{18-So, Did I Mention I'm From the Future?}

The final weeks of classes and tests were a very interesting time for Hermione. She knew she was going to pass everything, they'd prepared an insane amount to make sure that everyone could go on and do what they planned to, but there was a doubt in her that after a small sabbatical, she might not get to do the things she'd planned. If she lived long enough to do them.

Lily and James wanted to be Aurors, which could not have surprised her less since she knew their future in helping out the Order, which in reality they should be joining any moment. Remus hadn't really any plans due to his... limitations, which was ridiculous to Hermione as she attempted to continuously pry something out of him... even if it wasn't teaching. He'd been rather good at that, but it mightn't have been his passion. Sirius was a wild card of course. And lastly Peter seemed very vague about what he wanted to do, which forced Hermione to realize that she had been far too late to save Peter from his fear.

Severus determined that he wanted to pursue potions in a mastery, understudying someone from the ministry who was growing old an wished to retire. He hoped that he would be able to take his place, but everyone knew the ministry and figured what would happen, would. There was no sureness or security, but Hermione did so hope that his talents kept leading him well.

The funny thing about those weeks were that Lily had seemed to put down whatever hatred or lack of care it was that she held for Hermione because the two of them talked very often. Their smarts were extremely compatible, and while Harry was very much like James, he had a whole lot of his mother in him as well, she noticed. They cross-referenced almost every fact in every book, and the boys never seemed to understand most of the things they said, which was only all the more fun. Well, Remus kept up most of the time, but he would get distracted by the boys most certainly.

Then came the stark realization that Severus was right. He'd seen something in Sirius even Hermione hadn't, and it was almost worrisome. She was their friend before Severus ever was so how did he notice before... then again, he'd known them for a lot longer too.

Sirius was, to her most sincere deduction, head over heels in love with Remus. He went out of his want to be near him and was constantly doting on the poor boy. At first she thought and rationalized that he was just trying to be a really good friend, but Hermione could see the glances he took when he thought no one was watching and the way he always touched Remus. Sirius was no sly dog.

It was the evening of her first exam that she was talking to Severus about it, curious as to what he would say she should do about it.

"I told you he had something for him, it was only a matter of time before you saw it too."

"Well, I didn't want to see it, I suppose. You know, I feel like I stopped them from having something. I mean, I came out of practically nowhere and then uprooted the whole group."

She earned a strange look.

"Lupin rather likes you, though, I don't suppose he'd care much for anyone else. I just wanted you to be warned about Black. I don't think you should worry."

Hermione thought on that, knowing Remus loved careless people, those with a spark of spontaniety she was aware she did not possess. He liked people so very unlike her. Besides, she was starting to think she couldn't drag anyone through twenty years of her only being well, practically twenty.

"He does fancy me, but I'm starting to get the idea he should like someone else as well."

Severus merely nodded his head, seeming too confused to care.

Next came graduation, something Hermione had been ecstatic about since she'd read Hogwarts: A History. It was surreal to her that through everything she'd done (even though some of it hadn't actually happened yet), somehow, she'd ended up here in this place, finally graduating. This would be a paramount occurrence in her life. If only she had known earlier in life, she could have told Harry she was graduating with his parents and what a joy that would have been for him... then again he wouldn't have ever remembered it.

When she stepped onto the boats to leave the school for a final and rather sentimental time, Hermione cried. She looked back at the castle of Hogwarts and what would always be an amazing memory, allowing the memories to sway her emotions so forcefully. Her heart ached and she felt as though everything had ended... even though for her it was merely the beginning to her, well, beginning.

DeLacney and herself had figured that she would stay permanently twenty-ish as time went on, and that was actually rather fine by her. It just meant that she had to tell her friends the real truth... and then she had to leave to do something completely dumb... and dangerous.

Without a doubt someone would volunteer to go with her... if not everyone. James and Lily most of all when she would tell them about Harry and those around them who died... a plethora of families and parents. It was needless, and James and Lily were not people who liked things that happened needlessly.

Speaking of the couple, however, they were (what seemed like finally) engaged to be married. It was no sooner than a week after they'd gotten out of school. The engagement was quite the thing, too, and James had declared a party was in order not a moment later. More like a preliminary stag-do... including Lily. Even Severus had been invited.

Hermione figured what better time than to tell them all? It was practically perfect, it wasn't the engagement and it wasn't the wedding, so she wasn't ruining anything of much importance.

Remus knew... half of it, so the first battle would be showing them all she was a girl. In her mind, that was an easy feat. They would just show up arm in arm and she'd be dressed as a girl and look like herself, of course.

Hermione and Severus had ended up renting a flat together once everything with Hogwarts was said and done. Just a simple flat in the Wizarding district, but they were happy to be out on their own. For Hermione, it was that she was out of eyesight of too many people, and for Severus the fact that he was the hell out of his old house. Remus didn't mind their arrangement, even supporting it, though he was still living at home, pondering over his own future. Why would he question hers?

