Steeling herself she walked over to Remus and spoke before she could talk herself out of it.

"Remus can I talk to you for a second. You might want to see this."

When Hermione woke up at her usual early time, due to her sleeping potion wearing off, on the morning after the full moon she could feel the buzz of anticipation in her chest. In theory she knew that Remus would be fine after having the wolfsbane potion but she was anxious to make sure at any rate.

With no preamble she threw on some clothes and made her way down to the common room. It was completely empty due to the early hour and the fact that no one felt like getting up early on a Saturday morning. Hermione bit back a groan as she positioned herself in an armchair as she remembered the date. The date of the Hogsmeade weekend. She didn't mind spending the day with Regulus but she hoped that she wasn't going to be caught in between the two brothers again.

She was abruptly brought back to the present as she heard the common room door swing open and four people walk quietly in. She hunkered down in the chair slightly and tried to listen with out being seen.

"-you don't know what happened?" The voice that came first was definitely James as they crept towards their dorm.

"No, I've told you. It was just like… I was in control. I was still me." Hermione was happy to hear the note of subdued glee n Remus's voice. It felt nice to have changed something for the better.

"And you have no idea of what caused it?" This time it was Sirius who spoke and his voice held a familiar touch of curiosity about it.

Hermione couldn't see them too well over the back of her chair but she saw Remus shake his head, still smiling. They all made their way up to their rooms with Peter dragging behind obviously too tired to join in on the rehashing of events.

Smiling to herself Hermione settled down to get in a hour or two of reading before the others woke up and she was forced to join them.

~o~o~o~

Dorcas cast another look at Hermione from across the table where they were all eating breakfast. The girl had seemed happy and chipper when everyone else had managed to get up today and it was easy to forget that there was something strange about her. A couple of times she had come close to just straight up asking Hermione what she was hiding but she bit her tongue and reminded herself that subtlety might be the way forward.

When she had showed Remus the letter she had found he too seemed to think it strange. He read the whole thing and stood there pondering it for a few moments before he apologised and had to leave. Dorcas didn't blame him for it, she knew it had been the night of the full moon but she just felt like she had to tell someone.

She cast another look at the girl who was now chatting animatedly with Alice. The root of the problem seemed to lay in the fact that Dorcas actually quite liked Hermione. It was hard to be suspicious of someone when you found yourself laughing at their jokes.

~o~o~o~

Remus who was sat next to Hermione and across from Dorcas could very clearly see all of the suspicious glances that Dorcas felt the need to give. In truth, it didn't surprise him too much that there was more to Hermione than met the eye but it didn't overly bother him either. As someone who was very used to having his own secrets he found it very easy to respect other people who wanted to protect their own.

He knew he should probably talk to Dorcas about her suspicions but he was finding it hard to concentrate this morning. He had been to see Madam Pomfrey already this morning, as was his routine, and even she had been astounded by his lack of injuries. In fact he felt completely fine apart from the residual ache in his bones that came from changing form. He still wasn't completely over the shock of having transformed last night only to find him self fully aware, just in a wolf's body. The night had been easily whittled away by playing with the others and eventually settling down to sleep but he could tell they were just as confused as him with this new development.

He looked up from his breakfast still contemplating the events of the night before when he met Hermione's eyes. She was looking at a way that one might look at an experiment or something to be learned from. He gave her a nod which she returned with what looked like a satisfied look in her eyes before she left to return to the common room quicker than Remus could question the look she had given him.

~o~o~o~

When Hermione left the table to get ready for the day in Hogsmeade the first thing Sirius did was turn to James,

"I'm going to follow them." He said with absolute conviction in his voice.

James looked at him uneasily before sighing, "Mate, you can't do that." He said looking at Sirius with something akin to pity in his eyes, "Hermione right; it's not up to you who she sees."

Sirius glared at him dubiously, "It's not that I don't trust her…I just don't trust him."

James ran a hand though his hair as he tried to find the words to dissuade his friend from this course of action, "What if," he said tentatively, "you don't follow them, you just…keep an eye out for them?" Sirius seemed to consider this option for a while but eventually gave a grunt of indifference, earning a sigh of relief from his best friend.

