AN: Would you rather I had a stricter update schedule? I know I have been rather sporadic, but once I have finished writing and editing a chapter, I get too excited to not post it. Let me know in the reviews!

Balancing Hermione's war torn personality with that of a fifteen year-old girl is rather difficult! Let me know also if it feels too OOC. I am always up for some constructive criticism as long as you do it in a respectful way.

Disclaimer: Don't own anything

Chapter Six: A Briefing

Dorea had supplied Hermione with a large, leather-bound notebook to keep her thoughts gathered for the impending meeting. She'd also gotten her an abundance of clothes that Hermione had wrinkled her nose at. The mid-seventies fashion was not something she had prepared herself for. She felt lucky that her large curls were somewhat on trend.

In preparation for her meeting she had clipped the front pieces back, donned some dark wash flare denims, and put on a striped short sleeve fitted top. Well, she assumed the top was made to be fitted, but on Hermione's current frame it bunched oddly. The short sleeves were an intentional choice. She didn't want them to see her having any shame. Any weaknesses. Now her most obvious scar was on full display. It was intended to be proof of how she'd earned her place in the Order, but she still found it hard for herself to look at it. She sighed dejectedly in the mirror. The denims also didn't stay up without a belt, and even then they were too loose. She hadn't had time to think about how she looked during the war.

Now, she thought about her new adoptive mother's impeccable appearance, and all the powerful witches and wizards she would be standing before tonight. She wanted to vomit. She had told Dorea she wanted to wear something Muggle. Something not very girly. Not that she looked much like a girl as she was now anyway. She was all sharp and boney and pale. She sighed and a curl that had escaped the clips fell in front of her eyes. She angrily pushed it back, but it just returned.

"Stop it!"

Of course, yelling at her hair hadn't been effective.

"You know, I don't think you hair is listening to you."

She turned and glared at Charlus who was standing in her doorway.

He just smiled kindly at her in his usual way.

"May I?" Hermione gave him a weary look before nodding.

While she'd bonded almost instantly with Dorea, Charlus was another matter. When Hermione had inquired earlier why Charlus didn't speak much with her, Dorea had simply said, "He's very much an empath, that one. I think he can feel you pain."

Now, he stepped forward and carefully tucked the curl under the clip before smiling sadly and patting her cheek twice.

"When I met Dorea, she was easily the most formidable Witch I had ever laid eyes on." He took a step back and placed a hand on her shoulder. "She is proud of you already. I think you are the daughter she always dreamed of. You have no need to worry about tonight. With Dorea at your side, you can't lose."

Hermione smiled nervously. Dorea had spent the last twenty-four hours coaching Hermione on the dynamics of the current Order. Hermione had expressed how she needed to earn their trust. They wouldn't win the war if they didn't trust her explicitly.

"Of course, I will be at your side as well. I trust you."

And there. That was what she needed. She reached forward and hugged him before she could talk herself out of it.

"Thank you," she whispered. He patted her between the shoulder blades before pulling them away.

"Let's go get 'em, tiger."

This time her smile couldn't be held back. She grabbed her journal from the end of her bed, and they walked together to meet Dorea. Charlus walked into the traveling room before her, but before she could follow she was intercepted by two stern looking teenage boys.

"And where do you think you're going, young lady," said James. She frowned.

"Where's Remus?" She stood on her toes to try and look over their shoulders, but they were both a good six inches taller than her at least.

"He had to go home for a few days, but that isn't the answer to the question we asked!" James used a stiff finger to poke her right in between her collarbones. Hermione stumbled back a step (mostly in surprise), and James immediately looked regretful.

"Sorry Herm-"

Her temper flared and she interrupted him before he could say anything else.

"James, where I go is none of your business!"

She gathered her previous confidence and gave both of them a quick once-over. While James looked properly chastised, Sirius had his arms crossed in his usual suspicious manner.

"Hermione, dear? We're going to be late!" She heard Dorea yell from inside the room.

Hermione removed her fists from where she'd placed them on her hips and returned them to being crossed across her chest. The notebook was cradled protectively in her arms.

"Well I ought to be going. I'll see you boys, later."

And with that she entered the traveling room, and was immediately met by a smiling Dorea.

"They are just worried about you." Hermione rolled her eyes. "I have something for you, Hermione."

Hermione looked up at Dorea in surprise.

"I am loath to admit I took a peak at a spare piece of parchment you left in the office the other day."

