Ch 16 Falling Tears

"Yes you most certainly do know me! I can't believe you took a snap at me!" Hermione said outraged as she glared at Sirius. He stared at her for a few seconds before transforming back as well.

"Hermione?" he asked disbelievingly.

"Yes Sirius, good lord you act as if you have never seen an animagus transform" Hermione said with an eye roll.

"Since when are you an animagus why haven't you told us?" James questioned outraged.

"What on earth do you think I'm doing here James if not to tell you guys that I am an animagus." she said in a voice that clearly said she thought they were stupid. He looked a little sheepish. Hermione glanced at Remus who looked as if he was still in shock.

"Wow Hermione that's a big accomplishment is that what you've been doing all these evenings?" he finally asked. Hermione nodded.

"I wanted to tell you guys tonight. Well mainly you Remus I wanted to surprise you when you climb into bed with a cat only for it to turn into a woman" she said huskily to him. He smiled.

"Does that mean your staying over tonight then Hermione?" Sirius asked walking back towards the bed.

"Well I suppose if Remus will have me" She said glancing at Remus smiling a flirty little smile.

"Well I suppose you can stay. You know I love to have you" he said grinning before jumping onto the bed with Hermione.

"Silencing charms this time guys. I want sleep tonight" James said retreating to his bed as well.

Hermione drew the curtain around the bed and Remus cast a quick silencing charm around them. He smiled at her before pouncing. Hermione shrieked with laughter as Remus ravaged her neck and tickled her stomach.

"Remus!" she screamed.

"Yes my darling little kitty?" He asked innocently.

"Your going to make me pee my pants!" she said breathing hard. He lay over her and watched her as she caught her breath.

"So Remus what do you think of me being an animagus?" Hermione asked looking into his eyes. He didn't say anything for a minute.

"I think its wonderful, but I don't think it would be wise if you came around me during the full moon. Just in case I decide I want a cat for dinner. I don't want to hurt you Hermione" he said touching her face tenderly. Hermione sighed in contentment, she really loved this boy.

"Oh Remus" Hermione said as she pulled him toward her for a sweet kiss.

Hermione woke the next morning to the sound of tapping on a window. She yawned and disentangled herself from Remus, who lay beside her still naked. She looked around for her night dress and pulled it on quickly before getting out of bed and letting the damned bird in. It dropped a letter on her head and flew right back out. Hermione picked up the letter which was addressed to her. She recognized Dumbledore's writing so she opened it up.

Dearest Hermione,

If you would be so kind as to meet me in my office directly after lunch today I would be most pleased. It is of a rather delicate nature.

Albus Dumbledore.

Hermione bit her lip worriedly. She didn't know what he had to see her about but a sudden twisting in her stomach told her it wouldn't be good. She crumpled the letter and through it in the garbage bin before returning to bed with Remus. She studied him for a long time memorizing every curve of his face and the feel of his body against her own. She felt tears well up every so often. She only stopped when he woke up. He smiled at her and stretched.

"Hey" she said quietly.

"Hey. Is something wrong?" he asked studying her closely. She shook her head.

"No its fine." she said and she pulled him into a tight embrace. He hugged her back it only made her want to cry.

"I should go get dressed. Meet you downstairs for breakfast?" she asked willing the bad feeling away.

"Yeah I'll meet you in an hour?"

"Okay" She gave him a long kiss before she left the dorms to return to her own. The others were still sleeping when she arrived so she went straight into the shower and took a long hot shower. When she stepped out her face was red not only from the steam but also from her tears. She didn't know for sure yet but from the tone of Dumbledore's letter she was sure he had a way to send her back. What was more is Hermione had totally forgot she didn't belong here. She had grown so accustomed to everything, everyone and she just forgot she didn't belong. She was beginning to regret getting close to anyone. She wasn't sure if she would be able to go back home. She loved her friends but most of all she loved Remus. She splashed cold water on her face and emerged from the steaming bathroom. Lily was outside the door dancing up and down.

