A/N: Thank you to all my new followers and recent reviews! Some people are still upset that I didn't have Hermione be insanely paranoid and a little loose when she arrived, however I have others telling me I wrote her very true to character. Just goes to show every reader is different and you can't accommodate everyone *shrugs*
Now lets get back to the story and see how Hermione, the Marauders and Slytherin's are doing.
-oOo-
"Wrackspurts" was all she managed to say.
Hermione winced at her word choice, not a great start with the Slytherin boys.
"Wrackspurts?" Repeated Snape slowly.
"Severus forget the plan, she's barmy. Let's go," said Regulus as he stared down at her oddly.
"No, wait!" Hermione cried out as she scrambled up from her spot against the bookshelf. She quickly looked around and made sure no one was around and grabbed them both by their sleeves into the dark corner stacks. She couldn't cast a Muffliato as she didn't need Snape learning her secrets too quickly, it was already risky doing this without the Marauders, no Map, and Pettigrew's whereabouts unknown, but she had to do something.
"What do you think you're doing?" asked Regulus incredulously. They could not be caught hidden in the dark with a Mudblood, especially the one the Dark Lord wanted information on.
"Notice-me-not, if you have any privacy spells go ahead," she replied casually, while inside she freaked out. Regulus and Severus eyes met and with a slight nod Severus cast his Muffliato.
"I repeat, what do you think you're doing?" asked Regulus again.
"First off, hello, my name is Hermione Granger," she extended her hand for both to shake but neither reciprocated, "Fine. I heard your conversation with the Slytherin, Mulciber I believe it was. I know about your 'friend', and I know you don't want to be friends anymore. I'm willing to help you."
"Regulus, you're right. She's barmy," Severus spoke after an extended silence.
"What makes you think you know anything?" Regulus went on the defensive. They were to approach her, yet here she was before them taking the control. He wouldn't have it, he needed to control the situation, Hogwarts was the only place left he had any and he wouldn't lose it. Not to a Mud-muggleborn,
'Damn Severus, can't even use the word in my thoughts anymore' he thought bitterly.
"I know about the rat infestation," she replied curtly. Severus and Regulus were speechless, they glanced at once another and both came to the conclusion that whatever plans they originally thought of were out the window. This girl already knew, which meant they could skip the convincing and building trust to tell her of the plan to break up the Marauders, "I can help you and you can help me, the Slytherin way right?"
"How can you possibly help us?" asked Severus dubiously.
"I know about Lily, and I know about Sirius," answered Hermione.
Whatever they expected her to say was not that, Regulus was not expecting this from a muggleborn. He knew they could be smart, Evans was proof of that, but this girl seemed to know how to converse with Slytherins, offer something in return and she had already determined their weakness.
"War is a time to build and mend bridges, not build walls and barriers." Hermione added.
"What do you want in return?" asked Regulus.
"If it isn't obvious, I need assistance with the friend and the rat," Hermione stood tall with her chin held high and a strong stare at the two boys, "I need to know their plans regarding certain students of this school."
"What makes you think we would help you? We're Slytherin, myself being from the Noble House of Black, and you're a mudblood," Regulus felt Severus tense up at his use of the word. He didn't care, he had to make sure this girl was not playing them, he had to maintain the image of Pureblood Heir, his mask up and sneer on.
"I repeat, Lily and Sirius. Freedom from a mad man. I offer you the chance for both. I can't say more now, I know you have images to portray and tasks to perform. I won't disturb that, play your part, call me mudblood, insult me, do it all, but we have to be Potions partners or something to have 'meet ups' that aren't suspicious."
Severus whole body was tense, he didn't trust this girl, she even used the word he hated, how could she be a muggleborn and throw that word around so freely? Regulus however, he felt he could come to like her, he certainly didn't trust her yet, but there was something about her. She knew the Slytherin game, she knew they had to maintain their image, somehow knew what he and Severus desired and offered to help them obtain it, and most of all, freedom. He was skeptical, doubtful of her words, but the conviction and determination on her face along with her perfect posture and her chin held high, he couldn't help but have hope in her words.
"Severus and I have obligations elsewhere, we will consider your words and possibly find you once more. Until then," Regulus motioned to Severus to break the Muffliato, "See you around Mudblood," sneered Regulus in a perfect Slytherin fashion. Severus looked at her a moment longer, trying to decipher anything from her, sense any deceit or dishonesty, he frowned slightly and turned from her following Regulus out of the library.
Hermione ran back to her table, packed up all her belongings, and quickly headed back to Gryffindor tower.
-oOo-
James sat with Sirius, Remus and Peter in the courtyard, while Lily and the girls went to the Common Room to start the days homework and hopefully talk to Hermione, 'girl to girl' as they said. James was sure he didn't want any part of that conversation. Currently they were trying to find a way to ditch Peter so they could retrieve the Map from Filch, they needed it asap, especially after Hermione started reverting into herself. She needed someone to talk to and how could she do that when there was a rat sniffing around? James wanted to be there for her, help her get through the guilt and depression she felt over surviving, he wanted to help her become more like the Hermione he had before Hogwarts. The girl from the summer who laughed about the pranks her twin Weasleys played, who punched a Malfoy in the face, who made a Sirius pun. After her nightmare she became the scared girl he first laid eyes on, the girl who cried in Molly Weasleys arms.
"James?" asked Sirius waving his hand in front of his face.
"What?" replied James after breaking out of his thoughts.
"We asked you if you think Peter here should go ask out Stevens?"
"Oh, sorry, yeah go for it Petey! Maybe this year we'll catch you in a broom closet?" laughed James, he hated pretending to be his friend. He missed when he thought Peter was their friend- no, brother - but now that he knew, it was all he could see. He caught the glares, and sneers, the small smiles to certain Slytherins, the hatred in his eyes. How he never saw it before was unfathomable to him, he was observant and smart yet when it came to Peter he was oblivious and dense.
"Ha ha, maybe if you didn't need to stick your cocks in everything that moved, you wouldn't be caught so often," replied Peter with a chuckle. Before, that would have sounded like a humorous jab, but James couldn't hear the humour, only the resentment.
"Just go ask her out Wormtail," exhaled Remus, "you've been eyeing her for months, just pluck up some Gryffindor courage and do it." Peter shot a glare at Remus before setting his face into a smile, before sighing and standing up and walking over to Betty Stevens and Sarah McLaggen.
