Disclaimer: nope, u've guessed it, not mine!
AN: I know u guys really want them to get together, but well, I will try to write it so that they get together in the next few chapters, but I know when n how n I have the details worked out, but it's a time thing, its still august in the story n they don't get together for a couple months yet, but well I'll try to make it get there as soon as possible I think. Ok here I go!
Realizing
Hermione was in her room changing into a more comfortable outfit. She decided upon a pair of somewhat baggy warm up pants and a loose fitting yet small t-shirt. Her hair was tossed sloppily into a bun, and a few curls had escaped the elastic.
The day had been rather frustrating, and she wanted time to settle down and read. For some inexplicable reason, she had spent the entire day with a charming and elegant gentleman who was just about perfect in every way, and it only served to irritate her.
There were a few books scattered about the foot of Hermione's bed. She resolutely picked up her copy of So You Want to be an Animal? and began working on her little project.
A few hours later her progress was interrupted by a light tapping on her door. Quickly the book was thrust into her bedside drawer, as she grabbed a new book of her bed. A swift glance informed her that she had been reading The Enchanted Rose written by a muggle woman named Elizabeth Debecker. It was a wonderful version of the Beauty and the Beast tale; which had been Hermione's favorite story as a child. Her mother had read it to her when she was five, and Hermione must have finished it another half a dozen times on her own.
Remembering the tapping, she uttered a quick, "Come in" and the door opened.
Remus Lupin entered the room and Hermione's heart skipped a beat. Since when had she been that taken by this man?
"You were not a dinner," the old werewolf remarked sweetly. He had missed seeing her at dinner and well, all day. So he decided that a short visit was in order. For some reason, he could not get through the day without her. A laugh was stifled in his throat as he thought of a great many things that would have proven a safer addiction.
"Oh, I was caught up in a book."
Remus noticed a slight pink color that crept up into her cheeks. It made her look like a new bride, who sat in her bed waiting innocently for her husband on the first night of their marriage. There was nothing he would have liked to walk up to her and take her in his arms and hold her to him, he could almost feel the burning in anticipation of his skin when hers would touch it. He took a deep breath and pushed the thought out of his head.
As Hermione sat on the bed she felt he heart rate pick up ad Remus crossed her room and took a seat on her bed. He removed the book from her hands and began examining the cover. Hermione found herself looking over Remus's shoulder until she noticed that the skin of his neck was so close to her; she could bend down an inch and easily find her lips brushing his soft skin. She was brought back to her senses as Remus read the title aloud.
"The Enchanted Rose?"
"It's wonderful! You should read it!"
"Aren't you?"
Hermione laughed, it was a rich throaty sound that made Remus feel very warm inside, almost too warm. "I've read that one almost as many times as I've read Hogwarts: A History."
Remus joined in the laughter, "That good huh? I must check it out then." They caught each other's gaze and held it for a moment longer then necessary. Remus settled back against the pillow and began to read, or look at the words on the page anyways. His head was somewhere else somewhere that he couldn't control it.
Hermione watched Remus a moment and for once found that she had no desire to open a book. Instead of picking one up herself, she decided to do something very bold. Her hand trembled slightly as she moved closer to Remus and lay down alongside him and placed her head on his shoulder.
Every inch of Remus's skin prickled as she lay down on him. He wondered if Hermione noticed the little things that were so obvious to him, like the way his hand began to shake and the way his breathing was getting kinda funny. Remain calm, Remus, that is what you must do. She is simply comfortable with you; control what you feel. Oh god! His chest shook with every breath.
With her head on Remus's chest, Hermione could feel every beat of his heart and all of the warmth that radiated from his body. She lay there in a state of ecstasy. "Read to me, Remus?" she asked in a rather dreamy voice.
Remus took a deep breath and began to read.
As Hermione lay listening to Remus's melodically and passionate voice, lying on his strong chest, she felt a sense of belonging which grew with every rise and fall of Remus's chest. Contentment crept over her, and she felt relaxed and happy. Everything was so right.
