Hermione felt more at ease now than she had in the last two weeks. If she allowed herself to admit it, she felt better now all around than she had in the last several years. And all she was doing was following Remus into the small living room set off from the kitchen. The cabin itself was small, the furnishings Spartan, but the feeling was cozy and homey.
"What is this place?" she asked, walking around and examining the small structure.
She looked at him when he appeared reluctant to answer her. "It's a safe haven of sorts," he explained. "For, um, werewolves."
"Ah," was her only comment before she walked over to him. "So, why the sudden departure?"
He grew agitated quickly, and turned from her, wondering why it seemed so impossible to keep his hands off of her and knowing the last thing he should do would be to touch her. With his back to her, his hands on the mantle, and his gaze in the fireplace, he spoke softly, "You know what I've done over the last two weeks, Hermione, more than anyone else, you know. Not to mention what I've almost done, the way I treated her, the things I said. I could see it on their faces," he murmured quietly. "I know they would prefer if I'm nowhere around. And Harry, gods what he must think of me."
She walked up behind him, desperate to touch him, to feel his warmth and offer her own. "Remus, for an intelligent man, you know very little," she chastised. She saw him stiffen at her words and felt when his breath caught as her arms slid around his waist. "Harry is worried about you, as is Sirius. Bill is the one who told me how to find you and the twins, I would wager, are already scheming about joke ideas for werewolves. Molly is surely eating a lot of crow while I stand here now, as her own son made her see what a hypocritical bitch she was being. Tonks left and I daresay things aren't settled there yet, but she was healthy when she left."
Turning around, Remus put his own hands on her shoulders and tried to push her away. "Hermione, this thing between us, it's not right. It feels right, but it's not. He took the decision from you, took the control from us both and used us as pawns in some sick game."
Her soft laughter made him stare in shock at her beautiful face. "I would have made the decision without him, Remus, had you ever given me the choice. Believe it or not, your wedding day was one of the worst in my entire life. I physically felt a pain in my chest when you were bound to her. I thought I was crazy at the time, but now I see I wasn't. I've wanted you for so long, and he gave you to me. I'm sorry if it's not what you want." Her voice dropped and her lip quivered slightly as she continued. "Maybe there's a way around this. Maybe we can find a way for you to stay with Tonks."
He felt his chest tighten at the sight of her tears when he put a finger gently on her chin and forced her to look at him. "I felt it too, the pain that day, but I thought it was a reaction to the binding with her. All this time, I've never known how you felt. I'm afraid," he grinned, "I would have been labeled a dirty old man for pursuing you the way I wanted to years ago. So, I put you out of my head as best I could and moved on with her. It wasn't until that night in the kitchen that I realized how much I still wanted you. All those nights we spent staying up late and talking as we drank your amazing hot chocolate, I grew to love you in ways I didn't even recognize."
"You…you love me?" she asked uncertainly.
"I'm afraid I do," he replied softly.
Her smile lit up the room and she threw her arms around his neck. "I don't care what others say, Remus, I don't care. I just want you. I feel like I have to have you, like I can't be without you. It's the bond, I know, but it's so much more." Her hands slid to his cheeks and she forced him to look at her this time. "I love you, Remus Lupin."
With those words, the air began to softly blow around the room unnoticed by both as their lips met and they slowly kissed with a passion that burned to their very souls. His arms slid around her waist, pulling her flush against his body as her own arms tightened around his neck. Their tongues danced to an ancient rhythm and both felt complete for the first time in their lives.
"I want you, Hermione," Remus said huskily against her neck. "Not as the wolf taking you, but as me, with you giving yourself willingly to me."
With her head thrown back so he could continue his ministrations, she moaned her response, cradling his head closer when he nipped her skin with his teeth and eased the pain with his tongue. "Please," she pleaded softly.
"Bed, in the back," he replied, slowly walking that direction as his hands slid her shirt from her body.
Her small hands ripped his shirt down the middle, sending buttons flying in every direction and causing a small giggle to erupt from her throat. "Couch, here," she said, squeaking as he stepped on her toes when he quickly reversed their direction.
"Sorry," he mumbled, one hand already cupping her breast as he lowered his mouth and suckled her through her bra only seconds before removing it.
