AN: Wahoo:D Updateness! Thanks to every single one of my reviewers – love all of you – and a big wave to anyone reading this from harrypotterfanfictiondotcom after it was removed for inappropriate content, namely my HG/RL – student/teacher pairing. Le sigh. If an answer on your review is slow, it's because the system is working against me! I can't remember what I've replied to or not between this and Hoping for a Refuge. On a side note, Go Team USA in Torino!

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Last Chapter: "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?"

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Remus resisted the urge to look up at her, so instead he stared holes into his 7th year Defense Against the Dark Arts book as her class left. He knew if he had looked up, she wouldn't have turned to acknowledge him. That's the way they had agreed to act over the next few days. Ever since Dumbledore's return they couldn't risk anything out of the ordinary, not even a stray glance because they both knew that the Headmaster saw all. As the door shut, he leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes.

I can't take much more of this, he thought exasperated. To see her, but not really be with her. To be near and unable to touch. Staring out into his empty classroom, he felt a sudden sensation of dread as he realized that very night he'd be stuck in a similar room under Albus' watchful gaze, answering questions about the rules. Rules, he was certain, him and Hermione had smashed into little bitty pieces.

Running a hand through his hair, Remus thought, I wonder if she's going as insane as I am…

If Hermione could twitch from withdrawal, she would be absolutely shaking by now. From Remus withdrawal that is. She walked next to Harry and Ginny going to the next class, not even listening. Her thoughts were still back in the classroom she had left. I can't even pretend to notice he's in the same room anymore! I'm going completely out of my mind. And he has to take that blasted exam tonight…

She was cut short through her mental rant by a quizzical Ginny asking, "Hermione, are you alright?"

"Yes," replied Hermione, sharply. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Geez, I was just wondering. No need to bite my head off," answered Ginny. Harry was glad to leave the two alone as he said his goodbyes and exited to Charms.

"Sorry, Gin," sighed Hermione. "I'm just a little stressed right now." She gave the redhead a weary smile.

"He broke up with you, didn't he?" Ginny didn't look at her when she said this.

"What!" said Hermione, completely caught off guard. Her mouth hung open slightly in surprise.

Ginny grabbed Hermione's arm and pulled her into an empty classroom against the other's protest about Potions class. "Whoever it is you are seeing. And don't you start telling me there isn't a guy because I'm your best friend and you've got all the symptoms. Not that you ever came to me about it." She looked slightly hurt as she waited for Hermione's answer.

The other just looked aghast for a moment before faltering, "Ginny…I…uh…well…how did you figure it out?"

She simply rolled her eyes as a grin spread across her face. "Ever since Ron, I was surprised to see you taking it so well. Then these smiles would get on your face at random times while you were staring off. And I've hardly gotten to see you at all lately! 'Play' this and 'Got to help Professor Lupin' that. Please…anybody with eyes could see through those."

Breathing a mental sigh of relief, Hermione thanked her lucky stars that Ginny hadn't been watching too closely. She laughed nervously, "Can't get anything by you, can I?"

"So," continued Ginny, "did he do something to you? Who is he? How long have you been going out? Do I know him?" She flushed in the excitement of finally getting some answers after keeping her silence.

"Um…we're kind of at a cooling off period. A little time off," she explained. Now how am I going to lie my way out of this one? She's my best friend, but…lord…how is anyone going to take the news about me and Remus?

"And?" prompted Ginny.

"I don't know if it's going to work out so I'd really like to keep it from getting out. I swear I'll tell you everything as soon as I'm sure we're set. Okay? Gin, I'm sorry, but we both agreed to umm…keep it between the two of us," Hermione said, nearly to the point of pleading.

Slowly, Ginny nodded her head, "If you don't want to tell me, that's fine. I just figured best friends shared things." She turned to leave.

Hermione reached out and grabbed her shoulder. "Ginny, please don't be mad at me. I don't even understand what's happening between us. I would tell you-"

The red-head countered with, "I told you about Dean, Seamus, and even Edwin," she shuttered briefly, "and now I just wish you'd return the favor. You can always talk to me. You're like a sister, 'Mione."

