Disclaimer: I own nothing; I bow down to JK and her amazing talent.

Note To The Reader: Sorry for the delay between chapters, but being out of town will do that. As it happens I will be out of town for the next two weekends in a row, so I will do my best to update during the week. This one is a little longer, and I am excited to hear what you think! And I apologize if Fleur's accent is awful, I wasn't really sure how to go about that one! Thanks for the reviews!


Sunday morning found Hermione just as frustrated as the following night, so much in fact that she hadn't been able to sleep and was up at 5:30. Currently she was cleaning her house the Muggle way, no magic. She also had music playing as she moved around the hous in shorts and an old t shirt. She almost never cleaned this way after she became of age and was able to use cleaning charms. But sometimes it was a good way to just ignore what was on her mind; it gave her something else to focus on.

So far the cleaning was doing the trick because when she got up this morning all she could think about was Remus, nothing in general either, just all things Remus, his smell, the way he also tried to be proper, his caring nature, the way he was with Teddy, anything and everything Remus. She had been able to eat breakfast with her thoughts lingering before she threw herself into cleaning.

She brushed some loose hair from her face and then tightened the messy pony tail that resided at the base of her neck. She was starting to run out of things to do and she still had allot of time to kill. It was only 2 and she was due at the Burrow at 6. Four more hours of being potentially stuck in her thoughts was not appealing to her at all. She heard her phone ring and groaned, she didn't know that many people who would contact her this way and she figured it was her parents. She dropped into the chair by her desk and picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hermione, its Dean." She sat up in her chair feeling her pulse quicken. She hadn't expected to hear from him so soon, she was worrying instantly if he was going to try and get back together with her. Something serious was not what she was looking for, at least not with Dean.

"Hey Dean, what's going on?" she asked twirling the phone cord between her fingers.

"Not a whole lot, I was wondering if I could come over and talk to you." She wanted to say no, and just avoid it, but that's what Remus had done to her and she hadn't liked it one bit.

"Sure, give me about an hour?" She asked realizing that while her place looked spotless she was a mess.

"No problem, see you in an hour. Bye."

"Bye." She hung up the phone and promptly smacked her hand against her forehead. She had had a good time the other night, but that's all it was suppose to be, and now she had no idea what he was thinking, or what he wanted.

She pulled herself up and headed toward her room, to get a shower and get changed. She went ahead and put on a pair of jeans and light crimson sweater. She glanced at the clock and saw that she still had about 30 minutes until he showed up.

"Might as well make my desert," she said to herself as she headed toward her kitchen. Mrs. Weasley had never asked her to bring anything over when they all got together for dinner, but after she finished school, Hermione felt like she had to bring something. It was never anything big or overly fancy, and he could see the gratitude on her face. So it had become a tradition for her to make something, and it seemed that it had rubbed off on the others as well. Fleur would bring some wonderful little French pastry, Audrey was more than happy to make cookies, and Angelina would bring a fruit salad.

Cheesecake, that's what Hermione would take, she thought it was going to be too much the first time she had made it, but no one waited until after dinner, everyone ended up munching on it before and after. She hadn't paid attention to how long she was in the kitchen but when she head Dean call for her from her living room she stuck her head out to look at him.

"In here" she said with a smile, as she moved back to put the cheesecake in the oven.

"What are you making?" Dean asked as he walked into the kitchen leaning against one of her far counter tops.

"Cheesecake I've got dinner at the Burrow tonight." She said setting her timer and then making herself comfortable across from him.

"Can you imagine how crowded it's going to be during these dinners when everyone finally starts having kids?" Hermione couldn't help but laugh, she had thought about it before, the whole Weasley clan plus a few extra gathering at the Burrow.

"I would rather wait and see, no need to worry about that now." She said with a grin. "So what did you want to talk about?"

"Right down to business then" Dean said with a grin "It's good to know some things never change." He motioned toward her kitchen table and they both moved to sit.

"Well?" she asked looking at him from across the table.

