Disclaimer: Not mine..not mine. Yea yea, you know the deal.
On a side note, and you have to listen cause I'm the author of this piece so ha! Anyway..on a side note I'd like to thank Lucidshards for her wonderful review. I've been a fan of Lucid's work and I encourage you to read the story "Old Moon". Its a superb story.
Anywho..this chapter and the next and the next and so forth are dedicated to LucidShards because she is a fantastic author and a nice person. (ps..that means the entire story is dedicated to her)
Forgotten Tomorrow Chapter 14
By Poet
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'Damn, 6:30 and I'm not even dressed yet. Oh hell, this was a bad idea. Bad idea. BAD IDEA!' Remus moved like a man possessed as he tore through his small wardrobe. Options were indeed limited. Ratty muggle clothing, formal dress robes or plain teaching robes. Too many choices for such a simple man. 'But then, you obviously don't appreciate simplicity or you wouldn't be going after someone 20 years your junior while your younger self pursues her as well all the while hating you and slowly being pulled back into time'.
Wow. Even his mind was growing weary of the constant bombardment of morality and guilt. 'Bollocks to the right thing to do. Why can't it be right for me to be happy?' He thought with a harsh sigh. Again he rifled through his small choice of clothing. Pulling out dark blue teaching robes he looked them over. With a definitive nod, he tossed them onto the bed behind him. 'Now, where are my shoes?'
With a glance at the clock near the fireplace, he cursed under his breath. "Only ten minutes left" This time he spoke out loud and couldn't fight the smile that crossed his face. Banishing his happy thoughts, he turned to his bed and began changing into his robes.
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"Where are my shoes!? Oh I'm going to be late" Unbeknownst to Remus, Hermione was in quite the same state that he was. Her trunk emptied, clothing strewn about her four-poster, she was no closer to meeting Remus then he was to meeting her. Falling to her knees, she looked under the bed and was rewarded with one shoe. 'Now, the other half. Come out come out where ever you are.'
'Wait, why don't I summon it?' With that thought she pulled out her wand. Her voice clear and calm surprisingly, given her current state. "Accio Shoe!" Sadly, a mistake as every pair of shoes within a ten-foot radius suddenly flew right at Hermione's head. Hitting the floor with a solid 'oof', Hermione sighed. Sitting up she looked at the shoes now piled around waist.
"Ah ha!" Sinking one hand in to the pile, she pulled it back and was rewarded with the other half of the pair of shoes. As she stood, shoes fell down around her, piling at her feet. Looking about quickly to ensure no one to catch her, she shoved all the shoes under Lavender's neighboring four-poster. 'That will do for now, I'll make it up to her later'
Yanking the curtains of her bed shut, she turned and made her way towards the staircase. Entering the empty common room, it struck her how quiet everything was. Without the hordes of Gryffindors hovering in every inch of space, a person could actually get some extra homework done. No matter though, Hermione pushed open the portrait and stepped from the doorway. With a look to the left, then the right she set off for Remus's office.
The empty hallways had always held a haunting quality to Hermione. Thanks in part to the resident ghosts of course. She loved the quiet of the stone corridors as she patrolled during her duties as Head Girl. Turning left and taking a stairwell down a level, she moved quickly. Paying no mind to the calls of the portraits, or the clatter of metal as suits of armor moved about, she thought only of her destination and her reason for going. Strangely enough, she wasn't nervous. More..relieved then anything is what she decided. Ignoring the fact that she had turned into an open mouthed school girl at Remus's invitation, it still seemed inevitable that it came.
"Hermione! Hey, wait up!" Startled from her reveries, she turned to see Harry jogging after her. "You weren't at dinner again. Not still moping around are you?" His tone was light but laced with concern. Hermione almost laughed. Moping? No no no. Very far from it. Pausing the let Harry catch up she greeted him with a smile.
"No Harry. I just had some..extra studying to do. For Defense..I mean Potions. An essay. Just headed to the library to pick up a book and back to it."
