Disclaimer: All familiar characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling. This story, however, is mine.
A huge thanks to all the new views, follows and favs! They truly mean the world to me. A special thanks to a guest reviewer for catching my misspelling of McGonagall.
Now, on with the story :)
It was turning out to be an amazing birthday and it wasn't even over yet. Hermione spent the day reading and then walking around the lake with Ginny and Draco, enjoying their company and the crisp autumn breeze. It was four o'clock before she knew it and she returned to her suite to bathe and dress for her date.
As she laid in the warm bubble bath, she began to feel a bit nervous. She tried to relax and clear her mind and soon thoughts of Remus came to her. She remembered his hands rubbing her legs, slowly, tortuously traveling up her thighs, the thought made her stomach knot and tighten with pleasure. How she wished he were in this tub with her now, rubbing her with those skilled hands and easing her tension away.
Feeling far calmer and more relaxed now, she climbed out of the tub, cast a drying spell on her hair and put it up in a loose bun, with a few delicate curls hanging free. She was never all that adept at make up, but after twenty minutes of fiddling with blushes and brushes and powders, she looked rather good, with glossy lips, a warm glow to her cheeks and smoky eyes.
She chose a light gray silk a-line dress that hit just above her knees and hugged her every curve. For good measure, she wore the bracelets that Ginny gave her and added a black pashmina wrap to stay warm. She gave herself one last look in the mirror and smiled. She suddenly looked grown up and she felt confident. She really did.
She headed out of the Head suite and was immediately met by a devastatingly handsome Remus. He was wearing an elegant, new black suit and a crisp white button down, sans tie. He smiled at her and she melted under his warm gaze. She went to him and immediately gave him a hug, kissing his cheek. Gods, how good he smelled.
"You look beautiful, Hermione," he said, his voice soft and full of awe, forgetting for just a moment who and where they were.
She always looked beautiful, every single day in fact. But tonight she looked sexy and confident, and it was a sight that took him somewhat by surprise.
"I mean...I'm sorry, I just...I, um...I meant that you look quite lovely this evening," he said his words coming out in a rush as he tried to hide his blush.
"Thank you, Remus, you look very handsome yourself," she said meeting his eyes with a smile.
He handed her a small box and simply said, "Happy Birthday."
"You didn't have to get me a present. Thank you, you really shouldn't have."
She opened the small silver box to find an exquisite golden locket within. It had intricate engravings on either side and it opened to reveal twin indentations where small pictures could be placed.
"Remus, I...this is exquisite, I couldn't possibly accept this, it's too much," she said trying to hand it back.
"Please," he said, "I want you to have this, it was my mother's. My father gave it to her on the day they were married and in it she kept a picture of her and my father. She wore it everyday and it seemed to bring her luck and a long, happy marriage. I want you to have it now, and I hope some day it brings you the same love and happiness it brought my mother," said Remus.
The day his mother passed away, his father gave Remus the locket and told him to give it to the girl he loved more than life itself. Remus had kept the locket ever since, not even giving it to Tonks. No woman had ever seemed like the right one, that is until now.
Even if he could never have her, he still wanted Hermione to have it, for he knew that there would never be another woman for him.
At this, he gently took the locket from her hands and walked behind her. Hermione lowered her chin to her chest as Remus reached around her and clasped the locket for her. The urge to bend down and kiss the back of her neck was palpable.
With tears welling in her eyes, Hermione finally said, "Thank you, Remus. I am truly touched beyond words. I already feel happier than I ever have, thanks to you," a small tear spilling down her cheek.
"Now, now, no crying. It's your birthday," he said taking her face in his hands as his gently wiped away the tear with his thumb.
He stood proud and tall and held out his arm for her to take, "Shall we?", he asked, smiling.
"Certainly," she said.
The night was turning cooler as the sun set and the night sky turned to pale shades of red and pink. As they left the castle, she let go of his arm and gently took his hand instead and they walked to Hogsmeade at a leisurely pace. Stopping now and then to glance heavenward at the emerging stars.
They said precious little, as they walked hand-in-hand, choosing instead to relish the touch of each other's hands and the warmth of their bodies so close. As they reached the apparition point, Remus turned to Hermione and said, "You're going to need to hold me tightly while we apparate, are you ready?"
As Hermione stepped into his warm arms and felt his body pull flush against hers, she looked up into his eyes and said, "This has already been the very best birthday of my life, Remus, no mater what else happens tonight, I've already had the best time with you."
He delighted in her smile and wished that they were indeed headed to a private dinner instead of a surprise party.
"It's not over yet," he said softly, smiling and pulling her close and apparating away.
