Time for an update at last.

You'll either love it or hate it.

I think I like the direction I'm going,

But you might disagree.

Please tell me your thoughts.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

"Can I ask you a favor?" Regulus asks, leaning in towards Hermione from across the library table.

"What?" she asks, confused, looking up from her Transfiguration essay.

"I have it on good accord that Dumbledore is planning a Holiday dance this year, and I was wondering if you would go with me."

Hermione stares at him. "It's the third of November."

"I know," Regulus says with a smile. "I wanted to make sure that I was the first person to ask you."

She studies the boy sitting across from her. The boy that once she leaves here she will never get the chance to see again.

He seems to know what is going on inside her head and places his hand on top of hers, making her head immediately look downward at their hands.

"Okay," Hermione replies, looking back at his eyes with a smile. "I'll go with you."

"Promise?" He asks, running his thumb over her hand. "I wouldn't want you to back out on me for someone else."

"Like who?" Hermione asks.

Regulus shrugs. "My brother? He is why you're here, isn't he?"

Hermione sighs. "Sirius is my best friend's godfather…not to mention, I did know him in the future. I explained all this to you. I couldn't go with him…that would be too weird."

"And me?"

"The only real issue I have with you is that you're a third year."

Regulus smiles. "We're the same age though. Both fourteen. Apparently they've changed the cutoff date in your time." He moves his hand, sliding it underneath Hermione's and clasping their fingers together. "And unless you have feelings for me, the fact you'd be going to a dance with a third year shouldn't matter.

Hermione removes her hand. "I can't have feelings for you," she says sharply, collecting her belongings and quickly standing. "You're not alive."

She briskly walks out of the library, leaving Regulus watching her with a frown.

Turning the corner, Hermione walks straight into McGonagall.

"Miss Granger!"

"Sorry Professor," Hermione says softly.

McGonagall looks at her in concern. "Are you all right?"

"I…I'm not sure, Professor."

"Come with me to my office," McGonagall states, turning towards the portrait that blocks her office's entrance. She says the password and Hermione follows her inside, sitting down in the armchair across from her desk.

"Now tell me what's wrong." McGonagall says, pouring two cups of tea and handing one to Hermione.

Hermione takes a sip of tea and then breathes in deeply. "Regulus asked me to the Holiday dance."

"I'm not sure I understand what is wrong."

"I'm not going to be here after break, and Regulus will no longer be in my life."

McGonagall doesn't respond immediately, choosing to watch Hermione as she intently stares into her tea cup. "I can only suggest that you enjoy your time with him as much as possible while you find yourself able."

"I know that," Hermione replies, placing her cup down on McGonagall's desk. "But at the same time, it's just going to be harder when I have to leave."

"Do you have feelings for him?"

Hermione shrugs, looking down at her hands.

"It seems as if it's already going to be quite hard on you when you leave."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

"Why are you here so early?" Remus asks Hermione, sitting down across from her at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall.

She doesn't respond and continues to pretend to be reading the book in front of her, tapping the feather end of here quill against her chin.

"Something happen?"

Hermione sighs and puts her quill down, looking at Remus. "What are you doing here so early? There's still fifteen minutes until dinner, and you never come here without James and Sirius."

"I saw you in here," he says slowly. "And seeing as it's still a bit early, I was curious as to why you were. Do you want me to leave you alone?"

"No," Hermione says softly, defeated. "I just haven't had a very great past two hours."

"Anything you want to talk about?"

"I'm not sure," Hermione replies, glancing around the hall.

"Don't trust me enough to tell me?"

She sighs, aggravated, glaring up at him. "You know it's not that, Remy… It's just-"

Hermione is cut off from finishing her sentence as Lily, Anna and Molly walk into the Hall, sitting down to the right of her and Remus. Molly beside Hermione, and Anna and Lily beside Remus.

"And what are you two doing here alone?" Anna asks, raising her eyebrows.

"Undressing each other with their eyes," Sirius' voice sounds from behind.

