Author Notes: Sorry guys, I edited this chapter on my phone and the app made it act all weird. Just never gonna do that again lol


Remus's sleep was interrupted by a vivid dream. Teeth and claws, ripping into him. He awoke to his own scream and covered it. The night of his attack wasn't something he usually had nightmares about any longer. Those first few months in Hogwarts, but beyond that, it tapered off. However, it was as real and detailed as the night it happened.

He decided to climb from his bed and walk it off. The sweat dripping down his spine caused a chill, but he hadn't the energy to search for his shirt, swept somewhere in the reaches of the floor. Remus breathed as he climbed down the staircase.

The werewolf felt old, but somehow, it was balanced. The lupine personality at the back of his mind seemed subdued. He wasn't panting or growling in dismay. The wolf was remarkably lax. It made something as simple as the week out from the moon, far more relaxed than in his teens.

Remus made it down to the dining area and rolled his neck while digging through the cupboards. Chocolate. Where's the bloody chocolate? Someone's voice cleared, and Remus pivoted to see Hermione sitting on the bench in the corner.

"Looking for something sweet?" She asked, holding up a chocolate bar.

Remus chuckled as he walked over. "I'm sorry, I'm underdressed. I needed to cure my restlessness."

Hermione waved him off as she moved her feet from the spot. "It's near three in the morning. Leave propriety at the door for once," she grumbled when he sat down.

Remus grabbed her bunched legs and set them over him. He took the offered chocolate bar and hummed. He could see out of the corner of his eye that she was watching him. "What?" He asked after unwrapping the bar.

"Nothing," she mumbled.

Remus glanced over as he nibbled at the chocolate. Her cheeks were pink, and she avoided his gaze. The sweet texture of the chocolate was all his sensitive nose could catch. Something was going on, and he wasn't positive as to what.

"Are you sure?"

"I just, I haven't seen you without your shirt before. I was surprised," Hermione cleared her throat before nibbling at the sweet.

Remus glanced down at the grey speckled chest hair and scars. A horrific sight for anyone. "I'm sorry. I know it isn't pleasant to look at."

"No, it's not horrific. Remus, you need to start giving yourself more credit," Hermione groaned as she rubbed the side of her neck.

Somehow it seemed there was something unspoken about their conversation. Possibly a distraction would wane the tension? "Where did that come from?" Remus asked as he gestured to the scar on her shoulder.

Hermione situated the straps on her tank top and glanced over. "Oh, that was from the battle. Just another scar."

Remus sighed as he popped the last of the chocolate in his mouth. He ran his fingers idly around her feet. Hermione leaned forward and touched his ribs. "Where is that from?"

The werewolf swallowed and hummed. "Transformation, fourth year. James caught me with his antlers when we were roughhousing."

Her fingers glided to his left shoulder. "And that?"

"Probably spring in my second year. I was still alone back then," He explained.

Hermione wriggled and lifted her pant leg, revealing a long spiraled scar on her thigh. "This was from the battle as well."

Remus tilted his head as his fingers touched the silvery scar. "That looks as if that was painful."

Hermione lowered her face to meet his view. "A scar is a life experience, Remus. Nothing ugly about them," she declared with a smile.

He chuckled and rocked his head. "Fair enough."

His thumb ran along the scar on her thigh. "Do you wonder," Remus paused. "What it would have been had I lived?"

Hermione smiled as she tilted her head. "I imagine it would have been lovely for Teddy."

"Me too," Remus breathed. "There's this hollowed out portion of my life, but I mostly miss holding him the first time."

"It will get better. You might even get your memories back," Hermione sighed.

Remus rocked his head and twitched his nose. "It would be difficult, but I wouldn't trade them for the comfort you radiate. I trust you. I know we will mend the difficulties of this crisis because of your endurance and courage."

She stifled a smile as she traced a scar on his arm. "You're too kind. I only did what I had to."

"No, you didn't," Remus chuckled. "But you did, and I'm relieved and inspired by it. Hermione, I know that even without them, I have a piece of my memories because of you."

"I must confess," Hermione voiced. "I'm so pleased you've come back. Regardless of your memories, I'm thrilled you get to see him finally."

Remus nodded while chewing the inside of his cheek. "Me too."

"Life has a lovely irony, but I know it's going to all work out." Hermione took another bite of chocolate and beamed. "Would you like some of mine?"

