February 7th, 1977

"Are you sure you don't want me to wait with you?"

Hermione didn't need to look at Pandora's frown to understand what she was really asking. 'Why are you doing this for him?' The truth was, she didn't know. There was no way she would admit so to her friend though.

"Slughorn shouldn't keep them much longer. Go get your dinner, I'll join you in the Great Hall."

Pandora didn't insist, merely sending one last disdainful glance at the parchments in Hermione's arms before turning on her heels. Her steps echoed in the empty corridor as she walked away, giving Hermione a chance to sigh without being heard.

It was almost comical, the way Pandora had disapproved of all things related to Remus Lupin since the end of the Christmas break after spending so many months, years even, pushing Hermione his way and making innuendos every time she caught Hermione looking his way or talking to him. Maybe she had grown tired of her games, or maybe she had caught on to the fact something had happened to Hermione during Christmas break and had assumed Remus had something to do with it. Hermione wouldn't have admitted crying for a boy under the cruciatus, especially when the boy in question was so blatantly uninterested in her. There was no way Pandora could have guessed something like that or heard about it from anyone.

Still, here she was, waiting for him to get out of the potion classroom to give him a copy of the classes he had missed because of the last full moon. A part of her still resented him for making her cry in that same corridor a little more than a month ago and unknowingly playing a part in her most recent heartbreak, but Hermione was a firm believer in forgiveness. She wasn't quite there yet, but she believed. She was also a logical person, and logic said it wasn't Remus' fault if he changed into a wolf once a month and had to miss classes. It also said his grades would drop if all he had was his friend's notes, mostly because Hermione wasn't sure she had ever seen Potter and Black ever taking notes in class and she thought Petegrew's couldn't be worth much if the doodles and ink stains that marred any piece of parchment that found its way to his hands were anything to go by. Werewolf already had difficulties finding employers willing to give them a chance, there was no need to add new obstacles in Remus' way.

Remus wasn't making her logical decisions easy to act on. His choice to sit next to Black in potions had been a bad one from the very start. Everyone knew that out of the four of them, Potter was the naturally gifted potioneer. Then, the tools of the Slytherins seated in front of them started dancing, sending ingredients flying everywhere. The tango of the knife and stirring stick had been an impressive bit of magic, but Black hadn't been subtle enough to conceal his wand properly and Remus hadn't even tried to hide his laugh, costing the both of them a few House points and the honor of having to stay after class to clean up the classroom, which meant Hermione had to stay in front in the corridor and wait for him if she wanted to give him her notes without having to interrupt his dinner and make a spectacle of herself in the Great Hall.

Finally, the door opened, but it was Black who came out, Remus nowhere in sight behind him. His eyes widened in surprise at the sight of her before a mischievous smile stretched his lips.

"A whole month of avoiding us and now you're back. I was starting to get worried, love."

"I didn't avoid anyone," Hermione lied easily. She had kept Remus and his friends at arm's length, but avoiding someone entirely was next to impossible when you shared classes and were confined to the same castle.

"Funny, but you sticking to your friends and running away after every class to prevent anyone from trying to talk to you really gave that impression."

Hermione didn't answer and Black didn't seem to mind. He simply smirked, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Anyway, glad you changed your mind. I'll leave you to it, then, wouldn't want to get in the way of a passionate make-up snog. Or sex, whichever you prefer. I'd recommend the sex, Merlin knows you both need it. There is a nice broom closet right over there and an unused classroom just around this corner, if you want more space."

Hermione's face was burning and it took everything in her not to stutter.

"We won't… It's nothing like that. I just want to give him a copy of my notes."

"Sweetheart, I think we both know that if it's like that for anyone in this castle, it's for you two. I was there too, remember?"

Hermione swallowed hard, the image of three animagi standing guard in the forest while a werewolf slept against her invading her mind. Black was there and he knew what it meant. And somehow, he knew she knew too.

"Now, I'd better go before mister grumpy comes out and find us alone. Wouldn't want him to get jealous. I hear werewolves can be a pain when their mates are involved."

Just like that, Black was gone, leaving Hermione alone with her thoughts. Black didn't seem to have a problem with her being Remus' mate. Encouraged her to do something about it, even. Why wouldn't Remus say anything to his friends about rejecting her?

