It Happened One Night

CHAPTER 2: Slow Dancing







“Good evening, Hermione.” Remus said quietly from behind her. She turned slowly in her chair and looked up at him.







“Remus!” Before the wedding she hadn’t seen him in over a year and other than a brief hello just after the ceremony she hadn’t gotten a chance to speak to him. He looked just as she remembered him. Tall and lanky, his arms and legs making up the majority of his body. His tawny hair had faded a little closer to gray and he bore a few more scars than when she had seen him last. But it was those eyes that always held her, brown eyes the color of rich chocolate that held such kindness in them you couldn’t help but melt under his gaze.







“Would you care to dance?” He asked nervously, extending his hand. She didn’t answer at first, more than surprised to be asked especially by him.







“I would like that very much.” She said softly, placing her hand in his. Remus led her to the center of the dance floor. It was a clear night and every star in the sky could be seen easily. There was no moon in sight however and so the reception was lit with several oil lamps suspended from hooks and candles adorning almost every surface.







Hermione was a bit nervous to find herself in Remus’s arms. One hand rested at the small of her back while the other held one of her hands in a light grip. She slid her other arm around his shoulder, her hand cupping the back of his neck. The soft strains of a love song drifted on the breeze as they moved in a slow, rocking motion to the music.







“Harry asked me to see you home safely.” Remus said quietly. “Do you mind?”







“I’m not surprised, he worries about me like an old mother hen.” Hermione smiled. “I don’t mind as long as it is not out of your way.”









“I don’t think we live far from each other actually.” Remus bit down on the inside of his cheek as the sweet, vanilla scent of her skin flooded his senses. “How have you been?”







“I’m sure you have heard all about it.” She said, resting her cheek against his chest so he could not see her face. She could hear his heart pounding in his chest and smell the faintly spicy scent of his cologne.







“Ron is a fool, Hermione. Don’t waste your heart on someone who doesn’t deserve it.” He said, wondering why he was so chatty all of a sudden. Remus never talked much, preferring to keep to himself most of the time. He especially didn’t spend a lot of time chatting with women.







“It doesn’t hurt anymore, maybe that should tell me that it wasn’t meant to be. I just miss being with someone, I think I’m lonely.” She hadn’t realized it, but her fingers were stroking the silky hairs at the back of his neck as they danced and talked.







“Now loneliness I know all about.” Remus said, closing his eyes and resisting the urge to growl softly and press his head back into her stroking fingers.







“I suppose you do. Don’t you want to fall in love, Remus? Wouldn’t you like to have a family?” She asked, her brain beginning to sober up as she danced with Remus. She was amazed at how good it felt to be held by him. He was over a foot taller than she was, but she was just the right height to nestle her head into chest just below the shoulder. His hand rested on her back just above the swell of her backside and she almost wished he would slide it lower.







“Sure I would. But I would not wish a husband and father like me on anyone. Loneliness is bearable, Hermione, you get used to it after a lifetime.” He didn’t like to dance, but as he heard the song begin to close he felt disappointed because it would mean having to let go of her. He should be slapped for having such thoughts and feelings about a woman so young. He was old enough to be her father and here he was becoming aroused at the feel of her against him.









“I don’t know how bearable it will be, Remus. I miss being held at night, the feel of being pressed against someone, feeling desired.” Hermione sighed and pulled her hand from his, wrapping it around his shoulder and pressing closer.







“A woman like you will not stay alone long, Hermione.” Remus rested his hand on her hip and lowered his head so he could whisper close to her ear. “Ron Weasley was unworthy of your love and I promise you he will not be the only man you will ever love.” Remus suddenly wished that it could be him.







“Remus, you are probably the best man I have ever met.” Hermione smiled and enjoyed the feeling of being held by someone, even if it was only for a dance.









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“Bloody hell she’s desperate!” Ron Weasley nursed a long neck bottle of beer as he stepped up beside Harry and Ginny. “I cant believe she’s throwing herself at Moony like that! For goodness sake he’s old enough to be her dad!”







“What’s the matter Ron, jealous?” Ginny asked, glaring at her older brother.







“Jealous of an old man? Hardly!” Ron scoffed, frowning slightly when he saw Hermione with both of her arms around Remus’s neck. “I just thought she would go for someone her own age.”







“Quite frankly it’s none of your business, Ron.” Harry said his tone low and even, a clear indication that he was keeping his temper in check. “In fact, after what you put her through, you don’t even have the right to an opinion where Mione is concerned.” Harry turned slowly and faced his best friend.





“Oi, mate, what pixie crawled up your arse?” Ron asked, somewhat shocked to see the anger in Harry’s green eyes.







“You. You had a woman who loved you through everything. She overlooked your faults ignored your disrespect of her and your thoughtlessness because she adored you. You had everything a man could want and you pissed it all away because your ego told you that you could have it all and you gave into your greed and broke that girl’s heart. You never did deserve her or her love. I suggest that where Mione is concerned you shut the fuck up Ron or so help me I will curse you into the next century.” Harry was red faced and breathing heavily by the time he was done.







Ron was just staring in amazement, not quite believing that Harry had just ripped into him the way he did.







“You don’t understand, Harry. You don’t know what it’s like trying to be with someone so bloody perfect.” Ron said, shaking his head.







“Why don’t you tell us Ron.” Ginny said.





“I would love to know myself.” Molly stepped in behind Harry and Ginny and was quickly followed by the rest of the Weasley tribe.







“So everyone is going to gang up on me now, is that it? You’re going to take her side over mine?” Ron knew he was a first class git. He also knew that Hermione was the best thing that had ever happened to him, but he would never be good enough for her and he knew it. It was better that he stay with those as shallow and simple as he was, let her find a man she deserved and who deserved her. Someone who could make her happy.







“Ronald Weasley, you are an ass.” Molly said. “As much as I love you, you are an ass. And someday you will wake up and see what you have lost, but it will be too late.”









“It already is.” He thought as he shook his head and walked away.