Remus heard a change in the girl that lay so near to him, so near indeed that he felt he might be driven mad by the thought of her. He wanted her that much. One of Remus's strong hands gingerly brushed Hermione's curls. Everything that was worth living for was in his arms right now, and he was too scared to take it. There were too many risks, to many chances. He would never be able to live with himself if any thing happened to her, especially if it were because of him. Never could he even ask her to be his.
Still it seemed such a shame to wake the poor girl. She was after all out of sorts lately as the new term drew nearer. Remus had learned to read Hermione over the summer, and he was now positive that she was nervous about actually teaching. But he also knew that she would probably not admit it. In a lapse of nerves she had confided her feelings to him, and he had comforted her. That was probably the reason she had fallen asleep, she needed comfort. The thought of why he was so comforting to her never crossed his mind.
He did however make his mind up not to wake her, so he levitated a blanket over to cover them, and he closed his eyes letting sleep take him.
A bright light poured in through the window and fell across Remus's face. It was a strange phenomenon as Remus's window faced the west and the morning sun. Something else was amiss too. There was a sent that traveled up into his nose. The sent was something feminine yet natural; not like those shameful falsehoods women cover themselves in to try to smell appealing. What woman would ever actually smell like that?
No this smell was the very essence of life, like walking out into the crisp air of a spring morning. It was real. Remus inhaled deeply taking in the quintessence of it all, for he knew to whom the smell belonged.
He had feared as he slept that he really wasn't holding in his arms the very girl who completed his existence and complemented his own life so well. Yet he also feared that he really was; and now that his consciousness was fully returning his fear of the latter was increasing. Maybe if he kept his eyes closed, then he would never have to give it up; he could hold her like this forever. He knew it would never happen; but well if only he could stop time, make it so next month would never come.
Remus allowed his eyes to open unhurriedly both excited and afraid of what he would see. There on top of him lay Hermione in all her beauty and splendor. Oh god! Every time he came closer to her it was harder and harder to go. His arms clung around her slender form even tighter as a tear slid down his cheek, for he knew he must leave. If she even knew the thoughts brooding in his mind, why she would hate him forever, as he was beginning to hate himself for harboring them.
Gently he slipped himself out from under her exquisite body and made sure that she lay comfortably down. His hand brushed her hair once more and pushed a few curls away from her forehead. Then he leaned over her and touched his lips to the spot he had just cleared. As he held his face about an inch above hers, a tear fell from his eye and landed on her skin. This however went unnoticed by him and he got up from the bed and walked out of the room sure to close the door silently so he did not wake the beautiful girl.
However, the tear had first roused the girl bringing her away from dream land, and the shifting of the bed and sounds of Remus's receding footsteps fully awakened her. Now she lay in her bed staring at the door. There was still an indent in the sheets and pillow where Remus had once lain, and the spot had not yet lost its warmth. Hermione's hand went up to her cheek and touched the tear that was not hers and she began to wonder.
Not about anything specifically, as she was now afraid of having her heart broken. She would not allow herself to think about the fact that Remus might be crying because he desired her, although this thought did cross her mind only to be brushed quickly aside by her strong will and determination. If Remus did feel for her, surely he would have said something. In the end she decided that waking up in the bed with Hermione so close reminded him how lonely he was as a werewolf.
A man as wonderful as Remus deserves the best, werewolf or not, he should have a wife, and children, and a lovely house which he is happy to come home to, with a wife there to welcome him warmly.
She tried not to acknowledge the fact that the wife in the mental picture she created looked an incredible amount like herself, even though she was sure Remus would prefer someone that was less of a child. Hermione rolled onto her stomach and buried her face in her pillow, it still smelled like Remus.
The next few weeks past rather quickly as the professors had much to do to get ready for classes. Hermione found it almost hard to balance doing her plans, spending time with Professor Irving who it seemed had taken quite some liking to her, having time to work on her Animagus project, and spending time with what was her most adored friend.
The plans she was making were based off of her own years at Hogwarts. As a most observant student, she remembered which charms gave students the most trouble and planned her lesson accordingly. She was confident in her plans yes, now the only thing that worried her was her was carrying them out.
