Werewolf in Disguise

Sirius decided to leave Minerva to the ‘extraction’ and go find Remus. This was the moment they had been waiting for all week and Remus had been on edge since he found out that Harry was going back.

“I can’t do this, I just can’t bloody do this,” Remus thought, again, as he ran his fingers through his hair for the millionth time. He sat with his head in his hands at the kitchen table. His untouched tea was cold and sitting on the table taunting him with the promised effects of calmness. Worry was etched on his strained face as he ran his fingers through his hair again.

“Hey mate,” Sirius said as he entered the kitchen, “thought I’d find you in here.”

“Well, you found me,” he replied, barely looking up.

“They’ll be back any minute now.”

“I know. Harry hates me now, remember.”

“I don’t think he hates you, just what you might do to Gyps. Remember, this is Harry we’re talking about. He’ll come to understand soon. I think he was just shocked.”

“You should have let me warn him,” Remus said shooting Sirius an accusing look.

“No way, mate! He would have went back with that on his mind as well. It was better this way. Having his reaction be non-rehearsed added to his believability.”

“If you say so.”

“I do say so. At least he finally got closure with Dumbledore.”

Remus smiled slightly before saying, “yea, leave it to Harry to do things with intensity.”

“Have you decided what you’re going to do, yet?”

“No,” he sighed, “she deserves better than me. She should find someone else.”

“You really think she’ll want that? You really think she’ll do that?”

“Probably, when she comes back and her memories return. She’ll realize who I am now and it will be over anyway.”

“And they call you the smart one,” Sirius said exasperatedly. “Can’t you see you were falling for each other before she left?”

“Nothing happened before she left, Padfoot. We were just friends.”

“But, who’s to say you would have stayed that way?”

“Me,” he said sadly, “and the 18 years between us.”

“I bet she gives you the choice. And I bet you blow it.”

“Thanks, mate. You’re a real help.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“OK, spill it. How do we know you are who you say you are?” Sirius asked as James and Lily walked over. They were giving Harry knowing looks which were starting to disturb him greatly.

“Fine, Hermione you have a scar on your abdomen. Well, I guess two now. One from Hogsmeade and the other from a Death Eater attack in our time. After which,” he paused as he looked at Sirius and James, “Snape saved your life, again.”

“He’s right,” Remus said slowly as he glanced at Hermione‘s midsection.

“Remus, please don’t tell me, now or ever, how you know that,” Harry pleaded forcefully.

“Ok, you know about a scar, what else? For all we know, you could be the Death Eater that attacked her,” Sirius asked desperately hoping he was a fraud.

Harry rolled his eyes again and said, “Padfoot is a big, black, shaggy dog,” he said, then looked at them all in turn, “Prongs is a stag, Moony is a werewolf, and Wormtail is, quite literally, a rat.”

They all gasped in surprise as even Dumbledore didn’t know that. Harry decided to keep moving on.

“The words ‘I solemnly swear that I am up to no good’ and ’mischief managed’ mean something important to a certain map, and have helped Ron, Hermione and myself quite a bit actually. Lily hated you,” he said looking at James, “until this year, then you two hooked up, eventually getting married. I’m only telling you that, because no one here will remember it.”

Lily gave James another knowing look, but Harry ignored it.

“Let’s see, what else? Oh yea,” he said grinning, “Sirius’ mom is a right nasty piece of work. Her portrait is still in Grimmuald Place, where several of us live; Remus, Hermione, and Sirius included, but no one can get her off the wall and she yells at us constantly if we wake her up, especially Sirius and Hermione.”

“Well, there you go!” Sirius said excitedly, “he’s a fraud! I would never move back into Grimmuald Place! Never!”

“Never say never, Sirius. You don’t know what your future holds, but I do and I also know Kreacher You have a brother named Regulus, who turned Death Eater, then went straight. You go through girls here like candy, you love your stupid hair, and you’re more loyal than anyone knows. Anyway, what else?”

“How many children do we have?” James asked quietly, like he was trying to fit pieces of a puzzle together.

“One,” Harry answered without thought, then added, “But I’m not telling you of your future. I’m convincing Hermione to come back to me…with me…whatever.”

“Sounds like you want her for yourself,” Remus mumbled accusingly.

“Remus, I swear, if I wasn’t such a nice bloke, I would deck you for that! I happen to be madly in love with Ginny, but I will remind you of that comment when I get back, probably repeatedly.”

“So, Harry, you seem to know us. You talk to Remus a lot about ‘when you get back’ and some to Sirius, but what about Lily and I?” James asked.

“Um, well, you‘re not there, not exactly,” Harry stuttered.

“Oh, ok. Care to elaborate on that?” James asked.

