Author's Note: My wonderful reviewers! What you have been waiting for, for two months or so is finally here! Please review and I accept any ideas on what you would like to see happen! Love ya all!!! -Rory-
Chapter Four: Accidents and Realizations
The house was buzzing with children as the doorbell continued to ring, Ginny called from the kitchen into the living room, "Hey! Could someone get that please? I'm just a little busy!"
Remus hopped up from his seat immediately, he had been opening the door all evening and thought he might as well get this one too. But he somewhat regretted it as soon as he opened the door.
"Hello Hermione." he said, a small smile tugging at his lips as he looked down at her, her soft brown curls going wild under her snow hat, it was flurrying slightly.
"Hi Remus," she said flashing a smile, pulling off her hat. "Yes, John, I see you," she said looking down at him.
Remus slowly looked down at the little boy he hadn't seen before. He couldn't help but stare at the child it front of him. Why did this kid had the same sandy blond, icy blue, and pale skin as him? He shut his eyes and shook his head before looking back up at Hermione.
"Going to let us in?" she asked with a hint of amusement.
"Yes, of course. Where are my manners? Come on in. Ginny is in the kitchen and I believe all the other kids are upstairs in Abbie's playroom," said Remus winking to John. "Torturing Ron."
John smiled and looked up at his mother. Hermione glanced down at him but quickly looked away. "Yes…go," she said. He discarded his cloak on the floor and took
off up that stairs. "Children," she muttered picking it up.
"Wonderful, aren't they?" asked Remus smirking.
"Just joyful."
Remus chuckled slightly. The idea of Hermione having a son was puzzling him.
"How old is your son?" he asked.
"Eight," said Hermione not really thinking about it.
Eight? thought Remus. He watched her as she threw the two cloaks on to the pile. Swallowing down a lump he felt in his throat, he continued to stare at her. She was just how he remembered her eight years ago.
Hermione never thought about what age he asked John was until later when they were alone for the first time. She had been introduced to many people, rather re-introduced to except for one person. A girl by the name of Haven, Sirius' latest girlfriend and it seemed pretty serious between the two, and that to Hermione was quite a shock.
She and Remus were now in the kitchen, the doors were shut and they were just standing at the counter, Hermione mixing up a few things for Ginny.
"So..what have you been doing with your life, Remus?" she asked him, not looking up. She couldn't look up and be faced with the challenge of looking into his eyes.
"Working for the Light side still, of course." he nodded grimly, "Voldemort is up to speed, it's not a fun job, never was and expect never will be. And then work at the school, I swear children are getting more witty and clever every day. But what about yourself?" he asked her, noting she was avoiding his face.
She chopped up a few vegetables as she stood there, keeping her eye on the knife as she talked. "Life has been alright, I mean, the ministry and a child aren't the best combination but I get through, raising John is what keeps me going." she admitted.
"Hermione..I have to ask you...from the clues you have absentmindedly given me and not t mention his looks, his name as well. I don't think they are coincidences, are they. John is my son, isn't he?" he asked and Hermione looked up, and just as she did the knife glided over her skin and cut her hand. "Damn it." she cursed as she looked down at the outside of her hand which was bleeding, and Remus couldn't tell if she was cursing because of the cut, or the question he had asked her.
"Are you alright?" he enquired concerned as his hand reached out to take her own, as he grabbed a cold cloth and put it on the cut, earning a gasp from her as he applied pressure.
Hermione nodded and removed her hand from his, "Yes, I'm fine. I just need a bandage. I-I am going to get one, I will talk to you later Remus. I think I should go check on John as well, yes. I think I will do that," she muttered as she walked out of the room, quite flustered at the thought of Remus knowing, obviously he knew but wanted to hear it from her, he did. She knew him too well to not know that fact, way too well.
Remus watched her walk out of the room and knew why she was in such a hurry to get out of the room, it was him. Not her need to check on her child, but her need to get away from the tension of the question that he had brought up to her, he already knew the truth, yes he did. Those eyes and the hair of the boy alone were enough to give it away, as well as his actions. Hermione knew it too, she just couldn't bring herself to admit it. He stood there pondering for a moment and came to a conclusion. One way or another, he would have the truth out of her that evening before she and his child left the party.