Hermione could feel her walls of resistance crumbling. She had been bursting at the seams to let anyone, anyone at all know about this excitement in her life and now someone was more than willing to listen. Possibly not even judge her. "Okay," she conceded, "after tonight, I'll see if I can. I'll tell you."

Ginny squealed and then hugged her. "Ha, I knew you had been seeing someone. Neither Ron nor Harry had a clue. Is he hot?" Her eyes sparkled.

"Of course," Hermione allowed herself to grin, "and a good kisser. You haven't told Ron or Harry about this have you? Ron hasn't noticed, has he?"

"No," the other shook her head. "You'd think I'd spill something like this to those two dense idiots. Don't worry about Ron; he's way too wrapped around Lavender to see beyond that."

"So now Harry's an idiot?" queried Hermione, feeling relieved that Ron was as usual, a clueless boy. Thank goodness, though we're not dating, that boy's got a jealous streak.

At once, Ginny scowled. "That's not what I meant. He's-"

"The only man for you," said Hermione mockingly while the other playfully swat at her. "I heard he's breaking up with that Hufflepuff. How convenient for you."

"Don't you have a Potions class to go to," grumbled Ginny good-naturedly. Receiving only another grin, she added, "What time tonight?"

Wondering if she was still doing the right thing, Hermione answered, "Try around 9:30. Just let yourself in and kick Malfoy if he gets too annoying." It was late enough so she could find out how everything went with Remus and get back to her room in time.

"Will do." Ginny winked at her and scampered off to her class, leaving Hermione to run toward the dungeons and a certain-to-be fuming Professor Snape.

The rest of Remus' day had went by amazingly fast, more so than usual he was sure of it. How time flies when you're having fun, he thought sullenly. Fun was the opposite of what he was having, more like a train wreck. Of thoughts mostly. He had stayed in his room most of the day, only venturing out for lunch and a quick supper. One look from her would break him then they'd be caught red-handed. More than likely red-handed and removing clothes.

Once he knew she had paused outside his door in between classes, but soon heard her dash off. They had even called off their practices which weren't really needed, he knew the play, but were used as an excuse to see each other with no one around. Unless Dumbledore decided to turn his all-seeing eye on them. Packing up his things, he slowly made his way to the Headmaster's office and as he saw it, certain doom.

Remus knocked quietly on the heavy wooden door. He half hoped that Albus wouldn't answer or he would, then say he was just kidding, there wasn't a test and that he wished happiness to him and Hermione. Yeah right, and I don't feel the urge to bite once a month…

Sweeping away his thoughts, he smiled as the door was in fact answered by McGonagall who gave him a stern look. He quickly figured out why; he was the last one to show up. The rest sat around a large table somehow sitting in the middle of the office. He took his seat as Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"Thank you for all showing up, at last," he looked over at Remus, amused. "I do hate to trouble all of you with coming up here, but if you have been here long enough, you will recall that in the past such regulation exams have been given. At the Ministry session, some committee members asked me as to why I haven't held up that tradition. And to be truthful in my old age, I simply forgot. Now if you don't mind, please keep these turned over." He nimbly passed a single paper to each teacher.

Nervously, Remus slid his paper back and forth on the polished table until an angry hiss from Snape stopped him. Tuning back to Dumbledore, he heard the usual rules about anti-cheating charms on the papers, not that he, Dumbledore, had any doubts about their integrity. Sucking in a breath, Remus didn't even hear the Headmaster wish them luck as he was finally able to turn over his paper and see that it had only one question.

Puzzled, he looked over at the others but of course he saw them only as blank. Several of the others looked on disapprovingly at his wandering eyes. Refocusing on the question, his eyes widened as he read it, reread it, then read it again just to be sure.

'According to The Regulatory Rules of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, what is the school's view on teacher-student relationships? What such actions violate Rule-23.45 (Section 87 ½) and how must the headmaster deal punishment appropriately?'

