The trip back to King's Cross Station was a lot of fun. They talked and laughed with a freedom they hadn't felt in over a week. It was nice to be able to relax and not feel like an attack was coming any second.
Being able to finally relax acted like a sleeping pill on them. Their lively conversation turned to comfortable silence and one by one they all drifted off, except for Hermione. The thought of meeting Remus's parents was starting to unnerve her.
Remus was stretched out across the seat and had his head in her lap. She was absentmindedly stroking his hair and staring out the window. Across from her and to the right sat James and Lily, cuddled together in the corner. Sirius was sitting directly across from her watching her, though she didn't notice at first.
Eventually she got tired of staring out the window at passing green hills. She glanced across from her to see Sirius staring at her. She smiled. "I thought you were sleeping," she whispered.
He shook his head. "I can never sleep on the train. It makes me nauseous."
"Nauseous? You can zoom around on that awful broom of yours, flipping and diving like crazy, but you can't sleep on a train?"
He shrugged. "Why aren't you asleep? Aren't you tired?"
"I'm nervous, Sirius," she confessed.
"Why are you nervous?"
"I'm going to meet Remus's parents tonight," she said as if it were obvious.
"So?"
"So," she said, exasperated. "If you were meeting your boyfriend's parents for the first time, wouldn't you be nervous?"
"No, I'd be more nervous that I had a boyfriend," he teased.
She stuck out her tongue at him. "You know what I mean."
"What's there to be nervous about, really? They're just people."
"Yes, but what if they don't like me?"
"They probably won't," he said seriously.
"If he wasn't sleeping," Hermione began, nodding toward Remus. "I'd get up and smack you."
Sirius laughed softly. "They're going to love you, Hermione. And even if they don't, who cares?"
"I care," said Hermione frowning. "I want them to like me. Don't you want people to like you?"
"When your own mother can't stand the sight of you," began Sirius bitterly, "what other people say and think becomes far less important." Hermione looked away, embarrassed. "Hey," continued Sirius softly. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I said that. Remus's parents will love you. You make it easy to love you." He blushed and turned away.
"Sirius," began Hermione. "I really think your mother was... is... certifiable. What's she says and thinks, well I don't know that she can help it. You shouldn't take it as a sign that there's something wrong with you, because there's not. You're wonderful."
"So you've met my mother," said Sirius, somewhat surprised.
"Umm, well no actually, not really. I just sort of know what she's put you through."
"My mother," spat Sirius, "is nothing but a bitter witch obsessed with the purity of our family. Do you know she actually demanded that I be placed in Slytherin when I arrived at Hogwarts? She said it was the only way to guarantee I didn't share a room with mudbloods and traitors. Boy was she angry when I was placed in Gryffindor."
"I bet," said Hermione.
"Yeah and my older brother Regulus couldn't wait to write home and tell her all about it. He was such a..." Sirius paused, searching for the word. "Idiot," he finished. "He was an idiot until the day he died."
"Sirius,"
"I'm sorry Hermione," interrupted Sirius. "I don't want to talk about my family. I don't know why I brought them up. I left and I'm never going back."
"Okay," agreed Hermione. She remembered that horrible portrait of Sirius's mother and if the real thing was even a tiny bit like the portrait, she hoped he was never around her again. They were silent for several minutes until Sirius spoke again.
"I was thinking," he began, but didn't continue.
"About?" prodded Hermione.
"You know what, never mind. It doesn't matter," he said changing his mind.
"Tell me."
He took a deep breath. "I was thinking about the Department of Mysteries."
"Oh," said Hermione. She looked down to make sure Remus was still sleeping. "Why were you thinking about that?"
"We never talked about it again after that time by the lake. I understood why it got kind of a low priority, but I was wondering if you still wanted to go."
"Umm, no I... I don't think so, not anymore."
"Why?" he asked curiously.
"I don't know," she replied with a shrug. "It's not important anymore."
"Not important? Why?"
"Because other things are important now," she said with a bit of an edge to her voice.
"Other things, like?"
"Stop playing dumb, Sirius. You know what other things. It doesn't matter to me anymore. I don't want it, whatever it was I thought I needed. I just don't want it anymore. I don't. If you really sit down and think about it, it was just a ridiculous idea. Go to the Department of Mysteries because your two best mates, who by the way won't even be born for another three years, told you to in a dream. No, I won't. No."
"I could come by Sunday morning and take you. We don't have to be back at King's Cross until four."
"Sirius, are you listening to me?" asked Hermione.
"I heard every word you didn't say."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Can we just drop it?"
"What are you so afraid of now?" he taunted her.
"I'm not afraid of anything," she replied angrily. "This isn't something I want to do and I'm not going to do anything I don't want to do."
"Or he doesn't want you to do," muttered Sirius.
