Hermione yawned, stretching her arms above her head and opening her eyes to Remus' bedroom. Or, she supposed it was her bedroom as well now. Looking around, she noted that the bed was empty, and there was no evidence of him having slept there the previous night.

After a quickly cast Tempus charm, Hermione realized that she had twenty minutes before she ought to be at breakfast. She decided that since the bathroom was empty, she would take a shower.

She showered quickly, and then brushed her teeth and hair before dressing for the day. When she exited the bathroom, she found Remus heading her way, obviously trying to get to the bathroom.

Hermione stopped in the doorway, crossing her arms and blocking his path. "Did you sleep on the couch last night?" She questioned suspiciously.

Remus was still partially asleep. He ran a hand through his hair and shrugged, "Yeah. I- ah- I wanted to give you space."

The thought that he had slept on the couch to give her space was both sweet and irritating. Hermione shook her head firmly, "It's your bed. You should be sleeping in it." Without another word, she left the room, headed for breakfast.


In Charms that afternoon, Hermione found herself very much enjoying Flitwick's lecture on extension charms. She had practiced this over the summer numerous times with her beaded bag, but it was still intriguing to hear the uses. It was when the professor set them loose to practice extension charms that her mood dropped. Lavender and Parvati instantly shifted closer to Hermione, eager to hound her about her mystery husband. This had been happening on and off since they had discovered her marriage. She was lucky none of the teachers knew to call her "Mrs. Lupin" yet.

"So, Hermione, will you tell us who your husband is?" Parvati queried excitedly.

Hermione could feel Ron and Harry's simultaneous glares at the girl, but she waved them off. She could deal with this herself.

"I'm sorry, Parvati, but it's really none of your business," She said firmly, looking down at her notes.

Parvati deflated, but Lavender was persistent, "C'mon, Hermione, you can't expect us to just ignore the fact that you haven't slept in the dormitory the past two nights. We just want to know who the lucky bloke is, and we promise not to tell anyone."

"It's not something I want you to know," she snapped, her voice louder and more assertive, "Dumbledore has allowed me to stay in separate rooms with my husband just like the law requires. That's all there is to it."

Neville, who was sitting at the desk in front of them, turned around with a shocked expression. "You have a husband?" He looked vaguely horrified. She cringed at the realization that she hadn't been particularly quiet in her conversation with the girls. Most of the nearby students were staring at her, waiting for somebody to say who her husband was. Hermione buried her head in her hands exasperatedly.

Luckily, Harry and Ron came to the rescue, snapping at people to "Shut up and get back to your charms," as Ron had so eloquently put it. Hermione mouthed a thank-you at Ron and returned to her work. She was so glad that they had been able to make up, even if there was still some anger and awkwardness between them.

That evening, Hermione returned to Remus' rooms and told him how terrible Lavender and Parvati were acting. "Teenage girls are just horrid gossips," she ranted, falling into the couch across from him.

"Ah, I know from experience how terrible seventh year girls can be," he stated with a wry smile, "at least I didn't get roped into marrying one of those girls."

Hermione chuckled, "Oh, yes, and of course you're so lucky to be married to me instead, the school's know-it-all bookworm."

He ignored her slight self-deprecation and smiled charmingly, "and I wouldn't have it any other way."

She was grinning in a silly sort of manner as she retreated to the bedroom to change. They seemed to be on good terms, and she hoped that he wouldn't sleep on the couch again tonight. Luckily, though, she had no need to worry. Several minutes after getting in bed, she heard Remus slip in to the room and climb in beside her. Even though there was an unordinary amount of space between them, she was happy to have him there.


The week progressed without anything of consequence, at least until Wednesday morning. Hermione had been so delighted with how their relationship was progressing into a sort of friendship, but then it all fell through when their secret was exposed.

She was in breakfast, peacefully skimming her Ancient Runes essay one last time. Suddenly Lavender bustled down the table, leaning between Harry and Ginny, who were sitting across from Hermione, and thrusting a copy of the Prophet down on the table. "Professor Lupin?" She trilled, a shocked but exhilarated expression on her face.

Hermione blanched, looking at Lavender with abject horror. Her eyes traveled down to the Prophet, and she noticed the title of the cover story.

Scrimgeour's Marriage Law Garners A Variety of Scandalous Marriages

She groaned, knowing that she was surely going to be mentioned in that article at least once. Her marriage was no doubt one of the most scandalous of all. She swallowed dryly and looked to her friends. Ginny and Ron had gone stiff. Harry reached for the paper so he could read it.

"What does it say?" Hermione asked, her voice hoarse.

