Fall From Grace

Chapter Three - The Weakness In Me

Succumb. Do it. Let her guide you, envelop your senses and take you somewhere you have never been. You need it. You want it. You want her. The little voice in the back of Remus' head was teasing him. Hermione had finally fallen asleep, exhausted in his arms. She looked so venerable. So precious. Remus sighed, she really was perfect. Gently he turned his head towards her and kissed her lightly on the temple. Due to that fact that Sirius has the worst timing of anybody that has ever lived he came bursting in just as Remus' lips touched Hermione's soft skin.

"Jesus...Bloody...Fuck," Sirius whispered, running a hand through his shaggy hair.

"Shush." Remus put a finger to his lips that were still tingling from where they has touch the girl in his arms, "She was upset. She just cried and when I thought she had finally stopped she was asleep. Nothing happened."

"Well what are you going to do?" Sirius pointed at her; "You can't carry a sleeping student back to bed. Werewolf strength or not. Rumours would fly. She has to stay here."

"OK. I'm staying with you," Remus said and smiled sadly.

"Erm...actually..." Sirius bit his lip and Remus' heard a giggle from outside the door. "Lyra. We met in Hogsmeade. So glad we found that tunnel. Have to have her back by midnight sorry mate. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Sirius turned back from the door and nodded towards Hermione, "If she was our age I would be vying for best man but Moony...she's not." He smiled weakly and left the room and Remus' silent and dark.

Hermione moved slightly in her sleep, "Don't...leave. Please don't, Harry."

She murmured then resettled leaving Remus on the verge of tears. Harry. Of course Harry. Why would she want a thirty-something year old werewolf, not even human, scruffy looking bloke when she could have Harry The-Boy-Who-Lived Potter? Remus gently laid her in his bed and covered her in blankets before writing a quick note to explain why she was there for when she woke the next morning and he set off for the Shrieking Shack. His solstice, even during a new moon.

%%%

Ron yawned as he woke up. The curtains had been taken down after the Sirius Black incident and he looked at the other people in his room. Dean was murmuring something about winning the Premiership, Seamus was drooling slightly on his teddy bear and Harry was happily stroking the red head that was lying on his chest...

Ron sat up with a start and glared at Harry. Harry smiled and put a finger to his lips.

"It's Ginny," he mouthed and Ron stood up ready to beat his best friend to death with a sock. "She came in crying but you were asleep," Harry finished and Ron calmed down.

"Did you...you know?" Ron had gone slightly pink around the ears.

"No!" Harry smiled, "But you go and find Hermione. I'll stay here until she wakes up," which will hopefully not be for a long time or I might have trouble letting go. Harry added silently to himself.

Less than half an hour later Harry's alarm went off and he un-tangled himself from a still sleeping Ginny. He wanted to just crawl back into bed with her and snuggle down for the rest of the day. However he did not want to explain to Professor Sprout why Ginny was more important than Herbology and he defiantly did not want to explain to Ron why Ginny was more important than Herbology.

"Harry, Have you seen Hermione? She wasn't in the common room or at breakfast." Ron looked worried. Hermione did not miss class, even if she was ill she would ask Madam Pomfrey to just get her through the lessons then heal her after homework.

"Nope. I only just got out of bed. I left Ginny by the way. She didn't look to well and a day off might suit her. She was really upset last night having these really weird dreams. Talking in her sleep too, I'm surprised she didn't wake you up." Harry grimaced remembering Ginny's confused but pain filled mumbling.

"What was she saying?" Ron was gently flicking peas out of his Googlepod.

"Kinda like 'I can't believe he hates me. I love him but I can't love him. That kiss. Will he ever do it again' and that sort of stuff. Sounds like she really likes this guy." Harry shrugged his shoulders but turned abruptly round when he heard a guffaw behind him.

"Finally kissed that Weasley Harry. Sounds like you have quite an effect. Or at least somebody did." Malfoy smirked and raised one eyebrow to see how Ron would react to the idea of his best mate snogging his sister.

"Bloody hell Harry. It wasn't you was it? I mean she hadn't kissed anyone last time Hermione spoke to her and that was on the Hogwarts express. If your kiss upset her..."

"Ron!" Harry tugged on his friends arm, "If I had grievously upset her why would she come crying to me last night. Think logically, I have never kissed Ginny." Harry paused hoping Ron would see sense and neither of them noticed Malfoy walk away looking slightly dazed.

"When do these things spore?" Harry asked poking his pod with his ruler.

"Late spring. Sprout made me write it out a hundred times as my homework was late last time. She said she wanted me to at least know something this lesson!" Ron snorted a laugh.

"She's turning you into Hermione, talking of Hermione, you spoken to her yet?" Harry tried to look as nonchalant as possible. As if the idea of Ron asking Hermione out wasn't making him want to grin like an idiot. They were so right for each other even if they couldn't see it just yet.

"About what?"

"You bloody well know what, Krum!"

"Harry. I just liked-"

"-idolised-"

"-him as a Quidditch player. What he and Hermione do is none of my business."

"Ron." Harry rolled his eyes dramatically, "You were all but ready to hunt Krum down and extract his spleen last summer, what changed?"

