AN: :D Yeah…I know…it's about blooming time I updated! Little shorter than I wanted it but…hey, it's an update, right?
Reviews: Clearly due to a new policy, this section has been hung out to dry. All comments will now be received through the new reply system, but it only works if you sign in! (And I don't want to have the staff beat me like I almost was by the staff of So if you want a specific reply, please sign in or else I'll just thank anonymous reviews on here…
Last time for these, my unsigned reviewers: LoneStranger (Thanks so much:D 2 reviews! Remus/Tonks is alright, I will concede /mumbles "Sort of" Snape is super OOC after HBP, but I can't change it now:-S Lmao I should do a Napoleon cameo chapter w/ Mione/Remus. That would be too funny. "I see you're drinking light Butterbeer. Is that because you think you're fat?", Jenna (Thanks! And um…you're welcome for the story…? I'm glad you like it and I'll try to keep the passion a-rolling., Rane2920072 (Yes…I'm sure you're thinking about freakin' time I updated, again. Who needs a reputation when you've got Remus to come home to? ;) Thanks for always leaving me a line, applebee (Right on, Smiles28 (Thanks for the review., and dotdotdot (Always happy to rate high on the cuteness.
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Last Chapter: Snape "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 tomorrow. 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."
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Tryst. Its connotations ooze out whispers of secret meetings, hushed phrases, and midnight rendezvous. Of course, it also brings to mind make out sessions, some extremely intense, but brief snogging. Maybe in a broom closet, empty cupboard under the stairs, or the teachers' lounge? Well, when your covert meetings are with the residing Defense Against the Dark Arts professor you can end up there. Yet at the moment the action was elsewhere that night.
A knock came at her dressing room door. McGonagall had scheduled one of the first of many dress rehearsals and Hermione had shown up late, not to mention somehow her costume's hem had come out and it was still not ready. She couldn't help but sigh as she pulled her ponytail free and shook her hair loose before she went to the doorknob.
Opening it, the person on the other side pressed a finger to her lips as he entered. She giggled despite herself. He drew back his hand and whispered to her, "Very sly of you to pick the section of dressing rooms nobody else was getting ready in."
"Well, you found me, didn't you?" she grinned mischievously up at him. Hermione grabbed the front of his threadbare suit, pulling him closer. "Can't imagine how. Must have been that keen werewolf sense you have."
"Exactly," he breathed out. "Though, that side only comes out when you're around." He wrapped his arms around her and the space between them was gone. "Like now."
She straightened up, pulling him down by his tie. "No reason to hold back then." Those words were like the catalyst for takeoff. Instantly, she tugged the tie the rest of the way; his lips catching hers. Hermione bumped violently into the dressing vanity as it soon began to rapidly intensify. She heard several things fall off and felt the chair brush past her leg as it knocked over to the floor, but there were more important things to worry about.
She had already pushed off his jacket and was now hastily pulling on his tie. Remus, lucky devil he was, was starting on her shirt, making quick work of the row of buttons. They'd both had ample practice in that area. With it undone, he moved down onto her neck, grinning against her skin at each sharp intake of air. This caused her to fumble on his next layer. Those silly button-up sweaters she had been trying to break him of wearing.
"Geez, Remus," she said, basically tearing off the sweater and flying down the row of buttons on his shirt, "how many layers do you have on?"
"Enough to give me a head start," came his amused reply before his lips returned to hers. The coolness of the wall pressed against her bare back as his body moved in on hers. Hermione's readily rose to meet his, letting her hands travel over his exposed wiry upper body.
Flicking her eyes over, she broke the kiss long enough to say, "Chaise longue." She nodded her head in its direction.
Eagerly, he took the hint. Picking her up, he carried her over as she wrapped her legs around his waist. With a brief moment to kick off the shoes, they quickly resumed as they settled onto the cushions. Remus above her, Hermione undid his belt, whipping it off and throwing it nonchalantly across the room. He was still trying to get her black bra to unhook and seemed to be going nowhere fast. "Here. Let me," said Hermione breathily, trying to reach a hand around to her back.