As they landed in the lobby of the seemingly empty restaurant, Hermione felt dizzy from apparating. Her heart racing, still clutching Remus and breathing in his sweet scent, she tilted her head up to see him staring deeply into her eyes.
She was a mere inch from his face when a set of double doors suddenly burst open and she heard a loud, "Surprise, Hermione!", from all of her nearest and dearest friends.
Surprised wasn't even the word for it.
She jumped in shocked at the sight and couldn't quite comprehend what was happening.
Why were all of her friends here? Slowly she realized why they were all there and she smiled as tears sprung to her eyes.
Everyone she loved was in a single room and they had come to surprise her, she felt on top of the world and lucky beyond measure.
Remus reluctantly let her go so she could hug her many friends, but not before bending down to her ear and whispering a, "Happy Birthday, Hermione," with a smile on his face.
She kissed his cheek and said a quiet, "Thank you, Remus, for everything."
Seeing the tears, Ron said, "Oh, Mione, it's alright, don't cry! Not expecting such a surprise, eh? Prepare yourself, love, we've got a great night planned," he said smiling, bringing her in for a bear hug.
Hermione said, I'm just so overwhelmed right now. Thank you all for this. I'm so very touched."
Rushed into the restaurant among a sea of her friends, Hermione turned to see a smiling Remus staring after her with something that looked remarkably close to love.
XXXXXXXX
The party was a raucous affair, with her friends filling up every inch of the small French restaurant. Harry had remembered her mentioning that it had been her favorite restaurant as a child, her parents bringing her here every year for her birthday. Even without her parents there now, she still felt them with her in spirit and that made her smile.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were there along with Bill, a very pregnant Fleur, George, Ron and his new girlfriend Claudia. Harry and Ginny were together although seemingly upset with each other by the looks of things, Draco was laughing with Neville and Luna. Severus was there, too and looked quite dapper in a charcoal gray wool suit. Who knew he wore anything but black? Harry had also brought a friend along from work, a handsome young man named Davis Clarke. Remus was talking happily in a corner with Severus but he seemed to be looking at Hermione all night long.
Everyone was talking and laughing and telling stories, eating and drinking and Hermione was having the very best time. Harry's friend Davis had tried several times to chat Hermione up and regale her with amazing stories of working as an auror and selflessly saving the day but Hermione found him to be a bit pompous.
So after what felt like hours of chit chat with the would-be superhero, Hermione excused herself to the ladies' room and was immediately followed in by Ginny.
"Are you having a good time?", asked Ginny. "I thought you might've been a bit disappointed about not getting your date with Remus. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you about the party, Harry wanted to surprise you. Oh, and that prat, Davis! What a wanker, you'd think he was the one who took down Voldemort, single-handed. I hold Harry not to bring him but he thought you two might hit it off," her friend said a bit irritated.
"Oh, Gin, it's alright, really. I'm having a great time, I'm so thankful for this, really. Having everyone together like this is such a gift. But yes, that Davis is so arrogant, not really my cup of tea."
"Not like Remus, eh?", said a smiling Ginny, as she reapplied her red lipstick.
"No, very different. Remus and I...I don't know what's there or not. We're friends, certainly but I feel like there are times when there is more there, just beneath the surface. I can certainly feel it, and maybe he does too, but I can't be sure. Maybe he feels nothing but friendship for me. I've just never felt like this before. So out of control when I'm with him, like I can't stop myself from being swept away."
"I know how you feel," said Ginny wistfully.
"Just like you and Harry, eh?", said Hermione but her friend did not return the smile.
Instead Ginny looked at Hermione for a long moment before saying, "Yes, just like with Harry, you know when he finds five minutes free to spend with me," said Ginny with an angry edge in her voice.
"You two having a tough time?", said Hermione although she already knew the answer.
"You could say that. He just has different priorities now, and I feel like there is no place left for me. I've honestly felt quiet lonely for months now," said Ginny. Hermione felt dreadful for not seeing this in her friend sooner.
"Oh, Gin, I'm so sorry. I know it's tough with him not around. But he'll be finished training in a few months and then things will ease up. And until then you've always got Draco and I, and we love you dearly."
"I know," said Ginny, "that's part of the problem."
Hermione didn't understand, "What do you mean, Ginny? How's that a problem?", but before her friend could explain, Fleur came into the bathroom and their conversation ended abruptly.
Wiping a tear discreetly from her eye, Ginny said, "You know what? To hell with all these foolish men and their nonsense. They can't see a good thing when it's sitting right in their lap. Screw 'em, let's get drunk and have a fabulous time."
