A/N - This chapter has Ginny's reaction to Hermione's little bombshell, which I think you all have been waiting for. Thank you so much for all the reviews last chapter and thanks so much for reading!

Chapter 42

Second-Guessing

1 January 2000

As Hermione slowly awoke, she groaned. Her head was pounding, and her mouth felt like she'd repeatedly licked her Weasley jumper. Cracking one eye open, she immediately slammed it shut again, the sunlight from the window like a laser to her retinas. She must have forgotten to close the curtains last night before she fell asleep. She very gingerly rolled to her other side, whimpering with each movement. Gods, how much had she really had to drink last night?

The sun somewhat muted now that Hermione's back was to the window, she attempted to open her eyes again. As she did so, she came face to face with another set of eyes and Hermione shrieked and scrambled backwards, then moaned and held her head in her hands.

"Good morning," Ginny said cheerfully.

"What the hell, Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed, then whimpered and held her head.

"It's about time you woke up," Ginny said. "After the way you left me hanging last night."

"I don't know what you're talking about and I am in a severe amount of pain here, so I'd appreciate it if you'd just leave."

"Are you joking?" Ginny said. "Not until you explain what you meant last night!"

"I'm sure it was a bunch of nonsense," Hermione said. "I barely even remember coming up here." Hermione eased back down onto her pillow with another moan of pain. Ginny was staring at her with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Don't you have a boyfriend to shag?" Hermione asked. "There must be some tradition about New Year's Day sex or something."

"Already did," Ginny said with a shrug.

"I should have known," Hermione muttered.

"Now, explain."

"Gin, I have no idea what you're talking about and my head feels like your Quidditch team used it for Bludger practice." Hermione tried to pull the blankets over her head.

"No way," Ginny said. Hermione groaned, then squinted up at Ginny.

"Why are you so chipper? Last I remember, you were nearly as pissed as I was."

"No one was as pissed as you were," Ginny said with a grin. "But, I took a hangover potion." Hermione's eyes snapped open.

"You have hangover potion?" Ginny pulled a vial out of her pocket and waved it in front of Hermione. When Hermione tried to grab it, Ginny pulled it out of her reach.

"I'll give this to you, but first you have to explain."

"I can't explain if I don't remember," Hermione whined. Ginny studied her for a moment.

"All right, I'll give you the potion first, but you have to swear to me that you're going to answer my questions."

"Fine, I swear," Hermione said, holding out her hand. Ginny gave her the vial. Hermione popped the cork and drank it down. Her headache slowly disappeared, and Hermione sighed in relief. Her mouth still felt disgusting, but brushing her teeth was the only remedy for that. She doubted she'd remembered to do it before she went to bed. She closed her eyes and settled back into her bed.

"Now, please explain to me when you kissed Remus," Ginny said. Hermione's eyes flew open and she sat bolt upright, grimacing at the bit of lingering pain in her head.

"What!?" she exclaimed.

"Last night, right before you passed out, you told me that no one kisses better than Remus," Ginny said. "Which we will discuss later, of course. But, I want to know how you know that."

"Oh my god," Hermione said, burying her reddening face in her hands.

"Hermione Granger, you have been holding out on me and I am not pleased!" Ginny had her arms crossed in front of her again and she was glaring at Hermione.

"No, no, it wasn't, it didn't…mean anything," Hermione said, shaking her head.

"It didn't mean anything?" Ginny repeated. "You kissed Remus!"

"Shhh," Hermione hissed. "Keep your voice down."

"I already cast a privacy charm," Ginny said. "Now if you don't tell me what happened this instant!" Ginny let the threat hang in the air.

"All right," Hermione said. She pulled in a breath and let it out. She couldn't believe she had said that last night. Thank Merlin Harry hadn't been in the room.

"Hermione," Ginny warned.

"It was on Christmas," Hermione said. "Remus came into the house after your first Quidditch game."

"Right, to put Teddy down for his nap." Hermione nodded.

"I offered to take Teddy up because he was practically asleep already anyway. But when I went to leave the room, the mistletoe popped up." Ginny grinned.

"So, he kissed you? Just like that?"

"No, of course not! He offered to get Charlie or Ron, but your mum was in the kitchen and I didn't want her to think, well," Hermione trailed off.

"You didn't want to give Mum the wrong idea," Ginny said with a nod. "That either you and Ron were going to get back together, or you fancied Charlie."

"Right, so Remus, Remus offered." Hermione looked down at her lap.

"And?"

"And I thought it would be like when Charlie kissed me earlier, but it was, it was more than that."

