Lupin's Christmas This tale is the prequel to Lupin's Summer. Thanks to the reviewers of all my Lupin stories to date! More to come! Keep r/r please!

CHAPTER FIVE: RETURN OF THE EXTENDABLE EARS

Hermione had excused herself and pretended to head upstairs soon after Remus had greeted his son. But she stopped at the top of the staircase and pulled the Extendable Ear from her pocket. She hadn't gotten ridden of it, even though Mrs Weasley had trusted her to.

"I knew you'd come..." Remus sounded choked, as though he had had tears in his eyes.
"I can't stand to spend December alone, Dad..." Matthew sounded a little upset too.
"You're not alone you pillock! Where's Courtney?"
"Staying with Candice and Rowena in Suffolk..."

There was a short silence before Remus finally replied.

"You'd think she'd forgotten."
"NEVER. Dad! She wouldn't dare forget. Not after the way she treats you about it..."

It made Hermione wonder whether the father and son were discussing Remus's wife or his daughter. "His own daughter wouldn't treat him badly, would she?"

"No..." Remus sounded as though he was holding back emotion in his voice. "I suppose not..."
"It's only been three years, Dad..." Matthew seemed to be speaking in a reassuring tone. "It's okay to still be upset..."
"No it isn't!" He replied sternly, raising his voice. Of course, no one else would hear him. The radio was still blaring out new tracks from the Weird Sisters and Hermione heard the occasional BANG from the boy's game of snap.

Hermione edged back down the stairs a little, crouched slightly and peered through a gap in the banister. Remus had his back to his son. Matthew looked hurt, deeply hurt. He tried to speak but it seemed he had lost the power. A tear ran down his young face.

"I MISS MUM TOO DAD!" He suddenly shouted out. "SOMETIMES I WONDER IF YOU REALIZE WE'RE STILL HERE!"
Remus turned and raised a hand. Hermione was amazed at how this angry young man was suddenly silenced by no more than his father's raised hand. Remus lowered the hand onto Matthew's shoulder and the boy sunk into him.
"Christmas Day this month, son..."
Hermione instantly realized he was talking about his transformation.
"Mmm." Matthew replied, nuzzled firmly into Remus's arm. He seemed to be shaking with tears. Remus remained strong. Matthew finally pulled away after a moment that seemed like a lifetime to all those present.
"Where are you transforming?" Matthew asked.
"Same place as you are..." Remus replied, smiling reassuringly at his son.

Hermione suddenly realized how alike they were. They were both werewolves. Had it been passed on? No. It couldn't. "Stupid me!" Hermione thought as she mentally kicked herself. "Werewolves can't pass on lycanthropy genetically!" So Matthew Lupin had been bitten. But by who? "Not Remus," Hermione thought, "Never Remus..."

"It's been three whole years and you still don't trust me!" Matthew replied, wiping tears from his eyes and smiling, hopelessly humoured by his father.
"I know you too well, Matt..." Remus announced knowingly.
"I'm nothing like you..." His son replied curtly.
"You're like your mother..." He said proudly. Remus looked up into the dark corner where Hermione was hidden.
"Strong willed, independent and never shuts up!" Remus told his son when their eyes met again.

Remus, a puzzled expression on his face, looked up into the corner for a second time. He seemed to be looking right into Hermione's eyes. He smiled wryly. She felt his silver-blue eyes hit her like a beam of sunlight. Remus's smile lifted his years by far. "He really is brilliant..." Hermione thought.

"Go and introduce yourself, Molly's there, she'll show you around..." Remus told his son, not taking his eyes off Hermione. "I'll be there in a minute..."

Remus headed for the stairs. Hermione got up and headed down the corridor, trying not to make any noise. But before she could even reach the door of her room, she heard Remus's cool, strong voice and felt his warm breath on her neck.

"Hermione, wait..."

She turned around and looked into his eyes. His eyes swirled in the same blue silver pattern as Matthew's had no more than half an hour ago. But there was no spark in Matthew's eyes, nothing that made Hermione's heart jump into her throat.
"Don't be stupid, Hermione. He's a fully grown man! Get over this stupid crush right now!"
But she couldn't.

"Aren't you coming down?" He asked coolly, never looking away and blinking very few times.
"No... I thought I'd just read for a while..." She mumbled. Her nerves tingled all over her body. She shouldn't feel like that. She couldn't feel like that if it really was just a stupid crush...
"Well, I'm not leaving you alone, to be honest it's not safe..." He put a hand on her arm, but didn't pull her towards the stairs. He seemed to linger, as if waiting for instruction.
"Well I'm not going down." She said stubbornly.
Remus broke into a warm smile. Hermione felt as though her heart would rise into her throat and out of her mouth at any minute.
"Then I'll stay up here with you!" He replied in the same tone.
"Fine!" Hermione replied, leading him into her room.
"Fine!" He repeated, allowing himself to be lead into her bedroom as he closed the door behind them.

And before you ask IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK! Nothing will happen here! A long chapter this time to make up for the last one being so short! :) I'm gonna go back to writing both my stories at the same pace now that I've cleared up those minor details! Keep r/r! And read my other stories please!

Oh and if you want to know how Remus's wife died, you'll have to keep reading and checking Lupin's Summer for the explanation!