"Be careful, Sirius," said Hermione through gritted teeth. "Don't cross the line. They turned away angrily from each other and didn't speak again until the end of the trip. She was grateful when they finally arrived at the station.
She walked through the barrier between platforms nine and ten with Remus. Sirius, James, and Lily had gone ahead and she could already see them greeting the Potter's. They saw Hermione and Remus and waved them over.
Mr. and Mrs. Potter hugged Hermione and Remus in turn. "I hope you've been doing well," said Mr. Potter to Hermione.
"I have, thank you," returned Hermione.
"We told Dumbledore we'd be happy for you to come with us for the weekend since it wouldn't be easy for you to go back home, but we understand why you would want to meet the Lupin's." Hermione could only blush. "We hope you'll come back and visit us this summer. Mrs. Potter and I really enjoyed getting to know you."
"Thank you," said Hermione feeling very touched. "I will."
Mr. Potter looked up at Remus. "You too, Remus," he said sincerely. "Both of you are always welcome in our home."
"Thank you sir," said Remus smiling.
The five friends each took turns hugging goodbye. Sirius hung back and approached Hermione when everyone else had moved away. She hugged him reluctantly. "I'll see you Sunday morning," he whispered, before releasing her and running to catch up with James.
"Hermione, come on," said Remus. He took her hand and led her toward his family. She pushed thoughts of Sirius to the back of her mind, took a deep breath and squeezed Remus's hand tightly.
"Relax," he whispered out of the side of his mouth.
"Remus," called a couple who was walking swiftly towards them. Hermione dropped his hand and let him meet his parents. They hugged enthusiastically. Hermione smiled remembering what it was like to see her family when she would come home for the summer. She felt slightly jealous of Remus.
Remus led his parents over to where Hermione was waiting. "Dad, mum, this is Hermione Granger. Hermione, these are my parents, Daphne and Robert Lupin." They nodded and shook hands genially.
"Very nice to meet you both," said Hermione politely. She was struck by how beautiful Remus's mother was. She had long brown hair that fell down her back in soft waves. She was tall and had a beautiful figure. His father looked a lot like him. He wasn't quite as tall as his wife and his hair was sandy brown, more like Remus's. But their eyes were the same beautiful blue.
"It's nice to meet you too, Hermione," said Mrs. Lupin warmly. "Remus has talked of nothing but you in his letters home. It's good to put a face to the name."
Hermione smiled, not really sure what to say. She looked at Remus, hoping he would rescue her, which of course he did immediately.
"Mum, I hope you've made supper because I'm starving. We left before dinner," said Remus.
"Of course sweetheart," replied Mrs. Lupin, placing one hand on his cheek. "Let's get home."
The Lupin's house was as different from the Potter's as it could be. The yard was so small it could barely be classified as a yard and the house itself looked like it needed several repairs.
Hermione followed the Lupin's into their modest home and was delighted by the inside. The furniture was old and worn, but looked very comfortable. Everything was so lovely and warm and it smelled wonderful.
"Remus," began his father. "Take Hermione to the spare bedroom and let her get settled, then come back out here and we'll have some supper."
"Yes dad," said Remus quickly. He took Hermione's hand and led her down a narrow hallway. Behind the very last door on the left was a small room. It was decorated almost entirely in soft pinks and yellows.
"This is a beautiful room," commented Hermione, turning around the room.
"It was my sister's," said Remus softly, putting Hermione's overnight bag on the bed.
"Your sister," said Hermione in surprise. "I didn't know you had a sister."
"Daphne, my sister, died when I was a five. She was just a baby."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"My parents never seemed to have the heart to change her room. My dad was finally able to convince mum to get rid of the crib when I went off to Hogwarts." He crossed the room and picked up a small gold picture frame. He held it out for Hermione.
"That's my mother holding Daphne and right behind her peeking over her shoulder is me."
Hermione smiled widely. "Look at you. You look positively in love."
"I don't really remember her, but my parents say I thought she was my own little doll."
"Your mother is very beautiful," commented Hermione.
"I hadn't seen her match before I met you," replied Remus.
Hermione burst out laughing. "Really Remus, you're too much."
"I'm serious," he said pretending to be affronted.
"You're also blind," she teased. "I'd give 10 points off the top of my I.Q. for your mother's hair."
"I have noticed that yours get uncommonly wild after our late night... uh... study sessions, but I wouldn't change it for the world."
She reached for the pillow lying at the top of the bed and smacked him with it. "If it's wild, it's your fault for messing with it." She swung the pillow back around and hit him again for good measure.
Laughing, he grabbed her around the waist and wrestled the pillow from her grasp. "I like it that way."
She laughed and tried to get away from him. "If I'd known that I wouldn't spend twenty minutes every morning trying to get it to behave."
