Chapter 16

Hi! So, this chapter we'll meet Lily and Peter. I'm really trying to space all the introductions and meetings out so it's not a complete sensory overload. Hermione's working on her feelings, but she's also got school to worry about. Anyways, enjoy! Please go check out some of MrsRen's stories! She has agreed to help me out with my writing, just one time! I'm surprised I didn't scare her away with my poor grammar. Please review and let me know what you think! Feel free to PM me about your thoughts as well. Thank you to all reviewers, the 18 people who have followed my fanfic and thanks to the 10 people who have favourited! All rights to their rightful owners.

Song: The Phoenix- Fall Out Boy (hey, young blood, doesn't it feel like our time is running out? I'm gonna change you like a remix, then I'll raise you like a phoenix.)

I shot up in my bed; another nightmare. I sighed as I looked at how trashed my room was. I made a half-arsed attempt at cleaning up, vanishing the broken glass and placing my make up back on the counter. Last night had been a disaster. I yanked on my uniform and crammed my hair into a bun. I hesitantly looked at the make up on the counter before resolving to use just enough to hide the dark circles under my eyes.

I packed up my bag and fled from my room, the memories of last night flashing in my mind. I stumbled down the stairs, coming face to face with Crouch at the bottom

"Hawthorne, there's somebody waiting for you outside." He said, grinning. I nodded.

"Thanks." I grunted, wondering who it was. I pushed open the door, watching in horror as Peter Pettigrew strode up to me, his watery blue eyes seemingly innocent. He was short and a bit pudgy, like he hadn't burned off his baby fat yet. His thin blonde hair was neatly combed, parted perfectly. I attempted a smile, remembering the balding man who had once knelt at my feet, begging for forgiveness.

"Good morning, Peter Pettigrew, right?" I asked, trying for an amicable tone. He smiled shyly.

"Yeah, that's me. James just wanted me to come check up on you, he didn't say why though." He explained, glancing up at me worriedly. I couldn't help but smile softly at him.

"You can tell James that I'm fine. Actually, why don't you walk me to the Great Hall so I can tell him that myself?" I said, dragging my bag further up my shoulder. Pettigrew blushed and nodded, leading the way down the stairs

We walked in silence, neither of us speaking and feeling awkward. I reached into my bag, not looking where I was going.

I slammed into someone, both of us tumbling onto the floor with a cry of shock. I looked up and saw red. Lily Evans sat before me, a worried look on her face as she watched me get up. I extended a hand to her, smiling shyly. So, this was Harry's mother. With her bright green, almond shaped eyes and her flaming red hair, she was beautiful.

I stood in shock as I observed just how similar a shade her eyes were compared to Harry's. I jolted out of my shock quickly.

"Oh, god, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" She exclaimed, looking me over for any obvious sign of injury.

"No, I'm fine. Are you? Sorry, I'm Hermione." I introduced myself, letting go of her hand to pick up her bag for her. She blushed, taking it from me.

"It's okay. I'm Lily." She returned, smiling shyly. I nodded, observing the sparkle in her emerald eyes. I peeked over her shoulder to see Pettigrew watching the exchange with barely contained fascination. I frowned slightly, focusing on Lily once more.

"It's nice to finally meet you, I hear you're the smartest in our year!" I added, smiling as she blushed brighter and ducked her head.

"Same to you. If you'll excuse me, I left my Charms homework in the dorm." She said, gesturing behind me. I nodded and watched her go, her glossy red hair swinging on her back. I bit my lip, wondering what it was like to have such calm hair. I turned back to Pettigrew.

"Well, let's continue." I said briskly, combing a hand through my curls. He nodded nervously, waiting for me to walk in front of him. When we got to the Great Hall, I rushed over to the Gryffindor table.

"Hello, kitten. Finally succumbing to my charm and good looks?" Sirius said cheekily. I froze at the nickname before glaring at him.

"I have a name, Black. Also, the day that I succumb to your supposed charm and good looks will be the day that Hell freezes over." I snarked, narrowing my eyes a him. He chuckled before turning back to his breakfast. I let my eyes wander farther down the bench, searching for James Potter's hazel eyes.

When I finally found him, he was surrounded by fan girls, who he ignored in favour of the waffles stacked high on his plate.

