Hello, New Chapter!

It may be revised, but it probably won't effect you. Note: Lucius will be involved in this story, I promise, and for Dee Rosa, some Lily action and a bit of an explanation as to the weird behaviours from her and Severus.

Emmy. x

Hermione sighed, slipping into the blissfully comfy armchair of the Gryffindor common room, a book one hand and a mug of hot chocolate in the other. She was curled up with a blanket her mother had made for her, trying to give her mind a rest before classes started the next day. She'd left her friends, who were hanging out in the library, for the comforts of the marble fireplace and the sound of rain thrashing onto the windows. Crooks had nipped out to the kitchens to see if her could grab some fish, but Hermione knew he was clever, so she didn't worry about him coming back.

The first few weeks of O.W.L classes had been hellish, especially with all the new courses they were taking; as excited Hermione had been about learning ancient ruins, sitting in a classroom with two Ravenclaw boys, a Slytherin and an almost silent professor as she sowed the ruin for protection into her pyjamas and watched them attempt to the same, was not what she'd pictured.

She'd had some fun, though, in potions, making dragon tonic with Mary – that professor Slughorn had told her was going to go straight to a dragon reserve in Wales - because they'd both finished their strengthening solution a day early.

It was this gloopy, gungy, putrid-yellow mess that stuck to the wooden spoon they'd used to stir it, and it smelt like rotting tuna and harpy's breath. They'd giggled at the nasty looks they were receiving from their classmates because the professor had taught them a bubble charm to keep from breathing the rancid air it was expelling, but none of them could do anything about it because he had been watching them and answering any questions they had.

She was especially glad Black's band of merry pricks had been leaving her alone for the moment. Sure, there'd been the incident with the tar in her shoes, and that time when he'd turned her hair green and silver, but at least he'd stopped with the intimidating encounters when they were alone. In fact, he'd barely acknowledged her – not that she cared.

She and Peter had started chatting lightly in class, and Hermione knew that Clara had somehow managed to fit into Lupin's busy schedule of pranks, marauding and study, but the Black and Potter were just as annoying; Potter had even asked Lily to marry him!

"So, we can use the brooms to get in there and then-" Hermione looked up to see the four boys that'd distracted her from the riveting pages of the latest stupid romance novel her mother had sent her, Two Hundred and Sixty Days of Tulips, climbing through the portrait hole. Their conversation had been abruptly paused when James had seen her, had clumsily hit his friend on the chest to stop him talking.

"Hi Peter," she smiled, before looking to the other boys, "Potter, Lupin."

"What, no welcome for your favourite person?" Black winked, making Hermione frown.

"Sorry twat, I forgot you were in the room," she rolled her eyes.

"Ooh, someone's feisty today," he chuckled, picking up her book, dodging her attempts to snatch it back, "Looks like a fun book."

"It's none of your damn business what I read, Black," she huffed, grabbing it back and putting it next to her, crossing her arms and inadvertently pushing up her bosom.

"You've got some great boobs," he smirked appreciatively.

"You're an prick! Stop being a prick, you prick!"

"Oh, how eloquent," he shook his head.

"How was your weekend, Peter?" she asked ignoring Black.

"Oh," he stuttered awkwardly, not entirely sure if there wasn't another Peter behind him or if the argument with her and Sirius was actually finished, "It, it was good, Hermione. Er, how was y-yours?"

"It was alright," she shrugged tiredly, "You know what it's like with all this homework piling up. I can't imagine taking N.E.W.T's at the moment, they're supposed to be almost double the work."

"Really, I thought you did less subjects?" he asked.

"Yeah, you do," she laughed, folding the corner of her page and closing the book, "It's going to be tough."

"I know! And-"

A loud and obviously faked cough broke into the conversation, and the two brought their attention to the foot of staircase to the boy's dorm, where the other three boys were stood. Two of which had confusion written on their faces, and the other a look of annoyance.

She could see the perfect hair of Black, and the scowl on his face made him look like a prince who'd been refused something. Ugh, she hated him, even if he was bloody gorgeous.

"Oh, sorry Peter," she apologised from the sofa, taking a sip of her hot chocolate and snuggling into her blanket despite the warmth of the fire, "I didn't realise I was keeping you from something."

"You weren't, d-don't worry about it," he assured her, reverting to his stutter a little under the gaze of his friends, "I-I better go."

"Sure," she smiled softly, "I'll see you in history of magic, right?"

"Yeah," he nodded, "See you."

Hermione watched the group of four trample up the stairs, before returning to her book.

