A/N: Another month, another chapter and it's even posted a little earlier than usual. Thanks again for keeping up with this story and giving me reviews!

Happy Valentine's Day, whether you're single or not, just enjoy your day and relax a little if you can.

Enjoy ^^

Hermione was sitting with the girls, talking.

"Hermione, did you go to the Christmas party?"

"Yeah, Sirius immediately asked Mrs Weasley when we got off the train, not giving me much of a choice really."

"That is something he would do," Alice admitted.

"But I had fun so it's not like I mind."

"It was a fun night," Lily agreed.

Hermione gave her a look. "Talking about fun. You still need to give me those details young lady."

"Details?" Alice asked.

"Yes, details. You see, during the Christmas party I caught this young lady kissing none other than James Potter."

"What?!" Marlene almost screeched. "You're kidding."

"I'm not. I saw it with my own eyes, as did Sirius."

"Lily, tell us everything. Right now." Marlene pressed.

The redhead had a slight blush gracing her cheeks. "There aren't much details to share actually."

"Oh, come on. You've hated James ever since first year. Then you go to this Christmas party at his house, which you not only attend apparently but where you also kiss him. And you dare say there aren't any details to share? What happened? You went from one end of the spectrum to the other."

"I don't know, it just happened. I had a great night and then he came to ask me to dance. I said yes and we danced. We talked and just had fun really. And well, then we kissed."

"Does this mean he has a chance with you now? Are you guys going out?" Alice asked, excitement clear in her voice.

"We're not going out. We haven't talked about it yet, about what happened."

"But?" Marlene pushed.

"But if he were to ask me out I'd probably say yes."

"Look at this. I never thought a day would come where I'd hear you say something like this. Can you imagine? James and Lily a couple? That would be kinda strange but so sweet."

"Why would it be strange?" Lily asked.

"Please, you're total opposites. Of course that is somewhat strange."

"You know what they say. Opposites attract," Hermione interjected.

"Yeah, that's clear," Lily answered.

"Huh?"

"You and Sirius. You two also seemed to enjoy yourselves really well at the party."

"Oh?" Marlene was intrigued now. "Tell us more."

"There is nothing to tell."

"Yeah, you dance with him almost the entire night, so close that you almost look like one person instead of two and there is nothing to tell. We weren't born yesterday, Hermione." Lily felt a little smug. Hermione had forced her to talk about it now she would do the same to her.

"There is literally nothing to tell. Yes, we danced but nothing else happened."

"Do you want something else had happened?" Marlene asked with a wiggle of her eyebrows. The brunette faltered for a second, which in turn was answer enough for the witches present. "I take back what I said. She noticed, people. She's not a lost cause."ermione the

Hermione just groaned, swatting Marlene's shoulder though she couldn't keep her smile at bay.

"And what about you? Tell us about everything that happened this break."

And so they kept on talking, catching up, laughing, teasing. This was nice. Apart from a few times with Ginny, Hermione hadn't had the chance to talk and act like this with girls back home.

A few days later the Gryffindor team made their way back inside after a practice that must have been tiring. It was ice cold outside, snow still falling from the sky. When they entered the common room she didn't even look up from her book, just calling out "Shower."

"We know," she got as a reply.

"Looks like your nurturing side is taking over again," Remus teased.

"Just be glad I have this nurturing side. Who else would give you extra chocolate or keep the boys from being too loud when it was necessary?" She didn't mention the werewolf thing out loud but they both knew what she was talking about.

He grinned at her. "True and I'm very thankful for that."

"Thankful for what?" came Sirius' voice as he took a seat next to the brunette, draping half of his weight on her.

"How do you shower so fast? Seriously, you just went upstairs ten minutes ago?" she asked him.

"Doesn't matter. What is he thankful for?"

"About the fact that I have some very important information."

Remus gave her a questioning look, as did Sirius. Before she said anything more she asked Sirius in a whisper so only he would hear, "Is James in the room?" He looked behind her and nodded. Good. "I have some important information about Lily."

The redhead's name caught James' attention but he kept quiet. "What exactly?" Remus asked.

