8/6/2015: I've gone through and edited some chapters where the issues were pointed out to me. Hopefully this story reads a bit better.

Okay, I'm done futzing with J.K. Rowling's characters. She can have them back now.

I don't know how to convey my sincerest gratitude to those people who have been with me on this journey. I want to thank my faithful reviewers for being so great. I also want to thank anyone who has put this on their alerts. Just that sign of support meant a whole lot. Thank you. For one last time, here is where I honorably mention the people who reviewed the last chapter: NeonDomino, lilly flower forever, KEZZ 1, Dreamer558750, SourElf, moreremusplease, Smithback and a Guest.

Enjoy!

oOo

Seeing Neville again loosened a knot in Hermione's chest. It was a relief to meet with him, to see him beam in a way that reached his eyes.

"He'll be your new tutor for the time being," Kingsley explained.

They were not in Hermione's flat, instead they met at another of the Ministry's properties. It was close enough to town for Hermione to reach it on foot, but far enough away that any mishaps would not be stumbled upon. It was also electricity-free and that way, none of the electronics would be destroyed by any magic output.

"Just the basics," Neville demurred. "I'm sure you'll pick it up quickly."

Hermione shifted around in the loveseat she was sitting in and looked at the fourth occupant of the houses' parlor. Alice grinned at Hermione's scrutiny.

"Turns out an old Ex-Auror will be good for something after all. I'll be handling your defensive spells once you've gotten the hang of using your wand again."

Kingsley chuckled. "Is there anything else you would like to know, Hermione?"

She shook her head and clutched the box in her lap. "No. Thank you, thank you all."

The Minister nodded and excused himself. Alice followed after giving Hermione a tight hug.

"Neville?" Hermione tried.

He tilted his head to the side. "Yes, Hermione?"

"How…" She faltered. Was she truthfully afraid of Neville's answer? "How is your father doing?"

Neville's smile dimmed and Hermione immediately felt sorry for asking.

"He's… He's not getting better. I had hoped but…" Neville forced his smile to return with a commendable amount of success. "But we're all together to support each other."

Hermione nodded. "I'm glad." She was.

It was Neville's turn to look pensive. "Hermione, I'm sorry that you're-"

She already knew where he was going. "It's not your fault."

"But-"

She interrupted again. "It's not your fault, Neville. It's mine."

He frowned and turned his face away in shame. "I just feel so sorry, you know? None of this would have happened if I was not so greedy."

Hermione leaned forward and tried to catch his eye. "Are you happy with your family?"

"Yes." His answer came quickly. "Even if it's not perfect. I've never had a family before, other than my Gryffindor mates and my grandmum. Being able to know my mum and da… it's a dream come true."

Hermione sat back and her smile was more genuine than it had been in a long time. "Then it was all worth it," she said with conviction. "All of it, even if I have to spend years recovering."

She did not feel so stupid anymore.

When Neville left and she opened the long thin box in her lap and gripped her old wand…

She felt like Hermione Jean Granger again. She felt like Miss Grey. She felt like Helen.

All of her identities settled into the confines of her skin. They all had a purpose, but most importantly, they were all manifestations of her true self.

Hermione took a deep breath now that the weight constricting her lungs was gone.

She could do this.

oOo

Hermione's hands stilled over the salad bowl. She poked her head out of the kitchen to observe the redhead sprawled over her couch. "Ron?"

"Mmm?"

"What… what do you think of… of Remus and I?" She could not tell where this nervousness came from, but if Ron did not approve…

"I think it's weird, that's what I think! For Merlin's sake, he was our teacher."

She winced.

Ron continued. "I figure you don't remember that, so you don't see him as our old teacher or as that kid you must have met all that time ago." He grabbed a couch pillow and hugged it to himself as he attempted to become one with the furniture.

"So you got to know him as just a man, you know? Which is alright. And if you regain your memories and still like him, then probably nothing is going to keep you away." Then his voice softened, just a tad bit. "Plus he looks at you like my dad looks at my mum sometimes, so at least I know he really cares."

Hermione did not know why that made her teary eyed, but it did. "Ron…"

"Hermione!" He suddenly whined and pinned her with his most pathetic puppy eyes. "How long is the food going to take, honestly?"

She grinned and fully stepped out of the kitchen to place her hands on her hips and give him a fake scowl. "Well if I had some help, it would be out a lot faster, Ronald Weasley."

"I don't know how to cook the Muggle way!" He protested, but lifted his large body off the couch to head over.

"You don't know how to cook at all." She grabbed a nearby spoon just so she could brandish it at him.

"That is also true." He grinned.

oOo

"Sneaking out?"

Sirius paused and turned to face his friend standing just outside the doorway.

"Now why would you say that?"

Remus crossed his arms. "Because this time, you couldn't even say good-bye to Harry." He jerked his head behind him to indicate the small party still going on in Hermione's flat.

Sirius shifted. "I won't be gone long enough to notice."

