Disclaimer: I have the feeling that I've been here before…
The Ball
The two weeks had dwindled quickly as growing anticipation filled the enchanted halls of Hogwarts. Not one student was talking about anything except the dance, and it seemed that the vast majority of the teachers were focusing on this event as well. Of course they had their lessons to plan and assignments to grade, but they found the most interesting topic of conversation to be their duties as chaperones.
One teacher however seemed almost not to notice the ball. As she was still quite young, it would be expected that she would be posing in front of her mirror trying on every dress that she owned. Well Hermione was in front of a mirror, but getting ready for the ball that was less than an hour away now.
In fact, anyone who was watching her would question her grip on reality, for she appeared to be conversing with herself.
"Come on Mione, you can do it! Just one last try your almost there! Once more that's all it will take just one more." She was feeling rather tired, but was convinced that she had to do this tonight.
Hermione closed her eyes and imagined her self in a field, running, running. She could feel the wind on her face; fell what it was like to be free. With her eyes still closed, she began to mutter a complicated incantation under her breath. Suddenly a much more real feeling over took her; it was very dizzying and made her feel disoriented. Tingles sprouted over her skin and pierced her flesh. But as soon as they came they were gone. Hermione opened her eyes, and stared again into the mirror. In the mirror she saw her own eyes, but the face, the body: they were not hers! It had worked! Her hade done it!
Her exhaustion was immediately replaced but cheer as she transformed herself back to her human form. Oh, she was happy! She had finally done it, and she had much cause to celebrate.
With her feelings of pride and excitement, she headed to her closet and pulled out a long sparkling silver dress. In the dress, her shoulders were bare showing off her wonderful posture and perfect skin. The dress gathered under her breast and flared out in an elegant fashion. Her hair ended up, thanks to magic, in a complicated mass of curls and swirls that adorned the top of her head. A few pieces fell down though giving her a dramatic look.
Hermione headed down to the Great Hall. When she arrived in front of the doors, she could hear music playing already; she hoped that the head master would not mind that she was late.
As the door's opened, Remus looked up; standing in the door was way the most radiant and beautiful creature that had ever walked the face of the earth. His breath was caught in his chest and he had to grab on to the table that was right behind him for support.
"Is everything alright Remus?" asked Professor McGonagall who was engaged in a conversation with Lupin and Dumbledore and slightly taken aback by the young Professor's odd behavior.
"Y-yes," Remus began, "Everything is… perfect." The last word seemed a whisper made much more for him self than anyone else.
Dumbledore who had followed his gaze smiled.
Remus found himself unable to look away from her as she glided across the room to meet them.
"Hello Albus, Minerva…Remus" her angelic voice had carried a different tone as she breathed his name; one which made his heart pound and his blood run fast. He nodded unaware of the gesture. The four chatted for a while before Dumbledore interrupted the conversation.
"Enough of this confounded chatting! It is time to dance! Madam?" he inquired extending an arm to Hermione. She smiled and curtsied taking the hand offered to her.
Remus smiled as he watched the charming object of his affections. But he turned to McGonagall and said, "Well shall we?" And she two accepted his arm and he lead her to the dance floor.
"My dear Hermione, you are quite the sight tonight."
"Thank you Professor," she said turning pink at the compliment.
"Yes, especially when you look over to our dear Remus."
Hermione turned red this time and found herself at a loss for words. He knew! How did he know? But well, what did Dumbledore not know really? Had she honestly expected him to know nothing?
"My dear, do not let him push you away. For I fear he may try; he has been afraid of love his whole life. Show him there is nothing to fear."
Hermione stared up at the blue eyed old man guessing that there was something more behind his sparkling eyes than reached the surface.
"Something is particular with you tonight Remus."
"Why what do you mean?" Remus had not meant to be obvious.
"There is an air about you Remus that I should have noticed long ago, yet I was blinded by my own expectations."
"I haven't the faintest idea of what you speak."
"Tell me Remus, how long have you loved her?"
"Madam that is quite enough…"
But at that moment they were interrupted by a kindly old voice. "Ah! Minerva! Um, care to switch partners Remus?" And without awaiting a reply, Dumbledore took McGonagall and handed Hermione to Remus.
Remus's heart pounded harder now than he could ever remember it, as he looked into her brown eyes and slid one arm around Hermione's slender waist.
"Ah! Young love!" cooed the old bearded mage to his dance partner.
"Honestly Albus! You might have told me! And I had tried to set her up with young Irving."
Dumbledore merely smiled as he watched the two dancing youths as they got closer with every step.
Hermione could feel Remus's strong hand against her back unknowingly pulling her closer. As they danced, she could only focus on one thought: Remus. The way his arms felt as they encircled her, the way his soft sent drifted up to meet her, but the whole time, she could not remove herself from the depths of his eyes. She felt lost in them, yet she knew exactly where she was; where she was meant to be.
Remus also could not draw himself away from the eyes. In Hermione's eyes he saw truth, every thing that was ever meant to happen some how was connected with her; some how he knew it. It was here that he forever wished to stay. Oh gods if he could just bring her closer.
And he did. He first rested his forehead atop of hers as they danced breathing each other in. Soon, their noses were touching. Remus turned his head slightly allowing his nose to nuzzle hers before it slid to nuzzle his cheek. There was a great warmth in him that spread like the very fires of desire through his body.
