Hogwarts Love

Hogwarts Love

It is a widely acknowledged fact that relationships that begin in school rarely last. They usually tend to be sweet romances, over as soon as the two teens leave school and go into the 'real' world.

Clearly, Hermione thought as she looked around the dining room table, no one had ever told any of the students from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this fact.

To Hermione's right sat Harry and Ginny, whose return from their honeymoon was the reason for this evening's dinner. Harry and Ginny had gotten together not long after the Department of Mysteries incident, a time when Hermione feared that Harry would never recover from the depression he sunk into after the death of Sirius. But Hermione, Ron and Ginny managed to bring their old friend back, and Harry and Ginny had been inseparable ever since.

Sitting next to Ginny was the man who was not only Ginny's favourite brother, but one third of what had affectionately become known as The Trio; the one and only Ron Weasley. Hermione watched as Ron chatted with his wife of one year, Luna Lovegood. Ron and Luna had surprised everyone when they got together at the end of The Trio's sixth year. And despite Hermione's initial reservations, Ron and Luna were great together.

Hermione shifted her gaze to the couple sitting opposite Ron and Luna. Fred and Angelina had been dating in secret for a few months prior to the twins' now infamous departure of Hogwarts. They weren't married, much to Molly's chagrin, but they were living together and were very happy.

Sitting next to Angelina was the matriarch of the family and her wonderful husband. As Hermione understood it, Molly and Arthur Weasley fell in love during their final year at Hogwarts, married less than a year later and had their first child one year after that. Hermione smiled as she saw Arthur lean across and kiss Molly's cheek; they were still as in love as ever.

Sitting next to Arthur was the only couple at the table who didn't meet and fall in love during their Hogwarts years: Bill and Fleur. But Hermione couldn't help but note that Bill and Fleur had met at Hogwarts.

Hermione turned to the man sitting on her left, the only other unattached person at the table, and smiled softly. Remus returned her smile.

"Attention everyone," Arthur said loudly, tapping on his goblet as he stood. The various conversations going on around the table immediately ceased as everyone turned their attention to Aurthur. "I would like to take this opportunity to propose a toast to Harry and Ginny..."

The eleven people sitting at the table picked up their goblets and held them in mid-air.

"Ginny, you are our only daughter and when you were born, we were certain that no man would ever be good enough for you. But if the man who defeated Voldemort isn't good enough, then who is?"

Everyone chuckled while Harry looked slightly embarrassed. Ginny took his hand, squeezing it reassuringly.

"Harry, you have always been a part of our family. But we are thrilled that now it's official. So here's to you - to Harry and Ginny."

"To Harry and Ginny," everyone echoed as one while Ginny and Harry beamed. There was a great noise as goblets were chinked before everyone took a sip of their wine.

As the goblets were placed back on the table, the multiple conversations started up again. Remus, Fleur, Bill, Arthur and Molly were discussing the plans for the upcoming nuptials between Bill and Fleur, while Harry and Ginny were telling Hermione, Fred, Angelina, Luna and Ron about their honeymoon.

"So the first day after we arrive, we go out onto the Great Barrier Reef," Harry explained. "And it's breathtaking - the colours and clarity of everything is amazing. So we go and we snorkel and swim and all that. But what we didn't do is slip, slop, slap."

Ginny giggled while everyone simply stared at the two of them like they were crazy.

"What was that?" Angelina asked. "Slip, slop, slap?"

Harry laughed. "It's an Aussie thing. It means: slip on a t-shirt, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat."

"Right," Ron drawled out, looking at Harry and Ginny as if to say, 'you're both mental.'

Ginny grinned at Harry. "We're girt by idiots," she whispered playfully.

Harry chuckled, but quickly continued his story so he didn't have to explain Ginny's comment to Fred, who was eyeing them suspiciously. "So anyway, we spent the whole day out in the Australian summer sun with only one layer of sunscreen on. When we got back to our hotel room, we were starting to feel a little queasy, but didn't think too much of it. Anyway, to cut a long story short, we spent the next three days in bed, red as tomatoes, recovering from sunstroke."