A moan tore from her mouth when he lay her gently on the couch and moved between her parted legs. His mouth continued to assault her neck, collarbone, breasts, and any other skin he could find while his hand slid down her side and hip, coming to rest on her thigh where he gently lifted her leg around him and he rocked against her.
"So perfect," he moaned heatedly. "It's like you were made for me." Her hands trailed along his bare back and she arched into his touch. Slowly, so very slowly, he began moving down her body, planting soft kisses as he went. He found the snap of her pants and quickly released it, drawing the fabric down her hips and legs before throwing it to the floor. "So perfect," he muttered again, his hand pulling her foot to his mouth where he kissed her tenderly. His eyes stayed on hers, both full of heat and raw sexual energy.
"Don't tease me, Remus, please," she begged in earnest. "I need to feel you, need you in me so bad it hurts."
Deep within, he understood exactly what she meant. There was an ache in his body, a desire to take her and make her his that he'd never felt before, not even as the wolf. He moved quickly up the length of her body, making his clothes disappear as though they were nothing. "Are you sure about this, Hermione?" he asked, a lame attempt to allow her an escape.
"Yes!" she cried when his fingers grazed her clit and then tested her obvious readiness.
He slid his entire length into her, reveling at the tight heat that engulfed his throbbing cock. As he moved within her wet passage, the air whipped around them, blowing their hair around and extinguishing the candles, forcing them into the semidarkness that dusk provided. Neither noticed as their eyes stayed locked on the other. Words and promises of love fell freely from their lips as they held each other tightly, her legs wrapped around his body as his pace quickened. Remus began uttering ancient words that held no meaning for Hermione, but she didn't care, the feel of him was all that mattered to her now.
Before she realized it, her body coiled and sprang, her release coming so hard and fast that it almost scared her before she began screaming his name and arching wildly beneath him. The tightening of her muscles milked his hard cock brutally and he soon joined her over the edge. A soft, surprised cry was forced from them both when their fingers burned, the faint markings of a ring turning bright against their fingers and this time, remaining without fading. The wind was blowing so hard at this point that the fireplace quickly went out as well.
Remus lay on top of her, dazed and mesmerized by the orgasm that shook him to his very core and left him unable to move. They both, however, soon began to notice the chill creeping through the air and they slowly began to stir. He sat up, gently bringing her with him as he looked at his hand, only then realizing it was almost too dark to see.
"Any idea what that was about?" Hermione asked shakily as she tried to look around the room.
Remus took her hand, his eyes glued to the rings that appeared to be inked onto their fingers. "I'm not sure," he said, "but I think we've made this a permanent arrangement."
Hermione's eyes followed his and she gasped loudly, pulling her hand from his and bringing it closer to her face. "My gods," she whispered softly, "it's the bond."
"Huh?" was his only reply, before he grabbed his chest and fell onto the floor.
Hermione watched in horror as his eyes shifted from blue to amber and back again. Watched as his face contorted in pain and her screams telling Moony to leave Remus alone went unnoticed. She knew what was happening. The book she read had told her that the wolf and man would bond together, become one with no separation between the two, but to see it happening, to see the pain and hear his cries, made her want to cry for him. He threw himself onto the ground, screaming in agony and clutching his head as the wolf merged with his body, making them one in the same.
She lowered herself gently beside him, wanting desperately to hold and console him. With a sudden jerk, she was pushed roughly away and Remus flipped over, a tight grimace covering his shadowed face as he held his eyes shut tightly, spasms shaking his body roughly. Blood began to trail down his chin where he had bitten his lip to keep from crying out any more. A sharp gust of wind blew through the cabin, shaking it down to its very foundation and causing the few light-weight furnishings to crash to the ground.
And just as suddenly, it stopped. The wind disappeared, Remus' cries and whimpers ceased, and he lay still on the ground, unmoving and breathing hard. Hermione groped for her wand in the dark, finding it in the pocket of her pants which had blown against the couch. She relit the candles and the fireplace, then crawled over to Remus. With gentle hands, she turned him to face her and gasped at the sight. Remus was breathing shakily, but the grey that had peppered his hair only minutes before was gone, leaving only sandy-brown locks which fell over his forehead. Softly, she brushed the hair from his face and stared in shock. Scars and wrinkles no longer marred his beautiful features, but blended with them, leaving him looking younger and more rough and wild than she had ever imagined. She trailed her fingers along his face, silent tears still falling from her eyes.
