Disclaimer: I do not own any Harry Potter related stuff, characters or anything else. They belong to J.K Rowling.

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Hermione's Troubles:

Chapter Eighteen:

The last few weeks had been terrible. It was the second day of the holidays; nearly all of the students had gone home. Hermione would have gone home herself, had her parents not decided to go on a second honeymoon. She rolled her eyes. Even Ron was gone, on a family holiday in Rome. Harry had stayed, but not because the Weasleys didn't want him there. Hermione knew he'd sacrificed time with Ginny and the Weasleys to support her since she was at Hogwarts. At least lessons had stopped, so she didn't have to go to lessons.

Hermione stared around the empty Library, deserted except for herself and Madame Pince. Or so she thought. Picking up her quill and dipping it in ink, she referred to the scribble of notes on many pieces of parchment scattered in front of her, the quill scratching as she carefully wrote all the information together.

"Hermione?" A voice asked shakily from behind her. "Can we talk?" Slowly, Hermione lifted her head back from her piece of parchment and twisted, looking behind her. A very nervous Remus Lupin stared at her. The Remus who tentatively met her eyes wasn't the laughing, shy 17 year old she missed. It was her 35 year old, worn, pale Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who was standing awkwardly near her in his shabby robes, his grey eyes wary.

"I suppose so." She said resignedly, pushing all the warring emotions into the back of her mind, where she had some hope of coping and controlling them. Her face carefully blank, Hermione finished her concluding sentence, then signed her name and dated the main piece of parchment she'd been writing on, gingerly gathering all her supplies and placing them in her bag.

"In there?" Remus said quietly, tilting his head in the direction of the hidden room.

"Yeah." Picking up her bag, she followed him into the alcove, dropping her bag as the entry smoothly slid closed.

"Look, I wanted to talk to you. I know you've been avoiding me, and Dumbledore seems to be giving you the allowance to do that." He said mildly. "Which I understand, considering the… circumstances." He added quickly. "Look, I said I wanted time to think. I've had time. I, I came to tell you my… answer." He stammered. "Please, sit." He motioned to the window seat, and Hermione sat down.

"So…?" She asked, trembling. Remus looked at her with sad, shadowed eyes. The glimmer of mischief that was normally in them was quenched.

"Hermione, I'm sorry." He said slowly, linking his hands behind his back. "I loved you… I still do." He admitted. "Even though this seems so weird, considering." Hermione felt a tear trickle down her cheek. "But… even though I care about you, I… we can't…" He looked down. "I'm 18 years older than you, I'm more than twice your age. I'm your teacher. And I'm a werewolf." He added bitterly. "There's no future for us." He looked at her, sorrow marking his pale features. "I really am sorry. I love you, but…there's no possible way things are going to work out between us. I'm not the man you knew. And you're not the same girl I knew. Here, now, you're my student. Then, you were my fellow Gryffindor. It's not the same." He shrugged.

"But… the student part doesn't matter. Not after this year." Hermione retorted. "And your age doesn't matter, not to me. And why should I care about your lycanthropy, since it isn't an issue to me? Seventeen years ago, when I told you I loved you, and that you being a werewolf didn't change a thing, that was only last month to me. And I meant it." She said firmly, brushing at her face.

"My age matters to your parents, your friends." He reminded her gently. "And my werewolf-ism is an issue to everyone else. And what do you mean by 'after this year,' anyway? Besides that, I'm poor. I can barely afford the clothes I'm wearing. If I was seen to be in a relationship with a student, or a previous, just graduated student, it would throw dispute on your grades and credentials, as well as most likely getting me fired."

"But-" Remus looked at her.

"I won't allow you to throw away your life, Hermione." He stated. "Especially not for me. I'm so much older, your teacher, financially deficient, and a werewolf."

"That isn't your decision to make!" Hermione yelled, jumping up.

"If I may just intervene?" A mild voice said suddenly, startling them both.

Professor Dumbledore stared at the two of them as the opening slid shut. "You know, I really hope this isn't the beginning of domestic chaos. I wouldn't say violence, but chaos sums this up pretty well." He commented.

"Yes Professor?" They both asked in unison.

"Well, Remus, it seems you have several opposing views to you little friend here." He began, nodding towards Hermione. "Fine points they are, don't get me wrong, but many of them are about to be demolished." He smiled mischievously.

"Professor?" Hermione asked.

"Number One." Dumbledore began, holding up one finger. "You are perfectly entitled to become involved in a relationship with a former student, Remus. Even if it is the day after her graduation, you can't be faulted. I am the Headmaster of this School, with Minerva to follow me. Neither of us would stop you two, considering the circumstances. And there would be no backlash on either of you." Remus gaped. "Number Two." He continued, turning to Hermione and holding up another finger. "Miss Granger has applied for the job of Charms teacher, as Professor Flitwick is retiring next year. I was hesitant to give her the job, being so young, but considering, Miss Granger, that you've gotten over one hundred percent on every essay, test, exam, and even practice paper, I do not wish to say no." Hermione looked stunned.

"Professor, I never applied." She said in shock.

"I know. Professor Flitwick was most insistent on her being his replacement. He suggested you. Do you want the job?"

"Yes. I mean, of course." She gasped.

