A/N: Hm. My apologies in advance: This chapter has near enough no mention of Draco, only 1500 words (Or less) to describe weeks, was supposed to hold the answers to MANY questions, but whaddayaknow, me being a complete wreck whilst writing it (For the fifth time...) made me add more questions and no answers! It's basically to get the story moving.
If you've reviewed and I don't respond here, it's simply because I'm just replying to the reviews for the last chapter. By no means should you think that I'm not extremely grateful for the time you've taken to read my story and review it to boot. :)
Review replies:
Tiggersangel2001, it's a Draco/Lily fic, but there is definitely going to be something between Draco and Hermione in the not-too-distant future, be it platonic or not. Thanks for reviewing.
mAlFoYiSaWeSoMe, thanks for reviewing! Sorry this update took longer than the others.
Cold-eyes-for-you, Thanks for the review. :) In the next chapter you'll get a hint to what Snape's going to do. I'm sorry about the lack of Draco and Lily in this chapter, I just wanted to get these three out of Hogwarts and into the company of a horrible OC... I was in a bad mood whilst writing. :P
Fire-and-ice89, I feel so bad now, hahah. I have had SUCH trouble writing this, and even though I do like writing the story, it's just been a terribly writers-blocky few days. Lurking in the shadows... Well, since Severus is quite dark (Black hair, robes, etc...) and the Hogwarts halls dimly lit (Are they, or is that my imagination?) and suits of armour are all around, he could just step closer to the walls, in the shadows, and be undetected. I'm the worst explainer in the world, hahah. Thanks for reviewing. :)
I used the summary you wrote for me, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for it. :) My email address can't be displayed, for, alas, I have to use my sisters AOL account since my parents don't trust me enough anymore to give me anything above a "Kids" account. Which means no email, websites or anything. Really, there's no point in my account at all...
Anglachel, I think most of us would throw ourselves at Draco. ;D I'd throw myself at James, too, which leads me to believe that Lily is VERY resistant to any guys charms. Especially the pretty ones... loses self in daydream Thanks for the review. Hopefully, we'll have plenty more of Draco's woman troubles in the next chapter.
Alenor, thanks for coming back. :) I've had a complete "thing" for Hermione/Remus these past few days, so I had to express that. Though never, forget, not all is as it seems... (Though with me, it tends to be, because I suck at hiding anything.)
Rocks-my-socks, indeed, Draco has fallen hard for Lily. I feel bad for him, too... But who's to say he doesn't deserve it? He may be adorable, but he's still a git at the best of times. :P Thanks for reviewing.
As the weeks dragged by, bringing Christmas nearer, Hermione and Remus could very rarely be found apart. It was common knowledge throughout the school that the girl who "ditched that Snake guy at the ball" was now "dating the werewolf", much to everyone's disgust. But Hermione certainly didn't react to the rushed whispering of the students when she passed, in fact, she was so impassive about it all that she left many people wondering if she could actually hear them at all.
One Charms lesson, only two days before people were going home, Sirius dragged his rock (Which he was trying to turn into a goldfish, complete with bowl and water) over to where Hermione stood.
"How do you feel about spending Christmas with me and Remus?" He asked, ignoring the scowls from Professor McGonagall.
"Well, considering you'll be here and Remus will be in North Yorkshire, it's impossible." She looked up at him. "Why?"
"No reason..." He looked at Hermione's perfect goldfish bowl, which had a small fish swimming quickly around the ornamental castle within and back to his rock. "Only his Dad said he can bring a couple of friends over for the holidays. I'm going and he's going to ask you tonight, I just thought I'd give you a bit of warning..." He winked and grabbed Hermione's fish bowl. "Hey, look, Professor! I did it!"
Hermione and McGonagall rolled there eyes in unison.
"My parents said I could invite some friends over for the holidays..." Remus said, as he and Hermione walked around the icy lake that evening, wrapped up in thick cloaks to keep out the cold from the snow. "I was wondering if you'd want to come, since you'd be stuck here otherwise..."
"I'd love to." Hermione said, lacing her fingers between Remus'. "But I don't think Dumbledore would let me leave the school."
"We'll ask him, then. But not yet." Remus sat down on a large, flat rock, after wiping away the snow, effectively making Hermione sit beside him. He leant over, slowly wrapped his hands around her waist and kissed her, starting as soft as he always did, gentle, as if he was scared of hurting her. She bit his lower lip tenderly and flicked her tongue over it. All calm forgotten, he entangled his fingers into her hair and placed his other hand on her lower back, kissing her hungrily, a low growl rising in his throat. Hermione's breathing deepened and she slid her hands inside his cloak and up his shirt, her cold flesh touching his burning skin, making them both shiver.
"We should get back up to the castle and ask Dumbledore about you coming to stay." Remus said, pulling away from her.
Hermione nodded, feeling cold now that they weren't in the slightest bit of contact. He avoided holding her hand by shoving his own in his pockets as they walked back.
