I sat there silent mostly in disbelief. I couldn't believe that Hermione he would do that for me, would risk herself for me in that way. I wondered why she would do that for me, why she would risk herself like that for me. I didn't know what to say or do. I looked up at Hermione's face, and I noticed it looked like she wanted to leave. How could I blame her for wanting to leave me, I didn't deserve someone is amazing and she was.

I watched her slowly rise from the couch and walk over to the wrap that I have placed on the floor. I want sure she slowly bent down to pick up the wrap.

"Where are you going?"

"I was thinking that maybe you need some time to process everything and you may want to verify everything I've told you".

Suddenly, a file and a bunch of books appeared out of nowhere and landed on one of the side tables and the floor.

"In the file you will find a list of sources along with my copious notes cross-referencing and summarizing the sources and my observations of our interactions ever since I called to you in third year. I have also included every relevant text on the subject and how to open and read Secrets of the Darkest Art.".

I almost wanted to laugh at her fastidious note taking and research habits. It was nice to know that in spite of everything, the heartbreak of the war and the loss of loved ones, Hermione would always remain the same girl I always knew. It was refreshing, considering she faced more than most in seemed to change the least.

She then held up a cloth bag for my inspection. From this distance, I could tell that the bag had been magicked and whoever put the enchantments upon it was an extremely talented witch or wizard. I wonder where she had gotten it from, it must've cost her a small fortune.

"In this bag is Secrets of the Darkest Art. The bag blocks the enchantments upon the book that cause anyone who does not have an affinity with dark magicks temporarily have a weakened magickal ability and an inability to do any healing or defensive magicks if they touch or read it. There are several incantations you can say as you read that will help limit the effects".

She gently placed the bag on top of the table then moved to place the wrap on her shoulders. It broke my heart that she would want to cover herself from my eyes, as though she was trying to create distance between us, as though she couldn't wait to get away.

"Once I finally realized how everything fit, I needed weeks to contemplate everything and I understand if you need to do that as well. Just contact me whenever you're ready to talk. I want you to know that I will support you no matter what you decide, please just don't run away".

It's funny that she needed weeks to understand everything when I already understood everything that needed understanding. I understood that she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I understood but she was one of the kindest, most compassionate people I ever had the honor to know. I understood how much courage and bravery she possessed, that in the face of any obstacle, she would always be on the front lines selflessly fighting battles for others. How could she say that to me? Like I could ever run away from her.

"If anyone is running it's you. You can't just tell me that we are mates because we are now bound together due to a dangerous spell you placed upon yourself in order to try and protect me and then leave me along to gather my thoughts".

I feel compelled to be near her. I have to show her what she means to me, how much I desire her, how much I care for her. It angers me that even after everything we shared, she still doesn't understand how deeply I feel for her, how much I want and need her.

"Why would you do that Hermione? Why would you risk your life for practically a stranger?"

This was the question I needed an answer to. It was the only thing I didn't quite understand.

Weirdly the question seemed to make her blush.

"I liked you okay."

Even though she whispered her answer I could hear it clearly, but I wanted her to say it aloud. I wanted the answer to fill her ears.

"What?"

"You impressed me as a teacher. How you would always mix theory with practical application and you not only knew what you were talking about but you were excited to teach us and then there was that stupid paper Snape assigned hoping that someone, namely me, would realize that you were a werewolf and a dangerous animal that deserved to be killed but instead, that assignment showed me just how amazing you were….

I never did thank Snape for assigning that paper. That bastard inadvertently led me to my mate. Everything the man had ever done to me and my friends could be forgiven.

"Amazing?"

"Yes, amazing"

Then she gently touched my face with her hands and I can't help but close my eyes and sigh. This touch is different or it feels different. Maybe it's because I know now that we're mates, or maybe it's because in spite of everything she still wants to touch me.

