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Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count - 577

You're Not Alone

Remus stood by the door, leaning on the frame. Hermione was in the nursery, rocking Teddy back and forth, humming a melody that Remus didn't recognise.

When she turned and saw him there, she smiled at him, her cheeks flushing slightly. She gently placed Teddy in his crib and walked over to Remus.

The two of them walked down the stairs, and entered the living room.

"Thank you for looking after him, has he been okay for you?" Remus said, as Hermione retook the seat she'd clearly been occupying before seeing to Teddy.

"Perfect as always," Hermione confirmed, as she tidied her things up.

Remus smiled. "You don't have to rush off, you know. You're welcome to stay, the guest room is made up for you."

It was an offer he made every week, and sometimes Hermione accepted, and others, she left.

She hesitated for a moment then smiled. "I… that would be great, thank you."

He nodded and then offered her a book. "It made me think of you, so I picked up a copy while I was at the shop."

She looked over the cover, and the smile on her face softened. "Thank you."

Remus nodded and rubbed his neck awkwardly. "Hot chocolate?"

She met his eyes and grinned. They shared a deep love of chocolate. "As if you even need to ask."

…

"What are you doing down here?"

It was the middle of the night, and nightmares had pushed Remus from his bed. He hadn't expected to find Hermione on the sofa, looking morosely into the flames in the fireplace.

She startled and looked up, and he gasped at the red rimmed eyes and the remnants of tears still on her face.

She tried to wipe away the evidence, but he couldn't unsee the look of pain in her eyes.

He sat beside her and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. She stiffened for a moment, and then fell against him, sobbing into his shirt.

"Sshh," he murmured, rocking them both a little.

"Sorry," she choked out, when she had a little semblance of control. "I just… they seem… so real."

"Nightmares?"

She nodded, and he sighed. "I know."

"It's been a year but... sometimes, it still feels like I'm there."

The war had been hard on all of them, but Hermione had been right in the middle of the worst of it, steadfast at Harry's side throughout all of it. Remus wasn't surprised that she was still suffering from the lingering memories.

He often wondered if any of them would ever heal fully.

"You're not alone, you know," he offered, pressing a soft kiss to her temple.

The feelings for her had crept up on him, and Remus was happy enough to just have her in his life that he'd never thought to act on them. Not even when he saw her with Teddy. She was so good with him.

She looked up at him. He saw her leaning towards him, and for a moment, he thought perhaps he should move, should tell her no because he didn't want to ruin what they had, but then her lips met his, softly, questioningly, and he couldn't.

He wanted her, and to deny her would hurt her needlessly. If she wanted him too… Tonks had taught him that sometimes risks were worth taking.

"You're not alone either," Hermione whispered when she pulled back.

"I know," he replied. "I know. I have you."

Written for;

Auction - HermioneRemus

365 - 121. Melody

1000 - 260. "It made me think of you."