Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Sands of Destiny	By : amidtheflowers Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Sirius/Hermione Views: 8605 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and its respective characters belong to J.K. Rowling. This plot line, however, belongs to me. No money or profit are made from writing this fanfiction.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
Chapter Five

The Lake

News of Remus’s stay at the Hospital Wing did not come as breaking news, much to Hermione’s surprise. It seemed that the student body of Hogwarts had grown quite accustomed to Remus being ill frequently, thus when he did not turn up for classes the next day, no one questioned it. In some respect it was very fortunate, for had they visited Remus in the Hospital Wing, the sight of his battered body would have made them blanch in shock.

She also hadn’t spoken to Sirius since the night in the Gryffindor common room. It had stung at first. Though she had already been kissed once or twice, mostly just pecks on the lips, the one she shared with Sirius was the first real one, the kind she felt all the way down to her toes and made her skin blaze with feverish heat. She could still feel his warm, soft lips against hers, the feel of his tongue ravishing her mouth, his body molded against her, his hips pressing against hers tantalizingly…

Hermione fought off a blush and bit her lip, crossing her legs tightly as she tried to pay attention to Professor Binns droning about the Goblin rebellion.

But if Sirius had ever felt the need to repeat that night, or even feel remotely attracted to her, not once did he indicate it.

Sirius had been spending copious amounts of time with James and Peter, even more than usual. They would disappear during lunch and dinner, giving excuses of “tired” and “loads of studying to catch up on”. Lily found their behavior gratifying, sighing in relief during lunch that she have to put up with James’s silly antics at every hour of the day. Though Hermione was no fool. She could tell that a very, very small part of Lily was a little disappointed with his absence as her eyes furtively glanced at the double doors every once in a while.

It was three days after the attack on Remus that Hermione had finally gathered the courage to go and visit him in the Hospital Wing. A package of chocolates in one hand (graciously prepared by the Hogwarts house elves) and a card in the other, Hermione strode to the Hospital Wing during lunchtime.

The corridor was mostly deserted, save for a few wandering ghosts gliding through the walls. It was a beautiful day outside, and most of the Hogwarts students were eating their lunches out on the grassy courtyards or by the Black Lake. Hermione could feel the warmth of the sunlight against her skin, streaks of gold seeping through the windows.

Hermione slipped through the door quietly, noting that it was empty. Madame Pomfrey was most likely in the back, stirring up some healing potions and concoctions as usual.

All of the beds were neatly made, white linen sheets tucked tightly across the springy mattresses. Remus was lying on the far left side of the room, an empty glass on the bedside table as well as a stack of books and parchment. Hermione regarded these with amusement; it seemed even Remus was not wont to slack off and get behind in his studies, a habit probably formed in his first year due to his frequent disappearances because of his transformations.

Currently he was asleep. Hermione approached his bedside quietly, watching him in his slumber. He looked so young, so much younger than Hermione ever remembered seeing him as, even when she arrived in this time. His face had cleared up from the abuse he received three nights ago, and not a speck of blood or a gash across his face was in sight.

He really was quite handsome. It made her heart pang that for so long in his life he never felt like he deserved to be loved, to get close to anybody. James, Sirius, and Peter were his best friends, yes, but Remus kept himself reserved most of the time, always polite but never intrusive. Even with Tonks, whom she knew he would later on marry, he was so vehement against their relationship in the beginning.

Leaning over, she placed the card on the table beside him. She froze as her eyes fell onto his face once more.

He seemed so…alone.

Hermione did not know how long she’d been staring at him when suddenly his eyes snapped open and his hand lurched in the air, grasping her throat. Hermione gasped for air as he stared at her wildly. The hand that still held the package of chocolates began trembling and she dropped it onto the bed, trying her best with both hands to remove the fingers wrapped around her throat.

“Remus,” Hermione gasped, “stop—it’s me—Hermione.” He did not relent. “Hurting—me—” she choked out. Her eyes began seeing stars.

Her words seemed to sink in and he threw himself off, eyes regaining some recognition. Hermione began coughing violently, fingers massaging her bruised throat.

Remus stiffened when he saw what he’d done, anguish on his face as he stared at the hand that had been wrapped around her neck.

“I’m so sorry,” he apologized as Hermione began to regain some composure. “I—I don’t know why I did that. I guess you startled me.”

“That’s…that’s alright,” Hermione rasped, attempting a small smile as her fingers delicately massaged the abused skin of her throat. “It’s understandable. You’ve had a rough few days.”

There was an awkward silence between them, Remus looking more miserable than ever and Hermione shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She saw the package of chocolates lying forgotten on the bed and she said, “I got those for you.”

Remus’s eyes snapped up, then followed her gaze to where the package was lying on the blanket, just above his knees.

He reached out and grasped it in his hands, examining it. “These look homemade,” he noted. He glanced up at her kindly. “They look delicious.”

“I had the, ah, house elves in the kitchens make them for me,” she replied lamely.

He shrugged. “All the same. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she said softly. Remus placed the chocolates by his bedside and saw the card she’d made. “Is that for me as well?

Heat crept up her cheeks as he picked it up and studied it with a small, hesitant smile. He looked at her in disbelief. “You didn’t have to do this for me, you know.”

“Why not?” she asked with a frown. “You’re my friend and you got hurt. You deserve some coddling.”

His eyes watched her warily before going downcast. “Right.”

Hermione watched him place the card back on the table and sat up in bed a little stiffly. Her eyes narrowed.

“Why are you doing this?”

Remus did not reply. She sighed angrily. “Why are you making this so much more complicated than it needs to be?”

“Because I don’t think you realize who you’re dealing with right now,” he said calmly, refusing to meet her eyes. “And when you do—”

“What? What am I going to do? Run down the hallways screaming ‘Werewolf!’?” Remus flinched and looked up at her.

“Yes,” he said defensively.

Her eyes went dark. “Well then, Lupin, you’re not as bright a person I thought you were.” She took a step back, stopping herself from saying things that she knew she’d regret. She understood where he was coming from, why he would be so mistrustful of her. He’d lived a lifetime hiding this part of his life from others, and he was not a stranger to alienation and condemnation when people did find out that he was a werewolf.

That mean that his actions weren’t infuriating her!

Taking a steadying breath, her face dropped the glare and looked at him steadily. She stepped towards the bed and sat at the edge by his knees. Remus looked at her in surprise.

“Of all people, Remus…” she started, “I am the last to discriminate. You being a werewolf…” she shook her head. “it’s just a part of your life that you have no control over. It doesn’t make you any less brilliant than you were last week. You’re still you. You’re still my friend. And…I’m not about to go telling people about you. That’s your private life, and you have the right to deal with it however you wish.”

Remus was silent, stunned by her words. She knew she laid it on pretty thick with her understanding, but he needed to know that she just didn’t bloody care, nor would she ever.

“You mean to say…that finding out about my condition has absolutely no effect on you?”

“Right.”

“And that you see me no differently than what I was before you found out?”

“Precisely.”

“Are you jesting?”

The edges of her mouth quirked. “Absolutely not.”

Remus was silent for a long time, contemplating her deeply. His eyes flickered over her face, down to her entire self, wondering what creature was sitting before him. Without another word, he reached to the package of chocolates on the table and began unwrapping it slowly. Hermione had to fight off a smile at how positively adorable awkward-Remus was.

He fished out a truffle and held it in his palm. Then, slowly, he took a bite. “This is wonderful,” he said quietly. She could tell there was more meaning behind his words.

Hesitantly he held out the plastic wrappings toward her with the chocolate filled inside. Eyes locked with his, she took out one as well and brought it to her lips.

“Yes,” she agreed softly. “It’s wonderful.”

xxx

“FUCK!”

A chair was thrown across the room and crashed violently against the wall, sending chunks of wood flying in each direction.

“Now Padfoot, you know that chair did nothing to you. Such a premature death,” James said somberly, waving his wand in the air and repairing the chair with ease.

Sirius glowered at his friend, twitching at the amusement he saw in his eyes. “This is not funny, James! How are we supposed to be there for Remus if we can’t even begin to transfigure ourselves! This is so bloody confusing!”

“You know we have to ignite the magic within ourselves,” James said calmly, taking a seat on the newly mended chair with a sigh. “Remember all the things McGonagall taught us about Animagi? Just take it easy, calm down, and keep going. You knew this wouldn’t come easily.”

“Yes, and we’re trying to do this within a month, whereas the entire Animagi community masters the art of human transfiguration in years,” Peter agreed, slightly out of breath. They had been at this for hours, and midnight was vastly approaching. They all had sweat rolling down their faces, and exhaustion was clearly written all over them, their haggard appearance and sluggish movements giving them away.

“I know,” Sirius sighed defeatedly, leaning against a pillar for support. His eyes turned brooding. “It just…it frustrates me. We have to do this for him. I don’t want him out there alone again.”

“And he won’t be,” James soothed. Jumping from his chair, he marched over to his friend and clapped him on his shoulder reassuringly. “It’s only been three days, Sirius. We have weeks to go. We’ll keep practicing here in the Room of Requirement, as long as it takes.”

Sirius nodded, relaxing at the consoling words his best friends were providing. The moment he’d seen Remus’s battered body by the Whomping Willow, and—Sirius recalled with malevolent anger, gritting his teeth—when that bastard had struck him, Sirius was filled with this fiercely overwhelming feeling of protectiveness, anger, and helplessness.

