"Ahem." The duo looked to the headmaster that had been watching them exchange gifts. "I hate to break up this time of friendship but someone just come through the wards. Exchanging looks they jumped from the couch leaving the office to find out who had come through the wards.

Hermione and Severus ran down the stairs, through the corridors and out the front doors to find Regulus running up the path to the door out of breath.

"Regulus, are you all right?" Hermione asked skidding to a halt.

"Yes-no-yes, shit I don't know." Regulus said out of breath.

"Come inside tell me what happened."

Regulus stepped through the castle doors with Severus and Hermione at either side of him as he began his tale. "I went home found the locket without a problem," he reached in his back pocket and handed Hermione the Locket.

Hermione felt the locket slide in her hand, the hate and malice seeping from the cold metal told her it was the real one. "It's real, continue."

"Anyways, I went with my mother the other day to Gringotts and the cup wasn't in the vault. I thought it would be but it's not, I waited till mum walked away then asked the Goblin where the cup was; said it was deep in Gringotts on the lowest level. Only the houses of Black, Dumbledore, and Malfoy vaults are located down there."

"Wait, when I broke into Gringotts the first time the cup came from a Lestrange vault on the bottom. If the only vaults the lower level house are those three; how did the Lestrange's vault end up down there?" Hermione was baffled, trying to figure it out.

Regulus sighed turning down the corridor, "that's what has me confused, the only way it could have happened would be for Bella or Cissa to get married. The vault would be taken as dowry because there's no way they have that kind of money."

"It will be Bellatrix. Can you get in the vault without us having to break into Gringotts?" Hermione stopped in the middle of the corridor.

"I believe I can get in and get it. I couldn't do it that day; mother was there." Regulus said sounding annoyed.

"It's fine. We still have time." Hermione told the young Black.

"Also whatever you do, Hermione, do not go after that ring; the Death Eaters are all over it." Regulus' tone told her that he was seriously worried she'd go after it.

Hermione grabbed him by the front of his shirt and slammed him up against the wall, "What do you mean 'they're all over it'?"

"The Dark Lord believes that Dumbledore will try during Christmas, he believes that Dumbledore will go after that one first because it's the only one he thinks Dumbledore knows of. He doesn't know that it's the last one however, but you have to hold off till after Christmas before going." Regulus looked between Hermione and Severus. "It will be safer for both of you, mainly you Snape."

"Does the Dark Lord suspect something?" Severus asked him, his voice low with accusations.

"No not from what I have heard. You place is still safe within his ranks." Regulus spoke truthfully. Hermione looked from Severus to Regulus letting him go hearing the honesty in his voice.

"Good the last thing I need is to be turned over; I don't feel like dying anytime soon." Snape glared at the youngest Black.

"I don't feel like dying by the Dark Lord's hand if it's found out what we are doing," Hermione hissed at the two dark haired wizards. "Because I can guarantee it won't be a quick death."

"Obviously." Snape looked at Hermione with a smirk.

"We will wait for your word of when to go after the ring. Severus and I will begin looking for ways to destroy them." Hermione already knew some but also wanted to look for more ways. "Regulus, stay safe."

Regulus gave her a nod before turning back down the corridor heading for the staircase.

Hermione watched Regulus turn the corner out of sight, she hated that he couldn't get the cup but at least she had the locket in her hand.

"I am glad he warned us we would have gone to our deaths," She said with a sigh as she turned back up the corridor with Severus. "For all of this we will have to delve into darker magic's."

"Yes well that's fantastic but you have three problems looking at you right now," Severus whispered to her looking down the stairs. Hermione looked up and followed his gaze to see Remus, James, and Sirius looking at her and Severus.

"I told you Remus," Sirius growled his eyes locked on Hermione.

"If you need me you know how to call me," Severus whispered heading back to the Slytherin dorms, walking down the stairs earned him a glare from the Marauders but he sneered back.

"Care to explain why you were having a merry conversation with my brother and Snivellus?" Sirius asked as he took a step forward.

"I don't have to explain anything to you Black." Hermione sneered at the annoying wizard before her.

"It would be nice if you would explain it to me," Remus spoke up looking hurt and confused.

"I can't Remus." Hermione replied not able to look him in the eye, as much as she hated lying, she was bound by the Order not to.

"Can't or won't?" Sirius growled watching Hermione like prey as he spoke.

Hermione's gaze snapped to Sirius's ablaze with fury. "Why don't you shut your mouth Black? It's what you've been good at for the last few months!"

"you're nothing but a Death Eater!" Sirius snarled as he stalked towards her but stopped when James put his hand up.

"Bastard. That's the best you could come up with."

"Then show us your left arm." Sirius sneered at Hermione.

"No." Hermione couldn't show them her arm without showing them the Order of the Phoenix mark that lay on her arm.

