Bad Moon Rising

Chapter 11: Coming Out







How was I to know…..We\'d have ended here……Where we finally did…..You tied your life to mine

Once upon a starry night……And when someone asks for me……What it is that I believe…..Say, I believe it\'s true……All I really need is you











Remus sat at the kitchen table and watched as Hermione scuttled about the room setting breakfast on the table. They were a little late getting up thanks to her late night visit and a morning detour before getting out of bed. It had felt so right having her in his bed and in his arms. He couldn’t recall the last time he had slept so well. While he still didn’t feel deserving he was accepting of the fact that like it or not, she was his and he was hers. He snagged her wrist as she sat a bowl of fruit on the table, pulling her close to him before she could get away.





“Kiss me.” He tugged her down so that their lips could touch, brushing his back and forth over hers. “Last night…that was how it should have been the first time.”







“There was nothing wrong with the first time, Remus, or the second time. I wouldn’t complain about either.” She smiled and settled herself into his lap, her arms looping around his shoulders. “I have enjoyed it each time.”







“I don’t want to be rough with you.” He laid one hand on her hip and cupped the back of her head with the other. “I never want to hurt you.”







“You never will, I have faith in that.” She kissed him, a full on, open mouthed, breath stealing, tongue tangling kiss that had her squirming in his lap and him growling







“What the hell is going on here?” Hermione jumped at the sound of a voice intruding on their personal time. She slowly turned her head and saw Harry, Ron, Ginny and George standing in the kitchen doorway. Within seconds she found herself lifted from Remus’s lap and thrust behind him.







“You are home early.” Remus said, eyes narrowed and his body in a defensive position.







“They released us early for the holidays. What is going on?” Harry asked, stepping further into the room and stopping when Remus growled. “Calm down!” He said, backing up in confusion. “Remus…what in the hell…”







“Remus, stop, it’s Harry, he isn’t going to hurt me.” Hermione said softly, stepping around him and threading her fingers through his. He stopped growling and relaxed just a bit though he never took his eyes off of the others.







“Mione, what’s going on? Why were you kissing him and why is he acting so crazy?” Harry had his hand on his wand, there was something in Remus’s eyes that made him think he could tear him apart in seconds.







“Maybe you should all sit down.” She felt his fingers tighten around hers as they all moved towards them to sit around the table. She squeezed back, reassuring him that she was in no danger. When everyone was settled Remus took his seat and Hermione perched herself on his lap. She figured it was safer that way, if the others had a bad reaction Remus would be less likely to snap with her in his lap.









“I will just assume that something is going on between the two of you, hence the kissing, handholding and the…snarling.” Harry said, one brow lifted and a smirk on his lips. He wasn’t surprised, they had been dancing around an attraction for each other for a very long time.







“Yes, Remus and I are involved.” She said nervously.







“How involved?” Ron asked, fighting back a grin.







“Very involved.” Remus growled at the younger man. Ron didn’t seem frightened as he began to laugh.







“So you are dating old Lupin are you?” George asked.







“Well, it’s a bit more involved than that.” Hermione said looking back over her shoulder at Remus. “We aren’t just dating….we are mated.”







“Mated? What do you mean by that?” Ginny asked.







“It has to do with Remus being a werewolf.” Hermione said, turning back to face the others. “You see, they have many lupine traits outside of the transformation. Enhanced senses of smell and hearing, increased speed and strength. They also mate for life and as luck would have it, I am his mate.”







“How is it you are just discovering this now when you have known each other for ages?” Harry asked. Hermione was a bit shocked at how well they were taking it. None of them really seemed surprised or the slightest bit put off about it.







“The nature of our relationship changed recently, it became evident then.” Remus didn’t intend to go into any detail about it, they needn’t know the particulars, only that things were going to be changing.







“So, what? Are you going to be getting married then?” Ron asked. Hermione’s face reddened and she shifted uncomfortably on Remus’s lap.





“Yes, we will be getting married, sooner than later.” Remus answered.









“Wait a moment, you just got together and already you are talking marriage! Isn’t this moving a little fast?” Harry looked between them curiously. He couldn’t quite picture them together in his head, but if they made each other happy he wasn’t going to stop them.







“Harry…I’m going to have a baby.” She said softly.







“What! A baby? Mione…Lupin you son of a….” Harry was out of his chair in a flash, his wand in hand. Ron grabbed him around the waist and pulled him backwards as Remus moved Hermione from his lap and lunged to his feet. “How could you do that to her?”







“It isn’t any of your business, Harry! My mate is not your concern and I didn’t do anything to her, it isn’t as though I am abandoning her with my child in her belly, I wouldn’t do that! I am in love with her and I plan to marry her as soon as it can be arranged.” He snapped.





“You love me?” Her soft voice pulled him around to face her. She looked almost sad with her watery eyes gazing up at him.





“Of course I do, how could you think I didn’t?” He reached for her, pulling her into his arms.







“You never said.” She laid her hands against the center of his chest.







“I thought I did…last night….” He brushed his nose against hers, his mustache tickling her upper lip.







“No…I would have remembered that.” She said, kissing him lightly. “I love you.”







“I love you, too.” He replied, kissing her soundly.







“Ahem!” They pulled apart at the clearing of throats and turned back to face their friends sheepishly. Ron had released Harry who was staring at them in amazement.







“Sorry.” Hermione put her arms around Remus and leaned into him.







“So the two of you, eh?” A grin spread across Harry’s face and he began to laugh. “Well it’s about damned time.” The foursome began laughing and came forward to hug and congratulate them.





“Why don’t you seem shocked? The only part you have really reacted to is my pregnancy.” Hermione’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.







“Oh for the love of Circe, Hermione! Did you honestly think that the two of you were hiding your feelings? It was so obvious! It was almost nauseating at times.” Ron said, slapping Remus on the back. “Did you honestly think we begged you to stay on here because we were actually worried about her protection? She can turn a wizard inside out with a flick of her wand! We wanted you two alone hoping that you would finally grab your stones and go after her. Took you long enough, Lupin.”







Remus furrowed his brow, suspicious of their acceptance though that wasn’t anything new, he was generally suspicious of anything that came easily. He fought his apprehension back however and accepted the warm wishes and congratulations of their friends as he held his mate in his arms and prayed for such loving acceptance from the rest of the world. As Hermione kissed his lips softly he realized it didn’t matter, as long as she accepted him, loved him, the rest of his life would be perfect.







Lyric from All I Really Need Is You by Neil Diamond (covered By David Cook on American idol)