.
"The boys might like to join us?" Dumbeldore submitted the idea as a question as Remus shook his head hard.
"I won't have it," he snapped his nose twitching, "she smells of the red one." Ron went white under his freckles at the implication. He was lucky to be alive if what was happening was what he thought was happening. The room grew tense as Remus' eyes roved towards the youngest Weasley male.
"What about Harry, Remus? Can your cub join us? He would like to meet your chosen. I'm sure," Harry nodded with a gulp his face an ashen white not quite understanding what was going on in the slightest. Remus didn't seem to hear the Professor as he continued to stare down Ron. If he would have agreed to Harry's company shall never be known for patience is not one of Severus Snape's strong points. Especially when it has to do with the last marauder. While the werewolf was distracted with Weasley Severus hit him with a peach colored jet of light. Hermione let out a shriek as her former Defense Against the Dark Arts professor crumpled on top of her with a snore.
The small girl was trembling too badly to even attempt to squirm her way out from under the heavy body. She lay in an awkward position trying to even out her breathing with much difficulty. Hermione's eyes began to fill with helpless tears as she began futilely to push at Remus' unmoving body that was trapping her.
"Help me," she whispered with desperation. "Get him off." At her small voice Harry pulled his mentor of the ground with a grunt and balanced him precariously on his feet.
"What did you do to him?" Harry's voice was not as demanding as it would have been had this been normal circumstances.
"A strong sleeping charm, Potter. Considering what he is it probably won't last that long." Snape answered walking over to the group and levitating the victim with a flick of his wand. Harry then turned to Hermione who had yet to gather herself aptly.
"Are you alright?" He asked helping her stand.
"He bit me Harry..." she said softly her hand coming away from her neck spattered with crimson blood. "Why would the Professor bite me? It hurt. It felt like his teeth were on fire when he did it!" She nearly wailed gripping Harry so as not to loose her footing.
"Miss Granger if you will join me in my office I will try to explain all I can," the headmaster spoke in calm soothing tones and she nodded leaning into Harry for support, "Severus escort Remus to the hospital wing."
"If I may suggest something Headmaster. It will not bode well for Poppy if the werewolf awakes without Granger at his side. He will go hysterical."
"Then we will hold our conference at his bedside. Come along children," he prompted leaving Severus to trail behind with the snoring Remus.
MATE! The word kept bouncing around in Hermione's shock fogged brain. She knew what it meant. The Professor need not explain. She knew what it meant. She knew what came with being the mate of a werewolf. SEX, that was what her pounding heart focused on. Sex with her forty year old former Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor or he would go insane. Oh God! She was going to have to sleep with her best friend's mentor by the next full moon! In...her mind raced as she added up her time...nine days. That was in nine days! Oh God! She couldn't breathe! Why couldn't she breathe!
Professor Dumbledore was still speaking, an annoying buzzing that Hermione had regulated to the background as she struggled for breath. Brain cells! She was killing brain cells! It was odd what ones mind focused on during times of crisis. Harry seemed to have realized her struggle as he managed to put away his own shock to help his friend. His face swam into Hermione's fuzzy line of vision as he gripped her cheeks bracingly and met her eyes.
"In and out," he directed her sternly taking a deep breath to demonstrate. She nodded clutching his hands that were still resting on her face as she forced her lungs to work, "In and out," he continued coaching until she was steady once more.
"Thank you Harry," she offered him the biggest smile she could muster, which wasn't much, and was rewarded with a worried one of his own and a small pat on her arm. The Headmaster had stopped his explanation and was waiting for her to speak.
"Are you–" she paused still trying to collect herself, "Are you sure I'm Professor Lupin's mate." Perhaps they were mistaken, surely they were. Dumbledore's eyes twinkle benignly and he looked as if he was humoring her.
"He felt the urge to mark you Miss Granger," he motioned towards the bite on her neck which was still red, "I trust his actions spoke for themself." The tiny bubble of hope that Hermione had been clinging to popped with an audible burst. At least it was audible to her.
