AN: Languish no more for I bring a new chapter! YAY :D /dodges objects being thrown at her
Reviews: The Few. The Brave. The Reviewers. Thanks: dubtheeunforgiven (Always playing the pity-Remus card, aren't I? First reviewer again! You're fast on that button.), katemary77, Lil-Breaking-Benjamin (I hope your sanity is still with you though I took forever to update. :P), deadlight, Rane2920072, Aljinon (I feel special if you come on just to check on this! Good riddance to that Ron fellow!), RandomReviewer (Tu español es muy bien y aquí es mas para tú., Ashes Kittyhawk (Thanks for giving me a try!), Smiles28, Lucidshard (Wow…compliments galore! Here's hoping I continue with what you liked!), Star Sheep, Autumn92685039, OddBallOut, Azera, Bex (Actually, I started writing and then realized I hadn't put Voldie and just decided not to. HG/RL time-turner fics do become clichéd, not that I won't ever venture into the time-traveling genre with them. :D), ilovefireyredheads (Right after this post, I'm going straight to Hoping for a Refuge! I swear.), demonic angel23, Lady Asano, GabreilsGirl, jaded emerald (Umm…I hope you're jaw is alright since here's chapter 7 all lateish!and go11um.
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Last Chapter: "It's Ron," she blurted out, her red-rimmed eyes finally looking at him. "Him…" her breath caught, "him…him…and Lavender. They're…they're…" Hermione didn't finish her sentence because she had buried her head in Remus' chest and had started to cry again.
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Her reflection stared back from the mirror in her private bathroom. Being Head Girl meant getting perks like that. Yeah…and making out with professors… Incredulous now was what reflected back. Not to mention, you gave your boyfriend a black eye after you caught him cheating. Hermione abruptly put down the hairbrush she had been using on her wild tresses. Last night, she had not even changed before jumping into bed and staring at her canopy for who knew how long. Her eyelids were still trying to close even then.
Making her decision, she bounded back onto her bed then pulled the covers over her head. I rather I think I should skip today, she thought. Much less seeing people. Getting hot already under her duvet, she threw it off to once again look up into the burgundy drapes above her, a seemingly new pastime of hers. She groaned before rolling over onto her other pillow.
"I should go down and gloat," she mumbled to no one. "Serve him right. I doubt Lavender helped out with his eye," she smiled slyly, "and he has too much pride to ask for help or at least do it and tell the truth."
For a brief moment, Hermione nearly jumped off her bed to do some well deserved reveling then her other problem resurfaced. Remus. Her eyes widened at the thought of class. Would they seem…different? Will we suddenly snog in front of everyone passionately? She chuckled to herself at the thought. Or will nothing else ever happen?
Dejection once again in tow, she returned to the safety of her sheets, thinking that seeing people was not such a brilliant idea after all. Who knows, she might just embarrass herself over Ron and Remus? Then where would she be? In bed, she thought, but a yell from downstairs quickly changed that.
"Granger! The Weasel's sister is here! Perhaps you'll tell her where you were all last night," came the voice of Draco.
Soon a knock followed on her door. Hermione did not roll over, only said, "It's open."
Footsteps padded across the room and a weight sunk down next to her. A swift prod to the side caused her to jump in alarm and give the person next to her quite a look. As she nursed her injured side, Hermione retorted, "What was that for?"
"Hermione Granger!" exclaimed Ginny Weasley. "What are you doing in bed on a day like this? I have a throttled brother downstairs and no ex-girlfriend to glare at him."
"I don't think I'm up to that just yet," replied Hermione, pushing herself up in bed. "I should just let it die down, blow itself over."
The redhead made a noise of disbelief. "You can't. You need to go down, hold your head high and give that piece of scum I have to call family another go around if necessary!"
A smile flickered on Hermione's face. She asked softer, "You didn't know then did you?"
