A/N: The final chapter. :( I have received a nearly unanimous vote to make the plot bunny mentioned in the last chapter a separate story, so I will do that. :) Currently the title is, "I Am Not A Vegetable." Yes, weirdest title yet, but hey, it fits, LOL. It will be Remus/Hermione, and I'll start posting it when the rough draft is finished. I'll write it next, then resume working on "A Wolf for Your Scar." (also Remus/Hermione) Check my bio, which I will update periodically, to see how it's coming if you want. By the way, "Xenos" is Greek for "stranger." Sorry, BrennaM, there's no Snape. :(
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Things Between Us
Hermione felt someone shaking her roughly awake. "HERMIONE! YOU'RE BACK!" she heard Ginny shriek. Groggily, she opened her eyes. Ginny looked quite excited to see her. "It's been so lonely in this room without you!"
"Good morning, Ginny," said Hermione, sitting up. "Let's go eat breakfast." The two of them trooped to the Great Hall together. When Hermione saw Harry walking over to the Griffindor table, she squealed loudly and rushed over to him. "HARRY!" she shrieked, squeezing him tight and spinning around.
"Harry, I'm so glad to see you again! I've missed you so much! I have lots to tell you!"
Harry held her close for a moment, before sitting down beside her. "I've been so worried about you, Hermione. I'm glad to see you back safely."
Hermione felt such a rush of feelings at seeing Harry again, that she nearly forgot about Remus sitting at the teacher's table. For two months, she'd tried to push her feelings for Harry aside. It feel wonderful to have them bubble to the surface without feeling pained at not being with him. "I wish you'd come with me! I saw your parents and Sirius! They were such fun to hang out with."
"Remus was too, I've heard," he said.
Hermione looked at him keenly. "What did he tell you?"
"He said you became his girlfriend. He wouldn't say much else." Harry eyed her. "You really like him, don't you?"
Hermione paused. Now she'd have to make her final decision. She loved Remus, yet she still had lingering feelings for Harry. She'd always been first in line whenever Harry needed help. She'd had a crush on him for the longest time. But she felt so much more connected with Remus. He understood her in ways Harry didn't. (This isn't going to be pleasant to tell Harry, though) She sighed. "Yes, it's true. I thought I was going to stay in the past forever, Harry. You aren't angry with me, are you?"
He stared at his plate, looking thoughtful. She saw him gaze over at the teacher's table, and then she swore that she saw him glance at Ginny. "No, I'm not angry, Hermione." He smiled. "If he's who you like, I won't get in the way. I understand." He picked up his fork. "So tell me about my parents," he invited. "And Sirius."
For the rest of breakfast, Hermione chatted with him and Ron, recounting much of what had happened. She talked to them between classes, and all the way to DADA class, which was the last of the day. Remus winked at her when she came in, and she smiled back, taking her seat.
"Today we're going to learn about Jennyfishes. They are most dangerous when paired with their familiar, the Jackfish. When they look like they're going to team up, a simple spell with stop that. Repeat after me: "Xenos!"
"Xenos!" said the class.
"Very good," said Lupin.
After the class, Harry and Hermione walked back to Griffindor Tower. "The password's changed," he informed her. "It's Jillillion." The fat lady let him in, and they sat down by the fireplace. "So now that you're back, are you still Lupin's girlfriend?" asked Harry.
"Yes, that's what we agreed upon," said Hermione. "Can I ask you a favor? In order to see him, I'm going to use the Time Turner. I'll need the Invisibility Cloak as well. Can I use it?"
"Sure, Hermione. It's in my dorm, under my bed, I think. Let's go get it." The pair marched up the stairs, and retrieved the Cloak. Hermione took it to her room and hid it under her covers.
During the afternoon, Hermione watched Harry and Ron practice Quidditch. She laughed to herself as she watched Harry. His wild hair reminded her so much of his father's hair when he flew on his broom.
After dinner, Hermione did her homework until curfew, before sneaking out under the Invisibility Cloak and using the Time Turner to turn back time until it was just after supper. Then she snuck into Remus's office.
"Hello Hermione," said Remus when he saw the door open and close, seemingly by itself.
Hermione whipped off the cloak, beaming at him. "Hello Remus. Can I help you with your work?"
