Without Benefit (bronze_ribbons) (2 Dec)
Title: Without Benefit
Author: bronze_ribbons
House: Ravenclaw
Date/Challenge: 2 - we practice to deceive
Character/Pairing: Hermione/Remus (ref. to NT/RL and RL/SS)
Genre/Warnings (as applicable): post-HBP, character death
Rating:U
Words: 200
Hermione knew it was a terrible habit, but when she finally got Remus Lupin into her bed, she couldn't resist trying to peer into his mind afterwards. She hadn't expected to be automatically, expertly thwarted.
"Hermione," Remus said softly, "I spent three years with a Legilimens."
He and Tonks had lasted only three months, and that had been less than two years ago. So who--?
"It's none of your concern, Hermione," Remus emphasized. "Allow me and my past our privacy."
"What if I want more than just the here and now?"
"Then, when you called this merely 'friends with benefits,' you were deceiving yourself as well as me."
Hermione hoped her laugh sounded casual. "I promise, Remus. No strings whatsoever." It stung, though -- both being caught and being chided. "Why didn't you teach Harry, though? With you, he would have practiced more."
"It's less work being an Occlumens if people don't realize you're good at it. Severus never did understand keeping a low profile."
His tone remained mild, but Hermione caught its tinge of bitterness. Carefully, she said, "Is that quite fair? He managed to stay alive all of those years --"
"And then, he didn't." Remus turned away.
Author: bronze_ribbons
House: Ravenclaw
Date/Challenge: 2 - we practice to deceive
Character/Pairing: Hermione/Remus (ref. to NT/RL and RL/SS)
Genre/Warnings (as applicable): post-HBP, character death
Rating:U
Words: 200
Hermione knew it was a terrible habit, but when she finally got Remus Lupin into her bed, she couldn't resist trying to peer into his mind afterwards. She hadn't expected to be automatically, expertly thwarted.
"Hermione," Remus said softly, "I spent three years with a Legilimens."
He and Tonks had lasted only three months, and that had been less than two years ago. So who--?
"It's none of your concern, Hermione," Remus emphasized. "Allow me and my past our privacy."
"What if I want more than just the here and now?"
"Then, when you called this merely 'friends with benefits,' you were deceiving yourself as well as me."
Hermione hoped her laugh sounded casual. "I promise, Remus. No strings whatsoever." It stung, though -- both being caught and being chided. "Why didn't you teach Harry, though? With you, he would have practiced more."
"It's less work being an Occlumens if people don't realize you're good at it. Severus never did understand keeping a low profile."
His tone remained mild, but Hermione caught its tinge of bitterness. Carefully, she said, "Is that quite fair? He managed to stay alive all of those years --"
"And then, he didn't." Remus turned away.