A/N: I'm really sorry it's been so long since the last chapter. I'll do better, promise! I'm sure Deathly Hallows will give me some inspiration!

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns all, as we'll be reminded in a week!

"Hermione?" A voice called her from very far away. It was a voice she knew well, but she couldn't quite place it. Her head felt heavy. "What the hell happened to her?"

"I don't know," another familiar voice answered the first. "I was in here ten minutes ago, and she was fine. Did you hear anything? A crash?"

"Nothing. Hermione. Hermione, wake up!"

"I'm not asleep," she said huskily. "I'm just resting my eyes."

"Oh, thank Merlin," the first familiar voice said. "What happened? Can you open your eyes?"

She did, slowly, blinking and trying to clear her vision. The room was fuzzy, as were the figures before her. She saw black hair. "James? What are you-" She stopped suddenly, her eyes flashing back into focus and her memory snapping into place. After their last kiss, she had left Remus and gone to Dumbledore. The moment she entered his office, he had handed her a time turner and a picture. That was the last thing she remembered before the voices. She struggled to sit up, reaching a hand for the boys to help her. Her boys. Harry. Ron. She was home. She was really home.

"Did you just call me James?" Harry asked, helping her into a sitting position. "How hard did you hit your head?"

"Pretty hard," she said. "I think I tripped."

"You scared us," Ron told her. "I came into the room to tell you we got the locket and you were lying here, unconscious."

"Did Sirius's mum leave something nasty we didn't find before?" Harry asked. He smoothed the hair back from her forehead.

"The locket? What day is it?"

"Merlin, you did hit your head, girly," Ron said. "Hermione, it's the 17th. We just got here a few hours ago to find Slytherin's locket, remember? I left you in here not ten minutes ago. And we found it. We got the Horcrux."

If he was expecting a celebration, Ron was disappointed by Hermione's reaction. Ten minutes?? She had been in 1976 for almost four months and it had only been ten minutes here? She knew how time turners worked, of course, but she had certainly never gone back this far before, or been in the past that long. Ten minutes???

"Hermione are you alright?" Harry asked, looking even more concerned. "You look like you're getting a nasty bump on your head. Lupin's meeting us here soon; why don't you let him look at it?"

"What?" she asked, panicking and trying to get to her feet. She winced at the pain in her head and sat back down. "Remus is coming here?" Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God. This was the absolute worst case scenario. How had he been normal towards her all these years? How could she be normal now?

"Yes, Remus is on his way now," Ron said, looking at her strangely. "He is working with us, after all. We need him to help us destroy the Horcrux."

"Right," she said weakly. For the love of God, couldn't she have had a little time before she saw him? She was kissing him minutes ago, and now he was on his way, and he was twenty years older, and she was exactly the same. Ron was still staring at her as if she'd sprouted Prongs' antlers. Ron. She hadn't laid eyes on him in more than three months and now here he was, looking as adorable as when she'd left. By his time line, they'd kissed days ago and had spent most of the morning flirting and arguing. By hers, she'd spent the last few months in love with another man. Her stomach knotted up in nervous, confused guilt.

"Ron, why don't you get Hermione a glass of water," Harry said.

"No, I'm fine, really, I just need a minute."

"I'll be right back," Ron said, ignoring her protests. "Keep her still, Harry, until Lupin can look at her head."

Harry nodded. Hermione started to argue, but knew it was useless. Her head was a little sore, and she knew after her recent adventures she really did need to rest. Unfortunately, all she wanted to do was pace wildly and wait for Remus to arrive.

Hermione and Harry sat in silence for several moments. It was funny - Hermione had been crazy to return to her own time, to see Harry and Ron and stop the torment she felt being in the past. Now she was back with her best friend and she had nothing to say. She felt shy and uncomfortable, sure that he could see the truth all over her face. What could she say to the boy whose parents she helped murder with her silence?

"Hermione," Harry started tentatively. "How's your head?"

"A little better."

"You called me James," he said. "Why would you do that?"

She looked at him and tried to smile. "I don't know, I was a little out of it. This place makes me think of Sirius, I guess."

"Yeah, but--"

"I don't know, Harry. It was weird, I know. Sorry."

