A/N - I hope everyone is still getting alerts for this story. FFN seems to be having a problem with emails again. In case you didn't see it, I did post Chapter 5 a little over a week ago. Reviews are also either not showing up or I didn't get any for the last chapter. If you did review and I haven't responded it's because I can't see them.

There definitely will not be another chapter posted next week because I'll be on vacation. I will get the next chapter up as soon as I can once I get back but things are always crazy for a few days after. I hope you enjoy this chapter and thanks for reviewing!

Chapter 6

5 July 2003

Hermione's heart began to beat faster. The voice that had called out was familiar, but she couldn't immediately place it. Given the term of endearment, she assumed that whomever it was had put the ring on her finger.

"Hermione? Where are you? I've got news." He sounded rather excited.

"Gryffindor, Hermione," she muttered to herself. "Get a grip." Pulling in a breath, she took the remaining steps back into the living room.

"Neville?" she said in surprise.

"There you are," he said with a grin as he moved towards her. "Were you expecting someone else?" There was laughter in his eyes as he put his arms around her.

"No, no of course not," she said, mind whirling. She wasn't sure what to do with her hands, so she rested them against his chest. His very muscular chest from what she could tell. 'For Merlin's sake Hermione, focus!' she said to herself.

"I got it," he said still grinning. His smile was infectious and she couldn't help returning it, despite the utter madness of the situation. "You're looking at the new Herbology professor for Hogwarts."

"Oh, Neville, congratulations!" Hermione said, genuinely happy for him. The Neville in her universe had been apprenticed with Professor Sprout for a few years and it was expected that he would take over once the Professor decided to retire.

But that meant that if she were back in her own universe, not much time had gone by. The last time she'd talked to Minerva, the Headmistress had mentioned that Professor Sprout was probably only going to stay another year or two to make sure Neville was ready to teach on his own. How had she broken things off with Ron and dated Neville long enough to be engaged to him if only a year or so had gone by? Not to mention that Neville had been dating Hannah Abbott when Hermione had jumped.

"You told me it was a sure thing," he said.

"Well, of course, it was," Hermione replied. "Minerva would be mad not to hire you."

He smiled softly. "You've always believed in me. All the way back to first year."

Hermione stared up into his eyes and felt her breath catch, the look of complete love and adoration making her a bit unsteady. Had anyone ever looked at her like that? When Neville lowered his head, her heart began to gallop again but her eyes fluttered shut of their own accord. When he pressed his lips to hers, instead of freezing like she expected, Hermione felt herself sink into the kiss, the very sweet, very slow, very amazing kiss. It was like her body reacted without her permission. And as much as she thought she should, she didn't feel guilty at all when they parted. She felt like she'd like a bit more if she were honest.

Shoving that thought aside and hoping her face wasn't flaming, she smiled up at him. "I'm really proud of you."

He grinned. "Thanks, love." Then he hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head. "Have you thought any more about Minerva's offer?"

"Erm, I've thought about it." Hermione really hoped he was going to clue her in because she had no idea what offer he was talking about.

"And?"

"I don't know," she said. And truthfully, she didn't.

Neville tucked a loose curl behind her ear. "I know that you have more you want to do at the Ministry, but you haven't been happy there for a while now. And you were always such a good teacher. I should know." He laughed a bit.

She wasn't happy at the Ministry? Hermione had always loved her job as an Unspeakable. And what did he mean about there being more she wanted to do? It sounded like she had some kind of checklist of things that she wanted to accomplish. That's not how the Department of Mysteries worked. Merlin, she hated not knowing what was going on.

"You know I'll support whatever you decide. Minerva said that once we're married you can live in my quarters in the castle, even if you're not working there. If you want to, that is. We could also get a place in Hogsmeade if you'd rather. I just want you to be happy, love."

She smiled at him. "I know."

"Minerva really wants to get a better Transfiguration teacher. You know she hates having someone that's not up to her standards teaching. Especially in her own subject. She's already talking about taking the sixth and seventh years back over."