"Stay here, I'm going to get it now," whispered James, Remus and Sirius nodded, he glanced back at Peter once more to see him talking to both girls, and ran into the castle. He ducked behind a suit of armour and threw on his Invisibility cloak, and made his way to Filch's office.
Since it was such a beautiful day out, most students were outside enjoying the sun, giving him mostly free corridors. It didn't take long for him to reach Filch's office, but the locking charm took a few minutes.
Filch liked to use the good old fashioned key for his office, a simple Alohamora would not do the trick, but James was one of the best at Charms behind Lily and Remus. Two minutes later James was in Filch's office rummaging through his filing cabinet, he searched through M's for 'maps' or 'Marauders' but no such luck. He went through the whole top shelf, including his own large file 'P' for Potter, before trying the bottom one, it wasn't until he heard footsteps coming that he found it in B for 'Black', remembering that Sirius was the one who got caught with it. He laughed to himself when he saw just how big Sirius' file was, it was almost the whole bottom shelf. Just as the door swung open James had managed to close the filing cabinet and pull the map under the cloak with him.
"I don't see anyone here my sweet," Filch spoke to his mangy cat, James slowly moved over to the back wall and stepped lightly around both Filch and Mrs Norris to sneak out the open door. He was lucky that Mrs Norris' eyes followed him but Filch was too busy moving around the room with his arms flailing, his legs wide open like a starfish as he took big steps around the room, searching for an invisible person. James had to hold back his laughter as he watched the caretaker move around the room like a crab searching for nothing.
Quickly moving to a dark corner, James pulled the map open and whispered the words he had missed so much,
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good" the ink started spreading and James' eyes lit up at seeing the beauty of their map once more. He saw his own dot standing not far from Filch and Mrs Norris, he saw Sirius and Remus sitting together in the courtyard, while Peter was standing alone as Stevens and McLaggens dots walked away, 'too bad Wormy' he thought. He looked around the map for Hermione, he found Lily, Marlene, Dorcas and Mary in the Head Dorm but Hermione wasn't with them or in her own dorm or even the Common Room, he moved his eyes over to the library and he immediately frowned. Hermione Grangers dot was beside Regulus Black and Severus Snape and they were huddled in a corner.
'She does know about Snivellus and Black, she knows our past, she knows about Lily and Snivellus, so why the hell is she talking to them?' he thought
'She knows about the future, maybe they are important?' his brain tried to offer.
'Then why not say something? Sirius loved his brother, devastated when he lost him, same with Lily. If their choices could be different, shouldn't she have told us?'
'She told everyone a lot at that meeting, maybe she thought it was too much?' he argued with himself.
'She had plenty of time after. I need to talk to her,'
'If you're angry you'll just scare her off. She just had a bad nightmare last night, you should give her time,'
'I need to stop arguing with myself'
'If it helps why should you stop?'
"Ugh! Stop it!" he yelled at him own brain just as two fifth year Hufflepuff girls walked by. The looked at him warily but he flashed a smile to indicate he was fine and they immediately blushed and walked away giggling. James sighed and started walking towards the Common room while running a hand through his hair. Should he confront her? Should he talk to Remus and Sirius about what he saw? Should he just wait for her to approach him? He was conflicted on how to go about this, it was a sensitive topic from all angles.
Lily was still deeply hurt her best friend, her first friend, who taught her about magic, had turned on her and used the vile word against her, Remus was hurt for her. He knew how close she was with Severus and he accepted it, he even tried to put a stop to the rivalry James and Sirius had with Snivellus for Lily's sake. In the end they only taunted him when he was with other Slytherins laughing at their insults and attempted hexes.
Black. Regulus Black was a whole other Quidditch game. James couldn't tell Sirius or Remus about what he saw because of that name. Regulus Black was Sirius' weakness, the one person who could break Sirius into a thousand pieces. Every time an incident occurred between Marauders and Slytherins, Sirius would be unfazed and would throw hilarious and witty insults at ease, but if Regulus was involved he was cold hearted, throwing the nastiest insults and when they returned to their dorm he would break down and either sob or punch a hard surface.
James had to talk to Hermione before anyone else found out and relayed what they might have seen to Sirius. He was just about to walk through the portal door when he heard running footsteps. He looked back and saw just who he was looking for; Hermione.
"Oh, hi," she greeted timidly.
"Hello," he answered, it came out less friendly than he intended and he saw her pull into herself a bit more. She wrapped her arms around herself and held tightly as if to comfort herself, he immediately felt guilty, "Come with me."
James stepped out of the portrait hole and held his hand out for her which she hesitantly took and he led her to an empty classroom. Once they entered he closed the door, locked it and cast a silencing charm on the door, he pulled out the map and spread it out on the desk so he could see their dots alone in the classroom.
"You got it back," Hermione spoke into the silence after a few minutes.
"Yes, I got it back about half an hour ago. I saw something interesting," he looked up at her and saw the guilt in her eyes.
"You saw me with them I'm assuming?" She asked, he nodded, "I was actually coming to talk to you all about it now. Well, inform you I needed to speak with you privately at some point when it was safe. You have the map now so that means we can speak without being spied on, along with a privacy spell I may have forgotten about until recently"
"Why didn't you tell us before now? You can't be seen with them by Lily or Sirius, not unless you explain to them. Whatever trust you built with them would be gone instantly, especially with Sirius," he explained.
"Yes I know he hates his brother and what choices he makes," started Hermione.
"No. He doesn't hate his brother Mi, he loves his brother. It kills him every day to see him with those snakes, with Snivellus, it's why he torments him so much, along with what he did to Lily. If he sees you with Reg, it will break him, it will be sixth year summer all over again. You shouldn't have spoken to them without talking to us, or at least them, first."
"I didn't know. Sirius barely spoke of him when we were at Grimmauld, he just said he made his choice and was done with it. His room was never touched or allowed to go into, but I just assumed it was Kreacher who enforced that. I wish I knew back then, I thought he just hated the house because of his parents, but now, now I can guess that it was being there, where he was with Regulus as brothers that was really the difficult part. He was such a haunted man, I thought I could help him, but there was so much more I didn't know, I could never have done enough," Hermione spoke quietly as tears ran down her cheeks.
She missed her Sirius, of anyone he would have understood her the most now. He lost his best friends and everyone he loved when he was thrown into Azkaban, they may not have all been dead but they all believed him traitor and left him behind in their past, he was then thrust back into a world of the next generation of children and war, feeling out of place. He could have comforted her and told her it would be okay and she would believe him, anyone else, even the Sirius of now, could say the same words and she wouldn't believe them the same way.
