Chapter 10

            Hermione woke up to the warmth of her own bed. When she got up she was found that she was still in her clothes from the previous day. Surprised she stared at her wrinkled clothes. She smiled when she remembered sitting up with Remus. She figured that she must have fallen asleep on him and he had taken it upon himself to put her to bed.

Hermione giggled when she thought about how lucky she was that her staircase wasn't enchanted to turn into a slide, like the staircase to the girls' dormitory, whenever a male tried to go up it. She probably would've woken up in the weirdest position with Remus.

            After completing her morning rituals, Hermione left for the Great Hall and was pleasantly surprised to find Remus waiting for her in the Gryffindor common room. She smiled and thanked him for his assistance the night before. The trip to the Great Hall was filled with laughter and light talk.

            When Remus and Hermione arrived they received many stares from the student body, most of whom were wondering as to whether or not Hermione and Remus were to be a dramatic on again, off again couple. Both pointedly ignored the stares and continued to act as if nothing was wrong and silently made a hopeful vow not to become an on again, off again couple.

            Hermione was instantly drowned in conversation by Lily. She listened to Lily with one ear, taking in what she said but not really acknowledging it occasionally giving noncommittal answers. Her attention wandered and came to rest upon the congratulatory pats Remus was receiving from Sirius. Her gaze shifted to James whose whole attention was centered on Lily, and Peter who was nowhere to be seen.

            At the thought of Peter Hermione repressed a shudder. She despised the little backstabbing rat with a passion. Unfortunately she would have appeared to hate Peter for no reason and had to hide her feelings. She just hoped he didn't provoke her because she didn't know is she could stop herself from taking drastic action.

            Thinking of Peter's betrayal inevitably led Hermione's thought to her best friends. The more she thought about her own time the more she realized that she didn't truly want to go back. In this time she felt free of the stereotypical restraints imposed upon her by others and of the terror of Voldemort's reign.

            In her own time Hermione was expected to know all the answers and give up her free time to help others without getting anything in return. She knew that she would have to return. When she returned she would not be able to live a half life and would shed the shackles imposed by society.

            Lily finally realized it was time for class and dragged Hermione along to a block of double potions with the Slytherins. Throughout the whole class she could feel a pair of eyes burning into the back of her head. She was certain that those eyes belonged to a blond Slytherin that she wanted to avoid.

            It wasn't until dinner that Remus noticed that Hermione was unusually tense and jumpy. As he ate Remus watched Hermione from beneath lowered lids. All she appeared to be doing was pushing around the food on her plate and sneaking glances at a table across the room. When he followed her gaze he found the apparent source of her agitation. Lucius Malfoy was sitting back on the bench with his arms crossed over his chest.

            Remus stored that information in the back of his brain to be processed later. He might even bring the subject up with the other Marauders. Everyone finished their dinners and stood up to retire to whatever it was they did on those dismal evenings. He and his friends made their way, quite noisily, back up to the common room where Hermione and Remus split off to their rooms leaving the rest of the Marauders and Lily to amuse each other.

            Remus lay down on his four poster bed and stared up at the canopy. By the time the other Marauders arrived to go to bed Remus had made progress on his hypothesis.

"I think it's time to take Lucius aside for a little chat."

"Great! That'll be the perfect way to spend a nice relaxing evening" Sirius drawled.

"I'm up for it Remus, But is there a certain reason for this little chat?" questioned James.

"Reason?! Since when do we need a reason?" Sirius exclaimed.

"I think he's bothering Hermione. He was staring at her all through dinner and by the way she was acting probably all day to. I also think there's more to it than that."

"Like what?" Peter squeaked

"Remember her wrists? I bet he was behind that." Stated Sirius as a look of wonderment crossed his face.

"Well I wouldn't put it pass him to do that but as good as your plan sounds I don't think Hermione wants our help. She won't let us fight for her, she's already refused our help once and it will probably piss her off." James said.

"Well I can't just sit back and do nothing."

"No, but you can try talking to either her or Lily."

"I think you're right, but if that doesn't work I'm going to Malfoy"

"Oh my god! It's a historic moment. Prongs is actually the voice of reason!"

