What I Learned in 7th Year
Disclaimer: Wow I'm getting sick of writing these... oh well... as you all know all this belongs to J. K Rowling!
Chapter 7: Love and More lettersTwo days later Remus came home. I was sitting in the living room staring into the fire like he had done so many times before. I heard stumbling outside and ran to the window wondering if anyone had made it through the gates. Stumbling up the sidewalk was a tired, bleeding, horrible looking Remus Lupin. I threw the door open just in time and he stumbled in. After locking it behind him I rushed over.
"Oh professor! You look horrible! Stay right here, I'll go get a first aide kit for you." I said rushing out of the room and grabbing a large box and something for him to eat and drink. "Here eat this, I won't hurt you to much." I said handing him a sandwich and water. As I opened the kit I pulled out bandages and some ointment. He had a few scratched on his face that I quickly cleaned.
"Thanks Hermione, but I'll do my back, I don't want you to see that." Remus said wincing as he sat back in the chair.
"Nonsense, now take your shirt off, you cant reach your own back." I said rather bossily.
"Okay, but remember I warned you." He said and winced as he moved his arms to unbutton his shirt. I help him to pull it off and gave a gasp. His back was covered with blood and scratch marks. "Told you so," He said giving a small smile..
I just gave a small laugh and wiped the blood away with a wet rag. Once it was clean I could tell where the scratches were. Once each one was covered and taken care of I looked over his back making sure I didn't miss any. The left over part of his back was spotted with scars. One particularly large one stood out to me. I put out my hand and gently ran my finger along it. He shuttered under my touch.
"Oh I'm sorry! Was I hurting you?" I asked quickly yet sincere.
"No, no, it felt good." He said blushing a little.
I ran my hands back over his back making him shudder. When I suddenly realized what I was doing I pulled my hands away and felt the color rise into my cheeks. He turned around to face me to see what was wrong. "I'm sorry." I said blushing more.
"No, don't be. I just haven't had anyone care so much about my cuts. I kind of got lost in the feeling." He said looking down at his feet. I could tell there was something more he didn't want to tell me.
"Remus," I said turning to face him. It was the first time I had used his real name to his face.
"Yes Hermione," He said facing me looking surprised. 'Just do it quickly Hermione' I told my self. I quickly leaned in near to him. I took a deep breath then went for it.
As my lips touched his I was shocked by how cool his body was yet his lips so warm. I could feel him jump lightly in surprise but then relax and pull into the kiss. I relaxed to and wrapped my arm lightly around his neck as not to hurt him, he reacted by wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me closer. I played with the hair at the base of his neck and pulled a little closer to his body. I felt something graze my bottom lip and was shocked yet pleased. As I parted my lips he pulled away.
Panting he gave his explanation, "Hermione I can't. I'm to old, and besides you don't want me to." He said sadly.
"Remus Lupin don't say that! You do not know what I want!" I said offended.
"Well it's not me." He said looking away.
"Remus Lupin, yes it is. I was so worried when you were gone, and my heart literally flipped when I saw you again. Yes I do."
"No."
"I am not going to be two years old with you. If I didn't would I do this?" I said getting up and pulling him up too, then pulling him over and kissing him. I felt him tense up then relax and fall into the kiss. After a few minutes I pulled away. "Any questions?" I asked.
"No, none at all," He said with a happy grin on his face not unlike Ron's. "Oh yeah. I have letters for you." He said quickly rushing out of the room. He soon returned with much thicker letters than before. My face lit up and I grabbed them and rushed into my room flopping down on the bed.
Hey Mione!
I miss you time like...well a lot! It feels like I haven't seen you in forever. O well, you probably want to k now more about what's going on here at Hogwarts more than how much I miss you. Well Quidditch season is sin full blow so I haven't seen Harry or Ron much lately. Harry is team captain and Ron is really a much better keeper this year. When their not practicing then they're polishing their stupid brooms or talking about plays. And every now and then they actually work on homework. They're both doing surprisingly well in their classes despite their procrastination.
Well I'm doing well in my classes but I obviously didn't get the procrastination genes Ron got. Oh, a few days ago Neville asked me out! He said he'd liked me for a while! I said yes of course. I couldn't say no to him even though as you know I've liked Harry for years. I know Harry liked you, its really kind of obvious so I decided to get with Neville. I guess I do kind of fancy him. Well I don't think you want to listen to me ramble on about guys, you never liked it much before.
So how did the full moon go? Where you scared or was he not home? He came and stopped by that day to deliver our letters and talk to the Headmaster about something. He also kept badgering us horribly about replying long letters back to you. Like we needed to be badgered! He looked good when I saw him. You really are lucky to be living with him. And there I go again, sorry. I'll just refrain my self from now on. We have a Hogsmeade trip soon so suspect a heavier package next time I get to write to you. Well I need to go, Lupin is now badgering us to hurry up because he needs to go soon. I hope to see you soon, and take care of your self. Though I know that you will.
Love ya,
Ginny
Mione,
Hey! Long time no see! Lupin was up here, well actually he's here right now. We just got your letters and decided, with a little help from him, to reply now! How was the full moon? Living with a were wolf. Is it scary? O well, Lupin's really a great guy so I guess it doesn't matter. Hey you could be living with Snape. Yet if you were, we would have to put up with the slime ball every week. I could never wish that on you though. Maybe Malfoy, but not you.
