"This is it," whispered Hermione, stepping into the room. Sirius quickly followed her. Unlike all the other rooms, this room was occupied.

"I had a feeling you might try this," said Professor Dumbledore.

"What are you doing here?" asked a stunned Hermione.

"Making sure you didn't do anything rash."

"But how did you know?" she asked.

"I placed a locating spell on you before you left Hogwarts Friday. It alerted me that you had left the Lupin's residence at around two this morning. When I realized you were heading for the Ministry of Magic, I deduced that you might come here seeking information." Dumbledore turned to Sirius. "I must say that I'm surprised to find you here, Mr. Black. I assumed Hermione would be arriving with Remus."

Sirius stepped forward. "I'm the one who pressured Hermione to come, sir. Please don't be angry with her."

"Sirius," began Hermione, putting her hand on his arm. "That's not true. I wanted to come."

"Your defense of each other is admirable, but I'm not angry with either of you." He turned his attention to Hermione. "I should have realized that you would not be satisfied until you knew everything you could about how you came to be in our time." Dumbledore took a deep breath. "When you came to see me after Christmas and offered me the valuable information you possessed on the Death Eaters movements, I realized that it would be prudent to learn everything I could about you and the mysterious way you arrived at Hogwarts. So I came to visit an old friend of mine who worked in the Department of Mysteries. Her name is Margaret Croaker. Margaret," called Dumbledore.

Both Hermione and Sirius gasped when a woman appeared beside them. Hermione wondered how she hadn't seen her before.

"Miss Croaker is an unspeakable who specializes in the study of time," introduced Dumbledore. "Maggie, this is Sirius Black and Hermione Granger."

Margaret Croaker was an older witch who reminded Hermione a little of Professor McGonagall, or at least the Professor McGonagall she remembered from her time. She was tall with a kind face and graying hair. She had a pair of spectacles that were at the moment hanging around her neck by a thin metal chain.

"Hello," said Sirius and Hermione in turn.

"Maggie and I have had many discussions concerning you, Hermione," said Dumbledore. "And she's done a great deal of research about how you got transported back in time, but I will allow Maggie to explain what she's discovered."

"Perhaps first," Maggie began. "You would like to make yourselves comfortable." Maggie waved her wand and instantly there were four chairs in front of her. Another flick of the wand produced a teapot and cups. The teapot immediately lifted into the air and tipped itself, pouring hot tea into the cups. Dumbledore sat comfortably in his chair, but waved away the tea. Hermione and Sirius sat slowly and held out their hands as the tea cups drifted toward them.

"I'm sure you must have many questions," she began. "I will try and answer what we can."

Hermione stared at the woman in front of her, suddenly at a loss for words. She knew she had many questions, but now she couldn't think of one. This was so unlike anything she had ever expected. She looked helplessly at Sirius. He smiled, reached over and took her hand. That simple touch cleared her mind. She returned Sirius's smile and took a deep breath.

"Can you explain how I got back to this time?" she asked quietly.

"Yes," Margaret returned simply.

Hermione smiled slightly. "How?"

"It appears that the Gateway was opened?"

"The Gateway, what's that?"

"The Gateway is a door to the past that resides at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It is the only one of its kind and it is only opened at a time of great need. The Gateway allows one Witch or Wizard to return to a specific moment in time to complete a task."

"But what task?" asked Hermione. "It was purely an accident that I wandered into that door. I wasn't trying to come back and do anything."

"Unfortunately," interrupted Dumbledore. "The exact nature of your task is something we may never know."

"Who opened the Gateway?" asked Sirius. "Whoever opened the gateway would know what Hermione was supposed to do."

Maggie glanced at Dumbledore. He nodded slightly at her and she returned her attention back to Hermione. "The only person with the power to open the Gateway is the Headmaster of the school."

"What?" breathed Hermione, staring accusingly at Dumbledore.

"I'm afraid it's true," confirmed Dumbledore. "But believe me, Hermione. I was as surprised as you are to discover that information. Up until a couple of months ago, I didn't know the Gateway existed."

"How is that possible," accused Hermione. "You're the Headmaster. You should know everything about that school."

"No one could know all the secrets that Hogwarts holds," said Dumbledore kindly. "Its magic is too old."

Hermione digested this information. "So you're saying that my Professor Dumbledore sent me back in time?"

"It would appear so."

"But why wouldn't he ask me? Why wouldn't he tell me what he wanted?"

"I'm afraid we may never know the truth," said Dumbledore. "I'm sorry."

"Perhaps I've already finished my task," said Hermione. "Maybe he sent me back to this time to make sure Harry's parents don't die. Maybe I've done what I was supposed to do." Hermione thought for a minute. "What else could it be? Why else would I have been sent back to this specific time? Yes, that must be it. I was supposed to give Harry his parents back. Assuming that I've completed my task, how do I get home? Can you send me home?" she asked Maggie.

Maggie and Dumbledore regarded each other. "I can't, Hermione," said Maggie. "I'm sorry."

"What do you mean you can't? I want to go home." She glanced from Maggie to Dumbledore, but neither of them could look her in the eye. Tears welled up in her eyes. "I want to go home," she repeated.

