A/N: I think everyone will be shocked by when things happen in this chapter hehe!
Hope you like :D sorry for the long wait!

As I can't respond to the reviewer privately, I wanted to address the guest review about Mary/Helen being a horrible person. I wouldn't say Mary is a terrible person, and a lot of what you're questioning about her actions will be explained later. I think she just dealt with an awful situation in not the best way. Like Remus in canon she was unfortunately too quick to believe that Sirius would do those things as all the evidence pointed towards it, even if she did know him better than that. I'm not sure about in canon, but I don't think at the time it was ever fully addressed whether Sirius had a trial or not. Mary is going on the assumption he was tried and found guilty, she doesn't know any better.

3rd August 1993

"You've not told us much about your Second year yet, love." Her mother said as they sat down for lunch midway through the summer. Hermione glanced up at her mum with wide eyes from the upsetting article she'd been reading in the Daily Prophet. She'd reacted surprisingly well to the news about what happened in Hermione's first year, and they'd been told about the petrification of course. But not much else. Hermione was worried if she told her parents everything they'd pull her out of Hogwarts.

"It was good, mum." Hermione said, trying not to get any kind of suspicion from her parents.

"Tell us more. What are your lessons like? What did you and those two friends of yours get up to?" Her mum prodded, leaning across the table eagerly, and grinning when Hermione huffed a little.

Hermione eventually crumpled, telling them all about her year, revealing how she'd be petrified. Her father's eyes had widened and her mother had gasped in horror at the idea of a giant snake, but as Muggles neither of them really understood the risks of the creature, or the implications of what had actually happened during the year.

The rest of lunch passed surprisingly peacefully, as Hermione had been expecting her parents to lose their rag about the revelation of how her school year had gone. She left the dining room, unthinkingly leaving the Prophet open to the article she'd been reading earlier; a tale about the Death Eater who'd betrayed Harry's parents to Voldemort and then killed thirteen people and been imprisoned in Azkaban for it. The picture of him on the front page was terrifying, and the news that he'd escaped imprisonment even more so.

She was reading in the living room when her parents came storming in, looking equal parts angry and terrified - her mother looked like someone she loved had just died, tears shimmering in her eyes. "Why didn't you tell us about this, Hermione?" Richard demanded, throwing the Prophet down in front of her angrily. Helen took a seat on the other sofa, looking even more furious if possible.

"I- I didn't think I needed to?" Hermione admitted honestly, staring at the moving picture of an insane looking Sirius Black.

"Hermione." Helen started angrily, "This is the kind of thing you tell us about." Hermione was shocked at the choked sound of her mother's voice - like she was about to start crying any moment.

"I have half a mind to take you out of that school!" Richard ranted, waving his hands angrily. "They're obviously not protecting you one jot!"

"Dad! No! You can't!" Hermione was so busy protesting loudly that she didn't hear her mother's vehement protests to Richard's words. If she had she would have been very surprised.

"I'm going to write them now!" Richard stormed out of the room with a face like thunder and Hermione turned a pleading look on her mother.

"Mum, please. You can't! It's my heritage. It's who I am."

To Hermione's surprise her mother nodded, "I know, love. I'll talk to him. I'm not very happy either though. That man looks dangerous." She gestured to the Prophet, an odd look in her eyes that Hermione wasn't sure she recognised. "If anything bad happens again I expect to hear of it." She still looked furious and though Hermione nodded her agreement she knew she'd never be telling her parents the specifics of her schooling again if she could help it.

"There are dangerous Muggles too, mum." Hermione couldn't resist pointing out as her mother hovered in the door.

"You're right, of course. But something tells me someone is more dangerous with a wand." Helen left before Hermione could retort, and she was left sitting on the sofa staring at the picture of the man that had caused nearly all of Harry's strife.

Helen made her way upstairs after talking Richard out of writing to the school. She managed to hold herself together until she got to the bathroom. Locking herself in, she let the tears fall. She hadn't seen a copy of the prophet in a long time, and she certainly hadn't expected to see her husband's - rather insane looking - face on the front page. She fumbled her wand out of its holster and quickly threw up a silencing charm, before she let out the scream of anguish and fear building in her chest.