Both Remus and Hermione send glares towards him, but Lily, Molly and Anna all laugh as he, James and Peter sit down at the table as well.

"So what happened between you and my brother?"

Hermione's eyes widen as she turns to Sirius, who happened to be sitting directly beside her.

"What are you talking about?" She asks quickly.

"I was in the library earlier," Sirius states. "Hiding from Filch, and I saw you get upset and leave in a hurry."

Hermione looks to Remus quickly and then back at Sirius. "I'd really rather not talk about it just right now."

Sirius' gaze narrows. "Everything all right?"

"Yeah," Hermione says quickly. "Really. It's just between me and him…really."

"You like him!" Molly exclaims, a large smile on her lips. "I knew it!" She states, elbowing Lily.

James, Peter and Sirius all look to Hermione with questioning looks as Remus looks down at the table where plates of food just appeared.

"There's no way that Hermione likes Regulus," Sirius states with a laugh. "Come on, Flitwick. Get real."

Hermione picks up her fork and begins to stab at her chicken when Sirius nudges her. "Mione', tell her she's daft."

"Excuse me," Hermione states, standing up and walking out of the Great Hall.

Not paying attention to where she is going, and simply wanting to be alone, Hermione stops short when she finds herself facing the dungeon entrance, where Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Black seemed to be in a heated argument.

"And what do we have here?" Bellatrix says slowly, looking away from Lucius as Hermione's hand tightens on her wand inside her pocket. "The little transfer Gryffindor seems to be lost."

"I was just going for a walk," Hermione states, defensively.

Lucius steps forward, his head boy badge stuck proudly on his robes. "This isn't any place for a Mudblood to be."

"Let her alone," Regulus states, stepping out from the portrait blocking the Slytherin common room, with Severus right behind him, looking at the scene playing out carefully.

"Why would we do that?" Lucius drawls out, still staring intently at Hermione.

"Because I don't appreciate it when someone threatens the girl I like."

The Hallway goes silent as Lucius turns to Regulus, who had chosen to draw his wand to avoid more confrontation. Bellatrix looks at her cousin with an intense look of loathing.

"You have feelings for this Mudblood?"

"Are you losing your hearing in your old age, Malfoy?" Regulus asks, walking over to Hermione. "I'm sure the Dark Lord would like your hearing at its best, you may not want to let him know."

Lucius looks absolutely livid, drawing his own wand. "How dare you speak about the Dark Lord in such a trivial manner. You will never be accepted into his lines."

Regulus smiles, lowering his wand. "And there you have mistaken, Malfoy. I'm already accepted and if you distrust the Dark Lord's decision, I'm sure he would be more than interested in hearing your opinion on the matter."

Lucius stutters, dropping his wand hand by his side. He takes one last look at Regulus before brushing past Severus into the Slytherin common room with Bellatrix trailing after him.

"That wasn't wise, Reg," Severus says with a frown.

"What's it matter?" Regulus says, avoiding meeting Hermione's eyes. "It's not as if I told him any lie."

Severus shrugs, and walks over to Hermione. "What are you doing down here anyway?"

"I went for a walk."

"During dinner?" Snape asks. "What happened?"

Hermione shakes her head, finally meeting Regulus' eyes. "Just a conversation I didn't feel like taking part in."

"What about?" Regulus asks.

"You," she replies with a slight smile. "Apparently Sirius thinks it's absurd that I could like you."

"As do you, if I recall," he states in return. "I'm 'not alive', remember?"

Hermione shakes her head in annoyance. "Never mind," she states, turning on her heel and heading out of the hallway towards the entrance hall.

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she rounds on him quickly, the tears already starting to fall from her eyes. "You don't understand!" Hermione states, hitting Regulus in the chest, pushing him away from her. "I can't like you, I just can't! In less than two months, I'm going to be back in my time where I will never see you again."

She breaks down, kneeling down on the ground where Regulus bends down in front of her, pulling her close to himself, gently stroking her hair. "I do understand," Regulus says gently. "We're in the same situation, 'Mione."

