A/N: J.K. Rowling's characters absolutely do not belong to me, although I would love to have Sirius and Remus. Oh, and well, I hope you enjoy this. I recall writing this back in 2006 and thought it was decent. Boy was I wrong. I've been editing this for the past week trying to make it sound decent, but this was the best I could do. I guarantee that the following chapters will be better... hopefully.
Chapter 1 - Complicated
"Now, Ronald, dear, this is your last year at Hogwarts, so please don't cause too much trouble?" the troubled voice of a mother fought over the loud noises of many other worried parents at the boarding station of Platform 9 3/4.
"Mum," a red-haired teenager groaned, "you're embarrassing me."
"Cheer up, mate. She doesn't want her ickle Ronnikens to get in trouble that's all," Fred Weasely teased.
"Now now, Fred, I'm sure Ron can fend for himself since he's got himself that Prefect badge from last year!" Fred's twin, George said in a mock-serious tone.
Nearby, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny started to laugh hysterically. Although it was Hermione who first become more composed and responded with a sigh, "Boys will be boys."
"Oh come on, 'Mione, you know that inside of their rather non-serious exterior, that they are really good at heart," Harry said while reaching over to his friend and placing his hands on her shoulder.
Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed inwardly while muttering something that nobody could really catch except for a few words that included 'boys' and 'immature'. Whatever it was, it still made Harry smile like a madman. Ginny on the other hand, who was standing next to Hermione couldn't help but laugh at what Harry had said about the twins.
Mrs. Weasely sniffled and gave her son a big hug. Ron had a tortured expression on his face which made his friends double over with laughter once more.
"Mum, we seriously need to go and get inside of the train! There won't be any more compartments left." Ron complained while trying to pry his arms out from his mother's grasp.
Molly Weasely finally let go of her resisting son, and watched tearfully while Ron, Ginny, Harry, and Hermione left for the train.
While walking onto the train, Ginny started to tease her brother.
"Aren't you little mummy's boy."
"Shut up, Gin," Ron replied while growing red in the face.
"You are so temperamental," Ginny huffed.
As the two red heads started to bicker, Hermione and Harry began conversing on their own.
"Why do you always carry around that sack or whatever it is around with you all the time?" Harry asked while looking at the beaded shoulder bag that Hermione carried with her everywhere lately.
"Because, I can keep my wand, money, and possibly books. And it's a purse, Harry," Hermione curtly responded.
There were a few minutes of silence, until Harry suddenly asked.
"Have you ever wondered what it would've been like in the Marauder's times, Hermione?"
Hermione was startled at the question; Harry usually couldn't, well wouldn't, talk about the Marauders after Sirius passed away. She quickly recovered and answered, "Well, it might depend. Didn't they always pull pranks on each other and to everyone in the school? Also, they got into loads of trouble."
The Gryffindor boy stopped walking and looked at her skeptically, "Hermione, you know we've been in trouble just as much as they have."
He got her there. She didn't know what else to say to him, so she started to walking without waiting for Harry to catch up.
"Hermione, wait up."
Hermione didn't turn around, but did stop. Once he caught up with her, she continued to walk at a steady pace, but a few feet away from their still bickering red-haired friends.
"Does it make you uncomfortable that I'm talking about them?" Harry asked, bringing the subject back up again.
"N-no," Hermione hesitantly replied.
Harry didn't say anything else, so they walked in complete silence.
"Harry I-"
Hermione was interrupted by a loud noise in front of them.
Harry and Hermione bolted towards the scene with their wands secured in their hands. Just a few feet away, Draco Malfoy and his Slytherin goons had surrounded Ron and Ginny. As soon as Draco and the Slytherins saw the two Gryffindors, they immediately casted spells at Harry and Hermione.
Harry quickly deflected spells but just as Hermione started to cast her spell, she tripped over a wrinkle in the carpet. However, while she was falling, Hermione's wand penetrated through something above her head.
The Gryffindor landed with a loud thump on the red carpeted train.
"Oh Merlin, this is going to embarrassing," Hermione thought out loud to herself while slowly trying to get up.
"Hey! Are you okay there?!" a voice called only a few feet in front of her.
Once she finally got up, she asked dumbfounded, "What?"
She couldn't exactly see anything clearly because a few black spots impaired her vision for a few seconds. It was when she felt a hand on her shoulder that her eye-sight slowly came back. Hermione made sure that she still had her bag and then quickly pointed her wand at the unknown stranger.
"Woah, calm down," another voice responded to Hermione's aggressive action.
"Wait, that voice sounds familiar," Hermione thought inside her head.
Hermione cautiously looked up to find a shaggy, ebony haired boy with steel grey eyes in front of her while his four friends stood behind him.