"Sam sighed as he watched the girl from across the coffee shop, his tea going cold from neglect. He had been observing her for the past few weeks, every Wednesday when he came in for lunch on his break, but he'd yet to make a move," Hermione read to herself, picturing a tall, dark-haired man hunched up on a chair too small to accommodate his muscly bulk, "Today was going to be the day he would introduce himself, and they'd live happily ever after. But then again, he'd told himself that the past three Wednesdays he'd been at the Teaspoon."

"So, made any new friends lately Peter?" Sirius asked nonchalantly, flopping own onto his bed and trying to contain his urge to shake the boy for information. He'd always hated Evans, but for some reason he often found himself observing her when she wasn't looking his way, which was quite often - not that he cared.

When he'd first met her, she'd been prettier than all the other girls he'd met, and for a moment he thought he would like her, but then she'd opened her damn mouth. She'd been so peppy and excited, asking all these irritating questions and then blaming him for her cat clawing him to near death and accusing him of being cruel when Snivellus was the one who'd been mean. James had done the same with Lily, but he'd wimped out in the third year when he'd fallen in love with her and now he wouldn't shut up about her. Sirius was never going to fall in love with Evans; she was too damn annoying and she was so damn naive it made him want to whisper dirty things in her ear till her pale face was flushed and her doe-like eyes widened more.

He'd admit, she was beautiful. Perhaps not in the conventional tall, skinny, blonde model way, but her soft curves and small stature were complimenting in their own way, and seemed to match perfectly with her vibrant bouncing curls. She was prettier than any of the girls Sirius had snogged in the quidditch cupboard - and he may have dreamed of twisting his fingers in that wild mane, with her bright emerald eyes staring into his own lustfully - but that didn't mean he liked her, even if he'd staked his claim.

"Er, well she helped me out in history of magic, and then we just kind of started talking," he tried to explain, sitting on the edge of his own bed, fiddling with his hands nervously, "I-I know you don't like her that much, but she's really nice and-"

"She's a pain in the arse," James laughed, "But funny. Too bloody smart for her own good and always quick with a comeback."

"Getting sentimental, Prongs?" Remus teased, "I thought it was the other Evans you were after."

"They're twins, aren't they?" Peter said, his brows furrowing.

"Yes, but there not exactly identical, are they?" Remus answered, "I don't understand why you two don't like her."

"Well we all know why you like her," James countered, a smirk gracing his face, "What's the name of that friend of her friend again?"

"Clara," he bit out, regretting it immediately as Sirius and James sniggered, "But you can't tell Hermione, Peter."

"I wouldn't dare," he put his hands up, as if to surrender, "I like Hermione, she's really nice."

"She's an bloody irritating bint, Wormtail," Sirius growled, "I haven't pranked her in a while, have I?"

"Oh Padfoot, I thought you'd grown out of this," Remus sighed exhaustedly, "You've pranked her twice this term, isn't that enough?"

"No, she deserves something bigger than just a colour change charm," he said, thinking back to how she'd just ignored him earlier.

"I'll make her pay attention," he decided, thinking up ways to do so, "Even if it's the last thing I do."

"Boys, we've got some planning to do."

"Sirius, have you seen Hermione?" Marlin asked him as he headed to the portrait for breakfast.

"No, but she'll probably be in the great hall," he said, "Why?"

"I've got a note for her," the prefect beamed, holding up a little piece of paper, "If you're going to see her anyway, will you give it to her?"

"Sure," he shrugged, plucking it out of her hands and shoving it in the pocket of his robes, "Who's it off?"

"There's this guy in seventh year, Oliver Pritchard, who's interested in her," Marlin said, "I have a feeling that's got something to do with them meeting up."

"Oh, alright," he nodded, containing his anger, "See you."

As soon as he'd left her eyesight, Sirius grabbed the note and unfolded it quickly.

...

Dear Hermione Evans (pretty name, by the way),

If you don't remember me, I was the boy laughing at you from your seat in McGonagall's class, my name's Oliver Pritchard. I was wondering, if you're interested, meet me in the kitchens after dinner tonight.

Hope to see you.

...

"Well, we'll see about that," Sirius glared, thinking of the many curses he could throw at this idiot.

"Mione, I've got to speak to a teacher about some homework, I'll see you in class," Lily said, standing from the bench.

"Oh, I'll come with, I've finished breakfast," Hermione offered.

"No, you stay here with Mary; we've got potions next and you're partners," Lily insisted, walking out of the hall.

"Is it just me, or is she acting really oddly?" Mary frowned, looking down to the great oak doors of the hall where Lily had just left.

"It's not just you," Hermione agreed, her gaze finding Severus, who'd been distant with Lily since the awkwardness before DADA.

"You promise you won't tell anyone?" Lily demanded, looking deeply into the hazel eyes of the boy she was pressed up against in the alcove, "Not even your friends?"

"I promise," he nodded earnestly, "Now kiss me, lily flower."

Hope you liked it! Read and review x