Hermione woke to the sound of fluttering wings. Opening her eyes, a beautiful gray owl was perched on the table by her bed.
Who could be writing me already? She thought to herself. Doesn't Professor Dumbledore sends his letters with Fawkes?
Removing the scroll from the owl's outstretched leg,Hermione gave the owl a gentle scratch and watched it soar out of the open window.
Looking back at the letter she just received, she expected a letter from the headmaster detailing what her next steps would be in her new journey in 1977. Instead, she found a familiar script in a hand that she had seen in her Defense Against the Dark Arts class in her third year.
"Remus?" Hermione whispered to herself, gently peeling the wax seal off the envelope. Tears filled her eyes as she read the letter from her future professor.
Ms. Granger,
I received a letter from Professor Dumbledore late last night, detailing your arrival and your apparent relation to me. (Before you protest and get angry with the Headmaster, my lycanthropy prevents anyone from performing Legilimens on me, all they will see is the Wolf.)
My mother and I spent the better part of our night and morning researching her Muggle family tree. What we found greatly surprised me. My mother is not, in fact, a muggleborn! She's technically a squib, as well as all of of my Howell cousins. I was the first in nine generations to be born with enough magic to be accepted into Hogwarts! Apparently, you were the second. Fascinating! I've been reading up on our mutual relative and it turns out, all of his children were squibs, and they all had non-magical children as well. According to the Ministry, after 2 generations of non-magical children born into a magical family, those children's children will be considered muggles. Load of shite if you ask me.
I apologize, I seem to get off track easily around the full moon, Moony seems to take more control than usual.
As I was saying, Professor Dumbledore told me all about you. How you're from 21 years in the future, how I was your DADA professor, and how during your war, we became friends, so much so I chose you to be godmother to my son (who I still don't know who his mother is, the headmaster wouldn't tell me). He explained that you took a potion de-aging you a year so you can finish school while you figure out how to get home.
I also know that you are very familiar with Moony, and you knew Prongs' son. Well, he told me that a "familial bond" between you, James, Sirius and myself will be apparent to me when we meet you face to face. I also learned how Padfoot was important to you as well.
On behalf of the Marauders, we welcome you (back?) to Hogwarts. Also on behalf of the Marauders, I, Moony, formally invite you to join our group.
With that out of the way, my mother, Hope, and I invite you to Lupin Keep to stay with us until the school year starts. My mother would greatly enjoy getting to know you and seeing the Magic from her bloodline flourish and revive. She asked me to let you know I will be going to Potter Manor in mid-August, and Mr. and Mrs. Potter have assured me you're invited as well.
I await your reply, owl post or muggle post both would be fine.
Yours sincerely,
Your cousin Remus
Hermione's initial anger at the headmaster telling someone else her story disappeared as she read the rest of the letter. Seventeen-year-old Remus and thirty-eight-year-old Remus were polar opposites. The Remus in her time had been more withdrawn, less open. This was a refreshing change for Hermione. Grabbing the quill and parchmentfrom the table by her bed, Hermione started writing her reply to her favorite werewolf.
Dear Remus, (yes, Remus. Mr. Lupin seems too formal for someone I've known since my third year, regardless of what year I'm in.)
Professor Dumbledore mentioned in passing I was distantly related to Hector Dagworth-Granger, and that you are also distantly related to him, making us cousins. I wish I had known this fact in my past, as I'm sure we would have bonded even more than we did.
Yes, I did know James' son, he was my very best friend, since first year. Sirius was Harry's godfather, and became sort of a Wizarding World godfather to me as well. You though, I've always been closer to you. Don't think like that either, Remus! I know what you're thinking now, a teenager and a professor? How close could they be? Was it inappropriate? No, it wasn't, Moony. You were Harry's and my mentor. You helped me with research projects, you let me bounce theories off you, you embraced my "bookworm" side when no one else did. I'll always be grateful for that.
In the 1990's, I felt as if you and Sirius were family to me. Even now, I feel as if you're more of an older brother (even in 1977, you're older than me, just instead of 20 years, it's only six months), as well as Sirius.
I would love to come stay with you, I never met your mother in my past life, and would love the opportunity to now. I will also gladly accompany you to James' home as well. I do have one request though. May we meet, either in Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley before I officially start my stay with you? I'd like to become aquatinted with the Remus of 1977, and become acquainted with 1977 in general.
