Chapter 11

The weeks had passed leading up to September the first.

Hermione and Remus had spent almost every hour of their free time together, may it be eating, drinking tea, walking, reading, practicing duelling, or getting ready for the upcoming year. They had also kissed quite a bit, but Hermione wouldn't admit it to anyone. Molly Weasley and Dumbledore were ecstatic that they were getting along this well, and did everything in their power to encourage it.

There had only been one incident, and it seemed that Hermione was a target as well. She and Remus had been up on the Astronomy tower, looking at the stars (And maybe snogging. Okay, fine, just snogging.) when Hermione had the sudden urge to jump over the balcony. Remus knew immediately that it wasn't her, because her eyes had drained into a pale blue. He hadn't realized what she was doing until she had propped herself on the railing and bent down, preparing to fall. He thanked Merlin for his quick thinking, because he managed to remember a charm he had watched James use on Snape during their days at Hogwarts; Levicorpus. He had grabbed her around the waist and carried her, running, to the Headmaster's eccentric gold office. She had been possessed, but not put under the Imperius curse. Dumbledore had admitted gravely that she needed to learn Occlumency from Professor Snape.

"Miss Granger, you're late," Snape's bored sounding voice drawled.

"Sir, please, I'm five minutes early," Hermione tried to explain, to no avail.

"I'm here wasting my valuable time on you, under the Headmaster's orders, and you show up late." Hermione studied his face. The ever-present bags under his eyes seemed darker, his skin sallower. 'Must be having a bad day,' she thought as she silently took her seat.

"Miss Granger, explain the purpose of Occlumency to me."

"Occlumency is the act of closing one's mind to Legilimency. It keeps a Legilimens from entering the mind and accessing memories and thoughts, as well as possessing and controlling one's mind," Hermione stated strongly.

"Almost copied word for word from your textbook," he said, rolling his eyes. "Close your mind, Miss Granger."

"Lupin," Hermione said through gritted teeth.

"I believe I told you to close your mind," he demanded, ignoring her protest. Hermione imagined herself building a strong, brick wall, similar to the Hogwarts ones, and thought of nothing but darkness on either side of it.

Snape pointed his wand to her and said, "Legilimens!". She felt him working his way around her wall, scanning for faults and cracks. She felt a hand knock it down and precious memories flew to the surface. 'Shit!' she thought. She had forgotten to use glue while building her wall. She and Ginny discussing boys, hers and Remus's lengthy kisses around the castle, Dumbledore speaking with her about a tragic accident that involved her par-

"NO!" Hermione screamed, pushing him out of her mind with all of her might. She was sweating slightly, and didn't notice the disgusted look on her professor's face.

"That wasn't terrible," he said, sitting back down at his desk. As Hermione reached his door, she could have sworn she heard, "Until tomorrow, Mrs. Lupin."

Their classes carried on like this for two weeks until Hermione was strong enough to completely push him out of her mind and seal the cracks.

Hermione sat fidgeting at the Gryffindor table after taking a couple bites out of her pudding. She was nervous about the reaction they'd get, after Dumbledore had spilled the beans on Hermione and her professor's marriage. Harry, being observant as always, was the first to notice.

"Hermione, it will be fine. Everyone knows that you had no choice," Harry had said, reassuring her. Hermione had smiled meekly at this, but still felt like flobberworms were chewing at her stomach as if it were made of lettuce.

"Whuz 'ong wif 'oo?" Ron asked through his food. Hermione shot him a look of revolution and was in the middle of telling him off when Dumbledore interrupted.

"Welcome to another wonderful year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you all the rules, which are posted in your common rooms. Fanged Frisbees, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes products, and six-hundred-ninety-eight others, again, posted in your respective common rooms, will be confiscated. I would like to announce a new addition to the staff, Professor Sirius Black," there was a loud round of applause, and some whooping from Ron, Ginny and Harry. Hermione was too nervous too move an inch.

"He will be assistant to Professor Lupin-" more cheering, "in Defence Against the Dark Arts. As for Head Girl and Boy, we have Miss Hermione Granger-" even more applause, if possible, "and Mr. Draco Malfoy." All of the cheering stopped, except for the Slytherin table. Three quarters of the Hall stared wide-eyed, open-mouthed at Dumbledore, wondering why he would do such a thing.

