A/N: Sorry about the long posting gap. I've had some things going on lately and I haven't had the time or motivation to write. Also, I'm back in school now and I'm even more busy than usual.

Thanks for all of your reviews and suggestions for George (I guess I should have written I won't write slash, but thanks for sharing anyway). Anyways, I have someone in mind, but I'll have to see what you guys think a few posts from now :\


Despite Remus' new knowledge of Hermione being his mate, things remained the same between them. Remus wasn't exactly sure what to do about it. True they already had some sort of odd relationship, but he didn't exactly think it best to just throw in a conversation, "Hey, guess what. We're mates!" No, Remus decided it would be for the best if he just let it play out.

Today was Hermione's first day of work at WWW, as well as George's return to the shop. George had been running his business from home, not able to deal with the memories the shop he'd bought with his brother. However Hermione seemed to be working wonders on him. She managed to convince him to return to the store if she was with him.

Remus would have dropped her off on her first day, but Minerva had floo called him late to help her take care of a boggart infestation—though Remus knew she just wanted his company. A lot of the staff had recently retired, leaving the headmistress surrounded by young, new faces. Ones she wasn't quite as close with. Remus also suspected she wanted the 'latest scoop' of whatever was happening in Hermione's life.

So that is how Sirius ended up escorting Hermione to her first day of work. "Come on, Kitten!" Sirius called down the hallway. "You'll be late for your first day of work!"

Tarak growled from the hearth. 'Only Tarak call Kitten 'Kitten'.'

Sirius smirked cockily. "I think it fits her, so I'm going to use it. Good thinking, Mutt."

"Knock it off, you two," Remus said as he read the headlines of the Prophet.

Hermione stumbled into the room looking her best. "How do I look?" she asked as her hands clenched in her skirt.

'Kitten pretty,' Tarak said.

Indeed, she looked beautiful. Her hair was neatly plaited down her back and she wore a silky dark-purple blouse and a full black skirt that ended at her knees. Along with her black flats, she looked the most girl-like and put together since her return from the wild.

"You look stunning," Remus said and set the paper aside. "Why are you so dressed up, anyway?"

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and grabbed two pieces of toast. "I want to make a good impression," she said. She stuffed eggs between the slices of bread to make some sort of egg sandwich.

"You know those clothes will probably be ruined by the end of the day. George's products aren't known for being clean." When Hermione scowled at him, Remus raised his hands in defeat. "Alright, never mind. Go have fun. Hopefully I'll be back before you get home." Giving her a kiss, he left via the fireplace.

"Ready to leave," Sirius asked. At her nod, he ushered her towards the fireplace. "We're flooing to the Leaky Cauldron and walking to the shop."

Even though Hermione had been there a few times already, Diagon Alley still amazed her. Too soon they were inside George's shop. "Hermione! Sirius!" George stepped away from a display and gave Hermione a big hug. "Wow, you look wonderful, Hermione."

Hermione smiled embarrassed. "How are you?" she asked.

George gave a weak smile in return. "Harder than I thought it'd be. But I'm glad you're here."

Sirius stuck around while George showed her what she'd be doing, which was mainly stocking shelves and tending to customers. It wasn't until he heard a loud bark from outside his attention was diverted. "How did that mutt get here?" he grumbled as he left.

George told Hermione there was some stuff he had to look at in the back room and left Hermione in the front room with the two other employees. Only a few minutes later the first big group of customers came inside. Hermione smiled widely, ready to face the new challenge.

=-=-=-=

Ignoring the sneers and rude names being hurled at him, Draco held his head high as he made his way through Diagon Alley. The Malfoy name was once prestigious and struck fear in many. While many might still be fearful of it, it now held the importance of a flobberworm. He and his father's involvement with Voldemort left a bad mark on them. Overnight the Malfoys switched social status with the Weasleys.