"I wanted to talk about what happened the other night." Hermione nodded doing her best not to think too much and just let him talk. "It was great; I'll just go ahead and say that, and not just the sex, but just hanging out with you and being able to talk." She nodded again her cheeks flushing lightly at the mention of sex and she wondered if she would ever grow out of that. "And I was hoping that we would be able to do it again sometime." Hermione frowned, she was afraid of this.

"Dean I had a good time, really I did but, what I mean is that, I don't think we should get back together." She felt horrible as she said this, and when she studied his face she was confused even further when he smiled at her.

"I know that, I heard you the other night, you just wanted a one-time thing." She nodded still not sure what it was that he wanted. "And I didn't mean that we should get back together."

"Okay" she said slowly "Then I'm confused."

"You aren't attached right now and neither am I, what I am suggesting is that we take comfort in each other, essentially friends with benefits for the time being." Hermione felt her eyes widen at his suggestion. His smile faltered for a moment "I thought you might be open to the idea after the other night, and it doesn't have to be about only getting together to have sex, we can just hang out and enjoy each other's company."

"Dean I don't know, wouldn't that make things complicated?" She shifted in her seat; she wasn't sure why she wasn't jumping at the chance since she had been alright with the one night thing.

"I think we are both adult enough to know what we are getting into, I am willing."

"What are the rules?" Dean couldn't stop his chuckle and she laughed too. "Well the guidelines or whatever" she said shaking her head.

"Well we aren't obligated to the other, we are free to date other people, but I would think that the sleeping together thing should only happen between the two of us. If someone comes along that we want to become serious with then our benefits end." He winced at the way it sounded but she nodded fully understanding what he meant.

"Do we need to call in advance or something or can it be spur of the moment?"

"Spur of the moment is fine with me, though I know during the week I'll have to check with you because you get busy with work."

Hermione thought, it wasn't completely ideal, but she had a feeling that things were never going to progress with Remus, and this seemed like the best possible solution, even if it didn't seem like typical Hermione Granger behavior. She found herself nodding her head though "We could give it a shot."

"Yeah?" Hermione laughed lightly at him but nodded her head again. "Cool." They shared an awkward moment together before they both started laughing. They had just agreed to become lovers with no strings, as far as she was concerned she shouldn't feel nervous around him.

"How about something to drink," she asked as she got up?

"Sure."

They feel back into their easy rhythm of talking to each other with no pressure. When she pulled the Cheesecake out of the oven she was glad that it had come out so well, no cracks. "Hopefully it will stay this nice; it almost always cracks while it cools." She frowned craning her neck to look at Dean who wasn't at the table. He was much closer than that.

"I'm sure it will be fine." She smiled but didn't say anything as she put the pot holder on the counter and turned around to find him even closer. Her grinned at her and closed the distance between them pressing Hermione into the counter. Hermione slid her hands up his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I thought it wasn't always about sex." She wasn't really serious, more playful than anything else; she was beginning to realize quickly that this arrangement was definitely not a bad one. He leaned in and captured her lips with his wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Doesn't have to be, maybe I just wanted a kiss." She raised an eyebrow at him and rolled her hips forward against his feeling his hard erection press against her. He gave a slight intake of breath and took her lips again. "Sometimes you play dirty." He whispered against her neck before biting down on her flesh.

"I'm not the only one." She muttered her eyes closing as he lifted her up his hands gripping her bum. Her legs wrapped around his waist as he squeezed her, and in that moment she couldn't help but compare his hands to Remus'. Dean's were a bit larger, but not as strong and experienced. Not good, you really shouldn't compare them like this, just focus on Dean.

"You need to get out of your head," he said. She opened her eyes and bit her lips lightly and then she realized that she was no longer vertical. She looked to her side and saw that he had laid her down on her table. She almost froze; she had never really strayed from the bedroom with activities like this. "And I am going to help you." His hands ghosted down her front before he unbuttoned her jeans and leaning down to kiss her stomach as he pulled her zipper down.

"My kitchen table?" Her voice was barely audible as he slid her pants down her legs, but what she didn't realize for a moment was that her knickers went with them. She sat up pushing her knees together. "I don't know…"

Dean grabbed a chair and proceeded to sit down in front of her, his hands resting on her knees. "I do." As he spoke he spread her knees apart and let his hands run down her thighs until they rested on her hip and pulled her forward gently. "Just relax." He said as he buried his face between her legs.

