Turns out tomorrow wasn't really tomorrow. Classes became well and truly difficult even for someone so intelligent and soon enough the weather was warm. Hermione knew that she had a mission but also wanted to pass her classes and do well on her N.E.W.T.s, especially if this was going to be her new timeline. She spent most of her free time in the library with Lily and Remus. There were also a lot of late nights in the common room, trying to help Peter with the basics.

Things with the Slytherins didn't get any better. She thought about trying to find a way to help Regulus but she hadn't thought of anything that wouldn't get him killed. If she could get to the locket before he did then maybe he had a fighting chance. Attempting to corner him, talk him around, would put a target on his back.

She continued to forge her relationship with Peter, ensure that he had some kind of path and wasn't just in the shadows of his friends. She realized that that was probably the problem. He had no set path and went for the first thing that gave him any sort of purpose. Hermione was going to ensure that he had a path to follow.

"Hermione, what would you think about starting study guides for finals this weekend," Lily asked later that night in the common room. It was early May and they still had some time but the two girls could never be prepared enough.

"Absolutely not," Marlene yelled from the other side of the room.

"What Marlene said!" Sirius said. "Hello! Quidditch finals!" Remus and James were looking at them and pointing at their chests.

"How could you forget?" James asked, actual hurt in his voice. Lily paled. She actually did forget.

"And!" Remus continued, "We have the last Hogsmeade day on Sunday to get whatever else we need for that end of the year thing." That 'end of year thing' was an End of the Year Ball that apparently was an annual thing in the 70's. Hermione would have to do more research as to why it was cancelled in her time.

"Finals can wait!" Peter told them. "You have to come with us." The two girls looked at each other but they knew that the argument was really over before it started.

"Okay fine," Lily said, "but the rest of you are going to study with us after this weekend." They grumbled out responses but nobody dared argue. Hermione smiled and went back to her insanely long potions assignment when she felt the seat beside her dip down. She didn't have to look over to see who it was, the arm draped over the back of the couch was clue enough.

"You know, honey. I am so hurt right now." She didn't look up or stop writing but she did smile.

"Why is that Mr. Lupin?" the full moon had been a week ago but he hadn't looked better. He let his hand fall to the back of her neck. It was completely unconscious the way she turned her head into it so he could rub at the sorer spots. She had spent a lot of time craned over books lately. A sound escaped her lips when his thumb pushed into a particularly tender spot before she could stop it. She really hoped nobody heard it but she knew that he did.

"Because you forgot about my match and Hogsmeade!" she pretended to be bothered and looked up at him. He was grinning.

"I'm sorry, Remus. How could I?"

"I have no idea," he told her. "Are you and Lily going to go together?" She didn't know where the conversation was going. This wasn't something that her intelligence could prepare her for. She also didn't know that she had an audience.

"Most likely. Especially if we have to get dress robes for the end of the year." He nodded and continued to rub at her neck. Hermione missed all the looks that Lily was sending her and James was sending Remus.

"That's fair. We'll have to meet up again for drinks." He wasn't looking at her. Was he asking her out? He couldn't be.

Make meaningful connections, make meaningful connections.

"Yeah, for sure," she said. He smiled, still looking into the fire. "Though I don't know if I can handle another party like that other one." He laughed and she felt it against her side.

"You're doing pretty well for yourself. I-"

"I can't take it anymore!" Sirius declared dramatically, coming to stand in front of them. He had the attention of everyone in the common room now. "Hermione! Just ki-"

"Okay Padfoot! Time to go!" James said as he and Remus jumped up to haul him out of the common room. "Bye ladies. Love you Evans." Hermione looked at them all in confusion and turned to Lily and Alice for an explanation. Peter followed them out without any insight. They were looking at her with pity.

"Oh Hermione, get upstairs right now."

When the girls got into the dormitory it was like a closed and calculated attack. They took all the mattresses off the beds and made them into a crash pad on the floor. Lily somehow got a house elf to bring them snacks and then they were staring at her. There was a part of her that knew what this was about but she was there to save people not date her werewolf professor… no matter how dateable he was.

