Ch.17
Year 4, 1974 – 75
"Hey Hermione!" Lily greeted from her bed. Alice parroted her welcome from where she was sprawled on the floor.
"Hey, what are you two up to?" Hermione asked as she took a seat on the edge of her bed. Aurelius immediately abandoned his perch beside Lily to cuddle into his witch's arms.
"Lily somehow convinced me to start our Potions assignment. I don't know how she talked me into it when it's not even due until next week!" Alice groaned, flopping onto her back.
"And I said that if we finished it now, we could actually enjoy our weekend. It is a Hogsmeade visit as you won't stop reminding us."
"Well she does have a little date planned with a special someone." Hermione teased, nudging her friend with her foot. "I guess we'll just have to keep each other company, Lily."
Alice slapped away the offending appendage and her face flushed in embarrassment. "Honestly, the two of you don't have anything to complain about. If you wanted, you both could have a date in a second."
"Oh really and who did you have in mind for us?" Lily asked, the parchment all abandoned and forgotten.
"I don't know, maybe a certain James Potter and one Sirius Black."
"NO!" "Not happening." "I can't even believe you would suggest that." The two girls vehemently objected. Alice laughed at their disgust and repulsion.
"I'm sure if you asked Frank, he could introduce us to some nice Hufflepuffs. Seems like he gets along better with them than his fellow Gryffindors."
"I CAN'T ASK THAT!" Alice squealed. "It's only our first date, that's not first date material! Maybe like fourth or fifth, maybe not even until we go steady"
"Alice!" Lily teased, "Have you already thought that far ahead? Well I absolutely expect to be maid of honor at your wedding or at the very least a bridesmaid."
"Oh I agree, nothing less than a bridesmaid." Hermione chimed in. "It was thanks to us pushing you into him, that you finally worked up the courage to ask him out."
Alice's face flushed red. She grabbed the nearest pillow and flung it aimlessly, completely missing her laughing roommates. Resigned to their teasing, she furiously scribbled away at her assignment and ignored the laughter in the room.
"While I'm glad you're working so hard on work, I hope you know we're just teasing. We're ecstatic you're finally going out with Frank." Lily said. "Anyways, where have you been?"
"Just grabbing a snack from the kitchens." Hermione replied, absently petting the feline. "Regulus was there. I really think something needs to be done to get those two to talk face to face."
"Did he say something."
"No. As you can imagine, all boys are idiots that don't want to talk about their feelings. They'd much rather beat around the bush until someone steps in to help them"
"That someone being you?"
"Not necessarily, I thought more along the lines of us." Hermione said, eyes darting between her two friends.
"I don't know." Alice looked up from her parchment, "as much as I want them to get along. When it comes to family affairs, especially of the pureblood variety, we may be better off to let one of them to come to decision to reconcile on their own."
"Then we'll keep giving Sev updates and start mentioning Regulus in Sirius' company. At least until one of them says they wish they'd get along. Then no more holding back."
"I never knew you were such a meddler, Hermione." Alice commented.
"When it comes to idiots fighting, the less time I have to be the middleman, the better." The witch remembered the big fight in their fourth year, when Harry and Ron would not speak to each other. Having to constantly relay messages back and forth between, when they obviously cared for one another, was a waste of her time.
"Alright but until then, how about helping me with this potions paper. How anyone can write 3 feet about anything regarding potions blows my mind!" Alice groaned.
~TT~
Hermione had finally reached her growth spurt.
Though she couldn't boast about growing another foot in height, she did now comfortably stand at 5'4. Among her friends, only Alice stood an inch shorter while everyone else continued to sprout upwards. Remus and Sev, especially were all gangly limbs and awkward movement, as they adjusted to their still changing builds.
After every growth, the witch would sneak off to the forest and give another go of apparating. She earned a few more cuts and bruises, but she knew this time would be different. Hermione had taken to wear a few more layers and cast some additional safety precautions but one could new be too careful.
The clearing was the best option for her endeavours. Taking a calming breath, she pictured herself disappearing and reappearing a meter forward. Taking a step and pivoting, Hermione felt the compressions and tugs that came with apparition. This time though, there was no mind rattling distortion that made her want to collapse under the pressure.
This time she reappeared exactly where she aimed for.
"YES!" Hermione cheered, throwing her hands into the air and celebrating. Then quickly realizing how loud she was, even with her silencing charm, she didn't want to take any chances. Taking a look around, she ensured no one had inadvertently wandered into her space. Seeing no one, the witch practiced apparating longer and longer distances.
Though she knew she wouldn't be able to apparte off of school grounds, her practice session gave her the confidence that the next Hogsmeade visit would giver her the change to begin her plans. With Alice occupied, she just needed to make sure Remus and Lily wouldn't ask any questions for her disappearance. Sev would wonder but he knew if she needed his help than she would ask for it.
With her goal in mind, she removed all the spells placed in the clearing and began the trek back to the castle.
Next time she apparated it would be to Little Hangleton.
A/N: Thank you for all your patience for the new chapter. It is shorter than usual as I've been facing an intense writer's block and have been rethinking where this story is going to go. With that said, I hope you're all doing well and thank you for the reviews, follows, and favourites!