A/N: I don't own it. I keep forgetting that bit. Shite. So she's in 1977. Let's do this! Sorry about Hermione's heavy drinking she's channeling her inner Claire Fraser, and Sassy Harry rubs off on her.
October 31st 1977
Hermione paced Minerva's private quarters. She'd snapped the minute she saw a very much alive Albus Dumbledore, going off on the Headmaster for things that hadn't happened yet. His greater good bullshit ruined lives, he'd left a child in an abusive home, left Sirius to rot when he could've saved him. Then Remus wouldn't have been alone. She started to cry again. Remus. It was always Remus. She wiped her eyes, and took a sip of her now watered down brandy. She was going to have her Claire Fraser moment damn it. Only instead of a Sexy Scott, she got her werewolf; because Remus was hers. He'd always been hers.
Hermione glared at Albus Dumbledore. "You're a right bloody bastard, you know that right?"
Albus smiled at her, "Ah Miss Granger nice of you to join us, I've heard so much about you."
Hermione looked at Minerva. "I can imagine. I can't believe you. They all trusted you. I trusted you. And you sent us on a bloody wild goose chase. You got him killed. I'll never forgive you, Albus Dumbledore. I won't help you and your bloody greater good on this time line. I did my time."
Albus nodded, "Understood Miss Granger. What's the world like without Mr. Riddle?"
"Peaceful, no thanks to you," Hermione snarled.
Albus waved his hand out, offering her a seat. "You have quite a temper, you've been away from your mate too long. The wolf's mate can suffer the same symptoms as the wolf."
Hermione sat down, by the fire. "Well that explains a lot. Why do this to them? To Harry?"
Albus sighed, "My dear girl some times a little bit of evil has to be done for the Greater Good."
"Fuck your greater good Dumbledore. It costs too much," she grumbled.
"Miss Granger do you honestly sit there and say you did not believe in the cause you fought for?" Albus asked.
Minerva placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder. Hermione sighed, "I believed in it. I still do. But I cannot support it, in this time knowing what has to be done, and the bullshit excuses you used so it could happen."
Albus nodded, "I understand Miss Granger." He summoned the sorting hat. "Gryffindor I assume."
"Only a Gryffindor would've been stupid enough to do what they had to for the Greater Good," Hermione sassed.
Minerva laughed, "Albus I believe her and I will get along just fine."
"Two head strong women, telling me I'm a bastard lovely," Albus said, placing the hat on Hermione's head.
"Gryffindor," the hat roared coming to life.
"Told you," Hermione said.
Hermione stared into the glass, as she collapsed onto an arm chair. Minerva had been kind enough to let her hide out in her quarters after the meeting with Dumbledore. She couldn't face Remus, or Sirius right now. She drained the last of her brandy, as Minerva came in.
"How are you coping?"
Hermione held up the bottle of brandy. "I'm not. Do you know what Remus and Sirius mean to me? In my time, they're my brother, and my rock. Remus and I have this thing. He's my comfort zone." Hermione looked up at her. "What can I tell him?"
"I don't see why you can't tell him most of it. My theories of time travel have changed a lot since the rules were set. I broke them and told myself everything. So far everything is as it should be. I believe now that if you're connected to the people an event has already happened to you can't change it. You can change little things. But Hermione you can't save Sirius or the Potter's or your mate."
"I want to go down to Hogsmeade make an appearance," Hermione said, standing up.
"Are you ready for that?"
"As I'll ever be."
Remus watched the door to the Three Broomsticks, like a hawk. Lily looked at him and the door. James and Sirius had tried to lure him into a conversation. The bell chimed, and Hermione walked in.
He studied her openly. She was stunning and so tiny compared to him. Her hair fell in lose honey colored curls, bouncing as she made her way towards them. She smiled at them, fear and hesitance rolled off her in waves.
He held his hand out for her, eyes gold. Everyone at the table watched in fear knowing the wolf was at the surface. "Are you okay?"
She nodded. "Hello again. Everyone."
Sirius smiled, "Beautiful."
Hermione shot him a dirty look. "No. Hermione or Mia."
A pretty blonde sat down, on Sirius' lap. Hermione didn't recognize her. "Did you just shut down Sirius Black?" The blonde held out her hand, "Marlene McKinnon. I think you and I will get along great."
