A/N: Here's the next installment, hope you like it!
[------] Hermione's thoughts {-----} Lupin's thoughts
Sweet Sixteen
The days after Lupin and Hermione's encounter passed without incident. Hermione still had to endure through all of the problems her "friends" had but she knew she could endure if he was still there. At every mealtime, Hermione would watch the staff table to receive his smile. Lupin watched her everyday at lunch, watching her talk and laugh with her friends while occasionally glancing up at him.
Friday, the day all the sixth-years had class with Lupin, was quickly becoming the best day of the week for both of them. Hermione would get to class at the first possible opportunity and stay as long as possible. She did extra research on whatever topic they were studying just he would place more attention on her. She spent so much time studying and hurrying to class, she only had time to either pull her wild hair back into a low ponytail or just leave it the way it was: big and bushy.
Lupin began to spend more time getting himself ready in the morning. He tried many different styles on his rapidly graying hair every morning and began to mend his robes more often. He, too, did extra research on the subject he was getting ready to teach in order to be better prepared to field Hermione's questions and hold better discussions with her.
Finally, September the twenty-second arrived. Not only the birthday of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, but also the sixteenth birthday of one Hermione Granger.
Hermione got up early on her birthday and took her extra time to relax in the common room. Harry and Ron soon came downstairs and the trio headed down for breakfast. Hermione received the usual birthday owl from her parents with a note promising "a big surprise" when she got home. Harry, Ron, and everyone completely forgot it was her birthday. Even Ginny, who was her best friend, didn't stop to wish her a happy birthday.
Halfway through her breakfast, Ron turned to Hermione. "Hermione! I completely forgot! I really need help on our Potions essay. Can I just copy yours?"
"You- Ron- You're just- ugh!" With that, Hermione grabbed her books and ran from the Great Hall, fighting back tears. The last thing she saw was Ron reaching for her half-eaten muffin.
Hermione ran all of the way to Lupin's classroom. She'd moved on from tears to kicking the walls of Hogwarts in frustration and anger. Several of the portraits yelled at her to stop, and, after several minutes, Hermione finally listened and slumped down against the wall. It didn't take long for more students to cluster around the door and for the first time ever, Hermione let them all go ahead when the doors finally swung open. Hermione took a seat in the back corner of the classroom at the last second and avoided everyone's gaze.
Lupin's class was the usual: entertaining, exciting, stimulating, and educational. The only thing missing was Hermione's arm shooting up at every question and a noticeable lack of bushy hair in the front of the room. Finally, class ended. The room emptied as the class ran down to dinner (lunch had been served in the classroom again) and only Hermione remained, at Lupin's request.
Lupin walked to the desk in front of Hermione, turned the seat around, and sat facing her. He pulled a package out of his pocket and pushed it across her desk. "Happy sixteenth birthday, Hermione."
Hermione raised her head to look into his brown eyes. "You. you remembered."
"Of course I remembered. Now open your present."
Hermione did as she was told and opened the box up. Inside was set of four leather bookmarks. Each had a quote. Together they read, "dance as though no one is watching you; love as though you have never been hurt before; sing as though no one can hear you; live as though heaven is on earth." [love. I do love him, but he can never know.]
"Thank you," she whispered, lost in her thoughts of the man sitting across from him. A single tear slipped down her cheek as she thought of the man she could never have.
Lupin reached out and wiped the tear away with his thumb. Taking her hand, he began to speak. "I could never forget, Hermione, anything about you." He stopped, though she could tell there was more he wanted to say. She could soon tell why he had stopped; the light around them was beginning to return.
[Does he know? But if he knows.] Hermione took her hand away from his and stood up. "I'd better go. My friends-"
"-they'll be expecting you."
"Thanks for the bookmarks."
"It was no trouble at all." Hermione turned and was halfway out the door when Lupin spoke again. "Hermione- um, good job on your last paper."
"Thanks, professor." Hermione raced down the stairs to her dinner. [That's right, Hermione, he's your professor. That's it.] Hermione was quiet all through dinner and sat in bed thinking and reading her bookmarks until the last house-elf had finished cleaning.
{That's right. Professor. That's all I'll ever be to her. And smooth, there, Remus. 'Good job on your last paper'. Gah!} Remus chose to eat in his office that night and sat at his desk thinking late through the night.
----------------------------------------------
A/N: I know, not my most stellar piece of work. The thing is, I have everything after this chapter planned out a lot better. Look forward to December's events! And not the several months from now's December, the next chapter December. Lots of "interesting" things to come...
Remember: Read, Review, and the chapters will improve!
