Chapter Twenty-Six

October 12th, 1996

"Aaaaaaaargh!"

Remus shot bolt upright in bed at the sound of screaming, flinging open the curtain of his four poster, wand gripped tight in hand and aimed in the dark. There was a lot of rustling as his roommates did the same and he, along with Neville, lit a bright Lumos. The light revealed the origin of the screaming: Ron hanging upside-down by his ankle, hovering over his bed.

"Sorry!" Harry yelled while Seamus and Dean burst into laughter. "Hang on, I'll let you down!"

Remus, recognising the jinx, narrowed his gaze at Harry. "You did that?"

Harry stopped, green eyes widening. "Er . . . yeah, I umm . . . I didn't mean to. I was thinking about that spell you used on Snape and well . . . that happened," he said, gesturing to Ron.

"Storytime is over, mate! Let me down!"

Suspicious, Remus folded his arms. "What's the counterspell?" Blanking, Harry's eyes drifted to the corner of his bed where his blankets had been tossed in a pile. He shrugged innocently and Remus shook his head. "Then how, exactly, did you plan on getting him down?"

"Can we discuss this later?" Ron pleaded. "I'm . . . guys, I'm getting . . . getting a little dizzy over here . . . and . . . if I vomit . . ."

"Liberacorpus," Remus said, and with a flick of his wand and a flash of light, he lowered his friend as gently as he could.

"Sorry," Harry muttered, while Dean and Seamus continued to roar with laughter.

"Tomorrow," Ron said in a muffled voice, as he threw a pillow over his head, "I'd really rather you set the alarm clock."

By the time they were almost done with breakfast, Hermione had been told the tale of Ron's unfortunate awakening and she had turned her questioning look on Remus. "Was that the same spell you used on Professor Snape?"

"I did not teach it to anyone," he insisted as he picked at the plate of sausages in front of him. "Harry apparently remembered it," he said suspiciously, looking across the table at his black-haired friend who had a guilty expression on his face.

"How'd you even hear the incantation, Harry? You weren't close enough," Hermione said, turning her ire on her best friend. "Harry Potter! Did you copy down some of the spells in that book?"

Harry glanced away, mumbling, "Might've," under his breath.

She sucked in a breath, appearing ready to let Harry have the lecture of a lifetime, when a distraction arrived in the shape of Ginny. "Hey, Harry, I'm supposed to give you this," she said and held out a small scroll of parchment with Harry's name written upon it in familiar thin, slanting writing.

"Thanks, Ginny . . . It's Dumbledore's next lesson!" Harry told them, pulling open the parchment and quickly reading its contents. "Monday evening! Want to join us in Hogsmeade, Ginny?" he asked, turning to smile up at her as she hovered over his shoulder, looking like she was reading the small scroll she'd been sent to deliver.

"I'm going with Dean. I might see you there, though," she replied, waving at them as she left.

Ron returned to Gryffindor Tower to fetch his permission slip, and Hermione joined him to grab some extra money for Hogsmeade. Remus waited with Harry for them at the bottom of the stairs, and he couldn't help but notice when Harry's gaze followed after Ginny and Dean when they walked past them, hand in hand.

"You need to be more subtle, mate."

Harry blinked and looked up at his friend. "What?"

"Ginny. I mean . . . I don't think Ron's figured it out, but you're not exactly trying to hide it now, are you?"

"I . . . I don't know what . . ." Harry tried to say but then sighed defeatedly. "Is it that obvious? I don't mean to. I mean . . . I smelled her in the Amortentia," he whispered. "I didn't know it was her at first, but then she came by the table and leant over me. Her hair was just . . . I'm properly fucked, aren't I?"

Remus laughed. "If Ron finds out you're thinking about his sister? Maybe. Depends on if he's in a good mood when he figures it out. I'd be more worried about Dean. You know, her boyfriend?"

Harry scoffed. "They've not even been together that long. And she dated Michael Corner last year. Dean's not . . . I mean, he won't last. They'll split eventually."

Raising a brow, Remus sighed. "Harry, is Dean your friend? I mean, up until you started fancying his witch, was he your friend?"

"What?" Harry asked, surprised by the question. "Er . . . yeah, I s'pose."

"And is Ginny your friend?"

Harry nodded. "Yes."

"Then why are you hoping that they break up?" he asked, immediately thinking of how he'd initially felt about Lily. The first girl who'd ever been his friend. She'd lit something up inside of his chest and made him smile. But James, from an early age, had loved her. Actually loved her. And Remus was grateful when his adoration of Lily turned from infatuation to familial. Friends didn't go after the witches their friends loved. It was why he was so adamant in talking to both Ron and Harry about Hermione before he even thought about making a move. "From what Hermione's told me, Ginny was more than obvious about how she felt about you and you—"

"I was a prat, yeah, I know," Harry said bitterly. "She treated me like everyone else did. A bloody celebrity, and she was my mate's little sister but . . . but then she started treating me normal and now—"

"Now that you finally fancy her back, you expect her to split with Dean, someone who's been good to her? Who's put up with Ron's attitude and has smacked Seamus anytime he's said anything derogatory about her?"

