Chapter 21

Disclaimer: Okay, if you think I write anything like JKR, you need your head examined. I wish I did. I also want all of that money. Fame, however, I leave to her. As it stands, though, I am a poor college student that remains unpublished (in the profit world). I have not made a single cent off this story. I have just found something to occupy my time and keep me from going mad from stress. Okay, I promise to one day have a short disclaimer. Oh, wait—that was last chapter. Well, since you already had one, the rest will be the paragraphs of despair. Of course, I doubt you read them. If you do, tell me in your REVIEW!

A/N: Reviews are loved. I am going through finals. : D Okay, now is "Lupin talks to Hermione." Finally. No thanks to Ron.

Ron: Hey!

I love you, Ron, but you kind of messed up my outline.

Ron: Remus started it!

Remus: I want my story!

Ron: Hey, you got chapter 13. I haven't gotten to shag Hermione yet!

Remus: You must have to have kids with her.

Ron: (frowns) True. But I mean that we've seen. Come on, bardlover. Please?

Good things come to those who wait…not much longer, Ron. I promise.

Remember, tell me how explicit you want it. I don't want to scare anyone away or get people mad at me for rating it M for just innuendos.

Lupin was late. Hermione had been waiting for him for a good twenty minutes in the Ministry lobby. She didn't like the curious stares she kept receiving. She was still very recognizable. Of course, that also came with being a member of the Golden Trio. Where was he? Bloody tosser. Oh no, she was beginning to sound like Ron. She shook her head. No, Remus Lupin was no tosser. He had to have a good excuse.

She was engrossed in trying to determine the reason when he came up behind her. "Hermione?"

She jumped. "Lupin!" She spun around. "You scared me. Besides, you're late."

"Well, I ran into someone. Come on, let's go to my office."

"I still can't believe you work here. And in such a department. It's disgraceful."

Lupin sighed. "Beggars can't be choosers. I'm trying to make some changes. You'd think with that Umbitch gone, people would be willing to make changes. Stupid wanker of a minister," he muttered, barely over his breath.

"Lupin! He was in the Order."

"Mundungus of all people. He owes me, too. Too busy saving his arse to think of anyone or anything else."

Hermione had to stifle a giggle. "You'd better not let anyone hear you say that."

"Doesn't matter. He can't fire me. I'd sic Moody on him. It's always worked before."

"Has it now?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Well, here we are. Now down to business." The fact that Lupin had changed the subject a bit too hastily was not lost on her. She'd have to further investigate that later.

"I brought you here for a reason, Hermione."

"I know that. You did call me the brightest witch of my age. Now cough it up. But if Ron put you up to this, I'll throttle you."

Lupin smiled and shook his head. "No, this is completely my doing. He only just found out about it."

Hermione frowned. "So what is this it?"

"My department is hiring, Hermione."

"No." She said it flatly, with a tinge of bitterness. "I'm not moving here just because Ron got you to find me a job."

"Hermione, it was my idea. Well, and Nymph—Tonks to be honest. I just think you two are struggling too much over such a simple decision."

Hermione scowled. "No. I am not moving. Ron can move if he wants to see the kids so much."

Lupin looked at her incredulously. "No, Hermione, he can't." His voice was slightly accusatory. "He can't leave England. Not with his family in such a state."

Hermione was being selfish again. "Fred's back."

"Fred does not fully understand what has happened in his absence. Besides, I don't think that boy has had the proper time to grieve. It'll hit him eventually." He looked at her and frowned. "Are you afraid of Ron?"

"Not really. I'm angry at him. But I'm also glad to see him. Does that make any sense?" Hermione asked, knowing she was blabbering.

"That makes perfect sense. I used to feel the same way all the time. You're in love with him." He smiled. "You know, I think he still has very strong feelings for you. Why do you insist on hiding from him? You should tell him, you know."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yeah. Right. That would work right now. Besides, you don't know why I really left, Remus. It was awful."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Remus asked, concern evident in his face. "I can get a cup of tea for you…"

"No!" she cried. She started at Lupin's astonished face. "Oh, sorry. No, I can't stay. And I can't take the job. Thank you, Lupin, but I can't."

And she disapparated, leaving Remus frowning in deep concentration. "Hmm. I wonder if Ron really knows why she left."

Hermione stormed up the stairs in her hotel. Blasted men. Thinking they could interfere, and even more irritating, understand. Remus and Tonks were completely different. Tonks loved him back. And that made all the difference.

Well, she had to talk to Ron. She had to tell him he could stuff everything, she wasn't moving to England for him if he just saw her as the bitch who had spawned his children. She pulled out a quill and a bit of parchment and wrote furiously:

Ron

We need to talk. About our last disagreement. About everything. Lupin offered me that job. As if I'd settle like that, Ron Weasley. The very idea!

Meet me at the Shrieking Shack at eight o'clock sharp tonight.

Hermione.

She went down to the lobby and borrowed the resident barn owl. She sent the owl off with a few sickles and a nudge and a stern eye. "Hurry off, now. No detours."

The owl looked at her indignantly. As Hermione went back to her room, the owl hooted. If she was going to be so mean about it, he might just take his merry little time.

A/N: Bad little owl, huh? I bet you know what's going to happen with that. Oh well. I don't possess all the subtlety of JKR, but who cares? This is just fanfic. But getting there is half the fun, no?

Thanks again to all my reviewers: thesongremainsthesame, borrow-the-moonlight-until-it-is-through, Neurotic Newt, et. al.

Special thanks, as always, to jwoods471 for forcing me to write this story so swiftly. So I returned the favor. Read her story Forgotten Memory. Hermione pregnant! Who's the dad? If only she knew… You know you want to read it…

Further thanks to JohnCardy87. Mrs. Weasley burning dinner? Weasleys at the Dursleys? What is poo powder? Find out in Harry Potter & the Heir of Gryffindor!

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