He did not like the feeling of watching someone like a brother to him getting beaten bloody. He never wanted to see Remus helpless at the hands of some sick, demented man again.

After a few more tries, the marauders agreed to call it a night. Too tired and sweaty to go under the invisibility cloak all at once, they decided to take their chances and just creep their way back to Gryffindor tower.

The moment the trio stepped out of the door, they bumped straight into a girl.

Hermione let out a small shriek and staggered backwards, but James quickly caught her arm and righted her. She was staring at them wildly, mouth opening and closing like a fish.

“What—” she said breathlessly. “What—you—here—so late—what?”

“Smartest witch in the school and can’t even make complete sentences,” James said dryly.

Hermione took a deep breath. Narrowing her eyes, she said, “What are you three doing out of bed so late, in the middle of nowhere?”

“Fancy you should be asking us,” Sirius said with an amused expression, “because I could ask you the same.”

“I—” Hermione’s mouth clamped shut. Sirius smiled slowly. “I thought so.”

“I was just out…to go to the kitchens. Is that so wrong?”

“The kitchens are on the other side of the castle, dear,” James replied with a small smirk.

Hermione glared. “Well, now I know. That still doesn’t answer why you three are here.”

“Honestly, Hermie, you sound like my mother,” James said with a wrinkle to his nose. “You’re neither a prefect nor a good little angel, so let’s drop the antics, yeah? I’m missing a date with a certain four-poster bed.”

Hermione cringed and decided she had enough. “One,” Hermione said with a deliberate jab to James’s chest, “don’t call me Hermie.”

“Alright then, Herms.”

“Hermione!”

James pouted. “What’s wrong with a nickname?”

“I just…I don’t like it. Alright?”

“Nah, I think I’ll stick with the name I’ve chosen for you.”

Hermione nearly growled in frustration, and she could tell that he was only saying those things to make her agitated and lose her ground, much to their amusement. This, if she was honest with herself, was exactly what was happening.

Her eyes flickered to the three exhausted yet amused gentlemen, and saw the Room of Requirement’s door fading into the wall behind Peter’s shoulder. Hermione sighed in defeat, shoulders hunching. Folding her arms, she asked them tiredly, “How long have you known?”

“About what?”

“About the room.”

James smiled and exchanged significant looks with the two other boys. “For quite some time.”

“You know,” Sirius said conversationally, “you’re not the perfect Gryffindor you make yourself out to be.”

“I don’t make out to be anything but myself,” Hermione snapped. “And what are you talking about?”

Sirius’s grin was predatory. “We know about your little midnight strolls each night.” Hermione froze, and Sirius’s grin widened. “What exactly are you doing inside that room with the black door, Hermione? Nothing naughty, I hope.”

“How do you know about that?” Hermione said hoarsely. “Have you been following me?”

“How about,” James smile politely, “you get to keep your secrets and we get to keep ours. Deal?” He sidestepped her when she made no move to reply.

Hermione whirled around. “Alright, whatever. While we’re here…I’d like to talk to you, Sirius.”

“Sorry love, I’m knackered. Maybe some other time. Good night.” Sirius walked past her and fell in step beside Peter tiredly, not bothering to look at her as he passed.

Hermione felt that familiar tug in her heart. She breathed in deeply to calm her nerves, but her nose wrinkled. “You three better not go to bed without a shower! You smell like dragon dung!”

She heard distant laughter as they disappeared in the darkness. She paused for a few minutes, making sure the trio was out of sight and no prefects were passing by. Carefully, Hermione went to face the wall again and paced three times. A black metal door appeared and she stepped inside.

Closing the door firmly behind her, Hermione stared in exasperation at the enormous room. She had decided, after her first few nights of failure, to categorically scan the entire room in sections. She was nearly finished with one half of the room but (clearly) without success.

After an hour of rigorous searching, she sank to her knees against a wall. Why was this so hard? From what Dumbledore had told her, Harry had found this horcrux within minutes! It has taken her weeks!

Sighing, she stood from her spot and decided nothing was going to get done today. Jumping to her feet, she put her wand back inside her pocket and started for the door.

Her foot snagged on a carpet and she lurched forward, dragging the carpet with her as she tumbled to the ground hard. Groaning, she felt her hatred for the cursed room magnify tenfold as she fell hard on her elbows.

“Stupid—room—stupid—horcruxes—” Hermione ground out irritatedly, adjusting her skirt and blouse as she rose to her feet. “I would be the one stuck to find all seven and destroy them in the 70’s.” She looked up at the ceiling accusingly, imagining the future Dumbledore hovering somewhere in the heavens. “Why not Harry, hmm? You liked him enough, Dumbly.” She snorted at the nickname she’d just given to the elder professor and shook her head. Lack of sleep and fatigue did strange things to her.

Her eyes travelled to the rug that had caused her fall. The opposite end was wound tightly around a small wooden desk that reached up to her knees, and she looked at it curiously. Kneeling down, she observed the ancient desk, standing on intricately carved legs and held a little drawer with a black knob.

Furrowing her brow, she examined a leg of the table in fascination. Sometimes wizards truly outdid themselves. The winding, moving strokes of wood, the small details carved into it, nearly took her breath away.

It was when she realized that the winding pattern down the leg was actually a set of scales on a thick slope, that she realized the legs of the table were not legs. They were carved snakes.

“Good Merlin,” she whispered, not daring to breathe. Whatever ancient piece of furniture she had in her hands, it was definitely Slytherin.

Hermione hastily reached for the drawer and pulled, but it did not budge. She had assumed as much. Taking out her wand, she said, “Alohamora.”

And to the greatest shock of her life, it unlocked.

Feeling giddy, she slowly pulled out the drawer and all breath escaped her raggedly.

There, sitting on a blue velvety cushion, was a diadem.

A small, disbelieving laugh escaped her throat. Hermione’s fingers closed around the diadem and examined it, just to make sure it was real, and her thoughts were confirmed.

All notions of sleep disappeared. At that moment nothing meant more to her than finally, finally finding the hidden piece of Voldemort’s soul. She wondered briefly why he hadn’t put rigorous enchantments and concealing spells on it that would have prevented her from ever finding it, no less letting her open the drawer with a simple alohamora spell, but Voldemort couldn’t believe anyone besides his brilliant self would find this room, and this horcrux, as he most likely thought he was the only person who knew of this particular room.

She could have jumped up and down like a school girl (which, in all fairness, was exactly what she was), but resisted the impulse and tucked the crown securely on the inside of her robes. Quickly putting a Disillusionment charm on herself as an extra precaution, she scurried back to Gryffindor tower.

Hermione clutched the diadem close to herself, making sure it stayed in the inside of her robes. Maneuvering quietly through the dark corridors, bypassing a young Mrs. Norris several times with much difficulty, Hermione finally reached Gryffindor tower in once piece.

“Bargus Barnleby,” she whispered, and with a loud snore, the Fat Lady swung the portrait open. Walking inside, she saw the deserted common room and rid the concealing charm from her body, sighing in relief.

Creeping quietly, Hermione tiptoed through the common room and made for the girls’ dormitory.

“Back so soon?” a voice said, and Hermione jumped. The body Sirius slinked out of the boys’ dormitory entrance, a smirk on his face. She noticed his damp hair with amusement.

“And all this time I thought you ignored the advice I gave you,” Hermione said wryly.

Sirius’s smirk deepened. “How could I ever ignore anything that came out of that pretty little mouth of yours?”

Hermione swallowed convulsively and watched him as he drew closer.

“I thought you were going to sleep,” she said faintly as he stopped in front of her.

He shrugged. “I did sleep. But you know how restless I can get at night.”

Hermione nodded vaguely and couldn’t help thinking of the million double entendres that applied to his innocently chosen words, noting with infinite shame that she couldn’t keep from noticing how adorable he looked with wet tendrils of hair clinging to his face and neck, how he would try to flick it away but it would just slink back into place.

Mentally shaking herself from such provocative thoughts, she smiled brightly, “Well, I’m tired,” she yawned to prove her point, “I’m off to bed!”

She whirled around and almost made two steps before Sirius grabbed her by her upper arms, pulling her backwards until her back hit his chest. She grew still as his head lowered next to hers. “Not so fast.”

“We really don’t need to…you know…talk this over right this moment,” Hermione breathe quickened when she felt him nuzzle in her hair just slightly, but frowned when his movements froze.

Sirius stepped back from her and Hermione was a just slightly disappointed at the sudden loss. Turning around in confusion, she saw Sirius gazing at her strangely.

“Hermione, do I make you uncomfortable?”

Hermione swallowed thickly.

Did he make her uncomfortable? Of course he did! Each time she even glanced at him she felt herself wanting to shove him against a wall…

He’s fourteen! Not even fifteen yet! Fourteen! Hermione shouted at herself mentally, and it worked. Though the Sirius she’d known before was twice her age, this one here was still very young, too young for her raging thoughts…and Hermione was technically, technically still older than him.

“Of course not,” she replied unsteadily. He narrowed his eyes and the grey depths smoldered.

She inhaled deeply, “Fourteen…fourteen…”

“What?”

Hermione did not realize she’d spoken out loud and she bit her tongue. “Nothing,” she said quickly, waving it off.

He stared at her warily. “I know we didn’t get a chance to talk about what happened that night,” Sirius said slowly, “but I’ve been a little busy these past few days, I didn’t mean to make you think—”

“Sirius, it’s fine,” Hermione interjected but he paid no heed, and he became increasingly agitated at her sudden closed-off expression.

