A/N - Hello all you wonderful wonderful people, Allyour reviews made me smile so much, justaislinn I always love love love your comments they always make me smile, your words are so kind. windyshoes I love writing James and Sirius together, was always something I was worried about, but they seem to be two of the easiest to write for and most fun. ndavis77 Don't worry Remus will be learning his lesson the hard way :) and as for Killian...we'll have to see what happens there :D kittylover93 Thank you, I'm glad that you like Snape in this story, I know what you mean, I tend to either love him or hate him, I hate it when he seems to be to fluffy and overly nice which tends to be the way people go, so I hope I've managed to keep him as close to his character as possible. StarGirlPotter OMG You make me LAUGH! your reviews are so funny please keep them coming, they really make me giggle. To everyone else who also reviewed THANK YOU! I can't believe that so many of you are enjoying this story so much it makes me so happy. Hermione seems to be quite Sassy in this one when she's interacting with Sirius, but I'm putting this down to the fact that she's has really known him for years and lives with him so it's just they way she is with him, if that makes sense?

This weeks is a crazy one for me, cake orders, weddings and sadly funerals, so once again find myself behind a little more then I like, But there are two chapters currently going to edits so hopefully you wont have to wait to long. :D

BIG BIG BIG BETA LOVE: themerchntofvenice YOU ARE AMAZING!

Coming Home - Chapter Eleven

Lessons

September 2nd 1977 - 9 months and 8 days.

It was the last lesson of the day and Hermione was making her way down the hall towards Transfiguration with the Hufflepuffs, noticing that many students were unfazed by her presence. Of course there were the odd whispers, people making up their own stories about her past and reasons for transfer, but it wasn't anything she wasn't used to. Years of being Harry Potter's friend of course had generated many a rumour, so her indiscreet classmates didn't bother her.

Apart from the Marauders very few from her own house had acknowledged her, more than likely not keen on the fact she was associating with snakes, spending much of her time with Snape, but to her he was safe. He was the one person she could truly be herself around and have very little to worry about. They didn't have a close relationship at all in the future, apart from their recent time spent together brewing; their interaction had never been anything more than Professor and Student. She'd have to ask him about that when she returned home, if he knew her in his past why was he always such a git to her? Unless perhaps she did something in this time to truly offend the wizard.

Thinking back to lunch and her inability to keep quiet, Hermione reminisced about what she had shared with the Marauders. She knew she hadn't shared too much but was now beginning to wonder if it had been a wise choice to tell them about who it was she lived with. Of course they had no idea she was talking about James' son, Sirius and Remus but it was something she could have kept to herself. Yet if she was planning to brew Wolfsbane for Remus (which of course she was) she would need to gain his trust, allowing him to find himself comfortable enough around her to share his secret. That in itself was going to be a difficult task.

Trying to get him to drink an unknown potion with very few questions would be even harder, especially one that was known to taste so vile and bitter when Remus was known for having such a sweet tooth. Oh well she thought, I'll tackle that obstacle when I come to it.

Crap! She thought after reminding herself of Remus' need for sweets. She was somehow going to have to keep him away from any form of chocolate tomorrow. It was well known that the wizard loved his chocolate; wizarding or muggle it didn't matter. Yet, of course, chocolate is poisonous to all canines, werewolves included, and a rather large problem when it came to Remus and his recovery time.

She thought back to the first transformation she had been present for whilst living at Grimmauld Place and witnessing Sirius running around the night before, emptying Remus' "Secret" stash of chocolate dotted around the kitchen and other rooms, in preparation for the following day made her smile. It was quite a sight watching the ex-convict race around before Remus returned - using all sorts of spells and charms to track down the contraband. This often resulted in a very sulky wolf, one who reminded her of a scolded child.

"You know you can't have it Moony!"

"I don't give a damn if I can't have it, I WANT it!"

Hermione and Harry stood at the kitchen doorway watching the scene play out before them. Observing the two thirty -something year old men arguing about chocolate was certainly surreal, not something the two of them had ever thought they would stand witness to.

Remus emitted a rather low and threatening growl causing both teenagers to take a step back with caution "Oh shut up you over-grown puppy, growl all you like, you're not getting a damn bit!"

"You're such a tosser, you know that! Is it not bad enough that I have to go through this shitty cycle every month, without you taking away the one little thing that makes it better!"

