A/N: Thanks to Galgalatz for the OC, and thanks to everyone else who submitted them!

Chapter 21: Flight

Remus was still out sick the next morning in Potions, and Hermione realized that this most likely meant that she would be paired off with Snape again. That could arise to a few problems, judging by how irritated he had been when she had stood up for him a few days prior. And of course, as Hermione guessed, Snape was her partner for Potions.

"Hi," Hermione greeted him nervously, sitting at the table beside him. She supposed that she was partly lucky to be paired up with him today; they were preparing a potion that would appear on the NEWT test. Even though Hermione had always been exceptional at Potions, it never hurt to have the future Potions Master as her partner.

Snape nodded at her and examined the board, where the location of the instructions in their textbook were written.

It was a while before either spoke, and they were alrady preparing ingredients when Snape piped up, "I've realized that I may have acted rash the other day," He paused, and Hermione looked at him in shock when he continued, "Thank you... For defending me."

Hermione almost let her jaw drop. Snape. Thanking her. It was definitely a strange day. After Hermione settled her mind, she responded. "You're welcome," were the only words that left her mouth.

It was then that Hermione realized that she was maybe getting somewhere with him. In some people's eyes, the two might have even been friends. It was a huge change in the dynamic of their relationship. Hermione furrowed her brow. They had a relationship now? Did that mean she had to start calling him 'Severus' or something? She shook the thought away, giving him a little smile and continuing on with the potion brewing.

"Have you been preparing for NEWTs?" Hermione asked, trying to make causal conversation.

He nodded, "I've spent a bit of time studying."

"Me too," she sighed, "It's exhausting."

"It will be more exhausting for those especially dim students who choose not to study until the last minute." Snape noted in a monotone.

Hermione laughed, and saw him smile while he looked down at the potion. Yep, we're definitely developing somewhat of a friendship.

They continued talking, which was quite a change from the other times she had been paired with him each month.

"Slughorn has gained a few pounds," Snape motioned to the Potions Professor who was wobbling along a couple rows ahead, "Looks like he can't even hold himself up."

Hermione nodded with a little laugh, trying not to berate her partner for being so mean. At least he wasn't making fun of her.

The rest of potions passed in a blur, and by the end, Hermione was sure that their concoction was perfect when they turned it into Slughorn.

"Are you ready to introduce us, then, Moony?" Sirius asked across the table, where Remus was nervously running a hand through his hair.

The group of them sat in the Great Hall at dinner. Remus had returned from his absense during the full moon, and now the others were all pestering him into introducing them to his 'special friend' as James called her.

"Aw, come on, Remus, we really want to meet her! Don't you want your girlfriend to know your best friends?" Lily asked.

"She's not really my girlfriend..." Remus mumbled.

"Then what is she?" Sirius challenged.

Remus paused, opening his mouth, closing it, then finally opening it again, "Okay, I suppose she's my girlfriend."

Hermione grinned, "We'd be really nice, and I'm sure she wants to meet us too."

"Fine," Remus exhaled, "I'll go get her."

Sirius let out a woot as Remus moved away from their table, heading for the Ravenclaws.

Hermione leaned into Sirius, who sat beside her. "Are you watching me?" She questioned timidly, after finding that his eyes were fixed on her.

"Yes." Sirius stated simply, and continued to study the witch beside him.

Hermione shook her head, and looked over to where a couple was heading towards their table. She saw the nervous smile on Remus' face as he looked at the girl next to him. The girl had short brown hair that fell straight down her shoulders. As she approached them, Hermione saw a bit of shyness in the way she moved. When the girl finally arrived at the table, Hermione recognized her, she had seen this girl in the library several times before.

"Guys, this is Madeline Walker," Remus said, motioning to the girl beside him.

She grinned and looked at the group of them, "You guys can call me Maddie."

"Hi!" Lily said happily, "We've been wanting to meet you forever."

Maddie blushed and Remus motioned for her to sit down beside him, "This is Peter, James, Lily, Hermione, and Sirius," he introduced the witch to their group.

