A/N: Hey guys! I hope you enjoy this chapter. It is a change from most of the others…more time passes quickly here, and it is a transition chapter…after this: 4 more chapters and an Epilogue ahh! Down to the wire people! Reviews loved and cherished! Dedicated to onebigscribble for asking for a "cliché library scene" haha

Hermione was glad to be back at Hogwarts for her second week of the term, but she couldn't help but admit that helping Remus shrink his trunks that morning and watching him say goodbye to Sirius was quite bizarre. She knew it was time for a change, she had realized it the second they woke up Monday morning after their little sleepover when there was an air of sadness hanging over all of them. It was time to move on from that part of their adventure for good.

She helped Remus unpack his things (what little he actually possessed) and it had felt rather nice and domestic for them to clean his small rooms and put all of his clothes away. He now kept a small framed picture of the two of them by his bedside table which Hermione found more than endearing. But she also had to remember that she wasn't going to keep her job by focusing entirely on either of her relationships, and she spent Monday evening lesson planning for the rest of the week.

She ended up being so busy that week that she hardly saw Remus save for mealtimes. She fell back into the easy routine of her lectures and her stories with her students and enjoyed the nights curled up by the fire in her room grading their scrolls of parchment. She had forgotten what a little independence tasted like; what the single life tasted like, and she was momentarily glad for the reprieve from making any decision about her two lovers. Despite being a Gryffindor and fiercely brave, she had decided that avoidance was working out rather nicely for her sanity.

Remus, however, wasn't taking to the lack of contact with his love. He hated it, and was particularly harsh in his lessons out of petty annoyance with his girlfriend and the lack of her touch. It got so bad that he finally went looking for her during his Wednesday afternoon break. He knew she had some free periods in the middle of the day, and after checking her classroom; he knew there was only one other place she could be.

Remus strode into the library, and some second years shuddered a bit as he passed. He felt bad about it, really; knowing he went rather hard on them that morning, but he only had one thing on his mind. He looked down some of the long aisles of books and only managed to find one fifth year couple snogging. Without so much as a look from Mrs. Pince, he wandered into the restricted section and finally caught her scent mingling with the dust of the old books.

He stopped in his tracks when he caught sight of her. She was halfway down one of the aisles, with her cute nose deep in a Dark Runes book. He couldn't help but smile as she was so engrossed with whatever she was reading. Slowly, he snuck up on her and she didn't even notice until his arms snaked around her waist in her Professor's robes and he planted a longing kiss on her neck.

She jumped and he laughed before she turned on him and nearly smacked him with the thick volume in her hands. He put one of his long, slightly calloused fingers to her lips so hush her and she obliged.

"I can't stand being away from you, 'Mione," he whispered and she looked up into his beautiful amber eyes and had no idea why she hadn't spent time with him the last few days. She knew she had been an awful girlfriend…to both of them. The letters Sirius had written her were lying neglected on her bed stand and she had barely kissed Remus since they had arrived.

"I'm so terribly sorry, I think that after what happened between us…I didn't know how to move on separately and I just avoided everything…" she sighed, realizing her folly. She wasn't going to ever come closer to a decision if she treated that matter in such a childish way.

"Don't think about it too much, let's just get back to how we used to be…just me and you…let me remind you," he whispered, leaning to kiss her neck again. Remus didn't often get a mischievous look in his eyes, but when he did it was deadly—and right now, he had the most potent one glowing from the depths of those caramel orbs of his. She couldn't help but be instantly turned on.

"We can't here…" she giggled before sighing as he gently nibbled on her neck, his hands reached into her robes and slyly started feeling her up, one hand moving to squeeze a breast, the other to her arse.

"Oh yes we can…" his voice hit that low octave that she found absolutely irresistible and she didn't try and fight it anymore. She knew that there was a very slim chance they would be bothered so she let herself go in his arms; her lips finding his as she kissed him thoroughly and passionately. He eased her against the bookshelf until she arched against the old tomes and tugged on her earlobe with his teeth. That little movement made Hermione's eyes roll back. He just knew exactly where to touch her…the little things about her that no one else – not even Sirius – knew.

Fumbling for his wand, Remus managed to grab it and cast a quick, localized silencing spell before undoing the fly of his trousers. He was incredibly thankful Hermione had decided to wear a skirt and he hitched it up around her waist, dipping a finger into her panties and feeling her wet and ready for him.

