DISCLAIMER: Two men were walking one day. One said to the other, 'Oy Frank, did you hear about that American bird that claimed she owned Harry Potter?' The other responded, 'Yes, I also heard they locked her up in an asylum.'

Chapter 37: The Trouble With Love Is

August 9, 1978

The liquid stung as it went down her throat, the burn of the Firewhisky making her pause before taking another gulp. She placed her lips at the rim of the bottle and tilted the bottle up, letting the contents flow into her mouth.

One year…

It had been one year since the war. One year since she had watched as her two best friends died. One year since she had been sent back to the past to somehow change her destiny.

It was true, the saying- time does fly fast.

Even though it had been a year, a year which had flown by in record time, she could recall every single detail about the war- how Draco Malfoy had been killed by her wand, how Voldemort had drawn Harry into battle, how the sky had lit up when their spells had connected for the last time.

One year….

Here's to them, she thought as she finished off her second bottle in less than a hour and reached for her third. It was going to be one long night…

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August 18, 1978

Hermione slipped the pale yellow dress over top of her head quickly as Lily stood at the door, tapping her foot impatiently. The redhead had shown up with a vengeance this morning, instructing Hermione that they still had a million and one things to do.

"Almost done!" Hermione called as she ran into the bathroom to pull her hair up. Thank Merlin for magic, she thought as she waved her wand and her hair pulled itself up.

"Come on, Hermione," Lily called, "we have to finish the decorations. Professor McGonagall said she would meet us there at eleven."

Hermione smiled as she came out of the bathroom and picked up her heels to match her dress. "How many times has she instructed you to call her Minerva?"

"It just feels weird; she was my Professor for seven years, you know. Of course it's not weird for you, she's your Aunt."

"Not really, but I love her like one." She finished slipping on her heels and smiled at the impatient redhead. "There, I'm ready. Happy?"

"Extremely."

"Alright, we're apparating cause there is no way I'm flooing in this dress." Hermione snatched up her purse and checked her appearance one last time.

"But we'll have to walk from the gates if we apparate. Can't you just put on a long jacket or cloak or something?" she whined as she followed Hermione.

Hermione turned and stared at her. "No. Now let's go."

She disappeared with a pop and waited until Lily joined her about fifteen seconds later. The redhead did not look happy but kept her grumbling to a minimum during the long trek up to the main lawn in front of the castle.

Sure enough, Minerva McGonagall was waiting for them on the front lawn. She always was one for punctuality. She embraced Hermione, kissing both of her cheeks. She then turned and hugged Lily as well.

"It's a lovely day, is it not?" she asked. "A lovely day for a wedding." She looked sternly at Lily and Hermione. "I'm hoping to have some more in the near future."

Hermione smirked. "Really? Who's getting married, Aunt Minerva? Someone we know?"

Minerva playfully slapped Hermione's arm. "Oh you. Let's just get to work on the decorations before the guests start to arrive."

Two hours later, the grounds looked completely different. Red and yellow roses lined the path that the bridal party would walk down. An arch way stood at the end with vines twisting around it. Candles floated around, not yet lit. Two hundred seats were divided evenly on either side of the path.

"I think we outdid ourselves," Hermione said smugly. "However, I do think we forgot one essential thing."

"Music?" Lily asked.

"Well, besides that," Hermione said with a small smile. "We forgot the food."

"Of course!" the red head exclaimed. "Well, let's get to it then."

Four hours and fifty-three minutes later, the guests were all seated and Frank was standing up front with Sirius, James, and Remus standing beside of him. Dumbledore stood at the very front since he was the one chosen to officiate the wedding.

The bridal party was standing in the Great Hall, preparing for the long walk down the aisle. Alice was dizzily happy standing among the midst of all her brides maids and friends. Lauri, unfortunately, was not able to make it so they were one lady short.

"Oh, I can't believe it's finally the day," Alice said with a large smile. "Today I will become Mrs. Frank Longbottom."

Hermione straightened her veil and smiled at her. "Only on paper, Alice. In your heart, you've been Mrs. Frank Longbottom for quite a while."

