After dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Potter volunteered to do the dishes so the newly engaged couple could have some time with their friends.
James and Lily sat opposite Hermione and Remus. None of them could stop smiling.
"So tell us how he proposed," demanded Hermione.
Lily giggled. "It was very romantic. He took me out to dinner to my favorite restaurant and then we went for a walk in this nearby park and he asked me."
"When do you think you'll have the wedding?" asked Hermione.
"Soon, I hope," said James.
"We don't want a long engagement," confirmed Lily. "We were hoping we could plan a small wedding in about a month."
"Wow," said Hermione. "That's really quick."
"Well," said Lily. "James is starting Auror training soon and he'll be away every couple of months. When he comes home, I want him to come to me."
"Where are you guys going to live?" asked Remus.
"We don't know yet," replied James. "Sometime between training and planning a wedding, we're going to look for a place."
"It seems like a lot to do," commented Remus.
"We'll help," said Hermione eagerly.
"I knew you would," said Lily excitedly. "I have so many ideas."
The girls moved closer to each other and were talking excitedly, completely leaving the guys out of their plans. While they were talking, James leaned over to Remus. "So it looks like things between you and Hermione are better."
Remus grinned. "You could say that."
"She didn't come back here last night," said James carefully.
"No, she stayed with me," Remus whispered back.
"I see," said James, trying to suppress the grin on his face. Then he grew serious. "I don't know if you want to know this, but Sirius is gone."
Remus didn't respond. His eyes went straight forward and he set his jaw.
"He didn't say where he was going or when he'd be back."
"Good," said Remus tersely.
"You can't mean that," said James.
"I doubt you'd be saying that right now if Sirius had been trying to seduce Lily."
"Give the guy a break, Remus," begged James. "He didn't try to seduce Hermione. He thinks he's in love with her. He tried to keep it to himself."
"Yeah," scoffed Remus. "It was the best kept secret of the group."
"Come on, Remus. We can't fight amongst each other. We have Voldemort and the Death Eaters to fight."
"Tell it to Sirius," said Remus angrily, standing up.
Hermione and Lily stopped talking abruptly and stared at Remus. "Remus," said Hermione tentatively.
Remus looked around at everyone and knew he didn't want to spoil the night. "I need some fresh air," he said shortly, before turning and leaving the room.
Hermione immediately stood and followed him out. She followed at a few paces behind him, giving him some space. "It's cold out here," said Remus, without turning around. "You should go back inside." It wasn't cold. It was the beginning of summer, but he was in a bad temper and he didn't want to unleash it on her.
"I'm fine," said Hermione easily. "What was that about in there?"
"I don't want to talk about it," he replied.
"I can see that," said Hermione.
Remus turned to Hermione slowly, but Hermione cut him off. "It is not in you to be this angry with your friends," she said. "I know it isn't."
"You don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes I do," she returned. "You've never been able to stay angry with them." She paused. "I want to tell you something about the future." She waited for him to interrupt, when he didn't she continued. "I've already told you that Sirius spent the better part of twelve years in Azkaban after James was murdered, but I never told you about what happened when you were reunited. I was there. You embraced him like you were welcoming your brother back from the dead. I will never know what it did to you to lose all three of your best friends in a matter of twenty four hours, but I do know what it was like when you got one of them back. Remus, please don't give up on Sirius. Forgive him."
Remus couldn't answer her. He hated to admit it, but he did hate fighting with his friends. He almost never did it. There were so few people in his life that he could count on, that he never wanted to alienate them.
"I'll think about it," he said grudgingly.
"Thank you," she returned happily, coming forward and giving him a big hug.
"I just said I'd think about it. I'm not promising anything."
Hermione smiled and kissed him. He rolled his eyes, knowing he had already promised everything.
"Now, I know there are many other things I'd rather be discussing tonight," said Hermione.
"Like?" questioned Remus.
"Like where are we going to stay tonight?" returned Hermione.
Remus laughed. "I'm going back to my place," he said. "Did you want to tag along?"
Hermione made a face. "Not particularly," she returned. "I thought maybe you could stay here."
