CHAPTER 11
"So… werewolf teacher, huh?"
Hermione blushed . Remus Lupin wasn't just her teacher though. He was her friend and then maybe more. She wasn't oblivious to the fact that her heartbeat accelerated every time he would smile at her. It was difficult for her to calm her features when he was near her. It wouldn't help her in any way if he noticed her change in heartbeat with his werewolf hearing.
"Kitten?"
"Yes. My professor used to be a werewolf!"
"And why does my nose smells a school girl crush here?"
Hermione could feel blood rush to her face as she turned a shade of red that rivalled the Weasleys. She could feel Remus looking at her.
"Well," It would do her no good to lie here, it wasn't like they would know that the professor was Remus. "He was good looking."
"WHAT!" Remus shouted. "How could you even like a monster like that!"
Hermione couldn't help but feel anger. She wouldn't let Remus self depreciate himself. It was an insult to the memory of her Remus.
"Who did you just called a monster Remus Lupin? If I ever hear you insulting my professor or any other werewolf for that matter, then I swear I will hex you into the forbidden forest on a full moon after turning you into a rabbit." She said in a low threatening voice poking a finger at his chest.
Behind her she could hear Sirius snicker at them. He was clearly enjoying her glowering at Remus. However, she wasn't finished yet.
"Werewolves don't choose to become one. They are bitten, so they are the victim and I won't let anyone say wrong about them. Yes, there are some werewolves who lose themselves to their wolf side, but there are others who want nothing more than to have a normal life. My professor was a normal person who grew fur once a month. That's the worst of it. This doesn't make him a monster , it just makes him a little... " she added after a thought, "furry."
Sirius barked out a laugh this time. Clearly because of her referring to lycanthropy as furry problem which was what they did.
Remus was staring at her and she stared back at him. She was not going to back down on it. Suddenly his eyes flickered and turned amber and Hermione knew she was dealing with Moony here. She hadn't realized how close they were standing until he slid his arms around her waist and his lips brushed against her for the first time. Hermione felt her heart pound in her chest. She wrapped her hand around his neck as his arm around her waist tightened, pulling her close to his body. He half lifted her against him, slanting his head as he kissed her passionately. Hermione knew it wasn't Remus but Moony, but she didn't care. Like other people she didn't differentiate between them. She was well aware that the wolf and man were same. The wolf his wild side while the man his kinder and loving side. It was why when she felt his tongue demanding entrance to her mouth, she granted it.
She was almost out of her breath when she pulled back. Remus too was panting with lack of air. His eyes were back to its normal blue-green color.
She saw his eyes widen in panic. If she knew Remus , and she was sure that she did, he was contemplating his action. He had regret written all over his face and it hurt Hermione more than she could tell. As he opened his mouth, Hermione held up her hand to silence.
Remus knew what was coming. The witch would be angry with him. He could see the hurt on her face. As she raised her hand, Remus thought the witch was most probably going to slap and he knew he deserved that. But the impact never came.
"I don't want to hear you apologize, Remus. Because you might regret it, but I don't. Good Night." She said in a defeated voice and Remus felt his heart shrunken at the look on her face. He was shocked at her words.
"Good Night, Sirius." She said from the door.
"Night , Kitten."
Remus stay rooted on his place for a long time and went to take his place on the table beside Sirius.
"You let her go?" Sirius said passing a glass of firewhisky to him. It was more of a statement than a question.
"I know." He said.
"She is perfect for you Moony." Sirius said as he gulped down the entire glass at once. "It is clear you like her and she likes you too. You both are just like James and Lily in everything but your relationship status."
"Padfoot, she doesn't know what I am. It is one thing to be friends with a werewolf but being with one is another." He added bitterly, "And I thought you liked her."
Sirius barked out in laughter. It only confused Remus more. And he hated all these confusions.
"What!" he exclaimed in irritation.
"Me and Kitten." He laughed out again. "You are the one all over her all the time. And you think I like her." He said , then after a thought , he added, " I do like her. She is a nice woman. I respect her. She is strong and compassionate and she treats me like a child." he said fondly.
" Like Lily." Remus nodded in understanding. Sirius Black who had never had the love of her mother in his childhood, craved for such attention. He always did something intentionally to have Lily scold her. He particularly liked it when Lily would fuss over him before he went for a mission.