Harry sighed and lightly kicked his foot against the nearby wall in frustration. "I get it," he mumbled. "Just . . . I dunno. You and Hermione make it look so easy, you know? I dated . . . sort of . . . this girl last year. Cho. She . . . it was awful and embarrassing. I didn't know what I was doing and she wasn't ready and . . . I feel like I've lost my chance."

Remus laughed. "Harry, I watched your dad try to pull Lily for years and fail in ways that you've never even thought of. You've not lost your chance at anything. If Ginny and Dean aren't meant for forever, then that'll be the time for you to think about that. And maybe it would be different if you didn't know or like the bloke, but you do, and he's our roommate and friend. So instead of pining after the girl that you maybe only want now because you can't have her," he said and then held up a hand when Harry looked like he wanted to argue with Remus's theory, "find yourself a girl who likes you for you, and isn't already attached to someone else."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Likes me for me," he said and then scoffed. "Right. You almost had a decent speech there, mate. Just short of perfect."

Remus laughed and patted his friend on the back just as Ron and Hermione descended the stairs.

"What's so funny?" Ron asked.

"Harry doesn't think you're a very good date," Remus teasingly quipped. "Think he'd much prefer a pretty witch. Unfortunately for the both of you, I've got the only one," he said and put his arm around Hermione, who rolled her eyes.

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Mister Lupin."

"How about a trip to the bookshop?" he asked.

"Mmm . . ." She smirked up at him. "Am I so easy to read?"

Ron jokingly grimaced. "Oi, take your weird swotty flirtations elsewhere, yeah? I still plan on eating today."

When they finally reached Hogsmeade, Hermione and Remus separated from their friends to head into the bookshop and look for a few things to assist with upcoming exams. Harry and Ron teased them good-naturedly before departing for the Three Broomsticks, Harry talking about the need for a good butterbeer, and Ron mumbling awkwardly about Madam Rosmerta.

"I need your help finding a book," Hermione whispered to Remus when they walked through the door of Tomes and Scrolls. "Anything on cursed objects."

He blinked at her tone and turned to look over his shoulder at the shop owner, who was busy speaking with another student about their upcoming N.E.W.T.s. Glancing back to Hermione, he caught the very subtle shake of her head. "Is this about . . . about that thing we found in the Room of Requirement?" he asked. "Did Harry tell you what it was?"

She swallowed hard and bit the corner of her bottom lip, but then nodded. "Sort of. It's . . . complicated. I've never heard of anything like this before, and it's not something I feel comfortable talking about in the open, but I've got to try and research it . . . I feel helpless if I'm not doing everything I can to—"

"Everything you can to what?" Hermione shrieked at the voice spoken over her shoulder, jumping forward into Remus's arms. Glancing back, Tonks stood there with a hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh. "Sorry there, 'Mione," she said. "I didn't mean to startle you like that."

Hermione caught her breath and offered Tonks a forgiving smile. "Sorry, I'm just . . . a bit jumpy is all."

The Auror nodded and then grinned. "I see the two of you made up. Good, Remus and Sirius will be happy to hear that all is well. Where're the others?"

Remus smirked. "You thought they'd be at a bookshop on Hogsmeade Weekend?"

Tonks laughed. "Three Broomsticks then? Or have they been dragged by some girls to Madam Puddifoot's, poor little things?"

Rolling her eyes, Hermione chuckled. "Ron's practically oblivious to girls right now. At least the ones who pay him any attention. If he doesn't acknowledge poor Lavender soon, I'll not get any sleep because she'll keep me awake all night with her weeping."

"I remember those years," Tonks said thoughtfully. "Bloody miserable. Luckily, I don't have to worry about things like that anymore."

"How's married life?" Hermione asked with a smile, threading her fingers through Remus's.

Tonks shrugged. "Good as can be. War going on, I hardly see him as it is. I'm either stuck here or he's on mission and—"

"He's going on missions?" Remus asked, brows furrowed. "Is he meeting with other . . . other werewolves and—"

The Auror stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder. "He's safe. I promise you."

He frowned. "How can you know that for sure?"

Sighing, Tonks pulled out her wand and flicked it, summoning her Patronus. A silvery spectral wolf emerged from the end and shook out its fur before stretching its long legs and then yawning. "Checking in," Tonks said and then nodded to the wolf, who dashed out the window. "Shouldn't be too long now."

Remus stared at the creature before it vanished. "That looked just like—"

"Wasn't your Patronus a rabbit?" Hermione asked, interrupting him.

