Hermione got home late. Ron threw a fit at Harry's house about not seeing his children, so Hermione was over at Harry's arguing with him until they agreed on a more civil way of handling their custody. Harry was diplomatic and decided that it would be split as such- Every other weekend was one of them and the rest of that week, went to the other parent- so in essence, every other week like she first suggested… the miserable business of splitting everything. How difficult did he really have to make this?
Once the arguing was actually finished, Ron was more civil and asked about her new house. The trading of niceties ran late. Dinner for the children ran late. He threw everything off, but at least the children were happy to see him. So, she was going to be in her new house, without her kids… for a week. What a way to steal her thunder.
When she walked in, she tossed her purse on the rack by the door and glanced around. There were music and sweet smells coming from the kitchen. "Hello?" she called out, pulling out her wand.
"Cherries, come in the kitchen!" Sirius called out.
Hermione groaned as she peeled off her work coat and hung it up. She wandered into the kitchen to see Sirius and Remus were sitting at the table with a fresh batch of brownies. "I have some dinner with a warming spell on the counter if you haven't eaten yet. Ginny owled us and let us know what was happening," Remus explained as she strolled into the room further.
The witch tucked herself over Remus's shoulder and sighed. "He wanted the kids, and we had to sort out a diplomatic way to solve his angst."
Remus touched her hand and ran his fingers over hers. "Yes, I figured that was the jest of it. I'm sorry they don't get to see their new rooms," he apologized.
Hermione kissed his cheek and smiled. "Thank you for waiting for my delivery today."
The werewolf reached up and touched her cheek. "It's my pleasure," he murmured.
"I'm so knackered," she huffed and pulled away from him.
Sirius jumped up and pulled out a chair for her. "Come on, eat something and we'll get out of your hair so you can relax."
Hermione sat down and shook her head. "I don't want you to leave yet. This place will feel so empty without someone else in it."
The animagus wandered over to the counter and retrieved the plate for her. When he set it down, Remus smirked over at her with a slant to his head. "So, other than Ron, how was your day?"
"Ballocks," she sighed as she stabbed at her food. "You know, for once I would like the Wizengamot not to turn down any bylaws I put forth that have to do with pureblood shite," she grumbled and exhaled. "Not that my day is that exciting. How was yours?"
"Mine was fantastic. I walked in on Remus half naked in your bedroom," Sirius snickered as he collapsed in a chair, placing his feet on the table.
Remus hemmed and tugged at his collar of his shirt when Hermione glanced over at him. "Well, I was, it," he just buttoned his lips and shrugged his shoulders with a half smile.
"I'm glad to see one of us is getting comfortable. Remind me not to walk around in just my knickers or Sirius would barge in and catch me," Hermione teased.
Sirius gasped and sat up, throwing his feet off the table. "Love, was that a joke?"
"I suppose it was," Hermione laughed after swallowing a bite. "Thank you for making dinner… Remus," she said with a sharp glance at Sirius.
He glared at her and folded his arms over his chest. "Now, don't go tossing those looks at me, Cherries. I cook; I just don't do it well."
"Don't get bent out of shape, the last thing we need is you crying," Hermione sneered and pulled out her wand to summon the wine from the counter.
"That's about the only thing he does well," Remus said while smirking.
Sirius groaned as he motioned for the glasses with his wand. "You both are just jealous that I shag better than you."
Hermione snatched up a clean glass before pouring herself some wine. "That's debatable."
Sirius arched an eyebrow at her, and his lips tugged upward on one side. "I'm impressed, love. Seems when you have a bit of fight in you, you're much more entertaining."
Remus poured himself a glass after Sirius had a go and lounged in his chair. "So, there is something I want to talk to you about," the werewolf started.
Hermione sipped her glass and set it down. "What's wrong?"
"Seeing as your children will be missing this weekend, I was wondering if you would like to go out to dinner?" He asked.
"Where is Teddy?" Hermione asked- her face was scrunched.
"Don't worry about the kid, he's with Drom," Sirius declared with a wave.
"On Saturday?" Hermione questioned, her cheeks were evolving to a lovely pink.
Remus rocked his head slowly. "That is if you still want to by then," he grumbled as he rubbed the back of his neck.
Hermione smiled at him and nodded. "Of course I will, I'm just a bit shocked you asked me. You aren't usually so forward about your intentions, Remus."
"Intentions, aren't you just so sweet, Moony," Sirius snickered.
"Are you going to get a sitter?" Hermione inquired.
Remus scowled and scratched his face. "Why would I need a sitter?"
"A dog sitter," Hermione giggled and grinned over at Sirius.
The werewolf barked out a stream of laughter as the animagus grumbled and waved her off. "Laugh all you like, Cherries, but I'm housebroken."
Hermione pushed her near-empty plate away and reached for a brownie. "Well, you deserved that one."
Remus leaned toward her and beckoned her close. She had just nibbled on a bit of the brownie and assumed he was going to continue the banter, but instead, he kissed her. It caused the witch to moan and abandon the brownie on the table so she could touch his face.
"Come on, both of you make me sick," Sirius grumbled and snagged his wine glass off the table.
Hermione pulled away and huffed. "You need to stop doing that," she whispered with a smile.
