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(A/N: Please, if you take the time to read my story, puh-lease, spare just a few of your minutes can you own minutes? to click the review button and send me your comments. Thanks! Smiles .)

Hermione's Troubles:

Chapter Eleven:

Hermione burst into the Gryffindor Common Room, eyes alight and sparking as she swirled over to Lily. Everyone in the room looked up, surprised. Renae sneered, and stormed out of the room. Hermione stifled a laugh, Renae'd reminded her so much of Draco Malfoy.

"Sirius, aren't you boys just a little too old to be playing fort?" Lily said, voice bubbling with mirth. Sirius continued to arrange cushions in a 'fort' shape. The only cushions left on the furniture were on the couch Lily was lounging on.

"Hey, it was James's idea!" Sirius retorted, putting his hands on his hips. Over on the other side of the 'fort,' James stood up.

"No it wasn't!" He said, outraged. His face went red as he looked at Lily sheepishly.

"Yes it was!" Sirius said back, taller than James by just a few centimeters.

"No."

"Yes."

"No!"

"Yes!"

"NO!"

"YES!"

Lily rolled her emerald eyes. In doing that, she saw Hermione, who was awkwardly standing beside the couch, staring dreamily out a window.

"How'd it go?" Lily asked, clasping her hands and pulling her down beside her on the couch. Sirius narrowed his eyes.

"Hang on, how'd what go?" Sirius interrupted loudly, instantly incurring everyone's attention. James got up and strolled over to the trio, and Angelica and Vanessa abandoned their chess game to sit on the floor beside the guys.

"I – I told him – I mean – I asked him – I –" Hermione stuttered back to Lily, a misty smile on her face. Hermione caught Lily's eyes and nodded.

"Well, you know how we talked about the Hogsmeade weekend?" Lily explained. Everyone nodded, although a slight flicker was present in Sirius's dark eyes. "I told Hermione to ask Remus to Hogsmeade." Sirius wolf-whistled, and everyone else cheered loudly. There was a distinct thump from upstairs, as if something hard had stuck a wall.

"And I said no." Hermione state giddily. The cheering stopped abruptly. After a few tense moments James exclaimed,

"Why! What for?" His indignant tones brought a smile to Lily's face.

"Because, James," she said, "Hermione didn't want to be the 'rebound girl,' whom Remus liked simply because I was unavailable." Hermione nodded vaguely. "So I suggested that she ask him to the Three Broomsticks, because then he could get to know her, and we'd all be there." An almost fierce look passed behind Sirius's eyes, and he went to stand up, but James rested a hand on his shoulder.

"It's okay Sirius." He said quietly. "I've made my peace with it. Make yours." The skinny 17 year old put pressure on Sirius's shoulder, and the Black settled back down on the floor, the blaze in his eyes fading. Sirius looked deep into James's blue eyes, and nodded. They clasped hands.

"I agreed, after some persuasion, to Remus coming to the Three Broomsticks." Hermione said quietly, startling everyone. "Then, Lily tells me I have to ask him to come!" She said indignantly.

"So, after much fretting, backing out, and thinking, I decided, 'Hey, I'm in Gryffindor! And Gryffindors are supposed to be brave!'" That statement brought a smile to everyone's faces. "So, I marched in here, and pulled Remus out, as you just saw."

"Now, what'd you say?" Lily urged. "Spill!"

"I asked him to Hogsmeade, and he got mad and upset. I phrased it badly, he thought I meant as in on a date. So we cleared that up. I told him I wasn't dating him until he was over Lily, because I didn't want to be just the second choice." Vanessa and Angelica high-fived, bringing smirks to the boys faces.

"And she said we're childish!" James said a smirk, looking at Lily. "They just hi-fived."

"James, you and Sirius do that after EVERY, SINGLE, Quidditch Match!" Angelica smirked. "Face it, we win."

"You guys, be quiet! We're listening to Hermione, remember!" Vanessa interrupted loudly, startling everyone.

"I've never heard you speak loudly before." Sirius said in shock. Vanessa shrugged.

"So is he coming?" Lily said earnestly.

"Um, yah, he said he'll probably see me there."

