Disclaimer: I do not own any Harry Potter related stuff, characters or anything else. They belong to J.K Rowling.

(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 Sixteen:

(A/N: Just so you know, my birthday is on the 2nd of June, so that date has particular significance to me, which is why I chose it. Enjoy )

2nd June, 2005

"And now, as I am immensely proud and pleased to give you, the graduate class of 2005!" Dumbledore announced to the crowd of parents and friends milling below. "Now, my former students, everybody make pretty sparkles with your wands!" He added gleefully. Amused, and with wide smiles, every single student in Hermione Grangers' year pointed their wands up into the air and fired off sparkles.

"Mum! Dad!" Hermione yelled happily as she finally found her parents amidst the sea of people.

"Hermione!" They exclaimed happily.

"Hi!" She waved enthusiastically, running over to them.

"Honey, we're so proud of you!" Mrs. Granger smiled, hugging her only daughter tight.

"My little Hermione," Mr. Granger began, looking around him in wonder, "I often wondered why you seemed to love this place so much." He said wistfully, looking around him in awe. "And now I know." He smiled. "Congratulations." He hugged her tightly too.

"If I may interrupt." A voice said a few seconds later. The three huggers turned around to see an amused Professor Dumbledore beaming at them.

"Mr., Mrs. Granger, you are excellent parents indeed." He smiled at them. "I am pleased to have finally met such obviously nice people."

"Hi Professor!" Hermione smiled.

"Albus Dumbledore." The Headmaster introduced himself.

"I'm Bob." Hermione's father said, shaking Dumbledore's hand. "And this is my wife-"

"I'm Mary." Hermione's mother replied to Dumbledore's greeting.

"Very pleased to meet you." Dumbledore bowed slightly.

Slowly, Dumbledore led Hermione's parents over to the food table, talking avidly to them.

"Hermione, there you are!" A relieved voice said.

"We lost you." Harry added to Ron's exclamation.

"Oh, well, looks like we finally made it." She grinned. "No more exams, tests, NEWTS, OWLs, timetables…" Her voice trailed off, gaining a sad aspect as she realized life without Hogwarts. "But I'll have Remus!" The gleeful voice inside her head added, making her grin. The two had decided a few days previously that they did want to try a relationship once Hermione was graduated.

"Yeah, it's finally over." Ron said, relieved. "No more school!" He added gleefully. In the distance Molly Weasley could be seen motioning for Ron to get back over to where his family was, beaming happily.

"Oi, Ron." Harry pointed at Mrs. Weasley. "Well, see you soon, Hermione." Ron said, shrugging. He walked off towards his family, Harry following.

"Hermione." A quiet voice said behind her. Smiling brightly, Hermione spun around to see Remus, standing in his not-so-shabby robes, smiling softly at her. Hermione stepped forward, meaning to hug him, but he sidestepped. Seeing her injured look he added, "Not now."

"Hi Re - Professor Lupin." She corrected herself hurriedly, looking like nothing had happened. Quietly she added, "Are you ready?"

They'd decided to tell Hermione's parents about their relationship, with Dumbledore present, at the Graduation, since that was the time all four parties, Remus, Dumbledore, Hermione, and her parents, would be together at the same time without some conniving.

"I guess so." He smiled wryly, but Hermione could see her nervousness mirrored in his eyes.

The two walked over to Professor Dumbledore, Bob, and Mary. Dumbledore, seeing them over the Grangers' shoulders, suddenly spoke loudly.

"Mr. Granger, Mrs. Granger, would you please follow me over here? There is something you should hear, but not surrounded by people." Remus threw his boss a grateful look, as did Hermione. Dumbledore led the group over to a secluded area, out of site, just beside the boundary of the Forbidden Forest.

"Mum, Dad, I have something I need to tell you." Hermione started cautiously, quivering. Dumbledore gave her a slight smile.

"Well, first, this is Professor Remus John Lupin." Remus stepped forward.

"Hello." Bob said jovially. "Nice to meet you."

"Hi." Mary added, smiling.

"Hello." Remus said, shaking their hands.

"Remus teaches the students Defense Against the Dark Arts." Dumbledore interjected.

"Oh, do you really?" Bob asked curiously. "So what-"

"Dad, this really needs to be dealt with, now." Hermione added more firmly.

"Oh, sorry." He fell silent.

"Well, Remus and I are… well…" Hermione blushed. "Well… we are… together." She said, for once at a loss for words. Mr. Granger looked like he was going to have an apoplexy.

"You mean to tell me," He said sternly, facing Dumbledore, "That this man has been associating with my daughter?" He looked furious. "And you allowed a member of your staff to have a relationship with a student?" He exclaimed. Remus winced.

"Mr. Granger, there is more to this story than first appears." Dumbledore spoke gravely.

"Mum, Dad," Hermione admitted, "I've cared about Remus for years." She blushed scarlet. "And, well…" Hermione quickly gave her parents the details of what she'd been through in the past year. Mr. Granger was shocked, but Mrs. Granger smiled.