James was watching her standing with her head bowed and shoulders slumped. She raised her head after a few moments and looked at him, he could see the tear stains down her cheeks and the unshed tears in her eyes, his heart broke at the sight.
"I'm sorry" her voice cracked, he took a step forward and wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in close. He ran his hands up and down her back comfortingly soothing her as her tears continued to fall. He didn't want to make her cry, he didn't want to hurt her, but he had to warn her of what she was potentially planning, especially if she hadn't been aware of just how fucked up Sirius and Regulus' relationship was.
-oOo-
Regulus walked out of the library briskly without looking back, he walked along appearing casual while in reality he was determinedly walking to a private space he knew Severus was following him to. No one could know how close he was to letting down his mask, breaking at the thought of his brother and potentially having hope at having him back. Before he knew it he was at the empty classroom in the dungeons that he and Severus frequented often for their private conversations. It was the only classroom at end of the corridor in the dungeons, therefore no reason for anyone to ever be there unless specifically for that classroom, with privacy, locking charms and a dark alcove in the back of the class, it was perfect for secret meetings. Even if someone somehow came in, they were still hidden away from the door to give them time to cease speaking and cast disillusionment on themselves.
Once they were situated in the class, comfortable and feeling safe, they looked to one another.
"No," Severus spoke first.
"Explain why," Regulus replied.
"Barmy that one is. One, you thought she was first word she spoke. Two, she knows too much already, how? Three, I don't trust her. Four, she used that word, she isn't muggleborn then so she's lying to someone."
"Why is using that word automatically making her a liar?"
"No self respecting muggleborn would use that word for themselves. So either she doesn't respect herself, or she isn't muggleborn," Severus answered resolutely.
'He really despises that word, damn Evans,' thought Regulus callously.
"We will table that reason for now. The others should be discussed. First, she spoke of wrackspurts, only that Pandora Selwyn speaks of them. She's the Ravenclaw that talks to the ghosts, she's a distant Selwyn cousin and unfortunately that means I must converse with her to try and form an alliance - her family is neutral and my family want her to sway to the 'traditional ways" Regulus rolled his eyes, "she's barmy, if Granger there believes in those things, well we may need to worry about that.
Secondly, she knows too much yes. She knew about Pettigrew, our mutual friend, she knew to approach us, and for what reasons. She knows what to use to sway us, and honestly it is tempting for that very reason. Think Severus, she could help us, actually help us!"
"How?" snapped Severus, "how can she possibly help us get away from the darkest wizard since Grindlewald? She is a muggleborn who has come from who knows where?"
"Exactly! Who knows where. The Dark Lord is interested in her for a reason, whether it is part of his ploy to destroy or recruit the Marauders, or because she is important. We don't know, so we have to at least speak with her again before we make a decision. A proper talk instead of what I assume was unplanned. She overheard our conversation and we caught her off guard, we likely came to her before she was ready to supply us more information or time to do so.
"She has offered help while maintaining the image of our hatred due to house rivalry and affiliations. Worst case we find out more and don't like what we hear, we can go to the Dark Lord and provide him so much more information that we will rise higher and not be lowly servants,"
"No matter how high we rise in his ranks we will always be servants he can dispose of when he pleases. We need to get out or die trying Regulus. This barmy muggleborn that I don't trust is not the way! We need to mend the bridges with them ourselves somehow. Leave her out of it, I don't trust her!"
"Because she used the word you so despise? She is muggleborn, I have studied purdblood families since I was a child, she does not present herself as one and her surname is unknown. She is muggleborn, and she must have a reason for using the word. She came from nowhere, maybe where she came from a place that that's all she was? We are at war Severus, she may have been a prisoner of war. She had a look about her that reminded me of someone," explained Regulus.
Yes, Granger had that look that was very similar to his brother after sixth year. The look of someone trying so hard to hold it together and appear normal around witches and wizards that had absolutely no idea what they had endured in their past. If Regulus was curious about this witch, it wasn't just from the hope she inspired in him potentially escaping the wretched life his parents chose for him, it was because he was curious. He wanted to know where she came from, why she used the word for herself, why the Dark Lord was interested in her, how she got so close to the Marauders so quickly, and how she knew all she did.
"You're pushing to continue this discussion with her but you forget how she recommended we do it. I don't have Potions partners, I have refused a partner since Lily. I will not work with incompetent dunderheads," Severus said with a scowl and crossed his arms. Regulus couldn't help but smile at his friends annoyance.
"There's my sourpuss friend," chuckled Regulus, "No one is competent at Potions according to you, and that's because you are a prodigy. She may be decent as a partner, at least well enough to make this worth it? I doubt she is as dismal as Pettigrew or she wouldn't be in your N.E class."
"Let us hope so, I cannot afford to be held back after class tomorrow due to incompetence," replied Severus. Regulus let out a sigh of relief and felt a slight weight off his shoulders at convincing Severus to give this route a chance. If they could be free of the Dark Lord and once again be with the people they missed, maybe their lives wouldn't feel so hollow and pointless, "Time to go find the rat and inform him of his meeting tomorrow. The coward will likely shit himself," Severus said with a smirk.
"His stuttering alone will likely result in some Crucios. If he hasn't shit himself upon meeting him, he will after a round. Doubt he'll waste his own wand on him though, bastard thinks that's an honour," spat Regulus. Severus nodded in agreement as he brought down his privacy spells.
"Where would the fat lard be? How can we possibly reach him if he's in Gryffindor Tower?" questioned Severus.
"If he is, then he's in for a nasty surprise tomorrow," laughed Regulus darkly. Both he and Severus left the dungeons and went searching for the cowardly rat. It was very unfortunate for Peter Pettigrew that neither of them could find him that evening or next morning, but fortunate for them as they were looking forward to seeing the traitorous coward squirm.
It wasn't until lunch time the next day that either of them found him, and when they informed Peter Pettigrew of his personal audience with their Dark Lord, well to say he scurried out there faster than a rat being chased by a cat would be an understatement. Neither noticed the longing stares they were receiving from Lily Evans and Sirius Black. Neither knew that tomorrow morning after their meeting would be a very different day for them, and possibly the start of something great.