At least that was one mystery solved. Minerva had offered Hermione the Transfiguration post in her own world a few times. She'd also been offered the Muggle Studies position. Hermione had always turned her down, happy being an Unspeakable, but had she changed her mind?

"And I'm not saying this to try and sway your decision at all, but I've gotten rather used to living with you," Neville said nuzzling her temple with his nose. "Five months of not sleeping with you every night is too long."

They must be having a December wedding then. Hermione had always wanted one. She also wasn't surprised that Minerva didn't want her living in the castle until they were actually married. The older generation was still rather old-fashioned about some things.

"I'll strongly consider it, I promise," Hermione said.

"Good," Neville replied then kissed her again. Hermione went a bit weak in the knees.

When he pulled back, he smiled at her. "I promised Gran I'd let her know how the interview went."

"Of course," Hermione said.

"Let's celebrate tonight, though." Neville grabbed the pot of Floo powder from the mantel. "Golden Pheonix at eight?"

Hermione nodded. "Sounds wonderful."

"I'll be back soon. I love you." He threw in the Floo powder and stepped into the grate.

Hermione watched him disappear and then blew out a breath. Sweet Merlin, what the hell was going on?

While Neville was gone, Hermione took the opportunity to try and figure some things out. She grabbed the box with the Universe hopper which Neville hadn't seen, thank Merlin, and stuck it in her pocket. She went into the kitchen and found a copy of the Daily Prophet. Looking at the date, Hermione's heart began to speed up again. 5 July 2003.

She hadn't gone forward in time. Which meant she was in a different universe. Hermoine sank down onto one of the chairs at the kitchen table. She didn't understand. Why was there only one of her and why did she look like this universe's Hermione? Had she displaced the other Hermione somehow? Had they switched places? If that were the case though, Hermione should look like herself and have her own clothes. But she didn't.

She stood and went to the mantel, picking up the photograph that sat in the middle. It was the other Hermione and Neville, arms around each other, Hermione's left hand resting on his chest, the engagement ring prominently displayed. They smiled at one another before Neville leaned down and kissed her. And then the whole sequence repeated.

The Neville in the photograph looked exactly the same as the Neville that had just been in the flat. And the Hermione in the photo looked just as she had in the mirror in the loo. She didn't understand.

The only explanation she could come up with, and it was completely mad, was that she had slipped into the other Hermione's body. Which was utterly impossible. Completely. Totally. Impossible.

Where was her body if that were the case? Was she just some kind of shade now, like Voldemort without a body? And where was this Hermione? If Hermione was in this body, had the other's Hermione's consciousness or whatever gone into Hermione's body? Or had Hermione just flung this Hermione's essence out into the universe somewhere without a body to get to? Oh gods, she was going to be sick.

She sprinted to the loo and made it just in time to lose the contents of her stomach. After, she sat back against the wall, shaking, unable to stop thinking about what she might have done. She might have just killed this world's Hermione. And how could she attempt to jump again, not knowing what had happened to this universe's Hermione? Or not knowing if she had a body to jump into? Was she going to have to do some horrendous ritual like Voldemort had?

There had to be another explanation. She just had no idea what it was. Nor did she have the time to try and figure it out now. Neville wouldn't be gone long and if Hermione were going to pull off being his fiancée she needed a lot more information. She slammed her Occlumency shields into place and took a few deep breaths. She needed to be methodical and logical. She could fall apart later.

Hauling herself off the floor of the loo, she washed her face, cast a mouth-freshening charm, and then made her way into the bedroom. She walked to the wardrobe and opened the door. Sets of robes hung neatly inside and Hermione began to look through them. Most employees of the Ministry wore their own robes to work, save the Aurors and the Unspeakables. They were the only two that had a uniform. There were no Unspeakable robes. No Auror robes either, not that Hermione had expected that. She supposed there was probably a universe or two where she'd taken Kingsley's offer along with Harry, Ron, and Neville to become an Auror but it was unlikely there were very many. It wasn't something she'd ever had any interest in pursuing.

