Author's Note: I SUCK!!!!!! I am the worst author ever!!! I'm soooo sorry guys! I've just been super busy with school and everything, and then i went and made the varsity basketball team, so i'm even busier. I finally got a full chapter typed out today. and because i feel like crap for making you all wait soooooooo long, this chapter is around 2500 words. i don't blame you if you want to fly to california and kick me in the shins, but i hope you enjoy this chapter first. ttyl!

Italics is Mione, Bold is remus, both is remus's alter-ego-thingy.

Chapter 22

Hermione set her alarm an hour early, and when it woke her up, she transfigured it into a puppy. Not her best choice, as it also made a racket.

At least the clock didn't lick my face. She thought grumpily, sitting up.

Just as she turned to go towards the shower, Ginny burst through the door.

I knew I shouldn't have told her.

"Hi Ginny."

The redhead ignored her, pushing her into the bathroom saying, "No time. Go shower. Say hi later."

Hermione shrugged and showered quickly. She stepped out, cast the drying charm and dressed in the clothes Ginny had laid out for her; a pair of very low rise jeans and a black tank top with a scarlet shoulder shrug that tied under her bust.

She cast the hair charms Ginny taught her and stepped out for Ginny's approval.

Ginny nodded with a smirk on her face.

"Come one, sit down. I have a brilliant idea for your makeup."

Ginny kept the smirk the whole time as she applied the mascara, eyeliner, shadow and lipstick, and the smirk only grew bigger as she finished.

"You're going to want to check the mirror…" She said triumphantly.

Hermione turned, exactly like the day before, and looked at her reflection."

She grinned mischievously.

"I can't wait to see his reaction."

Her shadow was a dark color, matching the tank, and her lips were a deep red color, matching the shrug.

She looked like a gothic beauty, and decided that from now on she would just have Ginny do her makeup.

Ginny stood and asked, "You ready?"

Hermione stood in her black flats and replied, "Definitely. Let's go get 'em."

The girls walked out and separated at the staircase, Ginny going to meet her friends, and Hermione heading towards the 3rd floor.

God I hope I don't mess this up. She thought as she walked into Remus's classroom.

He looked up as she entered and began mentally hitting himself.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. You had to go with her, didn't you? Now you're going to have to keep the wolf in check all day long. Good luck.

Remus stood, watching her as she approached him.

She had a confidant smirk on her face, and he could see why. Her outfit by itself would have been nice, but the makeup enhanced her beauty, darkening her features and making her into someone different, almost mysterious. Someone he wanted to know.

Hermione walked up to him and her smirk changed to a smile as she looked him over.

He wore a simple pair of blue jeans and a maroon sweater, similar to Ron's, but nicer, and it looked better on him. He had taken the time to style his hair again, and that on its own made her grin.

The two of them seemed to realize that nothing had been said and Remus quickly covered the silence.

"Ready to go?"

"Yep."

"You sure you don't need a bigger bag, or am I going to end up carrying all of your purchases?"

"Oh, definitely you. I mean, I was going to shrink them and just put them in my purse, but since you made that joke…"

Remus grinned. "It's alright. I can carry them all…I think."

Hermione shook her head and checked her watch.

"Come one. We have to catch a carriage before they're all gone."

The two of them walked down, mostly in silence, but occasionally exchanged casual conversation.

When they reached the outside of the castle there was one lone carriage waiting.

"Good timing." Remus noted dryly.

He opened the door and helped Hermione into the carriage, following her and then shutting the door, He rapped on the wall with his fist twice and the carriage began moving quickly towards the village.

The ride started off in silence until Remus tried to make small talk.

"Looking for any book in particular?"

"Not really," She responded. "Just browsing mostly. You?"

"Well, I could use a few more Defense books, but other than that I'm just looking around."

The carriage pulled to a stop and Remus stepped out, turning to take Hermione's hand and help her out as well.

The two of them walked quietly up the road, occasionally stopping to look in a window or two.

