Whoa it took a long time for this chappie! i'm really sorry, as some of you may have realized my obsession with this site comes and goes, but please bear with me, i will try to write longer chapters so you have more to read!

Young at Heart

Chapter 3- "I promise."

Hermoine sobbed into Remus' shoulder, her arms still wrapped around his chest. He pulled her against him, getting used to comforting her. "Shh, it's ok 'Moine, just let it out…" he said, rocking them back and forth slowly, gently, trying his best to make her feel better.

She stepped back and tried to wipe her tears away, then said quickly, "I'm sorry… I'm just so overwhelmed, I'm… I'm ok now." But she was clearly not ok, her body shook with violent sobs and she couldn't quite catch her breath. Remus looked at the heartbroken seventeen-year-old girl in front of him, and he was shocked how much it hurt him to see her like this.

Remus guided Hermoine to her bed where they sat down, "Tell me what happened Hermoine…" He pushed her hair out of her eyes and listened as Hermoine retold the tale. She had to stop often, and get herself under control before she could continue.

"… And he wouldn't stop, I was just so… so… scared." She started to break down again and Remus pulled her into his arms, holding her again. "It's ok Hermoine, it's over now. Ron won't ever hurt you again," He looked at the girl laying against his chest, "I promise." He finished before sitting her back up again.

She smiled at him, finally calming down, "Thank you so much Remus," she grabbed his hand and squeezed it once, "You really have no idea how much it helps to have someone to talk to." She hugged him once, a quick tight squeeze that lingered just a moment too long for a regular friendly hug. Hermoine looked down at her feet, suddenly shy.

"I'm always here for you Hermoine." Remus said suddenly serious before smiling and leaving the room quickly. Hermoine walked back to her bed, still sniffling a little bit. She smiled to herself, thinking about Remus and what he'd said.

I shouldn't have done that… Remus thought to himself as he walked back into the study, but I couldn't help it. It hurt so much to see her in pain… His mind was racked with indecision. He shook his head and sat down at the desk, trying to concentrate on the book that lay before him.

Hermoine didn't show up for dinner that night, Molly was worried. "I wonder what is wrong with Hermoine, she ran in here crying earlier." Remus looked at Ron, who seemed impassive, before saying quickly, "I think she was just upset, she'll be alright soon. You know teen girls." He said laughing it off. Molly nodded, passing the salad around the table. Remus still glared at Ron for being so callus at the mention of Hermoine.

It was late in the night, nearly eleven, and Hermoine was lying in the back of the library on the large red velvet couch that smelled of mold. It was dark back there and quiet, which is why she liked it. Her face was buried in her arms and she lay on her stomach. "There you are," She heard from behind her. She recognized the voice and it sent a chill down her spine. She heard his footsteps walk towards her. "You can't avoid me forever Hermoine." Ron said, reaching down to stroke her hair, she shuddered away and tried to burry her head deeper in the sofa, hoping he'd leave.

"Look Hermoine, we were just kidding around ok? When your ready to accept that then maybe I'll take you back." Hermoine sat up, her mouth open and her eyes burning with rage. She didn't even notice Remus slip in the room off to the side.

"You take me back! Ron you nearly raped me! Get the bloody hell away from me!" She screamed, moving into a standing position. Ron crossed his arms and said stupidly, "Well Fine if that's the way you want to be about it." Then turned and left, nearly knocking Remus off his feet.

The older man had to use all his self-control not to sock Ron in the face, but as he looked at Hermoine, who still hadn't noticed that he was there, his anger dwindled and died. Hermoine had thrown herself back on the couch and was now bawling, and her body was visibly shaking from her weeping.

After a while she noticed that He was standing near her, watching her. She peeked up at him and said, "Remus please, I don't want you to see me like this. Please just leave." Remus struggled whether to say something or not, opening and closing his mouth several times, before leaving solemnly.

He went to his room and paced thinking about Hermoine laying there alone in the library crying. He wanted so very badly to go back and take her in his arms to calm her down. But he didn't he sat on his bed. "Bloddy Hell." He said to him self, dropping his head back down into his hands and taking a few deep breaths. After a moment he got up and walked towards the door, but he stopped with his hand on the doorknob. He shook his head and made a move towards his bed.

He grunted madly at himself. "Just go to her…" He said, this time screaming. He picked up a book that he had been trying to read and threw it across the room. It his a lamp, which shattered instantly. As he looked at the broken ceramic pieces he sighed and his madness melted.

He picked up his wand and was about to repair the lamp when he heard his door creak. "Remus… are you ok?" He froze, letting her words echo in his head. He closed his eyes and her image was left on the inside of his eyelids.

"Yeah 'moine I'm fine. But your not." He fixed the lamp and turned back to her, motioning for her to come in. Her eyes were red and puffy, but it looked like she hadn't been crying for a few minutes.

The younger girl walked in and sat down on his bed, immediately laying back with her feet dangling off the side, and closed her eyes. Remus looked at her petite form, laying on his bed. He smiled at how comfortable she looked. He walked over and sat next to her, placing his hand on her stomach for a second, before pulling it away as if he'd been burned.

"What's wrong?" She asked frowning and looking up at him. He shook his head, "Nothing," he quickly changed the subject, "How are you?" Hermoine could hear the intense concern in his voice. She rolled over onto her stomach, giving the older man a great view of her arse, which he tried hard to ignore.

"I'm better now, it always helps to cry." She still sounded sad, but definitely better then before. Remus was using all his strength to control himself from touching her, stroking her hair and holding her. Teachers don't touch their students. He told himself over and over. But as she lay there he couldn't help but feel like they had a deeper connection then student and teacher.

"Remus, what do you think I should do… Ron's such a prick, but I don't know if I can be alone again…" She finished, making Remus frown. "Alone?" He asked sadly.

She turned and sat up, nodding. "Before Ron and I went out I hardly had any friends, Harry was always with Ginny and his quidditch team, and Ron was… well being ron." But since we've been together Harry's been a lot closer to me and introduced me to some of his friends, and Ron's been a lot better and he's most of the time the only person I can talk to about how I feel. I'm scared that that will all go away if we break up…" She said, holding back a sniffle.

At this point Remus couldn't help but take her hands in his and say, "You'll always have me." And smiling. Hermoine smiled too, wrapping her arms around his neck; again Remus couldn't help but notice her chest pressing against his. She pulled back and laid her head back on Remus' bed, "Thank you so much Remus. That really means something to me." She looked like a goddess, her hair spread around her hair as she lay on his bed with her legs lying across his lap. He looked away trying to think of anything but the growing tightness of his pants.

He snapped out of his momentary brain lapse when he heard heavy breathing, he looked back at Hermoine only to see that she was asleep. He patted her stomach, feeling her breathe in and out. He wanted more then anything to lay next to her and watch as she drifted through sleep, but instead he picked her up very gently and carried her to her room, laying her on the bed.

He looked at her beautiful sleeping form, then without thinking leaned down and kissed her cheek. He stood up, hoping he hadn't awoken her, leaving her room silently.

Hermoine opened her eyes and gently touched her cheek smiling, she rolled over and hugged her pillow quietly thinking to herself about Remus' kiss.

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