"Are you going to stare all night, or kiss me?" he rasped.
Oh gods, his voice! The sweet, gentle voice of Remus had merged with the raspy, gravely voice of Moony and the effect was amazing; shaking her to the very depths of her soul and making her want him all over again.
"My gods, Remus," she said in awe.
He grinned up at her, all evidence of his recent pain completely erased and his expression almost cocky as he sat up to face her, both completely unashamed with their nudity.
"You do realize what this means, don't you?" he asked smugly.
She grinned back and replied, "I think so."
"It means that you, my beautiful mate, are stuck with me until death. It means that you have no choice but to allow me to love you until we're both so old and grey we can't talk long enough to argue. And it means that we belong to each other for eternity."
"I think it means you get to be an arrogant arse and get away with it."
"Cheeky little witch," he said, before pushing her back to the floor.
His fingers stroked her lazily, starting on her face and working down between her breasts to her stomach. Little bumps raised along her flesh and her nipples hardened once more. 'Oh gods! I want you all over again!' She thought numbly to herself.
A surprised look fell across Remus' face as he looked at her, his hands stopped in their motions. 'And I want you,' he replied in his mind, shocking her as much as she shocked him.
"Apparently the book left a few things out," Hermione said in amazement.
'Apparently so,' Remus replied, using the more intimate form of contact now.
'Wonder what this means?' Hermione thought back, before another wave of nausea swept through her body.
'It means, my love,' he said with a wide smile as he splayed his fingers over her belly, 'that you should drink more chocolate. It would appear that our little boy will be quite restless until he's able to face the world.'
"WHAT?!" Hermione screeched, scrambling to sit up again, but being held down gently by Remus. "No way! I'm not pregnant! And even if I was, it's too soon to be sick."
"Perhaps," he answered, "but everything happens earlier for us. In less than seven months, Hermione, you will be the proud mother of a very rambunctious little boy."
"I will?" she asked softly, amazement forcing away her initial shock as she covered Remus' hand with her own.
"Yes, you will."
"Will he…will he be…"
"A wolf? No, he'll be perfectly normal. He'll be perfect in every way, I imagine."
"How do you know it's a boy?"
"I don't know, I just do." Remus shrugged as if it were nothing, but they were quickly interrupted.
An owl flew through the house and dropped an envelope on the floor by their heads. They looked at each other in confusion for several seconds before Remus sat up and took the letter.
"It must be from the Ministry," Hermione mused. "They are the only ones who could find us no matter where we are, but no one should be there this late at night."
"Announcing the dissolution of marriage of one Remus J. Lupin to one Nymphadora M. Tonks," Remus read aloud, a grin covering his face, "on the grounds of adultery and assault. Bla bla bla," he added.
"What?!" Hermione screeched. "She can't do that! She's trying to get you locked up!"
"She can and she has. And she's completely within her rights to do so, love. I did have an affair and I did assault her. She's only using the truth to her advantage and, as long as it rids us of her, then I don't care how she does it."
"What does the second page say?"
Remus chuckled as he began to read the informal letter attached. "After an interesting discussion with Sirius today, I thought you might both want to know this as soon as possible. Enjoy your time together and each other. Have no worries over an impending investigation and what not, I was able to smooth things over and have the papers filed immediately with no one else seeing. Tonks will be fully reprimanded for her actions against Hermione and I daresay it will be awhile before you see her. I'm laughing in case you were curious, hating myself for doing so, but unable to stop the laughter! Kind Regards, Kings."
Hermione and Remus both stared at the paper in shock. Quiet seconds passed where only the crackling of the fire was heard before they both suddenly broke down in laughter as well.
"Ah, Kings, he's priceless!" Remus panted.
"Bloody wanker," Hermione said, slapping Remus on the shoulder. "I was so worried!"
They sobered somewhat, staring into each other's eyes and beginning to crave the other's body. Remus leaned in and claimed Hermione's mouth with his own as she pulled him back down on top of her.
Her mouth was not all that he claimed that night. As the early morning sun rose in the sky, Remus claimed her mind, her body and soul, and he claimed her heart.