"Well don't stop now. Part of the fun is getting to mess it up at night."
"Remus," called Mr. Lupin from across the house. "We're waiting."
"Coming dad," he called back. Then he reached over and ran both his hands through Hermione's hair, rumpling it.
"Remus," she shrieked. He ran out of the room laughing, while Hermione frantically tried to set her hair right, before hurrying after him.
They were all sitting at the table and Remus was grinning at her. She quickly took the empty seat next to him. "Sorry," she murmured.
"I hope you're hungry," said Mrs. Lupin. "There's plenty."
They spent the next few minutes filling their plates and eating silently.
"Hermione, why don't you tell us a little bit about your family?" asked Mr. Lupin.
Hermione swallowed the bite in her mouth slowly. "My family lives in France."
"Oh really," said Mrs. Lupin. "Where in France?"
"Umm... Strasbourg, near the German border," she said praying all the while that they weren't familiar with the area."
"How long has your family been there?"
"Umm, about six or seven years."
"They must miss you an awful lot," said Mrs. Lupin. "I know we miss Remus when he's at school."
"Yeah," agreed Hermione. "I miss them too," she said softly. Remus reached under the table and squeezed her knee gently.
"I imagine you're looking forward to getting home at the end of term," Mrs. Lupin continued.
"Actually," began Hermione, deciding it was time to inject some truthfulness into the conversation. "I'm not going home. I've decided to stay in England after we graduate."
"Oh really, and what are your plans?"
"Simple I guess," she replied. "Find a place to stay, get a job, hopefully not in that order."
"Hermione's probably the smartest witch at Hogwarts," injected Remus. "She won't have any trouble finding a job." His parents smiled and everyone returned to eating.
After another few awkward minutes, Hermione spoke up. "This is very good, Mrs. Lupin."
"Thank you, Hermione. It's Remus's favorite," she replied warmly.
"Oh really, I'll have to keep that in mind," said Hermione with a smile before returning to her meal. She didn't notice the look Mrs. Lupin shot at Mr. Lupin.
The meal continued in this way. They ate and every once in a while someone would ask a question or make a comment. Hermione was glad when the meal was finally over.
Mrs. Lupin insisted that Hermione and Remus go sit in the living room and relax while she and Mr. Lupin cleaned up. Hermione sat stiffly on the edge of the couch.
"Would you relax," teased Remus, poking her in the side.
"Stop it," she hissed. "I'm trying to."
"It's just my parents. They're going to love you as much as I do."
"Remus, I hate lying. I can't keep it all straight in my head," she said desperately. "I'm just such a bad liar. They're bound to figure it out."
"You're doing fine. I won't let them interrogate you. I promise. They're just curious about you." He leaned over and kissed her gently. "Trust me," he whispered against her lips, before kissing her again.
"Ahem."
Remus pulled away from Hermione slowly and looked up at his dad. "Great timing, dad."
"I try," teased his father. "Your mother wants to know if you two want milk in your tea."
"No, none for me," replied Remus. "Hermione?"
She shook her head. "No, thank you," she said softly. Mr. Lupin smiled and nodded before returning to the kitchen. When he was gone, Hermione stood. "Remus, where's the bathroom?"
"Down the hall, first door on your right," he replied.
"Thanks," she said, before hurrying away. She closed the door to the bathroom behind her and leaned against the door breathing deeply for a few minutes. She had never felt more out of her element in her life. More than anything she wanted his parents to like her and she had never felt less worthy. She went to the sink and turned on the tap, splashing cold water on her face. She narrowed her eyes at her reflection. "You're pathetic, you know that," she told herself. She laughed at herself for being so silly, and then dried her hands and face before exiting the bathroom.
She could hear Remus and his parents talking as she approached the living room. She stopped midway and listened.
"She seems like a lovely girl, Remus," said Mrs. Lupin.
"She is," replied Remus. "Listen, could you ease up just a bit. She's really nervous about meeting you guys."
"She did seem a little jumpy," observed Mr. Lupin.
"What's there to be nervous about," dismissed Mrs. Lupin.
"Mum," said Remus. "She wants you guys to like her."
"And I'm sure we will once we get to know her," she said. "But you know you have to let us question her. We know so little about her and the two of you seem so close after such a short period of time. Remus, how well do you really know her?"
"Daphne," warned her husband. "We said we weren't going to get into this tonight."
"I know, I know," she conceded. "Remus honey, don't look at me like that. I have every right to be curious about the people in your life. Especially..."
"Especially what?" asked Remus and Hermione could hear an edge to his tone.
"It's just that you never explained how she knew what you were and now the whole school knows and Headmaster Dumbledore came by the middle of last week and told us you were having a bit of a hard time at school..."
