Okay, I don't know if I thanked mac1 for the lovely review on chapter 13…I may have received it a bit too late, sorry. I do appreciate your taking the time to review me!

PotionMuse was my super-quick reviewer last chapter. Konafa all around!

Hand3, thanks for the review and the vote in favor of the sequel. It's being given serious consideration, but it's a bit hard to write sometimes when I could be out horseback riding or belly dancing with friends…however your vote will be given quite a lot of weight as one of my most loyal reviewers!

Hippiechick: yeah, I liked the bet idea too!

Draccy: welcome back!!! I will always love your ego-boosting reviews. Thank you for returning to me

Lil: yes, you're right, I've written the rough draft of two chapters and have some ideas for the sequel…we'll see, eh?

Nenharmen: As another of my most loyal readers (I know you're there whether you review or not!) your vote in favor of a sequel will also be given due weight. Especially considering the enthusiasm I sensed there! (For the record, I do indeed write SS/HG, and will be uploading a short one-shot this weekend). I warn everyone, however, that I will drop off the face of the earth while writing the sequel, since I refuse to post unless I've got the bulk of it finished. Anyways, we'll see, we'll see. Insh'allah, as they say here.

Okay, enjoy this next (sorta short) chapter.

--Aimes

Hermione changed into her pajamas and crawled into bed, casting a blackout spell to darken the windows. Ugh…I haven't a clue why I'm so exhausted. I guess the events of the past week are just taking their toll. She shifted onto her side and sighed. Really would be cozier if Remus was here. Damn, not two days and you're becoming dependent on him, Mya. Watch it. He's going to become a liability soon. She burrowed into her pillows. As liabilities go, he's amazing.

There was a gentle knock on her door.

"Enter!"

Hermione curled slightly to face the door and smiled when she saw the tall form illuminated in the doorway.

"Hey, love. Care to join me?"

"I came to check on you." Remus entered the room and shut the door, locking it magically. He walked over to the bed and sat, stroking her hair. "How are you?"

"I'm okay," she replied softly. Hermione pulled him down onto the bed and snuggled into his arms. "Tired. I guess it's all catching up to me."

"If you need to talk, I'm here," he whispered, pulling her close and kissing the top of her head. They lay there for several moments, then Hermione began to speak.

"They never knew what I was. I hid it from them. From everyone. Perhaps that's why I am so close to Michael and ZT. They know me, all of me. My parents were proud of me…they loved me so much. And yet I was inaccessible to them. As I got older, I began to keep more and more of my life separate until…Genes was all they really felt they had. She became the focus of their attention because I had left them physically after years of being gone emotionally. But they knew I loved them. They knew it in the way I cleaned the house whenever I was home and picked up Genes from school. The way I always picked the perfect gifts for them and remembered to send cards to my relatives on holidays. They especially knew when they saw me with Genes. She was the best little sister anyone could ever ask for.

"It was odd for me though, a triple life. Two parts of my existence were cut off from them, so in a way I'd lost them the moment I entered Hogwarts. Over the years I came to believe that perhaps I should begin to push them away completely, to save them from the danger I'm constantly in. I did so, slowly weaning them off of my presence, till they began to adjust to life without me. For it then to be my fault that they died, is ironic, I think. I couldn't have really done anything differently and I've given them what justice I have to offer, but it rankles that I sacrificed my life with them to keep them safe and they died before their time anyway. I don't want to lose anyone else that way."

"You won't, Hermione. I have survived the two worst wars our world has seen and so has Harry. We are in little danger of dying as a result of anything you may or may not do."

"I know. Remus…"

"Yes?"

"How long have you had feelings for me?" He stiffened and she held her breath.

"It began in your sixth year when we planned the strategies and incursions that would come. It intensified last summer, during that last huge battle, when you showed your courage and spark. Mainly, however, it was over the last year…for you to still hold such fire after all that had happened. It began as respect, then admiration, then fondness…I don't know when it became love, really."

"Thank you," she murmured, pulling away to kiss him, feather lightly on the lips.

"For what?" he asked, confused.

"For loving me," she replied simply. "All of me." Her eyes began to shut and he pulled the blankets over them. Hermione gave a mischievous grin and removed his outer robe and shirt, resting her face against his bare skin, breathing in the scent of him.

Remus lay there with Hermione in his arms, dozing as she slept. His mind was chaotic with thoughts: what was he doing here? Was it really wise for him to be doing this? He was so in love with her it almost hurt…he'd never felt like that before. Remus looked down at her sleeping face and smiled. He was exactly where he was supposed to be.

Hermione shifted and stretched, waking slowly after a half-hour catnap.

"Mmm…I suppose I should start thinking of what I'm going to tell Harry and the others."

"Do you want me to be here?"

"Yes, but it's probably wiser if you aren't. I don't know how well they'll handle the thought that I'm shagging big-brother Lupin."

"I'm definitely not your big brother," he said with a laugh.

"Well you're definitely not a brother, but they don't know that yet. And afterwards," she purred, kissing him on the nose, "I expect to be rewarded for my bravery in facing down my friends."

"The fact that your need to be rewarded for facing your friends says something," he noted sardonically. "However, I am not one to argue with a proposition like that…"

Hermione laughed and Remus felt his soul warm. She kissed him on the lips, gently at first, chastely. Within moments, however, they were passionate, their bodies entangled as they explored each other's mouth. Hermione released a guttural groan and pulled away.

"You have the ability to drive me completely mad," she managed.

"Likewise," he growled, trying to compose himself. Hermione rolled onto her back and sighed.

"When did life get this complicated?"

"I would say about the time you were born." She laughed.

"You're right, at that. Although your birth shares a fair amount of the blame…at least Voldemort's out of the way though. That's one less thing to worry about. And it wasn't my responsibility to kill him! Now…if I can only get Draco and Ginny together to stop their bitching, life would be just fine…"

"Pardon?" Remus looked at her oddly.

"Oh come on, I know you know Draco's always liked her. They have a thing for each other, whether they realize it or not. And Harry's flirting with Susan Bones…oh, and Ron has a thing for Luna Lovegood of all people." She couldn't resist teasing him. "And I'll tell you a secret…Kingsley and Tonks are shacking up!" Lupin nudged her playfully.

"When did you become a matchmaker?"

"Round the time I noticed that I'm incredibly happy and fulfilled and ninety percent of my friends aren't. While I normally wouldn't meddle, I don't want to be an agony aunt when I could be shagging you senseless…or talking to you," she added as an afterthought, shifting onto her side to look at him. Mmm…talking. Heh.

"Talking. Right." She smacked him lightly.

"Yes. I value your conversation. Almost as much as I value the other things your tongue engages in…" her fingers tangled into his hair and their eyes were locked in a silent conversation. Hermione's voice had gone husky and she trailed into silence, unable to look away from the sparkling silver grey. Note that I said 'almost.'

Remus' arms were around her and he pinned her then dipped his head, grazing gently against her lips and pulling away, catching her gaze again, then capturing her lips in a full kiss. He repeated the cycle, deepening the kiss ever more then locking into her gaze before kissing her so deeply she felt she was being consumed. He pulled away and Hermione tried to catch her breath.

"So, how about some conversation?" he teased.

"Shut up," she replied, pulling him towards her once more. Figures I'd pick the smart-ass.

Someone pounded on the door.