Okay, this chapter took forever because my life picked up speed rather suddenly. Quite like a train headed for a cliff. Here it is in any case and it's bound to annoy some people because it's the last 'real' chapter. After this you get an epilogue and then we're done for the moment.

I'm still considering working on another story...it may just happen, but not for awhile.

Hand3 was my super quick reviewer for the last chapter. I'm sorry it took me so long to update, love.

Hippiechick: you're creative enough for me!!

Draccy: here you go, grasshopper. Enjoy. Oh, and yes I really did get hit by a taxi. Bloody Cairo driving.

Mac1: Thank you for the review my dear, the next chapter will be forthcoming.

Lil: Men suck.

Sphinxey: Hello and a great big welcome! Thank you for reviewing and I'm very glad you're enjoying the story!

Thanks again to everyone who read and reviewed Blue Lotus. I may add another chapter to that with a switched POV, but we'll see. I've already written it but I'm still debating whether to post.

--Aimes

They both awoke almost simultaneously. Hermione opened her eyes lazily and stretched. Her gaze was met by silvery blue eyes that were still smoky and clouded from sleep.

"Morning," he murmured.

"Morning," she replied drowsily. "What time is it?"

"No idea. Do you have class this morning?"

"Yeah, Snape at nine. I'm sure he'll be ever-so-glad to see me," she said wryly. Although he might be somewhat happy I'm still alive. She thought of his glower. Of course it's not particularly likely.

"What time are you supposed to leave?" she asked Remus softly.

"I don't know," he replied mildly. "I don't even know what time it is now," he reminded her.

Hermione pulled away from him to check her clock and his arms tightened. "I didn't say I care," he noted. "If you were late, Draco or Ginny would have been pounding on your door by now and Albus knows where I am if he needs me."

"Ah, so then what's your idea?" As though I don't know.

"Fabulous morning sex," he said instantly. "But first we need to finish talking."

"About?" Hermione asked with amusement.

"You'll wait for me?" he queried hesitantly. Is he a complete moron? She pulled away to hit him with an incredulous look.

"You're an idiot. I cannot believe you even asked me that. Of course I'll wait for you, wanker!" She glared at him impressively.

He was silent for a moment then reached up to caress her face. Damn. Hard to stay angry when he does that.

"I'll wait," she reassured him. "And I assume you'll do likewise. I also assume you will return as quickly as possible if only for the fantastic morning sex we still haven't had."

"We should rectify that problem," he agreed.

"Is there anything else you'd like to discuss first?" she teased as her hands wandered beneath the sheets.

"Nothing comes to mind," he gasped. "Except..."

"What is it then?" Hermione said impatiently, stilling her hands.

"When I come back I intend to propose. Do you intend to say yes?" Propose?

"Propose what?" Hermione asked suspiciously.

"A plan to reintegrate Death Eaters into society," he responded sarcastically. "What do you think I'm going to propose?" He was nearly panicked with nerves and fought to control the defensive snarkiness. He's beautiful.

"Wait till after graduation," she advised, resuming her previous actions.

"Is that a yes?"

"What do you think?" she retorted as she disappeared beneath the sheets. Remus groaned in response.

An hour or so later, Hermione climbed out of bed with a grunt and proceeded to her bathroom to shower. Remus dropped his head back onto the pillow and sprawled out contentedly trying not to think about whatever mission he had to complete. The indefinite duration annoyed and concerned him. In the past indefinite had meant everything from two days to seven months. He couldn't imagine spending seven months away from her. And had he just proposed to her? Not very romantic, he noted. He would have to do something about that. He smiled to himself and rose from the bed, thinking that he probably had time to work out something really impressive.

Hermione showered quickly and dressed while Remus showered, glancing at her watch and realizing it was barely seven o'clock. Propose. He intends to propose. Well, of all the things I imagined for myself at this point in my life, he chose something that never made the list. She grinned. Remus exited the bathroom and gave her a curious look.

"What are you smiling about?"

"That P-word you used earlier," she replied cheekily.

"Ah yes, that one. Generally associated with the L-word or one of its derivates," he replied pedantically. She tossed off a rude gesture as she rose from the armchair where she'd been pulling on her shoes.

"Now that's not very nice behavior towards someone who used the P-word," he admonished.