"Of course I didn't," said Ginny immediately and put a hand on the other's shoulder. "I would have said something to you. He maybe blood but you're a friend and what he did was wrong."
"Granger!" Draco roared up again. "I'm not your bloody doorman! Answer the damn portrait hole yourself!"
A soft knock rapped on Hermione's door. "Come in," she said. A somber looking Luna entered, wearing an ensemble of completely black. She sat down serenely next to Ginny on the bed.
"I heard about what happened and I came to offer my condolences for your loss," she stated sadly.
"Umm…" stalled Hermione, taken back by the appearance, "thanks, Luna. I appreciate you coming."
Luna cocked her head and smiled, her blonde hair stark against the black. "Remember when you come to a fork in the road take it."
Ginny just shook her head, amused. "I'm with Luna, Hermione. Carpe diem and all that!" She grasped Hermione's hand and started pulling her out of bed. "Not to mention you have to go down and admire what you did to my brother. The git," she muttered.
While a fresh skirt was thrown at her, Luna looked at the door before inquiring about Hermione's night before, saying Draco mentioned she had come in late, very late in fact. Hermione could only give a muffled reply while searching under her bed for a missing shoe.
"Beg your pardon," said Luna, peering down at her from the end of the bed.
"Oh, you know. Finding your boyfriend snogging someone else and then sobbing uncontrollably can make that happen." She had meant it to come out cool, uncaring, full of bite, but instead an unexpected watery tone crept in as that image of Ron and Lavender resurfaced.
Instantly, the two girls were at her side. Luna apologized profusely while Ginny patted her back. "I'm sorry for pushing you to go. You don't have to you," the redhead said.
"No," responded Hermione, "I'll go." A certain professor flashed in her mind. "It can only get better, can't it?"
THUD. THUD. THUD. The man still in bed grunted as he rolled over toward the noise. Sleepily, he cracked open an eye. The racket was emitting from his door. He tumbled out of his sheets then staggered toward the never ending banging. "I'm coming," he mumbled as he fumbled with the doorknob.
The sudden light from the corridor and its many brightly lit windows caused him to squint. A dark figure blocked some of it out and as his eyes began to focus properly, he wished he had not answered after all.
"What is it now, Severus?" he asked, not as genial as he could have been.
"Minerva sent me. She thought you might like to show up for your first class today, Lupin. But stay if you want. Probably better off for the students anyway…"
Panic seized Remus, blocking out Snape's comments. "What? What time is it?" He jerked his head around to look at his bedside clock.
"8:47," stated Snape matter-of-factly while the red gleam of Remus' clock blinked the same.
Remus rubbed his forehead then tried to smooth his wild bed hair. "I didn't set my alarm," he muttered. "How could I have forgotten?" Well really, he knew how he could have forgotten, but that went without saying, especially when around Severus.
"Perhaps you shouldn't stay up so late. You're not as young as you used to be, Lupin. Age is a funny thing," Snape said nonchalantly. His eyebrows raised slightly as he continued, "I'm sure your little condition doesn't help much either. Along with being in such a position of authority and trust must strain-"
"What are you trying to get at?" asked Remus, breaking in.
Snape straightened his robes and gave him another perceptive look. "Nothing. Just a little reminder. I'd hate to have to come here again, looking for you. I'm sure you like this job and wouldn't do anything to jeopardize it or" he paused for effect, "anyone else."
With that, he swept around and made his way back to the dungeons. Remus stared at his retreating back and did not realize he had gripped the door so hard that slight indentions could be seen. At first he thought, How did he…? He's talking nonsense. Just being Snape, he reasoned. Then why did he just reiterate everything I thought last night? Swinging around, he threw a punch into the nearest wall. As he shook off the pain in his hand, his mind ran through Snape's little 'cloaked' speech. Remus began to dress quickly, knowing exactly what he had to do.
Instantly after Hermione had cautiously entered the Great Hall, a body threw itself at her, engulfing her in a hug. "'Arry. 'Arry geroff," she muffled out.