Harry began to read, a harrowing look on his face. "A little over a week after the shocking announcement of Scrimgeour's Marriage Law, the Ministry of Magic has released the names of all couples that have been bonded so far. The list includes many shocking and suspicious pairs, including perhaps the most shocking of all: Hermione Granger, Muggleborn best friend to Harry Potter, and her werewolf professor at Hogwarts, Remus Lupin."

"Oh my god," Hermione whispered, staring at the table in front of her blankly.

"So it's true?" Lavender questioned, annoyingly persistent, "You married Professor Lupin? That's whose rooms you've been sleeping in?"

"Lavender!" Ginny cut in sharply, "now is not the time."

Lavender reluctantly left, moving to sit with the other Gryffindor girls, who were all openly staring at Hermione now. Around the Great Hall, there was a rustling hush of whispers, many of which she was sure were about her.

If Hermione had thought it was bad before, it was nothing compared to when Remus entered the Great Hall. The quiet whispers turned into a dull roar about the room. Remus seemed confused as the eyes drew to him, but comprehension dawned on his face when Snape slid a newspaper over to him. After inspecting the front cover, his eyes lifted to the Gryffindor table, searching for Hermione. They shared a shaken look before Hermione turned away. She ducked her head for the rest of breakfast, focusing on her Transfiguration essay and feeling dreadful.

Transfiguration was their first class on Wednesdays. Hermione was lucky that McGonagall was giving a lecture, which required immense concentration. This took at least some attention off of her.

She considered that Remus was probably having a much worse day. He'd have to go through several classes in which all attention was on him. Unluckily, they had to be together for one of these classes. Hermione, Harry, and Ron had Defense Against the Dark Arts before lunch with the Slytherins and other Gryfindors. She knew it was going to be a potentially disastrous period going in.

Remus began class with a scrawled bunch of important information on the chalkboard. They were studying defensive strategies against the Imperius Curse. Hermione took rigorous notes, even though she already knew the material and would no longer be receiving a grade for this class.

"Um, Professor Lupin?" a quiet feminine voice piped up to the left of the classroom. Hermione turned to see Pansy Parkinson, sitting between Draco Malfoy and Theodore Nott, her hand raised in the air. Draco was smirking malevolently at Hermione, his Head Boy badge pinned proudly on his chest. Nott was grinning in a similar manner at Lupin.

"Yes, Miss Parkinson?" Remus replied, looking up from his desk.

"I have a question," Pansy stated primly, looking all too sweet and innocent.

Remus nodded for her to continue. Most of the class had looked up from their papers and was now watching the exchange. Hermione met Harry's eyes and saw the weary look he gave her.

"I was just wondering," the Slytherin began, "how is it allowed that your wife is a student in your class?"

There had been some quiet whispering in the back of the room, but it immediately died out into a grave lull of silence. Hermione watched Remus anxiously. His eyes darted to look at her for a split second before moving back to Pansy. He took a deep breath before speaking. "My wife is no longer a student in this class. She is simply sitting in on my lectures, as Professor Dumbledore has permitted her to do. That is all that we will discuss on the subject. I want you all to focus on your notes."

With that, a whole new round of chalk marks appeared on the board. Remus' angry look prompted most students to return to their scribbling.

Hermione didn't want to give Pansy or the others the satisfaction of looking upset. Inside she was seething with anger and discomfort, but outside, she maintained her cool exterior and worked diligently for the rest of class.

Defense was bad, but Potions was terrible in comparison.

It was the Gryffindors and Slytherins again. Hermione filed into the classroom between Harry and Ron, happy that the boys were around to stand by her. They had been very lucky to be allowed to continue the NEWT level Potions program after Slughorn left. She would hate to face this class without them.

Most of the Slytherins watched Hermione with various amused expressions. The Gryffindors just whispered, probably about what had happened in DADA. She didn't really blame them for talking about it, this was a huge scandal compared to the other stuff that happened around Hogwarts. Her relationship with Remus would be talked about for weeks, maybe even longer.

Snape's entrance silenced the class. He had them begin working on the potion, a basic sleeping draught. Hermione focused on her brewing for a good fifteen minutes before her concentration was interrupted.

"A Mudblood and a Werewolf, how cute," Pansy's quiet voice floated into her ears. Hermione frowned in anger, but didn't give her the satisfaction of turning around and showing any reaction.

The comments continued. Hermione whispered under her breath to Harry and Ron to just ignore it. They complied, but she could tell they were both irate.

"A perfect little lower class couple," Malfoy snickered. His comment was surely loud enough for Snape to hear, but the Professor continued to grade papers at the front of the class.

Pansy mumbled something about Hermione being a simple, plain Mudblood. Her anger rose, and she gripped her stirring rod with white knuckles. Ron and Harry were looking at each other, having some sort of silent conversation about what they were going to do to Pansy and Malfoy.