He was supposed to be locked up forever! He wasn't supposed to get out and threaten everything. She'd never been gladder that she'd hidden herself and their daughter so well. She tried to control her breathing as she was on the verge of hyperventilating and she didn't want Hermione to see her panic.

She managed to get herself under control, and the rest of the day was more peaceful. But she could see Hermione's wariness, and could almost feel her daughter pulling away from them. She knew despite her demands that Hermione wouldn't tell them so frankly what had happened at school in the future. She couldn't really blame her after their reactions, but she was worried about the lack of information she'd get about her daughter and their secretly shared world. It wasn't often that Mary cursed being a Muggle anymore - she'd had eleven years to get used to it after all - but this was one of those times. Hermione didn't think she could ever understand her world, and Mary wasn't sure whether she'd ever be able to reveal the truth.

29th June 1994

Remus gathered his shrunken trunks and picked up his book bag, giving one glance around his office before leaving. Harry had just left with the Marauder's Map back in his possession, and Remus knew as an adult he should feel bad about giving him access to such a piece of magic, but something in him rejoiced at the idea of a new generation of Marauders. He also knew it would help Harry greatly in his saving the world endeavours that there was really no way to talk him out of.

Everything in hand he quickly grabbed the portkey Albus had created for him, and with a quick touch of his wand and a whispered Portus he disappeared from his rooms at Hogwarts. The portkey dumped him in an unceremonious heap in the garden of his small house, and he huffed and stood. He'd never gotten the hang of portkeys. He brushed himself off and headed into the house, his enhanced sense of smell easily picking up Sirius and Buckbeak's scents.

He pushed open the patio doors, stepping into his living room to find the Black lounging on his sofa. He was clearly freshly showered and cleaned up, as his hair was back to the shoulder length it had been before he'd been imprisoned. He'd also shaved off the scraggly beard that had taken over the bottom half of his face. He still looked much too gaunt and frail, but he looked alive now thankfully.

"Did you have to bring the bloody Hippogriff inside?" Remus complained, dropping his bags and shrunken trunks to the chair near the doors.

Sirius barked out a hoarse laugh, looking over at the sleeping Buckbeak in the corner of the room. "He refused to stay outside, Moony."

Remus strode over and pulled Sirius into a tight hug, "Merlin, I've missed being called that." He admitted, pretending he didn't feel Sirius' quiet tears soaking into his shirt, brushing away his own surreptitiously.

"I know I shouldn't have come here, but I needed to stop off."

"Pads, you can stay as long as you need." Sirius pulled away, dropping onto the sofa heavily. "Tea?" Remus headed into the kitchen, needing to do something to settle himself. He was still adjusting to the revelation that Sirius had been innocent all this time.

"Yeah, please." Remus jolted in surprise, not having noticed that Sirius had followed him into the kitchen. He dropped into one of the rickety kitchen chairs with a sigh, and sent Remus a sharp look when he turned to him with a freshly prepared cup of tea. "What happened to them, Remus?" He asked.

Remus flinched and avoided Sirius' eyes, putting the cup down in front of him as he took the seat opposite. "Who?" He asked, trying to plead ignorance.

"Don't bullshit me, Moony. What happened to my wife and daughter?!" Sirius barked, anger rising in his gaunt face.

Remus held his hands up placatingly, and looked away from his friend, "I don't know." He finally said, too quiet for human ears to hear, but Sirius' sharp animagus ears picked up on it.

"You DON'T KNOW!?" Sirius shouted, jumping to his feet and sloshing tea onto the floor.

"She told me not to contact them, Padfoot. What was I supposed to do?!" Remus jumped to his own feet, pacing away from Sirius. "You were imprisoned, James and Lily were dead, and we all thought Peter was dead at your hand." Remus dashed away some tears that had fallen, "When I went to your house it was empty, she'd left a letter on the doorstep and disappeared. She's not contacted me since." Remus pulled a small box out of a drawer in the desk in the corner of his living room, and brought it back to Sirius, handing him the letter, worn with time and multiple readings.

