The reason for James's behaviour in this chapter will become obvious in the next one grins He isn't normally this bold or this confident...however Hermione is :D

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that has reviewed :D although not as popular here as it elsewhere I cherish each and every one you hugs and kisses


"Have you made any progress, Lucius?"

"Yes, Milord," Lucius said obediently from on his knees in front of his master. "I received an invitation to a party from Fenwick this morning."

"Show me!" Voldemort hissed and forced his way into Lucius's mind.

Dear Lord Malfoy,

I am writing this letter to express my sincere gratitude for assuring I received medical attention after collapsing in Hogsmeade. I am still unable to explain what came over me, but am ever so thankful that you were present, and a more honourable wizard than I first thought.

If you will allow me, I'd like to invite you to be my guest at the next Slug Club party, held by Professor Slughorn in the Professors lounge Saturday at seven.

Please let me know at your earliest convenience and thank you again.

Yours in friendship and gratitude,
Hermione Fenwick

"This will work in our favour, Malfoy, you will befriend this witch. Entice her to our side, Lucius."

"Yes, Milord." He said dutifully.


Hermione sat at breakfast the next morning feeling oddly fulfilled, again James was trying to catch her eye, or to be exact he was leaning back against the bench sending the most handsome smirks her way, Remus was grinning from ear to ear and Peter and Sirius kept laughing at a private joke, none thought to share with the rest of the table.

"Peter seems quite happy," Minerva whispered in her ear. "How did your time in the greenhouse with him go?"

"Really well, Minerva, I left him on his own and he completed everything I asked him to."

"And Lily?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes and looked at her former Professor who was sipping her tea like she hadn't a care in the world. "Lily behaved, for once."

"Has she really been that bad? I can hardly believe she would act so disobediently."

"Minerva, she has been a nightmare, I'm not one to tell lies and I wouldn't discriminate against a student because of who they are. She has been rude and unkind, failing to show up to the combat class when I specifically asked her to be present. However we had a chat last night and I think everything is going to be alright."

"Wonderful I would hate for our Head Girl to get a tarnish on her record for a bout of petty jealousy."

Hermione coughed on her pumpkin juice, drawing attentions from the students closest to them as Minerva pounded her on the back.

"Just what are you implying, Minerva?" She hissed.

Minerva merely smiled and resumed sipping her tea. "Come dear, you can't tell me you haven't noticed the stares the young men have been giving you. Spending seven years with the same young ladies can get a bit boring after awhile, and you are fresh meat."

"Minerva!" Hermione exclaimed, scandalised, "I would never do anything improper with a student of that I can assure you."

"Calm down, dear I am only teasing, plus I think it would be difficult to resist some of the wizards in this school should I be twenty years younger."

"Hermione, I would like to speak with you in private tonight." said Professor Dumbledore, finishing his pumpkin juice and popping a lemon sherbert into his mouth.

"Yes, Headmaster." Hermione replied with a sigh and finished her breakfast quickly.


She stood in front of the Headmaster's door and willed her mind clear, knowing that tonight she would not be able to avoid his gaze. She had wisely removed all evidence of Horcruxes from her mind and into a mini pensieve she could shrink and expand at will. She had one just like it back home and it came in very handy when she was out of the road with her boys, able to review the days attacks and learn from their mistakes.

But she wouldn't make any mistakes this time, only if she let slip to the Headmaster what her plans were, and she really wasn't that stupid.

"Come in, Hermione." His serene voice called from inside his office.

"How can I help you, Headmaster?" She asked politely and sat down in a chair in front of his desk.

"Where you were on Sunday?"

"Straight to the point ,Albus?"

"I don't see any point in beating around the bush, Miss Granger."

"Why does it concern you?"

He slammed his palms down on the table in an uncharacteristic show of anger. "What have you done?"

"I have done nothing. I was merely visiting the dentist."

"The dentist?" He asked confused.

"It's a Muggle doctor, they fix teeth."

"What was wrong with your teeth?"

"It wasn't my teeth that needed fixing, but my heart."