She didn't have time to ponder on those thoughts for long before hearing Remus' steps getting closer to the classroom door that Black had left partially open. She knew he had smelled her when his steps faltered and braced herself. Remus avoided looking at her as he passed the door and closed it behind him, giving time for Hermione to observe him. He was walking normally, without a limp which would have suggested new injuries. His shoulders were tense, but she had no way to know if it was because he was in pain or because she was there. It took everything in her to stay where she was when his eyes finally met hers.

"How was Friday night?" she asked carefully.

Remus shrugged in answer.

"You've been avoiding me."

Hermione could hear both the accusation and his pain behind his soft tone and she winced.

"I had a lot on my mind."

"Did something happen during the break?" Remus was frowning now, her avoiding of him forgotten in the blink of an eye. "You can talk to me if you have problems. I could help. I… we're friends, right?"

"Yes." Hermione's answer came out in a breathy tone that she chose to ignore. She didn't know what she felt, whether it was disappointment or relief, but they were still friends. "I made you a copy of my notes."

That made Remus smile, a small, tender smile that made his eyes soften as he approached her to take the parchments from her hands. His fingers brushed against hers as he took her notes, sending a shiver down her spine. Her hands instinctively went to follow his when he broke the contact to put the papers in his bag. It was next to nothing, just a small movement, and if he saw he didn't say anything. He didn't move away either. She didn't think she wanted him to.

It should have annoyed her. She hadn't forgiven him yet, had been mad at him precisely because he always got too close before changing his mind. It didn't matter much in the moment, though. She was hearing his voice for the first time in a month, was close enough to feel the heat radiating from him, and somehow it was enough for her to forget about crying over him.

"So… How have you been?"

His voice was too low for his tone to be as casual as he probably intended for it to be and it took everything in her to refrain from slamming her lips against his.

"Good," she replied faintly. "I finished my transfiguration essay yesterday."

"The one for next week?"

She nodded her head, not trusting her voice, and instinctively ran her tongue across her lips. Remus' eyes followed the movement, a low growl leaving his throat. Entranced as she was by the way he looked at her, she didn't notice him raising his hand until it came in contact with the back of her neck, his thumb coming under the side of her jaw to make her raise her head a bit more. His hand was warm against her skin and she leaned closer, craving more contact.

He was close. So, so very close.

Her treacherous mind chose this moment to provide her with the memory of another time were she had leaned closer to him, back in September when she had been so sure he would want her as his mate and kiss her. It felt like beeing pushed under cold water and she tensed, making him frown.

"Don't," she asked.

His hand left her neck like he had been burned and she immediately missed the contact. Remus looked like he had been punched, which only made pushing him away harder. She tried not to think about the feeling of his chest under her hands as she made him take a step back.

"I can't to this anymore," she said, putting as much strength as possible in her tone. "You looking at me like that and acting like you're going to kiss me, I can't do this anymore."

Remus opened his mouth, his frown deepening, but Hermione talked again before he had a chance.

"I know it's not you, only your wolf, and that you're not interested in me like that. I'm sure it's hard to resist but please, I really can't do this anymore."

"My wolf? What are you talking about?"

It was Hermione's turn to frown.

"I'm talking about your wolf making you act like that because I'm your mate, Remus."

Remus' eyes widened at the word 'mate' and he began pacing anxiously.

"Who told you about that? If it was Sirius─"

"No one said anything," Hermione interrupted impatiently. "You had me at your mercy and you spent the whole night cuddling instead of killing me, I didn't need anyone to spell it out for me."

"You've known you were my mate this whole time?"

"Well, yes. Like I said, I know it's only your wolf and not you, and me being your friend might not have helped much, but I─"

"It wasn't only the wolf, Hermione," Remus interrupted.

The confession made Hermione freeze. She had tried to be understanding, because she thought Remus must have hated being forced to get close to her, being bonded to her. What did the last few months meant, if he had willingly done all those things to her only to change his mind everytime?

"What?"

"It wasn't only the wolf." Remus' voice was weaker, more vulnerable, which only fuelled Hermione's anger.

"So you did all that without being forced to? You knew you didn't want me and still went for it? What was it, some sick power trip? Didn't like to not have a choice and tried to prove you could get me even without wanting to?"

Remus was speachless, and Hermione didn't wait for an answer. She didn't think she would like whatever Remus would tell her anyway.