~o~o~o~

When Hermione reached her dorm again she wasn't surprised to find all of her room mates packed in making last minute adjustments to their outfits and chatting away merrily.

They all either waved or smiled at Hermione apart from Lily who was fretting over her appearance in the mirror and Dorcas who refused to look at Hermione once more. Hermione almost called her out on it but her train of thought was interrupted by Lily,

"Alice are sure I don't look too made up? I think I look fairly ridiculous, is there enough time to take some of this make up off?-"

"Relax, Lily." Soothed Alice, "You look lovely. Who are you going with anyway?"

Lily turned bright red at her question and flustered slightly, "No one." She said too quickly to sound entirely convincing.

Marlene joined in the conversation from the other side of the room, "Lily, you don't get that worried if you're not going with anyone, spill!"

Lily muttered something quickly and turned away.

"Sorry, didn't quite catch that!" Sang Alice cheerfully.

"I said James!"

All of the mouths in the room apart from Hermione's dropped and the cheerful banter fell silent at Lily's answer. Marlene even managed to drop her wand which she had been using to curl her eyelashes and for a short moment silence and shock reigned in the room. Pandemonium soon ensued.

"You're going out with Potter?"

"Since when has he been James-"

"I thought you swore you'd never say yes when he asked you out, or was that just-"

"Alright, alright!" Said Lily cutting across the voices bouncing off of the walls, "First off, we're not going out…it's just one date and we'll see where it goes, second off, he's been James since he started calling me Lily and not Evans. And lastly," she said going quite red again, "He didn't ask me out, I asked him."

Everyone else looked so gobsmacked that Hermione decided to interject, "When did you ask him?" She questioned with a small smile playing at her lips.

"Day before yesterday." Lily answered.

"Hang on!" Said Alice loudly, " Why didn't you tell us?"

Lily's sheepish grin was all of the answer she deemed Alice would get.

~o~o~o~

It was ten minutes later when Hermione found herself walking down to the Great Hall to meet Regulus. She wore simple clothes; a pair of jeans, several warm jumpers under a coat and a hat pulled down over her flyaway hair. It was only October but winter had decided to come early this year bringing with it bitter winds and freezing cold rain, and seeing how Hermione wasn't dressing to impress she saw no reason not to be wrapped up warmly.

Also much to her displeasure she walked with her cane in one hand. It had been at least a week since she had had to use it and even then it was only in the evenings when she became tired, but it seemed like today she had little choice. The cold weather had set her leg to aching fiercely and when Lily had seen the slight limp in Hermione's stride she had snatched the cane from where it had been resting on the floor beside Hermione's bed and pressed it into her hands with a face that left no room for argument. Hermione had to admit, however grudgingly, that walking was somewhat less of a task with the cane and she would probably need it if she were to walk all of the way into Hogsmeade. Still that did not mean that she had to like it.

"Hello, shall we be off?" Hermione started at the voice that came from close by to her left elbow but as she looked around she saw it was only Regulus. He was giving her a wry smile as her held out his arm to her and she retuned with her own rueful smile as she looped her arm through his. They had begun walking when Regulus chose to break the silence between them,

"So, why the sudden reappearance of the cane?" He questioned.

"The cold." Answered Hermione shortly, "It makes my leg ache." Regulus seemed to understand that that wasn't a subject that Hermione wanted to talk about so he quickly changed his conversation tactics and soon Hermione found herself having forgot about the cane as she laughed at some of the stories Regulus had to offer.

~o~o~o~

They hadn't been in Hogsmeade long before they found themselves tripping over the doorway and into The Three Broomsticks. Hermione went in search of a free table while Regulus went to get their drinks.