She snatched up Hermione's hands. "Oh Hermione, I've dreamed of this day ever since I met Frank. I love him so much."

"Believe me," Hermione said with a laugh, "that much is obvious."

"Oh Alice," Lily gushed, "you look so beautiful! You are the perfect picture of a bride in love."

Alice blushed. "Thank you, Lily."

"It's the truth, Alice."

Alice let one of Hermione's hands drop and picked up one of Lily's. "You two have been so wonderful. I mean, I know we weren't the best of friends at school but I hope to remedy that."

"We do too," Hermione said.

"Alice, you are a wonderful person that deserves to have a happy ending," Lily told her. "You are always welcome with us, though, just remember that."

"Thank you. Oh Lily, Hermione, I do hope that you two get your own happy endings," she said, smiling at each of them.

Lily smiled back while Hermione merely stood there, lost in thought. She knew of the ending she would meet. However, she was doing it for all of the right reasons and she would just have to keep reminding herself of that fact.

"Hermione?" Alice asked timidly, "are you alright?"

"Fine, just fine," she answered, forcing a smile to her face. "I just zoned out there for a moment, sorry."

"I think someone was wondering what it would feel like to be a bride," Lily said with a mischievous smile and a little nudge to Hermione.

"I wish," Minerva stated as she joined the trio carrying the bouquets in her hand, "that way I wouldn't have to worry about her living with him all the time."

Hermione rolled her eyes but still gave her a smile. "Oh Aunt Minerva, we've already talked about this…"

"Yes, but I didn't agree with it then and I still don't agree with it," she rushed on to say. She stood up straighter, her posture stiff and unyielding. "I do wish you'd consider coming and staying with me in Scotland for a bit. Just a reprieve of course."

Hermione glanced over at Lily to find her smiling. "I'll think about your offer, Aunt Minerva."

"Promise?"

"Yes, I promise that I'll think about it, but I'm not saying that I will."

Minerva went to open her mouth but Hermione rushed on, "No time to argue now, Aunt Minerva, I'm afraid Alice here has to get married so we really must be getting a move on."

Lily and Alice quickly followed Hermione as she went over to get Tonks who was serving as the flower girl. She was being a little impish, though, and was changing her hair and, well, everything. Her mum was about ready to pull out her hair.

"Nymphadora Tonks, you will behave today or I swear to Merlin that you will not have any sort of sweet for two years!"

Tonks, looking quite terrified now, immediately changed her hair back to the original straight, jet-black she was born with. Her little misty blue eyes peered up at her mother innocently and pleadingly.

Hermione, taking pity on her, bent down to her height. "I think you look quite pretty, quite the little lady."

The little Metamorphmagus blushed and leaned in closer to Hermione, whispering, "Do you think Remus will notice?"

Hermione realized that this was where Tonks' fascination with Remus began. "Ah darling, he would have to be blind not to."

The girl seemed happy enough with that answer and went skipping off to lead the processions. Hermione stood back up. "Well, let's go to a wedding!"

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Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Black were wed on the twenty-first day of August, 1978. The Order had been paying very close attention to this wedding, sure that something would go down.

However, nothing did happen at the wedding, though there were a lot of suspected Death Eaters in attendance. Hermione had been one of the ones who had been stationed nearby to watch over the wedding. Dumbledore, himself, had asked her to go.

So, Hermione had stood behind a large bush on top of the hill watching sadly as Lucius bound himself to Narcissa and the dark side. She only could pray that he knew what he was getting himself into.

The night went by without a hitch as well. It wasn't until the next afternoon that the real show began.

Hermione had been sitting beside of Sirius on the couch, reading a book, when their fireplace had glowed green and James had stumbled out. He had a worried and frantic look on his face as he locked gazes with Sirius.

"Attack," he managed to say.

Sirius stood up and grabbed his cloak. "Where?"

"A muggle shopping centre near here," James explained. "It started about five minutes ago. Dumbledore has sent out the orders for us to go and fight."

Hermione shut her book and rose as well, but just as she was about to grab her cloak, Sirius caught her hand and spun her around to face him.

"I'd be happier if you sat this one out," he said, his grey eyes peering intently at her.

