"Professor Dumbledore, you have to help me please," Hermione said. She had sprinted back to Hogwarts, leaving Remus shouting behind her. Her near miss with the Weasleys (thank God Ron hadn't yet been born), coupled with seeing Malfoy again had been too much for her. She now stood before the Headmaster, crying and pleading. His familiar twinkle was gone, and he looked very grave.

"Miss Granger, what has happened? You have not, inadvertently, of course, let something slip?"

"No, sir," she said. "I just cannot be here any longer. Please, I must get home. Or send me away. Something, anything. "

"Miss Granger, I thought you were enjoying your time here," Dumbledore said. "I rarely see you out of the company of your fellow Gryffindors, especially Miss Evans and Mr. Lupin."

"That's just it, Headmaster. I told you when I got here that I know things. I can't be around these people any more. I've come to love them and it's just too hard. It's not fair to them and it's killing me. I almost saw the Weasleys today. In my time, they're like my own family. I would hate the idea that they already knew about me when we first met. This cannot continue. Forgive me, sir, I'm know I'm speaking out of line, but-"

"Not at all," said Dumbledore kindly. "I can't even imagine what you're going through right now. Knowledge can be a very lonely thing. Look at Cassandra. Knowing the future, and being unable to interfere is a burden no one should have to shoulder. You have been very strong, and very brave, Hermione. A true Gryffindor."

Hermione gave him a weak but thankful smile. "Thank you, sir. I've been so conflicted. I have been happy, you know. I tried to block everything out and enjoy my time here. And I have enjoyed it. I'm grateful to have met everyone, but at the same time… I just have to go home, Professor."

"I understand, Miss Granger. Just know that you were brought here for a purpose. It was important, I believe, and if you are desperate to get home, then that must be what you are supposed to do now, as well."

"But how?"

"I've been working on it, Miss Granger. Give me tonight," said Dumbledore. "Say goodbye to your friends and come back in the morning."

Hermione nodded and left the office. This was what she wanted, she told herself. No matter how hard it was, she needed to go. She walked slowly back to Gryffindor tower, dreading what was before her. It would seem cruel, she knew, to suddenly disappear, as if these people meant nothing to her. And yet what could she tell them? That she had indeed been lying all this time? She could not imagine the look on Remus's face. He was, after all, her boyfriend now. Try as she had to sugarcoat it, that's what he was. She had allowed things to progress to that level, and the thought of leaving him now, of going back to a time when she was Miss Granger and he was Professor Lupin, was painful. Knowing that she would be returning to a world without Lily, James and Sirius made her want to be sick. But she couldn't stay. She just couldn't.

Hermione reached the Fat Lady and dully spoke the password. As the entered the common room, she realized it might be the last time. Tears pricked her eyes again, but she impatiently wiped them away. She would need all her tears for what was coming.

She didn't expect to see the boys back so soon, although of course her bizarre behavior would have cut short their good time. Remus, James and Sirius were comforting a bleeding and sniffling Peter. They didn't notice her come in; all attention was on their injured friend.

"Who did it, Wormtail?" Sirius demanded furiously.

"I don't know, I told you!" Peter said, wiping his bloody nose. "They had on masks. Slytherins, I'm sure. When you left after Hermione, I went back to the store to get our things. They jumped me as I came out. They were hexing me in the alley; beating on me, too."

"When we find them, they're going to be sorrier than they can imagine," said James. "We should have been there. I'm so sorry."

"But you weren't there," Peter said. "You guys can't always be there, and I'm not as strong as you. I do these things with you, and everyone knows it's us. But if they catch me alone, I'm easy prey."

"You don't have to worry, we'll always be there," Sirius said. "We look out for you. This won't happen again."

"You won't always be there," Peter repeated. "And I'm just not as strong as you are. It doesn't matter. Hermione's back."

Three heads whipped toward Hermione, who felt a nasty shock. The scene before her reeked of one of Peter's first steps towards Voldemort. And she was running away, to a time when it was too late for her to help. She reminded herself that she could not do anything now, either. She took a deep breath to steel herself for the barrage of questions she knew was coming.

"Hermione!" Remus cried with relief, running toward her and engulfing her in a hug. "We were worried! Why did you run off like that? What in the hell happened?"

"I had to see Dumbledore," she said weakly.

"In the middle of our date? That's ridiculous, Hermione."

She ignored him and soldiered on. "I need Lily."

"Hermione, what's going on?" Remus asked. "You're scaring me. We were having a great time, and then you freaked out."

"I'm sorry, Remus. I just need to talk to Lily."

"She's in her room," James said. He looked sympathetically at Remus, as if to say 'Women!,' but Remus still looked worried.

"Thank you. Remus, I'll explain everything after I talk to Lily." She looked sadly at his hurt expression but said no more. She climbed the stairs to her room, unsure of what exactly she was going to tell Lily. She only knew it had to be as close to the truth as she could get.

Lily was waiting for her. "I heard your date was cut short. I thought you might need to talk."

That was all it took for Hermione to start crying again. She sat down beside Lily and looked helplessly at her wonderful friend. Lily would know how to help her.

"I've always known you were lying," Lily said. Hermione stared at her, shocked and stricken. Whatever she had been expecting, it wasn't that.

"What do you-"

"Shh," Lily said, not unkindly. "Let me talk. I think we've all known, at least subconsciously. Remus was the only one who thought you might be a danger to us, at least at first, I believe. I've never felt that from you. The boys - well, they were willing to bury their doubt and accept your tale, because they like you so much. Your story's weak, sweetie. I suppose you didn't have enough time to come up with something better. I guess now it's caught up with you."

"Do you hate me?" she whispered. This was beyond all of her fears.

"Hermione, I adore you," Lily said sincerely, clasping her hand. "We all do. I was willing to overlook your lies because I thought they might be necessary. They are, aren't they?"

Hermione simply nodded, unable to speak.

"That's what I thought," Lily said. "I have my suspicions, but I think you should continue with your story. You don't have to tell anyone else what I said. I know you would never hurt us. Not on purpose."

"I love you all," Hermione said truthfully.

"You're leaving, aren't you?"

"I have to," Hermione said. "I don't think I want to. When I first got here, it was all I wanted to do. But now… It's harder now. You're all my friends. I'll miss you, and I can't ever come back."

"I warned you about Remus, Hermione," said Lily sadly. "Whatever else you've done, that is on your head. He loves you, Hermione. And you've always known you couldn't stay."

"I know," she said miserably. "I tried to fight it."

"You didn't try very hard."

"No, I didn't," Hermione admitted. "I got caught up in the romance of it all. He's wonderful, and I wanted him. I care about him, Lily. But not enough to stay."

"When are you leaving?" Lily asked. Her eyes were sad.

"Tomorrow," said Hermione. "I'm leaving tomorrow."

A/N This is a little short, but I thought it was a good stopping point before the next event. I know my updates are getting slower and slower; I really can't say if that will improve, but I'll do my best. Thanks to those who continue to read, and a special thanks to my reviewers.