The witches were sitting around the coffee table, and Snuffles was gnawing on a bone in the corner. They were looking over color schemes, possible themes, and even bride's maids' dresses. Ginny wanted an April wedding, and it was surely going to be a long engagement for the rambunctious Weasley. Hermione had helped her go through some of the more accessible options before Ginny leaned back on the couch.
"What happened last night?" Ginny finally asked, and Hermione frowned at her.
"Nothing," Hermione said swiftly.
Ginny gasped and pointed at her. "Hermione! Did you shag him?"
"Of course not!"
Ginny narrowed her gaze and shook her finger. "Something happened. You both weren't being awkward today."
Hermione sighed heavily and launched into the events of last night, including his admission to her being in his time and his mate. Ginny listened intently and covered her mouth when Hermione spoke about Moony showing up and in what manner. She finished with the bathroom debacle this morning, and the redhead rolled with laughter.
"He just stood there?" she finally asked, and Hermione nodded slowly. "Okay, wait, let's go back a tick. He said you were in his timeline and that you were married to him?"
Hermione gave another motion of agreement. "Moony knows me, Gin. I wouldn't believe it if Moony wasn't the one participating in touching me last night. He was fully aware of the spots on me that- that wouldn't be pleasant to touch in a heated moment."
"You mean that you are deathly ticklish on your ribs under your armpits?" Ginny snickered with an arched eyebrow.
The older witch bobbed her head and exhaled. "Yes, and his hands were deliberate. It was like a long-lost lover had reminded me what it was like to be with them without actually ever shagging him before."
Ginny rubbed her cheek and let out a massive breath. "Wow, well. That means that you both were married. Who knows how long before he came here. I am incredibly curious as to the turn of how that happened."
Hermione blushed and gnawed her bottom lip. "Ginny, that means whatever sent him here sent him away from his wife and friends. Something had to have happened. I am worried."
"You are his wife in another time," Ginny leered with a smirk.
The curly-haired witch gulped and rubbed the back of her neck. "Ginny, do you think he feels guilty?"
The redhead laughed and shook her head. "I think he is trying to wrap his head around how to purpose shagging to you. He looks uptight and tense; might need to do something about it, Hermione." Ginny teased, and Hermione covered her flaming cheeks with her hands.
"He's Remus, Gin. He has a proper air about him. It took everything out of me to focus on the time paradox last night while we sat in bed after Moony announced his clear interest. I didn't want him to think I am just one of those girls that Sirius would brag about in drunken slurs."
"Drunken slurs? Proper? Hermione, please tell me you are fantasizing about that man? He toppled himself over your couch today because he was so flustered seeing you naked." Ginny growled, and Hermione groaned.
"I have- well- it's been hard to have a bit of me time since he's been staying. I don't want a werewolf smelling private moments because I need a bit of personal time." Hermione murmured, and Ginny giggled waving her hair in a shake.
"He wants to cook for you tonight, just let things happen then. He is so concerned with you and you him… it is going to happen, so just let it!"
Hermione glanced over at her with a small frown. "This doesn't bother you or Harry at all?"
"No! In fact, I am quite sure the whole family would be shaking his hand." Ginny said smartly, and Hermione sighed.
"My private life is not everyone's business."
"Well, it is my business to an extent. You need to be alright with someone wanting to care for you, Hermione." Ginny snapped and the older witch bit her lips together.
"What if he has to go back?" Hermione admitted and gazed down at the pretty dress designs Ginny picked out. "I don't know if my heart could handle it."
Ginny shook her head. "He can't, and you know that. You even told me this when Harry was talking insanity about going back to bring Sirius forward. Once you set yourself in a time you have to let it play out, don't you?"
Hermione ran her fingers over the lavender dress in the picture. "I hope so. Gin, I don't know why, but since I have seen him in the bookstore that day, my heart feels like it grew ten times over in my chest."
Ginny scratched her head and tapped the side of her face. "Maybe the whole crush you had on the older Remus was preparation for falling in love with him now?"
"Ginny, that is the most mental but sound thing you have said to me." Hermione declared and turned to her friend. "I cannot describe it. The feeling like he was what I was waiting for… it's too early to assume anything about it, but I feel-" she paused and pressed a hand to her chest. "Restored."
Ginny giggled and patted her friend's shoulder. "It is time to invest a little time in that heart and take a chance, Hermione."
"Okay, Gin," Hermione replied and held up a sheet of the magazine. "The magenta, Ginny. It goes with the wedding theme you were thinking and not all the girls will groan at you for it."
~O~O~O~O~O~O~
Kurt was sifting through produce as Harry lingered near the apples. The werewolf knew the Potter wanted to talk after their stop at Diagon Alley and Kurt picked out a few things for Hermione. The conversation of his dreams came up because Harry knew something was wrong. Now Harry was absorbing the admission that Hermione in Kurt's last timeline was his wife.
Ron's reaction was a bit different. He snorted and told the werewolf only in his dreams. It wasn't jealous as much as it was a challenge. Kurt could smell it in the air when the Weasley spat it with a snort. Ron was poking around some of the muggle dishes in the next aisle over.
"Remus, I have a question," Harry murmured, and the werewolf turned to him after placing a few items in his basket.
"Yes, Harry?"
"You aren't going to leave her, are you?" Harry inquired as he approached. "I knew that you both were going to get along, but marriage before a relationship is a bit to absorb, even for her."
"Regardless of what happened, that isn't what happened now, Harry. I am not going to leave her if she wants me to be here. I know she isn't my wife, Harry. My memories may be confusing, but she is a reality. One that I don't want to cause any discomfort to even for my own luxury."