“No, sorry, I can’t,” he said sadly, before continuing. “Let’s see, James, you recently lost both of your parents, you’re an only child and fairly well off, and you’ve been in love with M...Lily for a long time. Lily, you have a sister names Petunia, who in my opinion, is only a shade better than her husband and horrid child, who happens to be my age.”

Then he decided to go for the clincher, the one thing he knew would get their attention. “Remus was bitten when he was five by Greyback,” he paused as those around him gasped and Remus blanched slightly. “Half a year ago, Greyback bit our best friend‘s brother, but the moon wasn’t full. His transformations have never been stable, but the one time he did completely transform, he bit Hermione. That’s why she’s here now.”

“Um, Hermione, can we talk to you a minute? Over there somewhere,” Sirius asked, pointing to the corner and nodding his head at Remus.

They walked over to the corner and Sirius began whispering, “Ok, I don’t know about you two, but he seems like he’s for real. How could anyone else know that kind of stuff?”

“I think you’re right, Sirius, but what do we do?” Remus asked.

“I don’t want to leave,” Hermione said as she started to cry and fell into Remus’ arms. “I want to stay here, with you. Harry said you’ll break my heart, that you won’t love me anymore.”

“Hermione, I’ll always love you. Through this time or the next, I’ll always love you,” he said as he stroked her hair. He knew it was true, he could never love anyone the way he loves her.

“But, if you go back, you’ll still be with us, right? Didn’t he say we were there?” Sirius asked. “Otherwise, Gyps, you won’t live long. You have to remember that. We need you to live so we can, well, so we can keep you.”

“Is that what you want? You want me to go?” she asked through her tears.

“Of course not!” Remus said. “I just want you to live, love. And think of it this way, I’ll love you and miss you for the next 18 years, but then I’ll have you again. If you’ll take someone that much older than you. Merlin, Hermione, what if you decide you don’t love me?”

“That would never happen, Remus. I love you, no matter what. Remember, my parents are over 20 years apart in age. I just want you. And this way, I’ll never have to worry about you going for someone younger!” she said, grinning up at him while he leaned down to kiss her.

“Well, let’s go back and talk to this Harry bloke some more, just to make sure,” Sirius said, trying unsuccessfully to hide the fact there were tears in his eyes.

“I love you, Sirius, more than you can imagine,” Hermione said as she gave him a hug.

Meanwhile, James, Lily and Harry were having an intimate moment themselves.

“Um, Harry, I think I’ve figured something out here,” Lily said thoughtfully. “When do James and I, uh, get married?”

“Right after you leave here, why?”

“And when do we have our first child?” James asked.

“Next July.”

James and Lily both grinned broadly, then Lily asked, “and are you that child, Harry?”

He looked at her stunned, but was unable to speak.

“You see, I’ve fallen rather hard for James and I know him backwards and forwards now. If there was ever anyone who could pass for him, without the long hair, it would be you. My favorite uncle is also named Harry and my guess is your middle name is…”

“James,” Harry said, starting to grin now. “You really are as smart as everyone says.”

“And you have amazing eyes,” James said lovingly.

“So, tell us Harry, why you act as though you know Sirius and Remus, but not us. Especially not your own parents. And why you would know my sister--I really don‘t think I would ever introduce you to her.”

Harry was reluctant to answer. How could he tell them what he knew, even if they wouldn’t remember?

“We’re dead aren’t we?” James asked sadly. “When?”

“A couple years from now,” he answered hesitantly as Lily began to cry. “I was a little older than a year when it happened. It was Voldemort.”

“But you survived. Thank Merlin for that,” Lily said quietly.

“What happens to you?” James asked as he motioned for Harry to sit between them.

“Dumbledore makes me live with Aunt Petunia, to keep me alive and safe,” he said sadly.

“Petunia?! Why? No! I won’t have it!” Lily said earnestly.

“You don’t have a choice, Mum,” Harry said without realizing what he called her, until she smiled at him broadly.

“I like the sound of that,” she said.

“Well,” James said, “we have a few choices to make here. Lily and I have talked about marriage, and about children, we want a bunch. So, we can tell you what we wish your life would have been like and what we want for you in life, or we can talk about other things.”

“I’ve lived without you two for so long that I’ve stopped guessing what my life could have been like. I always wondered about it though. I was the youngest seeker in a century, Dad,” he said, again not realizing what he had called James until he smiled broadly.

“Definitely, I could get used to that. A seeker, my son? Wow! Well, know this, we’re both very proud of the man you have become. Even in death, we will watch over you, every step of the way.”

“And you’re more loved than you could ever imagine,” Lily said as her eyes welled up with tears again. “I haven’t even had you and I love you so much already. The fire and passion you possess is astounding. It‘s also obvious that you love Hermione, much the same way as James.”

