A/N: I forgot to include this in the first chapter.

Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with J.K. Rowling or own any characters written in this fanfiction. Except for Ms. Gamp, she is entirely mine; minus her surname. I borrowed it from the HP universe. I also do NOT claim to be J.K. Rowling, I'm sure JKR would rather publish her work than post it on this website…

Stealing Air
IV: The Calm Before The Storm

Hermione had had a tiresome morning; running around Diagon Alley with Sirius was entertaining but a lot of work. Hermione had the next day to look forward too, possibly a letter from Dumbledore and her new quiet job. But at that moment Sirius was escorting Hermione through Godric's Hollow, his wand in his right hand and his arm out for Hermione to loop hers into. Hermione had her wand close by too. Sirius' carefulness alerted Hermione, her thoughts were racing. Had the Potter's already encountered Voldemort and his death eaters? Hermione thought. Was it already dangerous to be alone in a public place after the sun had gone down? Hermione knew enough spells already to throw off any impending attackers, so she relaxed her muscles around Sirius helping him calm down too.

The Cottage they met, felt warm just from the look of it. The lights beamed from the windows across the lawn. The evening sky made the Potter home more inviting. Hermione and Sirius walked up the front steps to enter the home. Sirius opened the door without knocking, a habit he had picked up since his fifth year.

Hermione's vision blurred, as ginger hair covered her face and a pair of arms wrapped around her shoulders. Lily Potter pulled away smiling at Hermione and welcoming her into her home. James met Sirius with a loud clap on the back as they moved out of the foyer and into another room.

Hermione followed Lily to the kitchen where she had already laid out the food they were to eat for dinner. "Did you make this all yourself?" Hermione asked as she looked around the counter stopping at the dessert. A mountain of treacle tarts surrounded by teacups of rice pudding became Hermione's most wanted. She had always had a sweet tooth, but her parents being dentists always made her watch what she ate. She swallowed down hard as she looked away. Lily was smiling as she took a tray out of the oven.

"Yes, of course" Lily grinned as she placed the tray on the stove top.

"Alone? I could have helped" Hermione was uncomfortable that Lily had made so much food on her own. She felt guilty that she had not at least contributed to the dinner she was invited too. Lily being heavily pregnant helped her guilt increase. It seemed that Lily was only days away from giving birth to little Harry Potter, her best friend, and the sole reason she was in Lily's kitchen in 1980.

"Don't you worry, Hermione. Besides, I like cooking for others and you're my guest" Lily aired casually as she salted potatoes. "So, are you feeling better?"

Hermione smiled appreciatively. "I feel better, nothing seems broken anyway. Thank you for keeping me company at Mungo's by the way"

"No problem at all, can you help me set the table?"

"Okay" Hermione pulled out her wand from the waist band of her one-size too big jean shorts. Hermione pointed her wand at the small stack of plates, levitating them with non-verbal magic. Hermione found that Harry's wand- or her wand was very obedient and very powerful. Hermione placed a plate in front of every chair and next to every napkin on the oak table. Lily set the cutlery without magic, and Hermione went back to the kitchen to grab glasses.

They were then all seated at the table with two chairs empty. There was a crash in the sitting area, presumably by someone who had just flooed in to the Potter house. A shabby looking Remus turned the corner, dusting soot off his robes. Everyone at the table welcomed him, as he sat next to Hermione at the table. There was still an empty chair, and Sirius groaned.

"What's taking him so long? I need fuel!" Sirius put his head down at the table, while James patted his back.

"Did you see him at all today, Remus?" James asked curiously to his best mate to the right of him. Remus frowned and shook his head.

"He hasn't come by the shop for two weeks now" Remus added.

"Maybe, he's having some troubles at home" Lily reasoned from across the table. "He'll be here soon, or he would have let us known sooner that he wouldn't be able to make, isn't that right?" Lily smiled placing her hands and her round belly, and rubbing at the fabric of her shirt idly. Lily had started a tradition where she would not serve dinner unless everyone was at the table, which lead to much protest from two particular men.

