Well...as promised here is the next chapter (whish was really the other half of chapter 2). Enjoy it!!
Disclaimer: I am still not a wealthy Brit. Dammit. I do not own Harry.
Hermione and Sirius entered the Great Hall just in time to see Minerva McGonagall taking the sorting hat off the last student and resuming her seat next to the Headmaster. Hermione caught his eye, and he winked at her. She smiled up at the Headmaster, and upon feeling a tug on her arm she followed Sirius to the Gryffindor table.
"Hermione is going to be in Gryffindor with us," stated Sirius, his voice taking on a matter of fact tone.
"Really Padfoot?" said James, acting surprised. "What gave that away? Besides, oh you know, the fact that Hermione is sitting at the Gryffindor table with us. And wait! Oh looky there, we are Gryffindors."
"Good observation," chimed in Remus. Sirius merely glared at the grinning faces of his two friends, before turning his attention to the giggling Hermione.
"When's your birthday Hermione?" he asked, slapping some butter into the roll that was clutched in his hand.
"September 19th," she answered, reaching across the table to grab some chicken. "I'm going to be eighteen."
"The nineteenth?" James said, tossing Remus and Sirius a glance, "Why that's right around the corner Hermione! We can have a party in the common room! Or in the Dormitory!"
"The boys' dormitory of course," added Sirius, "When those bloody stairs turn into a slide, it hurts. Slides aren't all fun and giggles."
"You really don't have to throw me a party," she started explaining, knowing that she was going unheard. She head already heard the work fireworks whispered and fire whiskey.
"Oh dear brother!" rang out a voice from across the hall, "You better tell your little girlfriend to watch herself. We aren't going to forget about the little stunt she pulled!"
"Tell her yourself," barked Sirius.
Hermione stood from her place at the Gryffindor table, hands falling dangerously to her hips, "First Regulus," she spat, "Sirius is not my boyfriend." She looked down to Sirius, "No offense," she whispered. Turning her attention back to the boy standing across the Hall, "Second," she hissed, "Did you not learn anything from our little encounter? Perhaps you should go see the nurse, I don't think your brain may be petrified still."
Hermione sat back down in her seat, her lightly tanned skin tinted red from yelling. She picked up her chicken and took a bite of it furiously, her eyes looking up to meet the Marauders. "What?" she asked, swallowing her chicken, "Do I have something in my teeth?"
"No, your teeth are fine," stuttered James, his eyes never leaving Hermione.
"You did it again," breathed Sirius in awe.
"What these two oafs are trying to say Hermione," said Remus, chuckling at his friends, "you managed to best Regulus Black twice in one night. A feat only accomplished by the Marauders."
"Oh," she said, "well I can't stand prats like him. Bloody arrogant gits."
"Did I just hear someone in the presence of Potter and Black call someone other then them arrogant?"
Hermione turned her head to her left, and for a brief moment she thought that she was looking into Harry's eyes, but then she noticed the bright red hair framing he delicate face. And the lip gloss was a dead give away. Lily Evans. Harry's mother.
"Why yes you did Evans." said James, "And may I add that you are looking lovely as ever tonight."
Lily rolled her eyes, "No you may not add that."
Hermione had to stifle a giggle at the exchange between the two Gryffindors, mainly because she saw the blush rise into Lily's cheeks. Hermione automatically returned to eating, her eyes cast down at her plate, but she could feel someone's eyes boring into the top of her head. When she looked up she found Lily smiling at her. "Hello," she said, "I don't think we've met. I'm Lily Evans."
"Nice to meet you Lily," she said, "I'm Hermione Granger. You're a seventh year right?"
"Sure am," she said, smiling brightly at Hermione.
"And she is Head Girl," added James, "with me as Head Boy."
"Oh don't remind me," moaned Lily, tossing her head down onto the table. She looked back up at Hermione, "You're a seventh year as well?"
"Yeah," she answered, "Looks like you and I are going to be roommates."
"Well," said Lily, eyeing Hermione with interest, "you may not want to continue to hang around this bunch. They are bound to get you into trouble. It follows them everywhere."
"Evans!" cried James, "I'm hurt!"
"Us? Trouble?" wailed Sirius, "Never!"
"How could you say such a thing?" James held his hand up to his face, acting as though he felt faint. Everyone around them was giggling, including Hermione, but Lily simply rolled her eyes.
"I take that back," she said. A hopeful look flashed across James' face. "Remus is okay."
Remus shrugged as James turned his eyes onto him. "Him!? He's alright?" he shouted, "but he's a--Oh, never mind. Remus is alright."
"Thanks mate," said Remus, "Way to support your pal."