"Sweet Merlin" she muttered as she let herself fall back onto the table.


"Come on Teddy, we are going to the Burrow." Remus grinned down at his son as Teddy did his best to straighten his shirt. "You look great." He said chuckling as he tried to flatten his hair down, hair that was a remarkable shade of red at the moment, something Remus thought was just a reflection of his excitement.

"Daddy eady!" he said holding his hand out. Remus took it and they walked into the fireplace. Sure it would have been easier and cleaner to Apparate but Teddy didn't really like it. When they came through the Floo the Burrow was already bustling with activity and people.

"Remus, so glad you could come on such short notice." Molly said having noticed the Floo active. "And Teddy, it's good to see you" she said reaching out and picking him up. Her gave her a hug around the neck and then pulled back grinning brightly. "I see you are sporting the Weasley hair." He nodded and then held out his hand.

"ookie pease?"

"Teddy" Remus said trying not to laugh.

"Not a problem Remus, I think I've got something in here." Molly was all smiles as she reached for a small jar. She pulled out a cookie and handed it to Teddy who was grinning widely at her.

"Fanks" he said as she set him back down on the floor.

"Any time dear," Molly said "Everyone else it out in the back yard." Remus nodded and then he and Teddy headed outside.

Teddy looked as though he were in heaven. This was a place where he could be the cute one, and run around trying his best to get everyone's attention. But it did surprise Remus when Teddy made a beeline for Bill and Fleur who were seated at a small table, and a little girl sat on a blanket with a few toys surrounding her.

"She's gotten so big." Remus said as he reached out and shook hands with Bill.

"She iz getting bigger every day." Fleur said with a proud look on her face.

"I think she will be walking soon, don't know if I'm ready for my baby girl to do that" Bill said with a chuckle glancing down at his daughter who now had a playmate. Teddy had seated himself on the blanket across from Victoire and they were just sort of looking at each other. "Teddy do you remember Victoire?"

All Teddy did was nod his head never taking his eyes off of her. Remus watched his son, his hair shifting from red to a brilliant shade of strawberry blonde to match Victoire. "Oh dear." He said with a smile on his face as he looked back toward Bill and Fleur.

"Looks like a love match to me" Remus glanced to his left and saw George walking toward the small group and chuckled.

"She's far too young for that" Bill said with this odd look on his face.

"I zink et iz adorable" Fleur said smiling widely down at them.

"Remus, Dad wanted to talk with you" George said clasping the older man on the shoulder. "Something about an incident?" Remus raised an eyebrow but then glanced down at Teddy.

"We'll keep an eye on him." Bill said with a nod.

Remus crossed the yard after George pointed toward Arthurs shed. "Ah Remus, I see you got my message." Arthur said as he tinkered with what Remus recognized as a Muggle radio. "Been trying to get it to work for ages, but I can't seem to figure out what's wrong with it." Remus knew better by now not to suggest that he ask Hermione, or offer the answer if he knew it himself, Arthur liked to figure these things out on his own. "Anyway, the reason I asked you here." He said looking up at him from the radio. "I wanted to talk about Hermione."

"What about Hermione?" He asked feeling himself get nervous; surely something hadn't happened to her since yesterday afternoon.

"Well, I feel sort of fatherly toward the girl since she is practically part of the family and I was wondering what has been going on between the two of you."

Whatever Remus had been expecting this was not it. He sighed heavily and shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing really, things between us are confusing."

"Why is that?"

"We might have shared a kiss. But it was a mistake, one that never should have happened." Remus shifted. "I just feel like it's too soon after Dora. It's only been two years."

"Two years is a long time" Arthur said with a nod of his head "And certainly you shouldn't do anything that you aren't ready for, but I wouldn't want you to miss out on something because you are scared." Remus raised his head and frowned. "I'm just saying, you two have a connection, I would hate for you to lose out on that. You deserve to be happy."

