This chapter is dedicated to @AmandaRickon for reading both of my stories, and being an amazing supporter. Thank you.

He didn't know why he was standing on a cliff. The cliff was surrounded by water, waves crashing on the rocks. The place seemed oddly familiar, but unfriendly. He just couldn't put a finger on it.

"Are you sure this is the place?" He heard a voice speaking besides him. He looked around to find Hermione besides him, her arms around herself. She looked almost blue of cold. That was when it hit him - it was the cave where he had found the locket, with Dumbledore. And also, he was awfuly cold.

"Postive." He heard himself say, his teeth chattering. It was becoming increasingly colder by second. Vaguely, he wondered as to why he was wearing just a shirt and jeans, and why he was not buried in overcoats and blankets. Surely, he wouldn't have come here without some sort of sweater or something? Then again, why was Hermione wearing just a T-shirt and jeans? Surely she'd have more sense to bring something warmer. Then again, where was his wand?

"Come on, we need to go!" Hermione tugged at his arm. Go where, he tried to ask, but he couldn't speak. The coldness seemed to have sealed his lips together. On the other hand, Hermione was tugging his hand.

"Come on!"

The whole landscape become blurry in front of his eyes. He heard other voices, very faintly.

"Padfoot! You're making it snow!"

"Tell Prongs to get up!"

"That's not Prongs! That's Harry's bed! Prongs sleeps on that one now!"

"Moony! What's the counter charm?!"

Harry opened his eyes with difficulty, only to discover that he was drenched to the skin - through his layers of blanket. It was snowing heavily from the ceiling over his bed. Sirius was waving his wand frantically, trying to make it stop. Remus was scowling, trying to teach the proper pronunciation of the counter charm. James was eyeing them from a distance, amused. He was already dressed. Suddenly, Peter noticed him from a distance.

"You are freezing!" He came up to him dragged him away from the drenched bed sheets and blanket.

"Wassgoingon?" He asked, his teeth chattering, also kind of stunned that Peter would try to help him. He was one of the last persons he expected to come forward to help.

"Sirius thought that you were James at the morning. His vision was hazy, and James used to sleep on that bed. He was trying to snow over James." Peter explained, handing him a towel. Meanwhile, Remus and Sirius had managed to stop the snowfall over his bed.

"Are you better?" Remus asked, "I am really sorry about that. Sirius is just a butthead."

"You guys carry on! I'll just go down to meet Evans!" James shouted from the corner, before going down the stairs. So much for being a caring father. As for his godfather, he was grinning from the side of the bed goofily.

He dried himself, and managed to stop his teeth from chattering. He changed into his own comfortable shirt, and left the wet clothes to dry. He gathered his textbooks, which they had brought from the future. Thinking about that, he really hoped that no one would pay attention to the publishing year.

They went down to dinner, where James was sitting alone. Apparently Lily wasn't impressed enough to let him sit besides her. The Marauders went to sit together, but they didn't invite him. Not wanting to disturb them, he sat a little further.

"Are you related with Potter somehow?" He looked up from his bacon to see that it was Mary McDonald who had asked the question. She was sitting with Lily, Marlene and Alice. Hermione was with them too, but she was mostly quiet.

"Uh...no, I don't think so." He answered.

"You look really like him, oh and look! What a co-incidence! You have the same surname - Potter!" Lily said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Hermione looked up from her breakfast.

"I can't possibly help my appearance OR my surname, can I?" Harry replied, a little annoyed at his mother's cynicism.

"No, you can't." Lily said, "but you can control your actions and behavior. Act like a brat like James, and I'll do what a Head Girl should." Lily stood up and left the Great Hall, swinging her bag on her shoulder.

"Uh... sorry." Alice apologized to him. "She is a bit too much pissed at Potter today. He already attempted to ask her out thrice."