Speaking of the Slytherin git, Harry and I have already had a detention because of him. I suppose you'll go crazy if you don't know why so I might as well tell you. He realized you were gone and weren't gonna be back for awhile and he spoke up about it waiting for potions. He said, "So Potter where's the mudblood know-it-all?" and Harry snapped and went flying at him and I didn't have the heart or thought to stop him. When I didn't join he spoke again while dodging Harry's blows. "Hey Weasel, you making money by trying no to beat me up, cause you could really use it. Maybe if you make enough you could buy another room for your family to sleep in." And then I snapped and helped Harry in hurting the crap out of him. We got in about ten good blows each before Snape came and gave us a week detention each.
I had to clean up his stupid room with out magic each day. And to make it worse each day he would always spill something nasty and foul in class and say, "Well Weasley you will have your work cut out for you tonight." Then give that annoying smirk. Harry had to cut up new ingredients though so I guess I got out slightly easier.
Well Quidditch season has started back up. This year we are alto better than last year and fifth year. I was brilliant at our last game. Hufflepuff only got one goal in on me! It was great! Harry is still an excellent seeker, maybe even better this year. Harry won for captain of the team but that's okay. I wasn't much interested in that position anyway. I help him out on most of the plays so that I might as well be co-captain with him. I can't wait until our match against Slytherin! We will beat them so bad! Harry and I both got new brooms this year. His is a new Chinese Flame but I got the improved Firebolt, which isn't too far behind the Flame. You should see him go, its amazing how fast and skilled he can fly. It's definitely the best, and probably most expensive broom yet.
Well Lupin is back. He seems very interested in your happiness, he's been making sure we write back reply's to you. He's now badgering us to hurry up thought because he needs to leave. Well stay safe Hermione and come visit if you can or we'll visit you is allowed. I promise to try not to get any more detentions so no lectures please!
Ron
Hey Hermione!
It seems like forever since we've seen you! I guess that really it's only been a little more than a month. Getting together when you get back sounds wonderful! I don't know if Ron told you about our detention but I'm guessing he did. He's been complaining about it for a while and gives death glares at Malfoy whenever he sees him.
Quidditch season has started up and Ron and me are thrilled. I think Ginny is getting mad at us though. I'm not sure why. I guess we have been spending a lot of time playing Quidditch and practicing. Ron's mum got us both kits for our brooms. Ron bought a improved Firebolt. It's a really nice broom. It's like my old Firebolt but they've improved it by making it more weather resistant and giving it some extra speed. I got a Chinese Flame. If you hadn't just given me money for my past few birthdays and Christmases and Fred and George hadn't paid a little, well 100 Galleons, of it as a thank you for helping them with a kink in their new product, I would've emptied my vault.
Hermione with these times I have no idea what will happen. Voldemort is getting stronger, gathering followers. We know that even though some are in denial. The destruction has already begun and we know it. I know it may seem like small things, just a disappearance here and vandalism there. He is just wondering if the wizarding world will really notice and figure out its his work. Stay alert Hermione. Always stay alert. Dark Wizards are every where in this sad world even though they might have been friends. You know it can happen, Ron and I do too, we saw it happen with Pettigrew. When he betrayed my mum and dad after being good friends with them just for some power. The Order is trying to convince people but we know its not working.
There are things that we must do. We must stay alert, if not we could be harmed or used to cause it. We must stay strong, if we get weak we will only be an easier defeat. There are also things that we can't do. We can't lose hope! Remember that Mione, We must not loose hope! Hermione also know that I love you. This is hard to say even in a letter, but I love you. I have for a while, and I hope we can always stay friends.
I love you,
Harry
As I finished my letters I quickly buried Harry's on the bottom. I didn't want to let my self think of that. As I as gathering the letters together I saw a package. Reaching over and grabbing it and pulled it onto my lap. I pulled the paper off slowly like a little child wanting to preserve the paper. What I saw before me made me gasp.
Laying on the paper was a small velvet pouch, a card, and pictures. I took the card and read;
Dear Hermione,
We all miss you a lot. We decided to give you these two things to remind you of the home you were forced to leave. We all pitched in for the gift and hope you like it.
Love your friends,
Harry
Ron
Neville
Seamus
Ginny
I smiled. My friends were wonderful. I decided to look at the pouch next. As I poured it out and gave a smile. There was a beautiful bracelet. It was a charm bracelet and each charm was related to wizarding. One was a miniature broomstick, one a wand resembling mine. There was also a hat and a small Hogwarts crest. Last and my favorite was a little ginger colored cat. It was a exact match of Crookshanks. I smiled and slipped it on, it was a perfect fit.
I next pulled out the envelope of pictures. My gaze was met with pictures of all my friends. There was a picture of Ron smiling and waving, and a matching one of Harry. Next was one of McGonagall, Hagrid, and Dumbledore. After that was one of Ginny smiling and waving, and a picture of Neville, Dean and Seamus all together. And then there was a large group photo of them all. The last few I decided were my favorite, there were three of them and all of Crookshanks. He was chasing a mouse in one, sitting in another, and in the last stalking a house elf.
It was amazing. I'm so against house elves and yet my own cat has fun chasing them around the castle. 'I can't believe my friends did all this for me! The bracelet is gorgeous and I love the pictures, I wonder if Remus has any frames lying around or tape to put these up with.' I thought and sat down to read through the letters and look at the pictures again.
A/N: Sorry I took forever to get this up. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!!!! That would make me very happy and update faster.