This Hermione wasn't an Unspeakable then. Hermione wondered if Padma was and if they had any kind of relationship. If they didn't it was going to cause a problem. Sighing, Hermione crossed to the desk that sat in one corner. She began to leaf through a stack of parchment, but it was all Herbology notes, clearly Neville's. Checking through the drawers she didn't find anything of consequence either, just extra quills, pots of ink, more parchment and other odds and ends.

She moved back to the living room, looking through the stack of books on the end table. One Herbology book, a novel, and two books on Magical Creatures, nothing very telling, although she didn't read magical creature books all that often. On the desk in the far corner of the room, there were two law books and two about werewolves. Hermione began to suspect where this Hermione worked but it wasn't confirmed until she found a report that she had written. The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.

She had been offered a position in the DRCMC in her own universe and she'd strongly considered it. If she hadn't also been offered the Unspeakable position, she probably would have taken the DRCMC job. But she knew she would have been frustrated rather quickly. The Wizengamot moved ridiculously slowly and was hesitant to upset the status quo. While Kingsley had managed to get the more restrictive laws against werewolves repealed, along with dismantling the Muggleborn Registration Commission, he was still struggling with the Pureblood ideology. Just because Voldemort was gone and the Death Eaters in prison didn't mean that everyone had lost their prejudices. It was no wonder Neville had said this Hermione wasn't happy with her job.

The other Hermione was obviously working on werewolf legislation, given the books and the report she had found. Which was sad really. Five years after the war and things were still the same for werewolves as they had been before? At least in her world, they'd dropped the laws that forbade werewolves from getting jobs or being able to marry. It was a wonder there hadn't been another revolt here.

That solved the mystery of where she worked at least. She would read the report later to try and figure out just what, exactly, the other Hermione was attempting to do. Now, though, she wanted to find out how she and Neville had ended up together.

Hermione went back to the fireplace and looked at the rest of the photographs on the mantel. There was another of the other Hermione and Neville from what looked like the Yule Ball. The Neville in her world had asked her to the ball, but she'd already said yes to Viktor. She was the one that had suggested Ginny, knowing the younger girl wouldn't be able to go if an older student didn't ask her. She figured it would be less intimidating for Neville, who hadn't really come into his own until fifth year in her universe.

Looking through the rest of the photographs, she noticed that the only one Ron was in was a photo of the D.A. There were plenty of Harry, Neville, and her though. It was almost as if Neville had taken Ron's place in the same photographs that Hermione had at home. Her brow furrowed in confusion. Had this Hermione not been friends with Ron then?

There was also one of the other Hermione, Neville, Harry, and Luna. She wasn't sure where they were, but Harry and Luna seemed rather cozy. In fact, she could tell by the look on Harry's face that he was rather besotted with the blonde. Hermione wondered when the photo had been taken and if they were still together.

None of this told her how she and Neville had ended up together though. Were they dating when they went to the Yule Ball or had they just gone as friends? Hermione wondered if this world's Hermione kept a journal. Hermione did, although she wrote in it rather sporadically now. During school, however, she had written in it almost every night.

Hermione searched the drawers of the desk but didn't find anything. She even cast a few spells to be sure that her other self hadn't hidden the journal magically. Moving back to the bedroom, she searched the bedside table, as well as the wardrobe but found nothing. Huffing in annoyance, Hermione walked back into the kitchen and the broom cupboard there. In her own world, she had shrunk and stored a number of things she didn't use that often.

Her school trunk sat in the exact same place in this cupboard as it did in her own. Smiling, Hermione pulled it from the shelf and set it on the floor. She enlarged it and opened it to reveal neat stacks of books and rolls of parchment.

