TW at end of chapter

Autumn 1977

With Hogsmeade upon them, Hermione joined the boys for breakfast. Watching as James worked himself into a panic before meeting Lily to head down to the village together.

She had watched, amused, as Lily graced him with a small smile from where she was sitting among the other Gryffindor girls. One that prompted James to repeat an action she had once seen from Harry — awkwardly smiling back despite having just taken a sip of water, causing him to dribble all over himself.

While the rest of the boys howled in laughter, James frantically patted at his clothes, not having enough time to go back and change before he was supposed to meet Lily. Panic making him forget he had magic at his disposal Hermione giggled at how out of sorts he seemed.

His usually confident demeanour forgotten in exchange for an awkward, bumbling, but somehow endearing version of himself — desperate not to ruin his only chance.

Casting a drying charm for him, she'd left to meet Pandora. Relieved not to be abandoning her friend, nor dragging her and Remus along with them had she and Sirius been going together.

Technically they could have gone as a group, but they all knew it would have been uncomfortable as the boys still held Pandora's last name against her. Even if there was no suggestion, she was a Death Eater any more than Sirius was.

Besides, something told Hermione that Remus needed some time with his friends, and she wouldn't hold him from that. Her brother had withdrawn more and more throughout the start of term. At first, Hermione had assumed it was because of the new reforms, but he seemed more angry about those. Rightfully so, but it didn't explain his disappearances. Abandoning them all to spend hours in the library to study for his NEWTs, as if it would prevent the discrimination they knew was waiting for him.

So, instead of spending the first Hogsmeade trip as a couple, they rode down to the village as a group. She and Sirius cosied up against the autumn chill; he'd only complained slightly when she slipped her cold fingers between his own, hoping to warm them.

Otherwise, they were happy to spend the day apart. Knowing sometimes things were more important than their relationship, and they'd sworn to themselves not to let it affect their friendships from the beginning.

Instead, they watched from afar as James held the door to the Three Broomsticks open for Lily. All of them secretly thrilled to see the progression in their relationship.

Safely down to the village, and with Lily and James ushered off on their date, Hermione and Pandora finally turned to leave. Brushing a parting kiss over Sirius' lips before she remembered she needed to claim her victory.

Spinning back towards them and calling out, "Oh! By the way, you both owe my five galleons!"

James still couldn't quite believe he was here — on a date — with Lily Evans. One that she had agreed to come on and told him she was looking forward to as they went to their respective rooms the night before.

Sharing a living space with Lily was strange. Technically, they had been for years, but it was different with just the two of them. Intimate in a way that should have felt awkward given the newness of their relationship, but that instead felt oddly right.

They didn't even spend that much time there. Both preferring to spend time with their respective friends and in the familiar warmth of the Gryffindor common room. Neither of them quite used to having their own space and missing the collective comfort of the tower. And yet, the Heads Dorms felt like theirs. Littered with Lily's muggle pens and his own belongings.

Despite having agreed to come to Hogsmeade with him nearly a month ago, their relationship hadn't really progressed any, and yet it had. Still, in that comfortable place they'd reached over the last year, it had expanded to include moments that shouldn't feel intimate and yet did.

The sight of Lily's sleep rumpled form barely awake over a cup of tea. Glaring at him in a way he could only call adorable as he appeared from early morning Quidditch practice, entirely too alert for her liking.

The late-night homework sessions. Both in their pyjamas, fighting off sleep after finishing rounds, nudging each other until they were done with whatever they'd been assigned.

None of them were inheritably romantic, and yet they were. Drawing the two of them closer, adding new layers to their relationship until they'd reached this point. Crowded together in a small booth in the Three Broomsticks. It was very different than the last time they had been here together, and James could only hope it would end differently, too.

He could feel the warmth of her thigh pressed against his own. Covered only by stockings to ward off the late September wind, it felt shockingly close, and he could barely focus on anything else.

"Butterbeer?" He asked desperately, suddenly needing a moment away from her Amortentia like scent to clear his head, "No, what am I talking about, hot chocolate?"