It was a terrible lie, but Remus did not have any room to judge. Not with this.

"They would have let you go."

Sirius sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know how to say goodbye. I've never had to before."

Remus winced. His friend's words winded him.

"It's not as hard as you think," he tried.

Now Remus was the one saying terrible lies. Sirius sent him a sardonic glance but said nothing.

The two men stood in silence for a while, neither knowing what to say.

"I'll be back." Sirius finally offered.

"You better be." Remus glowered. "Be safe, you stupid arse."

Sirius gave him the double fingered salute but his smile ruined it. "I'll be back." He repeated and turned to head down the hallway. Remus watched Sirius' back until the noise of his steps faded into silence.

He sighed once, before heading back into the warm and brightly lit apartment.

If Sirius said he would be back, then he would.

oOo

When Remus felt comfortable enough with the progress Hermione made with her magic-and she did progress extremely quickly, to the surprise of no one- he took her to visit his werewolf pack. Diane was as imperious as ever but she seemed to like the little witch.

"Stay." She ordered. "Watch the full moon with us."

Remus felt fear lance through his chest but he was outvoted.

The nights had been getting warmer so Hermione sat on the porch of Micah's cabin and waited while the pack transformed elsewhere. When his sharp wolf eyes glinted at her through the forest, she appeared curious.

He expected many things, but he did not expect her to cower in fear when she finally saw him. He had never seen her so afraid before. She pressed herself against the wood behind her and stared at him like he was a monster.

Remus moved closer, trying to comfort her, but a snarling Diane cut him off. He whimpered but she was insistent. With an aching heart, he slunk off into the woods.

Hermione stumbled to her feet, whispered a quiet "I'm sorry," and disappeared into the cabin.

She came out after she calmed herself enough to stop shaking and sat with David for the rest of the night. He was one of the smallest of the pack and more snuggly than threatening.

When Remus and Hermione made the long walk home, she hugged her arms to herself.

"I-I don't know why that happened." She mumbled miserably. "I just remembered seeing you and being so afraid."

Remus ran a hand through his hair. "Well, in some perverse way, it's a good sign."

She shot him a glance from underneath her heavy eyelashes. "I've offended you, haven't I?"

He shoved his hands in his pockets. "I'll get over it."

She made a move to reach towards him but pulled back at the last minute. That hurt too. She sighed.

"Let's get some tea for you, okay? It's been a long night."

He thought a bit before nodding. Their relationship had overcome greater circumstances. "Tea sounds wonderful."

oOo

"Are you ready for this?" Remus asked, peering indulgently at the witch holding onto his arm.

She paused, before tilting her head up in a defiant manner. "Of course I am! It's just Diagon Alley. I've been here hundreds of times."

Ah, but this was the first time she would be visiting in over two years. She knew enough magic for it to be safe to re-introduce her back into Wizarding Society.

"Well then, let's go."

Hermione's hesitation was so slight it was admirable. Remus made to extricate his arm from her hold, but she frowned up at him.

"What are you doing?"

"I just-"

Her eyes narrowed. "I hope, Remus Lupin, that you're not thinking what I know you're thinking."

He could not suppress his grin. "Well if you already know…"

She huffed and fixed their grip. "You're going to escort me and I'm not going to care who sees us together, do you understand?"

Oh Merlin, Remus was so fond of this witch. They set off down the street, but he could not help but press a lingering kiss to her temple.

"Where do you want to go first?" Remus murmured.

"Flourish and Blotts." She declared. "My old copy of Hogwarts: A History, is getting worn." She hesitated. "And well… Harry gave me a list of places he said I used to enjoy. Can we visit them all?"

Remus smiled and turned to face forward. "We can go anywhere you wish. Anywhere at all."

And she smiled back. Not because of anything he said, but because she felt like this was the exact time and place she wanted to be. So she also turned her face into the sun and with a sense of euphoria, the couple lost themselves in the crowd.

The future awaited them.

The End.

Words: 1,690

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*Ending Notes: In case you were wondering, the incident that Hermione is referencing with her fear does go back to The Prisoner of Azkaban, where Hermione was confronted with Remus as a werewolf for the first time.

That's it then. I dearly hope you enjoyed the ride.

No sequel. That's non negotiable.

I'm all Remus n' Hermione-d out. But I do owe my 1,000th reviewer a oneshot featuring Charlie and Luna adventuring together. Look out for that by February/March.

What's next? Well, I promised myself that if I was able to finish this and people moderately liked it, then I had no excuse to keep from finishing my original project. So I'm going to work on that, and maybe post the few oneshots for other fandoms I have hanging around my computer. If you have questions/want to know what my project is about-feel free to PM me. If you're an anonymous user and you want an actual answer to your question, head over to my Tumblr (link on my profile). I have the anon ask feature enabled.

Bye, guys. I'll miss this so very much.

Chau.

Anon Review Reply:

Guest: Hey, I'm very honored you like the way I portrayed Miss Grey. Thank you for the review, it's always nice to see what people like.