Once in a Blue Moon

CHAPTER 10

28 February - Hogwarts - late afternoon

Sirius watched as his friend finished packing a small case. "I can't believe you're actually going to go off somewhere," he said gloomily. "leaving me with only Snape for company."

Lupin laughed. "There's more than Snape here," he said, "And you're on duty this weekend anyway." He looked up at his friend, his eyes shining, "Sirius, this weekend is the most important thing I've ever done in my life so far," he said, "in fact, I know of only one thing that would be more important."

Sirius Black was surprised. In all the year's he'd known his friend - been his friend, he had never seen him look like this; or sound so intense. "When will you be back?" he asked.

"Sunday afternoon."

"And will you let on the big secret then?" To his surprise, Remus blushed.

"It depends," he said, "But it's not only my secret to share. Besides, if you really think about it - cast your mind back - you'll find that it's not really a secret. Just something most people have forgotten."

"How far back?" asked Sirius, intrigued.

"Just after we left school. Before James and Lily got married. And why I couldn't be at their wedding."

Sirius looked at his friend. He had all weekend to work this one out. And he didn't even have Pilar around to bounce ideas off either.

Remus held out his hands to Pilar as she met him on the road outside Hogsmeade. "Ready?" he asked. She nodded, and he whispered something in her ear.

The two disappeared.

Only to re-appear shortly thereafter outside a small inn, cosily nestled amongst some woods.

Pilar looked around in delight. "However did you find this place?" she asked.

"I worked not far from here," he explained, "and found it one full moon."

She looked at him. "Have you stayed here before?"

"No, but I've always wanted to."

She took his arm, and the couple entered. The interior was a cosy as the exterior. The dark wood furniture with its plush cushions inviting curling up on. They approached the desk and the clerk looked up.

"May I help you?"

Remus looked a little uncomfortable - after all he'd never done this before. "I, err, We have a booking for the weekend."

"Name, Sir?"

"Lupin."

"Ahh yes, Professor Lupin? From Hogwarts?" He nodded. "And this must be Mrs Lupin," said the clerk, looking at Pilar, who blushed. "We like having newlyweds here," continued the clerk, "and on behalf of the house would like to congratulate you."

Both Pilar and Remus looked a little uncomfortable, but did not bother to correct the clerk. Pilar decided, however, that by the end of the weekend their status would be one thing they had decided on.

Lupin signed the register, and they turned to find a young man holding their bags. "Thomas will show you to your room," said the clerk, "enjoy your stay with us."

They followed him up the stairs, until they came to their room, which turned out to be a bit of a surprise to both Remus and Pilar.

All Remus Lupin had known about the inn was what he had discovered when working in the vicinity. He had booked the room based on that.

He had expected the large bed, the fireplace and the stereo equipment.

What he had not expected was the fact that a room this size could not possibly have fit in the building. The Spa bath was definitely a surprise - and he noticed Pilar looking at it speculatively.

He turned to the young man who had brought up their bags, and who he noticed now was not actually carrying them, but had levitated them.

"I take it I was mistaken in thinking this was a non-magical inn?"

"Not exactly, Professor," said the young man, "We cater to both wizards and muggles - and when we realised that you and your wife were newlyweds, decided to give you the best room we have."

"And we appreciate it," put in Pilar. She looked at Lupin. "I suppose we should have known when they said you were from Hogwarts."

Thomas nodded, and looked around the room. He drew his wand, and pointed it at a table. On it appeared a silver ice bucket, it's outside frosted with cold, inside with a bottle of champagne, and a large basket of fruit and chocolate. "Compliments of the house," he said, as he left the room.

As soon as he left the room, Pilar gave a yell and jumped on Remus, wrapping both arms and legs around him. "You wonderful, wonderful man," she carolled, kissing him soundly. "This is the best surprise you could have given me."

He wrapped his arms around her, returning kiss for kiss. "I'm so glad you approve," he said, drawing her closer, "now, about that discussion we were having the other night."

She smiled naughtily, "I just don't know. After all, I don't want you to think that I'm in any way easy. That you could bring me to a place like this just to seduce me."

'Oh, seduction hadn't entered my mind," he said seriously, amused at the look of anger that flared in her eyes, "actually, I planned to ravish you," and he seriously started to remove her clothing.

Pilar sighed and surrendered to the man she loved. "Well that's a completely different thing."

Lupin stretched on the bed and looked down at Pilar, nestled against him, and felt himself harden against her. Their years apart had only increased their appetite for each other. Their months working together had increased their friendship.

He loved watching her sleep. He loved watching her eat. He loved watching her. And now they were together, he could spend the rest of his life watching.

He smiled as he recalled their hours of lovemaking. Marvelled at her enthusiasm and at the way she encouraged him to please her.

And yet, he could sense in her an innocence that had drawn him to her in the first place. He had been touched beyond belief when at the height of her passion, her cries had been of how much she loved him. Had been touched when she told him that she wanted to be there the next full moon - so that she could share that experience with him.

To meet the wolf.

And he had been frightened at the fierce passion she had caused in him. Frightened at the wolf he could feel on the edges. Frightened to let himself completely loose control, frightened that he might hurt her.

He kissed her cheek gently, not wanting to wake her, and pulled her closer to him, drifting off to sleep.

