Unbridled Ache | Remus x Hermione

CHAPTER FIVE: MINE

"I'll fucking digest you

One kiss at a time"

For the first time Hermione awoke feeling a sense of warmth and protection. Even with her sleep riddled mind she knew it was Remus. She could recognize him with her eyes closed, she could recognize him across lifetimes.

Being this close to him was like breathing clearly for the first time. Her chest felt lighter, her magic stronger, and her emotions more settled. Hermione thought that she couldn't live with their previous routine, that Remus' distance would slowly cause the caustic feeling to eat through her skin. But after a single night wrapped up in him, Hermione knew that she would simply die if they went back to that loneliness.

Hermione flexed her shoulders, testing the weight of the werewolf surrounding her. Sometime in the night she had curled in upon herself, knees tucked tight into her chest and hands under her cheek as a pillow. Remus had moved with her, his body unconsciously following her every move. His chest was pressed flush against Hermione's back and his arms were a tangle of limbs locking her to him. Even his legs followed around the curve of her thighs.

A puff of breath washed over Hermione's neck, tickling the small hairs at the back of her neck. Hermione tried to strain her neck to look at Remus, but was stopped as he nuzzled into the crook of her neck. A shiver ran through her body at the sensation.

"Did you have a good sleep?" He murmured sleepily.

"I don't think I've ever slept better. And you?"

"Usually I have a horrible time trying to find sleep this close to the full moon, but last night I had such a peaceful sleep." Remus replied nonchalantly.

Hermione's whole body stiffened at his words. They had never discussed any aspects of his transformation since they had been married. There were perhaps a few conversations back when they both spent most of their time at Grimmauld Place years ago, but nothing since then. Granted, it was extremely difficult to have a discussion about things when Remus had done his best to avoid her.

Hermione knew that the Order had worked together to set up containment wards in Dalby Forest so that Moony could roam somewhat free. In the past she had heard that it was much easier for Remus to get through full moons than it had when he was confined. In the time between Hogwarts and Dalby Forest, Remus had relied on iron shackles in the basement of an abandoned shack to keep Moony contained. Hermione remembered how shocked and appalled Minerva was when she found out, and how the Headmistress had demanded that the other members of the order do better to look after their own. Under Minerva's observation, the wards in Dalby Forest were set by the end of the week.

But Remus had not gone through a transformation since they had been married and Hermione had no clue what to expect. She had read every book on lycanthropy that she could find, but was no longer naive enough to believe everything she read. Of course there would be aspects of Remus' transformations that she would never be able to prepare herself for by reading. Thinking of all the possibilities sent her head spinning. Hermione was all at once terrified for her husband.

"Shhh, everything will be fine." Remus reassured her, stroking the back of his hand along Hermione's upper arm.

She didn't know how Remus sensed her sudden shift, but Hermione suddenly felt exasperated with herself. She wasn't the one that was going to be going through gut wrenching pain in the coming days. Remus was, and yet here he was comforting her.

"Can I get anything for you? Or is there anything I can do?" Hermione asked worriedly, trying to move to a sitting position.

"You can stay right here." Remus rumbled, pulling her closer than she thought was possible.