Before Sirius could open his mouth again James cut him off, "Enough Sirius this is between them. Come on."

Hermione watched as James pulled Sirius away down the stairs with hate radiating through her body.

"Please tell me Hermione." Remus pleaded with her as he stepped closer.

"Remus I can't," Hermione told him looking into his blue eyes and seeing the hurt that lay there.

Remus didn't say anything for a few moments before finally making up his mind on what to say. "Then I can't either," He rapped his fingers along the railing without looking at Hermione.

"This… is too much Hermione. I love you. I do but, I don't know what you're playing with and you won't tell me. I'm sorry," Remus turned and made his way down the flight of stairs they were standing before she said after him.

"Well you would know all about secrets wouldn't you Remus?" Hermione's voice rang in his ears like she had yelled, but it had barely been a whisper.

Remus stopped slowly turning around looking at her up the stairs in shock.

"What are you talking about?" Remus's asked, panic rising in his body as he tried to figure out how she'd figured it out.

"You know exactly what I am speaking of—happens around the full moon." Hermione said.

"How do you know?" Remus asked holding on to the banister.

"Some people keep up with the lunar cycle, lucky for me I knew the first time you disappeared. I guess it was easier to sleep with me, than tell me about it. But don't worry, even though we're no longer together I won't let your secret out. Some of us are better than that; some of us just…trust others too easily. I know better now." Hermione said as she walked past Remus, who stood frozen in place, and headed back to her grandfather's office tears falling with every step she took away from him.

Remus stood in place not being able to move his mind racing as fast as a broom flying. "How did she know? What does it matter if she knows? But she is in dark magic."

"She didn't run though" The wolf said stirring inside him.

Remus ran his hands through his hair leaving the castle to find James and Sirius waiting for him at the doors.

"Remus, are you alright mate?" James said seeing the look on Remus' face.

Remus shook his head walking passed them.

"Mate I am sorry you had to find out like this." Sirius said following Remus to the gates.

"I don't want to talk about it Sirius." Remus said flatly as he walked towards the gate.

"Remus—," Sirius started.

"I SAID I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT SIRIUS!" Remus snapped walking away even faster leaving James and Sirius behind.

"Sirius, give him time, I believe he had more feelings for her then he let on." James looked from Remus to Sirius. "At least to us anyways."

"I know that's why I hate seeing him like this," Sirius left walking after Remus.

James turned around looking up to the castle finding Hermione sitting in a window with her head on her knees. He could only guess she was crying; James knew he should be upset about all of this but he still cared very much for Hermione. James took a deep breath "The next few months are going to be hell." He said letting the breath out walking away from the castle.

HGRLHGRLHGRLHGRL

The words James had spoken that night leaving the castle; he had no idea just how true those words would become. The holidays ended. Students returned to the castle surprised to find the tension between the Marauders and Hermione so high as well as Hermione and Remus broken up. Sirius slowly began tormenting Hermione for hurting Remus. She already knew Sirius would retaliate from their break up and Sirius' antics had not bothered her; but what had bothered her is that neither Remus nor James tried to stop him. Sirius made sure he never did anything in front of Lily, when Lily had found out about their break-up she had been devastated. Since no one would give her a reason for it, she had firmly stood up against Sirius saying, "If you can't give me a reason, I'll be damned if I stop talking to her." Lily had stormed from the common room, leaving the occupants behind her shocked at the normally level-headed girl.

Hermione sat in the library with Severus looking as if they were working on their project when really they were looking up Horcruxs.

"Oh my god, I am so stupid." Hermione said as she raised her eyes up at the ceiling.

"It's good you can admit that." Severus said with a smirk not looking up from his book.

"Jerk, no look at this," Hermione slid the book across the table and waited as Severus began reading.

"Of the many fearsome beasts and monsters that roam our land, there is none more curious or more deadly than the Basilisk, known also as the King of Serpents. This snake, which may reach gigantic size, and live many hundreds of years, is born from a chicken's egg, hatched beneath a toad. Its methods of killing are most wondrous, for aside from its deadly and venomous fangs, the Basilisk has a murderous stare, and all who are fixed with the beam of its eye shall suffer instant death. Spiders flee before the Basilisk, for it is their mortal enemy, and the Basilisk flees only from the crowing of the rooster, which is fatal to it."

Severus finished reading the paragraph looking up to Hermione, "Okay, what are you getting at here?"

Hermione huffed, "What I am getting at is the Basilisk's fangs are full of deadly venom, powerful enough to kill a human in a matter of minutes; Phoenix tears are the only known cure. It can also damage inanimate objects so thoroughly that they are impossible to restore, and thus it is one of the few substances powerful enough to destroy a—," Hermione stopped letting him figure out the rest."