Harry reluctantly released her then rapidly set in speaking at light speed. "I'msosorry.Ishouldhaveknownandthendonesomething.Your'remybestfriend,too.Canyoueverforgiveme?"
"Harry, it's okay." She patted his arm, hoping to calm him down and wipe that worried look off his face. "We were all in the dark. I don't blame you or anything."
Those words caused him to visibly relax. "Well, he hasn't come down yet; he went to the Hospital Wing. He wouldn't tell me why, but now I know. I think you might have broken something." He raised his eyebrows in an impressed expression.
"Don't get excited. You're not getting an encore," sighed Hermione, wishing to disappear as eyes followed her walk down the table. "I'm washing my hands of this whole mess."
As she sat down for breakfast, a whole gaggle of girls jumped up with Parvati in the lead. Clearly, Lavender was with Ron in the Hospital Wing. Parvati gave Hermione a slightly terrified look before whispering something to the others, causing them to speed up. She could only look on confused as the Great Hall door shut.
Luna leaned in. "They're scared you're going to beat them up, too. Though I told them you'd much rather use a hex."
"I didn't beat him up," Hermione said, exasperated. "I just reacted…to what I saw." Roughly, she picked up her fork and stabbed at an innocent pile of scrambled eggs.
That end of the table descended into silence with the occasional small talk breaking through. Hushed whispered were all around her as where the eyes. It appeared as if a few first years might approach her, but wisely, they thought better of it. Finally, after pushing around her breakfast for several minutes, she snuck a glance at the teachers' table to find an empty chair.
Trying to sound casual, she asked, "Where's Professor Lupin?"
Nobody knew, and then she saw Draco Malfoy doing an exaggerated action of hitting someone. So he knows. So the whole bloody school knows. Great. Just great.
By the midmorning, a disgruntled Ron had shown up with a fussing Lavender for Defense Against the Dark Arts. He kept waving her off as she tried to adjust the gauze on his eye. It was not as dark as it should have been; apparently, Madam Pomfrey had worked her magic. Hermione hugged her books to her chest and avoided looking at them, opting to stare down the hall.
Soon, Remus approached and then she really did not know what to do with herself. Gaping at him was out of the question, yet should she just ignore him. In the end she did not have to worry about it since he bee lined to the door, unlocked it, and entered the room without even looking around.
Okay…she thought. She took her customary seat next to Harry right in front of Remus' desk, ignoring the fact that Ron sat right behind her. Not knowing what to expect, she watched him carefully unpack his battered briefcase then take roll. Never a glance as he said, "Hermione," or when she answered.
The day's lesson was centered on nonverbal complex hexing. Hermione quickly grabbed Luna for a partner, letting Harry and Ron get together. Harry seemed to be having a very important conversation with Ron and she had feeling she knew about what. Squaring up with her partner, she prepped herself for Luna's attack, but her eyes followed Remus around the room. His focus stayed on each group that he stopped to critique.
Unfortunately, she became so engrossed in watching him that Luna's hex caught her completely off guard. Hermione was sent sprawling backwards, sliding several feet on the floor. Waiting for the wall, she was surprised to hit something much less hard, which turned out to be her professor. Clearly, being a werewolf had its advantages in the speed and agility department.
A distressed Luna ran over and helped her up. "Hermione, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do that. I didn't know I could do that."
Wincing, Hermione said, "Not your fault. I should have been paying attention." She turned around to thank Remus, perhaps get some actual interaction with him to find that he had went on to the next group.
The rest of the period went better as she tried to focus on not flying across the room. Disenchanted and tired, she took her seat to wait for the bell to dismiss for lunch. She was startled when Remus abruptly spoke out.
"Miss Granger, I need you to stay after class today, please," he said, looking briefly at her before returning to the reading on his desk.