"He said he'll probably see you there!" Both Lily and Angelica squeaked. "He referred to you, not 'I'll probably see you all there.'"

"Yeah, he did." Hermione said vaguely, a dreamy smile still playing across her features.

---------------------------

11th January

"Hi Hermione!" Vanessa said gaily, smiling and waving. Hermione looked around the 3 Broomsticks. It had hardly changed in her time, except the bartender was different. Looking around at all the Hogwarts students, she almost expected to see Ron and Harry walking near her, talking about Quidditch or some such thing. She walked over to the table that James and Sirius had snagged, and gulped.

Angelica, Sirius, James, and Lily were all sitting on one side of a long table by the window. On the other side of the table were Vanessa, and Remus, who looked slightly nervous.

"Hi Hermione!" Lily said, looking up with a smile. Everyone else said hello as Hermione seated herself beside Remus, then went straight back to their conversations.

"So you came." Hermione said softly. Remus stopped talking to Sirius and turned to face her.

"Well, yeah." He replied, smiling. "Thank you for inviting me." Form the other side of the table Lily was listening intently, though seemingly deeply involved in a conversation with James.

"That's k." Hermione felt like an elephant in a china shop. Big and awkward. "I'm um, glad you came." Everyone was listening into the conversation, though not noticeably, and they all fought not to roll their eyes.

"7 Butterbeers." The barkeeper said, arriving at the table as a welcome distraction and handing them out. James and Sirius forked over the money.

"We're shouting." They said with a grin. "After all, this was our idea." James added with a pointed look at Lily, who hid a smile.

"So, Hermione, have you read any good books yet?" Angelica said, watching Remus suddenly stop drinking to listen. "I saw you reading 'Hogwarts, a History' again.'" She said. "You know, I don't think I've ever finished that book." Hermione was shocked.

"But that book is fantastic!" Someone chimed with her. Angelica grinned evilly.

Hermione turned to see a very red Remus Lupin hurriedly drinking his butterbeer.

"You've read 'Hogwarts, a History?'" Hermione asked, already knowing full well that he had.

"Yes." Remus admitted quietly. "It's a great book." He looked out at the flurry of snow swirling outside.

"Hey, guys, we're going. Lots to do." James announced, helping Lily shrug her coat on.

"Yeah, us too." Angelica added, being hauled to her feet by Sirius. "Going to go look at new brooms. Coming, Vanessa?" She offered. Vanessa smiled, and followed them out of the inn.

"Well, Remus." Hermione said awkwardly, "I guess it's just you and me, now, huh?" Silently she cursed herself for not being more… coordinated.

"I suppose so." He replied, quietly picking up everyone's discarded bottles. Hermione leant over and helped him, placing the bottles on the counter nearby.

"Well, I'd better go. I was uh, planning to, uh, go to the… bookstore." Remus said evasively.

"Hey, that's where I was going!" She exclaimed. "Mind if I come?"

Half an hour later, in the bookstore, Hermione was wandering around, looking at tomes and tomes of literature.

Mentally picturing herself thumping her head against a brick wall, Hermione tried desperately to remember what Lily had told her earlier in the week. Flirting. Hermione was terrible at it. When told how to flirt better, she'd just failed more.

"Flirting is for graceful people." She admonished herself. When she'd told Lily as much, the redhead had laughed at her. "Then be graceful." She'd said, waving a hand.

"Hey Remus, it's really hot in here." She said, lowering her eyelashes. "Stupid! He's facing the other way!" She chided herself. "I think I'll go for a walk, the snow looks beautiful." She continued to the werewolf. Remus, turning to face her, nodded, then went back to looking at books. Scowling, Hermione left the shop.

"Why! Why why why!" She thought grumpily, wishing she hadn't left her coat up at the Castle. "He was supposed to say 'I'll go with you then!'" She thought frowning, while wandering along a path. "Not just NOD!" Looking around the area she'd walked to, over by the Shrieking Shack, she sunk into a bench nearby. Hugging herself tightly because of the cold, she pulled a book out of her bag and began to read.

Inside the bookstore, Vanessa saw Remus standing by himself looking at books.

"Where's Hermione?" She asked curiously.

