Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor its characters. Thet belong to the amazing J.K. Rowling.


July 12th

The soft sound of someone knocking at the door was what woke Hermione up the next day. It took her a moment, once awake, to remember where she was and especially, when. It had been like this for the whole week since she opened her eyes in 1976. She always expected to see her dormmates when she woke up in the morning, to see Harry and Ron's smiles while they were eating breakfast in the Great Hall.

But the reality always came to slap her in the face.

She rubbed her eyes, inviting the person who has knocked at the door to enter. The door opened to reveal Dorea Potter, a soft smile on her face. Hermione felt relieved seeing her. She had the same smile as Harry and it was comforting to see something familiar. She was happy to stay at the Potter's, it offered her a lot of familiarity with James who looked exactly like Harry, with Dorea and her smile and Charlus who had the same sort of kindness as his future grandson. She also felt a little guilty to live with those people when Harry never had the chance to live with them. Or at least, to remember them.

"You alright dear? Did you sleep well?"

Dorea's voice made her come back to reality. The woman's smile was still in place on her lips and it made the young Gryffindor smile in turn.

"I slept very well, thank you."

"I'm glad, then. You should start to get ready and go to get some breakfast. The boys are already ready and are pretty excited to go to Diagon Alley with you. I've never saw them up so early during the holidays," she laughed.

"I'll be down in ten minutes, then, thank you," Hermione smiled.

Dorea nodded. "There is a dress in the closet that you can use for today. Don't worry about what you spend in clothes today, it's our treat."

"What- I can't possibly-"

"Sweetheart, you don't have any money. Plus, you're living with us, now. It's like you're our third child. Accept your family helping you."

Hermione wanted to protest, but the look in Dorea's eyes was determined, and she knew that she couldn't argue with her.

"Alright, thank you very much, Mrs. Potter."

"Dear, call me Dorea please," the mother said. "And you're welcome. I'll let you get ready, then."

With that, Mrs. Potter left the room, closing the door behind her. As soon as the door was closed, Hermione left her bed, going in the bathroom that was connected to her room. In ten minutes, she was washed and clothed and she soon made her way downstairs.

Everyone was already sitting at the table, eating breakfast. They were all talking and laughing and it was very difficult to know who was talking with who and what they were talking about. However, they all stopped when they saw her and greeted her.

"Hermione," began James, "come on eat! You need good food after eating hospital food for a week. Dunno how you're still alive after eating those," he laughed, serving her some toast, bacon and eggs.

She smiled, thanking him as she took the plate he was giving her. She had to say, she was happy to be able to eat bacon again. She missed eating something that was really good. Hospital food really wasn't the best in the world. But then again, it wasn't the worst either. No, this would be the food Ron cooked.

They all ate and Hermione listened as Sirius and James told her that they would spend most of the day buying clothes for her. Their friend – Remus – would join them sometime before lunch, so they would begin their 'happy journey', as they said, without him. They said they would eat lunch at the Leaky Cauldron and if they finished early, they would probably just hang out there.

Hermione agreed with that plan and she hoped that the shopping wouldn't last very long. She hated trying clothes on again and again. She would rather hang out in Diagon Alley. But she didn't have a choice there.

Once they all finished eating breakfast, Charlus left for work, saying goodbye to everyone in the room. Hermione, James and Sirius weren't long to leave after that. They made their way toward the fireplace, waving at Mrs. Potter who was watching them leaving.

"Bye, Mom! See you tonight, love you!"

James then took a handful of floo powder before shouting the destination and disappeared in a green smoke. Sirius, with a smirk, let Hermione in first.

"After you, milady," he said.

Hermione just laughed and did just what James did a minute before. She soon found herself in the Leaky Cauldron, in front of a grinning James.

"Why, my dear Lady, I hope your travel went well and wasn't too tiresome," he said.

"It wasn't, I traveled in the best conditions, thank you," she replied, playing along with him. After that, Sirius appeared in front of them.

"The all mighty Sirius has arrived," he yelled, passing an arm around James' shoulders and the other around Hermione's. "Shall we go, then, my dear loyal servants?"

They all laughed and left the Leaky Cauldron, stepping in Diagon Alley. Hermione stopped breathing when she saw the street. Everything was so different in 1976 that she almost didn't recognize it. Everything seemed so new compared to 1996. She could see Ollivander's wand shop. It probably was the only shop that looked exactly the same in 1976 and in 1996.

They were a lot of people, that, it didn't change. But she couldn't recognize anyone she saw there. Back in her time, she couldn't walk two metres without seeing someone she knew from Hogwarts. It hurt to know that she would never come back here with Harry, Ron and the Weasley family.

