Hello. You have no idea how long it took me to write this! I scrapped so many drafts, I just didnt know how to write this.

Anyway, sorry for the delay and thanks for all your reviews of chapter nine. Please keep them coming.

Enjoy

Chapter Ten - Girlfriends and Boyfriends

The weeks following the full moon were some of happiest of James and Remus's life. It was so refreshing to live life without the worry of being killed by death eaters or having to pay the water bill. Sometimes the two friends even forgot they'd only been in the future for three weeks, it felt like they had been here for an eternity.

"Morning John, Morning Peter,"

"Morning Hermione," chorused James and Remus from where they sat at the kitchen table eating cereal.

"Merlin, you look terrible," remarked James over the newspaper he was reading.

"Thanks Peter. It was Ron, he kept me up all night," complained Hermione flicking a straggly strand of her hair back and reaching up to fetch a bowl.

James and Remus exchanged grins and Hermione gave them a look.

"It wasn't like that, don't be silly," she explained going red, "He wanted me to help him find a flat around London, we were going through the ads in the paper until four in the morning."

"Oh, he wants to move out?" asked Remus.

Hermione nodded, "He says he wants to be closer to me."

"That's nice," Remus stated, "I suppose he'll want you to move in with him," he added casually.

Hermione blinked and then looked down at her bowl, deep in thought, "Shit," she murmured, "That was what he was hinting at," she looked up, "I wondered why he was so adamant on wanting my help, oh no."

"What's wrong?" James questioned.

Hermione shook her head and dropped her bowl on the table, "Nothing," she said leaving the kitchen.

"She's weird," asserted James with a grin, "I like her."

"Yeah me too," agreed Remus quietly as he played around with his food lost in thought.

"Oh crap, it's quarter to nine," exclaimed James standing up suddenly, "Mr. Reuben is going to slay us if we're late, we've got to go!"

Remus hurriedly finished his cereal and got his coat. After they'd said goodbye to Harry who was in the living room finishing a report, they left the house and apparated to site of Mr. Reuben's Rudimentary Potions warehouse. They quickly put on their overalls and set about their work which was essentially packaging potions, but not before Mr. Reuben had spotted them.

"Evans! Hollow!" he barked.

"Yes sir," they replied with growing dread as he moved towards them.

"Late again," Mr. Reuben said coming so close to the two men that they could smell his horrible cigar breath, "Today you'll work overtime for half pay."

"Half pay?" repeated James in dismay.

"And you'll be happy to get it," Mr. Reuben snarled, "Now get to work!"

Remus glanced at James who glanced back with a sigh. There were certain times, however, when they did wish they were back in the past.

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They didn't get home until eight that evening and they were understandably tired. James went straight to bed, after his routine hour of Quidditch with Harry and Remus after a quick meal headed for the library where he spent most his evenings with Hermione. They'd formed a close bond over the last weeks and he was almost sure she trusted him now and their evenings were the highlight of his day. He opened the door and almost immediately wished he hadn't. Hermione and Ron were in the middle of a very heated argument and Remus's appearance in the doorway only seemed to rile them further.

"Do you mind John?" yelled Ron.

"Could you give us a minute," snapped Hermione through gritted teeth. Remus complied retreating quickly to one of the other rooms which he supposed had been the games room in the Black days for there was a chess board amongst other things. Remus seated himself on the sofa and played solitaire with a pack of cards he found. He hadn't been playing long before Hermione came into the room with red eyes, trembling slightly.

Instinctively Remus stood up and enveloped her in his arms. She rested on his shoulder and sobbed for a few minutes before pulling back.

"I think we broke up," she whispered.

"I'm sorry," said Remus automatically, "What happened?"

Hermione took a seat on the sofa and Remus followed her.

"I told him I wasn't ready to move in with him," said Hermione in between small sobs, "He didn't take it well," she added with a small smile.

"So he broke up with you?" asked Remus delicately although he felt his anger at Ron rising.

"No, he just shouted…a lot. He has this thing about me and Harry. I thought we'd moved on but he's always bringing it up. It does my head in. So I said to him, I said if you can't understand why I need to live with Harry right now then maybe you should just leave… a-and that's what he did…" Hermione said as she started to cry again.

