Big thank you to all of the reviewers, Followers, favorites and guest! Sorry for the long wait and another big thank you for my beta! Hope you enjoy!

Hermione had now been at Hogwarts for over two months now, she couldn't believe how much her life had changed. Even though she still missed Harry and Ron, her friendship with the Marauders was strong all minus Peter of course.

Hermione and Lily meet the first night of school and became fast friends, it had surprised Hermione how much her and Lily had in common, and how much Lily was like Harry. Having Lily as a friend, helped with the realization she would be starting school without him for the first time in years. Harry had Lily's personality, but looked identical to James that at times, she sometimes confused them.

Peter had become very distant, irritable. Hermione was guessing it might have to do something with his deviation to the dark arts, but she couldn't be sure. Maybe he was just always like that. She knew that the rat had decided to take the mark. Everyone notice something was wrong but just figured he had just been upset.

Hermione's classes were all going great, except one with defense against the dark arts. When she first meet Professor Clark, he acted odd towards her. When classes had started, he belittled her since day one always downing her and her abilities. It reminded Hermione of how Snape had treated Harry on the first potion class every. Hermione had to down play her abilities a little so she would not draw attention to herself, but she was getting very tired of the professor belittling her at every little turn. He was worse than Snape, and that was saying something. Moody had yet to come back to the castle for the classes but she had still had spent some time with him and had become closer with him then she had been in her time. Shockingly besides Professor McGonagall, Professor Slughorn was her favorite teacher he was wonderful a wonderfully teacher, and she of course was brought right into the slug club.

Hermione hadn't seen her grandfather much either, they had both been so busy. But, she planned on doing something about that soon, she was really missing him. Hermione had been trying to get in time as well with Severus to work on the horcruxs, but even then it wasn't much time. They had been in the library sometimes looking information up on them but there wasn't much in the library on them on how to destroy them.

Hermione was having some trouble remembering about the dairy because she had been in petrified during second year when that had happened. She remembered the rest of the horcruxs fine. This was becoming a pain but it was for the greater good.

She also had the displeasure of meeting Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa Black, Bellatrix Black, and Regulus black. That end in confrontation with Hermione punching Bella in the face knocking her out, that earned her a high five from Sirius and a smile from James. Remus had shook his head, but secretly loved the fact that someone was standing up to the bitch. Regulus was appalled, Narcissa and Lucius looked shocked that someone had the guts to hit Bella in the face.

Hermione was sitting at the Gryffindor table, with Lily and the Marauders enjoying breakfast , when professor McGonagall Come up to the group looking to Hermione.

"Miss Granger, Professor Dumbledore would like to see you in his office right after breakfast. There is something he would like to discuss with you. He had dismissed you from your first class of the day, which is mine, so that's fine you are ahead anyways."

The deputy headmistress handed Hermione a slip of paper saying

Lemon drops –D.

Hermione could only smile at her grandfather for his candy obsession.

"Can I miss with her too? I worked ahead in your class as well," Sirius said innocently, but with a sly grin across his face to the professor.

"Mr. Black I don't believe you have a meeting with the headmaster, so with that said, be in my class on time…..For once." McGonagall told Sirius sternly.

"Please no need to be formal call me Sirius." Sirius said with an arrogant pride to him but, he also forgot he was sandwiched between Hermione and Lily, and it earned him a nice whack to the back of the head from both women. They had huge smiles on their faces as they did it too.

"Ouch!" Sirius exclaimed holding his head looking from girl to girl.

"Thank you both Miss Evans and Miss Granger. 5 point to both of you, for dealing with this baboon for me. See you in class." The professor left the hall heading to her class.

"So Hermione, do you know what Professor Dumbledore wants?" Remus asked her from across the table.

"No, but it must be important for him to excuse me from my class. I will tell you all when we get to defense today." Hermione's voice ended in distaste for her last class of the day.

" I'm telling you Clark is mental. Why is he always on your case?" James asked sounding just as annoyed with the professor.

"I really don't care what his problem is . . . one day I will do something to shut him up, but for now I have to go see Pa….the headmaster. See you guys in defense" Hermione caught herself from her slip. None of her friends caught her slip. With a smile two them all she left to see her grandfather.

