DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter.

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A/N: I am sooo back! I apologize for the long wait. I have been very busy with work and motherhood. Sometimes I would read some Sev-Mione fics just to inspire me to write again, but with the workload, I just can't focus. Thank you so much to all those who are still waiting for this fic.

Some incidents are not OoTP-canon. I'm sorry, I just find it hard to fit everything now that Hermione is no longer an ordinary student and she had her memories back.

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Chapter 50:

November 4, 1995

(the present)

"Hey, Aunt Hermy," Ginny teased goodnaturedly when she sat beside her on her dormitory bed while reading a book on dark curses. She was trying to find out how to help the Order get rid of the Gaunt ring without being seduced by the Resurrection Stone.

Hermione looked up and realized that her dormmates were no longer sleeping in their beds. She was alone in the fifth-year girls' dormitory. It was Saturday but she woke up early to read. She just cannot stop thinking about the Horcruxes and how to help the Order.

"Gin," she greeted softly.

The redhead rested her head on her shoulder and placed a book on her lap.

She frowned upon seeing the title of the book. "Why are you reading about Occlumency?"

Ginny yawned. "I want you to teach me," she said in a rather conversational tone as if she was just asking her to teach her a simple spell.

"What? I'm not capable of teaching Occlumency," she admitted. "You're barking at the wrong tree."

Ginny sighed.

"Why do you want to learn that, anyway?" she asked. Before Ginny could reply, Hermione non-verbally and silently warded the door to ensure their privacy.

"I just want to help you and the Order, you know. Umbridge might be an Occlumens. She might discover our secrets; your secrets."

She snorted. "Severus assured me that the woman is neither a Legilimens nor an Occlumens. She's nothing but a Ministry puppet. The Minister's dog, if you ask me."

Ginny's head felt heavy on her shoulder, but she knew she wasn't asleep. "Mmm... 'kay," she mumbled. "But I still want you to teach me."

"Gin, just focus on your studies, all right?" she told her kindly.

Ginny sat up straight and shifted to face her properly. She grabbed the book she was holding. "Look at this. You're reading stuff like this. You're preparing for war, I know. Even if you don't tell me," she blurted.

Hermione's eyes went to the door to make sure the privacy spells were still on.

"Did you ward the door non-verbally and wandlessly?" gasped Ginny.

She turned back to Ginny. "Yes."

"See? I want to learn things like that! I want to help you, in every way I can," she insisted. "I can't just sit here and watch you prepare for war and you will all mollycoddle me because I'm still underage... I can do magic inside Hogwarts. I can fight if the final battle will be here. I want to protect my godson, too."

Hermione reached out for Ginny's hand and squeezed it. "I appreciate that, Gin. But Harry's going to teach us defensive spells. Isn't that enough for you?"

Ginny looked forlorn. "But it would be nicer to learn more. You know, I heard from Sirius one time in summer that most Slytherins in his time, your time, were either Occlumens or Legilimens. What if the Slytherins this time are trained by their parents, too?"

Hermione sighed and nodded. "All right, I'll ask Severus to teach you."

Ginny perked up and gave her an appreciative smile. "Thank you, Mione. And tell him to go easy on me, yeah?"

She laughed. "He's not that bad."

"I know! Otherwise, you wouldn't fall for him!"

When the two witches came down after an hour in the Gryffindor common room, they found Harry and Ron in one of the rickety armchairs heads together and whispering.

"Hey!" she called the two of them.

"What are you two conspiring about?" asked Ginny who was walking behind her.

They both sat on the rug, facing the two wizards. Harry looked relieved seeing her. "I cannot find a room where we can meet," he told them.

"I told him to just ask Dumbledore," whispered Ron. "They're having private lessons, anyway."

"But he doesn't know about the study group yet. The last time we met was days before you suggested it," Harry explained. "And he hasn't asked me yet to meet him. I guess he's being careful so Umbridge wouldn't notice anything. If I only have the Map..."

"Yeah. We can use the Map to look for a place where we can meet privately," said Ron wistfully. Then, his eyes grew wide. "What about the Chamber of Secrets?"