"That you could face all that bigotry and hatred because you have a medical condition and yet be so kind, thoughtful, and so giving of yourself which proved to me that all the unkind things written about the evil innate nature of werewolves is utterly false. You are one of the few people I met to possess such courage and once I started realizing how unjustly other magical creatures were treated it was you that inspired me to do something about it".

Her flattery was too much. How could she say those things about me, considering who she was and everything she had done for the wizarding world, I couldn't possibly be any of those things.

She then removed her hands from my face and all I wanted to do was take her hands in mine and hold her close to me.

"Is that where SPEW comes from?"

"How did you find out about that?"

"Most of the professors told me about your organization in fourth year during many of our order meetings. McGonagall and Albus got the house elves to bring your badges to us so we could magick a few enchantments upon them mostly to protect you three from harm, not that it did much good since Harry and Ron refused to wear theirs".

Well at least I was able to protect her from harm. That alone made those hours putting all those enchantments on those badges worth it. I hoped what I had to tell her next wouldn't upset or anger her, especially now that I was so close to having her.

"I actually have something to show you. I'm sorry I took this without your knowledge but I promise I paid for it. You know I still feel guilty about doing it five years after the fact".

She looked so confused when I said that to her, and her confusion was so cute it made her look adorable and utterly lovable. I guess that makes sense considering how convoluted my statements must seem to her. I could feel the guilt and it was upsetting my stomach.

I slowly opened my jacket and couldn't help but notice how Hermione's eyes lingered on my chest as she slowly licked her lips. A feeling of pride entered my chest and I couldn't help but make myself stand up straighter to help her in her perusal. Merlin, she was so sexy, mostly because it actually seemed as though she was totally unaware of her sex appeal and what she was doing to me with her eyes and lips as she looked at me. Fuck, it was tortuous not to be able to rip all her clothes off and make her cum hard for me.

I gently shrugged the jacket off my shoulders and let it fall to the floor. Her eyes widened as she saw one of her S.P.E.W badges come into view pinned right above my heart. Then I hear the worst sound in the world, her laughter fills the room and it completely sobers my lust.

"What's so funny?"

Instead of answering me she slowly reaches for the badge and places her finger upon it.

"You know that was such a thoughtful thing to do, to pay for it. You're the only person to buy one without me having to nag them to death".

Ah, her laughter makes sense now, as a way to hide her pain, though her broken smile makes that act less effective than she probably hopes it is. It saddens me that she is still trying to hide from me.

"It also is nice to know where the missing badge went since for months it made me uneasy knowing it was gone even though all the money added up and everything".

Well I should have known that I couldn't fool her, but I didn't know her then like I do now. Feelings of gratitude at her observation skills fills my heart, without those, I probably would still be wallowing in feelings of despair and loss, I would still be a negligent father.

"Dammit".

"Hmmm?"

"I even placed two sickels in the box so you would assume you had sold it to someone else, apparently I failed, though I should've known I could never get something like that past the brightest witch of her age."

I can't help but smile. She wasn't just the brightest witch of her age, she was the brightest witch I had ever met. She was the only light I had in one of the darkest times of my life, and I needed her like a plant needs sunlight. I knew without her I would wither and die. I can hear her heart race in her chest and the sound is beautiful.

"I remember asking Ron and Harry if they had seen the missing badge and Ron laughed and said "why would anyone steal them, you can't even give them away for free" while Harry just looked at us uncomfortably and stayed silent. I never let Ron know how much that hurt me, considering how much SPEW meant to me. I think that was the moment when I let SPEW go since not even my two best friends cared about it."

Even with all the protections that we put in place to protect them, without her neither of them would have survived. I can see the hurt in her eyes as she tells me and it makes me want to hurt Harry and especially Ron. How could they not understand how amazing she was and how lucky they were to have her? How could they disregard her so easily?

"Ron said that?"

I see tears fill her eyes as she nods and my heart breaks for her. I gently place my hands on her face to wipe her tears away. She is looking at me now with doe eyes, like a deer who is about to be hit by a muggle car. I would do anything, give anything if it would take that look of helplessness out of her eyes. She closes her eyes and i see her relax as I rhythmically rub my thumbs against her cheeks.