"It doesn't though, does it? And don't you dare try to deny it!"

"Is he actually pouting?" Harry whispered to Hermione, the two of them smiling at the sight.

"He looks so sad, maybe we could sneak him a piece later?" said Hermione causing both

Harry and her to giggle at the thought of sneaking treats to him, as though he were their pet.

"Don't you dare missy!" shouted Sirius, startling them out of their mirth. They really needed to start remembering whispering didn't work around these two "If I see either of you two give this git anything, you will personally be waiting on his miserable self for the next three days, which is how long he'll be feeling shitty if he eats a damn bit. Got it Moony!" he finished, turning his attention back to the wolf.

"Fine, but you'll give it back to me tomorrow, after the moon right," Remus asked eyes pleading.

"Don't I always?"

"Fine" Remus said, sulking away.

It was like this every month, the same argument playing out, if it wasn't Sirius then it was Hermione or Harry. She remembered all too well the chocolate cake fiasco at the Weasley's the day before Harry birthday, the day of the moon. No one had been watching him when he snuck off to Mrs Weasley for a sneaky bit of cake away from the chocolate watchers. Resulting in the next three full days after the moon of Remus being bed ridden suffering the after effects, all the while saying that Mrs Weasley's cake had been worth it.

She doubted that he and the others knew the effects the sweet had on him if eaten on the day of the moon, and it only explained more to her, why it was that he suffered quite so much during his school years. That and the lack of Wolfsbane to take the edge off it all - helping him keep his mind really didn't help.

Well that was going to change she decided. Starting next week she would begin to collect the necessary ingredients she would need and discuss with Dumbledore, about a place she would be able to brew it safely. It wasn't something she could risk leaving in the girls bathroom like the Polyjuice potion, the risks involved were too high to just leave it unattended like that. Hopefully something could be arranged.

Hermione was so deep in her thoughts that she was caught off guard when she collided with a very tall and firm body. Two strong arms reached out to her just before she stumbled backwards and down on to her bottom, two strong arms that she was very grateful for as they pulled her in close.

She looked up at her saviour, brown eyes meeting blue, and pushed a few escaped curls off her face in the process "You ok?" came Remus' soft voice.

Her hands drifted on to his chest as she tried to steady herself, feeling him beneath her fingers reminded her of the wonderful site he was hiding underneath his school robes. Maybe she would be lucky enough to catch a few more glimpses at some point.

"Thank you, I was completely in my own little world then," Hermione said as she pulled her hands away, righting her bag on her shoulder as Remus released her.

"It must have been some thought, you didn't even hear me calling out"

It was actually. You. She thought.

"Nothing of great importance," she lied "I'm just a little distracted, new school, new people. I find myself trying to recall everything at the most inconvenient times,"

"Well, we should go in, don't want to be late for Professor McGonagall." Hermione nodded and the two of them filtered into the classroom with the rest of the students.

Peter was standing there at the back of the room, with the rest of their classmates, waving his chubby little hands frantically at Remus, beaconing him over "Wormtail I can see you mate, no need to strain yourself," Remus chuckled joining his friend.

Hermione followed him over towards Pettigrew and the rest of their classmates whilst they waited for McGonagall to arrive "Where are Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum?" Hermione asked Peter.

"Who?" he asked looking utterly lost.

Remus chuckled "She means Padfoot and Prongs" he explained.

"Then why call them Twidling Dib and Twadly Doo?" asked Peter scrunching his nose rather rat like.

"Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum," Hermione corrected.

"They're characters from a muggle book; Alice in Wonderland." Remus kindly explained to his confused friend.

"Oh, but still that doesn't explain why you don't use their real names,"

Note to self, don't bring up muggle literature around Pettigrew - it's not worth the hassle.

"Don't worry about it Pete, and to answer your question," Remus said turning his attention towards Hermione "the idiots will be here. They like to try to butter up McGonagall,"

"By being late? From what I've heard McGonagall isn't one to take tardiness and misbehaviour lightly,"

"Somehow they get away with it," he answered with a smile.

It wasn't long before Professor McGonagall strolled on in to the room with a look of importance about her, her green velvet robes flowing elegantly behind. Hermione smiled to herself, the witch really hadn't changed at all over the years. Same glasses resting on the tip of her nose, her hair perhaps a little less grey but still styled in that overly neat bun atop her head and that look she held which let you know she meant business.