Three pairs of eyes looked at Ron as if he had grown a second head.

"And how are we going to return back to the upper ground?" asked Harry. "When we went down there, Fawkes helped us."

Hermione smacked Ron's head.

"Ouch!" he complained.

Hermione turned to Ginny and Ron seemed to understand.

"Er, sorry Gin. I wasn't thinking."

Ginny gave Ron a forced smile. "It's all right, Ron."

They heard people laughing on the other side of the common room and saw Fred and George with their friends and the others and someone turned into a canary, but none of Hermione, Harry, Ginny, and Ron got up and joined the fun.

"Maybe we can ask Fred and George..." suggested Ginny.

"Well, I haven't tried..." Harry admitted.

Hermione bit her lip. "Where's the mirror Sirius gave you?" she whispered.

Harry looked at her with a frown. "In my trunk, why?"

"Well, why don't you use it to communicate with him?" she suggested. "Ask him if he knows some room we can use privately in the castle. Remember, he and your dad were just like Fred and George?"

Harry grinned. "Thanks, Hermione! Yeah! I will! See you later!" He quickly got up and went up to the boys' dormitory, followed by Ron.

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November 4, 1978

(seventeen years ago)

After a quick meeting with Albus Dumbledore to relay Severus's report, Hermione was asked to go to the Room of Requirement. According to the headmaster, a friend was waiting for her there' someone she would love to see again.

She didn't waste time. She bid the headmaster goodbye and walked briskly to the seventh floor.

The moment Hermione entered the room, she was pulled to a hug by Remus.

"Remy," she smiled against his chest. "It's been a while."

"Thanks to Albus, it's possible to meet you here. I missed you, Hermy," he said softly and released her. "We all do."

She reached for her friend's hand and they sat on the rug in front of the fireplace, just like when they used to hang out with James and Sirius. "How are James and Sirius?"

"All good. We are all living at James's. Sirius wants to move out because he's planning to propose to Amy, but she's too focused on her blooming career," Remus informed her.

She grinned. "I'm happy for Amy. I heard the DMLE Head is really fond of her. You know some Aurors and Ministry workers are sometimes confined at St. Mungo's and they talk... But what did you tell Sirius?"

"We all told him to wait a little more and while Amy is busy at the Ministry, he can help by being an active Order member."

"And he listened?" she grinned.

Remus looked at her and nodded. "He listens, as always."

"And James?" she asked happily.

Remus's smile faded a bit. "He's... good. He's very active in the Order and usually partnered with Lily."

"I heard Lily joined the Order. That's good for her," she replied casually. She didn't have a chip on her shoulder. It was just that, she had accepted a long time ago that she and Lily would never be friends. They couldn't be friends.

"She's... changed, somehow," Remus quipped. "But James says she's still uncomfortable when we mention your name."

"Tell James I wish him happiness," she said sincerely.

"Too bad, Dumbledore forbids us from contacting non-Order members. And the rest are not aware that you've been inducted, too," Remus said longingly.

"I know. If only we live in a Voldemort-free world..."

"If only..." Remus agreed.

"I hope, one day, we could hang out here again. You, me, James, and Sirius. We could listen to the Muggle radio again, eat together, chat... Or just read in silence. I really miss that," she confessed.

"We miss you too, Hermy. One day, we'll come back here and do those things again," he promised.

"I just hope we won't be too old for that."

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November 5, 1995

(the present)

"You found it, Harry!" Hermione beamed when Harry showed her, Ginny, Ron, and the twins the Room of Requirement. "I've read about this in Hogwarts: A History!" She wasn't lying about that part.

"'Course, you have," teased Harry. "Padfoot and Moony told me about this. But I still had to ask Dobby's help..."

"Remember the time we found this, Gred?" asked Fred.

"You have?" asked Ginny.

"Yeah, but we didn't know this was the so-called Room of Requirement," replied George. "We were running away from Filch and then out of the blue, a cupboard door opened. We hid here and Filch didn't find us."

