(Authors note: Anonymous comments are now allowed, I apparently had the feature turned off and didn't even know it! I'd love to hear feedback and what you guys like and dislike. All comments welcome!
P.s. if you're like me and have a fondness for Sir Davenport, no matter how small his appearance in the story was, have no fear, Sir Davenport shall return! And not be confined by the bounds of his fame…dun, dun, dun!)
Chapter Six: The Start Of Something New
It sat facing the center of town, a cozy two-story cottage with a dark thatched roof and four large square windows that watched the church in the center of town. Its door was painted a glossy berry red, a small brass knocker designed in the shape of a wreath of blooming flowers sat on the face of the door. Empty window boxes painted a bright sky blue sat under each window, nothing but rich dark soil in their chests. The small cottage sat in a merry row of cottages that faced the center of town; behind them an open field lay before a thick forest of shaggy evergreens.
Many of the villagers had wondered who would next occupy the cottage. And by many of the villagers I mean the noisy women folk. So on one dreary day in February, when a tall, muscular man wearing a cloke of deep blue helped a young women of a slight build wrapped in a long velvet cloke the color of coal and a mass of dark honey curls held back by strand of silk ribbon the color of the sky that day, step out of a closed carriage that was pulled by two imposing horses the color of the night, many a housewife peaked through her curtains to catch a look at the mysterious figures.
Horse drawn carriages were not uncommon in this part of Scotland, with the land the way it was, and the lack of roads horse back was the more reliable and safer way to get about than the automobiles that zipped around the streets of Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Hermione looked out the window of the carriage, the passing cottages a blur, the faces of the people on the streets unrecognizable.
"I no I've not spoken much on the subject, but I am happy you're moving into town." Hermione glanced away from the window and to the man who sat across from her.
His tone was quite, his hair slightly ruffled, and a gentle smile graced his thin lips. Hermione returned his smile. "I am too Remus, I really am, surprisingly." She replied.
Remus flashed a grin, a spark in his gray-blue eyes. "You didn't think you'd like my country side eh?" he said teasingly.
"No, I didn't think I could ever love anyplace besides your cottage. It's too enchanting; it has thoroughly ruined my ability to love any other place. But perhaps in time that will change and I'll come love this cottage of my own." Hermione said in mock grief.
Remus let out a deep laugh. "I do apologize. It tends to have that affect upon people. But now you can understand why I rarely leave it."
"Well I do hope that will change and you'll venture out to come visit with me once in a while." Hermione said tilting her head slightly. The carriage had begun to slow as it approached the center of town.
"Sirius nipping at my hills couldn't keep me away." Remus said good-naturedly.
Hermione let out a bubble of laughter. "Make sure you drag along his sorry bum as well."
"I don't think I could prevent him from coming if I tried." Remus said with a sigh and flashing smile.
"Now why would you ever try to prevent him?" Hermione asked, her teasing tone taking on a new emotion.
Remus glanced out the window for a moment and then back to her. "Perhaps-" he started slowly. "I'd want to see you alone, though I don't know if I'd be welcome. But that's a bridge every suitor must cross isn't it?" Remus said with a raised brow.
"Suitor?" Hermione questioned, her heartbeat quickening beneath her chest, as a slight tingle ran throughout her body.
"'Eh, if you'll have me. And I think you will." Remus said with a knowing smile that reviled he was aware of the affect his statement had upon her.
Hermione's eyes widened. He knew! "Smug bastard." She shot back at him, not in the least bit serious in her accusation.
"Werewolf darling." He said unable to keep the smile from his face. He really was an attractive man.
"Oh, so you know everything then?" she asked with a raised brow and crossing her arms.
"As much as you let on. Whether you know it…or not." Was he actually flirting? God I'm too old for this. Remus thought to himself. But he couldn't help it; he didn't want to stop whatever was just beginning to happen between them.
Hermione looked him over. "You never let on." She said in a rather matter-of-fact tone. "Not once did you hint that there might be something more."
"Hermione how would it look if I, your former professor, your friend, friend to your to close friends, who's almost twenty odd years older than you, began a flirtation under the watchful eye of the people who care about us? They'd have all assumed I'd gone mad." Remus explained, his eyes reflecting the color of the sky above them.
"Have you?" Hermione questioned teasingly as she moved to sit beside him, and looked into his face, her amber eyes meeting his silver eyes, uncountable emotions passing between them.
"Around you, yes. I can't help it. And perhaps I don't want too. All I can ask is that you forgive me for committing the unthinkable and falling head over hills in lust with you. I tried to ignore it. I tried to ignore you. And if you recall I spent very little time in your company. I would…I would still like to court you. If you'll allow it?" Remus asked. He spoke lowly, his deep voice with its rough Scottish accent felt like silk against her skin, as it washed over her. He liked her. Lusted after her. The wave of emotion that consumed her made her feel dizzy and breathless and excited at the possibility of what could be all at the same time.
