Ms Snowflake
by Eve13
Rating: R (because of later chapters)
Setting: during year seven
Pairing: Sirius Black / Hermione Granger
Authors Note: Now...drums on with chapter two ! I'm afraid that it isn't much more than a filler, but...shrugs
Disclaimer: HARRY POTTER, characters, names, and all related indicia are trademarks of Warner Bros. © 2001 - 2005
this brilliant dream: thanks for pointing that out to me again...I do forget it quite often, actually (there are countless prologues for HG/SB or HG/LM stories found on my computer, but in 90 of them, I had problems with her character) and I need every advice I can get
Siren's Call: thanks...I recently watched the first movie again, maybe that's were the seeker came from - I (kind of) fixed it with this update
Thanks to all others who reviewed so far !
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Chapter 2 - Meeting the gang
It had been a quiet night for Hermione - she sent a lenghty thank you to the wizard who had invented the Dreamless Sleep - Potion - and for a short moment after she had opened her eyes, the day before seemed like some sort of vision or blurred fantasy. Nevertheless, reality hit full force when she turned her head towards the beside table, half expecting to see an alarm clock and her wand but instead looking at a rather thick book with "Magical Education Volume 24 - The Salem Institute of Magic" printed on the cover.
So it had been real. Very real, she concluded, for her chest still hurt uncomfortably when she tried to get up. The witch fell back on the sheets of the hospital bed, the creaking noise of the frame alerting the ever-present nurse. She pushed the thick curtains apart and immediately started to wave her wand a few times, muttering a string of wicked curses under her breath. All the same, those youngsters, all the same.
While the blanket folded itself at the end of the bed and the pillow was smoothed by an invisible hand, Hermione hurried to put on the clothes Madame Pomfrey had handed to her with the information that this years' Head Girl was just glad to help out. She was about to ask who exactly this Head Girl was, but the older Mediwitch seemingly was in a hurry to get Hermione to Dumbledore and the younger woman suddenly remembered whom she would meet there in his hidden office.
Harry had often told her about his parents and the Marauders - and the amount of information she had heard had increased greatly after year three when Remus - also known as "Moony", the werewolf - had been their Defence against the Dark Arts teacher. She checked and double-checked every single bit she had memorized and made a mental note to show Petter Pettigrew - or "Wormtail" - every single ounce of contempt she held for him and then, suddenly realization dawned on her. Sure ! James and Lilly had been Head Boy and Head Girl in their last year ! Hermione sent a short prayer to the heavens, pleading that she wasn't wearing anything that belonged to Lily Evans at the moment, at the same time preparing herself to see a young, freckled, red-haired girl in the headmasters' office - together with someone who could be an exact copy of Harry.
Thankfully, Madame Pomfrey brought her out of her thoughts with a quick movement of her wand that swept her few possesions from the side table into her lap. Urged by the head nurse, she hurried to get full dressed, stored her wand away securely and slid her damaged timeturner into a pocket of her school robes, not wanting anyone to notice the...situation...she currently was in . Then she trotted towards the office at the side of the older witch.
On their way through the castle, Hermione saw that it didn't even look much different from the buzzing community she knew. There were students chatting and busily writing (she suspected that at least 60 of them were in the middle of copying homework) over the whole place and occasionally a teacher swept by (one time, she thought she had seen a tall man with billowing black robes and long black hair, but later on she found it to be a product of her imagination - after all Snape was still a student here and Slughorn was teaching Potions).
When they finally arrived in front of a large gargoyle, the nurse uttered the password ("honey bonbon") and they both stepped onto a long winding staircase that - hence the name - started to wind itself upwards towards a large engraved door. Poppy Pomfrey knocked twice and from the room they heard a joyful
"Please enter!".