Before Hermione knew it she was swept into a discussion with Lily about what classes she had taken, and what books she had read. Hermione looked back over to the Marauders, smiling weakly at them. She was pulled back into the conversation with Lily, leaving the boys to their own devices.
"I think I am going to ask Hermione to Hogsmeade," said Sirius, not taking his eyes off the girl as she say talking animatedly with Lily.
"Are you sure?" asked Remus, eyeing his friend, "She's a pretty girl, but-"
"Pretty?" asked Sirius, "Are you blind Remus? The girl's bloody beautiful."
"Alright," replied Remus warily, "but is she really your type? I mean, she liked reading, and apparently school."
"All the things you don't like Padfoot," added James.
"Yeah," he said, "I know."
"I think is in love Moony,"
"You may be right Prongs."
"It has to be love," said James, "He is risking numerous trips into the library."
"Somewhere he wont even step foot in to pull a prank," chuckled Remus.
"Can you two shut up," barked Sirius, "I am not in love. I've only know the girl a few hours."
"Generally in a few hours," added Remus, "You're already over the girl, and onto the next"
"This is true Padfoot," said James.
"Sod off, the both of you." spat Sirius.
"Is there a problem Mr. Black?" asked a stern voice from behind him. Sirius swallowed the chicken in his mouth, turning to face Professor McGonagall.
"Why no Minerva," he said lightly, "I was just saying to my dear old friends here that you have gotten even more lovely over the summer. I didn't think it was possible."
"What in the name of Merlin am I going to do with you Mr. Black?" She said aloud, shuffling through her stack of schedules.
"Anything you wish," he winked at the Professor, taking his schedule from her. In a matter of ten minutes all Gryffindors had their schedules. That is all Gryffindors except for…
"Miss Granger!" came the voice of McGonagall, "Can you come here for a moment please?"
Hermione stood, ignoring the thumbs up from Sirius and James, and made her way to the front where Prof McGonagall was standing.
"Yes mam?" she asked, her hands folded gently in front of her.
"Albus has informed me of your, er, situation," she looked at Hermione, who nodded in response, "What classes had you planned on taking this year?"
"Oh," said Hermione, relieved that she wasn't in trouble, "Transfiguration, Potions, Arithmancy, Charms, History of Magic, and Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Very well," Professor McGonagall tapped the blank parchment with her wand, and handed Hermione her schedule. Hermione smiled down at it, and promptly skipped back towards her friends.
"Think she will do well Albus?" asked Minerva taking her seat.
"I would chance her being the best in her year, but we shall see about this one."
As Hermione made her way back to the Marauders, and Lily, she noticed Lily standing, getting ready to leave. Taking this as her chance to get to know Lily a bit better, she hurried over to her.
"Lily," she asked, picking up her messenger bag, "would you mind showing me to the common room?"
"Of course not," she said, "Let me just say goodbye to a few people."
Hermione nodded, watching as Lily made her way to the other end of the table. "Going to bed so soon Hermione?" asked James.
"I want to get settled in," she said looking at each of the three boys.
"Understandable," said Remus, smiling at her. "If you aren't too tired Hermione, I will be glad to show you where the library is."
"That would be wonderful Remus!" she exclaimed.
Sirius shot a glare at the werewolf, then suddenly felt guilty. He knew Remus was just trying to be helpful. At least he hoped Remus was just trying to be helpful.
"Come on Hermione," said Lily, as she ushered her away from the table.
"See you guys later," she called over her shoulder.
Hermione and Lily made their way up the stairs towards the Gryffindor Tower, and Hermione felt more at home with each step she took in the castle walls. Lily and she had been chatting incessantly , and through this, Hermione discovered that she and Lily had a lot in common. They got along easily, and Hermione found something comforting about the girl.
"What classes are you taking this year?" she asked Lily.
"Potions, Charms, Herbology, Arithmancy, and Defense Against the Dark Arts." she said, "I want to be a healer, and those are the classes I need."
Hermione smiled brightly. She was going to have so many wonderful things to tell Harry when she saw him again.
"What are you taking?"
"Well," she said, stopping just in front of the Fat Lady, "I'm taking Potions, Arithmancy, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Transfiguration."
"Looks like we will have almost all the same classes," smiled Lily, "Gobbledygook."
The portrait swung open, and Hermione followed Lily into the common room, an immediate warmth welcoming her. Hermione glanced around her eyes silently scanning over the contents of the room. There in front of the fire were the same couches and chairs that she, Harry and Ron lounged about on. And in the corner sat the tables she had spent almost every night at when studying.
"Comforting isn't it?"
"Like you have no idea," said Hermione, her voice as breathless and dreamy as Luna Lovegood's.