"Piss off," she retorted with a laugh. "What's our plan for the moment?"

"You and the planning. Such an organized spy. Don't you ever wing it?"

Hermione considered some of her past missions. Well there was the time that my escape route was closed off and I ended up rappelling down a twelve story building in Germany using fishing line. Always wondered why that guy had so much fishing line in his closet.

"I'm not very spontaneous," she acquiesced mildly. "So I'm assuming you're going to see Albus while I snitch some breakfast from the house-elves and we meet back here?"

"Sounds like as good a plan as any," he shrugged. Hermione moved toward the door but he caught her as she passed him, pulling her against him. "You're not getting off that easily," he teased as he leaned to kiss her.

"Thank the gods," she replied with a smile as she returned the gentle lingering kiss. "I would hate to think you're going soft."

He pressed against her. "What would give you that idea?"

Hermione laughed but it was muffled by his mouth descending on hers once more. After a few moments she pulled away. "There's a time and a place for everything and I just showered," she told him as she headed for the door. "I'll see you in a little while."

Remus heaved a great theatrical sigh and followed her out the door.

"That's all then, sir?" Remus asked, having received a thirty-minute brief on his current task. Not very complicated overall, a simple reconnaissance and removal job in Hungary. The recon would take the longest, trying to figure out if the wizard in question was acting alone or part of an organized group of Death Eaters. You can kill the leader but not the cause, it seemed. Many days Remus felt that the overall number of Death Eaters was increasing, not decreasing. And the Ministry of Magic preferred to let the Order take care of such issues—outside their jurisdiction, as Kingsley Shacklebolt had told him several hundred times.

"That will be all Remus. Go have some breakfast and try to leave before nine o'clock," Dumbledore ordered. "Good luck."

"Thank you, sir," Remus said politely as he left. He strode quickly back to Hermione and Draco's quarters, entering the common room and taking a seat on the couch. Hermione entered only moments after him, juggling a large tray with steaming bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches, danishes, fruit, and a pot of coffee.

"Where's Draco?" Remus asked curiously.

"No idea," Hermione shrugged. "Probably with Ginny somewhere. The annoying bugger's a pretty early riser."

"Earlier than six a.m.?"

"Yeah. Although I qualify anything before six as night. Help yourself," she indicated the tray she'd set down as she curled on the couch next to him with a slice of melon.

They ate with pleasant conversation, both delicately avoiding the imminent end of the morning. At eight-thirty, Hermione looked at the clock and sighed.

"He'll kill me if I'm late," she said apologetically.

"I should be gone by now too," he agreed.

They both rose and exited the room after checking to make sure no one was lingering near her quarters. Remus expected her to cut away from him at the main hall and head for class, but she followed him outside the castle.

"You're going to be late," he noted.

"Ah well, not like I was winning any popularity contests with Snape anyways," Hermione shrugged.

They walked silently, hands entwined, to the edge of the grounds.

"Guess this is goodbye then," Remus murmured, turning to her.
"Yep, for the moment," she agreed.

Remus studied her for a moment, memorizing her face. Gentle brown eyes laced with honey that he had seen turn to rock traced by fire on more than one occasion. Full lips with a ready smile from which he'd heard so many confirmations of death to employers. Curly hair so often hidden beneath shockingly coloured wigs. His gaze wandered back to her eyes which flickered with something he did not immediately recognize.

Remus leaned down and caught her in a gentle kiss, reluctant to let go, to turn away, to leave. What had once seemed so simple: receive orders, leave, fulfill mission, return, was now fraught with fear and unease. Even during the height of Voldemort's power, Remus had never been so averse to leaving.

Hermione returned his kiss, her arms wrapped around him, her mind clinically noting that she should get to class and let him get to work. She felt his body against hers, muscular but gentle. She pulled away and smiled. He'll be back soon. And I'll graduate soon. And then...the P-word.

"See you later, alligator," she drawled in the southern accent she'd used on him so many times.

"In awhile crocodile," he replied, remembering when she had shared the silly childhood rhyme with him before shooting a vodka and cranberry and killing a drug lord.

He turned away and disapparated without further comment.

Hermione stared at the spot where he'd been for a moment then turned and walked back into her life. For the moment.