"Of course!" Dumbledore smiled after Hermione asked him. Remus had dragged Sirius off for an 'important talk', and so Hermione went to the Headmaster alone. "Mr Marley is going on vacation, therefore I see no problem with you attending the Lupin's. Very nice family."
"Thank you, sir." Hermione said before turning to leave. Draco had ran into her and told her of how he was going to James' for Christmas with him and Lily. Dumbledore let out a loud laugh, and Hermione had to wonder if he was drunk.
"Miss Smith," He said, eyes twinkling as they always seemed to. She walked back to him and he pressed a crisp wad of money into Hermione's hand. "I expect you already have the greatest present Remus could ask for. It's not a book, but that would be a good place to look. Your books, specifically..." He smiled knowingly, and she left the office, wondering exactly how much he'd had to drink and if she should let someone know.
"Quick! We'll miss the portkey!" Sirius shouted as Remus grabbed his last few possessions and threw them into his trunk. The headmaster had set up a portkeyso that they wouldn'thave to sit in a car for hours on end from King's Cross Station. Remus had ruled out travel by floo,saying that his mother, being a muggle, was extremely uncomfortable with people jumping from her fireplace.They left the dormitory at a run, Hermione joining the sprint from the common room. They arrived in Dumbledore's office with ten seconds to spare. They each reached out and touched the lamp on the Headmasters desk, and saw the man stood in the corner, waving to them as they felt the all-too-nauseating tug from behind their navels.
A sudden breeze made Hermione's eyes snap open. They stood on a beach, the freezing sea rolling in mere inches from their feet. Remus pointed up to a small cottage on the Cliffside, overlooking the raging ocean.
"That's where I live... Me, my mum and my dad."
"And Hannah." Sirius interjected. Remus frowned and said nothing.
"Hannah?" asked Hermione, shivering against the cold.
"Moony's little sister. They, uh, don't get along."
They walked up the winding path in silence, all a little out of breath. When they reached the door, Remus paused.
"If Hannah says anything to you, just ignore it." He warned. Sirius let out his bark-like laugh.
"She's not that bad, Remus." He hit him playfully with his free hand. Remus ignored him and pushed open the front door.
"Hey mam, dad!" He shouted. There was a pile of shoes by the door, which opened straight into the living room. Two sofas sat opposite each other, a coffee table between them, and at the far end of the room was a window overlooking the beach. On one of the sofas sat a girl with long ebony hair who was reading a fashion magazine. "They're out." She said coldly, not looking up from her publication.
"The ever wonderful Hannah." Remus muttered. Now the girl did look up from her reading.
"I didn't know you were bringing people here. A girl at that." She seemed slightly amused, and Hermione couldn't help but to compare her voice to that of the fully grown Severus Snape.
"Congratulations, you can tell she's not a dude." Sirius laughed,oblivious to the tension in the room. "C'mon, let's get these trunks upstairs."
"You really think Mam's going to let a girl stay in your room?" Hannah smirked from the couch. "Girl, you'll have to sleep on the couch."
"My name is Amy." Hermione frowned at the girl.
"Amy, then. I know you wouldn't want to touch the savage with a bargepole, but my parents will think differently." Hermione saw Remus flinch out of the corner of her eye. She said nothing and made her way to sit opposite the other girl, who had resumed her reading. She could certainly see why Remus didn't like the girl; she was rude, inconsiderate, hurtful and seemed extremely emotionally detached. But she was also Hermione's host, so she had to make an effort.
"This is a great view." She smiled. The girl didn't look up, but spoke in an annoying drawl.
"It's better at night when the moon is full... I find it beatific. My favourite time of the month." The corners of her mouth twitched into a delicate smile. Hermione scowled and forgot her manners.
"Are you always horrible about your brother or is it just when your parents aren't here?"
"Amy, come on... We'll go into the kitchen." Remus said quietly. Hermione stood and saw him and Sirius stood at the bottom of the stairs, which were also in the living room. She walked over to Remus and placed one hand on his neck, the other on the beck of his head, fingers buried in his hair, and pulled him into a deep, sensual kiss. She hated this, kissing him with ulterior motives, but she felt that Hannah had to see, had to know that she was alone in her opinions of him. When they broke apart, Remus led them through a door and they found themselves in a relatively bare but efficient kitchen with a dark dining table in the middle. Sirius ignored the seats and sat on the table.
"That was some show." Sirius laughed.
"That girl is positively... beyond words." Hermione said, exasperated. She pointed an accusatory finger at Sirius. "You said she wasn't bad!"
"I meant bad looking." He shrugged indifferently. Remus glared at his friend, who ruffled his hair in response, before saying jokily, "Not a patch on you, though, Moony."
A/N: I just needed someone horrible there for Christmastime. For something always ruins the fun. But don't judge her just yet, it could just be extreme sibling dislikery. For lack of an existing word. :P
I don't know what I should do. Finish Christmas with the Lupins, then move on to the Potters, or have James, Draco and Lily in the next chapter? Or, as would probably be best, have both? Oh, the woes of me. :P
