Nobody ever said it would be easy.

Chapter:

A.N 1.wow, you guys have no idea how bad I feel about leaving it so long between my updates but so much has gone on… I had exams, then I went on holiday, then my nan went into hospital, then I went back to college, then I was in hospital egh I'm so sorry.

2. Something about this chapter: Now I was going to go into the whole Hermione telling them everything, but in these stories its so repetitive, so I went in a slightly different direction. Nothing major but well you'll see.

3. Thanks 2 everyone who reviewed! Much appreciated!

Recap

Hermione looked up into those intense blue eyes. Her mind was racing, shall I tell them? Sirius already knows, what difference would it make? She's changed so much already. She closed her eyes and sighed.

'Ok.'

Yesterday, 2 days before Halloween, the truth finally came out. The truth that Hermione had kept from them for weeks, the truth that would change their lives forever, the truth that can never been taken back.

There had been tears, a lot of tears actually, of fear, of grief, of sorrow, of what's to come. Amongst those tears was shouting and disbelief, they didn't want to believe her, they just couldn't take it all in, but by the end of their drama there was acceptance. They didn't like it, but now armed with the knowledge of what could happen to them, they could fight it, they could change their destiny. Hermione could change their destiny.

Hermione had made her decision. She had to give the Wizarding world a life without Voldermort, she had to give Harry a life with his parents, she had to save as many lives as she could, she just had to.

Since she told them, she had seen or spoken to any of them, not even Sirius. They needed time with each other.

Now out by the lake, she reflected. She could see herself coming out of the Whooping Willow with Harry, Ron, Sirius and Remus, seeing Harry talking to his godfather for the first time, him knowing the truth about his parents, Remus transforming, Buckbeak, Sirius escaping. Hundreds of people screaming in a dark stadium, all eyes on Harry and the ferocious Dragon, being pulled out of the lake by Krum, Harry clutching Cedric's body shaking, crying. Dark corridor after dark corridor, time running out to find Sirius, screaming, the pain of the curse, Harry's tears. Loosing Sirius.

She shook her head, it will never happen. She'd make sure of it.

She approached the lake and bent down, looking at her own reflection. Her outwardly appearance hadn't changed, just the inside, she was no longer a child running around with her best friends, she was grown, she had a purpose, she had a job to do.

Dipping her figures into the water, distorting the image, she wonders what they are doing.

'Do you still remember me Harry?'

Sigh.

'How much has changed Ron?'

'Woman you are a hard person to track down!'

She knew that voice. That was Remus. She got up from her position and looked over to the castle. Approaching her was the people she had been avoiding. As they came closer Hermione could see the expressions on their faces, tiredness, annoyance. A slight pang of fear grew within Hermione's stomach.

'Woman?'

They were merely feet from her now.

'Well yeah, not quite sure what to call you - Hermione or Amaya.' said Remus.

She looked down at her feet.

'I think woman who's destroyed our lives more appropriate.'

Fear turned to nerves. She felt someone come closer to her. It was male that's for sure. She looked up and saw a pair of Hazel eyes. James looked at her intently. It was so hard to read his expression. Eye to eye they stood.

'Why would we call you that?'

His voice was calm, just like Harry's would have been. His face broke out into a smile.

'You don't want to kill me then?'

Closing the gap between them, James wrapped the brunette into a tight hug. It felt like the comforting hugs she got from Harry. She felt safe, secure. He pulled back and kissed the told of her head.

'You've saved…are going to save….my family. I'm forever indebted to you.'

A tidal wave of emotion hit Hermione. Relief, shock, disbelief, blissful joy. A cry escaped her lips and tears flooded from her eyes.

'JAMES WHAT DID YOU DO?'

Hermione was pulled away by a red-head and surrounded by her arms.

'I'm sorry for my idiot boyfriend.'

She pulled away from lily's grip.

'No, no, I'm relieved!'

'Hey hey hey, share the love!' Hermione was pushed into Remus's arms. Still crying. She had never felt so relieved in her life. They weren't mad or upset with her.

'It's ok, your professor will take care of you.'

She laughed into his chest and slapped his arm. The pair shared a smile before she was again in someone else's arms. Nicole's hug was probably the most calming, their was just an air about her, something about her presence that would ease her mid instantly.