[------] Hermione's thoughts {-----} Lupin's thoughts
Sweet Sixteen
The days after Lupin and Hermione's encounter passed without incident. Hermione still had to endure through all of the problems her "friends" had but she knew she could endure if he was still there. At every mealtime, Hermione would watch the staff table to receive his smile. Lupin watched her everyday at lunch, watching her talk and laugh with her friends while occasionally glancing up at him.
Friday, the day all the sixth-years had class with Lupin, was quickly becoming the best day of the week for both of them. Hermione would get to class at the first possible opportunity and stay as long as possible. She did extra research on whatever topic they were studying just he would place more attention on her. She spent so much time studying and hurrying to class, she only had time to either pull her wild hair back into a low ponytail or just leave it the way it was: big and bushy.
Lupin began to spend more time getting himself ready in the morning. He tried many different styles on his rapidly graying hair every morning and began to mend his robes more often. He, too, did extra research on the subject he was getting ready to teach in order to be better prepared to field Hermione's questions and hold better discussions with her.
Finally, September the twenty-second arrived. Not only the birthday of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, but also the sixteenth birthday of one Hermione Granger.
Hermione got up early on her birthday and took her extra time to relax in the common room. Harry and Ron soon came downstairs and the trio headed down for breakfast. Hermione received the usual birthday owl from her parents with a note promising "a big surprise" when she got home. Harry, Ron, and everyone completely forgot it was her birthday. Even Ginny, who was her best friend, didn't stop to wish her a happy birthday.
Halfway through her breakfast, Ron turned to Hermione. "Hermione! I completely forgot! I really need help on our Potions essay. Can I just copy yours?"
"You- Ron- You're just- ugh!" With that, Hermione grabbed her books and ran from the Great Hall, fighting back tears. The last thing she saw was Ron reaching for her half-eaten muffin.
Hermione ran all of the way to Lupin's classroom. She'd moved on from tears to kicking the walls of Hogwarts in frustration and anger. Several of the portraits yelled at her to stop, and, after several minutes, Hermione finally listened and slumped down against the wall. It didn't take long for more students to cluster around the door and for the first time ever, Hermione let them all go ahead when the doors finally swung open. Hermione took a seat in the back corner of the classroom at the last second and avoided everyone's gaze.
Lupin's class was the usual: entertaining, exciting, stimulating, and educational. The only thing missing was Hermione's arm shooting up at every question and a noticeable lack of bushy hair in the front of the room. Finally, class ended. The room emptied as the class ran down to dinner (lunch had been served in the classroom again) and only Hermione remained, at Lupin's request.
Lupin walked to the desk in front of Hermione, turned the seat around, and sat facing her. He pulled a package out of his pocket and pushed it across her desk. "Happy sixteenth birthday, Hermione."
Hermione raised her head to look into his brown eyes. "You. you remembered."
"Of course I remembered. Now open your present."
Hermione did as she was told and opened the box up. Inside was set of four leather bookmarks. Each had a quote. Together they read, "dance as though no one is watching you; love as though you have never been hurt before; sing as though no one can hear you; live as though heaven is on earth." [love. I do love him, but he can never know.]
"Thank you," she whispered, lost in her thoughts of the man sitting across from him. A single tear slipped down her cheek as she thought of the man she could never have.
Lupin reached out and wiped the tear away with his thumb. Taking her hand, he began to speak. "I could never forget, Hermione, anything about you." He stopped, though she could tell there was more he wanted to say. She could soon tell why he had stopped; the light around them was beginning to return.
[Does he know? But if he knows.] Hermione took her hand away from his and stood up. "I'd better go. My friends-"
"-they'll be expecting you."
"Thanks for the bookmarks."
"It was no trouble at all." Hermione turned and was halfway out the door when Lupin spoke again. "Hermione- um, good job on your last paper."
"Thanks, professor." Hermione raced down the stairs to her dinner. [That's right, Hermione, he's your professor. That's it.] Hermione was quiet all through dinner and sat in bed thinking and reading her bookmarks until the last house-elf had finished cleaning.
{That's right. Professor. That's all I'll ever be to her. And smooth, there, Remus. 'Good job on your last paper'. Gah!} Remus chose to eat in his office that night and sat at his desk thinking late through the night.
----------------------------------------------
A/N: I know, not my most stellar piece of work. The thing is, I have everything after this chapter planned out a lot better. Look forward to December's events! And not the several months from now's December, the next chapter December. Lots of "interesting" things to come...
Remember: Read, Review, and the chapters will improve!
