Authors note: Sadly I own nothing of the Harry Potter realm...*Sigh* All contents, save the plot, belong to the lovely J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 2 - Mate

Hermione woke to the sound of something falling down the stairs. Quickly jumoing out of bed she shot out of her room, wand drawn. Remus was lying in a heap at the bottom of the flight of stairs.

"Remus!" She gasped lowering her wand and flying down the stairs. "Are you ok?" She asked, helping him to his feet.

"I'm fine." He said, standing up. "Did I wake you? I was trying to be quiet and I tripped over something." They looked up to the top of the stairs to find Athena's blanket lying there innocently.

"I'm sorry. I must have dropped it last night."

"Don't worry about it." Remus said waving a hand.

"Where are you going so early?"

"I thought I'd take a trip to Diagon Alley and stock up on some supplies. I need to figure out what books to get for my classes this year."

"Would you mind if Athena and I come? She's never been to Diagon Alley." Remus nodded and said he'd be in the kitchen when they were ready. Hermione walked back in her room to find Athena grasping her feet in the air. "Come one Pumpkin." She lifted Athena out of her crib and began getting ready for their trip. "We're going to Diagon Alley today!"

When Hermione was finished getting them both ready she left the room and headed for the kitchen. There they took the Floo Network to Diagon Alley. Athena squealed in delight as Hermione stepped out of the fireplace. She had never seen magic being done and every new thing she saw delighted her to no end. Her and Remus split ways and Hermione wandered through Diagon Alley for the first time in over a year. She decided to get a new set of robes. She was in Madam Malkins when she ran into him.

"Granger?" She turned around to find Draco Malfoy standing there.

"Malfoy!"

"What are you doing here? I thought you disappeared?" He asked politely.

"Umm, ya I did. But Harry convinced me to come back." They stood there and talked for a while until it was Hermione's turn to get her robes done. Draco asked her about Athena and what she'd been doing, along with what she was planning to do now.

"Well, owl me sometime." He said finally. "Maybe we can have lunch together or something." He smiled at her and left the shop. Hermione was shocked at the new Malfoy, to say the least.

That night, Hermione and Remus were eating dinner while Athena splashed soup everywhere. Remus had bought her some toys at Diagon Alley and she was absolutley fasinated with the small flying objects. They were various magical creatures in miniature, a Hippogriff, an owl, a dragon, and many others. He had also bought her a child's play wand that shot different colored sparks, or flowers, or shot water. She had already hit her mother in the face with water once and she giggled like mad at Hermione's shocked face. After dinner Hermione put Athena down for bed and she went in the next room to the Drawing Room, where she was reading her newest book when Remus came in.

"Can I ask you something?" He said sitting down acrossed from her. Hermione nodded and marked her page before setting it on the table next to her. "Why did you leave?" Hermione sighed.

"I found out I was pregnant." She replied.

"So? Lots of people get pregnant."

"Well, I didn't want anyone to judge me for one night of bad decision making."

"No one would have judged you. You helped save the Wizarding World."

"Yes well, that doesn't change the fact that I was only 18, not married and pregnant."

"But," Remus argued. "You must have known that everyone would have helped you. And why didn't you just tell the father?"

"I didn't tell him because no one would approve."

"And why not?" Hermione sighed in frustration and went to bed without another word.

Remus was laying in bed arguing with the wolf inside him.

'I know I'm Athena's father.' He thought

'And what are you going to do? Announce it to the world?' Moony argued.

'Maybe, maybe not. But I could help her.'

'Then go help.'

'But she's right. No one would approve. I'm almost twice her age. And because of you, everyone see's me as dangerous.'

'We both know she's never cared about me. And we both know that we need her!'

'No WE don't. YOU do. I however have more self control.'

'Go to her.'

'No'

'Yes'

'NO!' Moony growled. 'Fine. Just a quick peek, though'

Remus threw the covers from his body and climbed out of bed. He tiptoed to Hermione's door and pushed it open. He crossed the room, glancing in Athena's crib and sat carefully on the edge of Hermione's bed. He felt his control slipping and Moony's growing and tried to fight it. But he knew it was a loosing battle. He felt his eyes shift color from bright blue to brilliant purple and Moony growled, the sound echoing around the room.

'We shouldn't be here!' He screamed at Moony.

'Shut up human.' Moony replied. Moony edged closer to Hermione and he brethed in her scent. She smelled like vanilla and lavender. Remus tried to resist the urge to bury his face in her neck but Moony won as usual. Carefully, Moony leaned over her and kissed her forehead before nuzzling his head in her neck. Hermione shifted and Moony sat up, looking into Hermione's chocolate brown eyes.

"Remus?" She asked groggily.

"No," Growled Moony. Hermione smiled in recognition.

"Hello, Moony." He smiled a wolfish grin as Remus fought for control. Moony shook his head a few times.

"My human is trying to regain control. But I won't let him. You must tell me. Is Athena my cub?" Hermione looked at him apprehensively before nodding her head slowly. "Why did you run?"

"Because I was scared. It was one night. We were both drunk. I didn;t know how Remus felt about it. About us."

"Why didn't you simply ask us?"

