A/N: Yes, I know one part here is kind of corny, but I had to get Remus and Hermione out of the DADA classroom somehow, and that was the only thing that came to mind. You can all thank Lucidshard for this update. I hadn't planned on doing one until later tonight, but she said she was going to check every hour, so I didn't want to disappoint her. :) Yikes! I have to get to work, so this will be hurried, sorry about any mistakes!

Disclaimer: Do you think if I said "Obliviate" enough times, it would be mine? No? Darn! I own nothing!

Moony's Death Scene

When the 7th year DADA class was assembled the next day, they were stunned to see a beaming Remus Lupin greet them. He chanced a wink at Hermione. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she could feel her heart flutter. (Oh, please. I don't know why he's looking at me like that, but it's no excuse for me to be feeling this way) She smiled uncertainly and plopped down in her seat.

The class did very well, and Remus found himself with quite a bit of extra time. "That's all I planned to teach today," he announced brightly. "How about we tackle that boggart in the closet with our remaining time?" He opened the closet, and a full moon drifted out. "Riddikilus!" he shouted, and it turned into a balloon with the air leaking out. Harry's turned into a dementor. "Riddikilus!" turned it into streamers. Ron's turned into the usual spider. Hermione stepped up, feeling nervous. She'd never gotten to face the boggart in third year. (It should be nothing after Voldemort) she tried to reassure herself. Harry, Ron, and Lupin stared curiously, wondering what Hermione's worst fear was. She imagined a paper with nine marked out of ten on it. A niggling thing in the back of her mind told her this wasn't true, but she desperately ignored it.

Unfortunately, the boggart didn't ignore it. With a horrible howl that startled the whole class, it turned into Moony. He looked like he suffered the worst sort of beating, and tinkered on the verge of death. He leapt at Hermione and swiped at her. Hermione was so startled that she dropped her wand. As he made contact, his paw turned to silver. As he died, his whole body turned into a silver statue and clanked on the floor.

Hermione clapped a hand over her mouth, too stunned for words as tears formed in her eyes. (It's just a boggart! It hasn't really happened! But, oh no. Everyone knows now.) She felt quite faint. As she tried to look away from the boggart, her knees gave way and the ground rushed up to meet her.

Remus rushed over and picked her up. "Take her wand, Harry. I'm going to bring her to the hospital wing," he said. He carried her out the door, his mind whirling. Was she afraid of him? That hadn't even occurred to him before. The boggart had shown him dying, though. Was she worried about him? As he glanced at her peaceful face, he felt the urge to kiss her. (Nobody's looking, and she's unconscious) Hesitantly he pecked her on the cheek.

Hermione had just begun to come around when she felt somebody kiss her on the cheek. Somebody was carrying her somewhere. Several moments later, she opened her eyes. It was Remus! "Remus, where are you taking me?"

"To Madam Pomfrey. You fainted," he explained. The memory of the boggart came back to her, and she found herself blushing. He'd kissed her, obviously thinking she'd never know. And now he was still carrying her, it evidently not even occurring to him that since she was conscious, she could probably walk on her own. (What does this all mean?) He finally eased her down when they came to the entrance of the hospital wing. Hermione found herself holding his hand tightly as she steadied herself. Madam Pomfrey walked up to them, her eyebrows raised.

"She fainted, madam. Could you please check her over?" requested Remus. Hermione reluctantly let go of his hand and sat down on one of the beds. She could see Remus twisting his hands anxiously.

Madam Pomfrey, after a brief examination, announced Hermione was fine and left the pair alone. Remus sat down next to her, a bit closer than he needed to. "Are you afraid of me, Hermione?"

(He's genuinely concerned!) "No, of course I'm not, Remus. You've never made me feel uncomfortable." She bit her lip, wondering how to properly explain the boggart. "It's just, well, on full moon nights, I worry about you. It would be so easy for something to happen to you."

