Chapter 11

They'd arrived at the alley. It was hidden from sight with special charms designed to encourage people to look away or not take any notice, unless someone was specifically looking for it. Remus would meet the man who called himself Mr. Johnstone, pay for the Wolfsbane and both would leave. The alley was used for many means, nefarious and harmless alike, but would likely remain empty until Mr. Johnstone arrived.

Remus gathered Hermione in his arms. She didn't look cold, but she did look damn sexy, and he found himself unable to take his eyes off her. He'd never felt like this with anyone before. Even with Tonks, he'd hated public displays of affection and went out of his way to avoid them. She'd hated that, being a naturally affectionate person; but to Remus, it had always felt inappropriate or wrong. But with Hermione, everything was different. She was so perfectly touchable, and she seemed to encourage his embraces. She never forced herself on him, which he appreciated, but let him know she was there with comforting touches and sideways smiles.

Now, she wrapped her arms around his waist and smiled into his chest. He slowly rubbed the long line of her back, fingertips trailing to just graze the top of her buttocks. She raised her head to smile at him, and he immediately took her lips, slowly and sensually invading and exploring her mouth. She moaned softly, melting into the embrace until he was practically dipping her backwards.

A sharp crack of Apparition reluctantly drew their attention toward the arrival of Mr. Johnstone. He was a squat man with wild grey hair and a beaming smile. Remus had to grin at the sight of him; he epitomised the crazy inventor. And he was the only man besides the late Severus Snape who could brew the Wolfsbane potion so precisely.

"Ah, Remus! So good to see you. You are looking well, my boy! Very well, indeed! And who is this lovely young thing? Too young for you, I might add! But not for me!" He barked a laugh.

Hermione's mouth gaped open, and Remus grinned. Without letting her go, he said, "Mr. Johnstone, it's nice to see you again. This is my... friend, Hermione. But I assure you, even if she is too young, I keep her on her toes." And on her back, his perverted brain added.

Hermione squeezed him in response and smiled at the diminutive man. Remus let her go to get the money from his robes.

"Of course, of course! Well, I am so very pleased to see you have a lady friend. A man like you should not be alone, no, indeed not!"

Remus laughed good-naturedly. He'd put up with years of Mr. Johnstone's unsubtle hints about his love life; he was pleased to see it would, if not stop, at least take a new direction. He'd never brought Tonks with him to meet his supplier, nor had he mentioned her. He handed a small pouch of coins to the smaller wizard and took the Wolfsbane from him.

"All set, then?" Remus asked.

"That's everything, my boy! Best of luck to you, and to you, missy! See you next month, son! All the best, all the best!"

He popped away with a resounding cackle, and Remus chuckled. He was a true character.

"Well, that was interesting! He seems very... nice." Hermione was smiling, and Remus was drawn to her like a goblin to Galleons.

"Yes, he's very nice. And you know someone else who can be very... nice." He nuzzled her neck, brushing her hair away. Hermione shuddered at the sensation, and Remus smiled. He loved having an effect on her, and she always responded so quickly.

"Nice... yes. I suppose you can be that... and other things," Hermione murmured, tilting her head back for another kiss. He obliged, softly moving his lips against hers, tilting her head so he could deepen the kiss. She moaned into his mouth, and before he really knew what he was doing, Remus had pushed her against the brick wall of the alley.

Hermione gasped when her back hit the chilled, rough wall. She snaked her arms around his neck, and Remus trailed his fingers from where her hands met around his neck, down her arms, then her sides and hips, and he bent his knees a little to gather the hem of her skirt in his hands.

She immediately went to withdraw her hands, presumably to stop him, but Remus caught her hands in one of his, holding her wrists in his grasp and pressing them against the wall above her head. He kissed her with passion, showing her how amazing she made him feel with only a kiss in an alleyway.

She whimpered softly when he drew his hand up between her thighs, caressing the silky skin of her inner thigh. She tried to bring her legs firmly together, but Remus had pre-empted her by pressing one of his thighs between hers. Her head fell against the wall, her mouth open and drawing deep breaths. The look in her eyes was enough to make his cock throb; she looked wild and desperate.

His fingers grazed against the dampened front of her panties, so softly she might have imagined it, and her hips jerked forward to meet his hand. Remus smirked and touched her gently again with just his fingertips.