"Explain yourself, Miss Granger and quickly."

"I haven't seen my parents for over a year, they were killed by-" She paused as he held up his hand, "They were killed."

"You stupid girl!" He shouted and moved around to her side of the table. "What were you thinking?"

"I WAS THINKING I WANTED TO SEE MY MOTHER!" She screamed back. "How can you begrudge me that? When this woman died protecting your ideals and suffering armed guards and the inability to go anywhere. How could you not let me see her?"

"You are walking an extremely thin line, Hermione. Did you enjoy your broom ride yesterday?"

Hermione paled and felt her heart quicken, "What are you talking about?" She asked quietly.

"I saw you Hermione, with James Potter. Our head boy and one of our smartest students, are you having an affair with him?"

"NO!"

"Should I bring him up here and ask for myself, I want the truth and I want it now!"

"That is the truth!" Hermione cried as a lone tear fell down her cheek. "What you saw yesterday was the first intimate moment between us."

"And it will be the last." Dumbledore told her menacingly.


The rat scurried through the castle with a spring in his paws; he had to tell the Marauders the latest news and quick!
"Got a date for the slug club party, Moony?" James asked through a mouthful of toffee.

"Yes I do actually, Jen from Ravenclaw."

"The black haired bird that is always drooling over Lestrange?"

"Mm yes that's the one."

"What about you, Padfoot?"

"Going stag mate." He replied with a grin and swigged down a butterbeer.

"I have to go with Evans, school rules apparently. Head students must attend all functions together."

"Hope your little girlfriend doesn't mind, James."

"She isn't my girlfriend," He muttered as his cheeks flushed pink. "Although I wouldn't mind-" He stopped talking abruptly as Peter stumbled into the room wheezing and coughing.

"Peter what the fuck is wrong with you?"

"Fenwick -cough- Dumbledore -cough cough-" He held his hand over his heart for several minutes as he wheezed and coughed.

The Marauders watched him with amusement as he tried to control his breathing and when he finally managed the task and sunk down on the bed he was all but exhausted.

"Care to tell us what got you so excited, Peter?" Sirius asked with a grin and tossed his friend a cold butterbeer.

"I was going for a run around the castle because I was hungry," He said sheepishly. "Dumbledore's door was open and I could hear screaming, it was Fenwick, she was standing toe to toe with him, all I could make out was that she went to see her Mother but she was dead, and then he asked her how the broom ride was yesterday-"

James eyes widened and his mouth dropped open he was so sure they hadn't been seen. "What did she say to that Wormtail?" He asked not really wanting the answer.

"She nearly fell over, she went all white and started shaking."

"Oh gods, this is all my fault!" James covered his face with his hands and groaned loudly. "What happened then?"

"He started speaking really softly but it chilled me to the bone. He asked her if she was having an affair with you and when she said no, he told her he was going to bring you up and ask you himself and that she was lying. Then he told her it would be the last time he allowed her to be with you and kicked her out of his office."

"Fuck!" James yelled and through his bottle against the wall, it smashed into tiny pieces and flew all over the room.



Dear Professor Fenwick,

I must say your letter surprised and delighted me. I am extremely pleased at your invitation and I would be more than pleased to attend as your escort. I shall call for you at 7:10pm on Saturday.

Lord Malfoy.

Hermione grinned. "Well that's settled then." She said out loud and quickly penned a note to Slughorn informing him of her guest.


The rest of the week past uneventfully, combat class was productive and Hermione was extremely pleased to see Lily present with her friends and actually helping out the younger students. The Hufflepuffs were a surprise, they were fast and agile, learning the new skills quickly and efficiently. She knew again that Dumbledore was spying on her class so she made sure she as careful not to be around James too much, he had just given her a quick reassuring smile and started training with his friends. She was sad to see that none of the Slytherins had made it to this lesson and even the Ravenclaws had a pitiful showing.