While they were walking toward Madam Malkin's, they had to stop a few time to greet some people that James ad Sirius knew from Hogwarts. She was introduced to Dorcas Meadowe and Marlene McKinnon and to a boy named Frank Longbottom. The later looked so much like Neville that Hermione wanted to cry. She wondered if Frank was as brave as Neville has become. Probably, since she knew he was a member of The Order of the Phoenix.


Hermione wondered what she was getting into. Sitting in an armchair in Madam Malkin's, she watched as James and Sirius were arguing on what clothes she should buy.

"She should wear something punk! With crazy hair like that, it would suit her," Sirius said.

"But it doesn't suit her personality at all. I think she should have a lot of cardigans."

"But then, she would be a girl version of Moony," exclaimed Sirius.

There was a silent after that, where both boys were just looking at each other.

"Yeah, you're right, cardigans it is then," agreed Sirius.

She thought that they would calm down after that and that she would be able to choose her clothes herself. She agreed with the cardigans, though, she loved wearing them, but still. She wanted to choose her clothes herself.

Minutes later, she knew it was a mistake to think they would calm down. Now they had agreed on cardigans, they were arguing about the colors. She sighed. At this rate, they would still be there the newt morning.

A chuckle next to her made her raise her head, only to see a really tall guy next to her, looking at the two idiots who were oblivious of the newcomer. The boy then looked at her and smiled at her. It was probably the kindest smile she ever saw and it was oddly familiar.

"You're Hermione, right?"

She only nodded.

"I'm Remus Lupin, it' a pleasure to finally meet you," he said, the smile still present. He then extended his hand and she quickly took it, shaking hands with him.

"It's pleasure to meet you too, Remus."

That's why the smile was familiar, she thought.

He turned around to look at James and Sirius and laughed at their stupidity. Hermione took advantage that he was looking away from her to look at him properly. He had short sandy blond hair and beautiful amber eyes. His eyes showed his kindness to the word and she wondered how he could not be angry at the word because of his condition. She noticed that he didn't have scar on his face yet, except for a very tiny one on his forehead, but no one could tell if they weren't looking for it. He was wearing a blue jean with a denim shirt and beige Dc Martens.

He suddenly turned to look at her, a big smile on his face. He was amused and it was really easy to say.

"Don't worry, I'll save you from those two. At this rate, you'll look like a grandma."

She turned to look at James and Sirius and gasped as she saw the ugliest dress she ever saw in their hands.

"Oh, Merlin, please."

Remus laughed before walking to the two boys, making them stop what they were doing in order to greet their friend. They talked for a few minutes and she saw Remus took the dress from Sirius' hands and put it away. With a wave of his hand, he asked Hermione to join them and she was happy to oblige.


Finally, they were at the Leaky Cauldron for lunch. She was able to buy a lot of clothes, way more than enough even. Thanks to Remus, it didn't take them the whole day and they were able to be over with it by lunch time. So here they were, eating a well deserved lunch and Hermione got to know Remus better.

She learned that he was half blood. His mother, Hope Lupin née Howell was a muggle and met his father, Lyall Lupin, a wizard, when she was attacked by a boggart. She also learned that he loved taking picture and he rarely went out without his camera. He always took pictures of his friends, and they didn't mind the slightest. His favorite subject at Hogwarts was Defense against the Dark Arts and his worst subject was potion. He was also a prefect and he told her that if she needed anything, to ask him, as James and Sirius would probably prank her and make her learn some fake rules.

He told her about some of the teachers and she was surprised that even in the seventies, the position of teacher of Defense against the Dark Arts was cursed and no one lasted more than a year. He was obviously curious about the new one they would have that year.

After their lunch, they just walked a little in the street and stopped at Quality Quidditch under the insistence of James and Sirius, while Remus and Hermione chose to stay outside and wait for them.

The day passed really quickly and soon they all went their separate ways. They all waved at Remus who would meet his father in the library and the other three went home by floo.

By the time they get home, Hermione only wanted to sleep. She thanked the boys and went upstairs in her room, where she collapsed on the bed and let a long sigh out.

Even if she got along well with the boys, Hermione felt that she was out of place, and it really wasn't a good feeling. She knew it would take a while to get use to her new environment, but she was scared that she would never get used to it. She couldn't wait to go to Hogwarts, it was the only place she was certain would look the same.

But then, Hogwarts without Harry and Ron wouldn't really be Hogwarts.


Hi!

I'm sorry, this chapter is shorter than the others, isn't it?

It seems I'm unable to write long chapters haha.

Anyway. I'm not satisfied with this chapter. I really wanted to write it and then move on in the story. I know it's kind of slow, but it take time to settle the story, right?

But I'm happy that Hermione finally met Remus!

The usual, please leave a review!

See you soon!

Love,

Elie