"No, it can't be," Hermione whispered to herself silently.
"Sirius, do you think she's all right?" a red-haired girl asked while coming towards Hermione and the boy.
"I'm not sure Lily, it looks like she just saw a spook or something," Sirius replied while helping the girl up.
Hermione quickly looked back and forth from Lily to Sirius and collapsed.
Sirius's quick reflexes kicked in and caught her smoothly before she even touched the ground.
"Look what you've done Padfoot! You scared her!" a messy haired teenager teased.
"Well this face has won the hearts of nearly all the girls in school, James. It's quite possible for her to be alarmed by my charming looks."
"So much so that she fainted? I believe it seem this girl has a complete opposite reaction towards your face," another boy with sandy colored hair and bright amber-gold eyes said.
"Now, now Remus, do be nice," Sirius growled.
Remus and James exchanged a smirk while Lily rolled her eyes. Sirius started to carry Hermione towards the empty compartment, followed behind by Lily, James and Remus.
A stuttering boy made them stop, "Y-y-you guys, we shouldn't bring her in! We don't even know her!"
"Peter, she's wearing a Hogwart's uniform, and it obviously has a Gryffindor crest on it," Lily pointed out to the girl who was unconsciously draped across Sirius. "I'm pretty sure she's not some crazy serial killer."
"I guess..."
In the train compartments, James, Lily and Peter sat on one side, while Sirius, Hermione and Remus sat on the other.
Lily asked in a concerned voice, "Don't you think she might be a little worried when she wakes up? I mean, she doesn't even know any of us."
"Better than leaving her out there, wouldn't you think?" Remus replied. "Besides, she looks new."
"And cute," Sirius wiggled his eyebrows at his friend.
"Padfoot," Remus said in a warning parental tone. "Give her a chance to breath, hm?"
Sirius, who currently had his arms around unconscious Hermione, raised them up.
"I was just kidding... not really."
"You are so immature, Sirius," Lily said while rolling her eyes.
"Immature? That's real clever, Lils. I can't say that I haven't heard that one before."
James immediately wrapped his arms around her to prevent his girlfriend from flying at Sirius.
When Hermione moaned and started to get up slowly, everyone stopped what they were doing to look at the girl.
"Ouch," Hermione responded when she lifted her head up from somebody's shoulder that she couldn't exactly identify at the moment.
"Ouch is correct. You tripped, fell—and might I add—on your head and then you fainted," Sirius commented jokingly.
Hermione suddenly froze.
She thought to herself, "Hermione, this is a dream. You either have a serious concussion or you are mentally unstable."
Hermione started to get up from the red train seats, but both Sirius and Remus grabbed each of her arms simultaneously.
"I think you should sit down for a moment," Remus calmly instructed while gently guiding her down back to her seat.
"And you can rest your head on my shoulder, or if you prefer Remus'," Sirius played around.
The look on Hermione's face was pure shock.
"Or not... Well, anyways, the name is Sirius Black," he introduced himself.
"Remus Lupin," his friend followed after.
James and Sirius exchanged a glance.
"Ow owwwwwoooo!" they both howled, tilting their heads up to the ceiling.
"Hilarious," Remus responded grimly, but there was small smile tugging at his lips.
"Lily Evans, pleasure to meet you."
"P-Peter Pet-Pettigrew."
"James Potter," the messy haired teen said in a smooth and confident manner.
Hermione immediately froze once more.
"I'm such an idiot. Of course if there is a young Sirius Black, there will be a Remus Lupin, Harry's parents and Peter Pettigrew," Hermione thought. "Oh... this isn't good at all."
"I'm thinking she's a fifth or sixth year who's taking quite a fancy on our dear chap, Prongs," Sirius whispered over to Remus, but of course the girl heard since she was right in between them.
"Stop being idiotic," Remus whispered back.
Hermione didn't respond, but had to think for awhile.
"Oh, wait, where is Ginny? Harry? And Ron?! All I remember is falling down and then seeing all five of them in front of me..."
All five students had a questioning look on their faces while trying to examine Hermione for any answers.
"What year is it?" Hermione asked in a strained voice.
"Er... 1977," James responded.
"No, this can't be possible,," Hermione started to think quickly, but the expression on her face gave her away.
"Not to er- barge in on your thoughts, but you seem a little panicky, so I -" Remus slowly started to talk to her but was cut off.
"I need to see Headmaster Dumbledore," Hermione whispered to herself.
"You won't be seeing him until we reach Hogwarts, which is probably thirty minutes away right now," Lily paused, then continued, "Sorry, but I'm not sure who you are, although you are wearing Hogwart's uniform and a Gryffindor crest. Did you recently transfer?"
