"I guess I will go." Said Severus.

I turned to him and nodded. We faced each other and you could tell that he took this serious. I sighed and started to circle him. Neither of us made the first move. We were watching each other, waiting. Finally, Sirius screamed,

"Kick his ass Mione!"

I paused and that was when Severus casted his first spell. But I was still faster than him. I blocked it before it could hit me. That was when it started to get interesting. We started to duel intensely. It was getting long. I was getting a little tired but was not going to give up. You could see that Severus was getting tired as well. Finally, I could disarm him.

"Alright, you are a strong fighter and knows how to use your powers to your advantage. But you are trying to prove too much. What are you trying to prove Severus?" I asked.

He did not say anything. He just went back to standing with the rest of the Slytherins. I walked over to my desk and took out a flask and drank from it. Everyone looked at me confused. I sighed and said,

"This helps me out. I have been through things that I need to take potions every few hours or when I use too much magic."

"Hermione do you want to continue then?" Ginny asked.

"Oh what Gins, too scared to face me?" I asked joking.

She smiled to me and said,

"Oh Hermione, you be surprised on how much I have grown."

I walked past her and went to the middle of the room. Everyone watched scared.

*Remus' POV*

I looked over to the guys. Sirius had this look that made him concerned. I could tell that this was something going on between those two but none of us will ever know. I got a whiff of the potion and it was something I don't know.

"Those two have something to deal with." James stated.

"Well, remember Ginny did say that she knows Hermione. But who knows how their relationship is." I explained.

Right then those two started to duel. You could tell that Ginny was kind of taking it easy on Hermione. But then Hermione spoke up and said,

"Oh Ginny please don't hold back. What would H say about this right now?"

Ginny grinned and said,

"He would have told me to pace you because you are stubborn."

Hermione smiled at Ginny with a laugh. I wonder who H was. The duel went on. Both were powerful. But Hermione had an upper hand.

*Ginny's POV*

I was dueling Hermione. I did not want to push Hermione. I did not know what she had to take but I was worried about it. I would have to ask her later about it. But Hermione was not going to give up and she made me fight for it. We were facing each other and right then Hermione got the upper hand and disarmed me.

"Well, Gins. I must say you have gotten better but there is something that became happen since you been here. Don't forget what you learned before in DA. Don't let yourself get into habits." Hermione shared.

I nodded and went to stand by the guys. The looked at me confused. I just shrugged and said,

"She's being harder on me since she knows me personally."

"Alright everyone. You all did great but now it is time to go to your next class. Dismiss." Hermione said walking slowly back to her desk.

I turned to the guys and said,

"Cover for me please?"

They nodded and left. I walked up to Hermione and looked at her worried. You could tell she was tired. But there was something else there that I just did not know. I kneeled in front of Hermione.

"Hermione talk to me. What is going on? What is that potion for?" I asked.

Hermione had tears in her eyes. She sighed and asked,

"Can you take me to Madam Pomfrey?"

I nodded and helped her up. We walked slowly to the Hospital Wing. As we walked in there was no one there. Madam Pomfrey was sitting at her desk. She looked up and saw that I was bring Hermione in. She ran out and over to us.

"Hermione what happened?" She asked.

"Pomfrey, it wasn't strong enough. I can feel it going through me." She only said.

I just stood there. I did not know what was going on. Right then Madam Pomfrey help Hermione unbutton her shirt to see in the middle of her chest a big mark. I gasped and Hermione looked away. You could tell she was uncomfortable about it. Madam Pomfrey shooed me out of the room.

I stood there in silence. I needed someone here with me but I didn't have anyone that I could trust like this. Yeah, I had the Marauders but they did not know about the real me. It was these moments I missed Harry and my family and friends from my time. Right then I saw the guys coming down the hall.

"Hey what are you doing here?" I asked.

"We felt that something was wrong. Are you alright?" James asked.

I did not know what to say. I just ran up to them and hugged them. They may not know everything about me but they were true friends to stand by me right now.

*Hermione's POV*

I just sat there watching Madam Pomfrey mix up some potions for me. I just rubbed the spot on my chest thinking about Ginny's reaction. I don't know what she thought about this. I just want to cry but I made a promise to myself, that I was done crying. I just looked over to the door and saw that Ginny was with the Marauders. They just stood there waiting.

"Here Hermione, try this. I hope this will help. What made it get worse today? I know we been testing a few different things." Madam Pomfrey asked concerned and curious.

"I think it was because I was using a lot of magic in my class today. I was dueling the seventh years to see what they know. I just pushed myself a little too much. It has been awhile since I fought like that but I need to be able to fight like that again." I told her.

"I know you are serious about your fighting but you need to pace yourself Hermione. You will get there in time. I believe in you." She told me placing a hand on my hands.

I smiled up to her and laid back on the cot. I was going to rest for the rest of the day. Luckily it was the end of the day. I looked over and saw that they were still there. I sighed and told Madam Pomfrey to let them in.

She was bringing them back.

"You only have a few minutes with her. She needs her rest."

Madam Pomfrey went back to her desk but kept an eye on us. I sat up slowly and looked at them. No one said anything. I sighed and said,

"Gins, don't worry about me. I just used too much magic today. I have to pace myself since a situation I had."

Ginny gave me a look but she knew to leave it at that. I looked over to the Marauders and said,

"Thanks for taking care of Ginny. She is lucky to have you as friends."

They smiled to me and Sirius spoke up and said,

"Well, we think you are cool and I think that you could be part of our friendship."

"Well, isn't that kind of you." I said with a smile.

Ginny smiled over to me and said,

"You can be one of the first teacher Marauder!"

"Whoa Whoa Whoa, hold you horses Claws. We have to have untied trust with her. But for right now, she is a close friend." James said.

"Whatever. I promise you by the middle of this year she will be a Marauder. So start thinking up of a nickname for her." Ginny explained.