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 J.K. Rowling, so I don't own anything :(
Chapter 13: Mounting Tension All Around
March-April 1996
Hog's Head Inn
"This is an unexpected surprise," Hermione said, taking in the troubled look on Severus's face. He'd come knocking on the door of the room she was sharing with Remus at the Hog's Head.
"Yes," he agreed, nodding in gratitude when she gestured for him to take the shabby wooden desk chair in the corner while she sat on the bed.
When he said nothing, Hermione assumed she knew why he'd come. It was late on a Wednesday, far later than any of his previous visits, and he'd most probably come from a session with Harry. She asked, "How are the Occlumency lessons going?" It was a question she'd not dared ask before now, rightly assuming he'd not welcome discussing it. But now, when he'd come to her, she had a feeling something had changed.
"His memories…"
"Harry's often said he can relate to you far more than he can James," Hermione confessed, revealing a bit of the man Harry had grown into, that'd he'd freely acknowledge such a difficult and complicated truth.
"I - We're nothing alike," Severus bit out harshly.
"Forgive me. I overstepped," Hermione said at once, knowing it was a subject she'd need to tread carefully with.
Her easy capitulation earned her another glare. He despised when she openly handled him with kid gloves.
"He's wasting my time. He's not even trying to learn," Severus complained critically.
"You're worried about him," Hermione noted, hearing the concern hidden beneath the frustration and annoyance.
"Not him. The problems he will be responsible for causing. He's seen too much. Things he has no business seeing - Rookwood, Avery, the Dark Lord," Severus explained, dark clouds of suspicion brewing across his face. "I don't know how to make him take this seriously, and stop letting those thoughts in. I don't even understand why or how he is seeing as much as he is, and Albus refuses to ex-"
He cut himself off when Remus entered the room, having gone to Grimmauld Place to have dinner with Sirius while she remained to look after the town. Mad-Eye had been delayed with his mystery assignment from Dumbledore, so they were able to spend a few extra weeks on watch in the town, but this was to be their last few days. Then Hermione would have to say goodbye to Remus again for much of each week while he joined a new pack.
"Good evening, Severus," Remus said kindly, not at all surprised to find the other man in his room so late at night.
"Lupin," Severus said, standing. They were fairly close in height, though Remus had a great deal more muscle concealed beneath his robes.
"How are things at the castle?" Remus asked when Severus didn't immediately depart.
The few times Severus had come by to see her in recent weeks, he'd only stuck around so long as Remus didn't try to make conversation with him. Hermione had asked each of them, in turn, to try and set their differences aside for her sake, but so far only Remus had been willing, and even his attempts were reluctant at best. She held her breath as she waited to see how Severus would respond now.
"That fat toad Umbridge is making a detestable position even more unbearable," Severus announced with a sneer, though for once it was aimed at a deserving target.
"Yes, I find her rather loathsome myself," Remus commiserated.
"I should be going. Professor Trelawney was just sacked and Albus is more concerned than ever," Severus informed them. Remus looked ready to question him further, but the hard look on Severus's face stalled him.
"Don't forget, patience is a virtue," Hermione advised, laughing at the scowl he leveled her with.
"When have I ever claimed to be virtuous? I think we both know that I am not," Severus said, faint teasing coating his words. He was getting much better at it.
Muggle London
"What are we doing here?" Hermione asked.
Remus had brought her to a red and white brick building with a large white dome protruding from the roof a ways away, and bronze statues visible along several of the well-maintained walking paths. There was something vaguely familiar about the place, but she couldn't quite place it.
"Mad-Eye is in Hogsmeade - finally - and I thought we might take a day for ourselves before I leave tomorrow," Remus explained, taking her hand and leading her inside.
They'd spoken the day before about how different things would be with this new pack, and she was extremely apprehensive about it. He, at Dumbledore's behest, was planning to join the last pack Greyback had been a member of, and therefore contained the werewolves most likely to align themselves with Voldemort. It would be Remus's job to sway them, and deter them from joining his ranks.
He'd warned that the members were significantly more aggressive and distrustful, and that he'd be checking in far less frequently. These were the werewolves known to kill for food on a regular basis, and to do so without an ounce of remorse. She was worried for him, but had so far managed to put a brave face on it for his sake.