"It's OK." Harry replied, feeling awkward talking to Neville's mother. He had of course already recognized the familiar facial features on Alice, and everytime he looked at her face, he saw that sunken, gaunt look he'd seen at St Mungo's. He had to stop that from happening. No matter how hard. Marlene, Alice and Mary left to find Lily.

"Give me your schedule." Hermione said urgently, low enough that only he could hear. He handed her the schedule under the desk. She muttered something, tapping her wand on it. Immediately, another copy of the schedule sat besides the previous one. She handed the original back to him.

"I'll tell you our common classes through the diary." She said, as she scooped up her bag and left. Harry stared at her leaving form and sighed. Hermione wasn't acting normally.

Harry felt concerned. Since they had come to this time, Hermione had seemed, well... distant. He already knew that they wouldn't get many opportunities to talk... but that wasn't it. Hermione seemed like a different person altogether. She wasn't the same. War changed people, he knew that. He himself had changed so much. He understood that Hermione had lost Ron. But she was beginning to cope. Even a minute before coming to this era, she'd seemed more like herself. Atleast more like herself that she was now.

Harry was becoming good at keeping his own emotions in check. He locked those countless memories of Ginny, Ron and the Weasleys in a part of his brain. The key to the lock was in his control, and he wouldn't let the door open unless he was ready to face them, the memories, the feelings. Memories provided comfort, but as soon as they're gone, the pain became worse. He had learnt it the hard way. He could lock up his emotions only when they become too much. Like after Sirius's death. Like after Dobby's death. This time, he suspected that his emotions, his sadness had become too much, like overload. He doubted that he'd ever feel anything again. Which was good in a way, because he couldn't afford weakness, not with the task ahead of him.

But Hermione? Hermione seemed like a different person altogether. It seemed like someone else was controlling her. He wasn't sure he knew her properly any more. It scared him.

Sighing, he picked up his bag and headed towards his first class - Transfiguration.

Professor McGonagall started the class by giving a long explanation on NEWTs and how they were important in their future. He had taken up classes required for becoming an auror. Being an auror had always been his ambition, and he didn't really want to let go of it. But the downside was, since he had no OWLs qualifications to show, he was only allowed to take up these classes under the condition that he had to keep his performance good. He wasn't sure what Hermione had done, but she was in all of his classes, hopefully. Otherwise he'd have serious trouble regarding homeworks. Of course, Ron wasn't with him...

Drowned in old memories, Harry only heard half of what Professor McGonagall was saying - about NEWTs or Non-verbal spells or how Transfiguration can be used offensively or defensively. Thank Merlin, no wand-work was to be done that day. He was vaguely aware of Marlene and Alice sitting besides him. Mary apparently hadn't taken transfiguration. Remus, Lily and Hermione were sitting at the front. Peter, Sirius and James at the back.

"Mr Potter?" Professor McGonagall's voice rang out.

"Yes?" James and Harry stood up in unison. After a moment's silence, almost whole class burst out laughing. McGonagall however, didn't even crack a smile.

"Hilarious." She said. "Sit down, James Potter. I'm talking to Mr Potter here." James sat down, smirking.

"Mr Potter, do you mind if I ask you a question?" McGonagall peered at him through her spectacles, making it clear that 'yes' wasn't an option.

"No, Professor."

"Tell me, Mr Potter, why did you take up Transfiguration?"

"I want to be an auror someday, Professor." Harry answered truthfully. McGonagall looked at him for a few moments before saying - "Sit down."

What was that all about, Harry thought as he sat down. The bell rang within five minutes. Harry headed towards his next class, Charms.

-_____________-

Hermione hurriedly compared Harry's schedule copy to her own before heading towards Charms. Apparently she had all of Harry's classes, plus two more - Arithrimancy and Ancient Ruins. Now that she thought of it, she should've left off Arithrimancy. As much as she loved the subject, it wouldn't really be of any use in their mission. It was a more theoretical subject, meant for people who wanted to keep within learning. On the other hand, Ancient Ruins consisted ancient magic, which was often useful when other spells didn't work.