“Honestly, I’ll back off, I understand if—”

“NO!”

She blurted it out loudly before she could stop herself and she froze, watching as Sirius matched her expression of shock with wide eyes.

Slowly the shock wore off and very wicked smile began spreading on his angelic features. His gaze was suddenly predatory as he moved closer. “No?”

She breathed in raggedly. He watched her intently and she nodded. He stopped just in front of her, and she tilted her head to look up at him.

"You don’t mind being around me?”

Hermione shook her head and Sirius put a finger under her chin and lightly lifted her head to gaze at her fully.

So much for backing off on Hermione’s part.

She gazed at him steadily. "You’re a good person, Sirius. Rash, irresponsible, infuriating…yet still good.”

“Rash?” He raised an eyebrow challengingly. “I’m hardly that impulsive.”

Hermione snorted. “Like when you were going to storm off to the Whomping Willow after Remus was attacked?”

His expression hardened and she knew that wasn’t something he wanted to think about right now. Moving his finger from her jaw, he replied a little stiffly, “I would do anything to protect the ones I love."

She understood. Of course he would. Hermione could say the same.

“I know.”

He glanced at her, eyeing her carefully, and then sighed. Running a hand through his dark locks, he said, “Well, I’m going to catch up on schoolwork. You’re welcome to join me.” He began walking over to an armchair.

As inviting as it looked, spending an evening with Sirius to do homework, the diadem concealed under her robes was calling for her immediate attention. “Maybe some other time. I am really tired.” She gave him a wistful smile.

He nodded and sank down into the chair. “Night, Hermione.”

“Goodnight, Sirius.”

Without another word, she walked to the girls’ dormitory.

She sat silently on her bed for a while, the curtains drawn around her bed. The crown was very regal, very beautiful with such ancient, intricate craftsmanship and radiating power she knew to be Rowena Ravenclaw’s.

But the more she gazed at it, the more she held it between her fingers, the more she felt a burning ignite slowly inside her. The crown felt warmer to the touch, and her eyes crossed slightly as her mind drifted, uneven thoughts circling her head…thoughts that put her skin on edge…

Somebody in the dorm snored loudly and Hermione blinked, staring disbelievingly at the horcrux.

Fear gripped her as she dropped the horcrux onto the sheets. What in god’s name just happened?

Feeling increasingly uncomfortable with having the horcrux out in the open, much less near her, she kneeled by her bed and hid the diadem inside her trunk, setting multiple concealing charms and various enchantments to prevent anyone from ever stealing it, no less actually see the diadem. Satisfied by her work, she dressed quickly into her night clothes and disappeared under the covers.

She could still sense it there, under her bed, tucked away like a filthy secret. It made her anxious, and that worried her even more.

It was only the first horcrux and already she was feeling on edge. Was there something about them that she did not know about? Suddenly she felt very resentful for Dumbledore sending her on this mission so quickly without even properly guiding her, telling her exactly what on earth she was doing. She resented him for using the damned Time-Turner and dying anyway because he had used it improperly.

She knew a part of Voldemort’s soul had split and embedded itself into the diadem…but what happened when others were too close to it? When she had been holding it…a darkness began clouding her mind. What would’ve happen if she hadn’t let it go?

Resolving that she would go to the library and research it (though she doubted she’d find anything), she turned to her side and sighed softly, putting all the negativity in her mind off to the side where it would be henceforth ignored.

Trying to relieve the tension still clenching her stiff muscles, Hermione’s thoughts wandered back to Sirius. In more or less words they both had admitted of being…fond of each other. Is that what they did tonight?

As she settled herself more comfortably in bed, Hermione couldn’t help but wonder whether Sirius had ever really elaborated his feelings for her, or whether she had either. She had indicated that she mind having him around her, and that she certainly did not regret the mind-bending kiss they’d shared in the common room a few nights ago, but had they come to terms with anything else?

Turning over in her bed with a small frown on her face, Hermione wondered what twisted future she was creating, and why the spot of her bed where her trunk lay underneath felt bone-chillingly cold.

xxx

“These are damn good, Moony! Granger has those house-elves eating out of her hands if they’re making chocolate this bloody good for her,” James exclaimed, and Remus couldn’t help but nod in numb agreement.

James was currently sitting at the foot of his bed, and Sirius and Peter were sitting in chairs on either end of the bed. After much begging and shameless groveling, Remus allowed each of them one piece of chocolate from the bag Hermione had gifted him. All three had their eyes rolling back in pure chocolate pleasure.

“So,” Sirius said conversationally, chocolate still in his mouth, “when do you get out of this bloody place?”

“Tonight, actually,” Remus said. “I should be joining you guys in the Great Hall for dinner, if all goes well.”

“Excellent,” Peter smiled. “You’ve been gone far too long and I don’t think I can stand through another evening of James making an arse out of himself trying to get Lily to pay attention to him.”

“I do not make myself look like an arse,” James protested. “Lily just needs extra persuading to see the light, i.e. me. Is that so wrong?”

“Yes,” the three answered unanimously, and James scowled.

“Well,” James said icily, “we’ll see how you three feel when in ten years I’ll be married to the finest witch on the planet and you three will be single and balding.”

“Single…” Remus sighed in forlorn agreement.

“Balding?” Peter said numbly.

“Whoa,” Sirius backtracked, “Marriage, Prongs?”

James merely shrugged, his eyes locked with Sirius’s grey ones. “That serious, mate?” he asked softly. James’s gaze did not waver.

“Damn,” Remus breathed, shaking his head in disbelief.

“It’s a bit early, mind you,” James added lightly. “I don’t think even in the Wizarding world it’s prudent to marry at fourteen. Fifteen if I can snag her by the end of this year,” he grinned.

They chuckled and the eerily honest moment was broken.

"You three look awfully tired these past few days,” Remus noted as he swallowed a morsel of chocolate. “Have you been gallivanting around at night without me?” he asked mischievously.

“Yes,” Sirius answered immediately, and James and Peter nodded. Remus’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Really?” he asked nonchalantly. “What have you been up to?”

“Oh you know,” James said offhandedly. “Implanting dungbombs in the dungeons, enchanting the armor to sing love songs to the professors…the works.”

“Mm,” Remus noted. The display should have been convincing, would have been convincing, if Remus hadn’t just transformed into his werewolf counterpart. Residual effects were still present in his body, even if his exterior wasn’t furry and clawed. The moment he’d asked about the trio’s tired appearances, their heartbeats had escalated astronomically. And when Sirius and James had provided explanations, their heartbeats rose even more irregularly.

He smiled then, and changed the topic to the classes he’d missed the past few days, and they relaxed a bit as they returned to normal and discussed animatedly the past few days.

Remus was not certain why his best friends were so obviously keeping something from him, but it would not take him long to find out what it was they were hiding.

xxx

“It’s good to see him back,” Lily noted over dinner. Her jade eyes softened as she looked at Remus, who was currently piling potatoes onto his plate.

Hermione nodded in agreement, taking a thoughtful bite from her food. His appearance had definitely improved since she last saw him, and seeing him out of the Hospital Wing and out and about was extremely reassuring.

What Hermione figure out was why another werewolf had attacked Remus. How had he even known where the Shrieking Shack was? Hermione thought hard, sifting through every memory she had with the future Remus Lupin. Nothing had ever come up indicating that he’d been attacked like this while at Hogwarts. Then again, her former professor was a very private man who internalized everything, perhaps as a defense mechanism for the monster he knew he was inside.

She shook her head. No, not monster.

“Everything alright, Hermione?” James’s voice suddenly hit her ears like a ton of bricks, and both Hermione and Lily cringed at the booming volume. He leaned over the table towards them with a dazzling smile.

“Leave her alone, Potter,” Lily replied with a slight wince, and concentrated heavily on her plate. Hermione’s gaze shifted from James to Lily slowly, and he looked slightly put-out by her fierce ignorance of his existence, but continued cheerily to engage in conversation with her. Finally after six failed attempts, his attention wandered back to Hermione.

“Have you owled Mum yet, Hermione?” James asked a little tiredly.

At this Lily’s head snapped up. “Why would she owl your mother?” Lily asked, narrowing her eyes.

James looked genuinely confused. Slowly he replied, “Because Hermione lives with us now.” Lily’s eyes widened and James frowned. “Didn’t you know?”

Lily looked at Hermione in disbelief.

“Ah…yes, I must’ve forgotten to mention it…” Hermione said lamely, feeling heat rise in her cheeks as the two stared at her. “I, erm, that is—the Potters are me legal guardians now…after what happened this summer.”

“I see,” Lily said faintly, and then glanced down at her food. “I didn’t know.”

“Hermione’s a bit on the shy side,” James smiled gently, looking at Hermione with a knowing look. “I don’t think she’s told anybody; must be too ashamed of being my, ah…stepsister of sorts?”

“I’m not ashamed of you, James,” Hermione said quickly.

“Why not?” Lily replied, nonchalantly sipping her soup. “I can write you a list of reasons if you’d like.”

A devious smile lit across James’s face like rapid fire. “You’ve written lists about me, Lily?”

Lily glanced up sharply and her mouth opened and closed, much to James’s amusement, as she angrily refuted his words, though the little red tinge across her cheeks was unmistakable.

“I don’t have time for this,” Lily finally muttered, and stood up, giving Hermione one last look with a forced smile. “Good night, Hermione.” She looked over to James who grinned and promptly spun on her heel, exiting the great hall without another look back.