Searching through, she found what she had been looking for. A small stack of journals, one for each year she had been at Hogwarts. She debated on starting with fourth year and the Yule ball but decided to find out if she had met Neville the same way she had in her own world, on the train first year when he lost Trevor. Grabbing the journal from first year, Hermione opened it and began to read. She skimmed until she saw Neville's name mentioned.

On the train, I met Neville Longbottom and Harry Potter! I was sitting in a compartment by myself and they asked if they could join me. I didn't know it was Harry Potter at first until Neville introduced us. I've read all about Harry and what he did when he was just a baby, but he seems like just a regular boy. Well, a regular boy that's a wizard anyway. I figured they'd known each other already, since they were together, but they had just met in King's Cross. Neville and his grandmother helped Harry get onto the platform.

Well, that was interesting. She wondered if that was why Ron wasn't in any of the photographs. In this world, perhaps Harry and Neville had become friends right away just like Harry and Ron had in hers. Since this Hermione had ridden the train with them, she wondered if that meant they'd been friends from the start.

Hermione skimmed ahead, through her sorting and the first few days of classes. The other Hermione mentioned everyone else that had been sorted into her House, as well as her issues with her roommates. Some things never changed, Hermione thought wryly. This Hermione had also had issues with Ron being a git to her. But it appeared that Neville and Harry had become fast friends. They included her occasionally although this Hermione had still spent the majority of her time in the library.

She wondered where that left Ron. If Dean and Seamus had been best friends here as they had in her world, and Harry and Neville were friends, that left Ron as the odd one out. This Hermione obviously hadn't liked Ron all that much as she rarely mentioned him.

Flipping forward to Halloween, Hermione was eager to see if the troll incident had happened here and if she had been involved.

I can't believe I'm alive. Weasley had better watch out when we start learning hexes because he's the first one I'm going to practice on. Just because I tried to help him in Charms, he had to be a foul git. I shouldn't have gotten so upset, why do I care if Ron Weasley likes me or not? But after the letter from my mum this morning telling me that Nanna had cancer, I was upset all day. Ron was just the straw that broke the camel's back.

Hermione's breath caught as she read about her grandmother. In her universe, her parents hadn't told her about Nanna's cancer until she'd gone home for Christmas. The chemo hadn't worked and her grandmother had died the following year.

I'm so lucky that Neville knew where I was and he and Harry came to get me when the troll got into the school. The boys were amazing! I can't believe Harry jumped onto the troll's back. And Neville did so well with the levitation charm even though he struggled with it during class. Taking the blame was the least I could do after what they did for me. Maybe this means they really are my friends. I hope so.

Skimming through the next several entries, it seemed that this Hermione had indeed become friends with Harry and Neville, just as she had with Harry and Ron. The three of them were inseparable after that.

Glancing at the clock on the wall of the kitchen, Hermione realized that Neville had been gone for over thirty minutes. She didn't know how long his Gran would keep him, but it would probably be a good idea to put the trunk away. She would keep the journals. It was obvious the desk in the living room was Hermione's. She would shrink the journals and tuck them in one of the drawers so she could read them when Neville wasn't around.

Closing the trunk and making sure it was put back where she found it, Hermione closed the cupboard and carried the journals to her desk. They only spanned her Hogwarts years and she wondered if this Hermione had continued keeping one after she left school. And if she had, where they were. Hopefully, the ones she did have would tell her something about the relationship this Hermione had with Neville.

Deciding she might as well continue on with first year, she shrunk the rest of the journals and hid them behind the rolls of blank parchment she found in one of the drawers. After thinking about it for a few moments, she also put the box with the Universe hopper in the drawer, underneath the journals and hidden from view with a privacy charm. She stayed at the desk to read. It would be easier to hide what she was doing when Neville came back through the Floo that way.

This Hermione's first year played out in nearly the same way that her own had, except with Neville taking Ron's place. The only difference she could see was that Neville went home for Christmas, so Harry was the only one of the three to stay at Hogwarts. Ron, however, had apparently stayed as well, just as he had in her world. Harry and Ron appeared to have become better friends over the holiday and when Hermione and Neville first returned to school, Harry seemed to split his time between them and Ron. Until Ron insulted Hermione again, that is. After that, it didn't appear that Harry had much to do with Ron the rest of first year.