"Hermione, I've gone back to look for the Gateway and I can't find it," said Professor Dumbledore. "It will only appear once your task is complete. And then you will have the opportunity to return to your time."

"How could he do this to me?" Hermione took in the information feeling the bitterness of the truth hanging over her.

"Your Professor Dumbledore must have thought the need great enough and he must have sensed you'd be willing. I can't imagine he would have sent you otherwise," said Maggie quietly.

"You've told me many times," said Dumbledore quietly, "that you'd be willing to die for your friend. Maybe I thought that if you were willing to make that big of a sacrifice that you might be willing to make another."

Hermione's bottom lip trembled slightly. She stood and Sirius followed her slowly. With one last angry glance, she turned away from both Dumbledore and Maggie and walked to the door.

"Hermione," called Maggie. "Wait, we have more to tell you."

Hermione whipped around. "I don't want to hear anything else you have to say. Come on, Sirius." Without another look, Hermione left the room and pulled Sirius with her.

Maggie stood and watched them leave. "So you're just going to let her go?" she asked Dumbledore.

"She's not ready to hear any more. When she is she'll come to me."

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Hermione and Sirius exited slowly when the lift opened on the main floor of the Ministry. She had been eerily quiet since they'd left Maggie and Dumbledore and he wasn't sure what to say to her. She walked down the main hall of the Ministry and he followed her. When she reached the large fountain in the center of the room she sat heavily on its edge. Sirius stood awkwardly a few feet away from her.

"I really thought I'd be seeing my mother in a few days," said Hermione after a while.

"I'm sorry, Hermione."

"Don't be," she returned, with the wave of her hand. "I'll be okay." She took a deep breath and looked down at her lap. "I'm really stuck here," she said in a very matter-of-fact sort of way. "I'm never going home."

Sirius approached her slowly and placed one hand on her cheek. "Hermione," he began. "It's going to be okay."

His simple touch caused what little control she had over her emotions to crumble. Silent tears fell down her face and she looked up. "What am I going to do? Sirius, what am I going to do?"

Sirius kneeled and put his arms around Hermione. "You're going to come back to Hogwarts with me and we'll figure things out."

Hermione returned his embrace fiercely. "Sirius, you're such a good friend. I'm so glad you're here with me."

"I wish I'd never pushed you into coming here. This is all my fault," he rested his cheek against her temple and breathed in the clean smell of her hair.

"No," protested Hermione, holding him tighter. "You were right, I had to know. I just wish...," Hermione trailed off, tensing in his arms.

"What? What do you wish?" he asked softly.

Without answering, Hermione pulled herself away from Sirius and hurried behind him. Sirius turned questioningly to see Hermione rush into Remus's arms.

Remus had apparated directly inside the Ministry and had been watching the exchange between Hermione and Sirius for a minute before she noticed him. When she had finally seen him and run at him he had opened his arms for her instinctually. Remus stared at Sirius with his jaw set as Hermione sobbed in his arms.

Sirius slowly waltzed toward them, but said nothing. When he reached them, Remus turned Hermione so his arm was around her shoulder and led her to the exit talking quietly to her all the way. Sirius took a deep breath before following them out.

In contrast to when they had arrived, the sun had now risen and the English sky was all pink and blue. Sirius hung back a little watching Remus talk to Hermione, but not hearing what they were saying. Hermione was standing against the outside wall of the Ministry building. They were leaning into each other and their foreheads were touching while they talked and Sirius felt that all too familiar tug of jealousy in the pit of his stomach.

After about ten minutes, Remus kissed Hermione on the forehead and rubbed her arms gently. Then he left her standing against the wall and walked over to Sirius.

Sirius stood straighter as Remus approached. "You can shove off now, Sirius," said Remus coolly.

"She okay?" asked Sirius.

"Why don't you let me worry about that," returned Remus. "I think you've done enough."

"Moony, I..."

"Don't, Sirius," said Remus cutting him off. "I really don't want to hear it."

Sirius craned his neck to look at Hermione. She was still standing against the wall, but her head was back and her eyes were closed. She looked exhausted.

"I've got my bike, just there," said Sirius pointing. "I could give her a ride back to your place."

"That won't be necessary. I'll clean up the mess myself, Sirius. Thanks." Remus turned away from him, but Sirius reached out his hand and grabbed his arm.

"Hey," he said sharply. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Remus wrenched free of his grasp and closed the distance between the two of them. "I've seen the way you look at her," growled Remus lowly. "It just killed you that she preferred me to you."

"Now wait a minute, Moony. You've got it all wrong."

"Do I," laughed Remus. "If you couldn't have her, you'd rather neither of us have her."

"I only wanted her to be happy," protested Sirius angrily. "Can you say the same?"

"Happy," snapped Remus. "Does she look happy?" Remus shook his head angrily. "Just stay away from us, Sirius." Remus turned and walked back to Hermione. Sirius watched as Remus put his arm around her and led her down the narrow street. He waited until they turned the corner before getting on his bike and flying away.

Hermione and Remus walked slowly down the street. Her eyes were red and her nose was stuffed from too much crying. "You look dead on your feet," commented Remus.