Pilar had not been asleep. She had felt him tense as he woke, felt him move and kept her eyes shut, just enjoying being there with him. Knowing that for the next two nights, they did not have to watch the time.

She loved him so much, but wondered why he never completely let himself go in their loving. She could feel the tightly held control, with an edge of wildness that sent her senses soaring.

The contrast of the man, the gentle Remus Lupin, and the animal he became, both of these forming the man she was passionately in love with.

She didn't doubt it now. Their love would have survived years together, but she knew that their friendship, grown over the months of working together, had only made their love stronger. Provided an even firmer foundation.

There was nothing she was not willing to sacrifice to remain with him.

She felt him kiss her cheek and nestle down with her. Pilar moved slightly, and his head slipped to rest on her breast. She wrapped her arms around him and looked forward to waking in the morning with him.

"Remus," she said, the following evening over dinner in the restaurant, "I need you to answer a question for me."

He looked at her and lowered his knife and fork. "What question?"

"Why are you holding back?"

"Pardon?"

"When we make love. You hold part of yourself back. I can feel it there - quite frankly it's a wildness that excites me. But you never let it out. Why?"

He took a shuddering breath, and she realised that the answer was something that disturbed him - and that he worried would disturb her.

She got up from her bench and came round the table to sit next to him, her arms going around him lovingly. "Remus, I'm not going to be upset at anything you tell me - unless you tell me that you're leaving me. I want to help. I love you so much, I can't bear to think that I might cause you pain."

He looked at her. "You cause me pain? I'm frightened that I'll hurt you." He looked around the restaurant. "Do you mind if we don't discuss this here," he said, and his hand moved to her face, "I don't really think that I can discuss it in public."

She nodded, and stood, holding out her hand.

Alone, in their room, she drew him down onto the soft couch in front of the fireplace. "Tell me."

"I can feel it, Pilar, the wolf. And I'm frightened that if I loose control the wolf will take over, and you'll be hurt. And worse, that you'll become what I am."

She laughed, "I don't fear you. I don't fear what you are, and if you bite me and I become a werewolf, then I don't care either. The wolf is part of you. It's part of what and who you are, and like I said, that part of you excites me." She reached over and kissed him, "Don't be afraid of hurting me," she said, "I want you - and that includes the wolf," she giggled, "and I must admit to being rather disappointed in you. You never have ravished me like you promised."

He watched as she knelt on the couch in front of him, slowly removing her clothing, each item being removed inflaming him more and more.

Suddenly, with a fierce snarl, he grabbed her, tearing from her the flimsy bits of lace that she called underwear, his hands and mouth eagerly claiming her body. His own clothing getting in the way, and feverishly being torn off - neither of them ever sure who did that.

Remus moved lower down her body, his tongue dipping into her navel, moving lower until he reached her core, his tongue darting in and out, his teeth gently nibbling. He felt her hands grasp at his head, pulling him closer, heard her moans of passion, and felt her legs wrap around him.

He felt her come, felt her hips buck into his mouth and greedily sucked all she gave. His own erection was enormous, throbbing with need, and he could no longer wait, as he plunged into her - for once forgetting all about control as he thrust into the willing woman beneath him.

As he thrust, his mouth fastened onto her breasts - not caring if his passion left marks, his hands grasped her hips and he pulled her closer to him as he thrust, her moans becoming cries, her hands becoming claws, and he could feel her nails digging into his back.

He could hear himself howling his release, and heard her scream of passion echo his howl, in her eyes he could see the matching wildness in his own. Could see the excitement he had given her, and finally understood his own nature.

He collapsed on top of her, panting, and feeling sweat trickle down his body. He felt her lips and teeth as he showed her appreciation. He gathered her into his body, closer, although he was still buried deep inside her, and he felt her move gently beneath him. "Well," she said, "that was good, but I think that as ravishment goes, you need some practice."

He couldn't help himself, and laughed. Then he kissed her as he felt himself harden inside her again, and began to move, "Good thing I've got such a willing study partner, then."

The rest of the weekend passed too quickly, and as they left the Inn, both Pilar and Remus knew that their relationship had changed. Wolves mate for life, and both knew that theirs was now a lifelong partnership.

They were reluctant to separate, and kept their arms wrapped around each other until they came within sight of Hogwarts gates. Reluctantly they parted. Their promise to Dumbledore holding them.

The school could not know they were lovers.

Pilar sighed as she watched him head towards his own chambers, and then she brightened. He had promised that they would always spend their nights together. Had promised to find a way. Somehow.

Remus walked to his rooms, seeing Pilar in his mind. He was waylaid by Sirius Black, who obviously thought he had worked out what Remus had been doing.

As it happened, his theory was remarkably correct, and Remus felt quite grateful that he had no idea who the lady in question was. And then wondered what Sirius would say if he told him.

"Well, whoever she - or he - was," said Sirius, still a little annoyed his friend would not reveal the identity of his partner, "and It certainly has done you good."

Remus looked at him seriously. "I learned a lot this weekend. About myself. And I've finally come to peace with what I am." He then grinned impishly, "And it is a she, you bastard."

"She must be a very special lady," said Sirius.

"You have absolutely no idea just how special she is."

"No hint? I mean, do I know her?"

Remus looked at his best friend. "You do know her, and our relationship goes back a very long way."

Sirius shook his head. He had never known his old friend to be so close-mouthed about anything.