"Welcome back students," she began, before stopping and scanning over the witches and wizards standing before her. Her eyes locked in on Remus and Peter "Mister Lupin, Mister Pettigrew, where might the other two of your quartet be?"

"W-we don't k-know - " stuttered Peter before he was interrupted by a large and obnoxious crash through the door.

"Here we go-" muttered Remus.

"Please, Minnie, Forgive us," called Sirius from the doorway.

"It was an honest mistake," followed James.

"Please-it was all for a good cause,"

"The very best in fact-"

"Truly, Look - here, for you," said Sirius a little too enthusiastically as he ran towards McGonagall thrusting a handful of wilted and maimed flowers.

McGonagall looked over her glasses at the mauled bouquet before her and then up at the boy's overly excited expressions, quirking an eyebrow "What are they, Mister Black?"

"Why, they're flowers, of course, Minnie,"

"We picked them especially for you, only the very best for our favourite Professor of course," said James.

McGonagall's eyes drifted up from the flowers and fell back on to the two wizards standing proudly before her "These here wilted weeds, are they reason you are late for my class?" she asked them, her stern expression never wavering, ignoring the faint chuckles coming from the other students.

"Weeds! Why you hurt us, Minnie," said Sirius clutching at his chest.

"Your words wound us," added James wiping a faux tear.

"Now gentlemen, perhaps when you try to impress a witch in the future, you should spend a little more time learning about their interests, rather than destroying perfectly good flora with your floristry skills."

"See I told you, I knew I was right," muttered James to Sirius.

"Fine, you win," said Sirius and gave his wand a quick flick muttering "Finite Incantatem,"

Within a moment the wilted wildlife transfigured into a particularly nice looking bottle of Blishen's Firewhisky and the boys stood there proudly, smiles plastered across their faces. McGonagall's mouth twitched with delight. She shook her head amused and rolled her eyes playfully.

"Bribery will not get you through this class gentlemen," she said ignoring the giggling students.

"We would never try such a thing Professor, this is merely a gesture of goodwill," said James.

"I see the two of you have been practicing on your skills over the summer, fifteen points to Gryffindor, for quite the transfiguration display"

Hermione looked up at Remus disbelief "I told you, they always get away with it," he whispered with a smile.

"Unbelievable," she muttered, causing Remus to chuckle softly.

"Anyway, as I was saying students, before we were rudely interrupted," McGonagall flashed a quick look towards the two mischievous Gryffindors "Welcome back. As always I have prepared a seating chart, as it seems the only way to control a very select few of you," another look was sent towards Sirius and James, who both simply beamed with pride at their reputation. "As I stand in front of each desk and call out the students who are to take residence, I expected you to gather your things and take your seat," she walked over to the first front desk at the left hand side of the class room and began.

"Wingrove and Hillian,"

"That's a shame," Hermione heard a short freckled brunette in Hufflepuff robes whisper in Remus' ear, as she walked towards the front of the class following a tall Gryffindor boy. Huh, I wonder what that was about? She began to wonder as she noticed a faint blush find its way across Remus' cheeks. Gauging his reaction, Hermione began to wonder if perhaps there was a little more going on there then was known. Though hadn't he spent his night previous with a Ravenclaw witch? Ah wait; didn't Sirius mention something about three witches? She found herself thinking. I guess this must be witch number two.

There was no pang of jealously this time, unlike earlier at breakfast just an instant dislike for her classmate. A completely unjustified dislike of course, but that didn't mean she didn't deserve Hermione's loathing.

Then there was Remus. Hermione stood there wondering more and more about the younger version of the wizard she knew so well. Or who she thought she knew well. He had never seemed like the type of wizard to go from witch to witch, that was Sirius. But as the hours ticked by her thoughts and opinions were beginning to waiver, thanks to the new information she was gathering.

"Miss Granger - " came the loud voice of McGonagall, pulling Hermione out of her thoughts.

"Huh?"

"Lucky you kitten, you get to sit next to yours truly," beamed Sirius as his arm snaked around her waist.

Hermione groaned loudly earning herself an amused expression from her professor and fellow classmates.

"Don't be like that Princess, it's obvious we are both well adept in our ability to transfigure many an item" his eyes narrowed at her playfully a half smile appearing across his lips, quiet chuckles heard around them.

She shrugged him off and made her way over towards the desk McGonagall was standing in front of patiently and took her seat.

