Remus had been skirting around her that morning. It was Sunday and he didn't have to go to work, which brought them in an awkward position. Not that Hermione had anything to do with the awkwardness. It was all Remus' fault. He was avoiding her.

As she sat down on to have her breakfast, it was just Sirius there with her.

"Well, are you going to say something to him or not?" He asked.

"What can I? He is the one avoiding me."

"He is scared , you know. You are the only girl he has laid his eyes on."

"I have not seen him even meeting my eye today and you say he has eyes on me." Hermione scoffed.

He shoved his shoulders to her playfully.

"Oh you know very well what I mean. I am not oblivious to the way you are with him either."

"I won't deny it like him."

"He has his reasons kitten."

"What makes you think that I don't know his reason?" She realised her mistake a second late. It wasn't that she could not hide her knowledge under her cover but she didn't yet want to answer the questions that come along with it. Luckily, she was saved by a knock by the window and quickly rose to look at the owl. It was beautiful grey owl. She gave it some water and owl treat while she removed the letter. It was addressed to Sirius.

"Its for you." She handed him the letter and saw Remus making his way into the kitchen. He still avoided her gaze. She turned towards Sirius who was frowning.

"What is it?" She asked.

"He agreed to meet us." There was no doubt as in who this 'he' was.

"It's a good thing. When ?" She asked.

"Tomorrow at five." He said. "But it could be a plot to lure us in. He is a death eater. I am not sure if we should go."

"What are you talking about?" Remus asked.

"Regulus." Sirius said.

"You are not going." He said firmly looking at her for the first time since the kiss previous night. He should not have done that cause it angered her.

"I am going." She told Sirius. " Whether you come or not. Its your decision."

"No you are not." Remus said firmly.

"Yes, I am. And you have no right to stop me. Why don't you go and ignore me like you were doing minutes ago?" She said sarcastically and was glad when she saw Remus flinch at her words.

"Please , will you two stop bickering like old married couples." Sirius complained.

"It could be dangerous Padfoot. Have you forgotten how you were when you last faced a death eater."

This time Hermione flinched as the face of Bellatrix Lestrange was thrown in front of her face. The shudder she felt didn't go unnoticed by both of them.

"Regulus won't be like them."

"He is my brother, kitten, and I don't know if that is true." Hermione could hear the strain in his voice. She knew he blamed himself for it.

"No Sirius, I know. He wants to leave them. But he has no one to go to. If he leaves , they will kill him. He needs our help." It was a low blow but it was needed. For the tiniest fraction of a second, she saw emotions swirl in his eyes.

"Remus," Sirius said after a while, "I can't let him down again." Pleading his friend to understand.

Remus was torn. He couldn't let Hermione go. Moony was screaming inside his head to stun her if the need be to keep her safe. But he knew he had no right to keep Sirius away from his brother and clearly it was Hermione who knew what Regulus was up to.

"It won't be dangerous. We will meet him at a crowded place and keep a portkey in hand if something happens. If there is even the slimest chance that we can be ambushed , we will leave. I promise." She said to both the boys. But it was clearly for Remus. "But trust me on this one. There will be no such need."

"What can I say? It is your decision." He said. "Though , tell James and Lily." With that he left the room.

"Did he just agree?" Hermione asked Sirius when Remus had left.

"Yes he did." Sirius too looked confused. "I bet , he has something going on inside that blasted head of his."

"We will deal with it when the situation comes."

It was late evening when Hermione sat with James enjoying her tea. Lily was curled up beside him on the couch with her head on his chest , sleeping peacefully.

"James, is there any property around here?" She asked.

"Why would you ask that?" He asked suspiciously.

"I am planning to move out."

He made the motion to sit up but then realised he had his wife beside him and said, "Is it because of what is going on in between you and Remus? If it is awkward for you I can talk to him."

"Thanks James." She smiled at him. He had no idea how much his son was going to be like him. "But its not just that. I came out of nowhere and stumbled into your life. All of you have been so generous by opening up your lives for me. But I feel like its time I get a place of my own. I have nothing to call my own here just a wand and my bag."

"But Mione , you can stay with us as long as you like." He complained.

"I know. This cottage is home to me. But I need a place of my own. I need to confront many things that I have been avoiding for months now. And its not like, I want to go far away. Because I won't leave until I find a place near here , so that I can spend my entire day with all of you and just walk back home at night." She explained.

"Thats not…"

"James , she is right." Lily yawned as she raised her head from her husband. "Though she is always welcomed to live with us, if she wants a place to call her own, she should get it. We will go to Gringotts tomorrow." Lily stifled another yawn and got up to leave for her room.

"Now what can I say." James shrugged. "Why do you look at me like that all the time?" He asked catching her looking wistfully at him.

"You are so much like Harry." She said.

"Who's Harry? Your boyfriend?" He asked smirking at her.

"What! Why would you say that?" She asked.

"Oh, don't give me that look. Its not like you hide that you always wear jumpers with Harry or H on it." Hermione hadn't realised her clothes were being noticed.

"He is my best friend. And No. He is not my boyfriend. I have known him since we were eleven. God even thinking about him like that feels like an incest." She wrinkled her nose at the thought of Harry and Her. Besides it was also pedophiliac . For Merlin's sake Harry wasn't even born yet.

"Wait till I tell this to Moony." He got up and ran towards Remus' room.

"James." She shouted but he was long gone.

She couldn't help but smile at her new friends. They were her new family here and therefore she needed a place of her own. So that her family won't be endangered because of her. She had a lot to do now. She had to find the horcruxes and kill Voldemort before Harry was born. So that Harry would be born into a safe world.

This time she will let him enjoy his childhood the way he should have.

daichisjuicythighs

just tell me the venue and I will be there ;) Remus definitely is the best character. I just hope I do his character justice.

rooske01

Thanks a lotttt. I adore the friendship of the Marauders and wasn't going to settle for anything less for them. Hope this chapter is up to your expectations.

TheRubyRed

Instead of shouting, maybe sent him dozen of howlers. But there are certain tasks in hand for her before she sets him straight. It is going to be a lot of drama when they get together. Stay connected to the story. Thanks for reading.

lady sesshomaru sama 949

Definitely. I am much too eager for a happy ending to slow down. Thanks and keep reading.