Now he actually had to work to keep his home (heaven forbid) as his inheiritance was left to next to nothing to keep himself out of Azkaban. He had to make time for any wooing of witches. They used to fall at his feet, begging for the smallest morsel of attention. Draco shook his head. Those were the old days. Besides, most of my time and money is going towards finding Granger.

After thinking about it more thoroughly, Draco realized she was perfect for his needs. Courting one of the golden trio, and what Draco's plans involved marrying the witch, would give him the stepping stone back into the social groups he was familiar with. She would put him back on the map. Not to mention the beauty would be a definite personal and pleasurable bonus. He'd be sure to make it a permanent bond; not one that could be broken by divorce or such nonsense. That way if she ever did regain her memory, she couldn't leave him.

He had a plan, except now he needed to find her. You'd think someone who just came back from a long disappearance would be out more often. He had even hired one of his only remaining loyal sources to look for her. He had thought she would be with the Weasleys or even at the Weaselette/Longbottom's place, seeing she was in the photo with Hermione. However, his source hadn't seen her in either location.

Suddenly he was drawn from his frustrating thoughts by two women gossiping loudly. "You saw Hermione Granger?"

"Yes," the other one said enthusiastically. "I saw her in that Weasley abomination shop."

"Such a pity. She was such a smart girl, now a lowly store clerk. Such a waste."

Not wasting another second, Draco pushed past the ladies and into the street where the Weasley's shop was. He stopped at the front and couldn't believe his eyes. There through the window he saw her. He took a moment to compose himself before entering the shop. She was busy with another customer, but other than that, they were alone. As soon as she was finished he called, "Granger?"

She didn't move or flinch like she had heard him.

He tried again, but still received no answer, so he finally said, "Hermione." The word felt like some forbidden taboo on his tongue. He liked it.

Hermione quickly spun and stared at him quizzically. Draco was proud to say she quickly swept her gaze over his body. "Do I know you?" she asked.

Draco wasn't sure if he was happy she didn't bite his head off or sad because her old lioness spirit wasn't present. "You used to," he answered calmly. "We were in the same year at Hogwarts."

"So we were friends?" she asked.

Laughing nervously, he said, "I guess you could say we had a special relationship."

"Oh," Hermione smiled. "You mean like girlfriend and boyfriend?"

Draco smiled. Bingo. Just where I was hoping this would go. He reached up and gently brushed her cheek with his fingertips, a well practiced half-smile on his face that had proven results to make women swoon. She didn't even seem to mind his touch, or she didn't realize he was touching her. She finally seemed to snap out of her trance when he spoke. "We were very much in love with each other. I've missed you so much," he said softly as he pulled her closer. He was pushing it, but he found her lips a distracting temptation.

Just like he predicted, she pulled away at the last minute. "But why did you wait until now to approach me? I've been back for weeks. If we were so much in love, you would have been there."

"As soon as I read of your return in the paper, I started searching for you," he said. At least this part was true. "You sure kept your return from everyone secret. I would have been there as soon as you were found if I'd have known." He tried to pull her closer again, but she had another question. Big surprise.

"If we were boyfriend and girlfriend before, how come Remus and the others didn't tell you I was found? You would have been the first to know.

Still as clever as always, I see. "You're friends and I never got along. When we first started dating we decided to keep it a secret. They would never have accepted it. You disappeared before we went public," he said sadly. He was finding it easy to keep up this charade. It seemed to fit in right with their actual story.

"Oh," Hermione said. "Why do my friends not like you? How did we get together?"

Draco smiled again, "I'm glad you're still as curious as ever." He was actually adding her know-it-all attitude to a list of things to break her from. "Why don't' we go out to dinner sometime. I can answer all of your questions and I can get to know you again."

"Well, I'm almost on my lunch break. I can ask George if I can leave early."

Draco gave his half-smile. "Perfect. I'll wait here for you," he said. "Oh, and Hermione? It might be best not to tell him who you're going with. I don't think he'd understand yet. News of us might come as quite a shock to him."