"Did he also tell you how Hermione was sticking up for me?" interrupted Remus.
"Yes," conceded his mother. "That's one of the reasons we extended the invitation. I knew I had to get to know the girl who not only charmed our son, but also the Headmaster of Hogwarts. Dumbledore couldn't say enough positive things about her."
"I'm glad you invited her," said Remus. "I really want you guys to get to know each other, because she's becoming, no she is very important to me."
"We can see that son, but your mother and I are still concerned. We worry about you, more so than most parents probably."
"Hermione doesn't care about my condition," said Remus. "If that's what you're worried about. It's just not an issue for us."
"Of course it's an issue, Remus," said his mother sharply.
"Shh," hushed Remus glancing toward the hallway. Hermione pressed herself further into the wall.
"I can't believe you're that naïve."
"Daphne, not now," interrupted Mr. Lupin.
"No," said Mrs. Lupin. "Remus, I'm sorry, but what do you really know about that girl. You've only just met her and you've already given away your heart. Sweetheart, I love you. I don't want you to get hurt."
"Well I love her and I know she won't hurt me." There was a long pause, and Hermione knew she should be getting back, but she couldn't make herself move. "I'm going to go check on Hermione," said Remus shortly.
Hermione moved back to the bathroom quickly. She didn't want Remus to know she had heard everything. She waited silently and in a matter of seconds heard a knock on the bathroom door. She opened the door with a smile plastered on her face.
"You ok?" asked Remus.
"Mm Hm," she murmured. "Just taking a minute to calm down," she explained.
"Well come on," he said taking her hand. He entwined his fingers through hers and brought her hand up to his lips to kiss. She loved when he did that, it felt so intimate to her.
They entered the living room and sat together on the couch. Remus never released her hand. Hermione noticed that both Mr. and Mrs. Lupin were sitting calmly, smiling at them as if nothing had happened.
The rest of the night was spent drinking tea and exchanging polite, but irrelevant conversation. Remus answered most of the personal questions directed at Hermione and deflected anything he deemed too personal. Finally when it was near midnight things started to wind down.
"You look tired, Remus," said his mother. "Maybe you ought to get to bed."
"Mum," Remus protested. "I'm not a little child anymore. I don't need to be reminded to go to bed."
"I know that dear, but the full moon's only a week away and..."
"Mum," he cut her off.
"Honey, I think your mom's right," interrupted Hermione. "We've had a long day and an even longer week." She brushed a lock of his hair off his forehead gently. "And you do look tired."
He smiled. "Okay," he agreed. "But only because you look tired too." He stood and pulled her to her feet. He went over and hugged his father and kissed his mother. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," echoed Hermione. "Thank you for the wonderful dinner and for having me over."
"Of course," smiled Mrs. Lupin warmly. "We'll talk some more in the morning," she promised.
Remus led her to the guestroom and gave her a chaste kiss at the door. "Goodnight," he whispered.
"Goodnight," she returned. "I love you."
"I love you two," he said giving her one more kiss before going to his room. She closed the door behind her and quickly changed for bed.
She lay awake for a long time thinking about the things she had heard Remus's mother say. It was obvious to her that his mother was very protective of him, but Hermione couldn't really blame her. If their roles were reversed, Hermione knew she would have felt the same way. The only thing to do, she concluded, was to show Mrs. Lupin how much she cared about her son.
Hermione wasn't sure how long she had been asleep when she heard her door open. For a disoriented second she thought she was at Hogwarts before she remembered she was staying at Remus's house. She squinted in the darkness and could barely make out the shape approaching her bed.
"Hermione," Remus whispered.
"What's the matter," she said tiredly.
"I can't sleep," he said in a sad voice and she nearly laughed out loud.
"You sound like a little boy," she returned. He pushed her over a bit and sat on her bed. "What are you doing?" she demanded in a whisper.
"Staying with you," he stated. "I can't sleep, knowing you're across the hall."
"No way," she hissed. "Get out now."
"Hermione," he protested.
"No," she said firmly, pushing him away from her. "I want your mother to like me, not think I'm some kind of... you know what."
"She won't. I promise I'll be out before morning."
"No," repeated Hermione, but he wasn't listening. He squirmed into the bed next to her and pinned her down, kissing her long and hard. His hand went to her waist and he tickled her ribcage.
She giggled against his mouth. "Damn it, Remus," she whispered. "If they catch you..."
"They won't," he said happily and rolled off her. He spooned up against her and threw his arm around her waist and she laced her fingers through his and settled comfortably against him.
"I love you," she said through a yawn.
"Mmm, me too," he mumbled. They were asleep within minutes.
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A/N: I have to say a special thanks to reviewer Creative Deficit. The scene on the train between Sirius and Hermione was partially inspired by your review. I love when I get suggestions in the reviews and occasionally some of those suggestions end up in the story.