"Remus," she whispered, a plea in her voice.

"Yes, love?" he teased, rubbing her lightly through her underwear.

"Touch me harder, please. More," she whined, circling her hips lightly, trying to get as much as she could from his fingers.

He decided he liked the way she begged and obliged her, yanking her panties down to just above her knees. His fingers immediately slipped into her wet folds, and she smiled and groaned at the contact. He pressed her wrists harder against the brick, scratching the backs of her hands against the rough surface. He watched her face to make sure he hadn't hurt her in a bad way, but her eyes promised she was thrilled by the treatment. He'd never thought little Hermione Granger would like pain with her pleasure, but it was always the quiet types you had to watch out for. He laughed softly, thinking about his own reputation for quietness. Yes, it seems to be a trend.

He thrust his fingers into her hot sheath at the same time he pressed his tongue into her mouth. His mouth was gentle and slow, however, while his fingers were hard and rough. He fingered her brutally, first with only one, than two fingers, using the palm of his hand to grind against her clit mercilessly. Her quiet mewls turned to impassioned gasps and cries as she came closer to completion.

"Do you like this, Hermione?" he demanded of her, needing to hear her say the words.

"Gods, yes. Yes, Remus! Feels so good..." Her words came haltingly, and he bared his teeth in a feral grin at the lust-filled tone of her voice.

"Tell me what you like," he whispered into her ear, licking the shell and sucking on the spot just below it. When she didn't answer right away, he growled, "Tell me!"

She gasped, trying to find words. "I...I like your fingers... they're so thick, a...and they know just where... where! Oh... to touch. And when you hold my hands up...I li...like that too, makes me feel...oh! out of control," she finished, gasping at the effort. Her eyes were closed, her head thrown back, and Remus fit a third finger into her tight pussy, moaning when it contracted sharply against the added digit.

"Remus!" she begged.

Remus loved the way his name sounded on her lips. She sounded as though she was requesting something. "Yes, love?"

"Please... bite me. Bite me where you did before! I'm so close..."

Remus slowed his fingers, shocked at what she was asking. But maybe he shouldn't have been; after all, he'd wanted to bite her again since he'd tasted her the first time. Her wound hadn't quite healed, though. But he knew that area would always be an erogenous zone for her now, extra sensitive and completely eroticised.

He sped his fingers back up, thrusting with singular purpose. When her soft cries became louder, he sank his teeth back into the wound on her neck, not enough to break the scab, but enough to bruise her again. She came with a sharp cry, her body thrusting against his hand, her cunt tightening impossibly around his fingers. He took his mouth away to watch her face, making sure she wasn't hurt. But she appeared to be overtaken by her orgasm, her eyes closed and an expression of bliss on her features. She slumped against the wall, and when Remus let go of her wrists, they stayed up for a moment before they fell boneless against her sides.

Remus was grinning widely. There was nothing better than seeing his little mate come apart in his hands. She returned his smile, head lolling slightly to the side. He slid her panties down off her legs and threw them aside in the alley. Fixing her skirt, he smirked at her.

"Now we've marked this territory."

She laughed breathlessly, and they walked back to the Apparition Point to return home.

*

The next two weeks passed by more quickly than either wanted. Their schedules were often such that they worked opposite shifts: Hermione during the day, and Remus often leaving as soon as she walked in the door.

Hermione noticed that Remus' possessive streak had decreased significantly since the first few days after he'd claimed her, and she was grateful. He was still extremely passionate in bed, taking her to places she'd never even heard of, let alone had been to. The first time they'd made love slowly was a memory she would treasure forever. He'd been so gentle, taking his time and making her come three times. The last time, she swore she fainted for a while. She'd never been able to come more than twice, and even that was a rarity. But something in him brought out the wolf in her, and now she firmly believed there really was a wolf in everyone; it just took another wolf to bring hers out.

She'd even had Harry and Ginny over a couple times on weekends, and Remus watched Harry hug her with nary a complaint. There was no over-the-top show of dominance, and she had been able to sit on the sofa instead of on Remus' lap. Hermione was only slightly disappointed that the over-protectiveness had disappeared. Though the feminist in her railed against such behaviour, something inside her felt so sexy and desired when he expressed his control over her. It was confusing, but now she wouldn't need to examine her feelings about it.