Harry gave her a quizzical look, but she just shrugged at him. Honestly, she hadn't a clue. As the bell rang, she watched her classmates depart then shut the door, leaving them alone. She noticed he seemed tense as he stood up from his desk.
"Hermione," he finally said, actually looking at her, "we need to talk."
"About last night?" she asked.
Heavily, he made his way over and sat down in the desk next to her. He fiddled briefly with a pen he had been carrying, avoiding her gaze. "Yes. I've been thinking about it all night and I've finally realized what must be done."
What must be done? she thought. Her eyes regarded him apprehensively.
"What I allowed to happen last night was something that never should have occurred. You were hurting and came to me for comfort then I took advantage of you and your situation, which was wrong of me. I'm sorry for what I did to you."
"You're sorry?" she said, full of disbelief. "For what you did? For letting you kiss me? Is that it?" Hermione felt tears again. She hated all the crying she had been doing lately.
"Don't, please don't look at me like that," implored Remus. "You were distraught, not thinking clearly when you made that choice. I'm sure under normal circumstances, you would have never allowed someone like me to-"
"Do what?" broke in Hermione. "Just like Ron, aren't you? Running out, running away." She swept her books into her arms, preparing for a quick getaway. She could not look at him anymore. Not that the tears were helping.
Remus quickly stood as she did. "Ron was different; he had a choice. I'm your teacher, Hermione, and a damned old werewolf. I have no other choice, but to run away. Don't you see that?" Her face was still pleading with him, wishing he would take it back. He had to hit home. "You could be expelled for being with me, not to mention what just being around me will do for your image."
"And you could be sacked," she replied in a suppressed roar from beside the door. "That's it, isn't it? Just looking out for your own skin now. You're both the same." She twisted the knob and said desolately, "Exactly the same."
With that, she wretched the door open and took off down the hall. He followed on her heels, yelling, "Hermione! It's not…" Nevertheless, it was too late. The corridor was completely empty and he finished the statement to no one, "like that."
Unbeknownst to him though, a passerby did hear the exchange, at least to the best of his sneaky ability. That was enough. He had at first grinned on as the werewolf broke the news, yet he had not expected the response. Who knew the little know-it-all actually had feelings for the half-breed? Silently, he made his way back down toward the deeper bowels of the castle. He knew next period he would have to fool with a teary, emotional girl as the only student. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, he thought, narrowly missing seeing a portrait hole next to a picture of a candlestick swing shut and a sob penetrate into the hall.
"Has anyone seen Hermione lately?" asked Ginny while the students waited for the Great Hall to be open for supper. "She didn't show up for lunch."
"Last time I saw her was in Lupin's class; she had to stay after," said Harry, joining the group of Gryffindors near the front. "I waited at the dungeons for her after Snape's class, but she never showed. Do you think she's alright?"
A bored voice spoke over Harry's shoulder, "Who? Granger? She's been holed up in that room of hers, constantly playing bloody opera music. If shagging the Weasel keeps her from putting that stuff on, I'm all for them getting back together. But it does drown out all that sniveling."
Harry turned and nearly launched himself at a very pleased looking Draco Malfoy. Ginny placed a hand on his arm, "Don't."
He looked back at her face, looking just as livid as his did, but pleading with him. "Sod off, Malfoy. Trot on back to your little dog-faced girl like a good boy."
"Looks like she has you under control, doesn't she?" he leered, backpedaling toward the Slytherins. "Too bad can't say the same about Granger and her Weasel. Guess she didn't roll in the sheets good enough. Not very apt at-"
Before Harry could wrench his arm away from a surprisingly powerful Ginny, a figure flew out of the crowd and jumped roughly on Draco. "You don't talk about her like that!" he yelled, red-hair flashing as the two rolled on the floor.
It took both Snape and Lupin to tear Ron off of Draco who looked like he had been sent through machinery. "Seventy points from Gryffindor for fighting," bellowed Snape as he helped his student up.