"Sirius," she started but he placed a finger over her lips. "Please, Hermione, just stay here."

She reached up and removed his finger from over her lips. "You and I both know that I am a far better dueller than anyone on the Order, save maybe Dumbledore," she replied in a huff. "I can help you and the rest of the Order fight them."

"I don't have time to argue with you, Hermione," he replied just as angrily as her. "Promise me that you'll stay here."

She crossed her arms. "I can't make that promise."

He growled irritably. "Hermione, stop being foolish and just promise me that you'll stay here where you are safe."

"No."

He took a step closer to her, his hands going to her hips. "You leave me no other choice, Hermione," he grated softly.

"What are you talking about?"

He held up one hand, displaying her wand before quickly tossing it to James. He then picked her up and deposited her on the couch. He pulled out his own wand, then, and put a spell on her.

She tried to lift herself up, madder than a hornet at him, but found that she could not move. "What the bloody hell have you done to me, Sirius Orion Black?!"

"I've simply made sure that you would stay here with a little spell I learnt from James," he replied calmly. "I'll lift it when I return."

"Oh no you don't," she cried, her eyes flashing, "you are going to let me up right this instant!"

"Sorry, love, can't. Be back later!"

Hermione screamed at him even as he walked through the fireplace with James to join the rest of the Order. She would make him pay, she silently vowed.

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Sirius returned alone about three hours later, his clothes a little bloody and torn. His hair looked severely unkempt and his eyes showed just how tired he really was.

Hermione sat silently on the couch as he walked over to her. She didn't even spare him a glance while he lifted the spell and stood aside for her to stand.

She quickly pushed past him and headed towards the stairs. Confused as to what she was doing, he followed her as she stormed up the stairs and into their bedroom.

He leaned against the doorway and watched as she disappeared into the closet. He quickly became alert, though, when she walked out carrying a large suitcase in one hand and an armful of clothes in the other.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"What does it look like?" Hermione snapped.

"It appears that you are packing, though I really don't understand why you are doing such."

She slammed the lid shut and glared at him. "I am doing such because at the moment I really can't stand to be in the same room, let alone the same house as you."

His eyes narrowed as he strolled over and stood in front of her. "Don't do this, Hermione. Yell at me, hex me, but don't walk out on me."

She sighed, but whether it was in defeat or frustration, he didn't know. "I love you, Sirius, I really do, but you overstepped the boundaries today. I can't forget that."

She picked up her suitcase and strolled around him. She walked out of the room and back down the stairs with Sirius right behind her.

"So you're just going to leave then? Just walk out of here and pout, is that what you're planning on doing?" he demanded, quickening his pace so he could keep up with her fast gait.

She stopped and rounded on him, jabbing her finger into his chest. "As a matter of fact, that is exactly what I am doing, Sirius. I am going and there is nothing, short of freezing me to that couch again, that you can do to stop me."

As she reached the fireplace, he grabbed her arm to stop her. "Please Hermione, I'm begging you, please stay. Please don't leave me. Just stay and let's work it out."

She cupped his cheek in one hand and looked into his eyes. "Sirius, you must understand that I have to go. You did a very unforgivable thing to me this evening and right now, I am very angry with you."

"I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have done it but…"

"But you did," she stressed, backing away from him. "I'm sorry, Sirius. I'll be in touch."

She stood in the fireplace and looked at him sadly. "Goodbye." She disappeared with a flair of green flames, leaving behind a sad looking Sirius.

Hermione came out of the fireplace in Scotland where an older woman sat in front of the fire reading a very large novel. She looked up, however, when Hermione took a step out and instantly stood herself.

Seeing the distressed look upon the younger woman's face, Minerva McGonagall took her in her arms and held her while she cried. Hermione clung to her adoptive aunt as she let all of her bottled up emotions out.

She pulled back slowly and furiously wiped at her eyes. "I'm sorry," she apologized, her voice showing just how tired she really way.

"It's okay dear," Minerva said with a small smile, "sometimes you just need to cry."

"No," Hermione cried defiantly, "I shouldn't let my emotions get the better of me. I need to keep a level head. I need to stay calm. I need to…"

"Stop trying to save the world and worry about saving yourself first."