“Why does she hate you so much?” Hermione help but ask as she watched Lily’s retreating form. She knew eventually things would simmer between the pair seeing as their son was—used to be—her best friend, but the deeply-rooted dislike Lily held exclusively for James Potter simply made no sense. Yes, he was quite infuriating but so were the rest of the Marauders. So why the singled-out treatment?

James shrugged and gave an easy wink. “She’s just afraid to admit her undying love for me, that’s all.”

He was smiling genuinely and she knew that her coldness towards him bother him too much; he probably liked the thrill of chasing Lily for years on end. She wouldn’t intervene in his fun.

Suddenly her heart gave a painful jump, and Hermione’s eyes travelled back to the Slytherin table, her eyes seeking a particularly hunched figure.

Severus was quietly eating his dinner, though his eyes did flicker up towards the exit a few times from where Lily had left. He made no motion to leave as he continued picking at his food.

Dread filled inside her.

Oh god, she thought miserably. Feeling stifled, she let her spoon settle back on her plate and jumped from her seat, bidding her fellow Gryffindors goodnight. As she walked down the Great Hall and to the exit, she help but feel watched, and saw that Severus’s eyes were tracing her every move as she left as well.

But she stay a minute longer, as selfish as it was of her. Because living in this generation would mean, inevitably, she would see Severus Snape’s heart break.

A few months ago the prospect of caring about Snape’s feelings would have made her chuckle. Now it was quite serious very, very genuine.

The sun had not set yet so Hermione left through the Entrance Hall and wandered the grounds, feeling the chill air encompass her small frame with a shiver. Tugging her cloak tightly around her neck, she strolled with a slight listlessness.

Hermione knew from the beginning that Severus’s feelings for Lily Evans would be futile, and had accepted it the moment she woke up in the Godric’s Hollow. But, over the course of a few weeks, she realized that many things she assumed about Severus Snape were very misleading. Dumbledore had been a little vague on the details before her time travel, only mentioning that his undying love for Harry’s mother had protected Harry since his arrival at Hogwarts, and that he died with this tragic tale.

What she hadn’t prepared herself for was befriending the quiet, exceptionally talented wizard. She hadn’t accounted for her feelings to get in the way, that she would not only befriend him but enjoy his company, feel thrilled that she made the young boy’s face light up with amusement every once in a while. She enjoyed talking with him, finally having an equal in passion for studies and often found herself watching in admiration whenever Severus would speak passionately of potion brewing. Somehow she had become his friend, one of only two from what she’d gathered. And it was in this year and the next coming years that he would go in the downward spiral of deatheaterhood.

While that was something she’d already planned on preventing, her position in this year suddenly made her very nervous. What if these future Death Eaters want to be persuaded, befriended? Hermione only knew fifteen-year-old Severus for a month, hardly a grand feat to change his ways of thinking. Even his thinking she couldn’t be sure of. Did he dislike muggleborns? He was a half-blood himself, and had scolded her for calling herself a mudblood. Surely that meant he wasn’t inclined to the Death Eater mindset?

That hadn’t stopped him from calling Lily a mudblood in his time, though.

She chewed her bottom lip anxiously as she recalled the mildly startled look on Severus’s face when she’d left the Great Hall.

What she truly want to witness, out of the million horrible things that could happen over the next six years, was the night Severus Snape would realize his love would never, ever be returned.

With doubts and worries spinning through her head, she let out a small sigh as she walked alongside the Black Lake slowly. It was getting chillier by the minute, and the sudden gusts of wind improve her shivering condition. She began to turn around and head back inside when a disturbance in the Black Lake caught her eye.

The water was rippling abnormally in a particular spot. At first she thought it was the Giant Squid acting up, but the movements were miniscule, even calm. Hermione crept closer to the edge of the lake and peered through the dark water.

Her eyes widened comically. “Oh my god!” she shrieked. There was a student under the water!

She began to walk into the water but the icy pinpricks of the freezing liquid already numbed her feet and she clutched her head in dismay. How would she help him out if she would drown in the freezing water herself? Panic filled her instantly as her mind went completely blank. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear—

Suddenly Harry’s voice filled her mind as she remembered when he’d shouted at her in her first year, “Hermione are you a witch or not!”

“Yes, yes,” she said breathlessly, gripping her wand and pointing it at the dark water. “Um, um—Accio Hogwarts-student!”

It was the most foolish thing that had ever come out of her normally intelligent mouth, but the sudden emergency had left her mind completely useless.

However, evidently the magic forces had found her request permissible, and the water below her began bubbling. Suddenly with an almighty force, a figure broke from the water and was flying towards her. The body crashed into her as they both flew backwards in the air and landed unceremoniously on the grass, a few feet away from the edge of the lake. Hermione felt her teeth chatter as the cold body above her nearly robbed her breath. With a Herculean effort, she pushed the still form away from her and she rolled to the side, gasping for air.

Immediately she crouched beside the student and saw it was a boy, probably a year or two younger than her. Long locks obscured his face and his frame was stiff, as if frozen.

She also noticed he was not breathing.

“Oh good Merlin,” she breathed and looked skywards, wondering what evil gods had put her in such a position.

She began doing chest compressions, and Merlin knew if she was even doing it right because she only saw this done in muggle movies. Vaguely her mind registered that there was probably a spell for resuscitation, but her brain was too frozen and too frazzled to think of anything else.

When he made no movement and no water spurted from his mouth, she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, and tilted his head back.

Her mouth pressed against his frozen lips as she blew air into his trachea. He remained motionless, and Hermione groaned and began panicking legitimately. She tried the compressions, but when that failed again, she angrily threw her wand in the air and let red sparks shower around the pair, hoping somebody inside the castle would notice it and come for their aid.

As she moved to push at his chest again, something caught her eye. Beneath his robe something was glowing, emitting a faint red light through the thick fabric on his chest. Her breath caught for a second when she thought she heard a whirring sound, but her mind was robbed of all thought as the light suddenly blinded her. She fumbled backwards and she heard a ragged gasp of air rip through the boy’s lungs, his back arching off the grass. The intense red light receded from him and she blinked rapidly, fighting to regain her sight.

After a few agonizing seconds the spots from her eyes disappeared. She glanced over at the boy who was breathing raggedly, and sighed in relief.

“Are you alright?” she asked as she moved closer to him. Though fully conscious, he still looked like hell, and he was shivering uncontrollably in his icy wet clothes.

The boy stiffened at the sound of her voice and he struggled to sit up. “You shouldn’t try to move yet—”

“Shut up.”

Hermione’s mouth snapped close, eyebrow arching at the commanding coldness of his voice. How could he have so much composure and such a leveled voice after nearly drowning?

“I don’t think so,” Hermione said in mild shock, eyebrows knitting together. “You should be thanking me for saving your life—”

“Thanking you?” the boy let out a short, incredulous laugh. “After nearly killing me and ruining everything? Are you joking or are you naturally this stupid?”

Anger flared inside her. “Excuse me?”

“You’re deaf as well?”

Hermione clenched her jaw and scowled at the boy mocking her, mere minutes after regaining consciousness. His face was still obscured with the lops of hair covering it, but she could still see the smirk curling on his lips.

“Listen here little boy,” Hermione said scathingly, watching him struggle to sit up again, “I don’t know who you think you are but taking a swim in the Black Lake at this time of year was not only reckless but incredibly stupid. You’re lucky I was here to get you out before you became a permanent iceberg!”

“And so you decided to become the good Samaritan and rescued me, did you?”

He finally managed a sitting position and moved the hair from his eyes and face, pushing it to the side so she got a clear view of icy silver eyes piercing hers mockingly.

Her body felt like something electrocuted her as her mouth fell open.

The fact that he looked like a miniature Sirius bloody Black wasn’t the end of it. He embodied him to a new level; the aristocratic features even sharper, the smug smile curling wider, the grey eyes ten times more ferocious than she ever thought possible. If Sirius were ever to be a dangerous, arrogant Slytherin, this was what he would look like.

Her first encounter with Regulus Black, and she had already kissed him. Albeit unconscious and unbreathing.

At her dumbstruck expression his smirk deepened and he stood, a little unsteadily, but the mocking expression was still etched on his face. “Why don’t you go back inside like a good little Gryffindor and forget you ever saw me,” his smirk widened as his eyes wandered over her. “I don’t think you can handle me.”

With that he turned around and marched right back towards the Black lake, and after taking a giant breath to steady himself, he started to run.

Hermione’s eyes rounded and she jumped to her feet and reached him before he plunged inside the freezing water again. Grabbing him roughly by the upper arms, it took a monstrous force to stop him from jumping headfirst into the lake.

“Get off!” he growled irritatedly.

“I was wrong—you’re not stupid, you’re suicidal!” Hermione screeched as she pulled him forcefully away from the lake. Thankfully this wasn’t Sirius—if it had been, never in a million years would she be able to overpower him like she was Regulus. Regulus was a bit shorter and easier to maneuver around, to some extent. He was still incredibly strong and she knew her hold on him would only last a few more seconds.

“You don’t know what you’re doing—let me go!”

“No!” Hermione shot back, struggling to keep her grip on him as he bucked wildly. “Not until you stop trying to kill yourself!”

“Are you crazy?” he yelled in exasperation.

