A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Bluebird1125—here it is finally! Your submission! Enjoy everyone!
"Remus I'm back!" Hermione walked happily into his rooms Sunday evening. She set her bag down on the leather chair by the door but was a bit perplexed to find his living area empty. It was only a day and a half after the full moon and she had still expected him to be lounging about in bed, recovering; especially since it was the weekend. The only traces of life she saw were some crinkled chocolate wrappers and some dirty clothes on the floor.
As it was about supper time, Hermione figured he might just be in the Great Hall eating; but since Sirius had wined and dined her to the point where she felt like a fat pig that weekend—she had no desire for the heavy treacle's the house elves made. Instead she climbed onto his bed and lay happily amongst the ruffled sheets, breathing in his distinct smell of leather and crisp fall air and man.
She lazily ran her fingers over the sheets as she thought about her weekend with Sirius. It had been lovely. Except for Saturday night when he had taken her out to a club and some bloke had hit on her. Poor Sirius had gotten all bent out of shape that the wanker had called him an "old man" and had decked the guy. She laughed at the memory. But he had made up for his childish behavior that morning with a very thorough exploration of her body.
Hermione always found it odd that thoughts of her one boyfriend led to thoughts of the other and she was getting rather impatient that Remus was not curled up next to her. She got up out of his bed, ran a hand over her hair and marched down to the Great Hall, with all intentions of dragging him back up to his room with her. As she walked through the double doors, she saw dinner in progress and her brown eyes quickly scanned the head table for her sandy-haired lover. He wasn't there.
Turning on her heel in desperation, she walked to the main staircase and started to climb. There was only one other place she could even picture him being and her feet carried her quickly up to the astronomy tower.
She involuntarily let out the breath that she was unknowingly holding when she saw him leaning over the edge of the short stone wall. His face was calm and he was looking up at the waning moon. Hermione had always thought it such a wonder that the one thing he hated once a month was something her actively enjoyed staring at during the remaining days.
"I missed you," she said softly and he turned. His smile slowly crept up his face when he saw her come out of the shadows and he crossed the distance between them quickly to envelop her in a long hug.
"All in one piece, I see," he smirked, holding her at arm's length and appraising her. She blushed under his scrutiny.
"And why would I not be?"
"Oh, you know Sirius…" he laughed, "How are you my love? How is my friend?"
She reached up and stroked his stubbly cheek before replying, "I am wonderful now that I finally found you. I was lying in your bed for ages waiting for you to come to me….and Padfoot is just fine. Sporting a shiner, but fine."
"If I would have known you were in my bed witch, I sure as hell wouldn't have been up here!" he laughed, "And why is my best mate nursing a black eye?"
"Because he's a jealous bastard," Hermione bit her lip and giggled. She didn't expect the reaction that followed. Remus' eyes went wide as he looked over her again.
"Did someone put their hands on you? Are you okay?"
"Ohh goodness not you too! It was nothing Remus, I don't want to talk about it…" she rolled her eyes and groaned as he continued to protest. She loved that both of them were protective but all she wanted to do was kiss him. She stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his and the effect was instant. No more talking.
His strong hands ran up her back and pulled her even closer and she was amazed at the effect she was already having on him that was manifesting itself on her thigh. She giggled into the kiss as she ran a hand up to rake through his already messy hair. It wasn't till she moved away from him for a second to kiss his neck that she remembered he was fresh off a transformation.
"I'm sorry Remus, I forgot…" she whispered against his shoulder as he held her.
He merely answered her with a growl, "I don't care. I'm fine, I just have to have you…"
She kissed him back, and the passion was burning between them tenfold from just second prior. His hands moved for her blouse at the same time hers went for his shirt. They started undressing each other simultaneously and soon they were both topless—their naked chests pressing against each other as his hand found its way down to her hip and held there tightly as he slowly walked her backwards, never once breaking their fervent kiss.
Hermione groaned as her back suddenly hit hard, cold stone and Remus' body was surrounding her. "I need you, please…" she begged.
"Always so impatient, aren't you darling?" he whispered to her, although he knew he was on the verge of breaking any last thread of self-control he had and fucking her hard against the wall. Instead he reached to slip off her pants before unbuttoning his own.
It was the second time they had done it this way, with her back against something and Hermione was beginning to revel in the sensation of his strong arms supporting her as he moved her just where she needed to be. She loved the fact that she was level with his eyes, and she saw every emotion flicker through them as he slowly eased himself inside of her. But they both knew their position didn't afford them much time. Dinner would be over soon and the students would have an hour or so to wander, and many loved the Astronomy tower…
With one palm splayed out against the stone wall besides her head, bracing himself and another wrapped around her, Remus thrust in and out of her, moving his hips to fill her perfectly and the wonderful heat in her stomach grew with every motion. They whispered "I love you's" to each other over and over, a sort of chant as he filled her then parted from her, leaving her gasping and mewling for more. She wanted it harder and Remus, although spent from the full moon, knew he couldn't deny her. He wanted to claim her. And if he couldn't mark her, then he would have her like this. Helpless and wanting him and completely supported by him. It was primal as her head slammed back against the wall as she reached her orgasm and he came seconds later. She was his and he was hers.
