Author's Note: This story mentions the Japanese folklore of the Kitsune (werefoxes) and the Inuyasha (dog demons). If anyone comes across any obvious discrepancies, please let me know, I do not speak fluent Japanese.
Remus Lupin stood on the grassy precipice that overlooked the lake around Hogwarts. It was peaceful here, unsurpassed in its wondrous beauty. The wind whisked softly against him, rustling his threadbare robes and tousling his graying hair, before skirting off over the tranquil waters. He had loved this place as a boy, when he had been a student at the exclusive school, but all the happiness he had once experienced in this place had vanished in the blink of an eye.
It seemed anomalous to Remus that the setting could still demand so much awe from bystanders, when there was a great deal of sadness that surrounded the haunted grounds. A silent tear slipped down Remus� cheek at that reflection and he couldn�t help but think of the one reason for all of the sorrow.
Albus Dumbledore had been killed.
It had come as a great shock to the entire Wizarding community, and some felt it was a sign that there was nothing left to hope for against Voldemort. Without Dumbledore, they were certain that the Order would fail them once again and that the Dark Side would reign forevermore.
Remus had sworn to those who would listen that the Order would not fail them, but no one had been willing to believe a werewolf, a half-breed, a freak of nature. He himself was beginning to question the strength of their numbers. Though they were equipped with more knowledge than before, they were no more prepared to fight the Dark Side than the first time.
�Professor�� A familiar voice invaded his thoughts from behind him and Remus turned to see a friend, and former student, standing before him clad in teaching robes.
�Hermione.� He smiled warmly and stepped into a welcomed embrace. �It�s so good to see you again; though I do wish you would stop calling me �Professor�.�
The young woman blushed, tucking an errant strand of curly brown hair behind her ear as she gazed up at the memorable face. �Old habits are hard to break I suppose. Where have you been? We sent word for you months ago and have heard nothing until the other day!�
�I was�� Remus thought for a moment, not sure how much to disclose about his recent escapade, and settled for something substandard. �Away.�
Hermione frowned at this, making a point to show her dissatisfaction, but knew he had his reasons for not disclosing. �I guess you�ve at least heard the most recent news, then? Considering you received the owl.� Hermione�s voice had turned serious and she took hold of his arm, walking with him along the edge of the cliff.
�Yes.� Remus said sadly. �Ron.�
Hermione nodded and sighed quietly. �First Dumbledore, then Ron. I�m not sure how much more I can take of this. Molly is just beside herself in grief.�
�How is Harry handling it?�
�Better than I thought he would. He delivered the eulogy at the funeral. I don�t think I�ve cried so much in my life.�
�How are you handling it?� Remus inquired gently, stopping so that he could face her. For only an instance he could see her face falter and the unshed tears shimmer in her eyes as she regarded him thoughtfully.
�I�m alright. When he was�killed�he and I weren�t on the best of terms and I very seriously regret that now. I would give anything to see him just one more time,� she finished sadly.
�I know exactly how you feel.� Remus responded empathetically. Hermione held his eyes for a moment, noticing how much they had dulled over the year he had been away from the Order, and she yearned to know what had caused his personal grief.
�If I might ask, why have I been called here? Why not the headquarters?� Remus queried.
�Well,� Hermione began as she resumed walking towards the castle. �A position has opened up on the staff, and there was no better candidate than you.�
Remus stopped again, this time abruptly. �I�m sorry, Hermione, but��
�Just hear me out, please.� She begged, her eyes full of compassionate sincerity. Remus merely nodded with a soft sigh, and she continued. �There are far worse things than having a werewolf as a professor. One thing this staff is trying to accomplish is to teach tolerance and acceptance of all forms of life. We feel that it is the only way we will be able to overcome the Dark Side. People fear what they do not understand, and we are launching a program to educate the parents as well.�
Remus looked at her in bewildered amusement for a long moment. �Was this your idea?�
�Well, partly, but we all contributed to it�even Snape.� Hermione admitted.
�Impressive,� Remus complimented, but went on to say, �Forgive me if I feel that this plan will not work, Hermione. The theory is admirable, of course, but I know all too well of the extent of the prejudices against those who are �different.��
�I know, but this seems to be our last hope.� Hermione imparted to him. �Without Dumbledore we�re lost.�
Remus couldn�t help but agree, but something burned inside of him, stirring up a great fury. �That�s not good enough,� he seethed. �We will win this, they will not have died in vain.�
�So you�ll take the position then?� Hermione ventured hopefully.
Lupin looked at her guardedly for a moment, �Which position is it.�
�Defense Against the Dark Arts, of course.� Hermione smirked demurely.