A pop echoed from the back of the house. Sirius and James jumped out of their chairs, while Remus followed behind them with a quick pace. Lily smiled apologetically to Hermione for the wait and they tuned their ears to listen to the four men who had met at the back of the Potter house.

"You prat why are you so late? And why did you apparate to the backyard. Are you alright in the head?"

"Did you bring us presents? I haven't seen you in three days. Thought you traveled to Normandy or something"

"Should have, they have some good cheese there"

"Why have you disappeared all of sudden. Is your mother alright?"

Hermione recognized the slightly full face of Peter Pettigrew enter the room with his best mates. He had visited her once in the hospital, but that was the last of him. Hermione wondered if he already had a dark mark on the skin of his left forearm. She or no one at the table would be able to tell, since he was wearing a dress shirt, with a jumper over-top, which was quiet unconventional for early July weather. Pettigrew nodded at her, acknowledging her presence at the table before sitting down in the chair across from her. Hermione kept a calm look to her trying not to hex him for his careful attitude toward her. Hermione felt like he was treating her as if he were being cautious, cautious because he knew she was from the future? She didn't know of course. She didn't know how to use occlumency since she was never in a position to need to use it. Hermione hoped Peter hadn't learned legilimency, but she didn't think he was the studying and learning type. Hermione watched as the food Lily had prepared hovered before them, and landing slowly on top of the table.

Everyone had got into conversation, and began to eat happily. Hermione had kept her eye on Pettigrew, watching him and making sure he didn't step out of line, because her hands itched for an excuse to hex him to Normandy if he so wanted it.

Lily's dinner party ended in a flash, the trays of food were empty leaving a few bones and crumbs. The glasses were already being levitated to the sink to be cleaned. Peter had left first with a reluctant handshake to Hermione. Remus left next, with a bag full of chocolate sweets. He gingerly hugged Hermione on his way out, and telling her it would be nice to have someone to talk to at the shop, now that he knew Hermione.

Lily sat down on the arm chair next to Hermione after Remus made his exit.

"Hermione are your family muggles?" Lily asked carefully, not to sound rude.

"Yes, my parents are muggles" Hermione answered her question.

"Oh, will you see them tonight? Did they visit you at Mungo's?" Lily bombarded her with questions. Hermione frowned, not directly at Lily's question but because of her Parents. In this time, Hermione would have been born last year. She wondered if she were still born, would there be two of her, or did she erase herself from ever being born. Still she wouldn't be able to ever contact her parents, unless she somehow returned to her time. Hermione resorted to telling Lily, and James and Sirius who were standing around the fireplace, the same thing she told Harry and Ron seventeen years into the future.

"Oh, well, my parents, I oblivated them for their safety. They don't know I exist, but they're somewhere in Australia right now and that's what matters. They're safe." Hermione looked around the room through her eyelashes, she hoped that no one would pity her too much, but James looked sorry for her, while Sirius stared at her curiously.

"That must be very difficult." Lily started to speak as she began to rub her inflated belly again. "Why have you sent your parents away? Has You-Know-Who made contact with you?" Lily seemed genuinely worried that that was the case. Hermione didn't want to give too much away, but if she said the correct things Lily would drop the conversation.

"Yes, in one way he has. But do not worry about me; it's quieted down since I've been around here" Hermione answered Lily, hoping that would be the last of that conversation. But Lily continued.

"So, will you be going home? Do you have a safe place to stay?"

"No, I can't go home. I-I'll find a place to stay" Hermione still had her beaded bag; she had left at Sirius' place. She thought of using the tent to camp out.

"You can stay here if you like?" James countered before Lily could answer with the same words. Hermione smiled at him, but Sirius spoke up before she could politely decline the offer.

"James, your wife is pregnant. Shouldn't you spend as much time alone as you can until the tiny Potter enters the world?" Sirius raised an eyebrow at James. "She can stay with me. I'd like the company" Sirius tried to act like he hadn't just offered a girl to stay the night without the sexual connotations, but James found it hard to believe.

"Hermione doesn't seem the type, Padfoot" James leaned in to whisper close to Sirius' ear. Sirius nudged him violently with his elbow in response, James flinched rubbing the spot Sirius had injured.

