It Was Only a Kiss
Disclaimer: I own nothing, specifically, no billion- dollar book lines by the name of Harry Potter.
Author's Note: Thank you so much for all the great reviews! I was really shocked to get so many. So I'll definitely continue with this, a little fluff, and drama in here…well a lot of fluff. Next chappie will be longer I promise, I just didn't want to leave off with a cliffy.
Chapter Two: Bliss and Confusion
The next morning breakfast was rushed. Ginny had to be getting back to Hogwarts. After a quick Order meeting, Ron needed to get to Auror training, an impatient Tonks screaming for him to hurry his skinny arse up. Neville was hanging out with Hermione, awaiting the other Order members for the meeting. Molly cooked a scrumptious breakfast though, as she always did, and for a moment everything felt normal. Then her pleasant thoughts were shattered abruptly by, the fiery headed, Gin.
"So Hermione, where were you last night…out for a midnight rendezvous with your boyfriend?" she said in a teasing manner. It would have been fine; it would have passed as a simple joke. Unfortunately Hermione caught utterly off-guard, choked on her toast to near suffocation. Neville, who had learned the Heimlich Maneuver in Muggle Studies, found this a great opportunity to show off his knowledge on life saving. After giving her four hearty thrusts with his fist into her abdomen, she promptly spit a chunk of chewed up toast into Ron's face.
After wiping off his face with an utterly disgusted look, Ron rose an eyebrow questioningly. "Anything you'd like to tell us 'Mione?"
"No…" she mumbled feeling heat spread across her cheeks.
She heard Molly clicking her tongue in disapproval from the kitchen. Ginny was practically jumping with excitement. Feeling completely humiliated and desperate to escape, Hermione excused herself from the table and went up to her room. She ran through the hall way carelessly, brushing the curtain of Mrs. Black's portrait.
"BLOOD TRAITORS! MUDBLOOD FILTH!" she shrieked in revolted fury.
Angry, confused, and overly emotional, Hermione turned back, looked Mrs. Black in her rotted eyes and screamed back, "SHUT THE HELL UP YOU CRAZY OLD HAG!"
And for a moment the entire house was silent. Then Mrs. Black's infuriated screaming returned, but behind it could be heard Neville, the Weasleys and Tonk's amused applause.
Hermione sank on to her bed and pulled a pillow over her face. She stayed in this odd position for about a minute, and then she muttered a silencing charm and screamed as loud as she could. This made her feel much better until, she lifted the pillow to see Harry standing at the door, wearing a face mingled between worry, and hilarity.
"Ron said you might want to talk…He said you were having a moment…" Harry smirked while he said this. "I think that means he was worried, but didn't want to risk talking to you himself for fear of his life."
"Ron's smart…leave me alone." She mumbled. Harry burst out laughing. "What's so funny?" she demanded aggravated and not in the mood to be mocked by her best friend.
"You just said, Ron's smart!" Harry was red in the face laughing. "I have to tell him that one…priceless 'Mione." Hermione chucked a pillow at his face and heard his glasses crunch.
"Reparo." She muttered in a frustrated voice. "Now out!" she said pointing toward the door.
"Geez Hermione, no need to get so emotional. Anyway most of the Order is here now, so you better get you're bum down there."
"Urgh…why can't everyone leave me alone!" she shrieked in frustration. She just wanted a moment's peace to think. At that moment another guest had joined Harry.
"Not a good time I'm guessing." The deep rasping voice said.
"Wait!" Hermione said sitting up. Harry rose an eyebrow, well her mood changed quick enough.
"Hey Harry, do you mind if I talk to Hermione real quick, Hogwarts business." Remus said smiling.
"Yeah sure Remus…" Harry said shaking his head with confusion. He knew Hermione was an assistant Charms professor, but what about Hogwarts did Remus have to talk with her about. As far as he was aware, Remus only worked for the Order, though he wouldn't be surprised if that had changed and no one had bothered to tell him. A little miffed, Harry made his way downstairs to join the others, frustrated at his loss of connection with the outside world, ever since he had been forced into becoming an Unspeakable.
"Well…" Hermione said awkwardly, staring at the ground like a shy child.
"Well…" Remus said; his hands clasped behind his back, swaying nervously back and forth.
"I…" Hermione started
"Hermio..." Remus spoke at the same moment. They both laughed a little, finally looking up at each other. She smiled at him, a genuine smile, a warm smile. He felt his heart flutter pleasantly. What am I becoming, some bashful teenager? Remus thought amusedly.
"Come on you two some of us have important business to take care of!" Moody shouted in an impatient tone.
"Well we should get downstairs I guess." Remus said with a slightly disappointed look on his face.
Hermione frowned as well, he was so handsome when he smiled, she wanted to make him smile again. She sighed, this was so confusing, he was more than twice her age, and one of her ex-professors. Yes, and you had a crush on him then, why not now, besides he hardly looks his age, and he's on the same maturity level as you. Her mind replied logically. Oh god now it wasn't only her heart in on this. She saw him begin to turn towards the door. "Wait…" she said in a soft and slightly perplexed voice.
"Yes Hermione?" he said taking a step toward her, his cheeks had the slightest stain of pink, his eyes were shining liquid amber.
"I had something I wanted to give you." She said standing up. She could feel her knees shaking, she felt like she was walking on ice. She was directly in front of him now. "Close your eyes…"she whispered. After smirking slightly at her he complied, a peaceful countenance made him look so much younger, more relaxed. She eased gently towards him till her lips were an inch from his. She could feel his breath, warm steam on her cold skin. Gently she pressed her lips on to his in an innocent kiss. She pulled away, not wanting to. He opened his eyes slowly, his eyelashes fluttering. He looked blissful, but there was something else there, perhaps the same thing she was experiencing, confusion.
"Thank you" he whispered, taking a chance he touched her cheek for a moment, marveling in the softness of her skin, in contrast to his scarred and callused hands. She looked like she was going to speak, he didn't know if he was ready right now to think clearly though, to be rational. If there was one thing he had learned in his life, it was to always be rational, never to let yourself be led by your heart, that way it can never be broken. He was what he was, and though she may not understand that now, she would have to, and he wasn't prepared for rejection, especially by her.
Remus cleared his throat, his mind clearing of the haze she had cast over it with a simple kiss, "I think we should get to the meeting before they send out a search party for us." He said smiling slightly, though he didn't feel nearly as content as her pretended.
"I suppose you're right." She said softly. "You go down now, I'll follow in a moment."
"Alright…" he replied trying to cover the regret in his voice. He stepped through the doorway shutting it gently. This was the best he had felt since Sirius had left them. It was also the most confused he had felt, in nearly his entire life. Of all the people to fall in love with, why her? Harry's best friend, a girl half his age, and his previous student. He ran a hand through his hair trying to calm himself before e stepped in to he kitchen where the Order was meeting. In all of his frustration, he hadn't realized one important fact, something his heart and mind were both screaming at him, desperately trying to tell him, He was in love.
Hermione lied back on her bed, a million questions racing through her head. Remus Lupin, the man was an enigma, in himself. He was responsible, caring, intelligent, and compassionate. But he was reckless, emotionally unstable, depressed, and terribly self-conscious. She sighed, she supposed she was hardly perfect too. She felt like screaming, like running away. Why was love so painful? "What did I just think...love?"
Hermione Granger, the most responsible member of the Golden Trio, had went and done the most irresponsible thing one can do. She had fallen in love.