"Dunno, she went for a walk. Said it was too hot in here." Remus said in a preoccupied voice. Vanessa rolled her eyes. Grabbing him by the shoulders, she spun him around, an easier feat that one would have expected considering Vanessa's slight frame.

"Whoa!" Remus exclaimed, reeling. "What are you doing?" Vanessa looked into his eyes.

"Listen to me, Remus." She said intensely. "Hermione cares about you." She stressed. "But you keep ignoring her!" She said outraged. "The point in her saying it was hot in here was so you'd go for a walk with her." She stressed, rolling her eyes. Remus looked shocked at this sudden change. Vanessa was normally quiet, reserved, and shy, and suddenly she'd become so fierce.

"Hey, calm down!" Remus said, fending her off. "Look, I know Hermione likes me. And I've been thinking. That's why I came today!" He retorted. Vanessa smiled knowingly.

"Well, go tell her." She said with a slight smile, back to her normal self. "I'm sorry I was so blunt, but honestly, you guys never seem to get anything!" Remus look affronted. "Look, good or bad news, tell her. Hermione cares about you. If you tell her you really don't feel anything for her, say it gently, okay?" She said softly. "Just tell her. I'll take these." She added, taking the armfuls of books off him. "You can pay me back later." She nudged him towards the door. "Go." Remus looked at hr quizzically.

"You're very wise, you know that?" He said, raising his eyebrows. Vanessa smiled. Walking over to him, she whispered cryptically,

"I'm told that's what Rowena Ravenclaw was renowned for." Then she walked away into the shelves.

With a tinkle of the bell above the door, Remus was gone.

-------------------------

Hermione heard cloth rustle as someone sat down beside her on the seat. She looked up, straight into Remus's eyes, and stood up. Picking up her bag, she strode of into the veil of snowflakes.

"Hermione, wait!" She heard Remus call. Picking up her pace, she kept walking. "Hermione!" Remus grabbed one of her hands, spinning her around to face him. They were only inches apart. "Hermione, please." Remus said quietly, his ungloved hands clasping her icy ones. He drew her back to the bench and sat down beside her.

"Yes?" Hermione asked quietly, itching to brush the snow out of his hair as she stared at her hands, which were still held.

"Look, Hermione…" Remus began shyly. "I know you like me. And, well, I, I like you." Hermione looked up in disbelief. She opened her mouth, but Remus held shook his head. "Let me finish." He begged, "Otherwise I may not have the courage to continue." He smiled wryly. "I do like you. A lot." He explained, a shy smile on his face. "But, you see, I've always loved Lily. Right from the moment I met her, she was like the sun, shining, radiant…" His voice trailed off.

"You love her." Hermione supplied, feeling tears prick at her eyelids.

"Yes." Remus said quietly. "But," He said firmly, "Lily loves James. And James loves Lily. That's the way things are. Seeing them today… they were happy. Lily was happy. I don't want to ruin that. And James and Sirius are my best friends. They love each other, and that's the way they are." Hermione stared into his grey eyes and saw a shadow of pain hidden in their silvery depths. Remus took a deep breath. "I do like you. I… I need… time… to… heal." He said slowly. He said with a shrug. Hermione looked down at her hands and saw he still held them tight.

"So…" Hermione said sadly. "I guess…" She couldn't finish the sentence. A lump was building in her throat.

"Look, Hermione, I do like you. A lot. In time, maybe…" His voice faded. "Look, if you give me a few weeks, I… we can talk then." He shook his head slightly. "I love Lily. But that has to end. I just need time… to sort everything out." He let go of one of her hands and lifted her chin, so that she had to look at him. Hermione stared into his misty grey eyes and he looked directly back.

"I-" Remus held up his free hand, and Hermione went quiet, feeling the corners of her mouth twitch.

"I do like you, very much." He said firmly. "Don't forget that." He looked down at his hand, which was still entwined with Hermione's slender fingers, and smiled, swinging their hands.

"I understand." Hermione said quietly. She gave him a shaky smile. "Maybe, some day…" She shrugged, and her trembling voice faded. She looked down at their intertwined hands that were swinging lightly. A promise, of friendship, at least. "You sound very wise you know." She added with a quivery smile.

