A/N: As HBP approaches, I realise that this will no way be posted in time. I'm determined to have it finished but I may have to take a break in updating to read HBP (you guys should too, it'll be way better than this). Also, it has come to my attention on various sites that some people are predicting Remus to die...if he does then there will be no more updates, as I will be seen jumping of the nearest bridge. Just a warning. Keep your fingers crossed.

Hermione Granger lay on her bed in her Hogwarts dormitory, staring at the drapes over her four-poster bed. It was a Saturday morning, not early and very bright, and the room was quiet indicating that she was alone. This didn't bother Hermione in the slightest as it gave her peace to think; for today was the 19th September, and Hermione's eighteenth birthday. The young woman had to admit that she didn't feel any different but guessed that it wasn't a physical development…rather that people would treat her differently. She was now an adult. Saying that, she had always been seen as the responsible one out of her trio and therefore nothing would change. She would remain Hermione.

As the witch dressed, she contemplated the day. She planned to take a trip to Hogsmeade with Ron and Harry, where they could shout her a drink (for once) and be thankful that she had lived to see this milestone. The girl paused at this thought and a sad smile crept on her face. If only she could have shared this day with her parents…but no, they were gone, and she would have to spend every day without them. Why should this day be any different?

Hermione made her way slowly down the common room steps. She was surprised to see that it was almost empty, but then again most of the pupils were either down at breakfast, on the grounds enjoying the last of the good weather, or in Hogsmeade village. However, two people sat on their usual sofa by the extinguished fire; the two people she had been relying on and expecting. She cleared her throat as she came up behind them. Both boys turned quickly.

"Happy Birthday!" they sang with identical grins, before throwing themselves on her. She let out a squeal.

"Ok, ok guys. One at a time."

Ron went first, hugging his friend without making eye contact. He broke away quickly, his face red, and addressed the floor.

"This is for you," he announced, thrusting a present towards her. She smiled at his lowered head, and Harry rolled his eyes. Hermione opened the gift. It was a silver engraved locket on a very fine chain. She gave a gasp as she saw it.

"Wow, Ron! It's beautiful!" she exclaimed.

"It's from Ginny too," he mumbled quickly, as if embarrassed that his gift had been well-received. "Open it."

Hermione fumbled with the catch and thumbed apart the two pieces. She let out a quiet 'Oh.' Inside the locket was a Muggle photograph of her mother and father. Each smiling face took up one half of the trinket.

"Ginny copied your photos, she didn't want to cut up the ones in your room," Ron was explaining as Hermione stared with wide eyes at her gift. Her mouth was open in shock, though it seemed to be appreciative. "It was her idea," Ron finished lamely. Hermione's eyes welled up with tears. She threw her arms around Ron.

"Oh thank you Ron, thank you so much," she whispered into his shoulder. Ron swallowed hard.

"Well, that gift's so great. I might as well not bother," Harry said loudly from beside them. Hermione and Ron pulled a part. Harry was grinning at his friend as she frowned.

"I don't think so! Gimme."

Harry passed her the parcel, which was a similar shape to a book.

"It's from me and Remus…and Tonks I guess."

Hermione ripped off the shiny silver paper to find a deep red photo album bearing the words 'My Family Album' in large gold letters. The colours of Gryffindor, Hermione thought.

"Album's a bit lame, it was from W.H. Smiths," Harry told her with a grin. She laughed. "But look inside," he encouraged and she did so.

On the inside sleeve was written in fine, well-formed (and obviously not Harry's) writing:

To our Hermione, our Minnie, our bright little star

Happy 18th Birthday

With lots of love from your family

Remus, Dora and Harry.

"I wanted to add Beaky and Monster too but Remus wouldn't let me." Harry pouted in disappointment. "We're going to add Baby Lupin's name when he's born."

"She," Hermione whispered automatically, though her eyes never left the covered pages of her new present. Various photos, both Muggle and magical, lined the pages, though the book was not yet full.

A picture of herself with Ron and Harry was on the first page. Another of her and Ginny, with Crookshanks. More copies of her parents, with a few of her present in the photo. Sirius and Tonks. Remus and Sirius. Harry and Hermione. A very random picture of Buckbeak, stood under a tree. Was that Grimmauld Place?

"I took that one especially," Harry beamed and Hermione laughed.

Remus and Harry came next and then a photo of the entire Weasley clan (minus Percy.) Finally came a delightful photo of pregnant Tonks, in her Hogwarts chambers dressed in pink pyjamas and looking thoroughly unimpressed at the camera. Her raised fingers emphasised this. Hermione smiled at it sadly.

"She's due today," she said, though she knew they knew. Harry simply nodded. Hermione flicked the blank pages until the album closed.

"I'll have to put some pictures of the baby in," she said, trying to sound as cheerful as possible. She pulled Harry into a hug. "Thank you Harry, it's wonderful. I'll write to Remus, thank him too."

"Well, you don't have to. We're meeting him at the Three Broomsticks," Ron announced and Hermione's face lit up.

"Really? Great, that'll get his mind off…" she trailed off. Harry nodded.

"Yeah, that and–"

"And he can buy the round instead of you?" Hermione asked dryly. Harry and Ron grinned. "You guys are so predictable," she sighed with a grin. They really were, but she loved them for it. They were her best friends, her family, and she was thankful to spend her special day with them.