The other girl wasn't sure how to reply to this. She's supposedly stranded back in 1977 with five people that are supposed to be dead, well, actually only three people. How is she going to explain this situation to them without making herself look like a maniac? Hermione didn't know, but she needed to think up of something really quick.
"My name's Hermione Granger and I just transferred from America," Hermione replied as smoothly as possible.
Remus narrowed his eyes and commented, "You sound like a born and raised Brit from England too me."
"I lived in England until I was eight, but then my parents decided to move to America," Hermione cleverly covered up.
"Bravo Hermione, you just lied to your future professor," Hermione thought.
"Right," Remus responded, not believing one thing that came out of her mouth.
"Come off it, Moony," muttered James, although he was still curious about this Hermione girl. The way she acted around him was a little queer, it seemed as if she knew him before, but he hasn't seen her ever in his life before.
"Well what year are you transferring to? I hope you're in seventh, being stuck with these boys are too much to handle at times. They don't understand the complexity of a woman," Lily explained while getting an odd look from her boyfriend, James.
When the red head noticed that James was giving her a look, as were the rest of the boys, she sighed and rolled her eyes, then added, "See what I mean?"
Hermione couldn't help but laugh and nod her head. Before she could even think about her answer, she went on, "My two friends, Harry and Ron, can't seem to understand me either, but after six years, you sort of get used to it."
Remus immediately turned sideways to face Hermione, and then said, "I'm sorry, but if you just transferred here then why do you already have a Gryffindor crest? Usually newcomers are sorted to their Houses on the first day of school."
"Nothing gets past Remus Lupin," Hermione laughed inside.
"I came to Hogwarts over the summer to find out which House I belonged to," Hermione quickly replied.
Remus Lupin was tempted to ask her a few other questions but decided against it. She was new after all. No need to scare her off.
"Well," Sirius coughed, "now that we have everything settled down pat, I will have to excuse myself to receive a well earned detention."
"Excuse me?" Hermione asked completely flabbergasted.
"Now, Padfoot, trying to get a head start are we?" James exclaimed.
Sirius acted as if he was being falsely accused, "Me? You should know me better Prongs! I wouldn't try anything unless you were there with me."
"Just because I'm the only sensible one here besides Lily doesn't mean I don't want to join either, you know," Remus commented.
"Prongs, Moony, Wormtail and Padfoot shall strike again ... tonight," Sirius had determined look.
It was when he started to smile slowly that James and Remus started to laugh really loudly.
"Pardon the interruption, but what's the deal with the names and getting detention business?" Hermione asked even though she was fully aware about the nicknames and the mischief that the Marauders always get into.
"I was beginning to wonder when you were going to ask us that," James happily replied, and continued, "I'm Prongs, Sirius is Padfoot, Remus is Moony, and Peter is Wormtail."
"Clever nicknames, do they mean anything?" Hermione interrogated.
"Somewhat," Sirius tried concealing a smile and to glance towards Remus.
"Well then why you three would want detentions?"
"It's a tradition that goes back long before you were here," Sirius started out, then paused for James to begin.
"Six years ago, after the fateful day of all meeting each other, we decided to pledge that we were to have as many pranks pulled as possible," James finished his part.
"And it still goes on today. With Peter in last place, he has a total of 50 pranks, although we thought of most of them," Remus paused when he heard Hermione gasp.
He continued with a smile, "With a tie, both James and I have a total of 98 pranks. As for our first place, grand total, record-breaking prankster named Sirius Black, has 110. The detentions, well, let's just say you can't count them by your fingers."
Hermione nearly fell over from her seat, but Remus steadied her.
"I'm guessing getting in trouble doesn't exactly faze any of you?" Hermione laughed hesitantly.
"Never," Sirius responded quickly.
"Not really," James told Hermione.
"Sometimes," Remus quietly replied.
"Ah, Moony, Moony, Moony. Haven't we been over this before?" Sirius joked while slapping his hand on Remus' back.
"Enlighten me."
Sirius was about to say something but then decided against it.
About ten minutes later the conversation waned. Lily fell asleep on James' shoulder who smiled like an idiot while Remus and Sirius glanced at each other and laughed slightly.
Hermione smiled fondly at James who was trying to settle himself by placing his head gently on Lily's red hair. She then looked out the window; the faint colors of the setting sun were starting to appear. She couldn't help but start to drift into sleep as well. Her head nodded with the rhythm of the train's motion, and on one rather rough bump, Hermione's head landed on Sirius's shoulder. Sirius was at first startled, but soon placed an arm around the girl.
Remus couldn't help but feel a stab of jealousy towards his grey-eyed friend.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
When the train halted, a loud screeching sound permitted from below the tracks. The sudden stopping of the train woke up Lily, James, Sirius, and Hermione from their short slumber.