Finally he freed himself from her grip and wriggled violently from her, causing her to stagger backwards unsteadily. He reflexively went to catch her but was dragged along in her fall, and he landed on his knees roughly and Hermione groaned, her back hitting the frozen earth roughly.

"You,” his nostrils were flared as his silver eyes flashed as he kneeled next to her fallen form, “will regret getting in my way.”

Hermione never saw anyone look as angry as him. Or perhaps she did, but the image in front of her made her feel like she know the true meaning of deep, unrestrained loathing until now. The last time she saw this kind of malice radiated towards her was anything involving Draco Malfoy.

Her eyes were distracted again to the sudden light coming from his chest, the necklace behind his robes emitting a red glow. He followed her gaze and his expression changed, a mask of shock written clearly on his prominent features.

His eyes caught hers threateningly. “Don’t—”

“What the devil is going on here?”

Professor Flitwick was hobbling towards them at breakneck speed, clearly concerned at the fallen position of Hermione. She motion to sit up when suddenly Regulus’s hand clamped on her shoulder, pushing her to the ground so she couldn’t move.

“She just fell, sir,” Regulus said suddenly, concern layering his voice thickly. Hermione gaped up at him. “And she wasn’t breathing; I was so worried…”

“Clever of you to send up the sparks; couldn’t miss it even if I wanted to!” Flitwick squeaked and peered over Hermione curiously as she glowered at Regulus.

The snarky bastard was making her out to be the damsel in distress!

“Miss Granger?” Flitwick finally remember her name and looked over at her in concern.

“Yes professor,” Hermione replied, and moved Regulus’s arm swiftly from her shoulder and stood up. “As you can see, I am quite alright.”

“Don’t believe a word she says,” Regulus interjected, a worried expression on his face as he stood up as well. “Wasn’t even breathing a few seconds ago—had to perform an Efflo spell on her to get her to start again—and that was when I sent up the sparks right when she started.”

Ah, right. The Efflo spell for resuscitation.…Hermione reflexively scrubbed her mouth with the back of her hand, as if trying to erase the memory of pressing them against cold lips.

Flitwick looked at him appraisingly and bobbed his head in acknowledgement, enabling Hermione to grow more and more incredulous by the second. She gazed at the young deviant beside her and sent malevolent thoughts in his direction, suddenly wondering why she had even bothered saving him.

The purposeful nature inside Hermione scolded her for being so caustic. But she was only human, after all, and imagining carefully executed deaths upon the boy next to her was not completely insane at the moment.

Flitwick sighed exasperatedly and said, “Well, don’t just stand there like a log, take the girl to the infirmary!” Regulus started and helped Hermione to her feet. Flitwick narrowed his eyes at Regulus and added, “And do give a better story to Madam Pomfrey as to how Miss Granger fell, given the state of things.” His little eyes roved over the pair’s dripping wet clothes and shivering bodies with a quirk of his brow. Hermione’s face felt like it was on fire and Regulus stared nonchalantly at the charms professor, completely unfazed.

Gritting her teeth, she followed Flitwick back inside the castle and stared at the hand on her elbow, burning holes in it with every step they took as Regulus took her to the Hospital Wing.

“You’re going to pay for this,” Hermione hissed under her breath.

Regulus glanced at her in amusement. “Is that a challenge?”

Hermione raised a brow. “I don’t think you’re old enough for a wizard’s duel just yet, sorry.”

Regulus frowned and retorted, “Why do you keep taking a jab at my age? I’m just a year below you.”

Hermione’s eyebrows shot up. Was he really? If she was honest with herself, she really did not know a lot of Sirius Black’s family history, only that he had a brother who was very interested in the ways of the Death Eaters, but turned his back on them very quickly. And from what little Dumbledore mentioned about him, he had even managed to steal one of Voldemort’s horcruxes.

“I knew that,” she replied stiffly, mildly disappointed at the very weak response. He smirked as if he was thinking the same, and his grip on her elbow loosened. “How do you know what year I am?” she asked suspiciously.

Real mirth showed in his eyes as he stared at with a glint in his eye that brought made her want to cringe away. “Everyone knows who Miss Hermione Granger is,” he said innocently, though the mask broke as his lip started curl in a derisive smile.

Hermione looked away, troubled in the predicament she was in. What good was her post here at Hogwarts if people were running around knowing who she was without meeting her? The same thing had happened with Lily when they’d first met. She had been discussing Hermione on the train to Hogwarts with Severus, as if she had heard about her and that there would be a transfer student coming to Hogwarts this year.

Did everybody know about her? Did everybody know about what had “happened” to her family?

If that was true, why was Lily so surprised when she’d found out that Hermione was now living with the Potters? Shouldn’t she have already known that?

Wrapped in her own gloomy thoughts, she stumbled a bit when Regulus suddenly stopped. She blinked and noticed they hadn’t reached the infirmary yet.

“What’s wrong?”

A grin spread on Regulus’s face and he turned around. “Hello, brother!” he said cheerily.

Hermione whipped around and saw Sirius standing a few feet away. He had probably just finished dinner and was about to head back to their dorms.

Sirius was silent as his eyes fell on Hermione, lowering slowly down her body and noticing that she was drenched. And that Regulus was as well.

“What did you do?” Sirius asked, voice calm and detached.

“He didn’t do anything, Sirius,” Hermione answered when Regulus only smiled tightly. “He was just being an idiot.”

“That’s not news,” Sirius replied, taking a step towards them. His eyes fell to where Regulus held Hermione’s elbow, and she quickly wriggled from his grasp and put some space between the two brothers. Clearly there was some heavy air between them and she would rather spend the evening sinking into a much needed bath than to watch the two duel.

“Let’s move along, now,” Hermione said sternly, looking up at Sirius’s impassive face. “You can stop glaring like that because he didn’t do anything to me. If anything I saved this moron’s life—”

“You did not—” Regulus started but Hermione continued, “And I would appreciate it if everyone got out of each other’s business and headed back to the dormitories.”

The commanding tone was new one for Hermione, but she was not in the mood to see curses and jinxes being thrown over her head. She grasped his shoulder when his stiff posture softened a bit at Hermione’s insistence, pulling him gently away as Sirius continued to stare down into Regulus’s mocking gaze.

“Goodnight, brother! Mummy says hi!”

Hermione nearly gaped at the antagonizing words but was even more surprised at Sirius’s response, as he smiled tightly and said, “Oh but Reggie, where’s your leash?”

Regulus’s eyes went cold and Sirius’s smile lingered as he turned around began to walk away. Hermione was about to follow when she glanced back at Regulus, who seemed to be fighting the urge to hurl a jinx at the back of Sirius’s head. Making her decision, she glanced at Sirius once last time before spinning around and fixing Regulus with her gaze.

“And you,” she said none too kindly. “I obviously do not need to go to the Hospital Wing, but that shouldn’t stop you from going. You really should go and get your head checked after what you did today at the lake.” The dangerous aura emanating from Regulus started to fade as he realized Sirius had disappeared behind a corridor and Hermione was still in front of him, glaring with all she was worth. Suddenly his expression turned sour and he replied, “Why are you still here again?”

“Because you clearly have something unusual going on in your head and it should be checked with medical—and dare I say magical—attention.”

Regulus listened to her with a bored expression and sighed, dusting his nails against his robes. “Listen, Granger. I don’t really care what you think. I can live a full and happy life without your opinion. Now today, you ruined a very important test for me, and—”

“Is that what you were doing?” Hermione asked with a raised eyebrow. “Testing something? Was it the necklace that was glowing—?” Her eyes wandered involuntarily to his chest to peek at where the necklace was concealed but he roughly turned her around and began pushing her towards the edge of the corridor that led to the grand staircase.

“Let’s set some conditions. I’ll stay out of your hair, you’ll stay out of my hair, we’ll both forget everything that happened today and we can live happy, fulfilling lives ignoring each other’s existence indefinitely. Yeah?”

Hermione protested as he led her to the first step of the grand staircase and she pushed him off with a glare. “Fine. I know what you’re getting at.” She looked at him seriously. “I’ll keep your little secret.” Regulus smiled winningly, but she continued, “That doesn’t mean that this is over.”

“Sorry love, I’m already taken,” was his response and he winked before turning around and walking away, presumably to the dungeons.

Oh yes, he was definitely related to Sirius.

“And from what I saw, it seems you’ve already got my big brother wrapped around your tiny little stubby fingers. Trying to collect a family set?” he called lightly.

Hermione mouth opened a little in shock and she stared at her hands. They were not stubby!

“What was that, Regulus?” she shot back. “You tried drowning yourself in the lake while trying to test a top secret necklace—”

Regulus stopped and turned to glare at her, and she smiled sweetly. He smirked and walked slowly back towards her. Hermione began to grow nervous at his predatory walk, and her right hand automatically moved to the pocket that held her wand.

She need it, but instead froze at the words that came out of his mouth. Regulus moved close enough to move towards her ear and dropped his voice, “The great thing about this necklace is that I didn’t drown, nor did I ever have any intention to. And what’s even greater is that, while you pulled me out thinking that I was off to white light and fluffy clouds, my mind knew exactly what was going on around me from the moment I stepped in water to when Flitwick came and found us.”

She furrowed her brow in confusion. What? His mind was conscious even though he was not breathing or moving? Did he mean…

Her eyes widened and Regulus straightened, flashing a grin. “I must say, I’ve had better kisses.”

