Anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.

Misty Copeland


September 1st, 1971

"Don't get in too much trouble. We will see you two in Yule, yes?" Adelia asked.

"Mére! I can not believe that you think of us so low. You wounded me, mére." Elisabeth said, fake offended. It was not so loud but got the desired effect, as the whole family chuckled.

"But please, be careful and enjoy your schooling. Don't rush anything yet, dears." Joseph advised gently. He brushed a gentle kiss on each of their foreheads as a goodbye.

Hugged them each goodbye, Elisabeth and Hermione boarded the Hogwarts train Express for the seventh time. Hermione couldn't believe that they were going back today. She has almost expected the familiar redhead family and Harry to board the train with her. But looking around the train now, she could only see her future friend here and there on these strangers' faces. With their trunks already shrunken, the two started to find an empty compartment for themselves.

They didn't make it very far until Hermione heard someone calling her name. Turned around, she was surprised to be faced with a younger Sirius. Compared to the time they saw him in Madam Malkin, he was happier for sure, with his broad smile and all. Hermione couldn't help and returned it.

"Hey, you two, remember me, yeah? From Madam Malkin the other day. Sirius Orion Black the Third at your service, miladies." And of course, as dramatic as always, he bowed down and kissed her and Elisabeth's knuckles.

Hermione couldn't keep herself from chuckle at that. Even at eleven, he is as flirtatious as when he was thirty-six. She did finally managed to introduce herself.

"Hermione Derwent. Nice to meet you again." She said between chuckles.

"Elisabeth Derwent." Elisabeth also said, with an amused expression on her face.

"Derwent? Really? They haven't had daughters in like four generations, ain't it?"

"Yes, seem like you know a lot about our family?" Elisabeth answered, with her eyebrow raised, amused.

"Have to learn, you know? Sure you lot have to learn it too." Sirius answered with an easy smile. It was nice to see how carefree he was, given how Azakaban has or will corrupt him in the future. Hermione just hoped that she could keep such happiness on his face this time around.

"Oi Sirius, introduce me to your new friend, yeah?" A voice that oh so familiar to Hermione echoed somewhere. People always said Harry looks like his father, and it was quite an understatement. They were almost like twins! If it was not for Elisabeth's hand, she might run and hug him right away. She was pulled back into reality when it was not the bright green eyes of her best friend looking at her.

"James Potter, at your service." He did an extravagant bow, which told a lot about why he and Sirius got on immediately. After they introduced themselves again, James invited them to their compartment. They declined, however, needing to find an empty one for discussion. As they were leaving, Sirius called them back, scratching the back of his head as he did so.

"Hey, I have been wanted to thank you both for what you said to me at Madam Malkin. You two don't know how much it means to me." Hermione smiled sadly at hearing that.

"It is nothing. I'm glad it helped you." Elisabeth assured.

"So, see you two at Hogwarts, yeah?" Just like last time, he waved at them both before joining James.

Their journey to find an empty compartment was interrupted once more by Lily Evans.

"Hi! You two remember us? From the bookstore? Want to join our compartment? We have plenty of space here." Before they could reply, however, Lily already pulled their hands in and got them to sit. Across from them sat a stoic Severus Snape, though, his wide eyes might have given away his surprise. Just before the two sisters could say anything, Lily cut them to it: "Are you two excited for Hogwarts? What house do you think you will be? I like both Gryffindor and Ravenclaw house, though, I will probably be sort into Ravenclaw." Lily finished, grinning brightly.

"Hello, Lily,...pr...Severus. Of course, we remember you two. I am hoping to be sort in either Ravenclaw or Slytherin. Us Derwent has been in those two houses for centuries." Elisabeth answered with a nervous smile because of her almost-slip up.

"I, myself, hope to be sort in Gryffindor. I will be the first one, but I can not envision myself in other houses." It also because Gryffindor was her old house too, but Hermione didn't say it out loud. "What about you, Severus?"

Surprised at being included in the conversation, he stumbled in his answer. Unsurprisingly, it was Slytherin. Lily then asked them a question that they knew she desperately wanted to ask Severus as well.

"Aren't you afraid to be in separate houses?"

"While I hope we will, it is fine by me if we are not in the same house. After all, we shouldn't let our house separate our relationship." Hermione shrugged casually.

"And I wholeheartedly agree with what she said." Elisabeth injected softly.

Relief crossed both Lily and Severus' faces at their statements. "What classes are you looking forward to the most? I am anticipating Charms and Transfiguration myself." Lily effortlessly carried on the conversation. Hermione almost laughed at how different her son in the future would be.

"For me, it is Arithmancy. I don't think I will be able to take it until our third year, though." Hermione answered honestly from experience. She has always loved the class the last time.

"Is it a kind of math?" Lily asked curiously, remembering from what she read in Hogwarts: A History.

"Yes, it is, up to a point."