-oOo-
Hermione stayed wrapped in James' arms for as long as she could after her cries ended. After what felt like a millennium but in reality was only five minutes, Hermione stepped back and looked up into James' eyes. His hazel orbs entrancing her every time, she couldn't look away and it appeared neither could he.
Hermione had to stick to her plan, friends with the Marauders, friends with James, nothing more. Unfortunately, or rather fortunately, emotions never listen to the brain, always to the heart and the gut. Both of which were telling her that James made her feel safe, feel like herself again, made her feel whole.
James stared at the girl that he had felt something for from the moment he laid eyes on her. He couldn't believe that such a beautiful and amazing woman was never going to be in his life if it wasn't for the tragedy in her past. He was selfish, he was so selfish for being happy that she was brought to him, she had to endure pain in order for him to feel this happiness and it made him feel disgust at himself. Yet it was not strong enough to stop the want and need for her. Everything told him that he wanted her, his head, his heart, his gut, and most definitely his very uncomfortable growing hardness.
'She's been crying and here I am getting a hard on, what the fuck is wrong with me?'
'Absolutely nothing, look at her,' his brain answered. He looked at Hermione and saw that the tears were gone, the glistening of her eyes replaced with dark dilated pupils showing pure unadulterated lust.
James didn't stop himself the moment his eyes connected with hers once more and recognized that look. He stepped forward and leaned down to finally press his lips to hers and thank Merlin there was no interruptions because he finally succeeded. His lips landed on hers and it was more phenomenal than his imagination or wildest dreams could come up with, he saw fireworks behind his eyes, felt time stop and his heart race as his lips moved over the softest lips he had ever felt. His tongue darted out and slid along her bottom lip, his knees almost buckling at how much softer they felt with his tongue. She opened her mouth hungrily and their tongues fought for domination before he won and began exploring her mouth. He devoured her, she tasted delicious, he couldn't get enough of her. He pulled her bottom lip with his teeth and bit gently, eliciting a moan from Hermione that he immediately swallowed when he covered her mouth with his once more.
James' hand were ravaging all over her, one hand in her curls, pulling at them gently evoking more moans and whimpers from the beauty before him. His other hand ran down her sides, grazing the side of her breast as he moved, whenever he did this he felt her push into him more, grinding her hips slightly.
He couldn't handle it, he removed his hand from her hair and moved both hands to grip her arse. He swiftly picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his hips, exactly how he had pictured it in the shower. Instead of pressing her against a wall, however, he chose to deposit her on a desk, his lips never leaving hers. Hermione's hands were moving up and down his arms and back, sometimes dipping lower to his arse and giving it a gentle squeeze before moving back up. He never even realized the moans that he himself was releasing until he removed his lips from her to give them some air and he moved his lips across her jaw up to her ear.
"Mmm Mi, you taste so good," he whispered into her ear as his tongue grazed the shell of it.
"James, mm don't stop," she moaned.
He continued his open mouth kisses down her jaw to her pulse point where he bit down gently and sucked, Hermione let out her loudest moan yet resulting in his cock twitching in his boxers. She was so responsive, he couldn't even imagine how good it would be when he finally fucked her. His hands moved down her thighs to her knees before slowly moving them up her thighs once more and under her skirt, he gripped tightly and pulled her closer to him so he was standing as flush to her as possible standing between her legs. James took one hand and removed it from thigh and brought it to her shirt and began unbuttoning painfully slow for both of them.
"James," she whimpered as he continued kissing her neck and jaw to her lips once more as his fingers undid each button. When he finally undid them all he stepped back to look before he opened her shirt, he wanted to see all of her and ravage her all night.
Sadly, that is not what happened. As soon as he stepped back to get a better view, something seemed to have clicked in Hermione. She froze up and grabbed her shirt and held it closed tightly and jumped off the desk pushing past him.
"Um, sorry," she stammered as she stood with her back to him, her shoulders slumped over.
"What is it Mi?" he asked when he finally regained the ability to speak. That was the most steamy session he had had with a girl, sure he had seduced a lot of women in his past but he never felt it like he did with Hermione. She made it the sexiest snog he had ever had and he hadn't even taken her clothes off yet.
"N-nothing," she replied. He walked around to stand in front of her, he placed a finger under her chin and lifted her face so he could look in her eyes, once again brimming with tears.
"You can tell me anything Hermione. I'll tell you a secret of mine if that helps?" he offered, she said nothing but didn't look away so he continued, "I always thought Remus was crazy for being with Lily and only Lily. I thought there was too many witches to choose one to stay with forever and the fact he chose so young, he didn't even know what he was missing. That was what my thoughts were on relationships,"Hermione looked at him with a slight hurt expression, and he could see the shields she was building through her expression. She was steeling herself from what he was saying to her, "that was, until the night I met you."
"Wh-what?" her expression dropped all barriers immediately and he saw the broken girl once more, the vulnerable Hermione.
"That night in Dumbledore's office, the moment I met your eyes I knew you were special Hermione. Not because what Dumbledore was telling us, not because of what warnings you gave us and lives that you have undoubtedly saved. No, I knew you were special to me. I went home that night and drank myself silly with Remus and Sirius, learning about Pettigrew could have destroyed us, but it didn't. It didn't destroy me because it brought me you. I didn't even remember sending you a letter until the next morning, but when I received your reply I was relieved I didn't spout my heart out and scare you off.
"I was honestly terrified of these feelings, I made Remus explain how he could be with just one person. Commit so fully, and I will never forget what he told me."
"What did he say?" She asked nervously
"A lot of things I should not repeat, for poor Lily's sake, but the main part I took from it was, 'it felt at home, I had the girl I could come home to'. Hermione I have wanted to kiss you since that first day at Diagon Alley, every time I've tried there's been something in the way, but not today. And now I can unquestionably say you are what coming home feels like. I feel at home when I'm with you," James explained honestly. Hermione stared up at him blankly, he was getting nervous as he had never expressed feelings to a girl before but was sure her silence was not a good thing.
"Oh James," she cried before launching into a sobbing hug against his chest. Still unsure if this was a good sign or not he rubbed her back gently but did nothing more. He let her cry against his shirt again until she had calmed down.
"Mi? Hermione? Are you okay?" he finally asked apprehensively.
"Yes and no," she laughed brokenly, "that's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me ever, so yes I'm okay. However, no I'm not, I have been trying to convince myself for the last two weeks that I needed to stay away from you. But here I am, and I don't even know why I'm fighting it, but part of me can't stop fighting. Well I know one reason but to say it aloud, it goes against what I have preached for so long to a friend.
