A/N: I know it's been a while but I just finished my TP and I posted this chapter as soon as I could. I don't know when the next chapter will be up but I'll try to keep my schedule of one update a month, so fingers crossed.

Enjoy!^^

It took little to no time for her to settle in with the Weasleys and help around the house where she could, even if Molly continuously tried to stop her from helping. The couple made her feel at home and the boys were absolute sweethearts. Yet it wasn't like how she knew it, which was normal under the circumstances.

That was the part she still somewhat had to get used to, the part where she had to get to know the pair all over again. The same could be said about the couple, though for them it was the first time meeting her, not the second time. Not technically speaking.

She had written several letters to Lily, mostly about how things were going and about funny little things the three little Weasleys would do. The amount of letters she sent the redhead, was the same amount she had received. Lily especially liked to coo about the little boys and complain about her sister, saying that she couldn't wait to see the brunette again.

Surprisingly, the boys hadn't visited her yet or invited her to visit them. They had only sent a letter or two, not much in it. She didn't mind, she had enough things to keep her busy. Those things being her thoughts and three little creatures who always managed to catch her attention.

It took a few days 'till the boys had got used to her but when they did, she hardly let them out of her sight. She absolutely adored them. Bill was six and very curious. He would ask question after question and Hermione or his parents, depending who was present, would answer to the best of their abilities. And apparently he also liked books very much, coming to her on various occasions asking her to read him something or he would start reading to her. He was an absolute sweetheart.

Charlie was four and didn't know what the word 'no' meant. He was a little daredevil, always trying to climb onto something or fidgeting with something he found lying around the house. No matter how much they told him not to climb on the stairs, to keep away from the oven, he just did it again when he thought they weren't looking. Maybe he was a big influence for the way the twins turned out to be.

Little Percy was the youngest. He would be turning two this summer. Apart from taking small steps around the house and playing with a few toys, he was too young to really do anything, still clinging to Molly a lot, still needing her for most things. That didn't take away the fact that he was cute though. How he turned out to be so strict and uptight, she didn't know.

She helped around the house where she could – at least when she was allowed by Molly – and helped with the kids. She played with them, helped them get ready for bed or helped them eat at the table. Bill was a clever boy, so sometimes when everyone was seated at the table he would just crawl in her lap and sit with her, just because he knew he could get away with it. The first time he had done it Molly almost had thrown a fit until Hermione had smiled and assured her it was no problem. She had to admit, she was weak when it came to the sweet, little boy.

One day she received a letter from James, stating "Come to my house tomorrow by ten. Everyone is coming, Remus, Peter and even Lily. Just use the floo. Say 'Potter Manor' and you'll be just fine." Wow, not even an 'how are you doing' or 'see you tomorrow'. Not that she was that surprised though, it was something James would do.

"Mrs Weasley?" No matter how often Molly told the young witch to just call her by her name, Hermione couldn't do it. Not yet anyway. Maybe further down the line.

"What is it, dear?"

"Is it okay if I visit my friends tomorrow?"

"Of course, dear. Will you be okay to get there?"

"They told me to use the floo."

"A good thing then that we just stocked up on floo powder," she smiled at her.

The next day, however, proved that it was a little difficult to just leave the burrow. Bill was throwing a small tantrum, not wanting Hermione to leave. She was a bit surprised at such a strong reaction but she didn't blame him. She had been with the little boys almost 24/7 for weeks now, so leaving when he had to stay home was likely to result in something like this.

She was already half an hour late. "Bill, I'm not going away forever. Just a little while."

"Then I want to go too."

"You can't, sweetie. I'm going to my friends."

"But I am your friend."

"That you are but I have other friends too."

Suddenly green flames flashed high and several thumps could be heard. Immediately she pushed Bill behind her, grabbing her wand. Only to see none other than Lily and the marauders.

She lowered her wand, asking, "What are you guys doing here?" Bill was still gripping her leg, peeking at the strangers from behind her.

"Coming to get you, seeing as you are way too late."

"Yeah, we thought something had happened or something."

It was then that Bill decided to stop hiding behind her, lifting his arms towards her. She picked him up and settled him on her hip within a second, not even thinking about the action anymore. During the weeks she had spent here it had become second nature to her.

"Oh, who's this?" Lily asked.

"This is Bill. Bill," she gestured to the five people in front of the fire, "these are my friends."

Just then Molly came rushing into the room, seeing what all the noise was about. Upon seeing Hermione standing there, talking to the group of young wizards, she got her explanation.

"I should've known you were behind it, always making people worry," she told James, half chastising and half amused.

"Hello, Mrs Weasley," he said with his best smile. "Sorry about that."

Then she saw Hermione holding Bill and made her way towards them, wanting to take Bill from her so she could leave with her friends. But he wouldn't have it, only tightening his hold around the brunette's neck.

"William Weasley, you will let go right now young man." Her voice was stern but she wasn't angry. She knew just how much her son was attached to the curly-haired girl.

"No, she will leave. If I let go she will leave."

It was immensely hard for Lily not to coo at this, Hermione could tell. She almost did so herself. "Bill, sweetie," she told him gently, "it's only for a little bit."

"Then take me with you."

"I can't, you're a little too young."

"But I don't want you to leave," it almost came out as whine.

"I'll be back before you go to sleep tonight."