"Oh shut up Padfoot."
            All the boys, except for Remus, fell asleep quickly. All Remus could think about was the upcoming full moon and the fact that he had to talk to Hermione. If she wouldn't tell him anything then he would have to go to Lily.

His mind slowly drifted to the puzzle of one Professor Lupin. She had said it twice now, which ruled out the possibility of him mishearing her. Maybe she had known a teacher by the name of Lupin? He discarded that thought. There weren't many Lupins around.

Remus rolled over and saw the book on his bedside table. The Future of the Wizarding World. Remus' eyes lit up at the thought of the future. Could she be from the future? Time turners weren't unheard of. Things started to fall into place. The bottle of sand and glass that he had picked up must've been her time turner. It explained her appearing out of thin air and maybe he was a teacher in her time.

After resolving to speak to her the next day and get her to admit her traveling experience he was finally able to drift off to sleep. The next morning Sirius actually had to wake him up. The whole day Remus looked at Hermione in a different light. When dinner finally rolled around he grabbed her on her way to the Great Hall.

Remus steered them towards the lake and stopped when they reached a tree on top pf a grassy knoll.  Spread out on the ground was a blanket that Remus pulled her down on top of so that she rested in between his legs with her back against his chest. He took his time feeding her a selection of dinner pastries. By the time they had finished their dinner the sun was setting, leaving behind a myriad of colors. 

            Hermione was resting her head on Remus' shoulder basking in the warmth provided by his chest and his arms, which were draped across her stomach, when the questioning began.

"So Hermione, what do you think will happen in the future?"

"Oh, I don't know. There's really no way to tell. We'll have to wait to truly find out, but I hope that in the future I get to go to college."

"I wonder if I could become a teacher on the future. What else do you think will happen. Something not just to you, but that could affect even the people in the world around you."

"Oh I don't know. Anything is possible."

"Don't you think it would be interesting to meet someone from the future?"

Remus felt Hermione stiffen

"Yes, but it would be dangerous. If that person gave out too much information it could cause a paradox."

Remus could tell Hermione was worried by the way she was squirming. To stop any further thoughts being issued by Remus Hermione tilted her head to the side and initiated a most un Hermione-like act. She gave him a sweet, slow kiss before getting to her feet.

            "This evening has been wonderful Remus. Thank you. I think I better head back to the castle." She said before turning around to leave.

            In a flash Remus was by her side holding her arm. "Not so fast Hermione. I have a few questions for you."

            He pulled her back onto the ground. "You're not really from around here are you? I bet you're not even from this time. Are you from the future?

Hermione forced a laugh that sounded fake, even to her own ears. "Of course not, silly."

"Then why did you appear out of thin air and why did you call me Professor Lupin?"

Hermione knew she was trapped and by the sounds of it he wasn't going to let her go before she answered his questions. "You aren't supposed to know that. How did you figure it out?"

"Appearing out of thin air, broken glass and sand contained in a bottle, and you calling me by a different name."

All Hermione could do was utter a small "Oh".

            "Does anybody else know?"

            "Only Professor Dumbledore and probably Professor McGonagall. Remus it's really important that you don't tell anyone and I mean anyone. Not even the other Marauders."

            "Don't worry I won't. Now that we have that cleared up, would you like to tell me what's been going on with Malfoy?"

"Nothing has been going on with Malfoy. Why?"

"Because you were jumpy today and he stared at you all through dinner."

"Oh really? Well I don't know what his problem is."

"If he bothers you, will you tell me?"

"Sure"

            Knowing that would probably be the only answer he would get from her he decided to let the subject drop. "Listen I'll be away later in the week. I have to go and visit my sick grandma, but I won't be gone for long."

"Okay. Make sure you are careful when you go."

"Don't worry I will."

            Remus pulled Hermione up and cleared their stuff. A quiet "Lumos" provided enough light to make their way back to the castle unhindered. Later that night Remus was left to wonder as to what else Hermione knew about him. As he was a teacher she probably didn't know very much. With those thoughts in mind he fell asleep.

A/N: sorry for the long time in between updates. I just finished exams and will be starting a new semester soon so I will be able to update more than once a month. I am almost at 50 reviews! I can't wait for more!