Hermione’s insides went cold. “That wasn’t a kiss,” she said angrily. “And you know why I did that—”

“Funny you wouldn’t use magic,” he said innocently.

“I couldn’t—everything was happening fast, I couldn’t remember the name of the spell—” she stammered.

“Funny you would forget the name of a spell you learn in your first year,” he said nonchalantly, though his face was taunting. Hermione scowled at him before her expression closed. “I don’t care,” she replied. “I have nothing to hide, so you can stop trying to use this against me. Doing so is nothing less than pathetic.”

He shrugged. “I don’t need to use anything against anyone, Miss Granger. I’m simply stating the facts.” He looked at her with a smile. “And I don’t think my big brother likes to share.”

He began to turn when she said icily, “Let me say this, then, Mr. Black. Dark magic is forbidden within these walls. And I know dark magic when I see it…especially when it’s hanging from your neck.” Regulus stared at her coldly and she shrugged. “Just stating a fact.”

For a moment she thought he would turn his piercing glare into something more, but instead was a little taken aback when he smiled, the same cheery smile he’d given Sirius a few moments earlier. “You’ve made the wrong enemy, Miss Granger. I’ll see you around.”

With that he departed, disappearing to the down a corridor, and the only thought running through her mind was, Crap.

Hermione groaned and wanted to smack her head against the stone wall. What was she thinking! Why did she fuel the fire to their spat? Why did she forget her place in this time period and pursue a pointless argument?

Why in the world did she get on the bad side of someone she knew was partial to the Death Eater ways?

Hermione walked up the grand staircase contemplatively and her feet took her to the portrait of the Fat Lady. Mumbling the password, the portrait swung open and she climbed inside. Seeing the plush armchairs, feeling the warmth of the fireplace, her fatigue caught up with her and made its presence known as suddenly she felt drained of all energy. Shuffling to the door to the girls’ dormitory, she swung open the door. She was looking forward to a nice, long bath, long enough to get the smell Slytherin robes and lake water off her body.

Some people were still at the dinner and had not come up to Gryffindor tower yet, so the quiet and empty dormitory was very welcome. She wondered where Lily was, seeing as she left the Great Hall earlier than everyone else.

Hermione entered one of the bathrooms and turned the faucet of the bathtub on while undressing. Once it was filled enough sank down gratefully into the warm water and ducked her head underneath for a moment, trying to completely immerse herself in the solitude and the comfort of her bath.

Coming up for air, she began to wash herself idly. She spent the remainder of her time staring listlessly at the tiled wall, wondering when the girls would come up and start making their usual gossipy racket, when Sirius would confront her with his little army of best friends and demand to know why she was found soaked to the bone with his traitorous younger brother, when she would figure out how to destroy a horcrux and how she would gather the rest, when she will have the time to just be a normal Hogwarts student not trying to defeat Voldemort…

When she started to grow drowsy she stepped out of the tub and dried herself, donning on a bath robe and retreated back to her bed tiredly. She noticed many girls had come back from the dinner and were chatting amiably with their friends, already dressed in their night clothes.

Three beds down, Lily was sitting cross-legged with a book in her lap. Upon Hermione’s arrival she glanced up and smiled, and Hermione walked over to her bed and sat across from her.

“I was wondering where you were,” Hermione smiled.

“Yeah, after I left the Great Hall I just went straight to library,” Lily admitted, tossing her fiery hair aside from her shoulder with a shrug. “An evening with James always sets my teeth on edge; only the solace of parchment relieves the tension.”

Hermione nodded in understanding and sighed. “He adores you, you know.”

“Oh I know,” Lily said dryly, closing the book and setting it aside. “That doesn’t mean I like acknowledging it as much as he does.”

They snickered and Lily collapsed against her pillows, stretching. “So how long have you been staying with James?”

Hermione blinked. “Only two days, actually. I arrived at the end of August.” Lily nodded, and Hermione watched her curiously. “I assumed everyone knew. I would’ve told you if I thought it was, you know…important.” Hermione smiled genuinely, “I mean, you are the first friend I made here at Hogwarts.”

“Yes, I suppose I am,” Lily agreed softly.

Silence ensued between them. It wasn’t uncomfortable, they were both just lost in their own worlds.

“Nobody knows, by the way,” Lily suddenly said, and Hermione blinked slowly.

“What?”

“About you living with James. You said you assumed everybody knew where you were living now, but in truth it’s been a mystery. I never would have guessed you were living with the Potters.”

Hermione frowned. “But then how did everyone know about me when I came here? You said yourself people have been talking about me on the train and everything.”

Lily looked at her in disbelief. “Hermione…you parents were killed by Voldemort’s and you managed to come out of that house alive. You were front page news. Everyone knows who you are.” When Hermione remained oddly silent, she added, “Nobody knows where you live because exposing that would only lead the Death Eaters back to you. It was for your own protection, you know.”

“Yes,” she replied, though in reality she never thought of it that way. She never thought anybody would care about her life, even though she hadn’t actually lived it.

Was it not ironic? How everyone knew who she was, even though she did not have a clue as to what had happened in this new history? How she had managed to “escape” Voldemort’s wrath incurred on her family, how her parents had been killed?

All she could see in her head was Harry’s face.

Lily looked at her warily, watching the shift in expression on the young girl’s face. “Hermione?”

Hermione looked up into Lily’s eyes and wished she hadn’t. She always heard adults telling Harry that he had his mother’s eyes…and they were not lying.

“I’m sorry, Lily,” Hermione said more to herself, but Lily frowned and sat up on the bed, moving to sit beside her.

“Don’t be sorry,” Lily said quickly, looking stricken. “I didn’t mean for you to get upset—me and my ingloriously stupid mouth…I wasn’t trying to bring up bad memories,” Lily said helplessly at the forlorn expression on Hermione’s face. “Please don’t be upset,” she begged.

Hermione breathed in deeply through her nose and closed her eyes, chasing the sad thoughts of her previous life away. When she reopened them, she smiled reassuringly. “I’m not. I just have my moments, you know?”

Lily nodded and looked at her hands. Suddenly she straightened and wore a brilliant smile. “Severus and I are going to Hogsmeade together.”

Hermione’s eyebrows shot up in the air. “R-really?”

Lily nodded profusely. “That’s why he’s been acting so strange lately. Or at least, that’s what my vain mind has concluded.”

Hermione had to blink a few times to register the words. “So,” Hermione began, “you two are…?”

“Nothing like that,” Lily said quickly, a blush forming on her cheeks. “…Not yet anyway. He’s been trying to ask me for a month now, did you know? Poor bloke nearly gave a stroke doing it!”

“What happened?” Hermione asked curiously.

Lily gave a small, devious smile. “Well, it sort of began a few weeks ago when we were walking out of Defense and we were talking about Patronuses, and I said offhandedly that my Patronus would probably be panther.”

It was probably the most random thing she had ever heard, and no matter how hard she tried to make the correlation from a panther to Lily and Severus, she saw a blank. “So?”

Lily shrugged a little. “Panthers are Severus’s favorite animal. It’s kind of his thing. That’s why you never see him in any other color than black.”

Realization dawned on her and Hermione understood the meaning behind Lily’s comment to Severus. Patronuses were embodiments of a person and their personality, and also taking form of what brings them the most joy. And for Lily to say that her Patronus would be Severus’s favorite animal…she no longer doubted that Severus had nearly given himself a stroke trying to ask Lily to Hogsmeade…

“I don’t know why he made such a big deal about this Hogsmeade thing, though,” Lily said with some irritation. “I mean, we go together every year, anyway. He didn’t need to be all fancy.”

Hermione gave a small smile. “Lily, he wanted to be all fancy. For you.”

Lily opened her mouth to respond but never found the voice for it. Instead she looked at her lap, blood pooling in her face once more.

“I don’t know…” she said softly.

“What is it?”

Lily looked up Hermione in confusion. “Is it weird? I love Severus with all my heart. And…I think I might even like him…”

Hermione felt a stab of pain in her heart as she waited patiently for Lily to continue. Lily sighed and shook her head, looking at her with a lost expression. “But I just don’t know. I feel like…like—”

“You’re only in your fifth year, Lily,” Hermione said gently, patting her shoulder. “You have another two years to worry about silly things like boys.”

Lily smiled slowly and giggled, then wound her arm around Hermione’s shoulders. “You are very right, my dear. And who knows? Maybe I’ll find some handsome, billionaire Quidditch player to marry!”

Hermione snorted and Lily grinned widely, and Hermione fought down the sudden urge to say, ‘you have no idea’.

When Hermione got dressed for bed Lily wished her goodnight. Just as she was about to slink off to her own four-poster bed, Hermione paused.

“Hey Lily?”

“Yes?”

“Did…did Sirius ask for me?”

Lily frowned. “No…why, should he have been?”

“No,” Hermione said quickly. Lily narrowed her eyes and Hermione waved it off. “It’s nothing. He—he asked me to help him with his Charms essay. I thought he would’ve asked to meet up, is all.”

Lily nodded. “Maybe he was tired or something. I’m sure he’ll ask you tomorrow.” Yawning, she bid Hermione good night, and Hermione slinked over to her bed, pulling the sheets over her to her nose.

One by one the girls grew silent, and as the seconds passed into minutes, the entire dorm was filled with even breathing and light snores. Hermione breathed in deeply, and once she was sure everyone was asleep, her feet slipped out of the bed and landed softly on the floor.

She crouched by the trunk under her bed and carefully opened it. She sighed. The horcrux was still there.

