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Hermione woke up pushing away the something that was tickling her nose. She groaned in annoyance as it returned only seconds later.

"Stop it," she moaned to the thing, swiping at the air in front of her and rolling onto her back.

A deep chuckling forced her eyes open and she could see beside her an amused Sirius Black dangling what appeared to be her night-shirt above her. She reached up to grab it but he pulled it out of her reach at the last second and she was forced to grab the slipping sheets at her chest rather than follow her night-shirt.

She sat up in the bed, one hand holding the sheet to her chest and the other rubbing her eyes which were being affronted by the bright daylight of the room.

"Where's Remus?" she asked, trying to keep her voice nonchalant.

"He's in the shower," Sirius grinned mischievously, swinging the night-shirt in front of her again.

"Don't you want your clothes back?" he taunted.

Hermione eyed him warily wondering what his plan was. Had he jinxed her clothes? Or was he hoping she would have to drop the blanket to reach them? … Or both?

She shrugged her shoulders, letting the sheet drop just a smidge. "I dunno," she pretended to think as she watched his eyes transfixed to the curve of her half exposed breasts.

"I suppose you could just give them to me… or maybe I should just drop this?" She tugged on the corner of her coverings. "After all when Remus walks in do you think he would be angry with me? Or with you?" she smirked asked in fake innocence as his eyes widened.

"Absolutely evil," he shook his head in disbelief as she laughed.

"Oh look here he is now!" she said dropping the sheets and jumping from the bed as Remus walked in, a towel in one hand rubbing his damp hair.

Sirius squealed shrilly in a voice Hermione thought sounded similar to Pansy Parkinson's and dropped her clothes to the ground, both hands clapping tight over his eyes.

"I didn't – She – she's just uncontrollable mate – honestly!" He wailed in the direction he had last seen Remus.

Remus merely chuckled and walked over to where Hermione was standing, glorious in her complete nakedness. However, as Hermione tried to take a step towards him the ramifications from the previous night hit her and her legs suddenly went weak, knees crumpling, unable to support her. Remus was already close and he quickly closed the distance between them able to catch her before she fell completely to the floor.

With a small "oh" she was lifted into his arms and he was carrying her back to his bed.

She blushed ashamedly and muttered a small "sorry".

"Nonsense," he admonished as he pulled the sheets back up around her. "It hurts?" he asked gently and she nodded, not able to meet his eye.

"Here," he said pulling a small vial from his jeans pocket and passing it to her.

She looked at him questioningly, suppressing a giggle as she watched Sirius over his shoulder, hands still pressed firmly to his face, trying to maneuver himself out of the room but managing only to repeatedly ram himself into Peter's bedpost.

Remus turned to see what was amusing her and laughed openly at his friend somehow now stuck between a trunk, a bedside table and a bed, unable to find a way out.

"You can open your eyes now Pads, she's covered."

"Are you sure?" he asked worriedly.

"Promise," Hermione managed to reply, though her voice was shaking with the effort not to laugh.

Sirius released a sigh of relief and dropped his hands from his eyes.

"Thank Merlin, I'm out of here," he said as he scrambled over Peter's bed towards freedom.

Remus turned back to Hermione as he left, to see her studying the small pink vial in her hands.

"It's just a mild pain potion," he explained softly. "I told Madame Pomfrey I had a head ache which isn't this unusual for this time of the month."

"Thankyou," she whispered sincerely, leaning up to place a soft kiss on his lips.

She swallowed the potion in one gulp and was pleasantly surprised at it's sweet taste, remembering that the pain potions she had usually been given in her own time hadn't been that agreeable, nevertheless she could feel the pain ebbing away and she was able to sit up again a minute later.

Remus had got up and was rummaging through the trunk at the end of his bed. After a second he pulled out a non-descript black robe and threw it to her, pulling on a green jumper himself.

"It's probably the least conspicuous thing I have," he said apologetically. "Not that I wouldn't mind Gryffindor Tower seeing you parade around between our dorms in my clothes," he winked at her. "I just wouldn't wear them," he gestured to the clothes Sirius had been taunting her with, "anytime too soon."

Hermione eyed the clothes suspiciously, in complete agreement.

…

"I mean – can you believe it?" Emily asked, her eyes transfixed to the same spot Hermione's were – a couple sitting beside the lake, hands intertwined and oblivious to the world around them.

Emily and Hermione sat shoulder to shoulder on the steps to the castle, knees drawn to their chests watching the scene in silence, until Emily had spoken of course.

Hermione's grin widened and without turning to Emily she replied "Actually yes. Yes, I can."

"Lily Evans and James Potter?" Emily continued, voice full of awe. "James Potter and Lily Evans? Nope. Both ways, it still doesn't fit," she giggled.

"How about Lily and James Potter?" Hermione suggested.

Emily was quiet for a while as they continued to watch in silence.

"Perfect." Emily agreed.

Hermione was about to reply but before she could open her mouth a dark figure moved past her, robes swishing angrily in a personification of their owner's mood.

