Short chapter... oh well... more coming soon…
Time After Time
Fic by MuseQ
Disclaimer: Push the little back button on your browser and read chapter 8's disclaimer to satisfy yourself.
Chapter 9: The Everyday Mingle
*****
"I don't think it'll ever sink in that that was me teaching, no matter how many times we sit in the class." Hermione laughed and let out and yawn.
"I think it would freak anyone out."
"Yeah, but now I've got this feeling that I have to live up to something, like there's a chance I'm going to stand there, twenty years later, and absolutely stink at teaching… and stop laughing! I was being serious you know."
Remus and Hermione, having completed another satisfying DADA class, were on their way to the common room to search the recent books they've gotten from the Ministry library, as they always did after the day's lessons for the last week and a half.
Hermione drew in breath. "I'm sorry, it's just that there would be no way you'd stink, because for one thing, in twenty years you would know what your doing anyway, and if that's not proof enough remember, you have just seen yourself do it!" She gave the fat lady the password and the two entered the common room. "That should be enough proof right there given that events in time are almost always impermeable."
"How would you know that?"
Hermione smiled sweetly. "You told me." Seeing Remus' raised eyebrows, she added, "Well, you're older self did. See? Now you probably learned that from me!"
Hermione paused for a few seconds to let this sink in to Remus before leading the way up the boy's staircase to Remus' guest bedroom, which they both had spent the majority of their time together in since they were introduced. As Remus followed her up the winding stairs, he took a little pleasure in watching Hermione's hair sway from side to side, the way her body climbed in harmonious strides ('she's always so energetic, even when she's half asleep' he noted) and how she threw somewhat furtive glances behind her every few seconds ('probably to make sure she wasn't running to far ahead out of courtesy' he figured). He hated to do this at the same time, knowing perfectly well where it always ends up. 'A werewolf having a crush is never a good thing' he thought sadly for the umpteenth time that week, 'Luckily I'll be gone before I see her run away in fear and disgust…'
They entered the room and collapsed on a pile of pillows they arranged for comfortable hours of reading thru ought the hundreds of books they've brought back. After a few moments of rest Hermione sat up and pulled a smallish briefcase towards them, opened it, and slowly started pulling out book after book, making a pile by Remus' stretched out legs.
"You know, Hermione," Remus said after lifting his head from a pillow," You never told me what charm you used on that briefcase to make it hold all those books."
Hermione lay back down next to him. "It's in 1000 Advanced Charms for the Everyday Warlock." She said sleepily. "Interesting read… but… I'm too tired to read right now… mind if I just close my eyes for a bit? It's Friday, anyway, no homework due…" Without an answer she rolled over, her face buried in Remus' side, and fell asleep.
Remus was beside himself. He was heatedly reminded of the incident in the tree, where he awoke to find Hermione in his arms, but apart from that, this was the closest he ever was to a girl, and had no idea what to do. 'I suppose I should just wait for her to wake up, it won't be that long…'
While he sat with Hermione snuggled next to him, Remus came to grips with a few minor details that were nagging at the back of his mind for the last week and a half. First and foremost, he liked Hermione. Very much. If he was asked for the truth, he would plainly say that he has never met anyone in the world as interesting as she was, and probably (with a small pang of fear) ever will. 'At least,' he thought bitterly, 'until about twenty years later…'
In his far-off stupor he failed to notice a faint heat growing inside his body; very steadily, but rising nonetheless. Only after Hermione stirred a little, still asleep, was he brought back to reality, and recognized, with sheer horror, what the rising heat within him meant.
'Not now… please, god…' Remus' breathing began to deepen. He stared determinedly at the bedpost closest to him, not daring to look at the warm female figure lying helpless next to him. How could've he let this sneak up on him? Yes, right, only two days left…
Hermione gave a small moan and pulled her legs up closer to his body. Remus closed his eyes tight. All he saw was fire. Raw, savage… burning…
'Damn this curse…' Remus felt his heart beat increase with every intake of breath…
Hermione squirmed and laid a small hand just below his abdomen…
In a flash Remus was on his feet, panting, his face beginning to bead with sweat.
Hermione sat up and rubbed her eyes. "What's wrong, Remus?"
"Hermione, I… think you should go," Remus muttered, still not looking at her.
