A.N. I just want you guys to know I struggled so much with this chapter. I actually fought with myself, for a brief insane moment I considered making this a Hermione/Ron, and then reality slapped me in the face. Grrrr. So yeah, I promise this is going to stay Remus/Hermione, despite the circumstances. I promise.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, except for the plot.

Hermione rolled the chess piece between her fingers. Her glare glued to the side table about to burst into flames.

Ron cautiously approached her, "Hey 'Mione, are you ok?"

"No, not really." She looked down at the sharp noise of a chess piece breaking. The piece squealed in agony as Hermione proceeded to look guilty. "Oh bloody hell!" She crossed her arms stuffing the chess piece between the cushions on her chair.

Ron did his best to hide a smile, his efforts not very affective.

"What precisely is so funny?" Hermione asked crossly.

Ron laughed out loud, grabbing his sides, gasping for breath. "'Mione, you remind me of a child so much right now! I mean seriously, Lupin being an ass or not. Should I give you some medicine?"

Hermione lifted an eyebrow, "Why would I need medicine?"

"Whenever I was being a horrible person, my mother would threaten me with medicine." Ron said, plopping down next her and throwing an arm around her shoulder.

Hermione ignored the sting inside her heart, that it wasn't Remus' arm around her. "Just don't think about him.'

"I have an idea, come with me," Ron said, taking her hand.

"No Ronald, I am not doing this."

"Oh come'on 'Mione, it'll be fun!"

"Fun is on the ground."

"I prefer it in the air actually," Ron said, wiggling his eyebrows.

Hermione's jaw dropped. 'Well this is new.' "I'm not getting on your broom."

Ron huffed and then flew up a few feet. "Now or I'll make you."

Hermione lifted an eyebrow, "And how do you plan to do this?"

Ron's grins turned devilish, "No one, can outrun a broom, not even the great Hermione."

Hermione took a step back on the Quidditch Pitch, "You wouldn't dare!"

Ron turned the broom in a semi-circle, diving at the young girl. Hermione's eyes got the size of saucers as she turned and ran as fast as her legs would carry her. Ron aimed perfectly, grabbing her waist as the front of the broom swept her feet from under her.

Hermione squealed burying her head in his chest. "Can we please go down now?"

Ron laughed lightly, "The fun just starts here."

"So what do I have to do to make you land?" she asked her voice shaky.

Ron laughed, "All you have to do is smile Hermione. Just smile for me." He flashed her a charming smile flying higher into the sky.

For a moment she spared the chance of looking up. It was beautiful. The water in the clouds clung to her hair, clothes, and face. The sun broke over the clouds and nearly blinded Hermione with eh intensity. The cold was the farthest thing in her mind. The closest was Ron, his soft body against hers. He was showing her a world Hermione was so unfamiliar to, a sense of recklessness Remus had never possessed. Her eyes opened in wonder as a gasp slippedthrough her throat.

"So Hermione, how do you like my world?" Ron asked, his breath floating over her ear.

"It's amazing." she said her hands tightening on his arms.

The wind gently rustled her hair as she leaned back. "Thank you for being here for me. You've made me smile, that's a gift I can never repay."

"You're more than welcome," he said, resting his head on top of hers, the broom gently floating above reality.

Classes for Hermione were strained, as was most of life. Not that she couldn't do the work, but it was simply rather boring, she had read all the material previously. Usually Hermione enjoyed classes and recovering the material. But with Remus gone, the zest to learn was missing. She had learned all she needed anyways. Hermione physically jumped, that had been the first time something like that had happened. Hermione Granger was bored with learning. She felt tears sting her eyes, 'What is going on? I mean yes, I have never felt like this, but still.... It was my only passion left.' As is on cue, she turned to Ron, who had his bottom lip between his teeth in concentration. She walked over to help him, and try to entertain herself for a time.

"Not like that you twat." Hermione said, taking his wrist.

Ron stuck his tongue out. "Not all of us are perfect, forgive us your highness."