The three students made their way across the castle grounds. The weather was mild with a light breeze. It blew at Hermione's hair as she played with the locket around her neck. The girl rubbed it between her thumb and finger absently as she walked. Ron glanced across at her and beamed, pleased that she was wearing it. They arrived in Hogsmeade village, and headed straight for the Three Broomsticks. The pub was lively, but not overly crowded. Harry looked around the pub in search of Remus. He spotted him in the far corner.

"There he is," he pointed for his friends, but they had already spotted him. The man was staring out of the window with a distant longing in his eyes; like a child with flu who wants to play out in the snow with his friends. Once again this man was being deprived of what he needed, and the effects were clear for all to see.

Hermione skipped over to him.

"This seat taken?" she asked and he broke his gaze from the window. Remus offered her a smile; it was genuine but took a lot of effort to do so. Her former professor rose and pulled her to him.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart," he mumbled, kissing the top of her head.

"Thank you. And thanks so much for the present. It was wonderful," she told him. Remus simply nodded.

The kids took their seats and Ron and Harry stared around expectantly.

"Well, what can I get you?" Remus asked, starting to rise. Hermione placed a hand on his arm, indicating for him to sit down.

"No, Remus. Harry and Ron are buying the drinks. I don't care which one of you, you can fight amongst yourselves…I'll have a butterbeer, and Remus?"

The man felt like downing several large shots of Firewhiskey, and then pouring a tankard of ale over his head just to make a point. However, he strained a smile and decided against it.

"I'll have the same, thanks lads."

The boys could be seen squabbling at the bar as Hermione fidgeted uncomfortably beside Lupin. He sensed her tension and gave a sigh.

"No, I've not heard from her Hermione," he told her and the girl's shoulders slumped.

"Oh," she replied quietly. There was a pause. "I'm sorry," the girl mumbled. She took the man's hand and gave it a squeeze.

Once the boys had returned to the table, Ron looked between them.

"What are you guys talking about?" he asked as he shuffled back into his seat. Remus didn't answer and Hermione gave a shrug and an incoherent mumble. Harry licked his lips uncomfortably.

"So…have you heard from Tonks?" Ron asked suddenly before taking a swig of his drink. He quickly swallowed it as he received a sharp kick in the shin from under the table. He turned to Harry quickly and glared at his best friend.

"Ow, what was that for?"

Harry simply stared at him and Ron shrugged it off, wincing slightly.

"I was just asking. I care, that's all. We can't keep walking on dragon-egg shells can we Lupin?" Ron said. Remus shook his head.

"You're right Ron. I haven't heard from her, no. We agreed we wouldn't write to each other so it's to be expected." The man took a sip of his drink, knowing full well that he didn't believe his own words.

"Still…she was due back earlier this month. I thought she would have let you know what was going on, at least. And now with the baby being due today. Something's not right." Ron spoke the words that the entire group had been too afraid to even think. Hermione ran her hands over her face. Harry chewed at his lip.

"Anyway, I'll shut up now because you've all gone quiet and once again I've said something inappropriate and insensitive… sorry," he added and then hid behind his beverage. An uncomfortable silence surrounded them, made bearable by the hubbub of the pub.

"I don't think she's coming back," Remus said after a while, his voice sounding suddenly loud. All three students stared at him.

"What?"

"I didn't mean to imply that, mate."

"Remus, don't be a fool!"

"Oh come off it, guys. She was due home a month ago. When she left she didn't want to go…but something has obviously convinced her to stay there. Probably Andromeda, I don't know. And, yes, it hurts that she hasn't let me know. I wish that I knew what was going on, so I could get on with my life either way. But I can't! I'm torn between hating her for her selfishness and…and being utterly terrified that something's happened to her. I couldn't bear that so I'm just going to convince myself that she's chosen not to come home. That way I don't have to deal with the fact that someone else has been taken from me."

The man rose from the table, tears evident in his eyes, and crossed to the bar to order a double shot of Firewhiskey. The trio saw him down it, order a second and then carry it back towards their table. A stunned silence greeted him as he returned.

"Well?" he asked bluntly.

"I think you're an idiot," Harry said simply, looking at him with a hint of contempt.

"Probably," he mumbled, downing his second shot.

"How can you think for one second that she isn't coming home?" Harry shouted at him angrily from across the table. Remus said nothing. "For once in your life Remus, please, have the strength to believe that everything will be ok. If you can't do that…then what hope have I got?" he asked quietly. His emerald eyes met the man's lonely light eyes. The man looked away.

"You're right Harry. You're right. It's just so hard. I could be a father today. Maybe I already am, I don't know. Is it a girl, a boy? Does she have light hair, dark hair, green eyes, brown? What did he weight? What time was he born? Will I ever meet him? Will I ever know?" The man silenced himself with an emotional sigh. Harry, Hermione and Ron watched him intently. The man gave a sad smile.

"Maybe it's better off this way," he whispered and rose once more. "It was good to see you three again. Look after each other," he told them. "Happy birthday, Hermione," he said once more, placing a hand on her shoulder as he passed her to leave. They watched him open the door and disappear from sight, back to the cold empty rooms of Grimmauld Place. Back to his thoughts of a family he might never have.