A/N: Okay, so after this chapter…half of you will probably hate me, and hopefully the rest of you will love me. I took into consideration your wants in the reviews…and the number of people that wanted this coupled with my own reasons produced this chapter. Thank you for reading, and I truly hope you enjoy. It has been a pleasure to write this for you.

Hermione walked through the entrance doors of Hogwarts looking slighter tanner and feeling refreshed. After all of the drama with Ron and his proposal and her two boyfriends showing up unannounced—she was sure the weekend had gone to shit in a matter of hours. But Ginny had prevented that from happening and the girls had carried on their lovely getaway without another peep from any of the men in their lives. They had all drunken a bit too much, had all tanned a bit too much, and had the best time despite the rocky beginning. Hermione had even managed to start thinking objectively about Sirius and Remus. She hadn't really come much closer to a decision…but she knew she would have to very soon.

When Hermione and the rest of the girls had arrived back at the Potters' after the trip (mostly to help Ginny haul in her massive amount of luggage), Harry had seemed rather suspicious. He had smirked when her birthday had been brought up, and seemed antsy. Harry Potter was probably the worst liar in the world, and not much better at keeping secrets. Whatever he was hiding, Hermione knew it had to do with her, her birthday, and that it was something big. For Merlin's sake the man could barely control himself. He looked pleased as pumpkin juice the entire time the girls were saying their goodbyes and laughing about the happenings of the weekend.

But Hermione was glad to be back in her familiar environment. She had popped by Sirius' to say a quick 'hello' and they had ended up snogging like two teenagers on the leather couch for half an hour. However, she had to be back at Hogwarts for her Monday afternoon class, and although she hadn't wanted to leave Sirius—she was more than eager to get back to her job and to Remus.

She nodded a polite hello to some Hufflepuff 5th years that were hurrying down the hallway opposite her before turning into the classroom that belonged to her favorite professor. She had fifteen minutes till the afternoon lessons commenced, but she couldn't hold out on not seeing his face till that night.

Remus sensed her presence almost immediately. He looked up at her from his book and the faint wrinkles around his warm, amber eyes upturned when he saw her. He was away from his desk in an instant, flicking his wand to shut and lock the door before embracing her in a tight hug.

"How was it sweetheart? I missed you! You look tan…" Remus bombarded her with questions and compliments and she just giggled in his arms. She felt happy and safe there as he tucked her brown curls behind her ears and kissed her forehead.

"I'm happy I went, but I missed you…" she smiled, giving him a lingering kiss and nibbling on his lower lip ever so slightly. He groaned at the contact and she pulled away a wink.

"Are you excited for tomorrow?" he continued, although he was now highly distracted.

"No," Hermione replied bluntly. Tomorrow was her birthday, and she had tried to convince everyone that since it was a Tuesday that there was no need to celebrate. Of course Sirius, Remus, Harry, and especially Molly would have none of her weak excuses.

"Don't write it off just yet, I think it will be a night to remember," he smiled at her.

"So I've been told," she rolled her eyes. She didn't like surprises.

"Oh look, you are going to be late for class…" Remus glanced at the clock and winked at her before turning back around to his own desk. She made her way out the door as some of his students started filing in, her mind on overdrive about what awaited her the next day.

000

It was just a Tuesday. A stupid bloody Tuesday that started with a double period with the Slytherins. Hermione was cursing her birthday already, since the snakes were giving her a damned headache as they were constantly spouting off dirty words as translations for the set of runes she had given them to work on.

It also hadn't helped that she had awoken on her birthday to an empty, cold bed. Remus was nowhere to be found, and she didn't have any birthday mail from Sirius at breakfast-where Remus was also absent. She had jabbed at her eggs as Neville wished her a happy birthday but neither of her boyfriends were around at all. It was seriously frustrating, especially since they had both built it up like it would be the best day of her life. Hermione rubbed her temples as she looked out over the class of obnoxious 3rd years and decided to dismiss them early.

She trudged up, thoroughly annoyed, to her rooms to take a much needed bath and nap before Molly's dinner that night. When Hermione opened the door, she found Remus sitting on the bed surrounded by at least a dozen huge bouquets of sunflowers.

"They are kind of hard to find, so I had to take a little trip this morning. Sorry I couldn't be there when you woke up…but I know that you didn't want too much of a big deal made about your birthday, so I tried to wait until you had enough coffee…" Remus joked and handed her one of the flower arrangements. They were her favorite, and she hadn't seen fresh sunflowers in years. All of her annoyance and anger was gone and she hugged Remus before kissing him passionately. They fell back onto the flower-strewn bed, giggling.