She sunk into the luxurious lavender bubble bath and felt all her worries fade away. She thought back to a time when she had no fears, back to when she was still a small child sitting on her Mother's knee, while she read her Enid Blyton stories. It brought a tear to her eye just thinking about her beautiful Mother, who died at the hand of Bellatrix Lestrange, who had of course left her signature in the form of a bloodied B on the lounge room wall, her parents mangled bodies, twisted and deformed. Both had missing fingers and their wedding rings had been taken also. It had been a dark time for Hermione, but maybe the changes she was making would bring her beloved parents back. She could only hope.


She nervously looked at the clock for what seemed like the thirtieth time in only a few minutes. She had made sure to pick the most elegant dress to transfigure out of a magazine, of course calling on Benjy to help her, he was more than willing when he was given two tickets to attend the Slug Party as thanks from Hermione. It hadn't taken much persuasion to get the tickets out of Horace in fact he had been quite accommodating when she told him that Benjy was the next best thing in transfiguration and would one day be ridiculously famous.

Benjy for his part outdid himself on her dress, it was knee length and form fitting, a charcoal colour and the sleeves came to just above her forearms. Around her neck she wore a short strand of black Tahitian Pearls that Benjy told her were his Mothers, and he would be honoured if she wore them. She wore her trademark knee high black boots but this time they had stiletto heels and made her legs look longer than they actually were.

"You look ravishing. dear." Her reflection told her and she turned her nose up at the enchanted mirror.

"I only hope my date thinks so. too."

"I agree with your mirror my dear, you do look ravishing." Hermione jumped a mile as the low drawl of Lucius Malfoy came from behind her.

"Lord Malfoy!" She exclaimed and whirled around to see him smirking down at her in all his finery. He looked beautiful, with his long blond hair unbound and his perfect dress robes with tiny silver buckles. He had his signature cane twirling in one hand and in the other he held a small white rose, which he moved forward to attach onto her chest.

"You look very handsome tonight, Lord Malfoy. I'm surprised your wife let you out without attacking you." She said with a small grin.

He smiled down at her and finished attaching the clasp to her dress. "Now you look perfect. my dear."

"Thank you. Lord Malfoy, it will be a honour to be your date."

"Hermione," He purred, causing her shiver. "We are only a few years apart in age, I insist you address me as Lucius."

"Certainly, Lucius. Shall we?"


"Thanks for agreeing to come with me. James." Lily said with a shy smile in his direction as they sipped small glasses of wine, offered to students who were of age.

"Sorry what did you say?" He replied distractedly as his eyes drifted to the door again.

"I'm sure she'll be here soon." Lily said quietly and tried not to let her disappointment show.

"Who?"

"Whomever you're waiting for."

"I'm not waiting for anyone," He said sharply, then sighed. "I apologise Lily for my lack of attention to you, I am here as your date and I shouldn't be so preoccupied."

She was just about to answer when Sirius swaggered over with a big grin on his face, "Prongsie. old boy have you found your seat yet?"

"No, I haven't had a chance to look."

Sirius smirked and slapped him on the back before leaning in towards him and blocking Lily's view. "I did abit of switching around with the name tags mate. No need to thank me but you've got a prime seat next to the delectable Professor Fenwick."

James grinned and swung his arm over Sirius's shoulders. "Whatever would I do without you. Padfoot?"

Sirius chuckled. "You'd be sitting next to Snivellus."

"Blimey, that's Governor Malfoy!" A voice whispered behind them as all the eyes in the party turned towards the door where Lucius Malfoy stood looking pompous and regal with a knowing smirk on his face. He turned slightly and spoke to his companion that all the wizards in the room hoped was Narcissa Malfoy as she was a complete dish, an ice queen, but a dish all the same. No one was more shocked than James whose jaw almost hit the floor as Hermione took Lucius's arm and smiled beautifully at the gathered students and honoured guests.

"Hermione!" Horace called out and came ambling over much to Lucius's obvious displeasure. He seemed to be guarding Hermione zealously, glaring at the chubby Potions Master as he released her arm and placed his hand at the small of her back in a possessive gesture, that did not go unnoticed by an extremely pleased looking headmaster.

