Chapter Four

By: MarshmellowsAreBunniesArses

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

His heartbeat mingled with her own to the point where they were indistinguishable. Hermione could feel him again, and her mind brought her back to her third year.

The feeling of being whole, yet of despair. The feeling of being cold and empty when away, and warmth filling her at the mere sight of him.

"Miss Granger," she heard a voice whisper, but she didn't care. She just wanted to see Remus again. . . . Run her hands through his fine, sandy hair like she wasn't able to before. . . .

"Miss Granger." And stare into his blue eyes that seemed to change color when she was near, quite curious that was . . . Introduce him to Teddy, and tell him all about them, their history and all she had to do and give up to simply see him again . . .

"Miss Granger!" She blinked and snapped out of her reverie. Hermione looked around the room to find the whole Order staring at her, Moody with the ever-present suspicious glint in his eyes.

"Have you heard anything I've just said?" Dumbledore said, blue eyes staring into her own as if searching for something.

"Someone was calling my name." Hermione answered honestly.

"Yes, me. I was asking if you were ready to tell us about the future, your story."

"I suppose I am, don't know where to begin though. There's so much to say."

"I find there's no place like the beginning."

Hermione sent a slight glare towards Dumbledore before clearing her throat. "It all began when Dumbles over here was interviewing Sybill Trelawney for the Divination post. . . ."

"And in the end my friend killed Voldemort. His Death Eaters are -were- rounded up. Some were thrown into Azkaban, others pardoned." The room remained silent after she was finished, apparently still pondering her tale.

Hermione stood and positioned Teddy's head on her shoulder (the poor thing had fallen asleep during his mummy's long speech), acutely aware that most eyes were on her. "I'm positive we can schedule the questions for a later date. We all have things to do, I'm sure of."

Dorea was the first to come out of the trance-like state that the room seemed to be in. "Yes. Yes, of course. Just call Tink when you're ready to have dinner. Goodnight, dear."

"Goodnight to you as well." She sent Dorea what she hoped appeared as a kind smile. Recalling her past (future?) had brought back memories that she had tried so hard to push down.

She stepped out of the parlor and sucked in a breath. He had been here, and chances are, most likely looking for her. His scent was all over the walls and Hermione quickly identified it as freshly mowed grass, new parchment, and spearmint.

You'll never get anywhere if you keep on thinking about him, she berated.You have to get Teddy to bed. Think about Teddy. Think about Teddy.

With that new motto in mind being constantly repeated, Hermione forced herself away from the hall and continued to her residence.

But her efforts proved fruitless, as she continued to smell her mate.

Why would- She crashed into a very solid wall. Hermione felt arms snake around her waist, steadying her. She looked up to find kaleidoscopic orbs staring down into her chocolate ones in worry.

"What are you doing here? We agreed to meet tomorrow." She said, but knew that this wasn't an unwelcome situation.

"Don't you feel the pull?" Remus raised a hand and gently stroked the lavender bags under her eyes. "I know you do. Whatever you feel, it's stronger for me. So much stronger for me." He burrowed his nose once again into her neck and inhaled deeply. "It's almost painful to be away from you." His voice was muffled. "Not to mention you owe me answers."

"This is dangerous. You weren't even supposed to know I was here – not yet. If your friends -"

He stepped forward and trapped her and Teddy against him and the wall. "That's it. I've been thinking, and you know things you shouldn't or can't possibly know. My name for instance, and what you just said. As far as I recall, I haven't met you before. You act as though you were expecting my actions earlier this afternoon, rather than scared out of your wits as most would be. Answers, Hermione. I. Need. Answers."

"You haven't asked any questions, Remus." His name rolled off her tongue with ease. "But suit yourself. If your friends so much as get a drift of this meeting, I won't be held accountable for Obliviating them." He could have sworn she muttered "again". "Am I clear?"

"Crystal."

"And I would appreciate it if you let me go. I need to put this little guy to bed."

"The kid-"

"Wait until we get to my room, then ask." She led him through twisting corridors and tried to commit them to memory. "Well here it is." Hermione said, waving her arm at the room. "Make yourself comfortable." She indicated to the living room. "I'll be right back."

He nodded and sat down. Remus' mind was going miles per hour trying to prepare the onslaught of questions he was sure to attack her with. He could feel her heart beating erratically in the room adjacent to the living room, from nervousness he supposed. The feeling of shoving her into his arms and keeping her there for eternity had not faded, but he stuffed it into the deepest pits within him, sensing that she wouldn't appreciate it just now.

She's ours- yours, Moony told him in a somewhat scolding tone. What did I tell you? Grab her, mark her. Tell the world she's yours and only yours. The sooner the better. Besides, she wouldn't mind. Contact in this early stage of the bond will help. A bit. I'm pretty positive.

Before Remus could respond, however, Hermione walked into the room. "Could I offer you something to drink? Tea or maybe coffee?"

"Tea would be good. Two sug-" He stopped as soon as he noticed she was making the tea- his tea- with precision.

She passed him his cup and sat across from him. Remus could have whimpered at the lack of contact, but caught himself. "So, Teddy."

"Yeah."

"How is he mine?"

"Well, you see Remus, when two people like each other very, very much-"

"You know what I meant."