"What do I do now?" She asked releasing a trembling gust of air.
"I believe, my dear, that is your choice." Hermione's eyes nearly popped out of her head as she scoffed loudly at the Professor's words.
"Choice! You can't possibly believe I actually have a choice! There is not getting around this," she gestured toward the hospital bed which held the sleeping werewolf, "this rather large problem!" She was yelling now. Yelling at the Headmaster of her school! The thought would have been appalling had Hermione been under normal circumstances, "I will not have the total destruction of a man that I respect and care for on my conscience!" Dumbledore didn't seem angry at her loud tone in fact he seemed sympathetic.
"I see you have already made your decision." Hermione's mouth dropped open in absolute incredulity.
"You are still operating on the assumption that I have a choice!"
"There is always a choice," he replied gravely. His words seemed to anger Hermione so badly that she could not speak.
"Young lady if you raise your voice once more to the Headmaster I'm afraid I am going to have to assign a detention." Professor McGonagall's sharp voice cut through the sterile hospital wing causing Hermione to sputter, "I am extremely disappointed in you Miss Granger."
"But– I–you."
"That is not necessary Minerva. Miss Granger is upset and dually so."
"But what does this mean?" Harry interrupted feeling tired of being left in the dark.
"It means I have to sleep with him Harry!" Hermione snapped her fury turning on her clueless friend, "I have to sleep with your...your-- Remus in nine days or he will turn into his werewolf form permanently." Harry's face twisted into a grimace.
"Your going to shag Remus. Hermione that is disgusting. He's like my uncle."
"I don't believe you are quite grasping the concept," Hermione sighed feeling her anger slowly drain away leaving her weary as she reached for her friends hand, "If I don't do this, if I leave him, you will loose him." Harry started his green eyes flying to Remus who was waking.
"Miss Granger," Dumbeldore prompted. In response Hermione moved closer towards Remus' bedside slightly wary. Her presence seemed to wake him instantly and he reached for her catching a very startled witch in his strong grasp.
"Hermione," he seemed slightly surprised, "I hadn't realized it was you earlier." She seemed to struggle with words for a moment. "I'm sorry I frightened you."
"I'm just glad you are more lucid." She finally whispered not sure how to play this. "I would feel more comfortable if you would release me."
"I can think clearer when I touch you," his eyes were slightly glazed as he ran a finger down her cheek causing her to shiver. "I hope I didn't hurt you," his finger now ghosted over his mark from earlier. The sensation nearly made Hermione's eyes roll back in her head as she gasped in ecstasy her body flushing with heat. Her reaction made him grin as he pushed himself up on his elbow to reach her better. She had never felt anything like this as her body shook with want. What she wanted Hermione had no clue she only knew it was connected with this man.
"Do you like that?" he purred his lips on the shell of her ear his hand still stroking the bite. Hermione squirmed uncomfortably feeling a wetness between her legs. "Only I can make you feel this way." She answered with a moan, "Shall I stop?" He teased and Hermione wanted to weep at the thought. An unbearable pressure was building inside the small woman and she thrust her hips in an effort to release it. The action only made the sensation grow.
"Please," she whimpered losing all self control, "Please don't stop." His lips began caressing Hermione's neck and she felt a tight explosion in the pit of her stomach forcing a strangled scream from her lips. Remus cradled her body as she fell across his shoulder limply her breath coming in short ragged pants. Had she just experienced her first orgasm? With her clothes still on! Was that even possible?
"You are mine," he whispered for her ears only. This was not the Remus she knew.
"I am yours," she agreed her fingers wrapping tightly around his robes. Wait! What had she just said! She belonged to no one. Hermione gave up. She was to tired to ponder the thought.
"Sleep," he commanded running his hand through her hair in a comforting manner, "I will look after you. No one touches what is mine." She didn't have the strength to argue as she succumbed to the weight of her eyelids. Remus chuckled as he shifted the dead weight of his witch. Finally, oh finally.