"You will?"

"Yes, I promise."

"And will you read to me when you come back?"

"Of course, sweetie. But then you have to let go of me, okay?" He nodded and retracted his arms. She handed the boy to his mother and with a last goodbye to both of them, the group left for James' house.

"Seems like someone has an admirer," Remus teased.

"Oh shush you," she said as she slapped his arm.

"He was so cute. For a moment I wanted to stay there with you instead of coming back here," Lily stated.

"Are you serious?" Sirius asked incredulously.

"Of course I am. The next time we meet it's just us and those little darlings," she told the brunette.

"Uhm, I wouldn't mind but I'd have to ask Mrs Weasley first though."

"Could you not make plans in front of us when we aren't even invited?" Sirius asked them. "And we were nice enough to invite you here, what were we thinking?" he muttered to no one in particular.

"Okay, fine. Hermione, we'll arrange everything in our next letters."

"So, what's the plan for today?"

"We have no idea," Sirius said flatly.

"You have no idea," Hermione repeated.

"Yep, no idea."

"Then why did you invite us?"

"We thought we'd figure things out once everyone got here," James explained.

"Are you serious? If I'd known that I would have stayed with Hermione. Then we could play with the kids."

"By the way, Hermione," Remus got her attention. "You promised to be back home before he went to bed, when is that?"

"Most of the time he goes to bed between seven and eight so we have time enough. Don't worry."

"Okay, enough talk about little kids. Let's do something."

They settled on some muggle card game because James and Sirius thought it would be fun. The girls opted out, not all that interested. But the game in itself was fun, she had to give it to them. Remus had explained the rules to the best of his abilities but apparently the other three just didn't get it. Their reactions and comments had the girls doubling over with laughter.

Later in the day they were just lounging around as if they were back at the castle, back in the common room.

"That's not good enough though. It should be something more than that." The boys were already discussing pranks and it was still weeks until they went back to Hogwarts.

"Why are you even discussing this now?"

"Because you can't start early enough, my sweet Lily. A perfect prank requires a lot of planning, every detail needs to be on point. What did you think we do? Just wing it?"

"Basically, yes."

"So what are you planning now?"

"A prank for Snivellus."

"We have a few ideas but nothing really amazing," Remus told them.

"Yeah, we could change his hair colour, we could change his clothes, a few hexes here and there. You know same old, same old, but we need something more."

"You guys are so childish," Hermione chuckled. "Why don't you just feed him some amortentia if you like these childish things? See who he falls in love with, see how he acts." She laughed, not meaning what she said at all, not thinking the guys would take her serious.

"You, Moine, are a genius!" Sirius exclaimed.

"Wait, what?"

"Did you hear that, Prongs. And here we all were, thinking she didn't have a funny bone in her body."

"You're not going to do that, right? I didn't mean it. I was joking," she said hurriedly.

"Of course we're gonna do it. I do pity the poor soul who'll have to put up with his greasy ass though." She groaned. What had she just done?

Before they knew it the day had flown by. It was almost time for Hermione to go back to the burrow, having promised Bill she would read him something before going to bed.

"I think I'm going to go," she said as she stood up from her place on the couch.

"Already? You still have some time before you have to get back."

"Yeah, but I bet he's been fussy all day. The earlier I'm back, the easier he'll go to bed."

"Oh, so you don't like our company enough. You prefer his company, don't you?" She had to be honest, she had missed these troublemakers, even Sirius' dramatic side. But she didn't have to tell him that, Merlin knows he would never stop being a drama queen if he knew.

"Everyone would prefer the company of little children instead of yours," came Lily's taunt, a grin on her face.

"Mione, Evans hurt me."

"You're old enough to take care of yourself, you big baby."

"Why aren't you as nice to me as you are to Bill?" It almost came out as a whine.

"Hey! I am nice to you."

"Prove it."

"How do you want me to prove that I'm nice to you?" she asked him confused.

He stretched out his arms, much like little Bill had done previously that day. She couldn't help it, she burst out laughing, the others joining in. "So if I give you a hug, I'll prove that I'm nice to you? Fine."

They hugged. As she went to pull back, however, Sirius only tightened his grip, smothering her. He started laughing as she started to squirm. Eventually he let go, getting a punch to the shoulder.

"Happy?" she asked.

"Very."

"Now that that's cleared up I should go. Before he throws another tantrum."

"Would Bill really throw another fit?" Lily asked concerned.

"Oh no, he is an absolute sweetheart. I was talking about Sirius." Sirius just stared at her in a mix of shock, betrayal and amusement while the other three marauders were roaring with laughter. "See you all later," she said before stepping into the fire place and vanishing.

Back at the burrow Bill ran to her and clutched her tightly, hardly giving her the time to step out of the fire place. She picked him up and as she greeted the married couple, she made her way towards Bill's room. One story turned into two, which in turn turned into five. Only after the fifth story was Bill so tired he couldn't keep his eyes open, finally falling asleep. And all the while she was reading he didn't let go of her shirt, his hold firm.

When she left his room she could only think about how sweet he was. And as she went to bed herself she realised that this was one of the rare days she hadn't thought about anything important. She hadn't thought about time travel, altering the future, she hadn't worried about her friends in the future, nothing. For a day she had been allowed to forget everything and just have fun. If only it could stay like that.