He chuckled awkwardly, and Lily gave him a small smile in response, "Hot chocolate would be lovely, thank you."

Nodding once, he fled towards the bar. Determined not to cock this up any more than he already had. Returning with their drinks, he retook his seat next to her before confessing a secret he wasn't sure he should, "I'm sorry. I just still can't quite believe this is happening. That you're here with me."

Lily smiled at his incredulous tone, "I know. I'm slightly surprised I'm here too. I'm happy I am, though," she admitted, glancing up through auburn lashes, the now familiar blush tinting her cheeks.

"Me too," he agreed without thinking, "I'm happy you're here; I mean, I'm happy I'm here." He took a breath before explaining, cursing the way he was still struggling to think, "I mean, I'm happy to be here with you."

Lily giggled at his flustered words, and despite the embarrassing way he had answered, the tension between them dissipated — letting them fall back into easy conversation.

Neither of them noticed the time passing or how the pub gradually emptied as the sky darkened outside. It was Rosmerta who alerted them to how late it was, offering a warning instead of yet another refill. They'd rushed to get the last carriage, breathless and laughing as they fell into it—both wondering how a whole afternoon had passed without them realising.

Helping her out of the carriage, they both went to speak.

"I …"

"I …"

They chuckled awkwardly before James motioned for her to speak.

"I told Alice I'd help her with potions," Lily gestured vaguely towards the castle as if apologising for the fact she had to leave.

"Of course," James nodded, knowing their afternoon was coming to an end and summoning the courage to ask his next question in a rush. "Would you like to do this again?"

Lily smiled up at him before responding, "I'd love to."

James could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he processed the fact she'd just agreed to a second date. "Great — great."

While he stood there nodding to himself, something almost like disappointment flashed over her face, "Well, I should probably go find Alice," she said quietly, still looking at him like she expected something more.

"Yeah, of course," he agreed again, and Lily nodded, turning to head in the direction of Gryffindor tower.

Staring at those silky red locks, though, James suddenly realised what he'd forgotten in his excitement over the fact she'd agreed to a second date.

"Evans! Wait!" He called out, jogging up to her while she spun to look at him.

"Yes?" she asked, confused, and James felt his nerves rise back up.

"Um … I just …" before he could chicken out, he leant down slowly, watching her for any sign of hesitation and pressed his lips gently to hers when he found none.

It was short and chaste, but it was perfect and pulling away, they smiled before Lily whispered, "Bye."

Both their grins growing as she turned to go, leaving James stuck, frozen, with his heart hammering in his chest.

She waited until they were alone to bring it up. Knowing that whatever had caused Remus to withdraw likely wasn't something he would discuss willingly, so she waited for the full moon.

Perhaps an underhand tactic, waiting until they were both stuck in the Hospital Wing and Remus was bedridden, but it at least meant he couldn't try and escape the conversation.

Even after spending the Hogsmeade trip with his friends Remus continued to withdraw. Usually, she would have chalked it up to her brother's studiousness, but something told her this was different. Like she could feel some almost undetectable ache coming off him.

She didn't know what it was, but Hermione couldn't bear to let it continue any longer. At first, she'd wondered if he was having second thoughts about whether he was okay with her and Sirius' relationship, but his strange behaviour hadn't started until they returned to the castle.

Still, no matter how much she speculated, Hermione knew she wouldn't find out the truth until she forced it out of her brother. So, she waited until Madam Pomfrey had given him a pain relief potion. Knowing he'd be more likely to go along with her questioning if he wasn't in pain, she did it.

He looked concerned when she took a seat on his bed. While she distracted him plenty around the full moon — refusing to let him fall into the melancholy moods he was always tempted to — sitting on his bed like this usually implied they were about to have a more serious conversation. Like it was some kind of tiny signal between the two of them.

"Hermione? Everything okay?"

Looking at his earnest, confused face, Hermione gave him a small smile in reassurance before replying,

"I don't know. Is it?"

He shifted uncomfortably at the question. Clearly not wanting to give an honest response, he shot her a disbelieving look, "Of course it is. What are you talking about?"