However, there was little time to worry with Shawn constantly popping up and asking her to tea, or to take a walk. And she did find his presence quite enjoyable. He was such a charming and handsome young man who apparently thought lots of her. In less than one week, Hermione's office was filled with many trinkets that he had sent. Singing roses, an enchanted box of chocolates that kept refilling itself, and a necklace that changed itself to match whatever outfit you were wearing were only some of the things he had given her.
On the last night before the start of the term Remus had asked her if she expected a ring to come as well, with a hint of distain in his voice. Hermione followed this by giving him a speech about hardly even knowing the guy and not being quite sure of her feelings for the man, not adding not quite sure if there were any at all. But he was perfectly nice and she did enjoy spending time with him.
She took the opportunity now on the subjects to casually turn the subject around on Remus, trying to figure out much desired information about his past romantic life.
Remus quickly turned pink and told her that he had never gotten involved with anyone seriously. In fact most of his romantic experience had come from nights when Sirius had taken his friend into bars after graduation, gotten him drunk, and gave him a shove in the direction of a pretty girl. Hermione had to infer most of the last part because Remus was vague and almost cryptic about the subject, and judging by his mannerisms was not proud of this.
He tried to explain his lack of involvement as he sat staring into the fire with his back to Hermione. It almost seemed as if he were speaking to himself. "You see, I cannot involve myself with anyone, it is far too dangerous. I was even frightened when I met James, Sirius, and…" he faltered but then hardened a glint of hatred in the name, "and Peter. When they figured everything out I, I told them that I was sorry and that I would leave, I had planned even to leave Hogwarts entirely. But they told me they had other plans. It was then they told me about their ideas. They had loved me like a brother, and it was dangerous enough for them. But I cannot make a husband, I endanger all of those who I am around. And now, my brothers are all, all gone. I am alone. As I should be, as I should be."
On his last words he had fallen into a whisper, and then into thought. As he had spoke, Hermione had stood behind him and twice made to touch him, yet twice withdrew thinking it not the best idea at the moment. Now however, she laid her hand on him arm bringing him from thought, and saying, "You know you don't have to be alone."
He turned and looked at her with tears in his eyes that were accompanied by a longing and also a plea. "Yes I do Hermione, I do."
Hermione gazed up at him, finally understanding it all. Everything seemed all of a sudden so clear; his eyes had confessed everything his words could not. Hermione wrapped her arms around him in a comforting hug, and he desperately clung onto her as if scared for the moment to ever end. She buried her face in his neck and held to him as he did her, now wishing there was something to do to make him see. See that she knew of the risks, yet would face them and so much more for the chance to hold him forever. To love him forever.
Neither knew exactly how long they were standing there in each other's embrace; it may have been hours or it may have been seconds. Time did not matter; nothing mattered except them and the feeling that passed between them. Remus could no longer pretend no to notice that Hermione felt as he did too. It was there in her words when she told him he didn't have to be alone. She had meant that he could be with her. If only I could Hermione, if only I could.
The nest day would start the term, and Hermione found herself spending herself locked in her room, frivolously working on her Animagus Transformation. She looked in the mirror. Fur! It was a start, yet left her with the haunting memory or putting the wrong hair in the Polyjuice Potion in second year. As she stood before herself covered on fur from head to toe, she felt that she was getting so close to being there, she could almost taste it!
She had already mastered the transforming back to a human. It was the easier part, and would allow her to escape many embarrassing questions that would find her if she had to go and ask Professor McGonagall to turn her back.
Now Hermione stood before herself entirely human again. She sighed and took a deep breath clearing her mind. Then she envisioned her animal and finally felt herself merge with the animal. Now for the incantation.
After a very tiring day, Hermione found herself able to change shape, taking a little more than half of her animal's form, yet still retaining human characteristics. She had been working nonstop for a little over a month, and she was further than anyone else would expect, yet this was not good enough, she need to master it now!
As the arrival of the students drew nearer, Hermione found herself wandering the familiar hallways. She walked as the sun set, and the torches sprang to life. Hogwarts was about to take on life in full force once more.