"Why don't you head over?" Hermione said to Severus as he waited by the door of their flat, looking excited. He enjoyed the boys, even if he didn't ever say so. And to see him so happy for Lily was a treat to time and Hermione herself.

"Okay, see you there, then. Don't take forever, we don't want lover boy throwing a fit in your absence."

She ignored the remark.

In truth, Remus was meeting her at the flat in a few minutes and she needed Severus gone to take off her charms. Her dress was awaiting her, and she'd never been so excited to put one on before. Not even the Yule Ball compared to this.

Another body popped into the room, and his timing couldn't have been better.

"Sorry I'm early, just nervous for you is all."

He walked up to Hermione and placed a kiss on her cheek, looking at her expectantly.

"No worries, I promise. Everything is going to turn out just brilliantly. As long as Sirius doesn't hex me before I get through the door."

Poor thing had no idea what was coming... but then again neither did Remus.

She returned a kiss and ran to her room, pulling her dress from her cupboard and throwing it on, getting rid of her charms and smiling at never having to use them again around the people she loved. For her upcoming mission, she may possibly need them again, however. Besides the fact that she really didn't want to have to wear the charms, her only true problem there was how to destroy the horcruxes. She had no sword, no fang, and heaven knows she had no idea how Dumbledore destroyed the ring.

That was a problem for later, certainly. When she came back out, Remus smiled at her brilliantly.

"What exactly changed your mind about telling everyone else who you really are, anyways?"

"Well," she said hesitantly, "I hate lying, and really, I didn't expect what happened to cause this, but I'll explain more tonight, maybe we should get going?"

"Right," he said carefully, placing an arm about her waist, "I reckon we should."

Hermione nodded, steeling her nerves. Maybe she was slightly more nervous than excited, but this needed to happen if she was staying there. She wasn't a coward and wouldn't just run off into the woods with no explanation.

It was rather convienient that Peter wasn't free the whole of the weekend because if he had been free, she wouldn't be doing this.

They were at the front door of a house, and Hermione felt as though she wasn't quite doing enough with her life yet by only living in a flat. But... she had to remind herself that James' family had one thing in abundance that she did not: money.

By the grace of Merlin, Lily answered the door when they knocked.

"Remus?" she wondered condescendingly, looking none too pleased but attempting to mask it... albeit poorly, "Who is this?"

"Hermione Granger... also known as Florizel."

Lily seemed mildly confused until what Remus had said sunk in.

"What? Oh, you must tell me everything! Get in here!" She lavished, pulling Hermione by the hand and then pausing abruptly, "Did you know this whole time, Remus Lupin?"

"For most of it... obviously."

Lily smacked him clean on the shoulder and pulled him in too.

She was dragged into the throng of things, no one looking sure of her presence except Sirius who was sure he hated her.

"What the hell is she here for, Remus?" Sirius yelled, practically blowing up in his friend's face, seemingly confused as to how this could happen. Hermione had a feeling that he had just idolized and fancied Remus so fully that the idea that he could do anything remotely terrible was a huge shock to him. "Florizel is coming soon and you drag your side-thing here to what? Shove it in everyone's face that you're with someone else, or is that how you break up with people, you lousy arsehole?"

Wand drawn, Lily stood in front of Hermione and glared at the man.

"This is Forizel, you daft idiot. Well, her name is Hermione, actually. Hermione Granger." Lily stresses the last name as though it should ring a bell, specifically a warning bell that meant if he yelled any louder, she'd hex him.

"But she was the one you were kissing in the corridor..." his words seemed to die in his mouth, "Right! Of bloody course!... I knew you wouldn't do that, Rem."

Remus huffed, sure Sirius knew. Sirius looked like a puppy who got caught chewing a shoe but wasn't exactly sorry, moreover sorry he'd made a fool of himself.

"So you're really a girl?" James asked. He seemed rather concerned over the idea, sitting on the sofas

"Yeah, I had my own rooms and such, Dumbledore set it up."

Hermione stole a glance at Severus who was intently staring at her from behind Sirius. He also looked very confused.

"Tell us everything, Hermione, who, what, when, where, why?" Lily begged, sitting Hermione down on the sofa. "Spill!"

"Well, I think I should start and tell you why I chose to tell you, then you can decide if you want me to tell you how I did it." Lots of telling to do, she thought amusingly.

"I need to know everything, almost as much as Lils who is about to fall out of her seat," Sirius said, looking as though he'd just gained thirty years.

"Well, I suppose I should start with the fact that I'm from the future."

A/N

Stresssssssfullllllll week and weekend for me, sorry this is so very late! As you can see we're getting into some heavy plot, and things are changing pretty fast!!! An engagement, two secrets out! What fun!

I hope you all are still enjoying! Please bear with me this summer, I'm working crazy hours and also have Jury Duty, yay! Updates will come as soon as physically possible, this I can promise, I just can't promise specific days is all! Enjoy your week and see you next time!