A/N: Okay so apparently I am unable to keep to the four week schedule so I won't make any promises anymore and just tell you that the updates will happen but that it can take a while, sorry for that. But here's a new chapter and I hope you like it. As always, thank you for being patient and reading this story!

Enjoy ^^

There were nights where Hermione just wasn't able to sleep. Tonight was such a night. She lay in her bed in the Burrow staring at the ceiling. When she was awake her mind would go every which way before settling on one thing to think about. Today she thought about her parents.

How were they doing? How had her being here changed their life? Would they still have their own dentist practice? Were they still trying for a baby? And if they managed to get pregnant, would it be her or someone else that came out of the womb?

That last thought scared her a little. She didn't like not knowing things and right now there were a lot of factors she didn't know how they would play out. She hated the feeling, liked to know what she was up against so she knew how to anticipate whatever came her way.

Of course, she knew there was a simple solution to this: she could simply visit her parents, try to get some information from the source itself. But in the solution also lay the problem.

Voldemort's followers were rising day by day. Throw in the fact that she was muggleborn and belonged to a secret Order fighting against Voldemort – not that Voldemort or his followers knew about this fact – it was just too risky to make the visit. If the death eaters found out one way or another that she had visited a couple of muggles, they would definitely target them, if not to torment her than just for fun. So no, she couldn't visit them. She simply couldn't risk it.

Hermione let out a sigh, trying to push back the tears that were trying to escape, her emotions getting the better of her. It was something Hermione tried to avoid at all times but there were moments like now where she was all alone and sometimes she just couldn't help it. She brushed away the single tear that had managed to fall from her eye before she turned around and tried to get some sleep.

By the time she woke up it was still dark. She'd hardly managed to get some hours of sleep in but knew that she wouldn't be able to fall asleep once more. Instead the brunette got out of bed and went downstairs. If she wasn't going back to sleep she could at least make herself useful.

The brunette made some tea, the warmth of the cup in her hands a comfort in the crisp air of the early morning. She was hardly halfway through her cup before she heard the tell-tale of one of the twins starting a whimpering cry.

After months Hermione was used to it. She avoided the two steps that creaked and made her way inside the twins' room, quick to pick up Fred as he started trashing around only seconds away from full out crying.

Once in her arms, she rocked the little infant, making soft shushing noises. He settled back down almost immediately. He brought a smile to her lips as he started fisting her shirt in his tiny hands while snuggling closer to her. The smile was a welcome change from the sad feelings Hermione had felt that same night.

She kept rocking him for a while – even if the baby had fallen back asleep after only a couple of minutes – before putting him back in his crib. Who would've thought that she'd dote so much on the twins, seeing how she always scolded them back in her previous timeline for the continuous jokes they'd pull. And now she was dating a joker herself. And not just any joker either, a fourth of the marauders to be exact. Who would've ever thought?

When she stepped into the kitchen determined to finish her cup of tea she was surprised to see that someone else was awake at this hour. "Hi, honey. What are you doing out of bed?" she asked Bill softly.

He stepped towards her as he answered, arms outstretched to be picked up. "I heard crying." So apparently she hadn't quite been quick enough. Then again, Bill's room was closer to that of the twins' than the room of Mr and Mrs Weasley.

"Everything's okay now. Wanna go back to bed?" He shook his head even though he hardly managed to keep his eyes open. "Okay," she said. Making her way to the couch Hermione sat down and Bill just got more comfortable. She grabbed the blanket from across the couch and threw it over the little redhead. He was out within seconds and the brunette just raked her hand through his hair, not only calming him but also further calming herself.

Is this what it was like to have children? Would she be like this with her own children? That is if she ever had children of her own. The brunette knew of herself she wanted kids but there was the question of Sirius. Would he want them? It was something she hadn't thought about before.

Apparently Hermione had fallen back asleep because the next thing she knew she's being woken up by Mrs Weasley saying she'll be late for work. Hermione looked at Bill, saw he was still sleeping and laid him down on the couch. She had to hurry if she wanted to be on time.

She worked at the ministry. It wasn't a big job, nothing glorious, just a job where she blended in with the other mass of people roaming the ministry but it helped bring in extra money for her and the Weasleys so she didn't complain. Everyone had to start somewhere. And the fact that she was also busy with the Order made it actually seem like a good thing that she hadn't some important job among the higher-ups. The pressure to keep everything juggling would have been immense, even for her.

Her work was monotonous so her mind kept wandering. Hermione couldn't be happier by the time her workday was over. However, instead of going to the Burrow, she went to get take-out and made her way towards Sirius and Remus' place, sending a patronus to Mrs Weasley so the matriarch wouldn't worry.

It was quiet when se apparated into their living room. Only Remus was home. He was in his room. She knocked softly on the door before stepping inside. "You okay?" The full moon was only two days away and Remus already looked pale.

"I'm fine," he said while giving her a smile.

She knew better of course but let him be. "Okay, I've got take-out. I'll get the plates, take your time."

By the time Remus made it to the living room, she was already sitting on the couch, legs beneath her as she ate her dinner. The moment he sat down next to her the brunette threw a blanket on his lap and almost pushed a plate of food in his hands. "Thanks," he told her.

"So, how are you holding up? Really, I mean."

He let out a chuckle. "Figured you wouldn't let it slide."

"I never do."

"I'm feeling okay. Obviously not the best but it can always be worse."

She hummed. "That's why I brought this." And she held out another bag filled with chocolate bars.

Remus let out a laugh. "Thanks," he said while unwrapping one of the chocolate bars and taking a bite out of it. "And how are you holding up? And before you say fine, let me tell you that you look awfully tired for someone who's fine."

Hermione would never admit it to anyone but yes she was tired. She huffed a little in reply. On the one hand she loved how her friends could read her. On the other hand it was a curse. "I just didn't sleep much last night." He gave her a questioning look. "I couldn't stop thinking about my parents."

"Hermione, come here." He took her in his arms, giving her a hug.

They stayed like that, cuddling. "Sometimes it's just difficult because I know they're alive but I can't visit them and technically they're not even my parents yet." Her voice broke a little as she told him.

"I can only imagine what you're going through."

"Don't worry about it." She shook her head as she pulled back slightly. "I'm just glad I have someone I can talk with about… all this," she said as she made some vague hand gesture in the air.

"Anytime."

"Thank you." And she snuggled closer again.

"Still tired?"

"You have no idea. First I can't sleep then Fred starts crying which woke up Bill and I almost was late for work. Plus, today's work was so boring and tedious." He didn't have to see her face to know she was wrinkling her nose in distaste.

"Oh no, imagine a day where you don't have to study or keep some guys from pulling pranks."

"You're making fun of me."

"I am."

"Well, I don't care. I'm too comfortable to care right now."

"Glad I can be of help." She just hummed in reply, already half asleep.

By the time Sirius came home it was almost eleven at night and he was greeted by the sight of his girlfriend sleeping cuddled up to one of his best friends.