"I hate theory weeks. Why do we need to practice filling in forms? And then file them in the right place, just for someone to come along and get rid of them?" Ron grumbled as they left the Auror offices. Harry laughed at his friend's familiar litany of complaints.

"Maybe it's a test. Those of us with the mental resilience not to be bored to death by the paperwork will be more likely to succeed as Aurors or something."

"Yeah, maybe. Or maybe they ran out of things for us to do, and put this in to fill the gap before the final tests next week. There is one good thing about office weeks though." Ron said.

"Oh? What?" Harry asked.

"We get a full hour for lunch," the redhead replied.

Harry rolled his eyes and grinned. Some things never changed. "How about we go and rescue Hermione from whatever work she's drowning in this week and the three of us get lunch then?"

Ron nodded and they headed to Hermione's office, stopping to greet various people on the way. They were making their way to Hermione's office when they were stopped by a petite blonde woman.

"Thank Merlin you're here."

"Erm, hello to you too Sophia," Harry said, puzzled by the odd greeting. "What's wrong?"

"It's Hermione. She came in this morning looking like she'd spent the whole night crying and won't talk to anyone, she just ignores anything other than work questions and even then she's hardly saying anything. Thing is, she was fine yesterday, better than fine really, singing to herself all afternoon with a little smile and a twinkle in her eye. I don't know what's wrong, and she might talk to you."

Harry and Ron exchanged worried glances then smiled down at Sophia, trying to look reassuring.

"Thanks for telling us Sophia, we'll check she's ok." Ron said.

"And we'll tell her you were looking out for her too, it's sweet of you," Harry said with a smile.

Sophia smiled back as Ron and Harry headed to Hermione's office. They walked in without knocking and were shocked by the way their friend looked. Her curly hair was a mass of frizz around her, and her eyes were red and puffy. She looked up, her expression annoyed as they barged in, but when she recognised her two closest friends her face crumpled and she started to cry.

Harry and Ron were round the desk and knelt either side of her chair in seconds, their arms around the sobbing witch. Harry pulled away for a moment to cast a silencing charm on the door, so no nosy co-workers could overhear, then turned back to his friend.

"What happened? What's wrong?" he asked.

Hermione tried to control her tears so she could explain her behaviour to the boys. "I...it's...he...Remus."

"Remus?" Ron asked. "What about him?"

"He came in yesterday to talk about the werewolf laws, and then Tonks came in and he looked so sad and I told him about Kyle." Her words came out in a rush, only just understandable over her sobs. "And I was so worried about how he'd react, I thought he might despise me. But he was sweet and he, he, kissed me." Her crying intensified as she spoke, and her friends swapped puzzled looks, unsure as to how kissing resulted in such pain. Suddenly Ron's eyes grew hard, his expression unreadable.

"Did you not want him to kiss you? Did he hurt you?" he asked. "I'll kill him if he tried to force you into anything, I swear it." His hand was on his wand and he made to get up as he spoke.

"What? No." Hermione exclaimed. "It wasn't like that, I was happy he kissed me, I hadn't thought he liked me like that, I was pleased. It made it feel like a good thing that I had shared my past with him."

"Then what's wrong? I don't get it." Ron looked so confused that Hermione chuckled through her tears.

"He asked me to dinner, and we went to a lovely little place in Cornwall. Then we went for a walk along the seafront and I turned to tell him what a good time I'd had. He looked so sad and sort of angry, then he apologised and left. He just left. I thought I meant something to him, that maybe we could give a relationship between us a go but I must've done something wrong. I thought he was worth the risk, that I could let myself love again and he just hurt me. And it hurts so much." She looked so small and sad that the boys tightened their arms around her, holding her close between them. "I know it's silly to be so upset when we weren't really together or anything but I let him in and I just don't understand."

They stayed where they were for a few moments longer, silently comforting the hurt woman, then Harry pulled back and stood up.

"Right, Ron, take Hermione for lunch. I'm going to see Remus."

"What? Harry, no." Hermione said. "I don't want to come between you two. And I don't want you to guilt trip him into something he doesn't want either."

"That's just it. He seemed to like you as much as you like him. He kissed you, he asked you to dinner. It doesn't make sense that he'd just run away. I just want to hear his side of the story. And if he says that he realised he made a mistake and he's not interested in you in that way, which I doubt, then I promise I'll leave and won't say anything."

Hermione looked at her friend and sighed in resignation as she saw the determination on his face. "Ok, his side of the story. But nothing else. That wouldn't be fair on him or on me."

Harry smiled and dropped a kiss on the top of her head as he rose. "I'll be good, I swear." His cheeky grin did nothing to reassure Hermione, who watched him leave with a mix of gratitude and anxiety.

