Disclaimer: As always, I don't own Harry Potter or the characters.
Hermione was up long before anyone else, taking advantage of the quiet to catch up on the studying she had missed out on yesterday when Ginny had interrupted her. She tried to keep herself distracted by finishing the hideously long Potions essay due after the holidays, but her thoughts kept straying back to her conversation with Lupin last night.
'What has gotten into me?' Hermione thought to herself, after reading the same sentence several times. 'I wasn't even like this with Viktor around.'
She looked towards the ceiling. Somewhere above her, Lupin was probably sleeping peacefully, surrounded by Sirius' childhood belongings.
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when Mrs Weasley's voice rang throughout the house, magnified by magic.
"Breakfast!"
Ginny groaned and tossed a pillow at the door.
"You really aren't a morning person, are you?" asked Hermione idly as she got back to work on her essay. Ginny replied with a louder groan.
She dragged herself out of bed, and pulled on a sweater, her favourite Quidditch team emblazoned on the front.
"You coming down?" she asked Hermione, slightly muffled by the yawn she was trying to stifle.
"No, I've already eaten," Hermione replied. "Honestly, how can you still be tired? You went to bed before I did."
Hermione was met with nothing but the turned back of Ginny as she slouched out the room.
Half an hour passed before Ginny returned upstairs, looking much more awake than when she had left.
"Did you know Lupin stayed the night?" Ginny asked curiously, head cocked to one side.
Before Hermione could even open her mouth to reply, Ginny jumped in.
"I knew it! That's why you weren't down for breakfast!" Hermione scowled at her.
"If you had given me the chance to breathe Ginny, I would be able to tell you that yes, I knew he stayed but no, that isn't the reason I didn't come to breakfast," Hermione said, avoiding Ginny's eyes.
"Oh, what happened?" Ginny asked, suddenly interested.
"I'm afraid you're going to be thoroughly disappointed," said Hermione, turning to face Ginny. "I overheard him and Tonks having a row when I was getting a glass of water, and then we talked for a bit before we went to bed."
Ginny rolled her eyes at Hermione, as she turned back to her work.
"Hermione, come on. You should have seen him at breakfast," Ginny saw Hermione freeze, her quill poised over the parchment. "He was much happier than last night if you ask me."
"What happened to leaving him alone and all that?"
"If you're making him happy and Tonks' isn't, then obviously you're better for him," Ginny shrugged.
"Ginny," Hermione began. "Nothing happened. And nothing will happen. I do not like him, and besides even if I did, he only sees me as a child."
Ginny noticed the bitterness in Hermione's voice.
"I mean, if he think Tonks is too young, how do you think he sees me?" By this time Hermione had stood up, wringing her hands.
"Just go for it," Ginny shrugged. "I've gone for guys older than me before."
"Not this much older Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed.
"You remember that Herbology substitute?" Ginny winked. Hermione couldn't tell if she was joking or not.
"Wotcher Ginny, Hermione," came a voice from the hallway. Tonks leant against the door frame.
Hermione and Ginny exchanged looks.
"H-hey, Tonks!" A huge false smile was plastered on Hermione's face. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Only long enough to know that someone has a crush on an older boy," Tonks winked. "Much older by the sounds of it…"
A nervous laugh escaped Hermione's mouth, eyes pleading with Ginny to save her.
"Don't even bother Tonks," Ginny said looking bored. "I've been trying to get it out of her for weeks. You know Hermione is never one to kiss and tell."
Hermione blanched at the thought of kissing Lupin.
"Oh, I'm not so sure about that. I overheard Ron moaning to Charlie earlier about how Ginny told him you snogged Krum at the Yule Ball," Tonks smirked.
"That was two years ago," Hermione rolled her eyes. "Besides, why would he be moaning about it, he's got 'Lav-Lav' to keep him company."
Ginny mimed throwing up behind Hermione, and Tonks forced a half-hearted chuckle.
"Oh get off it Hermione, everyone knows he's in love with you," Ginny said, looking at Hermione sympathetically. Tonks nodded in agreement.
Hermione had never even thought of Ron like that. He was like a brother to her, not to mention the incessant eating, refusal to study and his endless complaints about, well, everything.
She sat there processing this for a while, until Tonks interrupted her thoughts.