He noted the smear of the sweet on the corner of her mouth. Something spurred him. The more primal sense of self had something to do with it. Seeing the toothache inducing witch covered with another built a hunger he needed to satisfy in one way or another. Remus bent closer to her, and his thumb of his free hand swiped it away. It went to his mouth as he licked it.

Remus was shocked when the witch bent forward and caught his lips to hers. It was magnetic and charged as he groaned and dragged his fingers along her bare leg. There was this feeling of warmth in his gut. It built from his chest, and his heart thrummed at an erratic pace. She was kissing him? What glorious madness. Hermione whimpered as Remus pinned her closer to the wall in the coupling.

He pulled away panting. "I'm sorry," Remus huffed.

"Don't apologize," Hermione whispered as she touched his cheek. "I wanted that. Remember that I kissed you first," she laughed.

The werewolf caressed her face with a smile and groaned. "I think I should turn in before I do something you'd decline," He smirked.

Hermione held out the half-eaten chocolate bar. "Would you like the rest?"

He shook his head. "No, not quite."

"Is there anything I can get you before you depart?" Hermione asked with a slight pout.

"Come," Remus cleared his throat. "Come with me?"

Hermione's cheeks darkened further. "To sleep with you?"

"To sleep next to me," Remus's fingers ran under her chin. "I wouldn't want to do anything, but things just make more sense when you're with me."

"Alright," Hermione smiled.

Remus bent toward her and waited a centimeter from her lips. She closed the gap and kissed the werewolf once again. This time it was languished and heady as his tongue traced her lips. Hermione moaned into his mouth as she dropped the chocolate and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Her legs hung over the edge of the bench. Her toes were curled as their kiss grew deliciously tempting.

"Hermione," Remus puffed as they separated.

"Remus, I have to tell you," Hermione hummed. "I find you extremely attractive."

He chuckled and rose his eyebrows. "I would hope you do. Obliging my curiosity is not a stake you should place."

"Let's get some rest? I can read you one of my favorite muggle novels," Hermione said with a smile.

Remus ran his fingers over her curls with agreement. "Alright, that seems harmless enough."

Hermione maneuvered off his lap and fixed her pant leg. "Okay, let's go," Hermione said while holding out her hand.

He took it and stood up, towering over the witch. "Lead the way."

They disappeared from the dining room, leaving the half-eaten chocolate bar abandoned on the ground.


"It was just a chocolate bar," Severus sneered as he prepared his tea.

"In Moony's right mind, that would have been devoured, no, something happened," Sirius chuckled as he flipped through the paper.

Fred wiggled his eyebrows as he leaned against the table. "You think they shagged? Hermione had quite the fancy for the professor in her third year."

"You don't say?" Sirius snickered. "Well, I thought she liked me. Oh, well."

Fred shrugged. "She never had anything remotely awful to say about you. In fact, the only person in this house she disliked was Snape," he declared before picking at his breakfast.

Severus glowered at the redhead. "I imagine I had more work to be done than to impress a student."

Sirius twitched his nose while flipping the page. "Freddy, did you two ever…" he trailed off.

"No, absolutely not, mate. She's a no-fly-zone on the Quidditch field. Even now, she was married to him. I thought she was brilliant and quite cute, but family first," Fred explained with a nod.

"I see," Sirius hummed. "Was she always this interesting?"

Fred grinned with a nod. "She'll never tell the amount of trouble she planned in school. George and I were always extraordinarily impressed."

"I haven't a clue why it would be impressive to prank," Severus grumbled.

"No, she wasn't into them either. As she told us about last night, each school year had a different issue for her lot. She was the brains, and her class scores dictated she was far more intelligent than her peers," Fred responded with a smug sneer.

The werewolf appeared with disheveled hair and a t-shirt. "Good morning," he grumbled.

"Did you sleepwalk last night?" Sirius asked while staring at the paper.

Remus went to retrieve a cup of tea and was dressing it before answering. "No, I woke up and came down for some chocolate."

Fred smirked and bent over his elbows, resting on the table. "Alone?"

"Well, no, Hermione was already eating some by the time I came down," Remus huffed and twitched his nose. "It's far too early for this dance that Sirius has perfected. What's going on?"

"They're blathering about how you slept with Hermione," Severus huffed. "It's been quite the annoyance."

Fred was nearly hopping off the bench. "Is it true? It wouldn't surprise me. The witch thought you were witty and admirable. That's Hermione's fancy language."

Remus scratched his chest and inhaled. "We just went up to read before turning in. That's it."

Sirius set down the pages and groaned. "Moony, why? Why can't I just be you for one night? You'd be so much happier with having a bit of devil-may-care attitude."

