In a frustrated movement, Hermione tossed the bedcovers off of her, slipping out of bed. It was nearly two o'clock and she still couldn't sleep. She wanted her partner! Unconcerned for covering up her body, she tip-toed down the stairs to the pitch black kitchen. It was cold here... Hermione immediately noticed why: a window stood open in the far corner of the kitchen closest to the refrigerator. She closed it with a slight thud, screwing up her face at the noise it had made.
"Gods," she whispered as she cracked open the refrigerator. All she needed was for someone to catch her in her lacey nightie. She'd never hear the end of it. A long streak of light fell across the kitchen as she reached into the refrigerator for chilled wine, and before she could close the door, she noticed a flash of blue across the room. Her eyes darted to the figure...
"Remus," she gasped, closing the refrigerator quickly as to try to hide her near nakedness.
"I'm sorry," he sighed, standing.
"It's my fault, please stay," she shook her head, grabbing a glass from the cabinet, "I should have put on a robe. Didn't think anyone would be up."
Remus smirked, "I've seen a woman's body before. I think I'll live."
"Yes," Hermione blushed furiously, thanking Merlin that Remus couldn't see this in the shadowy kitchen. She took a seat next to him, offering him wine. When he nodded, she poured a second glass. Hermione sipped slowly, her legs crossing under the table. Remus caught a glimpse of skin, forcing himself to take his eyes off of her legs. Hermione seemed to notice, her hand falling down to her thigh.
Both sat in silence for a while before Hermione noticed they both needed refills, "Are you and Tonks happy?"
Remus seemed a bit surprised by this question, "Yes, I think we are," he nodded. A thought hit him, "Aren't you and Ron?"
Hermione took a while to answer, swishing her wine around in its glass for a moment, "Erm... Not exactly."
Remus quirked a brow, "What do you mean?"
"Well," she began, her eyes moving to focus on his face in the darkness, "He's gone all the time... And when he's home we fight. He's so childish about everything... I didn't really realize that it would be this way when I married him... I mean, I've always known how immature he can be, but he always seemed to care so much about what I thought and wanted that he'd push past that."
Remus nodded, "Ron is something different."
"Yeah... Something too different," Hermione sighed heavily, her tongue darting out to wet her lips.
Remus reached over, taking her hand. Hermione felt her heart fly into her throat, "It will all work out if it is supposed to. If not, then you know that you and Ron weren't meant to be."
Hermione nodded, agreeing with her veteran Professor, "I just hate that I've wasted a year on him already. I should have never married him... And if we get divorced then the Weasley's will hate me and I'll never be able to come here again," tears welled up in those honey brown eyes.
"No... They would love you the same," Remus assured her, never releasing her hand.
"No way," Hermione shook her head, "If you had a son, and his wife divorced him after only a year of marriage you would detest her! I'll break his heart," she sniffled.
"Would you rather your heart be broken for a lifetime? His will heal and he will find someone else. If you stay with him you'll be miserable for the rest of your life. You wouldn't want that, would you?" he squeezed her hand gently. Hermione felt her heart flutter.
Hermione wrapped her arms tightly around Remus' neck, sobbing into his shoulder. He jumped a bit at the sudden movement but soon scooted his chair back a bit and pulled her down to sit in his lap, a large, scarred hand running up and down her back. She held onto his shirt for dear life as a small child might do to her father when frightened.
"It will be okay," he whispered into her ear, stroking her hair.
The next morning, Hermione awoke to find a warm body next to her. She snuggled up to him, taking in his scent. A brow rose slightly as she realized this wasn't Ron's scent. This man smelled of lemongrass. She sat up quickly, her mind flying through the night before. She looked down to find herself nude. What had gone on last night? The last thing she remembered was clinging to Remus. Had she slept with him? She searched for her nightie, locating it halfway under the bed. She slipped it on quickly and shook Remus awake. He turned to her with a smile.
"Honey, let me sleep," he groaned, not quite aware that the woman shaking him was not his wife.
"It's Hermione," she spat.
"Huh?" he sat bolt upright. He glanced down at his bare chest and up at her wild hair and barely dressed appearance, "Did we...?"
(JA: I don't remember her standing first. vv)
"I don't know!" Hermione began to pace back and forth, glancing at the clock with hope that it was still extremely early. No... In fact, it was extremely late. It was noon. Why had the rest of the house let them sleep?
Just as Hermione began to panic there was a rapping at the door. Hermione's eyes widened, attempting to hide. Realizing that this was her room, she pushed Remus off the bed onto the floor and ran to the door, cracking it just enough to peek outside. It was Ginny.
"Why aren't you up yet? And where's Professor Lupin?" Ginny inquired.
"As if I would know where Remus was!" Hermione replied defensively, her head throbbing from a hangover. Ginny backed up a bit, shocked at her friend's appearance.
"He's in there, isn't he, Hermione?!" Ginny hissed, her eyes wide.
"No!" Hermione lied. Apparently Ginny could tell this because she pushed her way in the door, shutting it quickly behind herself. She locked it and peered around the bed.
"I see feet!" Ginny exclaimed, rushing to the other side of the bed and gasping at her nearly nude professor. "What the hell did you two do last night?!"
"Nothing!" Hermione whimpered, all of this spiraling out of control way too fast, "I don't know what happened. We drank too much wine... And I was upset... And then everything went blank! The next thing I knew I woke up here... With him!" She shoved a finger in Remus' direction. He scratched his head, standing.
"This looks bad," he groaned.
"You think?" Ginny spat sarcastically.
"I don't even know if we did anything," Hermione slapped a hand to her forehead.
"Let's see, 'Mione," Ginny began to count off on her hand, "You have sex hair, you woke up next to another man, who is naked," she glared at Remus who wrapped the sheet tighter around his waist, "and you had way too much to drink last night. Does that sound like enough to convince you?"
"Aww... Shit," Hermione groaned, pushing Ginny to the side to gain access to her dresser. She grabbed a pair of Ron's boxers, tossing them at Remus.
"Ginny, we'll be down in a bit," Remus nodded towards the redhead, hoping she'd leave.
Ginny growled softly before turning to Hermione, "I won't tell anyone, but if you don't tell Ron by tomorrow, I'm spilling the beans."
"Ginny!" Hermione whined.
"Don't Ginny me," her face was stern.
"Fine, get out!" Hermione flung the door open. Mrs. Weasley stood before them, apparently bringing Hermione breakfast and prenatal pills, assuming the reason she was in bed was because she was pregnant.
"Oh... Dear," Molly looked from Hermione to Remus and back again, the tray dropping to her feet.
"Mrs. Weasley," Hermione shook her head, "It's not what it looks like..."
Molly's eyes widened, her finger flying to point at Remus, "I'm going to tell your wife just what kind of man you are... Sleeping with young married women... You are disgusting. And as for you!" she turned to Hermione, her eyes wild with fury, "You get the hell out of my house!"
Hermione felt the tears rolling down her cheeks at Mrs. Weasley's words.
(JA: Walk to the dresser first, Mrs. Weasley. vv)
"NOW!" Mrs. Weasley bellowed, throwing Hermione's clothes out of Ron's dresser drawers and out the window. For good measure she tossed a suitcase down with them. Hermione jumped, running out of the room, Ginny in tow.
"Molly," Remus held up his hands in protest, "Listen... Don't act like this."
"I don't want to hear it!" she growled, slapping Remus hard across the face, "You can go with her! Get your things and leave immediately!" Molly stormed out of the room and back downstairs, no doubt informing the rest of the house what she'd just discovered.
(A little short, I know, but the rest will make up for it! Promise! Review please.)