"Exactly what do you think you are doing?"
A surprised Hermione sat up on her bed and looked from one girl to the other. Marlene and Cassie both had their arms crossed against their chest and were wearing identical smirks as they loomed over her bed.
"You don't honestly think we are letting this go without explanations do you?"
The brunette blinked. Explanation? How much more did they need? She had just spent the past hour admitting that, yes, she had known three of the Marauders for much longer than her four days in class. And yes, helping her had been their detention. And, no, they had been sworn to not say a word outside, so it wasn't their fault.
She had hoped that talking about that would distract them from questioning the details of her disagreement with Sirius which really couldn't be discussed, not even with James and Remus. And the distraction seemed to have worked well, until now…
"What more is there?" She asked warily.
"Mione!" Cassie threatened.
"Spill it" Marlene ordered.
When the girl on the bed bit at her lower lip, attempting to assess exactly what she would have to say to get out of this one, she heard Alice sigh. All three girls turned towards the other bed where their friend was comfortably fluffing up her pillows.
"It saves you a lot of trouble if you tell them yourself Mione, trust me on that. They really aren't going to let this go" Was the sagely advice she received.
"Of course we aren't letting this go! She landed Hogwarts most desirable in three days - weeks - whatever and we need to know" Cassie exclaimed.
"Besides how do you not see that this is big Alice?" Marlene demanded.
"Enlighten me" Alice said dryly.
"Sirius Black doesn't take his date further than the broom cupboards and empty classrooms" Cassie began.
"Hogsmedge if she's a little less annoying and not entirely clingy, but Diagon Alley? Its a step" The blonde girl continued.
"A big one" Cassie emphasised.
Hermione's expression was one of utter disbelief. They weren't asking about Dumbledore or her mysterious past. They didn't care about that at the moment, not when they had found more pressing issues to address.
It seemed surreal to her, sitting in a room full of teenage girls and discussing boys. Suddenly she felt like laughing. She was a teenage girl. She was one of them. She was perfectly eligible to discuss the boys at school and maybe she would…
"I really doubt its a date-" She began cautiously and predictably enough the two girls whirled around again, a protest ready on their lips when Hermione allowed herself a grin "but I wouldn't mind if it was one"
The two girls stopped short, processing her words for a moment before a slow smile crept up their faces.
"You, Mione are our new best friend!" Cassie declared happily as she flopped into the bed, very nearly landing in Hermione's lap.
"I thought I already was?" The brunette attempted to sound hurt, but her smile was far too telling.
"You know what I mean" Cassie dismissed easily even as Marlene hauled Hermione up to her feet.
"The message should be subtle then" She said thoughtfully.
"Not really, Sirius has already noticed her anyway" Cassie pointed out.
"A slightly messy french braid, its can be subtle but clear" Alice put in.
"Yeah, there's no mistaking that" Marlene agreed immediately before turning back to the brunette she was still holding up. "But before that, how much effort are you willing to put on Sirius?"
Hermione blinked, unsure of exactly what that meant and the girls seemed to understand that she was clueless. There were two very heavy sighs.
"Generally that translates as how long you are willing to keep him around" Alice explained for her and Hermione's jaw dropped.
"I'm sorry?" She questioned, sure that she had heard wrong.
"You most probably will be" A new voice warned and all of them turned to see their last roommate step out of the shower.
"Lily" Alice snapped, glaring at her best friend.
"You lot do realise that this is Black right?" The redhead questioned, ignoring Alice's warning.
"Your point being?" Cassie demanded.
"There's no question of how long she's willing to keep him around, when has that ever applied to a girl going out with him?" Lily questioned, glaring at the taller girl.
Marlene cleared her throat loudly, sending a message Hermione didn't understand, directly at Lily, which only annoyed the headgirl more.
"You are not counted" she dismissed.
"I damn well better not be because Lily Evans if you ever even imply that I was dumped by anyone-" Marlene began threateningly.
"I'm implying that you are as bad as him" the other girl snapped.
"Enough! Mione can decide for herself who she likes and our job is to help" Alice sounded genuinely ticked off, which wasn't something that happened everyday.
"That Lily dear, includes you" Cassie added pointedly.
"I am having nothing to do with this" Lily informed defiantly.
"Why?" Hermione questioned, finally deciding that she might as well join in. They were after all talking about her and apparently, talking about boys included drama.
"Because this is Black! And I don't know if anyone ever warned you but he goes through girls faster than-" Lily was saying when Cassie interrupted.
"Its hardly his fault that everyone wants him!" She defended.
"Its his fault for taking advantage of-" Lily argued
"Oh for goodness sake Lily, they want him, they get what they want, they move on." Marlene cried, frustrated. This was possibly the millionth time they were having the same argument.
"And is that what you want Mione?" Lily asked, finally turning to face Hermione. "To be taken in by a pretty face and charming words that-"
"No" Hermione answered firmly "No Lily, that is exactly the opposite of what I want"
"Mione-" Alice began but Hermione wasn't willing to listen.
"And you know, I couldn't care less for Sirius's perfection. If anything, I wish he wasn't that good looking when I - I have to glamour scars away everyday."
The admission came easily to her and when all the girls fell silent at that, she continued on. Because this conversation wasn't supposed to include her past. This was about the present and Hermione was going to stick to that now that she had their attention.