"Well," said Lily, "I'm going to go to bed. Classes start tomorrow."
"It's only eight o'clock Lily," said Hermione, following the girl upstairs. "You're going to bed already?"
"Yeah," she said, "I was up really early, and I like to be well rested for the first day of classes."
As Hermione and Lily walked into the seventh year girls dormitory, Hermione was a bit surprised to see a trunk with her initials on it at the end of the bed nearest to the door. "I think I'm just going to change into my pajama's and sit by the fire and read a bit."
"Okay, just don't stay up too late." said Lily, "Hey do you want me to wake you up in the morning. We have potions first thing with the Slytherins."
"Please," she said, kneeling in front of the chest at the end of her bed. Hermione began to sift through it in search of pajama's. She finally succeeded in pulling out a pair of flannel pajama pants and a white tank top. Slipping out her clothes, and into her pajama's, Hermione grabbed her copy of Advanced Potion Making: NEWT Edition, and bounded out of the dormitory, tossing a goodnight to Lily.
Hermione tossed herself down into of her favorite chairs, her legs hanging off one end, and her head resting against the other. She had her book propped up in her hands, and she was reading avidly, and she didn't even notice as she started to doze off. It wasn't long before Hermione was asleep in the chair, her potions book resting on her chest.
The Marauders finally managed to make it back to the common room around eleven o'clock, entering noisily, and Hermione wasn't disturbed at all.
"Did you see their faces?" laughed James.
"Poor ickle firsties," said Sirius, "I think they may be afraid of the suits of armor now."
"Guys," whispered Remus. He had spotted Hermione before the other two did, "Shush."
James and Sirius followed his line of vision, and to their surprise they to saw Hermione passed out in the chair. They immediately fell quiet.
"Do we leave her here?" asked James.
"We can't get her up the girls stairs," answered Sirius.
"Should we wake her?" asked James.
"I don't think so," said Remus, "She has had a long day."
"We can't just leave her down here," said Sirius, "It'll get cold when that fire dies."
"Well Peter isn't here until tomorrow morning," said James.
"No way James," said Remus, "Evans would have our heads."
"We'll have to wake her up then," said Sirius gently.
He turned back to look at his two friends, and he shook his head as he saw them backing towards the stairs. "You do it," started James.
"We'll just…" said Remus, looking around.
"Go upstairs." finished James.
"Good luck mate," said Remus, "Waking up a girl can get ugly."
"Deadly in fact," added James, as the two boys vanished up the stairs.
"Thanks guys!" he called after them.
Sirius moved closed to Hermione, his eyes looking down upon her, and he felt his breath catch in his throat. She looked perfect. Her hair was loose and wild around her shoulders, the soft brown curls falling onto her shoulders. He reached out, gently shaking her.
"Hermione," he said, kneeling down in front of the chair, "Hermione."
To his dismay she didn't wake, and she looked at her, puzzled. He didn't want to make her mad by waking her up, but he knew she needed to go to bed. Finally, Sirius leaned forward, his lips only a breath away from her ear, "Hermione," he breathed.
He pulled away from her, placing a chaste kiss on her forehead, and when he looked back down at her, he saw her honey eyes flutter open. "Sirius," she yawned, "What time is it?"
"After eleven." he answered, hoping that she didn't know what he had just done.
"Why aren't you in bed?" she asked, sitting up, her eyes even with his.
"I was trying to wake you up. You need to go up to bed Hermione, it gets cold in the tower at night."
"Yeah," she said, holding her hands out in front of her, "Help me up?"
Sirius flashed his dazzling smile at her, and stood, taking her hands in his. He pulled her up gently, enjoying the feeling of her hands in his. When she stood they were only inches away from one another, and he could smell the scent of her hair. She smelled of vanilla and raspberries. She looked up at him, a small smile upon her face.
As she stood there, the firelight washing over them, Hermione walked them over to the girls' staircase, stepping onto the first step. She was almost even with Sirius at this height, and she was going to take advantage of that.
Hermione bit down on her bottom lip, and leaned forward, lightly brushing her lips against his. Their first kiss was gentle and sweet, and as Hermione bounded up the stairs, Sirius just stood there, a crooked grin spreading across his face.
That night Hermione fell asleep, visions of Sirius filling her dreams. And Sirius fell asleep, remembering the way her hair smelt, and the way her lips felt against his.
Thats all for today folks!! I will write some more when I am at work tonight. But as of rigt now, this writet needs to go to bed! Its 4:25 pm but I have work at 10:45 pm tonight.
I hope you enjoyed reading it!!
Please Review!!
Thanks!
3
XxNikixX