Hermione nodded as she walked through the door to the back room. "George?" she called. "Is it okay if I go on my lunch break early?"

Thinking Sirius had shown up and was hungry, George gave her the affirmative. "I can watch the front of the shop until some of the other girls come back from lunch."

"Alright. I won't be gone for too long," she said.

"Take your time," George said standing and stretching.

Hermione darted back into the front room and approached Draco. "Alright, I'm ready."

Draco held out his elbow to escort her.

Hermione only stared at him. "What?"

"I was going to…" He sighed. "Never mind." He reached for her hand and pulled it through his arm. They left the shop with no one the wiser.

=-=-=-=

Remus couldn't keep the grin off his face as he weaved around the shoppers of Diagon Alley. Luckily for him, the students of Hogwarts chose today to create a ruckus so Minerva was forced to end their tea-time early, allowing Remus to leave. Remus' first thought was to meet Hermione and Sirius for lunch, then he realized this would be the perfect time to slowly change their odd relationship to something more permanent. He would invite her to a lunch date. He quickened his step at the thought of seeing her and almost ran into someone. "Sorry—Sirius? What are you doing here?"

Sirius straightened himself out. "I believe you sent me to babysit your girlfriend on my only day off this week."

"Exactly, which is why I'm asking you what you are doing here. Why aren't you at the shop?" Remus asked as he continued on to the shop.

"Because her stupid mutt decided to follow us here." Sirius said jerking a hand behind him.

It was only then Remus noticed the large wolf standing behind him, which was quite surprising considering his size. "Tarak, what are you doing here? I told you to stay home today."

'Tarak no trust mutt watch Kitten.' Tarak said to Remus only.

Remus gave Tarak a look, "You know Sirius is plenty capable of protecting Hermione. Why did you follow them?" Remus asked.

Tarak whined and lowered his head. 'Tarak lonely.'

Remus laughed. "You really are just a pup, aren't you?"

'Tarak no pup. You pup.'

"Sorry to break up your little conversation, but people are starting to stare. They probably think you're mental talking to a dog," Sirius said.

Remus stopped in front of the shop to look around. Sure enough, there were people all stopped around the street staring at their odd group: an ex-convict and a known werewolf, the latter talking to a giant wolf. Remus growled at the gaping shoppers and stomped inside the store. Inside he saw George pacing back and forth muttering to himself. "George, what's wrong?" Remus asked.

George suddenly stopped and stared at Remus nervously, "Remus—er, I mean Mr. Lupin—Professor!"

"You haven't called me Professor in years. What's going on?" Where's Hermione?" he asked.

"Does that mean she's not with you?" George asked.

"She's not here?" Sirius asked.

"She came into my office asking to go to lunch early. I thought she was with you when one of my workers came in and said she saw Sirius chasing Tarak, but Hermione wasn't with them."

When Remus snarled and stalked towards the door, Sirius grabbed his collar, ignoring his warning growl. "Did she saw she was going with anyone?" he asked.

"No, she just asked to go to lunch early," George answered.

Remus whimpered at Sirius, "Padfoot, let me go. She could be hurt or scared," his brown eyes begged.

Sirius shook his head. "I'm not falling for that," Sirius said.

Remus eyes instantly turned amber. "Know your place, Mutt," Moony snarled.

"Know your place, Moony," Sirius growled back. "It isn't anywhere near the full moon. His body is in his control."

Remus gave a barking laugh. "He let me out. He's worried for our mate. Whether you like it or not, we're becoming more connected." Suddenly he stiffened and his eyes shifted back to brown. He raised his nose to the air, "I can smell her; she's five stores away!"

"You can smell her?" Sirius asked.

Just as quickly he started struggling again, "Let me go! She's not alone," Remus growled. "It's that little ferret!"

"Malfoy?" George asked.