Even that simple task became hard for her as he moved down her body, trailing kisses along her torso. She shivered as he ran his hands up and down against her skin. He tugged on the end of her skirt and she looked down to see him grinning mischievously back at her. With her free hand, she grabbed his chin, bringing him back for a kiss. Feeling the strap finally come loose, she smiled against his neck. "Got it," she said triumphantly.
She began pulling it off as he continued down her jaw line. As he playfully growled in her ear, another sound soon drowned that out. A sharp knock on the door. Oh…bloody hell…
Both froze, just staring at the door. The only sound now was of their heavy breathing. Remus mouthed at her, "Didn't lock it." Spotting her wand, she dived for it on the floor, accidentally sending Remus sprawling since he was on top of her. She was able to hiss out a quick locking charm before another knock came, accompanied by a jiggle of the handle, and a voice asking, "Hermione? Is that you in there?"
"Yeah," she finally answered, "just give me a moment."
She swung around to see Remus rubbing his forehead, apparently from contact with the floor. Rushing over to him, she whispered a sorry and helped him back up to the chaise. "You need to disappear," she said quietly, glancing back at the door. He nodded then placed a kiss on her hand before blinking out of sight. Trying to regain composure, Hermione grabbed her shirt from amongst the pile of strewn clothes and hurriedly wrapped it around her.
Holding her breath, she righted the stool and put the things back on the vanity. She spun around to inspect the room once more, nearly jumping as the remaining clothes made an arc in the air and landed behind the dressing screen. Breathing deeply to regain some composure after Remus' ghostly magic, she opened the door to find an impatient Lavender and Parvati standing on the other side, one holding her finished dress and the other with the accessories. Their eyebrows rose in unison at the Head Girl's disheveled hair, brightly colored face, and the fact she had missed a button hole on her shirt, causing the whole thing to be out of line.
"Didn't interrupt anything, did we?" asked Lavender, her eyes quickly scanning the room.
"Um…" started Hermione, backing up to let them in, "no, nothing. Just starting to get undressed." She emphasized her point by sitting on the stool to remove her socks.
"Oh, well we thought we heard somebody else in here." Lavender hung the costume on the clothes rack before fixing Hermione with a shrewd stare. Parvati was like her twin with her hand on her hip.
"Don't be silly. It's only me in here." Hermione pointed around vaguely with her hand. Popping up, she went past the two, grabbed her costume, and tried to put on her best smile and said, "Thanks for bringing this. I'm sure it's fine now." She began to try and herd them toward the door, but they stood firm. "I'd really rather change alone."
"Professor Trelawney wants us to make sure it's fine," countered Lavender. "She asked us to stay and see it on you, just to be on the safe side. You understand, don't you?" Her eyes became innocent as she said that. "Besides you have the screen to change behind." She pointed behind Hermione.
"Yes, I do, don't I?" She flashed a smile and gritted her teeth. "Be back in a moment."
Huffily, Hermione jammed the hanger onto the clothes hook behind the screen. She had nearly tripped over the rest of her and Remus' clothes hidden back there and muttered darkly as she pulled her shirt off. "Damn little nosey -"
"Don't finish that. They're standing close by."
Hermione nearly jumped through the roof as she startled from the voice millimeters away from her ear. Luckily though, the disembodied person had her firmly by the arms to keep her from doing so. She put her own hands onto her shoulders where the warm weight was. "Remus?"
"Mmmhmm," came the quiet reply.
She landed a hit in what she judged as to be his stomach. "Don't scare me like that!" she whispered out in flurry.
Content with the oomph that followed, she resumed changing. She reached down for her skirt's zipper, but it began to descend on its own. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she rolled her eyes. Hands now rested on her hips, pulling her backward; the skirt fell to floor and Hermione easily stepped out of it.
"Hermione?" came the two on the other side in unison. "Are you finished yet?"
"Nearly," she was able to squeak out since fingertips were brushing over her back and lips followed them. Turning herself around, her fingers felt along what appeared to be just air until they found their target. She traced his mouth and found he was grinning broadly. The unseen hands grabbed hers and then she soon discovered how weird it must look to snog thin air.
An exasperated sigh came from very close to the screen and seemingly right next to her, Lavender repeated her name. Breaking away, Hermione grabbed the dress roughly off the hanger and jumped into it. Without any prompting, Remus helped her pull it on and laid out her shoes to step into. Just in time too, as both her fellow Gryffindors suddenly appeared in front of her.
