DISCLAIMER: You know the drill: I do not own Harry Potter; Never have, never will…

A/N: Sorry if I have a lot of mistakes in this paper. I am sick! And delusional! (amoxocilin does strange things to me)

Chapter 29: The Way Home

But she still couldn't tell him two months later. It was the last day of April and Remus was beginning to worry that she wasn't going to tell him at all. But she constantly reassured him that she would and he, against his better judgment sometimes, trusted her. When she was ready and found a way, she would tell him.

What worried him the most, though, was Hermione's and Sirius' growing relationship. They were inseparable. It was very obvious, even to the stupidest of people, that they were intimate. Everyone could see though that they loved each other very much. But Remus had to question: Would she be ready and willing to give him up when the time came?

Remus wasn't the only one that was worried though. Dumbledore was even more worried about the tense situation. Hermione didn't appear to be ready to leave this time. In fact, she looked as if she would be quite content to stay right here with her new friends. But if she did stay, she could offset history. That, Dumbledore knew, could cause a series of problems.

Dumbledore sat at his desk thinking over the news that he had to deliver to Miss Granger. He knew she would not be happy with what he had to tell her. But she would have to accept it. And the sooner she did, the better it would all be.

She should be on her way up there here right now actually, Dumbledore thought to himself. He had just sent someone after her. He needed to give her his news, as grave as she might find it.

He rose from his seat as he heard the small knock sound at the large door leading into his office. He recognized her timid yet brave knock; it was the same one she used every time she visited him. Straightening his robes, he called, "Come on in."

"Sir?" Hermione slowly entered the room, her gaze searching until it landed on him. "You wanted to see me?"

Dumbledore took a moment to study her. She looked a little bit flustered; she was probably doing something with Mr. Black. She also looked curios as to why he would want to see her at this time.

"Come on in Miss Granger and please take a seat," he motioned to an empty seat sitting in front of his desk.

"Thank you," she said softly. She walked over to the chair and sat down.

"No need to thank me, it's just a seat." He paused and watched her closely for a minute, carefully regarding the emotions playing out on her face. "Now," he said after a minute or two, "I bet you are wondering why I wished to see you, and at this time no doubt."

Hermione blushed slightly and nodded her head. "Yes sir, I did wonder."

"Well then, let me tell you." Dumbledore paused and found himself watching her features closely as he delivered the next bit of news. "I have found a way to get you back home." He watched as she frowned slightly in thought. He could of sworn he saw unshed tears threatening to spill out onto her cheeks. "You don't look too happy about my news Miss Granger. Do you not wish to return to your loved one? The ones from your time?"

Hermione turned her face away so that he would not see the tears she was ashamed of. "Yes sir, I do wish to get back to them," she mumbled. "It's just….well…"

"You will miss your life her."

"Yes sir."

"More importantly, you will miss Mr. Black."

Hermione nodded her head. "Yes sir."

Dumbledore studied her carefully for a moment. Then, in a quiet voice, added, "It is a great gift, Miss Granger, to know the future. One that should not and can not be taken lightly."

"I know sir," Hermione said quietly.

"Yes, you do," Dumbledore agreed just as quietly. "Which is why you understand that you cannot change history. No matter how painful it might turn out, you have to let it take its' course. Remember that Miss Granger."

"I will sir."

"Now, as I said earlier," Dumbledore rose and walked over to his bookshelf and extracted an ancient looking book, "I have found a way to get you back home."

"How?" Hermione asked slowly.

"Well," he said smiling, "you see when the two spells hit you on the first day of school, three stars were in line with the sun. the order of the stars caused magic to intensify over that period. But the magic that it causes can be reversed when the stars line up that way again."

Hermione was afraid to ask her next question, afraid of the answer she might and probably would receive, but she knew she must. "And are those stars almost lined up again Professor?"

"Yes Miss Granger," Dumbledore said, smiling happily at her. "The stars are almost ready to line up again."

Hermione looked at him, the realization of all of this hitting her hard. "And when will they be lined up again?"

Dumbledore carefully thought it up in his head before answering. "Around the last week of May I should think."

"And what will happen on that day?" Hermione asked timidly. "What if I don't go back?"

Dumbledore studied her carefully for a moment. "Oh, but you will go back Miss Granger. You have to go back. I'm afraid you have no choice in this matter."

A/N: Sorry this chapter is short, I am sick. I think I just used up a whole roll of toilet paper typing this. But I dragged myself out of bed long enough to update. Thank you to all my reviewers! You guys are the reason I dragged myself out of bed. Hope you like the story! Please review!