"James, I am broken, so broken. Damaged and no longer the Hermione Granger I once was, I don't know who this Hermione is. I preached for years to Remus Lupin that he deserved love and he wasn't a monster, or broken, or damaged, or ugly for his scars. Yet here I am, doing everything I tried to convince him against. I am all of those things James, and I came here to give you a future, one where you won't die with a woman you love as a sister. You deserve to find someone who will complete you and help you and be a loving partner for you and future heirs. I am none of that, and doubt I ever will be, I might even die in this war. I have no family and no connections to this world, I could give this war my everything just to save everyone and I would do it. You shouldn't be with someone this broken and ready to die," she cried.
James stared at his Hermione, because she was his no matter what she tried to argue. He watched Lily help Remus simply by being there and loving him, and that was what he would do for her.
"Well it's too bad I'm a Marauder and I don't listen to people when they say what's best for me," he smiled, she looked up at him with a confused look in her eyes, "Mi, you said yourself, you spent time convincing Remus he was none of those things and deserved love, and now I'm here to tell you the same. You may be broken, but you are not damaged or ugly or a monster. You deserve love, you deserve happiness, you more than anyone. You gave up your childhood to help Harry fight against the Dark, when you were supposed to be enjoying the magic of being a witch, you gave up your future and friends to be here.
"You are the most amazing person I've ever talked to, your letters in the summer were the highlight of my days. Scars are badges of honour," he placed his hand on her forearm and gently lifted the sleeve. Hermione's breath hitched as she felt his fingers graze over her scar, she watched him lift her arm to held it in between them. He broke eye contact to look down at her scar as he ran his fingers across the letters. "This word disgusts me because of its meaning but this scar, this scar shows me that you survived Bellatrix Lestrange of all the vile people, you survived Greyback, you survived a war. This, this does not make you ugly, to me it makes you a stunning warrior," he brought her arm up to his lips and pressed kisses along each letter before kissing her wrist and then the palm of her hand. Each kiss causing her heart rate to increase a little more, she couldn't believe how much she was feeling for this man.
Ron and Harry couldn't even look at her arm, Remus was like a caged animal when he first saw it and snarled every time he looked down. Bill Weasley was the closest she came to someone being normal about it, as he had his Greyback scars across his face, he understood how scars could make people treat you different. But even he had a visceral reaction at the word, she was glad the twins never saw. Fred and George, although pranksters and jokesters, always looked out for her. Especially after Malfoy called her it for the first time at Quidditch practice. Half of their detentions with Umbridge had been in retaliation to how Umbridge treated her. When they saw her blood quill scar they almost gave up their plan to escape the school, but she forced them to proceed for Harry's need for diversion and because the joke shop needed to be ready for summer, the students would need it, which she was correct about.
"James, I-I," she tried to speak but nothing came out as he continued to kiss up her arm, a kiss in her elbow crease, up her bicep to her collarbone, neck and lips once more. She gave in, James' persistence won as she kissed him back, her arms wrapping around his neck. His hands held her shirt closed over but his fingertips brushed against her sides as he snogged her senseless. He didn't move her back to the desk or against the wall, he made no indication of furthering what they were doing, he seemed content just to hold and kiss her, for which she was thankful.
After some time their kissing died down and he pulled her into his chest and just held her standing in the classroom.
"If you're not ready for the next step I understand, but if it's because you think I will be repulsed by any scar or turned off, you have another thing coming Mi," he said softly with his cheek resting against her head.
"James, there's a lot of my past I didn't tell you. A large part of which you discovered tonight which I will explain, but my trauma only comes from three people. Bellatrix you know, as well as Greyback. There is another and I'd rather never think of him again, he isn't here, I will likely not come across him while I attend Hogwarts as I will unlikely see the other two. I'm not ready to talk about him, if I do, I'll likely have more nightmares tonight," she answered honestly.
"You can tell me when you're ready, did he leave you a scar?"
"Yes. I survived, barely, but I did," when she spoke those words James could feel her posture straighten, she was proud to have survived and he was proud of her too, he gripped her a little tighter before releasing her and looking into her eyes deeply.
"Mi you are the strongest witch I know, and I've only known you two weeks. You survived and now you get to live," he smiled at her. It was those words that echoed in her head all night, 'you survived and now you get to live' she had been surviving since she started the horcrux hunt with Harry, now it was time to live for herself. By living for herself she may help create a world that would be safe for Harry whenever he came into the world.
James and Hermione tidied themselves up to be more presentable and not look like they just spent an hour snogging in an empty classroom. James checked the map and saw that Sirius, Remus and Peter were in their dorm, Lily in her room while the other girls were in theirs.
"I know you need to talk to Sirius and Lily but Peter's there."
"Oh. Is he an early sleeper?" she asked. They really needed to speak tonight, if anyone saw her talking to them and told Sirius, it would be bad based on James' explanation.
"Hmm this might be a good time to try a prank of mine," he said thoughtfully. They were walking towards the tower side by side, their hands grazing each other every so often. He desperately wanted to reach for it and hold her hand the whole way back, but he didn't want to push her too fast, even though hand holding seemed awfully innocent compared to what they were just doing.
"What prank is that?"
"Your twins inspired me with their sweets, so I came up with Sticky Toffee," he shrugged.
Hermione looked up at him with slight surprise, she knew James was intelligent and a successful prankster, but she had just told him about that a week ago and now he had his own prototype?
"Sticky Toffee?" she said slowly.
"Yeah, you eat it and your skin gets coated in the sticking charm, whatever you're holding or sitting on becomes stuck. Lasts about twelve hours I think," Hermione was very impressed with that type of magic. Merlin help Mrs Weasley and Professor McGonagall when the twins grew up with the Marauders influence and arrived at Hogwarts.
Before Hermione could ask him how he managed to apply the charm to the sweets, they arrived at the portrait hole. She would ask him later because she knew that Fred and George had issues with their charms not staying on the sweet long enough, or it was changing the flavour of the sweet, or even lasting too long. The nosebleed nougats were the most dangerous at the testing phase, especially when George had had a nosebleed for two hours and ended up in the hospital wing from blood loss. She was fascinated by the magic but it was during her OWLS followed by twins leaving and then the war, now she had time to learn about it, feel closer to her twins memory this way.