"You mean he kissed you, kissed you?" Ginny asked.

"Yes," Hermione said. Ginny squealed and bounced a little on the bed.

"So, what was it like?" Ginny asked. Hermione looked up at Ginny.

"It was…sort of perfect." Ginny clapped her hands and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Then what happened?" Ginny asked, eyes shining with excitement. Hermione sighed.

"Teddy mumbled something and Remus pulled away from me so fast, you'd have thought someone burned him."

"Well yeah, I mean being caught by the kid is a little disconcerting," Ginny said. Hermione sighed again and stood from the bed. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked out the window.

"It wasn't just that," she said.

"What do you mean?"

"He regretted it," Hermione said.

"How do you know?" Ginny demanded.

"Because he apologized to me later."

"Well, of course he did, he's Remus," Ginny said. "What did you say when he apologized?"

"I told him not to worry about it, that I knew it didn't mean anything." When Ginny didn't respond, Hermione looked over her shoulder. The redhead was sitting on the bed, her mouth hanging open.

"You told him it didn't mean anything?" she shrieked.

"Of course, I did," Hermione retorted. "I know that it didn't."

"Are you completely mental?" Hermione scowled. "Hermione, he kissed you! All he had to do to release you from the enchantment was give you a quick peck on the lips, but that's not what he did."

"You're being ridiculous," Hermione said with a huff. "He hasn't kissed anyone since Tonks died and he just, just got a little carried away." Ginny rolled her eyes so dramatically, Hermione thought they might fall out of her head.

"Tell me everything that happened," Ginny demanded. "I want every detail." Hermione sighed.

"I don't know what good that's going to do."

"Just tell me," Ginny ordered. Hermione sighed again and sat down on the bed. She recounted their conversation before the kiss as best she could remember it.

"So, he was all nervous and awkward?" Ginny asked.

"Of course, he was, so was I," Hermione replied. "It was obvious he didn't really want to do it, he was just trying to help."

"Let me ask you something," Ginny said. "And answer honestly."

"All right."

"If it had been Harry or even, say, George in that situation would you have been as nervous and awkward?"

"I would probably have been worried that you or Angelina would have hexed me into next week for kissing your boyfriends," Hermione said.

"But you wouldn't have been nervous about kissing them," Ginny confirmed.

"I guess not."

"And do you think either one of them would have acted as nervous as Remus did?"

"George definitely wouldn't," Hermione said with a snort. Ginny laughed. "And I guess Harry wouldn't have either, unless he was worried about what you would think."

"Exactly." Hermione's brow furrowed.

"I don't know what you're getting at, Gin." Ginny rolled her eyes.

"For the smartest witch of your age, you sure are daft sometimes." Hermione glared at her. "Remember when Anthony first asked you to Hogsmeade and you had no idea that he fancied you?"

"Yes."

"And remember how nervous he was before he asked you and you wondered what was wrong with him?"

"Yes."

"Then I'm not sure what you don't understand now."

"Remus doesn't fancy me, Ginny." Ginny made a noise of frustration.

"Do you fancy him?"

"No," Hermione said quickly, looking away.

"Liar."

"It doesn't matter if I have feelings for him or not, obviously nothing is going to happen."

"Because he apologized?" Ginny asked.

"Among other things."

"Hermione, did you ever think that maybe he apologized because he doesn't think that you fancy him?" Hermione looked up at Ginny sharply. Ginny held her hands out to the side as if to say 'finally, you understand."

"My mum said the same thing," Hermione said.

"You told your mum about this?" Ginny asked, a bit surprised.

"Just that it happened," Hermione said. "I didn't tell her it was Remus."

"Well, your mum is absolutely right," Ginny said. "Because I'm right." Hermione sighed.

"I don't think so, Gin."

"Why?" Ginny demanded. Hermione shrugged. "Hermione, why is it so hard to believe that he might have feelings for you?"

"Because, because he's Remus!" Hermione said in exasperation, throwing her hands up in the air. Ginny stared at her for a moment.

"Well, that makes things perfectly clear, thank you." Hermione huffed and stood from the bed.

"How could he feel that way about me?" Hermione asked.

"Do you really need me to list out all your positive qualities?"

"No, it's not that, it's just," Hermione trailed off and shook her head. "I don't know how to explain it."

"Is it the age thing?"

"No. I mean, maybe," Hermione said. "It doesn't bother me, but I know it will bother him."

"Tonks was thirteen years younger than him," Ginny reminded her.

"She wasn't young enough to be his daughter," Hermione countered.

"Tell that to all the Blacks who were only thirteen or fourteen when they fathered children." Hermione made a face.