Sirius followed shortly, flashing a quick wink to McGonagall earning himself an eye roll, before she moved on to the rest of the class. Hermione tried her best to ignore the Black heir beside her, which, so far was proving to be a challenge. He was a fidget. Constantly shuffling and rummaging around in his bag, Hermione imagined this was what it would be like to sit beside a restless Crup pup. Cute, but bloody irritating.

"Do you ever sit still!" she chastised him as he shuffled his parchment once more.

"Only when there is someone sitting on me," Sirius answered smirking seductively.

"That could be arranged," she replied looking up from under her lashes.

She observed with amusement as his eyes fixed on her, watching carefully as she stood and walked around the desk and prizing Pettigrew out of his seat, leading him over to their desk. The poor sod looking completely bewildered as she placed him on Sirius' lap and returned to her seat.

"There you go, I take it you'll remain still now?" she said with a smile.

"Padfoot? Do I really have to sit here?" whinged a red faced Pettigrew.

"What on earth do the two of you think you're doing? Mister Pettigrew, I don't care how close you and Mister Black are, this is not the time or place to display that kind of behaviour!" McGonagall shouted from the back of the classroom "Silence!" she called out as the giggles started to increase.

"I-it wasn't m-me Professor. G-granger s-sat me here!" stuttered Pettigrew, jumping up out of Sirius' lap as fast as he could manage.

"Miss Granger?" questioned McGonagall as she walked over towards the offending students.

"Well Professor, you see, Black here stated that he could not sit still and quiet unless somebody occupied his lap. I was merely helping him out and ensuring myself a peaceful working environment," she answered as nonchalantly as possible.

"Professor if you would rather sit on my lap then Pete I'm sure that could be arranged," Sirius said face plastered with his widest smile.

"Will you behave Mister Black! Mister Lupin, will you please be so kind and switch with this imbecile?" McGonagall asked gesturing towards Sirius' seat.

"Your words wound me Minnie," pouted Sirius.

"I'm sure you'll live, now will you please go and be seated next to Mister Gibbs,"

Hermione found herself smiling inwardly as she noticed Miss Hufflepuff scowl over in her direction. That's a shame, thought Hermione as she replayed Miss Hufflepuffs words over in her mind, before turning her attention to Remus and smiling up at him "Much better company," she said a little to flirty, causing the werewolf to blush.

"I'm glad you think so," Remus said quietly as he took his seat.

The two of them sat peacefully for the duration of the lesson, both furiously writing notes and rolling their eyes every time Sirius or James made ridiculous comments, which seemed to be far too often. How McGonagall managed to put up with them was a mystery. Though she must be used to a variety of behaviour, after all she had withstood Seamus' constant ability to make even the simplest incantation ignite or explode.

Before she knew it the end of class had arrived and they began to pack up their belongings, Hermione casting a quick drying spell over the wet ink on both of their parchment.

"Thank you" said Remus.

"It was no problem, wouldn't want all those notes to be a waste," she replied with a smile as she picked up her ink well and quill, placing the final two items into her bag and hoisting it on to her shoulder.

The two of them reached the doorway and exited the classroom side by side only to come face to face with Miss Hufflepuff.

"Remus" she cried, her voice shrill and overly loud as she threw an arm around his waist, taking the young wizard by surprise.

"Oh hi, Ivy, Ivy this is Hermione, she's new," Ivy-how Hufflepuff.

The freckled brunette, fluttered her eyes so quickly at Remus, Hermione was sure was going to make herself dizzy "Still on for later?" she asked him, reaching up and stroking his tie between her fingers, completely ignoring the introduction he had given Hermione and Hermione unable to disguise a look of distaste curled her lip, as Ivy fondled the fabric around his neck.

"Er-I…Hmm," he said clearing his throat embarrassed at her bluntness.

"Oi, Hermione, Remus, You coming?" called out James from further up the corridor, his arm firmly wrapped around Lily's waist, though Hermione could see the confused look in his eyes as he stared intently at Ivy.

"Same place as old times gorgeous?" Ivy asked ignoring James' call and kissing Remus soundly on the cheek.

He answered as prompt as he could with the quickest head nod Hermione had ever seen, before freeing himself from her grasp and ushering both himself and Hermione away, trying his hardest to hide his embarrassment. Though the beautiful shade of tomato red was making it difficult.