Being able to finally relax acted like a sleeping pill on them. Their lively conversation turned to comfortable silence and one by one they all drifted off, except for Hermione. The thought of meeting Remus's parents was starting to unnerve her.
Remus was stretched out across the seat and had his head in her lap. She was absentmindedly stroking his hair and staring out the window. Across from her and to the right sat James and Lily, cuddled together in the corner. Sirius was sitting directly across from her watching her, though she didn't notice at first.
Eventually she got tired of staring out the window at passing green hills. She glanced across from her to see Sirius staring at her. She smiled. "I thought you were sleeping," she whispered.
He shook his head. "I can never sleep on the train. It makes me nauseous."
"Nauseous? You can zoom around on that awful broom of yours, flipping and diving like crazy, but you can't sleep on a train?"
He shrugged. "Why aren't you asleep? Aren't you tired?"
"I'm nervous, Sirius," she confessed.
"Why are you nervous?"
"I'm going to meet Remus's parents tonight," she said as if it were obvious.
"So?"
"So," she said, exasperated. "If you were meeting your boyfriend's parents for the first time, wouldn't you be nervous?"
"No, I'd be more nervous that I had a boyfriend," he teased.
She stuck out her tongue at him. "You know what I mean."
"What's there to be nervous about, really? They're just people."
"Yes, but what if they don't like me?"
"They probably won't," he said seriously.
"If he wasn't sleeping," Hermione began, nodding toward Remus. "I'd get up and smack you."
Sirius laughed softly. "They're going to love you, Hermione. And even if they don't, who cares?"
"I care," said Hermione frowning. "I want them to like me. Don't you want people to like you?"
"When your own mother can't stand the sight of you," began Sirius bitterly, "what other people say and think becomes far less important." Hermione looked away, embarrassed. "Hey," continued Sirius softly. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I said that. Remus's parents will love you. You make it easy to love you." He blushed and turned away.
"Sirius," began Hermione. "I really think your mother was... is... certifiable. What's she says and thinks, well I don't know that she can help it. You shouldn't take it as a sign that there's something wrong with you, because there's not. You're wonderful."
"So you've met my mother," said Sirius, somewhat surprised.
"Umm, well no actually, not really. I just sort of know what she's put you through."
"My mother," spat Sirius, "is nothing but a bitter witch obsessed with the purity of our family. Do you know she actually demanded that I be placed in Slytherin when I arrived at Hogwarts? She said it was the only way to guarantee I didn't share a room with mudbloods and traitors. Boy was she angry when I was placed in Gryffindor."
"I bet," said Hermione.
"Yeah and my older brother Regulus couldn't wait to write home and tell her all about it. He was such a..." Sirius paused, searching for the word. "Idiot," he finished. "He was an idiot until the day he died."
"Sirius,"
"I'm sorry Hermione," interrupted Sirius. "I don't want to talk about my family. I don't know why I brought them up. I left and I'm never going back."
"Okay," agreed Hermione. She remembered that horrible portrait of Sirius's mother and if the real thing was even a tiny bit like the portrait, she hoped he was never around her again. They were silent for several minutes until Sirius spoke again.
"I was thinking," he began, but didn't continue.
"About?" prodded Hermione.
"You know what, never mind. It doesn't matter," he said changing his mind.
"Tell me."
He took a deep breath. "I was thinking about the Department of Mysteries."
"Oh," said Hermione. She looked down to make sure Remus was still sleeping. "Why were you thinking about that?"
"We never talked about it again after that time by the lake. I understood why it got kind of a low priority, but I was wondering if you still wanted to go."
"Umm, no I... I don't think so, not anymore."
"Why?" he asked curiously.
"I don't know," she replied with a shrug. "It's not important anymore."
"Not important? Why?"
"Because other things are important now," she said with a bit of an edge to her voice.
"Other things, like?"
"Stop playing dumb, Sirius. You know what other things. It doesn't matter to me anymore. I don't want it, whatever it was I thought I needed. I just don't want it anymore. I don't. If you really sit down and think about it, it was just a ridiculous idea. Go to the Department of Mysteries because your two best mates, who by the way won't even be born for another three years, told you to in a dream. No, I won't. No."
"I could come by Sunday morning and take you. We don't have to be back at King's Cross until four."
"Sirius, are you listening to me?" asked Hermione.
"I heard every word you didn't say."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Can we just drop it?"
"What are you so afraid of now?" he taunted her.
"I'm not afraid of anything," she replied angrily. "This isn't something I want to do and I'm not going to do anything I don't want to do."
"Or he doesn't want you to do," muttered Sirius.