Hermione entered her grandfather's office to see him standing in the middle of his office in deep thought.

"Papa?" Hermione's voice broke the headmaster's train of thought. Looking up, he saw Hermione standing there he opened his arms. She dropped her bags at the door running across the room giving him a huge hug.

"There's my girl how have you been? I haven't been able to see you and for that I am sorry."

Hermione laughed a little looking at her grandfather. "It's fine I have been busy as well with classes and of course the horcrux research has been crazy. I can't be seen with Severus and he is the one I need to talk to about them. Professor Clark is driving me up a wall he always belittles me in front of everyone. I have to pretend on something that I know I can do so I don't bring attention to myself. I am about ready to put him in his place just to shut him up."

By the time Hermione was done with her rant she was pacing in front of Albus. She had nearly ran a whole in the floor from pacing so fast.

Hermione let out a long breathe looking at her grandfather. Who in turn was staring at her with widen eyes. "Better?" Her grandfather asked her.

"Much!" She stated taking a seat in front of him.

"The reason I called you here was that the adoption papers came today, and all we need to do is sign them. It makes everything official, giving you full rights to everything Dumbledore. Now the other thing is…..they also sent a paper for godparents. In the wizarding world, Godparents become your guardians if something happens to me. The only person I would trust living you to for protection is Alastor Moody. You guys have been getting to know each other, and he would protect you with his life."

"Ok where do I sign I am ready for this to be over. And Leaglly be your granddaughter." Hermione gave him a huge smile.

The door to the headmaster's office open and in walked Moody. He took a seat by Hermione.

"Ok, Hermione here are the papers for your adoption. I just signed them now you." Albus handed her the paper for her to sign. She quickly signed the paper and handed it back.

"Now, Moody this is for you for you to become her godfather." Alastor gave a stiff nod signing the paper. Hermione did as well.

"Now we are one big happy family." Albus exclaimed with a laugh.

"Hermione you can call me Alastor outside of class." Moody told her in a gruff voice looking to her, but behind his eye Hermione could see he truly had come to care for her.

"Will you be in defense finally? I am ready to put Clark in his place so I can prove that I am not an incompetent dunderhead, as he loves to tell me," she spit out.

"Well today he will be teaching patronus's to the class, I know you can do a corporeal one so go for it," her grandfather gave her the ok to shut him. Hermione's day was going to be great.

"So tell me about DADA, is Pettigrew not good at?" Alastor asked her

"Well, he isn't a great dueler, more like absolute pants at it. You should get Clark to let us duel and pair him with me I can get his wrist to show that mark. He is left-handed, so I am going to have to work hard to get his sleeve to move up, but it can be done. Then stun him take him to Azkaban. With him gone that should protect the Potters. How does that plan sound?" Hermione looked to her godfather and grandfather.

"Pretty simple and straight forward. Hermione, it's already lunch . . . go down to the great hall I will announce that he will be in defense classes there. Also, if they ask you why you were summoned, tell them that you were put on a potions project with Mr. Snape, that will make it easier to talk to him and I will send him a letter. Ok."

Hermione nodded running out the door to the great hall.

Albus folded up the letters giving them to Fawkes to take to the ministry. Albus sighed looking to his longtime friend. "Alastor, if something does happen to me please protect her."

"I won't let anyone hurt that girl. She is my goddaughter after all."

Hermione made her way into the great hall her friends set at the table talking. Hermione took a seat by Remus. They had been becoming closer, Remus still hadn't told her his secret, but she really didn't mind all that much. He turned and looked at her, smiling at her. She couldn't help but blush . . . again. Remus seemed to have that effect on her. Every time she would see him, she would think of the Remus she left behind, and slowly she was beginning to meld the two in her brain.

"So . . .what did the headmaster want?" Sirius asked with his mouth full of food.

"Oh, he wants me and another student to work on a project for him will find out later who it is" Hermione told Sirius a little grossed out by the food in his mouth. "Sirius please shut your mouth and finish chewing and swallowing. That's so gross." Hermione laughed at the look that came across his face.

