Oh damnit, why'd I let Sirius kiss me? I shouldn't have let him do that! Now he probably thinks I like him or … he might just think I'm crazy, Hermione thought worriedly. She was teaching the third year Ravenclaws about Boggarts, but while they were writing, she was now constantly thinking about Sirius and what had happened between them. She groaned slightly on remembering that she was teaching the seventh year Gryffindors and Slytherins next. It was annoying, to say the least, because one: if she had to teach one of those classes, she had to teach the other because they still didn't have a Potions Professor yet, two: She was still worried about seeing Sirius and three: There was Draco …

Hermione shook her head slightly on dismissing the Ravenclaws, who were staring at her curiously. Taking a deep breath to calm herself down, she closed her eyes and slumped into her chair. What she wouldn't give to have Harry or Ron with her right now, or anybody that she was familiar with other than Draco, he was just too annoying!

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Hermione looked around the room in confusion. Where was Draco? She hadn't seen him all day. She remembered him telling her the day before about those portals that Snape made. Could one have appeared and he'd been sucked in? Yet that wasn't possible, was it? Coming back to her senses, she realized that everybody was staring at her expectantly. She cleared her throat nervously and told them that they'd be going over work that they'd been doing over the last seven years. Everyone groaned, making Hermione giggle slightly.

"Today, we'll be studying Boggarts, so it'll be a practical. If you'll all follow me please"

Okay, I sound like Professor Lupin, Hermione thought to herself in amusement. Everyone followed her to the staff room and, luckily, Hermione had managed to avoid Sirius' and the Marauders' questioning stares. Lily, on the other hand, was chatting merrily with Hermione, who was only to happy to oblige.

"Yeah, so what's your favourite subject?" Hermione questioned.

"Charms!" Lily replied "It's just so easy" Hermione nodded in agreement.

When they arrived in the staff room, Hermione braced herself, hoping against hope that she wouldn't have to face the Boggart. Maybe the students could just take care of it on their own without her help, but she didn't think so. She told them that they were going to take it in turns to face the Boggart and if anyone got stuck then she'd step in.

Just as she was about to open the door with her wand, a voice stopped her, making her whirl round.

"You're going to start without me? I'm hurt!" Hermione dropped her wand in shock, her mouth agape. It was Black!

"W-What, I-I mean, h-how-?" she questioned weakly. Black grinned, accioed her wand into his hand and threw it back to her. Hermione couldn't help smiling.

"Show off" Black shrugged.

"So, Whatcha doing?"

"Teaching the students. We're just about to face Boggarts, care to join us?" Black shook his head.
"No thanks"

"Fine"

Hermione turned around to find everyone staring between the stranger and herself. She noticed with amusement, that Sirius was glaring at the newcomer, not knowing that it was, in fact, his older self.

"Right, Mr. Snape, you're first" Black let out a noise, which sounded like a laugh, but he quickly covered it up with a cough, pretending he had a bad throat. Hermione bit her lip to stop herself from laughing. After Snape had faced the Boggart, everybody took it in turn to face it. At the end, everyone pleaded (well, the Gryffindors) for Hermione to face the Boggart. Hermione glanced helplessly around. She hadn't faced a Boggart in a long time; she couldn't remember what her worst fear was! The last time she'd gone up against a Boggart, she was thirteen, for goodness' sake!

"Oh, alright" Hermione snapped in exasperation.

The Boggart immediately turned into a lifeless form of Harry. His glasses were askew and blood trickled down his face. His face was extremely pale and his eyes were shut. Hermione screamed and dropped her wand, this time, from fear. She collapsed onto the floor, shaking madly. Black, immediately stepped forward and brandished his wand, a determined glint in his eye as the Boggart turned into a lifeless form of Lupin. Black's face contorted with anger.

"Riddikulus!" he snapped. The Boggart transformed into a black puppy, jumping around and yapping excitedly, then the Boggart exploded into little wisps of smoke.

 "Well done everyone" Black said calmly "Now, could you please leave while I see to your teacher?" Everyone left, except for the Marauders and Lily, who hung behind, looking both concerned and curious.

"Why did your Boggart turn into me?" James questioned. Black shot him a look of worry.

"That wasn't you. That was Harry" Hermione replied shakily. Sirius' eyes widened.

"That was Harry! He looks just like Prongs!" Hermione nodded as she shakily got to her feet.

"I know."

"Are you alright now?" Lily asked.