"I'm not sure what's more disturbing, the fact that it happened or that you know about it."

"I've looked at that tapestry quite a few times," Ginny said with a shrug. Hermione shook her head.

"You were in the hospital wing that night, Ginny. You heard all the reasons Remus protested being with Tonks and they all still exist. He's older than me, he still has a difficult time finding a job and he's still a werewolf."

"Don't you think that being with Tonks has made him realize that those things don't matter?"

"I doubt it," Hermione said. "He's still Remus." Ginny fell silent. "I just don't think it's going to happen, Gin."

"Do you want it to happen, Hermione?" Hermione turned and stared out the window again. The truth was, now that she had admitted to herself that she felt something for Remus beyond friendship, she was petrified. She honestly didn't believe that he felt the same way about her and she wasn't sure that she could take any more rejection."

"I don't know," Hermione said quietly. She heard Ginny get up from the bed.

"You know how I feel about it," Ginny said. "But you have to decide for yourself." She hugged Hermione and Hermione nodded. When Ginny released her and took a step back, Ginny smiled.

"Come down soon, yeah? Harry's making breakfast. It's Kreacher's day off."

"I will, thanks, Ginny." Ginny squeezed her hand once more before she dropped the privacy charm and left the room.

Hermione sighed and sat down on her bed. Despite what her mother and Ginny had said, Hermione still wasn't sure that the kiss had really meant anything. No matter how perfect it had been.

Groaning, Hermione flopped back onto the bed. She had to stop thinking about it like that. If it turned out that it meant nothing, torturing herself about it wouldn't help anything. The last thing she wanted was to lose Remus' friendship and if she started acting like some love-sick schoolgirl, she would. She was just going to have to see how Remus reacted to her the next time she saw him.

With a sigh, Hermione rose from her bed and dressed. She gathered up her things and put them in her beaded bag before she headed downstairs for breakfast.

Teddy ran to Remus carrying the book of fairy tales Hermione had bought him for Christmas and attempted to climb up into Remus' lap while still holding the book. Remus chuckled and picked up his son, taking the book from him as Teddy settled into his lap. Remus opened the book and Teddy began flipping the pages until he found the story he wanted.

"Dis," he said and settled back against Remus. Remus resisted the urge to sigh. He had read The Gingerbread Man more times than he could count in the last few days. In fact, Remus had the story memorized.

When they got three pages into the story, Teddy pointed to the illustration of a woman in the background. She had brown curly hair and a sweet smile.

"My-nee," he said.

"Yes," Remus agreed as he had every time he had read this story to Teddy and Teddy had pointed the woman out. "That does look like Hermione." And, just as it had every time Teddy said her name, Remus' chest tightened.

The first time Teddy had done this, they had been in the living room and Andromeda had been with them. Remus had at first been surprised that Teddy had made the connection at all. He had then nearly lost all the breath in his lungs when he looked and realized that the woman in the illustration really did look quite a bit like Hermione. At Teddy's continued insistence that the woman in the book was Hermione, Andromeda had risen and walked over to look for herself. Remus had held his breath, hoping that nothing on his face betrayed what he was thinking.

Remus had tortured himself over the last week, reliving the kiss with Hermione over and over. He had dreamt about it more than once, only in his dreams Teddy hadn't been present and the kiss had lasted much longer. Cursing himself every time he woke from the dream, Remus had tried to stop thinking about her, busying himself taking care of Teddy. But then his son had insisted on this story and he had found the illustration and Remus hadn't been able to get away from her. All progress he had made between Halloween and Christmas of not thinking about her in a romantic sense had been erased after that one short kiss.

"Daddy?" Teddy said in question and Remus realized he had gotten lost in his thoughts and stopped reading. He kissed the top of Teddy's head and continued with the story, determined to put Hermione from his mind.

"You never told me how your date went," Andromeda said later, once Teddy had been put to bed. Remus' head snapped up from the book he was reading. He tried to read Andromeda's face, but it was devoid of emotion.

"It wasn't a date," he said. Andromeda gave him a disbelieving look.

"Yes, work-related, I believe you said, although you are no longer working there."

"It was, erm, something of an exit interview," Remus said, grasping for an excuse. "It's a Muggle thing." Andromeda stared at him for a few moments before she began to laugh. Remus was a bit disconcerted at her reaction.

"I am aware of what an exit interview is," she finally said. "And I may be a Pureblood, but I am quite sure that even in the Muggle world, exit interviews do not include the owner of an establishment taking an ex-employee out to dinner." Remus' face heated. He did not want to be having this conversation with his mother-in-law.

