Chapter Ten - A Little Harmless Flirting
The next morning Hermione was awakened by Remus, as he carefully tried to pull his arm out from under her head. "Sorry, didn't mean to wake you, but my arm is asleep," he said quietly.
She rolled over and grabbed his arm, rubbing it to help the circulation return. "Sorry, I didn't mean to cut off the circulation," she replied with a shy smile.
He melted on the inside from the combination of the touche of her hands as she rubbed his arm and her smile that took his breath away. He stilled her hands and started to rise from the bed. She'll be the death of me, he thought as he quickly left the room, wishing to hide the evidence of her effect on him. A shower. A very cold shower, was his last thought as he left the room without a word, fearing that if she asked him what was wrong, he would have to turn around.
Hermione looked curiously at him as he swept so quickly from the room, wondering if she'd done something. She sat there for a few moments, thinking of what she could have done, when it dawned on her what had happened. Instantly her cheeks flushed and she giggled, delightd that she had unnerved him. She quickly got up herself. She started to take off her pajamas, but decided the last thing she needed to do was have him walk in while she was changing. She grabbed her wand, and with a simple wave she was fully dressed in a pair of jeans and a smoky blue tank top. She didn't bother with shoes, being more comfortable when she walked around barefooted. With another wave of her wand the bed was made, and she left the room to go and summon breakfast.
She smiled even more when she heard the shower flowing, blushing yet again when she noticed the lack of steam rising from under the door as it tended to do when they took warm showers. She sat at the table and thought of what they should have for breakfast. Instantly a tray filled with bacon, eggs, pancakes, and all the other necessities appeared, along with a note and two bottles. She reached for the note first.
Here is this month's Wolfsbane potion for you. Don't forget you'll have to make it yourself after this. There should be a book on the shelves with the ingredients and instructions. If you think you'll have any problems making it correctly, let us know and we'll find a way to acquire it for you—though from your grades in school I'm more than confident that you can manage, Hermione. Just sit at the table and think of the supplies and ingredients you need, and they'll appear for you. Good luck.
Hope all is well,
Minerva
She smiled, happy that Minerva was so confident that she could accomplish such a difficult potion. Also she was excited for the challenge, to really put her mind back to work after so long. She ate her breakfast quickly, impatient to get started on the potion. As she finished the last bite on her plate, Remus walked out of the bathroom, in mid-wave of his wand, drying his hair.
He cleared his throat, still uncomfortable with what had happened earlier. He looked at her and was very glad that he was still cold from the shower. Her outfit was very appealing to him. "So, um…what's for breakfast?" he asked as he sat down to eat.
She looked up, having just realised he was there, and fought to control the giggle that wanted to come out of her mouth, then she noticed his nervousness. "Bacon, eggs, and pancakes. Oh, and Minerva sent along our dose of Wolfsbane for the upcoming moon," she said with a smile.
He noticed how happy she sounded as she mentioned their next transformation, and wondered what made her so happy about it. He was about to question her when she jumped up from her seat and went to the bookshelves. He filled his plate, waiting until she was done surveying the books before questioning her. He didn't get the chance, because as soon as she picked the book she was obviously looking for, she rushed back over to the table and smiled at him as she told him what was so great.
"Minerva wishes for me to make our Wolfsbane potion from now on! She said she trusts that I can manage it! I just can't wait to get started. It's been so long since I was able to really put my mind to work on something!" she said happily as she opened a book called Aconitum. She scanned the pages for the instructions for the Wolfsbane potion. "I'll need your help preparing the ingredients. But I should be able to make it myself." She took out a piece of parchment and a quill and started jotting down the ingredients and the instructions. When she was done, she closed the book and sat for a moment, thinking of all that she would need. She smiled when a cauldron, a paring knife, and all of the ingredients appeared before her.
