Cat and Dog

Ch 3 - Ruffling the fur

Confusion.

Calm.

Surprise.

Senses on overload.

The two still stood chest to chest, silently daring each other to make their next move. An outsider witnessing the tableau might have compared it with two Muggle gunslingers about to face off in the wild, wild west.

This was a stand off of the old fashioned kind. It was a stalemate of the heart and the stakes were high. For Minerva, it was a matter of trying to convince Remus that Severus and Hermione needed to be left alone. For Remus, it was a matter of . . . well Remus wasn't really quite sure what his purpose was right now.

It wasn't a full moon, so why was he feeling like he was about to be consumed whole by some sort of madness that would transform him.

His lips still rested against Minerva's. .Just a moment more couldn't, wouldn't, shouldn't hurt. Then Minerva's tongue started to toy with his and the kiss deepened.

It was a smooch that brought light and shadow, the warmth of affection and the heat of passion. Closer, Remus wanted Minerva to feel the effect she was having on him because his heart was racing.

"This was not your greatest idea," Minerva thought to herself. "However, as far as foolish ideas go, it can't hurt to explore further. This feels a little unexpected, but not unwelcome. Let's put this down to sheer, dumb luck."

Her arms slid around Remus waist and pulled him towards her. Minerva was tall, but Remus was taller. Looking at Remus hadn't quite prepared her for the reality of holding him. Lean muscle pressed into soft curves, masculine arms began to explore the uncharted curves of a true hourglass waist. This was a woman's body wasted behind the cover of robes.

More, Minerva began to want a lot more of this kind of treatment as her hands gripped the well formed, denim encased rear of the werewolf and gave just a little squeeze.

"That some sort of new defensive tactic Minerva?" Remus glared at the woman who had just managed to grant his deepest wish and piss him off all at the same time.

"Are you going to recount this little ploy of yours when I haul Snape and that girl before the Wizengamot and have you named as an accomplice to their foolish endeavours?"

Minerva wondered if the passion and affection she felt burning in Remus during the last few minutes had fried his brain giving him the emotional flexibility of a dry twig in the middle of summer. .

Someone had to knock some sense into him otherwise something rare and beautiful between Severus and Hermione was going to perish. To say nothing of the chance for them to share more elusive, beautiful moments like the one they had just shared. Where had that come from and why wasn't she frightened of it? Even though every rational thought she possessed told her to fly like a seeker after the snitch.

Simple talk was required to get through to this man. What phrase did she end up taking points from Slytherin for after a muggle born first year yelled it across the Great Hall? Ah yes, that was it.

.

"Get a life wolf boy. Have you ever known real passion Remus?

Ch 4 - Fur stands on end

The hackles on Remus' neck rose - well at least they would have if he had been in werewolf form.

Backing away from Minerva, Remus started pacing around her rooms stopping only to glare at her. Now the Deputy Headmistress knew how a mouse felt moments before the falcon descended with its' talons outstretched.

"Get a life! Certainly Minerva . . .who's life should I get because the bloody werewolf that bit me all those years ago stole mine. Passion and love are for fools and don't exist outside of those trashy novels Muggles love so much," Remus yelled, reaching for his wand.

"So Remus, you are saying that your life was great before you were bitten but it is crap now?" Minerva's tolerance threshold had just been shattered.

"Not that you'd know about love and passion, being imprisoned in this school with nothing but rampant teenage hormones and wizards who are older than dirt for company. Accio Quidditch Cup!" The trophy sailed into Remus waiting hands. He threw it against the fireplace, the trophy disintegrating.

Minerva rolled her eyes, glancing at the fragmented ornament. If he wanted to irritate her, he should have taken lessons from her first year Slytherin-Hufflepuff transfiguration class. Now, they had come up with many new ways to tweak her temper and it was only halfway through the term. She would cast the appropriate restorative spells on the trophy later. Why give Remus the satisfaction?

"Well from the little display you turned on a few minutes ago, I'd say you had a reasonable idea about the kind of passion that makes you want to howl at the moon. As for love and affection, you wouldn't know it if it came up to you in the middle of Diagon Alley and slapped you." Minerva tried to hold back a smile.

"So, you think you can show me the meaning of passion, love and affection? Or are you a scaredy cat?"

"I could just ask Severus for a love potion and you'd be falling at my feet.

"Too easy. Try again Miss Kitty."

"Miss Kitty? Are you flirting with me Remus?

"Maybe, maybe not. You want to show me what love is - I'll give you two weeks to prove yourself and your crackpot theory that love is real and not brewed down in Snape's laboratory."

Minerva looked at the calendar - September 19 and Hermione's birthday when she would be of age in the wizarding world and free to love Severus as openly as she chose was three weeks away.

The two weeks he'd given her was not enough time but she hadn't shied away from a challenge yet - typical Gryffindor that she was.

"Remus, I have three words for you to remember during the next two weeks - bewitched, bothered and bewildered." Minerva spritzed on some perfume - a variant on the Muggle fragrance Aromatics she had developed with help from Severus.

Opening her door to join Albus and the students for dinner in the Great Hall, Minerva ran a well manicured finger along Remus' jaw, skimming once, then twice across his lips.

She walked past him, turning her head to remark she hoped he would join them in the Great Hall for dinner. The muted click of her low-heeled leather boots faded down the corridor.

Remus ran a hand across his jaw trying to process what had just happened in the Head of Gryffindor's quarters.

"Wow, what a witch," he breathed before stepping onto a revolving staircase and heading towards the Great Hall.