"Oi! Potter!" I shouted, smirking as his head popped up, his eyebrows high and his eyes wide. I snickered at how he scooted down the bench, desperately wading through the crowds of sighing girls.

"All right, Hawthorne?" He asked, his hand darting up to keep his glasses from slipping down his nose. I nodded, still chuckling.

"I just wanted to tell you to stop using Peter as a messenger. I'm fine, thanks." I said, smirking at him. He rolled his eyes.

"Petey likes it! Right, Wormtail?" he turned to Pettigrew, who was standing nervously behind me. I contained my eye roll to a mere raised eyebrow.

"O-of course, Prongs!" He shouted eagerly, his eyes sparkling with the need for attention. James nodded, satisfied. I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose.

"Your table is headache inducing, Potter. Have a good day." I said, leaning across the table to punch his shoulder. He rolled his eyes, smiling. I turned to Sirius and threw a banana at him. He squawked in protest. I laughed.

"Just making sure you and Potter sustain yourselves on something other then sugar and pumpkin juice. Where's Remus?" I asked curiously, smirking as I scanned the table once again for Remus' golden eyes.

Potter and Black exchanged alarmed looks.

"Oh, he's in the Hospital Wing. He wasn't feeling well last night." Black lied smoothly. I almost smacked myself ; last night had been the full moon. I feigned ignorance.

"Oh, he must have studied himself sick! I'll go visit him, it's a good thing I carry a bar of chocolate on me." I cried, pasting a worried look on my face. Potter glanced at Black who shrugged. I waved and rushed over to the Ravenclaw table to gather up some food for me and the healing werewolf.

I wrapped up a chocolate croissant, a few strips of bacon and various fruit slices in a cloth napkin. I stared at the napkin for a second before transfiguring into a basket. I giggled at the reference to the Muggle story 'red riding hood'. I placed a cup of tea under a statis charm, doing the same to some coffee for me. Chuckling at the sheer amount of food, I shook my head and walked up the stairs.

When I arrived at the Hospital Wing, I noticed that Remus was reading his Charms textbook. My heart fluttered at the sight of his adorable frown. I smiled lightly as I approached him.

"Hey! You've bloody worked yourself to the bone." I laughed, poking him in the shoulder. He jumped, glaring at me. I giggled and sat on his bed, shoving his feet aside.

"S'not my fault you didn't tell me to stop." He teased, snickering at my eye roll. I gestured at my basket

"I know Madame Pomfrey only stocks oatmeal, so I brought some food from the Great Hall. Potter and Black tried to lie to me and say that you weren't feeling well but I know last night-" I froze, my eyes widening. Remus stopped rifling through the basket to look up at me in terror. I raised a newly shaking hand to my mouth. Remus turned away, facing the opposite wall.

"It's okay, you don't have to pretend anymore. I'll leave you alone, I know you're disgusted by me." He whispered, in a shamed tone. I smacked his shoulder.

"Bloody moron, you are! Do you really think I care? I don't fucking care if you're a werewolf. I wouldn't care if you were a bloody floberworm!" I cried, wrapping my arm around him. He stiffened before slowly turning around and reciprocating. I squeezed him tighter.

"Thank you." He whispered gruffly. I nodded into his shoulder, pretending not to notice that his voice was thick with emotion. I pulled back and kissed his cheek, blushing.

"Now, eat! I don't need you dying without telling me where your Arithmancy notes are hidden!." I joked, smiling when he laughed. I sobered after a moment, remembering what I had to tell the werewolf in front of me.

"When can you leave?" I asked seriously, twirling my wand around in my hand. Remus quirked at a brow at me, curious.

"About lunch time. Why?" He replied, eyebrow still raised. I nodded to myself.

"Meet me in the seventh-floor corridor by Barnabas the Barmy at eight o'clock. I have to tell you something very important." I whispered, tears clouding my vision. Remus frowned worriedly but nodded all the same. I smiled softly and hugged him before strolling out of the Hospital Wing with the promise of giving him the notes from todays lessons.

I walked briskly, down the stairs and to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. I kept my head down. We had Defense with the Gryffindors, which ought to be eventful. I snorted inwardly. I walked into the classroom with a group of Ravenclaws. I saw Pandora's blonde hair on the other side of the fray; I ducked in response.