She moved his arms with hers, showing him the proper movements and incantations. Harry and Dean shared a look. Their physical closeness a bit too close for friends.

Ron sighed heavily sitting on his bed as Harry sat on the other side. "So mate, what are you and Hermione up to?"

"I'm not quite sure. I mean I always knew she was a girl, but still, Harry, she's a girl!" Ron said, facing his friend.

Harry chuckled softly, but stopped as his eyes turned dark. "Even so, if you can make her forget about Lupin. It would be the right thing to do."

Ron threw a pillow at him. "I have enough on my plate Wonder Boy! And I do not want to be her rebound, I'm not sure that.... this..... is even what I really want. I'm just seeing where this goes for now."

"Good idea," Harry said, throwing the pillow back.

Ron stared into the light streaming in his window. 'What do I want from Hermione? Do I want her? Or, do I want to help her?'

He sighed, burying his head in the pillows. 'For now, I want to sleep.'

Ginny watched Hermione bite her nails nervously. Hermione had called her up to her room, saying she wanted to talk. Ginny was rather surprised when she saw Hermione fighting tears and at the same time managing to look enraged. She reached forward, "Hermione, he's a jerk forget him."

Hermione lifted her face, "I'm such a 'scarlet woman'.

Ginny lifted an eyebrow.

"He only left two weeks ago, and already your brother... he's..... he's being..... he's being bloody perfect and it's pissing me off!" Hermione said, crossing her arms.

"Hermione, love, what's wrong with falling for my brother?" Ginny asked, tilting her chin up. "He'll treat you better. He won't run off with someone else. Ron may be and idiot, but his heart is in the right place."

Hermione sniffled, "I know, I just feel so guilty about it all."

"Give him a chance Hermione, he'll love you."

'But I think I still love Remus.'

"Bash his head in Harry!" Ginny screamed at the Quidditch Match against Slytherin, two days later. Hermioen had become a hermit for thos past two days, and Ginny had figured the sun would do her some good. So dragging her off to the Quidditch game had been the most practical thing to do.

Harry laughed richly throwing his head back and winking at his girlfriend. Ginny blushed suitably and smiled shyly at him. Harry smirked, it was hard to think that that mouth that had just smiled so sweetly at him, had him moaning in ecstasy the night before.

In his present state of mind Harry was paying little attention to the game and nearly flew into the teachers seats.

He pulled out of the way just in time, "Whoopsies!"

"Bloody hell Harry watch it will you?" Fred yelled from the stands.

Twenty minutes Harry's hand closed tightly around the snitch, as Malfoy cursed behind him.

The party the Gryffindor's threw attracted most of the Houses, cramming them all into the rather small space of the common room. Harry and Ginny had disappeared and everyone else was playing oblivious as to the reason why, nothing like a good victory shag.

Ron watched Hermione sitting on the couch chattering away with Lavender. He was lying to Harry before. He had long ago noticed Hermione was a girl. In their fourth year at the Yule Ball was precisely when. He had noticed the soft curls that fell down her back, her warm eyes, and her slender form. She had blossomed from a know-it-all eleven year old, to a beautiful confident woman. Ron had in no way missed those details. Her relationship with Krum had forced him to see what he was missing and what he had lost.

"I always knew you had a thing for her," George said sidling up to his brother. "Since Remus left her, why not go for it. She's lonely. She spends all night in her room, just reading, trying to fill the gap he left."

Ron snorted, "That's awful deep for you George."

"I know, but still, don't think me as shallow as I look. She's one hell of a girl mate."

Ron nodded his head, going back to watching her. He made a decision, letting feelings resurface he had long ago buried.

A.N. SO whatchya think and once again I PROMISE THIS WILL STAY HERMIONE/REMUS! oh yeah and my beta's asleep and i really wanted to post this, so exscuse the gramatical errors, she said she'd review it in the morning! OKay so go easy on me. I'm really not sure about how this chappie turned out so all feedback is apprecaited... R&R plz!