Time Boat

{9}

{9-I Can't Wait to Tell This Story to My Grandchildren}

For the third time that week, Hermione caught herself staring at Remus. 

Now, she knew very good and well that nothing could happen between them, but that didn't mean that the prospect wasn't nice. How long had it been since she had been with someone so kind and humble? It wasn't like he didn't marry Tonks in the future, anyways, what could be the harm in going out with him just once? Alone. 

Well, nothing was the problem, except for the fact that he would certainly remember such a thing in the future, and then would he continue to simply go out with men, or did he fancy both genders? Hermione scowled, and felt a sharp elbow in her bicep, interrupting her conflicting thoughts? 

"Pay attention," Mary whispered, then turned back to DeLancey who Hermione realized was staring at her suspiciously. 

Hermione finally got her mind in order and decided that she was going to do what she wanted to do for now, and if she had to Obliviate her whole friend group... well, then that's what it would come to. She was going to live her last year at Hogwarts as normally as possible, and she could only imagine how happy it would make Dumbledore. Then again, that wasn't exactly on the "pro" side of her list. 

When class got let out, Hermione was stopped before she could even get her notebooks away. 

"Mr. Granger, if you could please stay after class." 

She looked at Mary who only had an "I told you so" look on her face, then gathered up her things and headed up front towards his desk. 

"Is everything alright, Professor?" 

"Yes, of course," he said, leaning back into his chair and looking at her with trained eyes. 

"Then why did I have to stay after, sir?" 

"Your sister, I was just curious if you went to Beauxbatons like she did?"

Hermione stilled. Was he trying to investigate for Dumbledore? Surely the old wizard wasn't that shifty?

"No, I was with my dad and she was with my mum, so I was tutored at home. Until he... died," she made it all up on the spot, which was completely unhelpful to her because there was a good chance she was going to forget these things unless she wrote them down. 

"Ah, well that is most unfortunate. Why did your sister take you to Hogwarts, then?"

"She didn't like her school, wanted me here," Hermione was really pulling things out of the air now. 

"What about your mother? Shouldn't she be making these decisions for you?" DeLancey wondered, his eyebrows scrunched and a smirk at the edge of his lips like he'd caught her in some lie. 

"She died too. It's been a rough couple years for my sister and I." Hermione wanted to pitch herself from the Astronomy tower, really. 

"Oh," the professor seemed to quell his doubt, "I'm sorry to hear that, lad. How has the year been going? I feel as though you are doing quite well? It was a shame to see you not quite listening today."

Oh, so he was just angry with her not paying attention. Well, she had a bit of a crush, and she certainly wasn't telling him that. 

"Yeah, sorry. I'm not in my right mind lately." 

"Okay, well, be careful before you burn a hole in Mr. Lupin's head," he said with a wink and then waved her off, "Have a good night, Mr. Granger." 

"Thanks, Sir." 

Hermione shot out of the room like lightening, and went towards her next class, horrified that she'd been caught so off guard.