"Something to think about" Remus muttered not really wanting to talk about Hermione anymore.

"We had better get back; Molly will have dinner on the table by now." The two men headed from the shed noticing that everyone else had already headed inside. When they got inside He saw that most everyone was already seated around the table. He took the seat next to Teddy who had been situated in a booster chair. He did a quick scan of the table everyone was there with two exceptions, Charlie who couldn't get away from the Reserve and Hermione. It was odd that she wasn't here; she never missed a Weasley get together. He was about to ask about her when everyone's gaze shifted toward the fire as the Floo active.

"Sorry I'm late" Hermione said as she walked into the living her hands running through her hair and face flushed, when she realized that everyone was looking at her.

"No problem dear, go on have a seat, we were just about to get started." Hermione smiled and then took the seat closest to Ginny yet the furthest away from Remus and Teddy. Everyone busied themselves with filling their plates with food and catching up with each other, it had been about a month since they were all together and longer since Charlie had been able to swing a visit.

Hermione leaned over and whispered to Ginny "So is this meal in celebration of a certain question?" Ginny just bit her lip and shrugged her shoulders. Hermione had to do her best not to let out a girlish squeal.

When dinner was over everyone seemed content to just sit and chat, that was until Victoire let out a cry and reached her hands up "Mama" she cried squirming in her highchair. Fleur looked at Bill and then stood up reaching for her daughter.

"I vill get her cleaned up and zen put her to bed." She said announcing her intentions as she made her way up the stairs. Teddy spun around in his chair and watched then turned around and his eyes locked with Hermione.

"Miney, up pease" he said holding his hands up in the air. For the first time that evening Hermione let her eyes find Remus raising one brow asking if it were alright. Remus gave a slight nod and Hermione stood up.

"Alright Teddy Bear." He said lifting him from his chair and then having to chase him up the stairs laughing as she did.

20 minutes later Fleur and Hermione came walking down the stairs laughing together. "Zey are so cute to gezer." They both sat back down at the table and Hermione nodded in agreement.

"Teddy fell asleep right beside her too."

"Shall I get the desert?" Molly said as she started to push her chair back.

"Mum wait for a second?" Ginny asked glancing over at her mother. She nodded her head.

"Alright dear, I guess now you are going to share your big announcement with us?" Hermione bit her lower lip doing her best to contain her excitement. Ginny nodded and then took a breath and said,

"Well as everyone knows I had a try out for the Holyhead Harpies two days ago. I heard about the results before we left, and I have been offered the position of Chaser for the team." She said her voice coated with excitement. Everyone around the table began speaking at once congratulating her and of course there was Ron in the background asking her for tickets.

"But there is something else." Harry said glancing to the head of the table making eye contact with Arthur for a moment, and then he glanced back down at Ginny a smile so sincere gracing his face and then looked back up. "We are getting married."

Tears abound from Molly, Fleur and Hermione. It was sight that much was for sure, everyone moved at once, to give congratulations, handshakes and hugs. Ginny was finally able to put her ring on and Hermione was the first to grab her hand and look at it. It was a beautiful white gold with a single diamond set in the middle, simple yet elegant just like Ginny.


The evening went on with Firewhiskey all around as a celebratory drink, some indulged a little heavier than others, but Hermione had to admit that the drink went well with a slice of cheesecake. They all settled into the living room as best they could sharing stories and talking about wedding plans. Fleur was the first to excuse herself, claiming to be exhausted. George was next to leave laughing as he made his way to the fire place saying something about Angelina expecting him to be home when she got through with her shift at the hospital. Ron stumbled upstairs after Molly and Arthur headed to bed wondering out loud if he would be the last Weasley to get married. Percy and Audrey, who had only had one glass each said their goodnights and apparated away hand in hand.

"I should really get going." Harry said as he stood up but then stumbled lightly. "Or maybe I'll just head upstairs and crash in Ron's room." Ginny laughed but nodded and stood up as well hiccupping as they wrapped their arms around each other and walked up the stairs.

"I should probably go get Teddy and head out too" Remus said though he didn't make a move to get up instead he sunk back into the sofa.