Tonks smiled. "Changed a bit back," she said. "Apparently, that happens when . . . how did he put it . . . great emotional upheaval or some such."

The little witch smiled brightly. "When you fell in love with Professor Lupin," she said, and Tonks nodded her head, touching the tip of her index finger to her nose.

Remus cleared his throat. "What's umm . . . what's yours?" he asked Hermione.

Tonks laughed. "Subtle," she said and her grin widened when Remus briefly glared at her.

Hermione shook her head and rolled her eyes but indulged him, taking out her wand and flicking it forward. "Expecto Patronum," she said and smiled when the little silver otter emerged, swimming along in midair on its back, pausing to circle Remus once before vanishing. Hermione looked up to see Remus staring at the place where the otter had vanished, a torn look on his face, something between disappointment and fascination.

"I don't know how to cast that," he said in mild frustration, jumping as a much larger wolf Patronus appeared beside Tonks.

Its mouth opened and the voice of Lupin came out, "Just fine, love," it said in a sweet and calm tone.

Tonks turned and smiled at Remus. "See? All's well."

He nodded gratefully to her. "We should umm . . ."

"Oh, don't let me bother you," the Auror replied, reaching out and hugging them both quickly. "I've got work to deal with anyway. Have a good date and I'll see you soon, yeah? Christmas in just a few months!" she said excitedly.

After buying a few books on curses, Remus and Hermione stopped by Honeydukes for some sweets before making their way back up the path to Hogwarts. They passed by several other students, including one of Harry's Quidditch teammates, Katie Bell, who stopped to ask Hermione if Harry was still down in the village.

"I think so," she replied. "Is anything wrong?"

Katie scoffed. "Other than McLaggen ruining the team? No. Sodding prick tried to grab my arse after practice yesterday and I almost broke his hand. If he keeps this up, we're not going to have a bloody Keeper come game time."

Remus growled and Hermione squeezed his hand, offering Katie a sympathetic smile. "If it makes you feel any better, you're not the only one that he's a creep to. Something really should be done," she said and when Remus growled louder, Hermione spoke over him. "Something legal that wouldn't get anyone expelled."

Katie smirked at the pair and then caught up with her friend Leanne before heading into the castle.

Suddenly in a bad mood, Remus shoved his hands in his pockets and followed his witch inside. After several minutes of silence, Hermione turned and smiled at him. "We still have a few hours until everyone comes back from Hogsmeade. Harry and Ron usually linger as long as they can. We could . . ." she began, but then looked down at her shoes as she toed the ground shyly.

Noting her tone, Remus's chest rumbled in pleasure and he leant forward, appearing to chastely kiss her cheek, but going further, brushing his lips against her ear instead. "Prefect's bathroom?" he whispered.

"No, the seventh year prefects stay behind during Hogsmeade weekend to study, and there's a chance someone could walk in. What about . . . the tunnel that leads to Honeydukes?" she quietly suggested. "Harry and Ron are already in Hogsmeade, so they have no reason to use it, and no one else knows it exists."

He grinned and nodded, taking her hand and rushing up the stairs to drop off their purchases, before making their way to the statue of the one-eyed witch.

Once beneath the statue and in the darkness of the tunnel below, Remus wasted little time before pulling Hermione into his arms and kissing her soundlessly. She made delicious little noises that he greedily swallowed, letting his hands roam up and down her sides. The full moon was another two weeks out, so the desire that flooded his veins and filled his mind was all him, the wolf resting comfortably in the back of his consciousness.

"Stop for a bit," Hermione whispered and smiled when he let go of her immediately, kissing the top of her head as he fought to catch his breath. "I want to teach you the Patronus Charm."

He blinked and looked down at her. "You . . . isn't it very complicated?" he asked.

She nodded. "Technically, yes, but . . . I think the biggest problem is finding the happy memory to cling to, and then knowing that you could do it. Harry had a problem at first as well. His Patronus was mostly a large shield, but during third year when we had that little . . . adventure . . . with the Time-Turner, he saw that he could do it, and then because he'd already seen it, it sort of just . . . gave him the confidence to do it."

"You're saying that because I know for a fact that my older self can cast a Patronus, that I'll have the confidence to do it myself," he said, and Hermione smiled her answer up at him before placing a soft kiss to his lips. "Do you think it will still be . . . of course it'll be a wolf," he muttered but then kissed her before she had a chance to scold him for his self-deprecating tone.

A frustrating two hours went by and, though he was eventually able to conjure a shield, it had yet to take corporeal form other than a single paw that vanished almost instantly. Remus refused to quit, though, and he felt a smug confidence whenever Hermione beamed at him, her eyes twinkling in the reflected light of the charm. Every so often she would cast her own Patronus, and the little otter would swim about, often placing its paws against Remus's cheeks before doing a few flips and turns and then vanishing again.

