"What is morality but a collective opinion of a group? What is a standard but an opinion made by one in charge of others?" Quote form the Elerian Texts on Time.

Chapter 4

Remus had quietly walked down to the Great Hall, silently musing to himself. As he reached the Hall, he noticed Lucius Malfoy had gotten up and was making his way over to 'Mione. James and Sirius of course, were right behind him and saw this as well.

"That's not Malfoy is it? I hope she makes a fool of him…" Sirius muttered this and watched them converse. Then, Malfoy nodded his head, seeming to conceded a point to her. After a few more lines were exchanged, they heard Malfoy tell her if she needed help, she had but to ask. Remus hoped she wouldn't. Malfoy was not to be trusted; besides, he was a Slytherin.

Hermione glanced up after finishing her meal and smiled at Remus. Those beautiful, shiny white teeth were dazzling. He just wanted to bring her over into that little closet he knew of and… NO! I couldn't. he told himself. She just needs friends, and that's what I'll be, a friend. No more, no less. He walked over to her, James and Sirius walking ahead of him, making towards where Lily had sat. They past Hermione a ways and sat down. Remus, on the other hand, sat down right next to her.

"So, what's your first class today?" He asked, hoping he would have it with her.

"NEWT level Transfiguration, then NEWT Charms, then Horology. Horology doesn't have a NEWT level class, because it's a brand new class this year, so there are no prerequisites. It's also a very small class, so only a few people can make it in. It's an application only class." Remus was impressed. Horology, the Study of Time? Not many people would take that class. It would be too mind boggling.

"That's good news. You will be able to enjoy the Marauders' company for your first two classes. Except Wormtail, he's in regular classes. Not the brightest, but he's still great for pranks."

"I have heard you discussing our classes, Moony. Tell me, is the fair maiden here to join us?" And of course, that would be Sirius. The biggest playboy in school with also one of the biggest egos. Of course, he wouldn't have had so many girlfriends without his charm. Oh yes, Sirius back in the day was a regular guy with lot and lots of charm.

"Yes, I will be joining you. All my classes, save one, are NEWT classes. The other is a class that does not offer a NEWT level as it is a brand new subject." Hermione saw that James was about to ask something when she got up and said somewhat hurriedly, "Look at the time, I need to get to class, coming Remmy?"

James sniggered and suddenly started whistling as Remus turned his steely gaze on him.

"Yes, I'm coming. We'll leave Sirius and James to their, private interludes together." Lily, who was listening in, but trying to look as if she wasn't, spat out her milk and hastily wiped her mouth off and dashed off to Transfiguration. Sirius, watching her reaction, along with Remus and Hermione, laughed out loud and they walked off, headed to McGonagall's.

Arriving at the class, Sirius motioned to the back of the class. Hermione shook her head and sat down smack dab in the front. Sirius sighed and reluctantly sat down to the left of her. Remus took the seat right behind her and proceeded to take out his supplies. James came in, looking rather, well, smug. After he sat down on Hermione's right, Lily came in, looking flustered. Hermione noticed that besides looking flustered, Lily had what looked suspiciously like a hickey on her neck.

Lily sat down next to Remus, behind James. Hermione looked back at her and cocked an eyebrow, pointing to her own neck, exactly where Lily had the hickey. Lily blushed and stared straight at the board. Laughing, Hermione turned back to the front of the room as Professor McGonagall came in.

"Settle down, settle down. Ah, I see we have a new student today, Miss Yarnyi, I believe? I hope you understand the rules here and I also hope you aren't the type to play jokes on people." With that, she glared at Sirius and James then addressed the class. "Today we shall be working on transfiguring our desks into animals. No, do not groan. I know we have done this before. But today we shall be turning our desks into multiple animals." Hermione looked back at Remus and grinned. She took the snitch that James had been playing with earlier and transfigured it into itsy bitsy miniature little wolves running around her palm.

"Miss Yarnyi! Do you have something you would like to share with us?" McGonagall snapped this and Hermione jumped and turned around, forgetting the wolves were still running around on her hand. "Ah, I see you already know how to do this. But you did make a miscalculation. These wolves are not their proper size."

"With all due respect Professor, these wolves are this small on purpose. They could hardly fit in my hand otherwise. I simply had to rearrange the parameter set and configure entirely new entry points into the system." James and Sirius stared at her in shock, as well as several other students. Particularly McGonagall.

"Miss Yarnyi, do you mean to say, that in the time you grabbed the snitch from Mr. Potter's pocket to when you turned around, you configured up entirely new entry points for the system and rearranged the parameters?" As she said this, James ducked down and looked in the pocket where he had put the snitch. To his horror, and several other students' entertainment, he found the snitch gone. Eyes widening, his head jerked up and he stared slack jawed at Hermione.

"A snitch, Professor? I don't recall using a snitch. I believe it was an eraser head." She pointed her wand at her palm, and the wolves turned into an eraser head. Blinking, James checked his pocket again. The snitch still wasn't there. McGonagall smiled slightly and then spoke.

"Well, with such beautiful control over the transfiguration, I believe I shall award fifty points to Gryffindor. And seeing as how you need no notes on this, Miss Yarnyi, you may be excused from the lesson."

"Thank you, Professor McGonagall." Hermione bent down to the ground, and when her hand was hidden from view, she switched the eraser head back to the snitch and slipped it into James' bag. Gathering up her things, she winked at James, then walked out the door.

"Damn, how'd she do that? I would notice if that snitch went missing." James was highly confused.

"She probably took it from your pocket right as class started. You were probably staring at Lily." Remus smiled at this remark. God above! How stunning Hermione had looked today. She was so beautiful, and he would be alone with her tonight. Okay, they would be werewolves, but they would still alone. He had told Sirius, James and Peter that weren't allowed to come tonight. She had to get familiar with the feeling of changing.

Hopefully, she would come to like him as much as he seemed to like her. Maybe she already did like him. Remus was trying to figure out what exactly to do. Should he ask her straight out? Or should he wait until he had some sign or something? This was so confusing…