"Shestoppeddatinghimanditmademeveryhappy," Ron mumbled turning pink around the ears.

"What?"

"She stopped dating him...and it made me very happy. Is that what you wanted to hear?" Ron was now blushing furiously.

"Yeah, you want to tell her that?" Harry smiled and nodded his head to where Hermione had come running through the green house door, hair bushier than ever and looking flushed. Professor Sprout was not looking happy and Harry distinctly heard her give Hermione a detention. Eyes beginning to well up with tears she made her way over to them.

"Alarm didn't go off. Miss anything interesting?" She asked sounding a lot brighter than she looked.

"Not a lot, do you want to share my pod?" Ron pushed the sticky plant towards her smiling.

"Thanks. How are you two?" Hermione asked whilst squinting at the plant and referring to her textbook.

"Fine. A little worried about Sprout's question and answer session in a minute. Very stressful." Harry sighed skimming his eyes over his book for the millionth time that minute.

"Not if you studied hard enough," Hermione told him earnestly.

"Class! Class. While your plants rest I'm going to ask you the questions. May I remind you this is an excellent chance to earn additional house points."

A mumble went through the class and Professor Sprout raised her arm again to quieten them.

"Let's start with an easy one." The lady surveyed the class and her eyes fell twinkling on Ron, "Mr Weasley, when do these plants spore?"

Harry grinned at Ron and winked - guaranteed points for Gryffindor.

"November?" Ron asked, avoiding Harry's gaze.

"Mr Weasley! Did you even read the additional assignment I gave you? I think you should be joining myself and Miss Granger in detention tomorrow, perhaps then you will learn something?"

Ron nodded and Hermione leaned over to give his hand a squeeze. Practically feeling the light bulb 'ting' on above his head as Ron beamed at her Harry sighed. Losing house points for love - Weasley had gone mad.

%%%

The first week was the only week in the Hogwarts school year that everybody did their homework. By the time September 17th came round parchments had mysteriously vanished between classes and homework was taking a back seat to Exploding Snap...and it continued in this way up towards Christmas when it was officially time to do as little work as possible. That is for everybody except Hermione. She was situated in the middle of the common room sofa a huge book in her lap and her inkpot charmed to float at just the right height.

Harry came bounding through the portrait wall after an exhausting Quidditch practice. He slumped next to Hermione and she barely looked up from her work, minutes later Ron joined them laughing.

"Oi! Potter. Putting my socks in the shower to ensure victory in the run back is entirely against rules." Ron lifted one sock out of his shoe and water from the toe began to drop onto the stone floor.

"All dry now," Hermione said after she had muttered something and pointed her wand at Ron's feet without faltering in her reading.

"Oh sorry Hermi. You studying? Harry, we better go." Ron put his shoes back on and nodded to Harry.

"No. Stay and talk. I don't want to be left out." Hermione lifted her eyes from her book just long enough to smile at Ron and shuffle a bit to make room for him on her other side.

"The rest of the team will be up and want to talk. I don't want to ruin your studying." Ron ducked trying to get into her eye line but at the shake of Hermione's head sat next to her. In fact he sat much closer to her than to the other end of the sofa and smiled at Harry over her bent head.

True to his word the rest of the Gryffindor team came in very shortly and began discussing Quidditch plays. Hermione allowed herself to ponder on what had happened last night. Thankfully Ron and Harry had accepted her excuse that she had fallen asleep in the library and had overslept.

Guilt washed over her as she lied to them, her best friends. What was she supposed to say, "Sorry I fell asleep in the arms of the man I love. Maybe you know him, Professor Lupin?" Remus. The very idea of her snuggling in his arms, in his bed, sent chills down her spine. Not all of them were good chills; not after her dream. Hermione was known for talking in her sleep. It was how her dorm mates found out that she liked Ron in third year and her dream last night could have got her expelled.

Remus holding her, dancing with her under the full moon on a golden balcony. He had leaned in to kiss her when his eyes flew open.

Remus had gasped, "No we can't, I have to go."

"Please you can't leave," Hermione yelled after him but to no avail. He had turned back to her and explain that he couldn't Harry wouldn't understand and she was crushed, "Please, Harry would understand he knows...I love you."

It was after that the dream faded away and Hermione knew it was just a dream, Remus could never dance with her under a full moon. She smiled a little, yeah Granger that's what's stopping your fantasy, the full moon. The sarcastic voice in her head sounded a lot like Ron.

"Granger! Oi! Granger!" Ron snapped his fingers in front of her eyes.

"Oh sorry and my name is Hermione," she informed whilst smiling sweetly at him

"I know but I tried that and you still wandered into your dream world."

"Shut up I wasn't. Ginny!" Hermione waved at her friend who had just come back from the hospital wing for some pepper-up potion.

"Hi." Ginny yawned and sat down, "What's going on?"

"We were just talking about how much everyone's changed over the summer," Dean shuffled over so she could sit on the arm of his chair, "How were things at the Harry Potter's 2nd Home wing?"

"Funny." Harry scowled at Dean, "Gin, do you think I've changed? Lavender said I was studly."

