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Only Time Will Tell	By : chrmisha Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 3087 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
Chapter 7: Sweet Spring Surprises

As the Christmas holiday came to a close, the pressure of the seventh year returned full force. On top of constant reminders of N.E.W.T. preparations came the career counselors as well. Hermione wasn�t sure what she wanted to do after she graduated. She�d already been accepted to Warrington Witches College in London where she planned to further her studies. She knew she wanted to do something useful, something good for the Wizarding world, but she also knew she needed to make enough money to support both her and Remus. Much to Harry and Ron�s chagrin, she hadn�t given up on S.P.E.W., and with Remus in the picture, she had a new cause��the unfair persecution of persons afflicted with lycanthropy.

Although she was unsure of her career plans, one thing was for certain; her best chances would be won by getting the best possible scores on her N.E.W.T.s. She started that semester with a fierce determination to excel in every subject she was taking. Ron and Harry just rolled their eyes as she handed them their study schedules.

�Hermione,� they whined, �exams are almost six months away!�

Hermione gave them a dirty look and returned to her studies. They may lack motivation, but she certainly did not.

The only class Hermione was worried about was Potions. She found the course itself rather interesting, but Professor Snape had gone out of his way to make her life as miserable as possible. It was payback, she knew, for sleeping with the werewolf. His prejudice angered her to no end. It took her an incredible amount of self-discipline to not let him get a rise out of her. Slowly, though, she could feel the tables turning. She had yet to miss a question he asked her, no matter how advanced or obscure, so he�d stopped asking. She memorized each potion before class so that even as he tried to distract her, she managed to always get her potions just right. She put protection charms on her cauldron and vials so that they couldn�t be broken or tampered with. The only problem was, this constant vigilance on her part was quite tiring. But one thing burned in the back of her mind��just a small spark. Soon, very soon, it would be explosive. Final projects were coming, and she knew exactly what her final project would be.

***

As winter turned into spring and the snow started to melt, Hermione was feeling happier and more content than she could ever remember. Her life seemed in perfect order; she had met her soulmate, she was excelling in her classes, and soon, she�d be on her own. The world seemed very exciting to her at that moment.

She was brought back to the moment by Ron badgered Harry for advice on how to ask Emily to the Spring Ball. She realized that although it was still a little ways off, she hadn�t thought about it in ages. Ron was exhausted and headed off to bed early. Harry was finishing up his Transfiguration essay. Hermione looked around the common room��it was just the two of them.

�Harry?� Hermione inquired.

Harry frantically scribbled his last few words on the paper before looking up and giving Hermione his full attention.

�Are you planning to go to the Spring Ball?� She felt nervous about asking. Harry had not dated anyone since his last girlfriend, Alicia Greenberg, had been brutally murdered the previous year. Hermione cringed at the memory of finding Alicia�s body on the edge of the Forbidden Forest last year.

�Well, I don�t know, I guess I haven�t thought much about it.�

Hermione couldn�t tell if what she saw in Harry�s eyes was sadness or just deep thought.

�Harry,� she said as she reached over and put her hand on his shoulder, �Why don�t we go together? Just as friends.�

Harry looked taken aback by her proposal. �But I thought, I mean, I thought there was someone else��I just assumed you�d bring him.�

Hermione smiled. �He won�t be able to attend. I do think we should join our classmates, though, in celebrating our last year together.�

�What about Ron?�

Hermione rolled her eyes. �Please tell me he�s not still in love with me.�

�No, I think he�s over you. But he might still be jealous.�

�I don�t know. I guess we�ll just have to ask him.�

Harry nodded.

Hermione hoped Harry would realize that her proposal was the perfect solution to both of their dilemmas. She was obviously involved with someone else, and he wasn�t ready to get involved with anyone. They could go together, no strings attached, no expectations, just friends. She was glad she�d asked him.

