It Happened One Night

CHAPTER 16: The Watcher





“He’s back.” Remus said, standing in the front window of Hermione’s little rental while she packed her things. “What amazes me is that he honestly thinks that I don’t know he’s there.”







“Well he obviously knows something is going on with the For Rent sign on the door.” Hermione said, closing the lid on another box and stacking it near the fireplace.







“He has come by every day for a week, you don’t think he’s dangerous do you, love?” Remus asked, shaking his head and walking over to where she was filling yet another box with books.





“I don’t think so, not that it matters, as of today I don’t live here anymore. From tonight on I will be sleeping in my new home with my husband.” She kissed his lips quickly and returned to her packing.





“That’s true. I hope he doesn’t take to watching our house all the time.” Remus said as he grabbed another box to help her pack her books.







“Our house, I love it when you say that.” She laughed. “I think he’s curious, probably trying to figure out what is going on with us and why I am moving.”







“We need to tell him and the others so that he understands. His behavior is out of line and somewhat frightening.” Remus said, closing up another box. “I’ll be right back, I’m going to take these to our house.”





Hermione watched him reduce the size of the boxes and carry them all in his hand into the fireplace as he floo’d to their house with her books. She walked to the window curiously and peeked out around the curtains to see Ron standing across the lane near the woods watching the little cottage.





He wouldn’t stay long, he never did but she agreed with Remus that his behavior was out of line and a bit frightening.





“Get away from the window, love. I don’t trust him.” Remus said as he stepped back into the room. “Pack up the last of your things so we can go home and get you settled in.” He said, resting his hands on her shoulders. “Oh hell, here he comes.”









Ron could see Hermione and Remus staring at him from the window and he decided he would find out what was going on once and for all. The door swung open before he could knock and Remus was leaning in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest.





“Hello, Ron. Finally decided to cross the street?” Remus asked, his eyes narrowed as he tracked every move Ron made.





“I want to talk to Hermione.” Ron said as forcefully as he could manage. The werewolf intimidated him, despite the fact that Ron was bigger and stronger, Remus was far more powerful and deadly if pushed too far.







“What do you want, Ronald?” She asked coming to stand beside Remus.







“Is he always here?” Ron asked nodding his head in Remus’s direction.







“Pretty much. What can I do for you? I’m a little busy at the moment.” Hermione asked, shivering a little in the cold doorway.





“You can talk to me alone.” He said. “Please?”





Hermione sighed and looked up at Remus questioningly. Remus looked over at Ron for a moment and then back to his wife.





“Go ahead and talk to him, love. I’ll finish packing the books.” He said softly. “I’ll be close.”







“Come in, Ronald.” Hermione said as Remus walked to the other side of the room and began packing her books.







“You’re moving?” Ron asked as he unzipped his coat. She hadn’t invited him in any further than the foyer so he assumed she intended that they speak right there. “Where to?”





“It doesn’t matter, Ron. What do you have to say to me that is so important that you have been watching my house for a week?” She asked, tapping her foot in agitation.





“Why is Lupin always here, Hermione? Why are you always with him?” He asked, jealousy boiling inside him.





“It’s no concern of yours who I spend my time with.” She said calmly.







“I saw the two of you the other night through the window…..you seem rather cozy.” He said, glancing over to where Remus was packing, completely oblivious to the fact that the man could hear every word spoken.







“What do you want to know exactly?” She asked, crossing her arms over her chest.







“Is he the reason you won’t give me a second chance?” Ron asked.







“No. I have given you far more chances than you deserved over the years, Ron. Every single time it came back to bite me in the ass. I finally learned from my mistake.” She realized that she couldn’t handle Ron gently; she would have to be firm if she wanted him to get the hint.



“Well now I have learned mine.” He said softly, stepping closer to her and frowning when she stepped back. “You are involved with him aren’t you?”







“Yes.” She answered.







“He is the reason for all these changes in you? He’s too old for you, Hermione.” Ron said, shaking his head in dismay.







“Age doesn’t matter, he makes me happy. He respects me and he’s faithful.” She said, her eyes drifting over to Remus.







“Oh yeah? More likely he’s ashamed of you, he’s not exactly shouting your relationship from the rooftops is he?” Ron’s face contorted in his anger and he looked like a completely different person. Bitterness fairly dripped from his every word.





“Our secretiveness was a mutual choice. We just prefer to be left alone.” She said.