"You know, as roommates. Friends. That's it!" His last words came off with an exasperated air, mainly for Lily's ears to hear.

"You should stay with Sirius, Hermione. In case You-Know-Who comes knocking, Sirius will be around so you're not alone" Lily smiled at her hoping that Hermione would accept the offer.

"Uh, it's totally fine, you don't have to worry about me Lily. I'll be fine!" Hermione aired, of course she would be heading back with Sirius but she would leave to find a good place to make campsite. But then Hermione realized that she had a job to attend to, and she still needed to hear from Dumbledore. Hermione mentally groaned, was it really for the best to stay with Sirius, she could get a Room at the Three Broomsticks, or the Leaky Cauldron but she had no money. Hermione was caught in the middle; she negotiated the pros and cons like she normally did in tight situations.

"Hermione please, I like you and I'd appreciate seeing you again, but not in the Daily Prophet in the obituary column." Lily had a deep frown on her face, she looked like she normally got her way with the face she had, but she did look worried. James mouthed at her, telling her to accept the offer before Lily began to argue more. Hermione could only imagine that James had a tough time dealing with Lily while pregnant, she was probably already very opinionated and argumentative without an unborn child to deal with.

"Okay, fine. I'll stay with Sirius, until I can afford my own place" Hermione had lost, but at least Lily was happy. Sirius and Hermione apparated outside the Potter house to get to Sirius' flat that evening, and Hermione held a queasy feeling in her stomach from the thought of having to stay the night at Sirius' flat.

As they appeared in Sirius flat, he began moving things around without magic, as if he meant to tidy the room. Hermione picked up her beaded bag she had left on the coffee table earlier that day. She had all the necessities she needed books, potions supplies, clothes, toiletries, since she had used them on the horcrux hunt she had with Harry and Ron. She breathed in, taking in the scenery of Sirius muggle-looking flat. Sirius began to lightly push Hermione from the sitting room to a door amongst two others.

"This is a guest room, take it" Sirius said in a flat-tone.

Hermione opened the door to the master bedroom of Sirius' flat. "Big bedrooms aren't my style" He said casually. Hermione walked in, sitting down on the bed and setting her beaded handbag on the nightstand. Sirius smoothed the back of his hair down with his hand before he spoke again. "You know where the loo is, I bet you're going to sleep now, so good night" and with that Sirius left to his own room.

Hermione fell asleep in the clothes she had worn all day; slumber came to her like a dream, and a peaceful one for once.

Hermione woke up early that morning. It was her first day with a real paying job. She left the guest room to make herself some tea and toast and made Sirius some breakfast as well. It was eight o'clock in the morning and she was due for work at nine. She sipped her tea, munched on her toast, dressed into a casual blouse and jeans that did not fit into seventies fashion. She placed an untangle charm on her hair, so that she could attempt to brush it out. At least her bushy, big and wild hair fit into the standards of the time she was in. Hermione pinned it back, so her hair would not fall into her face at work.

Sirius had yet to come out of his bedroom, and it was nearing Hermione's time to leave for work. She took a plate of breakfast and a cup of coffee and levitated it toward Sirius room. She knocked before she stepped in keeping her steps quiet. She didn't announce her presence with words but she set down the plate on the desk, making her way to leave.

"Thanks" Sirius said groggily, his eyes still closed. Hermione straightened up right, as if she had been caught in a crime. She looked at Sirius lying lazily on the bed his bare back exposed and the rest of him covered up with the red comforter. Hermione hesitated before she spoke up to answer him.

"Uh-uh yeah, no problem at all" She made her way to the door of his room, and exited without another word.

Hermione apparated to the Leaky Cauldron and made her way toward Obscurus Books. Diagon Alley was quieter that morning, there were people here and there but Hermione hadn't been on Diagon Alley without it being busy before.

She stepped into Obscurus Books a few seconds before Remus and they both greeted eachother 'Good morning' and they went to the back of the shop to start their shift.