"No no sweetheart, please don't cry".

"Ron is an idiot to not be able to see how amazing it is that you want to fight injustice for other people. You talk of my courage but it pales in comparison to yours. Not that I'm surprised, Ron and Harry can both be a bit dense".

Dense was the least of their problems. I felt this overwhelming need to protect her, even though I knew she wouldn't like that. I feel her gently place her finger between my eyebrows and rub. She is comforting me when other people have hurt her. I gently lean my forehead into hers, I don't deserve her kindness.

"Can you ever forgive me?

"There is nothing to forgive. You are the only person besides myself who actually was willing to wear it who believed in the cause. I can't ever express what that means to me".

I gently kiss her, trying to give her comfort. I hear a happy moan and then I feel her lips press against mine. Its beautiful to have her respond to such a little touch, a soft kiss. Her fingers gently thread through my hair, holding me to her and I realize that she needs this as much as I do. I deepen the kiss and force her head up so her lips can better meet my own, my desperation to taste her overwhelming as I place my tongue against her lips begging for entrance. She opens her mouth to mine and her tongue begins to dance with mine and a spark of rightness and desire fills me. Suddenly there is a crash and I open my eyes as she bites my lower lip. I wasn't expecting her to do that and the feeling was glorious.

"Oops".

I feel my lips smirk as I pull away

"Do you know how tempting you are?"

"Tell me"

She smirks back at me, teasing me.

"No".

Her lips fall into a sexy pout and I growl at her as I grab her shoulders and push her back until her back is against the wall.

Her chest was heaving, her beautiful breasts moving up and down is mesmerizing. I desire her so much, to fill her, to make her moan and scream.

"Such a beautiful little temptress with that sexy pout, makes me imagine you saying my name in rapture as I make you cum over and over".

My head dips into her neck as I move her hair out of my way. She smells so good, so delicious I can't help but begin to kiss the long column of her neck as I step in-between her legs and watch as her dress slides up her thighs. Her creamy skin slowly reveals itself to me and I need to touch them, to feel the strength of them in my hands. I quickly grasp the back of her thighs as I lift her up and place her on the table. She looks so lovely and so edible. I feel her legs come up around my waist and her hands wrap around my neck and I can begin to see the edges of her panties as her skirt has rode up to her hips. Then I feel her shiver as a look of pure pleasure enters her eyes. I never expected her to be so responsive and sensual.

"Hermione, I've wanted to you so long. You feel so good against me"

"Remus"

I gently move up and give her earlobe a hard nibble and I hear her moan. I wasn't expecting her to like it so rough.

"Remus, we still need to discuss what we are going to do".

Her voice sounds so breathless and I refuse to stop now, now that I have her about where I want her. I could care less about the consequences as long as I got to feel her in my arms, watch her cum, and hear my name on her lips.

"Isn't it obvious?"

My voice sounds so gruff as I whisper in her ear. I'm afraid she will try to leave, to stop what we are doing. I've waited so long to have her and now that I know she wants me too I can't let her go.

"What about the consequences?"

"Fuck the consequences!"

I wandlessly make her hands slam into the wall and lock them there.

"Remus… ummm"

I love how breathless she is, how she struggles to get her hands free. I can't help but laugh at her expression, apparently she likes being tied up and dominated. The trust she must place in me to let me trap her like this makes my heart ache. Fuck, I didn't deserve this. It was going to be so much fun learning what she liked and giving it to her so that maybe one day I could deserve the beautiful woman in front of me who was giving me all of herself.

"You of all people should know how dangerous it is to play with werewolves. By the end of the night, I am going to make feel so good baby".

I rip that revolting wrap away from her and then I gently rub my head into her cleavage, kissing and nipping the tops of her breasts, harder each time. Her moans are driving me so crazy with lust.