The midday quiet of a row of houses in northern London was disturbed by a loud crack and a dark haired young man appeared between two of the houses. He walked across the street and up the front steps of one of the houses. When his knock failed to get a response he looked around cautiously. Once he had checked there was no-one around Harry pulled his wand from the pocket of his jeans and cast a spell they were taught as Aurors for checking crime scenes. Green mist appeared from his wand then swirled about the door for a moment before solidifying into a single circle. Satisfied that Remus was in the house but not answering the door Harry set about breaking the wards on the door.

Once inside Harry found Remus asleep on the sofa, an empty bottle of Fire whiskey on the table, next to a glass. Harry sighed and shook Remus to wake him

"Wh, what? Harry? Why are you here? How did you get in?" Remus winced as he sat up, one hand on his head.

"I broke in," Harry said with an easy grin and a shrug. "Needed to talk to you."

"Oh? What was so important you broke into my house?"

"Hermione."

Remus sank back into the couch. "I don't see how that concerns you Harry. What happened is between me and her. And it's done with now anyway."

"Really? She doesn't even know what happened, so how it can be done with?" Harry took a deep breath. "Look, I didn't come to argue with you, I just wanted your side of the story. How about you go get cleaned up and I'll make coffee. And something to eat, I'm starving."

Remus pulled himself off the couch and went to get a shower, reflecting that Harry was the perfect mix of his parents. With James' fierce loyalty and Lily's compassion he made a fine man, and a wonderful friend. He just hoped he could get Harry to understand why he'd left the night before.

Ten minutes later Remus entered his kitchen to find a cup of coffee next to a bottle of hangover potion and a plate if sandwiches. Harry was sat at the other end of the table reading the paper and munching his own sandwich.

Remus laughed. "Make yourself at home why don't you." He swallowed the potion gratefully then sipped the coffee.

"I will, thanks." Suddenly Harry's expression became more serious. "Really, Remus, what happened with Mione?"

"How much did she tell you?"

Harry shrugged. "You were working, Tonks came in, she told you about Kyle, you kissed, you took her to dinner then left her somewhere in Cornwall by herself. That cover it?"

"Yes, I suppose it does." He didn't say anything else.

"But why? You seemed to like her, we all saw the sparks between you guys, what changed?"

"Nothing, Harry, nothing changed." Remus took a bite of his lunch to give him time to collect his thoughts. "Hermione's amazing. I can talk to her for hours and never get bored. She's brilliant and beautiful and so strong. I could barely believe what she told me about Kyle. I don't get how anyone could treat her like that."

"So why did you leave last night then? I don't get it." Harry said, completely puzzled.

"Hermione's a princess. But I'm not a prince, I'm the monster. Someday she'll realise that and leave and I can't go through that, not again."

"What?" Harry asked. "Remus, nobody thinks you're a monster, least of all Hermione."

Remus shook his head slowly. "Dora did. That's why she left, because of what I am. And Hermione will too, so I stopped it before I could fall in love with her and get hurt."

"What about Hermione, Remus? She's already hurt, crying in her office because the first man she's trusted romantically in years rejected her. That's how she sees it anyway. Besides, she's not Tonks. She might not be looking for a prince. Kyle was handsome and charming, and turned out to be far more of a monster than you will ever be." Harry stood up. "I have to get back to work, but I think you should tell all this to Hermione. She might surprise you."

"I'm sorry Harry, I didn't mean to hurt her. I panicked." He sighed, his eyes full of remorse. "I doubt she'll agree to talk to me now though. I've really messed things up."

Harry smiled gently. "Yeah, you have. But I'll help you sort it. You guys could be great together. Come to Grimmauld Place about six this evening and I'll convince Hermione to be there too. Just tell her what you've told me and listen to what she has to say. Oh, some major grovelling might help as well." With a wave of his hand and a final grin Harry apparated away.

Remus stared at the spot Harry had just vacated for a few moments, then smiled to himself. Harry had a point, Hermione wasn't Dora. Maybe she was his chance at happiness, if only he hadn't gone and ruined everything with his insecurities and self-pity.

Harry made his way through Diagon Alley, avoiding the shoppers as he headed for the cafe he knew Ron and Hermione would be in.

"Hey mate. You talk to Remus?" Ron asked as Harry pulled up a chair.

"Yeah. He's sorry Mione, he wants to explain why he did what he did in person." Harry said, leaving out the parts about the drunken stupor he'd found Remus in.

"No Harry. I was wrong to think we could have something. It's best left alone I think." Hermione said.

"You have to see him eventually though, why not just talk to him," Ron asked.

"Really, I just want to pretend it never happened. I don't need to hear why he changed his mind about me, it hurts enough as it is."

"Ok, if you're sure?" Harry said. Hermione nodded. "Listen, come for dinner tonight, Ginny will want to know you're ok."

"I don't know Harry..."

"Please?" He made puppy dog eyes at her, looking so pathetic that Hermione laughed and nodded.

"Fine, I'll come. What time?"

"About six?" Harry said. Luckily Hermione missed the gleam of mischief in his eyes.

A/N A quick update to make up for the evil ending of the last chapter. Bit of a filler chapter really, but still let me know what you think!