"Then why have you been hiding away all term?"

"I haven't been hiding," he snapped, temper always more likely to flare up this time of the month. She should have known it was a possibility but had been more focused on actually forcing him to hear her out, "We've got NEWTs remember. And you know I need to do well on them."

"And you will, I'm sure of it. But that's not what's up with you, and we both know it."

"Well, I don't know what you think it is, but I assure you, there's nothing else."

"Bullshit," she snapped back. Because as much as she loved her brother Hermione knew he sometimes needed to be slapped to his senses, even if she wasn't quite willing to do so physically — not yet anyway. "You've been weird since we got back to the castle. What's wrong?"

"Nothing!" he snarled, a clear sign whatever it was, was actually bothering him quite a bit.

Still, despite his harsh tone, there was something sensitive lurking under her brother's angry exterior, so she stopped badgering him quite as aggressively and instead asked softly,

"You're still okay with Sirius and me, right?" Suddenly worried that despite how she had reassured herself earlier, her brother may not be quite as okay with her relationship as he had implied.

Looking at her apologetically, he nodded his head, "Yes — that's not it. I'm happy for you, actually."

"Really?"

"Yeah," he confirmed, "I think you're good for each other. You tone him down a bit while he gets you to act out, and Merlin knows you're too serious half the time, Mini."

She couldn't deny that much. She'd always been guilty of taking things a little too seriously, and it had only got worse over the past year. Remus was also right that Sirius helped her step away from it.

Even their duelling sessions were more playful than anything. They were both serious about what they were learning, but there was an element of playfulness that helped Hermione unburden some of the immense weight it often felt like she was carrying.

There was just something about her relationship with Sirius that settled her somehow. He drove her crazy sometimes, purposefully riling her up when they were duelling or transforming into Padfoot and leaving fur all over her belongings. But even in those moments where she'd feel her blood boil, he'd temper it with heated kisses. Not cooling it necessarily, but transforming it until she could find another form of release.

But no matter how true what Remus was saying was, it still didn't explain his behaviour since the beginning of term.

"That still doesn't explain what's wrong with you," she asked gently.

"Nothing, really," he finally relented. "I guess I'm just realising the future holds for me."

"What?"

"Just Sirius has you now. And James finally won over Lily, and we both know that's it for them, so I guess I'm kind of alone again."

"No," Hermione muttered quietly. Suddenly understanding what her brother had been doing. Some stupid, martyr-ish scheme to remove himself from his best friends lives as if the very idea wasn't ridiculous. "Remus, they're still your friends."

"I know, but it's not like I'll ever be able to have that. Hell, even Peter must have someone with the way he's been disappearing all term."

"What do you mean you can't have it?"

He gave her an unimpressed look at the question, "Seriously? Not like any girl would actually want something to do with a monster.

"You are not a monster," she snapped, "And the right girl wouldn't care."

"Sure not for a quick shag," he shot back, and Hermione unintentionally pulled a face at the thought, "But after they find out what I am?" It just won't happen for me, Hermione."

"It could," she cried. Refusing to believe her brother would be alone forever. Even if it meant waiting twenty years for Tonks. "I swear, the right person would love you regardless."

"Yeah, and then what?" he responded, frustration returning.

"Then you marry her and give me a niece or nephew."

"What!"

"Fine, I guess you can date her for a while first," she allowed, but Remus didn't look amused.

"Hermione, you know that's not an option for me."

"Of course it is."

"No! I won't curse a child to this life," he growled.

"You wouldn't be," she reassured, "They'd perhaps have to endure an overly anxious father, but they wouldn't be werewolves."

"You can't know that."

"Yes, I can," she answered, thinking of the triumphant look on an older Remus' face as he announced the birth of a colourful but otherwise completely normal Teddy Lupin. But it wasn't as if she could tell her brother that, "They've done studies. Any children you have will be completely normal. It's not an inheritable trait."

"Oh, and you've read these studies, have you?" he asked mockingly. The tone was out of place on her brother, but Hermione knew it wasn't really at her as much as the situation in general.

"I read everything, Remus. You know that." He actually cracked a smile at her response but soon fell back into a sad silence.

Breaking it, Hermione spoke again, "I promise, one day it will happen for you. But until then, please stop avoiding the boys. Because if I have to listen to Sirius whine about you abandoning him one more time, I can't be held responsible for my actions.

She and Pandora were walking back to Ravenclaw when someone reached out of an alcove and wrapped a hand around her bicep. Startling slightly before seeing Sirius' wide, familiar hand, she suddenly realised where he'd snuck off to as he rushed out of class. Abandoning her at their shared desk with only a small smirk in explanation.

Shrugging at Pandora, her friend gave her a knowing grin, and Hermione let herself be pulled behind the tapestry.

Seeing Sirius grinning down at her, she couldn't help but smile in response while still not quite believing she was there. They had enjoyed enough time in empty classrooms and broom closets at night, the Room of Requirement not quite providing the thrill that came with the risk of getting caught for all of its other benefits, but in the middle of the day was risky even for them.

"Kitten," he greeted. Crowding her against the wall and Hermione felt her heart flutter at his closeness, the situation, and the heat in his gaze as he looked at her. The skin of her thighs still tingling from where he'd spent class tracing tiny patterns on them under the desk.

It all made her desperate for his touch in a way she had assumed with lessen with time, but that only seemed to burn more often as they got to know each other more intimately.

A hand stroked over her cheek before holding her jaw as he pressed his lips against hers. Not hard, but certainly not gentle either; it had the promise of so much more, Hermione couldn't help but bring her hands to his chest. Pressing against him desperately while he nipped playfully at her lips.

There was no slow, steady build-up, but Hermione found she didn't care. The thrill of their illicit behaviour more than enough to make up for any missed kisses.

Instead, there was their own frantic energy, Hermione releasing tiny gasps while he began to mouth at her neck. Just enough to make the skin pink, too light a sensation to do anything but tease and make her even more desperate for him.

Giving her another bruising kiss, he whispered in her ear, "The Room, tonight. I have plans," before dropping a final kiss to her lips and leaving her completely dazed in the alcove.

Finally, regaining her wits, she shook herself slightly. And with her skin still covered with goosebumps where he had touched her and her lips still swollen, she couldn't help but wonder what his plans consisted of.

Since he had mentioned them over summer, guessing what they were had tormented her, and she'd spent hours imagining what they may be. Filling those last waking moments with thoughts of his hands gripping her hips and dipping between her thighs.

All thoughts of Tom Riddle and his Horcruxes banished. In return, her mind was filled with images of Sirius' grey eyes alight with desire and memories of ink and leather where he'd been pressed against her.

The idea she'd have to wait all day to discover them was driving her mad and likely was exactly the reason Sirius had done it, but knowing that it was his intention didn't lower Hermione down from the ledge she was on. Completely distracted by her thoughts of what the evening may hold for her.

Reaching their dorm, Pandora laughed at her ruffled appearance, before asking "Have a good time?" with a raised eyebrow. Reminding Hermione that for all of her friends more whimsical traits, she was still technically Draco Malfoy's aunt and the slightly taunting smirk she was currently the recipient of was apparently a family trait.

"He said he has plans," she replied breathlessly. Still trying to imagine what Sirius had supposedly spent months thinking about.

"Plans?"

"For tonight," she confirmed. "He wants me to meet him tonight and said he has plans." Hermione knew she was repeating herself, but her brain was too scrambled to care.

"Well, try and have fun for the both of us," Pandora laughed before muttering, "Merlin knows I won't be any time."

"Pandora?" Hermione questioned, concerned by friend's newfound cynicism.

"It's fine," she reassured her voice back to its usual floaty tone. "Everything will work out in the end. Though, I am sure Father will have something to say about any future relationships of mine soon enough."

Feeling faintly unsettled by Pandora's words, Hermione nodded and instead brought up the charms homework they still needed to complete. Sensing it was for the best, the conversation stopped there.

TW: mild sexual content