It was a beautiful night in the village of Hogsmeade. The moon was shining brightly, the stars had come out to play, and in 'The Three Broomsticks' a party was going on. It was Hermione Granger's 23rd birthday.

*~*~*~*

"So Herms, it's your birthday soon…"

"So what Harry?"

"Well, aren't you going to have a party?"

"No. I don't think so."

"Why not."

"Because I'd rather sit at home and finish reading a book that I just bought. It's fascinating Harry…"

"I don't really care Hermione. Why can't you just let your hair down? Relax? Have…Fun?"

"I do have fun Harry."

"I don't think you do Herms. Tell me…when was the last time you got laid?"

"Harry! I don't have to tell you that!"

"By your lack of answer I can only assume that it's been months c'mon…tell."

"Oh alright. The last time was when I was with you."

"Herms, that was three years ago!"

"So?"

"You need to get your head out of those silly books and get a life girl."

"Oh Harry.."

"No. I'm going to throw you a party. I'll invite everyone we know…and some people that we don't. It'll be great!"

"Harry please. I'd just prefer a small gathering. Close friends. That's all."

"Yeah, okay Herms. Whatever."

*~*~*~*

Unfortunately for Hermione Granger, her idea of small differed somewhat from Harry Potter's notion of the same word. And so it was that she found herself surrounded by people, in the function room of 'The Three Broomsticks' on the night of her 23rd birthday.

 As Harry had said, there were people there that she knew, and people that she didn't. There were people there that wished her many happy returns, and some that were just there for the free 'Ogden's Old Firewhiskey'. It was after drowning her inhibitions in her third " 'Ogden's Old Firewhiskey' on the rocks thanks Rosemerta!" that Hermione Granger decided that Harry Potter sure did know how to throw a party. It was on her seventh that she felt like doing a little dance. Hell, she'd make a little love and get down tonight if she could, but considering her history…well, it seemed unlikely. It wasn't that she wasn't attractive…Oh no. She'd been told by many people that she was. And she even thought herself that that could be true. Over time she'd learnt how to tame her bushy hair, and on the days that she couldn't, well, she just wore a hat. She had nice skin. Like peaches and cream Ron told her. She had a good figure…according to Draco she was high on his 'shaggable, but untouchable' list. So why was it that she couldn't get a boyfriend. No scratch that. Just a good shag every now and then would be enough. 'Oh well,' she thought to herself 'may as well have another whiskey.' 

"Hey Herms."

"Oh. Hi Draco!" she said, falling giddily into his arms.

"Herms. Exactly how much have you had to drink." He questioned as he straightened her up, a small smile upon his lips.

"Well. By the way I'm feeling, I'm gunna guess that the answer is – Too Much!"

"Oh dear Lord. Hermie, you are the drunkest little girl I have ever seen."

"I'm not a little girl anymore Dracodarling," she replied, alcohol slurring her husky speech. "I'm all growed up. But no one wants to love me. Do you want to love me Draco?"

Draco gulped and looked around for some sort of saviour. "Um Herms, I really don't think that you should be asking me that. I mean. I love you. But not in the way that you mean. I mean. Oh God!" It was at that particular point in time that Draco spotted his saviour coming through the smoke enchanted room.

"Professor! Over here!"

"What's the matter Draco?"

"Um well professor it's Herms. She's drunk you see. And I can't look after her right now. Would you mind?"

"Not a problem Draco. And none of that professor crap. It's Remus Okay?"

"Okay Remus. And thanks." He steered Hermione towards Remus Lupin and made a hasty exit, all the while muttering about how women shouldn't drink whiskey.

"Hermione."

"Oh, hello Remus." She said sadly.

"Are you feeling alright Hermione?" Remus asked

"Oh yes. I mean. I just…" She burst out crying.

"Shhh. Hermione stop crying. It's okay. Tell me honey, what's the matter?" He pulled her closer to him, and stroked her hair. The scent of sandalwood and patchouli rose up to meet him.

"Oh Remus. I'm 23!"

"Hermione. Everyone gets older."

"Yes, but, but, but" She burst out with loud sobs. "No one loves me!"

"Oh Hermione. I know how that feels. And don't worry, don't you worry at all okay?"

"Okay." She snuggled into his chest. "Remus?"

"Yes Hermione?"

"I feel sick."

"Okay. Okay come with me."

They left 'The Three Broomsticks' and wandered down the deserted main street of Hogsmeade, a drunk little girl, and a lonely werewolf.

He carried her upstairs to his bedroom, when they reached his house on the outskirts of the town. He gently placed her in the bed, and pulled the blankets up to her chin. It was just as he was turning to go that she said "Remus. Remus don't go. Stay with me. Please?"

