Sirius stretched on the comfy large bed. His eyes trained on the ceiling above as his mind wandered over the events from the previous night. After Hermione had stopped crying and the pair were able to move they walked their way back to the castle. Neither spoke and Sirius kept his arm wrapped around the young woman's shoulders out of friendly protection. Hermione was pleased to get inside and immediately stopped shivering once the warmth of the castle and of the feeling of home hit her.

Sirius walked her to the portrait to her room, glad that she had spoke at least once to tell him she needed a shower and a lie down. He was truly glad as the events needed to be told to Professor McGonagall and having Hermione with him he was sure they would not get far into the story without more emotional outbursts. Although Sirius was anxious for his friends, his head was serious as he remembered Kingsley Shacklebots orders: Get the job done.

After waking the sleeping headmistress and recounting his tale to both McGonagall and the portrait of Albus Dumbledore Sirius took McGonagall's advice and headed back to his room. Fred, George and Tonks were out of the castle, all being sent to complete important tasks at the ministry coincidentally taking them all away last minute before the full moon.

Sirius had told Hermione to come see him once she was ready and he would talk her through the previous few weeks adventure and the task he had been given, however she was yet to appear and Sirius worried whether she would ever. Maybe last night had pushed her too far. She had seen too much.

Knock, Knock, Knock.

The short sharp raps on the door snapped Sirius from his thoughts and he swung his legs round so he was sitting up. Maybe Hermione did want to speak after all.

"Come in!" he called. The door creaked open and in walked a tall figure, Sirius' eyebrows quirked upwards in surprise. "Remus!"

Without thinking Sirius stood and crossed the room, embracing his friend like the man had done years before to him. A hug of warmth and acceptance.

Remus sighed before pulling back and it was at that point that Sirius saw his face. It was as if he had aged and lost weight all in one night. Sirius gasped. This was the worst he had ever seen his friend after a transformation: his eyes red and puffy, his cheeks sunken and his forehead creased in a frown.

"Brother," Sirius said sympathetically. "I think we need to talk. I can now at least tell you what I've been doing for the last few weeks."

Remus nodded without uttering a word. He sat down on a chair by a desk as Sirius walked and sat back down on his bed. It took 10 minutes for Sirius to talk through all the last little whiles events. How he had been given a mission from the minister of magic after an anonymous tip off stating Fenrir was after the werewolf that had escaped death. How he had come to the castle knowing there would be some sort of confrontation at the full moon. Werewolf Vs werewolf.

"The only thing I'm annoyed at is that there was no survivors that we could have questioned. How I would have loved to get a hold of that smaller man and get all the information I could from him. Like how they had managed to get around the school. Presumably getting rid of your wolfsbane potion!" Sirius stopped his train of thought abruptly and looked into his friends eyes. Pain was eminent in them and Sirius realised why immediately. "Mooney I didn't mean that! You couldn't help yourself last night. Sorry I shoul..."

"It doesn't matter," Remus almost whispered gazing at the floor. "I killed a man. An innocent man who had been forced into a role he did not wish to be in. What's more is I enjoyed it." Rising, the werewolf ran a hand through his sandy hair and began his characteristic pacing back and forth. "The thought of the three of them causing pain and panic to Hermione broke me Sirius! But really who was she more scared of last night. Me probably."

Sirius sighed unsure of how to comfort his friend.

As the men stood in silence both contemplating Remus' painful honesty the door burst open and in walked Hermione. "Sirius I..." trailing off her eyes met Remus' before dropping to the ground. "Sorry, I just-I just came to talk." Turning she went to walk out of the room but Sirius stopped her.

"Hermione wait!" Sirius said quickly. He was surprised he could react as shock had momentarily stopped him when she had marched into the room. "Hermione talk. Talk now. While we're all here."

Hermione paused at the door, "I-I can't," she whispered barely loud enough for any person to hear but the superior senses of the werewolf and the animagus picked it up without strain. "I just can't."

Clearing his throat Remus spoke, "Hermione, will you please stay?"

She paused for a few seconds considering her options before closing the door in front of her allowing both men to exhale at last.

"Remus I..." she began as she turned to face him.

But the older man interrupted her with force, "Iloveyou!" he said honestly squeezing his eyes shut as he admitted the true passion he felt in a tumble of words. Clearing his throat he repeated himself more calmly, "Hermione I love you and I think it's about time you knew."

Hermione's mouth fell open and her gaze flew from the floor to Sirius then to Remus. "Wha-wha-what?" she gasped.

The werewolf's heart deflated as he watched her shocked expression change into confusion. "It's true, I have for quite some time, probably since our summer time together. But I know you could never feel the same. I just had to tell you."

Hermione stood still, not moving and not speaking as she took in her old professors words.

Remus took her silence to continue, to explain, "After last night I could see why you would hate me. I hate me. My actions were disgusting and volatile, just like the monster I am. You could never love me back," he said, his eyes feeling the sting of tears. "I understand that."

Hermione stared at Remus. Out of all the times she had imagined him saying those words to her, all the times she had dreamed of the possible scenarios, she never expected to feel the way she did at that moment: anger.

Crossing the distance between him and her she threw back her hand and brought it crashing down onto his cheek. The sound of the slap echoed in the room as Remus' head snapped to the side. His cheek flared red but he did not complain or make a noise. Instead he stood still knowing it was what he deserved.

Sirius watched as the young witch stared angrily up at his friend, unsure whether he should help or leave.

"How dare you!" Hermione screamed. Her voice quickly dropped down to a whisper, "how dare you tell me I could never love you. Don't try to know my feelings for you without ever asking before!"

Remus' head snapped back, his eyes searching hers in confusion. Was she telling him the opposite of what he thought? "What do you mean?" he asked waiting for the moment she would turn and flee out the room realising the animal which stood before her.