Remus swallowed hard before putting his quill to the paper and scratching out a very long and a very made up answer, pulling it out of thin air. He had never read that particular part of the handbook, not that he had actually read any of it. All he remembered was an introduction to Hogwart's regulations (No hexing, no fighting, no cursing, etc. He was pretty sure no snogging the students was probably said) and all the library copies had been checked out by other staff members.

So he ended up having to sweat it out as he was forced to wait for the rest to finish. When the last ink blot was erased, Dumbledore motioned for the papers. Remus handed his in with the rest and rose to leave as they were dismissed and bid a goodnight. A hand on his shoulder stopped him, and Albus' quiet voice said, "I'd like to speak with you for a few moments alone, Remus."

His stomach was gone. He knew it had to be because he felt it drop out. Turning, Remus reclaimed his seat as horrid thoughts of punishments ran through his head. Maybe they would enlist the help of Filch and hang him from the ceiling by his thumbs, lock him up in the dungeons, or even worse lock him up in the dungeons with Snape. The worst was the thought of having to be separated from Hermione.

Dumbledore offered him a lemon drop repeatedly before making small talk about how Remus was in the play and how the production was going. The other's constantly tapping foot gave away his underlying anxiety as he answered each inquiry politely.

Finally, the Headmaster looked amusedly down at Remus' answer and said, "Do you care to paraphrase this, Remus? I daresay you've written me an essay."

"Um…well…you see, under Section 30something and half," stuttered Remus. He hated to lie, especially to the man who had held Remus in his trust even in a world that hated half-breeds and shunned them. "I believe it says that-"

Dumbledore thankfully cut in, "You haven't the slightest idea what that code of conduct section truly says, do you?"

"Not the faintest, sir," he answered truthfully.

"Let's have a little read then." An enormously huge volume was pulled from within his desk and he handed it over to Remus. "Please find the section and enlighten us both."

A cloud of dust rose off it as he opened it up to the index. He found the page where the number 20 rules started and flipped quickly to it. Scanning, he found rule 23 about teacher behavior then continued on. Soon his brow furrowed though. He glanced back up at a waiting Dumbledore before saying, "Sir, there is no 23.45 and certainly no section 87 ½."

"I know," answered Dumbledore simply, his chin resting on his linked fingers.

Puzzled, Remus asked, "Are you sure about the number?"

"Oh, yes I quite sure about it. It doesn't exist." He smiled faintly. "I made it up."

"You made it up?" Remus slowly closed the book. "Then what about my test? It's-"

"It's of absolutely no matter at all." As if to prove his point, he casually tossed it into the roaring fire to his side. "I just rather enjoyed watching you sweat this whole ordeal out though I had no plans to give such a test until Mr. Ingram suggested it. You remember him, Remus, short old fellow who has that Kneazle kennel outside of the city. Out of the blue, he said-"

Cutting in, Remus said, "Sorry to interrupt, Albus, but are you saying that this rule doesn't exist?"

"Heavens no, boy." Jollily, he popped a lemon drop into his mouth. "If it had, don't you think I would have had to step in sooner. Not that I would have had the heart; you two seem quite cozy." He paused at the look Remus was giving him. "Don't look at me that way, Remus. I haven't been invading either your or Miss Granger's privacy; it's just I notice things."

The werewolf blinked a few time in succession as he was certainly glad Dumbledore hadn't been standing around watching him and Hermione get physical, but he had admitted to knowing, for a long time it sounded like. Thanks for not letting the fear of you finding out worry us, thought Remus.

Still dazed from the news, Remus continued, "So, it's alright? Hermione and I – I mean – what we're doing isn't - ?"

Dumbledore leaned back. "Technically it isn't prohibited and I personally have not a problem with it, but,"

There's always a but isn't there, Remus thought resentfully.

"Some people will not be so understanding of your relationship, so I would just caution you to keep this quiet until perhaps Miss Granger has graduated."

