'Tell me what's bothering you,' Remus tried again. Hermione was still not looking at him, but she stood up from her chair now.
'I don't know, alright? Just leave me alone,' she said harshly.
'No, tell me what's wrong, I want to help,' Remus said softly.
'Stay away from me,' Hermione snapped as Remus took a little step closer towards her. Where did all of this anger come from? This wasn't her.
'Then tell me,' Remus said now more forcefully. He didn't like Hermione's attitude.
'Why are you so damn persisting? Just leave me alone,' Hermione said again, raising her voice.
'I won't. I consider it my problem when you are like this. You are my mate, I want to help you. I love you, Hermione,' Remus said and he wanted to wrap his arms around her. But Hermione fought off his arms and took a step back.
'Don't touch me. I am serious. Keep away from me,' Hermione said with wide, stern eyes.
Remus, however, wasn't planning on letting Hermione feel this miserable and angry. He wasn't going to give up.
'I won't touch you. Just tell me what's wrong,' he said again.
'Fine! I'll just leave!' Hermione said angrily and she tried to reach the door. She didn't get the chance to open it, because Remus grabbed her and forced her against the wall so that she couldn't get away with as much softness as he could bring up.
'You can't leave. I won't allow it. Not like this, look at me,' Remus demanded and he lifted her chin so that she was forced to look at him. She looked angry. She shook her head and looked away again.
'Let me go! If you love me, then you'd let me go!' Hermione yelled.
Remus was struggling with himself. He couldn't let her go, he didn't want to, but Hermione wanted him to let him go. And he didn't want to do something against Hermione's will.
'You aren't letting me go then? So you don't love me? You were just taking advantage of me! I hate you!' Hermione shouted and she tried to get away from Remus.
The last words from Hermione hurt Remus. How could she say that?
'Listen to me, Hermione! This is not you! You are under the influence of that potion! I would never, I could never take advantage of you. I wouldn't! I love you, Hermione, believe me,' Remus said.
'Then get your hands off me,' Hermione hissed.
'I can't. I can't let you go like this. Tell me that you love me,' Remus said with tears in his eyes.
'If you know what's good for you, then you'd let me go,' Hermione repeated with a threatening glistering in her eyes.
'I don't think you understand. I think it is the other way round. You should think twice before you decide to threaten me, love. You are mine and that will never change,' Remus said with a possessive look.
'Whatever! I want to leave. Now!' Hermione yelled.
'As you wish. Just know that I still love you and that I am still here tomorrow for when the potion has lost his influence on you,' Remus said, still not letting go. It was hard for him to let her go like this, but he had to. He had to fight the wolf. He removed his arms and turned around so that he didn't have to look at Hermione anymore.
'Go, now!' he said forcefully, knowing that he couldn't let her go if she would stay longer.
Hermione quickly left the office and ran to the Gryffindor Tower. There were tears in her eyes and she didn't know why. She just hoped that she wouldn't meet anyone on her way to the Tower. It was late and she wasn't allowed out of bed. Luckily, there was no one and she could easily reach the Common Room. There she saw Ron, sitting on the couch.
'I thought you were going to sleep?' Hermione snapped.
'I was, but then I thought that I could… What's wrong Hermione? You… you have been crying!' he exclaimed.
'Why would you care? Why would anyone care?' Hermione said harshly, moving towards the staircase.
'What happened? Is there something with Remus? Did he hurt you?' Ron asked worried.
Hermione started to cry. Remus didn't hurt her, but he did let her go. Of course she had asked for that, but why did he turn his back towards her? He had sounded curtly and angry. As though he didn't want her to be around any longer. So didn't he love her anymore? She saw that Ron was looking more and more worried, so she shook her head.
'Then what?' he asked.
'Do you think he loves me?' Hermione asked through her tears.
'You should ask him. Why? Did he say that he doesn't love you?' Ron asked.
'No, the opposite, actually. But I don't know… I guess I am being upset because of that potion. I was being silly. But he let me go! He didn't look at me!' Hermione said, she felt really upset.
'Come here,' Ron said and he pulled her in for a hug. Before Hermione knew what she was doing, she kissed Ron. She couldn't control her emotions anymore. She didn't know what to do.
Ron pulled back from the kiss.
'Hermione, you are upset, we shouldn't…'
'You are right, I am sorry…'
'No, don't be sorry. I just don't think you are completely yourself right now. Just wait until tomorrow,' Ron said carefully and he hugged her again.
'I don't want to go to the dormitory… Please stay with me?' Hermione asked, not wanting to be alone.
Ron nodded and he picked up a blanket. Hermione sat down on the couch and Ron sat down next to her, putting the blanket around them. Hermione soon drifted into a dreamless sleep and her head sank down on Ron's shoulder.
'Hermione! Hermione… wake up!' Ron said and he carefully stroke her cheek to wake her up.
'What? What am I doing here?' Hermione asked confused.
'Don't you remember? Last night you came here and you didn't want to go back to the dormitory, so you decided to sleep here. On the couch,' Ron explained.
'What?! Why are you here then?' Hermione asked.
'You didn't want to be alone.'
Hermione couldn't remember any of it for some reason. She remember Ron being in the Room of Requirement, she remembered Ron waking up in Remus' office and she remembered how she had felt. Then she remembered the little argument with Remus and she also knew that she had left the office. But after that, she couldn't recall anything.
'You were upset about something. You said that Remus didn't love you anymore and then…' Ron stopped talking.
'What? No! I didn't say that! And then what? What happened?' she asked.
'You kissed me.'
'I did not!'
'Yes, you did.'
'Why?'
'Because you were upset, I think. Or maybe because you secretly do love me. Maybe you do want to be with me?' Ron suggested.
'Not this again! I can't remember any of this! How could I do this?'
'I don't know, but I personally find it quite disturbing. You are telling me all the time that you have no feelings for me. You've told me several times that you just want to be friends, that you love Remus, and just when I have accepted that, you kiss me again! Why are you doing this? Don't you have any idea how this is for me?' Ron said frustrated.
'I am so sorry, Ron, I truly am. I shouldn't have done this. I didn't do this on purpose! I would never hurt you like this,' Hermione said.
'But you did,' Ron said.
'I am sorry!' Hermione said again.
'Just go to your werewolf and leave me alone for now. I see you in class,' Ron said and he went upstairs to his own dormitory to change clothes.
In class… Oh yes, it was Monday of course. Hermione had to change clothes as well and she had to pick up her books of course, but she felt terrible. Being in the dormitory right now would only result in difficult questions from the other girls. She wanted to see Remus first, he must be angry with her. She had really been making a point about nothing.
Hermione climbed out of the portrait, still in the same clothes, and went downstairs. She didn't bother to have some breakfast first, she just wanted to see Remus right now. When she reached his office, she raised her hand, took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Remus opened the door with a tired face. He hadn't slept very well, obviously. He was wearing the same shirt as yesterday, Hermione noticed. He hadn't bothered to change clothes either.
'Hermione,' he said and he walked back in. Hermione just assumed that she had to follow him, so she walked in and closed the door behind her.
'Why are you here?' he asked curtly.