Sirius took the letter from him reverently, unfolding it and reading through it quickly. Tears rose in his eyes and he wiped them away with a scowl. His anger with his friend evaporated, it's not like he could blame him for following the instructions Mary had left him with.

"She'll be turning fifteen in September." Sirius said hoarsely, looking back down at the letter. "I've missed so much." Remus pulled his best friend into another hug, letting him get out all his anguish. "What if Death Eaters found them? What if you've not heard from Mary because they're both dead?"

"I'm sure they're not, Pads!"

"How do you know, Moony?! Did you see a girl that looked like my daughter in third year whilst you were teaching? 'Cause I sure didn't when I broke into the school!" Sirius snarled, pulling back, putting the letter reverently back in the box and then pacing back and forth. "There were no Astras in your class were there? She had magic when I was imprisoned, so she should be at bloody school!"

"Pads!" Sirius abruptly stopped pacing to look at Remus, "She said they wouldn't be Mary and Astra anymore! Your daughter is probably at school completely disguised!"

Sirius stared at Remus in shocked realisation, "You think so?"

"I know so, Pads."

"Why hasn't she contacted you then?" Sirius growled.

Remus sighed and shrugged, "I wish I knew. But I'm not going to disregard her last request to me. I love that woman like a sister, so I'm not going to put her or your daughter at risk." Sirius sighed but nodded his understanding, ultimately agreeing with Remus, even if he wanted to see them desperately and explain everything to Mary.

4th April 1996

Hermione had gone home for Easter reluctantly at her parents' insistence. Everything at school was getting more and more tense. Professor Umbridge was making everything worse and things within the DA were becoming frantic as they reached their OWLS. Harry's scar was hurting more and more, Professor Snape had stopped teaching him Occlumency and Hermione was finding herself anxious most of the time.

She'd arrived on the platform, and her parents had driven her home in silence. The last few days at home had been just as tense as school, her mother obviously building up to asking Hermione something. Though she had no idea what it could be.

"Hermione, love! Dinner's ready!"

Hermione put her book down, a tome she'd borrowed from the restricted section of the library on Occlumency and Legilimency, and made her way downstairs. "Where's dad?" She asked as she came into the dining room and found only her mother sitting at the table.

"He's working late tonight, an emergency call came in."

Hermione nodded in understanding, taking her customary seat at the table and happily chatting with her mother about the surgery. After they'd finished, she grabbed Hermione's wrist gently, stopping her from rising from the table.

"Darling, I know we reacted very badly after you told us about your second year at school." Hermione looked away from her mother, nodding, "But I don't like feeling so separate from your life. I thought you might find it easier to tell just me instead of your father too. I'd really like to know more about what's happened at school for you. You promised you would tell me. I promise whatever you tell us, we will never withdraw you from Hogwarts."

"You promise, mum?"

"Of course, Hermione. As you said, it's part of you, even if we can't experience it."

Hermione examined her mother quietly for a moment and then nodded, slightly reluctant still. She'd always been really close with her parents though - her mother especially. Probably part of being an only child, but she wanted them to know her life. With a deep breath she started telling her mother about her schooling since the end of second year. As she told the tale of the dangers of their third year and the revelation that Sirius wasn't guilty at all, her mother's hand tightened painfully around hers and when she glanced up there were tears shimmering in her eyes. She stopped momentarily, having just reached the tale of rescuing Sirius with Buckbeak. "Mum? Are you okay? Do we need to stop?"

Helen stared at her in silence for a moment that seemed to stretch forever, and then shook her head, "Hermione. Love. I'm so sorry."

"What? What do you mean, mum?"

Helen shook her head and then stood from the table, coming 'round and pulling Hermione to her feet too. "I'll explain everything. But just know. I'm so sorry."

"About what? Mum, what's wrong? You're scaring me!"

Her mother didn't say anything further, just shook her head. Then with a tight grip on Hermione's arm there was a sudden and horrible feeling like they were being squeezed through a tube, and then it was over as abruptly as it had started. Hermione didn't get a chance to get her bearings before she was throwing up in a nearby bush.

