Chapter 5 Stranger on the Shore.

I want to thank Sharie aka Dance in the Dark for beta reading this for cultural inconsistencies. I am American so I don't know that you Brits don't eat muffins for breakfast. But now I do. Oh, and happy late birthday Sharie

The clouds above rolled ominously and threatened to burst. Most people would say it was a bad day to go to the beach. Most people would not be Hermione Granger. Hermione couldn't help thinking about how wonderful it would be if the clouds did indeed burst and rain down its liquid gold upon them.

"Hermione! Stop it!" Harry's disgruntled voice sounded in her ear.

"What?" Hermione asked and noticed Andromeda and Teddy were looking on obviously as confused as she was. Harry started pacing holding in his irritation and Harry was definitely irritated.

"Don't 'what' me, you were a couple of seconds away from calling down the rain on us. At least let us eat first before you ruin our picknick," Harry growled.

"But Harry it would be so wonderful. Just imagine it would probably scare everyone else off and it would just be us at the beach. We could dance in it and revel in it. It would be glorious it would be so cool and refreshing." Hermione couldn't help but smile at the thought.

"Its not natural to like the rain that much." Harry objected. Hermione went to comment about the rain being wonderful and one of the blessings of nature but was interrupted by Harry again.

"No, now let's eat before you really do call the rain down upon us.

"Yes, Harry."

Teddy at this comment looked up to see the clouds hovering ominously overhead.

"Rain, Rain! Har, Stars. Stars!" in his upset Teddys hair started changing color.

Hermione whipped out a hat and placed it on his little head. "Don't worry Teddy love Stars you were promised and stars you shall have. Just make sure to keep yourself under control little man. "

Teddy, now with the reassurance that even if it was raining, he would get his stars, went back to concentrating on his hair and skin, and enjoying the day as well.

Together they made their way down the beach looking for the perfect spot to have their picknick.

Hermione was just enjoying her last cup of tea when she noticed that Teddy was no longer in sight. He had been right there in front of her but now he was no longer to be seen. Hopping up she looked all up and down the coastline until she spotted the little man making his way towards the water.

"Teddy!" She cried out and took off after him. He was getting closer and closer to the waters edge in a panic Hermione was about to use her magic to stop Teddy but then a man was there holding Teddy back from getting into the churning water.

"Oh, thank goodness." Hermione cried out and ran the rest of the way to Teddy and the absolute mountain of a man that had saved him.

"Thank you so much for stopping him." Hermione cried out to the stranger. "I don't know how he got so far down the beach so quickly. Teddy you've caused quite a fright." Hermione thought he must have used accidental magic to get so far away so quickly.

"Sorry mi mi. I just want to go swimming."

"Then you need to ask us to take you. You don't just go; it is dangerous love."

"Is this your son?" the man asked.

"I'm his godmother." Hermione stated and looked up at the man and realized that he was devastatingly attractive with caffe au late skin tones and warm chocolate eyes. "Woah." She whispered and shyly tucked a curl behind her ear. He was looking into her eyes and for a moment she felt like she could see his soul and he could see hers. It was overwhelming and frightening in a way. Yet, it also felt warm and welcome. Finally, Hermione closed her eyes and gave her head a little shake.

"Sorry, my name is Hermione Granger." She introduced herself and tried to get her head on straight.

"A lovely name for a lovely woman. You may call me Remmy."

"Thank you for helping him, Remmy." Hermione said cuddling with Teddy who was still obviously longing to go into the water.

"Mi mi," Teddy entreated.

"Why don't you see if Uncle Harry will take you?" Hermione asked Teddy.

"OK!" He shouted and started wiggling to get down. Setting him down Hermione watched closely as Teddy took off running back up the beach to where Harry and Andromeda were watching.

"He is quite the scamp," Remmy pointed out.

Hermione couldn't stop the laugh if she wanted to. "Yes, he is. Thank you again for protecting him."

"It was my pleasure." Remmy stated and took her hand bringing her attention back to him. "Truly. So may I ask are you just visiting the area?"

"We just moved to the area and wanted to take a day at the beach. What about you? Did you grow up here?"