"Thought you'd forgotten the way out," Parvati quipped dryly, causing Lavender to titter.
Hermione controlled the need to curse them both to oblivion and answered, "Well, it looks to fit perfectly. So, if you two don't mind, I really must-"
Lavender cut in as she pointed toward the floor, "Whose clothes are those?"
With a sinking feeling in her stomach, Hermione dared to look down at her feet. In plain view sat the mixture of hers and Remus' clothes that had been put into hiding. So much for that… Not missing a beat, she shrugged and answered naively, "I don't know. I'd say whoever used this room last."
Parvati's wrinkled brow betrayed that she was charting into a new territory: thinking. "But isn't that one of those horrid button-up sweaters Professor Lupin likes to wear?" She bent over to pick it up for inspection and Lavender looked it over closely. The other nodded her head in agreement.
"I wouldn't know. Guess he was the one to use it last then," offered Hermione as they let it fall back to the floor. Her hands were clasped behind her back and said professor held them.
"Maybe," said Lavender slowly. "Though no one has seen him around for practice tonight. Rather odd of him to have disappeared like that. Don't you think?"
"I'm sure he'll show up soon," said Hermione, moving out from behind the screen and its damning evidence.
She led them back toward the door. A shrill-sounding Trelawney going down the hall caught their attention. They glanced dutiful toward the corridor and a nudge from Parvati caused Lavender to snap out of analyzing the room again. "Trelawney," she muttered and jerked her head toward the door.
Taking on her air of superiority again, Lavender said to Hermione, "We'll inform our department heads that it's okay and tell Professor Flitwick to expect you soon in the makeup department."
With that, she turned on her heels, but not with one more look over at the screen and beckoned Parvati to follow her. The door safely shut and locked; Remus winked back into the land of visible. He grabbed up his clothing and began putting it back on.
Hermione started to open her mouth, but he held up his hand and motioned toward the door. "Still there," he mouthed. A few moments passed and he nodded his head for the all clear.
"That was close," she said, whispering out of habit. Crossing the room, she helped him put his clothes back on. She expertly retied his olive tie before coming to his sweater. With a smug expression, she looked up at him and said, "I told you these were awful. And I'm not the only one who thinks so."
He grabbed up his jacket from the much cleaner floor, easing it onto his shoulders. "You're agreeing with Miss Brown and Miss Patil now?"
Making a noise of disagreement, Hermione shot back, "Rather they're agreeing with me."
"However you want to look at it," said Remus, his eyes bright with restrained laughter.
They stood next to each other facing the door. "Going MIA again," stated Remus as he began another Disillusion charm.
"Wait," she said, grabbing one more kiss before he blended completely into the surrounding area. Opening the door, she swept out and did not shut it before she felt a slight breeze from someone passing her and a hand briefly touch her shoulder. A quick glance around and she was off flying to see Flitwick.
Making a complete circle, Remus ended up in front of the Great Hall doors and was quickly ushered in by a younger member from costumes who was so panicky the professor couldn't even understand what he was saying.
"Slow down. Patrick, what is the problem?" he asked.
"McGonagall's loosing her mind. She said you should have been dressed hours ago!"
"She's just exaggerating. Though I really must be picking up the pace. Wouldn't want to hold up her first dress rehearsal." He then rushed backstage with the Second year on his heels.
"Found him!" Patrick announced proudly as they entered the realm of Trelawney and Sinistra.
"Where have you been, Remus?" inquired a none too misty Trelawney. Not waiting for an answer, she pointed to her left, "Miss Patil and Miss Brown have what you are to wear."
Readily, he left that company, passed Sinistra who muttered to him as he went by that she was near to the point of stealing Sybil's sherry and drinking herself to a stupor, and found the two Gryffindors staring at him as he approached. They each brandished a clothes hanger at him upon arrival. He expressed his gratitude and turned to leave, but Lavender's voice stopped him.
"Nice outfit this evening, Professor Lupin. Very smart looking sweater," she said, full of charm.
He turned slowly to look at her. Stupidly and much too late, he realized he was in exactly what they had seen on the floor. Keeping a blank face, he again thanked her and quickly left their curious gaze. Make that a very curious and calculating gaze.
