A/N: What does Hermione do while Harry is at school, and Sirius? I sometimes forget y'all don't see how I see the rest of the story unfolding. And I need to show Hermione as I see her, not the strong face she puts up around everyone else. She is just a girl, after all. A girl trying to be the responsible one in a house with two very immature... men.

Rather short, but that is my style. *shrug* Remeber, Bella does not exsist in this story, or hasn't shown up yet.


Hermione sighed at the loud thuds coming from upstairs. Ever since Severus had refused to stay over night, and left, with Luna in tow - protesting in her own, dreamy way -, Sirius had been throwing a... well, a tantrum was likely the nicest way to put it. And she, herself? She hadn't wrote a single paragraph, between Sirius, and herself being oddly off-balance.

*BAMG*

"Sirius Orion Black! Stop that this instant!"

Sirius poked his head around the corner of the banisters, after thundering downstairs, quite loudly. "Nope. Sorry. Can't!" and with that he high-tailed it back upstairs.

As the noises continued, and increased in volume, Hermione just shook her head, stood up, and pulling on her jacket, she grabbed her set of keys from by the back door. Boys. She was surronded by boys. Bachelors, at that. Why had she ever though this was a good idea?

Sighing, Hermione looked between her car and the forest that abutted along the edge of the property. With only a minutes' worth of decision, she decided on the path less traveled. Might as well explore the forest. She had her wand. It would be nice and quiet for her to think, no distractions such as those that driving would provide.

She let her feet lead her where they willed. Why had she came along, again? Oh, yes. To keep Sirius and Harry out of trouble. Hah. Fine job she was doing. She might as well be at Hogwarts, teaching DADA in the stead of Harry.

And the other reason? Her... crush on Sirius, as silly as it was? Well, she did a right fine job messing that one up too, being all motherly over both of her boys. Not that she could help it. They were both like two little lost boys. Well. That reason was moot as well, now that Sirius and...and... and S...Snape were t...together.

That did it. Hermione just sat down where is was, paying no attention to her surrondings, and nearly bawled her eyes out. No, it wasn't normal. Yes, it was silly, but she could not help it. All the stress of the move, the vampires, the wolves, S...snape, and, and, and EVERYTHING!

She, however was startled into an "eep" when a large, wet, black nose snuffled at her face. That startled her out of her outburst. Scrambling back, away from the large... thing, Hermione reached for her wand, only to falter when she realized she had left it in the house, after all.

"Bugger!" was all she said, before scrambling to a stand and turning to run. She didn't get very far though, before she tripped, and landed with a loud yelp, and a rather strangled "Merlin!"

As she was trying to stand up, she was startled yet again by rather young voice.

"Sorry! I didn't mean..."

Hermione sighed. So this was one of the shifters? Why her? Why now?