It was just after six when the floo into the kitchen at Grimmauld Place activated and Hermione stepped out. She took one look at the person sat at the old kitchen table and turned to step back into the fireplace. As she reached for the pot of floo powder that usually sat on the mantle she found a note in its place.
Just hear him out. Harry.
"I'm going to kill him," Hermione said, turning back towards the table and sitting down heavily. "I said, I told him I didn't want, that it didn't matter. Ugh." She sighed heavily.
Remus looked at her in consternation, then with understanding dawning in his eyes.
"He didn't tell you I'd be here did he?" Hermione shook her head, not looking up from where she was staring at her hands resting on the table. Remus rolled his eyes then continued. "I'm sorry, I said I wanted to explain and he said he'd get you to be here. I didn't think he would force you or trick you. I'll just go, if you want."
"No, since we're both here I'll listen. I suppose I owe you that at least," she said.
"Hermione, you don't owe me anything. I owe you an explanation, although I realise that there's no excuse for leaving you like I did last night." He paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. "I've known since you were fourteen that you're intelligent, kind and one of the warmest people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. Recently I've realised that you're beautiful as well as brilliant. And yesterday just confirmed all that, as well as the depth of character and the inner strength you possess. Last night was one of the nicest evenings I've had in ages, and, well, I realised that I could happily explore a relationship with you, that I could easily let myself love you. And then I realised that I don't deserve you, not in the slightest."
"That's why you left? Because you decided you didn't deserve me? Don't you think I should have some say in who does or doesn't deserve me? Anyway, in what way are you undeserving of me?" Hermione asked.
Remus laughed hollowly. "Where do you want me to start? I'm twice your age, poor, a bit bookish and boring, and a werewolf. I'm also just out of a disaster of a relationship. The last thing you deserve is someone who is any of those thing, never mind all of them."
"Remus. As far as that lot go, you have nothing on me when it comes to relationship disasters. I don't care about money, I'm far more bookish and don't think you're boring. And I really don't care about age, I had a boyfriend my own age and look how that worked out. As for the werewolf thing, that has never bothered me, it doesn't change the man you are." Suddenly she smiled. "I'm not that nice to know a few days a month either you know. In fact, I'd place money that Harry and Ron would rather face you as a werewolf than me when I'm hormonal."
Remus smiled sadly at her comment. "That's just it. You don't deserve me, but you don't see it now. You think you can handle it, that none of those things matter. But one day you'll realise that I'm a dangerous old man and you'll leave." His voice cracked and his eyes filled with pain. "I can't go through that again, I can't. So I was selfish and hurt you before you had a chance to hurt me."
"Again?" Hermione asked, confused. "Is that why Tonks left? Because of the wolf?"
"Amongst other things. She said she wanted her happily-ever-after, not a life with a monster so she left me for a man who's a little less monster and a little more prince charming. But she started out saying exactly what you are; that she didn't mind, that she saw past the wolf and saw the man behind the lycanthropy. If she changed her mind what's to stop you doing the same?" he asked, his eyes on the table top in front of him.
Hermione laughed softly. "Would you like a list or just a summary? I'm not Tonks, Remus. I've seen you as a werewolf and on a list of possible Boggarts you don't even make the top ten. I don't want a Prince, because I learnt the hard way that charm can hide a multitude of sins. Nor do I want to separate the wolf and the man." She stood up and walked around the table, kneeling at Remus' side and taking one of his large scarred hands between her soft pair. "You're a werewolf, I know that and I accept that and I think it makes you the man you are, the gentle, kind, understanding, intelligent man you are, with a hint of something wild and dangerous that's incredibly sexy." She blushed as she spoke, the pink tinge on her cheeks making her look very pretty to Remus. "This, whatever this is, between us might not work out Remus, I know that. But don't you think, as Gryffindors, we should at least have the courage to give it a try?"
He smiled down at her, wondering briefly what he had done to deserve a chance with a woman like Hermione. Pushing that thought aside he used their clasped hands to pull her to her feet, rising to his own and wrapping his arms around her, holding her close.
"I think you're right as usual Hermione." He murmured into her hair before pulling back and tilting her head up towards him. "Although at the moment I find myself rather more interested in the part where you think I'm sexy." He smirked sexily, a look Hermione would never have thought to see on his face, but one which suited him immensely. She blushed again at his reminder of her words and lowered her eyes, slightly embarrassed. Remus leant in to whisper in her ear. "The feeling is entirely mutual, believe me."
Hermione looked up at him then, and he took the opportunity to lower his mouth to hers. His kiss was gentle, barely brushing her lips with his own. Hermione leant into his embrace and pressed their lips together more firmly. Her hands rested on his broad shoulders, and she pulled herself closer to him as the kiss deepened. Remus tangled one hand in her soft curls, the other holding her against him as her lips parted and he slipped his tongue into her mouth to tangle around her own. Suddenly Remus grasped her around the waist and lifted her onto the table behind her, stepping forward to stand between her legs. He groaned as she wrapped her legs around him, pressing herself against him so that there was no space between them.
It was the click of the door closing that made them pull away, both flushed and breathless. Remus looked over his shoulder but the room was empty apart from themselves.
"Strange," he said. "Still, shall we take this somewhere a little more private?" He smiled at the witch in his arms. She nodded then tucked her head against his chest, holding onto him as he apparated them out of the kitchen and back to his own house with a gentle pop.
Outside the kitchen, Harry leant against the wall, torn between being pleased and nauseous. While he was glad that Hermione and Remus had worked out their differences, at least for the time being, he didn't really need the image of his best friend and the closest thing he had to a parental figure in the middle of a snogging session on his table. Especially since it looked like it was headed fast to more than just kissing.
The dull thud of the front door pulled Harry from his thoughts and he ran up the stairs to greet Ginny.
"Hey you. Good day at work?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, it was ok thanks. I'm famished though, I'll go start dinner."
"No!" Harry shouted, not wanting to think about what they might walk in on. "Um, I mean, let's go out somewhere. You look tired and Ron mentioned a nice buffet place in Muggle London we could try."
Ginny narrowed her eyes as she looked at him suspiciously. "It's not our anniversary, or either of our birthdays. So what did you do?"
"Nothing. Can't I take my girlfriend out without being accused of doing something wrong?" Harry widened his eyes, trying his best to look sad and hurt.
"Of course you can. You just don't, that's all," she smiled at him. "Sorry Harry, you're being sweet and I'm all suspicious. I'll just grab my jacket from the kitchen, it's getting chillier out."
"No! I'll lend you mine, let's just go."
Ginny stopped dead in the hallway and fixed him with a gaze that would put a Basilisk to shame.
"Harry James Potter. What is going on?"
"Um, Hermione and Remus had a date last night which ended badly and I got them here to talk and then when I opened the kitchen door a minute ago they were kissing like horny third years, I just don't think you want to interrupt them, things looked pretty intense." He explained quickly.
Ginny frowned for a second then smiled. "You know, dinner out sounds lovely, and I don't need a jacket, you'll keep me warm, right?" Harry nodded as they walked out of the door. "Oh, and Harry? We're getting a new table for the kitchen, just in case."
A/N Once again, sorry for the long gap, Christmas and New Year were fun but busy, and my mum and I are doing up a flat before moving, so it's all madness. I'll update as soon as I can, promise! In the meantime, reviews are lovely.