A week before the full moon, Remus had begun his doses of Wolfsbane. He had to take it every night for a week, and tonight was the fourth night. She suspected he increased his dosage a little to be on the safe side. It pained her that he really didn't seem to trust himself, but she knew that was something they would have to work on together. And she was more than willing to do so; her feelings for Remus grew stronger every day and were already beyond the gentle affection she'd held for Ron.

She wanted to be concerned about how fast things were moving, but she just couldn't bring herself to question such a good thing. Remus was unlike any man she'd ever known. He was brilliant, sweet, passionate, and amazing in bed. He understood her on a level she barely understood herself, and that was a rare and beautiful thing. She wasn't willing to risk it by overanalysing it.

Remus was at work while Hermione was preparing dinner. She'd invited Harry and Ginny over again, as the last time had gone so well. She missed them a lot, having gone from seeing them every day to only once a week. They brought her news of the Burrow and all the members of the Weasley family and the extended families beyond them.

She'd chosen simple black trousers, a white camisole with a lacy bodice and a red cashmere cardigan. The cardigan had been a gift from Ron, but since Ginny had really chosen it, she didn't see any harm in wearing it. She'd only just dug it out of the bag of clothes Ginny brought for her from the Burrow the week before. She knew Remus liked her in red, so she thought it was perfect. Even though they were living together and saw each other every night, if not every day, she was still excited to see him all the time. Waking up next to him was the best feeling in the world.

Hermione hummed as she whipped a salad together. She enjoyed cooking the Muggle way, but it was times like this that she needed magical help; she felt as though she was running out of time, but everything was coming together nicely, despite her rush.

A knock on the door made her drop what she was doing and run to open it. She was so excited to see her friends. She swung the door wide open, grinning when she saw her best friend.

"Harry! It's so good to see you!" She smiled broadly, taking her smartly-dressed, if slightly uncomfortable-looking friend into a big hug.

He pecked her lightly on the cheek. "It's good to see you, too. You look amazing! Wow. Remus is really good for you," he teased, winking at her before entering the house.

Blushing, Hermione took the proffered bottle of wine and led Harry into the sitting room. "Where's Ginny tonight?" she asked, getting glasses and a corkscrew for the wine.

"She got stuck babysitting Victoire, actually. She told me I wasn't to break our dinner date, so here I am. I'm glad, too. I love Victoire, but she's a handful!" He took the wine and corkscrew from Hermione, opening it with a flourish. Pouring them each a healthy glass, he sat back on the sofa. "Where's Remus?"

"He's at work. He should be here any minute, though. He's been working more and more these days, which I think is great. He hates being bored, and Hogwarts hadn't needed him much this year. But I miss him when he's gone," she admitted.

Harry nodded. "I know how you feel. Whenever Ginny's off playing Quidditch with her team, I miss her like crazy. I mean, there's Apparition, but sometimes it's nice to come home to her, you know?"

She did know. She hated walking into an empty house, and she hated leaving one as well. "Well, it would be nice if we both worked full-times jobs where we had the same schedule, but I don't think I'll be made full-time anytime soon. To be honest, I'm lucky to still have the job, with all the cutbacks."

"It's getting ridiculous," Harry agreed. "It's at the point where no one is safe. Do you have a back-up?"

Hermione laughed. "I know of a few places I could work, but none with the same opportunities to move up like at the Ministry. And I still have nearly no savings, but I'm working on it."

"Good, keep that up. I would hate to see... well, I know Remus will always take care of you, so maybe I don't have to worry."

Hermione frowned. "Well, you don't have to worry, but not because Remus will support me. You know I would never allow that." She paid her way around Grimmauld Place, which was why she was having a hard time saving money. Remus hated taking her money, but it wasn't a negotiable point, as far as she was concerned.

Harry was quick to backpeddle. "That's not what I meant! I only meant... should anything happen, he won't let you struggle. Ugh, never mind. I'm obviously not going to say the right thing to get out of this."

She had to laugh. Harry could still be the same awkward teenager she'd known for so long. Patting his arm patronisingly, she teased, "Obviously. But I love you anyway!"

They both laughed, and Hermione startled when she heard a throat clear in the doorway.