"I've been losing my mind over it for months, Remus! Months! I know I'm bossy and stupidly proud and not the prettiest girl out there, and I never imagine that boys I liked would automatically like me back, but why couldn't you just reject me properly? Months! Like my life isn't complicated enough! What's so awful about me that you'd reject your mate and what is wrong with you for leading me on and playing with me the way you've been doing since september? Avoiding me, then being all cute and flirty only to go back to avoiding me over and over again? Is this a game to you? Did you go back to your dorm to laugh at me with your friends every time you made me think you were going to kiss me?"

She was ranting, her voice raising with every sentence. Ugly, angry tears were rolling down her cheeks and for once she was too angry too care.

"You think I'm cute?"

Remus had blurted out his question and seemed to realise it was the wrong thing to say as soon as it left his mouth. Hermione only realised she had grabbed her wand when he fell on the stone floor with a yelp, bats scratching his face as they came out of his nose. She didn't stay long enough to feel sorry. Turning on her heels, she walked away from the whimpering werewolf, going further into the dungeons. She had gone through enough humiliation for the evening, she wouldn't risk letting other students see her like that. She had already screamed and hexed, now all she wanted was a quiet place to nurse her broken heart in peace.

She didn't go far, though. Soon enough, loud steps were running behind her and someone grabbed her arm, forcing her to turn around. The ridiculous red marks on Remus' face were a small satisfaction, one she entirely forgot when she saw how serious he looked. His hands cupped her face, softly enough that she could have broken free if she wanted to but it was enough to make her eyes meet his.

"I'm sorry," he said, and continued before she could start talking again. "I never planned to hurt you and I never played with you. I need you to know that. When I said it wasn't the wolf, I meant I wanted it too. You, the bond, everything. I want you. I'm just a stupid coward and I didn't realise you'd think it meant I don't want you. I didn't think you were interested, to be honest. I'm so sorry I hurt you. I don't want you to cry and certainly not because of me."

"You didn't think I was interested? I literally did everything socially acceptable to get closer to you."

"I'm a werewolf, Hermione," he reminded with a defeated sigh. "Most people don't want to be in the same room as a werewolf, and certainly not bonded to one. I'm dangerous, Hermione. I have scars. My family is doing alright financially but it's nowhere near what you're used to, not to mention that i'll probably never make great money myself because no one will want to hire me. You deserve so much better, why would you be interested?"

"Well, first, we already talked about you being a werewolf, you know I don't think like that. Second, I don't think what I deserve or not is anyone's business but mine and I think you're just fine as you are, scars and lack of wealth included."

Remus took a deep breath at her words, as if trying to contain himself.

"We have to be rational about this," he pleaded. "Being with me won't be like any normal relationship, not to mention it's an 'until death do us parts' type of thing. It'd be easier for you to get over it and move on with your life."

At the back of her mind, Hermione wondered if he had any idea what moving on with her life would mean for her. Like she could ever do that when he was there, saying he wanted her. He was her third option, one she wouldn't let go.

"Too damn bad," she shrugged with a frown. "I want you and I'm not backing down if you want me too."

Next thing she knew, Remus' lips were on her.

She gasped at the contact, allowing Remus to slip his tongue inside her mouth. It wasn't soft or tentative like all the first kisses she had heard about. Remus was devouring her, tasting, licking and nipping like a starved man. She gave just as good as she got.

She mirrored his movements, unsure of what she was supposed to do but empowered by the groan he left out at her actions. Remus' hands moved, one settling at the nape of her neck where he grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulling on it until he found an angle that satisfied him, the other running down her back to her waist, allowing him to pull her closer against him. She was hearing noises, whimpers and groans she wasn't sure came from her or him and didn't care about. Her hands grabbed Remus' shirt in a desperate effort to bring him closer, as if she wasn't already trapped between the wall and him.

Remus was the one who broke the kiss, dropping his head to rest on her shoulder, his nose pressing against the juncture of her neck and shoulder as they both struggled to catch their breath. One of her hands rose to play with his hair absentmindly as a giddy smile settled on her face.

"I hope you know what you're doing," eventually said Remus. "Because now there's no way I'm letting you go."

Hermione felt Remus smile against her neck, as if he could hear the way her heart went back to beating fast with excitement. Being so close to her, he probably could.

"I'm also taking you on a date next week-end," He informed her matter-of-factly.

And just like that, he was back to kissing her, smiling against her lips as she giggled happily.