"Harry Potter I said you were more studly. That doesn't make you actually studly." Lavender poked her tongue out at Harry and was going slightly pink.

"You're taller. Oh and Quidditch make you kinda muscley. I'd say you were proper studly." Ginny smiled shyly at him and pretended not to see Lavender's smirk, "How about me?"

"You're a lot less quiet. It's great to have all those raunchy conversations but no sparks setting fire to the curtains and stuff," Harry smiled.

"Yeah. No sparks, those things can be lethal! No sparks, just like with Ron," Ginny smiled back but very sadly and Ron whipped his head round at the mention of his name.

"Harry that's just a nice way of saying she's same as ever, which by the way Gin you still are. Ever the scrawny little brat. See brothers get to be that honest Harry you should try it!" Ron finished an all eyes turned to him. Ginny nodded slowly then jumped up and quickly walked out of the common room without hearing what everyone was shouting at Ron.

"Ron!"

"Sorry dude but that was just mean."

"Big bloody eijet."

"Poor Ginny."

"If you ever speak to me like that you will be castrated Ronald Weasley. I'm surprised she just left I would have killed you."

"I agree with Herm. That was horrid."

And with that Ron found himself left with only a very startled Harry before an empty fire.

%%%

"Malfoy!" Ginny called down the corridor praying that nobody was around to see her run after the Slytherin.

"What Weasley?" Draco smirked as she approached. He noticed her cheeks were flushed from running and her hair was a mess. She was panting and bent slightly over giving him a fascinating view down her robes.

"I have a proposition for you. Care to find out more?" She held open the door to the Charms classroom and raised one eyebrow.

Draco reluctantly followed her inside, his curiosity tweaked by this siren that had changed so much. Malfoy was finding it hard to picture this girl...woman as the child who blushed every time perfect Potter walked by. The silly little girl who had gotten one of Lockhart's elves to sing a poem to Potter was now staring Draco Malfoy in the eye. There was a sparkle there that could only be rivalled by one other person, Malfoy had only seen that evil glint when he looked in the mirror.

"What is it?" Draco glared, not wanting to give this Muggle lover a clue that he had been thinking about her.

"You hate my brother don't you?" She asked

"Always knew one of your family had to develop a brain, lucky it was you. The others would be positively dangerous. Anything else?" Draco sighed; he was not in the mood to answer a silly little girl's question.

"You also hate Harry, huh? And Granger...the Mudblood?" Ginny grimaced slightly as she used that word but Malfoy stopped in his tracks and stared at her.

"Mudblood? My, my Miss Weasley. You have grown up, I'm impressed, but is this going anywhere?"

"I propose we make a deal. Just let me finish." Ginny stopped him from interrupting; "I want Harry in ways you could only imagine Malfoy. But he doesn't notice me at all, so what could I do to get his attention? Something huge, something scandalous."

Ginny paused trying to gauge Draco 's response. He slowly smiled before adding, "Run naked through Potions?"

"Dunderhead!" She smirked, "Even worse than that. I could fu...fall for a Slytherin. But not just any Slytherin, the king of all bastards. Mr Draco Malfoy." She finished with a flurry.

"You and me? I know why you want me Weasley but what exactly would I get out of your little scheme?" Ginny had most certainty got Draco's attention but he was thinking practically.

"Well, last time we kissed you seemed to enjoy it so spending time with me wouldn't kill you. Plus you get to piss Harry off constantly and you have a Gryffindor at your every disposal. There are, however, a few minor things we need to straighten out."

"Such as?" Draco was beginning to warm to this idea.

"Well I need basic boyfriend stuff. That means NO other girls. And for every boyfriend thing you do for me I will do a girlfriend thing for you. I need, walking to class, carrying my books, eating with me...basic stuff that would irritate the red from Ron's hair."

"Weasley-"

"First names, Draco."

"So it's tit for tat, metaphorically speaking? What about bigger stuff? Kissing?" Draco pulled out his grin again.

"Kissing will be a privilege that you can only have when I decided. And I decided...never. Big stuff like Hogsmeade would be worth a week of book carrying or..."

"A night in the Slytherin bed chambers?"

"No way...nuh uh. Nada. No." Ginny blushed a furious red, "I am not going to have sex with you..."

"I didn't say sex," Draco interrupted, "You just have to be seen leaving my dorm."

"That's worth a whole load. Not sure how much or if it's even feasible. Other than that, do we have a deal?" Ginny put out her hand for Draco to shake but he gathered it in his own, brought it to his lips and whispered, "Deal" against her delicate skin.

"Then how are you going to ask me out?" Ginny smiled sweetly.

"Tomorrow morning, Ravenclaw verses Slytherin. I, naturally, will catch the snitch. Fly over to your stand pull you onto my broom fly to the Gryffindor idiot who has the microphone and ask you out in dedication. Romantic enough? Public enough?" Draco smiled properly at the idea of the look on Weasley's face when Ginny accepted in front of everyone.

"You just make sure you know where I'm sitting." Ginny began to leave the classroom before turning back and smiling as sickly sweetly as she could, "Oh and Draco? Make sure you catch the snitch."