Author's Note

Please forgive any spelling and/or grammar errors. I hope you enjoy it, please let me know what you think!

PS I'm not JK Rowling, so I don't own anything :(

Chapter 10: Union

December 1995

Grimmauld Place

With the arrival of December came the return of Sirius's high spirits. His primary focus once more returned to Harry. He'd finally stopped badgering her about the future, but he did want to hear all about how Harry's year was going since he didn't have a way to contact Harry himself.

"What's this Cho like? Tonks wasn't overly impressed when she saw her in the Hog's Head," Sirius inquired eagerly.

"Spineless," Hermione said truthfully, pursing her lips before adding, "if you judge a person based on the company they keep."

"Harsh," Sirius said, whistling long and low. He also looked strangely impressed by her critical assessment.

"She was with Cedric last year, and she's not really over him yet, but she fancies Harry. And Harry fancies her, but not enough to actively pursue her, or have anything meaningful to say when he is around her," Hermione explained, summing up the entirety of their 'relationship' with a few words.

Of course, that didn't include what happened after the war, but that was another story best saved for a later time.

"So just a physical attraction. Got it," Sirius said, cottoning on as only a former teenage boy could. "And Remus said Ginny had herself a bloke?"

Hermione gave him a confused look, suspicious that he was fishing for information. How had he deduced that Harry ended up with Ginny?

"The first day, when you mentioned James Sirius," Sirius began, pausing to smirk at the name, "a trouble-maker in the making if ever I heard one." Hermione snorted at the undeniable truth in the statement. "But anyways, that day, you said Harry and Gin. How many other Gin's would Harry be likely to fall for? Plus, Potters have a thing for redheads."

"Gin's not the type to sit around and wait. I mean, you've met her. She's a force of nature, that one. Harry didn't see her, so she decided to live her own life," Hermione stated, knowing this, at least, had already happened, and was therefore safe to share.

"It got his attention, didn't it?" Sirius said, nodding and smirking in a way that had Hermione rolling her eyes exasperatedly. Boys! They never really grew up, did they?

"More, it allowed her to be comfortable enough around him to be herself. And that will be more than enough to gain his notice in time," she said a touch stiffly, defensive on Ginny's behalf. It wasn't like her every action had been with the purpose of winning over Harry. They just naturally suited.

"And what's he like as a teacher?" Sirius said, switching topics once he realized he was treading in dangerous water.

"He thrives. You should see how good he is at commanding a room," Hermione said, a touch wonderingly. It was a fact about Harry, and one that had only increased with time and confidence.

"I wish I could," Sirius said wistfully.

"Maybe Albus will let us borrow his Pensieve," Hermione said tentatively, an idea for a future endeavor starting to take shape in her mind even as she made the suggestion. If she really did plan on saving Sirius, she'd need to study her memories if she wanted to come up with a plan. Other memories too for other changes… "My Christmas gift to you."

"You could -"

"Only show you memories of Harry at school this year? Yes, I agree that it would be too dangerous to show anything else," Hermione said pointedly, cutting in when the feverish light illuminating Sirius's face brought her up short. Maybe it hadn't been a good idea to suggest showing him any of her memories, but it was too late now to do anything about it.

"Speaking of… Think Harry would like a new pair of Quidditch gloves? Or maybe a practice Snitch? James used to have one that we used in the dorms. He loved showing off with it," Sirius questioned, getting lost in his reminiscing as he set down his ever-present tumbler of firewhiskey and reached for the Quidditch magazine resting on the side table instead. Hermione could see a couple pieces of paper sticking out the top where Sirius had no doubt marked specific pages for this very topic.

"Try some Defense books," Hermione suggested.

"Books are boring!" Sirius groaned, letting his head fall back dramatically. He sat up quickly, and taking note of her expression, quickly said, "Er - no offense."

"He still has them," Hermione revealed, knowing the books Sirius and Remus had gotten him were in his office in the future, some of his most treasured, not to mention useful, possessions.