"You still have not answered my question," Andromeda said after another few moments of silence. Remus swallowed thickly. Merlin, why did he feel like he was back in Minerva's office after playing some prank or another?

"I, ah, it was, it was fine."

"She is very attractive." Andromeda's face had gone unreadable again.

"I, I didn't notice," Remus said, his face reddening further. Andromeda snorted.

"You are a horrible liar, Remus." She looked at him for a few moments before speaking. "I want you to know that I am not upset." Remus stared at her. "Nymphadora is gone and she would be the last one that would want you to go through the rest of your life alone." She paused and pursed her lips. "I am sorry if I've made you uncomfortable."

"No," he said. "No, I, it's not that." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Nothing is going to happen between Emily and I."

"Oh," Andromeda said, and Remus thought he saw a bit of relief in her eyes before she looked at him in concern. "Did the dinner not go well?"

"No, it went very well," Remus said. "Emily is a lovely woman and we get along. She certainly made it clear she was interested."

"Then I must admit I am a bit confused," Andromeda said. "Is it because she's a Muggle?"

"There is that," Remus admitted. "I just, I'm not ready, I suppose." He could feel Andromeda studying him and Remus did not look up to meet her eye. He was positive she would see the lie there if he did.

"I understand," she said. Remus supposed she did. She had lost Ted, after all. "But, please know that I don't expect you to spend the rest of your life alone."

"I appreciate that," he said. "But, there's no one. Not right now." Andromeda nodded and smiled at him before she returned to the book she had been reading.

Remus held back a sigh as he settled back into his chair. No matter what Andromeda had said, he was quite sure that she would have a completely different opinion if she knew that the woman he wanted was Hermione.

10 January 2000

Hermione sat at her desk and looked over the latest report that her current supervisor had given her. She had to admit that working in the Beast Division was more exciting than the Spirit Division. They dealt with a much larger variety of creatures for one and there was quite a bit more activity.

Hermione got along well with most of her co-workers in the department, except for a select few. Most of them worked for the Werewolf Capture Unit. Hermione wasn't opposed to the unit on principle, Fenrir Greyback was enough of an example as to why it was needed. But she did take issue with the attitudes of the three wizards and one witch that made up the Unit. They all felt nearly the same as Umbridge had, that all werewolves were disgusting creatures that didn't deserve to live in wizarding society.

Word of Kingsley's addendum to the current werewolf laws that allowed werewolves to be employed if they were registered was slowly travelling around the wizarding world and more werewolves were arriving to register. Last week, two men had come in and Hermione had overheard the members of the Capture Unit talking and whispering about the new registrants. Given the amount of time the Unit spent away from the Ministry, rarely returning with a prisoner in tow, Hermione wondered if they made note of those newly registered and followed them. Whether just to keep an eye on or to harass them, Hermione wasn't sure. But she strongly suspected the latter. She wondered if Remus had ever had any trouble.

Remus. Hermione sighed. She had tried not to think about him over the last week and a half. She hadn't been very successful. Even if she managed not to let her thoughts dwell on him during the day, her dreams taunted her at night. Teddy was never present in them and the kiss always went further, but, ultimately, Remus always rejected her. He was always kind about it, but that somehow made it infinitely worse.

Hermione shook her head to clear it of thoughts she shouldn't be dwelling on. She was just glad Ginny had been forced back to Wales to practice after Gwenog had given them the two weeks before the New Year off. Otherwise, Hermione knew the redhead would have been pestering her incessantly.

"Hermione," a voice said, and Hermione smiled up at Harry. He perched on the corner of her desk.

"Harry, what are you doing here?" she asked.

"I need your help."

"Oh, with what?" Harry glanced around the room and everyone quickly returned to whatever tasks they had been working on. Even almost two years after the war, Harry was still a novelty to be stared at. He sighed and shook his head.

"Have lunch with me?"

"Sure," Hermione said. "I'll meet you in the Atrium at noon?" Harry nodded.

"Thanks, Hermione." Harry rose and nodded to one of the witches Hermione worked with. The woman turned red and actually giggled as Harry left the office. Hermione rolled her eyes.

At Harry's departure, a memo flew in the open door and landed on Hermione's desk. She recognized Gwendolyn's handwriting and opened it eagerly.

Hermione,

All initial inspections have been completed. We've had to remove twelve House-Elves from seven different homes. They are currently being housed at Hogwarts while I work on relocating them. The owners will be fined and possibly brought up on cruelty charges. We should lunch soon.