Remus nodded and blurted out, "This has absolutely no effect on her grade either."

The twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes got brighter as he laughed. "I know you two keep the utmost professionalism, no matter what. I'm very glad for the both you and good luck with your production, Remus, and of course, Miss Granger. I'm quite certain the play will be a show-stopper."

Since his mouth had gone dry, Remus only nodded. It was okay? Albus had given them the thumbs up? Dear Merlin, I always knew he was totally off his rocker…completely off kilter… Standing up he shook the older man's hand and said, "Thank you very much, Albus. Nothing until she graduates. She'll be thrilled to hear of this."

A smile tugging at his lips, he turned to leave and tell her the amazingly good news. He thought he heard Dumbledore say, "You're good for each other," as he left, but he didn't take the time to notice as he took the spiral staircase by twos.

Hermione poked half-heartedly at the pork chop on her plate, but found she couldn't eat a thing. Remus must have come down to the Great Hall early since she had yet to see him eat any supper. Actually none of the professors sat at the head table except for Argus Filch, baby-sitter for the evening.

Ginny noticed her worried look and said, "How about we go to the library? You look like you need cheering up and I've always found Hogwarts, A History to do that for you."

Nodding, she abandoned her meal and followed behind Ginny, only glancing back once toward the other end of the castle and Dumbledore's office. Upon arrival, they noticed that quite a few people had decided to study in library as they had to make their way to the back for a table. Unexpectedly, they saw Harry pouring over a book, trying to avoid the glares from a neighboring Hufflepuff group.

"Problems in Abbyland?" asked Hermione as she plopped down next to him with Ginny on the other side.

"Not yet," answered Harry, closing his book. "But there will be." He whispered the next part, "I think her friends suspect something is up."

"You think?" said Ginny sardonically. "By the way they're looking over here you could never tell."

Hermione randomly grabbed a book from those in Harry's stack and let her eyes flick over the same sentence repeatedly. She couldn't focus to read, which had to be a first for her. Looking up, she saw Ginny smiling coyly at something Harry had said. A knowing grin threatened to break across her face as the other two moved close together.

She was too absorbed in reveling the fact she saw that coming years ago to notice someone staring at her from around a bookcase. Eventually though, she felt the heat of the gaze and glanced up. Ron, she thought unexcitedly. Hermione rejoined the conversation, thinking maybe if she'd ignored him he'd go away.

Wrong.

"Hermione," he said, standing right next to her.

Giving him an apathetic look, she answered, "Yes?"

"I was wondering if you'd – what I mean is – if we could maybe," but he stopped short as someone cleared their throat. Emerging from the opposite bookcase was Lavender and not far behind her was her shadow, Parvati.

Why don't we just have nice, jolly little reunion right here in the library, thought Hermione as she could have swore a low growl emanated from Ginny.

Looking extremely crestfallen at the new arrivals, Ron hissed at them, "What in the bloody world are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?" countered Lavender, glaring daggers at the seated group.

He glanced back at Hermione, giving her a weak grin and said, "Hang on."

Roughly he grabbed the two girls and steered them around a book case. Though they were no longer visible, bits of the conversation could still be heard.

"Didn't you listen to a thing I said to you earlier?" said an exasperated Ron. "You and me are-"

"Not another word, Ron," interjected Lavender. "We are not. We are NOT! You're crazy thinking she'll-"

Then the voices became hushed whispers. The three people at the table looked at each other with raised eyebrows.

"What was that about?" muttered a befuddled Hermione. Ginny shrugged. She stared down at a slowly getting red-faced Harry. "Harry, do you know what Ron was going on about?"

"Well," he started, "he did tell me that…er…he might…maybe break up with Lavender and try to-" he paused with a serious look on his face. "I was sworn to silence."

A swift elbow to the ribs broke said silence as Ginny said, "You've got to be joking."

"Harry James Potter," Hermione said while she leaned over toward him and poked him in the chest. "What did he tell you?"

