Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Sorry it took so long to get out. Had to fight to get the computer back. Anyway, here we go.


Hermione awoke around noon with the sun slashing across her face from the open window in her room, where Lupin had carried her this morning. Sitting up gingerly, she flushed, recalling the scene.


**flash back**

Hermione groaned as she stretched her aching muscles. She felt like she had been tortured the night before. Looking down, she seen scrapes and cuts she had inflicted to herself, but not remembering any of it. Though she knew this was to be expected. She turned her head slightly when she heard the door open and Lupin and Sirius walked in, the former looking about as well as she felt.


"Morning," Remus said, his voice raspy.

All she could do is grimace back. It hurt to even try and smile.

"We know your uncomfortable," Sirus said, "but don't worry. We'll take care of that soon enough. First, let's get you up to your room."


She slowly sat up and the blanket she was tangled in slipped down, exposing her upper half. Gasping, she tried to pull it back up to cover herself.

Instead of saying anything, Sirius stepped forward and went to bend down to pick her up.

"I-I can walk. Thanks."

"Believe me, Hermione, you won't be able to walk to the door without collapsing. Let one of us carry you so you don't hurt yourself further." She nodded and Sirius went to pick her up again.

"I'll carry her." Remus said, surprisingly calm.

"Remus, you're almost just as weak as she is." Sirius pointed out.

"I can manage. I'll carry her, end of discussion."

Sirius looked at his long time best friend for a moment and whatever he seen in his face made him step aside. Lupin bent down and picked her up with ease. He obviously wasn't as weak as he usually was.

Lupin adjusted her in his arms, bringing his hand into contact with one breast.

"Sorry," he muttered, moving his hand to her side and followed Sirius out of the room and upstairs. Once inside her bedroom, Sirius excused himself to go and get a few things that would help her heal.


He gently put her down in her bed, touching her in places that he shouldn't have, and apologizing over and over. This was why he didn't want Sirius to carry her. Even though it was on accident, he felt he still would have tried to kill his best friend for touching her like that.


"Shouldn't you be resting also?" She asked him quietly.

"Technically, yes, however, you took care of me this past summer, now it's my time to take care of you."

She gave him a weak smile and snuggled into her bed. A few moments later, Sirius came back with a few potions in his hand. He handed them to Remus and left again when Remus gave him a pointed look.

He helped her sit up so she could take the medicine her had.

"Here. These will help a little. This blue one is for the soreness. The red one is so you don't get any infections from the cuts since they won't heal right away. And this last one is a dreamless-sleep potion."

She took them as he instructed and layed back down.

"I'll be back in a little while to check on you. I'm sure Sirius wants to speak to me about a few things. Rest now." With that, he leaned over and kissed her on her forehead, made sure the blankets were around her and that she was comfortable, then took his leave.


**end flash back**


Stretching gingerly, she noticed she didn't hurt anymore. Well, he muscles didn't hurt at least. The cuts still stung. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she slowly stood up and found the world didn't tip. And she noticed she had a dressing gown on. She blushed thinking about someone coming in and putting it on her. Then just as quickly as that assumption came, she shook it off. They probably spelled it on her.


She made her way down the hall to the bathroom, but stopped before closing the door when she heard voices coming from down stairs. Sirius and Remus sounded like they were arguing. It was muffled, but she could make out part of it.

"Why..........Hermione......acted......... possessive.........tell me." That was Sirius.

There was a pause in which she heard Remus sigh. She crept slowly back down the hall so she could hear better.


"During the summer, at Grimmauld Place, after my transformations, everyone was always busy and I was left alone. But she stayed with me. Even when I was the wolf, she was outside the door, talking to me, keeping me company. Like she knew I could understand everything she was saying to me, which I did. And I couldn't help it, it just happened it. I didn't plan it. It had never entered my mind. I-I fell in love with her, and I fell hard.

"I know it's crazy. I'm old enough to be her father. She probably thinks of me like a father figure. But I can't help how I feel." He said dejectedly.


Hermione's head was swimming. She thought nothing of how her head felt until she saw nothing but darkness and fell to the floor with a loud thump.


She woke to find her self in her bed again with a very concerned looking Remus hovering over her and an abashed Sirius standing a few feet behind him.

A/N: Okay, here's the next chapter for you. Hope you like it. I was surprised. I didn't write anything down like I wanted to. It just came to the top of my head. LOL. Anyway. Hope it isn't too bad. Thanks again for all the reviews. It makes me want to write more when I get possitive feedback and such.