�And Severus isn�t going to protest my appointment to the position?�
�No, actually, he was the one who suggested you.� Hermione admitted. �He, like the rest of us, believes you are the only one truly qualified.�
For a moment, Remus was awestruck. Snape had said that about him. They must have been desperate to fill the position if it had led to that, but he tried to see past the insult and simply smiled. �Then of course I shall take it.�
�Oh, wonderful!!� Hermione stated enthusiastically as she threw her arms around Remus� neck. He stumbled back a step, his arm coming up around her waist in surprise, and laughed cheerfully. Hermione realized the inappropriateness of her action and immediately corrected herself, blushing furiously. �Oh! Forgive me, Professor!�
Remus shook his head, indicating there was no need for apology, but then stopped and looked at her teasingly. �Only if you stop calling me Professor and start calling me Remus.�
�Alright, Remus.� Hermione stated, nearly fumbling over his name. It felt so improper to her, but she chided herself on being such a schoolgirl. For Merlin�s sake, we�re colleagues now. She thought as they continued up to the castle.
--
The last thing Remus had expected was to be asked back to Hogwarts as a teacher. After his short stint there before, he figured that would be the last time he would see the school, but his current situation didn�t allow for him to pass up any job that came his way, and being at Hogwarts was certainly better than any alternative.
Hermione had taken him up to Headmistress McGonagall�s office to inform her of his decision and the three had sat there for a long while in serious discussion of the new curriculum. When they had finally finished, it was nearing dinnertime, but Remus excused himself to return home to pack his things, and take care of some unfinished business. Minerva had told him he wasn�t due back until the start of term, but that he was welcome to come earlier if he wished to do so. As he was heading for the main corridor, Hermione caught up with him.
�Can�t your business wait until tomorrow, Remus?� Hermione implored. �I had wished that we could steal away a few hours to catch up. The last I saw of you was at Dumbledore�s funeral, and before that I hadn�t seen you since the summer before my sixth year.�
�Hermione,� Remus laughed softly. �You�ve only just graduated two years ago. You speak of it as if it were a lifetime.�
Hermione fell quiet as she regarded his words. �Sometimes it feels as if it was a lifetime ago.�
Remus stopped and looked at her with sympathy. She had been through so much over the past few years and it seemed somehow unfair of him to not grant her this wish. He smiled tenderly and cupped her shoulders in his hands. �Alright, Hermione. I will put off my trip until tomorrow, as long as you have somewhere for me to stay tonight.�
�I�m sure we can accommodate you,� She beamed. A moment of awkward silence passed between the two and Remus cleared his throat, dropping his hands from her shoulders.
�So, what did you have in mind?�
�Well, how about some dinner for starters?� Hermione suggested. �I�m a bit famished.�
�Alright.� Remus agreed, but looking towards the Great Hall, a thought occurred to him. �Would you be opposed to dining in Hogsmeade?�
�No, not at all,� Hermione smiled brilliantly. �Though I do insist on buying.�
�Nonsense, it was my suggestion, it will be my treat.�
As the two were about to depart, a soft silky voice stopped them. �Ah, Lupin. I see the owl finally found you.�
Remus resisted the urge to roll his eyes, and turned around to see Severus Snape a feet away from them. �Indeed, it did, Severus.�
Snape�s usual scowl seemed to have been etched deeper and more menacing into his features, and Remus was almost sad to see that nothing seemed to have changed about the man.
As the potions professor closed the distance between the three of them, he refused to acknowledge Hermione�s existence as he eyed Lupin cautiously. �Shall I assume then that you have accepted the offer?�
Remus nodded curtly.
A small smirk began to pull at the corners of Snape�s mouth and his obsidian eyes glittered in a mysterious way. �Let�s hope you have better luck this time, then.�
With that Snape strode off and disappeared into the Great Hall. Remus shook his head in disappointment, then turned back to Hermione. �Well, shall we then?�
A carriage was waiting out front and a small house elf looked up at Remus. �Is the Sir not going home?�
�Hello, Lentils.� Hermione greeted the elf.
�No, I�m afraid there has been a change in my plans, but would you be so kind as to take us to Hogsmeade?� Remus asked.
�Of course, Sirs.� The elf bowed and held open the carriage door as the passengers climbed inside. As soon as the two were comfortable, the carriage began to move them towards the small village.
�Sorry about Professor Snape.� Hermione apologized. �He may have changed, but he�s still a git.�
Remus laughed but waved off her apology. �Don�t be sorry, Hermione, you forget that I�ve known Severus far longer than you have. I doubt his animosity towards me will ever weaken.�
�Well, yes, I suppose you�re right. He just irritates more now than he ever did when I was a student.�
�How so?�
�He refuses to see me as an equal and still treats me as a child.�
�In his eyes,� Remus responded. �You probably are. We are, after all, nearly twice your age.�
Hermione quirked an eyebrow at him, �Are you saying you see me as a child too then?�
�No,� Remus said with a laugh. �Perhaps when you were still under aged, I did, but you are no child now, Hermione.�
His eyes met hers in a fierce gaze and Hermione felt her cheeks redden in result. �Thank you, Professor, that means a lot to me.�
Remus sighed loudly at the use of �Professor� instead of his name and let his head fall back against the seat in exaggerated irritation. �Hermione��
�Sorry, Remus.� She said, emphasizing his name.
