A/N: Here's your cameo, LupinLover99:) I hope you like it! Oh, and let me know if the end of this chapter seems too ambiguous. I tried to make it clear what choice he made.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
November 25, 1979
The waitress, Rosemerta, peeked out the window of the Three Broomsticks to behold a strange sight. A woman, looking to be about mid-twenties, was walking two dogs. One was large and black. The other looked to be a ferocious looking wolf. However, even that wasn't quite as strange as what followed. A girl, who also looked to be in her mid-twenties, was walking a stag, who appeared to have a rat on his back. Rosemerta rubbed her eyes. "It must be really late," she surmised, disbelieving her eyes.
Hermione let Lily catch up to her. "Where are we going to go now?" Hermione wondered.
"Let's walk through the whole village, then head for the lake," suggested Lily.
They hadn't gone far when a man stopped them. "That's some pets you ladies have there. I say, is that a wolf? I haven't see anything like it." He reached out to pet Moony, who let him do so. "He looks like he'd kill you so much as look at you, but he seems to have the temperament of a puppy."
"Yes, he's a wolf," confirmed Hermione. "Thanks, yes, he's pretty tame."
"How did you manage to hook up with a stag?" asked the man.
"I didn't, he followed me around, so I took him in. He's quite intelligent," answered Lily.
"Nice meeting you, but I have to go," he said, continuing on his way.
The six wizards continued on to Hogs Head. A dark, cloaked figure strode out, then paused and stared at them. "What are you doing out here in this late hour? Really quite brave of you, considering the state of things," he said, his voice muffled.
Hermione thought he sounded very familiar, someone she knew but didn't like. "We're taking our pets for a walk."
"Pets? Really?" He pointed to Moony. "More like beasts. I don't think beast could begin to describe him," he spat.
Moony and Sirius growled fiercely. Prongs pawed the ground and lowered his antlers dangerously.
"He's a wolf," said Hermione. Hermione saw the Dark Mark on the man's arm. Suddenly it occurred to her who he was. "Eat death, Snape. Yes, I know who you are, you're a student at that Hogwarts school. If you dare insult us any more, I'll notify your headmaster of it, and the fact that you are out of bounds and past curfew, in all probability."
"If you breathe one word of me, the Dark Lord will be after you," Snape threatened.
"I do not fear Voldemort," declared Hermione. "After all, he ran away from my wolf last time. Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? He's nothing but a cowardly murderer."
"Say that again," said Snape dangerously. Padfoot and Moony snapped at him, Prongs tugged at his leash and Wormtail started squeaking.
"Snape, we're going now," said Lily firmly, determined to avoid violence. She dragged Prongs away, and Hermione did likewise with Padfoot and Moony. The walk was quiet until they reached the lake. Hermione and Lily took the leashes off the Marauders, letting them chase each other around. They decided to race. Sirius was quickly left behind. From there it was a tight race between Prongs and Moony, but Prongs managed to beat him, just barely. Hermione and Lily chatted as they watched them.
"So, if you have any kids, what would you name them?" asked Hermione.
"Oh, you already know, don't you," said Lily, giving her a playful shove. "I was thinking Rose for a girl, or Harry for a boy. You know, like your friend back in your time you sometimes talk about. I like that name, it's my favorite for a boy."
"Rose Potter. Harry Potter. I like it, Lily," said Hermione with a grin. Harry seemed to be coming closer now. (But do I even want the future anymore? Here, I have my parents. Here, I have Remus. I'll get to see my friends as time passes.) Hermione gazed at Lily solemnly. (If I don't do something, in a year and a half or so, she'll be dead. I don't care what Dumbledore says anymore, I need to warn her. Not now; I'll do it when Pettigrew isn't around)
Moony trotted up to Hermione and curled up next to her, panting. Absently she stroked his body, finding all his itchy spots. Lily walked towards Prongs, who was drinking from the lake. Pettigrew scuffled off into the woods. Padfoot was rolling on his back by Lily, trying to get her to scratch his belly. Hermione smiled at his mischievousness. "You know, Remus," she whispered. "I still miss my friends, but I really love being here. I have you." She hugged him tightly and stroked his back. Moony gave her a few licks on her cheek.
Suddenly the world seemed to swirl around her. "Remus, do something!" she shrieked, panicking.
"SIRIUS! JAMES! LILY! HELP!"
James and Sirius transformed into humans instantly, wands drawn. "Accio HERMIONE!" they shouted in unison. However, it didn't seem to have any effect. Hermione's hands gripped Moony hard in desperation. "REMUS! REMUS!" The world swirled to white, and Remus vanished between her fingers. "REMUS!" She heard Moony's give a long howl, and it faded into the wind.
Hermione found herself by the lake, alone. She looked up to the sky, and was surprised to note that it wasn't full, but waning gibbous. "Remus?" she wailed with a sinking heart. "James? Sirius? Lily?" (Have I gone back to my own time somehow? There's only one way to find out.) The graveyard was nearby.