"Maybe you paced back and forth, twice," said Harry. "Dobby said that's how it should work."

"Look at those dummies and books!" Ron said in awe, walking to the centre of the room. "You think you can read all of these, Mione?"

She looked around and indeed, there were huge shelves full of books. "If I only have all the time in the world..." she admitted, making Ron and Harry laugh.

"So, when are you going to teach us, Professor Potter?" asked Ginny.

"As soon as Hermione tells me what to teach first," Harry replied, turning to her.

"Me?" she asked.

"Oh, don't tell us you didn't include this study group in your planner?" teased Ron.

She chuckled. "I haven't! But that can be arranged. Give me until tonight."

"Brilliant!" Harry replied.

Hermione felt her pendant warmed. "Anyway, I have to go to the library. Ginny, will you join me?" she said, turning to her friend and giving her a knowing look.

"Sure," Ginny replied promptly.

"You're turning our little sister into a bookworm," accused George good-naturedly.

She just beamed. "Well, she chose me as her best friend."

Ginny looped her arm around her elbow and they left the room together. "Is he calling for you?" she asked in a whisper.

"Yes," she giggled uncharacteristically.

"Then, I'll cover for you if someone asks. But I really need to go to the library," Ginny said.

"They're right, you're turning into a bookworm," she teased.

"I am." Ginny gave her a little push. "Go and have fun with your paramour."

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As always, the door to Severus's office opened when she was about to knock.

Of course, he was looking at the Map, she thought.

Once she was already inside, the door closed and several privacy charms were cast upon it. Then, Sev greeted her in his white crisp shirt and black trousers. His hair was a bit dishevelled, but he still looked good. He opened his arms for her and she ran towards him for a hug.

"How's your day, dear?" he mumbled against her curls.

"Good," she replied against his chest, tightening her arms around his torso and smelling his scent. "Missed you."

Severus chuckled and let go of her. He reached for a vial inside his pocket and handed it to her.

She frowned but smiled when she reached for it. "Why do I need the ageing potion?"

Severus turned his head to the entrance of his chambers. "Just go."

Hermione uncorked the vial and drank the potion. She waited for a few moments for the potion to take effect. When she was in her adult body, she went to his private chambers slowly and Severus followed.

She saw a little head with black curls in between two wingback chairs. Leo was sitting on the rug, playing with his Quidditch miniature set. She smiled and slowly approached her son and sat on the rug.

"Mummy!" Leo called her happily and was quick on his feet to hug her.

She returned his hug and kissed the top of his head. "Hello, sweetheart."

"Miss you, Mummy!" the boy said sweetly.

"Miss you too." She turned to Severus who was watching them with a smile on his face. "How?"

As far as she knew, all the Floos were controlled and monitored by Umbridge. There was no way Leo could have travelled by Floo.

"The headmaster, of course. He's the only one who could Apparate at Hogwarts," he replied and moved to join them on the rug.

"Oh, thank Merlin!" she said happily and pulled Leo in her lap. "Does he need anything? The headmaster, I mean? How long is Leo going to stay here?"

Severus smiled and placed a hand on the small of her back. "Albus doesn't need anything. He just wants us to be with Leo."

"Really?" she asked. It wasn't because she wasn't convinced. It was just rather strange.

"I told you, Albus is different this time. He wants to do more by himself. He promised he's not going to make the mistakes the other Dumbledore did."

"Then thank Merlin for that," she replied and rested her head on his shoulder, still cuddling Leo.

"Mummy, do you have time?" Leo asked, looking up to her. "I know you don't like Quidditch... but can you play with me?"

"Of course, sweetheart!" she replied happily. "I'll play with you. I can stay the whole day." She turned to Severus. "I'm sure Dada will cover up for Mummy."

Severus chuckled. "Bossy witch," he said, pinching her on the side. "Make sure to stay until dinner, then."

"I'm not going anywhere. I'd rather be here with you two than out there," she replied honestly.

"Me too, dear. Me too," Sev said and kissed her forehead.