Severus snorted and glanced at the werewolf. "I'm surprised you've been friends with him this long, Lupin."

"Listen, nothing happened. I don't want her to be hassled over it either. We have plenty of work to do today and don't need the added drama, Padfoot," Remus declared with a sharp scowl. There was a knock at the front door, and the werewolf huffed. "Fantastic. Can we all please cooperate today?" He asked before marching from the room.

"You don't think they shagged, do you?" Fred inquired.

Sirius shook his head. "No, he would be far more pleasant today if they had."

Severus rolled his eyes. "Incompetence," he hissed.

Hermione bounced into the room with a sleepy smile and leaned over the animagus. "Good morning, Sirius."

"Good morning, love. How are you after your midnight snack?" Sirius teased.

"Very well, thank you. I enjoy chocolate about as much as Remus," Hermione laughed and hugged on him.

"So we've noticed. Hermione, why did you both abandon some?" Fred questioned with a mischievous expression.

Hermione shrugged as she pulled away from Sirius. "We forgot about it. Books became a topic of conversation, so we shifted to another portion of the house." The witch moved to sit down close to the stiff potion master. "Good morning, Severus. How are you today?"

"Impatient. I'd like to review some of your research," he responded.

"We shall," Hermione mumbled as she reached for Remus's abandoned tea. "Let me wake up a little. I was up late."

"Let us in on the secret?" Fred asked with a pout to his lips. "Did ya shag him? I remember how hard you crushed on the witty professor."

Her cheeks bloomed with color as she cleared her throat. "What did Remus tell you?" She asked.

Sirius sat up straighter and smirked. "He said you were marvelous."

"Marvelous?" Hermione asked with a knitted brow. "He said that?"

Fred gasped and stood up. "Wait, you really did shag him?"

"No," Hermione huffed. "Obviously, I didn't because Sirius is lying to me."

"Did you or not? It's a simple question, love," Sirius snickered with an arched eyebrow.

Severus rolled his eyes and climbed from his seat. "This is completely childish," he huffed as he left the room with his cup in hand.

"We spent the night talking about muggle books from our childhood," Hermione growled. "That's it."

"Oh, I like that they lie the same way too," Sirius noted with a nod to Fred.

Hermione sipped her tea and sneered. "You just don't like the truth."

"Come off it, Hermione. Did you sleep with Remus?" Fred persisted while rubbing his face.

"It's vital to know. For research and all that ballocks you've been preaching," Sirius added with a grin.

"Stop," Hermione huffed.

"Just tell us the bloody truth!" Fred cried with a frown.

"Alright! Merlin, yes, now would you please let it go. It shouldn't matter if I slept with Remus or not!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Well, that's a piece of gossip I wasn't expecting on walking into," Ginny's voice entered the space.

Hermione pivoted to see Harry and Ginny standing at the entrance to the dining room. She covered her mouth as Ginny was smiling, and Harry was rubbing his forehead with his fingers. Sirius climbed from his seat and waved them over just as Remus rounded the corner.

"Good morning," Harry grumbled as Sirius patted his back. "Remus invited us over to help."

Ginny wandered over to Hermione and hugged her. "Tell me about it later?" She whispered.

Hermione groaned and shook her head. "Let me go get dressed," she stopped next to Harry and kissed his cheek. "Good morning, Harry."

When she left the room, Remus hovered next to Sirius. "She's lying to you, so you leave her alone," he murmured.

"No, actually, I believe her more than you right now, Moony," He chuckled and gestured to Ginny. "Am I right?"

"Mhm, that was pretty honest," Ginny laughed. "Now, breakfast and some news? You told us it was a big deal in your letter, Remus."

The werewolf sighed and scratched at his beard. "Yes, we have some. Let's wait until she's come down."

Harry tilted his head at the werewolf. "You doing alright?"

"It's just been a very exhaustive morning," Remus nodded.

"I bet. That witch sounded fun," Sirius snickered.

Harry elbowed him and huffed. "She's my best friend, Sirius."

"It's alright, Harry. We're taking care of it," Sirius responded with a smile and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "Let's get to eating. We have plenty to catch up on."

Ginny wandered around the table and hugged her brother. "Fred, I'm so glad to see you."

"Me too! Gin, I'm chuffed you, and Harry worked it out. I can't wait to see the family," he declared and parted from his sister. "Even if I'm the youngest now."

"Well, mum will about have a heart attack, but it will be worth it," Ginny giggled, and they sat down for breakfast.