"And I drew you a bath…and I thought we could nap before dinner?" he asked hopefully and her heart leapt.

"Are you inside of my mind or something? This is amazing Remus, thank you," she grinned. She knew he was no legillimens, he just knew her inside and out.

"You deserve to relax. Now take your time…enjoy it, I'll be right here when you get out," he told her in his soft voice and she rolled off of him, taking one of the bright sunflowers into the bathroom with her—placing it by the bath to brighten things up in the small little room and stripping off her robes. When she was undressed, she sunk happily into the perfectly warm bath with a happy sigh. She took her time washing her body and her hair and although she desperately wanted Remus naked and in the tub with her—they both knew she needed a moment for herself because she never made time for that, save the past weekend.

Hermione walked tentatively out of the bathroom, clad only in a short purple bath robe, a half hour later. Remus was lounging on her bed with a book and she couldn't believe how sexy he looked like that. His eyes met hers after half a second and he beckoned her over. She crawled next to him and her hands immediately started to trail down his chest to unbutton his shirt but he gently pushed her away and drew the covers over her.

"There will be plenty of time for that later love, trust me, I just want to hold you," he told her and she nearly melted into him as he cuddled with her. He told her she was beautiful and that he loved her and they talked about Greece and everything and anything in between. Hermione felt so happy there in his arms, looking around at her room brightened with her favorite flowers. He hadn't made it so much of a big-to-do, but he still showed her he cared.

"'Mione, 'Mione love, wake up darling," Remus' voice whispered quietly into her ear as she slowly woke up from a quite rejuvenating nap a little while later. She smiled as she stretched in his arms and he sat up. He reached over to the bedside table and handed her a letter that was addressed to her in Sirius' aristocratic scrawl.

"This came for you while you were asleep," he said as she opened it.

"He wants me to come by the apartment before the dinner. Says he has a surprise…" she bit her lip anxiously. Whatever Sirius was planning, she was sure it was more elaborate than what Remus had done-and although it made her stomach jolt happily, she was still a bit nervous.

"Well by all means go…I had my surprise, and he has his I'm sure…so I'll see you at the Burrow at 6?" Remus asked and she nodded. He slowly got out of bed and she pouted at the loss of his warm body next to her but he raised an eyebrow at her and she got up and began to get ready.

Twenty minutes later she was knocking on the penthouse door in the flirty black cocktail dress Ginny had helped her pick out in Greece for her birthday. When Sirius answered, he looked like his eyes were about to pop out of his head.

"You can't be this damn sexy! How in the bloody world am I supposed to control myself around all of your friends tonight when you look like this?!" Sirius faux-whined, but she knew he wasn't joking too much.

"I think you will manage, so where is this surprise?" Hermione placed her hands on her hips expectantly and Sirius just laughed his loud, bark-like laugh that filled the room.

"Oh it's here kitten, but I admit I had ulterior motives. I really just wanted to finish what we started earlier…" he leaned down and kissed her hard on the lips and she instinctively wrapped her arms around him. He just looked so damn good standing there all dressed up too, she couldn't help herself. They continued to kiss, stumbling and giggling to his bedroom where he spun her around so her back faced him and planted lingering kisses down her neck until he reached her dress. With skilled fingers he unzipped the pretty garment and slipped it off carefully, leaving her in just frilly black knickers.

"You are going to kill me Hermione…" Sirius groaned as she crawled onto his bed, arching her back teasingly.

"You aren't that old…oh wait…" she giggled.

"You need to learn to watch that hot mouth of yours," Sirius very nearly growled, taking his fingers and running them over her pink lips that were swollen from kissing.

"Highly unlikely," she smarted back and he crushed his mouth against hers, laying her down on the bed beneath him and running his hands over her smooth, pale body. She hurriedly undressed him, trying to take care to not wrinkle his party attire too much, but she wanted him so badly that it hardly mattered after a few moments. Skin was on skin after what seemed like forever and they both moaned in relief.

Sirius teased her wet center with his finger before slowly easing himself inside of her when she very nearly begged for him. They rocked together as he lavished kisses on her neck and breasts and she scraped her nails down his back as they both climbed higher and higher with pleasure. Every touch was intense. The dig of his palm into her hips, the nipping of her teeth against his ear, him tugging at her long curls, and her wrapping her legs around him as he thrust into her harder-it was as if they were on fire.