She stood up and shakily walked towards it. "Lumos," she said. A light appeared at the end of her wand. She carefully picked her way through the gravestones, her heart clenching painfully as she came across what she was looking for.
"Lily and James Potter. 1962-1981"
Hermione fell to her knees and cried. She'd always thought their death was quite tragic, but to have known them made it so much more personal. Sirius was deprived of a grave, since he'd fallen through the veil. Peter, of course, wasn't in this graveyard. (Remus, how terrible it must have been) she thought, her heart aching for him. (Wait - Remus is here - in the castle. I can go see him!) Hermione thought, her spirits lifting. (But wait - I don't know how this time thing works. Will he know everything that happened? If he does, would he even feel the same way?) She sat there, beginning to shiver. (I'd better head back up there, anyway. No good staying out here)
She walked dejectedly to the castle, feeling confused. She'd just accepted her predicament, and now she was thrown back forward in time, confusing her feelings again. (I'll miss Sirius's antics, Lily's sweet supportiveness, and even James's arrogant smile) Her tears fell down her face in mournful procession.
She entered Hogwarts through the courtyard, and quietly walked down the hall. (I wonder what happened when I was gone) At one corner, she paused. One way would lead her to Remus's office; the other to Griffindor Tower. (Who do I wish to greet first? Remus or Harry?) Hermione bit her lip. She wasn't sure what Remus's reaction would be to seeing her, yet she wished to see him right now. He would understand more how she was feeling. She turned to the corridor that led to Remus. (I hope he's still awake)
Remus sat at his desk, his head whirling with new memories. How horrible he'd felt when Hermione disappeared before his eyes; His devastation at finding out from Dumbledore that she'd gone back, unwillingly, to her own time; His great feeling of emptiness in the aftermath of Hermione's absence; The thirteen long years without her; Dumbledore sending him a letter, offering him the DADA job and warning him that Hermione had no clue about their past together yet, so he couldn't treat her differently from any other student; His wistful glances at her throughout the year; his mounting excitement as she approached the time she was supposed to go back to his time and return; Time seemed to stand still at his final few memories.
Remus entered the muggle ice cream shop on his day off, his heart weighed down with the heavy choice before him. The long years of Hermione treating him merely as a professor made him doubt that, if she did go back, she'd still love him when she returned. She'd know that he could have stopped it. How would she feel? Would she hate him for letting it happen to her? (I just can't bear the thought of her not being in my past, though. But I can't be selfish here. What would she want?)
A waitress stopped by his table. "Hello, my name is Mary. What would you like, sir?"
"Banana split," said Remus absently.
"Coming right up," said Mary. She watched him as she made his order, feeling concerned for the man. Even though he was a complete stranger, there seemed something so kind and gentlemanlike about him. (I wonder what's troubling him) She quickly marched up to his table and set the banana split in front of him. "Can I help you with anything else, sir?"
"No, there's nothing else," he said tensely.
The waitress tentatively sat down in the seat across from him. "If you don't mind me asking...what's troubling you?"
"There's this decision I have to make," Remus blurted. He'd kept it to himself for so long, that talking to her felt good. "It's hard to explain, but I had a girlfriend when I was younger, and now that I'm older, I'm wondering if she would still want to be with me. I can't really explain the situation, but I have a fear that she will be mad if I decide I want to make her my girlfriend." (That isn't exactly how it is, but explaining time turning to a muggle would be disastrous)
Mary nodded sympathetically. She sensed there was much more to this man than what met the eye. "There's no harm in giving it a chance. I think it would be a mistake not to at least ask." Mary smiled reassuringly, and left the table.
(Well, how about it, Moony) he mused, staring at his banana split. (Mushy teenage romance, or lonely werewolf teenage singlehood?) He put the cherry aside and starting eating the mushy banana, his mind made up, for the better or worse.
Replies to Reviewers:
BrennaM: Snape is very ominous, yes. LOL :) Thanks for your review!
Shimmer of an Angel: You know, I just might take you up on your offer for my next story. I want it to be long, so I'll need plenty of ideas. I'll let you know. :) I'm thinking I might just post that one as I write it, instead of waiting until it's finished, like with this story and the story before it. I'm real glad you liked how it turned out!
TruetoGriffindor: Wow, you're addicted to it? Thanks! (grins) Unfortunately, there's only two chapters left. :( I really appreciate hearing from you!
LupinLovesTonks: I thought about having him get in trouble, but it didn't work for what I had planned for the remaining chapters, so I dropped the idea. Yeah, when I read Order of Phoenix, I just wanted to shake Harry when he decided to look in Snape's Pensieve. To me, it was so obvious that he was going to get in trouble. Harry, use your head! LOL I love Harry but sometimes, he annoys me. Thanks so much for reviewing!
Preview of next chapter: Hermione slowly opened the door, not looking at him, and closed it behind her. She walked up to his desk and met his eyes, which were wide in surprise. "Hello Remus," she said quietly.
"Hermione," he said, standing up and approaching her. "You're back."
