Promise to the Past | 🐾 ᴍᴀʀᴀᴜᴅᴇʀs ✓

31 | Marauders Assemble

Laying in bed the next morning, Hermione repeatedly went over the last conversation she'd had with Sirius. Everyone had been buzzing from Dumbledore's announcement yesterday, and most of them had broken into smaller groups to discuss their individual assignments. Hermione was looking for an excuse to escape the awkward conversation between Lily and James about each not wanting the other to return to work. 

Luckily, Sirius had swept in, gently drawing her away for 'a word.' 

"So this is it," he said hesitantly. "We're almost at the end of it." 

"If I don't die and end up killing us both," she chirped. 

"Not funny," Sirius frowned. 

"It's a joke only I can make," she shrugged. 

"Have you... have you considered what you want to do? After this is all over?" 

Hermione looked at him curiously. "I've never considered it. I feel like I've been fighting this war since I was a little girl." 

"No- I mean..." Sirius brushed his hair back, flustered. "There's another Hermione in this world, right?" 

She froze. "I'd almost forgotten," she said fondly. "Well, I meant what I said when I first got here. I won't stand in the way of her future. I want her to grow up here. I want her to be able to experience Hogwarts without all the mayhem I did." 

"You're not leaving right?" Sirius asked urgently. 

Hermione watched him, genuinely considering that question for a moment. When she first got here, that would have been the safest option to prevent the timelines from colliding. After the end of the war, she would've gone to the continent or maybe even America. Who knows? Maybe even Australia. Somewhere she could start afresh- where no one would recognize her or question her. But that was before everything- before she was bound to Sirius Black, and before she became the godmother to the Potters' children.     

"Look," Sirius said intensely. "I don't care what you do. I just hope you see me in your future. I'll go wherever you choose- I just- I can't see my future without you." 

Hermione could only stare in dumbfounded surprise. The man before her was leagues different from the brash wizard she'd gotten to know her first few weeks here.  

"Promise me you won't disappear. Not without me." He implored.

"I promise," she whispered.         

~o~O~o~

"Hermione!" 

"Yes, Lily?" 

Hermione emerged from the library, hearing the Manor's mistress call for her. She made her way down the grand staircase of the warmly lit room and pearl marble flooring, finding the source of the voice in the tea room. 

"Oh! Mary, hi!" Hermione greeted the newcomer. 

"I was wondering whether I could bother you to watch Neville and Harry for a few hours? I need to get started on our potions stocks with Mary and Severus." 

"Of course!" Hermione grinned. "Where's James?" 

Lily's face darkened. "On a scouting mission with Sirius and Remus." 

"I thought Remus only did diplomatic work- not Auror's work?" 

"With everything speeding up, Moody agreed the Aurors could use an extra wand right now." 

"He always was good with a wand," Hermione recalled fondly. 

"Oh yes, your precious Professor Lupin," Lily teased mirthfully.