"Books it is," Sirius said, nodding as he gave in without further argument.

Remus and Hermione had been together for three months, but all told, they'd only spent a total of a little over two days together if the time from each visit was added up. Oddly enough, that was actually more time together than she'd spent with Ron during their first three months together.

When the pair of them got together during the Battle of Hogwarts, she'd begun making arrangements to search for her parents as soon as she woke from the aftermath, and Ron had been busy helping his family and George cope with Fred's death. They'd left for the Burrow almost immediately upon waking, while Hermione had gone to London to arrange for a Portkey to Australia. It had seemed so pressing at the time. The sense of urgency rivaling the need to keep busy and moving, lest the true scale of what the war had cost them would register.

That had been the theme of her life since the war. Just keep moving forward. Don't dwell. Don't ever stop long enough to feel the magnitude of loss. Ginny swore it would catch up to her one day and she'd regret not taking the time to process things. Mrs. Weasley said much the same, and had spent three years trying to convince her to see a therapist.

Needless to say, Hermione had insisted that it wasn't necessary and that she'd be just fine on her own.

But that was how her postwar life had begun. Her departure was postponed only a day. Just long enough to attend the single large funeral that had been held on the Hogwarts grounds so everyone could be present for those lost. Then she'd left that evening. She had been gone for three months, and then she only returned to the Burrow for a day before heading back to Hogwarts where she spent a month studying and sitting her exams.

Her relationship with Viktor Krum hadn't been much different either when she'd dated him after Ron. They'd resided in different countries and seen each other only on average of once a month for the entire year they'd dated. Neither of them had been willing to sacrifice their careers for the other and move to a different country for a more permanent arrangement. So in the end, they'd decided to split amicably.

The same thing had happened with Julien, her French counterpart in France's Ministry, and her longest relationship to date. Nearly three years. They'd met while working to draft legislation that would give the giants that had returned to France after the war a bit more space to settle in, and therefore hopefully prevent them from wiping themselves out of existence through infighting. They'd both understood from the onset that their careers came first, their relationship second. Except that never changed, and eventually, it just became a hassle to maintain a long-distance relationship.

She'd never minded not seeing any of them regularly. There were enough other things going on in her life that she'd been too busy to miss them, or reflect on how that wasn't a good sign if she was actually serious about any one of them.

Honestly, having a crush during her time at Hogwarts had been more fun than engaging in a real relationship. Relationships took a great deal of time and energy. Both of which she'd always preferred devoting elsewhere, to more important endeavors.

It was completely different with Remus. She missed him. So much it ached. A dozen times a day something happened that she longed to tell him about. Everything from wishing to hear his thoughts on a theory she'd read about to sharing the clever taunts or amusing anecdotes Sirius relayed at dinner.

Hermione knew part of it was her limited interactions with the outside world and the unplanned step away from her career. But mostly, it was Remus. The way he truly listened to her, devoting a hundred percent of his attention to taking in what she had to say. The intricate and compassionate way his mind worked. The way his touch made her feel alive, and actually want to waste hours snogging rather than being productive.

A while back, Hermione had mentioned all of this to Remus. Once he'd found his voice, he'd asked her to start writing it all down. Everything she longed to say to him, and anytime she missed him. So she had. It hadn't taken long for her to realize she was penning him love letters. Letters vastly different from the ones she used to send Viktor or even Julien. These contained pieces of her heart, in addition to her mind. And they were all for Remus.

The daily letters were currently sitting in a box with the new pale blue winter cloak Hermione had gotten Remus for Christmas with the money Albus had begun paying her for stocking the school's hospital wing.

At first, Hermione had been confused how he even knew, but when she'd asked Severus about it when he stopped in to pick up the latest supply she'd brewed, he'd merely said, "Is he? I should hope he's paying you sufficiently considering the rate those ungrateful imbeciles go through some of these."