Hermione came first, screaming out for him along with a slew of profanities that only she could make sexy coming off of her lips, and he followed right after, spilling himself inside of her before clutching her tightly to him before resting his head between her breasts. They lay like that for a few moments, happy and sated, until Sirius remembered the real reason he had called her there in the first place. He cursed his randy self before giving her a sweet kiss.

"I love you Hermione. Can you get dressed, so we can get to the real surprise?" he asked and she nodded a little sleepily.

"That was already quite the birthday gift," she giggled and he swatted her playfully on the arse before getting back into his clothes and straightening up. He helped her into her dress and she smoothed out her hair before he led her into the living room.

She hadn't noticed it before, or maybe it was that it hadn't been like that when she had walked in-but the living room lights were dimmed and there were pretty, floating candles all over the place. Sirius stood her in the middle of the room nervously and cleared his throat numerous times.

"Sirius, are you alright?" she asked, looking around and starting to get nervous herself. She was still a bit dazed from their amazing sex, and he was normally more composed than this.

Suddenly, he slowly lowered himself down on one knee and pulled out a small box from his jacket pocket.

"Hermione Granger, you came into my life like a hurricane, landing on my doorstep like a little lost puppy and I honestly had no idea what to do. But it didn't take long for me to fall head over heels in love with you. You are kind, and smart, and gorgeous, and more than that—you have taught me how to love again and how to accept being loved unconditionally. You have, in short, changed my life," Sirius started, his voice quaking.

Hermione looked down at him with wide eyes as he popped open the box and she saw the stunning ring inside.

"Will you marry me Hermione? Will you be my wife?" Sirius asked and she froze.

She had known for a long time that she needed to make a decision between Sirius and Remus, but she had never anticipated that she was worthy of a proposal so she hadn't given it more than a passing thought. Sure, she and Sirius had talked about marriage and children—but for down the road. And now he was on bended knee-the last man she would ever expect to see in that position-asking for her hand.

Hermione had thought that she wouldn't be able to decide between Remus and Sirius, that they were two separate halves of her heart. But now, in that very moment—she knew. As much as she wanted to say yes to Sirius, as much as she loved him and his lovemaking and his teasing—she couldn't ignore the small niggling in her stomach that wished it was Remus in front of her instead.

Her heart had finally made a decision, but it had made it too late. Now he was going to be crushed. She didn't know what to do. Seconds had passed without and answer and Sirius closed the ring box.

"Don't say it," he said quietly, standing up and placing a gentle hand on her cheek.

"Sirius, I'm so sorry…" she started to cry.

"Don't say the word. Please don't say it…I…I…I can't handle if you say 'no'…let's just take this as a goodbye". She could tell he was suffering, she had never seen such a sadness pass over that usually jovial, boyish face of his.

"Sirius, I love you…Merlin how I love you…I am so sorry, but something inside of me just doesn't feel right…" she whispered and he nodded. She just knew he wasn't the one. It wasn't fate.

"Remus deserves you more than I do. But I like to think I put up a good fight…" he tried to laugh, although she could see his eyes were now a bit misty.

"More than a good fight…I will treasure every moment of what we had and I am so sorry it took this to make me realize…"

"Stop apologizing love, I knew it wasn't a sure thing, but it was a risk I was willing to take for you. I want you to know I love you, even if at the end of the day, you want his ring around your finger, not mine," Sirius said maturely. Hermione was suddenly filled with a rush of pride for him—he had grown up so much.

"You are an amazing man, Sirius Black."

"This I know, and you are an amazing woman," he kissed her cheek, "I don't regret asking. I'll get over it…eventually," he smirked. He knew in his heart that it would take him a hell of a long time, but being with her for those few short months was ultimately worth the pain.

"You really do mean the world to me," Hermione told him, looking up into his dark eyes. He smiled.

"This isn't the end for us, it's just the end for this," he nodded and she hugged him, "Now…you have a dinner to be at…"

"You aren't coming?" she asked sadly.

"I think I might be a bit of a downer in my current state…and I have a bottle of firewhiskey calling my name, but happy birthday love…" Sirius winked at her. She knew that he of course wouldn't want to be around her and Remus right now. She couldn't imagine how heartbroken he must be, and if she was honest with herself, she as a bit heartbroken too.

