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Going Home
Hermione stood at the kitchen stove with three books and a cauldron in front of her. The Nimius Sanatio Potion for large wounds was slowly brewing in the cauldron; it took two and a half hours to brew, but she figured Remus would still be unconscious when it was done. Now that she had done all that she could for the moment, she put aside her book of, Healing for the Helpful Homemaker. This potion was the strongest healing technique in the book, and done well it was extremely powerful.
The next thing on Hermione's agenda required her to look through a book entitled, Complicated Potions for the Extremely Advanced. A surly Wizard stood on the front glaring at any who opened the book in a demeaning manner. He was the author, and obviously thought none but himself capable of brewing the potions he had mastered. With wizards like this one as a master, and many other's like Snape, it was no wonder that potions had a bad name. There was a small label on the bottom of the cover that said: Warning- this book is not for those of little patience and requires the most skilled minds. You might just want to put it down. If the potions in this book had been written in any other book, this one wouldn't have sold any copies.
She had bought the book after successfully brewing the Polyjuice Potion in second year. Potion making wasn't all that bad when you removed Severs Snape from the scene. A small semblance of a smile traced her mouth; Snape now had to treat her as a colleague, an equal. This would get interesting.
Finally, she found what she was looking for in the book, The Wolfsbane Potion. Reading the description, her heart skipped a beat. The potion only took a week to brew, and was not even as complicated as the potion that she had accomplish in her second year! Remus Lupin would never go without potion for the rest of her natural life. She smiled.
With that out of the way, she turned her attention to another book. She had found this one in Remus's collection, and there was no doubt that it was a remnant from his pre-Marauding days. It was called, So You Want to be an Animal? and was all about becoming an animagus. Her plan was simple, become an animagus and Remus could have a companion during his transformation; just like he used to. It was going to be a surprise. She wouldn't tell him until she had the technique mastered. But even at her level and skill it would probably take a few months.
Taking a break and adding the powder of newt to the potion, she thought about which animal she would be. It of course had to suit her, yet be large enough to accommodate her needs for Remus. The decision wasn't really that hard of course, and she knew almost instantly what she would be. Closing her eyes, she could see it in her mind, feel it in her soul, hear it in her heart. It was perfect.
She read until her potion was done, and then went and put the book with her things, vowing to read every time Remus was not looking. Then she returned and poured some of the potion into a goblet for Remus. She walked out into the living to the couch that she had transfigured into a bed, as she did every night so as to not usurp Remus's own bed. Sitting down on the edge, she began to stroke Remus's hair.
"Remus, come on. I need you to wake up now." He voice was soft and soothing, and after a moment, Remus opened his tired eyes and gazed up at her beautiful face. She smiled when she saw his eyes open. "I brought something for you. I know you're tired, and you can go back to sleep after you drink this."
She helped him sit up a bit, and then held the goblet up to his lips as he sipped. Almost immediately, he could feel the contents of the drink spreading throughout his body, assuaging all his aches. Hermione dabbed at his forehead with a cool wet cloth. There was something in her touch that reminded him of his child hood; back before he became what he was. It was something that had been missing since he had been bitten. He wished he could figure out what it was, but he had no time as the room around him grew dim, and he was taken again by sleep.
Watching him sleep showed her a peaceful and unguarded man. It was seldom that Remus would let his emotions take him, but in his sleep he could not hide his feelings. She was his expression turn to one of sorrow and loss. Her hand inadvertently went up to his forehead and brushed back his hair. At her touch, his sorrow seemed to atrophy and he was left looking placid.
Not thinking anymore, she bent down low and kissed his forehead. When she sat up, a soft smile traced is lips. She picked up one of his hands and began rubbing it. The corner of the left side of his mouth picked up even more, and Hermione felt a strange sensation inside her ribcage. Poor Remus was lonely, so lonely. She bent down and kissed his cheek this time before getting up and walking to her things. She took out the book; Remus after all, was not looking.