"Calm down, Bob." She said gently, laying a tan hand on his arm. "We've always known our Hermione was unlikely to find someone her own age, being so intellectual. No offence." She added. "Even though this is a shock to us, it is completely understandable." She spoke seriously. "Hermione, this decision is yours, and yours alone, and we-" she nudged her husband in the ribs "-will support it wholeheartedly." She smiled, the sunny smile lighting up her face.

"Hermione, I agree with your mother. As… unusual… as this is…" He trailed off helplessly. "We love you, and we'll always be behind you." Hermione smiled shyly, linking her hand with Remus's.

"Now, on a happier note, I believe you, Miss Granger, had something else to acknowledge today?" Dumbledore smiled.

"What…? Oh, yeah!" She exclaimed, her mind returning. "Well, I've been offered a post as a teacher at Hogwarts!" She said proudly to her parents. "As Charms teacher, since my teacher, Professor Flitwick, is retiring. He specifically wanted me for the job!" She grinned.

"That's wonderful, honey!" Mrs. Granger exclaimed. "Fantastic!" Awkwardly, she looked at Remus.

"Welcome to the family." She grinned, and Remus bowed slightly.

"Ah well, if it had to be anyone, I guess I'm glad it's you." Mr. Granger said grudgingly. Mrs. Granger giggled slightly.

"He's so charming, Hermione." Hermione turned scarlet, and Remus raised an eyebrow at her.

"Well, mum, dad, Professor, we'd best be going for a bit. People to see…" She trailed off, smiling and backing away, pulling Remus with her. "Few!" Hermione breathed out. "Glad that's over." Remus smiled at her.

"Well, I guess, since your parents have dealt with the fact we're together," He began,

"Well, at least slightly." Hermione interrupted, slipping her arm around his thin waist.

"Yeah, thank goodness. What would you have done if they'd heartily disapproved of me, as nearly happened?" He inquired, smiling wryly as he abandoned his last sentence.

"Ditched 'em to be with you." Hermione said quietly. "Technically we've known each other for like… around 20 years or so. And, you know, we never actually broke up." She smiled mischievously, looking up into his thin, pale face. Remus smiled wryly back at her.

"No we didn't." He agreed smoothly, colouring slightly. "Now, I think we'd better separate. This conversation is getting heavy, and, well…"

"Yeah, I understand. No fraternizing with a student on her graduation, infront of all the parents and teachers." She rolled her eyes. "Well, by tomorrow we'll both be free. In less than 24 hours Professor Flitwick will resign," She paused, "Which is sad, because he's such a fantastic teacher, and I will become Professor Hermione Granger. Maybe even soon one day 'Professor Hermione Lupin." She smiled sweetly. Remus blanched and stepped back several paces.

"Ah, lets give that one some thought." He said; panic flaring briefly in his eyes. "Your parents would kill me if we got engaged anytime soon!" He spluttered.

"Pity. But you would want to marry me eventually?" She looked at him searchingly.

"Of course! Just… not now." He smiled, and pulled her into a tight hug. "Eventually." Hermione stepped back, smiling widely.

"Good. By the way, if anyone asks, I was distraught at leaving Hogwarts, and you hugged me coz I asked you too for cheering up." Remus rolled his eyes.

"Alright. You know, it seems slightly weird I knew you when I was seventeen and at Hogwarts, then I knew you when you were in your Third Year, and now we'll both be teaching together. And…" He trailed off, but leaving no doubt of his meaning. (A/N: NOT in the way you people are probably thinking! Sick minded people! 'laughs'.)

"Yeah. Does seem slightly odd. 'T'is funny really. We were together when we were both students, that was allowed, slightly together with me being a student, and you being a teacher, but that wasn't allowed, and now we'll be both teachers, which is…" She trailed off, smile fading. A look of horror dawned on their faces.

"I don't think Dumbledore ever actually said we could be together if we were both teaching at Hogwarts!" Remus exclaimed.

"Does it have an inter-staff dating ban or something?" Hermione asked, unsure. "I don't know, it wasn't in 'Hogwarts, a History." They looked at each other in turmoil. Suddenly, in the background, they just saw a glimpse of Dumbledore's hair as he walked around, talking to parents. Suddenly breaking into a run, they pelted in the direction of the Headmaster.

"DUMBLEDORE!"

(Well, the story's finally finished. Yes, sad but true. It's finally over. It seems strange, knowing I no longer have more chapters to add, no more plotlines to tweak…

I hope you've enjoyed reading this story just as much as I enjoyed writing it, which is ENORMOUSLY.

I know this last chapter wasn't fantastic, but it was never planned, the previous chapter was actually 'THE END,' but most people who read it over for me felt that it needed one last summing up.

So, the story's finished. Finito, Finé, Finir.

Thank you to everyone who's taken the time to read my story, and especially to those who reviewed.

Just as an extra note, Hermione and Remus do end up being together while teaching at Hogwarts, Dumbledore's totally gung-ho about the idea!

Well, my final sentence for this story dawns.

Good-Bye, Good-Luck, and Thank-You for taking the time to read my story!)