Remus opened his mouth to respond -
"Oi! What are you lot cooking up over here?" Sirius questioned, his eyes accusing Remus.
Hermione, noticing the tension quickly added "Well you see Siri, I was just asking Remus whether
or not you're into the whole dominatrix thing" with a smirk on her face she left for her room,
leaving a stunned Sirius and an amused Remus in her wake.
Later on that evening, Remus, Sirius, Peter, and James were settled in their favorite chairs
around the fireplace. Peter was reading a book, trying to fall asleep. James was vacantly staring
into the fire, thinking about the way the embers resembled a certain witch's hair. Sirius looked over
to Remus and said in quiet voice "I like her Moony, I like her a lot."
Remus smirked, giving Hermione a run for her money; "Why don't you tell her than?"
"It's not that easy, she just got here she needs time to adjust."
"She seems to be adjusting extremely well Padfoot." implied Remus.
"Well I don't know if she likes me alright?" Sirius replied annoyed.
"So you accept her and everyone else to sit around until you've got the balls to approach her?"
interrogated Remus, disbelieving.
"Yes, well no. She's got the right to date people I suppose. I just can't say I'll like it, and I'll try to
break them up." with that he looked pointedly at Remus and walked up to the boy's dorm.
Remus only smirked a tad more, thinking, that he and Hermione would not have to worry about
Sirius breaking them up, for they would not actually be with each other. He made his way up after
Sirius, eager to write a letter to Hermione.
Hermione awoke Monday morning, eager to attend classes. She noticed an owl asleep at her
window, with a letter tied to it. She petted the owl's head, and gently untied the letter. She blushed
and smirked as she read it:
Dearest Mione,
It is I Remus! Go ahead smile, you know you want to. Your proposition gave me the wonderful
idea to come up with one of my own. I have a way of sensing things, just keep that in mind alright?
I am fully aware of the fact that you know I am attracted to you. I enjoy talking to you, and I have
the utmost respect for you. I know you're attracted to me as well; I can sense it remember? I feel
confident asking you this, yet at the same time I have butterflies in my stomach. I wanted to know
if you'd like to be friends with benefits? Write back, Remus
Before showering, Hermione jotted down her reply:
Dear Remus,
I understand you respect me, and I want you to know I respect you as well. We are friends, and I
do feel very comfortable with you. I am attracted to you, I won't lie; but I think I've got a bit of a
crush on Sirius. I want to see if that works out, before I give you my final answer. Is that alright? I
don't want you to feel bad Remus, I just think that feelings are more important than lust. Would
you not agree?
Love Mione
She sent the letter off and began her day. She was missing Sirius, he had run off when she called
him an immature play boy. Hermione had meant it as a joke, but he took it the wrong way. She
wanted to apologize, but James had said to forget the git. As she and Lily walked into the great
hall for dinner, she finally found Sirius. On the arm of another girl, that is. He was playing with her
hair, as she whispered in his ear. Hermione wasn't hurt, she was angry. Why should she wait for an
emotional attachment when everyone else was so content with physical? She shook her head,
thinking, her and Remus were far better off. They could be best friends, and fool around. Neither
could get hurt, it was a win win situation. When she saw Sirius kissing the girl, she thought she was
going to be sick. She told Lily so and proceeded to her room.
Later on, Lily came in and sat with her. They got caught up chit-chatting and Lily remembered
why she had come up. "Remus asked me to give you this. Silly me I almost forgot. I have to patrol
but I wanted to check on you. I was debating which to do first, and just then Remus handed me
the letter."
"It was a sign Lily!"
The girls giggled and Lily went to patrol, leaving Hermione to read her letter.
Hermione,
I'm sorry for that dog's behavior today, he refuses to tell me what he's up to. I hope it did not
devastate you. Tell me if you need to talk, I'm always here as a friend.
Remus
Hermione smiled; he was so sweet. He was not even asking about the friends with benefits
situation. Yes, she thought, Remus and I will work. She flipped the parchment over and wrote him
back.
Remus,
You're a great friend. I am perfectly fine, thanks so much for all that you wrote. I want you to
know that when I say this, I am in no way trying to get back at Sirius, alright? Good, I want to be
your friend, with benefits.
H.
She had included the bit about not getting back at Sirius because she was not trying to. She
wanted Remus to know that.
Remus saw Hermione's owl swoop in with a letter, and he quickly untied it. He read it over and
smiled at her thoughtfulness. "She wants me to know I'm not being used. I hope she knows that
neither is she." He had a plan for tonight, so he "borrowed" James' invisibility cloak and went on
his way.
Meanwhile, another boy was thinking about how to get the girl of his dreams. James Potter had
been watching Lily Evans as of late, and he had come to the conclusion that he needed someone
to just "Gimme the fucking girl!" he shouted in his head. He knew what he had to do, Hermione
would help, he was sure of it. But before he did that, he needed to take more drastic measures.
He slowly made his way over to Peter Pettigrew.
"Pete! Hey, Wormtail! Wake up mate, I've got a favor to ask you." James implored.
"What is it Prongs, I just fell asleep. I was havin' the best dream about Wonder Woman takin' off her knickers..." he replied.
James managed not to be distracted by that heavenly visual, and looked a sleepy Peter in the eyes.
"Peter, I need you to make me a woman!"