"Eighty points from Slytherin for provoking a fight and degrading fellow students, plus a month of detention," said Remus calmly. He did not, however, help Ron up, leaving that to Harry and other Gryffindor boys. "Now both of you to the Hospital Wing."
Each of them were helped toward the staircase by varying members of their house though Ron and his group were forced to wait until the Slytherins were halfway up to avoid a brawl.
Ginny, stark white, tugged on Harry's free arm since the other was holding up a bruised Ron. "I'm going to check on Hermione. I want to be sure she doesn't hear about this from someone else."
Harry nodded. She spun around and started toward the Head Girl/Head Boy room when she ran into a hysterical Lavender who was dashing after the convoy going to Madam Pomfrey's. "Is he okay?" she screeched, grasping Ginny.
"He'll live," she replied icily. "Too bad I can't say the opposite about you." Ginny shoved past her, leaving a shocked Lavender in her wake. She did not notice as she hurried down the hall that a particular professor for a split second held out a hand as if to stop her. He quickly thought better of it and retracted his outstretched arm.
"Something the matter, Professor Lupin?" asked a third year standing nearby.
The older man's drawn face, held in a far off stare, refocused on the young boy next to him. "Nothing except for I'm a very stupid, stupid man."
Ginny knocked again on the door. "Hermione? Hermione, I know you're in there. Can I come in?"
No answer came and the only noise she could hear was some music playing softly. Steeling herself, Ginny turned the doorknob and muttered, "This is for your own good."
Immediately, her eyes fell on the armchair sitting next to the record player. Hermione sat curled up in it, her hand drifting over to restart the music or to adjust it. She never looked toward the door, but said in a small voice, "Please go away."
The music continued, "Say you'll love me every waking moment, turn my head with talk of summertime. Say you'll need me with you now and always. Promise me that all you say is true, that's all I ask of you."
"I've got to talk to you, Hermione," answered Ginny. She pulled up another chair right next to the other. The response to this was to turn up the volume.
"Let me be your shelter. Let me be your light. You're safe. No one will find you, your fears are far behind you…"
Ginny abruptly switched it off and all sound faded away. Hermione gave her an angry look. "Something's happened," the redhead said, ignoring the glare. "Ron and Draco got into a huge fight over you. My brother pummeled him good for what he was saying about you. Professor Lupin really had to pull him off. I think he's starting to use his brain again."
"What did Draco say?" asked Hermione, aghast.
She bit her lip before patting Hermione's arm. "I'm not entirely sure, but it's not important. What is important is my brother is coming to his senses."
"Ginny, after what he did, I don't really care if he has an epiphany," started Hermione.
"I know, I know. I was just saying. Anyway, I came up here to see how you were since you've gone missing most of the day."
"Peachy keen," muttered Hermione darkly. "Just peachy bleeding keen." She then started shaking and pulled out a tissue from what looked like a near empty box.
"Why don't you," said Ginny, patting Hermione's arm comfortingly, "come to the library with me. I'm sure you don't want to be here when Draco gets back. He'll be in such a foul mood. Come on. I need some help with my Charms work."
"But," resisted Hermione, "what if certain people are there?"
"Don't worry. Neither of them is getting out of the Hospital Wing until late. Doubt they'll be heading to the library. Besides, getting out will do you some good."
Sighing since Ginny completely misinterpreted her question, Hermione found herself being dragged from where she had sat most of the day down her staircase and out into the castle toward the library. Ginny chatted cheerily at her side while the other scanned constantly for a particular figure incase she needed to run and hide.
Sitting slumped in a chair, Hermione stared down blankly at an equally vacant piece of parchment. She was alone at a somewhat hidden back table she had chosen in the library. Far, far away from any prying eyes. An annoyed Ginny had had to leave due to the incident earlier in front of the Great Hall, abandoning Hermione to her thoughts. Evidently, the students closest to the action where being called in for questioning. Enjoying the silence left in the wake of Ginny's upbeat chatter, she rose to find a book that pertained to Ginny's Charm essay.