Sirius looked out the window. Approaching the joke shop he could see Draco escorting Hermione by the arm. He looked at Remus, "Let me get them in the shop. We don't need to make any more public displays today. Now stay in here and don't cause trouble."

"I'm not your pet," Remus growled, but moved further into the shop.

"Good boy," Sirius cooed. He waited until Draco and Hermione stopped in front of the shop to confront them. They both looked up when he opened the door. "Hello dear cousin. Why don't you both come in for a bit?"

Hermione came in without question, a pale faced Draco tailing after her hesitantly. When Hermione entered, the first person she saw was Remus. "You're back early!" she said happily and was immediately at his side.

Draco barely squeezed past his cousin, the second most wizard he was scared of, only to set eyes on the wizard he was most scared of: Remus Lupin. He became even more frightened when he saw Remus pull Hermione close and nuzzle her neck. I'm in big trouble, he thought.

"Hermione, you scared me half to death," George said. "You can't just disappear like that."

Hermione looked confused. "But I told you if I could go to lunch early. You said yes."

"Because I thought you were going to lunch with Sirius! Why didn't you tell me who you were going with?"

"He told me not to," Hermione said pointing at Draco.

All heads followed the direction of her point and Draco froze in his fidgeting. "Do you want to explain?" Sirius asked.

That seemed to break Draco of his nervousness. I came here with a plan. I'm not going to let these traitors make a fool of me. "I have every right to take my girlfriend out to lunch."

Remus growled, "Want to run that by me again?"

Draco smirked at the old werewolf. "What's wrong Lupin? Can't find a girl your own age? Resorting to stealing another wizard's girl?"

"You and Hermione were never involved," Remus said.

"Unless you count that time she punched you in your third year," George commented.

"I punched him?" Hermione asked appalled.

Remus pulled her closer and whispered, "Not now, Mate."

Draco's smirk grew. "That's where you're wrong. Hermione and I were involved for quite some time before she disappeared."

"No you weren't," George protested.

"We were," Draco insisted. He shared the same story he had told Hermione earlier.

George and Sirius stood there bewildered, but Remus frowned. "That isn't true. Hermione wasn't seeing anyone before the war. The closest person you could say was closest to being her boyfriend was Ron."

"That was just a cover," Draco said.

"It isn't true," Remus snapped. "She didn't have your scent on her at all before she disappeared. I also know because as her mate I know everyone she's been involved with." He snickered when Draco blanched again. He released Hermione and slowly began stalking his prey. "That's right, little ferret. Hermione and I are mates. Now if you want to compete with me, go home and look up what that would entail." Now he was standing just in front of Draco, who was frozen in fear. Remus playfully snarled at him and Draco disappeared with a pop.

Remus didn't even give anyone enough time to blink before he was back at Hermione's side, nose stuck to her skin as he took in her scent. "Are you alright?" he asked.

Hermione held him close. "I'm alright. I'm sorry I didn't know better."

"Forget it," he said.

Hermione bit her lower lip nervously. "Were you telling the truth?" she asked.

Remus nodded against her shoulder. "We're mates. I only just found out."

Hermione suddenly giggled. "I'm glad."

Remus smiled and moved his lips over hers.

"Oi! That's my cashier you got your lips on!" George yelled. "I have a business to run here. Do that on your own time."

"Come on Remus," Sirius said as he grabbed Remus' collar to pull him away. "Let's go check out some of his merchandise.

=-=-=-=

Later that night found Draco surrounded by piles of books, all having to do with werewolves. With every book he read he paled another shade. He was currently on the chapter titled "Challenging a Werewolf"from All You Need to Know About Werewolf Mating.

He didn't even get to the end of the chapter before he snapped it shut, shuttering in fear and revulsion. "Forget Granger. There are plenty of other witches who'll get me back into society," he grumbled.


I think my favorite line from this is 'Tarak lonely.'

Hope all is well! :)

PS. There isn't much left of this story, if you can believe it...