Bitten

The Morning After

Remus awoke still in wolf form as the sun began to rise. Although he couldn't see it, his body had a familiar feeling of getting its self ready to shift back into his human form. He looked over and noticed neither himself or Hermione hadn't moved since they had laid down to rest the night before. Remus's hand was still placed over Hermione's when they both began to transform back into their naked human forms.

To his surprise as their hands transformed back Hermione looped her fingers around Remus's. He felt her squeeze his hand, hard as the wolf dissipated and her human form replaced it. Hermione breathed heavy as she refocused herself.

"Hermione" He whispered. "Are you alright?" He asked concerned, their hands still connected.

"Yes" She trembled. "I just. Well my bodies been ripped apart hasn't it." She said as she winced as she moved, which didn't go unnoticed by Remus.

"Did you hurt yourself last night?" He asked, concerned.

"No. Just sore" She smiled as she slowly untangled her fingers from Remus's. "I guess I'm still getting used to the transformations that's all." She said. "Can't except to turn into a wolf and not be sore afterwards." She said distractedly as she looked for her clothes.

"Are you looking for something?" He queried.

"Yes, my clothes. You haven't seen them have you?"

Remus smiled. "I'd say they are gone Hermione. When your body transformed it ripped the clothes as well."

"Well, what do I do now? I can't exactly walk back up to Hogwarts naked now can I?"

Remus chuckled. "I keep a spare set here in the Shrieking Shack in case of accidents."

"Accidents?" She asked.

"Yes accidents. In case I don't remove my clothes before the transformation. Lucky for you I managed to do that, so my spare set is yours." He smiled, before he muttered a summoning spell as Hermione saw the clothes flying towards her.

"Thank you" She smiled as she held up the pants and shirt.

"Might be a little too big for me?" She said as she muttered a quick shrinking spell. She held out the top in front of her and stared at Remus

"Uh Remus, I was going to get dressed do you mind uh well closing your eyes.

"Sorry uh sure." He flustered as he closed his eyes, as Hermione began to dress in the clothes Remus gave her. Hermione didn't mean to but she glanced over to Remus who was still naked on the floor. She felt her eyes wander down Remus's body as she pulled his shirt over her head, inhaling Remus's smell as his shirt slipped easily over her. She saw the scars spread down his back and over his sides. Even though she could see the wear and tear on his body he was still good shape. She thought as she pulled on the pants he had given her.

"Done" She said as Remus opened his eyes to find her standing there in his slightly shrunk shirt and pants.

Realising Remus was still naked. She quickly averted her eyes. "I'll uh turn around while you dress." She said as she quickly turned. Remus stood up as he grabbed the pair of pants that were off to his side and began to pull them on.

Most of the time he had seen Hermione in Hogwarts robes, completely shapeless, but nothing about her was shapeless now. His eyes glanced over her. He saw how his shrunken shirt and pants gripped to her in all the right places, accentuating what she had. Remus slipped his shirt over his head. "Done." He said as she opened her eyes.

"Are you ready to head back to the castle?" He asked.

"Yes, just slowly, I'm still a little sore." She said as she struggled to walk using the walls as support.

"Here let me help you." He said as he slipped his hand around her waist, her body trembled at his touch as he tried to steady her as their eyes met.

"Remus" she breathed as their eyes remained transfixed.

"Hermione I..."He said as he looked into her eyes. "I'm your teacher, we can't, it not." He said as breathing became shallower with each breath.

"Right?" She said finishing his sentence. "Proffes... Remus.

"Has anything that's happened between us felt wrong?" She said not breaking eye contact.

"No, but you're my student Hermione, not to mention the age gap." He said as he broke eye contact with her and the continued to move forward back down the tunnel and stairs that led back towards the direction of Hogwarts.

"I don't care about that Remus." She said as she stopped. "I need to stop for a minute." She said as she lowered herself down onto one of the stairs. "I've always liked you Remus, since the first time I saw you at Hogwarts."

Remus sat beside her, looking at her surprised. "Hermione." He said softly.

"I know what I want I want Remus." She said as she looked at him. "I want you" (Hermione paused). "This is me talking not the wolf. Me."

Hermione I...."

"I'm sorry to cut you off, but before you make excuses. I need you to hear me out."

Remus stared at her. "Go on."

"I've always like you Remus" She repeated. "Ever since third year. You're a kind heartened, handsome man who is willing to do anything for the people he cares about. You can't use the fact that you're a werewolf who turns into a beast when the full moon appears with me."

Remus smiled softly, chuckling as Hermione did the same.

"I was reading up on werewolf lore whilst in the library and the attraction that my wolf has for you. It can't be generated without some kind of feeling from the human part of me." She said as she looked down and pause, "I know you feel the same. I've felt that pull. The wolf is only acting what was deep inside me and I know it's locked down deep inside you too."

Remus took a beat and turned to look at her. "Hermione, what I feel...I promised I wouldn't act on. I told myself, Dumbledore that I would never act on anything. For goodness sake you are my student! 20 years younger than I" He said as she got up, frustrated.

"Remus!" She said firmly. "What do you want?" She asked as pulled herself up as she moved towards him

"What do you want Remus? You" She repeated. "Be honest with yourself.

Remus paused as he looked at the young girl in front of him. He knew of the werewolf lore to which Hermione referenced. He knew there couldn't be feelings between their wolves if there were no feelings between their human sides.

Remus struggled to find words. "I...want...you Hermione. But I.."

"No, no, no. Not but's." She said as she caressed his face and smiled.

Remus smiled and nodded as he closed his eyes, feeling the softness of her palm against his rough skin.

"We best be getting back to the castle." He said as he wrapped his hand back around her waist, causing to her smile as they walked back up the hill towards the castle. Remus smiled. "This is the best full moon I've had in a long time." He thought to himself as they headed up towards the hospital wing.