As she plucked the book, Charisma Charms for the Clueless, off the shelf, Hermione nearly squeaked in alarm as she looked through the hole into the next aisle. Hastily jamming the book back, she fled to her table and began stuffing all the things littering the counter back into her book bag. Hermione haphazardly swung it over her shoulder and made her way stealthily to the exit. Unluckily for her, she turned a corner and ran smack dab into who she had been avoiding.
"Hermione," began Remus, checking to see if anyone was around, "I've been looking everywhere for you. I rather think I was-"
"Were what?" countered Hermione. "Needing to talk with me some more? Because I rather think, I heard you loud and clear the first time. I don't need this again."
Remus opened his mouth as if to get a word in, but Hermione, getting pinker by the moment, continued on, "Since you're so brilliant and all and have me figured. I always snog someone when I need consoling. All the time. It's not as if I ever do it because of feelings. That wouldn't make sense, would it?"
As dignified as possible, she tried to storm out with her huge bag weighing her down. She wasn't going to get away that easily. His hand grabbed her shoulder as he repeatedly asked her to stop. "Hermione, please that's not…that's not it at all. I am came here to say-"
A group of Hufflepuffs suddenly appeared and he dropped his hand from her shoulder. It was easy for her to fall in step with them and leave him standing alone next to the reference section. She glanced back to see him looking dejectedly at the floor before rubbing his eyes and disappearing out of sight. What had he been trying to say, she honestly asked herself. The Hufflepuffs had long diverted off and the seemingly deserted corridor stretched in front of her. She all of a sudden felt the situation settle around her. Biting her lip, Hermione wished she had brought along her tissues. Might as well just tie them around my neck, she thought sardonically as her eyes began becoming watery again. Breaking out into a run, she dashed unknowingly by a specter-like spectator as she ran to the safety of her room.
Remus came out into the same hallway Hermione had been going down, returning back to his room, feeling lost. He thought himself a complete idiot this time. How could he have messed up so bad? His thoughts were interrupted by a certain Potions Master stepping out from a darkened alcove, looking like a very peeved Dracula from a cheap horror film.
He regarded Remus with his black eyes before saying, "What did you do now?"
Not in the mood to deal with Snape or his constant riddles, Remus snapped, "What are you talking about?"
Snape rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Granger. First, she's not in my class or any after yours, rumor has it, and now she's basically flooding the corridors with the water works, which seems to have become her new favorite pastime. So, Lupin, I'll ask again. What did you do this time?"
"Well…" said Remus, stumbling over possible explanations, any but the truth.
"I'm not stupid, Lupin. I see the way you look at each other. Get this made up so that I may have an Advanced Potions class sometime in the future. Do try to do better than your little performance in the library. It's going to take more than that to make up for what you told her the first time."
At this point, Remus could only stare dumbfounded at Snape. Was he not the one urging him down the so-called path of right by having him do this to her? And why was he following them two around, listening in on the action?
Clearly getting impatient, Snape said, "Don't just stand there like an idiot. Go. Before I realize I have gone off my rocker, then try and stop you."
Remus, stunned, could only nod his head in response then rush down the hall much like Hermione had earlier. His footsteps echoed down the empty hallways and he hoped he could fix what had happened. He hoped beyond hope.
The bathtub was nearly full and Hermione cautiously checked the water temperature. Deeming it suitable, she turned the faucets off and stuck her foot in just as a knock reverberated from the door to her room. She let out a noise of aggravation while grabbing her silk bathrobe and tying it around herself. Honestly, can I not take a bath without being interrupted? I think I deserve it for the day I've had to put up with…
Crossly, she jerked open the door and asked, full of fire, "What is it now?"
Not that the person on the other side had time to answer since she promptly slammed the door back again with the reprise of, "I'm not talking to you!" Not the most mature thing she could have thought to say, but it got the point across.