In all honesty she thought her excessive paranoia about the horcrux was unnecessary; however, finding the horcrux itself had been a giant stepping stone in her first month in the new era, and the hyperactively cautious side of her could not help but make sure each night that the diadem was safely tucked inside her trunk.

Her fingers brushed against the metal and she hissed, moving her hand away. Why was it always so warm?

Shaking her head, she crawled back atop her bed and glanced out the window. From here she could see the Black Lake glittering against the night sky, and a wave of emotion flitted through her. She did not like that Sirius hadn’t approached her after the Regulus fiasco. She knew she was being hypocritical, because if he had approached her she would have complained that he needed to cool down and back off, but the fact that he did not react at all made her nervous. She expected his anger, expected to hear a long story of how the two estranged brothers would forever hate each other.

But leaving this hanging, leaving unsaid words between them would not do either of them well. Sirius probably would not speak of this to James, Peter, or Remus either. Though he was very good friends with the trio, it did not mean he told them everything. Clearly his family was a touchy subject, and not something he spoke openly even with his best friends. Worst case scenario, he would brood about this for days.

Growing increasingly agitated by the second, Hermione made up her mind and slipped out of bed for the second time. She carefully closed the door behind her and tiptoed down the stairs, then crossed the walkway and opened the door to the boys’ dormitory.

It was times like these that she was forever grateful that the charmed staircase only applied to the girls’ staircase. She crept quietly and walked over to the fifth years’ sleeping quarters. With a shaky breath, she entered inside.

It was immortally silent. All of the curtains were drawn on the beds, and while it made her sneaking around easier, it made finding Sirius’s bed increasingly harder. As she peaked through a few curtains, anxiety built up inside of her and Hermione began questioning herself, wondering why she could not simply wait until the morning to approach Sirius, rather than snooping around in a boys’ dormitory in the dead of night.

After crossing James’s bed three times in a row, she nearly stomped her foot in frustration. Where the devil was that infuriating boy? Crossing the room, she went to a bed that had the curtains partially closed. Peering slowly inside, she felt relief flood inside of her. Finally.

Hermione gently sat on the edge of the bed near his torso, stretching her hand to his shoulder. Her hand came in contact with bare skin, and she belatedly realized he was wearing a wife beater. Gathering her wits, she shook him gently.

“Sirius?”

His face was buried in his pillow as he slept on his stomach. Hermione shook him again.

“Sirius, wake up,” she whispered.

Sirius stirred a little, but made no move to breach into the realm of the conscious world. Rolling her eyes, she scooted a little closer to him and lowered her head so that her lips hovered just above his ear.

“Sirius…” she breathed softly.

The effect was immediate. He jerked a little and shivered, and Hermione straightened. She shook him again just to ensure he wouldn’t fall back into his dreams. “Get up, you infuriating dog.”

“Wha…” Sirius mumbled incoherently and turned slowly onto his back. One bleary eye opened and locked onto Hermione’s silhouette. Suddenly he jerked away and drew his knees slightly up in shock.

“Hermione?”

“Shh,” she scolded, pressing one finger to her lips. His eyes were round like saucers as he blinked profusely, trying to focus his eyes. “What are you doing here?” he whispered once he finally regained control over his eyes.

Hermione shrugged. “I thought we could talk.”

Sirius gazed at her for a long moment before letting out a breathless laugh. “Well hell, let me get you a pot of tea and biscuits while we’re at it.”

Hermione gave him a withering look and motioned for him to move over. He sat up and crossed his legs, and Hermione shifted so she sat completely on the mattress. Closing the partially opened curtain around them, she drew out her wand and let light glow faintly at the tip, just enough to illuminate the inside of the four-poster bed. Then she placed a silencing charm around them, ensuring that no one else would hear any words passed between them.

Sirius was rubbing the sleep from his eyes and she could not help but admire the new state she was observing him in. His hair was more tousled than usual, his sleeping attire a welcome change to the uniform he wore every day.

Hermione did not realize how long she had been staring at him until her eyes wandered up to his eyes, finding him watching her just as intently as she was him. Immediately she looked away in embarrassment and took a breath, but she could not find the right words to begin with.

“Dragon caught your tongue?” Sirius asked with mild amusement as he continued to gaze at her, albeit a little sleepily.

Hermione sighed. “I’m not sure what I’m doing here anymore, to be honest.”

“Well obviously you were trying to take advantage of me in my sleep, but I’m alright with that,” Sirius said offhandedly as he folded his hands behind his head, and Hermione looked at him with an incredulous smile.

“Right, that was exactly what I came here to do. Caught me.”

Sirius smiled tightly and stretched his arms above his head. Hermione closed her eyes and sighed again. “Look, I know it’s probably been nagging at your head, because it’s been nagging at mine all night and I couldn’t just go to sleep without clearing this up and what better time than now, right?” Hermione said it all in a rush and cringed inwardly. She snuck a peak at Sirius but his expression was blank, staring at her impassively. Hermione ploughed on.

"You don’t have to explain yourself, Hermione,” Sirius said calmly. "You’re entitled to do whatever you want. I’m not your keeper.”

Hermione stared at him. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Sirius shrugged. “It means I don’t really care about what happened tonight, so you’re wasting your time. I’d prefer it if we could just leave it at that and just go back to sleep.”

Hermione had to let the words sink in before she responded. "You…don’t care.”

“No.”

A twitch of irritation flared inside of her. "So you could care less what happens to me.”

“Yes.”

“So you could care less what happens to me, but wait, you care enough to make sure we’ll be snogging sometime in the near future.”

“Pretty much.”

Hermione was speechless. What was wrong with him? She knew Regulus and his family members were an extremely touching subject, but her tolerance and understanding had a limit.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Hermione snapped.

“What?”

“What? Why are you being like this? I mean, I’m sure your traitorous little brother is not the lightest of subjects in your book, but you don’t have to be so bloody caustic about it,” Hermione said sharply.

His grey eyes darkened. "You know nothing of my family affairs, Hermione, seeing as you’ve only known me for a month,” he said coldly.

“No, of course not. Silly, silly me, assuming I know anything about the great Sirius Black.”

“Good to see you understand,” Sirius replied.

Hermione was felt her face growing hotter by the second, and the nonchalant posture of Sirius was not helping her anger one bit.

“One day, Sirius, you will find yourself alone,” Hermione said quietly, “and not even the best of friends would stand by you then. You’ll have a choice to make for yourself of how to live your life to spare yourself that isolation.”

“And what, you’ll be the one with the perfect life?” Sirius leered. “Are you going to take my best friends away from me, then? Don’t think I haven’t noticed how you act around them.”

Hermione gaped at him openly. “What in the world are you talking about?”

Sirius gave her a mocking stare. “No need to act so innocent around me, love. I’ve seen the way you are. You’ve already won Remus over by accepting his lycanthropy, and Peter is smitten with the way you can hold an intelligent conversation with him in nearly every bloody class.” Hermione was stunned in silence but Sirius continued relentlessly. “You’re the link to Lily that James is not afraid to use, so that’s accounted for. And today you’ve got my little brother tucked safely under your wing. What’s next? Are you going to rub the feet of a few Slytherins to get them on your side? I hear Lucius Malfoy is need for a new midnight playtoy.”

Sirius’s head was forced to the side as his left cheek was stinging. Hermione was staring at him with a heavy emotion flaring in her eyes.

“I don’t know why you felt the need to share your paranoid delusions with me, but please refrain the next time unless you want a matching black eye,” Hermione said quietly, fighting to control the quivering in her voice. This was the last thing she expected when she headed up to the boys’ dormitory, especially when it was only last night that they had admitted to each other in the common room of their mutual attraction. As the days went by, she realized that Sirius Black was a very, very different person from the adult she was familiar with. This one was hostile and dangerous and ready to see the worst in most people, and she wasn’t sure why.

Hermione rose from the bed and waved her wand so the light coming from the tip extinguished. “I would appreciate it if you kept these idiotic thoughts to yourself, Black,” Hermione said monotonously. “And for the record, I have my own best friends, and they’re the greatest people that ever lived on this planet. I don’t need your friends make myself feel better.”

"You speak of them like they’re dead,” Sirius replied.

Hermione’s lip twisted in a mocking smile. “That’s because they are.”

She turned on her heel and marched out of the dormitory and climbed into her own bed. Pressing her face into her pillow, she felt a lump form in her throat but she quickly swallowed, trying her best to get rid of it. She refused to cry over something as ridiculous as this; she refused. There were bigger things to focus on, like the diadem resting in her trunk, or figuring out how to reach the rest of the horcruxes, or how to get any would-be Death Eater on her side, or why she had to walk near the Black Lake tonight, or why Sirius had reached a new level of infuriating her….

xxx

"You could look a bit more excited,” Lily said loftily as the two dressed quickly, the prospect of breakfast sending their stomachs spiraling in hunger.

“It’s just Hogsmeade,” Hermione answered.

“Just Hogsmeade!” Lily paused to look at her with disbelief. “Dear Merlin, Hermione, you act like you’ve been there before!”

“Obviously not,” Hermione lied easily as she wrapped a scarf around her neck. The first day of October proved to be an even colder one, and it happened to land on the first Hogsmeade weekend. She was not looking forward to it simply because it would be the first Hogsmeade trip without Harry or Ron. Or Ginny, or Neville, or Luna…

Lily admonished her flaky attitude and tugged her towards the Great Hall. Grabbing a basket of bagels and cream cheese, she tossed one to Hermione and dragged her outside to the Entrance Hall.