Remus looked down upon the slim woman who stat beside him. He could see her mind race, felt her heat and her excitement and desire. His own pulse began to race like that of a horse with no other goal but to move as fast as possible.
"Hermione?" he asked, as he reached out to grasp her slim gloved hand in his large bare one. Hermione looked up at him, searching his eyes, and reading the question in them.
"Yes. Yes you can court me. Anytime." She replied breathlessly as she looked into his deep soulful eyes. Hermione felt as if the ground had fallen out from underneath her feet. He wanted her. She, Hermione Jane Granger had someone who wanted her. But why? But then why did it matter? Who cared why, she was wanted! And by a man who had spoken less to her than ever possible within a three-month span of living together. She wanted to laugh at the absurdness of it all. The wonderful absurdness of life at play.
"Good." Was all he said in reply, but his smile said everything else.
"So, are you the strong silent type then? After all, you spoke nearly not a word a day to me the whole time I lived with you." Hermione said, her slightly teasing tone returning after having managed to calm her nerves a bit.
Remus let out a bark of laughter. When she was playful she had to be the most adorable, enchanting woman on Earth. "Wouldn't you like to know." he replied like the chesirecat.
"Ummhumm yes I would. That's why I asked you see." Hermione said slipping her arms through the crook of his, and snuggled up to him slightly.
"Sorry, 'fraid you'll just have to learn as we go along. Will you be able to handle the suspense?" he asked as he leaned his face closer to hers.
Hermione turned her face up a bit more. "Well I can certainly try." She said closing the space between them. His rough hand cupped her face, his lips meeting her soft ones in a first kiss.
Electricity ran through his veins, she smelt of the sweetest roses and the sea, an intoxicating mix that twirled his senses. Soft and sweet, her skin was like silk against his rough palm. With regret he pulled away from their heady kiss. Hermione looked up at him from under her lashes, her cheeks stained pink, her lips red and puffy.
"Sweeting I don't want to rush this. Lets take our time, we have plenty of it." Remus said, caressing her cheek.
Hermione blushed and smiled guiltily. "Eh, but can we wait is the question." She said laughing slightly.
Remus laughed, "I've been waiting, I can wait a bit longer. Not forever mind you." He said wiggling his eyebrows playfully.
The carriage finally came to stop in front of Hermione's newly acquired cottage. Hermione looked upon her new home favorably from behind the window of the carriage. She'd fallen in love with it immediately. With its glossy berry door and its large windows, and its dark golden wooden shingled walls it was impossible not to love. It was like a cottage from a fairytale, with its large garden that was gated by a red brick fence that was waist high it was utterly charming. Though admittedly it was the middle of winter and so the grass that Hermione imagined to be a rich dark green sat burred under several inches of icy snow and the garden planters were void of any plants. But all that could be fixed come spring. The lot had plenty of trees, several large ones the back whose long willowy limbs reached above the roof of the cottage and out the sky, and a few well placed ones along the fence to provide some privacy from the busy cobblestone street that the cottage faced.
"Thank you." Hermione said to Remus has he helped her step down from the cottage and onto the street.
"Of course." Remus replied as he placed her hand on the crook of his arm and led her up to the garden gate.
"Mr. Higgins if you wouldn't mind bringing the luggage into the house I would greatly appreciate it, and will make it well worth your wile." Remus said to the portly coachman who sat with the reigns in his fat gloved hands.
"Of course Mr. Lupin." Mr. Higgins said with a pleasant smile and a tip of his hat. Remus nodded his head in reply.
"Come on then. Lets go explore my new home. I'm so curious about it I must confess. Even though I've already gone through it with the realtor." Hermione said opening the wrought iron gate and pulling a laughing Remus along the small stone path and through the front door.
"John! John! You'll never believe it! That young woman we saw looking at the cottage next-door did acquire it! Well I'd never believe it to happen! It's been so empty for so long. We must go over first thing tomorrow and welcome her. Or they I should say. I saw a man, oh good lordy and a man he was, with her. I wonder if they're married…" Mrs. Agnes Bailey continued talked for sometime, unaware that her husband, a Mr. John Bailey, the local town grocer who'd she been wed to for some twenty odd years, had fallen asleep half way through her rambled gossip. But really who could blame him? Mrs. Bailey even put the priest to sleep once, and he was a man of God.
Hermione and Remus, unaware that their presence in town was already beginning to cause a stir walked about the cozy cottage, exploring the many rooms, the running up and down the stairs, their laughter filling the cottage to the brim. A thing the old cottage had not been graced with for many years.