"I'll go and accidentally drop this near Pettigrew, wait for us and we'll go into Head Dorm with Lily?" asked James, she nodded and went and sat on the couch in front of the fire. She didn't even think, her mind went blank as she stared at the flames, a peaceful break from her overthinking, guilt, fear, and sadness. Happiness was trying to push its way in there, and she was starting to let it, but she still didn't feel she deserved it, but for once she didn't think about it, she just stared into the flames before she had to talk about some pretty arduous conversation.
James walked up to his dorm and found each of the boys on their own bed, his empty for the first time in seven years as he now slept in the Head Dorm.
"Fellow Marauders," he greeted them with a smile.
"Prongs! You missed it! Wormy over here tried to ask out Stevens, ended up being slapped by both Stevens and McLaggen!" laughed Sirius. James looked at Remus for confirmation which he received via an amused smile, next he looked to Peter who wore a scowl.
"McLaggen? Really? Wormy, that girl has the most vulgar mouth, what could you have said to her?" he chortled as he sat on his old bed.
"What I said was nothing compared to what I've heard you talk to girls like," replied Pettigrew. James and Sirius glanced at one another, they knew why they could say what they did to girls, because they were desirable. Peter Pettigrew wasn't exactly considered handsome, he didn't impress anyone with his magic, and he was not confident in himself at all.
'Oh and he was a Death Eater, can't forget that Jamesy' he thought.
"Well most of the girls I say that to, I've already snogged, or more," answered Sirius.
"Same here, Wormy you start by charming them, not by talking dirty to them. A girl who jumps on that before a snog, well I worry what you might catch," said James.
"I have no input, I started dating before dirty words were in my vocabulary," Remus piped up. James laughed along with Sirius while Peter continued to scowl on his bed.
"Come on Petey, better luck next time," smiled James, he had to get Peter to relax a bit, being mad at them would not help him slip him a sweet. Peter visibly relaxed before them and plastered a smile on.
"Yeah, you're right. I still like Mary, maybe I'll ask her to Hogsmeade," pondered Peter. James took this as a moment to go to the bathroom, when he exited he dropped the Toffee out of his pocket as he walked past Peter and sat back on his own bed. They sat and talked about classes of the day for a bit before Peter asked them the question they never wanted to talk to him about.
"So this Hermione, she barely talked to you today after last night. What the hell happened?"
"She had a rough go of it Petey, she lost her family to blood purists. McGonagall took her in, and James' mum offered to help out since McGonagall isn't a mother. She came with us to Diagon Alley and we got to know her. She was a Prefect in her previous school, loves books, very passionate about equal rights of all creatures and beings. Her and Lily get along famously, but after last night she withdrew into herself. Her nightmares are bad Peter, she relives whatever happened and she won't speak of it. We don't even know, it's too hard for her to talk about, so we don't. If she wants to talk, she will say something. All we know is she had two best friends one had twin older brothers who pranked a lot, and he also had a younger sister. So she gets along with us because of that, prankster boys, and Lily because she reminds her of her old friends. We don't push it, she will speak in her own time," Remus explained carefully.
"So Petey, that means you need to stop asking questions. That nightmare last night, she couldn't wake up, when she did she felt weak. You remember Remus before he told us about himself, before him and Lily, he didn't think he deserved friends or Lily, and now look at how happy he is. It's the same for Hermione, she's where second year Remus was, we just want to help her the same way," said James.
Now Peter might stop interrogating them about Hermione every chance, if he kept asking they could be a lot harsher with him, he might give something away if that happened. Peter nodded in understanding, although James could see the anger in Peter's eyes at being told to back off and leave her alone. It wasn't even five minutes before Peter's eyes caught the lone Toffee sitting on the floor, he bent down and scooped it up and popped it in his mouth before laying back on his bed hands behind his head. Once he finished the Toffee he tried to move his hands but they were stuck to the back of his head, he then tried to lift his head but to no avail, same with his whole body.
"Uh, boys, I'm stuck," he called out loudly.
"What you mean you're stuck? You're laying on your bed Wormy," laughed Sirius.
"Oh, no, no, Peter did you eat a Toffee by any chance?" James said acting panicked
"Yeah I found it on the floor, why?" Peter asked cautiously.
"I wanted to show you a prank I came up with, I didn't realize it fell out my pocket. It's a Sticky Toffee, you eat it and a sticky charm covers your body. I'm afraid you're stuck Petey," explained James trying to hold in the laughter.
"What?! How long does it last?" He yelled
"Um well you see I just made them, I tested one on myself before Hogwarts, and it was about twelve hours. I don't think my modification worked though, this was a test to take it down to eleven hours," said James, "I'm really sorry Petey, I didn't know it fell out of my pocket."
"What happened to no pranking fellow Marauders?" quipped Peter
"Well it was unintentional Peter, I brought it to show you, unfortunately you are getting to see it in action first hand," replied James, "Just go to sleep Peter, it'll be worn off by lunch tomorrow at least. Minnie will understand. I'm heading to bed too." James signalled Sirius and Remus that he needed them to follow him to his dorm for some chats with a simple jut of his head to the door.
James led Remus and Sirius to the Common Room where he found Hermione still staring into the flames unmoved. He tapped her shoulder and broke her concentration and wordlessly guided her to the dorm. James went and retrieved Lily and sat them around the couches with Hermione in at his side, when she didn't speak but continued to stare in the distance James decided to start.
"So I got rid of Peter for now, we have eleven hours to speak freely without the rat," laughed James.
"How did you manage it?" Asked Lily
"Sticky Toffee I invented, he's stuck to the bed. Plus extra safety measures I procured this evening include," as he spoke he pulled out the parchment , "the Marauders Map!" Remus and Sirius whooped in delight at having their priceless creation returned to them, "I don't know why we didn't try and steal it back before, it was relatively easy. Although searching through our files was ridiculous, Sirius you have a whole drawer!"
"It makes sense, I'm positive that I'm ahead in detentions by fifteen," smirked Sirius in satisfaction.
"You're proud of your detention amounts?" Asked Lily incredulously.
"Lil, I don't recommend you get into this discussion. I had it in fifth year, I ended up listening to a two hour lecture on the requirement of pranksters and troublemakers, along with the need to fulfill records and gain a reputation and a constant memory within the school," Remus explained to her, "so I don't recommend asking him why he does a lot of things,"
"I can show you my record book Lily, it has my detentions, my broom closet snogs, and pranks performed," said Sirius proudly.