"I wasn't supposed to tell! You wouldn't like it if I told Ron something you said that you didn't want me to."

"For the love of Merlin! That's completely different. Tell me what he said."

Harry was saved from having to defend his position again when the bookshelf in front of them wobbled dangerously soon followed by a resounding slap. A fuming Lavender appeared along with Parvati soon followed by Ron who was holding his very red cheek.

His slightly shocked face looked back at the trio before making a quick exit. As soon as he rounded the corner though, he reappeared and said to Hermione, "I'll talk to you later."

She put her face in her hands and mumbled through her fingers, "This is not happening. He's being all nice again."

Harry simply cleared his throat. "He's trying to get back on your good side. I guess that's an improvement."

Hermione crossed her arms, just gazing at Harry until her eyes widened. "Don't tell me he's trying to…get us back together."

Dawning comprehension broke over Ginny's face. "Ooooh, Lavender," then she laughed, "no wonder she's steamed. Merlin, Ron knows how to dig himself a hole, doesn't he?"

Leaning her head back, Hermione groaned then grabbed Harry's wrist to look at his watch. "I've got to go." She pushed back her chair and got up. "I'll see you later, Ginny. And Harry, you might as well just head Ron off right now before he does something stupid."

"Afraid that's already happened," he muttered to himself as the two girls exchanged a look before Hermione left.

Striding out of the library, Hermione made her way to the nearest staircase. Soon though, she was wishing she had taken the other one as two figures stood in relief on the steps. Can't I get a moment's peace from these two!

Nonchalantly, she tried to pass between them, but Lavender quickly caught her arm in a death grip. Her red eyes and wet face betrayed that she had been crying. Her mouth set in a line, she said ominously, "I'm watching you, Hermione."

Parvati mirrored Lavender's underlying anger as she added, "You're not as clever as you think, you know. We know-"

She didn't finish because Lavender held up a hand for her to stop. "Just remember Hermione that you ruined me and Ron. And that I do like to return favors. Come on Parvati, I'm sure Hermione has somewhere she needs to be."

With that they swept off down the stairs as Hermione went up them, turning their words over and over in her head. She didn't like how any of it sounded. Not at all.

Completely paranoid now, she checked up and down the hall before entering his classroom and going up to his office. He hadn't returned as she sat down on his couch to wait for him, taking off her school robe. Hermione felt what had happened earlier be pushed from her mind as the bigger problem of Dumbledore resurfaced.

Nervously, she jiggled her leg and waited. Before long though, she couldn't sit any more. Her eyes locked on the door across from her that stood slightly ajar. She knew where it led. His private bedroom. He had yet to show it to her and the curiosity became overwhelming. Glancing once more at the office door, she went over and tentatively poked her head inside.

Inside was unsurprisingly a bed and other furnishings like a bedside table, another desk, chest of drawers, and an armchair. It was simply decorated and the colors reminded Hermione of autumn. Throwing inhibition to the wind, she plunked down on his bed, hugging a pillow to her chest. Hermione considered stealing it as it smelled faintly of him, a combination of the soap he used and an almost crisp outdoors scent.

She startled out of her reverie as she heard the sound of a door close. Still clinging to the pillow, the bedroom door opened and he said, "I see you've found my bedroom."

"Yes, I did. It's quite nice," replied Hermione as he sat next to her.

"Were you planning on dashing off with my pillow?" he asked bemused.

Reluctantly, Hermione placed it back under the covers. "Actually, yes. I was regarding your room as a hotel; I thought I might nick your soap next."

They exchanged smiles before lapsing into silence as she avoided hearing the news which must be bad. Remus broke it by saying, "Don't you want to know what happened?"

Hermione bit her lip. "Do I?"

"There is no rule."

She just stared at him. "What?"

"That's just it. Hogwart's has no such student-teacher rule and Dumbledore, that crazed old nutter, is perfectly okay with it as long as we keep it quiet until maybe after you graduate."

