"It smells like her," Sirius commented as he strode like a proud peacock into the living room. Seeing James, he grinned, "Is it her?"

"Yup." Taking his own cuppa he seated himself on the couch and propped his feet back up on the couch. "She wasn't here when I arrived, but I waited it out and she found me on the porch. She's getting a shower now."

Sirius flopped down next to him, snagging a cup and taking a sip before setting it back down and leaning his head all the way back on the couch. Frowning at Remus still in the entryway, he turned, arm propping him up on the back of the couch.

"What is it, Moony?"

Remus's nose twitched. "Something's not right.."

A creak on the stairs had the trio looking up just as Hermione started down the steps. She'd redressed in a pair of worn jeans and a loose jumper. It was a few sizes too big so it hung off her shoulder but the fabric was soft and didn't make her skin crawl like some other fabric did after the moon. She paused halfway down the steps and met Remus's eyes as he stiffened at the sight of her and the overwhelming scent that came with her presence. Hermione kept her house very well aerated most days, but even with the windows open and the fresh breeze from outside, her lupine scent was as unmistakable as his was.

"No..."

Giving him a small, sad smile, Hermione continued down the stairs, breaking eye contact with him in favor of picking up her own tea, adding four sugars and just a splash of milk. James and Sirius were both frowning, looking between the pair of them, but it was Sirius who broke the silence.

"What?"

Hermione closed her eyes momentarily at the sound of Sirius's deep timber. As she looked at him, Hermione caught his scent, too. She had to take a step back because it was so powerful. Eyes locked on his form, she took him in.

He was much healthier than she last remembered him. But then again, overcoming depression can do that to a person, and given he was alive and surrounded by his family, no longer the no. one most wanted and wrongfully accused of his best friend's death, that was a likely possibility. His hair was longer and full, the waves more pronounced, his eyes the same penetrating grey she remembered, and the wisps of tattoos peaking over the collar of his shirt. He smelled oddly like the ink in his skin.

Remus's voice brought her back to reality, "Mione."

Shaking herself, Hermione sat in her favorite wingback chair and crossed her legs underneath her, "Professor."

He gave her a sad smirk as he walked into the room and sat on the arm of the couch his best friends were on, "I'm not your professor anymore, Hermione, haven't been for a long time."

"That's true," she smiled kindly at him.

"When?"

"The final battle."

Not liking that he and James were obviously missing some integral part of the conversation, Sirius interrupted, "When did what happen?"

Remus glanced at his best friend, opened his mouth to answer, but looked to Hermione before shrugging with a slight grin. "They loved you, didn't they."

Remus smiled at her. "That they do. Although I'm not sure if that's something you want, they're a bit annoying at times."

She laughed before sparing the two confused Marauders on the couch.

"I'm a werewolf," Hermione finally answered, getting shocked looks from them both. Harry knew of her affliction, and she wasn't sure who else might at this point, but by the looks on their faces, Harry had kept her secret. Motioning to the ribs on her left side, where she knew the tattered scar from her bite where Greyback had ripped away a piece of her, Hermione shrugged, "I was bitten during the final battle by none other than Greyback himself before I hurtled him off the seventh-floor balcony."

For some reason, when she said it, she looked directly at Sirius. The voice she knew was her wolf telling her she needed to know his reaction to her affliction.

"How are you fairing?" James asked as he took his feet off the table to sit up. "The full moon was only two nights ago."

"Who makes your potions?"

Why was Sirius's voice like velvet? She didn't remember it being that way.

Giving herself a little shake, she answered them, "I make my potions. It took a while to perfect, but I managed it. I'm fine, thank you. You caught me on my way back from the creek, which is why I showered. An hour later, and you'd have caught me in the garden covered in dirt instead."

She took a long sip of her tea only to snort it up her nose accidentally when Sirius suddenly looked affronted at Remus.

"We're annoying?"

Catching on, James also glared at Remus, "Excuse us? We're delightful."

Hermione laughed again, having recovered from her tea inhalation. Remus just waved them off, "You know you are, you nutters."

Still looking playfully offended, Sirius turned to a still chuckling Hermione, "And what of you, little witch, do you think we're annoying?"

Trying her best to ignore what his playful snarl was doing to her, Hermione smiled at him, "Oh, I can't decide who is more entertaining, you two or the twins."

James and Sirius both scoffed at the same time while Remus took his turn to laugh. James was the one to answer her, "We're the originals, love. That's offensive."

"Technically, Fabian and Gideon are the originals," Remus said, "not you two."