Remus had a cashier job, while Hermione was allowed to roam around book shelves and help customers find books, or recommend them. She was completely satisfied with her job description and reminded herself that she really needed to thank Sirius, if not she would have resorted in taking a job as a waitress at the leaky cauldron. Since it was still quiet early in the day and the shop had only met less than a handful of customers Hermione was told to sort new books on to shelves from their package. Several books were levitated with nonverbal magic first being separated by genre or subject and then alphabetically. Hermione worked quietly looking at some of the titles. She had seen a few strange book titles, and even cracked a few spines under four hours of work. She had read the summary of "House Elves in the Dark Ages", "Muggles Enjoy Witch Burning" a fictional novel, and "The Complexity of Runic Time Travel Explained". Hermione was tempted to buy the last. She'd used ancient runes to get here, Dumbledore had pulled a page out of a book for her to study the magic but she had never read anything about the nature of the spell. She didn't know whether she would be able to return to her own time, or if she would still be born. What would happen to her once she defeated Voldemort once and for all? She had lots of question and a letter still waiting to be returned by Dumbledore himself.

Remus had called her to take a break and Hermione set out of the shop to wander for a bit before she had to get back to work. Hermione had opened a bank account at Gringotts in under ten minutes, and even stepped into the Magical Menagerie to see if a kitten Crookshanks was already in the saleswomans care. Hermione came across a large ginger mass of fur curled up on small pillow. This Crookshanks seemed to fit snuggly into Hermione's two hands. She wanted to cry seeing her Crookshanks so young, and not in her possession. Hermione spoke to the saleswoman and told her not to sell Crookshanks until she came back. She would have to discuss it with Sirius, but she still needed some money to pay for the kneazle-kitten. The salewoman obliged and Hermione patted the tiny Crookshanks head before leaving the Magical Menagerie and heading back to work.

As Hermione came closer to the shop, she could hear loud muggle music being played at the shop across the alley from Obscurus Books. A few wizards and witches showed faces of dislike to the loud music before they continued off in the opposite direction away from the sound. Hermione recognized the song, and decided to step into the shop. She hadn't heard a witch or wizard enjoy or listen to muggle music before and she was interested to find out who was behind the loud music. Hermione stepped into Viola's Music Shop, the doorbell rang as she pushed the door open, but it couldn't be heard over the loud music. Hermione moved around stacks of records, boxes of tapes, and shelves of music. She came to the front of a shop where a girl a few inches shorter than Hermione with violent red hair that was layered in several areas. The girl was moving her arms up and down aggressively as if she were playing the drums, before the song ended and there was some quiet in the room. She turned around to see Hermione standing there sheepishly, and she grinned widely at her. Then another muggle song that Hermione knew as Fleetwood Mac came on to the record player. The girl lowered the volume before she moved closer to Hermione.

"You know who this is?" she pointed her thumb behind her in the direction of the record player.

"Fleetwood Mac, right?" she knew the answer because her mother played Stevie Nicks' music when she was younger and she knew all the lyrics to the song 'Dreams' because of her.

"Yes!" The girl looked extremely happy her hands tightened in fists by her shoulders and she jumped up and down in excitement. She calmed down to look at Hermione with cheeky smile on her face "I like you Stevie" she had already gone and nicknamed Hermione.

"I'm Scarlet Gamp, but the last part isn't that important" She shook Hermione's hand reverently her mouth hanging open as she realized that she had something in common with another person. 'They knew of the same music'.

"It's Hermione actually" Hermione smiled at her. Scarlet's excitement was almost contagious.

"But, I think you almost deserve the name Stevie now. But I acknowledge you Hermione! Did you come here to listen to something good?" Scarlet moved over to the record player and removed the needle and then the record from the machine.

"Well, I just wanted to see the source behind the music. I've never seen a witch or wizard play muggle music so publicly" she answered before she chuckled light.

"And everyone bloody should play muggle music, there's more variety and it's much more alive! In all honesty, I'd fix myself up a sleeping draught the next time I hear the Hobgoblins play. I'd much prefer to hear Queen play, my dear Stevie. There's no culture amongst the swine of the wizard world, I swear it!" She ended her rant with such passion, the average person would think she were a bit of a nutter. Hermione expected her to be pureblood now, after her confession.