"I don't think the Potter's would go for that."
"You could always apparate straight into my room," she suggested hopefully.
Remus gave her a look.
"Or maybe not," she said with a sigh. She rested her head on his shoulder and they wrapped their arms around each other. "We have to find a place."
"I agree," he said as he ran his hands down her side. "And soon."
"We've been out here a while," said Hermione. "I think they'll be missing us."
"I suppose you're right," he said reluctantly. "Let's go back inside."
They went back into the house to see the future Mr. and Mrs. Potter sitting with the current Mr. and Mrs. Potter. The three happy couples enjoyed the rest of their evening talking and laughing until it was time for Remus and Lily to return home. Hermione sat with James afterward alone in the living room.
"I'm very happy for you, James," she said. "I know you two will be very happy."
"I don't imagine this is much of a shock to you," he replied.
"Not really," she returned.
"I knew I'd marry Lily Evans the first day I saw her," began James, almost dreamily. "I was on the train headed for Hogwarts. Sirius and I had just met and already we were up for a spot of mischief. We went exploring the train to see what was going on and we wandered into her compartment. She was with Moony and Peter. They were all chatting and someone must have told her a joke or something because she was laughing. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. And I just knew, even at eleven, that I could never live without her."
Hermione smiled at James. "That I didn't know," she said.
"It's good that there are still a few surprises left for you," he returned. "How are things between you and Remus?"
"Good," said Hermione. "Better than good." She bit her bottom lip, afraid she would reveal too much.
"I want them both at my wedding," said James. "Do you think..." he trailed off.
"I'm working on him," assured Hermione. "Remus will forgive Sirius. He just needs time."
"I hope so," said James.
"Trust me," returned Hermione.
James yawned loudly. "I'm dead tired. I think I'll go to bed," he announced.
"Night," said Hermione. She returned the cup of tea she had been drinking to the kitchen before heading up to bed. She had just closed herself in her bedroom when an arm wrapped around her waist and a hand was clamped over her mouth. She struggled, but stopped when a voice whispered in her ear. "It's me."
Hermione whipped around, delighted to find herself in Remus's arms.
"What are you doing here?" she whispered. "I thought you said you wouldn't come."
"I couldn't stay away," said Remus. "I love you," he said huskily pulling Hermione tight against him. She reached up and draped her hands around his neck, running her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck, sending shivers through each of them.
This was all so new to her and she was still nervous, but at the same time she felt completely safe in his arms. He leaned in closer to kiss her. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his in a slow gentle kiss.
They moved as one back to the bed, their lips never losing contact. When Hermione's knees hit the edge of the bed, they finally broke apart. Remus moved his hands slowly up her body and ran his hand along her neck. Slowly, he undid the top button of her blouse and kissed the bare skin he exposed.
Hermione lifted her chin, allowing him more access. As he kissed her, his hands worked the rest of her buttons and he pushed the blouse off her shoulders. Then he reached behind her and unzipped her skirt, letting it fall to the floor. As he reached to undo her bra strap, Hermione pulled away. She smiled mischievously at him. "You have entirely too much on."
He laughed as she slipped her hands under his shirt and pulled it upward. He raised his arms as she pulled the shirt over his head and then closed the small gap between them. Feeling skin against skin only increased their need for each other. Hermione fell back on the bed pulling Remus with her.
He stared straight into her eyes. "You are so beautiful."
She blushed and turned her head, but he wouldn't have it. He gently forced her to recapture his gaze. "You are beautiful and I love you."
"I love you," she returned, but she mouthed the words. She had completely lost her ability to speak. Then they got lost in each other again.
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The weeks that followed James and Lily's engagement announcement were quite hectic. James began Auror training about a week after as did Sirius. Sirius was still avoiding everyone. He spoke with James when he had to at Auror training, but always hurried home after their training was over. None of them had had a significant conversation with him since that night.
Voldemort and his forces seemed to intensify their attacks and the Order was very busy. Hermione often didn't leave Hogwarts until very late at night. Occasionally she had to spend the night at Hogwarts when any of the Order members were on overnight missions.