Peter was currently trying to finish the last of his summer homework, while Remus was reading a rather large book. He calmly packed it inside his shoulder bag that he had around him twenty-four/seven.
Hermione patted down her hair as a habit, and smiled when she saw Remus placing his book inside the tan shoulder bag that was almost similar to hers.
"What book were you reading?" she asked.
"Hogwarts, A History," Remus replied, then quickly got up from his chair.
His response caused for Hermione to be wary of conversing with him. She decided to keep her distance from him.
Although he was the first to leave the compartment, Remus waited for his friends outside.
"Wonder what his problem is," Sirius commented while wrapping an arm around Hermione once again.
She had felt uncomfortable from Remus, but now that Sirius had his arm around her, she pushed it away politely. Sirius couldn't hide his shocked face; this was the first time a girl had refused to be around him. James kept Lily from laughing out loud, but then, he too had to keep a straight face himself.
The group of teenagers all headed out of the compartment with Peter tagging along behind them rather slowly.
"Oy, Peter! Hurry up, will you?" James bellowed over the loud noise of the excited first years and other students.
When they all managed to move out of the bustling students, the group found Remus standing near an empty carriage waiting for them.
"I'm not sure if there is enough room for all of us... only four to a carriage," Remus informed them grimly.
Lily looked torn between James and Hermione. She really wanted to get to know the new girl better since she was going to be in their house, but then she didn't exactly want to abandon James.
"Er... Hermione and I'll go and find another carriage," Lily decided, then grabbed Hermione's hand and ran back to find an empty or partially empty carriage.
"What was that all about, Moony? We could've made the thing bigger you know," James was peeved.
"I have to tell you guys something," Remus muttered while getting inside the carriage.
"Better be something good," James grumbled.
Meanwhile, Hermione and Lily found an empty carriage to their surprise and quickly sat inside.
"Phew, that was close! I was scared that there wouldn't be any more left," Lily sighed.
The other teenager just smiled but then suddenly asked, "Uh... Lily? Could I ask you something?"
"What's the matter?" Lily's face etched with a sudden maternal compassion.
"Does Pro- ... Remus generally have a problem with new people? Or is he usually shy," Hermione muttered while looking out the window.
"Oh, hm..." Lily paused, "Well, he's generally a really nice guy. Why do you ask?"
"It's nothing," Hermione smiled slightly.
"Whatever it is, don't worry about it. He'll warm up to you sooner or later."
"I just thought that there might have been something that I said that troubled him."
"And why would that bother you so much?" Lily slyly asked.
"Well I," Hermione was about to answer seriously when she realized that the other witch was merely implying something completely else. "Lily it's nothing like that."
"What? I was just asking why it would bother you that Remus Lupin didn't seem interested in you," Lily teased.
"That wasn't even what I asked," Hermione exclaimed.
"It's okay Hermione," Lily winked at the other withc. "No need to hide your feelings."
Hermione sat looking at Lily dumbfounded who merely gave her a brilliant smile.
"Oh, but Sirius Black is bad news," Lily quickly added. "He has a reputation of being a womanizer so if he pulls moves on you just be aware."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Hermione sniffed and then quickly changed the subject. "But what is it with you and James?"
"I'll let you off easily this time, Granger, but next time, your toast!" Lily joked.
Then the forest green eyed witch went into intricate detail of every single thing that James had done to finally win her heart.
The previous awkward relationship between the two girls instantly vanished.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
On the other carriage, the boys were listening closely to Remus.
"I know we just met Hermione, but I can't help but feel she's keeping something away from us," Remus stated.
"Moony, like you said, we just met her and she does have the right to keep things to herself," Sirius retorted.
"I'm going to have to agree with Padfoot," James replied.
Peter just shrugged his shoulders.
"I'm serious," Remus affirmed.
"Uh... no, actually I'm Sirius," Sirius tried making his friend ease up.
The amber eyed boy smiled slightly, but then asked to his friends, "Do you like her?"
Shockingly, Peter answered first.
"Hermione seemed nice to me, although she was a little distant."
"She doesn't seem to want to talk a lot about her friends back home," James included.
"Well, I think that we shouldn't be examining her and just accept her as she is," Sirius proposed.
Everyone's eyebrows shot up to their hairline, but nevertheless agreed to Sirius's proposition.
"Look, I know you all must think I'm nutters, but she just came from America and she has nobody right now, so be nice," Sirius continued.
Remus bent his head down shamefully, and then muttered, "Sorry."
"Actually, I was pretty suspicious of her answers also. Why don't we just take her to Dumbledore and see what he says, if that might make you feel better," Sirius proclaimed.
He disagreed, "No, I think you're right, I shouldn't be all paranoid about this. She's just someone who I met for the first time."