Everyone laughed while Ginny looked abashed. "I don't know what we were thinking. I mean, hello, red hair and fair skin! It's a recipe for disaster."

Hermione smiled at her friends, wishing for the millionth time that the three missing people in Harry's life could be here; James and Lily Potter, yet another amazing couple produced by Hogwarts, and Harry's beloved godfather, Sirius Black. Hermione wondered if Sirius had anyone in his life before his unwarranted tenure at Azkaban. Although she only knew him for a few years, she was certain that Sirius's charm meant he would have found someone special.

Yep, Hermione thought as she listened to Harry and Ginny, there must be something in the water at Hogwarts. Or pumpkin juice, as the case may be. Too bad she missed out...

Hermione, noting that everyone was engrossed in their various conversations, quietly stood and snuck out of the dining room. Unbeknownst to her, she did not go unnoticed. Remus watched her leave, then waited a few minutes before excusing himself and heading upstairs, knowing exactly where to find Hermione.

Remus peeked his head around the door to the library and sure enough, there she was, sitting on the couch with an open book in her lap. He knocked softly on the open door, getting her attention. "May I come in?"

"Of course," she replied.

Remus walked into the room, closing the door behind him, and sat by Hermione on the couch. "You okay?" he asked.

Hermione turned to him, confused. "Of course I am. Why?"

"Oh, I just noticed at dinner that you seemed a bit ... well, I don't know how to describe it ... like you were concentrating really hard as though you were formulating some great theory instead of having a relaxing dinner with your friends..."

Hermione looked at him sheepishly.

"Hermione Jane Granger, were you really formulating a theory at dinner?" he asked incredulously.

"Maybe," she replied, drawing the word out guiltily.

Remus chucked. "Does your mind ever stop working," he said rhetorically, rolling his eyes. "So, what theory were you working on?"

Hermione merely stared at Remus and he was certain he could see the cogs in her mind turning. "Remus, can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"It's kind of personal," she warned.

"That's okay," he reassured her, "if it's too personal, I just won't answer," he grinned.

Hermione smiled back. "When you and Sirius were at Hogwarts, did either of you have girlfriends?"

Remus was confused as to where this question was coming from, but answered anyway. "I didn't, no. But Sirius did. She was a Gryffindor in our year, her name was Willow."

"Cool name."

"Yeah. Apparently, she was named after a character in a book, a water sprite, who was in love with this man and knew they were meant to be together, but the man took some convincing." Remus chuckled. "It's funny, ever since our first year at school, I knew Willow had a crush on Sirius, but she never made a move or did anything overt to get his attention. She just waited. And then one day, after years of friendship, Sirius suddenly realised what was in front of him the entire time."

"Were they in love?"

"Most definitely," he answered with a shadow of a smile.

"What happened? Did she leave him because of what happened with Harry's parents?"

"No. She ... she died," Remus replied sadly.

"Oh. Was she-"

"No," Remus shook his head slightly, "she wasn't killed. Willow was sick. She died not long after we left Hogwarts."

A silence descended upon the room, broken only by the occasional crack from the fireplace in the corner of the library. Remus noticed the book in Hermione's lap was actually not a book at all. It was Harry's photo album - open to a page where there was a picture from Harry and Ginny's wedding, a photo of the bridal party: Harry, Ginny, Ron, Luna, Hermione and himself. All six faces were smiling and then the groomsmen and bridesmaids cheered and clapped as Harry and Ginny kissed.

"Why do you ask?" Remus eventually broke their silence.

"As I was sitting at dinner, I had this idea-" Hermione broke off, unsure whether she should confess her thoughts. Would Remus think her silly or crazy?

"Yes?" he prompted encouragingly.