Knowing he'd be interacting with those closest to Greyback brought back trauma from the war she'd falsely believed she'd buried in a bottomless chasm, never to see the light of day again. Memories she couldn't bear to willingly think about, or explain to Remus about at this point in time - not that he'd let her if she tried.
He still adamantly refused to let her shed more of the future than what slipped out unintentionally. Even when it involved him and his immediate actions.
"So you brought me to the Royal Observatory Greenwich?" she asked, finally placing the location, and forcefully putting her worries aside to enjoy their outing together. She'd done a field trip there in her Muggle primary school before she'd gotten her Hogwarts letter.
"It's the adult version of the Astronomy Tower," Remus said, referencing his story of James and Lily's first date.
"And far superior, seeing as we don't have to worry about Filch interrupting," Hermione said, going up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek.
"Excellent point," he agreed, throwing his arm around her shoulders to keep her nestled at his side.
After the observatory, they walked through Hyde Park, and had dinner at a little pub in the middle of London while they discussed the final revisions to Remus's book and when it was to be officially published and available for purchase. For five extraordinary hours, they were able to forget the war and have a glimpse at what a life together could be like without the constant fear and strain.
They laughed and teased. Confessed secret ambitions and long-held dreams. Debated politics and magical theories. The entire outing managed to be stimulating mentally, emotionally, and physically. The perfect trifecta.
Incredible didn't begin to cover it. It was a temptation too irresistible. Whispers urged her to do whatever it took to ensure many more such days occurred in the future - the rest of the world be damned!
When they returned to the Hog's Head for their final night's stay, it was to find the room decorated with candles on every available surface and floating throughout the air, hovering at various levels.
"Dance with me?" Remus asked, taking her hand, and pulling her into his arms.
Hermione felt his arm shift subtly behind her back, and a second later soft music filled the room and the wicks lit with a softly wavering golden glow. "How did you set this all up?"
"Nymphadora and Kingsley volunteered when I said I wanted to do something special to surprise you," he said, spinning her until she giggled. "And I remembered you mentioning that you loved to dance."
"I do," she confirmed, although it had never made her blood sing the way it did when he held her close.
"Plus, I would use any excuse to get you in my arms," Remus said slyly, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively until laughter escaped from her, unbidden.
"I guess James and Sirius taught you well," Hermione teased.
"They did. I've a few more tricks you've yet to see too," he promised, dropping his head to press a kiss to the base of her throat.
"Mhh. It's no wonder you've stolen my heart," she breathed, letting her head fall back as he nuzzled her.
"Will you write to me again when I'm away?" he requested, trailing kisses up to just below her ear.
"Everyday," she vowed, pressing closer against him. His arms went around her, hands dipping lower to enticingly caress her bum.
"I'm taking your letters with me to have a piece of you. Reading them will keep me sane," he said, tension creeping in. He was more worried about his mission than he'd let on. What he was doing was necessary. They couldn't allow Voldemort to gain the superior numbers he once commanded. And he was the only one in a position to do what had to be done. No matter how much he loathed that simple truth.
"I don't really want to think about that right now," she said, looping her arms about his neck and tilting her head back. He took the hint and dropped a kiss on her waiting lips, relaxing into her hold once more.
Several hours passed before they fell into bed where Remus slowly, tenderly made love to her. Every intoxicating touch and lavish kiss left a permanent brand on her soul.
He stroked her to new heights, dragging it out until she was nearly sobbing with need, completely wild for him. Her own hands and mouth were kept busy lighting a matching inferno in him. And when they finally crested the tsunami together, they tumbled into the frothy surf and let it carry them to the sunny, sandy beach where they basked in the glorious rays side-by-side.
"I have never loved another, Hermione. It has only ever been you, and there will never be another after you," Remus breathed afterwards, unconsciously echoing her thoughts.
There could never be another for her either. The knowledge was as eternal and immovable as a monolith.
Grimmauld Place
Dumbledore arrived at Grimmauld Place amidst a flurry of bright purple and gold dressing robes and the strain of grim lines set into his rapidly aging face. He looked very nearly defeated, but he reigned it in when he caught sight of Hermione and Sirius staring at him, stunned.
"I have been ousted," he announced stoically, chin held high.
"Impossible!" Sirius denied, looking to Hermione for confirmation, but returning his incredulous gaze to Albus before she could say or do anything. "You must be jesting."
