Hermione sighed and turned a page over in the book she was reading. She skimmed over the page and shut the book determinedly. She'd already read it half a dozen times. There wasn't any new information she could gather from it and it was nearly three o'clock. It was time for bed.

Hermione stretch lazily and placed the book back on the shelf, in just the right spot.

A warm glass of milk first, she decided, detouring through the kitchen. She pulled out a saucepan and poured some milk it, setting it over the burner to heat. Adding various spices and flavourings Hermione hummed absentmindedly to herself, some forgotten lullaby from when she was a child.

"That smells really good," Remus said from the doorway making Hermione jump a good foot into the air.

"Prof – Remus, you scared me." Hermione turned away from her old professor to continue stirring her milk.

"Up late reading again?" he asked taking a seat at the old batter kitchen table that had sat in the Burrow for Merlin only knew how long. Hermione nodded and silently offered him a glass by holding out an empty mug. He nodded and smiled gratefully. Hermione poured out the milk and joined Remus at the table, setting a mug down in front of the half naked man in front of her. Well, not quite. He wore an opened robe over his pyjama bottoms but no shirt and Hermione could clearly see his firmly muscled chest. Nothing defined or sculpted like Harry, Ron and the twins who had Quidditch to thank for their bodies, but nice all the same, lean, one might say, not fat on his body.

Remus cleared his throat and Hermione's eyes flew up to his, away from the chest she had been so intently studying. Hermione felt her cheeks blush under his amused gaze.

"Couldn't sleep?" she asked in an obvious attempt to move away from her embarrassing scrutiny.

"No," Remus said softly. "Full moon's tomorrow night."

Hermione nodded. Having lived at the Burrow with Remus for the past six months she had seen what the full moon could do to him. One night before the moon a few months ago, the men had decided to try and loosen Remus up. The result had been a drunk, randy and definitely loose Remus trying to chat up the women at the house including but not limited to Hermione, Ginny and Mrs Weasley. Mrs Weasley had yelled for a good hour at the boys, Remus included on the dangers of getting a werewolf drunk so close to the full moon.

Hermione chuckled at the memory. The boys hadn't touched liquor for nearly a month and still refused to drink at the house, sneaking down to the pub instead.

"What's so funny?" Remus asked taking a sip of his spiced milk. A calm enveloped his body as the warm milk washed over his tongue.

"Just remembering a certain sleepless pre-moon night a few months ago," Hermione answered, laughing quietly.

Remus chuckled softly too as the night in question returned to him.

"Molly refused to look at me for a week," Remus said, taking another sip. "You should have seen me that night, I was still hung over. An inebriated werewolf stumbling around the basement."

Hermione laughed at that image, having seen a drunken Sirius in dog form and knew it would have been hilarious.

"When does Sirius get back?" she asked suddenly, realising the man in question had been gone for nearly a week.

"Tomorrow, hopefully. He promised to be back before the full moon." Remus looked thoughtful for a moment before drinking the last of his milk and placing the mug back on the table. "If he's not back, I mean, if he doesn't get back in time do you think – if you want to of course – if you think you –"

"Spit it out Remus," Hermione laughed at the older mans stuttering.

"Well I know that you have a leopard animagus so I was wondering if Sirius doesn't get back and if you don't mind, if you would spend the night with me. It's easier if someone else is there."

Hermione sat shocked. Remus didn't like to bother anyone with his lycanthropy. He always made sure to pay Snape for the wolfsbane potion even though Hermione had offered to make it for free and shuffled off to St Mungo's if he had any serious injuries, not wanting to imposition Molly at the Burrow.

"Of course," Hermione said, realising that he was still staring at her, waiting for an answer. "I'll be happy to keep you company."

"If Sirius doesn't get back in time," Remus stipulated.

"Yes," Hermione said, nodding her head, "if Sirius doesn't get back."

Remus smiled gratefully at Hermione.

"Well, I better get to bed. I think that milk made me sleepy." Remus stood from his seat and deposited his empty mug in the sink.

"Yes," Hermione said, joining him by the sink, washing the cups out. "It will do that to you."

"So I'll see you in the morning?" Remus asked, reluctant to leave Hermione's presence. His gaze wandered over her low slung pj's and tight tank top.

"Yep," she smiled up at him, amused by his delay tactics and wandering eyes.

Great, thought Remus, this nineteen year old bit is laughing at me.

"Well, goodnight. Thanks for the milk." Remus ducked out of the room quickly, the blush rising on his cheeks.

Get a hold of yourself man. You're a bloody werewolf for Merlin's sake.

Back in the kitchen Hermione just shook her head. Looks like she wasn't the only one caught staring tonight.