"Oh, and I did come up here to tell you that Harry and Ron want to talk with you, they haven't seen you all holidays," Tonks said, making her way towards the door. "They're down in the living room."
Tonks left the room without so much as a goodbye, and Hermione and Ginny let out a sigh.
"If she had arrived a couple seconds earlier, that could've gotten awkward," Ginny said, screwing up her face.
"Which is why," Hermione said following Tonks' footsteps towards the door. "I am going to see Harry and Ron, and we are never speaking of this again, you understand?"
oOo
Hermione made her way down the staircase, looking around, hoping not to bump into Lupin. However as soon as she turned the corner, she practically walked into him.
"Oof- sorry!" Hermione said as Lupin grabbed her arm to steady her.
"Hello, Hermione," he greeted her warmly. Ginny was right, he did look better than last night.
"Good morning," she muttered back, unsure why she was blushing so hard. "Sleep alright in Sirius' room?"
"Heh, yeah," he replied, a twinkle in his eye. "I had some company last night, thanks to him."
Hermione thought back to the faded posters of the bikini models in Sirius' bedroom.
"Oh," Hermione said. Her brain seemed to have stopped working, which was a first. "Lucky."
"Not quite my type," he joked. There was a pull in Hermione's stomach. "I'd forgotten how creepy Muggle pictures are – just eternally staring."
"Forgotten?"
"My mother was Muggle-born. She still read the Muggle papers and books when I was growing up," Hermione smiled, thinking of a young Lupin, not tainted by his lycanthropy curse.
"You're in a much better mood this morning," Hermione mentioned, leaning against the staircase railing.
"Quite," Lupin smiled.
"Well," Hermione interrupted the silence. "I've got to go meet Harry and Ron. I guess I'll see you later?"
"Oh," Hermione thought he almost looked disappointed. "Well, I'm thinking I'll stay here for a while, help out with the Order. Easier than apparating back and forth every night. So yes, absolutely. You will see me."
Hermione smiled a goodbye to Lupin, and as she turned away the smile grew until she was beaming. Remus was going to be around all the time.
"What are you grinning like a lunatic for?" Ron asked as she entered the room.
"Good morning to you to, Ronald," Hermione sat beside Harry on the couch, mentally telling herself to tone down her glee.
"Hey, Hermione," Harry said, a much more welcoming greeting than Ron's.
"So, what's going on?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing, I just thought we hadn't hung out, just the three of us since, well, you know," said Harry.
Harry and Hermione swapped knowing glances. The tips of Ron's ears had begun to turn beet red.
"I know, I promise it won't be like that after break," Ron grumbled. "I'll have a word with her."
"Good luck with that one, mate," Harry joked, resulting in a glare from an already embarrassed Ron.
"You're a jealous lot, aren't you?" Ron started, rather defensively.
"Quite the contrary," Hermione retorted, looking disinterested as she picked up a book that was left on the coffee table. Harry laughed in agreement.
"Oh really?" Ron replied, growing more irritated by the minute. "We all know you're married to your books, but until they create one that talks back, you're going to have to find yourself a boy one day."
"Believe me, if a book ever starts talking back to you, run. Run far away," Ginny had just entered the room, plopping herself on the couch next to Hermione. "Besides, Hermione doesn't need a boy. A man however..."
"I don't need a boy, much less a man, thank you very much," Hermione snapped.
Ron and Harry exchanged looks of shock. Hermione wasn't usually the one to talk to Ginny with such scorn, but Ginny didn't seem to mind. She just raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"What was that all about then?" Ron asked Hermione, interrupting the silence. She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Your sister just doesn't seem to know when to drop something," Hermione muttered. "Merlin knows where that came from."
"Come off it, Hermione," Ginny said, rolling her eyes. "It's the holidays, have some fun."
Harry and Ron still looked questioningly at Ginny.
"Hermione has a crush," Ginny announced, as if she was exposing some juicy piece of gossip. Hermione slammed her book shut to give Ginny venomous look.
"You're not talking to Krum again, are you?" Ron asked in disgust.
"Not that it's any of your business, but no, I'm not." Hermione said, still glaring at Ginny.
"No, he's an older man," Ginny revealed.
"Older than Krum?" Harry asked.
"Much older."