As Hermione settled down on one of the two chairs she had found she cast an eye around the pub. Surprisingly, it didn't seem to have changed that much from her time, there was still the gentle hum of other's talking in the background interspersed with the occasional raucous laugh. She could still smell the faint smell of the log fire burning in the background tangled with the scent the butterbeers being pulled at the bar. The most familiar feeling was the warm ambience and the literal warmth that pervaded they whole place, Hermione could feel the occasional stirrings of cold wind that was blown in through the opening door as people walked in but it just made her even more grateful to be out of the elements outside. In fact, the only thing that had really changed as far as Hermione could tell, was the people.

As Regulus returned with their drinks she sipped from hers gratefully and soon found herself talking easily with Regulus again. It was easy to talk to him, she decided, simply because he seemed to constantly poke fun at her and tease her. It was something familiar and Hermione ribbed him back automatically and mercilessly as was her instant reaction, having grown up with two male best friends.

There was another cold gust of wind that caught her attention as she looked up to see James and Lily walk through the door. Both had identical grins on their faces as they caught each others eyes and Hermione smirked smugly to herself as she looked at them. Even Regulus let out a snicker when he looked up and saw them together,

"Well I never thought I'd see the day." He said.

~o~o~o~

As they left the pub Hermione thought to herself that the day was turning out to be a pleasant one. That was until she heard a familiar drawl from behind her. Her first thought upon hearing it was why on earth he would talk to them, the second thought was something along the lines of oh shit.

"Well well, what have we got here?" Hermione turned to find herself face to face with who was undoubtedly a younger Lucious Malfoy. He looked much the same as his son had though there was something about him that set them apart drastically. It must have been that for the last few years that Hermione had seen Draco he had looked tired, drawn and ill; nothing like his father did now. She didn't think that he would go so far as to attack her here but automatically her wand was in her hand though the action was hidden by her sleeve.

"Hello, Lucious." Said Regulus stiffly and Hermione didn't miss the way that he positioned himself in front of her slightly as the unconscious gesture touched her more than she would say.

"Cousin." Lucious acknowledged, " And who is this?" He walked closer to Hermione and she consciously fought to keep herself from leaning backwards in disgust. "Slumming it are we? What would Aunt Walburga say?" He said as he tutted.

"I dare say it's none of your business." Said Regulus in an usually cold voice for him.

"Don't be like that cousin," said Malfoy with amusement weaving into his tone, "After all, I'm only worrying after the family reputation. I mean nothing personal, this one is quite lovely." He said with a leer as he leaned uncomfortably close to Hermione. He reached out with the back of his finger as if to stroke Hermione's cheek only to have his hand batted away angrily by Hermione by the hand with her wand in it.

"Oh? This one's feisty, but lets see how brave she is without this!" He said with a little malice creeping into his voice as he snatched her wand out of the hand that had just pushed his away.

The second her wand left contact with her body Hermione panicked. Her natural reaction was to try and snatch it back but he had already moved it out of her reach. Her second reaction was to try and tackle him for it but she had a feeling that not only would she look crazy and ridiculous, but he would probably come out of it on top. Her last few years in the war had beaten it into her brain how important it was to never leave herself undefended and as a result she found her hand inching lower on her cane to get a good grip. The cane was quite heavy for wood and was strong enough for what she had in mind.

In a quick and fluid movement Hermione had swung her cane around and used it like a rounder's bat to smash it into the side of Malfoy's head. She had put her whole body behind that swing and it paid off in the way he stumbled to the ground and released her wand which rolled to her feet. She picked it up with a smile and walked away leaving a dazed Lucious and stunned Regulus behind her.

~o~o~o~

Apart from that one incident the rest of the day turned out to be very enjoyable. She walked around the shops with Regulus as they talked about superficial things such as the weather and schoolwork. Once or twice she was sure she caught sight of the back of Sirius as he turned away but she decided to leave him be even if he did pop up with alarming regularity.

As they walked back into the castle she knew her day was about to get more complicated and probably marginally more frustrating when she walked past Malfoy who had a bruise blossoming on his temple and he smirked at her.

Minutes later she was told that her head of house wanted to see her. With a sinking heart she went where she was bid to.

When she arrived in Professor McGonagall's office the woman he she had to look at to as a mentor in her own time was sitting at her desk looking at her severely over her glasses.

