Perfect Distraction

Chapter Two:

The Realization

They had been searching since sunrise, and had found no signs of Remus anywhere. As Hermione walked along the dew covered grass, she went over what had happened the night before. Those eyes, she thought to herself, they weren't his...for some reason that really bothered her. His eyes were usually a beautiful honey color, which slowly gained a golden-yellow tint as the full moon grew closer. Their many late night talks of what would happen if the Order failed, if something went wrong; she had noticed the way his eyes changed then. She had looked into those eyes so many times before; it shocked her to know that that was him, but not see the eyes she knew.

As she walked along in the fog, she thought of what a great person he was. Besides dealing with the inconvenience and prejudice that obviously comes with being a werewolf, he never really let it get to him. She had read of many werewolves who were always angry, withdrawn, and sometimes suicidal, but he never let "the way he was" get him down. For that, she was proud of him. Well, it wasn't just his transformation that had him so upset last night she told herself. Instinct told her to hold him and try to make everything better again. She knew it wasn't right for her to think of him that way. He was my teacher for God's sake! I can't be attracted to him.

Suddenly, Hermione was ripped from her thoughts when she heard a noise behind a tree that was just yards from where she stood. She hurried over to find Remus slumped against the large maple tree. He looked awful; he was pale and had cuts and bruises all over his face and chest. Last night must have been rough, Hermione thought as she looked at her former professor. Mr. Weasley had told them not to be alarmed if Remus looked this way. The bruises are caused by him trying to fight his transformation. "It never works, but he always tries." Dumbledore had said just before they left to search for him in the forest. He looked as though he was sleeping, and Hermione couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked when he slept. Many times she had done this; went to his room late in the night to wake him to talk...she just watched him for a moment or two while he slept. He always looked so peaceful, without a care in the world. As he began to stir, she was again jerked back to reality. He was shaking from the morning cold, and beads of sweat covered his battered body.

The first thing he saw upon opening his heavily hooded eyes was Hermione. She looks so beautiful in the morning sun, he thought. Wait what...it took him a few seconds to recall the events of the previous night. When he finally tried to speak, to apologize, she stopped him.

"Don't. It's okay, we're going to get you inside and cleaned up...Just as soon as I find Ron and Harry," she told Remus as she placed a finger to his lips to hush him. "This had been hard on all of us, we don't blame you for...," she trailed off as she looked in his eyes. "..for any of this." They were the normal golden brown, but they looked as she had never seen them before. He looks...she couldn't quite tell, as though he was ashamed or embarrassed.

"I'm so sorry...," he began, but she knew the rest.

"It's okay, we understand. No one is angry with you," she said with as much earnest as she could muster.

"No, you don't understand ...oh thank you...," she interrupted his apology by handing him a sizable chunk of Honeydukes chocolate. "Listen, I wanted to apologize mostly to you. I know you look up to me. I can't imagine the example I must be setting," he said, disgusted with himself.

Oh, I definitely more than just "look up to you"... "Well, I guess you taught us that everyone is human and we all make mistakes...,"she stated, almost as though she didn't believe it herself.

"Now you're just trying to make me feel better!" he laughed and tried to sit up, and then gasped suddenly, realizing how badly it hurt to do so. Grabbing his side, he eased himself back against the tree as Hermione looked on with a pained expression.

"I should go and get help. It seems as though you broke one of your ribs. I'll go and ...,"

"No!" he cut her off as he grabbed onto her arm to stop her. She looked as him questioningly. "Just, stay with me a moment or two." He sighed and reached out to hold her hand in his.

It was then that she realized: she really didn't just look up to him; she wasn't just attracted to him. She realized right then and there that she was in love.

As they sat together in silence, she reflected on what truly could have happened. He soon noticed that she had tears in her eyes. "What's the matter Hermione?" he cooed softly, great concern evident in his voice.

"We were... I was really worried about you," she said as she wiped a tear from her eye. "I mean, you're...well, you're all Harry has left, as far as a father figure goes, other than Mr. Weasley. Losing both of you would just kill Harry." She said this all very quickly, as though she was afraid of what he might say at the mention of, or reference to, Sirius.

"You know, that's just like you." He smiled as he thought of his year teaching at Hogwarts. She was always looking out for Harry and Ron, but for Harry especially. It seemed that she knew how important he was to the downfall of Voldemort from the beginning. "You always made sure Harry was okay, even if it meant you got into trouble." He sighed, realizing how alike they were when it came to their closest friends.

"Well, I guess I...," she was cut off as he looked deeply into her eyes.

He lifted his hand to touch her face, glowing in the rising sun. "You never cease to amaze me, you know that? You are so beautiful and smart; two qualities I was beginning to think could not exist in one person." The more he spoke, the more transfixed in him she became. "Um...as wrong as this would seem, me being your teacher formerly, and as much as I respect our friendship..."

"Oh just kiss me Remus." Hermione cut off his long speech with an intense kiss.

"And that is where you and I differ...but that's a good thing!" he said as he pulled her in for another kiss.