A/N: I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING FAST ENOUGH! I just want to thank my reviewers in advance. You guys are all great! I know you guys are anxious, so I give you chapter 5!

Chapter 5: The Most Dreadful Thing

Present Day

"So you're telling us that Harry and Hermione have traveled back to your sixth year, and we can't get them back?!" yelled a hysterical Ron towards Remus. Ron was pacing around the chair Remus occupied. Fred and George were huddled by the door. Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were standing next to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore had arrived at Grimmauld Place for he had gotten the memories of the new travelers along with Remus.

"Now tell me again why we can't use a Time-Turner to bring her back?" Ron asked Dumbledore.

The Headmaster just gave a weak sigh. "The Time-Turner was not meant for such long traveling," he explained quietly. "They will have to wait for the use of another Life-Alter to take place."

"And when will that be?" Ginny asked fearfully.

"Oh, if I'm correct, I told them a year," Dumbledore answered. Ron and Ginny groaned.

"Do you remember them well?" Ginny asked Remus quietly. Everyone turned to him. "Have they said anything about their friends?"

"No. They might later on though."

Ron shot a questioning stare at what Remus had said.

"You see," Remus continued, "my memories are incomplete right now. I can't remember anything until they've done something, if that make any sense."

Everyone was silent as a turkey farm on Thanksgiving. Finally Ron let out an anguished scream.

"Why were they messing with Dark Magic anyways?" he yelled out, mostly to himself.

"I do believe they were trying to bring Sirius back," Dumbledore said.

"By traveling all the way back to his sixth year?" Ron asked.

"No, they were probably interrupted, or it might have backfired."

"Since you said a Time-Turner wouldn't travel that far, then how did they manage to get there?" Ron asked as if he had been thinking about it for awhile.

"I can answer that one," Ginny said, holding up a letter she found on the floor. "This is a letter from Sirius… It talks about using a Life-Alter… It can either bring someone back from the dead, or travel far back in time."

"So do you think they messed up the process?" Ron asked.

"Yes," Dumbledore answered. "They wouldn't go back to the past on purpose."

Fred and George looked at each other gravely. So it was their fault Harry and Hermione were stuck in another time. If they hadn't barged in, everything would be ok. Even Sirius would be alive. They left the room silently, heads drooping all the way to their chest.

Marauders Time

Hermione woke up early, as usual. She gazed around her room, expecting to find Lavender's brown hair poking out from behind the bed on her left. Instead, there was flaming-red, wavy hair. Yesterday's events came flooding back. The Marauders. Lily Evans. The past.

She groaned as she stepped out of her bed and into the cold air to take a shower.

Fifteen minutes later, Hermione walked down the stairs into the common room, squeaky clean and ready for learning. She pulled out a Potion's book and looked to find the most comfy chair. The one she usually sat at was already occupied by a boy with light brown hair.

"Good morning Remus," she whispered in his ear.

Remus jumped about a foot in his seat and slammed his book shut. "Oh, Hermione. I didn't hear you."

"Obviously," Hermione answered with a smile. She sat in a chair opposite of Remus to she could face him. She caught the title of the book he was reading before he shoved it hastily into his bag at his feet. "A bit of light reading on Animagus?" she asked slyly.

"Er." Remus looked as if he was doing some very speedy thinking. "I was just interested in Animagus when McGonagoll was talking about them and decided to look them up."

"Well," Hermione said behind her smirk. "That's very studious of you… What job are you preparing for this year?"

"Hm?" Remus asked. He was staring into the fire, lost in thought for a moment. "Oh, I, er, want to work at Egypt."

"Doing what?"

"Working on the tombs and hieroglyphics," he said timidly.

"Really?" Hermione said eagerly. "So you're taking Ancient Runes then?"

"Oh yes, it's one of my favorite subjects," Remus said excitedly.

"Me too!"