Ron had confronted them in the common room when they'd snuck out to go after the Philosopher's Stone. He hadn't been trying to stop them, however, he wanted to go with them. While Hermione had always felt guilty about petrifying Neville in her universe, this Hermione seemed to take great satisfaction at doing the same to Ron. Hermione couldn't help the smile that crossed her face when she read about it.

The Floo startled her and she nearly dropped the journal on the ground before she was able to shrink it and shove it into the drawer.

"Sorry it took me so long," Neville said as he siphoned the ash from his robes. "Gran insisted on having tea."

"That's all right," Hermione said as she stood from her desk.

"Getting some work done, then?" Neville asked with a smirk.

Hermione felt her cheeks heat for some inexplicable reason. Why on earth did she feel like she was being caught out at something? She hadn't even been working anyway.

"Just finishing something," she found herself saying.

"I'm sure your proposal is going to be perfect, love," he said, stepping towards her and putting his arms around her again.

"What did your Gran say?" Hermione asked both to move the subject away from her work, which she knew nothing about, and to try and distract herself from how it felt being in Neville's arms.

He grinned. "Tried to be her stoic self of course, but she's extremely proud."

"She should be."

"I was thinking of going to visit Mum and Dad tomorrow, to tell them. Come with me?"

"Of course, I will," Hermione said immediately.

He smiled softly at her, then kissed her again. When he pulled back, it was everything Hermione could do not to follow his lips. What was wrong with her?

"Do you mind if Harry and Luna have dinner with us tonight?"

"Not at all," Hermione said trying to get herself under control. It was almost like her body, well the other Hermione's body, was responding to Neville without Hermione's permission. She was kissing another woman's fiancé for Merlin's sake! Technically anyway.

"It seems like we haven't seen them for ages," Neville said, releasing her and moving back towards the fireplace.

Hermione's mind finally cleared. Wait, Harry and Luna? They were still together then. She wasn't sure if it was a better idea that there were going to be other people with her and Neville at dinner or not. Not having any idea what was going on in Harry's life, or Luna's for that matter, wasn't good but sitting alone with Neville the entire time and also not having any idea what was going on wouldn't be any better. Maybe other people would provide a buffer and Hermione could muddle through.

"Doesn't it?" Neville said.

"Sorry, what?"

"I said doesn't it seem like it's been a long time since we've seen them." Neville's brow furrowed. "Are you all right? You seem distracted."

"Sorry," Hermione said. "I'm just…tired I guess."

"You have been working rather late recently."

"I know it's just this-"

"Proposal, I know," Neville said with a smile. "You always get like this when you're close to presenting."

"I'm sorry," Hermione said and truly meaning it, even if she were apologizing for her other self. She knew how involved in a project she could get. She'd gotten better since Hogwarts, but she was still very singularly focused sometimes.

Neville moved back to her, shaking his head and pulling her back into his arms. "You know you don't have to apologize for being who you are. Especially not with me."

Hermione wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek against his chest. She felt tears gathering at Neville's complete acceptance of her. Ron was always trying to get her to spend less time at work and more time doing whatever it was that he wanted to do.

"Why don't you rest for a while?" Neville suggested. "I've got to call Harry and Pomona gave me a stack of notes and materials for next year that I was going to go through."

Hermione nodded against his chest. She could read some more of the other Hermione's journals. Or maybe she would just take a nap. Maybe she'd wake up back home and all of this would have just been a crazy dream.

Neville kissed the top of her head and released her. "I'll just call Harry. I love you."

"I love you too," Hermione said, not even thinking twice about saying it back to him. Once Neville had turned to the fireplace, she quickly grabbed the journal she had been reading plus the one from second year and stuck them in her pocket. Then she made her way to their bedroom and closed the door.