"Looking around the table, I realised that everyone there had gotten together while they were at Hogwarts." She looked at Remus, almost challenging him to laugh or mock her.

But he didn't. Remus looked pensive. "Bill and Fleur didn't-"

"Where did they meet?" Hermione broke in.

"Good point," Remus smiled.

Hermione nodded half-heartedly.

"But there's more to it, isn't there," Remus said gently.

Hermione sighed lightly. "I was just thinking about other couples that we know: Percy and Penelope, Malfoy and Pansy, Seamus and Parvati, Dumbledore and McGonagall, not to mention Harry's parents... people who get together in Hogwarts, stay together."

"Hmm..." Remus mused what she said. "Maybe you're right."

"I know I am," Hermione said confidently, a slight smile lighting up her face.

Remus had to chuckle; yes, she was always right, always had been.

"So are you worried that you missed your chance?" Remus asked casually as he took the photo album from Hermione's lap and began flipping through the pages.

She looked at him sharply. "How did you -"

"Hermione, we've known each other for nearly ten years and have been working together for over a year. I think it's fairly safe to say that after all this time I know how you think."

"I guess so," she smiled ruefully.

Hermione didn't say anything else and Remus couldn't help but notice that she didn't answer his question. But he decided not to press the matter. He continued flicking backwards through the photo album, the pictures occupants becoming younger as he went. He stopped on a photo of The Trio from their early Hogwarts days.

"You know, when I first met the three of you back in your third year, I was certain you would end up with either Harry or Ron."

Hermione shifted a bit closer to Remus so she could see the photo he was looking at. She laughed a hollow laugh. "Me too."

"Really?" he asked in a surprised tone, slightly taken aback that she would admit to more than platonic emotions towards her two best friends.

"Sure," she replied honestly. "For as long as I could remember I always just assumed that I would end up with either Harry or Ron. It just seemed like the logical thing. Even back then, in the first few years of our friendship, I knew I would spend my life with them. I guess I just assumed that it would be in a romantic relationship with one and a platonic relationship with the other... But I'm happy that things turned out the way they did. And I am so happy that Harry has the family he always wanted, that he and Ron are finally real brothers."

"I'm sure if you asked him, Harry would tell you that you're his family too," Remus said sincerely.

"I know," she replied with a smile. "And I wasn't wrong. I will be spending my life with Harry and Ron. Which probably isn't conducive to finding myself someone..."

"What do you mean?"

"Look at it this way," Hermione said, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Imagine coming to pick me up for a date and having the door answered by Harry and Ron, who promptly tell you to watch yourself because if you hurt their best friend, you are in for a world of pain. And, you know, they're Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, so you believe them. Then you manage to get me to the restaurant and we eat and share stories, except all my stories involve Harry and Ron. So I don't say anything and we have nothing to talk about. Or I do talk and bring up Harry and Ron all the time, because we have known each other our whole lives and we do everything together and they are part of all my stories. So by this stage you are thinking that I'm either boring or in love with my best friends. You escort me home, see Harry and Ron looking through the curtains in a menacing fashion, so you run and never see me again."

Remus was speechless. When he could finally speak, all he could manage was, "Wow."

"Yeah," Hermione said wearily, turning the pages in the photo album that was still resting on Remus's lap and studying the pictures.

"That has happened to you?" he asked incredulously.

"Yep," Hermione replied nonchalantly, "more than once."

Remus watched Hermione as she gazed at the photo album, specifically at a photo of a young Remus clowning about with Sirius and James. Taking in a deep breath, he said, "So you know what you have to do, don't you?"

"What?"

Remus lifted his hand to her chin and gently turned her head towards him. They looked into each others eyes as Remus moved his hand to her cheek and gently caressed it. "You have to find someone who knows you, and your life, and won't scare so easily," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

He dropped his hand from her cheek, though their eyes remained locked on each other.