'Can I have my girlfriend back now?'

Instead of having a bone crushing hug from Sirius, she was meet with a soul searching, intense kiss.

'Wow, what was that for?'

'Don't you ever avoid me again. I thought I was going mad.'

She smiled up at the man she adored. His mischievous grin, his playful eyes, everything. The two leaned down for another kiss.

'Please stop the public display of affection before I heave.'

Hermione rested her head against his chest listening to the steady beat of his heart. His powerful arms encircled her.

The six of them settled down on the grass, the girls between their respecting boyfriends legs.

'Amaya, can I ask you something?'

'Sure Lily go ahead.'

'Can, can you tell me, us, about H-Harry?'

Lily was hesitant, she didn't want to upset Hermione but curiosity got the better of her. Hermione smiled.

'What do you wanna know?'

'Anything!'

'Ok, well, he looks exactly like James, except for the fact he's got the most beautiful green eyes I've ever seen-'

Lily blushed.

'- From what we were told by Remus and Sirius, he was an unusually good baby. Hardly ever cried, always smiling, you had a easy first year.'

'More alone time for us then lily flower!'

The group laughed, James always ruined the moment.

'Erm, he made the quidditch team in his first year! The best seeker Gryffindor have ever seen.'

'O no.'

'That's my boy!'

'Unfortunately he doesn't inherit his mum's love of learning but does have extraordinary talent.

His best subject is DADA, grew a hell of a lot since Remus taught him.'

'What do you mean?'

'Remus, you helped his master the Patronous charm in his third year. He got full marks when he showed the examiners what he could do.'

'Woah.'

Hermione looked over at the pair, they were beaming with pride. She felt her heart grow, hopefully they could see for themselves Harry's power. Hopefully.

'What did you guys do for fun in your time.'

Hermione looked at Nicole, they'd never believe her if she told them.

'Just the usual, a few little scraped here and there.'

'O come on!'

'Ok, well in my first year, we helped Hagrid raise a baby dragon, we battled a fully grown

mountain troll, we got past a three headed dog, was part of a giant chess game, in my second year I stole supplies from my potion masters stores, brewed an illegal polyjuice potion in the girls bathroom, turned into a cat, third year -'

' - Ok if you didn't want to tell us you didn't have to, you didn't have to lie though!'

'Who says I was lying?'

From behind her she heard Sirius voice.

'So your telling us you did all of that stuff?'

'Maybe….. But they are stories for another time.'

'But-'

'- no buts!'

'Ok, Amaya can I ask you something, something serious?'

'Erm, ok nic, sure.'

Hermione looked over expectedly at Nicole, but she was looking down at her hands.

'What are you going to do? I mean are you staying or going home to your time? Won't things be different?'

Silence. Nicole raised her head and locked eyes with Hermione. How was Hermione to answer that?

'Woah way to bring the mood down nic.'

'Shh Sirius, she's just curious.

Hermione sighed.

I don't know to be honest. I'm torn. I want to stay, but I want to see them again. But I don't think the decision is down to me. Dumbledore is looking for a way to get me home, if he can at all. I know things are going to be different if I do go back, I get that, that's why I've done what I've done, so Harry and Neville and dozens of others can have a chance of a proper peaceful life. It hurts to know that they'll never know me like they used to or whatever, but I'm prepared for that. If me loosing Harry, Ron, Ginny and everyone means Neville can have his parents, Harry can have his, I can save you lot, and Sirius never has to go to prison, and a Wizarding world never has to experience the darkness that I've known, then that's a risk I'm willing to take, no matter how much I don't like it.'

Everybody was silent. The girl sitting in front of them was risking her own life and future for them. For everyone around them.

'But every cloud has a silver lining - I can have a new life here! I've got the best boyfriend. The best friends, and it's not like I'll never see them again, I'll just have a different relationship with them.'

Silence again. A really harsh tension over them.

'BURRP.'

A collective gasp from the group.

'LILY!'

'Sorry, I couldn't help it!'

Lily's embarrassing bodily functions seemed to bring the group out of the tense atmosphere. The carried on the afternoon laughing and joking, all worries about what's to come forgotten.