All my love, (yes, love, because you are currently my only friend here, and that's how I always ended my letters to you)
Hermione
As if on cue, the owl that had delivered her letter came swooping in, landing on the bed in front of her.
"You want to deliver my reply?" Hermione asked the owl, smiling.
The owl simply lifted it's leg and allowed her to attach the letter before chittering and flying off to deliver her letter.
"Ah, you're awake," Professor Dumbledore said, walking into the room.
"Yes, sir," she replied, setting the quill and ink back on the table. "I woke to a letter from an old friend."
"Young Mister Lupin has writtenyou already?" the headmastersaid, smiling. "I expected him to write you soon, but not within hours of our conversation."
"Remus has always been like that though," Hermione said, smiling at her memories of Remus. "When Ton...his wife had given birth, Remus wanted to tell Harry, Ron and I first. His son was only a few hours old, and Remus burst into Gri...where we were staying, and announced that he was a father. Then he asked Harry and I to be godparents. We had to remind him his wife had just given birth and needed her husband."
"You two were close?" the headmaster asked, eyebrows slightly raised.
"Yes, but it wasn't inappropriate. Remus was an older brother, a mentor, a teacher, a friend," Hermione said. "Sirius too, although I often felt like his mother more than his friend."
The headmaster smiled. "That's what I assumed. I believe you've received an invitation to spend your summer with the Lupins."
"Yes sir," she replied. "I've just sent Remus a letter asking him if we could meet in Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley before I go to Lupin Keep. Since his lycanthropy prevents mind attacks, I want to tell him everything."
"Under any other circumstances, I would warn you against doing such, as I'm sure you know what happens when you meddle with time," he began. "However, I'm still unsure how you came to be here, much less how to get you back. So, you have my blessing to tell Remus everything."
He thought for a moment and spoke again, "Actually, I have one theory but I can't prove or disprove it for a few more years."
"Sir? What do you mean?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
"I have reason to believe you came to 1977 because you were meant to be here," he began. "I won't know for sure until 1980, when you were originally born, to see if there are suddenly two Hermione Grangers in the Book of Records. If there is, then you were meant to come here all along."
"You mean if there's another Hermione Granger born with magical abilities, it was always my...destiny...to come here?" she asked, incredulous.
"I do believe so, Hermione. But, I will take my leave so you may prepare for the day. Madame Pomfrey informed me last night you will be fit be released this morning."
Sure enough, thirty minutes later, after a shower and a rummage through donated clothing, Hermione was set loose on the castle she assured Madame Pomfrey she knew well.
"Lily Evans donates several items from her wardrobe every semester," the mediwitch had told her. "You're about the same size as her, let's see if we can find something for you that isn't carrying all the weight from 1998, shall we?"
Madame Pomfrey was right, loathe as Hermione was to admit it. New (to her) clothing was nice. It was especially nice to watch her clothes from the battle burn in the fireplace. However, a thought occurred to Hermione as she roamed the silent school.
"Harry's mum wore these clothes! My best friend'smum! Who knew Lily Potter wore tight bell bottoms and Queen t-shirts? And these converses! Thank gods for Lily being a muggleborn!"
Two hours later, Hermione received a reply from Remus while eating lunch in the kitchens. Since these house elves didn't know about her failed S.P.E.W campaign and trying to free all the elves, they were more than happy to load plates up with all of Hermione's favorites. After the battle, she had a renewed respect for house elves, having watched Kreacher and Winky charge Death Eaters side by side.
Remus' letter told her of his mother's plans to have tea with Madame Rosemerta at the Three Broomsticks at one o'clock. Remus would join her if Hermione was able to get to Hogsmeade. Instead of a reply, Hermione reached into the bag that hadn't left her side in over a year and pulled out her wand. She conjured her Patronus and sent a message to him. "I'd love to meet you at the Three Broomsticks! Oh, meet Perdita, my patronus. I'm named after The Winter's Tale by Shakespeare and Perdita is Hermione's daughter! Sorry, rambling! See you soon!"
One o'clock finally came, and Hermione made her way to Hogsmeade to meet Remus.
Once inside the Three Broomsticks, Hermione watched as Remus almost instantly felt the familial bond between them, and turned. Without thinking, she shouted, "Remus!" and pulled him into her arms, tears welling in her eyes.
Pulling away from her after a moment, Remus looked into her eyes, worried.
"Hermione? Why do I have the distinct feeling I...died...before you came here?"