Summary: Peter has been spotted and reported alive, and Sirius has been cleared of all charges. As a free man, he starts teaching as the new DADA teacher. But what happens when he starts seeing a certain student for extra "Tutoring"

It was a beautiful late summer morning, sun shining, birds chirping, the soft dew on the grass just helped to reflect the beautiful calmness of the morning…

"MUM!" Hermione screeched, scaring the birds in the tree outside her window to flight. "HAVE YOU SEEN CROOKSHANKS?"

Mrs. Granger sighed. "No dear!" she called up the stairs. "He's probably out taking one last walk before you go back to school. You know how he is."

Hermione bounded down the stairs. "Yeah mom, I know, but I still worry about him…"

"But dear, there's still plenty of time for him to show up, the train does not leave for another 4 hours!"

"ONLY 4 HOURS! I still have stuff to pack!" and with that Hermione ran up the stairs, but she did not get too far. She collided headfirst with an owl carrying today's copy of the daily prophet. She paid him and continued up the stairs to her room.

After about another hour and a half, Hermione thought she was FINALLY finished packing. She flopped down on her bed as she sighed in relief. She heard something, like the ruffle of paper, under her head. She looked and found her paper looking up at her… actually, she found Peter Pettigrew's picture looking up at her, with the big words. "PETTIGREW SPOTTED! NOT DEAD!" On the front page in bold font. In smaller writing under the headline, the words "Sirius Black cleared of all charges" were written. This made Hermione squeal with joy. 'I wonder if Harry knows yet?' she thought to herself as she gleefully carried her stuff downstairs and loaded it in the car, leaving for her last year at Hogwarts.

"Welcome to the staff, both of you." headmaster Dumbledore nodded at his two newest DADA teachers. "I'm sure you're both eager to go explore the grounds, especially you Mr Black." Dumbledore smiled eyes twinkling.

"Please, Sir, drop the formalities." Sirius said jovially.

"Certainly Sirius."

Sirius smiled. "Want to come along Remus?"

Lupin nodded and the two marauders exited the room.

"So, anything you want to do now that you can be seen in public?" Remus asked

"I don't really know yet… I feel incomplete Remus… I've spent half my life in prison and then running from capture… Now, I'm suddenly free. What am I supposed to do? Forty is a little old to start living out childhood fantasies. And most aurors retire at the age of forty… unless you're Moody… and look how he turned out!"

"I highly doubt you will end up as bad as Alastor. But if you're so worried, teach for a year and try to figure it out as you do so. Besides, I need you to cover for me on my "Off days""

"You mean off nights…" Sirius supplied.

"Well, I suppose… but you know how I get in the 3 days prior to and following the full moon… it gets worse as I get older… I cannot wait for my regeneration cycle! It comes this year you know!" Remus said excitedly.

"Regeneration cycle?"

"Sirius, we've been through this… I'm immortal remember? I age until I turn forty, then I go back to twenty. This will be my first one… and seeing how my 39 year old self is, I cannot wait to go back to twenty."

"How I envy you Remus… you get another chance at your prime years… hell you get dozens of chances! I had mine ripped form me…" Sirius said dejectedly.

"Immortality's not always all it's cracked up to be, sure I get to live forever, but what is the point if you outlive all the people you love?" Remus said sadly, his mind travelling back to thoughts of James and Lily. By this time the two had gone outside onto the grounds.

In an attempt to lighten the mood, Sirius spoke up. "So how long until your birthday Moony?"

"About 12 days… why?"

"No reason…" Sirius said with a mischievous air.

Remus' eyes widened. "No… wait, you're not thinking of re-instating an old marauder tradition now are you?" There was an old custom of theirs to prank the other mercilessly on their birthday, but that had died out when they left Hogwarts.

"We're back at Hogwarts… who knows what will happen!" Sirius said smiling.

Disclaimer: I'm only gonna say this once…the entire Potterverse belongs to JKR

I've had this plot going around in my head for awhile… just SB/HG goodness! But only a few bits and pieces are flowing… so don't hold your breath for the next chapter… I'll write it as it comes, please do review anyway, it inspires me!