It soon became apparent to everyone that they couldn't plan James and Lily's wedding in just a month. They were all just too busy. Lily and James were forced to postpone the wedding until the end of summer.
Remus and Hermione were luckier. They found a flat in a relatively short amount of time and moved in immediately. Hermione couldn't have been happier. The only thing that put a strain on the couple's happiness was their relationship with Remus's parents. Hermione convinced Remus to keep their engagement between the two of them. She wanted to repair their relationship with his parents before dropping that bomb on them.
The problem was she had no idea how to do it.
"Lily, what would you do," Hermione asked. She, Lily, Remus and James were all together on a Saturday. They were out shopping for shoes for Lily's wedding. She and Hermione had been up and down Diagon Alley, but Lily couldn't seem to find the perfect shoes so they decided to go to some Muggles stores to look.
"I don't know, Hermione," replied Lily. "Maybe you could invite them over for dinner. Show them how happy you and Remus are."
"Maybe," considered Hermione. "I have to do something. Remus is too good to say anything, but I know he misses them. They were a close family. I hate that he has to choose between us."
"Are they speaking at all?" questioned Lily.
Hermione shrugged. "He says that if they don't accept me they don't accept him."
"What set his mother against you anyway?" asked Lily.
"It's complicated," returned Hermione. "She's just very protective of him and she doesn't really trust me. Not that I blame her. I'm protective of him too."
Lily spotted another store she wanted to look into. "Let's try in here," she called over her shoulder. Hermione glanced behind them. Remus and James were trailing several feet back. They were each holding a couple of shopping bags and neither looked completely happy about it.
"That's not even a shoe store," protested James. "Lily, you said we were going to buy a pair of shoes and then go to lunch. That was two hours ago. We still haven't found the shoes and I'm starving."
"James, I promise we'll eat after we look in here," said Lily.
"Don't believe it," murmured Remus to James.
Hermione stifled a giggle. "You two are such babies. It hasn't been that bad."
They all followed Lily into the shop. James immediately went to Lily's side to hurry her up. Hermione strode over to where Remus was standing. "Are you starving too?"
Remus gave her a look. "I sincerely hope you don't plan on putting me through all of this when we plan our wedding."
Hermione laughed. "A girl only gets married once," she returned. "If she's lucky," she added, teasing him.
"Only once," returned Remus firmly.
They wandered around the shop as Lily pulled James from one side of the store to the other. After about a half hour she gave up and they left the store empty handed.
"How is it," asked James loudly, "that a girl can spend an hour in a store and not buy a thing and a guy can walk into that same store and find exactly what he wants in five minutes?"
Hermione and Remus laughed, but Lily crossed her arms huffily. "We were only in there for fifteen minutes."
"Thirty," whispered Remus to Hermione. When Lily threw him an angry glare he hastily added, "but who's counting?"
"Come on, Lily," urged Hermione. "Let's get these two babies some food, before they pitch a fit."
Both James and Remus wanted to object to being called babies, but they were afraid that any additional conversation would delay their acquisition of food.
"How about that café?" suggested Lily. "It's a nice day and there are tables available outside."
They quickly made their way over and were soon sipping drinks and awaiting their food. They were in mid conversation, when suddenly Lily stood up and shouted. "Hey Sirius!"
James, Remus, and Hermione whipped around to see Sirius a few feet away walking with his neighbor Laura. Hermione shot a worried look at Remus, but his face was unreadable. He and Sirius hadn't spoken since the night Remus had hit him.
"Sirius, over here," Lily continued shouting, unaware of the almost immediate tenseness that descended on the table.
Sirius spotted his friends and Hermione could see him hesitating, but there was no way he would ignore them, so he made his way over to them.
"Hi," he said carefully.
"Hey Sirius," returned James. "Long time no see."
Sirius shrugged. "I've been a bit busy." He glanced over at Laura. "You guys remember my neighbor Laura?"
"Yeah," said Lily. "It's nice to see you again," she said to Laura.
"Same here," said Laura kindly.