"I'm okay," returned Hermione. She took a deep breath. "Just a little tired."

"That's understandable," said Remus.

"What did you say to Sirius," she asked quietly.

"I told him that you and I needed to talk," lied Remus easily. "And that we'd see him later."

Hermione wanted to say something in reply, but she was at a loss for words. They continued walking for some time in silence. After a while, Hermione couldn't take the quiet anymore.

"Remus, please don't be angry with me."

"Hermione," began Remus carefully. "I don't think this is the place to talk about this."

"We have to talk about this."

"I agree, and I'm not going to pretend that I'm not upset, but right now all I know is that you need a rest. Once we take care of that, we'll talk."

"Where are we going?" she asked softly.

"Diagon Alley," he answered. "There's a floo station not far from here. From there we can get to the Leaky Cauldron. My father is a friend of the owner and I think I can get him to let us use a room until we have to leave for King's Cross Station. We should be there within half an hour." True to his word, Hermione and Remus were standing in the middle of the Leaky Cauldron within thirty minutes. Hermione sat at one of the tables while Remus arranged things.

Just when Hermione thought she would fall asleep right at the table, Remus came over dangling a key in front of her. He led her upstairs to an empty room.

"Why don't you take a shower," suggested Remus. "And I'll see about getting us something to eat." Hermione nodded, too tired for speech and Remus left the room. He tried to be as quick as possible, but Tom was feeling very talkative this morning and kept Remus longer than he intended to be gone.

When Remus finally managed to secure a breakfast order with Tom about twenty minutes had passed. He took the stairs back up to their room two at a time. "I'm sorry," he said, bursting through the door. "Tom just wouldn't shut up." He paused.

Hermione was standing by the window, staring out of it. She had clearly just gotten out of the shower. Her hair was wet and she was wrapped in a thin white cotton robe. She turned when Remus entered to see him staring at her. "What?"

"Uh, nothing," he mumbled. "Where'd you get the robe?" he asked.

"Transfigured my shirt," she answered. "Breakfast?"

"It'll be up in a minute."

"Good, I'm starving. Sit," she said pointing toward the bed. "We're going to talk now."

"Don't you want to rest?" he asked.

"Don't you want to talk?" she returned.

He nodded and sat at the edge of the bed. She crossed the room and joined him. "I owe you an explanation," she said softly.

Remus nodded and pulled out something from his pocket and passed it to Hermione. It was the note she had written. "Were you really going to say goodbye with this?"

She took the note and played with it. "I didn't know any other way," she said lamely.

"You're going to have to do better than that," said Remus.

"What do you want me to say?" asked Hermione. "That I'm sorry, because I am and I'm not. I had to do this, but now that it's over I wish I never had."

"Did they really say you couldn't go back?" asked Remus. Hermione nodded. "I'm sorry," said Remus sincerely.

"Thanks," murmured Hermione.

"And I know it's selfish," continued Remus in a hurry, "but I'm glad you're still here. I don't know what I would have done if you had left."

Hermione started crying again and Remus pulled her into his arms. "You have to know," she said brokenly. "That it killed me to leave you this morning. I never wanted to hurt you."

"Shh, it's okay," soothed Remus, rubbing her back. "This is such a mess," he said. "I don't think I've ever felt two more opposite things at once. I wish you weren't feeling this way, but I'm still glad you're here with me."

"It's the same for me," returned Hermione. When she had pulled herself together, she pulled away from Remus. "Enough," she said sniffing. "It doesn't matter what I wish. All that matters is what is. It seems that I'm destined to be here in this time, so I'll make the best of it. The only thing I need to know is how you feel now. Have I changed things between us by running out in the middle of the night?"

"No," returned Remus softly. "Maybe it should have, but it doesn't. I just can't see my life without you now. I don't want to."

Hermione smiled sadly. "Why is it that neither of us look very happy then?"

"Do you want to try and get some sleep?" asked Remus, ignoring the question.

Before she could answer, there was a knock at the door. Remus got up and accepted the breakfast tray from one of the maids. He stood in front of her with the tray.

"So," said Remus. "Sleep or eat?"

"Eat," said Hermione with a sigh. "I can't sleep. I have too much on my mind." She started to get up.

"Stay," commanded Remus. He brought the tray to the bed and placed it down carefully. "Sit back." Hermione smiled and immediately scooted to the head of the bed. Remus sat next to her and dragged the tray toward them. They ate together in silence and when they were done, Hermione felt much better. Remus removed the tray with a flick of his wand.

Hermione moved closer so she was settled comfortably against him. Remus rested his head on top of hers and wrapped his arms around her. "Sleep," he whispered to her.

"I don't want to sleep," she said through a yawn.

"You need to sleep," he said with a smile.

"No," she protested, but already her eyes were closed. Within minutes Remus could hear her breathing deeply and knew that she was finally asleep.

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A/N: Sorry the update was so long in coming, I went on vacation. I had most of this written before I left, but it just didn't feel right, so I've tweaked it about half a dozen times. For some reason this was a hard one to write. I hope it doesn't show too much. Anyway, hope you all enjoyed it and I will try to update soon.