There was an eerie silence about the castle as the only thing that made any noise was the rustlings of leaves in the trees outside Hogwarts and the occasional creak coming from a suit of armor. Hogwarts itself seemed to be holding its breath in anticipation. It was like the calm before the storm.
Suddenly a new king of creak resounded through the castle. It was a long creak drawn out accompanied by a dragging sound, and a second later, voices and foot steps. Hermione smiled and as she did so, a strange feeling came over her. It was as if the castle were smiling too, happy to be once again filled with students. And it was, the school loved the students more than anything else in the whole world and missed them terribly over the summer holidays. A new brightness filled the castle, like the brightness that spreads on the face of a saddened child after being hugged by its mother.
"Mione!"
Hermione turned just in time for a rather excited Remus to grab her wrist and pull her over to a balcony.
"Look,"
Hermione did look and what she saw was the amazed faces of many new first years. They wore expressions of awe, wonder, nervousness, eagerness, fear, joy, curiosity, surprise, and innocence. Another smile found Hermione's face. Remus began to speak again.
"These are the young minds that come here to learn, so eager, so innocent. They will look at you in much the same way as they are now when they enter your classroom. They will look up to you and respect you. They will love you."
Hermione leaned slightly back against Remus who slid his arms around her sides. She took a deep breath, very glad of Remus being there and showing her the students. There was something about seeing the first years approach that calmed her some about teaching.
"How did you know that they would help?"
"I had to face my first teaching job myself once." And allowing himself to become swept up in the moment as the two stood there in the starlight, he kissed the top of her head in a spontaneous and loving manner.
"Remus?" Hermione turned around hoping that maybe he would allow his lips to find hers. However he had realized that he allowed his feelings for the brunette to show through, and he said that they had better go before the miss the feast.
The feast was as always a beautiful affair, and the first years marveled at the beauty and intricacy of the old castle. The sorting had run smoothly, and now, all of the students were sitting at one of the four tables of the Houses. Hermione looked fondly at the Gryffindor table that she had once sat at on a day much like this one. To her surprise, she noticed a little girl there with bushy brown hair not unlike her own in childhood. And if Hermione's lip reading was accurate, the girl was telling a boy with sandy hair who sat across from her that the food appeared magically when the headmaster commanded it. She had read it in Hogwarts: A History.
Soon Dumbledore rose and the Hall fell silent. "It is wonderful to see so many new faces, as well as all of the familiar ones. Welcome to Hogwarts! May your years here be as full of surprise and wonder as our own have been!" Clapping filled the hall and quite a few first years looked nervous about these surprises.
Dumbledore continued when the sound died down. "As you all know we are in the middle of a very dark time. You will find that in such times we must stay bonded together as a school and not separate houses. I am pleased to say that each year, inter-house relations have been growing. This year, to aid to this process, I have decided to throw, a Welcome Back ball!" Now cheers erupted through the hall taking a significantly longer time than the clapping to subdue. "This ball will be a week from Friday, and all will be allowed to attend. Students are encouraged to bring a date from another house. Other than this, students should remember that the Forbidden Forest is off limits, and that there is no wandering the halls after curfew. And with that, Welcome Back! Dig in!"
And food appeared on every plate in the hall as all the students sat and talked excitedly about the upcoming dance.
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And I'm spent!! But next chappie is planned out, and I wouldn't be surprised if there was not much longer to wait for Remus and Hermione to get together.
Well a quick question. What do u guys think Hermione's animagus form is? I have an idea, but I want to see if it's plausible. However, you guys don't get to see till she shows Remus. Sorry but that's my plan and I'm sticking to it. So since I can't tell u what i'm thinking, tell me what ur thinking.
THANK YOU!!!!! You guys's reviews make me feel special!! I was going to really torture the romance, but I decided to speed things up for u guys, an it may not seem like much now, but wait till next chapter!!! I love you guys!!!
Alright, I hoped you enjoyed it!!! I did, now I just gotta think of something to call it. Hmm… o well, while I think, you can REVIEW!!! please? ^_^
Aight lots of luv,
~Atiannala