Chapter 22

Hermione and Remus spent the next week on vacation. They went to a sweet little resort in northern Ontario, Canada, in a little known wizarding town. The sun shone cooperatively every single day, and because neither had ever been on a vacation like this, they made the most of all the amenities the town and resort had to offer.

The 'honeymoon' had been a gift from Harry, who still struggled with the myriad fortunes bequeathed to him. He loved nothing more than spending it on his friends, and though Remus tried to demur, Hermione would have none of it. She knew her mate had so rarely travelled, though she knew he would have done so extensively, if circumstances had been a little different.

Harry owled them on their last day in Canada to let them know that both Ron and Tonks had been taken off probation, and Ron was his old jovial self again. The bonding had done its job, and everything was back to normal.

On their last day there, Hermione had made an important decision.

"Remus?" she asked softly, knowing her lover was awake but still resting. They'd spend much of their vacation in bed, one way or another, and right now they were enjoying the sunlight streaming through the open patio door, waking up slowly from a long, lovely sleep.

"Yes, love?" he responded, voice scratchy with sleep. She watched him turn to face her, his eyes clearing and face becoming more lucid.

"I'm going to write a book," she said decisively.

"Wonderful idea," said Remus, gathering her into his arms and pulling her firmly against his body. She allowed the move, snuggling closer. This sort of intimacy was foreign to her. She knew that sometimes he just wanted to hold her, not for sex, just to make sure she was there. She had the feeling that he feared she would up and disappear, but she knew no such thing would ever happen. There was no leaving him, not now, not ever.

"That's it? Don't you want to know what made me decide that? Or what the book will be about?" she said, pouting.

"Well, I think you decided because you've been thinking about it for months, years really, though the subject matter might have changed. And I believe you will be writing on modern werewolf matings and how wolves should hold out for their true mates, so everyone can be as lucky as we are."

Hermione's mouth gaped. "What...how do...Remus! How did you know that?"

"I know you, love. You want to help everyone. You want to heal everyone. And this way you can get across to the largest number of people."

"Hmm," she said, still sticking out her lower lip, causing him to lean forward and nip it. She perked up, saying, "I want you to write it with me."

She'd finally managed to say something he hadn't expected. Gloating, Hermione watched his expression change from surprise, to pleasure, to anxiety. She knew that he still had ingrained feelings of worthlessness. He'd so seldom been able to contribute anything, despite that fact that he had so much to offer. The year he'd taught at Hogwarts had been the best year of his life (except this one, he'd told her). People just weren't willing to give werewolves a chance. But this could mean he would really be able to be a part of something greater than himself.

"Why? I'm sure you don't need my help. I mean, I could certainly help with the personal testimonial part, but to actually co-write?"

Hermione slowly pushed Remus on to his back. Since it was halfway between moons, she knew he felt almost no inkling of the wolf and was more than happy to let her take charge. Straddling him, she leaned over and placed her hands on his cheeks, forcing her to look at him.

"I do need your help, Remus. You're a brilliant wizard, and you have a beautiful way with words. If you really don't want to, I'll understand. But I want to do this together. Will you think about it?"

He still looked hesitant, so she kissed him lightly, trying to show him just how much she needed him. It was true that she could write the book herself, but she didn't want to. She wanted him there beside her, helping her and guiding her. She wanted him to say all the things he hadn't been able to say over the years, due to his lycanthropy. It was important that Remus have a voice, and she was determined to help him find it.

"I'll think about it," he promised. "Now, how about some breakfast?"

But his hands were trailing down her back to cup her arse, and she had the distinct impression that he wasn't talking about food.

One Year Later

Remus did indeed think about writing the book with Hermione. And all of a sudden, a million different ideas for chapters and content came to him, and after a few weeks, he was completely involved even before having officially made his decision. Hermione had smiled and asked if he'd chosen to co-write after all, and without even needing to think about it, Remus had said, "Of course."

So on the first anniversary of their bonding, Remus was anxiously awaiting Hermione's return from work. She'd finally been made full-time, but he knew she hated her job more than ever. The pay was insultingly below what her time was worth, and her boss always took advantage of her time and intelligence.

But today was a good day. The first draft of their book had been completed and sent in two months ago. They had worked day and night on the second draft, and a prototype had been sent to their house that very day.

The timing was absolutely perfect.

Holding the book and a little surprise behind his back, Remus waited by the Floo for the love of his life. When it lit up to expel her, he was waiting.

"Remus! I missed you," Hermione laughed, trying to fall into his arms only to discover they were held behind him. "What's going on?"

"I have a surprise," he told her, a mischievous grin spreading over his usually sincere features.

"Oh?" she asked coyly, pressing her body a little more firmly against his. "A surprise for me?"

"Yes," he laughed, taking a step back. "A real surprise."

Hermione looked a little anxious, and Remus decided not to draw it out. He revealed the book and held it out in front of him. The cover bore a moving picture of a man shifting into a werewolf, and then the werewolf stalking around in circles before lying down in front of a fireplace. It wasn't Remus, but many people might assume it was. The title was printed in white, standing in stark relief against the dark, greyscale photo. It read: Modern Bonding: Ways of the Werewolf and its Mate. At the bottom of the cover were two names: R.J. Lupin and H.J. Granger.

Hermione gasped, taking the book into her hands so delicately one might think it was made of spun glass. Her finger traced over the names at the bottom, coming back to run over Lupin a few times.