"Nice to meet you," James grinned.

"Yeah, you all too," Maddie said quietly.

Hermione started to notice that this girl was quite shy, but then again, so was Remus, and she would probably open up more when she got to know them. Hermione was just happy that Remus found a girl to be with.

"So tell us about yourself," Lily began, "You're not in our year, right?"

Maddie nodded, "I'm only a sixth year...In Ravenclaw."

Sirius grinned, "Moony," he drawled, "are we cradle robbing, now?"

Hermione elbowed Sirius lightly, and he chuckled.

They continued chatting through the remainder of dinner, and the more Hermione learned about Maddie, the more she wanted to be friends with her. This girl was a hard worker, and had been in the library, nose deep in a book, many times when Hermione had visited. She seemed very responsible and trustworthy; although Herione doubted that Remus had told her of his Lycanthropy, she guessed that when he did, this girl wouldn't mind.

"I think I need to get going," Maddie said, yawning. The Great Hall was almost empty now, and many students had surely retreated to their common rooms.

"Alright, see you tomorrow," Remus said, squeezing her hand before Maddie departed with a smile.

"She's a keeper," James nodded toward the retreating witch.

"Oi, don't say it like she's a object," Lily scoleded James, then turned to Remus, "She seems wonderful, Remus."

"I agree, you should bring her around to eat with us more often," Hermione spoke up.

Remus nodded his agreement, "Well, I'm ready to get out of here, you guys wanna head to the common room?"

The group was just leaving the Great Hall when Sirius pulled Hermione aside, telling the rest of them to go on.

"What's up?" Hermione asked.

Sirius took her hand and pulled the bushy haired witch down the corridor, "I want to go for a walk."

Hermione let a content smile spread over her lips. She loved walking with Sirius; it had been her favorite activity over the past couple of months. Slowly, she realized that they were making their way towards the Astronomy tower. She breifly wondered if it would be open, but as their luck would have it, it was. They ventured up until the couple was standing on the edge of a rail, looking out at the courtyard and the forbidden forest beyond.

Hermione shivered and moved closer to Sirius, who put an arm around her waist.

"You really need to start studying for the NEWTs with me," Hermione broke the silence, looking up at him.

He raised an eyebrow, "I can't start studying yet, we've still got a month or two."

"Sirius, it's already Spring," she motioned to the scenery behind her. It was fairly warm outside, and a cool breeze whistled past every once in a while.

"Alright, fine, I'll study with you," he murmured, moving closer so he could kiss her.

They stayed like that for a long time. Hermione wound her arms around his neck, kissing him back as he put one hand on her cheek, and another on her waist. She dreamily smiled when he pulled away for air, giggling when he placed another kiss on the tip of her nose.

"Hermione..." He whispered, resting his forehead oh hers as he spoke.

"What?" She asked when he didn't say anything for a long moment.

"I... I've never said this before, but..." He twirled a finger in her hair, speaking nervously, "Hermione, I love you."

It was as if the world stopped moving in that moment. Hermione repeated the words in her head several times, trying to understand.

But there wasn't any logic to this.

Hermione Granger had always understood. There was always a method or a formula, but not for this. She pulled away from him a stared into his eyes. No, there was no way of measuring what she saw looking at her. His eyes stared deeply at her, darkened with passion, and fear, and many other emotions she didn't understand.

Is this love?

The world was crashing down on her as she took another step back and her eyes filled with tears.

This isn't okay, Hermione.

Sirius looked heartbroken as he gave her a questioning look.

I need to get away.

Hermione began taking shaky breaths, stepping back every time Sirius stepped forward.

"Are you okay?" He asked, his eyes looking more hurt than she had ever seen them.

Hermione tried to speak but choked on a sob.

I need to run.

Once the thought entered her mind, there was nothing else other than flight. She bolted away, ignoring Sirius' desperate calls from behind her as she moved through corridor after corridor.