Diclaimer: I own nothing…

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Chapter 30: The Distance

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Hermione wandered down to the Gryffindor Common room the following morning to find it in an eerie silence. The various tables throughout the room were filled with fifth and seventh years cramming for their first exam. For the Hermione and her fellow seventh years it was their written Charms exam in the morning followed by practical Charms in the afternoon.

Hermione went and sat next to Lily and Remus on one of the couches, neither of whom were cramming like the others. Lily noticed her friend and put a finger to her lips to warn her to remain quiet, after Hermione's questioning glance Lily grabbed a quill and wrote a quick note on a spare piece of parchment. Hermione took the offered parchment and read the note.

'Our oh so lovely gentlemen have threatened a variety of jinxes on anyone who talks.'

Hermione looked up and glanced at James, Sirius and Peter hunched over their notes trying to study the morning before the exam. She shook her head and sat back on the couch going over her own notes in her head for some last minute revision.

Fifteen minutes later people started to file out to head for breakfast. The last to leave were the three Animagi who were practically dragged out by their friends.

"But…But I haven't finished!" Sirius protested as he was pulled out by Hermione.

"But…But," Hermione mocked. "You should have done more study before now," she scolded.

Sirius shot her a grin. "Ahh, there's no fun in that."

Hermione rolled her eyes and dragged him to the Great Hall.

"Hey Padfoot?" James asked from his position next to Lily as they walked along the corridors. "What's the charm for the thing that makes the thing twist like that thing?" he said waving his hands wildly.

The others looked up confused and glanced at the contemplative face of Sirius.

"Uhh, Fusionisium?" He pondered.

James thought for a bit before nodding. "Yep that's it, ta Pads."

Upon arrival at the Great Hall they noticed the Head table had a few extra…heads…

"The examiners must have arrived last night," Lily said leading the way to their usual spot at the end of the Gryffindor table.

Sirius piled his plate with food and Hermione smirked at him.

"Either that food just disappears or you're really good at glamour charms," she commented.

Sirius raised an eyebrow, his fork half way to his mouth. "Glamour charms?"

Hermione grinned. "I can't imagine where all that food goes; I'm starting to think maybe you're hiding it all."

Sirius dropped his fork and turned slightly in his seat to face Hermione. "Are you implying that I'm fat?"

Hermione shrugged and gazed at Sirius pretending to search for said fat. "Mmmm, you must be very good with your charms if you are hiding it," she said, pinching his middle half.

Sirius shoved Hermione lightly and laughed. "You just love to tease me don't you?"

Hermione grinned and patted him on the head. "Of course, what else am I supposed to do with a puppy like you?"

Sirius raised an eyebrow seductively earning him various groans from the others that were following the conversation.

"Don't you dare answer that Sirius," Remus warned giving his friend a playful glare.

Sirius grinned at his friend and shot Hermione a wink before he returned to the food in front of him.

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Hermione wandered back from the library later that evening after studying up on some of her notes for Potions. She felt her Charms NEWT's had gone well and was pleasantly pleased with her performance. Smiling she thought back to the essay question that asked to describe the Protean Charm and its uses, and Hermione mused that talking to Dumbledore about setting up a club similar to the DA might be useful during this time.

Upon arrival, in the tower she found Sirius, Remus and James spread out in their usual spot in the room. She wandered over to them putting her satchel down on the table on the way.

"So," she started catching their attention. "Is old Bugs, Bambi and the Big Bad Wolf ready for potions?"

James and Remus looked at her confused while Sirius managed to at least catch the Bugs part. Hermione laughed at their expressions and sat next to Sirius before he pulled her onto his lap.

"You boys should really brush up on your Muggle literature" she said as she glanced at Lily descending the girls staircase "I'm sure Lily would know what I mean if I called her Little Red Riding Hood."

Lily laughed "Where did that come from?" she asked curiously.

"I'm guessing it had something to do with 'Bugs', 'Bambi', or the 'Big Bad Wolf," James answered still highly confused at where the conversation was going.

Lily chuckled and sat down. "Remind me to get you a fairy tale book for Christmas," she told the messy haired boy.

"Hey Hermione," Remus said changing the subject. "What are your plans for after you graduate?"

Hermione tensed slightly and Sirius shot Hermione a concerned look, forcing herself to relax she smiled at him and turned back to Remus.

"I'm not too sure, I was thinking of maybe joining the Auror training," she answered, knowing this is what her, Harry and Ron had discussed in the future. "There's some things I wish to discuss with Dumbledore first though."