"Hermione," came Remus' voice, muffled from beyond the door, "Draco's right behind me. Unless you'd like him to hear us, I'd much rather like to talk with you in there."
Pacing in front of the door, Hermione weighed her options. Draco was already a hassle; he did not need to get a hold of this. Sighing resignedly, she reopened the door and waved him in hurriedly before peeking out and checking the lower floor. She plunked down on her bed, saying, "Okay…talk, though I'm sure I've already got the gist of it."
Remus stood rooted in front of her. "What I said to you after class today was in a sense true in some ways, but not the part about me being sorry. The fact is I didn't want you to rush into something that you weren't ready for. That you didn't want. I don't care about what happens to me, but I would ruin you, Hermione."
She had pulled her legs under herself and carefully pulled the blue ends of the robe toward her exposed knees. "I think I'm quite capable of deciding what I want to do and to act accordingly, thank you very much." Hermione fixed him with a stubborn look.
"Yes, you're right," conceded Remus. "I realize that now." He ran a hand through his hair before muttering, "Do I ever."
Quietly, Hermione said, "And I realize that you really don't want me."
Remus visibly grimaced at her vulnerable statement. He took a seat next to her on the bed. "You're all I can ever think about. Ever since your Defense Against the Dark Arts, I've been going insane, telling myself I had to do this for both our sakes. I thought I was doing it for your own good." Hermione's silence prompted him on, "But now, I plainly see I was wrong in doing so. It's your decision."
Still Hermione did not look at him or say anything. Abruptly, she said, "Kiss me."
"What?" asked Remus, completely thrown off.
"Why can't you be kissing me now?" Her eyes lifted to look imploringly at him.
He placed a hand on her shoulder before pulling her closer. Hermione instinctively responded by closing her eyes and tilting her chin. As his lips met hers, she felt his hand on her check, a thumb gently rubbing against her skin. As he pressed against her, she felt herself lean back and accidentally knock into something. Soon, music swelled and filled the space.
"Then say you'll share with me, one love, one lifetime. Let me lead you from your solitude. Say you need me with you here beside you. Anywhere you go let me go, too. Christine, that's all I ask of you."
His hand slipped inside her robe and she could barely breathe. Her mind registered the unfairness of the situation, she only having the robe and him fully dressed. She had to settle for exploring his shirted chest, wondering if he liked it enough to stop her from not fooling with the buttons and taking the faster route of just ripping.
"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Say the word and I will follow you."
A loud bang caused them to both nearly jump; forgetting someone was on the way. An angry voice floated up the staircase, "Granger! The music has to stop!"
Hermione straightened her robe and quickly turned the switch on the player. Her breathing already heavy seemed to have picked up with fear as her heart thumped. She glanced at Remus who also had an eye on the door. Not that Draco could get in, but how was Remus going to get out?
Barely above a whisper, Hermione asked, "How're you going to get out now?"
Remus held a finger to his lips, standing, and motioning her to a tapestry on the other side of her room. He lifted back the picture of a field to reveal a stonewall which earned a quizzical look from Hermione. He held up a finger for her to give him a moment. He studied the façade briefly before pushing in a particular stone. Noiselessly, a piece of wall slid away to expose dark hallway.
She could not hide her amazement. "How did you know? I had no idea. You'd think they'd have told me…"
This time he placed a finger to her lips to silence her and followed that with his lips. His mouth close to her ear, he whispered, "It leads out next to the statue of Gordon the Good a few floors down unless you take the hall that goes to the right which is to Gryffindor common room. Incase you'd like to bypass certain obstacles."
With that, he gave her hand a final squeeze before disappearing down the corridor, going by his wand light. She stepped back as the wall closed itself. Pulling the her robe around her, she made her way back to the bathroom to let out the water that had surely turned cold. She grinned to herself as the tub started refilling then did a spontaneous little dance, almost giggling in spite of herself. Love is kind of like that.