“You know, for someone so intelligent you really are clueless. Do you think that he loves you? Come on, he likes having a young witch in his bed and when he tires of you, you’ll be alone again.” Ron’s smirk was so sinister that Hermione couldn’t help but gasp.





“Get out, now.” She said through clenched teeth. She was stunned, for all his inconsiderate comments over the years Ron had never been deliberately cruel to her.





“Poor deluded witch.” He laughed. “I’ll hand it to him, whatever he’s doing works for you, but it won’t last. You are too cold to hold a man for long.”





“I said get out now you bastard!” She said fiercely.







“I’m not finished talking to you yet.” Ron made the biggest mistake of his life when he reached out and grabbed her upper arm. He didn’t know what hit him. In one moment he was standing there with his hand wrapped around Hermione’s arm intending to lay into her more and in the next he was on the floor, blood pouring from his broken nose.





“What the bloody hell?” Ron stared at his hand now covered in blood. Remus jerked him to his feet and slammed him back into the wall, his long fingered hand wrapped around the redhead’s throat. Ron was more frightened by the sight of Remus angry than he had ever been of Voldemort. The man’s eyes fairly burned with fury as he stared at him and the low, rumbling growl from deep in his chest was terrifying.







“Do not touch her, ever!” Remus growled.





“I wasn’t going to hurt her.” Ron said, his eyes wide and his voice suddenly an octave higher in fear.





“You hurt her enough with the vile things you were saying and yet you dare to put your hands on her? I should kill you right now for even thinking about putting your hands on my wife.” He growled.





“Your wife!” Ron turned his stunned gaze towards Hermione. “You married Lupin?”





Hermione had her back pressed into the wall watching the whole scene unfold in disbelief. She had been shocked when Ron reached for her but it was nothing compared to the actions of the normally gentle Remus, the man who wouldn’t harm anyone or anything.





“Yes, Ron. I did, I’m moving to his house.” Hermione stepped forward and laid her hand on Remus’s shoulder. “I’m alright, sweetheart, he didn’t hurt me. Let him go.” She said softly, tugging him by his shoulder in an attempt to put distance between him and Ron.





“He shouldn’t have grabbed you.” Remus said roughly as he jerked his hand back from Ron as though he had been burned. Remus was breathing heavily, his teeth clenched as he reached for her arm and shoved the sleeve of her jumper up so he could examine her arm for marks.





“I’m fine, calm down.” She said soothingly as she caressed the side of his face and brushed his hair back from his forehead. “He didn’t hurt me, he’s upset and jealous but he wouldn’t hurt me.” She turned to glare at Ron. “Would you?”







“I….no….I wouldn’t hurt you.” He stammered, watching as Hermione tried to calm the angry Were. “If you two are married, just how long have you been together?”





“Since the night of Ginny and Harry’s wedding. We eloped the night of the Quidditch match.” Hermione said as she slipped her arm around Remus’s waist. “I hope you understand now that there is no chance of us becoming a couple again, Ron. I’m married and I intend to stay that way.”





“But you told me you weren’t in love that night…”





“No, I said I didn’t know if I was in love or not. Now I do.” Remus’s fingers dug into her side and she knew that he was responding to her admission.





“Why keep it a secret?” He asked.





“We just weren’t ready for everyone to know. We plan to tell the others on Saturday when we come for Christmas Eve.” Hermione said. “I have never asked anything of you Ron, but please, let us be the ones to tell them.”





“No one else knows?” He asked.





“Harry and Ginny just found out. They promised to let us announce our marriage.” Remus said, his eyes still stormy as the Alpha in him insisted that he show his dominance, his ownership of the female. “We ask that you make the same promise.”





“Yeah, sure…..I don’t think I could tell them if I tried.” Ron said quietly. He looked up at Hermione and she could see the sadness, the loss in his eyes but she couldn’t feel pity for him. He had made his bed long ago. “So it’s really over then?”





“Yes, it is.” Hermione rested her head against Remus’s chest. Ron nodded slowly and reached for his wand. He cast a healing and a cleansing charm on his face and fastened his coat.





“I hope you are happy. I know you won’t believe me, but your happiness has always been important to me, I just wish it could have been found with me.” Ron looked at Remus. “Take care of her, Lupin. Don’t make the same mistakes I did.”





“I won’t. Goodbye, Ron.” Remus said, opening the door in a clear indication that it was time for Ron to go. He waved slightly and walked out into the cold, his heart broken and his pride bruised. He had lost her for good and he had no choice but to accept that now.







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You didnt think it was over yet did you?