Love Is Not Love by Raven (R)

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Remus/Hermione (Ron/Hermione; Remus/Sirius)
Author on LJ: loneraven
Author Website: Sleeping With Ghosts
Why this must be read:

Remus/Hermione is a sadly, sadly underrepresented pairing in this fandom, and this story is quite possibly my favorite out of the small pool of good fic about them that does exist, because it accurately hits all the notes of where they've been and where they're going.

Then there's the title. Sonnet 116 is always a big hit with me, and this fic ties the themes in nicely while *understanding* the quiet, deep nature that any friendship-cum-romance between Remus and Hermione would have. It's not a romance. It's actually about the end of romance and how hard it is to be alone after you've been half of a couple, and, of course the acceptance that you don't have to be lonely even if you are alone.

A quote:

She sighs deeply, and Remus, quick to catch on changes in mood, asks, “Something the matter?”

She takes another sip of her drink. “I wouldn’t want to bore you with it.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”

“I would.” She gives him a look that he has seen before on many different faces; a look he has learned to fear.

He spins round to face her. “Hermione, I’m not going anywhere. And neither, I suspect, are you.”

“You’re right.” This time, the sigh is almost a groan. “It’s not as if someone’s waiting up for me at home.”

Remus nods. “Ah.”

“What?” She is genuinely surprised at his look of understanding.

He smiles briefly and says, “It’s about Ron.”

“Is it written on my forehead?” she asks, letting the bitterness show through.

“Only for me.” The gentleness in his manner makes her want, for a brief moment, to wrap her arm around his shoulders and let him make her tell him everything.

It's beautifully characterized and subtle and rings absolutely true to me. I wish I'd written it.

Love Is Not Love by loneraven