Briefly, the idea of keeping it quiet flared up the image of two Gryffindor girls, but that was quickly overridden by her joy at the news. "Remus that's wonderful." She threw herself at him in a fierce hug causing him to fall backward on the bed.

"I knew you'd want to hear that," he said as he tucked a wild piece of her hair behind her ear.

Inches from his face, she whispered, "Exactly what I wanted to hear." Being on top of him, she laid her head down on his chest and added, "I've missed you."

He ran his hands up and down her back, massaging through her shirt. "I've missed you, too, love."

Hermione secretly smiled at being called love as she listened to the steady beat of his heart. Accompanied with the massage, she was struggling against being lulled to sleep. Raising up, she began to tell him about Lavender, but stopped short. She didn't want to spoil the moment and besides, why worry him with some silly girl trash talk. Hermione could more than handle anything those two could try and cook up.

"What is it?" he asked, reading her expression.

She instead grinned and shook her head. "Nothing, just glad about how it went tonight." Hermione lowered herself back down and captured his lips in a kiss.

Remus' hands on her back held her against him as he returned the kiss. Her own were running through his hair. As they paused for a breath, Hermione glanced at his bedside clock. It was nearly time for her to meet Ginny, but right about now, she really did not want to leave.

Sneaking in a peck on his forehead, she rolled off him, laying next to him. She gave his arm that rested on her waist a quick squeeze. "I really hate having to, but I've got to leave."

"It's alright." He smiled at her. "Our exile from one another is over; there will be plenty of time later."

"Our torrid affair shall continue later then," she replied, leaning in for a good-bye kiss. "Goodnight, Remus."

"Goodnight and sweet dreams." He sat up to watch her leave before kicking off his shoes and conceding that he deserved a long sleep after the day he had had.

"Where is she….where is she?"

"Where's who?" asked Ginny, looking over Harry's shoulder. He had the Marauder's Map spread out on a table in the Gryffindor common room. Every once in awhile, he'd jab his wand at it, causing a corner to flip and reveal more of the castle.

She sat next to him and squinted at all the little moving dots. "Who are you looking for?"

Flicking his wand, Harry answered, "Abby Phillips."

"Oh," muttered Ginny. "That Hufflepuff."

"Yeah. She was supposed to meet me at that big mirror on the fourth floor, but she never showed. So now I have to hunt her down."

Bending toward the map, Ginny's eyes scanned it for her name. "What was it you were going to tell her exactly?"

Harry paused on a dot then shook his head and continued. "I don't know what I'm going to tell her exactly, but I was going to break up with her."

Ginny perked up instantly at those words. "Oh really. What a shame…is that her?"

"No," said Harry, "it's Abigail Philanders. I keep thinking she's her, too."

With renewed zeal and a slight grin on her face, Ginny continued to let her eyes quickly rove over the map. She was about to fold back a corner when a name caught her eye. Hermione Granger. Ginny watched as the dot moved into what was labeled as DADA Prof's Bedchamber. Spellbound, she saw another dot, Remus Lupin, enter the box.

Her eyes widened as the two dots came very close together, overlapping even and never moving apart. Harry's voice caused her to look away though and she said, "Huh?"

He gave her a funny look and repeated, "I said I found her. She's wandering around the Trophy Hall." And with a tap of the wand and Mischief managed, the ink erased and the map folded up neatly before disappearing into Harry's pocket.

Not as if its sudden disappearance could erase what Ginny had seen. It was still as plain as day to her. Or was it? You can't just let your imagination go like that. Your and Harry's dots were close together since we're sitting next to each other. Don't be such a nutter. "I've got to go see, Hermione," she announced to him.

"Okay. Wish me luck," he said.

"Luck," replied Ginny cheerily and waved as he left. She was on his heels though as she flew off to the Head Girl's room.

Bursting through the portrait hole, she instantly saw Draco and asked, "Is Hermione back yet?"

"Am I her keeper?" he queried, but soon conceded after a hard stare from Ginny, "No, she's not here."