“I always wanted my son to ride a broom before he could walk.”

“We’ll talk about that when he’s born,” Lily said throwing a grin at James. “But we’d teach you all about Hogwarts and wizards. I’d teach you things James doesn’t know, like how to cook.”

“Yuck! I’ll teach you the ways of Marauders and women, you know, useful stuff. But you’re not allowed to date Hermione, ever!”

Harry’s eyes filled with tears and he noticed that James and Lily’s had as well. They both leaned over and hugged him tightly for several long moments until the others walked over to them.

“What did we miss?” Sirius asked, looking at the three crying people on his bed.

“Nothing, Padfoot. We just learned the truth and we believe Harry is for real,” James said, then looked at Hermione and stood up, “Look Gyps, you know I love you, right?”

“I love you too, James. You think I should go with Harry don’t you?”

“Yes, I think it’s the right thing to do. I also think he’ll take very good care of you until we can again,” James said, his eyes shining with tears as Lily and Harry walked over.

Lily hugged Hermione tightly and said, “I love you, Hermione. Take good care of yourself and of Harry. I believe you two will be good for each other. Thank you so much for showing me what it’s like to really have a sister,” she said as she hugged Hermione tightly.

Both girls began to cry. James, Remus, and Sirius put their arms around them both and they all hugged tightly.

“Harry says we’ll forget you, Gypsy, until you come back here in our future, but you’ll remember us. And you’ll remember that we love you. Remember what you’ve meant to us all, that you gave Lily and I each other. For that, I’m eternally grateful to you,” James said, as the tears fell down his cheeks.

“I’m not saying Goodbye to you, Gyps,” Sirius said, his eyes brimming with tears as well. “You’ll be seeing me soon, and I’ll be able to give you more hell, since I’ll be twice your age!”

They all laughed through their tears and then broke away. Hermione found Remus and held him tightly around his waist. She was ready to go ‘home’ but she wasn’t ready to let Remus go. What if he really didn’t want her anymore? What if, in 18 years, he had found someone else? How could she live without him?

“Hermione, I love you. I love you more than I could ever say. I’ll be there for you when you get back, I know I will. I could never love someone the way I love you. Even without my memories, I’ll wait for you, doll. You’re the only one for me.”

“Oh Remus! I love you, too!” Hermione sobbed.

Harry stared at them sadly. Remus wasn’t kidding when he said they had become close. He had tried to warn Harry before he left, he felt sure of that, but seeing this moment was a shock to him. Hermione had never fallen for someone before. No one had been right for her, no one smart enough, or mature enough. Now that he thought about it, he was sure Hermione and Remus were falling for each other in his time, before she was bitten. What would happen now? Would he really break her heart when she came back?

“Hermione, we need to go now. All you have to do is agree it’s for the best and let your body relax. You’re holding a pendant in your hand that you have to let McGonagall have before you can come back, just let it go Hermione,” Harry pleaded as he watched her relax into Remus. Suddenly she was gone and Remus, heartbroken, began to openly cry as he sank to the floor.

“I’ll be leaving soon. Snape said as soon as my job was done I would disappear, and you would be left without your memories,” he explained as he tore his eyes away from Remus.

Lily ran up to him and threw her arms around him. “I love you, son, always know that. No matter where you are or what you do, I love you.” She cried as he hugged her tightly and tears spilled down his cheeks.

James walked over and hugged them both. “Me too, son. I love you now, and I’ll love you even more when you’re born. We’ll always be with you.”

With that, Harry disappeared and the other four were left a little confused. Remus felt sadder than he ever had in his life, but he couldn’t understand why he was on the floor crying and why he felt like a part of him was missing. Assuming it was due to the moon, the others then decided to study for the NEWT exams coming soon and went about getting their things together. James kept fiddling with a box, neatly tucked away in his robes. He couldn’t wait until his date tonight. He was finally going to ask the girl of his dreams to marry him, and he had a strong feeling she would say yes!

Harry landed with a thud, and sat frozen in thought. He wiped the tears out of his eyes and didn’t notice McGonagall slip out of the door. Suddenly he was engulfed in large amounts of brown hair as Hermione wound her arms around him and held him tightly. It took him a few seconds to realize she was crying, but when he did, he pulled her onto his lap and held her tightly. As she sobbed onto his shoulder, he let himself cry tears for his lost childhood that were long overdue. They sat there, without words being said or needed, and let each other feel the love they shared, and what they had lost.

After what seemed like hours they broke apart. “Hermione, are you ok?” he asked quietly as he gently dried her tears.

“I think so,” she replied, barely above a whisper, as she raised her head. “I will be. Thank you for bringing me back.”