Remus anxiously waited for her to open the book.

When she did, she stared down for a long moment, before looking up to meet his eyes, perplexed.

"What...?" she whispered, a hesitant finger hovering over the white gold diamond engagement ring he'd placed inside the book.

He smiled and picked it up off the page, taking the book and setting it on the sofa beside them. He had to look away from her huge brown eyes, because the tears there were always enough to set his own off.

Taking her left hand in his, Remus bent to one knee. Even if Hermione wasn't the traditional witch, and their relationship not the typical one, Remus was an old-fashioned kind of man. He wanted to do this right.

"Hermione Granger, for the last year, you've made me the happiest I've ever been. I never thought love like this was real, let alone for me. When I'm with you, it's like nothing else in the world exists. I want to be with you, always. I want you to have my children; I want you to grow old with me. I want to be able to say you're my wife. I want us to be married in the eyes of Wizarding Law. I want it all. Hermione, will you marry me?"

"Remus... oh... oh, gods, I love you so much. Yes, I will marry you. Yes, to all those things you want, and yes to a million more. Yes."

Remus didn't notice the shaking of his hand as he slid the ring over her left fourth finger. They both stared in awe for a couple minutes at the perfect fit and sparkling light-play of the ring. Remus had been saving for months and had spent a portion of his half of the book advance to buy her this. Nothing made him happier than making her happy, and even though he knew implicitly that the ring wasn't what made her cry, he believed she deserved every little bit of happiness he could offer.

Hermione fell to her knees as well, hugging him so tightly that his back popped, causing them both to laugh recklessly through their tears.

"And you're sure this is what you want?" Hermione asked softly, crawling into her lover's lap. "You know I was content with being your mate. I hope you don't feel pressured..."

"Hermione," Remus interrupted. "The bonding, though beautiful and perfect, was forced on us. For the sake of Ron and Tonks, we had to do the right thing. Now, though... now is our time to be selfish. To do this thing because we want, because we deserve it. Your yellow dress was beautiful, but a woman like you deserves to wear white."

"White?" she asked, somewhat sceptically.

"White," he confirmed, pulling her so that her legs were wrapped around her waist and the core of her pressed against his groin. "With flowers. And delicious food. And dancing into the night. And all those Muggle traditions you want but wouldn't ask for. And all the wizarding ones as well. I'll make this day perfect for you, I promise."

"You do too much for me," she whispered.

"It's never too much when you love someone."

And then they were undressing, a slow removal of barriers between them. Remus smiled when he saw Hermione admiring her ring as she unbuttoned his shirt, and he took her hand and kissed each fingertip, nibbling a little on each one. She always tasted so amazing that he found it difficult not to lick and bite her all the time.

Despite his promise of 'No more bites,' he had, in fact, bitten her once more in the past year. It had been on his birthday, and she had said, Anything you like, which he had taken literally. However, he had managed to ask her permission, even if she had been in a state of constant arousal. He'd bitten her on the inner thigh, drawing from her both blood and an incredibly intense orgasm.

She'd been a little annoyed later on, but whenever she pressed her legs together and the new mark was caressed, a wave of arousal would surge through her, and she couldn't be all that angry. And later that week, Remus had discovered it was possible to make her come just by a steady manipulation of the claim marks. He'd been licking and sucking on the one on her neck while gently stroking the one of her thigh when she'd unexpectedly cried out, shocking them both with her spontaneous orgasm.

Remus was very, very happy with his mate.

And now he intended to make her very happy as well. Shifting so he was cross-legged, Remus cradled Hermione's body as she wrapped herself around him. He lifted her body and sank into her slowly. The move from engagement to lovemaking had been so quick that she'd barely gotten wet, so they both felt the penetration strongly, but on the first withdrawal, the way became much easier, and Remus was able to move her faster, harder.

When he kissed her, he felt the golden and silver swirls of magic again, for the first time since their bonding. He opened his eyes, but there was nothing. The magic was inside them, binding them and joining them. A look into Hermione's glowing visage and parted lips told him she felt it as well. It was hot and cold at the same it, sweet and strong and only theirs.

Hermione's arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, and her kisses were persistent but soft. He met her lips without guiding them. Ever since the bonding, Remus had been less inclined to control every aspect of their lovemaking, though his jealousy hadn't actually dissipated. He was much better at controlling himself now and rarely felt as though he was more wolf than man.

Hermione's body was rocking against his, and while she wasn't moving very far off his cock, he could feel himself bottoming out inside her, and the extra stimulation was bringing his orgasm ever closer.

"So good, Remus. You're always so good. I want this... forever," she whispered against his neck, her hands convulsively clutching any free amount of skin within her reach.

"You'll have it forever, love. Just us, always," he answered breathlessly, holding her body against his so they were one person. Her breasts and belly were moulding against his chest, her face buried in his neck, nibbling and licking his skin, sucking on it and leaving a mark. In response, he lowered his mouth to her claim mark and began licking in the short, quick strokes he knew she favoured.

Soon enough she began to cry out, and Remus hurried to meet her, letting the sensations overtake him and embracing the magic flowing between them. When she bit down on his shoulder and clamped down around his cock, Remus cried out only a second later. He poured himself into her, giving her all of himself, everything he always thought no woman could ever want.

But she'd said yes.

Only the epilogue left, which will be posted on Christmas Eve. Happy holidays, everyone!