Gwendolyn

Hermione immediately burned the memo, not wanting anyone who shouldn't to know that Gwendolyn was keeping Hermione informed. She was glad the inspections were finally finished, but disheartened to know that there were seven households that had been treating their Elves so badly they needed to be removed. Hermione knew that there were others that had been warned and given two months from the initial inspections to improve their Elves' living conditions. Gwendolyn and her team would start doing the second inspections this week.

Hermione doubted that any of those who had House-Elves removed would be given more than a fine; the Wizengamot had been hesitant to impose too harsh of punishments. But they would be banned from having other House-Elves for a minimum of three years and perhaps would never be allowed again, depending on the severity of the abuse. It wasn't perfect, but it was something, she supposed.

Hermione sighed and looked back down at the report in front of her. She had better finish with it before she had to meet Harry for lunch.

Hermione made her way through the crowds of people coming in and out of the Ministry and spotted Harry near the Floos. She smiled when she reached him. Harry looked at her nervously before running a hand through his hair.

"What's going on, Harry?" Harry glanced around and took Hermione's elbow, leading her towards the Floo.

"Let's go to the Leaky," he said. Hermione frowned, but nodded. If Harry wanted privacy, the Leaky Cauldron really wasn't the place for it. Still, she dropped in the Floo powder and called out her destination.

Hermione stepped out of the Floo and moved aside for Harry. Hermione had just waved to Hannah, who was behind the bar with Tom, when Harry arrived. He glanced around the crowded pub and nodded toward the door that would take them into Muggle London. He transfigured both their robes into Muggle business clothing before they stepped outside. Hermione tried to ignore Charing Cross Books across the street from them and wondered if Remus still spoke to Emily. Shaking her head, she turned back to Harry.

"Harry, what is the matter?" she demanded. Harry glanced at her, then behind him before pulling her into a music store. He looked around again. Hermione was starting to get more worried.

"If you don't tell me what's going on this minute, Harry," she warned, hands on her hips. Harry blew out a breath and looked up at her.

"I'm going to ask Gin to marry me," he blurted out. Hermione's mouth dropped open and she stared at him for a few moments, before she squealed and hugged him tightly.

"That's so exciting!" Hermione exclaimed. Harry was grinning when she pulled away. "But why are you acting so odd?"

"I just, I don't want the press to get wind of this," Harry said. "They interfere enough in my life; I just want this one thing to be private." Even though she wanted to comfort her friend, Hermione couldn't get the smile off her face. Harry finally chuckled.

"I'm so happy for you, Harry," she said, squeezing Harry's hand.

"She's, she's going to say yes, right?" Harry said. He looked so uncertain, Hermione heart clenched.

"Of course, she's going to say yes," Hermione assured him. "She's mad for you, you know that." Harry smiled a little.

"Yeah, yeah I guess you're right."

"I'm always right," Hermione quipped. Harry rolled his eyes and Hermione laughed. "So, what do you need my help with?"

"I want you to help me pick out the ring," Harry said. Hermione pulled in a breath and she felt her eyes tear up.

"You do?" she nearly whispered.

"Of course," Harry said. "You're my family, Hermione." Hermione threw her arms around Harry's neck and hugged him. Harry squeezed her back just as tightly. Hermione quickly wiped at her eyes when they pulled apart. Harry took her hand and squeezed.

"Besides, you know what Gin likes and I want this to be perfect."

"Of course, I'll help you, Harry." Harry grinned and kissed her cheek.

"Thanks, Hermione."

"So, I'm guessing that you're not going to shop for the ring in Diagon Alley," Hermione teased. Harry snorted.

"Right, can you imagine the headlines if the two of us went into a jewelry shop together?" Hermione laughed.

"I can take you to the place my dad used to buy all my mum's jewelry," Hermione suggested. "It's small, but it's family-owned and if they don't have exactly what you want they can get it for you."

"That'd be great, Hermione." Harry hugged her again. "Come on, let's get lunch. I'm starved." They left the music store and headed for a small café a few blocks away, both grinning widely.

23 January 2000

"Hermione! Hermione, are you home?" Hermione walked into the living room from the kitchen to find Ginny's face in the Floo. Hermione had finally gotten her fireplace hooked up to the network. While she could easily Apparate anywhere she wanted to go, communicating with her friends was a different story. Owls could take too long and sometimes sending a Patronus just wasn't practical. Harry had been bothering her to do it for months.

"Hey, Ginny," Hermione said as she came into the room.

"Oh, thank Merlin," Ginny said. Hermione dropped to her knees in front of the fireplace.

"What's wrong?" she asked immediately.