There had been such a knowing about him, with his smug look when she brought it up. She'd nearly hugged him in gratitude for making sure she was being properly looked after while her means were so heavily restricted. Only the knowledge that he'd curse her should she try stopped her from acting on the impulse.

And considering her room and board were covered, she was actually managing to save more than she'd been before the time travel disaster.

The rent for her London flat had been outrageous, but she'd wanted to be close to Harry and Ron, both of whom lived within a few blocks of her. Maybe Neville was correct in his assessment that they were a bit codependent on each other...

Hermione glanced at the clock impatiently. Remus was due any minute to give his weekly report. He'd sent a missive the day before telling her to expect him, and letting her know he had a surprise for her. A million possibilities raced through her mind over what that surprise could possibly be, thoroughly distracting her.

"Granger? Granger!" Mad-Eye called, snapping his fingers in front of her face.

"Hmm? Sorry, you were saying?" she asked, flushing at being caught daydreaming. Sirius didn't even try to hide his bark of laughter at her getting called out. Stupid mutt.

"Granger, I was asking if you minded taking a look at these," Moody said gruffly, his magical eye spinning dizzily as he waved a massive pile of newspapers about an inch from her nose.

Hermione accepted them, a few falling to the table as she tried to gather them into a neat and orderly stack. They were Muggle newspapers from France and even a few from Britain. Flipping through, she could see that they represented towns from across both areas.

"What am I looking for?" she asked, scanning the headlines.

"Signs that the giants are on the move," Moody said briskly. "Hagrid returned last month saying they'd decided to side with Voldemort, but I don't want to be taken unawares when they show up here. I'm going to start having them delivered here directly."

Remus arrived, entering the room calmly, and claiming the majority of Hermione's attention. He was very pale, evidence of his recent transformation etched into the tired lines around his eyes and his robes were a little more rumpled than normal. Looser too. But those same eyes lit with searing heat when they locked on her, while a smile flirted with the corners of his mouth.

"Severus gathers that Voldemort wishes to have them in place and prepared to strike when the time is right, but only Macnair knows the specifics currently," Albus added, pursing his lips and bowing his head as he contemplated the expected destruction and devastation to come. Hermione was sad to note the familiar twinkle in his sky blue eyes seemed to have gone out entirely, and she wasn't sure it'd ever return again.

"I'll let you know if I find anything," Hermione promised, glancing at Sirius to see if he'd help too, particularly if she was to be getting a fresh stack daily, but she noticed he was rather preoccupied with the glass of firewhiskey that he'd just poured for himself.

Her lips pursed at the sight. She had to find a way to put a stop to that. His alcohol intake had steadily increased as the length of his confinement grew.

He'd been in a worse mood since Molly informed him that Harry would be staying at the Burrow for Christmas instead of Grimmauld Place a few weeks earlier. That statement had been followed with a reminder that it was too dangerous for Sirius to leave Grimmauld Place, and therefore wasn't invited to join them. Hermione knew Molly wasn't being deliberately cruel. Probably, she didn't even realize the blow she'd dealt the man. But Hermione had been around to witness the aftermath.

It had gotten so bad a few days ago, that Hermione had broken her silence to tell him that he'd still see Harry, but he'd waved her off and said something about how her being around had probably altered what she remembered. She'd given up arguing, and decided to just let him see for himself. Even if that meant allowing him to consume the entire contents of a well-stocked pub in the meantime.

"Please tell us you have some good news to impart, Remus," Albus prompted, a soft look crossing his face as he correctly interpreted the looks Remus and Hermione were exchanging.

Hermione had forgotten what a supporter Albus was of love. While she and Remus weren't precisely hiding their relationship from those that knew she was there, they weren't broadcasting it either. The primary reason being that there were more pressing matters to discuss during most of the Order member visits, or someone was around that didn't know about her, so he had to remain silent on the subject while she locked herself away.

"I do," Remus confirmed, then qualified, "at least in part."

Hermione glanced at Remus again, to find he was already watching her. The pair exchanged grins, each having looked forward to the conclusion of this meeting all week. Hermione doubted she'd ever get her fill of spending time with Remus.