"Be careful, Sirius," said Hermione through gritted teeth. "Don't cross the line. They turned away angrily from each other and didn't speak again until the end of the trip. She was grateful when they finally arrived at the station.
She walked through the barrier between platforms nine and ten with Remus. Sirius, James, and Lily had gone ahead and she could already see them greeting the Potter's. They saw Hermione and Remus and waved them over.
Mr. and Mrs. Potter hugged Hermione and Remus in turn. "I hope you've been doing well," said Mr. Potter to Hermione.
"I have, thank you," returned Hermione.
"We told Dumbledore we'd be happy for you to come with us for the weekend since it wouldn't be easy for you to go back home, but we understand why you would want to meet the Lupin's." Hermione could only blush. "We hope you'll come back and visit us this summer. Mrs. Potter and I really enjoyed getting to know you."
"Thank you," said Hermione feeling very touched. "I will."
Mr. Potter looked up at Remus. "You too, Remus," he said sincerely. "Both of you are always welcome in our home."
"Thank you sir," said Remus smiling.
The five friends each took turns hugging goodbye. Sirius hung back and approached Hermione when everyone else had moved away. She hugged him reluctantly. "I'll see you Sunday morning," he whispered, before releasing her and running to catch up with James.
"Hermione, come on," said Remus. He took her hand and led her toward his family. She pushed thoughts of Sirius to the back of her mind, took a deep breath and squeezed Remus's hand tightly.
"Relax," he whispered out of the side of his mouth.
"Remus," called a couple who was walking swiftly towards them. Hermione dropped his hand and let him meet his parents. They hugged enthusiastically. Hermione smiled remembering what it was like to see her family when she would come home for the summer. She felt slightly jealous of Remus.
Remus led his parents over to where Hermione was waiting. "Dad, mum, this is Hermione Granger. Hermione, these are my parents, Daphne and Robert Lupin." They nodded and shook hands genially.
"Very nice to meet you both," said Hermione politely. She was struck by how beautiful Remus's mother was. She had long brown hair that fell down her back in soft waves. She was tall and had a beautiful figure. His father looked a lot like him. He wasn't quite as tall as his wife and his hair was sandy brown, more like Remus's. But their eyes were the same beautiful blue.
"It's nice to meet you too, Hermione," said Mrs. Lupin warmly. "Remus has talked of nothing but you in his letters home. It's good to put a face to the name."
Hermione smiled, not really sure what to say. She looked at Remus, hoping he would rescue her, which of course he did immediately.
"Mum, I hope you've made supper because I'm starving. We left before dinner," said Remus.
"Of course sweetheart," replied Mrs. Lupin, placing one hand on his cheek. "Let's get home."
The Lupin's house was as different from the Potter's as it could be. The yard was so small it could barely be classified as a yard and the house itself looked like it needed several repairs.
Hermione followed the Lupin's into their modest home and was delighted by the inside. The furniture was old and worn, but looked very comfortable. Everything was so lovely and warm and it smelled wonderful.
"Remus," began his father. "Take Hermione to the spare bedroom and let her get settled, then come back out here and we'll have some supper."
"Yes dad," said Remus quickly. He took Hermione's hand and led her down a narrow hallway. Behind the very last door on the left was a small room. It was decorated almost entirely in soft pinks and yellows.
"This is a beautiful room," commented Hermione, turning around the room.
"It was my sister's," said Remus softly, putting Hermione's overnight bag on the bed.
"Your sister," said Hermione in surprise. "I didn't know you had a sister."
"Daphne, my sister, died when I was a five. She was just a baby."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"My parents never seemed to have the heart to change her room. My dad was finally able to convince mum to get rid of the crib when I went off to Hogwarts." He crossed the room and picked up a small gold picture frame. He held it out for Hermione.
"That's my mother holding Daphne and right behind her peeking over her shoulder is me."
Hermione smiled widely. "Look at you. You look positively in love."
"I don't really remember her, but my parents say I thought she was my own little doll."
"Your mother is very beautiful," commented Hermione.
"I hadn't seen her match before I met you," replied Remus.
Hermione burst out laughing. "Really Remus, you're too much."
"I'm serious," he said pretending to be affronted.
"You're also blind," she teased. "I'd give 10 points off the top of my I.Q. for your mother's hair."
"I have noticed that yours get uncommonly wild after our late night... uh... study sessions, but I wouldn't change it for the world."
She reached for the pillow lying at the top of the bed and smacked him with it. "If it's wild, it's your fault for messing with it." She swung the pillow back around and hit him again for good measure.
Laughing, he grabbed her around the waist and wrestled the pillow from her grasp. "I like it that way."
She laughed and tried to get away from him. "If I'd known that I wouldn't spend twenty minutes every morning trying to get it to behave."
"Well don't stop now. Part of the fun is getting to mess it up at night."