"The poor little werewolf probably sleeps at the foot of her bed at night," Pansy continued, laughing at her attempt at a joke. "I bet she feeds him dog food, maybe takes him for a few walks."

She knew they were trying to get a reaction out of her, but she couldn't stop herself. "Do not talk about him that way," she snarled, whipping her head around to send Pansy a menacing glare. Hermione's wand was drawn stiffly in her hand.

The classroom was silent, and that was when she realized that she had spoken rather loudly. She quickly whisked around and sat back down in her seat, placing her wand on the table.

It was too late. Snape was already striding over. She felt Harry and Ron wince on either side of her.

"Mrs. Lupin, I don't know why you feel compelled to draw your wand and lash out in such a way at your classmates, but I assure you that it will not be tolerated. Detention, Friday evening, my office." Snape's drawl cut through the classroom.

She wanted to let out a cry of outrage at the injustice, but restrained herself. She had watched Harry go down this path far too many times with Snape…

"Yes, Sir," Hermione murmured, her jaw tight with tension.

Snape turned and moved back to the front of the classroom, remaining silent until the bell rang and it was time to turn in potions. Hermione bottled her draught viciously and dropped it at Snape's desk before storming out of the classroom. Harry and Ron followed closely behind.

"That bastard!" She raged once they were clear of the dungeons, kicking a nearby column in the wall.

"I'm sorry, Hermione," Harry muttered sympathetically.

"He's terrible," Ron agreed.

"He's atrocious!" she seethed, slamming her books into her bag.

Harry and Ron stood there with her for a few moments before she calmed down. After her breathing was at a normal rate, she looked up at them. "I should head to Remus' rooms," she muttered, running a hand through her loose hair, "I'll see you guys in the common room later."

"You sure you're okay?" Harry questioned, his brows furrowed together.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," she mumbled absently, rubbing her temples as she turned a corner and headed for Remus' rooms. Luckily, she would have the space to herself. Remus had one more class to teach before he was done for the day.

Trying to avoid the main entrance through his office and the Defense classroom, Hermione took an alternate entrance he had shown her a few days ago. This way, she could get inside his rooms directly from the corridor.

She slipped inside the sitting area, letting out a heavy sigh before dropping her bag unceremoniously on the ground. Once the door was closed, she sunk down to the ground against it and buried her head in her arms.

"Hermione?"

The quiet voice made her jump, her eyes darting up to see Remus standing across the room.

"I thought you had a class to teach," she gasped, standing from the ground quickly.

"I don't teach at this time on Wednesdays," he muttered, looking over her with a concerned expression. "What's wrong?"

She shrugged, "I got a detention from Snape."

"I'm sorry," he apologized, watching her closely. "What happened?"

"I yelled at Pansy Parkinson in the middle of class. She was taunting me. Then Snape gave me a detention."

"What was Pansy saying?" He queried.

"You don't want to know," she breathed, falling down onto the couch and shaking her head.

"Tell me," he urged softly, "I'd like to know."

She met his eyes. "Her and Draco were talking about us. They were making fun of us. She… she called you a dog, and Draco called me a Mudblood. It was stupid."

Remus' jaw was tight. He paused to take a deep breath, and then spoke, "I'm sorry, Hermione." A tragically sad look passed over his face, gone before she could really recognize it.

"You've no need to apologize," she replied softly.

"But I do," he said, "Most of this is my fault. I'm embarrassing you and ruining your reputation because I'm a poor old werewolf." He looked tired and stressed.

Hermione felt a surge of irritation at his self-deprecatory manner. She stood up and crossed her arms, "I'm not embarrassed by you, Remus Lupin, more than anything I'm thankful to you for helping me so much in the past week! You'll never embarrass me."

He shook his head, "I'm glad that I helped you, Hermione, but you should know that this isn't going to stop. I'll always be the person that stains your reputation. Don't think that this is going to get easier, because it's not."

Hermione took a small step backwards as his words hit her. A voice whispered quiet worries in the back of her mind: He regrets marrying you. He never wanted to do this. He wishes he hadn't.

The thoughts seemed illogical, but she knew that deep down, he hated this situation, and of course he never wanted to be married to her in the first place.

Remus looked regretful of what he had just said. "Hermione-"

Before he could say more she cut him off. "I'm going to go to the Common Room," she sniffed, picking up her bag and exiting quickly.


Author's Note: Sorry to the people who hate to see them fight (I think we all do), but this is very important to their relationship. Kudos to you if you guessed what our little "bump in the road" was. Also, thanks soooooooo much to everyone for the wonderful feedback on this story. It's a blast to write, and you all make it a hundred times better.

Coming up next: Remus decides to go see Snape, probably a stupid decision.