"Well? We haven't got all day to wait on you mooning over Granger," Mad-Eye said curtly, rapting the table with his fist to make his point and hurry the report along.

A flush stole over her face, mirroring the one on Remus's as they were reprimanded like children.

"They've agreed not to join the ranks of Death Eaters," Remus said hoarsely, pausing to clear his throat and take a sip of the heavily sweetened tea Hermione passed to him. He smiled in gratitude, slightly inclining his head.

"But?" Sirius asked impatiently.

"They won't side with us either. Not without guarantees that the current laws will be revoked and new protections put in place," Remus concluded. Disappointment descended over the assembled group, though this response was by no means unexpected. Remus had said all along that incentives would play a significant role in determining which side the non-wizard members of the magical community would pick to support.

"I suppose that is the best we could hope for given the circumstances," Albus said, inhaling a deep breath and clasping his hands before him as he nodded absently, likely readjusting plans in his head at the news, ever the strategist. "You did well, and the timing has worked out beautifully. Finally, a point in our favor."

Hermione shot Remus a questioning look. What did Albus mean by timing? Remus winked, grinning unabashedly at her frustration.

As soon as the meeting broke up, Remus took her hand to lead her from the room.

"Well?" Hermione asked, eager to know if Albus's words had anything to do with the surprise Remus hinted at in his letter.

"In a moment," he teased, taking the stairs two at a time as he pulled her behind him. All the way up to her bedroom.

As soon as the door shut behind her, he spun and dragged her into his arms, stealing a heart-stopping kiss. Hermione melted against him, her limbs turning boneless in the face of the passion infused caress.

"Albus wishes me to remain here for the holiday to provide extra security for Harry throughout his stay - Sirius hasn't yet been told of the change in plans," Remus began, dipping his head to nuzzle her throat, sliding his lips over the slender column. The rough stubble on his cheeks lightly scratched the delicate skin, making her breath catch at the sensation. "Hmm," he groaned in response, then continued, "Harry and the Weasley's are coming on Christmas Day, and spending the remaining two weeks of break here."

Hermione's head fell back when Remus concluded his statement by grazing her flesh with his teeth, shivers coursing through her. She knew they'd be arriving sooner than that, but again, knowing Arthur would ultimately be fine, she chose not to say anything. Preserving the timeline and not creating unknown, and far reaching ripples that were dangerous, too important. Imperative even.

"How long do we have?" she gasped, the rest of his words penetrating the haze of pleasure his touch had buffered her in.

"I will need to check in with the pack before the next moon to ensure nothing has changed, but aside from that, I will be working here for at least a month," he said raspily, speaking while Hermione kissed a path up his neck, finishing with a light nip of his earlobe. His hips bucked against hers at the feel of her teeth.

"So you don't need to rush off?" she confirmed, closing her mouth around the lobe and tracing the shell of his ear with her tongue.

"No," he breathed heavily, wrapping his arms tighter about her.

Their lips met again, searching and finding their mark. Magnets pulled together with a force greater than gravity. Tongues tangled, running sensually along one another's.

"The moon was last night. I'm in less control than usual," Remus warned, sliding his hands down to grip her hips, holding her in place as he pressed his erection against her core. He was hot and hard, even through their combined robes.

"It's still like that? Even now that you're away from the others?" Hermione gasped, gripping his back as her hips rocked against his length, seeking friction as need filled her.

"Yes," he groaned, the sound nearly a growl.

"What does it feel like?" she asked breathily, clutching onto any part of him she could reach, needing to anchor herself before reality fled.

"Like these clothes are too damn confining," he stated bluntly.

Hermione took a deep breath to regain some semblance of herself, and released her clenching hold on his back to reach between them and begin slowly unbuttoning his robes. "We should probably remove them then. No sense in being uncomfortable," Hermione rasped, anticipation snaring her senses.

