"What's wrong kid?" Remus nudged Hermione with his shoulder, she seemed distant by a long shot and he was knew something was going on.

That was the thing about Hermione though, she never seemed to want to reveal her inner monologue, the thoughts that seemed to keep her mind active at all times. He worried it was residual from the way the past had played out. He and Sirius had spent hours bickering about it, always locked in conversation.

There were times they would see the Hermione they knew, the one who'd vanished, other times the care-free, less stoic Hermione. It was strange to say the least.

"Ah, nothing." She broke from her thoughts and flicked her eyes to him, her teeth worrying her bottom lip. "I have three apprenticeship offers for after Hols and I'm not sure exactly which one would be best."

"Which do you have, love?" He cocked an eyebrow, smart girl she was, he had no worries about her future.

Her head fell back with a sigh. "Transfiguration with McGonagall, Charms with Flitwick, or Potions with Snape." She didn't miss the light that lit Remus' eyes.

It was odd when he did that, as if he knew something she didn't.

She shrugged off the feeling and watched his face as he pulled a new stack of papers to grade. He'd been the DADA professor for as long as she'd been alive and he'd dodged his fair share of dangerous situations. The rumor was the position was jinxed and he was just so talented against the dark arts that he was unaffected.

She knew better than anyone he suffered his own curse, one that would have overwhelmed anything a bitter wizard could have cast on a lousy teaching position.

"I think you would do well at any of them, which one do you feel like you would enjoy pursuing after school?"

"Transfiguration is something I'm good at, I know, and Charms are one of my favorite subjects but…" She broke off, her eyes far away for a moment. He wondered if this was because she did recognize Severus. It was a bit of a stretch, he knew, she'd never shown any signs of recognizing him but that didn't necessarily mean she didn't. She was incredibly skilled at hiding things, the older she grew.
"I think Potions would challenge me."

Remus nodded and marked another paper, his focus in two places. Of course that would only benefit his students who always had better marks when Hermione came to visit him whilst he was grading.

"You need a challenge I know, you may grow bored otherwise." He smiled, a playful wink in her direction before he resumed his marking. He was grading first year papers and they were tedious, to say the least.

"Exactly, but at the same time Professor Snape can be quite intimidating."

Ah, now they were coming to the root of the problem, Remus fought down his smirk.

"Honestly love, that man would never do anything to hurt you. He may be gruff, 'Mi, but he's a good man, he's been through a lot in his life." Her eyes caught his and held him in a firm gaze for a moment. He could see her mind working around his words, developing them to her own ends before she gave a little nod.

"You went to school with him, didn't you? What was he like?"

"He was- different- he nearly made some very bad choices but we were lucky enough to have a mutual friend who kept him right." Remus could almost see the Hermione in his mind's eyes, her auburn hair and sparkling grey eyes, the smile that played across her face that was the same as this Hermione, this Hermione he'd raised as his own daughter.

He wondered momentarily if she'd known. She had that quality to her then, that Dumbledore-like ability to just know what would happen, as if it simply came to her.

She was still very much like that, even now, her clever mind working out things long before he would have anticipated.

"What was her name?" She tipped her head, eyes curious. Remus cleared his throat, an uncomfortable look crossed his face.

"Probably best you get on with your rounds, don't you think my little Head Girl?" She didn't miss his change of subject and her eyes narrowed on him momentarily before she gave a little nod.

"I suppose you're right." She glanced at the papers on his desk. "Will Sirius be there for the Christmas break this year?"

Remus sighed. Sirius had decided to do a bit of traveling, leaving the pair of them alone in Black Manor for the past three years and it was more than obvious to him Hermione was missing him. He was her family as well, after all, he'd helped raise her, a second father figure and obviously the more fun of the two.

He gave a little nod. "I think he should be, he owled that he wouldn't miss it for the world. He wants to be here when you graduate as well."

"Good." A radiant smile lit her face as she rounded his desk to wrap him in a hug. "Goodnight." She lay a wet, sloppy kiss on his cheek before she turned to leaving, leaving him shaking his head with a grin on his face.