"I'm telling you, Remus, that I love you!" she said truthfully. "I have done for quite some time now! You have no right to tell me what I feel or don't."

"Bu-bu-but..." Remus tried to say.

"Don't! Don't try and nudge me away like you successfully did with Tonks," Hermione said shutting the werewolf up. "You're Lycanthropy doesn't scare me Remus, you don't scare me!"

"But last night?" Remus said in a whisper. "You saw..."

"I saw you acting out of passion and protection for me. If that doesn't make a girl go weak at the knees I don't know what does!" Hermione said softly with a chuckle.

Sirius watched the pair in front of him. Remus' ability to tell her he loved her and Hermione's undying acceptance moved him deeply.

Remus shook his head and took a step away, "I don't deserve you."

Hermione walked forwards until her body was inches away from his, "don't tell me what I do or do not deserve Remus. If only you could see yourself the way I see you," she said grabbing one of his hands in her own. "Then you would realise how important you are to me."

Remus looked down into the big brown eyes before him. His hand came up and gently cupped her chin pulling her head up further to face him as his own head leaned down and gently he placed a kiss on her lips. Moving to pull away he was surprised and pleased when two hands reached around his neck and pulled him back down towards her. They kissed again softly but Remus was quick to feel Hermione's tongue pressing against his lips. Opening he granted her access and they stayed in a tongue locked passionate kiss for a little while more.

"Ahem!" Sirius said loudly breaking the pair apart in surprise. "Well it appears you two seemed to have forgotten about me, but that's fine."

Hermione wrapped her arms around Remus waist pressing against him as she rested her head on his chest. Complete happiness washed over Remus and he hugged the girl tightly against him smiling gleefully at his friend.

"Sorry Sirius," Hermione laughed.

"That's fine," Sirius muttered rather dejectedly. "It's not like I too risked my life to protect people or whatever..." he said trailing off.

Hermione laughed before removing herself from the warm arms of Remus and going over giving the shaggy animagus a hug. "Thank you Sirius!"

"That's not how you thanked Remus!" Sirius complained and when she looked up confused he laughed and made kissy noises puckering his lips at her. Hermione giggled and swatted him away before bouncing back to Remus who growled slightly at his friend with a triumphant grin.

"Well as much as I'd love to stay and chat I've got to go see the headmistress yet again!" Sirius huffed walking towards the door.

Opening the door Sirius was away to slip out before Remus called his attention, "thank you, thank you for everything."

Sirius nodded and quietly left the room glad that his task was over and his friends were all unharmed, at least physically.

Remus and Hermione stayed wrapped around each other without speaking for a long time. It wasn't until Hermione's stomach rumbled loudly when Remus finally managed to pry her from him and suggest a walk to the kitchens to see if the house elves would magic them up something.

Although usually Hermione would have argued and scolded the idea of the house elves doing any work for her, in this case she happily went along, glad that he hadn't suggested them going to the great hall for their breakfast where they would have to separate painfully, her to her table of other Gryffindor students and him to his place amongst the staff.

After eating the pair retreated back to Remus' accommodation where after sneaking in they remained there the rest of the day, sitting on the sofa in his living room, happily entwined with Remus humming a tuneless song as he played with her hair and. Hermione slept on his chest peacefully, the nightmare of last night becoming a weak memory contorted with the joy of the mornings events and Remus' admission. Both sighed content with staying there forever.

"I love you witch," Remus chucked still surprised he could make such a huge honest statement aloud and not be banished or humiliated. Kissing her forehead he hugged her tightly happy that any drama was passed now and they could enjoy their loved up time together. "I love you."

oOo

Remus sat in front of the headmistress. His face was an angry shade of red and his forehead gleamed slightly from a layer of sweat. "What the hell do you mean?" he shouted angrily at the stern woman facing him. "I did my part, it's over!"

"I'm sorry Sirius," Professor McGonagall replied. "I can see why you would be upset but it not over! What did you think would happen? You would get rid of a few followers of the dark lord and that would be that? Sirius the problem is larger than you can imagine!"

Sirius slumped in his chair, "but Voldemorts gone," he tried to reason. "He's dead. Harry got rid of him!"

"Yes, yes he is and thankfully this time round there's no way he could return," she said rapping her knuckles on the large wooden desk she sat behind, a muggle tradition she had picked up and found rather comical. "But Sirius, there are still followers of the old ways. Followers who seek revenge. Fenrir was but one in a long list who seek vengeance. We must be prepared." Looking him straight in the eyes McGonagall appeared as fearless and as ready as ever, "will you fight for us Sirius?"

Sirius' mind filled with thoughts. The war he had survived those who had not. His family, none blood related but as close as any biological. Then an image filled his mind. The image of his two friends who just that morning had got together. The love they shared and the acceptance and wordless compassion which existed between them. An image which filled Sirius with sadness. If it was true, and Voldmorts followers did want to spill more blood than yet again hundreds of couples just like Remus and Hermione would be torn apart. Thrown into a world of loss and despair.

Looking the headmistress in the eye Sirius stared unblinkingly and replied with his simple one word answer, so full of selfless love was his answer that he surprised McGonagall and himself. "Yes."

Authors Notes: Hey guys! So for just now that is my story completed. However! I have left it on a bit of a cliff hanger because I really got into the story and want to add on in the future: Explore Remus and Hermione's new relationship along with head off on a story with Sirius.

Thank you for all the reviews, it's been a pleasure like always

P.S I thought I would add this in... The reason Sirius used a revolver instead of a wand was my own personal preference. Because, I always found the killing curse too personal to kill with and something that I didn't think Sirius could bring himself to say. Hence why he had a gun. It was metal, emotionless and done the job. Hope that helps! Bye