Chapter six: Confessions
Written in these walls are the stories that I can't explain,
I leave my heart open, but it stays right here empty for days.
Remus watched his feet, his face screwed up in concentration. He couldn't stop thinking about Ariel and the mystery surrounding her. At first it was intoxicating. Now it was borderline frightening. What did anyone really know about her other than she was McGonagall's goddaughter? The professor herself was very tight lipped about her. She was friends with Severus Snape, but maybe that could be a sign. The other Marauders looked up when he came into the room, but noticed he was deep in thought.
"Hey, Moony," Sirius said cheerfully. "What's got the wheels turning?"
"Sirius, I think you may be right about Ariel. There is something odd about her."
Sirius laughed lightly. "No, mate, you were right. We should give her a chance."
Remus looked at him strangely. "I think she knows about Moony, I mean, knows. Like personally. And she's called you a dog several times, like she knew about that too. I told you about going to Fortesque's with her- she knew my favorite ice cream."
"That's weird." Peter agreed.
"So it's a little strange," Sirius said. "That doesn't automatically condemn her. And plus, if she knows about Moony that's one less thing to worry about if you ask her out. You won't have to hide it."
"What are you talking about? Just yesterday you were ready to light the torches."
"He's just thinking you had good points." James commented. "She's done nothing to really make us suspect her."
"She broke his nose."
"We hurt her friend."
Remus looked over to Peter who shrugged. "They've been like this all morning. We haven't even seen Mason all day. Snape's with the other Slytherins."
With one final look he left again to find the girl in question, now more sure than ever something was wrong.
*COLORS*
September 1 1993
He hired that werewolf, for a bloody teaching position. More, I seemed to be the only sane person to see the issue. He sat next to me with a stupid smile. I haven't seen or spoken to him since I found out the truth, sure that I would strangle him. Well it is as true now as it was two years ago to the point that I had to hold the table to keep my hands from wrapping around his throat. At least he had the decency to look ashamed. I glared at Lupin all through dinner. When he was announced, my Hermione clapped. Of course she did. I heard about the Dementor. He probably acted as noble as he could for her. She's only thirteen. I can see him throw glances at her. He probably thought he was being discrete. I suspect he knew though. They were too close for Ariel notto have told him the truth of herself.
"Ariel!" Remus saw her with the book. That book that she always carried everywhere. He watched her faintly smile at something in it before he called her name. She looked up at him, startled, then smiled. It was probably a lie. Without another word he tugged her into a secret passage.
"Who are you?"
He heard her heart rate spike, but her voice was completely calm. "What are you talking about?"
"I think you know what I'm talking about. I know for a fact you aren't who you say you are, so tell me or I'll go to McGonagall."
Hermione sighed. Minerva had told her this could happen if she weren't careful. Harry and Ron were never nearly this perceptive. Was her job to do at an end with this? At that thought, her grip on the journal unconsciously tightened. Remus yanked the open book away from her harshly.
"Give that back!"
"What even is this thing?" He glanced at the page, his name catching his eye. The blue orbs widened. "W-what is this? Who are you?"
How does she even breach the topic? Yeah, so, I'm from the future- want to go to the library? About the best she could come up with, so she said it- feeling rather stupid.
He gaped at her. "Wait, what?"
She smiled a bit. "I, er, yeah. I'm actually from 1999. I came back to save Severus' life. Can I have my book please?"
"You're insane."
Again, how to do you prove this kind of thing. "Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs, Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief Makers, are proud to present: the Marauders Map."
"How do you know that?" Remus whispered.
"Because I've seen it. I've said the password to open it. I've said the words to close it."
Hermione sat down on the floor of the rather large secret passageway- or more like large room, long forgotten. She dug through her bag and pulled out another book, flipping through to a certain page. Then she held it out.
He stared at it, opening his mouth and then closing it several times before finally asking, "Is that?"
"That's you, me, Sirius, Harry and Ron."
"We got old." He said in semi-disgust and incredulity.
She snorted. "You were 35 when this picture was taken. It was a week before Harry's birthday. He's James and Lily's son. My best friend."
"Where are they when this is taken?"
"They-th-they weren't around."
"Peter?"
"Elsewhere." She bit her tongue from saying anymore about that. "I met you on the train my third year at Hogwarts. You were to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. That was the year Harry got the map."
He groaned. "I'm your bloody teacher?" Remus sat down beside her and rubbed his temples in a way that meant he was stressed. Which was a lot. "I'm so confused. So, how old are you?"
"Now, you see that's a bit of a tricky question to answer. I turned 17 yesterday, but I should have been turning 19."
"Old lady," he joked hollowly. "What's your name then?"
She stuck her hand out. "Hermione Granger."
"You were in the book, the journal. Was that Snape's handwriting."
Hermione nodded. "He was my Potions professor. And he's my father."
"Y-your father?"
"I was adopted by Muggles. Only found out just before I came here."
"So, you know about me?"
"Since third year. He thought you were doing something you weren't and gave an essay on them, probably knowing that I would see it."
"I was the werewolf he saved you from wasn't I? I've heard you talk about your Potions professor."
"There were circumstances. While Sirius tried to lead you away, he stood between you and us. It wasn't your fault."
Remus looked away in shame. "So, did we still see each other when you came here?"
"We're roommates. You, me, Harry, and Ron all live together. I saw you the day before. You kissed me and left. The journal implies we were in a relationship, as did you."
"Do you want to be?" This was nowhere near where either of them thought this conversation was going, but in a good- very confusing- way.
"Remus, I've had a crush on you since I was thirteen. Are you asking?"