Remus awoke an almost blithe feeling inside of him. For some reason, his sleep had ameliorated him more than he would have expected, and he now felt fresh and new. A very good smell had emanated from the kitchen. Following his nose, Remus entered the small kitchen to find Hermione in front of the stove, with a couple rather large pots in front of her. He leaned on the door frame as he watched her go about her business unaware of his prying eyes. A slow smile crossed his face. Hermione was busily walking from pot to pot occasionally peering into the oven. She wore plain and simple clothes, and her hair, which had probably been done perfectly, was now in a disheveled bun. He remembered thinking that she was the epitome of beauty before he caught himself thinking these forbidden thoughts.
Hermione had now turned around to set the table and for the first time took notice of Remus standing there. "Oh, good! You're up! I thought I was going to have to wake you. You already missed breakfast and lunch, and I daresay that u hardly ate a substantial amount last night for dinner. I wasn't about to let you miss another meal."
Remus smiled, he wished it could be like this forever. But no, he didn't deserve that; he didn't deserve this right now. He wondered what he had done to make him so lucky if it was even only for a moment.
"Well you certainly are quite the talker this evening," Hermione said, interrupting his thoughts and turning back to the stove.
"Oh, sorry. Just tired that's all. Here let me help you!"
"Nonsense! You always get to cook, and now that I finally get my turn, you are not going to take that away from me."
His hand was on hers as the both held on to the pot. She was so close and so sweet that he could have kissed her right then. But he simply couldn't kiss her. So he removed his hand and finally broke the gaze that held their eyes, and sat down at the table.
"Alright, you can do it this time. But tell me something, should I be scared?"
"Remus! How dare you! I happen to be a good cook!"
"We'll see," he smiled.
"Yes, we will," she retorted. She was so cute when she argued playfully with him like this. After a moment, she brought bread out of the oven and began to 'dress up' the dinner and finally sat it all down on the table. In front of each there rested a small salad, and a rather large bowl of spaghetti was sitting between them next to a plate of rolls.
"I do have to admit, it smells quite good, but I just don't know if it can match my cooking."
"Try it and see." Hermione looked at the dinner she had prepared, and a picture flashed into her mind. It was from one of her favorite childhood movies, Lady and the Tramp. She remembered the classic kiss that was shared as both dogs accidentally ate the same strand of spaghetti and bumped lips in the middle. She imagined a similar romantic scene passing between herself and Remus, and she smiled.
"What has you so happy?" he dinner companion asked taking spaghetti onto his own plate.
"Oh nothing just remembered a bit from a movie that I loved when I was a child."
"Care to share with the class?"
"No," she said sweetly and simply a soft smile on her lips.
"Fine," Remus said. But apparently he thought this less than fine, because soon a tomato chunk flew across the table and hit her on the forehead.
"Remus J. Lupin! I'm gonna kill you!"
"Oh but you have to catch me first." He taunted as he got up and began running.
Grabbing a fist full of spaghetti, Hermione tore after him.
About half an hour later both adults were outside covered in food and still fighting. Remus had just thrown another fist full of spaghetti at Hermione, causing her to lose her balance. She reached out to grab Remus for support and caught his arm and both rolled down a small hill. Hermione landed on her back side at the bottom with a soft thud. Remus rolled down the hill and ended up getting thrown face down on top of Hermione.
"Are you alright?" he asked not bothering to move.
"Yea, I think so, how about you?"
"Oh I'm fine, something squishy broke my fall."
Hermione looked offended at being called squishy, and playfully slapped Remus's arm. "Oh I'll give you squishy." She was squirming trying to get free, but a rather heave bemused werewolf was making that impossible. He grabbed her arms and pinned them down above her head.
"You were saying?" He was so close that she could feel his words on her lips. She longed for him to get closer. His gaze had shifted from her eyes to her lips, and she was sure he would bring his own luscious lips to meet hers. Her lips ached for his and her body tingled pleasantly with a desire to get closer. They remained like this for a few moments, both wanting the other badly, yet both afraid to move first. Their breathing had become slow and heavy.
"We should probably go clean up, look at us." Remus said, as if he had just noticed for the first time they were covered from head to toe in spaghetti.
"Well I can't very well clean up with up on top of me can me?" Hermione asked.
Remus turned pink and slowly drew himself away from her.
"Look at you," he said pulling noodles from her hair as she sat up.
"As if you are any better?" she retorted touching the top of his now red hair, ad Hermione had seen it fit to dump the extra sauce on top of his head earlier.