"Hermione Jean Granger," Lily started seeming to know what she was thinking. "Sit down right this instant." Hermione couldn't refuse her anything. It was as if Harry was asking her. She made her way over and fell down onto the mattresses, face down on her pillow.

"Is this an intervention?" she muttered. They laughed and Marlene smacked her on the arse.

"Sure is, buttercup! Sit up!" Hermione had never had friends like this. As much as she didn't want to have this conversation, she absolutely cherished these girls and the ease with which they folded her into their lives. It was never like this with Lavender, Parvarti, and Romilda.

"I assume you know what this is about?" Alice asked her. Hermione put her head in her hands to try and cover up the redness of her face.

"I have a general idea."

"A little birdie told me something very interesting," Marlene said, slyly. Hermione shot her a look.

"Is there anything Sirius doesn't tell you?" Marlene smirked and looked down at her nailbeds.

"It's amazing what I can get out of him with a little … persuasion." Lily visibly shuddered. Marlene shrugged. "Just because you are refusing to let Potter all up in there," she said pointing at Lily, "doesn't mean I can't let Black treat a girl right."

"Marlene!" Alice said scandalized. Hermione had to laugh. Alice and Frank had a traditional courtship, not secret shags in a broom closet. To each their own.

"Hey, you can keep your secret kisses and I'll continue to let Black put his tong-"

"OKAY!" all three girls said at once. She laughed and leaned back on her hands.

"We're getting off topic however, this is about Hermione and our favorite delicious sixth year Gryffindor."

"Dear Merlin, strike me down," Hermione begged at the ceiling. Alice patted her shoulder.

"What is the hesitation? He is completely broom closet worthy. In fact if I were you, after practice, I would get into that locker room and-"

"Marlene, give her a second," Lily said with a laugh. "Not everyone wants to get shagged on the Quidditch Pitch."

"You do," Alice said with a sly smirk. Lily looked absolutely betrayed.

"Alice," she hissed. Marlene's eyes were wide.

"I knew it!" she yelled triumphantly.

"I do not!" Lily said and Hermione had to be thankful, if a bit surprised by the change in subject.

"You have imagined ripping Potter's uniform off and ravaging him after a game, haven't you? He does look absolutely divine after a win. All windswept and sweaty." Marlene had a faraway look in her eye. There were benefits of being on the Quidditch team, Hermione guessed.

"I am not entertaining this conversation," Lily said which obviously meant that yes, she had, many times in fact. "We are here to talk about Hermione and Remus and why she hasn't snogged his beautiful face yet?"

Hermione groaned, head in her hands.

"I just have a lot going on," she said lamely. They had no idea how much. She had to find the Horcruxes, kill Voldemort, save them all, stop Peter from betraying everyone, etc., etc.

"That's the lamest excuse I have ever heard," Marlene told her.

Yes, only because she didn't know what kind of tasks she had.

"Is it because he's a werewolf?" Alice's question stopped everyone cold. Lily and Marlene were staring daggers at her but Hermione just let out a breath. It would be a huge relief to tell someone that she knew.

"I already knew." They turned surprised eyes on her. "I had a friend who was bitten as a child. It didn't take me long to figure it out and no, it has absolutely nothing to do with that. His condition doesn't make him any less of a person or any less beautiful. He's actually an amazing person, I just – I don't know if I can handle a relationship or even dating someone when I have all this responsibility –"

"What is it you aren't telling us, Hermione? I feel like you have the weight of the whole world on your shoulders?" Lily asked. If only she knew.

I'm trying to save your son. That's what she wanted to say anyways.

"I'm just trying to make a difference. My friends died before I could save them and I'm trying to let their sacrifices not be in vain." Marlene was closest and reached out to grab her hand. She was fierce in her grasp and in her words.

"We're going to help you. Us and the boys too. But loving someone and being loved in return, isn't going to make your task any harder, it's going to help you through the darkest times."

That sounded awfully familiar.

"Just give him a shot?" Lily asked. Hermione thought about it. Thought about Tonks and Teddy. That part of the timeline was already blasted apart. They already were nonexistent. What would it hurt?

"Okay."