Remus put an arm around her and after a while her tears subsided and she looked up at him, "Oh my goodness, I can't believe I just cried in front of you. What you must think of me…"

"It's nothing to be ashamed of," said Remus quickly, "It's better to get it all out. I cry all the time," he added suddenly turning red at this abrupt admission. Hermione smiled.

"Thanks," she said wiping her face with the back of her hand, "I can't talk to Harry about any of this and well I don't really have any girlfriends, except Ginny, but she's at school… so thanks."

"It's ok," replied Remus, "although I'd rather not be a girlfriend," he added with a grin.

"You know what I mean," Hermione laughed, "I don't know why but I feel like I've known you for years, John. You're so easy to talk to."

Remus sighed, "Yeah Lily always says that. Why do all girls say that to me?"

"Lily?" asked Hermione curiously.

"A friend of mine," said Remus quickly but Hermione was looking at him the way she had done in his first days here. Remus could almost hear the gears in her brain putting two and two together so he added, "She's my ex-girlfriend actually. We don't talk much anymore."

"Oh," said Hermione but she was still giving him the look.

"Well, if you're feeling better, I should probably go to sleep now," said Remus hastily.

"Yes of course," said Hermione watching him stand up, "Thanks John, for everything."

"Goodnight Hermione," said Remus and he shut the door to the games room as he tried to work out why his heart was beating so fast.

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"Call that a wronski feint? You don't even know the meaning of the word Potter!" yelled James zooming past his son.

"Think you can do better Evans?" Harry leered as he steadied himself on his broom.

"I could do better than you with my eyes closed and hands tied behind my back!" James declared as he flew down momentarily to take cup of lemonade from the pitcher that stood beside Hermione and Remus.

It was a gloriously sunny January day as it was a Saturday, James and Harry had spent most of it flying around the garden while Hermione and Remus watched, each with a book on their laps.

"Has Peter always been this competitive?" asked Hermione as James flew back to Harry to engage in more banter.

"Yeah he hates being second in anything. I remember him positively ignoring me because I got a percent more than him in charms," said Remus take a sip of lemonade.

"Well, I like it," stated Hermione, "I know this might've not have come across but I really do enjoy you two being here. To be honest living with Harry these last six months has been torture. I almost thought he'd never laugh again but look at him," she nodded upwards where Harry yelling triumphantly after winning a race against James, "You know, I think him and Peter are soul mates, sorry," Hermione added quickly.

"No, don't be," Remus said watching James steal one of Harry's gloves and zoom off into the distance with a large grin, "They do seem to be kindred spirits in some ways although Harry is no where as boisterous as Peter. You should see him on a sugar high, he's lethal." Hermione giggled and they watched their friends chase each other to and fro until the doorbell rang.

"I hope that's Neville," said Hermione standing up to get to the door, "He left his hat here the other day."

Several minutes later and Hermione had not returned so Remus stood up and went back into the house. He found Ron sitting on the kitchen table and Hermione standing by the sink. There was a tangible tension in the room and it wasn't until Remus had been standing there for a few moments that he finally said, "Hi Ron."

"Hello John," replied Ron politely.

Remus's gaze turned to Hermione who smiled awkwardly, "Ron just dropped in to apologise for his behaviour last week."

Ron's stared at her in horror then turned fiercely to Remus then back again to Hermione, "Do you tell every guy and his dog about our personal business?"

"She was really upset actually," Remus put in but Ron ignored him, his gaze firmly on her.

"You really hurt me Ron," Hermione admitted, "Why did you leave like that?"

"You told me to," said Ron exasperated.

"And you couldn't even owl me?"

"I was scared you wouldn't reply," answered Ron.

"That's not a very good excuse," snapped Hermione.

"Fine, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pressured you into moving in with me. I just miss you so much sometimes. Do you forgive me?"

Hermione nodded happily and Ron stood up to kiss her. Feeling suddenly like a third wheel Remus retreated back into the garden where James and Harry were now playing Quidditch penalty shoot out, with Harry in goal.

"He hasn't saved a single one!" James yelled when he saw Remus come in and sit down on a garden chair.

Remus gave him a thumb up and watched Harry let in another quaffle.

