Chapter 3 – Ice Warm

By Lil Blu Firefly

I don't know what to do, Because something's killing me

its all gone wrong, Its falling perfect fumes, Never meant to hurt you – Underdose, Inme

James kicked Sirius hard in the shins.

"He's coming," James hissed under his breath, raising his wand arm steadily.

Severus walked down the corridor briskly, his head down and his books shoved beneath his arm. As soon as he reached the suit of armour, James stepped out from behind it, and pointed his wand straight at Snape.

"Sordidus." He shouted. Severus, who had not been ready for this, screeched as the spell struck him squarely, causing him to falter and stumble backwards.

"Didn't even put up a fight!" Sirius laughed, walking forwards with Remus, wands ready in case Severus retaliated. Snape's eyes were blazing as he scrambled to his feet, cursing.

"You stupid boys! That curse could have killed him if it went wrong!"

All four boys stopped in their tracks and stared at the girl, who was standing red faced with her hands on her hips.

"And I should have known that you'd be involved Lupin," she muttered bitterly, glaring at him. Striding forwards she mumbled the counter curse – a complex spell, which she wasn't supposed to know – and held out a hand to Snape, who, already having had his pride hurt once that night, refused.

"And who are you?" James asked amusedly, regaining his composure. "Surely not our new Defence teacher?" Hermione glared at him too.

"That," she said, "is none of your business, thank you…You must be James," she added, her tone lightening slightly. She ignored the look of shock and confusion on both his and Remus's faces and turned to leave, aware that she had put herself into deep waters already.

As she was about to slam her door shut, she was vaguely aware of Severus muttering 'thanks' under his breath.

* * *

The boys remained silent, for a good ten seconds after Hermione had stormed off, and it was only broken by the sound of hurried footsteps along the third floor corridor.

"Filch is coming!" Peter hissed, rounding the corner. "And he's got McGonnagal with him!"

There was a sudden panic amongst them, where Severus scrambled to his feet and ran in the opposite direction, apparently towards the Slytherin common room. James and Sirius turned and ran full pelt towards the boys' toilets, Peter hid behind a suit of armour, and Remus rushed across the hallway and went through the doorway, which Hermione had, moments earlier.

The main lights were off inside the room of requirement, and the place was only lit by a small lamp on a side table. Hermione, realising that someone had entered her room, spun around from her seat on the sofa.

"Remus! What on Earth do you…"

Lupin strode across the room in three strides and placed a warm hand firmly across her mouth.

"McGonnagal," he mumbled into her ear, feeling her tense slightly.

They remained in that position for what seemed like an age, but was probably little more than a few minutes, until Remus eventually loosened his grip.

"Sorry."

Now convinced that it was safe to talk, Hermione rounded on him.

"What you did to Severus was wrong. He didn't deserve that…Besides, he was only giving me lessons because somebody else wouldn't!" she added.

Remus shot her a desperate look. "Yeah, I'm sorry about that." He muttered. "I had no choice," he added, more to himself than Hermione.

"I guess you had no choice in helping your friends to curse Snape as either?"

He didn't respond for a while. "No, I take full responsibility for that, but I swear I didn't intend on using my wand."

Hermione raised her eyebrows, unconvinced. Remus pulled out his wand, exactly how he had been holding it before.

"See?"

Hermione leant in, unsure at first exactly what he meant.

"You were holding it back to front!" she exclaimed eventually, remembering the knot in the wood she had seen him holding previously. She creased her forehead.

"Do you realise how dangerous that is?" she asked, concerned. Remus eyed her steadily.

"Yes."

Hermione sighed.

"And I suppose you want to know why I couldn't tutor you, as well?" he asked recklessly.

"Yes," she said simply, "try me."

The look on Remus's face reflected a look of self-conflict. He stared at Hermione briefly.

"Because I didn't think that I'd be able to trust myself."

Hermione frowned.

"I couldn't trust myself not to…" He gestured towards Hermione, his eyes pleading with her to understand. Slowly she nodded. The expression of shock on her face was quickly dissolved.

"Look, maybe I should explain…I won't blame you if you hate me afterwards." He added quickly.

"You don't have to," Hermione whispered, guessing what he was about to tell her. She stood up to face him.

"I…can't…it's…I'm a werewolf, ok. I turn into a carnivorous beast once a month – I'm a bloody animal." He said venomously, practically spitting the words. He had never directly told anyone like that before and he had never wanted to.

He stared at Hermione defiantly, waiting for her to scream, or slap him or order him out, but she didn't. Only a small trickle of a frown crossed her features.

"I know," she whispered calmly. "I already know." She extended her arm and held his wrist as if wanting to protect him. Remus was now breathing in shallow, hoarse breaths, exhausted by everything, which had happened that evening. He didn't ask her how, and didn't even try to make any assumptions. The girl standing in front of him knew exactly what he was, and she didn't seem afraid of him, or even disgusted.

He watched her carefully, twisting his hand around into hers experimentally, waiting for her to flinch.

"You thought I'd hate you?" she said, matter-of-factly, finally understanding. "But you were only thinking about yourself, when you decided not to tutor me anymore." Hermione pulled her hand away. "You judged me, before you even knew me properly."

"I –" Remus began helplessly, unsure as to whether she was upset, or even angry with him, but she kept her eyes firmly locked on his.

"I – didn't trust myself not to get carried away. Sometimes…Sometimes, I can't help myself. I just do things instinctively." He finished, glad that the darkness hid his face.

Hermione reached over and placed a warm finger across his lips.

"I trust you." She said simply.

This time, when Remus leant forwards, Hermione didn't pull away.

* * *

AN: Third chapter – Sorry it's a little shorter than the others! I'm having fun writing this fic at the moment - changing the setting in the next chapters. There will be a bit more about Snape later on, and it's going to be really tough going for Remus (Sorry!) Please Review?! Any other ideas on the plot line would be cool too! Thanks – Kim x