"Take a seat Miss Granger." She said in a deceptively even tone. Warily Hermione did so. "Can you tell me why I am getting reports of you attacking another student?" Asked McGonagall once again managing to sound angry but in control; something Hermione had usually heard directed at Harry or Ron.

She winced as she tried to word her answer carefully, "Professor, did you say that Professor Dumbledore told you of my… situation?" Enquired Hermione delicately. A look Hermione couldn't identify flared in McGonagall's eyes.

"Yes, I have been told." She answered, " I found it hard to believe at first but he assured me that it was true."

Hermione nodded vigorously, "It is." She said.

"Be that as it may," said the Professor, "I fail to see how it ties into your current situation."

"When I left my time, Professor," Hermione said trying to convey the fact that she wasn't trying to worm her way out of trouble. That may have worked for Harry but she wasn't keen to try it, "Our world was at war. It was worse than it is today by far and I saw more of it than I should have liked. Malfoy took my wand off of me today, Professor, and I just…reacted. In my time if you lost your wand, you were as good as dead, it was just instinct to hit him to get it back." Hermione finished her explanation and looked up at McGonagall only to see that her teacher had gone a deathly white at her tales of war. A stricken expression sat on her face and her eyes were a shade of horror darker.

"But you're so young…" Said McGonagall, her voice barely above a whisper.

Hermione didn't have the heart to tell her that she was not the youngest by far to have been tainted by the war.

~o~o~o~

Back in the common room most of the Gryffindor seventh years were sitting in the arm chairs by the fire. Marlene and Peter had already gone to their respective beds and Lily sat with James' arm slung around the back of her chair. The others chose wisely not to comment.

"Has anyone seen Hermione?" Dorcas asked the rest of the group quietly. Remus shot her a sharp look but said nothing.

"Didn't you hear?" Said Alice gleefully, " She got called in to McGonagall's office!"

"What did she do?" Asked James curiously.

"And why are you so happy about it?" Lily said incredulously.

"I can't believe you haven't heard! " Said Alice, "She got called in 'cause she knocked Malfoy for the count! And I'm happy about it," She added, "because I saw the whole thing and it was bloody amazing!"

"What happened?" Asked Sirius practically bouncing up and down in his seat.

"Well, she was with Regulus," began Alice ignoring the way Sirius's mouth curled at the corners, "and Malfoy walked up behind them and started talking to them. I couldn't hear what he said but he managed to piss them both off, anyway he went to touch Hermione but she hit his hand away so he decided to take her wand. Big mistake. Next thing I knew Hermione lifted up her cane and hit him to the ground with it! Then she just picked up her wand and wandered away! It was a thing of beauty."

The rest of the group sat wide eyed and awed and by the time they managed to start to voice their feelings of shock and respect none of them noticed how Dorcas had slipped from the circle and up to her dorm.

~o~o~o~

Dorcas made her way silently into the dorm. By the sound of her light snoring Marlene was already asleep.

Dorcas wasn't completely sure why she'd left but hearing that latest story of Hermione had put her on edge. There was something slightly off about that girl and it annoyed her that no one else could seem to see it. She had told Remus but he either didn't think it was that big of a deal or he thought there could be another simple explanation.

When she broke free of these thoughts Dorcas realised she had been staring at Hermione's bed next to hers for a good minute or so. Sighing to herself but not giving herself anytime to reconsider her actions, she opened the drawers of Hermione's bed side table and began to rifle through it's contents. She knew Hermione was an intensely private person and wouldn't approve of this invasion of her privacy but the not knowing was driving Dorcas insane. Besides, she reasoned, if she didn't find anything here she would either give up or simply just ask Hermione straight up.

She was just about to give up, when she reached the bottom of the drawer and consequently the leather bound book that resided there. Standing straight she sat back on her bed to look at the book. It had the definite look of a photo album about it, and feeling only the vaguest stirrings of guilt, Dorcas settled down to flick through it.

…..

A/N- Hope you guys liked the chapter and thanks for reading! Please leave a review to tell what you thought if you've got the time,

All the best,

VE