With one last chaste kiss goodbye, Hermione left the apartment and apparated to the burrow, her mind reeling over the ending to that relationship.

She was greeted by Mrs. Weasley, who threw her arms around Hermione and dragged her into the house that smelled delicious. Dinner was ready and all of her friends were there, and she noticed happily that Tonks and Ron were both missing. Remus as lingering in the background, letting her get assaulted by Ginny and the Twins.

"Where's Padfoot?" Remus asked as they sat down to dinner. Harry squeezed Hermione's hand happily from her other side.

"Not feeling well," Hermione said vaguely and he gave her a suspicious look.

"Didn't he have something to ask you?" Harry said, almost panicked and Hermione tried not to show any emotion. Harry would know in time, and this was obvious the secret he was keeping.

"Harry, he was really ill," she lied. She knew it was wrong-but she also knew Sirius would appreciate the space.

"Oh…okay," he shrugged, still a bit hesitantly before raising his glass for a toast, "Happy birthday to the closest thing I have to a sister—my best friend—Hermione. All the happiness in the world," Harry smiled at her.

"Here here!" George cried out obnoxiously and they all clinked glasses. Dinner was lively and although the sad event with Sirius tugged at her mind, she knew—sitting next to Remus—that she had made the right choice. Her heart was overjoyed just being in his presence, and she was finally starting to comprehend the depths of her love for him. When she wasn't distracted by sharing her heart—she could finally realize how complete it was with just him. The thought both thrilled and scared her.

After a delicious strawberry chocolate cake, complete with trick candles compliments of the Twins, Remus took an opportunity to steal away with Hermione out to the Burrow's spacious, fairy-lit backyard.

He figured that Sirius and Hermione had gotten into a fight or something, since they were always at each other's throats—but usually in a more playful way. Remus had never known Sirius to be upset enough to miss a party, but he didn't want to push it with Hermione.

"Have you had a nice birthday?" he asked her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. The lights reflected little glowing orbs onto their faces.

"It will be a day I won't soon forget…" she said non-committedly, trying to hide her guilt for ruining Sirius' day—or quite possibly year. Remus dug in his pocket and pulled out a small box, at which point Hermione seriously thought she was going to faint.

"Your birthday present," he smiled sheepishly, handing it over to her. She took it, confused that he wasn't getting down on one knee as well, and opened the box.

She gasped happily and a smile lit up her face in true bliss for the first time since her and Sirius had broken up.

Inside the jewelry box was an intricate silver chain with a flat, slightly curved silver disk pendant hanging from it. It shined like the moon and Hermione could instantly see that it looking like the full moon was Remus' intention without being too obvious about it. She looked up at him with bright eyes to thank him but he reached into her palm and flipped the necklace over.

On the backside was the rune for 'eternal love' inscribed delicately. Hermione's hand closed around it and she brought it close to her heart, too overcome with emotion to speak for a few seconds.

"Do you like it? I know it's a bit much…"

"Remus…" was all Hermione could say as she hurriedly fastened the necklace around her neck. It looked beautiful on her and flung her arms around Remus, letting the box drop from her hands onto the grass, "I love it. It's perfect. And I love you."

"I love you too. I thought…with all of this…with me and Sirius…well that whatever happens you can wear this necklace and know that my love for you is forever-regardless," Remus told her with a bit of sadness in his eyes. Hermione realized that while she and Sirius had just had goodbye sex…this was Remus' way of saying goodbye.

"No…Remus, Sirius and I broke up tonight. Forever. For good. I want you, and I can promise you this will never leave my neck," she told him and watched as a myriad of emotions flicked over his face; from shock to worry to sheer bliss.

"You…want me? You're sure?" he almost laughed at himself as he questioned it. She nodded.

"Remus you don't just have my heart, you have my soul…and I need you," she said, biting her lip after to keep the happy tears from flowing. He showered her with kisses as he kept her in the tight embrace, finally picking her up to swing her around, telling her he loved her over and over under the stars and the half-full moon.

Sirius would always have part of Hermione's heart, but Hermione knew that Remus would always have so much more.

And so began Remus and Hermione's happily-ever-after.

A/N: Well-there you have it! The Epilogue will explain more and will show the wedding and both Remus and Hermione, as well as Sirius a few years down the road. As promised, my lovely friend onebigscribble gets Sirius all wrapped up in a bow with some wine and chocolate for helping me out with the story! Love all of my reviewers, and please tell me what you think or what you hope to see in the epilogue1