Author's notes: First of all, thank you again to those of you who have reviewed/followed/favorited this story. You're the reason I keep writing!

Second of all, I've decided to slow down my pace and start posting only one chapter per day or every two days. I didn't feel too good about the previous two, they feel a little rushed, and I've already noticed a couple mistakes that are driving me nuts ^^U I know my writing is sloppy, but I want to hold my story to some standards. This is the first fic I've ever written, and now I understand why most of my favourite stories take so long to update. I have such a hard time trying to find the words to tell the story that goes on in my mind, it's just so hard!

Lastly, I want to warn you: it's going to be quite a long way before Hermione and Sirius' relationship becomes more than a friendship. I have a short summary for about 24 chapters, just to make sure I don't skip any key parts to the story, and it probably won't happen until the 16th-17th. The full story will probably be around 26 episodes long, I think.

Hopefully what I have in mind will keep you with me till we get there ^^ Enjoy!

Disclaimer: None of the characters depicted here belong to me, and the Harry Potter universe comes from Mrs. Rowling's mastermind.

December, 1977

The first day of the Christmas holidays, Hermione gazed across the snowy hills ouside the train as the Hogwarts Express rattled along the tracks. Her friends' voices surrounded her: James telling her everything he had planned for both of them, Peter describing his grandma's best dishes, Lily's excitement at meeting her sister's soon-to-be husband... Only Sirius sat in silence, his eyes set on the same scenery as hers.

For the past couple of days, she had been hit full-on with nostalgia. Christmas had always been her favourite holiday, as it was the only time of the year when she would see all of her family together. They would usually rent a small cottage in the swiss Alps, and spend those few days skiing, relaxing and enjoying each other's scarce company. Ever since she started her magical education she had missed a couple of those trips, although it was always willingly. This once, she didn't have a choice.

But from what James was saying, she probably wouldn't have time for longing. She was starting to think they wouldn't even have time to sleep at all.

Hearing the loud whistle that announced their arrival in London, they started vacating the compartment. As she walked along the aisle, Hermione bid her farewell to her other mates. Even Severus, after making sure none of his friends was looking, wished her a happy holiday, his face contorted into the grimace that she knew meant he was smiling. He had just been born to be the serious, sulky type, the poor guy.

As they got off the train, James all but dragged her and Lily to who she had guessed was his mother. He introduced them, and Hermione noted the knowing smile she gave her son when he told her who the redhead was. He had told her about the beautiful girl he referred to as his future wife, something he was set on ever since he saw her for the first time, if what Remus had told her last week was true.

Sirius greeted his friend's mother too, but in a very different way. Grace Potter hugged him and commented on how thin he was (Hermione, who had seen his shirtless, toned body a couple times after his quidditch games, begged to differ). Apparently, for the past few years he had spent the majority of his summer holidays at the Potter's, and he was already considered to be part of the family.

He said his goodbyes, looking at them with the eyes of a lamb that knew he was headed towards the slaughterhouse. He found his brother and together they headed to the street, where they would catch a the Knight Bus home, since Regulus couldn't apparate yet. It seemed blood purity was very important for the Blacks, but they weren't concerned in the slightest about their children's well-being.

After Lily, Remus and Peter found their respective families, Hermione and James grabbed Mrs. Potter's hand, who apparated them to Godric's Hollow. It was a small but beautiful village, with a charming air that was accentuated by the snowy weather.

Hermione knew James was wealthy, since he had left a small fortune for Harry after his death, but she wasn't prepared to see his house. The Potter's estate, built on top of a hill, reminded her of the lavish chateaux she had seen on her summer holidays in France's countryside. It had enough rooms big enough to house half the Gryffindor population.

After James showed her to where she'd be sleeping and gave her a short tour of the house, they put on their coats and went to the village for a walk.

An hour had passed when they walked into a small coffee shop. They had just ordered their drinks when James looked at his friend, a shy expression on his face. "I have to tell you a secret", he said.

Curiosity in her eyes, she gave him a questioning look. "What's the matter?".

"Well... I asked Lily out yesterday", he said with a smile so big it looked like he had slept with a hanger in his mouth. "And she said yes".

Hermione grinned. "So that's why she was so late last night. Congrats, James!". She nudged him in the shoulder, playful. "Come on, tell me everything!".

They paid for their drinks and moved to a cozy table by the window. She questioned her beaming friend until she knew every little detail. Apparently, they had spent the afternoon in Hogsmeade, leaving through the secret passage beneath the one-eyed witch statue. James had taken Lily to Madame Puddifoot's, where they had laughed at how ridiculously corny everything was. They had finally walked to the Shrieking Shack, where they had shared their first kiss.