She pulls away from him and wipes her eyes. "I want to go home…but I don't want to loose my friends here, and I don't really have the option not to."

Regulus forms a sad smile on his lips and pulls Hermione back towards him, leaning her forehead against his own. "What do you say we make the best of the last two months?"

Hermione doesn't respond and Regulus pulls her against his chest, allowing her to cry into his cloak.

"She okay?" Sirius asks his brother awkwardly as he approaches with Remus, Severus approaching from the other side, glaring at the two of them.

"Yeah," Regulus replies, continuing to run his hand through Hermione's hair. "She's just upset at having to leave people here as they won't be around when she gets home."

"I'm sorry," Hermione says softly, pulling away from Regulus. "I don't mean to be like this."

"We really don't mind," Remus states, walking over to Hermione and placing his hand on her shoulder. "We know how tough this must be on you."

She smiles up at him. "I just feel like such a girl."

"You are one," Severus states, looking at Sirius in annoyance. "But you're here being much braver about the ordeal than most others could."

"He's right," Sirius says stiffly. "And I was out of order earlier. That's why I came looking for you. I want to apologize for what I said. I didn't know that you actually did have feelings for Reggie."

"Reggie?" Hermione asks him with a smile.

"Bollocks," Sirius states, looking somewhat embarrassed, avoiding the eyes of his younger brother who was also wearing a smile. "I just wanted to say sorry, I'll see you later."

Hermione can't contain her laugh as Sirius leaves the hallway with Remus shortly behind him.

"Well that was…interesting." Severus says with a smirk, watching the area where Remus and Sirius just disappeared from. "I think the wolf likes you."

"Don't be absurd," Hermione replies, wiping her face and making to stand up. "We're just friends. I can confide in him when I can't in others."

"You know him in the future, right?"

"Yeah," Hermione replies to Severus' question. "Why?"

"You already have an image of him," he replies. "He doesn't. I think you're a bit off in your assessment of him. Here he's just a fifteen year old boy, not the man who is twenty years older than you."

"That same description can be used for you, Sev."

He smiles t her. "The difference is, with me, you've been able to see the two different people. You still treat Lupin as one."

"You're right," she responds with a frown, leaning against the wall.

"You might looks towards rectifying that," Severus states. "I have to finish McGonagall's essay before my detention tonight for cursing Potter."

"I'll see you tomorrow in the library then?"

"Sure 'Mione, right after Charms."

Hermione watches as Severus exits the hall, leaving her and Regulus alone in the corridor.

"So," he states, awkwardly standing with his hands in his pocket. "I don't believe that I ever got a promise out of you."

She laughs at him with a slight sniffle. "Do you really need a promise?"

"It would make me feel better," Regulus states, walking over to where she was still leaning against the wall. "I wouldn't want you to run out on me again."

Regulus stands in front of her and takes her hands in his. "So what do you say, Hermione?"

"I'm not so sure," she says with a smile. "Why don't you convince me?"

"I think I might be able to do that," he replies, taking a step forward so his body presses firm against hers. "If you're sure you need to be convinced."

Hermione can only nod her head as Regulus leans forward, placing his lips on top of hers and gently kissing her. She lets out a soft moan and Regulus lets go of her hands, placing his arms around her waist, pulling her off the wall and against him. Her hands immediately go to his neck, where she runs her right hand though his hair, deepening the kiss.

"Hermione," Regulus says, pulling away from her. "As much as I'd love to continue doing this…we're in the middle of the hall, and…" he looks down to where their waists were touching. "I believe it's rather apparent as to what we've been doing. I also have to meet Sev for detention. Apparently Flitwick thought I could have stopped Sev from cursing Potter."

"Okay," Hermione says softly. "I have to finish my paper anyway."

"So I'll see you later, then."

"I believe so," Hermione says with a smirk. Regulus bends down to give her one last kiss before stepping away from her, heading towards the Charms classroom.

"Reg?" Hermione calls out, making him stop and turn to face her.

"What?" he asks confused.

"I promise."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Tell me what you think?