"Suit yourself," Sirius shrugged.
After a few silent minutes, James bellowed, "I have a plan!"
The three teenagers huddled around their friend, and then listened to the proposed plan.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
When everyone, except for the first years, was settled into their own House by tables, they waited impatiently for the sorting to begin and end.
"Ahh, I need food, now," Sirius whined to James.
"Tell me about it!" James whispered.
Lily and Hermione exchanged a glance and started to laugh silently until the anticipated wizened wizard stepped up to the podium that was centered at the front.
The Headmaster's speech for the school year wasn't atrociously long, and neither was the Sorting Ceremony. In total, there were 25 sorted in to Hufflepuff, 23 Ravenclaw, and 26 for both Slytherin and Gryffindor Houses.
When food magically appeared on the golden platters on the long tables, Sirius and James praised Merlin and began eating as if they hadn't eaten for an extremely long time.
"Do they always eat like that?" Hermione asked Lily.
The red head nearly choked on her food from Hermione's shocked face.
"Sadly, yes," Lily laughed.
Sirius and James stopped eating abruptly, and sighed in content.
"I am bloated!" Sirius moaned.
"Me too, mate, me too," was James's response.
"But, you two just ate like madmen for about five minutes, and now you're done?" Hermione was flabbergasted.
"They eat three servings of food in five minutes... it's what they usually do," Remus explained to the shocked girl.
"I guess that's normal," Hermione said.
Remus smiled in return.
"You'll get used to it," Peter added.
Hermione, startled at Peter's sudden comment, smiled back slightly, then went back to eating her food.
"Now?" Sirius suddenly asked.
"Now," James agreed while giving a knowing glance towards the other two.
The Marauders muttered an incoherent spell under their breath, while their wands were pointed directly towards the Slytherin table. A few seconds passed by when there a huge commotion at far end of the Great Hall disrupted the entire feast.
Hermione, Lily, and the rest of the other students were wondering what had happened, when one very disgruntled male blonde stood up and screamed.
"Whoever did this will pay for it!" the blond screamed in a feminine voice.
The students in the Great Hall tried very hard not to laugh.
"Who is that?" Hermione whispered to Lily.
"That... is Lucius Malfoy!" Lily managed to choke out.
Then a very greasy haired teenager with an abnormally large nose looked over to the Gryffindor Table. When he found the Marauders looking triumphant, he started a tantrum.
"You insufferable brats!" Severus Snape yelled at the boys in the same girlish voice.
"Who?! Us?" James asked in mock amazement.
"Please calm down Mr. Snape," Dumbledore said with a hint of amusement in his voice. "I'm quite sure this will pass."
The unmistakable real voice of Lucius Malfoy was heard from none other than his girlfriend, Narcissa Black.
"Those fucking Gryffindors are going to pay!"
"Ms. Black! Contain yourself immediately!" a severe looking teacher scolded the girl.
"What did you do, James?!" Lily asked while clutching her stomach from laughter.
"In a very short way to say this, all the Slytherin's personalities and voices are switched with the opposite gender," James proudly explained.
"And it'll stay like this for a week!" Sirius added with his famous smile that he was known all around school for.
Dumbledore's loud booming voice was suddenly heard over the now laughing crowd.
"I see that some of the students are undergoing through the normal vocal fluctuations. Well, quiet down, quiet down, I'm sure that everything will be perfectly fine in a few days time," the Headmaster tried assuring the Slytherin students.
"Are you kidding me?! It was Potter, Black, Lupin, and Pettigrew!" Lucius' girly voice yelled.
"Mr. Malfoy," the same teacher who had scolded Narcissa, warned Lucius.
"All right McGonagall!" Sirius whispered ecstatically while giving his best friends all a high five.
"I'm beginning to think that it's time to go back to our own Houses!" Dumbledore ordered.
There were loud scratching sounds from the wooden benches scraping across the stone floor heard all around the Great Hall. As all of the students were heading towards their houses, an incredibly large group of disgruntled Slytherins were walking towards the Dungeons.
The four boys, Lily and Hermione walked to the Gryffindor Common Room along with the other Gryffindors. Everyone else was situated in their own beds in their dormitories while the six teens were still in front of the fire downstairs.
"Lily, I think I'm going to go see Dumbledore right now," Hermione told her new found friend, and left the Common Room quickly as possible.
"Wait, Hermione!" Lily tried stopping her.
"Wonder what the rush is," Sirius thought aloud.
"James, I'm going to go after Hermione, she probably doesn't even know where Dumbledore's room is," Lily said while running out of the common room.
The witch searched for Hermione in the clearly deserted hallways.