"As you all have heard, I'm sure, the new Marriage Law came into effect a month back. This law doesn't affect any of you, of course, except for one student." He waited for the students to quiet down, now speaking in hushed whispers. Hermione thought she was going to faint.

"Miss Hermione Granger, aged 18, was forcibly married three weeks ago. We are lucky that her husband stepped up, as she would be spending her life in Azkaban if he hadn't." By now the students were all talking freely, the girls feeling sorry for her, and the boys wondering who the lucky bloke was.

"We are extremely grateful that she is able to finish her schooling, alongside her husband, Professor Remus Lupin," Dumbledore finished, smiling widely.

All eyes were on Hermione, flicking to Remus, back to Hermione. She glanced desperately up at Remus, noticing the same look on his face. He pulled it together and winked at her, giving her a slight smile before looking away. Hermione saw Harry, Ron and Ginny all smiling mischievously at each other, but she paid them no attention.

"Is it true?" inquired the sharp Ravenclaws.

"Are you shagging?" whispered the startled Gryffindors.

"Does he have a tattoo?" asked the mild Hufflepuffs.

"Is he out of his mind? I would have chucked her in Azkaban!" called the Slytherins.

BOOM!

The whole Great Hall was filled with a puff of black smoke. Hermione noticed a pair of strikingly green eyes winking at her from behind the fog. She immediately understood. Hermione sprinted up to the Head Table, careful not to trip or disturb anyone. She pulled a startled Remus out of his seat and they dashed down to the oak doors, escaping just before the smoke disappeared.

"Hermione? What are you doing?" Remus asked through his coughs.

"You would think being best friends with the famous Harry Potter would prepare you for the spotlight, but it really doesn't. I had to get away, I'm sor-"

"No! No, don't be sorry. Thank you, actually, I was getting even worse looks than usual," Remus thanked her.

"Than usual?" Hermione questioned. 'What does he mean by that,' she thought.

"Well, you know I'm a werewolf, right?" Remus specified slowly, making Hermione feel extremely stupid. 'Obviously,' she thought. Hermione blushed and looked down, ashamed of her overreaction.

"They still stare?" she asked, concerned.

"All the time," Remus answered sadly. Hermione hated the discrimination in the magical world. Muggleborns, mixed-breeds, House Elves.

"You know what," Hermione started, anger bubbling up through her stomach, "just because you aren't like everyone else doesn't mean they should treat you any different! I'm sick and tired of it, and if we want to come out on top in this war, everyone better start putting their damn differences aside, and work the fuck together!"

Remus was astonished. 'So she doesn't care that I'm a werewolf! I actually have a chance with her- wait… We're already married!' he thought as he did a little victory dance in his mind. 'Now if only I could be young and handsome for her, I'd do anything to see her happy.'

"Thank you, Hermione, but really, they're not going to change. I'd like to think so, but it's been over thirty years since I was bitten, and I still get negative looks," he said gratefully, yet sadly.

"Well, you know what I have to say to that? Screw them! Screw them and their standards! We don't need them Remus, we've got each other," she said sincerely, taking his hands in her own. Remus's smile looked like it was eating his face. Hermione thought Remus looked, well, there was no other word for it, beautiful when he smiled. He looked at least ten years younger, and an age happier. Hermione smiled just as big as Remus, showing off her perfect teeth that she had obtained in her fourth year.

After the Peruvian Instant Darkness powder had died down, no one seemed to notice their Head Girl and DADA professor missing.

"What was that?" Dean Thomas asked his best friend, Seamus Finnigan.

"I haven't the foggiest, but that was bloody amazing!" he replied, grinning.

Harry, Ron and Ginny all looked at each other, each with the same smug smile on their faces. They had tossed the powder in the Great Hall to give Hermione and Lupin an escape route, which worked famously, if you were to ask them. Everyone had forgotten about the announcement of a teacher-student marriage, and were now animatedly discussing what could have caused the black out. The most popular topic was Death Eaters, and you could hear Draco Malfoy and his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, boasting about how they fought off a swarm of Dementors that had appeared from the fog.

"Students, settle down," came Dumbledore's booming, magically amplified voice. The students quieted immediately, as no one, except the Slytherins maybe, would disrespect their loved Headmaster's orders. Dumbledore smiled at the two Weasley's and Harry before resuming his speech.