"I assure you that I have, indeed, been forced to flee the school, with Aurors out to arrest me on sight no less, and that this is no jest," Albus said, a touch of weariness creeping into his voice despite his efforts to mask it. Sadness, and perhaps a hint of bitterness too. No one could deny his devotion to that school through the years. Hermione imagined it would be hard not to feel betrayed now.
Kingsley joined them before Sirius could further interrogate Dumbledore, sweeping in and giving Dumbledore a once over. Satisfied with what he saw, he nodded, making the dancing candlelight reflect off the smooth surface of his bald, dark head.
"My apologies -" Albus began, but Kingsley waved him off.
"It had to happen. Sold my allegiance with the Ministry," Kingsley said easily, his deep voice a soothing balm. Then he turned to Hermione, and looked her over with fresh awareness, before stating, "You are one scary witch when crossed."
"I don't take betrayal lightly," Hermione said calmly, without the least bit of guilt or regret.
"Evidently," he agreed, shaking his head. "Does she ever manage to get rid of the spots?"
"No," Hermione said, the word as hard as her resolve had been to protect the DA members.
Kingsley looked to Dumbledore, apparently wondering if he could have cleared up the spots. Hermione believed he could, given his wand, and now she too was wondering why he'd never intervened. "Occasionally," he said slowly, glancing about before continuing, "visual reminders are important for driving a lesson home."
"What about Harry?" Sirius asked, returning to his primary concern as he so often did, and the true danger that this change in circumstance presented.
"Minerva, Hagrid and Severus are there looking after him," Albus said easily, but Hermione sensed he was worried. Sirius picked up on it too, a hunting dog catching the scent of a wounded animal.
"But -"
"Sirius, this was the only way to keep Harry in school," Kingsley interrupted to justify Dumbledore's decision to take the blame.
"Better me than him," Albus agreed, nodding at Kingsley, grateful for the support.
"I'm not so sure about that," Sirius argued. Probably at the idea that Severus was currently Harry's best source of protection.
"The year is almost over, and we all know Voldemort won't sulk about in the shadows forever," Hermione interjected, catching Sirius's eye and giving him a meaningful look, trying to silently promise this would work out and Harry would survive this new development. "Then Albus will be back."
"But in the meantime?" Sirius pressed, unwilling to just let it go. Not when Harry was at risk and vulnerable.
"I give you my word that they will look after him, Sirius," Albus said firmly, his tone leaving no room to be questioned or doubted.
"Hermione could return to Hogsmeade to help Mad-Eye," Kingsley suggested, raising a brow at her to see if she was amenable to the idea.
"Yes," Hermione agreed at once, nodding.
It wouldn't be the same without Remus. She'd not seen him at all in the three weeks since he left. He'd had to make his reports to Kingsley or Mad-Eye, and Hermione had heard from them that even though this pack was much smaller, it was even more hostile than anticipated, so he'd not been able to slip away to see her as regularly as he had before. It was precisely what she'd feared.
At least she could be useful again. Not that anything was going to happen, but she'd feel more productive than she did just reading papers and making potions. Anything to keep her from dwelling on how much she missed Remus. She'd never been that sort of witch before, and she had no desire to become one now.
Sirius grumbled something about how he was just as capable of wearing a disguise and fighting if the need arose, but Albus ignored this as he always did.
"Of course," Albus agreed, nodding at Kingsley as he seemed to ponder the idea of Hermione returning and found it an acceptable security addition to those he already had in place.
"Will I have a new cellmate then?" Sirius asked Dumbledore, smirking without the least bit of humor. Hermione pictured their general holded up directing troops from the main fortress. At least he wasn't likely to fall into a bottle the way Sirius had. "Welcome to life as a fugitive - may it treat you better than it has me."
"Oh, no. No, I won't be staying here. There are things I need to see about. Things that cannot be put off any longer. New information has recently come to light, and now I shall have the time to search out the pieces," Albus said vaguely, grim determination settling over him like a heavy cloak.
Pieces…
Oh! He must have realized what was happening, worked out the clues behind why Harry could see through Nagini's eyes. He was going to hunt down the information about the Horcruxes.
She followed him from the kitchen where she could hear Sirius asking Kingsley for more details about what just went down at the castle and how Harry was involved.
When the Headmaster noticed her following him, he stepped into the dining room and waited to hear what she'd wanted to speak with him privately about. Hermione wasn't sure when he'd find the ring, but she guessed it would be soon. By the end of June the curse would already have taken root and would be slowly killing him. That was only a little over two months away.