"A short time ago someone told me that's what Rowena Ravenclaw was renowned for." He quoted, then laughed, his merriment even making Hermione laugh slightly.

"Well, I still have to do my shopping today." Remus said regretfully. "And get Vanessa to give my books back." Hermione looked at his quizzically.

"Why does she have your books?" She asked, a questioning look shining in her eyes.

"I saw her in the bookshop a bit after you left." He admitted. "She told me to get the courage to come and talk to you. She yelled at me!" He added in shock, eyes wide. Hermione laughed at the astonished look on his face.

"She isn't that quiet you know!" She giggled. "Like me, she's shy." Mentally she shrugged off the fact that Vanessa had told Remus to talk to her. "He spoke by himself." She thought. "So it doesn't matter if he was shocked into speaking by her, because she didn't force him to come, nor force him to speak." A happy smile played across her lips.

"I know she's shy." Remus said with a mischievous grin. "It seems to be a Ravenclaw thing. My theory is that they study so much they avoid human contact, then they're overwhelmed by people when they have to speak!" They laughed.

"Well, we don't have much longer before we're supposed to go back to Hogwarts. So if you want to go shopping, I guess you'd better go." Hermione stated, her smile fading slightly.

"Yeah." A few minutes passed. No-one moved. Remus and Hermione were still jointed at the wrist. "Well, I should go." He stood up, brushing snow out of his hair. Still holding Hermione's hand, as though reluctant to let it go, he smiled warmly.

"You're going to have to let me go if you want to leave." Hermione pointed out with a flickering smile.

"Alright then. I guess I shall have to let go." Seconds passed. Nothing happened. "Fine." Remus laughed, staring at their hands. "I'll close my eyes. On three, we both let go. One… two… three!"

"It didn't work." Hermione giggled, her eyes sparkling. Remus opened his eyes.

"Well then." He stated, smiling devilishly. "Miss Hermione… hey, what is your last name?" He interrupted himself. "I saw Dumbledore again shortly after I met you. I'm sure he told me it when he asked me to take you to Gryffindor Tower, but since I saw him later, I can't remember it. And no-one has mentioned it again since then." He mused. Hermione squirmed inwardly, knowing Dumbledore must have Memory Charmed him. Telling him her name would prove disastrous in the future.

"It doesn't matter." She said lightly, smiling, and still clasping his hand.

"Fine." Looking down at her again, and still smiling devilishly, he kneeled in the snow. "Lady Hermione, since our hands seem to be inseparable, I feel highly inclined to ask if you will accompany me on a shopping trip in Hogsmeade." He asked in a mocking grave voice. His cheeks seemed unusually pink, even though they were both pale from being out in the cold snow.

"Is this new Sir Remus asking me to shop with him?" Hermione asked in the same tone. "Is he sure he wouldn't rather shop with Lady Lily?"

"Lord Remus wishes to shop with Lady Hermione. And yes, Sir Remus is asking Lady Hermione if she would wish to accompany him." He replied firmly. A snowflake landed on his nose, ruining the moment. He shook his head, and the snowflake went flying. Hermione laughed. "Lousy, moment ruining snowflake." Remus muttered, looking at the falling snow swirling in the air.

"Well, then yes. Lady Hermione would very much wish to accompany Lord/Sir Remus." She smiled happily, feeling a pink glow creep into her face.

"Well then." Remus said, pulling Hermione to her feet, "We shall head over yonder into the area where Lord Remus's shopping must be done, accompanied by Lady Hermione." They both laughed, doubling over with amusement.

"You do realize that we're both crazy?" Hermione spluttered.

"Yes, both Sir and Lord Remus, who happen to be the same person, me, do realize that we are indeed insane." He smiled.

"Well then, Lady Hermione thinks that we should begin walking in the direction where the shopping can be accomplished." Hermione laughed, swinging their hands.

"Well then, let's go!"

Laughing uncontrollably, the two friends walked down the snowy path, still joined at the wrist.

"He may need time," Hermione thought to herself, "But this is a start."

(A/N: So, March's chapter is up. Like? REVIEW:) I'm having SOOO much fun writing this story, so it may update sooner!)