"Wonderful prank, children!" Dumbledore exclaimed, clapping his hands, much to the disapproval of Professors McGonagall and Snape, sitting on his left and right. "It looks like we have another group of Weasley twins in the making," he said knowingly, the twinkle shining brilliantly in his eyes. Dumbledore was always soft on the Golden Trio and their friends, because they deserved a bit of a break sometimes. They were always up fighting the Dark forces, and he tried his best to make Hogwarts a home for them.

"Off to bed, now. Look to your Prefects for direction!" McGonagall said sternly, as she had had enough of the students shenanigans. Harry, Ron and Ginny all departed the table at the same time, going in different directions from their fellow Gryffindors. They walked towards the library, and made a sharp turn, finding themselves in front of the portrait of the wolf, dog and stag. Harry knocked three times, two short and one long. That was their code so they knew who was at the door. Almost instantaneously, the portrait door swung open, leaving a bright looking Hermione standing in front of them.

"Come in," she said, stepping aside and gesturing inside. "Remus! It's Harry, Ron and Ginny!"

Remus stepped out of another room, to greet his favourite students. He said his hellos, and waited until Ron and Ginny were seated in the study to speak to Harry.

"Thanks, mate," he said. Harry made a confused look.

"With what?" he asked with a smile threatening to show through his facade.

"You're a horrid actor, you know that, right? James was too, you know," he said, recalling memories of James trying to impress Lily. He involuntarily smiled, wishing his best friend was back home, alive and well.

"And I'm also the Chosen One!" Harry said cheerfully, scampering off into the study to join his friends before Remus could retaliate. Remus chuckled to himself, thinking of everything Harry has been through, yet he's still as happy as Hagrid with a boatful of dangerous, fire-breathing, spiky dragons and other insane creatures. Remus had ruled out that it was an act, simply because Harry had no talent in drama whatsoever.

Hermione had summoned an elf for tea, and was busy levitating the tray towards the study where her best friends and husband sat. She entered the study, and almost dropped the tea when she saw Remus. 'No one saw,' she thought gratefully. She repeatedly told herself that it was just a crush, but ended up giving in by the time she had set the tea down on the coffee table. Remus gave her another one of his brilliant smiles, and waved her over to his seat. She climbed on his lap, mindful of the scalding hot tea he held in his hands.

Ginny thought it was adorable. Harry thought it was weird, but liveable. Ron was too busy stuffing his face to notice.

They chatted about anything that came up for an hour until past curfew. Remus laid a now sleeping Hermione on their bed, and showed the Gryffindors the way through their portrait gallery; he didn't want them to be caught in the halls. He bid them a good night, and promised that they could come by anytime they liked. He cleaned up the tea Hermione had spilled when she drifted off to sleep with his wand, and sent the dishes down to their kitchen.

He looked at Hermione, who was still laying peacefully atop the comforter in her school robes. 'What does she wear to bed, again?' Remus thought. He opened her closet, flicking through her clothes. Nothing. He pulled the drawers, and came across her undergarment drawer. He blushed a dangerous vermillion and shut the drawer without another look. 'Where does she keep her pyjamas?" he thought. She usually wore flannel, even though it was Summer, full-length pyjamas. Remus decided that she was just modest.

He crossed the length of the room to his closet, pulling out an oversized, old shirt for her to wear. Remus felt a tad uncomfortable about dressing her, but they had of course seen each other naked. Hermione had expressed her hate of the switching spell, saying that it made the flesh under her skin itch. He reasoned that he was going to see everything, one way or another. Flashbacks of his wedding night came into view.

Hermione was sprawled on their large, four poster bed on her back. She had a drunken grin on her face, and was already fumbling with her shoes, trying to rid herself of the torturous stilettos that he had forgotten to take off. Remus sauntered up to her, climbing up to join her. He had that same drunken look, as he had just indulged in one-too-many Firewhiskeys.

"Remus, would you undo my sandals?" she asked, her brown eyes full of frustration and lust. Remus nodded and immediately went to work unbuckling her shoes. He chucked them over his shoulder, leaving a giggling, barefoot Hermione that had moved on to the buttons on her flannel pyjamas.

"Let me," he started. He gently tugged her hands away, slightly pinning them to the bed. He worked his fingers on the annoying buttons, wanting nothing more than to just rip her clothes off and be done with it. As he reached the last button, he slid her arms through her sleeves, pulling her out of the constricting bedclothes.