There was an awkward silence. Sirius cleared his throat. "We were just going to get something to eat."
"Why don't you join us?" suggested Lily. "We've only just put in our order."
"I don't know," began Sirius.
"Join us, Padfoot," said James.
Hermione glanced at Remus, urging him with her eyes. He sighed almost imperceptibly. "Go on Sirius, sit," said Remus.
Sirius regarded Remus for a moment, before nodding. He pulled two chairs from a nearby table and the rest of them scooted to make room for the two additional people.
"So what's been going on with you?" asked Lily immediately.
"Oh you know, work..." he said carefully.
"James was telling us that they're really working you guys hard," commented Hermione.
"You work with Sirius?" Laura questioned James.
"Yeah," replied James. "We're both in training."
"Maybe you could shed a little light on his mysterious job," said Laura. "He says he's in security, but he never goes into much detail."
They all looked uncomfortably at each other. It was very clear that Laura did not know that they were all wizards and witches.
"It's kind of boring really," said James evasively. "There's not much to tell."
Laura laughed. "I'd nearly convinced myself that Sirius was a spy or something, he's so closed lipped about everything."
"Maybe I am," he said mysteriously.
She laughed and laid her hand on his arm. "You're always teasing. I never know when you're serious."
"That's Sirius for you," said Hermione. "Always joking." Their eyes met across the table, but Sirius quickly looked away. "You know, Sirius," continued Hermione. "We missed you at the last meeting. The Professor was asking for you," she said carefully.
Everyone looked at Hermione in horror. They were never supposed to mention the Order in public and especially not in front of a muggle.
"I spoke with 'the Professor' a couple of days ago," said Sirius, emphasizing the word Professor. "He knows I've been busy."
"Who's the Professor," asked Laura curiously.
"We should call the waiter back over," cut in Lily. "You two haven't even ordered yet." She made a big show of signaling for the waiter, which made her seem a bit batty, but everyone forgot the conversation they had just been having.
They settled into polite, but somewhat strained conversation for the rest of the meal. Remus spoke very little and Hermione spoke even less. She spent most of the meal watching the interaction between Sirius and Laura. They weren't outwardly affectionate toward each other, like James and Lily or even she and Remus were, but they were constantly touching each other. Every time Sirius told a joke, Laura would touch his arm or his hand and Sirius would often innocently brush against Laura's arm while reaching for his drink or the bottle of ketchup. Hermione couldn't figure out why, but it bothered her.
At the end of the meal, Sirius excused himself and went to the rest room. Hermione waited a few minutes, before excusing herself as well. She walked quickly toward the back of the restaurant and then did her best to seem busy by the wall of payphones while she waited for Sirius to emerge.
"Hey," she said brightly when he emerged.
"Hey," he returned. He glanced around Hermione, as if he were hoping to see anyone else.
"That was funny meeting up with you," said Hermione, her voice sounding falsely cheerful.
"Yeah," said Sirius. He chewed on his bottom lip. "I'm going to head back," he said, trying to move around her.
"Are you upset with me?" she asked quickly.
Sirius stopped walking and turned back to her. "No," he said firmly. "Of course not."
"It's just that I haven't seen you in practically a month," she said staring at the ground.
"I was giving you some space," replied Sirius honestly. "I thought it was best considering..." he trailed off.
She nodded. "I missed you," she said in a small voice.
He didn't reply.
Hermione sighed and looked up. She met his gaze and tried to smile. "You and Laura seem close," she said slowly.
Sirius shrugged. "We've been hanging out."
"Are you dating?" she asked, not sure she wanted to know the answer.
"I guess you could call it that," said Sirius quietly.
"Oh," said Hermione in a small voice. They stared at each other for a few seconds. "She doesn't know about you, does she?"
"Meaning?" prompted Sirius.
"She doesn't know you're a wizard," whispered Hermione.
"No," returned Sirius. "It hasn't come up yet."
Hermione laughed, but there was no joy in it. "It hasn't come up? That's ridiculous Sirius. You can't keep that from her."