"Albus," Hermione began, but paused at his warning look. "Please, promise you'll be careful." It hadn't been what she'd wanted to say, but his look had stalled her, reminding her of the dangerous consequences.
"My hunch is correct then. I'm on the right track," Albus said, nodding, and running a hand over his beard. Hermione watched as his eye's lost focus, looking inward instead as he went over things. He was so solid. So real and alive.
"Don't put on the ring - it's cursed," she gasped, covering her mouth after the words slipped out. She'd not meant to say them, but watching him, this man that they all needed so desperately, she'd realized how much she didn't want to lose him.
What had she just done? How could she have been so reckless?
If Albus didn't put on the ring, he would not already have been dying when Severus killed him. It would be outright murder when that happened now. Assuming it still did. Or Draco Malfoy would become a killer. They weren't friends, but he'd changed a great deal since the war, and she didn't wish that for him.
The event itself would happen - thanks to Severus's Unbreakable Vow. Or he would be the one to die. She didn't want to lose either of them. But how could she stop Severus from accepting the vow when Naricissa came to him? He'd had to in order to protect his cover.
Everything was so entwined. Removing or altering a single thread made the whole thing unravel. She was trapped in a maze with nothing but dead ends, and no way out.
"You're rather well informed as to my plans," he stated flatly, not chastising her as she'd expected.
"I am," she admitted, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Except, that wasn't what was happening. Dumbledore looked troubled. Confused even. Had he not been planning to tell Harry, and by extension herself and Ron? Here was one more piece of evidence that she was meant to be here, and that her actions now actually helped cause the events she remembered. So many necessary pieces required to make a complete picture. "I've said it before, but you're not alone. Trust is important if we're to win," she tried.
"I need to prepare Harry, include him in my plans - in case I am no longer available to do what must be done," Albus said, nodding to himself, apparently rearranging his plans. "It is more vital than ever that Harry learns Occlumency if this is to be our course."
"Albus -"
"I think you've said quite enough for one evening. Don't you?" he asked pointedly, giving her a measured look that pierced her with his cool, blue eyes. Chips of ice were less frosty just then.
"Yes," she whispered, dropping her head like a misbehaving schoolgirl.
He was right. They couldn't afford to take shortcuts. Not with this. Too much was at risk, and he understood the risks. At least now he knew about the ring. He could decide for himself what to do with the information. She'd done all she could to save him, anymore would endanger them all.
Hogsmeade
The lull continued through April, much as it had before with Hogsmeade operating the same as it always had in the past. One would never know a mass breakout from Azkaban with ten convicts on the loose had recently occurred or that things were weeks away from going to hell.
The knock at her door had her jumping up to open it, hoping it was Remus. It was going on six weeks now since she'd had more than a note from him, and she'd been unable to owl any of her letters to him because of the sensitive information they contained - including her very existence.
Instead, when the door swung wide, she saw a brooding Severus. It was the first time she'd seen him since potentially complicating his life, even if he wasn't yet aware of what she'd done.
"I didn't expect you to leave the castle," Hermione said, frowning at him.
"Umbridge is preoccupied sorting out the chaos the Weasley twins left behind during their… eventful and memorable departure," he said disdainfully, brushing past her and beginning to set out potion ingredients on the room's tiny wooden desk. The scarred surface denoting the lack of care the room's previous occupants had taken.
"So you came here?" she asked, having the impression that she was missing something.
"I require assistance brewing Veritaserum," he said in a clipped voice that was far sharper than normal. Each word seemed to leave a small nick on her flesh where the pointed barbs caught.
"What's happened?" she questioned, knowing he didn't really need her help and had actually come to confide in a friend.
"I need replacements. I was forced to replace all of my stock with water to prevent Umbridge using it on that boy," he sneered, loathing coating the word boy. Hermione blinked, startled to hear him refer to Harry with such visceral hatred.
"Severus, what happened?" she repeated more forcefully.
"As if you don't know. I'm sure he went straight to you afterwards. Gloating over what he saw," Severus said, crossing his arms defensively. The pieces coming together to form a clear picture in her mind. Harry had seen Severus's memory. But that would have happened weeks ago. Had he been letting it fester within him this whole time?