Hermione smiled and agreed. Returning to the table for more wine and conversation, Harry stood up and drew everyone's attention.
"I just wanted to say that we love you very much, Hemione. You are a beautiful, accomplished, brave, amazing witch and our lives wouldn't be the same without you. Ron and I would've in fact kicked the bucket many a moon ago without you there to save us."
Everyone laughed at this while Hermione smiled and wiped a small tear from her eye.
"You're one of the best things to ever happen to me and I'm sure I'm not the only one here tonight who can say that. Happy birthday, Hermione, we love. To, Hermione!", said Harry lifting his champagne.
"To, Hermione!", everyone toasted.
"Speech, speech!", yelled Ron and George.
Hermione gracefully rose from her seat and looked at all the smiling, warm faces before her.
Her family. Her heart.
She didn't know what she would've done without each and every one of them. She was lucky to be here even if this wasn't what she had planned.
"I'm really taken aback by all this. I never expected such a party and I'm truly grateful for tonight. You all are the very center of my life, I wouldn't be me without all of you. So, thank you. For being here and standing by me, I love you all dearly," she said, tears welling up again, as she squeezed Molly's hand and gave the older witch a fierce hug.
Molly smiled and looked Hermione in the eyes and said, "We're all so proud of you, dear. You're like our daughter and you mean the world to us."
"Alright, Mom, that's enough. You're gonna flatten her," called a smiling George.
Just then a huge chocolate cake with buttercream frosting appeared with twenty lit candles and everyone began to sing to her.
Remus watched her smiling at everyone, looking so happy. His heart skipped a beat when she locked eyes with him and the singing came to an end.
"Make a wish," called a smiling Draco.
Looking deeply at Remus for what seemed like an eternity, she made her wish. The wish that hid deepest in her heart. And at that very moment, Remus wished, too. She finally closed her eyes, bent forward and blew out the candles. Secretly, selfishly, Remus hoped that they both had wished for the same thing.
XXXXX
After everyone enjoyed the delicious cake and Hermione got to open her many presents, which mostly included wonderful books, the party began to wind down with everyone giving hugs and kisses to the birthday girl as they left for the evening.
Harry was the last to get going. After giving Hermione a peck on the cheek, he turned his attention to Ginny, who pulled him off to the side and gave him a small, chaste kiss. Draco tried to pretend he was talking with Severus but his glances at Ginny told another story.
Ginny and Draco shrank and packed away Hermione's gifts and at last everyone was all set to leave. Ginny and Draco left first and apparated together, with Ginny smiling for the first time all night.
Snape prepared to go, then turned and said, "Miss Granger, I do hope you enjoyed your birthday," as he bent down to kiss her cheek.
"I did indeed, thank you, Professor. I especially enjoyed my present this morning," she said with a smirk.
Professor Snape smiled and quirked an amused eyebrow before apparating with a pop.
Finally, Hermione was alone again with Remus, the only one she really wanted to be with. Remus was amused to find that Hermione had become quite tipsy from all the wine and champagne. With hooded eyes, half-closed, she clung tightly to him in order to apparate and not fall flat on her face.
Once back in Hogsmeade, they found the streets deserted and Remus found he had to hold her up most of the way, as she kept stumbling and giggling. He finally gave up half-way to the castle and lifted her off the ground and into his strong arms. She weighed nothing at all and was easy to carry as she settled sleepily against him, her head nestled between his shoulder and neck, and arms wrapped around him.
"Aw, that's much better," she said. "Why didn't you carry me the whole night, my feet have been killing me!"
He chuckled at her, "Next time, you just say the word, and I will happily tote you around."
"Hmm, thank you, Remus," she sighed, warm breath tickling his neck, causing his stomach to tighten in delight at the sensation.
"You smell so lovely, you always smell nice," she said, her lips so close to his neck. "You showered again this afternoon, didn't you? I can tell because you smell just like you do when class starts in the morning," breathing him in, "I love how you smell, like warm lilies basking in the sunshine," she said dreamily.
"Why, thank you," said a blushing Remus. She was more drunk than he thought.
"Thank you for tonight," she said, as he gently set her down at the entrance to the castle doors, but she stumbled forward again.
He merely scooped her up once more, deciding that the only way she was going to get to her bedroom was if he carried her. And so he did, all through the quiet, sleeping castle, up the many winding stairs and into her bedroom suite.
Setting her down gently on her bed, he reached down and pulled off each high heel which elicited a satisfying gasp from Hermione.
"Oh, thank you," she said gratefully, as he pulled a comforter from the bottom of the bed and covered her up.
"Good night, Hermione. Happy Birthday and get some good sleep," he said as he leaned down and placed a sweet kiss on her forehead.