000
"Do you ever think about getting married Remus?" Hermione asked quietly. They were lying in his bed after their passionate lovemaking in the tower and were simply cuddling under his silky sheets. After Sirius had brought the subject up the other night, she couldn't stop thinking about it. It was what she had wanted…but Ron wasn't the one. And now she was faced with two amazing men that she could see herself spending the rest of her life with. She had also thought about what Ginny said the last time they had hung out alone—and Hermione couldn't help want to find out where both of them stood. Sirius, against all odds considering his unattached and slightly sordid past, seemed open to the idea. But would Remus be?
The werewolf shifted uncomfortably against her, glad she was facing away from him at that moment before he said, "No, I don't."
Hermione closed her eyes, suddenly feeling unbearably sad. Of course they hadn't dated very long-and now she felt stupid for even bringing it up. "Sorry I…"
Remus felt awful the moment the words had left his mouth. Of course he thought about marriage. He had wanted to marry Tonks, and now—he couldn't really see his life without Hermione in it. But he knew it would never happen, so he had to keep his heart protected. He didn't even understand why she had asked.
"Don't be, I'm sorry. It's not that I don't think about getting married, or that I don't want to. I just know it isn't in the cards for me."
He felt her body shift as she rolled over and that was the last thing he wanted. He quickly tried to make his face as impassive as possible as she stared into his eyes, searching.
"If you want it, then you can have it. I truly believe anyone can have whatever they want," she said softly and he smiled. She truly was the brightest witch of their age with the stuff that came out of her cute little mouth.
"Some people can't, 'Mione…"
"Why not?" she asked challengingly. He didn't want to go there with her. He really wanted to say, 'because some people like me aren't Sirius. Men like him get what they want. And I don't'
But instead, he calmly replied, "Because some people are piss poor, and are werewolves, and can't offer a beautiful witch anything."
She stared at him for a long moment, and he wished she wouldn't look at him like that. There was no pity in her eyes, only anger. She finally sat up and crossed her arms.
"You know what? I am tired of the way you think about yourself Remus. You are a sexy, smart, talented, caring, and damn near perfect. Any woman would be lucky to have you! And I wish I could compliment you on my own volition instead of because you are constantly having a pity party for yourself. You know what women do want in a man though? Confidence that they are worth something. Because you are. So start acting like it!"
Remus was blown away by her little speech. He knew she was right about everything, she nearly always was, but he couldn't help but downturn his eyes in embarrassment as she crawled out of his bed and slipped on her clothes and robes.
"I'll see you at breakfast," she finished with softness that he took as an end to any argument before she walked out of his door. Hermione hated having to say that, and she hated that it had burst so violently out of her after such a beautiful night, but she cared about him and was rather angry that she couldn't have the wonderful 'next step' conversation with him like she could with Sirius. All because he was insecure.
Remus groaned as he lay on his now empty bed. He knew he was going to lose her if he didn't stop acting like such a mope. He knew she wouldn't have even broached the subject if she wasn't serious in some way. And she had stayed this long. She loved him and he loved her. And yet he still couldn't accept it as real. His dreams plagued him lately with nightmares that she had left and it was all a farce.
Sirius was always telling him that he was worth a damn. And Hermione was too. He figured it was about time he started listening to the two people whose opinion of him meant everything.
000
"Ready mate?"
"I told you once Fred, I don't want to go out!"
Sirius was waving off the Twins who were intruding in on his flat that same night. They were both dressed up nicely with devious little grins on their faces.
"Come on, we haven't gone drinking in ages Sirius!" George gave his best whine and the Marauder rolled his eyes as he flicked through television channels while he sat on the couch.
"It's Sunday. No one is out on a Sunday night."
"Precisely. No birds. We're all taken anyway. Just a quiet night of drinks and conversation, right Georgie?"
"Of course Freddie," his twin winked back at him.
"You two have trouble written all over your faces," Sirius said and Fred faked a look of being affronted.
"Just an hour…" George offered and Sirius finally sighed heavily and gave in.
"One drink and I am coming home!" he told them, walking into the foyer and grabbing his coat off the hook. The twins looked positively delighted.
"Oh you old spoil-sport. Has Hermione made you all domestic now?" Fred teased as they got into the elevator.
"No…I'm just realizing that I don't have to be a fucking wreck to enjoy my life boys…" he shoved his hands in his pockets. It was mostly the fact that he had gotten into a childish fight the night before and his pride was severely wounded.
"Uh huh…sure," George winked as they walked down to a wizard pub not far from them. As they walked, George and Fred carried on an animated conversation over him as Sirius realized that maybe a night out would do him some good. It wasn't making him younger sitting and moping over what Hermione and Remus were doing anyway.
Before long the twins were handing him shots of flaming firewhiskey and he was downing them as fast as he could. They were all laughing and sharing stories and it was glad to be back out with his boys—even if they were years younger than he was.
"I scared to poor guy half to death!" George roared, pretty piss drunk himself as he recounted to Sirius their latest prank on Harry. He couldn't help but laugh himself into a fit of giggles so uncontrollable that he thought he would never recover. Everything was hazy and he was having the best time. The only thing that could have made it better was if Hermione was there with him.
Fred came back from the bar with another round and they all shot the firewhiskey back.
"We solemnly swear we will always be up to no good!" they chanted together.
And that was the last thing Sirius remembered.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed! Please leave me a little review! They brighten up my days like nothing else!