"He never told us why you'd stopped giving him Occlumency lessons. We didn't find out until after the war," Hermione promised, catching Severus's startled look at the revelation. "And he was really upset over what James and Sirius did. It completely changed his perspective of -"
"He had no right to view my memories and invade my privacy!" Severus yelled.
"He's a teenage boy - one known to be overly curious. Restraint has never been one of Harry's finer qualities," Hermione pointed out, refusing to take offense as he unleashed his pent up anger on her.
"That does not excuse his actions!" he insisted, speaking through gritted teeth.
"So just ignore him like you have been all month. He won't bring it up, nor will he share what he saw," Hermione stated flatly.
"Chop the devil's breath root into two inch sections," he ordered, making it clear he was through discussing the matter with her. "Use the glass knife, not the silver one."
Hermione rolled her eyes, but did as instructed, knowing the plant had long been used by Muggles for its truth-telling properties. They worked in companionable silence for close to three hours, each seeming to have needed the comfort of company even if they weren't talking.
"Her-" Remus began, slipping into the room without knocking first. Aberforth must have told him what room she was in. But he broke off at the sight of her other visitor. "Severus," Remus said quietly. Hermione couldn't decipher the many emotions she heard in his voice, but they were clearly complex.
"Lupin," Severus said stiffly, suddenly more tense than he'd been when he arrived.
"What do you think you're playing at?" Remus demanded, shocking Hermione with the forcefulness of his question, as though he were itching for a fight.
"Pardon?" Severus asked, lips curling in a way that declared he was more than prepared to have this out, and was actually looking forward to the prospect.
"I just spoke to Harry," Remus announced, catching Hermione off guard. She'd not put the events Severus had mentioned earlier - the twins' grand exit from Hogwarts - together with why they'd done it in the first place. To give Harry a chance to talk to Sirius. "You're refusing to give Harry Occlumency lessons? He didn't mean anything by -"
"Are you trying to say he tripped and fell into my memories? I find that highly suspect," Severus said coldly, leveling Remus with an icy glare.
"Sirius was set to come up to the castle himself and have a talk with you," Remus said, conveying the seriousness of the issue, and the risk the man was willing to take to ensure Dumbledore's directive was carried out.
His words struck a chord. Remus had been with Sirius when Harry contacted him through the Floo in Umbridge's office. She felt irrationally hurt that he'd used what little free time he had to visit Sirius and not her when it'd been over a month since they last saw each other.
"Oh, I'd so enjoy that," Severus hissed.
"You were with Sirius?" Hermione asked, wondering why he'd gone to him first rather than come to her. The war made demands on their time. She understood that. But she'd thought that, perhaps, she was a priority for him.
"Yes," he said curtly, offering no more explanation.
"Is it any wonder the boy is as reckless and dismissive of rules with an example like that," Severus taunted, making Hermione sigh in exasperation. Of course Severus was going to use this as an opportunity to get a few digs in at Sirius and inevitably rile everyone up.
"You're ignoring the matter -"
"Look, I'm sorry for my behavior in the past. I can't change it, but I do owe you a sincere apology for my past actions, and for not putting a stop to my friends," Remus said quietly, speaking over Hermione.
"Do you feel better about yourself now? Words mean little when they are only said now to assuage a guilty conscience," Severus sneered, eternally unwilling to forgive the past slights made against him. "Or as a show for your girlfriend."
Remus was visibly upset by Severus's words. Regret a bitter tang in the air, unpleasant and oppressive. Hermione moved to place a hand on his arm, but he shifted away, stiff and unyielding.
She tried to catch his eye, but he refused to look at her. And the instant they did make eye contact, Remus shamefully averted his eyes, somehow unwilling to see her opinion of him after knowing she'd learned of his youthful misdeeds.
All those fears and doubts he'd harbored. That endless well of unworthiness, it was all striped bare and exposed. A raw nerve. Agonizing in the extreme.
"Remus, I promise it won't matter that Severus doesn't continue Harry's lessons," Hermione tried, attempting to remove at least one of his concerns.
"But Albus said he must. That it is imperative," he said, appealing to Severus with barely a glance at her to acknowledge she'd spoken.
"What will happen, will happen. Nothing can stop it at this point," Hermione stated, knowing it to be true.