His chest rose and fell rapidly beneath her fingers as he let her unfasten his clothes, helpfully shrugging out of the robes once she'd finished. His eyes were riveted on her progress as she treated his collared shirt to the same treatment.

With each button that came free of the hole holding the material closed, Hermione leaned forward to brush a kiss over the exposed skin. Remus shuttered under her touch, his fingers spasming on her hips.

His scars received special attention, the puckered skin at the edges being granted lingering kisses. Hermione knew from her own scars that the skin in that region would be particularly sensitive. Each shudder seemed a confirmation, imploring her to continue her reveal and exploration.

He stopped her questing mouth when she bent to follow the progress of her nimble fingers freeing the lowest buttons of his shirt and the button of his pants. The tip of his erection sprang free, but he distracted her before she could properly appreciate it. His fingers cupped her chin gently, tipping her head up to meet his eyes, a silent question screaming from their depths.

"What else are your instincts telling you?" she asked once his shirt was completely undone, and when it became apparent he couldn't admit what he wanted to ask.

"Telling? You mean demanding," he corrected, snorting at the truth behind the statement.

"Yes," she agreed, realizing her hormones were screaming at her as well, desperate for more. For all of him. The sooner the better at that. Only his hold was keeping her upright even as the fingers of one hand reached to stroke and fist his rigid length. His skin was hot velvet over hard steel.

"That I taste you," Remus admitted, rocking unconsciously into her hand.

Hermione threaded the fingers of her free hand in the gold-blond strands, every shade of sand and honey, and sunlight brushing her hand as she drew him down for an earth-shattering, soul-wrenching kiss.

Quickly, Remus took over, plundering her mouth with a voracious need that matched her own. His hands ran over her body, seeking, caressing, delivering tantalizing pleasure that left her wanting more as she continued stroking him, relishing in how his hips continued to buck helplessly into her hand.

"Remus," she begged, arching into the hands suddenly cupping her breasts.

"I want to taste every inch of you. I want to bury my head between your legs," he rasped, the words torn from him.

"Please," Hermione begged, wanting him just as much.

"I can smell your arousal, and you wouldn't believe how delicious a scent you have," he growled, hand cupping and kneading her breasts with more deliberation.

"Oh!" Hermione gasped, having not considered his enhanced senses. She was already ridiculously wet for him, but his words amplified her desire tenfold.

Her clothes were quickly shed, much faster than his had been, then she was tumbling flat on her back on the bed with a startled giggle while Remus braced himself over her, his arms and legs on either side of her body, and began trailing burning kisses down her throat and across her chest.

"I would know all of you," he murmured, touching first the large scar on her chest, then the vicious word carved into her arm, and finally one of the larger burns near her elbow, "in time. When you're ready to share the full of your past."

"Later. It can wait. Right now, I'm not so sure I can." He chuckled at the naked need in both her voice and her words, enjoying his undeniable effect on her.

"Yes, later," he agreed.

Remus returned to kissing her neck, inching lower with each open press of his soft lips. He paused to feast on her breasts, tonguing her nipples, first one and then the other, and tugging on the sensitive peaks with lips and teeth. For several minutes, he worshipped her, encouraged by her moans and her hands in his hair, on his shoulders and chest, anywhere she could reach. Hermione's back arched in response, rising to meet the wet heat of his mouth. Nearly desperate for more.

All the while, their hips pressed together, rubbing deliberately and creating exquisite friction that hinted at what was to come. Every touch was sensual and electric, firing her up further and increasing her need.

Ecstasy brushed over her skin, a tropical breeze, igniting every place his fingers journeyed, lavishing attention, as her system went into overdrive. Her skin a million times more sensitive under his hands than it had ever been before. The difference was that she was finally being touched by the right person.

"Remus, please. I want you," Hermione begged, dragging in a ragged breath when his lips detached, skimming down over her stomach with feather-light kisses, his tongue pausing to trace an erotic figure eight around her belly button. "Mhh."