Remus was touched. He hadn't heard anyone say that since Lily Potter had, a long, long time ago. His heart warmed, and he took her hand in his unconsciously. "You don't have to worry, Hermione. Dumbledore has a safe setup for me in the Shrieking Shack. If it wasn't, something would've happened by now."

"I know. I still worry, though," ventured Hermione. Remus remembered how, in third year, she'd so generously kept his secret. Was she worried even then? (Now is a good time to ask her out, if I'm going to) he realized. He stared at her helplessly. He couldn't seem to get the words out.

"Do you want to say something, Remus?" whispered Hermione softly.

"I - I was wondering if you wanted..." his throat tightened, and his courage failed. What did the Sorting hat see in him when he was put in Griffindor?

Hermione's heart started beating faster. He looked like he wanted to ask her out. (He's so cute when he's nervous)

He looked away. He just couldn't do it. "If you wanted to go back and have one more go at that boggart before I end the class."

Hermione sagged in disappointment. He'd chickened out. "I could try."

He reached over and gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "You'll do fine. You're going to get the whole walk back to think of something funny for me to do," he grinned.

Hermione grinned back. By the time she reached the classroom, she'd made up her mind. It wasn't too original, but she didn't want to do anything too weird in front of Remus. Moony leapt at her, snapping and snarling. "Riddikilus!" she shouted. Moony stuck his tongue on the side of his mouth and drooled. He spotted some Weasley gumdrops and ate them. His fur started turning random shades of pink, from fuzzy light pink to smoking hot pink. He ended his performance by vainly chasing his tail.

Lupin gave a hearty chuckle and nipped the boggart back into the closet. "Class dismissed," he announced. It suddenly hit her that she, Harry, and Ron were the only ones who had ever seen Moony, so it could very well be they didn't know that Moony was really Remus. She sighed with relief. Of course. It had been silly of her to jump to conclusions.

For the next couple days, she found herself bumping into Remus more than usual. Each time he looked like he wanted to say something, but each time he chickened out. She wished he'd just tell her, she didn't bite, did she?

Harry appeared to be getting more serious with Ginny, as he spent less time with Hermione. She was sure that Ron's proposal to Luna would come any day now. (Perhaps he's waiting for Valentine's Day) she mused. She found herself alone alot.

She sat down in the library, her favorite place. Her goal of reading every book there before she left school was almost accomplished. She was deep into her book when she felt someone walk up behind her. "Can I sit next to you?" said a voice she recognized as Remus's.

"Of course, you don't have to ask," she answered absently. She felt slightly irritated. If he'd just tell her what was on his mind, he wouldn't do things like interrupt the good parts in books she read, like now. She could feel him glance at her repeatedly. Staunchly ignoring him, she sat and read until she finished the book. She snapped it shut and put it back. (He's chickened out AGAIN! Really, Remus, I'm surprised your boggart wasn't me or something!) It was curfew time, so she walked up to Griffindor Tower and climbed straight into bed. Everyone else, caught up in their own activities, didn't notice her absence.

Replies to Reviewers:

BrennaM: Yes,you will. You might see him in an upcoming chapter or two. :)

Lucidshard: (glances around to see if her friend Jennyfish is looking, with a warning look not to tease her) I'd have to agree with you on this one. (about broody Remus) I guess that makes us both wrong. LOL Thanks, that's what I intended when I wrote Harry here and in future chapters. I'm very, very flattered that you like my story so much! Thanks a million!

Aljinon: Yes, thanks, it is exciting isn't it? That part will be soon, I promise. :)

Preview of next chapter: Peeves rubbed his hands together and cackled eagerly. Oh, this was going to be good! He picked up an abandoned cup of water and poured it on Hermione. She shrieked in surprise. "PEEVES!" she screamed in fury. Peeves whooped with glee and proceeded to throw the cup at her. It crashed a few inches from her foot as she tried to run away. Unfortunately, she ran smack into Draco Malfoy.