AN: Hello everyone, so this chapter is finally completed! It took so long because I needed to learn more about the fidelius charm since it is a crucial part of this story and then I realize that it is a plot hole (its usage and abilities are markedly different book to book)... suffice it to say I have read over 400 pages worth of material on the subject and I still have no clue about what the implications are for such a spell (which makes you wonder how something so crucial to the tale of Harry Potter is never really discussed with the amount of depth it should have been given) so I made up my own implications since I'm writing this story and taking some license with the characters anyway. I made it have similar implications to the unbreakable vow. :)
She is drinking rather quickly, perhaps I am making her nervous. Its still so exciting to see how something as simple as a few words can make her feel.
"What do you have planned for us Remus?
"Show and tell, love".
I can't even help myself. She is so responsive and its a joy to be able to watch her facial expressions as she looks at me. She looks so beautiful as she takes in my smile. Then she snorts at me which I wasn't expecting at all. I love that I still have so much to learn about her.
"Do you mean like what children do when they bring something from their homes and then share it with the rest of the class?"
I almost want to laugh at her childlike expression. I could just imagine what that would be like to push her up against a wall while I fuck her where we could be caught and how that would excite her. I quickly grab my wineglass and take a sip. It's going to be so much fun playing with her. I lean forward so I can speak to her in a lowered voice.
"Well, we both have things to explain to each other and I figure we can tell each other what we need to say while we show each other how we like to be touched and caressed. That dress is so tempting and distracting, it would tempt even a saint, so its better to get you out of it so I can focus on what's important".
I see Alex approach us with our starters.
"Alex, I'm sorry we didn't say anything before but something important has come up, can you box up everything for us to take to-go?"
What is she doing? What important thing is she talking about and why does she want to go somewhere in private? I am about to ask her but I see her shake her head no and I nod to let her know I understand she doesn't want me to speak.
"Certainly miss. I will box them up personality".
"Thank you very much, Alex. I really appreciate it!"
The minute Alex turns his back she starts talking.
"I have to tell you everything now. I've carried this guilt for some time and seeing how much you trust me and how wonderful you are makes my heart ache. I can't just sit here with you now, at least not until I know what you choose".
I feel the weirdest sensation. My happiness that she thinks I'm wonderful is tempered with my sadness at the fact that she feels guilt and I begin to feel guilt of my own at keeping things from her and my feelings of lust are sobered.
"Why didn't you just tell me before?"
"I was scared"
Was she really that blind? Doesn't she realize that no matter what she tells me I will still care for her, still want her in my bed? Doesn't she realize how she has me wrapped around her little finger, that I would do anything in my power to make her happy?
"You mentioned that earlier, you said you were scared of me".
"Yes, of how much you would hurt me if you left. I've been selfish all this time because I would rather have you with me with an omission than leaving me due to the truth".
She looks so sad, as if me leaving her would destroy and devastate her. No one has ever looked at me that way before and it makes me want to grab her and never let go just to get that look out of her eyes.
I reach over and touch her forearm with my hand.
"I'm sure its not nearly as bad as it seems darling."
"Well, once you know then you can tell me how bad it is".
"I promise, no matter what you tell me, that I'll listen and try to understand".
That was the least I could promise her but it was also the easiest and least committal, but it was a start. Sadly my words do nothing to mollify her. This must be really bad.
Alex comes back with multiple bags.
"Here we are sir and ma'am. Have a good night".
I stand up as fast as I can, the sooner we get out of here, the sooner I could get to the bottom of this. I reach into my pocket and pull out a few bills not because I have to pay but because Alex deserves a nice tip for his wonderful service.
"This should cover it. Thank you for taking such good care of us".
"Thank you sir".
Her voice is so soft and her eyes are downcast as though she is trying her hardest not to look at me.
I reach my arm forward for her and she places her hand on top of my forearm as I begin walking us back to the apparition point. Once we leave the patio we are covered with darkness and I use it as an opportunity to shrink the bags so I can have my hands free.
Once we enter the shade of the trees I stop, its time for me to inform her of a few secrets of my own.
"Ready to go?"
"Yes, let's get this over with"
I place my hand on her waist and I think about my home here and then I hear the clack from her heels as our feet land on the hardwood floor.
"Lumos"
She seems enthralled at the room we are in, which doesn't surprise me since Hermione has always had such a wonderful eye for beauty. All I can do is stare and luckily with her perusal of my home, it affords me the opportunity to take in her loveliness with my eyes.