"Would you look at Dumbledore!" Remus whispered in his ear as the party resumed and the music started back up again. The three wizards watched Dumbledore carefully as he greeted Lucius Malfoy with a smile and was extremely polite and jovial towards Hermione which certainly did not fit with his harsh attitude and watchful eye that she had been under all week. For her part Hermione looked a little uncomfortable and seemed to be searching the room, when her eyes locked with James she gave him the most gorgeous smile he had ever seen on her face and he couldn't help the way his lips dried at the prospect of being so close to her during dinner.

"He doesn't look quite so pleased now though does he?" Sirius whispered back as Dumbledore followed Hermione's line of vision to where James was standing staring at her hungrily, his hazel eyes looking her up and down appreciatively and with obvious longing.

Dumbledore said something to Hermione that caused her to tear her gaze away from James, back to Dumbledore then back to James again, instead of the lustful gaze she had been sending him, her eyes were now tinged with fear and anger. Lucius was watching the scene play out before him and was smirking arrogantly, he leaned down to whisper in Hermione's ear, while he kept his eyes locked on James, she blushed and then nodded as he led her to the large dining table. He raised his brow as they got closer to the Marauders, almost silently daring one of them to say something to him.

"Mister Potter, Black." He spat Sirius's name disdainfully and looked over Remus like he was nothing, which raised Hermione's ire considerably.

James smirked at Lucius knowing full well that Hermione even in such a short time had come to care for Remus greatly.

"This is Remus Lupin, Lucius." She said in a cold tone, even as her eyes swept over Remus tenderly. "He is second in the seventh year class, an absolute whiz at Arithmancy and like a younger brother to me."

Lucius looked down at her out of the corner of his eye and gave the boys a smile that certainly did not reach his eyes. You could feel Hermione's magic crackling around their small group and it would be a foolish wizard to ignore a powerful witches anger and irritate her further.

"Mister Lupin." He said with a sneer that Hermione missed because she was too engrossed in watching Remus, when held out his gloved leather hand to the younger wizard she smiled up at him.

"Lord Malfoy, a pleasure I assure you."

Sirius snickered and gave Lucius a sneer that would put the Malfoy's to shame. "Yes indeed a pleasure to meet with family."

"Sirius Black, don't be so rude." Hermione scolded to his displeasure. "Lucius, shall we find out seats?"

"Indeed, have a lovely evening gentlemen. Potter, Lupin, Black." He acknowledge each wizard with a nod then an arrogant smirk and led Hermione to the table, well aware that three pairs of eyes were following their journey. To annoy them further his hand slipped down to just above Hermione's arse, she glared up at him and he gave her one of the smirks that sent girls swooning and winked.

"Smug bastard, I would love to see that smirk wiped off his face permanently."

"You and me both, Padfoot. You and me both." James replied with his hands clenched at his sides, eight crescent moon shapes in his palm.


"Was that really necessary?" She hissed angrily and shrugged off Lucius's hand as soon as they moved into the shadows.

"I believe it was, Hermione." He drawled and started to remove his gloves and stood his cane against the table where his seat was.

"You did that on purpose didn't you? What, were you hoping they would hex you?"

"That would have been delightful, being able to expel the blood traitors." He smirked down at her and watched with interest as her face reddened in anger and her hand slid almost involuntarily to her wand that was hidden in special holster in her sleeve.

"Going to hex me, Hermione?" He said with a grin and held out her chair for her.

"I might, if you keep insulting people I care a great deal for."

"Perhaps you should owl me a list of those you care for so I know who I can insult freely?"

Hermione tried to stay mad but a man like Lucius Malfoy made it near impossible, he gave her a knowing smile and helped her into her seat then sat beside her.

"You are such an arse." She said with a small smile, and laughed when he held his hands over his heart in mock hurt.

"You wound me, Madam." He told her with a smirk and leaned back in his seat and placed his arm over the back of hers.

"Why did you agree to come with me, Lucius?"