"I grew up in the area, but I haven't been here as often as I would like. I think I might have to move back if such an enchanting young lady calls this place home."

A blush moved its way up her cheekbones at his statement.

"What brought you here? If I might ask. Not many people move into the area?"

Hermione frowned thinking of Fenrir she bit her lip trying to consider what she could say.

"We needed a change and Teddy threw a dart at a map and that's how we ended up here." Hermione simplified.

"I see I am glad. Perhaps you would allow me to show you around sometime?"

"I think I would like that Remmy."

"Mione?" Harry's voice intruded "Everything ok?"

"Harry!" Hermione realized he had come down the beach and was standing just behind them looking at Remmy with cool detachment. "Everything is fine Harry, let me introduce you to Remmy. Remmy, Harry. Harry is like my brother."

"Andromeda and I were thinking we would return home now Teddy's tired and needs a nap." Harry explained.

"Ok I'll be right behind you guys." Hermione tried to get Harry to agree to Apparate back to the tent.

"Don't be silly Hermione. We'll wait for you. We all came together in the same car anyway." Harry stated so Remmy would hear him.

Hermione couldn't stop herself from giving Harry the look. One that promised a long lecture and possible pain in his future.

Seeing the look Hermione sent Harry he couldn't stop his wince from showing on his face. Maybe he should have just not interfered. No, Hermione was being hunted and a muggle was not the best person for her, Greyback would chew him up and spit him out. Harry would just have to remind Hermione of this and then he was sure she would understand.

Still, it was regrettable. He had seen the way they were looking at each other. Not many men have been able to look at Hermione and see the gorgeous, wonderful woman she was for some reason. Harry took a closer objective look at Hermione.

Her once bushy hair now lay in smooth ringlets down to the small of her back. They were still wild and likely to pick up her extra magic when she was angry, but they were beautiful. Her teeth had been fixed years ago when Malfoy had hexed her. Her body was still a little malnourished and skinny, but she was beginning to get her curves back. Harry choked on his breath as he realized that his dear magically bound sister, was hot. He needed brain bleach or a good Scourgify of his brain now. He didn't usually notice Hermione that way. But as her brother he needed to be aware of her to protect her.

Not that she would let him if she knew. No, his protection would have to be sneaky. This new enlightenment of Hermione's existing curves did not support the way the boys seemed to perceive her in the past. Before there was only Krum and Ron to be concerned with. Unless the boys at school were put off by how strong she is and the way that she was usually surrounded by Ron and him. Perhaps they were intimidated.

But now they were moving to a new area the men and boys in the area won't know to be intimidated until it was possibly too late. Hmm, maybe he was going to have to stay close to try and protect her. There was no telling how worthy the men around here are, and there was still the problem of Greyback to consider.

"Harry, I'm ready to go now." Hermione growled at him as she walked over to pack up their picknick lunch and get ready to go. Once they were down the beach a ways, she couldn't stop herself from hissing at him. "What was that about? I was meeting someone. You and Andromeda could have apparated back to camp."

"It's just… it's Greyback, he is hunting you and if you get involved with someone who couldn't possibly protect themselves from him you would be painting a target on their back. I know you, if anything happened you would feel responsible."

Hermione looked down sadly. "I guess you are right. It's just Remmy and I had a connection of some kind and I truly found myself interested in him. Maybe I was just setting myself up to be hurt anyway."

"What why do you say that" Harry asked?

"I would end up much more interested in him than he would be in me. I mean look at me I'm not exactly in his league."

"Don't say that about yourself," Harry growled.

"Yes, you are a little too skinny still from being on the run all during the war. But I don't think you realize that you have turned into one hot woman." Harry stated blushing profusely.

"I have," Hermione asked?

"Please don't ask me to elaborate, I already need a good Scourgify of my brain or a good obliviate. You are my sister, there are some things a brother is not supposed to notice about his sister."

Hermione laughed and walked on.

Quite a ways back Remmy stopped looking and listening to the conversation that he shouldn't have been able to hear wondering who or what is Greyback that was hunting her.

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