"I am looking to take Ancient Runes and Defense Against the Dark Arts. It would be great to be able to protect my family." Elisabeth said, and Hermione knew this was true, given what had happened last time. She held one of Elisabeth's hand to comfort, to which she received a grateful smile from her adoptive sister. "What about you, Severus?" Elisabeth spoke up.

"Potions and Defence Against the Dark Arts for me as well." Her former Potion professor answered almost shyly, which was a tone Hermione thought she would never imagine hearing from him.

"Well, it has been great talking to both of you. We will continue our streak to explore the train, unfortunately. Hope to see you both later!" Elisabeth said, standing up. She gave them a genuine smile and headed out.

Hermione followed her led and stood up. Hoping to leave them something to think about, she said: "I hope that we all can be good friends, even when we are sort into different houses." She can see them talking seriously from the outside as she left, and Hermione could only hope that she could save their friendship this time.

They finally reached the end of the train, but all the compartments were already full of people, safe for one. It was not empty, either. A rather shy-looking boy, who appeared to be slumping in his seat, has already occupied it. It was not just any other boy, however. It was eleven years old, Remus Lupin! She could now recognize his ruffled brown hair, a few scars on his jawline that stood out due to his pale skin.

His back straightened immediately when they slid open the door. When he turned his head toward them, Hermione's heart broke for the hurt showed in his green eyes. Of course! It was only three days until the full moon. How could she did not realize it sooner?! She wished to hug and comfort him but knew that it would only terrify the young Remus.

"Hi! Would you mind if we sit here? Everywhere else is full already." Hermione said softly.

"Y-yes." Came his nervous answer.

They sat down gracefully and gave him a genuine smile, hoping it might help appease his nerves. Remus smiled shyly at them, because to the pain, it came off more like a grimace, however.

"Are you a first-year too? What is your name?" Hermione started. His eyes widen as if he didn't believe that she was talking to him.

"Y-yes. I am Remus Lupin. You two?" He timidly replied.

"I am Hermione Derwent."

"And I am Elisabeth Derwent." At his questioning gaze, she added with a chuckle. "Yes, we are twins."

"What house do you think you will be in, Remus?" Hermione asked, hoping to befriend him. Maybe this time, if he could see how many care about him, he wouldn't be afraid to stand up when James and Sirius stepped over the limit.

"I hope to be in Gryffindor? What about you two?"

"Gryffindor for me as well." Hermione beamed at him, glad for the olive branch.

"I can't decide between Ravenclaw and Slytherin. I would be fine with either." Elisabeth also answered, smiling softly at him.

"No matter, I hope we can all be good friends. What do you think, Remus? Friends?" Hermione asked nervously, raising her hand with her palm slightly down, just like Adelia taught her. What if he said no? She began to worry when he only starred wide eyes at her offered hand as if he thought that no one would want to be his friend. Given how adamant Remus was in not marrying Tonks in the future, this was a likely possibility.

"Please, Remus, we would love to be your friend." Elisabeth plead.

Detected only sincereness in their feelings, he finally shook their offered hands.

"Friends." He said, smiling brightly for the first time. One of his biggest worries was no one in their right mind would be his friends. But then again, these two girls in front of him didn't know of him being a monster. He only hoped that they would not run away when they knew. That did not matter now; he now has friends for himself! He could felt his wolf cheering inside as well.

"Anything off the trolly, dear?" The sweet trolly lady strolled by and asked.

"No, thanks, ma'am. I am fine." Remus replied sadly.

"What about you two, dears?" The trolley lady looked expectantly at them.

"Can we please have three pumpkin Pasties, a sugar quills, a liquorice wand, and...three Chocolate Frogs as well?" Hermione ordered for both her and Elisabeth, knowing the other girl loved liquorice wand.

When the trolley lady left, Hermione turned and divided the candy stack to each of them. Remus was surprised when he received a Chocolate Frog and Pumpkin Pastie. He tried to give it back.

"No, I could not accept these, Hermione."

"Please take these, Remus. We are all friends, aren't we?" She asked amusingly.

"Y-yes. Yes, of course. Thank you!" He said honestly.

They could tell that Remus was trying to hold back, but soon enough, the Chocolate Frog was gone. He looked up at them sheepishly then. Both Hermione and Elisabeth offered him theirs, and this time, he took less time to give in. Hermione was glad for it. She knew how much it helped ease his pain.

"What is everyone's favourite book?" Elisabeth asked. And from there, a lively discussion began, stretched throughout the whole train ride.


Sometimes later, when they all quietly enjoyed each of their own Hogwarts: A History, Elisabeth caught the first glimpse of the Hogwarts castle as she gazed up. It filled her with awe, just like the first time she rode the train. Looked to Hermione, her now sister and twins, and their new friend, the young Remus Lupin; she couldn't help and thought.

"Everything will be alright. We will make it better for all!"


Author Note: Happy late new year, everyone! I can't wait to see where 2021 will take us all. Let's start fresh, shall we?

p.s: For those who 'follow' this, do you received a notification when I fix and update something on my chapter?