She was talking so fast Remus could hardly keep up. He reached out to her, grabbing her hand in an attempt to silence her rambling, "Hermione, thank you for the thoughtful gift." His heart raced as he rubbed slow circles on the back of her hand, "Every year gets a little easier. Being back at the castle, surrounded by reminders of happier times helps." It was a half-truth. Being back at Hogwarts made him happier than he had been in a long time, but it had more to do with his proximity to his mate, the hand of which he was still holding.