"Ready, love?" Neville called from the other room.

"Just about," Hermione replied as she slipped into her shoes. She left the bedroom and made her way to the living room where Neville waited.

"You look beautiful," he said with a smile.

"Thank you," she replied. He looked rather good himself and she told him so.

Taking her hand in his, he kissed the back of it before wrapping her in his arms and Disapparating with a pop.

After landing in Diagon Alley, Neville took her hand again and they began walking towards the Golden Phoenix, an upscale restaurant that had opened in her world a year after the war. She was glad to see it existed here as well, as it was one of her favorites.

They walked in companionable silence and Hermione's thoughts drifted back to the journals. She'd finished first year as well as second. There had been differences their second year as well, of course. The Weasleys hadn't rescued Harry from the Dursleys, it had been Hermione and Neville and his grandmother. After Harry hadn't answered their letters, Neville had convinced his grandmother that something was wrong. Hermione had Harry's address and she had helped Neville and his grandmother get to Harry's house.

Harry's aunt hadn't wanted to let them in, of course, but Augusta Longbottom was not a person to take no for an answer. When she heard about the bars on Harry's window, the other Hermione had thought for sure that she was going to hex Petunia Dursley. Mrs. Longbottom had insisted on taking Harry with them and he'd spent the last two weeks of summer with Neville and his grandmother.

There had been no flying car incident either, as Harry and Neville had gotten to King's Cross in plenty of time. There was no way Dobby could have blocked the barrier without keeping dozens of other students from making it on the train.

Ron wasn't completely absent, it appeared that Harry did spend time with the redhead on occasion, but Hermione and Neville were more likely found in the library or studying in the common room. This world's Hermione had apparently taken it upon herself to help Neville in all his classes. And it seemed to have worked. This Neville was more confident in his own abilities earlier on than he had been in Hermione's world.

She remembered what Neville had said to her shortly after she arrived here, that this Hermione had always believed in him, even in first year. It made her wish she had done the same for the Neville in her world.

The journey into the Chamber of Secrets had happened the same way it had in her world, although Neville had been along this time. And Ron's wand had been broken not when using his father's flying car to get to Hogwarts but in an altercation with Malfoy midway through the year. Both Ron and Neville, along with a memory charmed Lockheart, had been stuck on the same side of the cave-in while Harry had gone into the Chamber to rescue Ginny alone.

"All right?" Neville asked as they neared the restaurant.

Hermione realized she hadn't spoken the entire walk and quickly flashed him a smile. "Everything is perfect." She squeezed his hand.

They stepped inside the restaurant. Hermione could see heads turn and whispers start as they were led to their table. She held back an eye roll. Some things didn't change no matter the universe. Harry and Luna were already at the table, but they stood and greeted Hermione and Neville.

Harry looked much the same as he did in Hermione's world, but he was much more relaxed. His arm was draped across the back of Luna's chair and Hermione saw him tracing tiny circles on Luna's shoulder. Luna appeared to be her usual ethereal self, smiling serenely at Hermione as they sat.

"Champagne, please," Neville said to the waiter once they were all seated with menus in hand.

"Celebrating then?" Harry said with a grin.

Neville nodded, returning Harry's grin.

"Congratulations, mate," Harry said, clapping Neville on the back.

"Thanks," Neville said.

"You'll be an excellent professor, Neville," Luna said.

"Thanks, Luna."

"You two moving to the castle then?" Harry asked.

Neville glanced at Hermione, taking her hand under the table. "We haven't decided yet. Might live in Hogsmeade."

Harry nodded and talk turned to other things. Hermione mostly stayed quiet, content to try and figure things out from just listening. Harry was still an Auror; she wondered if there were any universes where he wasn't. Certainly, there had to be. Hermione could see Harry as a professor as well. Or he could have played professional Quidditch.

Luna reported for the Quibbler and helped her father run it. Hermione wondered if they still went on their magical creature finding holidays. She made a mental note to find a copy of the Quibbler and see what kinds of stories they were writing nowadays.