He closed the distance and kissed her softly, chastely, meltingly. "Yes," he whispered against her lips with closed eyes. "Are you accepting?"
Her answer was another kiss
*COLORS*
"So, they die don't they?" Remus asked thickly as she showed him her photo album. None of them had Peter, James, or Lily.
She looked up at him with sad eyes. "I'm sorry."
He nodded to himself. "Do we win? This war that is coming. Who wins?"
"At the cost of many lives, yes. We win."
"It doesn't seem like that at the time. He has so many followers."
"It is the quality of ones convictions that determines success, not the number of followers."
He looked at her oddly. "Who said that one?"
"You did before we fought him for the last time."
*COLORS*
"What was it you said to Sirius and James?"
"I showed them my left arm."
"They would have told me if that was just it." Hermione pulled her sleeve up and showed him her scar. "Oh," he breathed out.
"It was a few months before the Final Battle. Bellatrix Lestrange, though I haven't told anyone here. Obviously."
"His whole family is insane." Remus said. "Regulus- "
"Is a good man," Hermione interrupted. "We just didn't know until it was too late."
*COLORS*
"What about McGonagall?"
"Technically speaking, she's my grandmother. She's the only one aside from you who knows why I'm here or who I am."
"OI!"
The both spun around in surprise. They'd been walking around, holding hands and just talking now that she didn't have to hold anything back. Sirius and James grinned big at the sight of them and waggled their eyebrows suggestively.
"It's about time," James said.
"We've only been in school a few weeks." Hermione reminded him.
Sirius laughed. "We're talking about Remus! Never seen him with a girl, we were starting to think he went the other way." Then he turned to Peter. "You know, it's never too late to come clean, Wormtail."
The boy blushed.
"So," James said. "You two are together then?"
"Ariel?"
Hermione could have facepalmed herself. It was Severus. She'd wanted to tell him alone. But here he was, looking ten shades of pissed off.
"Hey, Severus!"
"What's going on?"
"They're dating, mate."
Severus looked at Sirius like he'd lost his mind, and Sirius looked uncomfortable at having used the word for him. "Ariel, can I speak to you? Alone?"
Hermione squeezed Remus' hand before going.
"Why are you doing this? He's bad, Ariel."
"No, he's not. Please, Severus, don't be angry."
He fumed. "He-he's a- "
"I know. And I know what they've all put you through, but people can change. I don't care what he is. He is still kind, and funny, and I really like him."
"I can't believe you would say that while being my friend. Have you not witnessed the past few weeks? How can you be my friend and still be theirs?"
"How can you be my friend and still one of His?" Severus looked away, angry at himself. She's just Lily all over again. I thought she understood. I thought she trusted me. I thought- "Don't ask me to choose, Severus. I will choose you. I will always choose you, but please don't ask me to."
He looked at her with wide eyes. "W-w-would you really?"
She nodded. "You're my friend. You're my best friend. But pleaseā¦"
"Okay." He whispered. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tight.
"Thank you." She whispered.
*COLORS*
Christmas 1993
Lupin and I have been avoiding each other. He's made a fool of me to gain favor with students, and I'm just positive he's helping Black in some way. Is he not thinking of Hermione? I sent her another gift, the only way I can be a parent in some small way, a book on the laws concerning magical creatures as she's helping Hagrid with his case. I care about my godson, don't get me wrong, but I think his ego might be much more manageable if the bloody thing had taken off his arm.
March 16 1994
They've been fighting. I just found her crying alone and I wanted to hold her, but instead I gave her my handkerchief and left her.
April 10 1994
I have never laughed so hard in my life! Including when Ariel passed chocolate milk through her nose. I was glancing out the window, just thinking, when I see my girl and her friends with Draco. Then SLAP! Oh the look on everyone's face, it was almost as good as Ariel punching Black.
Being with Remus was just how she thought it would be. He walked to classes with she and Severus, who was trying to be civil for his friend's sake. If by civil you mean glaring when he was near and very purposely walking in between them. Still, Remus brought her a rose a week after the kiss. They read together in the common room at night where she told him more stories about her time.
"Ugh!" She said one night just before Halloween, throwing her finished essay down in relief.
Remus looked up from his. "Problem?"
"Just the topic."
"Have any experience with Polyjuice Potion?"
Hermione grimaced. "I have taken it three times in my live and each one trouble."
He just stared. "Like what?"
"We brewed it in a bathroom our second year, but I used a cat hair instead of the person's."
Remus snorted. "Half-cat?"
She nodded. "Then the second time, we were all turning into Harry to throw them off who was the real one. Our friend got his ear blown off! Last was turning into Bellatrix. It was awful."
"What's their son like?" Remus asked, leaning back. He did this a lot, just asked a stream of questions. Sometimes about the future, sometimes just about her. She curled up beside him and he played with her hair.
"He's their son," she said. "He looks just like James, but with Lily's eyes. Harry becomes the youngest Seeker in a century. He's not really a trouble maker, it just finds him." Hermione laughed. "In our first year he accepted a duel with Lucius Malfoy's son. I got roped into going with them, but Draco never showed up. He told Filch to expect us."
"That weasel."
"Our Defense professor in fourth year turned him into a ferret for trying to curse Harry behind his back. You should have seen Minerva's face."
They laughed before falling into a comfortable silence. Then sleep.
~~~
Before anyone asks, no. Severus does not have any romantic feelings for Ariel. Also, just a side note, I rewrote this chapter like ten times. I'm still not thrilled with it, but hey. Moving on. Love always, Skye