"You're quite passionate Scarlet, and I can't argue with you on that" Hermione grinned at her. "I have to get back to work now, it was nice meeting you!" Hermione turned to leave.

"I hope to see you again in my midst Hermione!" Scarlet said with a calm shout, Hermione could even hear the smile on her face. Her attitude put Hermione in a good mood as she walked across the alley and stepped into Obscurus Books to continue to work.

Hermione was ready to go home around six o'clock. She finished up what she was doing and said goodbye to her boss and Remus on her way out.

"Hey! Hermione wait!" Remus called running after her. "I'm headed your way, if you know what I mean" Remus nodded at her smiling.

"Come along then" Hermione answered. She still revelled in the fact that she was in the presence of someone she knew to be much older than her, even her professor. But now they were the same age and it felt like they were playing a game. They walked down to the end of the alley and then apparated into Sirius' flat.

They both found Sirius lounging on the couch, staring at the ceiling and eating a bag of crisps. He looked at them a few seconds after the pop of their apparation hit his ears.

"Wotcher" he said casually as he continued to stare at the ceiling.

"Do you even eat real food when you're alone?" Remus started with an amused expression on his face.

"I'm pretty useless when it comes to cooking, I'm sure you've noticed already Remus" Sirius groaned as he slowly got up from the couch, placing the bag of crisps on the coffee table.

"Would you like me to cook for you?" Hermione asked carefully. She cooked for him this morning and she didn't mind doing it again, since he had allowed her to stay in his home.

"What can you cook?" Remus answered first.

"You don't have too" Sirius started.

"I'm hungry myself so, I'll see what I can make with what you already have, alright?" Hermione added moving toward the kitchen area of the room. She scavenged around for food and decided to make enough spaghetti for three.

When Hermione finished her cooking, they sat down together at the small round table to eat their food.

Roger flew in to the sitting room just as they were finishing their meal. "Ay, Roger" Sirius dragged out his words as if he were speaking to long lost pal of his. "Good to see you lad. Took you long enough to return. Hermione there's something for you" Sirius motioned toward the letter that Roger carried. Hermione got up quickly from the table and moved over to Roger who was cleaning his feathers. Hermione took the letter from Roger and read Dumbledore's handwriting carefully.

Hello Hermione,

I see you've given yourself a great task, and I understand your wishes. I will see if I can help you after we have at least met in person. Shall we meet at the Hogshead in Hogsmeade at noon on Thursday?

As for you travelling in time, this is a delicate matter. For you see, time is not something to meddle with and can become quite dangerous. I am unsure if this time travel could be harmful towards you, but I believe you've already disrupted time by already being here. I presume you've also given me your real name, yes? You see our names our sacred, we cannot lose our names because they alone hold a great portion of our magical 'DNA.', which would be what muggles call their own signature. If you were to sell your name, with magic the consequences would be catastrophic, but with time travel it is more uncertain because it is not a common thing to happen. You must be careful with what you say, if you are really from the future, do not tell anyone that you are.

As for joining the Order of the Phoenix, I'm perplexed to know that you know of the Order. Though that might confirm your time travels. I cannot grant you access into the Order unless I know the kind of person you are. So, we will discuss this when we meet.

Professor Albus Dumbledore, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

He finished off with drawing the symbol of the Deathly Hallows next to his name, like she had done. Though, Dumbledore did not mention or ask why she had put the symbol there. 'Maybe it was mutual understanding', Hermione thought.

Though, now the war that was going on felt more real. Hermione was steps closer to her goal, but there was still a long way to go. A least she had made some progress, and she would work harder to get things done. Then, realization hit her. 'How in Merlin's name am I going to destroy the Horcruxes without a Basilisk fang and without using dark magic?' Hermione was now at a block in her plan.

A/N: I know there are a lot of errors in this chapter, but I'm posting it anyway and then I'll update again with an edited version. I just wanted to get this chapter up because I'm a day behind my goal. This story has gotten a lot of views and a few follows and what not, but there are no reviews. /sad face.

Please! Please! Tell me what you think in a review! I will treasure you no matter what you think of this chapter or this story. I hope to have the next chapter within at least 7 days, if not sooner. Thanks for reading!

EDIT: reposted.