"I'll wait for her then," she said and purposefully made her way up the stairs into Hermione's room.

"You do th-" began Draco, but he was cut off by the portrait swinging open again. This time it was the Head Girl herself. "Can't I get any bloody peace around here?"

Hermione gave him a quizzical look and opened her mouth for a retort. "Red's upstairs," he said cutting her off.

To him it seemed she paled slightly and then nodded before disappearing out of sight on the stairs. Hermione braced herself then put on a smile to open the door. Ginny sat cross-legged on her bed.

Closing the door, Hermione said, "Hey, Gin. We're right on schedule, aren't we."

"So it seems. Now…down to business." Her eyes were bright as she leaned forward.

Hermione merely cleared her throat at that. What in Merlin's name was she doing? Remus had just told her they were basically under Dumbledore's orders to keep this under wraps. She piddled around her dresser, pulling out sleepwear. Trying to take up more time, she sat down in an armchair to pull off her shoes and socks.

"Come off it, Hermione. I've waited all day. You can't give me the cold shoulder on this now."

"Yes…well…it's kind of complicated really. I just don't know where to start about him and me." She avoided Ginny's gaze as she focused on unbuttoning her collared shirt.

Jokingly, Ginny asked, "It's not Professor Lupin, is it?"

Hermione couldn't help but freeze at those words. "What did you say?"

"I was just kidding you, Hermione. After seeing your dots on the Marauder's Map tonight, anybody could have taken it wrong, especially being in his bedroom."

Standing up, Hermione began pulling her skirt down so as to put her pajamas on. Her and Ginny had basically become sisters over the summers so she wasn't body shy around her anymore. She turned her back to dig in her dresser for a pair of fuzzy socks and said, "To be truthful, Ginny, me and-"

A small sound stopped her. A slight rock against rock sliding noise. She didn't turn around fast enough, but the intake of breath on Ginny's part was enough confirmation.

His voice started out strong, "Love, you forgot," yet soon tapered as he saw who was in the room, "your…robe…"

Spinning around fully aware she was in only her undergarments, Hermione faced the two who were staring wild-eyed at the other. Ginny immediately screamed, "I knew it!"

As if to save face, Remus said politely, "Good evening, Miss Weasley. Hermione you left this." He crisply made his way to where Hermione stood stock still and silent. "I see you have company."

"Yeah."

"Allow me," he said and helped her into her outer robe, covering her up. He hesitated, almost kissing her then realized where he was at.

She looked over at Ginny who sat grinning madly at the two. "I think we're good," Hermione whispered, but he still conservatively only gave her a soft kiss on the forehead.

"Goodnight, ladies. See you in class tomorrow," he said, exiting through the wall entrance.

Hermione collapsed into the armchair, her burning red face in her hands. Ginny was on the verge of the giggles and she triumphantly said again, "I knew it."

Not as if that were enough humiliation for the night, Hermione lifted her head to give Ginny a piece of her mind when the secret door opened again. This time it was Remus' turn to look red faced as he handed Hermione a crimson bra from within his robe pocket. "Also meant to give that to you. Can't go back with that on me. You left it under my office desk last week."

"Would you get out of here," said an exasperated and mortified Hermione. She never had been more glad in her life to see him disappear into the black beyond the door.

"Last week?" asked a smiling Ginny. "Under his office desk?" Her eyes widened as she drew the last part out. "I'll never be able to look at that desk the same way again. Not without graphic mental pictures, I will."

"Ginny," groaned Hermione, "this was not how I planned it. He was not supposed to show up."

Not as though Ginny heard any of Hermione's protest about the night's events. Not a one. Completely unflustered, she said, "So this explains those especially high marks in Defense Against the Dark Arts. He looks like he'd be worth every one hundred. You think if I got with Snape he'd give me an 'O' on a potion." Her nose crinkled at such a prospect.

Grinning to herself, Hermione muttered, "Oh, he is," then quickly snapped out of it and retorted, "This has absolutely no effect on my grade!"