Why do I even have these author notes? I never write anything meaningful here...
Hogwarts, School of Withcraft and Wizardry, Library, September 3, 1977…
Hermione was humming softly to herself. She was obviously in her element in the library. There were no loud noises, no arguing, no awkward silences. And, best of all, no Sirius Black. She could tolerate James and Peter when they were in the large room, seeing as they hardly ever came in there and only came in there to study. Remus was like her best friend when they were in there, talking about all the books they'd read and recommending some to the other – or telling them to steer clear of another book. Lily and Alice either read, did homework, or gossiped quietly with her. It was nice.
She sighed happily to herself, letting the peace wash over her before taking out a book from her bag and leaning further against her chair, flipping to her page.
"Hey, Granger!" a voice said, a little bit above a whisper. He startled her and made her drop her book, whirling around to stare at Sirius Black with wide eyes. Remus was behind him, grimacing and clearly telling her that this was not his idea.
"Black," she hissed, retrieving her book as she glared at him, "What are you doing here?"
"What?" he asked, sitting down across from her as Remus hurried away from the war zone. "Can't I come into the library?"
"You haven't for the past six years," she frowned, crossing her arms, "What's with the change of heart?"
He sighed, looking at her with a touch of annoyance on his face, "You know that my family hates me, right?" As she was opening her mouth to object to him, he gave her a pointed look, making her close her mouth and nod at him with a sigh. "And you know that the Potters took me in during sixth year, right?" She nodded again, curiosity showing on her features. "Well, I feel like I owe it to Mrs. Potter to get a good score on the N.E.W.T.s."
"Sirius," she said, frowning at him a little, "You passed all your O.W.L.s without even opening a book."
"Passing is passing though," he shrugged, taking a book and leaning against his chair, "I could do better. So, imagine with all of my already smartitude – " she snorted " – and reading up more and more, I could be the supreme ruler of the world! Mwahaha!" He was then shushed by several of those around him.
"I doubt you'd be the supreme ruler of the world," she smirked, going back to her book, "Hogsmeade, maybe, if you're good."
"Oh trust me," he grinned lecherously at her across the table, "I'm more than good. OW!"
More shushes as Hermione smirked wider at his glare. "What have I told you about innuendoes around me?"
He only glared at her more and went back to his book, muttering to himself as he rubbed his knee.
"You went to the library?" James asked incredulously, staring at his friend as they walked to Potions, "I mean, Moony I get, but you?"
"Trust me, it wasn't to study," Moony snorted, frowning at his friend, "He was trying to hit on Hermione."
"And how'd that work out?" Peter asked dully.
"Well, she only kicked my knee once," Sirius grinned, "I think that's an improvement."
"Sirius, you've picked on and made fun of Hermione for ages," Remus said, "You've got as much of a chance as going out with Hermione as James does with Lily."
"Hey!" James shouted indignantly, making Sirius grimace at the odds.
"Ooh," he winced before shrugging, "Ahh well, I'll just have to try harder."
"Merlin," Remus groaned, "Hogwarts is going to go up in flames."
"Sirius Black was in the library?" Alice blinked as she put in an earring, fixing her hair as Lily glared at her uncooperative bangs.
"Yeah," Hermione said, perching on one of the sinks as Moaning Myrtle glared at them, "He said he was trying to do better in the N.E.W.T.s for James' mum. And then he went on to talk about being the 'supreme ruler of the world' – and I quote 'mwahaha.'" She rolled her eyes.
"So, how many times did you kick him?" Lily asked, finally just putting in a headband.
"Surprisingly, only once!" she said, hopping down and grabbing her bag.
"Wow, that's a record!" Alice said as they filed out and went to class.
Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Potions Classroom, September 3, 1977…
Hermione and Lily were talking quietly with one another, James and Sirius making a house of cards out of exploding snap cards. Remus was talking to Alice about the benefits of Veritaserum, and Peter was sitting next to Remus, being an awkward turtle.
