Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, events and/or places that are recognized as being written and created by J.K. Rowling. J.K. Rowling owns all the characters and places from the Harry Potter books including the ones used in this story.

A/N: Thank you soooooooo much for the lovely reviews!!!!! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and will have a wonderful new year too!!

One note about the story: I'm guessing about Remus's eye color. I always say they're blue because David Thewlis, who plays him in the movie, has blue eyes; plus that color seems to fit him. Enjoy the story!!!! :D

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The kitchen door, which led into the front hallway, slammed so hard behind Hermione that she assumed it cracked the old wood that etched out the house.

Ginny stomped on Hermione's last nerve, and the safety of homework was calling her name.

Hermione still felt the pangs of embarrassment every time her mind wandered back to hearing Ginny say that she thought Sirius was hot. Of course she thought Sirius was hot, but she didn't want it broadcasted for everyone to hear.

Its not that she really cared what Sirius thought. Let him think that she drools over him, it'll probably raise his spirits; but Professor Lupin was there, sitting right next to Sirius, and hearing everything.

Hermione had so much respect for her former Defense against the Dark Arts professor. Professor Lupin had the unfortunate fate of having to become a terrible monster once a month; something that crippled him, and made him an outcast in the wizarding world.

Looking past his disease, which Hermione did, was a sweet, kind, smart man; and Hermione greatly admired his ability to rise above their world's injustices.

Hermione leaned up against the wall outside the kitchen. She knew that even if she went upstairs and started her homework, her thoughts would not be completely shaken of embarrassment.

"I have to explain everything to Professor Lupin," Hermione sighed. "I like being able to talk to him about important, intelligent issues. He's probably lost all respect for me."

Hermione started absentmindedly scraping the small specks of dirt from under the, usually spotless, fingernails on her right hand. And, I don't want Professor Lupin to think that I fancy Sirius more than him either!

Hermione clapped her hands over her eyes and shook her head. She felt like vomiting; she hated the fact that her mind was starting to deteriorate with every passing second.

A war is beginning, Harry's life could be in danger; and all I can think about is how hot Sirius is, and how much I like Professor Lupin?

Actually, it was hard not to think like that, and not just because she was a growing teenager. Who wants their mind to constantly stream worried thoughts about the end of the civilized wizarding world?

Hermione didn't want to openly admit it, but this little bet with Ginny, while not relaxing her nerves in the slightest, did make her stop thinking for a moment.

She did openly admit to herself, however, that she did like Professor Lupin. He was almost exactly the kind of man she would want to be with; the almost referring to him being a werewolf. But even that she didn't mind, it wasn't his choice after all. He was smart and cared about all living creatures, just like her. She remembered when he listened intently to her ideas about freeing house elves, and seriously discussed them with her; that's when she fell completely in love with him.

Moving her back from against the wall, Hermione once again shook her head, and decided that she needed to do her homework, and exercise the part of her brain which unfortunately has fallen prey to dust collecting.

She started to softly tip toe to the staircase, past the portrait of Mrs. Black, when she heard a small rumble of high pitched laughter that threatened to break the silence of the hall. It was coming from the kitchen.

Hermione crept back to the kitchen door, and pushed it back slightly. Through the small opening, Hermione peaked in and saw Tonks sprawled across the kitchen floor, roaring with bursts of laughter.

Opening the door more, she could see Sirius attempting to help his cousin up, but not succeeding due to his own deadly case of giggles. Hermione's face flushed with a new wave of embarrassment when she saw Professor Lupin casually walk over to the two, showing blatant signs of annoyance.

Hermione swallowed, clearing her drying throat, and prepared herself to enter the room. Opening the door a little wider, her eyes fell on Ginny.

Ginny stood by the sink, the soggy sponge clenched in her hand and dripping soapy water all over the clean floor. Hermione could see a mix of amusement and lust all over Ginny's face as she watched Sirius. Hermione felt her blood boil; someone needed to put that girl in her place.

Hermione closed the kitchen door gently, making sure not even a squeak escaped from the rusted hinges. She spun around and made her way quickly, but quietly up the stairs.

When she got far enough from Mrs. Black, Hermione galloped the rest of the way up the stairs and down another hallway.

A stream of off key humming hit her ear drums, and directed her towards a room to her left. Stepping inside, Hermione found a jovial Mrs. Weasley humming and folding clothes. Hermione needed to get her downstairs, fast.

"Mrs. Weasley?"

"Hermione," Mrs. Weasley whipped around, a pair of unfolded socks in each hand. "Is everything all right?"

Hermione exhaled heavily. "Yes, but, well…You need to come downstairs. I, um...Fred and George are trying to make me and Ginny buy some weird candy that's supposed to make your skin turn colors to relect your mood."