Ron and Hermione joined them a little while later walking hand in hand.

"Hey Ron," James and Harry hollered simultaneously as they changed positions.

"What are you playing?" Ron asked as Hermione sat beside Remus.

"Penalty shoot out," Harry answered, "Spare broom in the cupboard if you want to play."

"But we were going to have a rematch race round the trees after this," James reminded his son.

"You're right," conceded Harry flying down to meet Ron, "Sorry mate, can you wait until then?"

"Sure," said Ron although did look too happy as he watched his best friend having fun with his house guest, "When did Harry and Peter get so pally?" he asked Hermione.

"Hmm?" said Hermione. She had been sharing a joke with Remus while Ron was talking to Harry and now had a huge grin on her face.

"What's so funny?" asked Ron.

Hermione glanced at Remus who glanced back and then they promptly burst in laughter.

"You wouldn't understand," said Hermione in between giggles.

"Yes I would," said Ron hotly.

"Ok, well I was just telling John about this funny thing I read about post-renaissance potion making and how back then…" Hermione paused and frowned as Ron stifled a yawn, "See I knew you wouldn't find it funny, honestly why do you even ask?"

"I thought it was a joke not a history test," answered Ron dryly. Hermione rolled her eyes but Ron put his arms around her and kissed her on the cheek making her smile.

Once again, Remus felt like a spare part so he stood up and made his way to the living room deciding to switch on the television even though he knew no muggle programmes from this time. He settled on a music channel and watched with interest scantily clad girls gyrating in front him.

"Hey,"

Remus spun round. It was Ron. He hastily tried to turn off the TV but instead increased the volume so that now expletive ridden rap music filled the room:

I like my hoes

Especially the ones who take it down looooooow

I don't care if they have a man

I'll have them in my bed before you can say "HAAAAAAAAM!"

That's right I said I don't care if they've got a man

I'll have them anyway I can.

They call me the wolf man.

Cuz I'm a beast with all the ladies...

Remus finally found the mute button.

"Is that the sort of thing you're into?" Ron asked casually but his eyes were narrowed.

"No," replied Remus a bit too quickly perhaps because Ron eyes narrowed further, "Er…where's Hermione?"

"In the garden," answered Ron.

"I'm glad you two have sorted everything out," Remus said with an uncomfortable cough, "She was really upset."

"But you were there for her," Ron put in with an edge to his voice, "She's always talking about you John, even though you been here for what…three weeks?"

"We've become good friends," Remus said slowly, "We do live together after all." Remus silently berated himself for adding that as Ron stared at him fiercely.

"Yes you do," accepted Ron tensely, "And you spend all your spare time with her."

"Well…" Remus paused for a moment, "Only because J-Peter is usually in the garden with Harry."

Ron scowled, "Yeah he isn't he? So you're constantly with my girlfriend and Peter's constantly with my best friend."

"Ron, it isn't like that."

"What's her favourite colour?"

"Excuse me?"

"Just answer the question."

"I don't know, purple?"

"Correct. I took me six years to work that out, six years John and you've been here less than month and you already know that. Don't you think that's a bit weird?"

"No, I think just think you're not very observant," answered Remus truthfully.

Ron's face flashed red, "Stay away from her!"

"What?"

"Stay away from Hermione. I don't want you around her anymore."

"You can't tell me what to do," snapped Remus.

"Do you fancy her?"

"N-no."

"Then stay away from her."

"How? She's my friend and we live in the same house, that's virtually impossible."

"You're clever," answered Ron bitterly, "Or so I'm always being told, so just try and stay away from Hermione."

"No."

"I'm asking you nicely."

"But I'm sorry, I c-cant."

"Please," Ron said quietly, "I love her so much."

There was long awkward silence before Remus sighed "Fine, I'll try. I can't ignore her though."

Ron nodded in compromise.

"Hey what's going on?" Hermione said coming into the fray. Ron smiled in relief and intertwined her fingers with his.

"Nothing going on," he said casually, "Right John?"

"Right Ron," answered John with a sinking feeling in his stomach.

Hope you liked that.

Either way please review, it helps me write.

I'm off doing exams so the next update will be in mid MAY, sorry!

WFG