�It�s a good thing you and I are not a couple.� Remus mused suddenly. �Would seem rather peculiar for others to hear you refer to me as �Professor Darling.��
Hermione blushed furiously, her eyes bulging in surprise, and for a moment she couldn�t find any words. �Oh�well�uh��
Lupin laughed heartily this time and put his arm about her shoulder in a friendly gesture. �Forgive me, Hermione, I couldn�t resist.�
To her relief the carriage came to a stop before she had to answer. �Looks like we�re here.� She announced as she opened the carriage door and climbed out. Lupin followed and for a moment they merely looked up and down the street, looking at their choices.
�Shall we just go with The Three Broomsticks?� Remus proposed. �I�m afraid I�m not daring enough to try anything at the Hogs Head.�
Hermione laughed, recalling her 5th year when about a hundred students had secretly rendezvoused at the Hogs Head to learn DADA from Harry. �It�s not so bad, but yes, I much prefer The Three Broomsticks.�
Remus smiled to himself as they walked the short distance to the tavern, and held the door open for his companion. They settled at a table near the back, ordered, and then sat staring at one another across the table for a long minute.
�Would it be rude of me to pry about where you�ve been for the past year?� Hermione questioned, sipping her Butterbeer.
A smile quirked the corners of Remus� mouth and he shook his head gently. �Rude, no, but it is a very long story.�
�I have no where to go.� Hermione prompted.
He sighed in reflection, wondering where to begin. �I�ve been in Japan. Living amongst the Kitsune and Inuyasha.�
�Wow!� Hermione interrupted, clearing amazed. Remus looked at her in amusement and she blushed once again. �Sorry, go on.�
�That�s alright.� He smiled. �It was about 20 years ago that I first went to their village. I was just out of Hogwarts, and had not been satisfied by the books description of some of the creatures in our world. I had given myself a mission, if you will, to set out to study them more in depth; to separate fact from fiction. I wasn�t certain they would be accepting of a Lycan, but I also had no idea that the Kitsune lived peacefully with the Inuyasha. There were some that had intermarried.�
�I didn�t even realize there were any Inuyasha left in Japan. I read that the Muggles who thought they were demons had driven them all out.�
�I thought the same thing until I went there.� Remus smiled fondly. �Well, by chance I happened upon an elderly Kitsune who happened to be a Professor. I didn�t know it at first, but she knew right away that I was a half-breed, and I think maybe that was why the community had been so accepting of me, but she took me under her wing and taught me everything I wanted to know.�
�Oh, I�d give anything to have been there too!� Hermione said dreamily. �I�ve always been fascinated by the were foxes.�
Remus chuckled again. �You would have gotten along well with Kirika, Professor Ookido�s granddaughter. She and I became great friends; when I wasn�t with Ookido-hakase, I was with Kirika. She taught me many things as well.� He paused and laughed softly. �She nicknamed me Ippiki-ookami.�
�What does that mean?� Hermione wandered, her face resting on her fists as she leaned forward, absorbing every word he spoke.
�Lone Wolf.� Remus smiled. � I called her Kirei-hana which means Beautiful Flower.�
�So what happened?�
�Well, all of this was happening during the time that Voldemort was coming into power the first time, and I had gotten word that Dumbledore was starting to build up the Order. I wasn�t sure at first if I would go. The Kitsune were as much a target to Voldemort as the rest of us, and I didn�t want to leave and something happen to everyone there. I think perhaps that is one reason James and Sirius thought that I was the traitor. They had the same misconceptions about the Kitsune and Inuyasha as everyone else�thinking they were evil and demons, tricksters. I finally decided I had to leave and join the Order, to fight with my friends. Kirika begged me not to go, afraid that I would not return to her. I remember the last words I said to her when I left�mat-te kudasai�wait for me.� Lupin fell into a moody silence for a long moment.
�Did you love her?� Hermione asked quietly.