Hermione shook her hand, running through her memory, Marlene died a week before the Potter's. It had taken six death eaters to take her out; she had killed five of them. She studied Sirius, his expression full of love, and admiration. No, no, no. "Hermione Granger. I just transfered."
"McGonagall is Hermione's aunt," James said.
"And you found your way into our little clique. I'm sorry dear run now," Marlene stated, "Especially stay away from this one here. He's incorrigible."
"Marlene you know I only have eyes for you," Sirius said, kissing her cheek. Hermione had lived with her Sirius for years, she knew when he was lying and when he wasn't. Sirius Black was in love with Marlene.
"Bullshit. How was your detention love?" Marlene hissed, trying to get off his lap, his arms around her like a cage.
"I didn't sleep with Ellis, McKinnon," Sirius snarled.
James and Lily shared a look before going to the bar, for more butterbeer. Hermione cleared her throat ending the stand off between Marlene and Sirius.
"Did you think maybe he's telling the truth?" Hermione asked.
Marlene laughed. "You're obviously new. Sirius can't keep it in his pants. Half the girls in this school have been in a broom cupboard with him, more than once."
"Marly he didn't sleep with Ellis. I would have smelled her on him. He hasn't slept with anyone but you in months," Remus said.
Marlene looked at Sirius, "What?!"
Sirius nodded confirming Moony's statement.
Marlene glared at Sirius. "You've got to be fucking kidding me. Its only been me?"
"For eight months now love," Sirius replied.
Hermione sighed, looking over at Remus, who was staring at her intently. He winked at her, before leaning close and tucking a hair behind her ear. "I can't believe you're here. How?" he whispered.
"I don't know," Hermione replied, as he put an arm around her. Again something so completely them, that it broke her heart a little more.
"We'll figure it out I promise Mia," he said.
Hermione stood up abruptly. She had to get away before she broke down, again. Her vision blurred before everything went black.
Her head hurt, her body hurt, she couldn't think. She opened her eyes moaning as light hit her full force.
"There are side effects to time traveling," Minerva said, "You over did it. You've been unconscious for three days."
Hermione groaned. "Three days?"
"Yes child three days. Its November third nineteen seventy seven. Half ten in the morning," Minerva said.
"You're like the time traveling Godmother from hell," Hermione complained.
"Mister Lupin has been in here everyday. He's worried himself sick," Minerva said.
Hermione sighed, "He's blaming himself isn't he?"
Minerva nodded. She went to stand up. "Get some rest. I've got incompetent Marauders to teach."
Hermione smiled. "Yes ma'am."
By lunch Hermione had driven herself and Madame Pomfrey nuts. The healer wouldn't let her walk or do anything too exerting. She had a severe concussion. Which explained the headache.
Remus slipped into the infirmary. He smiled at her. "How are you feeling?"
"My everything hurts, its official time travel sucks," she said.
"The box brought you here," he said, sitting at the edge of her bed. "You shouldn't be here."
"No but I am, so I might as well make the most of it." She sighed, "I can't believe its you." She ran her fingers through his hair, missing the grey at his temples.
"What am I like?"
Hermione smiled. "You're one of the greatest men I know. You and Sirius both. I can come to you for anything, and I thought you could come to me." She frowned.
Remus brought her hand up to his lips. "Don't hold me against me. Don't hold Moony against me."
Hermione sat up a little more, she rested her hand on his cheek. "I never have and I never will."
Remus met her eyes, love, unconditional love, stared back at him. He didn't deserve it or her. He was a monster. He stood up breaking away from her. He cleared his throat. "I'm glad you're feeling better. I'll see you around."
Hermione watched him flee, shaking her head. Some things never change. How many more times can we walk away from each other?
November 4th 1998
Harry paced Minerva's office. He was still trying to absorb the information that Remus and Sirius had thrown at him.
"Harry I know this is a shock"-
"Do you love her?" Harry asked.
"More than anything. She's saved my life more than once. She saved me from myself. Harry I can't even explain to you what Mia means to me," Remus said.
Sirius sighed. "Harry you can't tell anyone where she is."