Hermione sighed. "And there goes my attempt at stalling you. I guess we'll have to start at the beginning, don't we?" She drew in a breath. "I don't belong here."

Remus opened his mouth, ready to argue that no. She belonged wherever he was and vise versa.

"Not a word. This'll answer nearly all of your questions. I don't belong here, now. I – I'm from," she quickly counted on her fingers, "nearly twenty years in the future."

Told you, pup. Moony smugly.

"I met you then too." She continued.

"And the baby? Teddy?" He asked, already having a dreadful idea of what was to follow.

"You refused to acknowledge the bond." She whispered, almost too low for him to hear. "you knew about it alright, but you didn't act on it. Said you were too old for me. Too poor for me. Said that I had a full life ahead of me and being tied down to you would only make me fall. Who would want to marry a werewolf?" She mimicked in a poor imitation of his voice.

"There was this girl, had somewhat of a crush on you. You married her and got her pregnant. I don't know why you did it or what was going on through your head at the time." She added, noticing the look on his face. " That's how Teddy was conceived. There was this battle against a Dark Lord, the same one you're battling now. Minutes before you died, you told me, if something were to happen to you and your spouse, I was to take care of Teddy."

"How old was the. . . mother of my child?" He asked with caution, sensing this was a touchy subject for Hermione.

"Thirteen years younger than you."

"What- How old were you?"

"About twenty years younger than you."

"What! I'm a cradle robber!"

She smiled ruefully. "That's how you saw it- the future you, that is. Bothered me something fierce you considered her acceptable for a partner and not me. But I can't help but feel that if it weren't for her, I'd still be a shell. Without her, I wouldn't have Teddy."

"Listen, Hermione. I don't know how well, or how badly My future self treated you, but he was a complete arse. I'm not going to ignore the bond. You're mine, and I want everyone to know. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't do it. It's too strong." He sent a reassuring smile her way. "How did future me do it?"

"I don't know," she shrugged. "It almost killed him, though. One can only ignore it for so long. . ."

"Did anything ever happen . . . between you two?" The way he said it sent a fiery blush to Hermione's cheeks.

"He kissed me twice. Once at Christmas, and once during the battle." Remus nodded, storing away the information.

"Is the baby like me?" He asked, this was what he was most worried about. His lycanthropy.

"No, but he has his special something too. It's kind of something you have to see to believe." She got up and indicated for him to follow her. Hermione led him to the temporary nursery she had set up.

Slowly, the baby's hair began to gradually. If she had not pointed it out to him, Remus doubted he would have noticed. Going slowly from blue to purple to red. "A Metamorphagus." He whispered. Teddy turned slightly in restlessness and hugged one of the figures next to him. Remus picked up one of the various stuffed animals surrounding the toddler and shook it in question.

"They were a gift. So that he always sleeps with Moony, Prongs, Padfoot, and Sevvie."

"I'm not even going to ask."

Hermione patted him on the back. "You're learning, Remus," she said in a solemn voice, "I'm quite proud."

He nodded. "What's his full name?"

"Theodore Remus Lupin."

He swallowed down the emotion that was growing in his throat. "Will he recognize me? As his dad?"

Hermione shook her head. "I'm sorry to say no. He seems to believe that Harry maintains that position. Calls me his mummy." She added tenderly, reaching out to brush away his now orange hair from his face forehead.

Remus growled. "Who's Harry?"

"A friend."

"Just?"

"First Rita Skeeter, now you? Yes, just. Simply because we're best friends, doesn't mean I have to go whore around behind everyone's backs."

"Sorry."

"S'kay. You aren't the first and most definitely not the last to make assumptions."

Remus sighed and looked at his watch. "Thanks. I better get going, it's around the time James and Sirius would come over to my room." He this regretfully, as though he truly didn't want to go.

"Come over tomorrow?" Hermione asked before thinking the word vomit through.

Remus' face lit up. "I'd be happy to. When should I come?"

"Any time is fine by me. I'm not allowed to go anywhere else."

"Except when you go to those meetings."

"Except when I go to my meetings, yes. Goodnight."

He nodded. On a sudden burst of inspiration, he leaned forward and pecked her cheek. "Goodnight, Hermione." He walked out, leaving her in the room touching her tingling skin.

"Remus." She called. He popped his head back into the room.

"Don't trust Pettigrew."

A/N: Here it is! The fourth installment of Stuck On You! Because of various reviews, I made the chapter longer, a healthy 2,000 words. Now, to answer a question that came up. No, Remus does not always have a voice inside his head. Only when it's necessary, such as when the mating happens and when the full moon occurs.

You all know how I posted some ideas up here in previous chapters? Well, some of them are now up. Heart Attack, Monster, Innocence, and a Maximum Ride and Twilight crossover called The Way are now up. Go check them out, and if you do, don't forget to review.

Any ideas that you want me to incorporate into this story? Leave them in a review. I need inspiration, whether it be via a song or your ideas.

Fic Recommendation: Look on my favorites list and find Photograph, it's a Cedric/Hermione/Oliver triad fanfiction. Amazing that one was. I wish there were more like those out there.

Review. REVIEW. Review. REVIEW. As you can see, I really want you guys to review.