Mrs. Weasley furrowed her brow, and quickly led the way back to the kitchen; mumbling something the whole way about those boys and being arrested one day.

Hermione felt her heart pumping in her chest, and a creeping feeling of satisfaction starting to take over. It's about time Ginny gets caught in her own pervy web! She also made a mental note to apologize to the twins, and sell them her idea.

Mrs. Weasley threw the kitchen door open, and stopped in her tracks; sock-clenched hands placed on her hips.

"GINEVRA WEASLEY! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" she screamed.

Hermione peaked around the outline of Mrs. Weasley, and her eyes widened when she saw Ginny standing no more than a centimeter away from Sirius; balancing on the very tip of her toes, poised to kiss.

She couldn't help but laugh.

"I told you," Mrs. Weasley said; Sirius paled and attempted to casually step away from Ginny, but he only made it look more obvious.

"I told you," Mrs. Weasley continued; "that you were not allowed to use magic to wash those dishes!"

Ginny exhaled what looked like a month's worth of oxygen and Hermione's mouth dropped to the floor.

She stared at Mrs. Weasley, and raised her hand, pointing it at the relieved looking Sirius.

At the same time, Mrs. Weasley raised her own hand, and pointed it at the sink of bewitched dishes, as she marched over to them.

"Must I watch you every second of the day?" Mrs. Weasley asked, desperation coursing through her voice. "If it wasn't for Hermione coming to get me," Mrs. Weasley smiled proudly, andturned to Hermione, who was still standing dumbfounded by the kitchen door,pointing at Sirius; "you would have gotten away with it!"

Mrs. Weasley turned to the sink, and Ginny looked at Sirius, willing him to say something. Sirius, however, was to busy snaking away from Hermione's accusing point.

"Mrs. Weasley," Hermione managed to manically squeal. "Didn't you see Ginny trying to kmph seemaymus?"

Hermione's words were muffled by the placement of Professor Lupin's hand across her lips. Lupin bent down and whispered in Hermione's ear; "Don't make it worse. Nothing happened."

Hermione nodded her head, and looked up into Professor Lupin's dazzlingly blue eyes. She smiled crookedly, and winced as she literally bit her own tongue.

"Well…?" Mrs. Weasley asked, staring intently at her daughter.

Ginny looked over to Sirius, back to her mother, and back to Sirius. "I didn't want to hand wash dishes," Ginny said firmly, but accompanied by a sigh. "So, I decided to make them wash themselves. Sorry."

Hermione couldn't believe her ears. She looked up at Lupin who was shaking his head disappointedly at Sirius.

Sirius walked back over to Ginny, and looked at her confusedly. "Molly, I told Ginny to stop…"

"Don't make it worse," Ginny hissed at Sirius, motioning for him to stop talking.

"Told her to stop what?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Told…her…to, um, stop disobeying her mother; that she was being very bad." Sirius pursed his lips, and shook his finger at Ginny, who turned away from her mother to hide her broad smile.

Hermione, once again, looked up at Professor Lupin. He looked down to her, and rolled his eyes.

"I can't watch this anymore," Tonks said to them, as she joined them by the door. She jabbed her finger at the scene behind her.

"Sirius, thank you for trying to get Ginny to not misbehave; but I'm afraid it's a lost cause."

"Mum!"

"Don't worry about it Molly."

Mrs. Weasley patted Sirius's shoulder. "You can be really sweet sometimes, you know," she said, a goofy smile appearing on her face; Ginny bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.

"Merlin! Besides me, isn't there one woman not affected by his charms?" Tonks asked, throwing her hands up to the sky, and turning away from Sirius and Mrs. Weasley.

Lupin quickly looked down at Hermione, and back to Tonks. "Apparently not," he stated.

Hermione was shaken for a moment; she caught Lupin's supposed sly glance. She tried to think of something smart to say to him, but before she could form an intelligent sentence, he had stridden across the room to a laughing Sirius.

"You'd think, being that Sirius is my cousin, that I'd have the same effect over men that he has on woman," Tonks said, also staring at Lupin's retreating back. She shrugged and slipped out of the kitchen.

Mrs. Weasley walked towards the door behind Hermione; "If Ginny ever tries to not do what I tell her to again, let me know dear," Mrs. Weasley whispered, before she stepped out the kitchen door. Hermione stood still, staring blankly at Lupin.

"Nice try!" Ginny waved her hand in front of Hermione's face. Hermione's eyes snapped to Ginny, but not quick enough. Ginny looked over her shoulder at the two men, and laughed. She faced Hermione and moved towards the door. "Going to do homework, huh?" she asked sarcastically, as she exited the kitchen.

Hermione turned bright red, and shot one more quick glance at Professor Lupin. "Homework, yes; I've got to go start my summer homework," she said to herself; "Must re-grow brains."