"Remus," called Mr. Lupin from across the house. "We're waiting."
"Coming dad," he called back. Then he reached over and ran both his hands through Hermione's hair, rumpling it.
"Remus," she shrieked. He ran out of the room laughing, while Hermione frantically tried to set her hair right, before hurrying after him.
They were all sitting at the table and Remus was grinning at her. She quickly took the empty seat next to him. "Sorry," she murmured.
"I hope you're hungry," said Mrs. Lupin. "There's plenty."
They spent the next few minutes filling their plates and eating silently.
"Hermione, why don't you tell us a little bit about your family?" asked Mr. Lupin.
Hermione swallowed the bite in her mouth slowly. "My family lives in France."
"Oh really," said Mrs. Lupin. "Where in France?"
"Umm... Strasbourg, near the German border," she said praying all the while that they weren't familiar with the area."
"How long has your family been there?"
"Umm, about six or seven years."
"They must miss you an awful lot," said Mrs. Lupin. "I know we miss Remus when he's at school."
"Yeah," agreed Hermione. "I miss them too," she said softly. Remus reached under the table and squeezed her knee gently.
"I imagine you're looking forward to getting home at the end of term," Mrs. Lupin continued.
"Actually," began Hermione, deciding it was time to inject some truthfulness into the conversation. "I'm not going home. I've decided to stay in England after we graduate."
"Oh really, and what are your plans?"
"Simple I guess," she replied. "Find a place to stay, get a job, hopefully not in that order."
"Hermione's probably the smartest witch at Hogwarts," injected Remus. "She won't have any trouble finding a job." His parents smiled and everyone returned to eating.
After another few awkward minutes, Hermione spoke up. "This is very good, Mrs. Lupin."
"Thank you, Hermione. It's Remus's favorite," she replied warmly.
"Oh really, I'll have to keep that in mind," said Hermione with a smile before returning to her meal. She didn't notice the look Mrs. Lupin shot at Mr. Lupin.
The meal continued in this way. They ate and every once in a while someone would ask a question or make a comment. Hermione was glad when the meal was finally over.
Mrs. Lupin insisted that Hermione and Remus go sit in the living room and relax while she and Mr. Lupin cleaned up. Hermione sat stiffly on the edge of the couch.
"Would you relax," teased Remus, poking her in the side.
"Stop it," she hissed. "I'm trying to."
"It's just my parents. They're going to love you as much as I do."
"Remus, I hate lying. I can't keep it all straight in my head," she said desperately. "I'm just such a bad liar. They're bound to figure it out."
"You're doing fine. I won't let them interrogate you. I promise. They're just curious about you." He leaned over and kissed her gently. "Trust me," he whispered against her lips, before kissing her again.
"Ahem."
Remus pulled away from Hermione slowly and looked up at his dad. "Great timing, dad."
"I try," teased his father. "Your mother wants to know if you two want milk in your tea."
"No, none for me," replied Remus. "Hermione?"
She shook her head. "No, thank you," she said softly. Mr. Lupin smiled and nodded before returning to the kitchen. When he was gone, Hermione stood. "Remus, where's the bathroom?"
"Down the hall, first door on your right," he replied.
"Thanks," she said, before hurrying away. She closed the door to the bathroom behind her and leaned against the door breathing deeply for a few minutes. She had never felt more out of her element in her life. More than anything she wanted his parents to like her and she had never felt less worthy. She went to the sink and turned on the tap, splashing cold water on her face. She narrowed her eyes at her reflection. "You're pathetic, you know that," she told herself. She laughed at herself for being so silly, and then dried her hands and face before exiting the bathroom.
She could hear Remus and his parents talking as she approached the living room. She stopped midway and listened.
"She seems like a lovely girl, Remus," said Mrs. Lupin.
"She is," replied Remus. "Listen, could you ease up just a bit. She's really nervous about meeting you guys."
"She did seem a little jumpy," observed Mr. Lupin.
"What's there to be nervous about," dismissed Mrs. Lupin.
"Mum," said Remus. "She wants you guys to like her."
"And I'm sure we will once we get to know her," she said. "But you know you have to let us question her. We know so little about her and the two of you seem so close after such a short period of time. Remus, how well do you really know her?"
"Daphne," warned her husband. "We said we weren't going to get into this tonight."
"I know, I know," she conceded. "Remus honey, don't look at me like that. I have every right to be curious about the people in your life. Especially..."
"Especially what?" asked Remus and Hermione could hear an edge to his tone.
"It's just that you never explained how she knew what you were and now the whole school knows and Headmaster Dumbledore came by the middle of last week and told us you were having a bit of a hard time at school..."
"Did he also tell you how Hermione was sticking up for me?" interrupted Remus.