He smiled as he watched her wave her wand to create a sturdy table, where she placed the cauldron over a blue fire. She waved her wand again and water appeared in the cauldron; she started to slice and measure the ingredients. Remus ate quickly and joined her after Transfiguring his own paring knife. She didn't even look at him as she waved her wand, giving him his own list of very detailed and strict instructions on how to prepare his list of ingredients. They worked in silence for a while, Remus glanced at her every so often. He couldn't help but notice how adorable she was when she nibbled on her bottom lip in concentration. He cleared his throat, wishing to start up a conversation before his mind went to places that would make him need another cold shower. "So, how long will it take to make the potion?"
"Hmm?" was her only response.
He chuckled as he asked again, "I asked how long it will take to make this potion." This time she did look up at him briefly.
"The book says it takes two days to mature after you mix the ingredients. The process for mixing the ingredients takes three hours after the water is at the correct temperature. Why?"
"Oh, I was just wondering if I'd be able to pull you away from the board games today. We need to try something else; I think we're at a standstill with Battleship—this tie just won't break," he said with a hint of grumpyness in his tone.
She smiled as she said, "Well, I agree. We should have plenty of time to play some sort of game. What did you have in mind?"
He took a second to think that one over before he smiled deviously. "Have you ever heard of a game called 'Twister'?"
She laughed as she answered. "Now, I might be wrong, but I'm guessing this is a game you and Sirius used to play, am I right? It sounds very 'Marauder-ish' to me."
"Well, we—uh—didn't play alone," he said with a chuckle. "We usually played this game with girls. Usually it would be me, Sirius, James, Lily, and whatever dates Sirius and I had at the time. We made some fun weekends out of it."
"I suspected as much. I'm game if you are, though you should know I'm very limber. Have you ever heard of yoga?" Hermione asked with a smile.
He swallowed, having hardly heard anything past the word 'limber'. "No, I can't say that I have," he replied.
"Well, I used to practice it during the summers. It's a type of exercise my mum discovered. It improves your posture, among other things. Some kind of Hindu practice, I believe."
He tried not to smile so widely as he replied, "Well, I'd love to see the effects of said Hindu practice." He couldn't hold back his big smile when she giggled at his response.
"All right, Remus. After we finish with adding the ingredients, you're on!" she replied. What's the harm in a little flirting? she thought to herself.
It was later that evening, after they'd had dinner, that Remus thought of the game and it appeared on the coffee table. He cleared the floor with a wave of his wand and started to unfold the Twister mat. "How about we play for stakes on this one?" he asked with a wolfish grin. He had changed into a pair of modern muggle cargo shorts and a tee-shirt, both have been summoned by Hermione after she had suggested he'd have a better chance if he wore less restrictive clothing.
"What kind of stakes?" she asked as she pulled the majority of her bushy brown hair into a bun, with a few stray strands still hanging loose.
"Okay. Le'ts say that the first person each round to fall has to drink a shot of Firewhiskey. If a person falls and knocks the other person down as well, then the one at fault has to take two shots," he said, feeling younger and more playful then he had in years. Just setting out the mat reminded him of his carefree days with the rest of the Mauraders. Sirius would be happy that I'm loosening up for a change.
She giggled at his suggestion, then waved her wand. On the table next to the couch appeared two shot glasses and a bottle of Firewhiskey. "You're on. But you should know, I'm a bit of a lightweight when it comes to Firewhiskey. I imagine Harry shared with you what happened the night of our graduation from Hogwarts."
"Umm, actually, I know firsthand. Most of you were smashed that night. I actually carried you to your room at Grimauld Place," he replied, remembering the night well.
She laughed, "I always wondered how I managed to get back to my room. I even asked Harry and the others; they didn't remember how they got to their own rooms, either." She smiled at him as he finished positioning the mat. "One more thing we need, just in case." She thought for a moment, and instantly two vials appeared next to the shot glasses. When he raised his eyebrows, she answered his unspoken question: "Hangover potions."