***

Ginny and Hermione dressed excitedly in their gowns. Ginny was thrilled to be going to the Spring Ball with Dean Thomas. They�d been dating for almost three years and Ron had finally warmed up to the idea. Hermione was wearing a strapless, royal blue, satin ball gown. It fit tightly around her bust and fell in a V-shape down her slender waist, where it flared outward, barely touching the floor. Her soft brown hair fell in large, sculpted ringlets down her back and neck. She�d put on just a touch of makeup��a little blush, a dab of lipstick. The finishing touch, of course, was the gold necklace that Remus had given her, the one she never took off. As she admired her reflection in the mirror, she saw just how beautiful it was, how delicately it laid against her skin. This is the first thing everyone will see when they look at me, she thought happily to herself, rubbing her fingers over the smooth, gold heart. I just wish Remus could see me like this.

The Spring Ball began at 7 pm. They walked down the castle stairs in couples: Ron and Emily, Ginny and Dean, and Harry and Hermione. Arriving at the entrance to the Great Hall, they noticed the enchanted lights in bubbles floating freely across the room. It was beautiful, Hermione thought. She briefly wondered if her wedding would be this beautiful, but quickly swept that thought from her mind.

It was almost 10 pm when Ginny coaxed Hermione out of the Great Hall to tell her something very important in private. As Ginny lead her through various corridors, Hermione kept asking, �Where are we going? No one will be out and about at this time of night, surely you can tell me what�s going on.� But Ginny just shook her head and kept walking.

Arriving at a dimly lit empty classroom on the East wing of the second floor, Ginny motioned Hermione inside and quickly shut the door behind her. A look of confusion spread across Hermione�s face as she whipped around and grasped the knob, but it wouldn�t turn. As she tried the door again, she felt someone�s eyes bearing down on her. Slowly, she turned towards the front of the room, and in the dim light, she saw him. He was wearing jeans and a white, long sleeve, button down shirt; Muggle attire. He was leaning casually against the teacher�s desk, a wide smile stretching across his lips. She stared at him as if she�d been struck by the Immobulus curse, her hand still firmly gripping the door handle.

�Remus!� she cried, finally running to him and throwing herself into his waiting arms. Her heart was pounding as she realized this wasn�t a dream.

�Hermione,� his voice echoed as he embraced her tightly, inhaling her wondrous scent, �Sweet, sweet Hermione.�

�What are you doing here?!?�

�I had a meeting. I can�t stay long, but I had to see you. Dumbledore would be furious if he knew.�

She looked into his soft, gray eyes and felt her stomach drop, just as it always did when she was near him.

�You look absolutely beautiful,� he said as his fingers traced the outline of the necklace he had given her sending a shiver down her spine. He pulled her against him.

Hermione sighed. How easy it would be to make love to him right here, right now, and how very tempting. She could see the desire in his eyes and knew very well that it was reflecting her own. As if time and space had never separated them, their lips met, kissing hungrily, desperately. She could feel his heart pounding against her breasts, and she could feel something else pressing against her thigh.

�Hermione,� he whispered pulling back from her, his voice husky. He ran his hand along her face, caressing her soft skin. She saw the light flicker off of the gold band on his finger. �Hermione, I have to go. I really have to go. Please, make me go,� he pleaded as she leaned into him, kissing him deeply, intensely, his hands traveling up and down her back as hers slid underneath his shirt, gliding eagerly along his soft, inviting skin. Wanting. Needing.

Reluctantly, he pulled away from her.

She reached up and stroked his face, �I love you, Remus Lupin.�

His breathed still momentarily. �I love you to, Hermione Granger, more than you could ever know.� He pulled her back into an embrace and kissed her on the top of her head.

She could feel his labored breathing as he tried to compose himself. She ran her hands through his hair.

�Go, before I get us both in trouble. I will see you soon. I promise.�

As she walked reluctantly towards the door, he added, �Oh, and tell Harry he�s a very lucky man. But remind him that he can only have you for this one night.� His smile was infectious.

She rolled her eyes at him and reached for the door. Turning back one last time she whispered, �I love you, Remus,� and blew a kiss at him as she left.
- 6
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Only Time Will Tell