"Yes," conceded his mother. "That's one of the reasons we extended the invitation. I knew I had to get to know the girl who not only charmed our son, but also the Headmaster of Hogwarts. Dumbledore couldn't say enough positive things about her."
"I'm glad you invited her," said Remus. "I really want you guys to get to know each other, because she's becoming, no she is very important to me."
"We can see that son, but your mother and I are still concerned. We worry about you, more so than most parents probably."
"Hermione doesn't care about my condition," said Remus. "If that's what you're worried about. It's just not an issue for us."
"Of course it's an issue, Remus," said his mother sharply.
"Shh," hushed Remus glancing toward the hallway. Hermione pressed herself further into the wall.
"I can't believe you're that naïve."
"Daphne, not now," interrupted Mr. Lupin.
"No," said Mrs. Lupin. "Remus, I'm sorry, but what do you really know about that girl. You've only just met her and you've already given away your heart. Sweetheart, I love you. I don't want you to get hurt."
"Well I love her and I know she won't hurt me." There was a long pause, and Hermione knew she should be getting back, but she couldn't make herself move. "I'm going to go check on Hermione," said Remus shortly.
Hermione moved back to the bathroom quickly. She didn't want Remus to know she had heard everything. She waited silently and in a matter of seconds heard a knock on the bathroom door. She opened the door with a smile plastered on her face.
"You ok?" asked Remus.
"Mm Hm," she murmured. "Just taking a minute to calm down," she explained.
"Well come on," he said taking her hand. He entwined his fingers through hers and brought her hand up to his lips to kiss. She loved when he did that, it felt so intimate to her.
They entered the living room and sat together on the couch. Remus never released her hand. Hermione noticed that both Mr. and Mrs. Lupin were sitting calmly, smiling at them as if nothing had happened.
The rest of the night was spent drinking tea and exchanging polite, but irrelevant conversation. Remus answered most of the personal questions directed at Hermione and deflected anything he deemed too personal. Finally when it was near midnight things started to wind down.
"You look tired, Remus," said his mother. "Maybe you ought to get to bed."
"Mum," Remus protested. "I'm not a little child anymore. I don't need to be reminded to go to bed."
"I know that dear, but the full moon's only a week away and..."
"Mum," he cut her off.
"Honey, I think your mom's right," interrupted Hermione. "We've had a long day and an even longer week." She brushed a lock of his hair off his forehead gently. "And you do look tired."
He smiled. "Okay," he agreed. "But only because you look tired too." He stood and pulled her to her feet. He went over and hugged his father and kissed his mother. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," echoed Hermione. "Thank you for the wonderful dinner and for having me over."
"Of course," smiled Mrs. Lupin warmly. "We'll talk some more in the morning," she promised.
Remus led her to the guestroom and gave her a chaste kiss at the door. "Goodnight," he whispered.
"Goodnight," she returned. "I love you."
"I love you two," he said giving her one more kiss before going to his room. She closed the door behind her and quickly changed for bed.
She lay awake for a long time thinking about the things she had heard Remus's mother say. It was obvious to her that his mother was very protective of him, but Hermione couldn't really blame her. If their roles were reversed, Hermione knew she would have felt the same way. The only thing to do, she concluded, was to show Mrs. Lupin how much she cared about her son.
Hermione wasn't sure how long she had been asleep when she heard her door open. For a disoriented second she thought she was at Hogwarts before she remembered she was staying at Remus's house. She squinted in the darkness and could barely make out the shape approaching her bed.
"Hermione," Remus whispered.
"What's the matter," she said tiredly.
"I can't sleep," he said in a sad voice and she nearly laughed out loud.
"You sound like a little boy," she returned. He pushed her over a bit and sat on her bed. "What are you doing?" she demanded in a whisper.
"Staying with you," he stated. "I can't sleep, knowing you're across the hall."
"No way," she hissed. "Get out now."
"Hermione," he protested.
"No," she said firmly, pushing him away from her. "I want your mother to like me, not think I'm some kind of... you know what."
"She won't. I promise I'll be out before morning."
"No," repeated Hermione, but he wasn't listening. He squirmed into the bed next to her and pinned her down, kissing her long and hard. His hand went to her waist and he tickled her ribcage.
She giggled against his mouth. "Damn it, Remus," she whispered. "If they catch you..."
"They won't," he said happily and rolled off her. He spooned up against her and threw his arm around her waist and she laced her fingers through his and settled comfortably against him.
"I love you," she said through a yawn.
"Mmm, me too," he mumbled. They were asleep within minutes.
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A/N: I have to say a special thanks to reviewer Creative Deficit. The scene on the train between Sirius and Hermione was partially inspired by your review. I love when I get suggestions in the reviews and occasionally some of those suggestions end up in the story.
