Me again! This is it for the day I'm afraid. It's a really short chapter I'm afraid, but I think it's an alright one :)


Chapter Seven

Morning After

Hermione's joints ached and groaned as she woke. The rain had stopped but the grass under her was still spongy and damp. She sat up and then gasped and covered herself with her hands. An arm's width away was Remus who was still unconscious. They had obviously grown tired during the night and had led down to rest, only to fall asleep and sleep for the rest of the night.

Quietly, Hermione got to her feet and slipped into the bushes where she had hidden her bag. Carefully, she slipped on her underwear before pulling on her jeans and top. She flicked her wand and cleared her hair of the mud that had accumulated during her night's sleep on the wet grass. Once clean and dressed, she walked back out to the clearing and gently shook Remus.

Remus groaned groggily and blinked trying to clear his vision. It focussed on a hazy mess of golden brown, brown, blue and pale skin. He blinked again and his vision cleared. He soon realised he was looking at Hermione dressed in a brown top and blue jeans. She was blushing and looking him dead in the eye.

"Morning. You need to get dressed. Last thing we need is some hikers coming along and discovering a naked man in the forest." She smirked.

Remus' face went bright red and he averted his eyes. "Oh."

Hermione got to her feet and turned her back allowing him to scramble to his feet and hurry into the bushes. He remerged five minutes later redressed and looking less like he had spent a night in the woods. Which of course he had.

"I'm decent now."

Hermione blushed and turned round to face him. "Good."

Remus chuckled and rubbed his neck. It was his little awkward trait.

"Do you want to go back to mine for coffee? I'd imagine you don't want to face Jacob quite yet."

Hermione sighed. "I'd like that. No, not just yet. I said I'd tell him, but I'm not sure I'm ready to face him right now."

Remus offered her his arm like he had when they had arrived in the clearing originally. Like the night before, Hermione took it and they were whisked away through the tube back to Remus' house.

Hermione took a deep breath and released it. She felt a lot better than the night before when they apperated. She took in the familiar setting of Remus' house. The pictures on the walls were still the same and the sofa was still the big comfy cushioned heaven that she had once loved to bury into with a good book.

This place had once been her home and it remained her haven. She had visited here when Arcadia was stalking her and she had sought comfort in the man who had become one of her dearest friends, much like she was doing now.

She followed Remus into the kitchen and sunk into one of the chairs. She sighed happily and closed her eyes, content to be in this homely environment. She imagined that's what drew people to Remus. He was homely to his very core.

"Do you want a coffee?" He asked, setting the kettle on boil.

"If a tea is available I'd take one." Hermione chuckled.

"You're in luck then." Remus smiled.

The kettle billowed steam as it boiled merrily before clicking as it finished. Remus set about making the tea to his and Hermione's liking. He even used the mug that she used to favour when she lived with him.

"There you go."

He put the cup in front of her and Hermione blew the steam off of it carefully. She took it in her hands and inhaled the earthy scent. She took a sip and smiled happily. She loved the taste of fresh tea. There was nothing like it.

Remus sat opposite her and regarded her seriously. "So what are you going to say to Jacob then?"

"Hey, honey, I'm a werewolf. What's for dinner?" Hermione remarked sarcastically. "I don't know."

She heaved a sigh and took a drink before looking back up at her companion. "Did you ever have to tell anyone about your secret?"

Remus took a drink of his own tea and appeared to think. "Well, I didn't have to tell Tonks because she knew about it. But I did tell one girl."

Hermione leant forward curiously. "How did it go?"

Remus winced. "Not well. She was from a prominent wizarding family and they didn't take too kindly to werewolves. She was horrified and dumped me pretty quickly."

Hermione's face fell. She felt a rush of sympathy for Remus. He was one of the nicest people she had ever met and the fact that someone could judge him so harshly because of something he couldn't help upset her.

"Not that that will happen to you of course. It's entirely different. Jacob is already a wolf and he's imprinted on you. He loves you and will love you no matter what." Remus hurried to say.

"I know. That's not what I was thinking." Hermione reached over and gave his hand a comforting squeeze. "Relax."

Remus grinned. "So what were you thinking?"

"I was thinking about that awful girl who dumped you. It's not fair. You didn't deserve that." Hermione told him.

Remus shrugged. "No, it wasn't fair, but it's in the past now. Besides, I found a wonderful woman who loved me and gave me a beautiful son."

Hermione gave a sad smile thinking of Tonks. She missed the pink haired witch a lot and she could see a lot of her in Teddy. She couldn't imagine how Remus felt.

"I don't even know how to break something like this. Even the magic thing was taken out of my hands. He found out through you and then I filled in the finer details."

"Just tell the truth. As I said, Jacob isn't going to leave you because of this." Remus pointed out.

Hermione bit her lip and nodded. "So what time is Teddy back?"

"He's back this evening. I wasn't expecting to sleep. Usually I'm a lot more restless during the Full Moon. Perhaps it's got something to do with the fact you were there."

"Like a pack bond thing. Almost as if your wolf was searching for a pack and the fact I was there eased that."

"Yes, exactly."

Hermione mulled it over. "It's an interesting theory. Perhaps it's one we can explore further at some point."

"You mean add more to our pack?" Remus seemed horrified.

"Not biting people. Maybe try and see if having Jacob's pack around helps to satisfy that need any further." Hermione explained quickly.

Remus seemed somewhat eased after Hermione's explanation. His smile seemed to say he agreed with her.

"That would be an interesting experiment. I wonder how the pack would take to us, and if our wolves would accept them."

"I can't imagine why not. They're wolves too."

"Hmm." Remus took a deep drink of his tea and considered Hermione over the rim of his cup. "But you need to tell Jacob first."

Hermione ducked her head. "I know."

"Go home. Talk to your husband. He'll be worried sick by now. The last time you went missing overnight, you were actually missing. You'd been kidnapped by Arcadia." Remus urged her.

Hermione felt a scowl cross her face. "Yes, and she started this whole mess."

"But it doesn't have to be a mess." He pointed out. "You can sort it out, and then you'll have someone to support you."

Hermione nodded resignedly. "Alright. I'll speak to you soon."

"Good luck." Remus called as she got to her feet and apperated home.

With a pop she arrived in the garden outside her cottage. She looked up at the building with butterflies flitting around in the pit of her stomach. She was dreading this conversation with Jacob.


Please Read and Review. I hoped you liked this chapter and I will hopefully update another one tomorrow. It's the big one next. She tells Jacob about being a werewolf :)