theshabbiestofmen | ic contact;

It's nothing bad, I promise! Don't look so worried.

[ She smiles softly, as best she can, shutting the door to behind her before she walks over. ]

I just - need to tell you something?

All right?

[He tries for a smile, but wow, those are not calming words. I need to tell you something, Merlin, what could she possibly have to say that she would tell him? Is she pregnant? Oh, god, is she pregnant? How even would they deal with that, how would they raise a child here, Hermione why would you get pregnant here?]

You still look like I'm going to curse you.

[ She takes a deep breath before she shifts, walking over to sit on the bed beside him. She has no idea that he's panicking about a baby that doesn't exist, though, so she takes her time, trying to find the right words. ]

It's just - since I arrived here and we've all started to live together and get closer - you, me, James, Lily, Sirius, the lot of us... I started to feel something. And for a while I thought it was ridiculous because it's a very strange situation, the lot of us being here, and it's - complicated. [ Yes, that's a very good word for it. Complicated.

She swallows, taking a deep breath. ]

I like you, Remus. That's what I wanted to say - what I came to say.

Well, I--

[--oh. Not like the same way that he, say, likes Lily. Not like that at all, because why would she come and shut the door and tell him like this, oh my wizarding god, she likes him--

Remus stares at her blankly for a good few seconds longer than necessary, trying to fight off the roaring white panic that's enveloped his mind. She likes him. She likes him, and he-- what? Well, he-- she's clever, and fun to be around. She's sensible, which he appreciates, and she's quite pretty, really, now that he looks, and--

Does he like her, then, in that way? God, he doesn't know. He wasn't even thinking about her in that light until about three seconds ago. But-- well, he wouldn't mind snogging her, a bit, and talking to her afterwards, and doing couple-ish sorts of things (whatever that means)-- which, frankly, from what James and Sirius have taught him, means they ought to just elope right now.

Remus takes a breath and gives her a rather nervous smile.]

I, um. I didn't--

[A thought occurs to him. He wrinkles his nose.]

Oh. You were who Lily was talking about. She kept hinting about it, she kept-- bloody hell.

[Oh, he probably should . . . tell her something, shouldn't he? Only what do you say? Excellent, let's have it off, something Sirius-like suggests, but Remus banishes that away. Honestly.]

You, ah-- I'm not exactly, ah, good at this sort of thing. Romance-things, I mean. Rather terrible at it, in fact. Um.

[ 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.

Well. Books are normally more interesting, frankly, than other people.

[HA HA WHAT A STUPID JOKE GOD REMUS YOU'RE SO STUPID. He grimaces for a moment, really hating himself, before focusing back on her.]

I, ah . . . I'd-- I mean-- we could give it a go. I mean, if Sirius can do it, it can hardly be difficult, can it.

Of course they are - and books never get bored or tired or want to sneak out of the castle to go to Honeydukes...

[ She bites her lip, cheeks going a very, very dark red. ]

Only if it's something you'd like, Remus. I know this is a bit of a messy situation, given the whole 'timeline, future' issue, but... I do like you.

[He nods once, his nose wrinkling. Timelines. Right. He'd forgotten about that.]

Well, we've already messed them up already-- and this seems to be a sort of a limbo. I think it's not as messy as it could be, frankly, and it . . . I mean. It'd be . . . interesting to try.

I think us being here, knowing each other, is probably confusing enough, even if we do forget everything when we go home.

[ She takes a deep breath, again, counting to ten. ]

I would like to try, but... We will go home, one day, and we won't remember any of this. Is that - okay?

[ What she means is: you'll grow up and marry Tonks and have a beautiful baby boy and she'll go back to school and do - something, she hasn't quite worked that out yet. ]

[He glances over at her, meeting her gaze again. The thought is a sickening one, but-- there's no point in worrying now, is there? They could be here for months, for years; not acting because of a possibility seems foolish.]

I'd . . . like to try, if you would. Despite that.

[ Hermione smiles, reaching for his hand. ]

I would. That's why I told you - not because I expected anything but because I hoped?

[Her hand is soft, and warm, and he's glad when she takes his. Carefully he threads their fingers together, though his heart is pounding a little.]

So . . . ah. Would you like to go out?

On a date? Or like - be together?

[ She squeezes his hand, shifting a little closer. ]

Either way... I would. We could read together, if you fancied it.

[He huffs a soft laugh and turns a little, facing her more.]

I-- both, really. Though I've a new book, if you'd like to, um, listen. I mean, I could-- we could lie down, um, and I could read it aloud?

That sounds lovely. What book did you get? Was it at the same time as your pants?

[ Before he asks, she grins. ]

Sirius told me. He was very excited for you.

Oh, honestly--

[He wrinkles his nose, pulled out of his nervousness by vague irritation.]

Yes, it was-- and it's a book on magic and science, and how perhaps they're not all that different, so much as one is a different way to do another. I don't know if it's rubbish or not, actually, but the topic sounded interesting enough. Did he really talk about my stupid trousers!

Yes, he did, but only asking if I noticed that you had them. I don't think he meant anything by it.

[ she shifts, moving back and waiting for Remus to get the book and her comfortable. It's not her place to invade his room, really, is it? ]

It sounds fascinating, especially given all the things we're learning here and what it means for us all. Not just in Asgard but at home as well.

And had you?

[Which is a discreet way to ask if she's been looking at his arse. He grabs the book from off his nightstand and clambers back, lying against the headboard, waiting a little nervously for her to come join him.]

Well, I had, but I didn't think it was any of his business to know. He's a little too nosey, really.

[ Very discrete, Remus. Hermione shifts, moving up the bed and settling beside him quite happily, shoulders brushing and her smile just getting wider. ]

He's a little too a lot of things, really.

[Tentatively, he moves to put his arm around her, tugging her in close.]

But isn't that part of his charm? He's a pain but at least he's our pain.

[ She smiles, shifting and settling against him, letting his arm get around her and comfortable. ]

Yes, but don't tell him that. You have to sort of put him down a lot, because he's so naturally full of himself.

[Right. Right. This is good. She's warm under his arm, and very soft, and he's got the book propped against his chest, held open with his free hand, and this-- this is good. Remus glances over at her, gives her a little smile, and begins reading.]

It helps burst the balloon of ego and arrogance, right? We have to be good to him otherwise he'll never learn.

[ As he begins to read Hermione settles against him a little more, expression soft, tender. She's comfortable, happy, and she feels a warmth spreading through her at just being near to Remus. ]

[He's had a girlfriend before, thank god; at least he knows somewhat what he's doing. He reads steadily, and lets his fingers drag up and down her arm idly as he does. She's so warm in the most lovely way, and he can feel her chest rising and falling gently as she rests against him.

When he reaches a break, he glances over at her with a little smile.]

Shall I keep going?

[ Remus is warm beside her, solid, his touch gentle, and Hermione can feel her heart pounding rapidly in her chest. It's a good feeling, though, one that she's enjoying, only breaking out of her reverie when the man beside her stops reading and speaks instead. Smiling, she leans closer and hums, thoughtfully. ]

If you'd like. I could read for a little too, if you would rather have a break.

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