"In that case, with both of you working at Hogwarts next year, which pays rather generous wages, you both have jobs, Miss Grangers' future isn't really endangered, and Remus, both of you will be financially viable." He smiled. "Number Three, Remus, is that, to Hermione, your age doesn't matter. In my mind, and in your past, you were both 17 when you met, although no-one else can know that. But even though some people, most likely including Hermione's family, may look at it a bit quizzically, it is really none of their concern that you're so much older than Miss Granger, if Hermione doesn't care and she loves you." Dumbledore stated simply. Remus just stared at him.

"You've forgotten one important point." Remus said harshly. "I – am – a – werewolf!" He exclaimed.

"So?" Dumbledore retorted. "What's that got to do with the wages of house elves in Beauxbatons?" He exclaimed, looking sternly at his staff member.

"Professor?" Hermione said, tilting her head as she gave him a strange look. "House elves don't get paid wages. Except for Dobby." She added as an afterthought. "An even if they did get paid wages at Beauxbatons, that's totally unrelated to Remus's comment." She remarked, smirking slightly as she turned crimson. Dumbledore rolled his eyes.

"It was a figure of speech." He said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Anyway, if it doesn't matter to Hermione, then that's her choice. Remus, you can't shut out everything and everyone you care about simply because you fear hurting them." He emphasized. "What would be the point in your life if you had nothing to love, and no-one to love you?" Remus avoided his gaze, and that of his student.

"It's not just her choice." Remus said quietly, although his voice was fierce. "It's mine too."

"Yes, that is true." Hermione's smile faded slightly. "Miss Granger, even though you love him," Hermione went scarlet, "If Remus chooses not to be with you, that is his choice, and his choice alone."

"I know." She replied quietly, staring at Remus.

"Now, I believe I have sufficiently ruined all your arguments, I have an announcement to make that will further enforce point Number Three." He smiled. Out of the corner of his eye, Remus saw Hermione draw back; she seemed to shrink into herself. Hermione, in reality, had. She was quivering with fear, her eyes wide as she looked at her Headmaster.

"Professor," She cautioned, "Please, don't say anything unless you're sure." The bushy haired 7th year pleaded, shaking her head.

"I am sure, Miss Granger." Dumbledore stated.

"What don't I know?" Remus enquired. Dumbledore ignored his question.

"Remus Lupin, if you are willing, your lycanthropy will never be a problem again." Remus stared at his boss.

"What are you talking about?" He said in a cracked voice. Dumbledore elaborated.

"Some one I know," Hermione took an involuntary step back, "Has devised a… it's both a Potion and a Charm, I'd guess you'd say. It cures someone of being a werewolf." Remus stepped back too, his eyes wide. His pale, narrow face blanched, turning the same white as the snow blowing past the window.

"But… that…" His voice trailed off. "Does it work?"

"Yes." Dumbledore replied. "Definitely. I concurred last night with the Head of St. Mungos, and many of their excelled Healers, and many other experienced and knowledgeable people. It hasn't actually been tried, considering we were only included to the information yesterday, but we've examined every tiny detail, and it is flawless. So, Remus, if you're willing to go through with it, you'll never be a werewolf again." Tears pricked at Remus's eyes. He sunk down onto the window seat, shocked. "The process involves a spell. That works like a permanent Wolfsbane Potion. You'll still transform, but you'll be harmless. There is also a Potion, fairly simple to make, fairly easy to afford, and fairly easy to obtain. It's just like a simple anti animagus-tranformation spell, only it is a potion specially formulated for lycanthropy. It that stops the transformations all together, although it has to be taken each month." Remus quivered.

"This is… such…a shock." He whispered.

"Well, since I seem to have solved all the main problems between you and Hermione, I shall leave you alone to talk. And also, since this is technically the holidays, for today I'll turn a blind eye to anything that occurs." Dumbledore said cryptically. With a wave of his hand, he muttered the password, and sailed out of the room.

"Hermione?" Remus said quietly, after a tense silence. He stood up clasped her hand, pulling her down beside him.

"Yes?" She whispered back, holding both his hands.

"If you really do love me-"

"I do. Never doubt it."

"And if you really want us to be… something…" His voice faded as he looked at the girl sitting beside him, so much like a moment, 17 years ago.

"Yes." Hermione said firmly.

"Well, then, at the end of your seventh year… I guess…" He trailed off again. "If you still feel the same way after you've graduated, then, well, we can give… us… a go." He agreed, not looking away from her chocolate eyes for an instant. Then he smiled, his wry smile lighting up his face, silvery eyes shining. Hermione looked the same, glowing with radiance and happiness.

Slowly, just like the day in his office, only a few, seemingly ancient weeks ago, Hermione leant towards him, a shy smile playing across her lips, until she was only millimeters away from the man she loved. With no regrets, no hesitations, no worries, and no threat of Snape bursting in, Remus Lupin leant towards Hermione, and kissed her. And she kissed him back.

THE END.

A/N: So. It's finally over. The journey draws to a close. What will happen in the future? Who knows? It's all in the hands of fate. Or, in my hands, which are hovering over my keyboard. 'Smiles'.

I hope you have enjoyed this story. Thank you for bearing with me and reading it. If you skipped to the last chapter, then that's your problem. 'Sticks tongue out at cheaters'.

You shall see me again. Even if you don't wish to!

Good-Bye, and Good-Luck!

Ciao! Adieu! Adiós!

'Smiles and Waves.'

(The next chapter is an extra, added for summing up purposes. Read only if you want to.)