"Wait here," Hermione said rising to follow the retreating figure inside the castle.

She almost missed him, entering the hall just in time to witness him shooting around a corner that would lead him to the dungeons; she hesitated only for a second before running to catch up with him.

"Severus!" she yelled, panting as she ran down the fifth set of stars trying to beat his fast pace.

He turned around abruptly and swore loudly pulling her roughly by the arm and throwing her into an empty classroom before following her in and warding the door.

She stood, hands on the table behind her that she had used to steady herself from her rude Slytherin greeting.

"Hello to you too," she said sarcastically, rubbing her shoulder that he had grabbed painfully.

Severus showed no remorse for hurting her as he began to pace angrily in front of her.

"What were you thinking?" he yelled, finally stopping his pace and taking a step closer so that with his height he easily loomed over her.

"I was –"

"Trying to get yourself killed?" he answered for her.

"What?" He asked her shocked look. "You're werewolf boyfriend couldn't do that for you?"

SLAP.

Hermione shook with anger as Severus rubbed his jaw.

"So you did know then." There was amusement in his voice and Hermione felt like slapping him again. But she stopped herself as she saw something else on his cheek apart from the red mark she had just added. There were dried tear tracks running from his eyes. They were so pale she wouldn't have seen if they hadn't have been literally nose-to-nose but they were there.

"You've been crying," she stated numbly and Severus stepped back as if she had hit him.

Severus stared at her aghast as she studied him.

"It's her isn't it? You love her."

She didn't need an answer; she could see it in his face.

"Don't do this to yourself. Please, Severus," she implored reaching out a hand towards his swollen cheek.

He stepped back, shaking his head.

"No," he whispered. "It's too late. She never wanted me anyway…Who would?" he added the last though bitterly.

"Don't say that." Hermione rebuked firmly.

"But it's true –"

"It's not and you know that!"

"You wouldn't understand, everyone loves you." His eyes were vacant staring at the floor, and Hermione's heart broke for him. "How could you understand?"

"But you are wanted Severus, you are loved –"

Severus scoffed dismissively and started to turn away.

Hermione reached out, her hand closing around his wrist to stop him from leaving.

"I love you. I care for you. Please, just – just don't turn away from me; let me be there for you."

Her hand was wrapped tight around his wrist and he was staring at it so intensely she looked at it too. It hit her immediately the fact that she was holding the bare pale skin of his left wrist that was for the first time she had ever seen, untouched … unmarked.

"Okay," he whispered.

Hermione smiled, tears in her eyes as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He crumpled in her arms and she wasn't sure that he was crying until she felt the wetness soak through her shoulder.

She let them both sink to the floor and she cradled him in her arms running a hand affectionately through his hair, and all she could think of was that pale wrist, his beautiful unmarred skin, and how she was determined that it was going to stay that way.

Not for her, not for the 'greater good' of the wizarding world, but for her friend – normally so formal and reserved – crying unashamedly on her shoulder.

…

That night Hermione pulled out the present that Professor Dumbledore had given her for Christmas. She had been surprised to receive anything from the Headmaster but appreciated the gift greatly, more so now than ever as she finally had need for use of it. It was a beautiful red leather bound diary but the real beauty of it was it's inlaid magical properties. The diary would only open to her unique magical signature. Without it the pages would seal shut, no spell could penetrate their protective charm and if one so happened to break through the magical wards it would instantly consume the ink patterns contained within.

In other words it was the perfect diary with for a one with secrets.

Her afternoon with Severus had reminded Hermione of just how much influence she now had to change the horrible things she knew were set to happen. Previously she had tried to make as little as possible impact on the past but now as she, as Dumbledore had encouraged her, was making a life for herself in this time she was starting to look at things a little differently. Technically she reasoned Dumbledore had almost encouraged her to change the future, as she was sure would be the consequence of what he had suggested. Which brought her to her diary.

Hermione smiled. She had a list to make.

Inwardly she laughed at herself knowing that this was just the thing that Ron and Harry had always teased her about.

Nevertheless there was a lot of critical detail that she had to timeline if she was to be successful in her quest.

So she sat in the middle of the common room feet pulled up onto the chair and diary propped up against her legs.

She could see Sirius over the top of her knees and started her list with him.

She was determined. Sirius would not go to Azkaban. Sirius would not fall through the veil. James and Lily would not die on

Halloween, in their home at Godric's Hollow. Peter would not be given the chance to betray them. Harry would grow up with his parents; with those that loved him. Severus would not join the Death Eaters. And Remus … Remus would be okay if he had his friends.

She scribbled furiously filling page after page with every detail she could scrape form relayed memories.

She was not stupid. She could not tell anyone of these things. Not only would they not believe her she would then be forced to explain her situation and then if too many people knew, and it spread to the wrong people, she herself could get in trouble. Dumbledore too.

But it didn't matter because she was going to be there, she would be able to do this all herself.

Everything, everyone would be okay.