Hi! I am very sorry for the long wait to the final chapter of Pieces of Time. I am co-writing a Pirates of the Caribbean fic called Chasing Immortality. Please check it out. Also, I'm being a beta for a Fable fic called Blood of the Archons which is an absolutely brilliant story. Check that out too :D It's worth your time, I promise.

So, here we are. The final chapter. I hope it is a satisfying end. I really enjoyed writing this fic and I hope you have enjoyed reading it. Remember guys, for old times sake, read and review ;) Thanks for sticking with me the whole way through!

Disclaimer - For the last time I don't own it!

Chapter 26

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Hermione ran. She did not know where she was going she just knew she had to move. Moving meant she was getting nearer to Remus and that was all she really wanted at that moment in time.

His departure could mean only one thing. He knew it was she that had been the time traveller. She was the girl who he had based all of his future relationships on. She, in a way, had ruined him with her unexpected departure.

And she hated herself for it.

Portraits watched Hermione, muttering about indecency, as she flew past. Their voices went in one ear and out the other; she didn't care what they said. She didn't care what anyone said.

Hermione's feet pounded against the muscle tearing number of stairs leading up to the astronomy tower. This was the last place left and it was her only hope. Her breath was coming out in gasps when she reached the end of her climb.

There, standing a few feet away at the edge of the tower was Remus. His hands clutched the rails and his head was bent, hair falling onto his face. Hermione resisted the urge to smooth back the askew strands of golden brown.

"You know, all I seem to be doing lately is chase you." said Hermione.

Remus ignored her attempt to lighten the situation. In fact, he ignored her very existence.

Hermione leaned against the railings across from him and stared at his back, waiting for him to face her. A cold breeze ruffled her dressing gown and she shivered as the icy hands of the wind crept across her bare legs.

Remus gave a shuddering sigh and finally turned his body towards Hermione's, acknowledging her.

"It was you?"

Hermione raised her eyebrows at the blunt and quite ambiguous statement. Luckily, she knew exactly to what Remus was referring.

"Yes. I was Hermione Robin. When I was hit with that curse I was thrown back to your time at Hogwarts for some reason that I'm only now beginning to grasp."

"It better be a damn good reason, Hermione."

Hermione grimaced at his sharp tone.

"It was for us to have a chance at true love. Don't you remember the day when we finally admitted we loved each other? Under the tree in the rain?"

Remus raised a brow.

"Oh yes. That day where you left me and I spent years wondering where the woman I love had gone. Why she had left me without a trace of her ever being there? Sometimes I started to wonder if I had made you up but it was thanks to James, Sirius and Peter I didn't drive myself insane with that thought."

Hermione stood defiantly.

"It was through no choice of mine that I vanished! I was pulled back to the present because I finally admitted I loved you! I did what I was supposed to."

"Oh, it was a mere mission to you, Hermione?"

Hermione groaned in frustration.

"No, you bloody halfwit! I've loved you since I met you! How could you not tell? The way I warned you before the battle. The way I threw myself in front of the killing curse for you!"

Remus opened his mouth but nothing came out. He realised all the things Hermione had done for him and felt a rush of shame for accusing her of being anything but selfless, kind and brave.

"Why didn't you avoid me? You should have stayed away, Hermione. How many times have you been told not to meddle with time travel?"

Hermione sighed and rubbed her eyes, feeling a pounding reverberate around her skull. She thought of all people Remus would understand. He was so like her in so many ways! If only he could see it.

"I did not meddle. Things took…their natural course. I needed to let you know that you're a good man. You're loved by so many people but eventually your lack of appreciation for yourself will push them away. People see you as you see yourself. I love you, Remus! For you, not whoever you wish you could be."

Hermione closed her eyes and leaned on the railing of the tower. Her teeth were chattering, trying to tell her she was too cold but she didn't listen. She was adamant in her refusal to listen until Remus understood.

A warm, thick cloak wrapped around her shoulders and Hermione opened her eyes to see Remus standing beside her, his face an ambivalent expression of delight and consternation.

"You should know that I love you too, Hermione. In some ways I'm glad for the opportunity I was given to know you better but I am no longer a teenager. I'm far too old for you and I'm worried that the fact I'm a werewolf doesn't seem to faze you in the least. Think of the uproar that would be caused with your friends and I don't like to imagine ever being introduced to your parents."

Hermione paused and tried to picture such an event.

"Mum, Dad, this is Remus Lupin. He's my ex-teacher and did I mention he's a werewolf? None of that matters because we're very much in love despite the rather startling age gap."

She couldn't say that; she'd sound like a stupid, love struck teenager with no sense of reality. Which, in a way, she supposed she was. However, she was firm in her opinion and knew she could make her own choices.

"I'm an adult Remus. I would very much appreciate it if you didn't make my decisions for me."

Remus laughed and held Hermione's hands in in his own, trying to heat them up.

"You are the most stubborn girl I have ever met. Sometimes I wonder if it became worse when you spent all that time with Lily."

Hermione softly laughed and leaned on Remus' chest, breathing in his comfortingly familiar scent.

"Can't we give it a go? What's the point in giving up what we've got, Remus? After so much loss in this war aren't we all entitled to some happiness?"

"I can't just forget Tonks, Hermione. I can't jump into another serious relationship so quickly; I don't think I could take it."

Hermione felt her heart sink but knew this to be true. It would be asking too much of Remus to go so quickly.

"We'll take it slow then. One step and a time and we can see where things are going to go."

Remus smiled and kissed Hermione's forehead. He wasn't going to resist any longer. Maybe now was his chance for happiness.

"That sounds like a very viable idea."

The pair huddled close together, protecting each other from the harsh wind, staring across the grounds of Hogwarts.

So many things had been destroyed by the war and around them lay the evidence; fragments of the castle remained on the grounds and the crumbling wreckage of the walls had yet to be fully repaired.

Yet, here and there the pair could see the beginnings of repair, the rebuilding of lives. Scores of witches and wizards were helping to carry equipment and stone towards the castle and the distant walls. Clearly they had volunteered in the effort for a new start.

Hermione felt a warm glow as she watched everyone work together. Now that Voldemort was gone everything could finally be normal. Well, as normal as the Wizarding world was ever going to be.

She and Remus felt that they were like all the others of their kind, rebuilding their lives in the only way they could; by sticking with each other.

Hermione knew that things would be difficult for she and Remus but she was fully prepared for the hardship.

After so much time together, Hermione could not imagine herself with another man and she knew that Remus wanted to be with her too.

So long as his propriety did not get in the way everything would be fine. All they knew was that they wanted to enjoy the little pieces of time they had together.

Thanks for reading and hopefully reviewing! I hope you liked the story

Emma x