"Er… ok…" She got up, puzzled," I'll see you at dinner then?"
"I… don't know… not hungry, really…" He wished she wouldn't look at him.
"Well, fine then…" Hermione said, a little harder than she wanted to. "Sorry I got all close and stuff… didn't think you'd mind…" Without a backward glance, she left him alone.
*
Dinner was uneventful that night; Hermoine spent the time between bites glancing at the entrance hall, while making sure no one took the spot next to her she'd saved for Remus out of spite. When the scraps from the second course had cleared, she sighed and leaned back in her chair. Ignoring Ron's update of his relationship with Pavarti, Her eyes wandered to the staff table and began absentmindedly to watch Professor Lupin. 'You probably thought I was a right old slut…' she thought sadly. Truthfully, she had never felt so comfortable with someone of the opposite gender ever, and couldn't even dream of falling asleep next to Harry or Ron.
Lupin was chatting with professor Sinistra, and when she got up to leave, his eyes swept the Great Hall lazily until they rested on Hermione's. They both froze. Panicking, Hermione looked away, blushing furiously. 'What's happening to me? Haven't I learned anything from Ginny and her crushes?' And not daring to look up again, she ate her apple pie hurriedly and left the Great Hall. Lupin watched her leave and sighed.
"Are you feeling alright, Remus? You look awfully red."
"It's nothing, Minerva, had a bit too much wine…"
*
Remus stumbled down the staircase the next morning to find the common room deserted except for Hermione, who was deeply immersed in a book sitting cross-legged in a chair by the portrait hole. He rubbed his eyes trying to get his brain going; he didn't exactly have a goodnight's sleep.
Hermione felt his presence and looked up, smiling. Before he got any closer she shut the book abruptly and put it in her school bag. "Good morning, Remus," she said pleasantly, "How was your night?"
"Fine…" He said, wondering why she looked so happy, "Listen, I wanted to apologize for last night… I didn't mean to be rude…"
"Don't worry about it," she said, smiling in a way that made him raise his eyebrows, "I understand completely."
Remus chuckled at this, while making sure there was a comfortable distance between them. 'Like Hell you do…'
"Anyway, we have at least thirty more books to look through before we return them tomorrow," she said, now being more business-like, "so I figured after a nice break we could start after lunch."
A sudden realization hit Remus. 'Oh, shit.' "Um, Hermione, I forgot…"
"What is it?" She asked sweetly, her expression unchanged.
"Well, it's just that… I won't be able to come with you tomorrow to the library…"
Hermione tried to screw her face into a pout. "Why not?"
Remus took a deep breath. "I… need to do something with my older self… we, ah, need to go somewhere… not supposed to tell…" He looked at her expectantly, hoping, praying she'd buy it…
"Are you sure that's a good Idea?" she said, the fake pout still plastered to her face. "That could really do some damage, you know. I think it would be better if you just came with me-"
"No, I can't, Hermione… sorry…"
They stared at each other for a long time. After what seemed like minutes, Hermione spoke quietly, "Is that… all you need to tell me? Nothing else?"
Remus raised his eyebrows. "I… suppose, unless you know something I don't-"
"Of course not!" Hermione said airily. "Not my business, anyway… I mean, I'm just the little teen witch trying to get you home, right?"
"Well-"
"I'll see you at lunch." She said coldly. Throwing her bag over her shoulder, she left through the portrait hole.
*
'I shouldn't be mad,' Hermione thought reasonably, entering the library in an angry stride. 'After only knowing him for about a week, I shouldn't expect him to tell me anyway, right?' And then, thinking about what she'd just read, she allowed herself to smile. 'I'll need to have a chat with Professor Lupin pretty soon. Tomorrow will be too late…" And after a quick look to see she was quite alone, she pulled out Werewolves and the Moon Cycle: A Study in Routine Behavior out of her bag and continued chapter three, a sly grin playing on her face.
*****
A/N: How about that book 5 huh? OMG Kick-ass!! I'll allow a little time for everyone to read the book before I mourn with everyone else… *sniff* Regardless what happened in the fifth, this fic will continue as if it didn't happen, since I planned it all out after the forth, and the fifth book changes my fic significantly… toodles cheese-o's!!!
~MuseQ