"Mum? What-"

Hermione was interrupted by a shout of surprise, and then a figure hurrying towards them, "Hermione? What are you doing here? How did you get here?" She blinked in surprise at the sight of Remus Lupin in front of her.

"I- I don't know." She turned on the spot and looked around. She didn't recognise where they were at all. She turned to her mum, who had somehow, some-way just apparated them here? "Mum? What happened?" Her voice was high with surprise and no little bit of panic.

Her mum held up a hand to stop her, "I'm sorry, Hermione. I promise I'll explain later." She turned to look at Remus who was looking just as shocked and confused as Hermione felt at that moment.

"Hermione? Is this your mum? How did you get here?"

"Remus-" Her mother started, sounding like she knew Hermione's former Professor. He started and lifted his wand to aim it at her suspiciously, "Please, let us in your wards and I'll explain everything."

"Mum? You know about wards?"

"Hermione, please. I promise I'll explain, but wait a moment."

"How do you know me? How do you know about wards?" Remus stepped closer, "I thought your parents were Muggles, Hermione?" He didn't spare a glance for Hermione, keeping his gaze focused intently on her mum.

"So did I!" She exclaimed, watching horrified as the woman she thought she knew, withdrew a wand from her pocket.

Remus lifted his own wand higher, taking on a defensive stance, "Put away your wand. Who are you?"

Her mother placed the wand on her flat palm and held it out in front of her. "If I do this, will you let me in?" Remus glanced down at the way the wand was placed and nodded warily, clearly knowing better than Hermione what her mother's plan was. "For the last fourteen and a half years I have been in hiding as Helen Granger," Her mother intoned, her wand starting to glow in her hand, "I solemnly swear on my magic that I am Mary Black, nee Macdonald, and I mean no harm to any present."

Hermione's eyes widened as the wand in her mother's hand lit up bright white before turning back to the pale ash colour it was. She was even more shocked when Remus stepped forward, tears in his eyes and pulled her mother into a hug, whispering "Mary?"

"I'm so sorry, Remus. I had to do it."

"I forgive you." She watched in paralysed shock and horror as this woman wearing her mother's face pulled back from Remus, "Why do you look different?"

"Glamours."

"What is going on!?" Hermione demanded, finally losing her patience, "What have you done with my mother?" She pulled her wand out and pointed it at whoever this Mary Black was, shaking with anger.

"Hermione, love."

"Don't call me that!"

"Hermione, I'm your mother. I promise."

"Why should I believe you? My mother is a Muggle called Helen Granger. Not a Witch called Mary!"

"Hermione," Remus stepped forward with his hands raised placatingly. "Come inside. I've got some veritaserum, and a pensieve. Everything can be explained there."

Hermione scowled, not comfortable following this unknown woman wearing her mother's face. But she finally snapped, "Fine" and followed her and Remus back into the small house that was obviously Remus'.

Remus gestured to the small table in his kitchen after leading them inside. Hermione slowly took a seat opposite Mary, perching on the edge of the chair, ready to flee if needed. Remus quickly brought over three mugs of tea, and a small vial filled with clear liquid. "Now, Hermione, you know what veritaserum is?" She nodded, "Are you okay to take some, Mary? I'll take some too, to prove that the brew works properly."

Mary nodded and he placed one careful drop on his own tongue, waited for a brief moment then gestured to Hermione to ask him questions so he could prove the potion worked.

"What's your name?"

"Remus John Lupin."

"Why did you leave your teaching position with Hogwarts?"

"Because it came out that I'm a werewolf."

Hermione nodded, "Okay. I trust that it's working." She sent a narrowed glare at the woman who claimed to be her mother. "Now you can prove whether you are who you say you are." Hermione crossed her arms over chest, wand still clenched tight in one hand.

Remus leant forward and dropped three drops of the veritaserum on Mary's tongue, and they waited for a moment for them to take effect. "Do you want me to ask the questions, Hermione?" She nodded, watching them both uncertainly. "What's your name?"

"Mary Black."

"Are you Hermione's mother?"

"Yes." Hermione jolted in surprise, genuinely not expecting that to be the answer.

"Are you Helen Granger?"

"I pretended to be Helen Granger. She was made up. So yes, I'm Helen Granger."