"But Snape didn't set an essay this week."
"Oh. I requested extra work. Umm..for later lessons."
"Come off it Hermione. You and I both know Snape would never willingly give you extra work. What's really going on?" Harry eyed her suspiciously. Her attempt to cover up hindered by the fact that she was a terrible liar. She seemed impatient but eager to deal out explanations for her all the sudden chipper mood. "Wait just a minute. I think I see what's going on here."
'Oh dear' Hermione thought quickly. 'This is it'
"Did Remus talk to you yet? Is that it?" Harry asked, remembering the Professor's lightened mood in Defense Again the Dark Arts earlier.
"Wait, what do you mean yet? Did you talk to Remus?"
"I asked you first."
"Harry Potter! Are you meddling in my life!"
Harry only rolled his eyes, unimpressed by Hermione's attempt at intimidation. "I'll take that as a yes then. Well, don't let me keep you from your happy mood....err essays. I'll talk to you later" Winking, he turned and started back the way he had come. Ron would be disappointed. The two of them had hoped to invite Hermione to join in a game of exploding snap. Ah well, Harry would make her excuses.
"Harry?" She watched as the young man turned, looking expectantly back at her. "Thanks. Thank you for this." His only response was to smile and nod, and with that he turned a corner.
She was alone again. Destination temporarily forgotten. Looking down at the stone floor, her shoes snapped her back in to reality. "Oh no! Now I really am late"
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The Dark Arts classroom was empty and Hermione's heart plummeted. 'He must have gotten tired of waiting.' A pained sigh escaped her and she slumped in to one of the chairs. In the dim candle light, she took in the features of the room. Every year it had changed, with every new teacher, new decorum and objects. With Lupin, it had felt warm. Welcoming. Safe. Or maybe that was just her mind talking. Standing, she made her way to his office stair and climbed them slowly. Fingers running delicately over the banister, the way she had seen him do so often.
His office was dark. Heavy chairs sat before his desk. Trinkets from all over the world strewn about the shelves. Pictures and maps and diagrams adorning the walls. One in particular caught her eye. It was the only one that moved. Stepping closer, she squinted to see it in the dim light. It was of four young men and a woman. Each one so achingly familiar. It was true, Harry did look like his father. But he had his mother's eyes. Sirus full of life, laughing heartily, no doubt to some whispered joke from James. Even Peter looked innocent. No indication of the man he would become. Standing in the middle of the group amidst the laughter, but remaining silent was Remus. His eyes spoke of unvoiced laughter, as if he was merely indulging in the sound of his friends voices. Content to see them happy. Hermione saw the dark bags under his eyes, even in the pictures of his youth his lycanthropy was taking it's toll.
"Oh Remus" Her words were faintly whispered as her hand lifted to trace the picture gently.
"Hermione."
Even in the darkness he voice was unintrusive. Turning, she saw him there. Standing in the doorway. His silent approach probably effortless given the time of month. Or perhaps he had grown accustomed to silence. In that moment she saw the tired man behind the facade. She saw him raw, reveled in the moonlight that held his curse. It rendered her speechless and they stood there. Both taking measure of the other.
"I'm sorry Remus. I didn't mean to.." She quieted when he smiled.
"It's quite alright Hermione. You have no reason to apologize. I am glad I found you. I was afraid you'd forgotten me." He said the last tinged in desperate humor, but the fear was still evident.
"How can I? You are always in my head."
He stepped forward slowly, as if moving at half the speed. Coming beside her, he gazed down at the picture her fingers were still grazing. The last one he had of his youth, of his friends. Losing himself in the memory of the day the picture was taken. Hermione's fingers falling from the picture brought him back. Looking back at her, he found they had somehow come close enough to touch as each breath was released.
His hand moved as if by it's own will. Fingers reached to smooth across her jaw, then to repeat the motion on the other side. He felt her hands settle on his chest, fingertips burning fire through his thick robes as she traced absently. Finally his fingers stopped, settling upon her lips.