The others looked at her curiously. "Like what?" Sirius asked.

Hermione settled herself more comfortably into Sirius' arms and sighed. "I'll let you know when I've spoken to him. What about you?" she asked trying to get off the subject.

Remus frowned. "Well, Auror training is basically a no no, I think they'd disapprove slightly of a 'Dark Creature' in their ranks. I was thinking possibly teaching, or a few more courses to improve my skills, I think Dumbledore wanted to talk to me about it, but basically anything to do with the Ministry is out of the question."

The others looked on at Remus sympathetically and Hermione realized that she had no idea what he actually did end up doing after Hogwarts, there was the rather large gap in his life from his graduation to his teaching position that she had no idea about.

"If you didn't have the Lycanthropy cloud above your head what would you want to do?" she asked curiously.

Remus thought about this for a moment before answering. "Research of some kind I guess, maybe working in the Department of Mysteries."

"An Unspeakable?" Hermione asked.

Remus nodded and Hermione looked away lost in her own thoughts again. 'If only he was allowed, someone as intelligent as Remus may have been able to prevent Professor McGonagall's death'. Thinking about the future again Hermione got that lost look in her eyes and the others left her to her thoughts. She'd been able to borrow James' invisibility cloak one night and skim through some of the books in the restricted section of the library, but, like most of her other searches, it had been a failure.

In all honesty she was starting to lose faith in her beloved Hogwarts library.

A small jolt from Sirius brought Hermione out of her trance and Hermione looked down at him.

"Time for bed, still got a long week ahead of us," he said quietly.

Hermione looked around and noticed that the others had already retired and she slowly extracted herself from Sirius lap.

Sirius stretched and joined her limping slightly as he stood.

"I think my legs have fallen asleep before I have," he said grimacing slightly.

Hermione smiled to herself remembering their earlier conversation at breakfast. "Are you implying that I'm fat?"

Sirius grinned. "More like boney."

"Hmmph, Thanks Bugs, Thanks."

Sirius smiled at the new nickname she had adopted and he leant down and gave her a kiss. "Night."

"Goodnight, don't stay up all night cramming," she warned as he ascended the stairs.

"Cramming? Me?" was all she heard as he disappeared into his dorm. Hermione shook her head; this was going to be a very long week.

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Hermione's prediction however didn't come about. With all the exams and extra revision the week flew by and Friday afternoon had already arrived and six tired Gryffindors lazed under the large tree by the lake.

"I can't believe its over," James said gazing up at the castle. "It seems like yesterday we hopped on the train for the first time."

The others silently agreed, Hermione, on the brink of tears stood from Sirius arms and headed for the castle. She needed to be alone.

"Hermione?" Sirius called concern evident in his voice but the young witch didn't look back. Sirius looked at his friends confused hoping to find an answer but they wore mirrored expressions of his own.

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Hermione wiped away the hot tears from her cheeks as she stood in front of the Gargoyle outside the headmasters' office. Happy memories of her own time at Hogwarts always overshadowed the hard times and, although she wanted more than nothing to live her life with Sirius she had never felt so homesick. Things weren't supposed to be this way, she was supposed to finish her seventh year with Harry and Ron, they were supposed to graduate together, the Golden Trio finishing Hogwarts….together. Now however Ron was gone, Hermione was sent back in time and Harry was all alone in the future.

With a new resolve Hermione looked determinedly at the statue in front of her and started to spiel off all the sweets in Honeydukes she could think of.

"Lemon drops, Cotton Candy, Berti Botts Every Flavoured Beans" Hermione smiled slightly as the Gargoyle jumped aside revealing a large spiral staircase. Hermione ascended the stairs and knocked hesitantly.

"Come in," came the soft voice of Dumbledore from behind the door.

Hermione clasped the golden door knob in her hand and entered the room.

"Ah, Miss Thomas, how may I been of assistance?"

Hermione sat down on one of the chairs, a look of determination on her face.

"There is something I need to tell you, something about where I'm from," she confessed.

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "I'm sensing some hesitance Miss Thomas."

"Well, yes, it hasn't been easy coming to this decision, but I would like it if my friends were present also, I don't want to keep them in the dark." She said. "I just need to gather some things together."

Dumbledore nodded, his expression serious as he gazed at the young witch seated before him. "Alright, Hermione, I'll organize a meeting for Wednesday, the day before your graduation, I should think you'd have your required information sorted before then."

Hermione nodded. "Thank you Professor," she said getting up to leave.

"You're most welcome Miss Thomas," he replied pensively watching the witch leave his office.

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