He turned back around, and looked at the figure lying on his bed. He knew he shouldn't stay. He should go. But she looked so fragile, so needy. He took off his shirt and lay down beside her on the bed. "Thankyou Remus." She whispered as she nuzzled into his neck.

'What have I gotten myself into' he thought, as he lay awake, staring at the ceiling, surrounded by the intoxicating scent of sandalwood and patchouli.

Hermione's head buzzed. She cracked open the slit of one eye, and grimaced at the light that filled her vision. She closed the eye again. She felt so safe and warm where she was. It was right then that she realised that she

Didn't know where she was Didn't know how she got there Didn't know who was beside her in the bed.

'The bed!'  Her eyes snapped open and she turned to the man beside her. She sighed with relief. It was only Remus. 'Only Remus!'  She leapt out of the bed. 'Jeez. What the hell am I doing here?' she thought to herself as Remus woke with a start.

"What's the matter Hermione?"

"I think I'm going to be sick. Where's the toilet?"

"Third door on the right down the hall."

"I'll be back."

Remus could hear the sounds of Hermione throwing up and sobbing. He walked down the hall to the toilet, where Hermione was leaning over the bowl, hair hanging in her face. He reached down and pulled it back for her, while she continued to cry.

"Shush honey, it's alright. Don't cry about it."

"Oh Remus. I'm sorry. Whatever happened last night I'm sorry for it."

"Honey, nothing happened last night. You were drunk, I brought you back here, and put you to bed. If you're worried that I was in the bed with you, it was because you asked me to stay with you, so I did, I probably shouldn't have, but I did anyway. You did nothing wrong."

"Okay." Hermione said, wiping her eyes with her arm.

"You want a shower?"

"That'd be lovely" she replied with a teary voice.

"I'll just get you a towel."

Hermione followed Remus into the bathroom, mentally kicking herself for being so embarrassing. Remus handed her a towel and gave her a smile as he walked out of the room. Hermione shut the door behind her, and sank to the floor, head in her hands. 'Oh dear lord. What else did I do last night if I came home with Remus?' She shook her head and stood up. She walked over to the shower, turned the knobs, and hot water came streaming out of the shower head. 'Yes,' she thought to herself 'this is just what I need to wash away the thoughts of last night.' But somewhere in the back of her mind a little voice kept reminding her that she'd never felt so safe as when she woke up in Remus' arms.

Meanwhile, back in Remus' bedroom…

Remus paced back and forth, berating himself. 'I never should have slept next to her. I should have turned around and walked away. If only she didn't look so small and vulnerable, and scared. And beautiful.' He fell on the bed, hands over his face. In the back of his mind, a little voice was making it's move. 'It felt nice though, didn't it Remus? To have someone next to you? To have some one that needed you? And she is beautiful, remarkably so.' the irrational voice said slyly. 'She's also 20 years younger than you!' the rational voice shouted back. 'So even if you did like her, which you don't by the way, you couldn't have her. You're too old. Why would she want someone like you?' Remus sighed and reluctantly agreed with the rational voice. But the smell of sandalwood and patchouli wouldn't go away.

Hermione left after she had her shower, and apparated to the apartment that she shared with Ginny. She cursed silently when she saw that Ginny was home and would therefore know that she had been out all night.

"Hermione, is that you?" She heard Ginny shout.

"Yeah, it's me" she replied in a dead voice.

"Where were you last night?" Ginny asked as she joined Hermione in the lounge.

"I'd rather not say."

"Mmm well, I'm just glad you're safe. The last I heard of you was from Draco, telling me that you were as drunk as a goblin, and asking him to love you. You didn't did you?"

"What?"

"Love Draco."

"No Ginny, god no. I like Draco but not like that. Never like that."

"Well that's alright then" she smiled "But where did you spend last night?"

"You won't believe me even if I do tell you."

"Try me"

"Remus's"

Ginny's jaw dropped to the floor "Hermione! Woah. I mean he's gorgeous…but Lupin."

"We didn't do anything. Well, he says we didn't, and I believe him. We just slept in the same bed."

"You slept in the same bed as Remus Lupin? I want all the details."

"Well I can't remember much, except for waking up. I felt so safe. It felt so right. I freaked."

"Oh."

"Then I vomited."

"Eww!"

"I know. He held my hair back. Then I had a shower and came home."

"Well, you know you've got a good one when he'll hold your hair while you vomit."

"Ginny!"

"Well, you do!"

*~*~*~*~*

Next Chapter – Ginny convinces Hermione to go clubbing, Hermione gets hit on by a dark wizard, and Remus finds a surprise in his bed. Will Remus hold back Hermione's hair again? Will Hermione realise what a good catch she has? Will tempers flare? Stay tuned for the next episode of 'B.A.C' to find out!!