"She will be safe with you, won't she?" her father asked. He'd finally unfrozen. There was a gush of warm air as his wife entered the house.

"Safer than ever, it's a very old house, extremely well protected you see," Lupin said, holding up his wand. Sirius rolled his eyes at his caution.

"Oh, hello," Hermione's mother looked uncannily like her daughter. They had the same statue, though her wild hair came from her father. Lupin lowered his wand.

"Hello, I'm Professor Lupin and this is Sirius Black."

"Hermione says you never killed anyone," Mrs. Granger said, looking around. "Where is she?"

"She was going to give the twins a tour."

"Twins…" Mrs. Granger was no fool, "HERMIONE JEAN GRANGER YOU GET IN HERE RIGHT NOW!"

"You think-" Fred pulled away from Hermione.

"Shit," Hermione muttered. "Help me with my trunk!"

"What's wrong?" Sirius asked, holding out his hand.

"One minute mum!" Hermione called.

"Not yet," Lupin hissed, swatting Sirius' hand away. Hermione entered with one of the twins, George, he thought, carrying her trunk. The other one ran in from the kitchen, an excited look in his eye. He was probably just happy that for once, he wasn't the one in trouble. Lupin could relate.

"Something wrong, mum?" Hermione squeaked. Her mother stared.

"I hear one word, one word, and you will come straight home. I don't care how dangerous you say it is," Sirius prodded Lupin again.

"Cut it out," Lupin rolled his eyes. "I'll pay you when I pay you."

"Honey, this is Fred."

"DAMMIT!" Sirius burst out. Lupin laughed; they'd had a bet. Sirius had bet 12 galleons that George after Hermione. It was impossible to tell them apart, so Lupin had bet him that it was Fred.

"Sirius!" Hermione scolded.

"You're the youngest one here, I don't need to worry about corrupting anyone," Sirius grinned. "Where's Crookshanks?"

Hermione smiled, glad that at least one other person liked her cat.

"How many people are going to be with her?" Mr. Granger asked. It was clear, by the way he was glaring at Fred, what his real question was.

"You don't have to worry about any of the boys, ever. I've got it covered, Mr. Granger. I've got a mean bite," Sirius called from the kitchen. Hermione rolled her eyes and gave a half shrug, half pleading look to her father.

Lupin sighed as Crookshanks' smushed face emerged from Hermione's room. Sirius spotted him and ran after him, "The Weasley boys'll all be there, excluding Charlie, he's back in Romania. Bill came home from curse breaking, by the way. Figured he could help us with charms and the like. Harry might come by later in the summer, but-"

"I don't see why-" Sirius returned, Crookshanks perched on his shoulder like a parrot. Hermione swatted him with the newspaper again as Crookshanks leapt down and ran into his little basket.

"Don't argue with me," Lupin said, seeming very old and very tired, "Speak with Dumbledore."

She could see how both men started shuffling toward the door, Lupin avoiding Crookshanks as Sirius tried to confine him so that he would be more easily transported. George glanced at Fred and beamed, then the twins grabbed her trunk.

"Bye, Dad," Hermione hugged her father tightly, knowing she wouldn't see him for a while. He kissed the top of her head and released her, his jaw shaking. Hermione stepped away as Sirius transformed into a dog again and Lupin led the way to her door. Hermione hugged her mum tightly, and her mum, though she gave her a withering look, hugged her back just as tightly. Then Hermione turned to follow the twins. They stepped out of the house carefully, and Lupin checked up and down her street.

"How do you feel about brooms?" Lupin asked. At her hesitant face, he laughed, "Then I guess it's a good think we aren't using them."

The big black dog winked as the Knight Bus appeared with a startling bang. Hermione jumped but smiled at the triple layered purple bus, excited. Fred grinned at her.

"No, don't do that," Lupin muttered, "It's far less fun than Harry may have made it seem."

.o0O0o.

So I had finals last week (my school's on the Trimester system) so I was busy busy busy. And then, you know, holidays. Happy Cyber Monday.

badwolfinwinterfell: Remus and Sirius are basically the Twins. Love them.