A speedy change in a dressing room on the opposite end of the stage was followed by Remus hopping to the makeup department as he tried to wrestle his shoes on. Then he realized for this scene he wouldn't need shoes and abandoned them next to the door. The room was starting to empty save for Flitwick, McGonagall, the boy playing Lumiere, and a very disagreeable-looking Snape.
"Hold still, Mr. McDuffie. We're nearly through," said a frustrated McGonagall as she started to transfigure his other arm into a candleholder. He wasn't taking the change too well.
Not that he had much of a say in the process seeing as he left with candlesticks instead of arms and looking quite golden. Flitwick was quietly reassuring him that this wasn't a for certain look and they'd have several opportunities to perfect it which only increased the look of terror on the boy's face. Not that Flitwick noticed because he had happily turned his attention to his next victim, Remus, and cheerfully set about his work.
"My calendar must be off, Lupin. I didn't know the full moon was tonight," said Snape next to Remus' chair.
Remus, now completely transformed into a huge, hulking mass of fur and transfigured animal parts, growled through his voice changer. Once again Flitwick had expressed that this was only a test run for the final product. It was scorching hot underneath it all and Remus wasn't in much of a mood for Snape's wisecracks.
"It may not be, but that doesn't mean I won't bite you," snarled Remus, exiting toward the stage.
"Touchy little werewolf today, aren't we? Has she been holding out on you lately?" muttered Snape before going off to his own department of effects, which was comprised mostly of Slytherins, Draco Malfoy at the front, for a few test-runs on the backdrops appearing.
McGonagall verbally ushered Remus on stage. Taking his cue, he entered; his eyes meeting Hermione's who was already in position. Her eyes widened at his appearance as did everyone else's before her eyebrows lowered and she flashed a smile. Forgetting about Snape, Lavender, Parvati, and the rest who were watching, he fell into the scene and into her.
The next evening found Remus sitting at his desk, studying over a pile of tests from Fourth year. He glanced at the clock which read five 'til eight then turned his gaze to the door. Draco Malfoy was supposed to have shown up ten minutes ago. His month of detention after the incident in the Great Hall started tonight as did Ron's who unluckily was stuck with the teacher who had assigned it. Snape. Bit of revenge for having put one of his students in detention. As the clock chimed the new hour, his door swung open and three people stood in it.
Snape stepped forward, leaving Ron and Draco in the corridor. "Good evening, Remus. Glad to see you working. Profession before pleasure for once." He cocked an eyebrow.
"Glad to see you too, Severus." Remus rose from his chair and peered out into the hall, having learned to use selective hearing when around the Potions master. "Why, might I ask, do you have Mr. Malfoy? Who should have been here over fifteen minutes ago."
"I'm the reason why he's late," said Snape. "I just received an owl that pertains to Mr. Malfoy and I decided to divulge it to him." He produced a piece of parchment from his robes with a flourish. "Draco's parents have informed the school that they are highly uncomfortable with him serving detention with you. Something about unnecessary risks to his safety. So I've been instructed to switch charges with you."
"You get Mr. Weasley." He beckoned Ron into the room, leaving the other to look very smug in the hall's torchlight. "And I take Mr. Malfoy. I do feel I am getting the better end of the bargain."
An identical Slytherin sneer of superiority graced their features before they left the two Gryffindors in silence. It was quickly broken, however, by an irate Ron.
"What a bunch of bastards!" he said angrily, slumping into a seat opposite Remus' desk.
"That very well maybe, but to keep yourself out of future detentions, keep that sentiment to yourself or at least in trusted company," offered Remus, also reclaiming his seat. "Now to your punishment…"
"Come on, Professor Lupin," interrupted Ron. "I don't really deserve it. You were there; you heard what that git Draco said. I was only defending Hermione."
Remus stared at him before answering. "I know why you did it, but I had already heard the exchange and was going to take care of it. You could have gotten me to deal with Draco."
"You can't tell me," started Ron, taking the pile of papers Remus was handing him, "that if you weren't a teacher, you wouldn't have done the same. I mean she's nothing like what he said. Nothing."
He paused from scrawling out the correct answer to study the younger boy's face. "Then why did you do it? The indiscretion with Miss Brown."