"Harry and Ron got called into work on an emergency," Ginny explained. "And I've got to get back to Wales for practice, but Teddy's here."

"Oh," Hermione said. "Can't you just call Andromeda?" If Ginny noticed that Hermione purposely didn't say Remus, she didn't let on.

"She's spending the day with Narcissa," Ginny said. Hermione felt her stomach flip over. She knew from Harry that Andromeda had reconnected with her sister, but every time Hermione heard one of the Malfoys' names, she still had a visceral reaction.

"And Remus said he was going to be out most of the afternoon running errands," Ginny said. "Can you just come and stay with Teddy until Remus gets here? He's supposed to come around four." Hermione glanced at her watch. It was half two.

"I'd take him to the Burrow, but he's napping right now. And you know Mum's going to be busy cooking for the family dinner tonight." Hermione hadn't seen Remus since Christmas and she wasn't ready to see him now. She knew it made her a coward, but she wasn't ready to hear the gentle rebuff she knew she would get if he figured out her feelings for him.

"Hermione?" Ginny prodded when Hermione hadn't answered. Hermione glanced down at her friend and knew she couldn't give Ginny more fuel for her fire. Ginny had already questioned Hermione since New Year's, more than once, about her feelings for Remus.

"Sure, Gin, I'll be there in a few minutes." Ginny grinned.

"Thanks, Hermione." Hermione sighed when Ginny broke the Floo connection. Hermione hoped she wasn't going to regret this.

Remus landed on the top step of Grimmauld Place and knocked on the door. A few moments later, Kreacher opened it and gave Remus a grudging nod. When Harry had brought the House-Elf back from Hogwarts it was with the understanding that Kreacher would treat Harry's guests cordially, regardless of their blood status, or creature status, in Remus' case.

"Good afternoon, Kreacher," Remus said as he stepped inside. Personally, Remus could have done without ever seeing the Elf again, but Harry had always been more forgiving than Remus was.

"Miss is in the sitting room," Kreacher said as he took Remus' cloak and hung it up with a snap of his fingers. Remus nodded to the Elf and then began to climb the stairs. It wasn't until he'd reached the first floor landing that Remus realized Kreacher had said Miss instead of Master Harry.

Remus turned toward the doorway to the sitting room wondering where Harry was, but expecting to see Ginny. Instead, a head of curly brown hair greeted him. Hermione was reading a book and looked up when she heard him approach.

He hadn't seen her since Christmas. Her face had a bit more color than it normally did, a result of her time in Australia, he assumed. She smiled at him and he froze where he stood. It likely made him a coward, but he didn't know how he was going to interact with her without her figuring out how he felt. He wasn't ready for the awkwardness and rejection that would follow.

"Hello, Remus," she finally said.

"Hermione," he replied. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."

"Harry and Ron got called in on an emergency and Ginny had to get back to Wales." Remus' brow furrowed. He distinctly remembered Harry telling him that Ginny didn't have to leave for practice until six. Remus managed to keep his face neutral as he remembered the knowing look on Ginny's face at Halloween. Surely, she couldn't be meddling and trying to force the two of them together?

"She could have Flooed and I would have picked Teddy up early," Remus said. Hermione looked confused for a moment.

"Oh, well, Ginny said Teddy was napping and she didn't want to wake him." Remus nodded, not wanting to make her more uncomfortable by asking more questions. He looked around the room for his son.

"Where is Teddy?"

"Still sleeping," Hermione said. "Ginny told me she put him down around two." Remus bit back a sigh. Normally, Teddy went down for his nap by one o'clock. Later than that and Remus had a hard time getting him to bed at night. He couldn't fault Ginny, though. Harry was the one that knew the little boy's schedule and Remus was sure that he hadn't had time to give Ginny all the specifics before he was called away.

"Do you know what the emergency was?" Remus asked. Hermione shook her head.

"Harry didn't tell Ginny."

"I hope it's nothing serious."

"Me too," Hermione said, shivering a little. They stood in awkward silence for a few minutes. Remus glanced around the room and saw Teddy's bag sitting on the chair near the door. He reached over to pick it up, but the strap caught on one of the arms of the chair and everything went tumbling out of it.

"Shite," he muttered under his breath. Hermione laughed a bit and squatted down to gather up the toys that had spilled. Remus chuckled and knelt down to help her. They both put a hand on one of Teddy's dragons at the same time and froze. Hermione looked up at Remus, but he couldn't move. He felt like he couldn't breathe. He felt himself shift towards her and he tried to remove his hand from hers, but it felt like someone had cast a sticking charm on him. Hermione was still staring up at him. When he focused, he could see that her breathing had sped up slightly and he could almost hear the thumping of her heart. He wondered if he was scaring her, but another part of his brain recognized the signs for what they were. Remus swallowed. He was aware of how very close to her he was, how he only had to move another few inches and he could be kissing her again. He held himself back by sheer force of will.