She smiled up at him, her sleepy eyes full of adoration for the lovely man before her.
"Remus," she said, grabbing his suit jacket as he began to pull away, "don't go. Please stay with me. I don't like it when you're not with me. Don't you want to stay with me?", she asked sincerely.
More than anything, he thought.
"Dearest, you need sleep and I need to go to my own rooms," he said, leaning over her, trying to be rational, fighting the overwhelming urge to crawl into her sweet bed and lay with her forever.
"No, please, I don't want you to go," she said, slowly sitting up, her body turned towards him, suddenly looking more alert and awake.
She took his hand in her own and pulled him to sit down on the bed, her eyes staring deeply into his.
"Remus, I can't quite say how or when it happened but...I think you are the very best man I have ever known. I know this must sound ridiculous, but I feel like I've known you all my life, and I feel happier and more alive when I'm with you than anything I've ever known. I've never felt this way for anyone. I love you, Remus."
He sat next to her in stone silence, his mind reeling with this discovery. He tried to speak, to say anything, but his mind seemed to be on an extended break.
She had said the words, she truly said them.
Hermione Granger loved him.
The weight of those words had been immense and had flooded him with such a profound sense of happiness. He knew he would keep those four little words forever, tucked away deep inside, as the purest sense of joy he had ever known.
She leaned forward slowly, oh so very slowly.
She left plenty of time for him to stop her. He could've simply stood or turned away or said 'no'.
But he didn't.
He wanted her as badly as she wanted him and at that moment he couldn't stop himself even if his life had depended on it.
She tilted towards him and as her soft lips touched his he felt fire course through his veins as passion, deep and overwhelming, overtook his every sense. The kiss was both electric and soothing. He could've stayed there for the rest of his life, for in this moment he felt such peace of heart, like none he had ever known before.
As she deepened the kiss and started to climb into his lap, her dress slipping up her creamy thighs, he suddenly felt split right in two.
He had wanted this woman more than air. He had dreamt about this very moment for just shy of eternity. And it felt sweet and right. Her body fit perfectly against his, like two long-lost puzzle pieces finally reuniting. He wanted to give in and deepen the kiss, stop holding back and finally allow himself this joy. He wanted to make her feel as loved and adored as she had made him feel because she deserved the very best.
But the other part of him knew what he had to do.
And so, with an anguish he had never felt before, he gently pulled away from her sweet soft lips, with his body screaming in protest. She was panting as he pulled back, her lips swollen and her eyes hooded with desire.
"Hermione, I'm so sorry, I truly am, but we...we have to stop. We've both been drinking tonight and this simply wouldn't be right. I...I work here and it's my job to take care of students and I simply can't be with you," he said as he watched her face slowly crumple first in embarrassment and then defeat.
Like a hard smack to the face, Hermione felt stunned by his words. She awkwardly pulled herself off of his lap and pushed herself against her headboard, tucking her legs under and pulling her dress back down, feeling painfully self-conscious. She stared at the floor for a long moment, mortified beyond belief. His heart broke for her but he couldn't let this happen, he just couldn't let either of them make this mistake.
"I'm, um, uh...I'm...so very sorry, Professor. I've clearly done something very wrong here tonight and I'm throughly ashamed of my behavior, I have no excuse for making such unwanted advances. I clearly mistook your kindness for something else," she said, shaking slightly and fighting to regain some composure although her heart was breaking.
"No, Hermione, please don't say that. You've done nothing to apologize for," he said but she cut him off and abruptly stood from her bed and crossed the room to put some distance between them.
She simply couldn't sit there and hear his niceties, not after what she had just done and said.
"Please, stop, Professor, I would appreciate it if you wouldn't do that. I've made a fool of myself in front of you many times and your trying to act like it didn't happen just makes me feel worse."
Staring out her window into the night sky, she reached around her neck with both hands trembling and unfastened the locket. She held it for a moment, feeling it's weight in her hand and admiring its beauty one last time before she handed it back to Remus.
"I think you should take this back, save it for someone special," she said tearfully.
"Hermione, you're special to me. I want you to have it. It's meant to be yours," he said, anguished at seeing the crushed look in her eyes.
"No, this time I insist," she said in a calm, detached voice, dropping the locket into his hand.
She turned away from him to stare out her window.
"Hermione, I...", he began, but again she cut him off, "I think it's best if you leave now."
Dejected, he crossed the room and as he reached the door, he turned and said softly, "I'm so sorry, Hermione." Then he turned and left.
"Not as sorry as I am, Remus," she said to no one, "Not as sorry as I am."