"You can help me with the first year's reports," he invited.
She sat down next to him, picking up a pile and began reading. She smiled as she read. It brought up so many memories of her first year. It seemed so long ago that she'd first come here and helped Harry get the Philosopher's Stone. That was even before she'd met Remus.
The pair occasionally stole glances at each other while they worked. Suddenly Hermione took Remus's hand. "You still have the scar," she noticed.
"I do, yes," he said. "Evidently Voldemort needed my blood for a potion that would guard against his death. I wish I could have done more to avoid it."
"You mustn't blame yourself," said Hermione. "None of us knew. You were lucky to have your mind at all."
"I was," he said, smiling at her. "I'll never forget it." He squeezed her hand and let go, returning to his work.
Just before curfew, Hermione slipped the Invisibility Cloak back and on and snuck back up to the Griffindor common room. Harry sat in there, alone, doing his schoolwork. "Thank you Harry," she said, handing him his Cloak.
Harry thought it rather bizarre, since it'd seemed like barely a minute since she'd taken it from him. "No problem," he said.
"Thank you, Harry. For being so great about this. I really appreciate it. I couldn't stand it if we weren't friends."
"I wouldn't be able to stand it either, Hermione. I didn't want this to come between us." He picked up his book. "I assume you'll be wanting the Cloak for the rest of the year?"
"Yes," admitted Hermione. "That way, we won't get caught."
"Keep it, then. I don't have a use for it right now," said Harry.
"Thanks Harry! Goodnight!" Hermione walked up her dormitory stairs, looking forward to a long, bright future with Remus Lupin.
Replies to Reviewers:
HarryPotterknoitall: Yes, LOL. Fortunately, he got over it. I also hinted that he's probably going to go out with Ginny, if you caught that. :) Thanks for reviewing!
Gywnn-Potter: Thanks for letting me know your opinion! As long as this inspiration streak keeps going, yes, I'm writing more. :) I have three more Remus/Hermione stories in mind, "I Am Not a Vegetable," "A Wolf for Your Scar," and one that doesn't have a title yet. Also would like to do a Remus/muggleOC. :) Thanks for reviewing!
LupinLovesTonks: Hey, just curious, you gave me the impression that someone added me to their C2 archive. Did they? If so, please let me know who so I can thank them:) Thank you so much for reviewing!
Shimmer of an Angel: Wow, great minds think alike. ;) LOL When I first thought up this story, I had intended to write that idea you mentioned. But, I hadn't realized the chapters in the past would turn out to be so many (16!) and by the time it came to write it, my inspiration ran out. :( Yes, sorry, it is the last chapter. :( I'm about to start in my next Remus/Hermione story, but I'm puzzled at what to do with Harry. Unfortunately I might have to kill him off, or it won't turn out right. I'm also in need of a subplot. My main plot is, Hermione's going to get knocked into a "vegetative state" and everyone thinks she could never come back, she's so out of it, so they're going to let her die, but Remus believes against all odds that she'll come back, and takes care of her. He refuses to give up on her! I need a subplot to pass the time while he takes care of her, have any ideas:) Yes, I love Harry/Hermione alot, I hope they end up together in the books! Thanks for reviewing!
MoonyNZ: Your wish is my command, they're together:) Thanks!
Ooooo, mysterious question mark person! Greetings! Thanks for voting, I really appreciate that. I hate making decisions. And yes, I'm going to do "2"!
Kalema: Thanks a million for voting, I will do another Remus/Hermione story instead of adding chapters to this one. I actually have three more in mind. :)
Corrin: I will do "2":) A big, big thank you for voting!
Chena: I will do that! I really, really appreciate your vote! Great, I sound like a politician, ROTFL!
Radingsouls4u: Yeah, that's one of my fluffiest parts. :) (Is fluffiest a word? Who cares LOL it is now!) Thank you, I do my best. Thanks a bunch for reviewing!
Rebelgal4ever: I agree! That's part of the reason why I'm writing alot of Remus/Hermione and not Harry/Hermione. Most of the Remus/Hermione stories are rated "R" and I never read "R" fics, so it really narrows it down for me especially:( Many thanks for voting and reviewing!
LupinLover99: Yes, they're great:) Thank you so much for reviewing!
Thanks to everyone who might review this chapter!