"I don't know." Hermione sat up carefully and Moony growled at her night gown. It was a spaghetti strap, pale blue with black lace for the hem. Hermione blushed and tried to cover herself. Moony chuckled.

"I have seen you in much less than this. There is no need for modesty." Moony pulled the blankets from her and growled in appreciation. The night gown was just long enough to cover her butt when standing up. But she was NOT standing up. Hermione placed a hand on Moony's cheek and he nuzzled into it. "I have decided."

"Decided what?" Hermione asked.

"You will be my mate." Remus mentally cringed. "My human doesn't like this. But he has no control over it. You have until the full moon to decide. Once I have choosen my mate, I must mark you before the full moon." With that Moony sunk back into Remus's mind. Remus stared at her in horror.

"Hermione!" Remus choked. "I'm... I'm sorry." He jumped off the bed and ran out of the room. Hermione heard him run down the stairs and out the front door. Hermione sighed and laid back down, drifting to sleep.

"Harry?" Hermione called, entering the Godric's Hollow house. "Are you here?"

"In the study!" He called. Hermione walked down the hall and entered the library, which served as Harry's study. "Hey, what's up?"

"Moony choose me as his mate." Hermione said sitting down heavily and sitting Athena on her lap.

"Wow!" Harry said turning to face her. "How does Remus feel about that?"

"He doesn't like it of course. I... I told Moony that Athena is his."

"Is she?" Hermione nodded and Harry smiled. "I knew it! So what's the problem? You don't have feelings for him?"

"No! That's not it at all." Just then an owl flew through the window and landed next to Hermione. Seeing the it was adressed to her Hermione pulled the scroll off the birds foot. Athena reached for the bird and it bent it's head so she could pet him. "It's from Professor McGonagall. She needs a Charms teacher this year." Hermione borrowed Harry's quil and replied that she would think about it and sent the owl off.

"So what's the problem?"

"Remus is the problem. He doesn't want to be with me."

"Hermione," Harry began. "I've seen the way he looks at you. He does wan tyou. He's just afraid that you don't want him." They talked for a while and Hermione knew what she had to do. She left Athena at Harry's, promising to return in the morning, and flooed back to Grimmauld Place to get ready for the night.

Remus returned to Grimmauld Place to soft music and candles. He smelled something in the kitchen and went to investigate. He found Hermione setting plates of spaghetti on the table. She looked up he came in.

"We need to talk." She said as he sat down.

"Umm, ok. About what?" He said slowly.

"Moony has choosen me. You know that Athena is yours." He nodded. "So, I need to know how you feel about all that." Remus chewed slowly, wondering what to say.

"I'm thrilled to have children."

"And?" Hermione persisted.

"And... I'm not sure what to think about Moony's decision." Hermione stood up and walked around the table. She pulled Remus chair out and sat on his lap straddling him.

"How about now?"

"Hermione, what's going on?" Remus asked finally.

"What's going on, is that you have a decision to make. Before the full moon, if I'm correct. I've made my decision. Now it's up to you." She watched as his eyes turned bright purple.

"So, you've made your decision?" Moony asked.

"Yes."

"And what, may I ask, is your choice?"

"I want to be with Remus, with you." Moony nodded.

"Then all that's left is for Remus to decide. Then you will be mine." Remus's eyes truned back to their normal bright blue and he shook his head.

"I really hate it when he does that."

"I kinda like it." Hermione said smiling.

"So you really want to be with me?" Hermione nodded. Remus sighed and pushed her off. "I need to think." Remus got up and left Hermione standing in the kitchen.

Around 11 that night there was a knock on Hermione's door. She put her book away and called for Remus to come in. Remus pushed the door open and crossed the room quickly. He pushed her back on the bed and kissed her hard. His hand slid up her shirt and flitted across her stomach. He pulled abck and pulled her shirt above her head.

"Wasting no time are we?" She asked smiling slightly. He pulled back, breathing hard.

"I've made my decision. I want you." He said softly before kissing her again. His shirt soon followed hers, along with both of their pants and underwear. Remus trailed his hand down her side and inbetween her thighs. He pulled back and looked at her. She watched as his eyes shifted from bright blue to a mix of blue and purple. "Now I makr you as mine." Moony growled. He pushed her back on the bed and slid down her body, inhaling the musty scent coming from her core. He slid a finger over the bundle of nerves nestled between her folds and her head fell back. She knew that this would probably hurt and that he was trying to distract her from it, for which she was thankful. He pushed a finger inside her, then added another, leaving his thumb to make circles around her clit. She felt his lips on her thigh before a pian shot through her body as he bit down on her upper thigh. He sucked gently and rubbed her clit a little faster. The pain quickly receded to intense pleasure and she felt her self explode.

Seconds or hours later, she didnt know which, he slid back up her body and pushed his throbbing member inside her.

"Home," Remus growled, as he began rocking against her. Hermione's hands explored his back and chest, finally burrying in his hair and pulling his head down for a searing kiss. It didn't take long until Remus exploded inside her, followed quickly by Hermione's own orgasm. Remus smiled as Moony howled silently in triumph. In 9 months they would have another cub around the house.