"Where did she go?" Lily thought to herself while running towards the Headmaster's office.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Hermione briskly walked towards the familiar gargoyle stone, and to her surprise found the Headmaster standing in front of the gargoyle with a determined look on his face.
"Professor," Hermione tried getting his attention.
Dumbledore turned around and chuckled, "I'm afraid I forgot the password."
Hermione, not sure what to say, just stood there.
"Ah, yes, you look troubled. What is the matter?"
"Well, I-"
"I'm incredibly sorry, but I just remembered the password," Dumbledore grinned at Hermione.
Once the gargoyle stone jumped out of the way to reveal a staircase, the Headmaster beckoned the teen to follow him inside.
As soon as they were both situated in the room, the Headmaster offered the girl a lemon drop but Hermione declined.
When they settled into chairs, Hermione began to tell the Headmaster her problem.
"Professor, I'm not from here, and I don't think I'm supposed to be here either. I'm from the year 1997, not the year 1977!" Hermione exclaimed.
"I don't think I quite understand, Miss..."
"Granger. Hermione Granger."
"Ahh, Miss Granger. Please continue," Dumbledore urged the girl.
"I know for a fact, that in the morning in my time, I went on board the Hogwarts Express. No, I think I need to tell you everything now, so you'll understand," Hermione told the Headmaster.
"Miss Granger, although I would certainly enjoy learning about the future and what it holds, I believe this type of information is too volatile. If you could just tell me how you got here?" Dumbledore asked.
"Well... my friends and I boarded the train to Hogwarts this morning. We were talking while trying to grab an empty compartment, and we came upon the topic of Harry's parents and their friends. I'm still not sure what happened exactly, but there was a huge commotion going on in front of us, so we ran towards the site as fast as we could with our wands out. I tripped over something I'm not quite sure about, and I fell, head first with my wand in hand. After I hit the floor, I looked up and I find myself in front of Lily, James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter in the flesh as real as I am right now... in some way," Hermione finally ended.
"Miss Granger, can I please ask what type of wood and core you wand is made out of?" Dumbledore asked her.
"Um... it's made of vine wood with a dragon heartstring core. You don't need to know how long it is, do you?"
"No, no, that is all I needed. Well, Miss Granger, have you ever heard of the term Time Solstice?" the Headmaster had a calm exterior.
"I think I've read about it before," Hermione paused.
"Time solstice occurs only twice a year and will work for only one or two witches or wizards in the entire wizarding world. Those unique people, who actually have the ability to go through time, have a special type of wand, and that type of wand happens to be yours.
The pairing of vine wood and the dragon heartstring combined makes the wand a rare time traveling item," Dumbledore paused; he didn't want to overload the girl's mind with the news.
As suspected, Hermione was at a loss for words. Who would've known that her wand had a rare ability to enable her to travel through time, and only twice a year?
Ollivander might have known, well, he should have known since he specials in this field. But why didn't he ever tell her about this at the time she received her wand when she was a first year at Hogwarts?
Dumbledore must have read her mind or her peculiar expression, because he answered for the question that was running through head.
"I'm sure that you are thinking why the wand maker never told you about your wand, am I correct?"
Hermione just nodded.
He continued, "It is not correct for him to tell you of the mysteries of your wand. You alone are required to figure the secrets out yourself.
"You explained to me before that you were actually going to this school in the future? I see that you are a Gryffindor, but if you could enlighten me on the classes you were planning on taking?"
"I think I should just write them out for you," Hermione tried to hide her embarrassed face.
The Headmaster only smiled when he saw the list of classes that she had signed up for.
"I'll see to it that you have all of your supplies and some money to you by morning," he responded.
"Thank you so much, I-"
Dumbledore suddenly stood up from his chair and looked at his door.
"Miss Granger, I do hope that you would keep this a secret. Try to not reveal too much information on yourself and others, although, I see that Miss Evans already found out about this whole mess."
The Headmaster nearly laughed when he saw the look on Hermione's face. Before she could reply, he explained to her that Lily was right outside the door.
Hermione stumbled while getting up and muttered a soft thank you to the wizard and started to leave the room, but turned around.
"I thought you might like to know, that I had to tell Sirius, Remus, James, and Peter that I transferred from America. I told Lily as well, but you said that she's right outside, so I better try and explain to her," Hermione said.
Dumbledore just nodded his head towards her and bid her goodnight. Hermione left, and opened the door to find a startled Lily with wide eyes backing slowly away from the witch.
"Lily, I-" Hermione started, but was cut off by a very emotional red head.
"Oh, Hermione! I'm so sorry! I can't believe that you couldn't have told me any sooner! I would've tried to understand and oh wow, you're from the future!" Lily exclaimed.
Hermione just smiled faintly, "Yea, er- sorry for lying. I just didn't know what to say. How much did you hear?"