In her world, Luna and Rolf Scamander had just started dating. They were currently off on an extended trip, researching to update Rolf's grandfather's book, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Her father still ran the Quibbler but had a small staff now. It was much more reputable than it had been before the war, although there were still some rather fantastic stories now and again.

"Ready for your presentation, Hermione?" Harry asked.

"I hope so," Hermione said, meaning it as she had no idea when the presentation was supposed to happen, although she was pretty sure it was on the werewolf laws. Merlin, she hoped it wasn't Monday or something. She had to figure that out tomorrow.

"You'll be great," Neville said with a smile, squeezing her hand.

The champagne was delivered and poured into glasses. Harry gave a toast and Hermione heard a few clicks of cameras and saw a flash. She sighed. She almost missed being hidden away in Padma's flat in the last two universes and not having to deal with this.

Neville dropped her hand and rested his hand on her leg instead, squeezing gently. When she looked at him, he gave her an understanding smile. Apparently, this Hermione hated the attention of the press as much as she did.

The men got involved in a discussion about Quidditch which Hermione immediately tuned out. Luna was watching her thoughtfully and Hermione fidgeted in her chair at the scrutiny.

"It's all right, you know," Luna said softly.

"Sorry?" Hermione asked.

"She hasn't disappeared," Luna said.

Hermione's heart sped up. Luna had always had an uncanny ability to just know things; Hermione still wasn't sure that the other woman wasn't part Seer. She glanced at Neville and Harry but they didn't seem to be paying any attention.

"I'm not sure what you mean."

"The other Hermione, she's not gone. In fact, she's quite safe."

Glancing at the men again, Hermione cleared her throat. "I'm going to use the loo."

"Oh, I think I'll go too," Luna said.

Harry and Neville acknowledged their departure and Hermione hurried to the restroom, Luna following behind.

Once inside, Hermione checked for other patrons, then cast a privacy charm for good measure. It wouldn't do for the Rita Skeeters of this world, if there were any, to overhear.

"What are you talking about, Luna?"

"You don't need to worry. You haven't displaced anyone."

Hermione pulled in a breath, making sure her Occlumency shields were in place. "How do you know that?"

Luna cocked her head, studying Hermione. "She's still there, just hiding. She'll come back once you've moved on. And she'll be fine. A little confused but I'll help her."

Hermione swallowed thickly. She leaned back against the wall of the loo trying to stay calm. Luna put a hand on her arm. "Your journey isn't over yet. Once you find what you're looking for, you'll get back."

"What do you mean what I'm looking for?"

Luna smiled that serene smile of hers. "You'll know." Then she left Hermione and went into one of the stalls.

Hermione pulled in another breath, having to concentrate extremely hard on keeping her walls up. She knew if she lowered them now, she'd burst into tears. And there would be no way to explain that to Neville and Harry.

While Hermione didn't always believe the things Luna said, in this case there was something telling Hermione she should. Maybe it was her own guilt at what she might have done to this world's Hermione by taking over her body or maybe it was her fear that she wouldn't get back to her own world. Whatever it was, she was going to take Luna's words for the comfort that they were.

The rest of the dinner went smoothly, although Neville had given her a concerned look when she and Luna returned from the loo. Hermione had smiled at him and squeezed his hand when she sat down, then proceeded to eat her salad that had arrived while she and Luna had been gone from the table.

Hermione got a few more details about their lives from the conversation. Harry and Luna were taking a holiday in a couple of weeks on some kind of creature hunt. Harry smiled softly at Luna the entire time she was explaining it to Neville and Hermione. It was clear that he loved her and was happy to go along with her interest in something that might or might not exist.

Harry had run into Ron a few days prior, who was apparently married to Hannah Abbott in this world. He worked with George at WWW here as well. It didn't sound as if Harry and Ron spent much time together. The thought was a bit difficult to process given how close the two had always been in her world.