The bookstore was actually rather quiet and empty, which suited Hermione just fine.

They split up to look around. Hermione's first stop was charms, then spells and jinxes, but there was nothing she didn't already have. She moved into the healing section.

It probably wouldn't hurt to have a book on healing with Harry and Ron around.

She looked around the shelves for a book on practical healing, but they seemed to be all out.

A bit put out, she wandered down to the next shelf. 'Magical Diseases and Ailments.'

Immediately her eyes were drawn to a blue book with silver trim. She pulled it out, being careful with it because of its obvious value.

She turned the book over to read the title. "When the Full Moon Rises…"

'It's a book on lycanthropy,' she noted as she scanned its contents.

Maybe I can learn more about Remus if I learn about the wolf inside of him.

She took the book up to the register and paid for it, quickly shrinking it and outing it in her pocket.

She only had a few galleons left, and decided to go browse with Remus.

She found him in the Defense section, leaned against a bookcase with a book open in his hands,

What I wouldn't give for a camera.

She grinned, remembering that she was a watch after all.

She pulled a quill out of her purse and transfigured it into a camera, quickly snapping a picture and stashing the camera without Remus even moving.

She walked up to stand next to him and looked over his shoulder.

He grinned. "Advanced Defense book. I'm trying to come up with ideas for you class. You already check out?"

"Yeah. I only got one actually."

"Wow. Alert the media. Hermione Granger limited herself to one book. Are you ill?"

"Very funny."

"I try. You must not have seen this book then."

He pulled a book out from the stack beside him.

Hermione squealed. "Oh my gosh! It's the limited edition new version of Hogwarts a History! I didn't know this was out yet! How much is it?"

"Free."

"Huh? How?"

"Because I already bought it. You can borrow it if you'd like."

She grinned. "You're so never getting this back."

He chuckled. "I figured as much. Consider it a gift."

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

She leaned in and hugged him tightly.

His arms folder around her waist almost instinctively, and he realized that she just fit right there in his arms.

Student!

Who cares?

You should, Wolf

Remus's mind jolted him back to reality, and he gently pushed her away. Her face betrayed her emotions, but she quickly masked them as though nothing had happened.

Remus cleared his throat.

"Time to go?"

"Yeah. I think so."

"After you."

Hermione nodded and walked out the door, Remus following her.

To an unknowing observer, it would seem as though they weren't even there together, until they both got inside the same carriage.

Remus knew the cause of her silence, and felt bad, but he had done the right thing. They could be friends, but that's it. He would not let them be anything more. A person of his…status…should not have more anyways.

When the carriage pulled up, Hermione hopped out before Remus go the chance. He hurried after her.

"Hey! Wait up. You'll have to remember that I'm not as young as I used to be."

"Aw, come on grandpa! Catch me if you can!"

She took off ru8nning with Remus close on her tail. She ran almost the entire perimeter of the lake before Remus finally caught up to her. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her down. They both fell to the grass lightly, laughing.

"Grandpa?! I'm not that old!"

She laughed.

"Yeah, but I got you to run, didn't I?"

He chuckled. "That you did. I don't think I've run like that for ages."

Remus leaned against the tree behind him and Hermione rested in the crook of his arm.

The two of them sat like that, in the quiet, for a long time, not watching the clock or paying attention to the people getting in from Hogesmeade.

As the skies darkened and the crowds became sparse, Remus looked down only to find Hermione asleep next to him. He moved his arm gently, trying to wake her.

She moved a little and opened her eyes, yawning.

"What time is it?" She asked sleepily.

Remus shrugged. "I don't know, but I'm going to guess that dinner is probably over by now."

Hermione's stomach grumbled and she blushed. "You're probably right. Want to go to the kitchens?"

"Why not?"

The two of them went in through the front door and around the first floor until they found the fruit painting. Remus reached up and tickled the pear, which giggled and let them in.

The house elves were all happy to see visitors down in the kitchens, and Dobby was especially excited to see "friends of Harry Potter". The house elves brought over what had been served for dinner and a goblet of pumpkin juice each and set them down on the table that always sat in the corner, just in case. Hermione and Remus happily dug in.