"Yes, I'm fine now. I honestly don't know what came over me, but I'm fine now"

"Why do I not believe you?" Black questioned; a huge grin on his face. Hermione sent him a swift kick to the leg.

"Get lost, you!" Black gave her a playful glare.

"Hey Hermione, eat this" Black handed her some chocolate, which Hermione stared at, apprehensively.

"You've done something to it!" She stated. Black rolled his eyes.

"No, I haven't. Just eat it for goodness' sake; it'll make you feel better"

"Been taking tips from your best friend?" she teased. Black laughed.

"Yeah"

"So, who are you?" Sirius demanded. Hermione grinned, looking to Black.

"Oh, I'm Siriusly good looking" Hermione burst out into hysterical laughter; she hadn't laughed like this since she was Harry and Ron. The others merely raised their eyebrows at him.

"No, alright" Black said, sobering up "I'm Ash" Hermione snorted with laughter, making Black send her a warning glare "I'm Harry's godfather"

"An extremely flirtatious godfather, who teaches Harry how to talk to females" Hermione added, giggling madly.

"Yes, well, at least he has confidence now"

"Um … he's got more than just confidence now Ash, he-I mean, well, there's no other way to put it, he's the mini version of you! Sometimes I wonder whether I'm actually dating him or you in his body!" Black chuckled.

"Ah, well"

"So … what are you doing here exactly?" Hermione questioned.

"Oh, well, I dunno. Just thought I'd pop by and say hi, hey, did you know that Harry's going out with Ginny?" Black questioned. Hermione froze.

 "What?"  Black nodded.

"Yeah, he's going out with Ginny. I find it rather freaky. His father was one for redheads also" Hermione felt tears well up in her eyes. Lily's eyes widened in fear for Hermione.

"How long has this been going on for?" she questioned. The Marauders looked to each other worriedly.

"Oh, about two weeks, I think, why … hey Hermione, are you alright?" Black asked, concernedly, for Hermione had burst into tears and made to run off. Black quickly grabbed a hold of her and asked her what was wrong.

"H-He was going out with me! S-So, now you're s-saying t-that he's been ch-cheating on me?!" She screamed. Black froze, his eyes widening in horror as realization hit him. Lily clapped a hand to her mouth.

"Good god. Hermione, believe me, I-I would never have told him to-"

"HE'S JUST LIKE YOU NOW!" Hermione bellowed, tears streaming down her face as she angrily grabbed a hold of something and flung it at him "I HATE YOU! YOU'VE CHANGED HIM! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!" She screamed and made to run off once again, but Black was too fast for her.

He grabbed a hold of her once again and tried to hug her, but Hermione kept fighting against him. Eventually, she gave up and just collapsed into his embrace, sobbing her heart out. Black now felt extremely guilty and angry, what did Harry think he was doing?! He'd probably just broken Hermione's heart!

"Where's Malfoy?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, he's back in our present time now, a portal sucked him back against his own free will, then it got me"

"Well, now I can do something that I've wanted to do for the last few days" Hermione whispered, her voice slightly croaky.

"What's that?" Black asked softly. Hermione smiled weakly and leaned in to kiss him, which made Black back off, looking horrified.

"Hermione … what do you think you're doing?"

"Oh, don't deny it Ash, you like me!" she said loudly, then she whispered in his ear "Your younger self has been drooling over me ever since I arrived"

Black blushed beetroot red, shaking his head.

"Hermione, it's, you and I, I mean, it can't and won't happen!"

"Fine, I'll go see Sirius then" she told him. Black watched after her with fearful eyes.

"No, don't you dare!" he hissed "If you do, I'll-"

"Yes, go on, what will you do?" she questioned slyly, her nose mere inches from his. Black gulped slightly. He'd never known Hermione to act like this and, in a way, it scared him.

"I-I-I'll do something" he whispered. Hermione smirked at him knowingly, turned on her heel and strode off.

She's on the rebound, that's got to be the answer. I've never known Hermione to act like this. Maybe I can stop my younger self from going out with her? Who am I kidding? That won't work! Hermione was completely right, I saw the look of jealousy in my own eyes! Blimey, I wonder what happened between us.

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"Hi Sirius" Hermione waved merrily to him, which Sirius returned reluctantly.

"Do you think she's alright?" Lily asked apprehensively.

"I'm not sure, but she did look pretty heartbroken when Ash told her that Harry was going out with this Ginny person" Remus nodded.