Professor McCabe was sitting on her desk, legs crossed and chewing on a Sugar Quill. I noticed that she had her hair held up in a ponytail today. The desks were pushed against the walls again with chairs cluttering the open space. She smiled softly at the students, getting up and turning towards the chalkboard.

"Welcome. Pull up a chair and be quiet." She said briskly. She straightened her black t-shirt and dusted off her navy athletic leggings. I wondered what she had in store for us. I walked towards the left side of the room with my housemates, settling into a chair.

"Now, today we'll be focusing less on the actual duelling and more on reviewing spells and the theory. First, however, I would like to know who can perform the Patronus Charm." She asked, writing the incantation on the chalkboard before turning back to us. I was the only person who raised my hand

"Really? Only Miss. Hawthorne? Tell me, Miss Hawthorne, does Beauxbatons teach it early?" She asked suspiciously. I blushed.

"No, Professor. A friend of mine taught it to me." I said, staring at her grey-tinged green eyes. She nodded.

"Well, go on, show us!" She encouraged, smiling at me. I nodded, pulling out my wand and standing up. I thought of the afternoon I spent beside the Black Lake with Remus and Pandora, the peaceful serenity of our laughter and the sun high above us. The way the autumn chill made me smile.

"Expecto Patronum!" I whispered, swishing my wand. Smiling, I waited for my adorable little otter to bound out of my wand. My smile dimmed when instead of my otter, a large female wild cat burst forth. Prowling around the room, she stopped beside me and sat on my right side. I gazed at her in wonder before cancelling the spell, watching as she faded to nothing.

"A wild cat Patronus stands for intelligence and quick thinking." Professor McCabe said quietly, watching me carefully. I nodded shakily, smiling when the Ravenclaws clapped. I settled into my chair nervously.

"Professor McCabe! Can you show us yours?" Potter shouted. Professor McCabe rolled her eyes but nodded all the same. Nonverbally, she cast.

A fox sprung from her wand, dancing around her and perching on James' shoulder. James looked at it, wide eyed. Everybody laughed, and the fox disappeared. The students continued to whoop and cheer, laughing merrily. I giggled, knowing that James' animagus form wouldn't have been so easily intimidated. Professor McCabe laughed softly.

"Settle down! The Patronus Charm is a defense against Dementors and can be summoned with a happy memory. Your assignment for tonight is to read up on the Patronus Charm. Try to cast it as well, if you like. Next up we're going to practice some disarming and shield charms." She announced, turning away from us and facing the chalkboard.

Writing quickly, she spelled out expeliiarmus, stupefy andprotego. Sirius rolled his eyes and raised his hand. Professor McCabe turned around and nodded at him.

"Professor, we learned both these spells in first year. We don't need to go over them!" He whined, flailing dramatically. Professor McCabe laughed derisively.

"From everyone's duelling skills the first day, you lot have a lot to work on. Mr. Black, do you remember how you were stunned and disarmed within a mere two minutes of your duel? You've no room to talk." She said sharply. Black flushed and hung his head.

"As I was saying, your first day here most of you could barely utter the Shield Charm and produce a passable effect. If cast correctly, Shield Charms can withstand a barrage of spells without dissipating. The Shields that many of you summoned withstood approximately one to three spells before dissolving. I'm a bit disappointed, but then, you've had so many different defense professors that I can't blame you." She continued,

"Some of you need to work on your aim. So many of you could've disarmed your opponent with that simple expelliarmus if it had landed correctly. Expelliarmus is one of the most useful spells in your arsenal. Now, stupefy is also an excellent spell."

"I was surprised that most of you didn't use it. However, Miss. Hawthorne used it to defeat Mr. Black. I think that a lot of you dismissed it because of its simplicity. That could be a fatal mistake in a real duel. You'll need to learn how to fight without error. In real duels there will be no bowing or greeting, just violence." She added, a grave expression on her face. Julia Vane's hand shot up.

"Professor, why would we need to learn how to fight? There's not anything out there we'd need to defend ourselves against except for the occasional boggart." She asked, twirling her brown hair around her finger. Blinking, I realized that this was Romilda Vane's mother. I frowned, opening my mouth to defend Professor McCabe, but Pandora beat me to it.