"'bout time" she muttered before rushing into the bathroom. Hermione got dressed quickly and did her best to make her face look normal. Lily came out of the shower when Hermione was working on her hair. Her red head friend studied her closely.

"Is everything alright Hermione?" she asked standing next to her.

"Yeah I'm fine just a bad day you know. We're meeting the boys downstairs in about fifteen minutes. Is that okay?" Hermione said

"Yeah I'm nearly done anyway. And hey I'm right here if you need to talk alright?" Lily said giving Hermione a comforting hug, which almost made Hermione burst into tears.

They met the boys in the common room shortly after then they all headed down for breakfast. Hermione didn't have much of an appetite so she just pushed food around on her plate. They others noticed her mood and they tried cheering her up but Hermione couldn't. Remus pulled her towards him.

"What's wrong Hermione you can tell me" he said his voice sounded so sad.

"Its nothing Remus I just have to go see my grandpa after breakfast." she said

"Well I'm sure its nothing bad" he said giving her a little squeeze.

"Your right. Well I'll see you guys later okay?" she said she gave Remus one last kiss before heading out of the Great Hall. She walked slowly to the Headmasters office. People passing would have assumed someone had died just because of how she looked. Her head was down and she looked close to tears. She eventually got there and sooner than she liked she was facing the headmaster who looked a little sad behind his half moon spectacles.

"As you probably guessed Hermione. I now have a way to send you back" he said and Hermione's world shifted around her. Tears began to pour from her eyes as what she dreaded was confirmed.

"I know that you have gotten close to your fellow classmates and I am allowing you one hour to say goodbye and return here with your original school bag. I'm sorry Hermione. If there was a way I would take it but you do not belong in this time." Hermione only nodded as the tears fell freely from her face. She got up to leave.

"One hour Hermione I want you back here by 11:30 with your bag" he said softly.

The walk back to Gryffindor tower was the longest she ever had. She attempted to wipe her tears so her friends wouldn't notice but they weren't blind or stupid. They came towards her the moment the saw her asking what was the matter.

"Its nothing guys I'm just having a really bad day" she said. She sat next to Remus cuddling up with him and trying to remember everything about him and her other friends. When she knew it was time to go again. She hugged Remus tight.

"I love you Remus I love you so much and I want you to know that I will never stop loving you and that you are always on my mind and I just hope that you can forgive me if I ever hurt you. Just remember that I love you." Hermione ran up the girls staircases and dug through her trunk for her old bag. She found it and headed back down stairs to her bewildered friends.

"I have to go see my uncle again okay. I love you guys" she said hugging them all and trying to remember them exactly how they are. She gave one last kiss to Remus before she left out of the portrait hole. She was in tears when she finally made it back to the Dumbledore's office.

"Hermione-" Dumbledore started concerned.

"I can't grandpa you have to send me back now or I won't be able to go at all" she said crying louder than ever.

"Hermione you have to calm down first" he said wrapping his arms around her and patting her in a comforting manner. Very slowly Hermione began to calm down and soon she had herself under control enough to listen to Dumbledore.

"At twelve noon the portal in this book will open again. All you'll have to do is step onto it." He said placing the book on the floor. Hermione remembered that book. It brought her here only to leave again in pain. Then she remembered that soon she would be seeing her friends and family again and maybe she would get to see Remus again. As an adult of course. She glanced at the clock and realized she had three minutes. Dumbledore offered her a mirror so she wouldn't meet her friends again looking like hell. She tried the best she could to fix her face but it didn't work out to well. She was just scrubbing a black mark off her cheek when Dumbledore's grandfather clock began to chime. Hermione looked down at the book as it began to glow. She threw a sad smile at Dumbledore before stepping into the light of the book.

"I'll see you soon, Hermione" he said before he disappeared in a flash of bright light.

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