Hermione was so happy for her friend. Sirius had told her how he had spent the past five years chasing her, in that childish pull-your-hair laugh-at-you way that girls just despised. Apparently, after Jame's father demise the previous year, he had matured a lot, making the young redhead realize how many things they had in common.

She looked out the window, a sigh escaping her lips as she held her steaming cup of coffee. Everything was going so well: James and Lily together, Sirius about to escape his parent's claws... She also knew that Wolfsbane would be invented in the following months, which would make Remus' life so much easier. It saddened her to know that a couple years from now, everyting would start to go downhill for her friends.

Then, she noticed a familiar figure walking past the square in front of the café. He was carrying a trunk, and Hermione noticed he was headed towards James' house.

"Huh, James... isn't that Sirius?", she asked, squinting her eyes still looking out the window. James followed her gaze, and when he saw who she was referring to, he jumped to his feet. He grabbed Hermione's hand, and they rushed after their friend.

"Padfoot! Over here!", he yelled as they ran across the village. The boy turned around, surprised by their presence, and Hermione gasped. He looked like he had taken a good beating, but he had a huge smile on his face.

"Oh my god, what happened?", she said when they finally reached him, a horrified look on her face.

"Don't worry, Hermione, I'm okay", he assured. "I'm perfect, actually. Free at last!".

As they made their way to the Potter's, Sirius told them what had happened. The moment he had walked into his house, his parents knew something was going on. They had called him to the library, where they talked to him about the importance of those he acquainted himself with. They strongly disapproved of his friendship with James. After all, the Potters were what they called blood traitors.

It was when he told them, his voice filled with anger, that the Potters were better parents to him than they had ever been that the argument had gone wild. A myriad of curses had been fired, and Sirius was lucky to get out in such a good state. He had taken a couple blows as he struggled to grab his most important belongings, and had to give himself some time to keep from splinching on his way to Godric's Hollow.

But he was the happiest Hermione had ever seen him. He looked liberated, as if an enormous weight had been taken from his shoulders.

The following days were spent enjoying each other's company. They even gave Lily a visit at her parents' house, where Hermione and Sirius snickered as they saw their two friends casting each other blushing glances across the room. They daren't show any affection in front of her parents, especially when they didn't know yet where their relationship was headed, but they scurried away together as soon as they had a chance.

They had also learned that their friend had been thoroughly disappointed by her sister's fiancé. Lily and Petunia had never been the best of sisters, as their relationship had been strained by Petunia's jealousy towards Lily's magical abilities, but Vernon Dursley's judgemental personality had only helped her sibling become even more resentful towards her.

James, Sirius and Hermione became closer and closer as the holidays went by. The boys went so far as to show her their animagus forms. She reveled at James' majestic stag shape, and she giggled when a huge black dog jumped on top of her and started licking her face. They were set on her becoming one of the Marauders, and so she began training to become an animagus too. The boys had decided they would reveal Remus' secret to her as soon as she mastered her new form, but for now all she had managed to do was to change her ears to pointy, furry ones, and to grow a long, hairy tail. She had also taken quite a liking to round objects, and one day found herself laying in the ground, playing with one of Grace's balls of yarn.

On Christmas morning, Hermione was awakened by James and Sirius' jumping up and down in her bed. She found a small pile of presents at her feet, as well as in her friend's arms. They started opening them, and she felt a pang of emotion when she saw what they had gotten her: a bracelet with three small charms, each depicting an animal. For now, it had a stag, a dog and a cat, but she was sure they would soon be joined by a rat and a wolf. It was such a thoughtful gift.

On their last morning before leaving again for Hogwarts, they were having breakfast, talking animatedly about the pranks they had prepared for the following days. Suddenly, they heard something tapping agains the window, and Sirius was surprised to find a huge raven with a letter adressed to him tied to his claw. He hadn't expected to ever receive one of those again, since only the Black family used crows to send their correspondence.

He took the message from the bird, gave him a couple raisins and left the room, a concerned look on his face. Hermione and James later learned that his favourite uncle, Alphard Black, had heard of his banishment from the family, and wrote to let him know he had his full support, emotionally and financially. Sirius couldn't believe his luck: he had rid himself of the only thing that had kept him from being fully happy all these years, and had managed to keep everyone he loved at his side. That was, with the exception of his brother.

His parents' angry rant had caused exactly the opposite reaction on Regulus: he had confessed to having made a first contact with the Dark Lord himself, thanks to his house mates' connections. It wouldn't be too long before he became a Death Eater, and nothing could have made the Blacks prouder. But he was only doing it out of fear, and Sirius knew he would regret his decision.

Hermione had never heard a word about her friend' brother back in her time. She thought he would have told them something about him, had he become one of Voldemort's blind followers. And so, that's how she returned to Hogwarts: with her mind set on getting to know the younger Black. She had a feeling he would play an important role in her near future.