"Vane, haven't you been reading the Daily Prophet? All the mysterious disappearances aren't mysterious at all. Perhaps you've heard of him? His name is Lord Voldemort, and he killed my parents. If that's not enough evidence for you, then I don't know what is!" She shouted defensively. I walked over to her side and placed an arm around her shoulder. Vane looked stunned. Professor McCabe cleared her throat.

"Yes, Pandora is right. There is a dark wizard roaming around outside of Hogwarts. He is a supremacist who believes in the eradicating of Muggles and Muggle-born's. He also believes that being pureblood is the highest honor; everyone else is undeserving of attention and should be slaughtered. He kills all who refuse to join him and all who speak out against him. You will need to learn how to defend yourself, defend your loved ones and how to identify every single dark creature he will use."

"Also, Miss. Vane, I have it on good authority that boggarts are on his list of said creatures. Be prepared for more than occasional. I think that's enough for this lesson. Class dismissed, remember to do your research on the Patronus Charm. I want two feet of notes." She concluded, making a shooing gesture. The class filed out, sombre and scared.

I looked to Pandora, who was still under my arm. She smiled shyly at me and slipped away. I felt a sad smile stretch across my face. I was about to begin walking when I felt a hand wrap around my elbow, tugging me back. I grasped my wand and shoved into the stomach of the person holding me. I whipped around, already glaring. Snape stood there, smirking. I rolled my eyes and placed my wand in my hair, holding it up.

"Severus, lovely to see you. Do you know how to walk and talk? I've got Potions." I snarked, walking away. I smirked as he sighed and caught up to me.

"Unfortunately, as do I. I've a proposition for you, from my Lord." He said lowly. My blood froze in my veins, but I kept walking. My brain turned, processing his words. I could join the Death Eaters, find out their plans and feed them to the order. I could bring Voldemort down from the inside. The Dark Lord, I mentally corrected myself. I coughed to cover up my long silence.

"I see. Continue." I said hoarsely, biting my lip. Severus chuckled darkly.

"As I'm sure you already know, the Dark Lord has been recruiting from within the school. He has heard of you and is curious about you. You seem to have… acceptable magical prowess. He's also heard of your dueling abilities. All his followers have heard that you defeated the previously unbeatable Bellatrix." He sniped, pausing over the word 'acceptable' with a sneer. I inhaled shakily, counting to five.

"He would like you to join him in his campaign to purify Britain. Regardless of your less then desirable blood status, he is willing to accept you. I'm a half-blood as well, and our magical skill shall rule over that. What can I tell Him?" He asked, tightening his grip on my arm. I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear and looked at him.

"I will join the Dark Lord under one condition; Remus and Pandora are spared. Call them my lowly pets if you like, but they live. I know you and Evans are close, use that as an example." I whispered, refusing to tear up at the thought of my best friends. Snape nodded once to show he understood and pursed his lips. He look around, surprisingly hesitant, before leaning in.

"I believe you to be intelligent, so I'll trust you know what I mean when I say this; be prepared to be unprepared. You think you know what you're going into. It will be much worse than you could ever expect." He whispered, lips brushing my ear. I nodded.

"Well, that was refreshing. Thank you. This is our stop, partner me?" I replied, stepping through the threshold of the Potions classroom. Snape smirked but nodded, gesturing to a table near the front.

"Welcome, welcome. Today we'll be making the Befuddlement Draught, also known as a Confusing Concoction. This is not a difficult potion. Hurry up! Get your scurvy grass, lovage and sneezewort all together." Slughorn said loudly.

I hurried over to the potions cupboard and grabbed all our ingredients, distracting myself quickly. I walked back to the table, my fingers shaking on the containers. I willed them to stop. I had to be strong. I walked back to the table, dumping the ingredients.

"Gentle! You're not a troll, are you?" Severus hissed teasingly. I looked up at him in shock. As a giggle slipped out, I heard him snort indelicately before prepping the ingredients.

""I didn't know you had a sense of humor, Severus." I whispered, smirking. He rolled his eyes.

Dun. Dun. DUNNNNNN! I couldn't resist, so I shoved Hermione into the Death Eater cliché. Next chapter will be Remus meeting Hermione, and I think it'll be in Remus' POV. When I go back to school, I'm afraid I won't have much time for writing, so this may be the last update for bit. Happy Autumn!