“What are we doing?” Hermione asked with surprise.

“Oh, suddenly curious now, are we?” Lily smirked, taking a liberal bit out of her bagel. “If you want to get the best stuff before the crowds get in, you have to leave early.” Hermione glanced where Professor McGonagall was standing a few feet away with permission forms tucked under her arm. "You do have a permission form, right?”

“Uh…”

Lily widened her eyes and halted. “The Potters signed a Hogsmeade permission form, right?”

In all honesty, Hermione had no idea. They probably did, but she was not one hundred percent certain. “I’ll go ask,” Hermione said and walked over to McGonagall.

“Miss Granger,” McGonagall acknowledged. “I presume you’re wondering if your have a signed permission form or not?”

“Er, yes, actually,” Hermione replied meekly.

“Well, don’t look so worried; Mrs. Potter sent the owl the day you moved in to their home.”

Hermione nodded. “Thank you, professor.”

Hermione sighed and turned back to where Lily was waiting for her.

“We’re good to go,” Hermione smiled.

Lily clicked her tongue. “Not just yet.”

Linking her arm with Hermione’s, she steered them toward a corridor and entered the dungeons. Hermione’s eyes widened.

“Are we fetching Severus?”

“Of course,” Lily grinned. “He’s usually a late riser.”

Walking deeper and deeper down the steering halls, Lily stopped in front of a wall and gazed at it with a sigh.

“SEVVVV!”

Hermione flinched and grimaced at the massive volume of the girl’s voice. “SEV-ER-US!” her voice rang brilliantly, and finally after a few moments the wall transfigured into a passageway and out came none-too-pleased Severus Snape.

“Do you have to do that every bloody time?” Severus snapped, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. His tie was crooked and his robes were falling off his shoulders, clearly indicating the haste at which he had dressed.

“Of course, darling, how else would you wake up at this ungodly hour?” Lily grinned, handing him a bagel from the bread basket. Hermione felt suddenly awkward, as she usually did when she was in the presence of the two teenagers. She felt like she was invading in a part of their lives that she had no right to see. More than anything, she hated being in the presence of a pair that she knew one would have an unhappy ending.

“Oh hello, Hermione,” Severus said, finally getting out of his grumpy demeanor long enough to notice her presence. “Will you be joining us?”

“No,” she said quickly, and didn’t miss the small fraction of relief on Severus’s face. Hermione did not want to be the one to impinge on the one day Severus had been looking forward to for so long. “I’ll be going off on my own. I’d like to explore it on my own.”

Lily protested at first, and Severus had kindly offered to show her around, but Hermione declined resolutely. In truth she would love to have a little time alone for herself. It was a much needed break from the task she had at hand, and getting lost inside the magical shops was the best way to do it.

Hermione visited Zonko’s first, then to the Three Broomsticks where she had a soothing cup of butterbeer that warmed her frozen hands and insides.

By the time she left the Three Broomsticks Hogsmeade had filled up considerably, third years up to seventh years roaming around and chatting animatedly with their friends. Hermione felt a pang in her heart as she remembered doing the same with Harry and Ron so many times.

It was when she was crossing Madame Puddifoot’s that her heart went cold.

Sirius was walking casually, staring at the shops he was passing by. Pressed to his side was a fifth year girl she recognized to be a Ravenclaw.

It was when the girl stopped him and pulled him roughly against her lips that her heart thudded painfully.

Was she really seeing this? Really?

“Hey, Hermione!” a voice called from behind. She saw Peter striding towards her excitedly, closely followed by Remus. She only stared at them. Stopping in front of her, Peter gathered her expression and frowned. “Is something wrong?”

Hermione did not reply, merely turned her attention back to where Sirius was standing. He clearly had her Peter call out her name, for he glanced in her direction briefly before turning his attention back to the Ravenclaw and smiled, gestured for the girl to go inside.

“Oh…” was Peter’s faint reply. She felt rather than saw Remus stiffen beside her.

When the girl disappeared inside the shop Sirius turned his attention to the trio and strode calmly over to them.

“Hello Remus, Peter,” Sirius greeted them. His eyes flickered over hers before turning back to them. “Where’s James?”

“In the Quidditch shop last I saw,” Remus replied tightly. There was an uncomfortable silence hovering around them, and finally Sirius said, “Well, I’m off. Gotta get back inside.”

“Right, don’t want your latest plaything to be left waiting,” Hermione said coldly.

Sirius paused to look at her before giving a sardonic smile. “At least I only have one at a time, love. I can’t even keep up with yours any more.”

That was it.

“You bloody coward,” she whispered to herself. She should have remembered, realized, that any interaction with Sirius Black in this time of his life would end only in disappointment and sorrow. Kissing Harry’s godfather…what was she thinking?

“Excuse me?” She saw a scowl on Sirius’s face, drifting away the shop and stepping towards her. “What did you just say?”

“You heard me,” Hermione said coldly. Sirius held his face blank, and with slow, deliberate steps, stood in front of her.

“Enlighten me,” he said tightly.

Hermione felt anger surge through her. To think—she had felt all these things—he was every bit of a player she knew he was! He was despicable!

She stepped towards him, barely an inch apart. Tilting her head up to directly meet his gaze, she repeated, “You,” she hissed, “bloody,” she punctuated, “coward.”

His wand was out faster than the speed of light, but she was prepared as well, holding the stick of wood deftly. “I normally don’t like hexing girls like this,” Sirius growled dangerously, “but since I don’t see one right now, my conscious is satisfied.”

“You—” Forgetting her wand, she lunged at him, smacking his face like she had with Draco Malfoy in her third year. Not feeling she’d done enough damage, she kicked and pushed him ruthlessly. “I—hate—you!”

“Feeling’s mutual, sweetheart!” he roared, catching her fighting wrists and moving them away from her body and from him. “You don’t know anything about me, so do yourself a favor and shut the hell up!”

She struggled as she felt arms grabbing at her torso, and Sirius and Hermione were ripped apart from each other. Remus was holding onto her fiercely and Peter dragged Sirius away from her.

“You deserve everything you get!” Hermione screamed. “You deserve everything! You’re going to live a miserable life, Sirius Black! Nobody will ever love you!”

“What’s going on here?” James’s voice entered the equation. He had a handful of bags in his hands, looking at the scene before him in confusion.

“Let go of me,” Hermione said. Remus looked at her with a hard expression, and steered her gently away from the scene. He loosened his grip once they were quite far away from Sirius, and did not bother answering James’s question, who quickly went over to Peter and Sirius with a deep set scowl.

Hermione shrugged out of Remus’s grasp once Hogsmeade village was just a distant image, and she quickly sped up to the path that led back to Hogwarts. Though Remus was silent, she knew that he was trailing behind her still. He did not bother asking questions, merely followed her back up to the castle.

Once she entered the Entrance Hall he spoke. “Are you going back to your dormitory?”

Hermione folded her arms and lowered her gaze. “No.”

He waited a while before responding. “Would you mind a little company?”

Hermione glanced up at Remus, seeing his sincere and open face. He was not pushing her, and she knew he would not be hurt if she refused.

Instead she replied, “No.”

She began to walk slowly, and Remus gave her her space and walked a few paces behind. They wandered through the corridors, seemingly aimlessly but they both knew that there was a purpose behind her strides.

Hermione stopped in front of a familiar stretch of wall and closed her eyes.

Take me home, she thought.

Slowly a door began to form, and when it became completely solid she turned the knob.

What she saw before her was the Weasley’s living room.

Her lower lip began to tremble as she walked inside slowly. It was exactly how she remembered, down to every photograph to the grandfather clock. She lowered herself onto the couch and took a ragged breath. She looked at the coffee table and saw the photograph of all the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione at the last Christmas break just a few months ago.

She hadn’t even realized when she began to cry, but she felt the seat next her dip and a hand pat her gently. She cried harder, and she knew her tears were not about what Sirius had done today. It seemed everything she’d been reeling back inside had finally burst like dam. She had been keeping it in for so long, had not spilled tears since the day she used the Time Turner to land her here. She cried for the friends she once knew, and would not be friends with the same way ever again. She cried for losing her parents, whom she never got to say goodbye too and only saw a few weeks each year. She cried for losing everything, finally being selfish enough to mourn the losses with the task Dumbledore had given her.

When she finally calmed down, her eyes felt swollen and her body had found itself leaning against Remus’s reassuring side.

After several moments, Remus spoke.

“Is this your home?” he asked tentatively.

Hermione sniffled. “No, it’s my best friend’s home. Was my best friend’s home.”

He paused again. “And that picture…those were you friends?”

“Yes,” she said softly. She felt Remus stiffen beside her.

“Hermione,” Remus said slowly, “why am I in this picture?”

Thank you ChaosLady, Khristyn, Recordkeeper, Serlene, and Eva Brick for reviewing this story! Your words warmed my heart, and I am so glad you gave this story a chance and enjoyed it.

To Serlene, I do admit that I realized that mistake after the third chapter. I guess I just couldn't imagine a time before the Marauders didn't have nicknames and such. I usually like staying true to the books so I apologize for this little mistake! It won't harm the story though, so no worries.

There are probably a bunch of mistakes which I am too tired to fix at the moment, but will fix sometime tomorrow. Once again, thank you for reading.
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Sands of Destiny