"Well if you had never attacked me,"
"Me?! Attack you?! I think that you have got you facts wrong dearie, it was you who attacked me."
"Oh yea?" and with that he pounced on her and both wrestled around for a while before Hermione called "Race you back to the house!" and they both ran off in that direction.
The house was in some condition when the got back and it took quite a bit of magic to restore it to its original splendor. Eventually, they got the house fixed up, and settled into two armchairs in front of the fire to read.
After a while, Remus glanced up at the woman sitting across from him. She had fallen asleep. Setting his book down, Remus transfigured the couch. He gently took Hermione's book away and slipped his arms beneath the sleeping girl. Picking up the sleeping beauty, he brought her to the couch and tucked her in.
For a moment he sat on the bed watching her elegant face as she slept. A flood of feelings washed over him. He remembered that evening and how badly he had wanted to kiss her. A hand gingerly moved up to stroke her curls. Her head rolled towards his hand making her lips graze his fingers; his arm tingled.
Ever so slowly, he brought his face down near hers. He brushed his lips against hers, so slightly that they had barely touched at all. But this simple touch was enough to send shivers through his body.
Remus got up and returned to his chair and picked up his book. However, his eyes kept stealing glances at the princess sleeping in that room. After about an hour, Hermione began to softly whimper. The sound was slowly but surely augmenting and Remus flew to her side to see what the matter was.
He grabbed her shoulders, and shook her lightly. "Hermione, wake up! You're having a bad dream. Mione!"
The girl sat bolt up right, and searched the room frantically. When her eyes found Remus, she flung herself at him and began to cry.
He held her close, "What's wrong, what is it?"
Hermione only shook her head. How could she tell him that the reason that dream upset her was that it was about loosing him?
Eventually, her sobs quieted and she sat up, "Stay with me?"
He looked into her tear filled eyes, and he could not refuse her. Delicately, Remus slid beneath the covers next to Hermione who was lying on her back. He laid on his side watching her as he fingered her curls. "Are you going to be alright?"
"Yeah, I just don't want to be alone."
Remus smiled at her. "Let's get some sleep," and with these words, he pulled Hermione close to himself so that her back was touching his stomach. He draped a protective arm and leg over her body. He gently nuzzled her sweet smelling hair. If only every day could be like this. They woke almost simultaneously the next morning. There were only a few days left till they left for Hogwarts. After that, Hermione wouldn't need to stay with Remus any more; and the thought depressed him greatly.
Hermione had become quite fond of the little house, and didn't exactly want to leave either. It was strange how quickly this placed felt like home.
But the rest of the week flew by quickly, and Hermione and Remus found themselves boarding the Hogwarts Express on the third of August. The wind outside had begun to get cooler.
The two friends were sharing an apartment. Remus's briefcase sat on the floor and Hermione found herself absent mindedly staring at it. Remus J. Lupin. I wonder what's the J. She voiced her thoughts aloud.
"Come again?"
"In your name, what is the J for?"
"I'm not at liberty to say."
"You are so!"
"Am I really? Oh well, I'm not going to."
"Oh you big meanie!" She said as she stuck out her tongue at him.
"I know you didn't just do what I think you just did."
"Yeah? What if I did?"
Then I would be forced to do…This!" he pounced on Hermione and began to tickle her sided. Soon they were both on the floor rolling with laughter. The tickling didn't cease until the compartment door slid open. A tall wizard with long white hair and a beard to match stood in the door way.
"Maybe I should come back later?"
Remus realized that he was currently straddling Hermione, whose blouse had become untucked as a result to the tickling. He jumped to his feet and aided Hermione to do the same. "Headmaster, it, it's not what you think!"
"Actually Remus, I am sure that it is exactly what I think." The old mage turned and left the two younger ones confused.
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Hello! I got to see Chicago last night! I heart working at blockbuster! Any ways, it is 2 am, and I recently got off an eight hour job shift, and I am so tired. So please for give me for not writing an individual reviews, but I am falling asleep as we speak, n I gotta update this still as well as the next chapter for Façade.
THANK YOU TO ALL MY REVIEWERS!!!
I love you guys!! See u next chappie! I see conflict in the near future! ::laughs evilly and then chocks:: damnit! So close yet so far! Oh, and sorry its short!
~Atiannala