Just One More…
A/N: Hey guys, we're in the home stretch, just one more book to cover. I've got some surprises for you coming up after they finish - remember Hermione still has a few more days in the past and we still need to see the future. SO ENJOY! R&R PLZ!
Dinner at the Potter house was lighter than what one might expect but everyone had something on their mind. Already committed to changing things, they had developed the habit of simply assigning what they heard to their mental 'change it' list but of course there were things they couldn't do anything for. Sirius thought of his brother while snatching a roll from under James's hand. James continued to brood over Wormtail's double agent role though he was laughing and smacking his best mate for the theft. Lily thought of Snape as she cleaned Harry's mushy carrot-filled face. Remus passed another napkin to Lily, it was Tonks that ruled his brain, he wondered what their life could be like in the midst of a war. And there was Mya, just joking and chatting with everyone, who knew everything and cursed herself for it. One thing the others wouldn't do was badger Mya with questions and Hermione would not allow it to bring her down. Tomorrow everything would hopefully be answered and her job would be finished, then they could get to planning.
"So what's the plan for this evening?" Sirius asked everyone at large.
"I have more pictures," Hermione sipped her water.
"My snap pack is always at the ready," James said genially. "I say we celebrate finally reaching the last year."
"I've got to admit this has been the longest three days of life," Remus nodded. "At least the moon is only one night." All of them wanted to accuse him of being melodramatic but really and truly the last few days had altered their lives in ways they never thought possible.
"That's settles it then," Sirius tapped his fist against the table like a judge with a gavel. He stood up with his glass and the rest followed suit, "Tonight we celebrate and tomorrow we change the FUTURE! To a better tomorrow!" Their glasses tapped against each other, their will to fight firm and their resolve just the same.
Lily insisted on putting Harry to bed this time and placed a one way silencing charm so the noise from the Exploding Snap wouldn't wake the infant but they could still hear him. She carried him to his crib, "Alright you, bedtime. You're rather lucky you know, the fate of the world doesn't rest on your shoulders and it's not going to if I have anything to say about it." Call her crazy, James does, but Lily always found chatting with Harry to help her. "Auntie Mya is leaving soon and then our job really begins." Looking down at him, she wondered if Harry would retain anything from this, she'd heard that some people still had some infant memories. Lily shook her head; it was probably for the best that he didn't remember. It was bad enough that they would have to. When Hermione left, she'd leave a hole in all their hearts but they'd see her again someday. "What do you think I should do about Uncle Sev?" Harry kicked restlessly, reaching up and his blankets slid off. Lily nodded, "I thought you'd say that, but how can I face him after everything?" Harry gurgled, waving his arms. "Right, easy for you to say down there," Lily tickled the baby and re-tucked him in, "goodnight Harry, we'll talk in the morning." She returned downstairs to find everyone seated the floor in a circle, the gap between James and Hermione undoubtedly left for her. Pictures and cards littered the floor and conversation was lively. "What did I miss?" she asked as she sat down, cross-legged next to James.
"Here take a look at Ginny," Remus passed her a photo. Lily was surprised to see it was of her son kissing a young lady with long hair in front of a large crowd.
"The Quidditch Cup I assume," Lily giggled. "You're right, he looks like he's doing fine."
"Not bad for a second kiss," Sirius said offhandedly. "Nothing to go giddy over."
"Be careful there Sirius," Hermione warned. "You sound a bit jealous of your godson."
"Believe me Ms. Granger I have nothing to be jealous about."
"Is that so?" Hermione taunted while playing her card.
"Do you doubt my superior skills?" Sirius demanded.
"Don't mind us, we're just part of the wall," James muttered but the two took no notice. Remus chuckled under his breath.
"No not now but judging by your defensiveness I'm guessing your second kiss didn't have the entire Gryffindor girls dorm swooning," Hermione winked at Lily who pressed her lips together to stop a laugh.
Sirius once again went up several octaves in indignation, "Well I never. I'll have you know that my second kiss was in a private area of the grounds but the girl's knees buckled in ten seconds."
"Bragged about it too," Remus slid in.
