Chapter 40
Herbology Section, Last Saturday at 10
Hermione had been in the library since 8 o'clock. It being her day off from training, she often used Saturdays to complete her coursework and to lounge about in the one place where she was sure not to be disturbed.
As fun as the Marauders were, there was only so much Hermione could take before she felt the itch to be surrounded by books and silence. It was something she missed about being back in her time; Harry and Ron were often content to go off on their own while Hermione got her library fix, and they rarely needed her around all the time, unless there was some nefarious plot to be uncovered.
The Marauders, however, were needy. Sirius and James, once they had taken a liking to you, tended to hang around; And where Sirius and James were, Remus and Peter were sure to follow. How they never got tired of pranking and mischief, Hermione would never know, but if she had to guess, she would put it down to James' carefree helpfulness, Sirius' blatant rebellion, Peter's eager excitement, and Remus' need to be loved.
But, you know, that was just an idea.
Either way, Hermione had been in the library for two hours when her wand vibrated to let her know that it was time to meet Regulus at the Herbology section. She gathered up her finished homework and piled the scattered textbooks into a neat pile. The homework she slipped into her shoulder bag, while she flicked her wand at the textbooks to send them flying back to their respective shelves.
Then she stood, shouldered her bag, and made her way to the back of the library to wait.
At ten minutes past ten, Regulus came speeding around the corner, red faced and obviously out-of-breath. He slowed when he saw her and, miraculously, his face seemed to go even redder.
Hermione stifled a smile.
He awkwardly came over to the desk and slipped his bag from his shoulder. Avoiding eye contact, he mumbled, "Sorry I'm late."
"It's no bother." Hermione reassured. She waved the book in her hands. "I was just reading." She closed the book and put it aside, turning her attention to Regulus fully. "What can I help you with?"
Regulus looked like a deer in headlights as he froze halfway onto the chair and stuttered, "A-astronomy?"
Hermione's lips twitched upwards. "I mean what aspect of Astronomy are you having trouble with?"
"Oh." Regulus dropped into the chair and dragged his hair out of his face. He looked at Hermione with earnest eyes. "All of it."
That pulled a laugh out of Hermione and Regulus grinned abashedly, even as he started to unpack his books onto the table. Hermione settled, a grin affixed to her face and her arms crossed on the table. She leant forwards amiably. "What'll it be, then? Star charts? The solar system? The effects of the moons of Jupiter on its' orbital oscillation?"
Regulus looked lost. "Maybe…the beginning?" He asked hesitantly.
Hermione laughed. She opened the textbook to the first chapter. "The beginning it is."
A/N: Song rec - Written in the Water by Gin Wigmore