"Shut it," Sirius quipped, "They don't have cool nicknames and are definitely not as handsome as us." Hermione was off in fits again while Remus scoffed, which only served to set Sirius off again, "What? Is that not true?"

Remus only shrugged with a humorous look sent in. Hermione merely shook his head, but Sirius wasn't content to let it go.

"Hermione, tell him. Tell him we're superior in looks to the twins, either set."

Gods, did she want to. Her wolf practically whined at her to. Outwardly, she shrugged, "I can't say. I haven't met Fabian or Gideon, so I can't give a proper answer."

Sirius gapped at her while James and Remus chuckled. "Are you kidding me? They have nothing on us. Sure, if you like red hail and freckles, but that's overrated."

"Oi-"

Sirius cut James off with a hand over his mouth and continued to talk to Hermione, "Name one attractive attribute of any of the Weasley twins, or Weasleys for that matter."

"Fabian and Gideon are Prewitts," she corrected playfully, "But I happen to find both Fred and George's ingenuity quite attractive."

"WE CREATED THE BLOODY MARAUDERS MAP!"

She continued just to rile him up further while his best friends laughed at his outburst, "And Bill has the whole eldest sibling maturity about him and scars thing going for him. Then there's Charlie who is big and burley but kind, for Godric's sake the wizard works with dragons and specializes in the hatchlings. If that doesn't melt your ovaries-"

"She's mad! Certifiable! Are we sure we want to take her back?"

Everyone but Sirius laughed. Hemione finally took pity, letting a bit of truth bleed into her next words. "However, I've always found myself more attracted to dark-haired men. And the tattoo's are a plus I suppose."

Suddenly, he looked like a cat in cream. Pacified by her answer, he leaned back and grinned at James, "The tattoo bit is all me."

Remus snorted, "I reckon Charlie has some tattoos."

James nodded, "He does."

"The twins, too," Hermione added nonchalantly, getting surprised looks from them, to which she only grinned. She sighed, steering the conversation to a more serious topic while suddenly looking into her tea, "Not that I'm not happy to see you all, but why are you here?"

There was a pause from the three long enough that she began to get nervous when Remus put her out of her misery, "You've been exonerated, Hermione."

"Have been for four months now," Sirius continued for him, "but no one's been able to find you."

"And we've been looking for damn near five years," James smirked, of course they had. "But Harry doesn't know you're here?"

"No, we wanted to surprise him, Kitten."

As absurd as that nickname was, it made heat pool in her belly with the deep timber of his voice. Did he do that on purpose? As Hermione took another deep breath of Sirius's delectable scent, she looked at the ceiling. The three Marauders just watched her curiously. Remus more than the other two. Her reactions to Sirius were peculiar. James and Sirius probably didn't even notice, but he did.

When she finally spoke, it was a broken sigh. "I can come home?"

What James did notice was how Sirius answered her in almost a desperate tone, "Yes."

"When?" Her own voice sounded sad, if not a bit hopeful.

"As soon as you're ready, Mione. He's at Grimmuald with Lily, cooking up half the dinner for our weekly family dinners. We alternate between Grimmuald and the Burrow, and this week is the Burrow."

Hermione chuckled, "I'm surprised Molly lets anyone else cook."

James gave her a one-sided smirk, "Just wait till you taste Lil's lemon tart. You'll never leave again."

"It seems I no longer have a reason to."

"You don't," Sirius agreed, looking at her curiously. Clapping his hands suddenly he stood, sending another wave of his scent to Hermione forcing her to look at him, "Now then. Mission accomplished, Prongsy, Moony, time to take her home."

Hermione snorted but stood, picked up the tea tray and stray mugs, and walked into the kitchen, reappearing seconds later. Wandlessly, she summoned her shoes that flew into the living room and stopped at her feet so she could step into them. Reaching down, she adjusted the straps. She started to put up her mane of hair but decided against it. Clasping her hands in front of her, she looked at them expectantly, only to find them watching her peculiarly.

"What?"

"No fight?" James asked.

"Why would I fight you?"

Remus chuckled, "They thought you would fight it after so long of being alone. Sirius had a rather diabolical plan to throw you over his shoulder like a Neanderthal, strut into the kitchen, and present you to everyone like the Christmas turkey."

She laughed, "Sorry to disappoint boys, but I've been looking forward to this for too long. Race you?"

Her sudden mischievous look got head tilts from James and Sirius just before they raced out the front door, practically clambering over one another. Remus stayed put, a grin plastered on his face. She had to admit he looked much better, too. Having his best friends back seemed to have done wonders for him.

