Next day Lupin was back in top shape. As he never been before. Sirius teased him that it was love that made him feel so good. Remus smiled knowingly. It was true. Love made him feel special and that meant he would feel great inside and it showed outside. Lupin shone, like he was some kind of star from the skies. Hermione noticed that he nearly had no new scars. She was happy for him because of it. She knew he hated them.

The last remaining days of winter holidays were soon over and they went back to Hogwarts, promising not to tell a soul or ghost about the relationship. But still it was tense when Hermione answered the questions in Remus' classes. Harry and Ron felt it, because they knew the tension between them and they also noticed the spark in Lupin's eyes whenever Hermione opened her mouth. They just hoped nobody else noticed.
February rolled on fast and Valentine's Day were just around the corner making Sirius highly uncomfortable with his post in Hogwarts. He was literally showered with owls and letters everyday of the week, frustrated that it was only him in the staff board who got letters from hormone-affected teens.
"So? No lucky one this time right, Sirius?" asked Lupin, with a small smile remembering the old days.
"Obviously not, Moony!" he nearly pouted at him. He hated to be alone, especially those romantic days when everyone else had someone. But it was a pain he was used to...

Hermione woke up to shrieks and happy faces in the girl dormitories. Valentine's Day had arrived. She dressed and made her way to the Great Hall for breakfast. She found Harry and Ron with girlfriends attached in their usual spot. She sighed, it would be a long day out in Hogsmeade without Remus. And she hated it. She hated that she couldn't flaunt him around like some arm candy.
She ate her breakfast in complete silence and glancing now and then towards the staff table, only seeing Sirius making a pout face and Remus trying to fix it.

"Daydreaming again mudblood?" sneered Draco as he passed by her side "I suppose you really dig old men then, disgusting" he said as he seated at his table. There was a silence in the area they were seated , because the other students have heard and noticed Hermione watching attentively the staff table and kind of getting a small idea of who she seemed to fancy. She was going to reply but was interrupted by two deep growls. The whole Hall just fell silent as if it had been spelled with muffliato. Fast as lightning bolts, both Snape and Sirius were there followed by Remus.
"Well, what do we have here?" asked Snape in a dreaded tone.
"Twenty points off Slytherin for picking on, insulting and embarrassing another student" said Sirius sharply, trying not to fall into Snape's trap.

"Black,this is none of your business" said Snape trying to get him out of there, while the whole Hall sat dumbstruck.
"Come on Severus, I know you know what he said to her and you can agree that mudblood isn't the nicest word to say to a girl, right?" said Sirius calmly while looking Snape in the eyes knowing fully how much that hurt the man.
Snape just glared at Harry and turned abruptly and left the Hall. Gryffindor table shrieked of joy and proud.
Hermione just smiled at Sirius and nodded to Remus' asking look. She was okay. After some minutes the students poured put and left for Hogsmeade but Harry, Ron and Hermione stayed a bit more to talk to Sirius and Lupin.

When they were sure there was no student left nor intruding teacher, Remus grabbed and squeezed Hermione's hand. She smiled at him and gave him a peck before running out after Ginny and Lavender who waited just outside the oak doors. The boys followed her after saying goodbye to the older men.

"Sirius and Remus are both really angry with Draco" said Harry to the girls as they made their way to Hogsmeade.
"So, how's your Valentine's Day going so far, lovebirds?" Hermione asked the couples with a smug smile. All four blushed and smiled and the conversation took another turn which Hermione really appreciated. She didn't want to talk about what had happened.
The day passed very fast and they were already on their way back to the castle. Hermione carrying to bags full of sweets and chocolates from Honeydukes. She had owled Remus previously and knew he waited for her in the Room of Requirement as she had asked him. She run upstairs and right before entering the Room she transformed her cloak and uniform into something more appealing.

She opened the door and swiftly closed it after her and locked. Remus turned around from the shelves were he had been looking at the books.
"Nice library you got here, baby" he said as he turned. And when he saw her he gaped, mouth open and eyes trailing her from head to toe.
There she stood with the shortest night gown he'd ever seen or heard Sirius talking about and lust filling her eyes. He closed his mouth as she approached him and he gave in. He was hers forever.
They woke up next day surrounded in sheets and his clothes, they made love once more and went for breakfast.
As they entered the hall side by side Hermione grabbed his hand and squeezed it briefly before she stopped at her usual spot. Remus just placed his hand on the small of her back and whispered in her ear.
"Thanks for last night, darling" and winked at her before leaving for his place at the staff table.

The whole hall had noticed the exchange of gestures between them and it was like hell froze over and all silence crept up from the corners.
"Well, well boys and girls, why don't you resume your eating?" Dumbledore said as he raised up and stood before them all. "Seems like our friend Draco was right, partly" he added with a smile, "and don't freak out, as you younger ones say, I knew about it and gave them permission, both are over age wizards and know perfectly what they do. So, breakfast dismissed" he said and clapped his hands making all dishes vanish and the gossip to start.
Remus sat like petrified with Sirius beside him looking confused. Remus rapidly explained to Sirius that he and Hermione had talked about it and decided to make it public, even though they have just three more month of school and they all would know and gossip. So Dumbledore had made it official a bit sooner than expected for him , but it was the right choice to make.

All heads turned to Hermione, to Remus and back to her again, and she heard the gossip and the juicy rumors starting, she was in hell, definitely. And she could be skinned alive anytime soon.