Sirius had easily restored his right to the Black inheritance and pulled out more galleons than he would possibly need in a year. Hermione gave him an undetectable extension pouch for them so it was easily carried and griped at him for being careless about his fortune. Sirius wouldn't admit it, but he somewhat enjoyed the young witch's lecture and how frazzled she was.

Remus stayed quiet through the whole conversation and felt the pulls of being insufficient again, but Hermione wouldn't have it. She handed him more than he would need for clothing and insisted it was a gift. He secretly wondered if she even remotely cared that this was temporary and a waste of her money. It made her smile and Remus was less inclined to argue with the witch about it.

She pulled them along and showed them the different changes in Diagon Alley. Her excitement was infectious and both the Marauders were enjoying her company. Sirius insisted on buying her pretty things and she would spout off at him but took the gifts begrudgingly after he had paid for them.

Remus was trying on some clothing while Sirius was glancing about the shop just outside the alley in London. Sirius was surprised and a bit dismayed how fashion had changed over the last decade. Remus reappeared and was in a buttoned shirt, a long jacket and some slacks. Hermione was smiling and approached him while he was glancing in the mirror.

"You look quite dashing, Remus," she declared as she helped him straighten his clothing. "The green in your eyes really pops with the maroon."

He had tugs of being smitten with the witch but knew better. "Thank you, Hermione."

"Look! I found a great replacement jacket, Remus!" Sirius shouted and pulled off a black leather jacket from the rack.

Hermione smiled and shook her head, "that is completely terrible that you are flooding your wardrobe in bad boy attire, Sirius."

The animagus pointed to the wall and Hermione turned and gasped. "No, definitely not." She spat and he nodded.

"Oh, yes, you must try that on." he demanded and she glared over at him again.

"I will not, that is something I will not do, should not do nor will ever do." The witch finished and Sirius called over an assistant.

"I am going to spend a large sum in here today and request you take that outfit off the wall for my lady friend." He told the worker who blushed.

Hermione abandoned Remus with an apologetic stare and stomped over to Sirius. "I said no!" She hissed at the wizard who grinned.

"If I buy it and it does not fit I am not going to be very happy." He told her and she glowered at him.

The woman soon returned with the gray dress from the wall and handed it to him. "Anything else, Sir?" She asked Sirius who smiled.

"Anything that gentleman wants over there and anything that goes with this dress in particular. Make sure they are satisfied, alright?" Sirius declared and Remus wandered over.

"What are you on about, Sirius?" Remus asked and Hermione held out the silky dress.

"He wants me to try this on!" She snapped and rubbed her face.

"Please do?" The werewolf asked with a wolfish grin.

Hermione groaned and took off toward the fitting room. "Very nice choice, mate," Remus told him and Sirius nodded.

"If I cannot shag her, at least I can fantasize about it." The animagus grumbled and Remus gave a motion of agreement.

Sirius furrowed his brow at the werewolf. "You do fancy her, don't you?"

Remus gave him a dismissive wave and busied himself by looking through the racks of clothes. "I am a monster. Simply put and end of story. There is nothing much left to say after that."

Sirius shook his head and exhaled, "going by your rule of thumb, neither of us is going to shag her anyway."

"Very true, indeed." Remus pulled out a t-shirt and smirked. "A shirt we should both have, Sirius."

The shirt read, 'Made it to 1999!' And they both laughed. They each grabbed one and did not notice the lithe witch step from the dressing room. When she took a few steps toward them, their shirts landed on the floor and their jaws temporarily dislocated. She was blushing and running her fingers on the silky gray fabric.

"How do I look?" She inquired softly, not meeting their eyes.

"Excuse me, Miss, have you seen our friend Hermione? She seemed to have disappeared along with her frosty demeanor." Sirius finally spoke and Hermione frowned at him.

"You are an arse. I am taking this ruddy thing off." She spat and Sirius strode to catch her as she turned.