"Practically the whole thing...why do you ask?" Lily curiously asked.
"Well, now I don't have to repeat the entire story again," Hermione let out a breath in relief.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Lily and Hermione walked back to the Gryffindor Common Room in a rather happy mood.
"What are you two grinning like madwomen for?" James raised a questioning eyebrow.
"You seemed to be in a real hurry to go off to Dumbledore's," Sirius added.
Hermione was about to say something, but Lily immediately interjected.
"Sirius Black, it is none of your business wherever Hermione goes," Lily paused then looked at Hermione, "do you want to come upstairs? I have to talk to you about something."
"Um... sure?" Hermione seemed to just get in the conversation.
"Goodnight everyone," Lily briskly told the boys, and then kissed James' cheek while she went up towards the staircases to the girl's dormitories.
The remaining witch uncomfortably stood right in front of them, not knowing what to say.
"Um... 'night," Hermione said and immediately rushed off to follow Lily.
"Well, I'd say she's still scared of that dog face of yours, Pads," Remus joked.
"Not funny, considering someone who loves to howl at the moon every month," Sirius grumbled.
"Do I have to remind you that you join me every single time when I do howl at the lovely moon?" Remus continued to joke around.
Sirius wickedly grinned, "Too bad Prongsie and Wormtail can't. They either baa or squeak!"
"At least I have a more sophisticated look than a furry old mutt!" James refuted.
"Ouch, that really hurt," Sirius replied while placing a hand over his heart and falling down dramatically on the floor, landing with a thump.
"Besides Padfoot, I'm the only one who can actually dodge the Whomping Willow's branches. Last time I checked, when you tried, you failed rather miserably," Peter decided to get in the action.
"Very funny," Sirius muttered while he still was lying on the ground.
Soon after, the four of them all laughed at each other and started to talk about what they had in store for tomorrow.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"What took you so long?" Lily asked while patting the bed that she was currently sitting on, she was obviously waiting for Hermione to jump on.
"Stop exaggerating, I was only saying goodnight to the guys also," Hermione smiled while sitting down next to the red head.
"Did you take a few extra seconds to gaze at Remus?" Lily teased.
Hermione blushed, "I did not."
"Right," Lily giggled. "Well, I think you might want to change into something comfortable. Here, you can borrow my pajamas until we go shopping at Hogsmeade, all right?"
"Thank you so much," Hermione smiled, and quickly started to get in the clothes.
Once they were both settled and Hermione got back on Lily's bed, the witch immediately interrogated her friend.
"But really, do you fancy Remus?" Lily questioned.
The girls next to them suddenly grew interested in what the two were talking about.
"Ooh! Are you talking about Remus? I absolutely adore Sirius!" a girl in braids asked in an excited voice.
"They are soooooo cute!" another girl squealed almost loud enough that the Marauders downstairs probably could've heard.
"Julia, Angie, just go to bed and stay out of people's business!" Lily exasperatedly tried pushing them out of their conversation.
"Ugh... fine," the girl in braids, called Julia, plopped down in her bed.
The other girl followed Julia's lead and went back inside her covers.
Lily mouthed to the Hermione in front of her, "Mental. Both of them."
Hermione just chortled softly, then decided to close the red curtains around them and casted a Silence Charm around them.
"There, now there's privacy for talking," she smiled.
"Good job," Lily said in a mock-impressed voice.
"Ha-ha."
"Well, now back to business!" Lily restated.
Although Lily was incredibly determined to figure out if Hermione was interested in Remus, Hermione felt extremely uncomfortable.
It wasn't a secret between her and Ginny back home that Hermione did actually have a crush on her third-year professor.
"Did you know them from the future?" Lily suddenly asked.
There was a long pause, but then Hermione replied softly, "Lily, as much as I would like to tell you, I'm afraid I can't. Dumbledore stressed that if I told anyone what happens in the future everything would be in shambles."
Lily rubbed Hermione's back in a motherly way, Lily then replied, "It's ok Hermione."
After a few more minutes of trying to talk everything out, Hermione got out of Lily's bed and went into her own.
Hermione couldn't get herself comfortable on the bed but she had to admit that it was the exact same as the ones that she slept back in her present Hogwarts. However, the Marauders and Lily haunted her thoughts.
When she finally heard Lily fall asleep, she quietly walked out of her bed while grabbing her wand for precaution. The girl opened the door cautiously, afraid that the hinges would make a loud creaking sound, but luckily they didn't.
Hermione swiftly walked down to the common room, it was empty since it was nearly one o'clock in the morning.
"What am I going to do now..." Hermione quietly thought out loud.