"I say leave him, breakfast at the Weasley's is even better than dinner" Hermione said sliding up onto the sofa since she had been one of the unlucky ones who had to sit on the floor while they were all in there. "I'm sure Molly wouldn't mind, and there are at least two free bedrooms up stairs, well one since Fleur and I put the kids down in Percy's old room."

He nodded "I can stay; I don't much feel like moving at the moment anyway." He shifted his head and looked at her. "Why were you late?"

She shifted moving so that she was facing him and shrugged her shoulders "I got held up" she said avoiding making eye contact with him. Remus reached out and lifted her head so that she was looking at him. "It was nothing." She said softly shrugging her shoulders again.

"It must have been something, you are not often late." He locked eyes with her and she felt herself growing hot under his gaze. She licked her lips lightly and shrugged her shoulders again.

"It was nothing honestly Remus" she said tilting her head to the side without thinking and leaning against the palm of his hand that was now resting against her cheek. Her mind should have been screaming at her, not to do this again, but since the firewhiskey was still working its magic, she couldn't stop it, and she didn't want to.

She leaned forward at the same time he did and they met in the middle their lips moving in complete sync with each other. Perfection, pure heavenly perfection, Hermione might have had her doubts about their first kiss, but this cemented it in her mind, no one would ever kiss like him, no one's hands would feel better against her skin. There was no hesitation in his kiss now, he shifted their position and as his tongue swept into her more than willing mouth she found herself laying back on the sofa Remus' weight pressing into her. He couldn't deny this attraction, he just couldn't.

Hermione felt herself respond to him, that familiar tingle that she always felt when she thought of him caught fire and ripped through her body. She arched her back pressing her chest into his eliciting a groan from him at the same time. This is it, this is the moment that is going to change everything, she thought to herself and she didn't even care that they were in the Weasley's living room. Her breath caught in her chest when his lips left hers peppering kisses down her neck. She let out a soft moan as he buried his face into her hair his strong hands gripping her hips.

"Hermione" her name had never sounded better coming from his lips as they did in this moment, that was until the tone in his voice shifted and he sat up his eyes dark and almost dangerous.

"Remus what's wrong?" she asked sitting up as well her breath shallow and her eyes wide.

His chest was rising and falling and his hands were now down by his side clenched into fists. "I can smell him on you." Her eyes widened slightly and she winced, she hadn't even thought about that, of course he would be able to smell Dean's scent on her.

"It's not what you think." She said though she had no idea what he was really thinking.

"You were with him again, that's why you were late." He was standing now, and he looked as though he was shaking.

"It was nothing." She said standing up quickly feeling as though she was about to have to defend herself.

"Don't lie to me Hermione. I can smell him, he's all over you." He looked completely disgusted with her. And she did her best to fight back tears.

"When I say it's nothing, I mean it's nothing serious. We aren't together." She was proud of herself so far, for holding back the tears.

"So you are fuck buddies is that it?" Hermione's head snapped up at this her eyes locking with his, she had never heard him say anything like that before and it took her by surprise.

"So what if we are. You made it perfectly clear that you didn't want to be with me." She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him, the harsh words he used earlier still ringing in her ears.

"So that gives you the right to whore yourself out?" There was a loud a crack and for a moment Hermione hadn't even realized that she had smacked him. There was a shocked look on his face along with the beginnings of a red mark on his cheek.

"How dare you. You have no right, you pushed me away you don't get to stand there and judge me. I'm a grown woman and I'm more than capable of making my own decisions." Remus just stood there staring at her, she wasn't sure why he wasn't saying anything but maybe he just didn't want to risk being slapped again, "I'm allowed to have a life, I'm allowed to find comfort with someone who respects me enough to be up front about what he wants."

"And what does he want?" He finally found his voice.

She shrugged her shoulders and said "Company, my company. But that's not the real question."

"And what is the real question?" He asked the anger still surging through him.

"What do you want?" She stood there for a minute waiting for him to say something, anything, but after a full minute of nothing she sighed and turned away from him and headed straight for the fireplace and then she disappeared her last words ringing in his ears.

"I won't wait forever Remus."


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