Suddenly, more seriously, she bit her lip nervously. "I have a question. Would you mind.."

"Of course not."

"Depending on the answer, I need you to please keep it between us. And Tonks, I wouldn't expect you to keep anything from her."

He smiled, "You have my word."

"Why does Sirius smell so good?"

A raised eyebrow answered her first. "What does he smell like?"

Taking another deep breath, still picking up his lingering scent she told him what her nose told her, "Parchment, the ink in his skin, leather, motor oil, and toothpaste. It, he, makes her want to roll over and offer herself to him."

As she said it, Remus watched her eyes shift from golden hazel to a bright, vibrant blue.

"He's your mate."

Rubbing her face and pinching the bridge of her nose, Hermione whimpered, "That's what I was afraid of."

"Why?" She looked at him again, and he just shrugged, "Sirius may be reckless and arrogant, but he's a good man. He's loyal to a fault, and he loves with all that he is."

Hermione swallowed a whimper that threatened to wrench itself from her throat. Did her mate have a love? Her stomach fell into her stomach at the thought. Willing it away, she countered, "He's also Harry's godfather."

"Does that matter?"

Biting her bottom lip, she shrugged, "I guess we'll see." Closing the door with a wave of her hand she suddenly grinned, "We can apparate from in the house. I just wanted a moment with you first."

Not giving him a chance to respond, she apparated, the pull behind her naval giving her a nauseous feeling that lasted until she landed on the sidewalk across the street from Grimmuald. Half a breath later and Remus was laughing only a few feet from her.

"Keyed into the wards?"

"Yes," she smirked at him, "The whole family is. But I couldn't very well let them win now could I."

Two cracks, one a half a second after the other, stopped Remus from replying, though he laughed hearing Sirius's disgruntled, "Merlin, I knew it. Cheaters!" he accused with a pointed finger.

Remus leaned closer to her and chuckled in a low voice, "Perhaps you two are more suited than you think."

Hermione gave him an unsure smile just as Sirius and James reached them. James was laughing like Remus was, but Sirius had a pout on his face that made Hermione's insides twist.

"Oh, don't be a sore loser Padsy," she started making James laugh louder, "No one said it was a fair race-ah!"

Sirius growled at her tease and swooped down to throw her over his shoulder precisely as he'd planned to. Ignoring her yelp and pleas to be set down, he slapped her ass to quiet her, earning him another yelp, and turned to his best friends, who looked equal parts amused and intrigued.

"Come on now, let's give Prongslet his present. Do you think he'll mind that it's a few months early?"

James moved to get the door for them, "I doubt it."

In a hushed voice, Hermione slapped Sirius's hind in return, "Sirius Orion Black, if you do not set me down and let me walk this instant, you will regret it."

"I'm not afraid of you, Kitten." To emphasize his words, he tilted his head just enough to nip her outer thigh.

"Oh! You insufferable man!" Propping herself up using his back, she glared at Remus and James with blue-tinted eyes, "You traitors, a fat lot of help you are."

Sirius barked out a laugh, "They're my best friends, Kitten, not yours."

James opened the door and ushered them inside with a finger over his lips while Remus shook his head in he looked right at Hermione, "Told you."

"Whatever," she bit back, putting her chin in her palm as Sirius walked her through Grimmuald with Remus and James following behind them. The house looked much different than it had five years ago. Gone was the dark, dingy home she'd spent two summers in, and in its place was a bright, refurbished home. Lily's touch, no doubt. "I take it you and Lily live here."

James nodded, "Couldn't leave Sirius on his own devices now, could we?"

Hermione snorted. Sirius slapped her ass again, "Quiet, Kitten, lest you ruin the surprise." Chastised, Hermione quieted but not before pinching Sirius's hip. He only chuckled in response, "You're going to be so much fun."

It earned him another pinch, this one harder than the last getting a grunt out of wasn't loud enough to get the occupants of the kitchens attention as the talked though but they were seen none the less. Lily turned first, having been moving towards the cooler to get more eggs. She paused, a happy grin slowly spreading across her face as Sirius pivoted on his foot to display who was thrown over his shoulder.

"Why are you three always the ones who stir up trouble? I expect better from you, Remus."

The man snorted, "You think you'd know better by now."

Harry laughed, "Hard to believe he's the well-behaved one sometimes."

Hermione, still propped up on her elbow, chuckled, "McGonagall said the same to use once."