"Nice to meet you Ivy," said Hermione over her shoulder as she adjusted her bag, allowing Remus to guide her over to James and Lily in a hurry, away from the uncomfortable situation and scowling looks she was now receiving.

Within a quick few strides they had quickly caught up with James and Lily, the former who was giving Remus a look that she couldn't quite decipher. There was an uncomfortable silence all round for the few short moments that occupied their journey, until they were safely around the corner and out of view.

Hermione felt strangely out of place as Remus turned his gaze towards the floor, playing dumb to James' intense stare "So she seems nice," began Hermione, trying her best to out the obvious issue as discreetly as she could.

"Yes Moony, she did seem awfully nice, didn't she?" said James taking a stand, hands on his hips as though he was about to scold the poor wolf.

Remus said nothing but a loud and grumpy groan, choosing to ignore James and continue on down the corridor towards the staircases.

"Remus John Lupin! Get your backside back here now!" Shouted James, whilst Hermione tried her best to control the urge to laugh as she and Lily followed the two marauders towards their common room.

Hermione and Lily followed in comfortable silence as they watch the two wizards before them. James trying his hardest to keep up with Remus, whilst Remus used his long legs to preserve the distance he had achieved.

There was obviously something about the whole Miss Hufflepuff situation that didn't sit well with the Potter Heir. Within a short space of time they had reached the entrance to the common room, the poor Fat lady's portrait crying out about "No good ruffians" as her frame was swung with such force, shaking the poor woman over.

"Do you know what this is about?" whispered Hermione to Lily as they followed in behind.

"No, idea" she replied.

It didn't seem they would have to wait long before they had some idea of what was the matter "Don't you dare let him pass!" shouted James as Remus was stopped by both Sirius and Pettigrew as he tried to make his way towards the boys dormitory.

"As much as I love a bit of drama Prongs, what's the occasion for poor Moony here's manhandling?"

"Wingrove" was all James answered.

"Wingrove? As in Ivy Wingrove? Crazy bint from Hufflepuff?" Sirius asked with his lip curled. Clearly there was something about Miss Hufflepuff that wasn't a good thing thought Hermione, as she and Lily took as seat by the fireplace, ready to watch whatever it was unfold.

They watched as Remus' head flopped in defeat and Sirius and Pettigrew loosened their hold on him. He shrugged them off and perched himself on the arm of a chair waiting for the obvious lecture he was about to endure.

"No way Moony, Ivy is Miss Hufflepuff?" Sirius said rubbing his hands over his face. Remus said nothing, merely continued to look down at a rather interesting part of carpet.

"What an earth were you thinking? No wonder you never told us who Hufflepuff was!"

Hermione shot a questioning look to Lily who only shrugged in return. Apparently it was all news to her as well.

"You're mad, you know that don't you!" said Pettigrew shaking his head.

"Do you not remember the beginning of last year?" Remus only nodded at James' question, never looking up to meet his eyes.

"So you remember her driving Moony near breaking point then?" said Sirius to Remus. Did Sirius just refer to Moony as being 'Moony' rather than Remus?

That was a first. In the short amount of time Hermione had been here, she had not once heard the Marauders to refer to the Wolf part of Remus. He was always just Moony, now 'Moony' was someone else. She could feel the tension thicken in the room at Sirius' slip up and couldn't help but inwardly roll her eyes at them all. They were truly terrible at playing dumb. However maybe this was her opportunity to ask questions? Maybe she could wiggle a little more out of them?

"Moony?" she began. At the simple word she could feel Lily stiffen beside her as well as see the marauders shuffle on the spot, looking everywhere but in her direction "Why did you just refer to Remus as though he was a third party?" she asked, never taking her eyes off Sirius.

"I-I didn't" he sputtered out as quickly as he could.

"You did," Hermione said crossing her arms. It would make things so much easier if you would just tell me about Remus' 'Furry little problem', you already know I live with a wolf. Albeit it's Remus.

"I was talking to Prongs and Wormtail," he said as quickly as he was able.

"You were looking at Remus," she said just as fast. No one dared to say anything else and the silence began to grate on her. There was only so much icy silence and irritating shuffling she could take "Well, if you feel like sharing at all later, you know where I am. See you at dinner?" and with that Hermione hoisted her bag up and made her way to her room. Maybe I'll ask Severus, he might know more about Miss Hufflepuff."