"Broom closet snogs? You're incorrigible Sirius Black, it's no wonder Marlene keeps saying no," Lily replied. Sirius slumped dejectedly in his chair at being told off by Lily. James took Hermione's hand and gave it a squeeze to break her out of her thoughts, he leaned in and whispered in her ear to bring her attention to the situation.
"Oh, hi," she said to them awkwardly, "Sorry but I needed to talk to you all, and admit that I didn't tell you everything during the meeting in Dumbledore's office."
"Kitten, you shared a lot with us on that day and had just come from a battle, I think we can understand you not sharing everything," said Sirius comfortingly.
"This was something you all deserved to know, but," she took a breath to ready herself for the conversation ahead, "but I had already dropped a lot on you. Learning about Pettigrew, your futures, I made the decision to spare you the further information for another day. Looking back, I may have made the wrong decision, now you have to go through two separate occasions instead of just once," she explained sadly.
"Hermione, you made the decision, I'm sure it was the right one, what do you want to tell us?" asked Remus kindly.
"When we were at Hogwarts our Potions Professor was a cold, sometimes cruel, Slytherin favouring man. He would dock points for blinking too loudly, insult students, use familiars as test subjects for a failing students potion, he was a very disliked professor. Harry always thought the worst of him, always jumped to conclusions about him, but Dumbledore always defended him and insisted he was trustworthy, no one could ever understand why. However much we despised or hated or distrusted him, he died a hero's death in the end, none of it known until after his death. Our Potions professors name was Professor Severus Snape," Lily's breath hitched at the mention of her old best friends name.
"Wait, Snivellus? What do you mean he died a hero's death?" spat Sirius.
Their feud was deep, they hated each other even into their adulthood, hatred so strong that Snape was happily going to give up Sirius and Remus to Dementors while disregarding the evidence of Pettigrew before him. Snape was a complicated man who made terrible decisions but in the end he did what was right, and it looked like he already wanted out from what she gathered in the library.
"Severus Snape was our Potions Professor, he was cruel because he hated Harry because he hated James. He was an angry man, he had lost his best friend from a fight he sorely regretted. A word slipped from his mouth and he destroyed his entire world," Lily sniffled remembering her friend and the rage and sadness she felt her friend could call her such a word, but it was once and he had apologized for years, but it was the last straw when she had seen him reading the Dark Arts, "as much as Snape hated Harry, he made sure to protect him because he was also Lily's son. Harry was described by everyone as looking exactly like his father but with his mother's eyes. Harry was a reminder every day that Lily chose James, but now I can see it ran deeper. Not only did Lily choose James but James was a second choice over Remus, which told Severus he was never even a second thought. He was forgotten.
"He got closer to those who stuck by his side, Slytherins, which led him to their Dark Lord, and once you're dragged in there is no escape. You must always please your master, bring him information, kill someone important, or be a good soldier at the revels, if you disappoint him it means your death. Unfortunately he was the Death Eater who revealed the prophecy to Voldemort but when he learnt that Lily was the target he switched sides and became a spy. He ensured the Potters were placed under protection, however when the protection failed, and Lily died, he was enraged. His Lily was gone forever, so he vowed to protect her son with everything he had. He gave his life, he was forced to kill Dumbledore on his orders, Draco Malfoy was tasked with murdering his Headmaster but since Dumbledore was already dying he wanted go out on his terms while also protecting Draco's soul.
"The Light believed Snape had truly betrayed us but he worked diligently behind enemy lines and made sure we had what we needed when we needed it. He died by Voldemorts hand and his last request was to look into the eyes of the boy with his mother's eyes," Lily was sobbing against Remus now. Her friend, her first friend who taught her of magic, he had given his life for her boy that he hated simply because he James' child but in the end he still protected him for her. She would seek him out and forgive him, he couldn't go down that path, the Dark would not take him, Lily vowed it. Sirius, James and Remus had shamefaced looks at having tormented the boy who would go on to protect Harry,
"He may have been a git, but he protected Harry throughout Hogwarts, while being unnecessarily cruel with his insults to appear like he wasn't protecting him. He stopped a jinxed broom from bucking Harry off during his first Quidditch match, he brewed a potion for Re- oh my God!" cried out Hermione as she jumped off the couch and started pacing.
"Who is God Lily?" asked Sirius quietly.
"He's like muggle invisible Merlin, but he created everything. Every country has him and their own rules, they fight and kill each other over the rules," explained Lily, Sirius just looked at her like she was crazy.
'Muggles killing over an invisible man and his rules? What?'
"Hermione, if you're done talking to the invisible Merlin, might you explain what just happened?" Sirius called over to Hermione pacing and mumbling to herself. She looked up at Sirius with a puzzled expression, her eyes darted to Lily who shook her head advising to ignore Sirius.
"Remus I am so sorry! I had something so important to help you and I completely forgot after everything. I was supposed to give the ingredient list to Dumbledore today, and I didn't," Hermione said worriedly, "I promise I will tomorrow"
"What are you talking about?" Remus looked at her with an odd expression.
"Oh! Yes, I should explain. In my time there's a potion, a very difficult potion, that I have watched be brewed once but have read the theory and instructions a thousand times. Although not a cure, it allows you to keep your mind after transformation so you are essentially an animagus for the night" Hermione had barely finished speaking when Remus dropped to his knees before her and wrapped his arms around her burying his face in her curls.
"Thank you, thank you for even thinking of brewing it, thank you for this," he repeated over and over as he cried.
James watched the scene in amazement, his best friend had something that could save him the pain of the moon, allow him to run with them and remember. He was so happy his witch was able to bring such joy to his friend, a spark of jealousy hit when he saw Remus snuggle in deeper but he glanced at Lily and saw pure affection on her face so he buried the jealousy deep down and forgot about it. Once Remus felt composed enough and had offered enough gratitude to his friend, he pulled out of the hug and climbed back up beside Lily who gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"I maybe should have saved that for the end, it's about to get dreary again," laughed Hermione awkwardly. "Severus was not the only person that we exposed the truth of after their death. Before we went on our horcrux hunt Harry and Dumbledore retrieved one before Dumbledore died. After his funeral, Harry was devastated to learn that it was a fake and Dumbledore died for nothing, at least Harry saw it that way. Inside the fake locket was a note, a note that stated that the writer was a Death Eater that had discovered his horcrux, and it was his intent to destroy it.