Hermione stared at her old Transfiguration professor, unsure as to how to respond to that. It was true, in a way. She was trying to save the world, but she was doing it for a good reason, as was the case with most people trying to save the world.

"I don't have time, Aunt Minerva…"

"That's just the thing, Hermione, you are trying to go against time. You need to slow down a bit and take some time out for yourself." She smiled. "You can't rid the world of all evil single handily."

Hermione sighed. "Look, I just came over because I need a place to stay for a bit to think."

"You and Sirius get into a fight?" Minerva asked knowingly, her tawny eyes watching Hermione closely.

Hermione gave a dry laugh, "I think the whole Order should know that." She crossed her arms and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before opening them. "I'm assuming everyone knows what he did earlier."

"He just wants to protect you…"

"From what? In case he hasn't noticed, I've already been through hell. I think I can manage a measly battle with a few Death Eaters-in-training."

"Hermione, this is a war and he loves you. I know you are angry with him and I completely understand why you need some time away, but you need to understand that he is terrified every time you walk out of the door and into a battle."

"Look, Aunt Minerva, I really don't have time to argue the point," she stated. "I have some important work that I'm behind on. I really need to crack down on it."

"Yes, Albus mentioned that he had you working on something important. I do hope he isn't overtaxing you.'

"No, I'm fine. I just understand the importance of it," Hermione informed her even as she was fighting the urge to year. "Just promise me that you'll actually get some sleep tonight," her aunt said, obviously seeing through her façade.

Hermione smiled. "That I can promise." She kissed the older woman on the cheek. "Goodnight, Aunt Minerva."

"Goodnight, dear."

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Hermione rubbed her eyes, desperately trying to stay awake. She was on her seventh cup of coffee, though she honestly detested the stuff. However, she genuinely needed the caffeine fix at the moment.

"Oh, Caradoc, what did you do?" she muttered as she sniffed through the pieces of parchment once more.

She wrote down the figures for what seemed like the hundredth time. She knew they weren't right, that much she had figured out weeks ago. She just needed to figure out what that particular combination would cause.

She stopped, her quill hovering just about the parchment. In her head, she was recalling Snape's words back during her fifth year when he was lecturing on the improper use of certain ingredients and the effects they could cause.

"Oh no," she breathed softly, letting her quill drop from her fingers. If she was right… oh Merlin, but how?

She quickly gathered up the parchment and rushed down the stairs, trying to be as quiet as possible so as to not wake up Aunt Minerva. However, the resounding crash resulting from her stumbling over a piece of furniture was probably loud enough to wake the dead.

"Oh…that hurt," she muttered, rubbing her bum that had unfortunately decided to hit the corner of the coffee table on the way down.

"Hermione? Hermione, is that you?" Minerva was standing over in the doorway. "Oh dear," she cried as she rushed to her side, "are you alright?"

"Yeah," Hermione groaned, "just bruised my pride a bit."

"What on earth were you doing rushing about in the dark anyways." She placed her hands on her hips. "Hermione Granger, you promised me that you would get some rest tonight."

"I know and I will," she said apologetically, "I just have to get these paper over to Dumbledore as soon as possible."

Minerva bent over to retrieve the pieces of parchment that had went flying while Hermione hauled herself up. She found her aunt observing them closely.

"Just what are these anyways?"

Hermione drew in a deep breath. "If I'm right, and I do believe I am, then that's proof that Caradoc Dearborn is not dead."

A/N: Decided to update a day early cause I still have no idea what to write on my essay and after two days of trying, I'm STILL looking at a blank page. I'm screwed.

Oh, just to rub it in ya'll faces who made fun of me cause I'm at an all women's college, get this: I am currently enrolled in a class called Extreme Fictions. So far we have watched Extreme Makeover: Home Edition for a week and the week of the 30th we are starting…drum roll….Harry Potter. Yes, we will be reading the books AND studying fan fiction… heehee…awesome class, eh?

IMPORTANT NOTE! I cannot update The Price of Love until I get ch. 6 back from my beta...Sorry!

MiZZ AmAyA