"Well, we were talking the other day. You know, girl talk. And she told us that if a certain marauder were to ask her out, she would probably say yes. Of course Marlene and Alice went crazy about that." She had hardly finished her sentence or she saw him rushing out of the common room, probably on his way to find the redhead.

"She did?" Remus asked.

"She did," the brunette confirmed.

"Do you know what this means?" Sirius asked her.

"That they'll probably get together?"

"Yeah, but that's not what I mean. It means, dear Mione, that you still lost the bet so I don't have to behave. I can still pull pranks." He felt smug, looked it too.

"Of course that's the thing you decide to focus on." She rolled her eyes in exasperation, though she couldn't hide her amusement. "I still expect you to win the next quidditch match though."

"Of course. Hufflepuff won't stand a chance."

No one was surprised to find Lily and James sitting next to each other the next day at breakfast, talking, smiling, holding hands. They were just glad that they finally had gotten their act together.

But it couldn't all be easy and fun. So before she realized it, Hermione found herself back in Dumbledore's office.

"You wanted to see me, professor?"

"Yes. But first I wanted to ask if you are alright. The fight at Diagon Alley can't have been easy for you."

"I'm okay. It wasn't like it was my first time experiencing something like that."

"I see." A small pause. "That was what I wanted to talk to you about. The amount of followers Voldemort gains is rising, as are the attacks. But I'm sure you have noticed this as well." She nodded. "I was wondering whether or not you'd like to share some information? About what happened at Diagon Alley or the future. Maybe both. I have to admit that it could be of great help to us."

Hermione thought for a minute. What was important right now and what wasn't? How did she even know at what time a certain memory could be important. "Is it okay if I give you my memories of what happened at Diagon Alley?"

"Of course. Every bit of information is welcome." So they walked over to the pensieve and she extracted the memories of what happened at Diagon Alley. The events of both the Christmas break and last summer.

She found out then that extracting memories could be quite taxing. It felt like most of her energy had left her. "Sir?"

"Yes, miss Granger?"

"I would appreciate it if you were the only one seeing this. Just like we talked about how the information I give you is only for you to know."

"Certainly. I will not let anyone else see or step into your memories unless you ask so of me specifically."

"Thank you."

"I bet you are tired. Memories can do that to us. You can go now, miss Granger." She nodded and off she was.

She needed some time to think. Not wanting to be disturbed she made her way to the room of requirement, knowing no one would find her there.

She hadn't known that extracting memories could be so taxing. Hadn't expected that. Realizing this, Hermione knew she would have to go to Dumbledore quite often if she wanted to give him the information that he needed. Of course she could tell him but then there was the risk she would forget something. It was better to play it safe and give her memories, they held every detail, every move, every spoken word.

And how should she give it to him? Chronologically would be the most logical thing to do. He would have to know what happened from the beginning until the moment she got here or else it probably wouldn't make much sense.

It was late. She needed to get back to the common room or risk that the marauders would start looking for her. Well, Sirius to be more specific.

"Mione, where were you? You weren't here when I came back from practice." See? The brunette had hardly entered the room or his focus was already on her. It made her smile.

"I was at the library." She didn't like lying to him but there wasn't much else she could do. Looking back on her time here she had done nothing but lie to him. Him and the others. She didn't like it but it was necessary. "How was practice?"

"Brutal. You'd think Casanova would let up a little when he got together with Lily but no. He's still the same madman on the field, having a girlfriend or not. And it's freezing on top of that."

"I see."

"Mione," he whined. "Give me more sympathy."

She turned towards Remus and asked, "Did he miss his nap this afternoon? He's awfully fussy."

Remus just laughed, throwing his head back while Sirius looked at her in betrayal. Then he threw his entire weight on her, crushing her on the couch beneath him. She laughed, trying to wiggle her way out. "Who's awfully fussy now? Huh?"

"Okay, okay. I take it back. Please, let me go I need to breathe," she said still laughing. He sat back, looking smug. "You know, sometimes I think you really are a dog." A bark-like laugh left him but he didn't reply, not minding the comment one bit.