"You seem awfully keen to prove yourself," Hermione was thoroughly enjoying toying with him.
"You seem awfully keen on provoking me." Sirius smirked, "Care to find out for yourself then love? Learn just how good I am."
Hermione's jaw dropped, "Are you suggesting I kiss you?"
Sirius shrugged carelessly, "One way to settle the argument for sure, or are you afraid of me kitten?" Hermione's mouth snapped shut and a furious blush blooming on her face but you could tell she was working herself up to argue.
"Okay, okay let's not have a brawl in the middle of my living room," Lily intervened, sounding a bit knowingly too. Mya settled back down and picked up her cards again. "So Mya," Lily leaned on James. "While we're on the topic of romance, were you seeing anyone in your time?"
"As a matter of fact I was, Ron," Hermione had a bittersweet smile. "We got together during the final battle."
"I'm sorry did you just say during battle?" Remus claimed the win and gathered the cards to deal.
"Yeah," Hermione sighed. "But postwar love is hard, even Harry and Ginny were having a hard time coping. It just wasn't the same anymore, WE weren't the same anymore." She and Ron were good together but the cloud of war, or at least what was left of it, hung over their heads and tainted everything. It had been a suffocating atmosphere, one that she did not regret leaving behind just the people she had to leave with it. She didn't really know what fate had in store for them, in a way the war had brought them together as well as separated them.
"Just one more reason to fix things," James said simply.
Hermione's lips tugged up, "Exactly. I can't believe we're actually going to change it all. Think about it, by this time tomorrow we'll be laying plans that will affect the course of time itself."
"We're really going to do this," Sirius breathed wonderingly. "We're really going to save the wizarding world, or try to anyway."
"No Pads," James shook his head. "We will not fail, as long as we plan carefully. It's going to be different, better, happier."
Lily waved her wand and a round of butterbeer flew out and hovered in front of them. She held up her own, "Sirius took the good toast but I want to say that, up until this point we've had to listen but now it's almost time to act. And I know, that as long as we stay strong we can face anything. The war has been hard but we continue fight because that is who we are and this is no different. If nothing else, I believe in us."
"I'll drink to that," James rapped his bottle against hers; slowly the others did the same.
Lily took a small sip, "Come on Remus deal, I want to show my husband who the real Snap Pro is." They played a few more rounds but then it was time to turn in. Sirius and James took off in a race with Lily following to check on Harry.
This left Remus and Hermione to tidy up but the werewolf would periodically stare at her. "Remus, is there something you wanted?"
"Just thinking about you and Siri."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Your best mate is an idiot."
"I'm curious about something…"
"What?"
"Why didn't you just say no?"
Hermione who had been collecting bottles became ramrod straight with her back to him, "Sorry?"
Remus shrugged while replacing the cards in the box, "I thought you would've said no and be done with it. In fact," Remus paused to make her sweat a bit, "you looked almost…flustered. Dare I say tempted?"
"Don't be stupid Remus," Hermione said dismissively. She dumped the bottles in the trash bins and returned to find him leaning as the banister.
"I think you mean ridiculous," Remus winked. Hermione being the smart one didn't need it spelled out to her and understanding flared in her eyes. He added, "For the record Sirius doesn't expect anything from you. He thinks I'm just as big an ass as you probably do."
"Well then I take back. Your best mate isn't the idiot, you are! How could you possibly believe Sirius and I could have anything in FOUR DAYS?"
Remus made a small noise, "Come now Hermione, I should think you of all people would know the value of time and how much can happen even in the shortest amount."
Hermione covered her face with both hands, "I can't deal with this right now. I'm going to bed. Goodnight Remus." She stomped up the stairs until Remus stopped her about halfway.
"Hey Mya?"
She slowly pivoted to face him, "What Moony?"
Remus smiled angelically, "I still haven't heard a 'no'."
A/N: Loving, loving, LOVING writing Remus. I taunted Sirius last chapter, might as well do it to Hermione – you know, in the name of fairness :::evil grin::: Also the seventh book is darker than the others so it couldn't hurt to add a bit more humour beforehand. Until next time my lovelies ENJOY R&R PLZ!