"What other classes are you taking?" Remus asked. He was amazed at how easy, and enjoyable, it was to talk to Hermione. Usually girls just wanted to talk about themselves, but Hermione seemed to want to talk about him. No girl had ever done that to Remus before.

"Well, I want to work in the Ministry's International Affairs, so I'm taking, of course, Transfiguration, Defense, and Potions, but also Ancient Runes and History of Magic."

"I'm taking History, too. But not Charms or Potions," he said with a hint of sadness.

"What are the teachers like?" Hermione asked.

"Most of them are nice, but watch out for Smirch, the Potions teacher. She can be really cruel when not in the right mood. The Transfiguration teacher is usually strict at sometimes…" and Remus continued to explain every single teacher at Hogwarts until their conversation drifted into another subject. It seemed like hours they were sitting there, chatting away the morning.

Up in the boy's dormitory, Sirius had just woken up. He glanced at everyone else's beds to see if they were still hiding in their dreams. Not to his surprise, Remus' bed was empty. James was drooling on his pillows while tightly hugging a stuffed Snitch. Peter looked as if he was snoring, but it was hard to tell. After the first few days of their first year, the other three Marauders had put a silencing charm around Peter's bed during the night. Peter had sounded like a foghorn back then but they didn't risk taking the charm off to find out if he still did.

Sirius had forgotten about the fifth bed until he saw another mat of raven black hair poking out. Harry was sound asleep though twisting and turning, muttering something about an apartment of miseries. (A/N: Get it?)

Sirius shrugged at Harry's odd choice of dreams and started to wake up. For him, it took a lot of effort to get out of bed, splash his face with cold water, and pull some robes over his head. As he padded out of the room as to not wake up the others, he stopped in front of a mirror. He checked his hair; it just had to look as if he did nothing, but still looked flawless. Once he was satisfied, he continued out of the room and down the stairs to the common room.

Hey, maybe I can scare Remus again, Sirius thought cheerfully. Let's see if he will scream like a little girl.

But as he neared the last few steps, he heard a laugh, a girly laugh that did not belong to Remus.

All right! Moony's found himself a girl!

But as Sirius came into view of Remus and this mysterious girl, his stomach gave a sudden lurch. There, curled up in two chairs in front of the crackling fire, were Remus and Hermione. Apparently Remus had told a joke (I didn't know he knew any, Sirius thought distractedly) and Hermione found it hilarious.

Sirius mulled over in his mind which choice was better: to go back upstairs and try to sleep, or try to talk to them and interrupt Remus' valiant conversation with Hermione. No difficulties in choosing there.

"Hello, mate," Sirius called out to Remus. As he neared his friend, he feigned a surprise face at the sight of Hermione. "Hermione, I didn't know you were an early bird too."

"I can't stand sleeping in," Hermione said, turning to Sirius now. "People just sleep their lives away… But I didn't expect you to be an early riser, Sirius," she said thoughtfully.

"What can I say," Sirius said glowingly, "I'm full of surprises." He grinned cutely masked behind a mischievous glint in his eyes. Hermione just smiled back, partially irked at Sirius' behavior, but another part was entranced. "So what say you all to some breakfast?" Sirius asked while tearing his eyes away from Hermione's to look at both a vexed Remus and an eager Hermione.

"Great idea," Hermione said, standing up from her chair. "I'm starving."

The threesome exited the Gryffindor quarters and silently walked down a set of spacious stairs. Hermione was in the middle of the two boys as she tried to acted as if she hadn't gone to school there for five years already. Remus kept on shooting evil glances at Sirius who in return stuck his tongue out at him.

"So Hermione," Sirius said smugly at Remus' enraged face, "what do you want to be after Hogwarts?"

"I want to work in the Ministry for International Affairs," she said matter-of-factly. "And what about you? What are you going to be?"

"I'm training to be an Auror," he said proudly. "But what classes do you need to take for Working at International Affairs?"