Remus unhooked the clasp of her school robes, pulling her arms through the thick, baggy sleeves. He walked over to the rack and hung it up neatly, smoothing the creases. He nimbly pushed her grey jumper off, setting it aside on the bed, he'd put it away later. He twisted her skirt around, opening the button and sliding the zipper down. He kept his eyes on her face as he pulled it down, throwing it beside the jumper. 'What the bloody hell is up with all of these damned buttons?' he thought to himself. He pushed each button from its button hole, finally reaching the final one. He pushed it aside to reveal a lacy, red bra. Remus corked an eyebrow. What happened to modest, conservative Hermione? The Hermione he knew wouldn't buy such a degrading thing. He cut off his train of thought and quickly slipped on his baggy shirt. He tucked her into bed, the peaceful smile still on her face.

'Well that wasn't so bad, was it?' he reasoned. He promptly followed by shedding all of his clothes, except for his boxers, and magicking the strewn clothes into their respective homes. He pulled back the covers and quietly set himself down on the bed, preparing himself for nightmares after the long day.

He pulled Hermione close, trying hard not to wake her, and she unconsciously snuggled into his arms, entwining her legs in his.

He fell asleep to her steady breaths, drawing in and out, lulling him into a well deserved slumber.

"Hermione, love, where are you?" Remus asked, standing at the beginning of a cold, dark hallway. He was panicking. He had lost Hermione.

"Remus, stop fretting! I'm over here," her voice exclaimed. It sounded so musical, so pure. Remus followed the beautiful laughter until the end of the corridor. In his wake was Hermione. Well, a version of Hermione. She looked like a fallen angel, with her eyes rimmed in charcoal and her leather attire. He reached out a hand to touch her, but she backed away, a horrified look on her face.

"Come back! I've only just found you!" Remus whined, running after Hermione who was sprinting at top-speed in the other direction. 'I guess the corridor doesn't end here,' he thought. It seemed to go on forever. She ran until he was out of breath, and he stopped.

"Love, please!" he yelled, trying to get her attention. Fallen-Hermione turned abruptly, and stared him in the eyes. Remus let out a gasp. She was shifting before his eyes, her skin losing it's beautiful olive tone, her hair shrinking back into her skull. What he was left with was definitely not his Hermione. Her eyes were the worst. Red like blood. It started laughing, looking at a heap on the floor. Voldemort, cackling still, walked backwards and set off at a brisk walk towards the seemingly brand new door.

Remus rushed to the lump on the ground. It was shaking madly. He crouched down, turning it over so he could see the front. Hermione's lifeless brown eyes stared up at him, glazed over. He felt the pinpricks of tears in his eyes and let them loose. They were spilling onto the floor, mixing with her pooled crimson blood. He pushed her silken locks out of her eyes. He checked for a pulse. Nothing. His heart broke, right then and there. He felt as if the Dementors had taken his soul, via Kiss. He positioned himself beside Hermione, pulling her into an embrace. She was cold as ice. He couldn't take it anymore.

Remus screamed. He screamed and screamed until there was no more left to scream.

"NO!" exclaimed a startled voice, causing Hermione to shoot straight up in bed. She spotted Remus writhing, his fists clenching. She shook his shoulders with all of the force she could muster, and he finally woke from his nightmare.

"Remus, what did you dre-" Hermione started.

"You're alive," Remus breathed as he pulled Hermione into a bone-crushing hug. Hermione started laughing.

"Of course I'm alive, you great git! Now go back to sleep. Classes tomorrow!" she said tiredly, still laughing. Remus gave her a soft kiss before returning to his slumber. Hermione laid her head back on her soft, cotton covered pillow. She used to have nightmares too. They stopped when Remus held her in her sleep. She snuggled closer into him, removing her head from the pillow in turn for Remus's shoulder. She set her head in the crook of his neck, listening to his over-active werewolf heart beating.

Remus weaved his fingers in hers, earning a soft hum in return. He took one last look at her very alive, yet very sleepy, chocolate brown eyes. He made a promise to himself to never let her go.

He pulled her even closer this time.

A/N: Ta-da! As promised! I can honestly say that there will be more action in the later chapters, I'm just developing the characters a little more before I slowly adjust them into the situations. I really don't like those stories where they jump into random shit. Take some time to smell the roses, because Winter's coming soon!

And to:

DramioneLover123 you, my dear friend, are exceedingly observant. I like your Ravenclaw traits. ;) (You're on the right track, though!)