Harry nodded. "Was she friends with my mum?"
"Yes, her, Lily and Marlene were thicker than thieves," Remus said.
"Marlene McKinnon?" Harry asked.
"My wife," Sirius said.
"Your what?!"
Remus laughed, "I'm not the only one who has explaining to do apparently."
Harry turned on Remus. "You knew about this?"
"Yes."
November 8th 1977
Eight days. She had been in the seventies for eight days. Remus hadn't said anything to her since she was in the infirmery, and the full moon was a week away. She'd transformed once into her animagus form, a honey brown wolf, with nightly training with Minerva, because Remus was ignoring her existence. She needed to destress some how.
She looked over at Lily and Marlene, both witches had glued themselves to her, something Hermione would be ever grateful for. "What were you saying Lily?" Hermione asked.
"I said go talk to him. Marlene suggested go snog Sirius and make him jealous," Lily stated.
Hermione laughed, when she heard Remus' growl from across the common room. She smiled at Marlene. "How's that going with Sirius?"
Marlene blushed. "Interesting, very interesting. He's proving he can be a one woman man. I have faith in him, oddly enough."
Hermione sighed, and looked over at Remus, Sirius, and James. She had enough time in the infirmary to accept what cards she has been dealt. Lily and Marlene visiting her as often as possible also helped ferment that she wasn't in Kansas anymore. "I can't do this anymore," she said standing up, "Wish me luck."
"Luck," the other two girls said.
Hermione steeled herself for the rejection that was bound to come, as she marched over to Remus, her skirt dancing around her knees. Determination in her eyes.
"What can we help you with Kitten?" Sirius asked.
She grabbed Remus by his tie, pulling him up so that he was standing. "You are a git. I'm here, there's nothing we can do about it, so damn it all to hell I'm making the most of it." She stood on her toes, grabbing two handfuls of his hair as she pulled his mouth to hers. She kissed him, gently at first testing the waters, before nibbling on his bottom lip forcing him to respond.
Instinct took over. Remus growled, his mouth moving against hers. He broke away first, resting his forehead against hers. His racing heart beat in tune with hers. "Mine," he breathed, before kissing her again.
Lily looked at Marlene. "Gotta love a girl with guts."
Marlene laughed. "She fits in with us well."
Lily looked over at her friend. "Its like she was always here."
Hermione rested her head against Remus' chest, for the first time in a week, she didn't miss home.
Hermione sat cuddled up against Remus' side, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. They were the only two left in the common room.
"What's it like?" he whispered.
"Our lives?" she asked, hushed.
He nodded, kissing her forehead.
Hermione sighed, "You don't even know what you mean to me, Remus. You've been my safe haven for so long." She looked up at him, brushing the ends of his hair with her finger tips. "You will be my teacher, and I had the worst crush on you. Oh my god." She laughed at herself. "It was terrible. I hung on your every word like a love sick puppy."
Remus laughed. "That's hilarious."
"When I found out Remus." She stopped. "I am a horrible person."
"How did you find out?" he asked.
"There was an essay. I charted the moon cycles and figured it out." She got quiet, for an immeasurable amount of time. She wiped her eyes. "I kept your secret. You've been publicly outed. Its no longer a secret. You do great things for werewolves, and giants and other magical creatures within the Ministry. You fight for others, like you were fought for."
"And you're at my side?"
"Naturally. We talk about it, debate it, the legislation. You're trying to save the world Remus." She stared at the flames.
"Are you able to tell me all of this?"
"That's complicated. I can't change what happens. Minerva has proved that I can't change what happens to the people I'm connected to. You, Sirius, James, Lily, Marlene. What's happened to you in my time is still going to happen to you. I can't change that." She kissed his chest. "All I can do is enjoy what we have until I leave."
Remus kissed her. "So we're living on borrowed time?"
"Yes. Extremely borrowed. I could be gone tomorrow."
Remus sighed. "Is this a bad idea? Starting this?"
She elbowed him. "Why can't we have what we want? We've suffered enough."
He kissed her again, eyes gold when he pulled away from her. She smiled at Moony, "Hi you."
A soft whine escaped Remus' mouth. Hermione snuggled closer to him, vowing to care for the man and the wolf while she was here.