"Merlin, Hermione. You're not dating a teacher are you?" Hermione's eyes widened at Ron's question. "Just in time for out NEWT's eh?"
"Some of us actually study and don't have to result to cheating to pass," Hermione's words were like ice.
Ron and Harry looked at each other uncomfortably. Hermione dropped her book on the coffee table with a thump and marched out of the room, leaving the youngest Weasley's and Harry dazed by her defensiveness and sudden departure.
oOo
"Hey!" Hermione ignored the voice as she stormed up the stairs. "Hey, Hermione, wait!"
She felt a calloused hand close around her wrist. She stopped, knowing she wouldn't be strong enough to fight it off.
"What? Oh, Lupin. Sorry." she apologised when she realised who it was.
"Are you okay?" he asked, looking seriously concerned. Hermione just shook her head, lost for words.
"I was just going down to make tea, I could bring you one as well if you like, and we can have a chat?" Hermione nodded, wordlessly accepting Lupin's offer.
"I'll be up in Sirius' room in a couple of minutes," Hermione nodded again, and Lupin released her wrist so she could go. Her wrist tingled from his firm hold on her.
Hermione made her way up to the bedroom she had left Lupin at the previous night, and sat perched on the edge of Sirius' bed, waiting for him to return. She looked around the room, taking in the belongings and decorations of the deceased Marauder.
A framed photograph of the four of them was sitting on the bedside table. Hermione picked it up, and watched the four young boys smiling, pushing and shoving each other playfully.
Lupin backed into the room, pushing the door open with his back; hands full with two mugs of tea.
Hermione jumped up to take one of the mugs out of his hands. She cupped her own around the mug, warmth spreading through her, relaxing her anger.
"Thank you," Hermione murmured, before taking a long sip of the tea.
"Everything was different then," Lupin stated, looking forlornly at the photograph Hermione had thrown down on the bed in effort to release Lupin's full hands.
Hermione picked up the frame again, smiling. She sat back down on the bed.
"You were all so young," Hermione said quietly, moving a hand across the photo. Across her best friend's father. Her best friends step dad. Her ex teacher. And a traitor.
"We're as old as you are, in this picture," Hermione noticed his choice of words. He could have said as young as. He sat down next to her on Sirius' bed.
They sat in silence, looking at the picture. Hermione's hand had laid to rest over Peter Pettigrew, excluding him from the group.
"Everything could have been so different," Hermione said, thinking of Harry. "At least Harry has you."
"I fear that I'm not the best figure in Harry's life," Lupin said, with heavy heart.
"Of course you are!" Hermione replied, aghast that he thought of himself like that. "You are to all of us, Lupin."
She put a comforting hand on his. Lupin looked down at it.
"I think it's been long enough that you can call me Remus," he smiled, looking up from her small hand resting on his large scarred one.
"Remus," she said shyly.
Lupin looked conflicted.
"So," he began, shaking off his confused expression. "What happened earlier? You seemed really upset."
"Oh," Hermione shook her head. "It doesn't matter. Really."
"Of course it does, anything that's making you upset matters," he looked at her with concern. He still hadn't moved his hand from beneath hers.
"They're just teasing me about some boy they think I like. Which I don't," Hermione said quickly. "Ginny just won't drop it."
"Oh, young love," Lupin said light-heartedly.
"Ugh," Hermione said, drawing her hand back to meet her, crossing over her chest.
"Hey, come on, I was kidding,"
"Maybe you aren't the best figure for the boys," Hermione mocked.
"They're not quite boys anymore, are they?" he said wistfully, looking back at the photograph.
"Well, we've all had to face a lot," Hermione remarked.
"Yes," Lupin agreed. "More than your average witch or wizard. Wise beyond your years."
Hermione looked up to see Lupin gazing at her. She gave him a small smile.
"Well," Hermione started, nervously. "We have had some pretty incredible figures to mould us into such."
Hermione held her breath, hoping she hadn't pushed the limit.
Lupin reached up and tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear, hand lingering at the side of her face. Evidently, she hadn't.
Hermione took in a quivering breath.
Lupin leaned in slowly, giving Hermione enough time to pull away if she wanted to, and grazed her lips with his.
Hermione stood up abruptly.
"I should go," and hurried out of the room so quickly she didn't see Tonk's who had flatten herself against the wall.