His lips were so close that Hermione could almost feel them on her own. Oh god! This was all that she wanted ever! It was all right here! When he was so close, that the skin of hip lips actually touched Hermione's, he drew back sharply. Hermione looked at him in despair and confusion.
"I'm sorry Mione. I can't." He turned and left her standing all alone on the dance floor.
Some one had seen the whole thing and the way that that old man had almost kissed his girl. And this made him terribly angry.
Hermione began to move off the dance floor. However, when she neared the edge, an arm extended itself before her. "May I have this dance?"
Professor Irving was offering her his arm, but she did not feel like dancing.
"I am sorry Professor, but I am tired."
Hermione left the hall but Irving decided to follow her. First she had walked around a bit, going no where in particular. Irving thought that perhaps she was slandered by this rejection and that she would need comfort later. However, she disappeared behind a portrait hole that was a teacher's room; a teacher's room that did not belong to Hermione. An angry burst flew through him as he swore she would be his before the end. Perfect as he may seem, he was a greedy man; one who did not appreciate others stealing away his pretty things.
Hermione didn't know why she went here, it was probably the last place she should be, but she had come here none the less. As she shut the door behind her, she made no words but pressed her back against the door.
Remus looked up from where he sat on his bed with his head in his hands. His heart skipped a beat as he saw before him the woman who he wanted to see most, yet knew he could not see at all.
"Hermione! What are you doing here?"
She shook her head. "That I do not know."
He stood and took a couple steps towards her and she followed suit. But soon he turned, "No no, go! You must! You cannot stay here." Yet he wanted her here so badly, wanted to take her in his arms and hold her, kiss her.
"Why Remus? Why can I not stay?" tears were coming to her eyes yet she was intent not to leave.
"You must go," he said unconvincingly as he sat again on his bed.
"Alright Remus, I will go," Hermione said as she knelt down before him. "I will go if you can look me in the eyes and tell me that you don't love me."
Remus looked up, how could he do that? He knew with every bit of his heart and soul that he loved her that he wanted to keep her safe. How could he say that he did not? It was the one thing he knew in this world to be true. As he stare into her eyes he found himself helpless to his desire. "Hermione I,"
She shifted her head and looked at him still. He found his voice.
"Hermione I cannot tell you what you would have me say, for it is not true. I love you Hermione. I love you with every inch of my being. I love you as I have never loved before, and it is because of this love that I will not let you stay here. I am a danger to you and to all. To be a werewolf is to be alone. I can have no one. And no one will have me." He turned his head away from her.
He loved her! Well she knew, but to head it! Oh to hear those words fall from his lips put her beyond ecstasy. She felt a rising in her chest and became more determined now than ever. Placing one hand on Remus's face, she raised her self up and hissed hi cheek right at the corner of his mouth.
"I love you too Remus. With all my heart and more. And I know that you will never harm me."
"I would never harm you Hermione, but the wolf knows no distinction between humans, to it, all humans are there for biting, and I will not chance me finding you like that."
"Nor would you. You see Remus, you are not the only one with secretes anymore."
She stood up and backed away from him slowly and after a few paces came to a stop. She shut her eyes and Remus was amazed at the next think that happened. Within seconds, it was not Hermione that stood before him, but a large beautiful white wolf. As Hermione had loved him so deeply for such a time a wolf was her form. For it is the heart that truly takes shape in the transformation; and hers belonged to a wolf. And her fur was every bit as white as her heart was pure.
"Hermione?" Remus was amazed. She was an animagus! She was…but since when and why? Was it all because of him? But if she was an animal, then there was nothing to fear, for he was only a threat to humans. Yet why a wolf could it be that-
She transformed back into her original form. "See Remus, it is safe."
He wasn't truly sure how he got there, but he found himself holding Hermione around the waist and looking into her dark eyes. He could feel the tears welling up in his own as slowly he bent his head down to meet her lips.
It was every thing he had ever imagined and more. Her warm lips pressed against his own hungrily, she needed him every bit as much as he needed her. He parted her lips and deepened the kiss. Hermione moaned in agreement; they had given in now to the passion between them and nothing now stood in their way. Remus moved his arms up to the zipper at the back of her robes and gently slid it down, her dress falling at her feet.
Hermione's breath became heavy as the warm feeling of Remus's arms on he bare back spread through her, and she wanted more, needed more. With out breaking their kiss Hermione helped Remus out of his own robes. And they stood for moment embracing and kissing letting the fire that grew between them fill their bodies and command their souls tease them senseless before finally laying down on the bed and allowing it to take control.
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Well, I think it looks like they are finally together. And well that is as graphic as I'm getting. This story is about the love not sex. Besides, I have plot twists that will make things quite interesting.
Well when I started this, I imagined Hermione as a white wolf, but sadly I was missing a link in my reasoning, I just wanted her to be , and MiniTeija came up wit h a really good reason in her review: ur heart chooses ur animagus form! It was so simple yet I could nt come up with that so thank you! u saved it!
And I want to thank every one who reviewed, ready: THANK YOU!! a lot of people came up with some good sugguestions that I wish I could have used, but I had seen this one from way back n im glad so many of you agreed! ^_^ I love you guys!! Thank you for reviewing!!
Ok now all I gotta do is come up with a title n then I can post. Wait I have one! Yay! Now I will post! Adieu!
~Atiannala