"I can't promise that," Remus responded and returned to his relaxed position.
"Are mummy and daddy fighting? They keep sticking their tongues down each other's throats," Sirius snickered before draining his glass.
"You know, I'm starting to think you're jealous, Sirius," Hermione said as she crossed her legs.
Sirius waved his hand as he reached for the wine bottle. "Who wouldn't be? Moony is one sexy werewolf. Devilishly handsome and a cock longer than a ruler."
Hermione had almost lost her glass at that comment.
Remus pressed his hand to his forehead and exhaled. "Some things are best left for mystery, Pads."
Sirius grinned wickedly and held out his hands a reasonable distance apart. "He's modest," he hissed and waggled his eyebrows.
The witch bit at her bottom lip and sucked on it a moment before sipping her wine glass. "Let's take a nice turn back into conversations that don't have to do with sizes, hm?" She asked, still not able to hide her magnificent blush.
"You know, I couldn't figure it out, why young witches fawned over him at Hogwarts. Then one day I crossed him and a Ravenclaw girl in the library and he," Sirius paused as Remus growled, slamming his hand down.
"I said enough," he huffed.
Hermione picked up her brownie and nibbled at it as she saw the Marauders having themselves a staring match. Remus hardly ever lost his cool with Sirius, but this was potent. The animagus exhaled and looked away, picking up his wine glass again.
"Now, you're more than willing to change things as you like, but I took the liberty of setting up a few things you might need," Remus said in a pleasant tone.
"Thank you," Hermione responded with a smile.
Sirius stood up and exhaled. "I'm going to go take a long bath," he hemmed and maneuvered over to Hermione. "Good night, Cherries," he said and kissed her forehead.
Hermione took his hand and kissed it. "Good night, Sirius."
He disappeared from the kitchen, and the hallway door sounded. Remus breathed and shrugged his shoulders. "He's his own breed," he murmured with a guilty expression.
"Don't worry; I'm not concerned with his behavior after the last two years. Sirius is probably getting adjusted just as much as everyone else might have to," she responded and bit her lip.
"So, I have something to say," he announced.
Hermione watched Remus swig a healthy amount of wine before nodding. "Okay."
"I would like to take things far slower than Sirius is insinuating we should," Remus declared as color rose to his cheeks.
"Oh?" Hermione couldn't find a proper response.
"I'm, it, well, I'm not good at these things, Hermione. You know that. You bore witness to some of it, and I'm sure Andromeda told you what hell I put Dora through. I don't want you to think that I'm here to figuratively pick off the carcass of your marriage."
Hermione rocked her head and sipped her wine. "I would never assume that."
"Which is wonderful, but I also need to know I've said it. I'm not going just to be a wanker that takes you to bed before courting you," Remus said with an arched eyebrow.
"A girl can dream right?" Hermione teased as she set down her glass.
Remus rose his eyebrows and blinked. "I thought that wasn't of interest to you? You regularly spoke about your desire not to be touched."
The witch shrugged her shoulders and exhaled. "I don't know, Remus. I thought I wasn't interested in that, but the way you kissed me," she paused and pressed her fingers to her lips. "It felt like fire."
He wetted his lips and drank from his glass before turning back to her. "I still stand by what I've said. I'm not here to be an opportunist, which will be said about me anyway. I have a sneaking suspicion that it's been spoken about when you divorced Ron."
"Well, as long as we give them something to talk about," Hermione attempted to joke, but Remus scowled.
"I mean it, Hermione. You're too special to be fucked over like that. I want to do this right, and I'm not going to treat you like my late wife. I was cruel to her because I didn't think she deserved to lower her station and be with a werewolf. I understand now how remarkably selfish I was. If you're in this, so am I."
Hermione reached out and touched his hand. "I am relieved you know that. I'm sorry you had to lose the love of your life to figure that out."
Remus smiled and caressed her fingers. "Do you trust me when I say that I will give you everything I have? I may not be much," he couldn't finish because Hermione leaned over and kissed him.
She pulled away just enough to nod. "Yes, I trust you, Remus."
"Now, we need to talk about Sirius," Remus said with a smirk.
Hermione blinked and swallowed. "What about him?" she asked as her body inched from his personal space.
"He's going to be a bit of a prat, he's going to say stupid things, and he will likely grate your nerves, but he loves you, deeply," Remus responded.
She glanced at the table and exhaled. "I know, Remus."
He touched her chin and tilted her vision back to him. "I know you know, but I'm letting you know it's alright. I have no ill will toward him or would ever. That man loves me more than he loves himself. Hard to believe, but it's true."
Hermione couldn't help but let the tear fall from her eye as she inhaled. "Remus, I'm worried about him."
The werewolf traced his thumb on her chin and rocked his head. "Me too." He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "You do what you can, and I will also. No one gets forgotten in our mix, alright?"
Hermione exhaled and hugged him tightly. "You're an outstanding man, Remus."
His fingers traced through her hair and he pressed his cheek to hers. "You're perfection, Hermione."
She kissed his cheek and pulled away. "Did you want to show me what you did today?" She asked with a smile and held out her hand.
Remus took it and kissed her knuckles before nodding. "It would be my pleasure."