Title: Shoot The Moon
Disclaimer: I own nothing!!!
Author: Me of course—who else???

Chapter One: Just a Kiss

"Here have some chocolate…it helps," he said breaking of a slab of chocolate. Hermione stared at her Professor who was still dressed in his old shabby robes and still had his brown hair with flecks of gray, even three years after the war. She sighed and took the chocolate and bit it gingerly.

"Thank you, Professor," she said. He grinned.

"Oh, come off it Hermione, I'm no longer your Professor…" he said sadly. She smiled.

"Of course you are…A professor never stops being a teacher to any of his students," she said. He gave her a smile.

"How right you are, Hermione. No matter how hard I try, I still find myself being more like a teacher than I would want to be…" he said. She said nothing but ate her chocolate.

"You were one of the best Defense against the Dark Arts teachers that we've ever had at Hogwarts you know," she said. He smiled.

"I'll take that as a compliment," he said. She nodded.

"Professor Lupin…I…I wanted to ask you something…" she said. He looked at her.

"Well, fire away," he said. She nodded.

"Do you find me a burden?" she asked. His mouth frowned.

"A burden?" he asked. She nodded.

"I mean, I just…barged in your home and I'm probably invading your privacy and your life, and I just want to know if—"

"No Hermione, never," he said taking her hand. She smiled and nodded.

"Thank you, Professor," she said.

"Please, call me Remus."

Hermione sat on the couch in the small living room and looked out the window. She recalled the painful memories that had drove her to run away and come to the only place that she could think of—to Professor Lupin's small house. Her parents had been going through some rough times. Her grandmother had hated the whole idea of magic and so when she came to visit she would always pick fights with her daughter in law. Their family had begun falling apart. Hermione was the glue that held them together, but when she saw that her parents had filed for divorce, she couldn't take it and so she left. She had been roaming all over London in Inns and Hotels, but she needed somewhere to stay and then she remembered Professor Lupin.

The rain pelted against the windows and thunder flashed outside. She smiled to herself. She had always loved thunderstorms. They were so mysterious and beautiful in a way. She loved to see the way the lightning formed shapes across the black sky and the way the rain felt icy cold. She loved to hear the powerful rumbling of the thunder and shivered when she heard it.

"Hermione?"

She turned around and saw Professor Lupin coming down the stairs behind her. He was wearing a huge sweatshirt and an old pair of pajama pants. She giggled and he stopped. "What?" he asked. She shook her head.

"Nothing," she said with a small smile.

"No, no you're laughing at my outfit aren't you?" he asked. She smiled and shook her head.

"It's just that…I've never seen you in…normal clothing," she said. He laughed.

"Well, now you have!" he said spreading his arms. She laughed.

"Well, at least you made me laugh…" she said. He smiled.

"That's good," He came and sat down on the couch next to her, noting that there was still a huge gap between them. "I'm sorry that I don't have a television here," he said. She shook her head.

"It's not a problem!" she said. "Its actually…refreshing…I have sometime to…think…and get everything together," she said quietly. He nodded.

"Yes, I know that feeling. When you just want the world to…step back and give you a moment…but it is those very moments where everyone is asking and demanding of you things that you possibly can't provide…" his voice trailed off and she was staring at him. She had tears in her eyes and she quickly looked away.

"Yes, that's exactly what it is…" she murmured. They sat in silence and listened to the rain falling outside.

"So what about your parents? Any chance of them getting back together?" he asked. She shook her head.

"I don't think so…" she said bitterly. He nodded and sighed.

"You know…when I was bitten…my father left us," he said quietly. She looked up and looked at him.

"He left?" she asked. He nodded.

"Yes, he couldn't bear the thought of living his life and having to worry about me biting someone or hurting someone while he was there, and so in shame he left us. My mother, oh, she was a real woman, she stayed with me, and she did her best to protect me from the people in the village. She kept me hidden, until I became older and went to school, then she felt as though she did not have to worry about me anymore…but then…in my first year…I came home for the summer vacation and she realized that I was too old and much bigger than before," He gave a huge sigh.

"And what else happened?" she asked. He shook his head.

"I…I left her. I went to James' house and his family helped me," Lupin smiled as he remembered his days staying at James' home during the summer. "James was a good friend…" he said softly. He felt Hermione's hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sure he was," she said with a sad smile. "I thought that my parents would be together forever…" she said sadly. Lupin sighed.

"I don't know…what's really going on…" he said. She shook her head and removed her hand from his shoulder.

There was a short silence, when Lupin looked up he caught her staring at him and she quickly looked away. He looked down and smiled to himself. She was staring out of the window again and he sneaked a glance at her. Her brown hair was cascading down her shoulders and her back, and they were soft and shiny curls. She was twirling a strand of her hair with one finger and she turned and looked at him once more. Their eyes caught and they smiled at each other.

"Did anyone ever tell you that you have…beautiful eyes?" she asked. He smiled.

"My mother did," he said sadly. She smiled and reached out to caress his cheek.

"I'm sure she did…" she said. He nodded.

"Did I ever tell you…that you have a beautiful smile?" he asked softly. She shook her head.

"No…" He leaned in closer and looked into her eyes. Slowly she leaned forward and placed her lips on his. He kissed her back and pulled her towards him. She sighed softly as he wrapped his arms around her and as she ran her fingers through his hair. When they pulled away, they were both flushed.

"I am SO sorry, Hermione," he said anxiously. She shook her head.

"No, no, it's ok…" she said. He sighed.

"I just—"

"Shh…" she said softly. He stared at her. "It was just a kiss…Remus…"

A/N:

This is just an experimental fic. Depending on the response I get I will continue. I have other fics in progress right now and I will be leaving for my three week vacation in less than two weeks so if you want me to continue—please tell me!! LoL

REVIEW PLEASE =) xoxoxoxo

SAIYA-JIN GIRL