"That's a good idea," Hermione said softly. "Can you suggest someone who might fit this description?" she asked teasingly.

"I might have an idea," he smiled as he inched a bit closer to her. They were now mere centimetres from each other.

There was a loud crash from somewhere beyond the library door. Hermione and Remus instantly backed away from each other and turned to the door, as if they could actually see through the wooden panel to see what happened. Sharing a worried and confused look, they both stood and headed out of the room, Remus dropping the photo album onto the coffee table as he passed it.

They crept out onto the landing and looked down. Fred was standing with his hands over his face, trying not to laugh, surrounded by broken plates and splattered food. Molly was fussing about while Ron was re-enacting Fred tripping, much to the amusement of Harry, Ginny and Luna.

Remus and Hermione grinned at the scene below before retreating back into the library. Hermione picked up the photo album and sat back down on the couch. Remus sat beside her, picking up the nearest book and pretending to flick through it.

Hermione could feel the tension in the air after her almost-kiss with Remus. Though she could admit to having thought about him that way more than once or twice, she never imagined anything would ever happen between them. But those few seconds before the crash that interrupted them, as he moved slowly closer to her ... she couldn't remember the last time she felt so alive.

"Hermione."

"Yeah?" she replied, looking up from the photo album.

Remus instantly leaned across and kissed her. After a nanosecond of shock, she responded to the kiss. Hermione pushed the photo album from her lap and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer. As their kiss became deeper and more passionate, Remus's hands went to her waist and he pulled her onto his lap so she was straddling him.

Remus tore his mouth from Hermione's and began trailing hot kisses down her throat. She angled her neck to give him better access, all the while gasping for air, holding onto his shoulders for dear life. Remus undid the top two buttons on Hermione's shirt, letting his mouth taste the soft skin that was previously covered. He reached the top of her lacy bra before moving his mouth back up, kissing her collarbone before softly biting the crook of her neck. She inhaled sharply in surprise. He worried that he hurt her, until he heard her moan his name.

He made his way back up to her waiting lips. As they kissed, they lay down on the couch, Hermione under Remus, her legs wrapped around his waist. If it were possible, their kisses were becoming hungrier.

"Door," Hermione panted, kissing his face, wrapping her arms around his neck and trying to get as close to him as possible.

"What?" he replied hazily, before claiming her mouth again.

She succumbed to his kiss for a moment before breaking away. "Door," she repeated. "Lock - the - door," she explained, kissing his lips roughly between each word.

Hermione released her legs from around his waist as Remus kissed his way down her neck, chest and over her stomach. He got up onto his knees, reached into his pants side pocket and pulled out his wand, pointing it at the door. As he muttered a locking spell as well as a silencing charm, Hermione got up onto her knees. Remus tossed aside the wand and met Hermione in a crushing kiss. His hands went to her shirt and he undid the remaining buttons before pulling it off her and throwing the material aside. Hermione pulled back from Remus and looked into his smoky eyes as she grasped the bottom of his jumper, pulling his jumper and t-shirt over his head in one fluid motion. She tossed them aside before reaching up and placing her hand gently on his cheek. They both remained quite still, the only noise in the room coming from their ragged breaths and the crackling of the fireplace. Hermione let her hand slide down his neck and over his chest, all the while keeping her eyes locked on Remus.

Remus couldn't stay away anymore. He placed his hands on her hips and pulled her to him, feeling the heat of skin against skin. He kissed her deeply. "I want you so badly," he confessed.

She whispered into his ear, in a tone of voice that made him want to groan, "I'm all yours."

*

Hermione was dozing lightly as she lay on top of Remus. He ran his hands lightly up and down her back. They were lying on a rug on the floor, a throw blanket from the couch covering their lower halves, though when Remus looked down he could see four entwined feet poking out from the other end.

Remus leaned forward and kissed her bushy head. He then took her hand from his shoulder, bringing it to his lips and kissing each fingertip before lacing his fingers through hers.

