I was so excited by the responses that I started typing up chapter 2 immediately. I was super giddy, you have no idea. And even then, it is still a day late.

As always, I own nothing it all belongs to Rowling.

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"Bloody hell"

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James stood up from his spot on the brilliant red couch in front of the fire and looked her over followed by Sirius and Remus and lastly Peter, whom had been curled up in one of the armchairs adjacent, cowering behind the others. "So, you're a Gryffindor then? How odd… I would have figured Slytherin or… something of that nature." He gestured at her indifferently with a wave of his hand.

Sirius gave a bark of a laugh. "Definitely not Slytherin, Prongs, Ravenclaw maybe, but Slytherin definitely not."

Hermione stood her arms crossed over her chest. "If you don't mind, I'd like to get some sleep, I haven't slept in," She stopped her eyes wide, technically she hadn't slept in over twenty-four hours. She shook her head. "I need to sleep."

Remus watched her, the way she moved and he knew she was uncomfortable, by the shadows under her eyes he'd have guessed it would have been a very long time since she had slept well. He tapped James' shoulder. "Prongs, let her sleep. She obviously needs it."

It was in that moment she realized she was looking at Remus, her last memory of home, and that was when the tear gates flooded. She turned and ran a hand pressed to her lips as she stumbled up the familiar staircase and to, wherever she ended up.

It was at the top of the stairs that she ran into a back, a back curtained by brilliant red hair. The girl turned and looked at her brilliant green eyes wide in fright. The girl pressed a hand to her chest. "Oh sweet Merlin, you startled me."

Hermione stood stunned her eyes blurred with tears but unable to deny what was right in front of her. "I-I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to…" She sobbed and Lily's face softened immediately.

"Are you okay?" She reached a hand out to touch Hermione's shoulder comfortingly. Her eyes were full of concern and it dawned on her that this had to be the new girl, 'Gracel.' She took her hand. "Are you Gracel?"

Hermione nodded slowly. Wiping her eyes before her tears spilled over. She sniffled and gave a weak smile. "I am." She held out her hand. "Hermione Gracel."

Lily took it and shook it slowly. "Lily, Lily Evans. You're in my room. Come on, I'll show you where it is." She turned on her heel and looked back at Hermione and waved for her to follow leading her around a corner and up a couple more flights of stairs to a large circular room with five four-poster beds draped in scarlet curtains trimmed in gold lions fighting each other. The room was simple with oak furniture and gold plaques at the end of the bed. The empty bed directly across from the door hand her last name and a simple trunk in front of it.

Lily smiled at her. "Well, this is the room, your trunk showed up right before you did. I was wondering what you would look like, not quite how I pictured you." Lily spoke slowly appraising Hermione a finger pressed to her lips. Hermione, not exactly enjoying the attention cleared her throat and moved away from Lily to her trunk.

Upon opening it she found ample amounts of scrolls and quills as well as ink and various other book and school supplies piled upon her school robes. She nodded checking everything over in her head while Lily rambled on about Hermione's hair.

Remus looked at the girl as she practically ran off. He was very confused by her reaction; it was like she looked at him and burst into tears. He looked at James and Sirius for some kind of answer as the only girl he had had much contact with was Lily, and she never did that, but they looked just as stumped. Finally James spoke up calling to mind a very serious question. "So, has anyone else heard of a seventh year transferring to Hogwarts?"

Remus tilted his head in thought. It didn't sound very familiar; everyone in their year had been with them since first year. He shook his head slowly his ragged sandy hair falling in front of his eyes. Sirius shrugged and whispered something to James sharing a nod with him and pulling away like it hadn't happened.

Remus was about to ask what was going on when Lily came down the stairs and came walking towards the Marauders, the four boys being the only ones in the room at that moment because they had frightened off some of the younger students earlier. She looked slightly frustrated as she curled up next to James and sighed. "Have you all met Gracel yet?" She looked at James though she was asking everyone. They all nodded slowly and Hermione narrowed her eyes. "So, I'm guessing it was your fault she was crying?"

Remus gulped and looked down mumbling faintly. "Well, yes, it's true, but we actually don't know why she was crying, except for what Padfoot and Prongs said." He spoke gesturing to said men, on sitting on the floor his back resting against James and Remus' legs. Book received a hardly slap on the back of their heads from Lily.

"You two are both such gits." She frowned. "The poor girl has been here less than a day and you're already terrorizing her?" Lily crossed her arms over her chest pulling away from James a bit to look him square in the eye. Her emerald eyes glowed with fire. "How could you be so cruel? I thought you had grown up?"

James looked back at the guys and then to Lily avoiding her eyes directly. "Well, Lils, you see, it doesn't make sense." He mumbled. "She came out of nowhere practically landed on me and she knew my name, both my nickname and my real name." Lily's eyes widened. "She called me Harry and then she said she had to see Dumbledore and now she is in Gryffindor, in your room."

