Title: Reading
Rating: PG (for adult sitiuations)
Disclaimer: I don't own them, and I'm not pretending to.
A/N: Thought you guys might like to see what Harry's house/cottage looked like. I drew out a floor plan, if you want to see it. No obligation – enjoy. Edit Of course it won't let me put it on. I'll put it on my profile for those of you who really want to see it!

You're a...a...werewolf? But...how?" Tears worked their way down her cheeks and Harry hastily wiped them away with his thumbs. He moved in to kiss her, soft lips on soft lips and Hermione wrapper her arms around him. Suddenly, Harry pulled back.

"You've got your teeth?!"

Hermione waved a hand and blushed lightly. "I was walking down the hallway, looking for Remus, and a healer saw me. She just waved her wand and it was all back to normal." She smiled sheepishly, "What do you think?"

"I think...you're beautiful no matter what. But, if you wanted your teeth back, I'm glad you got them." Slowly, Harry rose off his knees, listening to them crack lightly. Hermione winced but Harry just shook his head, smiling, "Quidditch, remember?"

"It's just hard to get used to."

"We should go home. We can talk there."

Hermione nodded and the quickly disaparated. They reappeared in the kitchen and Harry's stomach dropped. "I...I bled that much?"

Hermione put a hand on his, running her thumb over his, "More."

Harry blanched and swayed on his feet, falling into a chair. "No wonder Remus ran away."

"Harry! Don't talk like that. You need him more now than ever."

"I know I do. But can you imagine seeing someone bleed like that?"

"I'll clean it up. You go take a shower."

So he left and Hermione reached into her pocket for her wand and found nothing before remembering it was in her bedroom. She walked in, not bothering to knock. Harry was throwing his pants onto a pile of dirty clothes.

"Don't you have a basket you put them in?"

He nodded as he unbuttoned a linen shirt, "It's in with the washing machine. I just take them after my shower."

"Oh." She opened her nightstand drawer and pulled out her wand and smiled as he pulled off his boxers.

"What?" He blushed lightly and started to turn.

"Nothing," she said, stepping closer, her voice husky. She ran a finger over his jaw line, "I like this." She rested her hand on his chest and he breathed out slowly.

"Me, too."

"Even in all the years Dean and I were married, he never looked at me quite like you do."

Harry smiled sadly. He put his hand on top of hers before she dropped her wand, running her finger over the faded bite mark, "I can't believe..."

"He didn't mean to."

"I know." She leaned forward and put her forehead on his shoulder. "Doesn't it still bother you? Even a little?"

Harry shook his head, "I mean, maybe a bit. But I know it wasn't really him."

"I guess so."

Harry squeezed her around the waist before stepping away, "I'd better go take that shower."

She nodded, "I ought to go tidy the kitchen. You must be starving. You want some food?"

"Yeah, I am hungry," he spoke to her from the bathroom doorway, "I'd lover something to eat."

Hermione nodded, smiling, and walked down the small hallway, through the living room and into the kitchen. She moved a chair out of the sticky blood and siphoned it up with her wand. She then moved the chair back and siphoned Remus' bloody hand prints up. "What to make?"

She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Soup, I guess. He won't be able to hold much in." She pulled out a small bag of potatoes and started cutting.

Halfway through her preparation, she felt a set of hands clasp around her waist.

"Eep!" She shrieked, dropping her knife. "Harry, are you trying to give me a heart attack?!"

She swung around, and there he was: wearing a lopsided grin and pajamas.

"No...Sorry. What're you making?"

"Just soup. I wasn't sure if you could handle something substantial."

"Thanks," he sat down at the table, easing himself into one of the rickety chairs. "Um...we need to talk."

"About what?"

"Er...Is the baby ok?"

Hermione's face fell, "Let talk about that now. I've had enough stress for one day."

"I just want to know if my baby is ok. Do you know?"

"I don't know if it's perfect." She bowed her head.

"But it's alive?"

"I believe so...yes. There's no evidence to the contrary."

Harry grabbed her hand, "That's all that matter."

She grimaced – an attempt at a sad smile – at him and turned back to her soup ingredients. "So, when's your next match?"

"In a week. I just got the owl recently."

"Oh? Where is it?"

"In Reading."

"Reading?"

"Some little town. I've never heard of it either."

"Against who?"

"Bulgaria."

"Viktor will be there," she bit her lip, turning around.

"Do you want to come?"

"Where?"

"To Reading."

"Reading?"

"Yes, Hermione. To see Viktor."

"Viktor?"

"Hermione, is everything ok?"

"Um...yeah. Sure, I'll come with you."

"Great. We'll make a trip of it. That is, unless, you have to go to Hogwarts?"

"No...No, of course not." She wrung a dish towel between her hands, turning back to the counter.

Harry stood up and positioned himself behind her, his hands on her shoulders. "Love? Are you sure you're alright? You seem...shaken. Have you been to Reading before?"

She dropped the dish towel and put her hands on his. Slowly, she sighed before backing into him, pulling his arms around her. "Yes. Everything alright. I am a bit shaken. No, I haven't been to Reading before."

"Why are you upset? Did I do something wrong?"

"No. Of course not. It's just...It's silly."

Harry turned her around, and grabbed her by the shoulder, bending a bit to look her directly in the eyes. "What is it? Whatever it is, it's not silly."

"Really, I'm making a big deal over nothing."

"What's wrong, Hermione?"

"When I dated Ron...Well, you know how he was about Viktor. Then, Dean was worse. I'm not used to being able to speak of him – let alone see him."

"Oh."

"Told you it was silly," she twirled a lock of curly, brown hair around her finger.

"Not at all. Ron never hit you, did he?" Harry's eyes narrowed.

"What? Ron? Hit me? No, never. Viktor just made him so jealous and I hated seeing him unhappy."

"Good. I'd really hate to have to kick my best mate's arse." He leaned in to kiss her as he chuckled and she felt his laughter in her throat.

"So, can I make dinner now?"

"Yeah. Sorry. I'll go...do something."

"Alright, I'll call you when it's ready."