"Holy shit," Realization dawning on his face before he scowled again. "So where would just happen to find a Basilisk or one of its fangs? There hasn't been one in Britain for the last four-hundred years."

Hermione gave him a smirk that told him all he need to know; That she knew exactly where one was.

"Let me guess you know where to find one. Don't you? Come on we have to go to him."

Severus grabbed the books following Hermione out of the library to her grandfather's office, they made their way down the staircase to find the Marauders and Lily standing where they were heading. Hermione sighed as she continued to walk past them staying quiet until Sirius opened his mouth.

"Moving to Slytherins are we? Pretty quick and easy don't you think?" Sirius hissed as she walked by.

"That's enough Sirius." James snapped at him.

"I don't think it is," Sirius smirked with his eyes fixed on Hermione.

Hermione was completely boiling on the inside, all thoughts of staying silent were gone, she was sick of Sirius. She threw her books on the ground and slung her wand out; she threw a silent hex at Sirius who never saw it coming.

"For your information Black, I have only slept with one person." She threw a look over at Remus but he was looking at the floor.

"Let's see if you will be able to figure out what I just did to you." Hermione said laughing as she began to walk away, Severus behind her smirking. Sirius grabbed his wand and pointed it at Hermione but found that he could speak. He tried to yell at Hermione as she walked away but again the effort failed.

Lily turned around to glare at Remus and James, "Neither of you better help him, he got what he deserved." Lily stormed away after Hermione.

Severus walked down the hall with Hermione; she didn't say anything but he could see tears rolling down her cheeks. "Hermione, don't listen to him please, they will know the truth—eventually. Nice use of my spell by the way." Hermione gave him a watery smile as she walked next to him, but stayed silent.

"Hermione, Hermione." Hermione stopped and turned to see Lily running after. "Wait please! Hermione, I'm sorry, I wish I knew what to do." Lily whispered as she wiped Hermione's tears away. "If it helps at all I left Sirius the way he was; not talking is what he should be doing."

Hermione let out a laugh, "It is okay lily. I have to go though," She left Lily and Severus and walked down the corridor.

Lily looks up at Severus, and spoke to him for the first time in two years. "Hello Severus." The dark haired man simply looked at her, and then gave a curt nod, before he followed Hermione into the headmaster's office.

RLHGRLHGRLHGRL

Hermione opened the door to the office and looked up at her grandfather. He saw that her eyes were puffy and red from crying, but at his concerned look, Hermione shook her head silently begging him not to ask when Severus entered the room.

"I believe since you are here you have found something." Albus said addressing them both.

"Yes, basilisk venom can destroy a horcrux. I am sure you know about the Chamber of Secrets and the monster that lies within," Hermione sat down and threw her legs over the arms of the chair.

"Well yes, the school has been searched main times but hasn't been found." Albus smiled knowing what his granddaughter was getting at.

"Well lucky for us Hermione here is from the future." Severus said snidely.

"I agree. You know where it is?" Dumbledore asked.

"I can take you there now," Hermione stood from her chair.

"Show me." He motioned to the door.

HGRLHGRLHGRLHGRLHGRL

On the staircase Hermione found herself in front of the Marauders once again; Sirius stepped towards her, his voice still gone, until he saw the Headmaster behind her.

"Is there a problem Mr. Black?" He asked politely, both James and Remus noticed the twinkle had left the old man's eyes, leaving the eyes behind the half-moon spectacles strangely sharp.

Sirius tried to talk but it came out as only a mumble since his tongue was still stuck to the roof of his mouth.

"Well since you can't tell me, I see nothing wrong. Well have a good afternoon boys," He gave them a merry smile as he passed them ignoring Sirius' widened eyes as the Headmaster left him unable to talk.

Hermione felt a grin burst out over her face and looked up to see James and Remus staring at her, Sirius giving her a deathly glare. "Cat got your tongue Sirius? Or is it a werewolf?" Three sets of eyes widened at her as she walked by them. She reached the second floor and looked at her grandfather with a large smile.

"You know that was terribly mean, Black can't speak."

"Well I am an old man, I thought maybe he was playing a joke," He said kindly looking back at his granddaughter, the twinkle back in his eyes. "No one hurts my family."

Hermione smiled once more, and then she stepped forward to open the girl's lavatory door.

It had been closed for thirty-five years.

Ok, I know things kind of did a drastic jump from one chapter to another but there is a point to please bare with me. Also I know they just slept with one another but sometimes people can make a bad choice please teenagers are full of hormones. Also everything that had just happen with peter makes it very hard for them. lol Well I hope you like this chapter.

1: Favorite part

2: Favorite line.

Also for those readin my other story true slytherin I have not forgotten it. I am just having a little writers block. Anyways I hope to get something up for that soon.

Jennifer Lupin Black.