Chapter 45 - Both - Back to School

Saturday 9th January - Waxing Crescent

Hermione

At last it was time to return to school, and Hermione was in equal parts impatient and anxious. She was craving his presence, but knew that everything would be different now and was dreading having to pretend like nothing was going on.

She arrived back to the common room on Saturday afternoon along with the rest of the students who had been home for the holidays, and was greeted by her friends. Harry pulled her immediately into a big hug whilst Ginny cooed lovingly over Crookshanks.

'Oh, he is just gorgeously ugly – look at that squashed face!'

'Alright Hermione,' came Ron's voice from behind Harry's shoulder, and he came into view as Harry released her from the hug. Ron shifted awkwardly from foot to foot and she felt a slight sense of smugness at his discomfort.

'Alright Ron,' she said with a nod, and he nodded back. At least they were speaking, she supposed. And it seemed Harry and Ron had also made up over the holidays.

'Good Christmas?' asked Harry as they all sprawled around the fireplace and began trading stories. Hermione recited her well-spun lies about her time at home and was both unimpressed and yet unsurprised at how little work the boys had done during their break. Ginny and Dean seemed intent on making up for lost time and took themselves away to the corner to snog, which was evidently not far enough away for Ron's liking who had sat pointedly with his back to them, the only sign of his displeasure being the colour of his ears.

Suddenly an orange blur flashed towards Ron, followed by the sound of distressed squeaking as Scabbers shot from his pocket and skittered across the common room floor.

'Scabbers!' shouted Ron in distress, leaping to his feet. Crookshanks bounded after the rat until it hid beneath a side table and Crookshanks meowed in frustration. Hermione jumped up and grabbed hold of the cat.

'Crookshanks, no!' she scolded.

'Keep that brute away from Scabbers,' Ron said with a scowl, kneeling down to reach beneath the side table to retrieve his quivering rat. Hermione apologised, but it seemed Ron's foul mood was not going away any time soon.

She sat with Ginny, Neville and Dean at the Welcome Feast to give Ron some time with Harry to cool off after the Crookshanks incident, but she struggled to engage in the conversation. Instead she kept glancing up at the teachers table and felt her insides squirming with a mix of unease and longing. It felt so wrong to see Remus looking so formal and authoritative in his suit and tie, bent over in intense discussion with Professor Flitwick. She found it hard to reconcile the man in front of her with the carefree man on the beach who she yearned for. It had only been a week since she had spoken to him but it already felt like a lifetime. Now back in the reality of school she could almost believe that it had all been a fever dream. She was dreading class on Monday.


Monday 11th January – Waxing Crescent

Remus

As the class began to fill the room Remus felt his stomach tightening into a knot whilst he fought to retain a calm exterior. He just had to get through one hour, then he could relax. When Hermione entered the room he thought he might throw up. They locked eyes for a moment she smiled encouragingly before slipping into a seat at the back of the room. He let out a shaky breath and began.

'Good morning everyone. I trust you all had a lovely Christmas break, however it is my duty to inform you that there are approximately sixteen weeks until you sit your OWLs, and so we'd best get cracking, don't you think? Now, who can tell me the difference between a jinx, a hex and a curse?'

In the absence of Hermione's hand raising the lesson progressed a little slower than usual, but he was pleased to see that most of the class appeared to have mastered some basic counter-jinxes. He had also relaxed as the lesson progressed, keeping his contact with Hermione to a minimum and becoming distracted by the teaching. Maybe everything is going to be okay after all. He could do this for a few more months, right?

The rest of the day passed without a hitch and he remembered why it was that he loved this job so much. Not even Snape's snide comments at dinner could dampen his mood and he retired to his quarters that evening satisfied to have gotten through an entire day with no problems.

He hadn't gotten very far into the chapter he was reading before he heard a tentative knock on the office door and felt Moonys ears prick up in anticipation. His heart swelled when he opened the door and saw her standing there.

'Hey,' he said softly.

'Hey,' came the reply.

Then he pulled her into his arms tightly and pushed the door closed behind her. He felt her relax into him and he kissed the top of her head. She smelled incredible.

'I missed you,' she mumbled into his chest, and he chuckled softly.

'Bloody hell, it's only been a week.'

She smiled up at him and placed a soft kiss on his lips, which he returned happily.

'I can't stay long,' she said, as he took her hand and led her through to his adjoining living room.

'I know. I'm glad you came though.' He sat on the sofa and she nestled into his side.

'But I do need to make a start on your potion today if I'm to get it ready in time.'

He squeezed her arm, feeling a rush of gratitude once more.

'Thank you.'

'It's my pleasure,' she smiled and he couldn't help himself from kissing her once more. She traced her finger lazily down his arm, and he closed his eyes to enjoy the sensation of her touch and her presence.

'How did you find it today?' she asked softly.

'Weird,' he said truthfully and felt her nod. 'But I think it's okay. We can manage for a few months, right?'

'I think so,' she sighed, 'I just don't know how much I'm going to be able to come and see you. I don't want people to get suspicious.'

'I know, love.'

'I wish we were back in the cottage,' she murmured. 'Away from all these eyes and people.'

'I know, me too,' he said softly and leaned his head on hers. They stayed that way for a while until eventually she sighed and said reluctantly.

'Right, I need to make a start.'

Moony whined as she pulled away, but Remus nodded. He loitered watching her as she weighed out and prepared the potion ingredients, her practiced hands working quickly and confidently. She added some ingredients to the cauldron and brought the glossy black liquid to a simmer.

'Alright, I need to go,' she said glancing at the clock. 'I promised Ginny I would hang out in the common room this evening, and figured that I needed to save up my excuses for when I really need them.'

He nodded and took a hold of her waist before placing a long, slow kiss on his lips as she wound her arms around his neck. Eventually he pulled away and said reluctantly,

'Go, now, or I fear you'll never leave.'

She smiled.

'I'll see you tomorrow,' and with a final squeeze of his hand she was gone.