“You don’t need to lie to me, Hermione, I’m your best friend remember? Given the choice you would have stayed there, with them,” he said as she looked at him guiltily. Then he added softly, “we both would have.”

“You’re right, but this is the way it has to be. I’m sorry I slapped you.”

“It’s ok. Yes, this is the way it has to be.”

“Well, I guess we have NEWTS coming in a few days, right? We should be studying,” she said as they both stood up.

“Welcome back, Hermione!” Harry said brightly as he hugged her tightly. “But first, there’s a couple of people who have been nervously waiting for you to return. They’re probably in the kitchen, pretending to drink tea or actually drinking worse. Go easy on Remus though, ok? This is bound to be hard for him. If he hurts you Hermione, I’ll make him regret it.”

She gently kissed his cheek before saying, “Thank you, Harry. I’m sure it’s hard for you, too. You were right. He’ll probably just break my heart now,” she said as the tears reappeared in her eyes.

“Go,” Harry said as he lovingly brushed his fingers along her cheek. Then he pushed her to the door, “just be patient and give them some time.”

She walked out of her room and down the hall, tiptoeing down the stairs, as Mrs. Black could be rather vicious to her, and then entered the kitchen. Remus and Sirius were sitting at the table, but stood up and looked at her nervously as she entered the room. They stared at her as she stared at them, no one knowing how to react or what they should do. To her, they were suddenly older, but just like she remembered them before leaving only minutes ago. To them, she was the same, only they knew her now, really knew who she was, but time had still passed and they’re still twice her age.

Slowly she walked over to them as tears filled her eyes. Tears for what they had that was taken away from them, tears for the friendship that would never be the same, and tears for the love she had for Remus that she was sure he would now reject. She walked over and put her arms around both of them. They immediately hugged her in return and the three just stood there for a moment as tears slid down her face.

“Welcome home, Gyps,” Sirius said quietly. “I missed you.”

Hermione laughed softly as she pulled away and dried her tears. “Oh Sirius, you didn’t even remember me!”

“I did too!” he whined. “I remembered you all week, the way you were then, and I missed you. We stayed with you while you were sleeping, me and Remus. We missed you.”

“You did?” she asked, looking pointedly at Remus.

“Well, I better go, check on Harry or something,” Sirius said as he slowly walked away. Hermione and Remus were still staring at each other.

“So,” Hermione began, “What now?”

“I don’t know, Hermione,” he answered slowly. “This is new territory for me. I guess we should take things slowly and see where it goes.”

To his surprise, Hermione laughed sadly.

“What’s funny?”

“This…us. You see, to me, we spent the morning in the Shrieking Shack, remember, then we were splattered with mud and had to take a bath,” she reminded him and he nodded his head slowly as a faint blush stained his cheeks, “and now you’re saying to take things slow. It’s just, I don’t know, funny I guess.”

“I understand,” he grinned slightly. “But things are different now. There’s 18 years between us that there wasn’t before. I really am in charge of the Order. Voldemort is stronger than ever and neither one of us is the same now, as we were then.”

“I understand, also,” she said, knowing instantly that Harry was right. Remus was slowly going to break her heart. What was worse, she was just going to let him do it. What choice did she have? If she tried to talk sense into him, she’d lose his friendship as well. Finally she sighed as she took another step away from him and said, “ok, we’ll take things slow and see what happens.”

“HERMIONE!!!!” they heard as the door was flung open.

“Ron!” she screamed and ran to her other best friend, hugging him tightly. “I’m so glad to see you!”

“Me too! So, are you going to tell us all about your stay in the past? And what are you wearing?!” he asked as he pushed her back a bit to read “Chase This” across her front.

Hermione looked down quickly and then glanced at Remus sadly. “Soon Ron, but right now I need another shower, and a change of clothes. Excuse me.”

“Another shower?” Ron asked Remus, before gaping at the “Chasers do it better” on the back of her shirt. Remus just shrugged as the front door opened and more people from the Order filed in.

On her way upstairs, Hermione ran into Sirius again.

“Well, what did he say?” he asked quietly, and Hermione knew immediately what he was talking about.

“He wants to take things slow,” she said bitterly, “in other words, Harry was right.”

“We’ll see, Gyps, just give him some time. Nice outfit by the way.”

She grinned up at him as others kept filing into the house and waving at her. She got several extra glances due to her attire, but that didn’t faze her. Since her step back in time, she had found a new confidence about herself as well, and felt less concerned about what others thought.

“So, tell me,” he continued as others were standing around waiting for the ‘Hermione‘s back’ meeting to begin, “are those boxers mine or Remus’?”

“Prat” she said as she walked to her room and then to the shower. No one noticed the highly offended look on Arthur’s face, or the scared look on Molly’s.