Unbridled Ache | Remus x Hermione

CHAPTER TWO: DOUBT

"You and I are two oceans apart

We're on earth to break each other's hearts"

His mouth gaped open, repeatedly opening and closing, looking similar to the cartoon characters Hermione had watched as a child. Hermione used this time to trace her eyes over his other features. She hadn't seen him much in the years following the war. The odd time at Harry's place for a birthday or at the Burrow for Christmas Hols.

His forest green eyes were still alight with intelligence. The scars on his face still did nothing to hide the startlingly attractive features of his face. His cheekbones were full and his jawline sharp. There was of course the fact that he was massive, his large stature towering over her.

Remus still looked as if he held a heavy weight on his consciousness. It had lessened after the war, but the overall strains of lycanthropy still left their stain upon his demeanour. His sandy blond hair was in disarray, as if he had come to the ministry in a hurry. Hermione tried desperately to think of where he was currently working, but her mind was only coming up blank.

Remus' posture was tight as he met Hermione's eyes. She watched him lean heavily on the door and awkwardly cross his ankles. He floundered for words for a few moments, before finally settling on, "Hi Hermione."

A taut smile pulled at his lips, the right side drawing up further than the left.

"My apologies, I didn't realise someone was in here already." Remus offered.

"Just me, I suppose." Hermione replied, unsure of how to proceed. Her mind was ablaze with all of the possibilities. She couldn't decipher if this was some sort of mistake or if–

"I got called in to meet my match. Apparently some poor witch matched with me today and is here waiting." He said stiffly, looking over his shoulder as if desperately hoping for someone to come rescue him from this painful interaction.

It was that moment that Hermione knew. Knew in her very soul, in her magic that swam through her veins. Remus was her match, her match that was so strong it overrode the entire compatibility system. Hermione felt a large weight lift off her shoulders. She had been worried sick over who she could end up married to, and Remus was someone whom she didn't hate.

Remus was the kind of wizard she could picture herself with. Hermione envisioned tea with him on the sofa while reading their respective books. She could imagine them going for walks, hands clasped together and swaying gently between them. He was the kind of person she could build a life with, a messy beautiful life.

She thought back to when she had been scouring through the wizards her age to determine who was still available. She had never even considered the possibility of being matched with someone that was her elder by a number of years. And yet, she didn't resent the idea. Remus, after all, was a good man. He had only ever shown her kindness and respect in all the years she had known him.

She was transported back to third year when he had been her professor. The countless hours she had sat in rapt attention as his deep voice captivated her attention. She was thrilled at the thought that she could possibly get the chance to listen to the addictive voice every day for the rest of her life.

Hermione opened her mouth to warn Remus of her newfound suspicions when Kremsly appeared behind Remus at the door.

"Good, it seems you two were able to find each other alright. Remus, this is Hermione Granger. Hermione, this is Remus Lupin. Please use this room to get to know each other. Now, would either of you care for some water or tea?" Kremsly offered. Hermione cursed as he stated everything so matter of factly, no softening of this enormous blow, with no additional facts to cling onto.