[ His silence and the wide-eyed panic is enough to make Hermione's heart nearly explode in her chest. Why had she listened to Sirius? This was a terrible idea, absolutely awful, and now she's gone and made a fool out of herself and messed up the entire household dynamic and, oh, Merlin, she was going to have to move out, wasn't she? Perhaps Spike would let her stay, she's sure he wouldn't mind, really, or maybe Alice and the Doctor could lend her a sofa until she found her own place, she gets money from the city now --

But then he speaks and, okay, he smiles, and Hermione takes a long, deep breath. Getting in a tangled panic won't do her any good and she has to be smart and sensible about this - she's been through a war, for goodness sake, she can handle talking to a boy about her feelings. That's all it is, talking, and she can deal with that. She's a master at talking, really, she is. ]

Wait, Lily told you? I am going to kill her! I'll set Morholt on her and tell him that she's - she's got bacon or something, I swear.

[ She breathes out, shaking her head and wringing her fingers absently, huffing before she turns back and offers Remus a soft, nervous smile, trying not to look upset or disappointed. She hadn't expected anything and, honestly, she was just glad to get it off her chest. Nice and simple and sensible, just like Sirius said. ]

That's okay. I'm not particularly good at it either. I was always more interested in reading than dating.