Ginny had just announced her engagement to Dean Thomas. Hermione wondered if that meant Ginny and Dean had never broken up here or if they'd gotten back together. She also wondered if Harry had ever dated Ginny at all. She'd have to keep reading the journals.

Neville must have asked Harry not to mention her proposal again because nothing more was said about it. Hermione really wished she'd thought to ask Luna about it while they were in the loo, but she'd been so taken aback by what the younger woman had said, Hermione had completely forgotten about it.

It wasn't until they were all leaving that Luna whispered in Hermione's ear. "Next Monday. Werewolf rights."

"Thank you," Hermione whispered back. "Do you know if Padma Patil is an Unspeakable?"

"She is," Luna replied. She and Harry waved before they Disapparated.

"I think you'll have to take us home, love," Neville said. "I might have had a bit too much champagne."

Hermione chuckled and wrapped her arms around him. Before she could turn, Neville leaned down and kissed her rather thoroughly. She heard the click of a camera behind them but honestly couldn't bring herself to care. Neville was a fantastic kisser.

She pulled back from him and turned on the spot. They reappeared in their flat seconds later. Neville immediately kissed her again. They snogged for several minutes, standing in the middle of the living room. When Neville's hand traveled from her waist and ran a thumb across the underside of her breast, Hermione pulled away.

"What's the matter?" Neville asked.

"Nothing," Hermione said mind whirling. She couldn't sleep with Neville. He was engaged to someone else. Technically. But Merlin she wanted to.

No, no, she couldn't. She'd just have to come up with an excuse. "I'm just, a little dizzy."

"Here, sit down," Neville said, immediately concerned. She sat on the couch and he sat down beside her.

"Must be the champagne," Hermione said.

"I shouldn't have had you Apparate us," Neville said. "We should have walked to the Leaky and taken the Floo." It was clear he was upset with himself.

Hermione put a hand to his cheek. "It's all right, Nev. We're fine. I probably just need to sleep it off. You know champagne always goes to my head." Hermione hoped that was a universal trait amongst all the Hermiones. Truthfully, she hadn't had all that much. Hopefully, Neville hadn't noticed.

"I do," he said, kissing her forehead. "I'm sorry, love, I should have remembered."

"I told you, it's fine."

"Let's get you to bed then," he said, holding out a hand and helping her off the couch. He put an arm around her and they shuffled to the bedroom. Neville wasn't very steady on his feet, and it was more like Hermione was helping him down the hall than the opposite.

"Seems like I should probably sleep it off too," he said with a laugh as he tripped again.

They reached the bedroom and Hermione led him inside. "I'm going to use the loo. I'll be right back."

Neville sat down on the bed and started taking off his shoes. "Okay, love."

Hermione closed the door to the bathroom and rested her forehead against it. She really wished tomorrow were Monday and she could try to contact Padma at the Ministry. She wasn't sure how she was going to make it through the next however many days she was here. At least she didn't have to give this presentation for a week. Hopefully, she'd be back in her own world by then.

When Hermione had brushed her teeth and washed her face, she went back to the bedroom to change into her pajamas. She found Neville lying on top of the covers, fast asleep. He'd managed to take off his shoes and socks and his button-down, but he still had his trousers on. Hermione changed into a pair of sleep shorts and a tank top, the same as she wore to bed at home, then looked down at Neville.

He looked entirely peaceful, his mouth slightly open, chest rising and falling in quiet breaths. She brushed a lock of hair off his forehead and he smiled in his sleep. She waved her wand to remove his trousers, leaving him in just his pants. She had no idea what he slept in but hoped he wouldn't remember getting undressed and figure he'd just passed out as he was.

Another wave of her wand took the blankets out from under him and settled over him. Hermione climbed in beside him and lay on her side facing him. She watched him sleep for a few minutes before finally dousing the light. Neville snuffled and turned over, throwing an arm over her waist and pulling her towards him. She snuggled into his chest, closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep.