February, 1976.
Hermione's lips curved in a smile, looking over her best friend with adoring eyes. In the duration of each class, more than one person had come over to wish him a happy birthday and she couldn't be happier.
His slightly filled cheeks burned at the attention he continued to receive, especially when Professor Mcgonagall went as far as to point out how the calmest member of the Marauders was the one to interrupt class today — not on purpose, of course.
She nudged his arm, grinning when he gave her a haste look. "Look at you, Moony. Getting called out by our role model," she teased.
He shushed her, making sure to keep his eyes fixed on the teacher only and going as far as taking his notes without looking down at his parchment.
Remus was truly one of a kind.
Much like James, though the boy had stopped trying to suddenly become left-handed. He had just figured that holding hands during Transfiguration may not be that necessary.
Good for him.
Hermione dipped her quill into her cup of ink and waited a couple of seconds before writing down the new sets of points that Professor Mcgonagall had just made. While not completely needed for her defense training, Hermione always believed that any kind of knowledge was always good to possess, necessary for you at the moment or not.
And to Hermione, O.W.L.s. were meant to take as seriously as anything else, no matter what Sirius may believe. Really, for a name like his, she didn't remember him taking anything of importance seriously.
Set him straight!
She nodded at what Granger just said.
Feeling a kick on the leg of her chair, she waited until Professor Mcgonagall was done talking before turning around to face Marlene. Rather than confident and composed like always, the blonde looked jittery.
She arched a brow. "Everything okay, Marls?"
"Herms — Ugh! Hermione, I take back what I said about wanting to be alone with Benjy. Why don't you join us too?" Marlene pleaded with her wide brown eyes, taking her hands and holding them between her own.
"Marlene, there's nothing to worry about. He's not going to bite you. He's most definitely the sweetest boy at Hogwarts. And he wouldn't have invited only you, if he didn't want to spend time with you! So, get your arse ready to be at the library after lunch, or I'm going to—"
Two hands on each side of her shoulders, she was dragged back into her chair to face the front of the class. "That's enough violent thoughts for today," Remus mumbled. "Don't get me in any more trouble with Mcgonagall."
"Professor Mcgonagall," she reminded him, giving Marlene one last look before turning back around. "Are you done with your homework for tomorrow?"
"It was given today, so no?" he said slowly, "please, don't tell me you're planning anything."
She shook her head and patted his arm. "Oh, no. I'm not."
He smiled.
"I already planned what I had to."
His smile dropped. "Seriously? Don't tell me we're going to miss Care of Magical Creatures because of it. This is the last chance I have at getting the Fire Crabs to stop running away from me."
"Don't worry, Moony. We'll be back by then. Even the boys want to see it happen before . . . you know . . . the full moon," she said, remembering how closely that day was approaching.
"Don't remind him, Hermione," James whispered from next to her, and she gave him a quick look. It seemed he had switched spots with Lily.
"Trust me, Prongs. My body gives me enough reminders," Remus groaned, looking seconds away from banging his head against the table to forget the pain he was already experiencing.
The two then began to bicker, totally ignoring Hermione, who was still sat in between them as it happened.
Hermione . . . Granger began, sounding cautious as she made her appearance known.
What? Hermione asked in her mind.
Do you know about the Wolfsbane Potion?
That's it? Of course, I know. It's a Potion that does not cure lycanthropy, but rather eases the symptoms and allows the human to keep their mind even as they transform into a werewolf, Hermione explained in her typical know-it-all tone.
She remembered the excitement among the Marauders that had spread when it first started being talked about in the newspapers, only for it to be way too expensive to be bought. It could also be brewed, but the recipe was still known only to the inventor, Damocles Belby.
I . . . may know how to brew it. I could help you, Granger confessed, albeit hesitantly. I shouldn't have waited so long to tell you.
You shouldn't have, Hermione muttered in her mind. She had her grip tight on her quill, to keep her hands busy and her magic subdued. To know that this whole time, the knowledge and the way to stop her best friend's suffering had been in her own mind, it hurt that she had taken so long.
It hurt because she had come to trust Granger, though it seemed that there was still a long way to earn the woman's trust. What else did she need to do to prove her loyalty?
Will you help me brew it? Hermione asked, unable to contain the rush of nerves that hit her at the bear thought.
Of course, I will. Remus . . . I admired him very much. There was a sorrow to Granger's voice that Hermione didn't like very much, nor did she want to acknowledge at the moment.
Not today, at least.
Once the Marauders and her reached the third floor and the sight of Gunhilda of Gorsemoor finally greeted their eyes, they allowed Remus to do the honours and be the one to say the password.
"Dissendium," he said, stepping back to allow the One Eyed Witch to reveal a short slide. As always, Sirius didn't wait one second before jumping on it, letting it lead him to the tunnel.
She hadn't realized she'd gotten lost in her thoughts until two hands wrapped around her waist, startling her. Before she could turn around and question why James felt the need to do that — how did she even realize it was him? — he picked her up in no time and sat her down on the top of the slide.
"Wha—"
One push and Hermione went sliding down in the dark, toppling to the floor with a thud.
"James, you! Ugh! Prick!"
"You know she's not angry, when she can't come up with proper names to call you," Sirius commented, giving her a hand to help her up.
She brushed off the dust on her black jeans as James finally joined the rest of the group in the dark. "I know right? It's adorable to see her acting like she's mad. Oh, here — Lumos."
She came to face to face with the most arrogant arse in the entire world and glared. "I'll show you adorable," she threatened, squinting her eyes at him to see if he'd dare to mess with her.
"Oh, she's got claws!"
Sirius snorted. "More like tiny paws."
"Err - guys. I can't believe you planned a 'Hermione bash party' for my birthday," Remus commented, seemingly interested in where this was going.
"That's not part of the plan," Peter added. "I think it just comes naturally."
"Wow, Peter. Even you?" she asked, exasperated at the whole lot of them. They'd just wasted precious time in a narrow tunnel, when they could have already been out, satisfying any sweet craving they wanted. "Can we just go?"
"Alright. Start marching, lil ducklings!" began Sirius, who was followed by a bunch of 'Yes, Sir's. She was starting to seriously question whether they were doing okay.
"Was that supposed to be cool?" she asked, hurrying to keep up with their large steps.
Sirius stopped to wrap his arm around her shoulders, looking down at her with a solemn look. "Only those who can be cool can know that, so . . ."
"—So, you don't know, then," she cut him off.
He gave her an offended look. "So, I'm obviously the one to know. Not you—"
"—Well. I could care less—"
"—It proves you aren't cool—"
Her steps halted and Sirius's arm fell off. "You know what? I am cool," she said defiantly, her nose up in the air - definitely not taking a no for an answer.
James sighed. "I think we all know who's actually the cool member of this group."
"It's me," Remus said, making everyone's eyes turn to him. "Now, let's go. I've already figured out what we're doing and I'm not letting any chocolate go because of you guys."
"Good job, Sirius!" Hermione whined, walking even faster to catch up with Remus.
"Hey! What did I do?!"
.
What felt like a thousand days later — it had only been an hour — they finally reached the cellar of the shop, sneaking in quietly, despite knowing that Mr. Kines had already closed the shop for a few hours for them.
"Whoa. Why is it so empty?" Remus asked, looking around the large room with wide eyes. They were beginning to change between green and amber, so she wasted no time in picking his favourite kind of chocolate and handing it to him.
"Because Mr. Kines is the kindest man on earth?" Hermione suggested.
"After James Potter, of course," James added in a serious tone, picking up a toffee and popping it on his tongue. Even with his mouth closed, she could see the motions of his tongue as it stuck out on the skin of his cheek. She blinked — he had looked quite handsome just then.
Nothing new, she reminded herself. It was just James, after all.
He noticed her staring and raised a brow, sending her a wide smile that had her hurrying to look away.
"And we had the amazing idea of spending your birthday at your favourite place of all times," Sirius added with a shrug, dragging a fifth chair to the small table in the corner. He patted the top of the smooth wooden surface. "Come sit."
Once they gathered enough sweets to last them a lifetime, rather than just lunch, they filled their seats with equally satisfied smiles.
Though, no one looked as happy as Remus. "We should do this every year — no. For every person's birthday."