He took himself out of his pants and Hermione couldn't help but moan at the sight of his hardness, visibly twitching for her. She took him in one hand, sliding her soft palm up and down his shaft before he growled in need and hoisted her up by the waist so she was pinned between the bookshelf and him, fixing the height difference. Remus teased her entrance after sliding her soaked panties to the side before slipping in her. The low moan that escaped her pink, parted lips drove him mad with lust as he thrust into her. Hermione held onto his shoulders, pressing her fully clothed upper half against his grey sweater and kissing him with abandon. They came together, spiraling out of control at the same time. They nearly always did. Remus panted her name into her brown curls and she kissed his forehead in thanks.

After a few silent and blissful moments against the bookshelf, Remus eased out of his love and set her down on the ground, although she was surprised she could even stand after such a spontaneous and thorough shagging. She beamed up at him giddily, adjusting her skirt and her robes as he fixed himself, running a hand through his mussed tawny hair.

"Stay the night tonight, let's finish this properly," he winked at her, and although he had never been good at the gesture (like Sirius was), it was sexy and endearing in its own way. With a sweet parting kiss on her swollen lips, he fled the restricted section and Hermione was left wondering why she was even in the library in the first place.

000

Hermione found that a satisfying routine with both of her boyfriends could be managed if she sectioned each of them off in her mind properly. Having been rejuvenated to a point from her semi-public shag with Remus, she spent the remainder of the week in a busy flurry—flitting from class to Remus to apparating back to the penthouse to spend time with Sirius. She joined Remus as a chaperone for the first Hogsmeade trip of the year and enjoyed talking to him over warm firewhiskey as she watched the higher grades stroll through Honeydukes. It reminded her of the happy memories she shared with Ron and Harry, and how those moments had grounded her even in times of great danger later on in her life.

While the time she spent with Remus mostly consisted of reading together and snuggling by the fire in between passionate bouts of lovemaking, the hours spent with Sirius were considerably different. He brought out the playful, sexy side of her while Remus nurtured her quiet, bookish one. On Friday night she had apparated back to Sirius' flat wearing just her coat with nothing underneath and he ravished her on the kitchen island before they got dressed to the nines and went out to dinner.

Sirius spoiled her: buying her things left and right and doting on her in the way he knew how—through charm and money. Although she protested at most of it, Hermione loved the attention he lavished on her, especially in public. And especially when they would be out on the streets of London together and some woman would yell "Mudblood!' of "Slut!" across at her, jealous of her relationship with Sirius. He would protect her, and would declare his love for her then and there, as loud as he could-usually accompanied by a middle finger to the envious woman. She felt safe and protected with him, and wanted more than anything in the world.

Things were moving at such an accelerated rate once again, and by the middle of the following week—she was starting to feel like two different people. It was a strange feeling, and it left her slightly confused, but it was working and she was discovering more about herself and both of the men in her lives. Hermione realized that them living separately had been the best decision for all involved, and it led to both of them keeping their jealousy in check well enough for it to not enter into any of their conversations.

However, both of her worlds collided once again (she was starting to think she would never get a break) when Thursday morning found her at the Head table reading the most embarrassing set of articles about her by none other than Rita Skeeter herself.

Remus looked on with a cold, steady look on his face as a picture of them at Hogsmeade showed them laughing as they walked along the street. They weren't holding hands, but there was clearly love in their eyes. Some of the older students that subscribed were now looking up at them rather curiously. Below the picture read:

Granger Steps out on Black with his Best Friend!

Late last week, Hermione Granger was spotted canoodling with fellow Professor Remus John Lupin, werewolf and Sirius Black's Hogwarts cohort. The pair looked cozy all day, and it is very clear an affair is brewing with the harlot mudblood and the wolf….

Hermione slammed her cup of tea down a little too hard on the saucer, causing it to crack. She fixed it with a quick spell and ignored the rest of the article as she moved down the other one taking up the rest of the front page. This one bore a picture of her and Sirius standing in front of a restaurant, locked in a kiss.

Goldigging Golden Girl the headline read and Hermione turned pink with suppressed rage.

It is a well-known fact that Sirius Orion Black (formerly the most eligible bachelor in London, albeit ex-convict) has more than enough galleons in Gringotts to last two lifetimes…and it seems like the precocious third of the Golden Trio is seducing the older man into a relationship for her share of the money….

Remus grabbed Hermione's hand before she slammed that down too. An owl flew to the table, landing right in front of her with a few letters. She recognized Ginny's handwriting on one, but tore open Sirius' messy scrawled parchment first.

I knew it was too good to be true…I'm taking care of it.

X

Siri

A/N: Please review if you read!