Lily nodded slowly turning to look at the fire watch the flames as she so often did when thinking. James meanwhile was making eye contact with Sirius and they were having their own slightly panicked conversation with their eyes. Remus ignored it and closed his eyes with a sigh.

He loved puzzles, but this one seemed strangely personal, like this woman was somehow thrown into their lives by something greater than themselves. He shook his head. Those muggle philosophy books he was reading were starting to effect his way of thinking. Not like it was a bad thing he nodded to himself and then opened his eyes to see Peter staring at him confused. He leaned forward and giving a glance to Sirius and James whispered. "What are they talking about?"

Remus looked at the two men in question and narrowed his eyes. He gave a small chuckle and looked back at Peter. "Planning a prank, world domination, or maybe, I don't know, Hermione?"

Remus sighed and gently tapped Lily's shoulder making her jump. She looked at him eyebrows rose. "Yes, Remus?" She asked sweetly then seeing something in his facial expression her eyebrows knit together. "What's wrong?" She put a hand on his knee.

Remus looked down and sighed again. "Will you tell Hermione I'm sorry, for, whatever I did to make her cry?" With that he stood tucking his hands into his pockets and walking off up to his dorm room. Only Peter at that moment noticed and hurried after him leaving James and Sirius back to their near telepathic conversation. Lily looked after the two men and then turned back to James and Sirius and rolled her eyes. Of course.

Hermione curled up on her bed changing into a pair of midnight blue linen pajama pants and top. They were soft, though not nearly as soft as hers back home. This thought in and of itself made her want to start crying all over again. It amazed her that she could even produce tears anymore at this point. She curled up and removed her silencing charm. It was hard to think about anything and so she closed her eyes, curled up under her warm red and gold blankets and drifted into the dreamland she would learn to abhor.

She woke into terror her blankets tightly wrapped around her and Lily standing over her bed breathing hard and pinning her down. She refused to look into Lily's worried eyes but lily released her and took her chin in hand dragging Hermione's eyes to meet hers. "What's wrong?"

Hermione gulped and sniffled, pushing her hair out of her face. "It was just a nightmare, Lily, I'm fine." Hermione pulled away from her and laid back down her back to Lily and her blankets puller up to her chin. "Go back to sleep and I'll put up a silencing charm."

Lily looked slightly affronted but stood up and threw her hands up. "Fine. Next time your screaming and crying like you're dying, I won't come and wake you up." She went back to her bed throwing the curtain back and then closing it around her. Hermione sat up to do the same and pulled her wand from under her bed casting the silencing charm around her bed again.

She stayed sitting up her eyes covering her face as tears spilled down her pale cheeks. She had dreamt of the war, seeing everyone dying around her. It had been terrifying to see that march of the dead pass her eyes. She fell back on her bed tired down to her bones. Instead of going back to sleep she stayed curled up in the fetal position her wand in her hand until the first rays of sunlight crept into the room. Then she burst from her bed with quickness unknown to her tired mind and body. She hurried to shower and change and was downstairs in less than twenty minutes with her school bag on her shoulder and her hair magically dried. Her curls looked less untamed than they had the night before though there were dark circles under her winter eyes. She curled up on the couch in front of the already roaring fire and began reading her favorite book Hogwarts: a History. She read noting the differences between the two until a gentle hand tapped her shoulder pulling her away from her reading.

She whipped out her wand as she stood up, the book falling off of her lap and onto the floor with a loud thud. Remus stood there his eyes wide his hands up in peace while Sirius and James, both standing behind him whipped out their wands too clearly caught off guard but reacting out of instinct. Hermione's face was twisted in fury, but when she finally realized who she was aiming at she stepped back and looked down ashamed dropping her wand arm to her side. "I-I'm so sorry, Remus."

Remus was too stunned for words at this point and just stood there his hands up and his mouth open. He had never seen anyone react like that, neither that fast nor with such ferocity as he saw etched into her normally kind face. His heightened senses picked up on the strong scent of fear coming from the girl. He immediately wondered what had happened to her and the growing need to destroy whatever had created this reflex in her. Both thoughts ran simultaneously through his mind puzzling him to great lengths.

James and Sirius kept their wands up a few seconds after Hermione dropped theirs. They kept their eyes on her ready to draw again. It was only when lily and Peter came down stairs and stopped dead in their tracks did anybody else move. "What's going on here?" Lily asked quietly unsure. It was then that Hermione snapped out of her daze and picked up her book shook her head her once halfway decent hair flying around her face and puffing up to its usual size. She hurried out of the room her head down leaving everyone wondering what was going on. Remus hurried after her followed by everyone else.

"Hermione?" He came up behind her practically jogging to keep up as she headed downstairs to the Great Hall. "Hermione? Hello?" He sighed exasperated and slowed down to catch back up with the guys and Lily.

Lily took Remus' arm and pulled him to her side as they walked. "What was going on when I came downstairs?" She gestured to James and Sirius. "They won't tell me."

Remus nodded slowly. "Well, I went to tap Hermione on the shoulder to get her attention and she freaked out. She pulled her wand on me faster than anyone I've ever seen, including professional duelers like Professor Greggin. She was terrified; I could smell it on her."