Hermione, wearing what Remus had come to learn was her research face, looked over his posture, examined the way he held his wand, and then turned her attention to his eyes, as though she could see through them and diagnose the problem from within. "What memory are you using? Maybe it's not strong enough."

Remus swallowed hard and broke eye contact, choosing to stare at the ground instead. "The umm . . . the first full moon when Sirius, James, and Peter showed me their Animagus forms. That's the happiest I've got, I think."

Her eyes widened a fraction of an inch and she let out a soft sigh, sitting back on her heels. "Are you thinking . . . are you letting what you know about Pettigrew now infiltrate that memory?"

Grimacing at being read so easily, Remus nodded. "Yes. I can't . . . I can't block it out. He's literally ruined my happiest moment in life."

"What about before Hogwarts?" she asked, trying to take a different turn.

"Not much was . . . things weren't good," he said defeatedly. "Stressful even when they were happy."

"How about now?"

He paused, stumbling through his anger and bitterness, caught off guard by her question. Looking down at her, he couldn't help but smile at the anxious look in her eyes. Like she was hoping, as though she didn't already know, that somehow his life was better here. "You make me happy," he whispered and then leant closer, perched on his knees as he hovered over her, brushing his lips against her jaw and cheek and earlobe. "Are you my Patronus? A happy little piece of magic that fights away my demons and lights up the room."

Hermione sighed happily and ran her fingers through his hair, pulling him closer to her. "How are you so . . ."

"Charming?" he asked, trying to come off as dashingly smug the way that Sirius was often able to, but the extra inflexion he added to the question had him coming off as a bit awkward.

Hermione liked awkward. "You're terrible right now," she said teasingly and then pressed her cheek against his chest, inhaling deeply. "No . . . how are you just so perfect for me?"

Remus frowned, almost feeling like the scars all over his body were suddenly glowing in the dark as though they needed to remind her they were there because she'd clearly forgotten. "I am not perfect. I'm a—"

"Werewolf. My werewolf," she interrupted, nuzzling her head against the underside of his chin, rubbing her nose along the hollow of his throat that pulled a primal noise of content from him. "And perfect for me. You just . . . magically showed up one day and everything good fell into place for me. I'm so sorry that you've had so many bad memories, and now many of your good ones have been tainted. But I can't help but feel a little selfish in that I'm glad that whatever we've both gone through has led us here."

Sighing with relief, Remus held her close and buried his nose in her hair. "I don't know how I'd deal with anything in this world without you."

"You'd still have Professor Lupin, and Tonks, Sirius, Harry—"

"You. You are—"

"I love you."

He froze at the words. Words that had only ever been spoken to him by his parents when they'd apologise for locking him in a cage in the basement, or by James and Sirius—never Peter—after too much firewhisky. Once by Lily, who was grateful that he'd copied notes from History of Magic when she'd been out sick for a few days when one of James's attempt at wooing her had backfired and the chocolates sent to her for her birthday ended up being strawberry flavoured, something she was evidently allergic to.

Nervous that it had happened only in his mind, Remus cleared his throat and asked, "What?"

She pulled away from him, just enough so that she could look into his eyes. "In case you didn't realise. You seemed disappointed when my Patronus wasn't a wolf. Because, apparently, a great emotional upheaval might have changed it. I want . . . the shape of my Patronus doesn't dictate how I feel. I'm sorry if you had reason to doubt that . . . I love you, Remus."

Chest aching, Remus momentarily contemplated stealing her away into the night. Throwing the witch over his shoulder and disappearing into the woods like those trashy werewolf romance novels always wrote about. It was awful and cliche and the logistics were improbable considering they'd eventually need to eat and someone would likely come looking for them but . . . but he wanted to keep her forever. To have her and hold her and keep this moment locked away and never let it go. Never let her go.

His voice broke when he tried to reply. "I . . . I never thought . . . I . . ."

Hermione bit the bottom corner of her lip and smiled awkwardly. "Not to be needy or anything but . . ." she prompted.

He grinned and kissed her softly, letting his bottom lip coax both of hers to open for him. "I love you, Hermione," he whispered. "You're just . . . you're everything that's good about this world and my life and . . . I love you."

Straddling his waist, Hermione rolled her hips against him and smiled when he growled against the skin of her neck, a spot that he favoured with hot, wet kisses and the occasional graze of his teeth. His shirt and her blouse were tossed to the side as they used body heat to keep one another warm. Hermione moaned, arching her back when he mouthed her breast through the thin fabric of her bra, reaching around to fumble at unclasping the hooks at her back in the darkness.

Desperate for light and overcome with happiness and newfound confidence, Remus ignored the Lumos that was on the tip of his tongue, and instead whispered, "Expecto Patronum." He grinned, bright-eyed, when the silver spectral wolf lit up the tunnel around them, offering just enough light that Remus was able to see what he was doing when he pulled her bra straps down her arms.