Slughorn waddled in, making all noise cease as he went to the chalkboard and turned around, waving his wand in the air. The students' belongings floated up, making them give out a few indignant 'hey's! "We will be having assigned seats this year. Now, up here at the front, let's have our two Heads." The people sitting in that spot already got up and walked over to the wall to stand there awkwardly. Lily winced at Hermione as she walked over to where she was supposed to go, James following her happily. Slughorn lowered their things to them.
"Next to them, Miss Prewett and Mister Lupin," he said, making Alice and Remus smile and shrug and walk over to sit in the middle table.
"Next up, Severus Snape and Marissa Dunbar." Snape and Marissa walked over to their table, Snape and James glaring at each other the entire time as Lily turned her head away.
"Now, behind our two Heads, why not…no, not you Mister Black," he frowned at Sirius' waving hand, making him put it down with a huff. "Eileen Mortimer and…alright, Darren, you too." The two cousins walked together, Lily turning around to smile and wave at the two as James tried to hide from them.
"And…Miss Granger and Mister Black." At Hermione's gaping face and wide eyes, he looked at her sympathetically, "Of all the people in here, I trust you the most to not allow him to blow us up in a fiery chasm of death. Anyway!"
Hermione slid in behind Remus, sighing and rolling her eyes as her books floated down to her. She took one out, scanning the pages before somebody tapped her on the shoulder.
"Excuse me," Darren said, holding out her quill, "You seem to have dropped this." Darren Mortimer had been homeschooled up until he was fifteen when his grandfather died, leaving him to go and live with his aunt and Eileen. He'd been sorted into Ravenclaw, Eileen in Hufflepuff, and Hermione might've had a slight crush on him when he first came to Hogwarts. And by 'slight', I mean 'massive.' And by 'first came to Hogwarts,' I mean 'it never really went away.' He had smooth tan skin and bright blue eyes, dark brown hair that fell around his face.
"Aha," Hermione giggled nervously, glancing at a smirking Alice, "Err – thanks, Mortimer."
"Please, call me Darren," he grinned as she took her quill back.
"Mmkay," she said squeakily as he grinned wider and Alice giggled behind her hands.
"So – ah, Harmony, is it?" he asked, leaning closer to her across the gap, making Sirius turn his head away from the two and roll his eyes.
"Actually, it's Hermione," she smiled politely.
"Oh, my mistake. I must've thought it was Harmony because of how musical your voice sounded," he grinned.
"Oh my god," Sirius said particularly loudly, making Hermione glare at him. Alice might've smacked him in the head with her Potions book.
"Enough socializing, Mister Mortimer, we have class to get to," Slughorn said with a slight frown, walking between their two tables and getting to the front. "Can anyone tell me what Felix Felicis is – Miss Evans?"
"It's a potion that enhances your luck," she said with a smile.
"Correct, two points to Gryffindor," he smiled back. "Can anyone tell me why someone would use it?"
"To pass a class?"
"To sneak out of your house after curfew and not get caught?"
"To get the girl?"
"All very excellent ideas – although I wouldn't suggest actually attempting yours, Miss Dunbar," he glanced at her for a moment, "Now can someone tell me what it isn't allowed to be used for?"
"Quidditch tournaments and games," Sirius answered, his head turned to the paper so that he was unaware of Slughorn and a majority of the class was staring at him.
"Ahh – correct, Mister Black," Slughorn blinked, "Fifteen points to Gryffindor."
"Wait, fifteen?" Sirius looked up at him and blinked, "To Gryffindor? I never do that!"
"It's mostly points taken away," Hermione blinked back at him before smiling slightly at him, "Good job, Black."
He just stared dazedly at her before turning back to stare at the back of Alice's head. He wondered for a moment if maybe someone had put Felix Felicis in in his drink at breakfast. Only one kick from Hermione, fifteen points to Gryffindor, and he actually got a praise from his new Potions partner – who was the girl who'd only kicked him once that day.
I love magic, he thought to himself.
So, umm…I can't quite think of anything to say here except that I'd love feedback. Real, honest feedback. Don't make me give you Veritaserum! – Birdie