"I think I'll go and talk to her" Sirius said, standing up and making his way over to Hermione.

"Hey Sirius, care to join me?"

"Sure" An older male's voice said, quickly seating himself next to Hermione. Hermione glared at Black.

"Is your name Sirius?" he snapped. Black smirked at her, to which, Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Sorry Sirius, tell you what, I think I'll join you"

"Oh no, you don't" Black growled, grabbing her arm "We're going to sit here and you're going to tell me why you just tried to kiss me!"

Hermione blushed bright red, while Sirius' jaw dropped.

"Look Ash, I know that you're dead protective of me, but trying to embarrass me isn't going to work. Hold on a sec Sirius, I'll be with you in a minute" Hermione added. Sirius nodded and walked out of the Great Hall to wait for her.

A few minutes later, she arrived and beamed at him.

"Hi!" Sirius suddenly felt worried, she was acting too happy in his opinion.

"Hey"

"Shall we go for a walk or do you want to chat in my classroom like last night?"

"Classroom would be better, I think"

"Okay"

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"So, Hermione, are you alright?" Sirius questioned. Hermione nodded.

"I feel fine, listen, I'm thinking about dropping my position as a teacher and become a student, what do you think?" Sirius couldn't believe his ears when he heard this. He nodded vigorously.

"That's a great idea!" Hermione smiled.

"Sirius, about last night, I-"

"I'm sorry" he said quickly "I shouldn't have done that and I apologize"

"It's alright, in fact, I want to apologize for my behaviour, if maybe I gave you the impression that I was crazy or something for just rushing off like that"

Sirius laughed.

"No, you're not mad, just unique" Hermione smiled weakly.

"Thanks"

"And I think this Harry guy is absolute scum. I can't believe that he would dump someone like you for a redhead! I mean, you're gorgeous!"

"Thank you"

"When are you joining the students then?" Sirius questioned curiously.

"Tomorrow"

"Wicked! That'll be cool, I can show you all of the secret passages and stuff" Hermione nodded.

"I'd like that. You and your friends are fun to hang around with. I enjoy your company" Sirius beamed at her.

Just as Hermione was about to walk out of the classroom, Sirius hesitated before calling her name.

"Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"I know this might sound forward considering that I've known you for barely a week, but would you like to go to the Halloween Ball with me?" he asked cautiously. Hermione beamed at him.

"Sure, I'd love to"

"Great"

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"I'm going to the Halloween Ball with Sirius" Hermione said dreamily. Black stared at her.

"What? Don't you think that you two are rushing things a bit?" Black asked.

"Oh, you're one to talk"

"Look, I'm only saying"

"Yes, well-"

"And you're not going with Sirius, you're going with me"

"But you are Sirius"

"You know what I mean" Black growled "You're going with me!"

"Why?"

"I'm not going to allow you to get too close to my younger self. No way on this earth"

"Why? Are you jealous?" she questioned. Black's face darkened.

"Hermione" he warned.

"What?"

"Just stop it, alright?"

"What? I can't help liking you, can I? I've liked you for years, but I've just never said anything, especially when I started going out with Harry"

Black's face softened slightly.

"I'm flattered, but-"

"Yes? Am I too young for you, Mr. Black? Is that the problem?"

"Hermione! Will you stop it? I've never seen you act this way!"

"Well, maybe time travel changes your attitude. I've never felt so rebellious before" she said with an evil grin.

"Uh, Hermione? Oh, sorry, you're busy" Sirius aplogized on seeing Hermione talking with Harry's godfather.

"No, I'm not"

"Listen here" Black told his younger self sternly "Hermione's going with me to this Ball, alright?" Sirius stared at him in disbelief.

"I thought she was going with me!"

"I was until Ash decided to change it all" Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes "Anyways, can I have a word with you or not?" Hermione asked. Sirius nodded and flashed her a grin.

"Sure thing"

As they left the classroom, Sirius grabbed a hold of her arm and pulled her into a broom closet.

"I needed to talk to you" he whispered, breathing loudly and unevenly.

"What about?" she asked.

Sirius leaned in and kissed her. Hermione responded almost instantly and this time, there were no regrets or any thoughts about Harry. When they broke apart, Hermione hugged him.

"I'm sorry about the Halloween Ball, but if you want, I'll meet you at the Astronomy Tower about eleven, how does that sound?"

"Sure. I'll meet you there" and with that said, he walked off.