Frowning, the older witch opened the door and stepped in with Hermione following - the latter let out a sigh when she noticed that, apparently, there was no one else present. Dumbledore had a wide grin plastered on his face, his eyes twinkling with amusement, as he said the following :
"Our dear Miss Evans here was so kind to inform me of the latest pranks her comrades had in mind. I do have to say that I have never before had students with such a fantastic imagination. Now, Miss Evans, may I introduce you to a new exchange student from the United States. Due to private reasons she has not been able to arrive at the beginning of the year. I will leave it to you as our Head Girl to show her around.".
He extended one hand towards Hermione and the other one towards a girl just getting up from an old armchair.
"Hermione Granger, our exchange student, Lily Evans, our Head Girl this year. I am afraid Mr. Potter couldn't make it here, but I believe you will be introduced to him in no time."
The Head Girl smiled warmly at her, shaking her hand, her eyes twinkling and her red hair shining in the morning light. A bright
"Hey there !"
came from her lips and Hermione now definitely could understand why everyone was so fascinated about her. She radiated an immense joie de vivre, happiness flowing out of every pore. Your day definitely got brighter once she walked by you.
--
Ten to fifteen minutes later they were out of the office, Hermione packed with books and her timetable (which was, she realized, a very packed one), and Lily at her side, happily chatting away.
"You're one lucky gal there - you're going to have every single class with me and my pals. I tell you one thing, be happy about that because being alone with Snivellus or Lucifer gives everyone the creeps...".
Noticing the "exchange-students" questioning glance, she continued:
"Snivellus and Lucifer are two Slytherins here. They're quite some idiots - unfortunately their Gringotts vaults are stocked much better than their brains, so they think they are superior to others. Are you a muggle-born ?".
At the nod she received , she first squeaked excitedly, then her face got a shade darker:
"So be careful. Those two are quite inclined to let everyone know that they're purebloods - even though Snivellus isn't really one. He just pretends it. They make fun of me - I'm a muggle-born too - and others. Fortunately I've got my friends here. They're going to help you too, that's sure. There's James, my boyfriend...",
at the mention of the name, her face lit up considerably and Hermione almost grinned.
"...he's a pureblood, too, and he's recently told me again that, I quote, "he doesn't give a damn, Merlins' beard !". Then there's Sirius, quite a nice guy, although he is, admittedly, a bit of a ladies man. His cousins are here too, but they're in Slytherin, so no need to think of them. There's also Remus, perhaps the most quiet one. He's quite sweet, but he has got his dark side. You're gonna see !".
She winked at her. Yes, Hermione thought. Dark side.Right. All dark and furry with big teeth. Lily rambled on about Peter (she didn't say very much about him and sure as hell wasn't as fond of him as of the others) and then she said :
"My, my, you're going to like them for sure - I've never had as much fun in my whole lifetime !".
Hermione didn't pay any attention to what she spoke afterwards...they were already approaching the Great Hall. She was hoping that Harry and Ron would sit there, but instead, at the Gryffindor table, there were four guys, one of them patting an empty spot next to him. He had unruly, dark brown hair, wore glasses, and she didn't need to guess his identity when Lily walked up to him and kissed him on the lips. For a moment, her jaw dropped, but then a familiar voice complained:
"Hey, Prongs ! No public makeout session here...Moony and me, we want to eat. By the way, who's that nice lady you brought here, Lilz ?".
Hermione's eyes wandered to a seventeen years old boy with curly black hair that fell to his shoulders. In his eyes was a mischievous glint...and she knew the voice. Her mind drifted off, to a moment years ago on the roof of the castle's northern tower.
You are truly the brightest witch of your age.
Sirius. She eyed him for moment, curious about his looks, but then another one, seemingly Remus, had taken the initiative.
"You're new here, huh ? Come on, take a seat.".
Only then Lily turned to her, her eyes glittering.
"Whoops...sorry. Got distracted.".
She smiled, showing off a row of white teeth.
"Anyway, this is James, this is Sirius...".
Merlin, how Hermione wanted to share this moment with Harry.
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Lucifer Lucius ... I decided he needed a nickname too ...
Ha ! So far for chapter two. Please leave a review (if you found any grammatical errors and words used in the wrong context, please include them, as English is not my native language) !
Eve13