She walked over to a rather large and plushy looking red armchair and curled herself into it. She transfigured a random piece of parchment into a large red wool blanket. A fire was still burning in the fireplace, so there was no need for bothering with it. Hermione wrapped the blanket around her and placed her head on the red armrest. She gazed deeply into the fireplace.
"I should study about Time Solstice and learn how the whole thing works and find out how soon I can go back to my time."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Remus woke up from his slumber from a very soft sound coming from the common room.
His acute wolf senses followed him when he was in human form which allowed for him to see and hear things more clearly than most. There are some perks to be able to sense things more, but then there are some very rare times when having good senses is a curse.
The teen crawled out of his bed slowly in fear of waking up his friends. He opened the door, not making a sound, and slowly walked down the stairs to the common room.
He found Hermione Granger curled up in his favorite armchair with a thick wool blanket covered around her. She seemed to be sleeping, but when he walked closer, he noticed she was just staring blankly at the fire.
Although he continued to walk towards her, she didn't seem to hear him coming.
Remus coughed and sat in the opposite direction of Hermione. It was then the witch noticed Remus.
"Oh, hello," Hermione whispered, her face now facing the other Gryffindor. "Did I wake you?"
Remus smiled slightly and replied, "No, but what are you doing up so late?"
"Couldn't sleep, what's your excuse?"
"I'm a light sleeper and Sirius was snoring," he lied.
"I'm sorry," Hermione laughed while sitting up.
When she did, the blanket fell down, revealing her in her tank top borrowed from Lily and a scar from the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.
Remus suddenly grew a bit uncomfortable. Although he didn't think he had any feelings for this girl, he wouldn't deny that Hermione was pretty. But now only seen in her tank top, Remus couldn't help but feel a sudden rush of warmth flood his face.
Hermione didn't bother bringing the blanket back up to her shoulders. Instead she just placed her hands on top of her lap and looked at Remus with a placid look on her face.
Remus, on the other hand, looked at her straight in the eye, but soon his gaze traveled down to her cheeks, lips, neck, and then shoulder, but what caught his attention the most was the long, healed, white scar that was located right below her collarbone.
Hermione had followed the wizard's gaze, and knew that he was going to ask about it.
"What happened?" Remus questioned, just like Hermione predicted.
"Here goes lie number two to my future professor."
"I have so many that I don't remember where I got them from. I guess you could say I'm danger prone in some way," Hermione joked.
Remus laughed quietly, "I can relate."
He was about say something else, but Hermione beat him to it first.
"You should probably go back to bed," Hermione immediately got up while wrapping the blanket around her shoulder. "I feel guilty for keeping you awake."
"I'm fine, seriously. I have trouble sleeping once I'm awaken, so if you're not tired, would you keep me company?" Remus boldly asked while he too got up from the red couch that he was sitting on and stepped forward towards Hermione.
Hermione was startled at first, but then smiled and nodded. Remus sat back down on the couch but wanted to ask her if she wanted to sit next to him.
However, as if Hermione read his mind, she hesitantly shuffled towards Remus and sat next to him. Once sitting down, she hesitantly reached over to pull the blanket over Remus and was feeling embarrassed but scolded her thoughts and reached over anyways.
Remus couldn't help but blush a deeper red. He quickly tried to conceal it and was successful since Hermione was looking down at the wool blanket.
"Thanks," Remus shyly told her.
"No problem," Hermione smiled once more.
Silence entered the room but neither person was too uncomfortable with it. Both Remus and Hermione were not sure what to say since they were too shy or tongue-tied.
"Well," Hermione broke the silence first, "can you tell me about Sirius, James, and Peter?"
"This will definitely take a long time," Remus laughed softly, still considering those who were sleeping upstairs.
The Gryffindor boy started to tell her about the day they all met each other. As Remus described the following events, Hermione decided to take notes of it to tell Harry when she got back.
As Remus continued to go through the years, Hermione's eyelids started to droop. The warmth of the fire and the cozy blanket was slowly lulling her to sleep.
Although she tried to fight against the drowsiness, she couldn't help but fall asleep. Her eyelids slowly closed and when she didn't answer to Remus' question, he turned to find Hermione asleep.
He couldn't help but smile. Remus wanted to lay her down on the couch and go back upstairs, but he couldn't just leave her alone.
Remus gently grabbed her shoulder and guided her down to lay down on the couch with him. He settled the blankets to cover both of them, while doing so, Hermione snuggled deep into Remus' chest.
"I bet James, Sirius and Peter will get a kick out of this in the morning," Remus thought and fell asleep with his arms around Hermione.
Was that awful? No? Yes? Maybe?
Tell me what you think because honestly, if nobody likes this I'm not going to waste my time uploading a bunch of nonsense.
Also, feel free to criticize, it's the only way for me to improve my writing.
Thanks!
-Susie