He couldn't deny he'd been ever so fortunate to end up being her caretaker. She was as much a joy as he could have imagined.

SSHG

"You do not think she remembers, do you?" Severus attempted to keep the hope from his voice as he watched his co-worker, and friend of so many years. The man was like an open book and the uncertainty that crossed his face was all the answer the dark wizard needed.

Gods he wanted her to remember, something, anything. His heart hurt with it.

"I don't know, you know how hard she can be to read sometimes. She finds you intimidating, which is, honestly, a very fair assessment but we had a conversation about you and, well- to be honest I nearly divulged too much."

Severus shook his head and glanced to his untouched plate of food. His eyes flicked up to the Gryffindor table where she sat, joking and laughing with her friends, her eyes shot up to catch his and he looked away.

He was like a lovesick child. He needed to get himself under control.

"She'll remember you mate, you just have to give her time, she loved you the way Lily loves James." He could see Remus look at her from the corner of his eye. "Some things are just meant to be."

"I hope you are right, my friend."

SSHG

"No! No! No!" Bellatrix screeched, her black hair wild around her face, she stood in the center of a large meeting room, other Death Eaters surrounded her as she walked back and forth in front of her brother-in-law.

She would have killed him a long time ago if she did not require his wealth to carry on in her Lord's memory.

"It is time we strike Lucius." She hissed, dark eyes flashed menacingly as she paced up and down the room again. "We have waited long enough, sat on our hands and waited as you said. I am done with your speeches, we will not bide our time any longer! We will end the plague on wizarding kind those born of Muggle parents should be struck down at any cost!" She screeched, a wild cackle on the heels of her speech.

There was a roar of agreement, they'd managed to more than double their ranks from the time of Tom Riddle. Bellatrix Lestrange could be a quite convincing woman after all.

"It is time for blood purity to reign supreme! We will smash them like the filth they are!" She cackled again and another raucous round of agreement followed. Lucius crossed his arms across his chest.

He watched her, let her be the face of the war they were gearing to begin. He would be more than pleased to act as benefactor, and he would be certain to ensure they continued in the right direction.

It was after all his genius that had lulled them into a false sense of security, and that sense would be their downfall.

He sneered into the fire and finished his tumbler of firewhiskey. "As you wish, Bella." His voice dipped to new lows as he observed the mad woman. Yes, let her be the face.

SSHG

"'Mi, want to go have a little fun in the broom cupboard." Ron waggled his eyebrows and Hermione shook her head, a clear look of annoyance on her face.

"You know, your crude jokes never get more entertaining, no matter how many times you tell them."

"Just leave her alone Ron, you know she doesn't think it's funny." Rose interjected, they were all sat in the Gryffindor common room, they'd come together for a study group that had, very quickly, dissolved into playful banter.

"Someday you'll want me." He winked and Hermione shook her head, brown curls bobbed around her face.

"You're incorrigible."

"What?" He looked dumbfounded and she laughed to herself but said nothing more. Harry was looking between them, a light smile on his face and his legs pulled up to his chest.

"Did you guys see in the Prophet that they are attempting to block all muggle-born children from joining the Ministry?" He questioned, looking pensive. Hermione shrugged.

"It isn't the first time they've tried, it's only the first step in legislation to stop us from having the same rights as those born to wizarding parents." She commented, Rose crossed her arms across her chest, she reminded one very much of her mother Lily.

"It isn't fair and it isn't right. Just because your parents aren't wizards doesn't mean you can't be just as good as a pureblood. Look at 'Mi, she has the highest scores in her year and her dueling is spot on." Hermione blushed but gave her friend a grateful smile.

"I just wonder what they think will happen to our numbers if everyone is pureblooded?" Harry blinked, looking off into the distance. Hermione knew his mind was on Malfoy, who always had a slur about blood status on his tongue.

It never made sense to her either, but then, she was the one they were trying to eradicate so why would it?

"Mum says we would see the extinction of the wizarding race." Ginny shuddered, the group fell into a pensive silence. There was a storm brewing on the horizon, and none of them were looking forward to the damage it could bring.