Kurt finished, and the store melted, and he was standing in a park with James.
"Are you sure you want this?" James questioned, and they watched the witch playing in the grass with a large black dog.
He nodded and patted James' shoulder. "More than anything, Prongs. She is my witch, for the rest of eternity. I don't care what that entails."
"That's a long time, Moony. Lily reminded me of that after I purposed too."
"We have the rest of our lives to figure it out, don't we?" Remus asked and watched as the dog tackled Hermione to the ground with a slobbery attack.
She was giggling and threw him off. "Bad dog, Padfoot!" she cried with a bright smile.
The dog barked at her and nuzzled her cheek. "Who would have thought that she would have gotten along so well with him, hm? They used to fight like cats and dogs- pun intended." James remarked, and Remus nodded.
"What would we have done without her?" Remus whispered, and James laughed.
"Definitely not have gotten through our sixth year," James replied.
"I can't remember not being in love with her, Prongs," Remus admitted, and James chuckled.
"It took you far too long to tell her. I am glad you got your ballocks in hand and told her before she started prissing about with that Ravenclaw."
"Earth to Moony!" Ron shouted and shoved the werewolf.
Kurt shook from the memory and gazed at the two younger wizards looking at him with concern. "Where did you go, Remus?" Harry asked, and Kurt took in a sharp breath.
"I was in a park with your father talking about Hermione. Harry, we went to school with her," Kurt muttered and ran his free hand through his hair.
Harry paled slightly. "She went to school with you? Did you know her a long time then? Hermione is going to have a fit of theories once we tell her." He told the werewolf who nodded.
"That is bloody mental, isn't it? He comes here and in his last time went to school with her. It is curious to think that they grew up together." Ron said and patted Kurt's arm.
"We should tell McGonagall soon," Harry murmured, and Kurt bobbed his head.
"First, let's finish shopping so Ron can try not to strike out with a pretty witch," Kurt snickered, and Ron rolled his eyes.
"She happens to think my awkwardness is cute, thanks mate," Ron retorted, and Harry snorted.
"Awkwardness? Did she call it that? You aren't a puppy; you are a wizard. I hope you are coming up with a good excuse for why you won't be talking much." Harry said, and Ron waggled his eyebrows.
"I have. I am going to tell her that I took a vow of silence for a month to honor a friend of mine. She will gush, guaranteed," Ron smirked, and Kurt laughed, bending forward.
"That's what James thought too," He replied, and Harry tilted his head.
"He did?"
"Yes, told Lily it was to honor Sirius's uncle who passed away. Which explained why every one of them joined Sirius in near silence."
"How did you get away with speaking?" Ron asked with narrowed eyes.
Kurt smirked and arched an eyebrow. "I told everyone it was because someone had to speak logic while they were insane."
The younger wizards burst into laughter, and Ron nodded. "Fair enough, Moony."
"So, after she sends us off with our potions and leaves for the next week, you plan on making dinner?" Harry asked as they finally moved from the produce aisle.
"She isn't going to be able to speak, that is going to be quite awkward," Ron remarked, and Remus shrugged his shoulders.
"It will take her getting used to it, but I am positive you all are capable of a little muteness."
Ron snorted and rolled his eyes, "Not what I meant," he retorted.
The werewolf ran a hand through his facial hair. "Well, maybe I just will wait to approach her with anything serious."
Ron stifled a laugh. "Sounds a bit- Sirius," he said, and Harry pushed him.
"Taking a bit too much after George, Ron," Harry grumbled. "I like that idea and not because I am a protective brother figure. I think she needs some time to realize you are interested in more than her knickers by the sound of it. Not that I don't support you if she is the one to provoke it."
Kurt's cheeks tinted, and he cleared his throat. "I- well, I- walked in on her getting out of the shower today." He murmured, and Harry choked on a snort.
"What did she do?"
Kurt waved him off and swayed his head. "She was brilliant and polite. I just gawked like a bat and then tripped myself over her couch. I acted like a fool."
Ron rolled with laughter and clapped Kurt's back. "That is bloody fantastic! I always knew you were inept, Moony, but I never thought it was that bad."
Kurt did not go into detail about what went on last night, and Harry blushed. "So, you both are a bit uneasy then? My future wife is probably instilling her with crazy ideas as we speak."
"I say, Hermione actually went into theories over shagging? That brings her to a new level of swottish doesn't it?" Ron commented, and Kurt scowled at him.
"I don't blame her, Ron. She probably was more stunned at Moony's actions than I was." Kurt replied, and Harry motioned agreement.
"Just do yourself a favor and try to let her give you the sign," Ron said, and Harry groaned.
"That is not a sign, Ron."
Ron rolled his eyes and turned to Kurt. "She does this thing. It is weird, but a signal. If she sets down her book and looks at you before leaving the room, she wants you to follow her. Don't listen to Harry; he hasn't a bloody clue about her like that."
Kurt turned scarlet and waved him off. "I don't want to know, Ron. Don't talk about that with me," He spat and Ron grinned, reaching over to ruffle the werewolf's hair.
"It's alright, Remus. You already have more on her. She was your wife in your last timeline," He snickered, and Harry snorted.
"Shite, we need to go. Its almost three and the witches are probably finishing up their wedding plans. We have to get to brewing the potion, so we have enough for the next week." Harry said glancing at Sirius's old pocket watch.
"I always loved that about him," Kurt murmured gazing down at the watch. "He silently had an affinity toward little gadgets."
Harry smiled at him and nodded. "I liked that about him too. Come on, let's go start becoming animals for you, Moony."