She hurried to the Charms class. Luckily, Professor Flitwick wasn't there. Quietly, she sat down besides Harry. The Marauders weren't there yet. She figured that sitting besides him in one class wouldn't matter.

"How are you doing?" He asked, scooting over to make space for her, "You've been awfully quiet." Hermione looked at him, puzzled.

"Well, we aren't supposed to talk much are we?"

"Not that. You've been... I dunno, a little different? I think you should loosen up a bit more... we have to stay here." Suddenly, Hermione felt annoyed. How was she supposed to be same, after all that has happened? Her annoyance morphed into anger.

"Well excuse me," she snapped under her breath, "people CHANGE after a war! And unfortunately, not all of us have our teenager parents to be with them in a mission to put the world right! You might be enjoying living in this time, but I am NOT!" She picked up her bag and took a seat in the front, not looking back.

Charms class passed through a blur. Hermione listened to the importance of NEWTs as she did in transfiguration. In addition, Flitwick made them practice non-verbal spells. She wrote down the notes, practiced the spells and refrained from thinking about anything else. When the bell rang, she was the first one to be out. She was vaguely aware of Harry trying to follow her, but she ignored him and ran to Ancient Runes. Harry had a free period now. He wouldn't be there in Ancient Runes.

As the class went on, Hermione had time to calm herself down. As her anger ebbed away, she started to feel guilty, and horribly guilty. She knew Harry was just looking out for her. Ron was his best friend too, he missed him as much as she did. He had lost Ginny, and the Weasleys too. Despite that, she couldn't help but feel that Harry had the better part of the situation. He had his parents for comfort, and he seemed quite at ease in this era. Unlike her. Still, she owed him an apology.

After Ancient Runes, she headed towards the Great Hall for lunch. She'd apologize to Harry there.

"Hello, Hermione." Someone greeted her from behind. She turned around to find Harry.

"Ah, Harry, I was looking for you. I'm..."

"Hermione, I want to say that you have a nice body."

"Wha..."

"Yes. And I think Remus likes you. How about you go to Hogsmeade? I would've taken you... but I have my eyes for E-another girl." Suddenly, Hermione caught on.

"You're James Potter. Not Harry." She announced.

"YOU GOT CAUGHT PRONGS!" Sirius shouted as he came out from behind a pillar, "Hand it over."

'Harry' waved his wand over his head. The scar disappeared, and the colour of his eyes changed. He handed a galleon over to Sirius.

"How did you know?" James demanded.

"I..."

What will she say? That Harry didn't talk like that? Or that Harry wouldn't possibly pair her with Remus?

"Where were you two?!" To make matters worse, Remus had appeared behind them, accompanied by Harry and Peter. How was Harry hanging out with Peter? Nevermind that now.

"Just trying to arrange your date with our new girl." James replied. Remus didn't give much of the reaction, but she saw Harry giving a horrified look.

"I think you should go to Lily though." Remus said. "You have Head Boy duties to attend, and I think I heard her muttering about what she could do to your balls and what you should shove up your arse if you don't appear within five minutes." James swore, and disappeared somewhere in the crowd.

"Sorry about that Hermione." Remus said.

"It's alright."

"Remus, Harry, if we're done with this, then let's go to lunch." Peter quipped in. "I'm famished."

"Why don't you ever stop eating?" Remus said, exasperated. "OK Hermione, see you later."

"You guys go on. I'll catch up with you" Harry said. Remus gave him a curious glance, but didn't say anything. He left with Peter.

Hermione and Harry started walking towards the Great Hall. Hermione knew that she should apologize, but she wasn't sure how to say her apology.

First time in years, they were feeling uncomfortable in each other's presence, not sure what to tell each other.

I've been terribly late in updating, I know. But hopefully updates will be sooner from now on. I don't know if you're still reading though, hopefully some of you are. Don't forget the feedbacks huh?

The update of Back In The Time will be up within few more days.

Keep reading, please.