A/N: YES! This is the first fanfiction story I've ever completed. sheepishly points at about ten unfinished stories It's 84 pages long, about 25 chapters. I'll post them as I have then edited and spellchecked. On a side note, my spellcheck insisted that Crabbe should really be "Carbie." Amusing, is that not? No offense to anyone with added weight! Also, the title of this story was inspired by a random statement of a friend of mine. Oh, and one last thing: Jennyfish, Hannahbanana, if you ever stumble across this story, you're probably going to be quite shocked to find that it's a romance. (Quite out of character for me to write a romance, I'm not a romantic person) Suffice it to say I had a little plot bunny that wouldn't go away. It's not very good, but bear in mind that this is the first story of this length I've ever completed, and it's my first romance fic ever. I'm sure all you fans of the movie will get a laugh out of the names I chose for Hermione's parents. (They're the actor names)

IMPORTANT: Personal thoughts by each character are contained in parenthesis ( ). I wasn't sure if italics would work, so that's how it did it.

Disclaimer: JKR owns everything! I own nothing! Do I look brilliant enough to write those novels! Wait, don't answer that.

Lupin's Return

"Honey, I'm so proud of you" said David Granger to his daughter, Hermione, as he hugged her goodbye. Hermione was about to begin her final year at Hogwarts.

"Work hard, dear. I'm sure you'll get a perfect score on your NEWTS just like you did on your OWLS. My little girl is all grown up. Pretty soon she'll be on her own" tearfully exclaimed Emma Granger, Hermione's mother.

Hermione smiled at her mom as they exchanged hugs. "I don't even know what I'm going to be doing after I finish school. I'll still be around, Mom."

"You behave now, I don't want to hear about you getting in trouble" teased Mr. Granger. Hermione was usually quite well behaved, but being friends with Ron and Harry meant occasional trouble. Or more than occasional trouble.

"Dad, you know I can't promise anything" laughed Hermione sheepishly. Even though Voldemort had been defeated by Harry last year, she was sure Harry and Ron would find some mischief to drag her into.

"You'd better go now, honey. Train's leaving" urged Mr. Granger.

"Bye" Hermione shouted and waved to her parents as she ran through platform nine and three-quarters. Mr. and Mrs. Granger, being muggles, couldn't follow. Mrs. Granger blew her nose in her handkerchief.

Mr. Granger put a comforting arm around his wife. "She'll be fine, Emma. I'm sure things will be uneventful now that Voldemort is gone."

Hermione jockeyed her way through the train, peeking in compartments for Harry and Ron. She found them at the end of the train with their girlfriends, Ginny and Luna. A man was fast asleep in a corner; all she could view was the back of his head. Hermione took the only available seat by Harry, which was across from the man. As she scrutinized his suitcases curiously, she gasped in surprise when she saw the name on them. "Remus Lupin" she exclaimed excitedly. "But I thought he couldn't return"

Harry smiled. He had already seen the name and was just as excited. "After the big help he was in the war against Voldemort, it seems people now feel a little less hostile against werewolves. Maybe that's why he's allowed back."

"Good thing, too" said Ron. "I was getting tired of a new DADA teacher every year. Especially after Umbridge."

"Hem, Hem" said Ginny, and they all laughed.

"I think the extinction of the nargle race broke the curse. That's what daddy says" commented Luna, looking up from The Quibbler briefly, before drifting her eyes back to her newspaper.

"And" started Hermione. She had learned not to argue with Luna, it didn't go anywhere. "I wonder if Voldemort's death had anything to do with it."

"Could be" commented Ron. "I wouldn't be surprised."

Hermione gazed at Lupin, wishing she could wake him up. She was very glad to see him again. He hadn't been around her and her friends much during the war, and she'd missed him alot. She glanced at Harry. By the look on his face, he seemed to be thinking along the same lines. Remus Lupin was the only link to his parents, now that the rest of the Marauders were gone. Remus stood as a mix of parent and friend to him. In a way he felt just as close to Remus as to his friends, as Remus seemed to be the only one who really understood how he felt now that the war was over. Harry and Hermione looked at each other, reaching silent agreement. Even though they were eager to see him, they would have all year to hang out with him. Lupin would wake up himself, if at all.