"Exactly. She is too good for me to chase around her and she understands me better than the chicks I go around with. She is like a family to me. She is yours mate. Don't let a witch like that go. She might not wait for you forever. She is pretty and there are many single guys to take a chance." He said.
Remus shook his head. "I am not going to start a relationship based on lie."
"Then tell her." he told "She doesn't hate werewolves. She in fact likes them. She stood up in front of everyone to take side of a werewolf."
"Her teacher must be some really good man for her to overlook his condition. she knew him all her life, like you guys do. Will you all trust a new werewolf you meet?" His answer was plastered over his face. "I cant tell her. I will never and I can't ask her out without telling her about myself."
"Why not? She is keeping her secrets. You can keep yours too."
"Hers secrets will save the world. Who am I saving Sirius? No one besides myself. I am going to stay away for a while. I guess I will take the mission Dumbledore asked me."
"Moony, you can't. That is dangerous."
"I need to stay away from her Sirius. You don't have any idea how she affects me. Her scent drives me crazy. It takes everything I have to keep myself in line. Moony is always on edge around her. And this is the only way I can help both of us."
"But I thought that being around her had made it easy for you. Your transformations were better."
"It has and it has strengthened me but I am not the only one. Moony wants her." Remus blushed at the last part. He felt embarrassed on being so weak. It was not like he didn't want her, But Moony's was stronger than his.
"He wants to bite her?" Sirius asked shocked. "I won't let..."
"He wants to mark her." He cut in. "As his. And this isn't fair with her."
"Just tell her and she how she reacts. She may be accepting of it. Scratch that. I know she will accept it. She understood in my case."
"Its different with you. You don't turn into a beast once a month and suffer with its symptoms for weeks. I would be condemning her for her life. Werewolves mates for life Padfoot. No one would want a werewolves for the rest of their life. I am poor and cannot do a decent job her. She will be a reclusive with me."
Sirius gave a defeated sigh not because he agreed with his friend but because it was of no use to argue with him. Right now he was too adamant on believing he wasn't worthy of her.
"Do whatever you want but you are not going to the werewolves camp. If you want a place you can stay at my flat but not going anywhere near the camp."
"but…"
"He is right." James said from behind them. None of them had noticed him standing there.
"How long have you been listening?" Remus asked.
"Long enough." came the reply. He took the chair on other side of Remus and poured himself a cup. "Look Moony , few months ago , I would have agreed to let you go. albeit reluctantly but still. I wouldn't have stopped you, but when Hermione landed in our house, I had a glimpse of what the horrors outside are like. I cannot let any of you put yourself in danger. And for what? We already know they won't come to our side. We know they will join him. What good will it bring us?"
"we don't know that for sure." Remus said but in his heart, he himself didn't believe it.
"No, we don't. But we have no reason to not believe it, she hasn't lied about anything yet. And what if I, Padfoot , Lily or Hermione are hurt while you are gone? Will you be able to forgive yourself for running away like coward." James said sternly. "We are family and we stood stick together."
With a glare from his best friend, Remus sunk in defeat. He was not going after that lecture.
A/N : Thank you for reading and for helping me decide the course of this chapter. I was so confused if Remus should run away or not.
daichisjuicythighs
Definitely not more than you. I know what you mean. He stands out among all the character with his special condition and his suffering. He is so real and adorable.
guest
Thanks for the suggestion. I too, do not like everyone following the words of Dumbledore like an order. He is a good character but not a leader. Clearly, he made the mistake because of his believe in the second war and I won't let it repeat. Keep reading.
rooske01
This time Hermione stood up against Remus himself. I hope you like it too. Thank you. The rat isn't going to be worth that much in this story. Maybe a chapter or two. Though thank you for suggesting. it was great help.
malfoy(guest)
you are too kind and your words are encouraging. I hope I will keep up to it. Thanks a lot for your good wishes. hope you liked this chapie too. keep reading.
eshal
thanks for the suggestion. My confusion too was based on the same fact. It could have had ensured some drama, like Greyback showing an interest in Hermione. but it is clearly late for that. or maybe it is not. I hope you keep reading.