�Oh yes,� Lupin admitted. �She and I had planned to marry before I set off for the Order. She had promised she would wait for me, but when I returned here, Dumbledore forbid me to ever visit the community again.�
�What?� Hermione said indignantly. �Why?!�
Remus shrugged his shoulders. �He never really told me why exactly, but I think he felt as though I would be an easy target there. Many of the Inuyasha had fallen into Voldemort�s ranks, but what he didn�t know is that no one from that village was in league with Voldemort. Of course, I didn�t find that out until my most recent visit there.�
Hermione seemed to make a connection in her mind and she stared at him sorrowfully. �When Dumbledore died�you took your leave right after that�you went back for her, didn�t you?�
Lupin nodded, refusing to meet her eyes. �I had never stopped loving her, but Dumbledore�s trust in me was something I wasn�t willing to risk. I couldn�t believe he was right, but I didn�t dare defy him. So, when he was killed, I felt like there was nothing left to stop me from seeing Kirika, only when I got there�it was too late. She had married an Inuyasha by the name of Yukinari, and had had a child, a daughter by the name of Akita. She had waited for me, but after a decade she knew I wasn�t coming back. Voldemort had been dead for years and there had been no word from me. Thinking I was dead, she had no choice but to move on.�
A tear slipped down Hermione�s cheek and she wiped it away, sniffing slightly. �That is the saddest story I�ve ever heard.�
Remus could only grimace in response. �That�s the story of my life, Hermione.�
�You�ve stayed there for a year, what did you do?�
�Well, I accepted Kirika�s new life and Ookido-hakase asked me to stay. She told me I still had much to learn. So I stayed and learned from her until the owl found me with your letter. They all knew that once I left this time, that I would not be back, but Ookido-hakase told me that I would always be welcome.�
Hermione was smiling as he finished. �You should write a book about your travels. You�re a wonderful storyteller.�
Remus smiled modestly. �Well, thank you for the compliment, but I�m not sure I�m willing to share that experience with anyone but you.�
Hermione looked at him curiously. �What�s so special about me?� But before she got her answer their food had arrived. The topic changed to something lighter during the meal, but as they finished, neither seemed eager to leave.
�Would care for a cup of coffee? Perhaps some dessert?� Remus offered her.
�That sounds lovely, though I�m not sure I can finish something alone. I�m a bit full.�
�Why don�t we split something?�
Hermione nodded and Remus allowed her to order what they would have for dessert, surprised that she had picked his favorite�a double chocolate mousse. When it arrived, there was only one fork and they both laughed, but before they could ask for another, their waitress had sauntered off to another table.
Remus smirked and picked up the fork, cutting off a bite and holding it out for Hermione. She looked between the fork and Remus� grinning face and blushed before leaning forward and allowing him to feed her. It was almost sensual the way he let the fork slowly slide out from between her lips, and she couldn�t help but smile as she tried to savor the taste of the chocolate. She watched him cut off a bite for himself, closing his eyes in pleasure at the taste, and laughed softly.
Hermione scooted her chair around the table closer to his and took the fork from his hand. He watched with intrigue as she scooped part of the whipped cream off the top and placed it delicately in her mouth. Some of cream stuck to her lips and she looked at Remus daringly. He hesitated for a long moment, surprised by this turn of events, but slowly leaned towards her, tipping her chin up somewhat and kissed off the cream. He was about to pull away when her hand came up and cupped his cheek, encouraging him. He felt his heart skip a beat and a funny flutter in his stomach. Remus slid his hand along her jawbone, brushing back her mass of curls as he deepened the kiss sweetly. Their tongues met only briefly, before Remus forced himself to rein things in a little. He knew this was not place to be so openly intimate with Hermione.
As they slowly broke apart, Remus looked at her with an unreadable expression. Hermione smiled back at him and let out a breath she didn�t know she�d been holding. His hand was still twined in her hair, holding her mere inches away. She placed her hand over his, and pulled it down to her cheek, nuzzling against it. A smile finally broke across Remus� face.
�When did you decide you were in love with me?� He asked softly.
Hermione flushed, looking down timidly. �I guess I�ve always fancied you a bit. I never really thought much about it, partly because you were my professor and I thought it was just a crush, but every time I saw you, the feeling got stronger. I think today, when I saw you for the first time after so long that it clicked�Are you upset?�
He smiled warmly, pulling her hand to his lips and kissing it chivalrously. �On the contrary, Hermione. I couldn�t be happier.�
�But Kirika�is this too soon?�
Remus shook his head. �No. There�s always been something about you that drew me in, but, like you said, I was your professor, and you were far too young then. Are you sure the age difference doesn�t bother you?�
�No,� Hermione chortled. �You�re not old by anyone�s standards, Remus.�
�And you don�t mind that I�m a werewolf?� He asked under his breath.
�No. I never have. Well, except when I thought you were going to kill Harry and Ron. That�s why I never told anyone in my 3rd year. I knew it wasn�t your choice.�
He held her eyes with a daunted gaze, the smile never leaving his face. �You never cease to amaze me, Hermione. I always knew you were a clever witch.�
"Perhaps, but like I've told Harry before, there's more to life than books and cleverness. There's friendship and love." She smiled.
For a long moment Remus was silent, simply regarding her with a steady gaze. "What do you say we get out of here, maybe take a walk?"
"I would love to."
To Be Continued...