"And he has never said anything to me that he hasn't meant a hundred percent. So really Lily, lets talk about what all of this really is because its not about Sirius!" The words were said stonily and Hermione managed to glare Lily Evans down for the next two minutes straight.
"What exactly do you think this is about?" Lily questioned politely, daring her to say it out loud.
"James" Hermione answered without missing a beat.
The redhead of course did not bother to dignify that with a comment, choosing to turn away instead and stalking to her bed. Marlene pressed down on her foot painfully and Hermione barely restrained a cry when she noticed the meaningful glances she was receiving, asking her to continue.
"Those three never stopped talking about all of you and Lily, there was nothing I heard that didn't say you were the best thing to happen to this world." The brunette said, earnestly attempting to give it a shot.
"I don't care for Potter's opinion about anything" Lily snapped annoyed.
"Why? Tell me one good reason Lily, because I really don't understand" Hermione argued in a levelled voice.
"Because he's an arrogant prat that thinks the world revolves around-" Lily began.
"Around you! How do you not see that his world really revolves around you!" She cried in frustration. Lily seemed stunned and Hermione was quick to take advantage of it.
"I don't know what he's done all these years, Remus told me enough to know that he was an absolute idiot. But Lily, he's changed now. You have to trust me, I am your best unbiased source because I never knew what James Potter was like before" She insisted.
"I don't care" Lily managed stubbornly and Hermione could almost hear the silent groans from the other girls. Surprisingly, it only made her more determined.
"And on the same unbiased note, let me tell you, James is funny and sweet and loyal and a world of other things, while you Lily are just an idiot who is far too proud to see someone else is right" She informed, making Lily whirl around furiously.
"How dare you-?" She began when Hermione coolly cut across.
"Prove me wrong"
"What?" The redhead demanded.
"Prove me wrong. Lets see if you can let go of your pride long enough to see we are right" Hermione challenged.
"You think you are going to make me go on a date with Potter?" Lily asked incredulously.
"No. I'm asking you to have civil conversation with him. Be friends" Hermione offered.
"No" Lily answered bluntly, falling almost perfectly into the trap.
"Because you are too proud" the brunette said triumphantly and Lily grit her teeth.
"You have no right to-" The headgirl began and Hermione could tell she was pushing the limit, but - well, James better owe her big for this...
"Yeah, no right to judge. Whatever. Tell you what, judge yourself. Three weeks. Thats what it took me to love James like a brother. Take the same time. And if you honestly don't think he's changed, thats fine. But if you do, then you have to ask him out"
"WHAT?" Cassie cried, not being able to simply watch any longer.
"It sounds fair though" Alice hurried, not wanting to miss the chance when the finally had one.
"I'm not proving anything" Lily growled stubbornly.
"You are. Because, i'm going to prove you wrong about Sirius too. In fact, come with me" Hermione added impulsively, dragging the other girl physically as she headed out of the room.
Needless to say that Lily tried to resist but Marlene was behind her in a second, trapping the redhead and pushing her forward as the group made it to the common room, where luckily for them, the Marauders still sat, Sirius and Remus playing chess, James reading a quidditch magazine and Peter snacking on some pie.
"Sirius" Hermione called loudly, attracting the attention of all four boys and the few remaining Gryffindors in the room.
"Yes?" He was looking quizzically towards all of them.
"You want to make tomorrow a date?" She asked, more boldly than she felt.
His eyes widened as he took in the scene, Hermione was still holding Lily's wrist, Marls and Cassie were both looking half proud and half smug while Alice seemed to be genuinely thrumming with happiness.
"I thought it already was" He answered finally.
"Good" Hermione sounded relieved, as she let go of Lily's hand and moved towards his chair.
The boys were all mystified of course and James was trying hard to split his attention between the newly declared couple and the gaping redhead across the room. He noticed the other three move forward to take vacant seats around the fireplace while Lily remained in her spot.
"Lils?" Hermione called, now comfortable at Sirius's side. They could all see Lily visibly struggling with herself.
"Do you think you can stop asking me out long enough to be friends Potter?" She asked finally
James who had been hanging off the armchair very nearly lost his balance, the magazine dropping flat on his stomach while he worked his mouth like a goldfish. Sirius kicked him hard, not bothering to make it discreet and the boy finally gathered himself enough to make a noise of consent.
"He means yes Lily" Remus translated for his friend and even she couldn't hold back a small smile at that.
"Ten galleons say it won't take three weeks" Marlene bet immediately.
"Ten on them kissing by the third week" Cassie added brightly.
"Shut up, I worked hard for this!" Hermione protested, jumping in before Lily could lose the smile.
As it happened, she didn't because Lily had noticed James's hand reach out for Hermione a few minutes later, it was just a slight pat on the knee but she could read the silent gratitude clearly enough.
Hermione flashed him a quick smile in answer, silently asking him to not screw it up before leaning back comfortably against Sirius.
"Just don't dump me for the next three weeks alright?" She teased lightly.
"You might have managed the impossible with Evans, but you'll have to work harder to get rid of me doll" Sirius assured, his arm coming up to wrap around her waist and pull her in closer.
"Where did Peter go?" Remus asked suddenly, swearing he had been there when the girls first came in.
"Probably back to the kitchen" Sirius dismissed, far too happy to give it a thought.
Not that even with a clearer head, Sirius could have figured Peter to be in the owlery alerting Malfoy of Hermione and him being in Diagon Alley tomorrow.
A/N : A review mentioned fluff... and I couldn't resist. Enough said. :)