"So beautiful" The words were breathless as his lips touched hers. He felt her momentary pause, not in hesitation but as if savoring the moment. He was doing the same thing. Then she moved against him, lips meeting his own and he was lost. She tasted sweeter then anything he had ever imagined. Fire ripped through him as her tongue darted out to run along his lower lips. The next time he felt it, his mouth opened and he met her with his own. He felt her fingers entwining in his short hair and in that instant they moved together fiercely. Pushing her back, they came to rest against a book case and he pinned her there. Unrelenting as he devoured her again and again. 'I could die from this' he thought, and it was true. Willingly he would die at the hands of this woman, if only for one more kiss. A soft moan strangled in her throat and he answered it with one of his own. Oxygen was forgotten as she pressed against the wall, trying to gain leverage on the taller man. More then happy to oblige, he picked her up and she slid her legs around his hips. Their sudden closeness making him painfully aware of his body's reaction to her touch. With a sharp groan he tore his lips from her, but couldn't stay away. "Hermione" he kissed her. "Maybe we should.." He kissed her. "I mean.." She kissed him, cutting of his weak attempts at composure. Arching her back in to him, fully aware of the reactions between the two. Finally, it became to much and she had to tear her lips from his. But he did not stop. Now his lips reached eagerly for her exposed neck and with a slight adjustment, her bare shoulder was his for the taking. She was not idle either. Hands roaming across his face, trailing lips across the top of his head and down the sides.
Finally, exhaustion claimed them. With a soft sigh, Hermione slid down Remus's hips and stood firmly before him. He dipped again to kiss her, then contented himself to rest his forehead on hers.
"Are you tired? It's late." He spoke softly, barely above a faint whisper. Pressing his lips to her ear he felt her shudder and nod.
"Maybe I should go." Closing her eyes as his breath moved over her ear, she shuddered again.
"Mm...Or maybe you should stay with me."
"Or maybe I should stay with you." The invitation was there, hanging in the air between the two. It was Remus who moved first, taking her by the hand. Leading her to a wall, not the door. Tapping a small star chart twice, a panel slid open and revealed a lighted passageway. Following the winding corridor, they soon arived at a wooden door. Pushing it open, Remus stepped back to allow Hermione entrance. They were at Remus's quarters. Looking back at him, Hermione smiled as he entered and closed the door. Once more he bent and kissed her, this time long and slow. Lips dancing delecatly across hers. It was intoxicating.
Tearing away from her again, reluctant to part he brushed his hands down her shoulders. "Mmm. Stay with me tonight Hermione. I want to see you when I wake up."
Without answering, she untied her robe and shrugged it on. Leaving her in a thin dressing gown. Her eyes told him that it was his decision. His choice because she had chosen time and again in her mind. Smiling, he kissed her forehead and untied his own robe. He felt her hands push it from his shoulders, trailing down his chest to settle on his waist. With a flick of his hand, the comforter on his bed rolled down. Bending, he picked Hermione up and set her gently onto the sheets. She moved back to make room for him. Pulling the comforter back up, it settled around the shoulders.
Their eyes were locked, no words spoken. Absently, his fingers would stroke up and down her left arm while hers traced over the thin shirt he wore. Pulling herself against him, she smiled as his arms wrapped fully around her. Flush against one another, arousal evident even still, they simply relaxed into each other. After a few moments, his warmth and gentle ministrations made her grow drowsy. In another minute she was sleeping.
Long minutes later, as her breathing evened, Remus kissed her once more. "I love you Hermione. Never forget that." Finally his eyes closed and he joined her in sleep.
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Okay, how was that?
A bit longer then my usual right?
For clarification:
No they did not have sex.
Yes, they are spending the night together...asleep
Anyway. I almost made this a cliffhanger at the line
"Oh Remus"
But being the nice girl I am, I didn't.
Reviews are fun to read, so if you like it or not, click that button and let me know if I need to change something.
Bye for now.