Hermione stared up at Remus and felt her breath catch. She saw him shift and move his hand slightly, but he didn't remove it. Her heart sped up as she moved infinitesimally closer to him. She didn't even think he noticed. She saw him swallow. When she looked again, she realized that she only needed to move the tiniest bit and she could be kissing him again. She didn't know how she forced herself not to move.

An alarm broke the silence and they both startled, almost violently. Hermione fell back on her bum and Remus sat back on his haunches, both now more than two feet apart.

"That's the monitoring ward," Hermione finally managed. "Teddy must be awake."

"Right," Remus said, finally looking away. Hermione stood quickly.

"I'll just go get him," she said and hurried from the room. She brought her hands to her cheeks as she climbed the stairs, willing her heart to slow and the blush to leave her face. She pulled in a breath and let it out before she opened the door to Teddy's room.

He was standing in his cot, clutching his stuffed dog, banging on the bars. He looked up at her when she walked in and grinned.

"My-nee." Hermione couldn't help but smile as she picked the toddler up.

"Hi, Teddy. Did you have a nice nap?"

"No nap," Teddy said, shaking his head and Hermione laughed.

"You've already had your nap, silly," she said, rubbing her nose against his. He giggled.

"Ha-wy?" Teddy asked.

"Harry had to go to work," Hermione explained. "But your daddy's here." Teddy's smile widened and Hermione checked the cot to be sure there were no more toys in it. She then carried Teddy from the room.

The entire way to the sitting room, Hermione tried not to think about what had almost just happened with Remus. She was going to strangle Ginny. It was obvious from what Remus said that he had been home all afternoon and not out running errands as Ginny had said. Hermione wondered if Ginny even had to go back to Wales when she'd said she had to. Hermione took a deep breath just before she reached the sitting room.

"Daddy!" Teddy called as they stepped into the room. Remus had finished picking up the toys and was now standing near the couch with his back to the door. Remus turned and smiled at his son. Hermione walked over to Remus and handed the little boy over to him, trying not to react when their hands brushed again.

"Did you have a good day?" Remus asked. Teddy nodded and began babbling away, Hermione catching every fourth or fifth word. Remus seemed to be concentrating intently on what Teddy was saying and Hermione smiled softly. He was such a good father. Remus glanced at her in the middle of Teddy's discourse and returned her soft smile for a split second before turning his attention back to Teddy. Hermione felt her heart flutter.

When Teddy had finished discussing his day, Remus picked up his bag and glanced at Hermione again. He cleared his throat.

"Thank you," he said. "For sitting with Teddy." Hermione managed a smile.

"It was no problem." Remus nodded and looked away, then back towards her again. Hermione felt her palms start to sweat.

"So, I um, I'll just tell Kreacher we're going then," Hermione said. Remus nodded a bit stiffly. "Kreacher." The House-Elf popped into the sitting room.

"Yes, Miss."

"Remus is taking Teddy home and I'm going as well," Hermione explained. "Can you please tell Harry when he gets home?"

"Yes, Miss," Kreacher said with a short bow and then disappeared. Hermione and Remus looked at each other awkwardly again.

"Yes, well, we should be off," Remus said. He pulled a small jacket from Teddy's bag and put it on the boy.

"Home, Daddy?"

"Yes, we're going home," Remus said. "It's almost time for dinner."

"My-nee?" Teddy asked. Remus' gaze flicked towards her and she laughed nervously.

"No, I'm not, not going with you," Hermione said, feeling a bit bereft at the statement. Which was completely ludicrous.

"My-nee go," Teddy insisted. Remus looked a bit nervous at his son's statement and Hermione forced a smile onto her face.

"I have to go home and feed Crookshanks," Hermione said. "Maybe next time, all right?" Teddy pouted. Hermione laughed again and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. She heard Remus' sharp intake of breath when she leaned in. Stepping back quickly, Hermione smiled awkwardly at Remus.

"All right, let's go," Remus said to Teddy and began walking towards the door. He turned when they reached it and looked back at her.

"Good-bye, Hermione."

Good-bye, Remus. Bye, Teddy." Teddy waved to her and the two left the room. Hermione heard the soft click of the front door a few minutes later and sank down on the couch. She put her head in her hands and groaned. She was going to kill Ginny.

