A/N Sorry for such the late update. Unfortunately, I am leaving for North Carolina on Wednesday and will not be able to update until after I get back. Thank you all for your reviews; they are what keep me going. I almost gave up on this story until I read all the great reviews for it. I have just finished typing this at 2 in the morning so my editing might now be so wonderful, and I will re-check it tomorrow.

Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter, why do you think I would write fan fiction?

Hermione woke up the next morning looking around her dormitory for the familiar faces of Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, although she didn't usually associate with them. Then it all came back to her, the mirror, seeing Dumbledore again, and being re-sorted, and not to mention her little run-in with James Potter.

Hermione had mixed feelings about being sent back in time. She loved the fact that she got to experience the Marauder's and Lily's last year at Hogwarts, but felt guilty because it should be Harry this should be happening to, not her.

She tried to shove those thoughts from her mind, telling herself that she didn't ask for this to happen, and for the fact that thinking about Harry reminded her about the friends and family she left behind. She knew Ron would be all right, since he had Harry. It was her parents that worried her the most. Not only was their only daughter living and being a part of a whole different, magical world, but now she was caught in a different time because of one of the many secrets and mysteries that goes along with it. Hermione decided then she would try to research time travel when she had a chance.

She yawned, stretched and got ready for the day.

At breakfast, Hermione put off looking at her schedule until Ginny, broke it to her that she had potions. Oh god.

The potions classroom didn't seem terribly different from what it was in her own time. Especially since Horace Slughorn happened to be teaching in this time. Although the buttons on his bulging shirt weren't as protrudent, his favoritism attitude was still the same, Hermione thought as he walked around the classroom greeting a select few.

"Beware," Lily warned, "Slughorn's got this sort of, club, for all of his favorite students. And if you're as studious as I think you are, he'll be hot on his feet to get you to join. He recruits all smart or well connected students."

Hermione nodded. To her, this was the worst part of having to go back in time; the pretending that everything everyone told her was new information.

"Are you in his uh… club?" Hermione had almost asked if she was in the Slug Club but she caught herself in time.

"Yes, unfortunately…" she groaned. Hermione laughed.

"Aah, Lily, how was your summer?" a booming Professor Slughorn asked when he came up behind them, finally reaching their table.

"It was just lovely Professor, and how was yours?" Lily asked in an over-polite tone.

"Oh, it was absolutely wonderful Lily thank you for asking." He then turned his attention to me. " And you must be the new exchange student. Hermia James was it?"

"Actually sir, it's Hermione."

"Right, Right, my mistake. Well nice to meet you Hermione, and Ms.Evans," he said drawing his attention back to Lily, " I look forward to reading your potions essays." Lily nodded and smiled, and Professor Slughorn returned to the front of the classroom.

Then a mock high-pitched voice sounded from behind them. "Oh Lily! I do, look forward to reading your potions essays!" Lily's back instantly stiffened and she turned around.

"Sod off Potter." She said her voice suddenly becoming low and dark.

"Now, now my little Lilikins, calm down. Let me ask you this. Why were you avoiding me last night in the common room?" Lily then shot me a thankful glance, as James looked at me also. I shrugged my shoulders innocently at him.

"Maybe the fact that you've practically been stalking me since 4th year." She said, her voice returning to semi-normal pitch.

"Me? A stalker? I should think not!" He told her in a disbelieving tone.

"Yea, right." She grumbled and turned around to face her table again.

"Thanks again for saving me last night. I finally got a moment of peace at Hogwarts." She laughed dryly.

"No problem, but if you don't mind me asking, why do you have such a problem with them? I mean I can understand the whole James thing, but the rest of them seen to be nice enough." Lily laughed.

"If only it was that simple. You can't get the Marauders without James. They're all practically inseparable."

Hermione nodded. The Marauders seemed so different from what they were like in the future. At least the ones she'd had the fortunes or misfortune to meet. Physically they weren't much different, but they all acted much closer than what they were in the future.

When the dismissing bell rung, Slughorn dismissed everyone except for Hermione, she had been called up to talk to him.

"Miss James, I must congratulate you on your Draught of Dreamless sleep. By any chance though, are you related to Cornelia James? Head of the Department of Mysteries?" he asked her.

"Erm… well… actually sir, I'm muggle-born." Hermione remembered saying something similar to this to the Professor in her 6th year.

"Muggle-born, really… you and Lily Evans do have a lot in common." Hermione resisted the urge to voice her opinion on how being muggle-born does not make you exactly like every other muggle-born in the world, but decided it would be rude and let the Professor go on. "As I am sure you have heard, I have a sort of exclusive club, which the students have pet-named the Slug Club. And I am asking if you would like to join us in our gathering this Saturday. Now this Club opens numerous opportunities to many careers and so forth, and I think you would really enjoy coming."

"Well thank you for the offer sir, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to pass." Hermione silently thanked the Heavens for her having an excuse to not join the Slug Club.

"And why, if I may ask is that?"

"Well, me being new, I have yet to get the hang of this school, and with N.E.W.T's being this year, I do not think it would be wise for me to add another thing to my plate."

Professor Slughorn looked slightly shocked, but nodded his head to dismiss her.

Hermione's little "meeting" with Slughorn caused her to almost be late for Transfiguration. The bell rang just as she walked through the door.

"Close." Sirius Black whispered to her as she took the only seat left, the one that happened to be next to him.

"No kidding."