Thanks go out to Randella Scarlett, Moony's Mate, fuzzfurry, and Dracula5555 for reading and reviewing. Disclaimer: See chapter one.

The sunlight streamed in gently through the window, and right onto Hermione Granger's face. Groaning slightly, she opened her eyes half-way. "Good morning, amor." A gentle voice said from behind her. Clutching the sheets to her clothesless body, she twisted around to find an almost dressed Remus Lupin grinning at her.

"Good morning," she replied, feeling almost embarrassed as memories of their activities from the night before came flooding back. "It's only 6 in the morning, and I had Ginny bring down some clothes for you. They're in the bathroom, on the middle shelf."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm never going to hear the end of shagging my former teacher..." she muttered as she got out of the bed. "Ginny pretty much said the same thing, and she also said that you might not want to tell Harry and Ron about this." Remus commented, teasing evident in his tone. She had to laugh at that. "They'd probably come barreling down here to give you a talking to about my honor!" she joked.

He came up to her and wrapped his arms around her. "They have nothing to worry about because I would never do anything to hurt you. I'd rather hurt myself first." "But if you hurt yourself, you'd hurt me." She protested. "What did I do to deserve you?" he asked softly, his love showing through in his eyes.

She blushed, still not used to his continual praise of her. "I'm going to do it until you get used to it, amor." He'd told her in one of his letters. "You're a smart, gorgeous woman and I will tell you that time and time again until you believe it, and see yourself how I see you." That was one of the many things she loved about him-his ability to see past a person's exterior.

Going into the bathroom and shutting the door, she reflected on the first time she knew she loved him. It had been during her 5th year, shortly after Sirius had died...

Someone was crying. Hermione could hear it, even though it was soft. Ginny was asleep, and her friend envied her. Try as she might, Hermione could not forget that night in the ministry of magic, and rest eluded her.

Deciding that since she couldn't sleep, she might as well try to find out who the person was that was crying. Perhaps offering another person some comfort would take her mind off of her own thoughts, which had been confused as of late. A certain werewolf featured very prominently in them, and she wondered just how exactly she reguarded Remus Lupin.

Following the sounds, she came to a door and opened it softly. There sat the man in question, his body racked with sobs that he was trying so hard to control. Not realizing what she was doing, Hermione raced over to him and put a gentle hand on his back. Turning blindly, he buried his face in her shoulder and just cried. She held him until he fell asleep.

Several times he woke up from bad dreams, but she was there to soothe and comfort him. The next morning, when he woke up, there was a moment when she thought he had been about to kiss her, but decided better of it. She felt dissapointment, and that was when she knew-or at least admitted- that she cared deeply for him.

Remus had to leave that day, but he made sure to visit with Ron and Harry beforehand. Dumbledore gave Hermione permission to see him off, and he was amused to see Ron and Harry exchange knowing winks with one another.

As he walked with her to a waiting carriage, he said quietly, "Hermione, Sirius left Grimmauld Place to Harry, and he has asked me to take care of it. Do you suspose that you could come and keep me company for Christmas? If you were already going to go home..." She cut him off. "I would love to keep you company. Christmas is no time to be alone, and my parents won't mind. I've told then about you." She said.

"What exactly have you told them?" he asked curiously. "Everything." She said simply. "I told them that I love you, you're a good man with a kind heart, intelligent, and very handsome. Mum says she can't wait to meet you!" "And our age difference?" he queried. "Well...mum was the one who always told me older men had more experience!" she shot back.

Remus almost choked laughing. "Your mum sounds like a person I will most heartily enjoy!" "I think so. I think she and Dad are both going to love you." She said, more seriously this time.

"Well, this is it amor. I will see you at Christmas, and I'll write to you when I get back to London." He bent his head and kissed her. "Take care of yourself and TRY to keep Harry and Ron out of trouble!" "You should talk, Mr. Moony!"

Climbing into the carriage, he chuckled to himself as he waved out the window to her until he was out of sight. "Now, I wonder which places have nice Christmas ornaments..." he thought to himself. He wanted to make their first Christmas together a nice one.

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