Chapter 4

Remus and Hermione stood in the hallway of Grimmauld Place, the low lamplight casting a warm, homely glow. Remus was very aware that she still hadn't let go of his hand, her delicate hand feeling frozen and fragile in his. He could feel her little shivers as she stared ahead, wide chocolate eyes taking in surroundings that must hold so many memories for her.

He observed her carefully and realised that in the light cast around him she looked worn and painfully thin. Her dress gave the illusion of curves but he could see the fragility of her wrists and the way the leather jacket hung from her pointed shoulders. He wanted to take her in his arms and whisper that everything would be alright. Uncomfortably he was also very aware that some part of him wanted to know what her full rosebud lips felt against his, that some part of him craved the feeling of her body against his again. You're nearly twenty years older than her! What are you thinking, you lecherous old man? Remus shook his head and reluctantly let her hand go.

Hermione took a few tentative steps forward. "If you want to get cleaned up, just go straight up the stairs and there's a spare room with a bathroom," He said after clearing his throat.

"Thank you," She said quietly, turning her face to smile up at him shyly. "Uh..." she began. "What should I do about a change of clothes?" She asked, a little blush creeping along her pale cheeks.

Ah, shit... I hadn't thought of that. Remus shifted awkwardly. "I'll find you something," He said finally.

"Okay. I'll see you in a bit then?" She said as she slipped off her heels and walked barefoot to the stairs.

Her bare legs looked deliciously long and creamy as she glided up the stairs and disappeared into the spare room. "Shit," Remus muttered to himself and turned to stalk into the kitchen. "Whaugh!" He exclaimed as he came face to face with Sirius' grinning face. "What?" Remus asked irritably.

"I know that look Mr Mooney," He said with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

"What look?" Remus sighed in resignation.

"You were admiring Hermione's rather nice legs!" Sirius teased.

"Oh, shut up." He pushed past Sirius and headed for the kitchen.

"I have to admit she has blossomed into a real stunner," Sirius said thoughtfully.

Remus stopped and turned back, a small growl rising in his throat. "Don't even think about it Padfoot."

"What?" Sirius asked innocently.

"Don't even think about putting the moves on her," He replied narrowing his eyes at the other man.

"Why not?" Sirius' expression was only half teasing.

"Because," Remus began while walking forward and poking Sirius hard in the chest as he spoke. "Because she is vulnerable, because she is your godson's friend, because she needs friends not admirers, because she's nearly half your age, and just because," Remus finished and spun on his heel marching to the kitchen.

"Sounds like you've thought this through, Mooney!" Sirius called after him.

"Piss off!" Remus called back.

In the kitchen he ran a hand through his slightly shaggy sandy hair and took a deep breath. First things first, he had to put the hot chocolate on. Remus crumbled Honeyduke's finest into a pan with milk and cream and waved his wand over it, making sure it would slowly heat. He pushed past Sirius as he left the kitchen. Damn that bastard and his incessant chuckling. Half way up the stairs he could still hear the rumble of Sirius amusement.

Remus pulled out a checked shirt and maroon knitted jumper from his draw and started rifling around for a pair of suitable trouser. Shit, he thought when nothing turned up. She can't walk around without trousers on all night. The image caused a flush of heat in his face and somewhere highly inappropriate. I'm so screwed...

"Need any help?" Sirius asked poking his head around the door.

"Not unless you can find me a pair of trousers that'll fit Hermione, no," He said sighing and leaning his head against the wooden door of a cupboard.

"Actually, I might!" Sirius disappeared for a minute and returned with a pair of female flares. "Voila!"

"Are you in the habit of wearing women's trousers Padfoot?" Remus asked raising an eyebrow.

"No, some bird left them in my room a few weeks ago," He replied with a grin as he threw the jeans onto the bed.

"What did she wear home?" Remus exclaimed.

"She flooed home from here," Sirius said shrugging.

"Without trousers?" Remus asked incredulously.

"She was in a rush. Uh... her husband was coming home early or something," He said ruefully.

"Merlin, Padfoot! Do you have any sense of propriety?"

"How long have you known me?" Sirius replied. "Anyway I'm going to go downstairs and put on some food for us three," He said shrugging and leaving the room.

Remus looked at the clothing on the bed and folded them up. He picked them up and walked to the door of the spare room. He raised his hand to knock but faltered and dropped it to his side. He cursed and knelt down to place them at the door just as it opened. He looked up in surprise and was struck speechless.