Hermione looked to the top of the hall when Dumbledore and Alastor entered the hall. Peter's started shaking a little, not noticeable if someone wasn't looking for a reaction from the rat. Hermione saw the reaction, and her eye's sought her new godfather's eyes. They locked for the briefest of moments, and she nodded letting him know that it was all a go.

"Hogwarts, I have an announcement to make. Please give Auror Alastor Moody a warm Hogwart's welcome. He will be helping in defense for a while with the newest threat on the horizon. Troubling times are ahead, and we can all use all the help we can take. That's all please enjoy your lunch."

Sirius looked at the group before him "This is freaking awesome the best auror ever will be helping in our classes. Hopefully with us being trained by him, we will be more equipped to deal with all this Dark Lord shite. Toujor Pur," he added with a sneer to his voice.

"Pads, I got to agree maybe he can takes Clarks place and actually have a good teacher." James exclaimed while high fiving Sirius over the table.

"Ditto. It will be nice to be trained with someone with practical experience." Remus stated not looking up from his book that he had started before Dumbledore came down.

Hermione smiled. Remus . . . her Remus . . . had talked about Moody a bit. It was another similarity this Remus held to her Remus. It was all confusing her

"What's up? Peter you don't look happy at all." James looked at Peter who was now white as a sheet.

"Sorry that guy just freaks me out you know. He is weird." He stated as he stuttered. Hermione had to hide her glare from everyone.

After lunch was finished, the group made their way to the dark arts room. Hermione was actually looking forward to this class, knowing what he was teach she couldn't wait to show him she could do a full patronus.

When they entered the room Professor Clark's eyes land on Hermione his eyes darken looking to her. Hermione shuddered, and Remus gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze. The class took their seats and the professor called the class to order. Moody stood in back observing.

"All right, now today we will be learning the patronus charm . . . not that any of you could cast it. It is advanced magic, and many fully trained wizards don't grasp the concept. But you have to learn about it after this we will take partners and duel. Can anyone in here tell me what the patronus charm is?" Professor Clark looked over the class and even though he saw Hermione he ignored her hand, as per normal.

"Professor, I do believe I see a student's hand up, don't ignore her." Moody stated from the back off the room. Giving his goddaughter a wink.

Clark glared at Moody "Fine Miss Granger, what it a Patronus?"

"The Patronus Charm is a charm that evokes a partially-tangible, positive energy force known as a Patronus. Patronuses are also called spirit guardians, though this may only refer to corporeal Patronuses. It is primarily designed for defense against otherwise unbeatable Dark creatures like Dementors and Lethifolds, though there are other uses such as messaging. They can be corporeal or non-corporeal." As Hermione spoke Moody made his way to the front of the room.

"Good miss Granger. Now what forms can a Corporeal patronus take?" Moody asked watching her intently. He knew she was loving every minute of this.

"That depends on the person their self if a person is an animagus for example theirs will most likely be their animagus form, most people have a common animals like a dog or stag again for example. But really powerful wizards or witches have mystical animals as their Patronuses. But, to cast this charm you have to have a truly happy memory to produce this charm. Also the patronus can have a match with a person they are in love with or someone they show deep loyalty to," Hermione finished saying what she looking to Moody.

"Well done, bravo Miss Granger. Since you know so much about it why not try to cast it?" Moody motioned for her to come to the front of the class. Hermione smirked knowing what he was doing. She stood from her desk and walked to the front. When she got their she heard Professor Clark chuckling but before she could say anything to him. Moody looked to him "Something funny Clark?"

"Yes you expect her to really produce one?" Professor Clark composed himself looking smugly at Moody.

"No, I don't expect her to, but there's nothing wrong with her trying. Why not make it interesting? If she produces one you give Gryffindor house a hundred points?" After Moody said this Clark chuckled a little. Hermione had gone red in the face from how mad she was from how Professor Clark was acting.

"You got it but it has to be fully corporeal. You do that Miss Granger you got your hundred points." Professor Clark sneered at her.

Hermione look at Moody for support. He gave her a nod to continue, and Hermione thought for a moment of her happiest memory. Several thoughts flowed through her head, the night of the dream with Remus and today when she was adopted and recognized as Dumbledore.