The sound of quills scratching filled the space. Finally, Ron answered, "I thought I was missing out being just with Hermione. It didn't seem to be working like I'd planned. So, Lav's arms were just wide open and I went."
"Do you regret that now?"
"Of course. But I'll win her back, Professor Lupin. I'm going to do it. Lav is going out the door for good. I'm a changed man." He nodded soberly.
Remus had to control the need to snort in amusement at the word 'man.' But that was quickly overcome by the new thought running through his head. I'll win her back, Professor Lupin. I'm going to do it. He swallowed hard before asking, "And what if she's moved on?"
"Has she?" countered Ron in a moment of fear. Remus shrugged in feigned ignorance. The other visibly relaxed. "Well even if she has, we've got a bond, you know? After we get all the skeletons out of the closet, she'll be back with me in no time." He grinned in the understanding that what he was saying was true.
"Sounds foolproof," mumbled Remus, retrieving a new test from the pile.
"Doesn't it though," winked Ron who happily returned to his own stack of papers with thoughts of renewing his romance dancing in his head.
Not if Remus had a say in any of this. Not over his bloody, dead werewolf body.
"Remus! Oh, Remus!" squawked out Trelawney the next morning as he was making his way from breakfast.
Damn…it'd be too obvious now if I started running. So instead, he spun around, putting on his best face and said, "How can I assist you, Sybil?"
"Nothing you can do for me, Remus, rather what I can do for you. Remember when I told you that Venus was passing through your house?"
"Yes, of course, how could I have forgotten," said Remus through gritted teeth. The less he heard about celestial bodies the better.
"Well, dear, I hope you've found that love or passion, whichever," Trelawney smiled, "because I'm afraid I looked at your path and it looks as though Venus is soon exiting for you."
"What?" he asked flabbergasted. Not that he believed in any of that, but after her last prediction, love and passion had entered. Hermione Granger had started coming for line memorization and the rest was a whirlwind blur. He suddenly hoped that the Inner Eye really, really skipped over her generation.
"Mars is entering in conjunction with Pluto." She made a tsk-tsk sound. "Not a good combination. Not a good one at all. It means you're headed for a boat load of strife, hardship, and misery. Hope it doesn't mess up anything good Venus started." Her face split into a wide grin. "At least you have a head's up on such things."
Remus nodded weakly. He turned to leave her, but she called out after him.
"I nearly forgot to tell you. Albus is arriving today. He just can't wait to see what were doing with the play!" She drew him closer. "And rumor has it that we're to have a little test over the Hogwarts' Rules and Regulations handbook. So buck up on your reading." She waved merrily and left.
Remus turned back to look at the teachers' table where they were all in deep conversation over the news. A figure soon appeared by him that took his attention away.
"Remus," started Hermione in a low voice only a werewolf could hear in the breakfast din, "Dumbledore is coming back. The special Ministry session has been adjourned."
"Yes, I just heard. Sybil told me."
"And," continued Hermione, "the teachers are to be tested over the laws that govern the school and its activities."
He nodded. "She mentioned that, too. How do you know?"
"I heard it from Hagrid," she quickly explained. Her face turned pale at what she said next, "Did you know he's been visiting Hogwarts in secret? At night or when we didn't expect him to check in with McGonagall. I heard he's been inspecting the grounds in secret. Invisibly!"
"He's been…what?" Remus' brain seemed to have gone numb.
"Don't you understand?" nearly squeaked Hermione. "That's why you're having this sudden test about the rules. Apparently, he's seen something that doesn't comply."
Remus, scanning the room, pulled her over to a secluded niche then pushed open a trap in the wall before pulling her in. "Us?"
Tears were in her eyes as she wrung her hands. "Yeah. I mean- what else could it be?" She wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his chest. Soothingly, he smoothed out her hair. They stood that way for a moment before she broke away.
"I've got Advanced Ancient Runes," she said watery, looking down at her watch.
"And I have Second year," added Remus.
Another moment and they kissed. He could feel the tears on her cheeks as he cupped her face. Breaking away, her hand still in his hair, she looked into his eyes and said, "To hell with Dumbledore and his rules."
"To hell with Dumbledore and his rules," repeated Remus as their lips met again, as they became late for the first period of the day.