His hips bucked against her in response to her moan, his shaft hardening to an even thicker length of fire against her leg where it rested. Remus's hands continued softly kneading one plump mound of her breasts while flicking the budded tip of the other.

"Yes," he groaned, inhaling, and no doubt further scenting her arousal as he progressed farther south, moving to position himself between her spread knees.

"Please," she gasped throatily, and he placed a gentle kiss on each of her inner thighs.

"Yes," he repeated, moving to brush his lips against the apex, the movement of his mouth a tantalizing, tickling brush against the sensitive nub.

"More!" she gasped, bucking against his face at the teasing glimpse he gave her. It was impossible for her not to move, twisting her hips in search of what she wanted.

His tongue lapped at her, tracing a teasing line up along her slit from her entrance to her clit. Hermione's hips once again pressed forward seeking more contact when he reached the sensitive button. He gave her what her body silently demanded, focusing his efforts there. Sealing his lips against her, he flicked his tongue quickly, deliberately over her in little patterns of figure eights, mimicking what he'd done earlier against her stomach. Only it was so much more erotic in this new location.

"Mmh," Hermione whimpered, gasping when his hand trailed up her leg, moving slowly towards her core. Teasingly, he circled her slit, dipping the tip of his finger inside her entrance before dragging it up slowly to replace his tongue in circling her clit. Her hips jerked, lifting off the bed and pushing against his hand, seeking out still more contact until he finally slipped first one, then two fingers into her tight channel. "Yes, Remus," she panted, "there."

Remus worked his fingers in and out of her slick heat. Slowly at first, then faster, pumping his fingers into her then curling the tips to hit the spot that made her gasp and buck helplessly beneath him with each sure plunge. When his tongue returned to lap at her little bundle of nerves, Hermione's vision swam with little black dots, dancing like drunken bumblebees.

"More, Remus, please. Please," Hermione keened, a desperate plea as tension coiling within her. Every muscle tightened, contracting more and more. An elevator rising, higher and higher. The air thinned until more black dots speckled her vision.

Then Hermione was plummeting, the cables cut and the elevator falling through a rain of sparking fireworks, bliss and ecstasy crescendoing in a wave of pleasure. Release flooded her system until she lost all control of herself.

"Remus, augh!" she cried, marvelling as her inner muscles fluttered rapidly against his fingers. He drew her climax from her as long as he could. His movements slowed, drawing every last drop of pleasure from her before he withdrew.

Shedding his pants as well, Remus climbed back up beside her, pulling her close. She clung to him, burying her face in his neck, and kissing it gently. He tasted of honey and passion and unfulfilled desire as her tongue flicked over his erratic pulse. Her body seemed boneless, molding itself to his as he held her tightly.

"Hermione?" he breathed, seeking permission to continue even as he kissed her cheek and his hands skated over her body. Her hand fluttered against his back where it lay limp, unable to find purchase on his corded muscles. She tried again, this time managing to pull him towards her.

"I want you," she gasped, using words to convey her desires when he continued to hesitate. "All of you." The confession was enough to spur him into action.

He was over her in an instant, settling between her parted thighs and plunging in, all hesitation having evaporated. His entire length sunk into her, joining them completely. Perfectly interlocking pieces, always meant to be connected. Remus pulled back only to slide back in, the friction exquisite, and leaving her light-headed.

Her fingers clutched at his muscular shoulders as she held him tighter to her, the sound of his breath catching, a drug to her senses. His lips found her neck. Hot, wet kisses that marked her as his and caused her pulse to jump, her rapid heartbeat pounding irregularly.

"You're mine. You're perfect," he exhaled, breathing the words into her skin. "So perfect. Never expected or dreamed…"

A fast, frenzied tempo took them over. A desperate need urging their hips to rock faster, harder, renewing the tension from before and winding it tighter. Tighter. Tighter still. Sensations flitted over Remus's face, so telling Hermione could read them as easily as any book. And what she saw was like looking in a mirror, because she was experiencing all the same things.