"We're really not that serious yet," he said. "I don't see any reason to freak her out."
"If you think she'll freak out then she's probably not the right girl for you," said Hermione.
Sirius laughed hollowly. "The right girl? What would you know about that?"
"Sirius, don't be like that. I'm only saying this as a friend. If you're in a relationship with that girl then you should be honest."
"Like you're honest with Remus?" questioned Sirius.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Hermione angrily. "I am honest with Remus."
"Sure you are. Then I'm assuming you told him about our kisses."
"You mean your kiss," returned Hermione.
"Kisses," corrected Sirius. "There was more than one, if I remember correctly. And I wasn't kissing alone. I may have initiated those kisses, but you kissed me back."
"I did not," denied Hermione, but she knew she was lying.
Sirius stepped closer to her, so that she was pinned against the wall. "You can tell yourself that pretty little lie if you want, but we both know the truth. You kissed me back over Christmas and again at the beginning of the summer, twice if I recall correctly, and I think I do."
"You promised we'd never bring up that kiss at Christmas again," said Hermione. "We agreed it was a mistake."
"You agreed."
"Sirius," Hermione begged. "Don't."
Sirius shook his head, but he didn't step away from her. "Do you know why I've made myself scarce for a month?" He didn't wait for her to try to answer. "It's because of this thing between us. You can deny it all you want, but this thing, this attraction or love or whatever you want to call it, is not one sided. I know you feel something for me too. You couldn't kiss me like you do if you didn't."
Hermione's mouth parted slightly, but no words came out. Sirius leaned in closer as if he were going to kiss her. "Remus and I are getting married," she blurted out, before his lips could touch hers.
Sirius immediately stepped back, but he said nothing.
"Remus and I are getting married," she repeated, wanting to make sure he heard her. "I love him and I'm going to spend the rest of my life with him."
"What about going home?" asked Sirius curiously.
Hermione looked at him questioningly.
"You know, your own time," said Sirius as if he were talking to a very slow six year old.
Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Wherever he is, is home," she replied coldly.
Sirius shook his head. "What about your family? What about Harry and Ron?"
Hermione pushed past him ignoring the question.
"You'll have to think about it eventually," said Sirius. Hermione looked over her shoulder at him. Their eyes locked. "You'll have to think about us too."
"There is no us," said Hermione coldly, before heading back to the table. She sat down next to Remus, who immediately put his arm around her shoulder.
"What's the matter, sweetie?" he asked.
She smiled at him. "Nothing, I'm fine."
He leaned over and kissed her temple. She sighed happily and rested her head against his shoulder. Sirius didn't know what he was talking about, she thought to herself. She loved Remus and they were going to be happy together. She felt nothing for Sirius but friendship.
A few minutes later, Sirius returned and took his seat next to Laura, but Hermione didn't look at him. She turned to Remus and whispered in his ear. "Let's go home," she said suggestively.
He cocked his head at her and grinned. He stood and helped Hermione up. "We're going to head home," he said, trying to sound casual.
"So early?" asked Lily sounding disappointed. "I still haven't found shoes."
"We're not getting anything accomplished with the boys tagging along. Why don't the two of us go by ourselves tomorrow?" suggested Hermione.
Lily nodded in agreement. "Umm, send me a note later," she said eyeing Laura. She was turned away. 'Owl me,' mouthed Lily.
Remus maneuvered Hermione around the table, but paused beside Sirius. He extended his hand. "It's good to see you again, Sirius," he said sincerely.
Sirius took the offered hand hesitantly. "It's good seeing you too, Moony," he returned.
"Maybe you and Laura could come to dinner at our place sometime," offered Remus. "You haven't seen our place yet."
"Your place?" asked Sirius in surprise. "I didn't know you were living together."
"We just moved in together," said Hermione quietly.
"Congratulations," said Sirius warmly.
"Thanks," they both replied.
There was a moment of awkward silence. "Well, we better get going," said Remus clearing his throat. "We'll see you all later."
"Bye," called their friends.
"It was nice seeing you again," said Laura.
"Bye," returned Remus and Hermione and they went home.