He took a sip of the wine that had appeared in front of him and closed his eyes in bliss as the fruity liquid slid down his throat.

"I like parties." He replied with a grin. "Who could resist the urge to spend a night with such a beautiful witch?"

"Who indeed?" Said a deep voice from beside her, Hermione felt her insides churn as she turned slowly. James stood next to her with a smile on his face, his eyes roamed hers lazily and he picked up her hand to place a slow kiss on the back.

"Professor Fenwick, you look beautiful tonight." He said softly before taking his seat next to her.

"Thank you, James, and you look very handsome. All the witches will be fighting to get a dance with you."

"Perhaps," He said with a grin folded his napkin over his lap before offering her some water. "You will save a dance for me, Professor?"

"Of course." She told him softly and smiled when his eyes sparkled.

"Of course you will save me a dance too won't you, Hermione?" Lucius drawled from her left, she nodded and turned her smile to Lucius.

"Of course, Lucius I would be delighted."

Lucius smirked over the top of Hermione's head and gave James a mock salute with his wine before taking a small piece of chicken.

"So, Mister Potter, who is your date this evening?"

James saw Hermione stiffen slightly at the question then sat back to give him her full attention. "I escorted the Head Girl to the party, Governor Malfoy."

"Is that so?" Lucius asked, his smirk growing wider as Hermione gripped her fork tighter.

"Yes, we were required to attend the party together and any further functions, including the Graduation Ball."

"You did not wish to attend with our lovely mud- Muggleborn Head Girl?"

James' jaw clenched and he gripped the edge of the table tightly at Lucius' mock slip of the tongue. "I respect our Head Girl greatly, she is a lovely witch, Governor," He all but spat. "However the witch I wish to attend with this evening was unavailable."

Hermione bit her lip and tried in vain to stop the wide grin that was threatening to spread across her face. She slipped her hand under the tablecloth and gripped James' thigh, chuckling softly when he jumped then blushed.

"I am sure she won't be unavailable forever, James."

"I am sure of that too, Professor." He said with a grin that lit up his whole face as her hand squeezed his thigh. He put his hand on top of hers and entwined their fingers, his thumb ran across the back of her hand slowly and when she breathed in sharply he knew he was having an affect on her. Silently thanking Sirius for his continual boasting about his seduction prowess he sucked up all his confidence and moved their joined hands over to her lap and released her fingers to slowly slide her dress up along her thighs. She gasped as his fingers made contact with her bare thigh and drew lazy circles over the soft skin he found.

"Everything alright ,Professor?" He asked her with a cheeky grin that drew stares from the occupants closest to them at the dinner table.

"My dear girl, you are looking quite flushed are you alright?" Horace asked concerned from across the table.

"Just fine, Horace." She squeaked when James's finger drew closer to her knickers. "The wine has gone straight to my head. Just water from now on for me."

With one final squeeze, James removed his hand to take a bite of his dessert, and only thanks to his years of being a stag with keen hearing did he catch the disappointed moan that Hermione let out when he left her.

James leaned back in his chair with a wide grin on his face as he sipped his wine, feeling eyes on him he met the icy glare of Lucius Malfoy and mocked his earlier salute of him with his glass, chuckling when Lucius almost popped a vein.


Chapter End Notes:

Ahhh good ole Lucius and his protectiveness :D just to clear things up he finds himself attracted to Hermione, and can't explain why. He thinks she's a pureblood witch :D

Chapter ten sneak peeeeeeek...

"James, what are you doing out of bed?"

"What are you doing with Lucius Malfoy coming out of your quarters at 1am and dressing like that in public." He looked down at her tiny shorts, her chest hugging tank top and her bare feet and yelped in surprise when she grabbed his shirt and yanked him into her room.

"How dare you insinuate that I would do anything remotely sexual with Lucius Malfoy!" She yelled. "How dare you insult me like that."

"Well what am I to believe that he came inside for tea?"

"What Lucius Malfoy was doing in my quarters is frankly none of your business and how I dress in my own room is my decision."