Lily nodded and bit her lip. "She had a really bad nightmare last night; screaming and tossing like she was under the Cruciatus curse. I used to have nightmares, but they were nothing like that."

Remus nodded and was pulled from his thoughts as Lily dragged him and herself away from the Marauders and into the Great Hall where the early risers were already eating, including Hermione at the far end of the table, the only one not including himself and the rest of his friends. Lily led him down to Hermione and they sat on either side of her not yet talking. She did not look up but kept reading and eating her toast. Now that Remus was right next to her he could see the dark shadows under her eyes clear as day.

"What are you reading?" He asked softly making her look up from her book and jump.

"Merlin, Remus, you scared me." Lily laughed softly on the other side of her making Hermione jump once again. He cleared his throat and repeated the question.

She held up her book and both Lily and Remus raised an eyebrow. "Hogwarts: A History? Why are you reading a textbook?" He inquired gently trying not to be admonishing.

She blushed faintly and tried to think of a good lie. "Well, I… I wanted to start reading so maybe I wouldn't be too far behind in classes." She shrugged and it seemed that both Remus and Lily accepted this answer as valid.

Remus took a deep breath and closed his eyes before turning to look at Hermione head on. "I'm sorry for making you cry last night." He spoke rather rapidly but by the jerk of her head and the realization in her wide eyes he knew she'd heard.

"Oh, Remus!"She hugged him tight not realizing the gesture and promptly let go blushing as she did. She looked down hoping her thick hair would hide the color. "It wasn't your fault… you just… remind me of my home." She shrugged and went back to nibbling her toast. Remus looked over her head at Lily who was equally puzzled.

"So," Lily started softly. "Where is home?"

Hermione coughed and bit her lip. She hadn't thought about this yet. "Home is… well, "Another cough. " Up until this year I was homeschooled. I transferred here this year so as to get my NEWTs."

Remus nodded though something about it seemed wrong. He had heard about some wizarding families keeping their kids home for extended periods, but not quite as long as until 7th year. He shook his head. "Well, at least you're here now then."

Lily nodded. "What classes are you taking?" She asked actually quite curious.

Hermione dug in her bag and pulled out her schedule. "Well, Advanced Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Study of Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and Alchemy." She read down the list nodding slowly. She would have a very full schedule this year. It actually made her giddy.

Remus and Lily sat there wide-eyed "That's…" Remus started.

"…Quite a schedule." Lily finished.

Hermione looked up her eyes blue eyes blazing with more color than before. "I can't wait."

It was at that moment that James and Sirius strode over James leaning heavily on Lil's shoulders and Sirius doing the same to Remus. "So," Sirius started his cool gray eyes full of mischief. "What are we doing over here that's got that one," He motioned his head to Hermione, "All worked up?"

Hermione blushed a vibrant shade of red as she looked at Sirius. He looked so much younger and happier and… handsome than she ever saw him when he was alive in her time. "Nothing you'd care about Padfoot" She said quietly then snapped her mouth shut her eyes wide as she realized her slip up. Everyone else seemed to have caught it as well.

"Excuse me?" Sirius said softly, almost dangerously, "How do you know my name?" He leaned his head down so it was right next to hers in between Remus and Hermione.

She squeaked and stood up nearly knocking Sirius over as she pushed past him her book pressed to her chest and her knuckles white around its edges.

Sirius looked at everyone but James' eyes followed the girl out of her hall. Without a second thought he grabbed Sirius by the collar and pulled him along making Remus get up to or be knocked to the floor. The Hall had momentarily stopped to watch the commotion because Sirius was complaining rather loudly as he and James left because James refused to let go of his collar. Peter ignored said commotion and continued eating while Remus and Lily hurried after them blushing at the attention.

Once outside they pulled out the Marauder's map and hunted down Hermione's feet, but what threw them off, was the name below her first. 'Granger'. She was in the Library in one of the quiet and cut off corners. Seeing this they all took off not bothering with probably being late to their first class of the day, it could wait. This was so much bigger.

When the group finally made it up to the library and to her corner they found a ball of black hair curled up in a chair in tears sobbed silently oblivious to their presence. Lily motioned for the boys to back off for a second as she knelt next to Hermione's chair and put a hand on her knee. "Hermione, Hermione Granger?"

The girl looked up her wide eyes blood shot making the blue even more striking. "H-how, d-do you kn-now that n-name." She stuttered out her breath ragged and shallow.

Remus took a deep breath and pulled the map from Sirius's hands and held it out to her. She took it slowly her hand shaking. She looked down and gave a small and pathetic whimper as she caught her name on the paper. "You have a lot of explaining to do." Sirius spoke gruffly.

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Well, it's a day late, but my English class was very demanding this week. I know it's terrible, but I will make up for it… hopefully by making next chapter twice as long because these rink-dink chapters are probably annoying.

Anyways, please, constructive criticism is always admirable.