"Remus, please, I need you," she begged, clutching onto him. He seemed unwilling to deny her request, needing her just as much.

Her hands gripped his shoulders, holding on even as her legs wrapped around his waist, allowing her to move with him and lift to meet his thrusts. All the while their hands roamed, petting, caressing, stirring the other. Lingering kisses landed on whatever surface their mouths could reach, occasionally finding their partner to sip and savor, tongues dueling.

"Hermione," Remus whispered, locking eyes with her as he slowed his frantic pace to stare at her in wonder. "Never go," he said brokenly.

Automatically, her hands came up, reaching towards him, and he caught her hands in his, entwining their fingers. Slowly, deliberately, he rolled his hips, making her whimper and moan with need.

Then they were rocketing forward once more. Shooting for the stars. His jaw clenched, a muscle visibly ticking, and desire flared. A fire building, growing into a raging inferno. Every kiss, every touch, every stroke acting as fuel to ignite it further.

Whatever grip Remus had on his control snapped, worn too thin and now was impossible to maintain. He sped up even more, their hips coming together even faster, generating yet more friction.

"More," he breathed, attempting to pick up the pace impossibly higher, pushing harder into her, and reaching to rapidly flick her tiny bundle of nerves the way he had earlier with his tongue.

"Ahhh!" she cried out the instant that his finger made contact.

Hermione's nails dug into his back, and her back arched, pressing her chest flush against his. She looked up to find a deep scarlet blush had bloomed in his cheeks, and his pupils were fully dilated, black engulfing the crisp blue.

"Remus," she gasped, startled as she felt her release splintering through her. His name was swallowed by his mouth claiming hers.

Her muscles seized and spasmed, clenching him tightly inside her. Then a tidal wave collided with her, punching through and dragging her under. Hermione shattered, completely undone as his warmth filled her, his hips moving in the final erratic jerks as he finished a beat behind her.

Remus's arms weaved around Hermione, rolling until her body was sprawled across his chest, her leg draped over his thighs. Both were breathing in quick, shallow pants. When Hermione trembled slightly, he pulled her even closer, nestling her into the crooks and dips of his body until she no longer knew where she ended and he began.

Hermione was abruptly grateful she'd begun taking a contraceptive potion a few weeks earlier. She'd made her own batch after assisting Severus with the school's supply. She'd blushed like a seventh year the whole time they'd made it, and he'd snorted derisively upon noting it.

Neither spoke now, both content to bask in the glowing aftermath of their union at least for a few minutes. His fingers lightly trailed up and down her back and arms before tangling in her curls.

Hesitantly, while still running his fingers through her hair a bit later, Remus said, "Hermione… I let -"

"I was right there with you the entire time. It was perfect," she promised, cutting him off and turning her head to kiss his shoulder, the nearest part of him she could reach without moving. And honestly, she didn't think she could move. Her joints had vanished, and her bones had been replaced with rubbery noodles.

The last hour had been a revelation for her. Sex was… much more than a relatively satisfying release of stress and gratifying act. At least it had been with Remus. With him, it had been true bliss and joy. But more than that, it had felt like a joining of their souls.

"You're sure?" he asked, but she heard the smile that had entered his voice.

"I want every part of you. Always," she confessed, laying her heart bare. It was his. Forever.

She felt as he hardened against her thigh at the sound and meaning of her words. "I need you," he rasped frankly.

"Yes," she agreed, wanting to feel him again every bit as much.

"Yes, right there," Remus moaned, the hard muscles of his back rippling beneath her hands.

Hermione was draped over his torso, slowly kneading the tight knots in his back centered around his shoulder blades. "You're so tense," she murmured, pressing a fraction harder.

She'd started a new batch of Wolfsbane now that Remus could return to taking it during the next full moon, but even the potion didn't do much for the toll shifting took on his musculoskeletal system. Each month his bones would still break and remold themselves as he went from human to wolf and back to human again in the span of a few hours. The potion would stop him from hurting himself or others, but it didn't prevent the rest.