"Transfiguration, Defense, Potions, Ancient Runes, and History of Magic," Hermione answered, ticking off each subject with each finger. "For an Auror, if I am correct, you need Transfiguration, Defense, Potions, and Charms, right?"

"Exactly. James is taking the same classes."

"So is Harry," Hermione said excitedly.

"That's, that's great," Sirius said a bit too strained.

"Oh, you two will really like him," Hermione said positively. "He's really nice."

"I'm sure we will," Remus said reassuringly.

They entered the Great Hall a few moments later. There was no one at the Gryffindor table yet except for two: a curly blond haired boy and a straight haired blond girl, both looked seventeen. They had cheerful, full, young faces that looked quite familiar to Hermione.

"Ahoy Longbottom!" Sirius yelled out to the boy.

Frank looked up from his bacon at the newcomers.

"Oh, hello boys," he said in a mocking tired tone. "Where's your other half?" he asked, referring to James and Peter.

"Still sleeping," Remus said, rolling his eyes. "Frank, Alice, this is Hermione Snicket. 'Mione, meet Frank and Alice. They're seventh years."

"Nice to meet you," Alice said politely.

"You too," Hermione stuttered.

Sirius lead Hermione, who Remus tagged along with her, to the seats far away form the teachers. It seemed as if they had their own special spot to sit at, and no one else dared to touch it.

Hermione and Remus started off a rounding conversation of school work. Sirius found this very wearisome, but every time he tried to steer her off topic, Remus would butt in again, reviving the subject once more.

After fifteen tedious minutes of listening to Remus go on and on about Ancient Runes class, he heard someone shout out his name.

"SIRIUS BLACK, ARE YOU DEAF?" James bellowed. He was standing at the end of the Great Hall looking thoroughly irritated.

Sirius winced. "Excuse me one moment," he said politely to Hermione while ignoring Remus.

Hermione watched as Sirius walked down to James, both equally annoyed. She could not hear from where she was, but she saw Sirius ask James something and then James leaned in a whispered something else. Sirius grim face split into a most impish grin. They ran out of the hall seconds later.

"I wonder what that was all about," Hermione said.

"Oh, I can tell you," Remus said tiredly. "That happens almost every week or so. It means they've thought of a new prank."

"Pranks?" Hermione repeated.

"Yeah, they are always cooking up some plot to make life at Hogwarts a smidgen more interesting." Hermione must've made a face because Remus continued. "Their ideas are quite brilliant sometimes. It is fun to take part in them once in awhile." Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Let's just say I'm not the perfect Prefect."

Hermione chuckled and started to work on her breakfast again. They finished their breakfast soon after and made their way back to Gryffindor Tower. They passed Lily, who surprisingly was walking with Harry. They were in such deep conversation that when Hermione tried to say good morning to Harry, he didn't even notice.

"Those two seem to be hitting it off well," Remus said thoughtfully.

"Yes, quite well," Hermione said worriedly.

Later that day...

"Hermione, don't forget, we're going shopping today," Harry said in her ear. She had been talking to Remus again late in the morning when Harry appeared at her side.

"I hope you don't mind, Herm, but I asked if James could join us," he said timidly as she started to stand up. "And since Sirius and James are never apart, Sirius is coming too." He had just noticed Remus sitting there, staring at the two. "I suppose you would like to come too?" he asked through his laugh.

"If it's not a problem," he said civilly, standing up next to Hermione.

"It's not, really," Hermione said.

Harry eyed Hermione and Remus before continuing. "The carriage is going to be here any minute, so it'd be best to get ready now and meet us at the entrance hall." And with that, he ran up to his room to get his money.

"Well, we'd better get going," Remus said. They walked back to the dormitories.

Minutes later, James, Sirius, Remus, Harry, and Hermione were walking out of Hogwarts and into a carriage. James and Harry were sitting together talking excitedly about the Quidditch practices that were to start soon. Sirius, Remus, and Hermione were arguing about house-elf rights.

"But they enjoy it, Hermione," Sirius argued loudly. "They want to serve you."