"Sirius, that note was signed by R.A.B" Sirius let out a heavy, shaking breath, tears forming in his eyes, his brother Regulus Arcturus Black, "We called on Kreacher when we determined the name behind the initials and Kreacher told us Regulus Black's story.
"Voldemort asked Regulus to prove his loyalty, provide him a House Elf. Voldemort used Kreacher to test the fortifications of his enchantments. He had Kreacher drink the poison that protected the horcrux and left him to die, the basin that contained it was on an island surrounded by water and the poison made the drinker very thirsty for water. The only water source is the lake, and unfortunately within the lake was a Inferi. Kreacher was left behind and had no choice but to reach for the water, the Inferi attacked and dragged him under where he had no means to defeat them. He was only saved by Regulus because his Master was calling for him, and a House Elf cannot ignore his Master.
"He appeared in front of Regulus and Regulus was overcome with rage. No one hurts anyone under Black protection, Kreacher may have only been a House Elf to some, but to Regulus he was family, he had looked after him when your dear old mother was rampaging like the cunt she was," Hermione spat angrily, Sirius chuckled quietly, oh how he hated his mother, "Regulus discovered what his Dark Lord had created and was horrified. Regulus decided to do more than he had in his previous 18 years and chose his own path. He had only ever been a Black son to his parents, a son of the Noble House of Black.
"Then came the summer you left Sirius, he became the Head of the Noble House of Black, and he envied that you could be Sirius Black. You could be a Gryffindor and joke around with your friends, while Regulus fought to survive in his common room. It was 'the right sort' or sleep with one eye open. He hated the traditional Pureblood etiquette and traditional ways. I feel bad about this part, but I found his diaries in his room, he only wrote some of those entries recently or this year. He wanted to go with you Sirius but he was scared, you hated Slytherins so much that he thought you hated him too. He came to the conclusion that his Dark Lord was not someone he could be forced to follow any longer, his path Walburga forced on him was not what he wanted. House of Black should kneel for no man and he told himself to be brave like Sirius. That was his last entry. He instructed Kreacher take him to the horcrux, a cave in the sea. He drank the potion, sent Kreacher away with the promise to destroy it and allowed the Inferi to drag him under water."
Sirius had sank to his knees and sobbed into the ground. Hermione felt awful making Sirius feel this devastated, but he would see his brother was still his brother and now Regulus wouldn't drown in Inferi lake.
Sirius was playing over in his head that his little brother wanted to be brave like him, he thought Sirius hated him when really Sirius thought it was the other way around. Remus and James dropped down and hugged their brother, giving him their strength as they did when he was disowned last year. Hermione and Lily gave them their privacy by turning to the side and thinking their own thoughts. Lily, wondering how she would approach Severus and how close she wanted to be with him again, they were once best friends but she doubted after everything that they could go back to how they were, or maybe they could.
Hermione thought through everything in her past to ensure she had not missed anything else important, she couldn't imagine doing this to them again. She wouldn't tell them of Order deaths, like James' parents because that would he stopped, she had their clippings so they were saveable. Her adventures weren't important, unless they just wanted some stories that weren't life changing, she had plenty of those. Sirius knew he died and went to Azkaban, Remus knew of his wife and child and death in the Battle, James knew about Lily and Harry and his death. They saw oldemorts resurrection, knew Harry was connected, they knew everything important now, including Remus' Wolfsbane.
After tight embraces and encouraging words of support, along with some good hearted jabs, the Marauder boys broke apart. Once they were situated back on their spots, Hermione told them about what she overheard in the library, being confronted by Regulus and Severus, and her conversation with them.
"Kitten, you made the right decision. That was a lot, and if you told us that along with Peter? Well let's just saw I may have drank myself to death that night instead of just pissed drunk," Sirius said to Hermione, his words helped unravel the tight knot of guilt in her stomach.
"We can't really do much until we after they talk to You-Know-Who. Peter's going to shit himself when he learns about that," Remus spoke after she was finished.
"Well after all of that I may not sleep but I'm going to bed!" Sirius stood up and after wishing them all a good night, left the Head Dorm. Remus was about to follow but Lily convinced him to come sleep with her, she didn't want to be alone with her thoughts anymore. She just wanted to be with Remus and forget everything before cuddling up and falling asleep with him. They left Hermione and James alone in the Head Common Room.
"I should go too, I have a lot planning to do with Dumbledore tomorrow," Hermione started to say, before James silenced her with a kiss.
"Shh, no you should stay," he said between kisses. Her whole body was on fire at his touch, his hands gently stroked her cheeks before burying in her curls, evoking breathy moans from her.
"Mm James, it's late, I should go," she tried again. He gripped her hair and gently tugged to the side as he kissed down her jaw and neck, his teeth grazing her skin.
"I think you should stay, not for this, but you slept better after I was with you," he said quietly pulling back from kissing her, show her that he wasn't just after one thing, "I won't kiss you anymore or try anything with you tonight, but at least sleep here where I know you're safe."
"James, I'm safe in my dorm."
"I'm not saying you're not safe, it's just, Hermione last night was terrifying. I have never been so scared, we couldn't wake you. It wasn't until I wrapped you in my arms and started stroking your hair and whispering that you were safe did you actually start to wake up. We screamed your name and shook you, Sirius was pretty rough about it because he was so scared. You woke up to whispers, and from me holding you to me, that's all I want is to make sure you're safe in there," he pointed to her head, "I don't want you to think I think you're weak because I don't. You are the strongest witch I have ever met, and I just want to help you when you need it," James spoke honestly. He looked into her eyes to show her the sincerity behind his words, last night was not something he ever wanted her to experience again and if she was with him maybe she never would.
"Okay" she answered quietly after a very long pause.
James gave her a beaming smile, took her hand in his and led her to his room. He gave her a pair of his boxers and a t-shirt for her to wear but when she changed he immediately regretted it because now he could barely control himself. As hard as it was (pun intended) he managed to keep his composure and think of disgusting things to prevent her from feeling just what she did to him. He wrapped her up in his arms and spooned behind her, her lavender scent intoxicating that it was the most comfortable lull into sleep he could ever remember. This was something he would ensure would happen forever.
"Goodnight Mi," he whispered with a kiss to her head.
"Good night James" she sighed contentedly as she lulled into a dreamless sleep.
A/N: ahhhhh we finally have some HG/JP going on! Hope you enjoyed this chapter :)