Hermione stood in the doorway with a short towel wrapped around her body. Water droplets fell from her hair that spiralled lazily down her bare shoulders. Her skin glistened with the residue of her shower and he couldn't stop his eyes from moving to the tantalising hint of cleavage. Remus licked his lips to speak but couldn't summon the words. She smelt the same as before, of caramel and vanilla with that primal tang but now he could scent the coconut shampoo from her hair and the light minty residue of toothpaste. She smelt divine and he could hear the wolf baying for her.

Remus pulse quickened and his face flushed as he realised she was looking at him quizzically. He stood suddenly and thrust the clothes into her hands before making a quick exit down the stairs. "Thanks!" She called from behind but he didn't dare turn around in case he couldn't stop himself from bruising her lips with his and pulling off the towel and... No! I can't think of her like that!

He rushed into the kitchen to meet Sirius merrily chopping garlic and charming onions into a saucepan hissing with the smell of pancetta and mushroom. Remus left him to it and busied himself with stirring the chocolate that was starting to melt and mix with the other ingredients.

Remus was charming the colander to hover so Sirius could drain the pasta when Hermione arrived in the doorway with a sheepish smile on her face. "Hi..." She said quietly.

"Ah Madame! Come sit at ze table!" Sirius said bounding away to pull out a chair with a bow. Remus scowled as he quickly grabbed the pot of pasta that had started to fall from Sirius' abandoned spell.

"Argh!" He dropped the saucepan with a clatter onto the work surface and shook his hand to try and get rid of the burning sensation. Blowing on his palm with a regretful look on his face he slowly realised that both Hermione and Sirius were staring at him. "It was hot," He said blushing. Sirius shrugged and went back to finishing the dinner but Remus could feel that Hermione's eyes were fixed upon his back, burning into his flesh.

They ate in silence, only the scrape of cutlery upon china echoing through the kitchen. "Mmm," Hermione said putting down her fork and pushing her empty plate away. "Thanks guys, that was really good!" Sirius beamed at her and started gathering the plates away. Remus looked up from the table and met Hermione's eyes, she smiled shyly. "Fancy a hot chocolate?" He asked her.

"Ooh yes!" She replied with a contented grin. He smiled in return and got up to ladle the now smooth chocolate drink into mugs.

Remus couldn't help but watch her from under his hair as she blew gently across the surface of the drink. Sirius was mumbling the words to some song as he did the dishes but aside from that minor annoyance there was no other sound. Suddenly Hermione groaned in a way that sent shockwaves of lust through his abdomen. Don't look, don't look... He looked. Her head was tilted back and her eyes were closed as she savoured the taste of the chocolate. She ran her tongue across her lips before taking another sip. "Mooney," Sirius mumbled almost inaudibly from behind him. "If you look any harder your eyes are going to fall out." Remus felt the heat rise into his face and concentrated on the thick chocolaty drink instead.

The sound of Hermione setting her cup down drew him out of his stupor and he glanced up at her. Oh Merlin's beard! She was gently licking the residue of chocolate off her fingers. "Mmm... Remus! That must've been the best hot chocolate I have ever had!" She exclaimed. The way she said his name made him blush even more. "Anyway I'm shattered so I'm going to head off the bed now..." She said standing.

"Okay! You're welcome to stay as long as you want Hermione!" Sirius said happily.

"Thanks," She replied with a slightly wistful look on her face. Before Remus knew what was happening she had bent down and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you for everything," She said before disappearing out of the kitchen.

Remus sat stunned and slowly lifted his hand up to touch the spot where she had kissed him. He almost imagined that he could still feel a lingering warmth. "Aww, Mooney has a crush!" Sirius teased.

Remus scowled and slipped off a shoe. "Shut up Padfoot!" He exclaimed while launching his shoe at Sirius' head. "Ow!" Sirius exclaimed as he left the room and stalked off to the library.

Remus rubbed his temples as he settled into his chair to start reading his book. But he couldn't concentrate for the memory of her soft lips on his cheek. It was just a friendly kiss on the cheek! He thought.

Yeah but Sirius didn't get one.

Ah, but I was closer.

She likes you.

No she doesn't. "She could never be interested in an old monster like me..." He tried to focus on the words of his book. It was going to be a long night.