"Where are we?"
"We're in my house."
Her jaw drops and her eyes go wide and I hold back the laughter at her expression. I could almost see her mind working and coming up with questions. Her face reminded me of when she was my student all those years ago.
I take the bags out of my pocket and I grab the lobster risotto for her while I also magick a fork into my hand. She still hasn't eaten yet and would rather stare at a painting or talk than take care of herself. Her beautiful scent is calling to me and I feel compelled to be near her so I saunter over until I'm right behind her.
"You seem to like the paintings".
"Yes, they are quite lovely. They remind me so much of Degas and Edward Hopper.
"You have a good eye for art, but I shouldn't be surprised".
"Well I love their artworks immensely. I've never seen these painting before, whoever painted them is very talented to be able to imitate the greats so well!".
I can't help but laugh. Not only does she know the names of the artists that line the walls, but she thinks they are copies.
"No, these are originals. Here eat this while I tell you about them".
She seems amused at the little aluminum swan that holds our food. She opens it and I can see her eyes soften as she takes in the food. I gently hand her the fork so she can eat but she hesitates, biting her lower lip and worrying it with her teeth and all I can think about is my teeth nibbling her there. I almost regret giving her the food until I see her eyes soften as the food's aroma engulfs us and her stomach growls loudly. She blushes softly and then takes a bite and I am transfixed as her eyes go slightly wide and then close. As she chews, I hear her moan appreciatively and the sound goes straight to my cock. It takes every ounce of self-control I possess not to rip the food away from her and slam her into the wall and fuck her.
I decide to touch her face instead, letting my fingers gently raise her chin so so I can take in her whole face while enraptured. I care for her so much, just having her here with me because she wants to be and because she trusts me even the night before the full moon amazes me.
"So beautiful and responsive when you eat".
"This was a portrait of my grandfather's first wife Catherine, painted by Degas in 1871. He met her through his sister at a party for the elite. He was captivated by her beauty, in much the same way as I am captivated by yours".
I wrap my arms around her torso and pull her toward me so her head rests against my chest. She smells so delicious and feels so good in my arms. The shape of her hips and ass, her beautiful back on display, her long neck all are the embodiment of every desire I have ever possessed and its torture to imagine me kissing and caressing them while she moans and rides my cock without being able to experience it.
"She wasn't like any other woman he had ever met before, she came from a wealthy family and was very opinionated and strong willed. He fell in love with her and he gave her this as a present, the first of many. If you look closely enough the same woman is in all of them".
"What happened to their romance? I'm assuming you're not a direct descendant of Degas?"
I can't help but laugh at how quickly she is able to correctly deduce information, most people wouldn't be so astute as she is and it reminds me of how lucky I am that she is in my life. I quickly move her hair to one side so I can kiss her neck and remove that wrap so I can touch her.
"No, I'm not. She was engaged during this time to my grandfather and she had already promised herself to him. She rebuffed Degas many times for his advances but eventually she could no longer hide her feelings and eventually she fell for Degas even harder than he fell for her, she loved his adventurous spirit and the romanticism of being an artist. She never felt it would be right to abandon her promise even if it meant losing her love. She and my grandfather were married in 1878. Degas painted The Star shortly after… apparently the ominous man in the wings is my grandfather".
I swiftly and deftly remove her wrap and let it fall to the floor. So many temptations its so hard to focus on taking things slow in order to bring her pleasure. I let my fingers lightly touch her neck starting at her hair line and working my way slowly down to her shoulder blades noticing the tension in her body and then I feel her begin to shiver while she moans at my touch. She is even more responsive than I though and that thought excites me with a thousand possibilities of how I can make her cum.
I pull back gently in order to take in her aroused state fully and I hear her whimper and that sounds makes me hard, makes me ache with desire.
I can smell her arousal and it is driving me crazy. Fuck, in order to learn her body and what she likes I have to go slow and sensual to make this as good for her as it will be for me and yet everything in me wants to rip her clothes off and just slam my cock inside her.
I gently slide the spaghetti strap off her right shoulder and start kissing the top of her shoulder.
"Fuck, promise me you will never wear this dress for anyone but me".
"Remus" I murmur.
"If you don't stop touching me like that I'll never be able to tell you what I need to".