"Ready?" Remus asked Teddy when they had reached the front step. Teddy nodded and clutched Padfoot tightly before he buried his face in Remus' neck. Remus wrapped his arms securely around his son. "One, two, three." On three they turned and disappeared, landing in their back garden with a crack.

Remus waited a few moments for Teddy to recover, but instead of going into the house, he cast a warming charm on both of them and sat down on the swing.

"Sing, Daddy?" Teddy asked with a grin.

"Yes, we'll swing," Remus replied with a smile and began to push them on the swing with one foot. Teddy giggled in delight. Remus leaned forward and kissed the boy's forehead. Teddy set Padfoot down on Remus' stomach and gripped the ropes of the swing, while Remus continued to push them.

"Go!" Teddy insisted. Remus chuckled. He wrapped one arm securely around the rope of the swing and Teddy's middle, then gripped the other rope to set them swinging higher. Teddy laughed as the wind blew through his hair.

As they swung, Remus' thoughts drifted back to Hermione and what had nearly happened at Grimmauld Place. Hermione's reaction to their proximity could have been fear, but it could have also been that she wanted to kiss Remus as much as he wanted to kiss her. Remus' heart sped up at the thought. All the signs had been there, but he couldn't bring himself to believe that was what Hermione wanted. She could have any wizard she desired, certainly she didn't want him.

And even if she did, it just couldn't happen. Gods, what would everyone think? He had seen the looks from people the few times he and Dora were out in public together and Hermione was even younger than Dora had been. Hermione was already in the public eye, given her war heroine status. He wouldn't put her under further scrutiny for dating a man twice her age.

Not to mention she had been his student. He could just imagine what Rita Skeeter would insinuate about that. Remus shook his head in disgust. Hermione's reputation would be in tatters. He wouldn't do that to her.

No, he decided, it was better that he just ignore his feelings. Hermione would eventually forget about him and move on to someone much more suited to her. Slowing the swing to a stop, he kissed the top of Teddy's head again and stood. He had a son to take care of.

Hermione landed in her back garden with a crack. Grimacing, she hoped the neighbors hadn't heard. Normally, she could Apparate much more quietly, but her emotions were all over the place. She let herself into the house and walked into the living room, sinking down onto the couch. She pulled one of the throw pillows towards her and curled up in the corner.

She pulled in a breath and let it out. She could have sworn that Remus wanted to kiss her as much as she wanted to kiss him. But that was absurd. How could he possibly have feelings for her? Hermione turned over all their encounters in the past few months in her mind, remembering what her mum and Ginny had said about the kiss on Christmas. It was possible, she supposed, but the thought that Remus could be interested in Hermione after being married to Tonks was a bit hard to believe.

Tonks had been outgoing and funny, confident and even a bit improper at times, which only seemed to add to her appeal. Hermione and Remus had quite a bit in common, but what if he preferred someone that was more different from him? Hermione clutched the pillow tighter.

Still, she had heard the way his breathing sped up when they had been so close together. She had seen the look in his eyes just before the alarm had startled them. Hermione wondered if he would have kissed her if the monitoring charm hadn't sounded. She wondered if she would have kissed him. Part of her was quite sure she would have.

Did he notice her reaction just as she'd noticed his? If he had, Hermione wondered what kept him from acting on it. Perhaps he still believed what she'd said at Christmas and hadn't kissed her because he truly believed she wasn't interested. Hermione sat up.

The first thing she needed to do, as her mum had said, was decide if she wanted a relationship with Remus. A wave of longing went through Hermione at the thought. Gods, she did. She wanted it so much.

It wouldn't be easy. Remus had his own hang-ups, as she was well aware. And their age difference would be an issue for some people. Most of her friends, save Ginny, would be shocked. And she didn't have any idea what her parents would think, especially knowing Remus had once been her professor. Hermione made a face thinking of what the Rita Skeeter's of the world would have to say about that. Hermione didn't care what they said about her, but she didn't want anyone to suggest anything so horrid about Remus.

She sighed. Thinking about it that way, it seemed almost impossible, even if she could convince Remus that he was really the one she wanted and that he deserved to have more happiness in his life. Which would be a feat in and of itself. Maybe it would be easier just to ignore her feelings and hope they eventually went away.

Crookshanks jumped up on the couch and meowed loudly at her. Hermione glanced up and saw that it had grown dark outside.

"Hungry, are you?" she asked as she scratched him behind the ears. Crookshanks gave her a look before jumping off the couch and walking into the kitchen, his tail flicking impatiently. Hermione sighed once again and rose from the couch, following her cat. When had things gotten so complicated?