A/N: It's been four weeks and as promised here is a new chapter. I've been in a writing slump this year because I was so busy and I only have a couple chapters left that I've already wrtitten and the story is far from over... In other words, I need to start writing or else I'll get in trouble :/ But I will try my best (no promises though).

Enjoy ^^

That summer flew by. It was like she had blinked and autumn was already there. So much had happened, it felt like she hadn't had the time to take a breather.

First of all, they graduated. It didn't seem like all that much with what was going on outside of the school grounds but with graduating also came the question 'What now?' Where would she be staying? Where would her friends live? What was she going to do besides the Order? Was there something she could do besides the Order or would it be suspicious?

James and Lily had decided to start living together even though they hadn't been together for an entire year yet. When asked about it the redhead answered, "I don't really want to go back home. It's all strained and me and my sister do nothing but fight. Besides, if there's a future for me and James we can just start living together and see how that turns out, see whether or not it gives any troubles." And Hermione couldn't really say anything against that.

Sirius had bought a house with money he'd received after his uncle had died somewhere during the year. Though, he had stayed at the Potter mansion for a couple of weeks extra before doing so, claiming he couldn't live without Mrs Potter's food. Once he bought his own house he offered Remus one of the three rooms he had just because he could.

It wasn't a secret that werewolves had it difficult to get a job and then maintain said job. Though Remus had argued at first, he accepted the offer, not really wanting to go back to live with his parents, claiming they had been through enough already. He loved his parents very much but the older he got, the lesser he could take the look of pity and guilt that would be in their eyes when they looked at him.

Peter decided to keep living with his mother and help her out with the shop and wherever else he could to earn some money. And after sending a letter, it was decided that Hermione would stay with the Weasleys for a while longer.

Sirius had been a little disappointed at that, hoping she would start living with him just like James and Lily were planning. However, Hermione didn't want things to move too fast. She was cautious, now more than ever.

Once she was back home with the Weasleys it was chaos. There were five children – some louder than others – that needed to be taken care of and she did everything she could to help Molly out, having an inkling of how exhausting it could be to take care of five children on your own. Besides helping around the house, there were also the Order meetings.

To say that she was surprised to see Alice and Marlene there would be a lie. But of course she had to act surprised, just to keep up appearance. She even got to meet Frank and over several meetings she decided that yes, Neville was the split image of both his parents, both when it came to his appearance and his character.

The Order meetings were just that: meetings. Yes, things were getting worse but it happened at such a pace that they hadn't really had a chance yet to go out fighting physical battles. They had to lay low and analyse what was going on and where everything was going. This, of course, was to the dismay of Sirius and James, both quite hot-headed and ready to wave their wands. Fortunately, their auror training kept them busy so it wasn't like they had much time to complain.

And that's where they were now, an Order meeting at the end of August, only a couple of days before school was supposed to start again. A school where Hermione and her friends wouldn't step foot again if it wasn't for an urgent meeting with Dumbledore. Honestly, it felt a little strange that she didn't have to go back there. No more classes, no more school supplies to buy, no more exams. No longer the routine she was used to ever since she was a little girl.

The meeting was being held because there had been a family that was killed the previous day. It had been a muggle family with no relations to the magic community whatsoever. In other words, they had been murdered just for fun, just because Voldemort could. It was absolutely repulsive.

"So when are we gonna start doing something about it? It's no use sitting here and talking about it if we're not planning to take action." It was late and Sirius had just come from a brutal day of training so no one was really surprised when it came out strongly.

"I understand where you're coming from. However, we need more information to plan a real attack. As of yet we are not a hundred per cent certain who is and who isn't a death eater. We also don't have a clear number of Voldemort's followers. We can't afford to go into battle and harm people when there are so many uncertain factors."

Sirius just let out a frustrated breath as he dragged his hand through his hair. He didn't say another thing until the meeting was over, feeling frustrated, even kinda helpless. He was training to become an auror and he was part of a secret Order to help people that needed it, yet he had done nothing as of yet.

"You okay?" Hermione asked him when people started leaving.

"I'm fine."

It was a lie as clear as day and she knew it. Hermione also knew that when it was any other day she would have kept asking until he told her the truth. However, the brunette felt like today was a day where she had to leave it alone. Sirius would come to her if he wanted to talk. Maybe it would take some time but he would come around. Eventually. Hopefully.

Before either of them could say anything else a voice called out, "Black!" It was Moody. When Hermione first saw the man she had hardly recognized him. He still had both his eyes and his fake leg was nowhere to be seen. The only thing that was the same to his future self was that his face was littered in scars. Scars that let people know of the battles he had fought. Scars that will probably slowly start littering the bodies of every person that was part of the Order, battles being unavoidable.

Sirius turned back to Hermione. "I better go see what he wants." The brunette just nodded in reply, letting her hand slip from his arm. Moody wasn't only part of the Order, he also worked at the Ministry as an auror, coincidentally – or maybe not, who knows how many connections Dumbledore has – he was also the head auror in charge of James and Sirius' auror training.

"He okay?" Lily asked her as she came over to the brunette.

"I don't know. I feel like he's getting more worked up and frustrated as time goes on but he refuses to talk to me so who knows what he's thinking."

The redhead hummed. "I think most people are getting a little frustrated. We all know something is coming but we don't know when. That's enough for anyone to get a little antsy."

"You're right. Of course you are. But it's like he wants to get out without even having a plan. I know he's more of the 'do now, think later' type but this is a war we're talking about."

"I think he knows that and that's just frustrating him more, because he's keeping back his urges to act impulsively. He's thinking about what needs to happen and how it needs to happen, I just think it's quite a big change for him."

"Probably. How are you and James holding up?"

"I'm okay, taking it one step at a time. James is somewhat in the same boat as Sirius." They looked at both men. The frustration was clearly visible on Sirius' face while James looked a little more passive, as if he had his feelings better under control.

"It seems like he's doing better than Sirius though." Lily just hummed.

With how busy they had been – auror training, Lily training to be a healer at St Mungo's, Hermione helping out the Weasleys while working a small job at the Ministry – they hadn't had much time to see each other aside from the Order meetings. It was a little… difficult to adjust to. Going from seeing your friends 24/7 to almost not at all took some time to get used to.

Hermione looked around the room, her eyes falling on Peter. In the last two months she hadn't seen a change in his behaviour, he was still the sweet, kind Peter from before. Yet, since they graduated a voice in the back of her mind kept saying that she needed to be careful, to keep an eye out for even the smallest change in his behaviour. It was so frustrating to know that he would betray them yet not knowing when he would turn to the dark side.

"How are you holding up at home? With Sirius being like this?" she asked as Remus made his way towards them.

He shrugged. "Nothing I'm not used to. Are you okay, though?"

Hermione knew there was more about that question than met the eye. However, with Lily there he couldn't really ask upfront. "Yeah." She knew she probably looked a little tired but it was nothing she couldn't handle. And though the brunette wouldn't admit it to anyone out loud, she was worrying. About Sirius, about Remus, about James and Lily, about Peter, about the Weasleys, about everyone here in this room. But then again, probably everyone here was worrying about something or other.

He must have seen something in her eyes though because next he said, "I'm sure everything will be alright." He put a hand on her shoulder and it felt reassuring, comforting.

The only thing she could say was, "Let's hope so."