"It's labor," she disagreed hotly, equal in volume. "And the way some wizards treat house-elves—it's appalling!"

"Ok, I agree that some people can be harsh towards their elves and I agree that has to stop," he said in a gracious voice. "But freeing them altogether is going a bit overboard."

"Put yourself in their shoes, Padfoot," Remus said after his elongated silence. "You were born into the world, and your soul purpose was to serve a group of people, whom by the way, you did NOT choose, and you must stay with them until your death. Does that sound like fun to you?"

"Does eating human children sound fun?" Sirius snapped back. "That's the way the Erkling thinks." He shrugged. "So the house-elves must think dusting and cleaning is like a trip to a Quidditch game. It's just how they think and were brought up." Hermione opened her mouth to interrupt, but Sirius just kept on rambling. "There will be some oddball elves but for the majority, they want to work. And as for those who hate their jobs and/or family, they should have a say in what happens to them." Sirius indicated his end with a loaded sigh. He looked at Hermione and Remus, expecting another row but it never came.

Remus looked wide-eyed at Sirius, then over at Hermione. Hermione was the first to speak.

"Sirius," she said almost breathlessly, "that is the best argument I've heard about house-elves yet. Though you really don't have much competition. Ron wasn't a very good arguer," she said absentmindedly.

"Who's—"

"We're here," Harry interrupted.

And so they were. Their carriage halted to a sudden stop.

"We'll be back in the late afternoon," the coach said in a nasal voice. The moment Remus hopped off the carriage it sped away.

"He's overly cheerful, isn't he?" he asked sarcastically.

James hopped from one foot to the other. "Harry, you gotta see the Quidditch shop. They have this new broom called the Cleansweep. Oh come on!" James grabbed Harry's arm and started to drag him down the down to his right.

"Ah, wait," Harry said, choking through his laughter, "I'm not going to a Quidditch store with only you. I need some help." He automatically looked at Hermione, who just shook her head with a smirk. "Alright Sirius, you're coming with me," he said.

So James dragged a cackling Harry who dragged Sirius, who irritably yet playfully rolled his eyes. As they turned the corner down the road, Remus turned to face Hermione.

"So where shall we go first?" he asked.

"I need to shop for school supplies for one thing."

"Parchment, quills, and books would be this way," and Remus started to walk down the road to his left. Hermione walked beside him. Their hands brushed together, though Hermione could tell he meant to do so. She smiled at him. He smiled back warmly and laced his fingers through hers.

Back to the other Marauder and his future son...

It was forty minutes before Sirius and Harry managed to drag James away from the Quidditch store. If they had delayed it any longer, they were positive James would have bought the whole store.

"It's like this every time," Sirius said exasperatedly to Harry. They had to grab both of James' arms away from the Cleansweep section of the store.

"Oh I'm so sorry," Harry joked, panting a little from literally lugging his younger father out of the store.

"Hey Sirius," James said abruptly. "I want to show Harry a shop. Find us in thirty minutes at Zonko's?"

Sirius nodded, fortunate to have an excuse to leave. "Sure thing. See ya guys later!"

Sirius jogged down the road, searching for Hermione and Remus, turning sharp corners left and right. If anyone knew Hogsmeade, it was the Marauders.

Sirius slowly turned yet another corner, feeling slightly fatigued. As luck would have it, he had found Hermione and Remus at long last, but noticed something different about them. True, they did have a few shopping bags in opposite hands, but something else that bothered Sirius. They were holding hands. He was about to interrupt their peaceful moment when Remus whispered something to Hermione. Sirius' breath froze when Hermione smiled affectionately and did a most dreadful thing: she kissed him on the cheek.

A/N: AH! What is Remus doing?! Will Sirius win over fair Hermione's heart? Will Remus and Sirius still be friends? Will James stop obsessing over the Quidditch store? Tune in next time to find out. (I'll try to update faster. This past week was just a bit too busy. Sorry again!)