She scrunched her nose. "I'm not looking to have cavities by the time Pettigrew's birthday comes around."
Good, Granger said. If Hugo were to see this . . . it would be a nightmare. You guys need to tone it down!
Feeling rebellious and still quite irritated at Granger, Hermione met James's eyes and her lips formed into a wicked grin. "Never mind. Time to get sugar high."
In the span of two hours, they had all turned into brutally honest strangers, blurring out everything they could when the other stopped talking.
"So, when I see Hermione playing with Regulus when I told her to wait for me, do you know what I decide to do? I hide her teddy, so that she can come to me and ask me about it."
Everyone gasped dramatically, shocked at what he'd done. Hermione almost fell off her chair as she pointed an accusing finger at him. "It was you?! You lost him, didn't you?"
Sirius cringed, taking a sip of his milkshake. "Walburga took it from me and set it on fire."
"Oh."
"Moving on," James exclaimed, shaking his head repeatedly. "I still can't believe Sirius was my first kiss."
"Hold on," Remus started.
Gaping like a fool wouldn't do her any good, Hermione decided. "What did you just say?"
"He's not wrong," Sirius said, his voice now slurred. "It was in first year and he needed to be good at snogging in the future for Evans. Good thing he did that—felt like I was kissing a trunk."
"I'm good now! Lily will attest to that." He looked around, waiting for his girlfriend to magically Apparate into the shop at his call.
"She's not here," Peter reminded him. "She had something to do in Potions, remember?"
James's face fell and he nodded, slumping against the chair quietly. Hermione pushed her drink away, decided that it was better if her best friend had it, instead.
His hazel eyes moved towards her, to the milkshake and then back to her, and he grinned foolishly when he finally picked it up and took a sip from it. "Hmm. Good. This is nice. You're so nice, Hermione. You didn't have to apologize to Lily, but you still did. You have such a big heart and . . . this is so sweet, ah . . . like you."
Sirius and Peter were lost in their abyss of sugar, only Remus seemed to be eyeing James like he was eager to hear something from him.
Hermione looked back at her best friend and sighed, lightly tapping his cheek to wake him up from his drunken dream. "You're imagining your girlfriend. Go to her if you miss her so much," she said, playing with the candy in her hands.
James snatched it out of her hands and pulled out a small caramel chocolate bite from the wrapper. She opened her hand for him to give it back to her, but he fed it to Remus instead. "Not when the birthday boy is here. Am I right, Moony?"
"I guess . . .? Thank you, I think." He shook his head, scratching the back of it. "I think we've had too much. We're going to miss class if we don't leave right now."
"You're right, Professor Lupin!" Hermione stood up in an instant and she swayed on her feet, stumbling here and there, before James caught her arms in a soft hold. She let out a breath, blinking at him.
His fragrance surrounded her everywhere, hitting her with a strange mix of apple, citrus, and spice. It reminded her of comfort, of peace, of . . .
"Easy there. Ugh, I think watching your face fall flat on the floor would've helped me wake up from this sugar rush more." He groaned, pulling away from her and taking off his glasses to rub his eyes.
She narrowed her eyes at him but stayed silent, choosing to force Sirius up, instead. If her brother thought he could convince her to just skip class, he was very wrong.
"But you're still so sick," he muttered, his brows pushed together to show how confused he was.
"It doesn't matter. I'll just go get another Potion from Madam Pomfrey later, so don't worry so much about me, Padfoot."
"I was just being a concerned brother," Sirius said quickly. "Me using my little sister's well being as an excuse? Never. That's something Regulus would do."
She bopped his nose, smiling as she did so. "Well, good thing he's not in our year, right?"
"I guess," he muttered, blowing out a breath. "What a loser."
"Don't insult Reggie."
"Don't insult Reggie," Sirius mocked in a high pitched voice, walking faster and away from her.
What a sore loser, Granger laughed.
Don't insult my twin!
A/N: Surprise! I ended up finishing this chapter by 5 a.m. because I was that excited to finally get to chapter 39. I hope you guys enjoyed our dear Moony's birthday gift and found it sweet enough. Feel free to let me know what you think! Feedback is always welcomed.