Hermione stirred and opened her groggy eyes. Grinning, she lifted her head. "Hi."

"Why hello there," he replied softly.

Hermione kissed Remus. It started innocently and sweetly enough, but just as before, their kisses soon became more fiery and intense as they rolled onto their sides, their arms and legs wrapping around each other.

Remus broke away, leaning his forehead against hers as they gasped for air.

"What time is it?" Hermione enquired between deep breaths.

"Late."

"I wonder if anyone came looking for us," she said in a mischievous tone as she began placing kisses over his face.

He chuckled. "I'm certain someone would have - we've been gone a while."

"Could have been interesting had they found us."

"Yeah. Although, it wouldn't surprise me if they figured everything out. Why else would we lock ourselves in the library?"

Hermione laughed. "To read?" she said jokingly.

"Okay, if anyone asks, we were reading," he grinned, before kissing her.

They rolled over so Hermione was lying under Remus as their kisses became deeper. But there was also a tenderness to their embrace, which had previously been overpowered by the intensity and hunger of their earlier kisses.

"As much as I hate to say this, we really should get going," Remus said as he twirled a strand of Hermione's hair around his finger.

Hermione nodded. Remus kissed her lips once more before rolling off her and grabbing his pants, which were lying nearby. He quickly put them on before sitting up and scanning the room for the rest of his clothing. Hermione, automatically pulling the blanket up over her chest, noticed something for the first time. She sat and reached out to touch Remus's right shoulder blade. She lightly ran her fingertips over the design of his black tattoo: a small infinity symbol with a 'P' in each loop.

"When did you get this?" she asked softly, continuing to trace the tattoo with her fingers.

"A couple of years ago," he replied.

"How is it possible I didn't know about this?"

Remus smiled, even though his back was still to Hermione. "I promised Harry I wouldn't tell anyone."

"Harry? But why woul-" Hermione broke off mid word as comprehension hit. "Oh, Harry got one too, didn't he?"

Remus nodded. "It was five years after Sirius died, twenty years since James and Lily died. Harry, as I'm sure you'll remember, was going through a bit of a rough time. He decided he wanted to get a tattoo to remember them by, or, I guess, so there was something permanent that no matter what would remind him that James, Lily and Sirius were really real. So we went to a parlour in London. I wasn't going to get one; I was just there for moral support for Harry. But after he got his, Harry just looked at me and said, 'Go on, you know you want to.' So I got this while Harry has his on his left shoulder."

"What's his like? Is it the same?"

"No. His is just three letters: JLS. But he didn't want to tell anyone, so I promised I would keep his secret."

Hermione nodded, even though he couldn't see her. She felt slightly melancholy all of a sudden. "It's beautiful," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Remus turned to her, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards in a small smile. "Thankyou," he whispered, leaning across and kissing her tenderly.

When they broke apart, they dressed in silence.

"Hermione."

"Yeah?" she replied, looking up from the buttons on her shirt which she was currently doing up.

"Are you doing anything tomorrow?"

"No. Why?"

"I'd like to take you out to dinner, if that's alright," he asked, managing to keep his nervousness from his voice.

"You mean ... like a date?" she smiled.

Remus chuckled. "Yes, an official date."

"I'd love to," she replied, her eyes sparkling.

Hermione and Remus sat next to each other on the couch as they both put on their shoes. Hermione took a hair tie from her pocket and, after running her hand though her curls to get rid of the bed-hair look, she tied up her hair. Remus also patted down his dishevelled hair down before standing and quickly appraising his outfit, making sure nothing seemed out of place.

Remus held out his hand to Hermione and she accepted it. They began making their way out of the library, hand in hand.

"Are you sure about this? You and me, I mean," Hermione queried, successfully masking her anxiety over his response.

Remus grinned and Hermione couldn't help returning the smile, even before he spoke.

"Absolutely. After all, where did we meet?"