Hermione took out her wand and aloud the memory to fill her up and spoke the incantation.

"Expecto Patronum!" When she said the spell, a silver light burst from the end of her wand. Her corporeal patronus, had always been an otter, had now turned into a phoenix. She smiled, knowing that it was due to Fawkes connection to her grandfather. Her patronus soared around the room taking everyone's breathe away. She looked to her friend who looked at her in shock that she had just proved Clark wrong. Hermione watched her phoenix land on the banister behind them and turned to Professor Clark with a smug look on her face.

"So Professor, how about those hundred points for Gryffindor?" Professor Clark looked at Hermione in disbelief.

"One hundred points to Gryffindor." He said looking from Hermione to the patronus she had just cast and watched it disappeared.

"Everyone pair up and practice dueling." Professor Clark sat behind his desk and watched Hermione but something was different now his expression had changed it didn't hold that darkness to it. More like he was studying her.

Hermione looked back to Alastor to get ready to watch Peter. She went to Peter to get him to be her partner, per their plan.

"Hey . . . be my partner? James will want to be with Lily and Sirius will want to be with Remus please? Plus, I can give you pointers if you like?" Peter agreed knowing he needed help with his dueling.

Hermione and Peter found a spot close to Moody for him to see Peter's arm. Peter tried to go to the back but luckily for Hermione there was no room.

Hermione and Peter were taking it easy sending simple jinxes and hexes at one another.

"Say Peter, how about we pick up the pace a little you are doing pretty good so far, ok?" Peter nodded.

They began send spells fast. Hermione was trying hard to get his arm up to show his dark mark. She thought maybe she could trick him to do it.

"Peter, you can change the way you move your wand throw it above your head they won't see it coming try it a couple of times with me dueling," Hermione gave him a warm smile.

They picked up where they left off. Peter was actually getting better, until Hermione hit him with a jinx embarrassing him in front of the class. Peter fell flat on his face due to the jinx, the entire class started laughing at him. She really thought he could dodge it but he didn't. He looked back to Hermione he had pure fury in his eye directed to her. Remus could smell the rage boiling off of Peter from the side of the room. The werewolf made his way through the crowd to Hermione to keep an eye on her something was wrong and he didn't like it.

Hermione watched Peter stand up throwing his arm above his head fully revealing his dark mark right to the eye of Alastor Moody. Hermione, on the other hand, had been so preoccupied by trying to get the movement from his arm to get the mark shown, that she didn't hear the slicing hex coming out his mouth. The hex hit Hermione straight in the chest sending her flying back into the wall.

Alastor was up in a flash putting Peter in a full body bind that pinned him to the floor.

"CLASS DISMISSED EVERYONE OUT BUT POTTER, BLACK AND LUPIN. Miss Evans, find the headmaster now!" Professor Clark Yelled to Hermione who was face down on the floor trying to pick herself up, but Remus was at her side.

Remus, Sirius and James couldn't believe what they had just seen happen. Remus ran to Hermione's side picking her up laying her on her back. Her White shirt matched her Gryffindor tie was the same color. Hermione looked at herself covered in blood then up to Remus shaking. Hermione watched Remus's eyes turn amber color he slowly turned looking to Peter who was still on the ground with the wand of Alastor Moody pointed at him.

Before Remus could stalk toward Peter, Hermione grabbed his arm "Please don't go. Stay."

Remus held her up not letting her go. Seeing her covered in blood tore at his heart. In the short time that Hermione had fallen into their lives, he had come to really care for her. She was beautiful, something that Sirius constantly pointed out, but she was much more than a pretty face. And now, she was lying on the cold stone floor, hurt and bleeding profusely.

Remus turned around when he heard the doors open and his eyes fell upon a furious looking Albus Dumbledore.

Ok I know you are all say this is going fast but it will slow down I really just wanted peter out of the way he may make a comeback later in the story. But I hope you all like this chapter. I do have three stories going at the same time so bear with me. Hope you liked and review. Sorry for the long wait! Please forgive me. My other story Her return is being rework and will be updated soon. Thanks for being patient.