Remus took a sip of his pumpkin juice and asked, "You're not still running S.P.E.W., are you?"

Hermione watched the house elves eye her fearfully and laughed, responding, "No. I gave up on that a while ago. I still don't agree with how they're being treated, but they're happy."

"That they are. I for one am glad you came to your senses, else they may not have let us in."

Hermione smacked him ion the arm, causing him to chuckle before winking and going back to his meal.

When they both finished, their plates disappeared, replacing themselves with two cups of tea.

Hermione took a sip and asked, "Did you find anything good for lessons at Hogesmeade?"

"Well you'll find out soon enough, won't you, but yes, I found a few things. Did you find what you were looking for?"

Hermione sighed and shook her head.

"No. I was actually looking for a book on practical healing, so Harry and Ron wouldn't continue to end up in the hospital wing every other day, but the store didn't have any."

"You should have told me. I have a few of them in my quarters. If you'd like, you can walk with me and browse my selection. I might be willing to lend you a few."

"Sure."

"Ok, then follow me."

Remus led her out of the kitchens and up to the fourth floor, until they reached a painting of a dragon and a knight on its back. A dragon rider.

Hermione smiled. "I love this painting. I think it's me favorite in the whole castle."

"Mine too. I asked Dumbledore for it specifically."

He stepped forward and muttered something under his breath. The painting swung forward, and he stepped inside, motioning for her to follow.

Hermione stepped into the main commons, taking in the entire room at once. The walls were a deep midnight blue, and the floors were wood. There was a blue chair sitting near a fireplace made of marble, and a tan couch and a love seat further back. They surrounded a wood coffee table, and all were on top of a blue rug. There were bookshelves on almost every spot of wall, and there was books stepped on the mantle as well. On the coffee table, papers were spread around.

Remus watched her survey his room silently, wondering if bringing her there was a good idea after all.

Hermione turned to face him, and waited for him to speak.

"Well?" He said.

"It looks like you."

"Interesting observation considering it's a room and I'm a person."

He received a smack in the arm for his trouble.

"You know what I mean, though I would've expected a little more Gryffindor pride."

Remus grinned. "That would be in my room. But anyways, as you can see, the books are everywhere. You can pull one out and read while I grade if you'd like. I have to admit that I'd prefer they not leave my quarters, though I do know that you would never mistreat a book."

Hermione nodded and walked around to scan the shelves.

Remus sat on one end of the couch and picked up some first year papers, grading them silently, occasionally adding or crossing things out.

He noticed Hermione sit beside him and looked up to see what she'd chosen.

She noticed and said, "Practical Healing 101. Exactly what I was looking for."

He smiled and went back to him essays, occasionally glancing at the young woman beside him as she intently read the book, her mouth sometimes forming words as she read.

He finished rather quickly with the first year essays and set them aside, picking up another set papers. Time went on like this for another few hours. Hermione read while he graded.

Around 9:0, Hermione shut the book and Remus looked up.

"Finished already?" He asked, not at all surprised.

She nodded.

He set down his stack of papers.

"Me too, it think. I'm not sure I could grade another paper right now."

"Would you read something?"

"What, out loud?"

"Yeah."

"I suppose. You pick."

Hermione smiled and walked over to a shelf next to the fireplace. She pulled out a big red book and walked back over to Remus, sitting next to him and handing him the book.

"Moulin Rouge?" He asked, surprised.

She nodded. "It's one of my favorites. Or should I pick something else?"

"No. This is fine."

He sat back and opened the book on his lap. Hermione leaned in to the crook of him arm, curled up next to him comfortably, following the words with her eyes.

"There was a boy, a very strange enchanted boy. They say he wandered very far, vary far, over land and sea. A little shy, and sad of eye, but very wise was he. And then one day, a magic day he passed my way, and while we spoke of many things, fools and kings, this he said to me…'The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return…"