"You are breathtaking. Can I maybe buy you a drink and ask you what love potion you slipped me?" He asked her and she rolled her eyes, but her lips curled.

Remus watched enviously as the animagus flirted with her and picked the shirts up off the floor. "Remus, do you think this is too much? Please tell him he is completely daff." Hermione addressed the werewolf who smiled at her.

"Give us a twirl and I will answer you promptly." Remus insisted and Hermione blushed but nodded.

She pivoted slowly and turned to him again, but he was taking in her form. The dress was a masterpiece and she seemed anything but innocent in it. The back was cut low and the skirt of the dress drifted just above her knees in layers of uneven endings. If he wasn't sure about her allure, he was very positive about it now.

"Sorry, Hermione. I am in agreement with Sirius. That dress looks tenfold better with you in it." He admitted and turned his eyes from her.

"Damn Marauders," she mumbled and went off to the dressing room again.

"Whatever magical forces at work please help us..." Sirius snickered and patted his friend on the shoulder.

"I am not sure if I can cope if she ends up wearing that dress tonight," Remus teased and Sirius grinned.

"Heads up, it is going to be a long night," Sirius warned and Remus shook his head.

"Just cannot help yourself, Pads?"

"Never."

Remus groaned and rubbed his face, "Well, here's to the bloody sods we are."

0o0o

The Burrow. An eccentric assortment of noise and festivities. Everyone was so excited when Hermione arrived that no one had approached Remus or Sirius yet with questions. Hermione got lost in the sea of red hair as she was greeted by the Weasley family. So the Marauders made themselves at home near the spirits and poured themselves drinks.

"Hello there," Harry declared as he approached with Ginny. "I told Gin what happened so she had an idea before you both got here." He admitted and Ginny smiled.

"How long are you both going to be here? Hermione figure out the whole situation yet?" Ginny asked and they shook their heads.

Sirius spoke simply with a smile, "no, we were out and about getting clothing today."

"It is strange to see you so young," Ginny remarked glancing at both of them.

Remus was a bit agitated by the noise of the Burrow but managed a smile. "It is quite strange for us as well. We were not expecting to end up a decade further in time."

Hermione approached and groaned, "I have made effort to say hello to everyone now." She murmured and hugged Ginny. "I have missed you even though it has only been one day."

Ginny leaned to Hermione's ear, "which one are you going to shag because they have been enamored with you since you walked in..." She breathed and Hermione blushed brightly and pulled from the hug.

Remus tried to hide a smile but Hermione caught it. "Well, I think I am going to go find myself a drink."

Remus handed her a butterbeer from the table and smirked, "there you go, Hermione."

"I did some lurking on possible connections during my free time today at the Ministry of Magic. Seems there are a few spells that in theory could do that to certain items. It all was very vague." Harry muttered, knowing very well that his girlfriend might have overstepped.

Remus frowned and shook his head, "seems plausible, but I will have to look into it."

Sirius groaned, "no more talk of leaving, let's just enjoy the party, Moony!"

The werewolf grumbled sourly, "I need some air."

"Great plan, mate. I will join you. I am in need of some poison myself." The Marauders disappeared and out the front door.

Hermione watched them go and frowned; she wasn't sure, but Remus must not be accustomed to the loudness of the party. Harry glanced at his friend and then to the door. "They will eventually be going back, Hermione." He reminded her and she glared at him.

"I know that," she said stiffly and Ginny giggled.

"Personally, I think this is great. Nothing says getting over your ex like a shagathon." Ginny declared and Harry groaned.

"That is Remus and Sirius we are talking about." Harry retorted and Hermione glared.

"First of all, I am not going to be shagging anyone. Secondly, I know that they are leaving as soon as I can work this all out. I don't want to hurt anyone or myself in the process, Harry."

George had appeared just as Hermione gave her retort and chuckled, "Hermione Granger is debating shagging someone other than my dim brother?" He asked and she glared at him.