Lupin, however, remained asleep for the rest of the trip. It had been full moon last night, and he was exhausted. The others chatted about this and that, with Luna occasionally breaking in from whatever cloud she was on and saying a few odd words, before drifting off again. Hermione and Ron took time out to observe their prefect duties before returning to the group.

"I can't believe Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle are still here" exclaimed Hermione. "I thought the Ministry would have them expelled or something"

"Dumbledore probably was behind it. You know how he is, believing in second chances and all" Harry said quietly. "Even though their parents were Death Eaters, we can't prove that they were actually involved in the war or using Unforgivable Curses."

The group grew silent after that. Mention of the Unforgivables reminded them of the losses and pandemonium that was only now beginning to taper off.

The train grinded to a stop. Harry and Hermione both jumped up at the same time."We'd better wake Lupin up" they both said in unison, and laughed. The rest of the group rose and filed out the door as Harry and Hermione shook Lupin awake.

"There already" muttered Lupin. For a split second, he felt irritated that he couldn't sleep more. He pushed that thought aside when he saw Hermione and Harry. "Hermione, Harry, good to see you again" he greeted them, smiling as he stifled a yawn.

"I'm really glad you're back, Lupin" said Harry softly.

"Yes, we've missed you" said Hermione.

He stood up and put a hand on each of their shoulders, still smiling. "We'd better get going before we find out where this train goes after it stops at Hogwarts" he urged. The three of them slid through the door and off the train. Outside it threatened to storm. Lupin went with the other teachers, and Harry and Hermione caught up with a coach that had Ron in it. All three of them could now see the thestrals pulling it.

"So this is what they look like" commented Hermione. "Odd little things."

"Tell me about it" said Ron. "I don't like them at all." He'd never forget the ride he had on one when he couldn't see it. Seeing them and not seeing them were both quite disturbing experiences.

Harry gazed at them solemnly before hopping into the coach. He'd trade all the thestrals in the world to just have Cedric, Sirius, and all the others back. It still hurt him terribly to think of them. He didn't feel much triumph now that Voldemort was dead, surprisingly. He felt more loss. All his life had been leading up to the point of the prophecy being fulfilled. Now he wasn't quite sure what to do with himself. Being an Auror seemed logical, but not very appealing at the moment. He could settle down with Ginny. No, he wasn't going to think about that right now.

The coach rolled to a halt. Ron leaped out first, quite glad to have seen the thestrals for the last time, at least while he was at school. Harry and Hermione trudged after him into the Great Hall. The trio sat down at the Griffindor table together. The sorting hat sang joyously about the school being out of Voldemort's shadow before sorting the eleven-year-olds into their respective houses.

Hermione, meanwhile, glanced at Lupin occasionally. He seemed younger now that the worry of Voldemort had been lifted off his shoulders. Yet she could tell that there were many things still bothering him. (I hope he cheers up soon, he sure deserves it. Besides, he's too handsome to have that pained expression ruining his good looks. Wait, did I just call him handsome? I must still have the crush on him that I had in third year), Hermione thought sheepishly. (Nothing wrong with a secret crush, is there?)

"I have an announcement to make before we eat" said Dumbledore, drawing everyone's attention to him. "As I'm sure you've guessed by now, Professor Lupin is back teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, remarkably breaking the curse that seemed to be on that position." A very loud applause erupted from everyone except the Slytherins, who merely scowled. Professor Snape put his hands together a few times quite pathetically before joining the Slytherin scowl. Lupin stood up and gave a short bow before sitting back down.

Dumbledore smiled. "Tuck in" he said.

Preview of next chapter"Hermione bit her lower lip as she paid rapt attention to Lupin. She wished she could think of something to cheer him up. Harry had Ginny and his friends, but Lupin didn't have anyone. She imagined him sitting in his office, night after night, the jovial part of him vanishing. Her eyes widened at the thought. She couldn't let that happen! Lupin needed a night out, or something. If anyone deserved to have fun, it was definitely Lupin."