"Good thinking. So…ladies first," he said as he waved a hand at the mat.
here is the layout, for those who can't remember what a Twister mat looks like
Red Blue Green Yellow
Red Blue Green Yellow
Red Blue Green Yellow
Red Blue Green Yellow
Red Blue Green Yellow
Red Blue Green Yellow
"Left foot, Yellow," she said. He put his left foot in the yellow circle nearest to him.
"Right foot, Blue," he replied. She stepped into a blue circle.
"Right foot, Green," she said. He stepped into a green circle.
They went on a few more moves, both of them laughing at how silly the game was, both trying not to stare at the positions they were each in at that point. Remus was bent backward, straining to stay up. Hermione was bent over, stretched, but managing quite well. Remus glanced briefly at her tank top, which was rather revealing at the moment since she was bent over, and suddenly he fell onto his rear. They both stood up, laughing, as she poured him a shot of Firewhisky.
"What happened? I thought you had it!" she teased as she handed him the shot.
He downed it before replying, "You had it easy, but my—umm—hand slipped." He averted his eyes as they each took a side of the mat for another round. This round got much more interesting. They both ended up twisted together, and finally Hermione slipped, knocking Remus down as she fell on top of him. They both burst out laughing as he helped her up. He poured her two shots and handed her the first one.
"You're a cruel man, Remus. You called that circle on purpose," she said as she downed her first shot, coughing at the burning in her throat. "I'd forgot how horrible that stuff was going down," she said as she reached for the second shot. Hermione felt warmth spread through her body as the liquor went down. Already the effects were starting to relax her even more.
"You okay, Hermione?" he asked.
She smirked at him before replying, "I'm fine."
They went on to play seven more rounds, before the effects of the Firewhiskey had them both swaying a bit. Remus had both of his feet separated by two yellow circles, and both of his hands separated by three blue ones; he was faceing the ground, or rather, Hermione. Hermione was straining to stay up, leaning back on her hands and feet, much like Remus had been that first round. Suddenly her right elbow gave, and when her rear hit the mat, her foot knocked Remus down on top of her. Both of them were laughing hysterically before they calmed down enough to notice that he was still lying on top of her.
Without thinking about it she leaned up and kissed him. She pulled back when she noticed he wasn't kissing her back. When she looked into his eyes she saw that they were glowing with some kind of emotion she didn't recognise. "I'm sorry…I didn't meant to…well, I did… but I shouldn't have," she rambled on until he leaned down and kissed her this time. Their lips battled each other in a desperate kiss, filled with the pent-up attraction they both had been trying to ignore. At least, they'd been trying to ignore the physical part. Finally they both broke away, gasping for breath. They just looked at each other, enjoying the moment.
"I don't think I've ever been this happy, Hermione. But if I don't stop right here, I won't be able to later," he said, still breathing hard. She took a moment to consider what he'd said.
"You're right, we should stop," she replied. She started to rise, and he took her hand and helped her up. Remus grabbed his wand, and with a simple wave the mat was folded up and put back into its box. Hermione reached for the two hangover potions and handed a vial to Remus.
She smiled as she said, "Bottoms up." They both drank the potion. "I guess we should get some sleep. I need to check on the Wolfsbane potion first and then get a shower. I'll be in shortly," she said. She had started to walk away when he grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. He kissed her lightly on the lips.
"Thanks for the game, Hermione. I had fun," he said quietly; he kissed her once more and then headed for the bedroom. She smiled to herself as she checked the potion. She still couldn't get rid of the small smile as she took her shower and readied for bed. She fell asleep with that same smile, when she got into bed only to be pulled into his arms, even as he slept. Both of them were content in each other's arms as they slept on, happy that they had been able to enjoy the day without worrying for once.
A/N: I hope you liked this chapter as much as I did. There was a few reviews I got, suggesting I write Hermione as drunk lol...so this is close to it. And DON'T WORRY! THIS FIC IS NOT OVER!!!! This chapter was the very-important-calm-before-the-storm! Tee Hee Hee... Update comeing soon! hugs Remember to READ AND REVIEW!!!