"I am not," she said flatly and he shrugged.

"Just came over to find out the story of the two strangers that escorted you in. Who are they and why do I get the feeling they are friends of the family?"

Hermione sighed and smiled. "Romulus Lupin and Argos Black. Long lost relatives of their respective surnames."

George frowned and stared at her, "Romulus? Is that Remus's brother?"

Hermione grinned and nodded, "younger brother I suppose or a cousin. I am not sure really. He doesn't know much about his parents. Argos was a Black in hiding during the war. I suppose names mean a bit less now that there isn't a feud going."

Harry was silently impressed with his friend's quick wit as always. "They decided to reach out to me yesterday and Hermione here has been showing them around," Harry told George who grinned.

"A Lupin and a Black? I bet Remus and Sirius are cheering."

Hermione smiled and sipped her butterbeer, "I bet they are."

"So, by showing them around are you giving them a good show, Mione?" George teased and the witch rolled her eyes.

"I was trying to convince her to, but she has rebutted." Ginny declared and Harry groaned.

"Stop filling her head with useless fantasies," Harry grumbled.

Hermione was no fool; she knew her best friend secretly wanted her and Ron to get back together. Hermione secretly did too, but she would never admit that aloud. She loved Ronald Weasley and it was his decision to make the split, not hers. He wanted the freedom to explore while she just wanted to be happy.

The witch excused herself and went to circulate the room. She wouldn't admit that she was looking for him. When she did indeed find her ex-boyfriend, he was sitting next to a girl. She wanted to cast a muffling charm and scream, but instead she tried to peel away before being seen.

"Mione! Come over here!" Ron exclaimed and she inwardly cringed and turned to him.

"Hello, Ron," she murmured and walked closer.

"You remember Susan Bones? She was in our year, Hufflepuff." Ron declared and Susan smiled.

"Nice to see you again, Hermione. It was lovely that you went back to school to finish." Susan declared and Hermione felt bitten.

"Oh yes, definitely. I could not fathom the idea of not finishing something I started."

"There you are, gorgeous," Sirius purred as he approached and Remus took her under his arm.

"Positively been missing you, Hermione." Remus declared and Ron scowled.

"Who are you?" He spat and Susan looked uncomfortable.

"This is Romulus Lupin and Argos Black. Relatives of their respective surnames. They just got in touch with Harry the other day and I have been showing them about." Hermione explained and Sirius smiled and kissed her cheek.

"She has been amazingly divine, hasn't she, Romulus?" Sirius asked the werewolf.

"Most certainly, Argos. I cannot imagine it any differently." Remus declared and they smirked at each other.

"Did you need a new drink, love?" Sirius asked her and she smiled and shook her head.

"No, thank you."

Ron was scowling deeply, but Susan was giggling. "Are they always so friendly?" She asked and Sirius nodded.

"Very much so! This witch has been a treasure. Couldn't imagine a better guide. We went out and shopped today and I just had to buy her this dress. Isn't she a masterpiece?" Sirius asked and Remus nodded.

"Affirmative, Argos. Absolutely breathtaking."

"Stop it you terrible wizards! I might die of too much blood flowing to my cheeks." Hermione exclaimed and shook her head.

Ron moved to speak, but Remus waved it off. "Now, excuse us, please. We were just going to show Hermione the cake Molly had made." Remus declared and ran a hand over her bare back.

They had tugged her away and out toward the dining room. "Don't do that to yourself," Remus whispered to her and she glared at him.

"I had it under control," she snapped and Sirius shook his head.

"You were two moments away from hexing one of them. I saw your hand twitch. He doesn't deserve you." Sirius said honestly and Hermione sighed.

"Thank you, both of you." She replied and hugged each of them.

"Come on, let's get you something a little stronger before this agonizing dinner." Remus declared and she smiled.

"I am not getting bloody pissed again with you, Marauders." She said pointedly and they snickered as the lot of them made their way back into the celebration.