There just wasn't enough time, and with the piece of Voldemort's soul inside Harry, it was impossible for him to shut the door between them - at least on Harry's end. He'd given her such a hard time after the war for all her constant nagging on the subject.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Remus asked, finally looking at her. She tried not to take offense at his tone. It wasn't really his fault. And she was used to Teddy doing the same over the years. It'd get worse and worse as the full moon approached, then vanish abruptly when the moon waned.
"Hermione," Severus warned, referencing their previous conversation on altering the future. He was far more cautious than her, unwilling to let her risk her own life or the outcome they so desperately wished to preserve.
When had she become the reckless one? That had always, always, been Harry's role.
"I can't," she breathed, shaking her head.
Remus looked from her to Severus, his jaw setting though he'd visibly paled at the reminder of how dangerous her answer could be. Because he too was more cautious than her when it came to the future.
The timer dinged, indicating that the potion had completed simmering, and was ready for the final step before it spent the next moon cycle maturing.
"Since you're obviously busy, I'll leave you to it," Remus said coolly, shifting a glance between the pair of them again.
Hermione gasped. He couldn't really mean to leave already. They'd not even had a chance to talk. But Remus was already turning on the spot and vanishing with a loud crack!
"Remus, wait," Hermione called into the empty air, but he'd already Disapparated.
She stared, dumbfounded. Not to mention more than a little hurt by the events of the last ten minutes. It was the first time they'd ever fought. If you could call what just happened a fight. Funny, she'd never had a problem telling Ron or Harry off when they were treating her poorly or being unaccountably rude, but she'd not said a word in her defense just then.
"The moon is this week," Severus said awkwardly, apparently trying to justify Remus's curtness as he watched her wearily. Probably, he thought she was about to burst into tears, and he didn't want to have to deal with a crying witch so it was better to circumvent the incident altogether.
"It's fine," Hermione said briskly, waving his excuse aside even as she felt her lips pursing while she ran through the events in her head, attempting to determine where the wrong turn had occurred. Finally, she added, "But you could have accepted his apology."
"I lost my best friend in part because of him," Severus said defensively, trying to validate his refusal.
"You lost her because you made a mistake," Hermione countered, wanting him to take possession of his mistakes. He was not entirely without blame himself. And he was old enough to take responsibility for his actions.
"I wouldn't have if -"
"You called her a Mudblood," Hermione pointed out flatly, pinning him with a penetrating look.
"Do not say that word," he hissed, eyes flaring at her casual use of the despicable insult.
"I don't have the luxury of forgetting what I am," Hermione said coolly, yanking the sleeve of her robe up to reveal the cursed scars spelling out 'Mudblood' on her arm. Deep, open wounds, raw and angry. Each of which looked ready to ooze with her 'foul' blood at any moment.
"Who?" he breathed, horrified.
Hermione watched as he brought tentative fingers towards the never-healing cuts. They hovered an inch above, not daring to actually touch the split, pink flesh of her brutalized arm. She'd long ago lost all sensation in the area, a permanent numbing spell placed on the area her only option for treatment.
"It doesn't matter," she said, shaking her head. That hadn't been her point in showing him. She'd simply wanted him to see that ignoring a thing didn't make it go away. "Lily made a mistake too - by not forgiving you."
"I didn't deserve it. Not back then," Severus declared, displaying a surprising level of introspection on his part even as he continued staring transfixed at her scars. Hermione let her sleeve drop, removing the unsightly visage from his field of vision.
"Well, then perhaps it was worth it, because you're a worthy man now," Hermione stated, believing it whole-heartedly.
"Why do you persist in trying to be friends with me?" Severus asked, startling her.
"When you're not acting like an ass, you're quite witty, intelligent, and loyal," Hermione announced, realizing even as she said it, that it was the truth.
"Thank you," he said quietly, reluctantly letting his lips form a semblance of a smile. It reminded her of when she'd thanked him months earlier.
They finished brewing in silence. Hermione spent most of the time stewing over Remus, caught up in how passively she'd let the whole incident go down. Wrapped up in how much different it had been from her fights with Ron. Or any of the other guys she had dated for that matter. It was so easy to put them in their place when they disagreed. She'd never really cared if she angered them. Having Remus seemingly dismiss her, was unexpected coming from Remus, even if she knew he was experiencing the influence of the pack and upcoming moon on top of other feelings of insecurity and self-doubt.
She was ready to have done with all of it and begin the life she'd had the fleeting glimpse of during their London outings.
Two more years. They just had to get through two more years of this.