The sound of her voice made Harry freeze. He visibly stiffened as he reached for the spices above the stove. Slowly, hand still frozen in the air, he turned to face the Marauders and Hermione. He about chocked seeing Hermione with her head in her hand dangling from Sirius's grip, her hair nearly brushing the ground under her.

"Mione..."

In a fell swoop, Sirius had Hermione off his shoulder and cradled in his arms but only for a moment, meeting her eyes in an intense stare before setting her on her feet and gently pushing her with his hand on her lower back towards his godson.

A bit disorientated from the fast movement and Sirius's penetrating gaze, Hermione wavered on her feet. But Sirius was there, his hand right back on her hip so she wouldn't stumble. She gave him a thankful look over her shoulder and pretended her cheeks weren't stained. She looked back at Harry, and he still hadn't moved. She whispered, "Miss me?"

That did it. Harry laughed ruefully, "I should have never left you alone that night."

"You couldn't have stopped me."

"I could have stopped you from leaving."

She smiled softly, "No, you couldn't have."

"I could have stopped you from performing that spell."

Again, she just smiled gently at him, "No you couldn't. At the time, losing Remus broke you. You regretted returning from the void because of all the pain surrounding us. You didn't know what the point of winning was when we lost so much. You couldn't have stopped me."

"Why did you do it?"

"Merlin Harry, I couldn't take one more morbid dinner at the Burrow where no one actually ate, with Molly and George unable to even leave their rooms. I couldn't take going over to Andromeda's while she tried to balance her orphaned newborn grandson and the loss of her daughter when she lost her husband only months before. Or Ron sobbing over Fred and Lavender. Or you drinking yourself into oblivion every night."

"I had a right to be sad, Hermione. We all did."

"Yes, and I fixed that. I took away the sadness. I gave everyone back at least something to be happy about. To erase that hurt."

"You shouldn't have!" he exploded, getting a shocked gasp from his mother. "You know better than anyone how dangerous messing with time is Hermione! You shouldn't have, and we both know it. No matter how great the outcome was."

"I didn't mess with time. I dabbled with the veil."

Sirius snorted, "Dabbled."

"In necromancy," James added in a hushed tone.

"Shush, you two," Lily hissed while Remus swatted

Hermione crossed her arms over her chest and, popping her hip out and met Harry's continued glare, "I won't apologize."

"You asked for my forgiveness in that blasted letter."

"Yes, and it seems you haven't even managed that in five years."

Shaking her head, she pulled up the sleeves of her jumper, feeling heat prickle her skin. The moon may have passed but her wolf was closer to the surface than normal with Sirius so close. She needed to regain control. Closing her eyes, she tilted her head up to the ceiling and took three calming breaths. When she was done, she rolled her neck.

"What I did, I did for the good of others."

"No! You did it because you had to be right. You had to fix things. Like you always do-"

"Harry James Potter, you stop this right now," Lily scolded, cutting him off as he stepped closer to Hermione. Sirius took a step closer to her as well seeing it, his hand reaching for her hip to pull her back. But Hermione waved Lily off, Sirius's movements going unnoticed.

"He's fine. He shouldn't have to bottle up how he feels." Swallowing the lump in her throat, she looked at him once more, "It was good to see you, Harry. I missed you."

Nibbling her lip, she waited, willing him to say something, anything. But he didn't. He just glared at her. Nodding to him Hermione turned to look at Sirius, she gave him a once over before she couldn't even look at him. The pain in her chest intensified at the thought of leaving him, too. Rubbing her left forearm nervously, she spoke to her feet.

"Give everyone my love."

Ignoring their calls for her to stop, Hermione hurried back through the house from memory without looking up and went to apparate the moment her feet touched the front step, but a stunner hit her in the shoulder.

"Ah! Merlin," she half grunted, half growled in her taken-aback state. Hermione ducked in time to deflect another but saw James, Sirius, and Harry all running towards the doorway, probably alerted by her scream.

Quickly, she erected a strong barrier charm on the doorway before quickly incapacitating one of her attackers. The other two were more of a challenge, but she had one bound in ropes within a minute, and the other was petrified by the next. In the middle of the street, she stood with her abdomen bleeding from a slicing hex as the pops of Aurors littered the street. Looking at the doorway, she saw Harry staring at her while his father and mother tried to undo her protection charm while Sirius did all he could to burst through it. As she applied pressure to the wound on her side, she lazily swept her hand at the barrier, making Sirius fall through the doorway as her barrier dissolved, but before he could find his footing and charge at her, she was gone.