It satisfies me greatly how she is able to almost lose herself in my touch but it saddens me that I have to stop touching her in order to have my curiosity satisfied. Hopefully this doesn't take too long.
I gently grab her arm and lead her toward the couch.
I wandlessly make plates, cutlery, a champagne bottle and champagne flutes appear on the coffee table before us. I pop the cork out of the bottle and fill up both flutes and hand her one before I sit next to her with a seat between us, her arousal still fills the air and I need some space in order to control myself.
She gently lifts her glass.
"To no more secrets"
I will certainly drink to that. I click my glass with hers and I take a customary sip while she gulps hers down.
"Trying to attain that liquid courage I see. This must be difficult for you to discuss with me. I promise I will listen and I will try to understand".
She empties her glass and takes a deep breath and I take the opportunity to refill her glass.
"Earlier, I mentioned that I called to you when you were in your werewolf form during my third year and you responded and came toward me which only should happen when one of your kind calls to you".
"Yes I remember".
"Well it perplexed me how this could happen since we both know I'm not a werewolf so I went and found every text ever written on werewolves and it took me about three years to cross-reference and separate the truth from the bigoted lies many of the authors tell and still I could find nothing of interest until Harry, Ron, and I started learning about Horcruxes"
"Horcruxes"?
What did those foul things have to do with us?
"Dumbledore bequeathed Secrets of the Darkest Art to me upon his death. Dumbledore and I make an unbreakable vow that I would only share the information contained within if it would keep someone from harm".
An unbreakable vow to only tell someone if it would keep them from harm. Since she was telling me and not dying, it must mean that telling me this will keep me from harm. I was failing to see how everything fit together.
"The only reason I can tell you about this now is because I want to give you he chance to make an informed choice regarding your own safety. Usually a horcrux is made when one intentionally kills another which causes a metaphysical splitting of their soul that they then encase in something else through the use of magicks. The horcrux can then keep the person alive even if their physical body dies which is why Voldemort created so many of them".
I couldn't help but flinch when she said Voldemort's name not because I was scared of a dead man but because it made what she was telling me sound so ominous.
"How does this all relate to us"?
"Well, once I understood that, the valid information regarding werewolf mates made more sense".
"If we were to become a mated pair, we would be intentionally killing ourselves and a part of your soul would become tied to mine and vice versa. We would in essence become horcruxes".
A mated pair. Until this moment I didn't think mates existed for werewolves since I had never heard of an actual mated pair before and the only discussion of them in werewolf literature was regarding what wolves do and then speculating about those implications on werewolves.
"Mated pair. Does this mean we're mates"?
"Yes Remus. It does".
I couldn't help but smirk. The literature on werewolf mates was like reading tawdry cheap romance novels. I could just imagine us on the cover of one, me with my shirt off and my hip length hair blowing in the wind as I held Hermione from behind while she wore a small shirt with most of her breasts and abdomen exposed and a skirt hanging on her hips.
"Why were you able to call to me before I mated and marked you"?
"Because Moony recognized me when I called because I became your secret keeper during my third year which is one way to unintentionally mark another"
My secret keeper? What the hell was she talking about?
"How did you become my secret keeper and which secret were you keeping"?
"Well once I realized that your boggart was the full moon and I deduced that you were a werewolf, I noticed how much effort you took to hide your condition so I assumed that you wanted it to be kept secret. Once I started studying werewolves and their treatment I could understand why you would want that information hidden. Flitwick was teaching us about the fidelius charm and I wanted to practice it so I performed it on myself without realizing that I wasn't the only person to have that knowledge and without understanding that unless you gave me the knowledge, it wasn't really a secret I could keep anyway, however it did bind us together, albeit unintentionally since I did not understand at the time that it would have this effect. Luckily for us the lack of intention is what has kept us from becoming Horcruxes".
My mind was working overtime. Even if she is the brightest witch of her age, I still couldn't understand how she would be able to perform a fidelius charm all on her own. Most fully trained wizards and witches had a hard time performing such a spell which is why they generally required both people (the keeper and the giver of the secret to use their magick to perform it properly).
The fidelius charm was dangerous magic, particularly because of the consequences if it was broken which would make it similar to a unbreakable vow. I was both abhorred and honored that she would do something like that for me. It was unequivocally the greatest thing anyone ever did for me. That she would take my secret and hide in her soul while fully aware of the consequences of such a choice without me asking her made me realize that she was even more compassionate and loyal than anyone gave her credit for.