"If only you were always around to do this after the moon," Remus said with a touch of longing.

"I'd be more than happy to," she stated easily, shifting her hands to his lower back and scooting down to perch on the tops of his legs. The new position gave her a spectacular view of the rounded globes of his butt. It was a very shapely one at that, and no hardship to feast her gaze on.

"Always?" he asked quietly, a wealth of meaning crammed into the single word.

"Always," she vowed, bending to drop a kiss on the center of his back.

In answer, he reached a hand back to squeeze her thigh. Much of the last three days had been spent with them locked up in Hermione's room. Or rather, the room that they'd come to share. All of Remus's belongings had miraculously been moved in while they'd been working in the library the morning after they'd spent the night together.

Sirius had adamantly denied being the one to do it, but his renewed spirits and pointed teasing did little to hide his opinion on the matter.

"Exercise can help work some of this tension out," Hermione mused. Just thinking about the times they'd been together made her want him again. Well, that and the fact she'd just spent the last twenty minutes touching him.

"Do you have something particular in mind?" he asked casually, the hand still on her thigh shifting so that his fingers traced provocative circles over the sensitive inner skin, and his deep inhale let her know he'd scented her desire.

"If you're up for it," she said breathily, knowing she'd kept him up much of the last two nights, and he was still recovering.

Remus rolled over, sitting up as he did to capture the taunt peak of her nipple in the heated cavern of his mouth. His lips and tongue circled her flesh, wetly sucking. Butterflies erupted in her core, wings flapping wildly.

"Oh!" Hermione gasped, startled by the suddenness of the assault on her senses.

Her hands raked down his chest, her nails digging in when his teeth worried the bud, tugging a bit before releasing her flesh with a wet pop!

When her fingers encircled his thick rod, gripping him firmly in her fist, Remus commanded, "You tell me, am I up for it?"

"Feels that way to me," she teased, tracing his length in long, slow strokes. The heat of him against her palm was like a brand, permanently claiming her, marking her as his.

"I haven't stopped wanting you since the moment you arrived. A couple days is hardly enough time to get my fill," he breathed, rocking into her closed hand and shuttering when her thumb purposely rubbed over the crown of his cock.

Hermione continued moving her fist over him, closing her eyes when his mouth snagged the tip of her thus far neglected breast. His tongue flicked the nub enticingly.

"Years," she agreed, gasping. "It will take years."

"At least," he groaned, reaching to catch hold of her hips, seeming almost impatient to impale her on his thickness and encourage her to ride him.

A knock at the door stopped him, though his fingers spasmed against her. He buried his face in her chest and growled, "What?"

"Remus? Sorry, but you need to get downstairs - now. Arthur was attacked. Albus sent word that the kids will be arriving any moment. And Kingsley just notified me that he got to Arthur first, but he wants you to come to St. Mungo's to help field questions. You might stop off and let Molly know first. I don't expect Albus has had a chance to tell her yet," Sirius relayed quickly, though no less regretfully through the closed door.

"He'll be fine, but you've got to go," Hermione said, rolling off him.

Remus was up and dressing the instant she'd moved, but he paused while fastening his shirt, taking in her naked, reclining form on the bed. Regret and appreciation warred in his brilliant blue eyes as he took in the sight of her, and Hermione longed to run her hands through his disheveled sandy-blond hair again.

Shaking his head, he tore his eyes away and made for the door. Hermione grabbed the discarded, tangled sheet from the end of the bed to cover herself with just as he opened the door.

Sirius poked his head in, and she was abruptly grateful to have made the effort to conceal her nude body. Hermione clutched the bed sheet tighter to her chest, but Sirius hardly even seemed to notice.

"Tell me he lives," Sirius demanded over the sound of the front door opening and closing.

"He lives. But you need to keep everyone calm. Reassure Harry. He's confused, and he needs it right now," Hermione confessed. With a resolved nod, Sirius was gone.