"Okay," he said, apparently willing to drop the subject for the moment. "Ron must be waiting downstairs for Lupin. I sent word when we found the locket; he should be here soon."

Hermione nodded, hoping her cheeks were not as hot as they felt. She knew if Harry studied her for too long he would see she was different. She tried to remember what she had been doing with them at Grimmauld Place that morning, but it seemed like a life time ago. She sat, fidgeting, and started counting the seconds. How would she now react to having Remus and Ron in the same room? How would Remus act? He'd certainly never shown her any sort of inappropriate attention in the past. How could he have been such a good actor all these years? Had their time together been so brief he had forgotten her?

"Hermione?" Ron's voice called up the stairs. "Lupin's here; he's going to look at your head. Do you want me to make you some tea?"

"Yes, thank you," she called back, struggling to keep her voice steady. Anything to keep her from facing her two loves at the same time.

"Harry, you want some?"

"Sure, mate." Harry looked at Hermione and grinned suddenly. "The locket's a good find, Hermione, but you didn't have to beat your head against the floor in celebration. I thought Tonks was supposed to be the clumsy one."

"Ha ha," she said, her stomach flipping at the name of her - rival? Was that the right word?

"I hear we've made some progress," Remus said, entering the room. "Good work, guys."

Harry grinned again. "Well, we deserved a good break, don't you think?"

"Definitely," Remus agreed. He walked over to Hermione and kneeled beside her. "You okay? Ron said you hit your head."

She nodded, unable to speak. There was no recognition in his eyes. He looked at her as he always had before - a bright, talented young witch, and best friend to Harry. Nothing more. She sucked in her breath as he touched her head. The handsome, hazel-eyed boy was still in there; she could see him through the lines and graying hair. His touch felt the same: light, soft and full of promise. She wanted to kiss his hand, she wanted to pull him down into an embrace. This was not good. It was too soon to see him, she had expected more time!

"Well, there's a little bump, but probably nothing to worry about," Remus said.

"Thanks," she whispered. Get yourself together, Hermione. She cleared her throat and said in a louder voice, "I thought as such. I don't know what I was doing. Clumsy, is all."

"I don't like that you lost consciousness, though," he said, frowning. "We'll just have to keep a close eye on you the next couple of days."

"That we'll do," said Harry, turning towards the door. "What in the world is taking Ron so long? Oy! What are you doing?"

"Steeping the tea, Mr. Impatient," Ron called back. Hermione smiled a little, pleased to be listening to her friends again. It felt normal, which she very much needed at the present. "Come down and help me! We'll make biscuits."

"Lord, I guess its not a party without some biscuits," Harry mumbled. "Lupin, will you help Hermione down the stairs in a few minutes? She might still be unsteady."

"Really, Harry, that's not necessary, and I am right he-"

"Of course," Remus answered, rising to his feet. "No sense in exerting yourself, Hermione."

She sighed, stiffening slightly as Harry left the room. She really did not want to be alone with Remus at this point. Still sitting, she leaned against the wall for support. Ron. Think about Ron. Red hair. Blue eyes. Red hair, blue eyes. Red hair, blue-

"This really is a breakthrough," Remus said, breaking the silence and her inner chant. "You three should be proud. This is a dangerous mission and you and Ron are to be commended for helping Harry like you are."

"We're friends," she said simply. "Of course we'll always help Harry."

"Friends," he said musingly. "Watching the three of you together makes me really miss James and Sirius sometimes."

"I can only imagine what that's like, losing all of your closest friends," Hermione said, her voice breaking slightly. She struggled against the tears that had been so frequent lately. She already missed Lily and that always present guilt started gaining strength again.

"Yeah, I believe you do know," he said, turning to her suddenly. He dropped down on his knees again beside her. "It gets a little easier, but the hole is always there. I bet you'll dream about her."

"Wh-" Hermione was cut off abruptly by Remus clamping his lips to hers. Amazed, she immediately responded, pulling him closer and winding her fingers through his hair, which was much shorter than she remembered. His own hands were pulling softly at her curls, like they always did. After what seemed like forever, he pulled back, looking at her with a shocked expression on his face.

"Merlin," he said, panting slightly. "I've been waiting to do that for the past twenty years"