From behind her back, Dorea pulled out a long thin box. Hermione gasped. She knew this box.

And now she knew exactly what she'd written on the parchment Dorea had seen.

Check Ollivanders: Dragon heartstring core, ten and three-quarter inches, vine wood

It was meant to be a reminder to her own overworked mind. It was her wand. Hermione felt the magic before she even opened the box, and soon as she had wrapped her fingers around the detailed wood.

She wanted to say thank you, but she couldn't find the words. She was too busy appreciating the gentle hum of familiar magic. Dorea and Charlus were both smiling proudly.

"It's mine. From before," said Hermione quietly.

"I figured as much," said a happy Dorea.

"When they snapped it I never imagined I'd see it again." Both the witch and wizard in front of her flinched. Losing your wand was like losing an extension of yourself. Hermione hugged them both. "Thank you. So much." She held them both for a few moments before releasing them.

"Alright. Ladies first." Charlus stepped back and gestured at the fireplace. Hermione took a step forward and steeled herself. She twisted her hair into a semblance of a knot at the back of her head and tucked her wand into it.

She disappeared into the floo with a quiet whisper of the address she'd memorised earlier.

When she stepped through she stumbled slightly and immediately righted herself. It was the same room as before, but this time she had a much more normal entrance and only half the people from before were here so far. Dorea had barely appeared behind her when Hermione started getting bombarded by questions from the present members.

One man in particular stepped right in front of her and held out his hand. He was wearing a wholly ridiculous violet top hat and soft yellow robes.

"Why hello, Miss Granger! My name is Dedalus Diggle, and I am so very, very pleased to meet you!"

Hermione tentatively reached out a hand and Mr. Diggle immediately reached out and met her halfway. Calling his handshake overly excited was an understatement. Hermione was sure she felt her wrist pop.

"I am very excited to hear about this plan of yours. Savior of the Wizarding World, you are!"

Hermione finally understood how Harry felt. She was even pretty sure he'd had a similar interaction with the very wizard in front of her now. She did not like this feeling. And she felt a pang when she could almost hear Ron's voice in her ear saying, "Our Mione! A savior! Now that's the dream!" Then Harry's exhausted sigh in her other ear.

Hermione shook herself. "Yes, that's very well, Mr. Diggle. Now if you would please release me, I would like to prepare myself for the briefing."

"Oh, yes. Quite!" He immediately released her and stepped aside with a dramatic flair. She resisted the urge to massage her wrists and moved carefully through the crowd of fifteen or so people to the head of the table where she'd seen Dumbledore standing at the last meeting. She heard Dorea and Charlus reassuring the members behind her, and tried to zone them out. She stopped walking when two identical red heads jumped in front of her. She guessed they were maybe five years her senior.

She got flashbacks to Fred and George, but immediately swallowed them down.

The two men were smiling down at her in a decidedly mischievous fashion.

"Oh. Hullo," she said carefully.

Their smiles grew.

"Hullo, little dragon. Allow us-"

"To introduce ourselves. This here is-"

"Gideon Prewett. And this is my younger and lesser brother-"

"Fabian Prewett. And may I assure you, fair lady. I am in no way lesser." At this he winked and lowered into a bow.

"At your service!"

Hermione probably would have smiled at their antics, but at the moment she was in all business mode and couldn't be bothered.

"Ah yes. I quite know who you two are, thank you!" She moved to side-step them, and they both watched with stunned expressions.

"She's immune to the-"

"Prewett charm! This is simply-"

"Unacceptable!"

Hermione this time made it all the way to the head of the table without interruptions and quickly opened her notebook to the appropriate page and read over her notes. She hadn't been paying any attention to the attendees, but when she looked up again a few minutes later, she found that all the seats were taken and the overfill was standing at the walls. Some were whispering amongst themselves, but they were all staring at her. She pushed down a blush, but she was sure it still showed when she felt Dorea's hand on her own where it'd been clenched on the tabletop. Hermione looked up. She made eye contact with a young, pregnant Molly Weasley, and smiled warmly. Molly was surprised at first, but she eventually returned the gesture.

Then Dumbledore entered with his usual flourish and silence ensued.

"Welcome. Thank you for joining us tonight," he said in an airy tone.

Dumbledore came and took the empty seat to the right of Charlus, and then all eyes returned to her.

This time she took his place at the head of the table.

When preparing for this meeting she had decided that the easiest method for doing this was full disclosure with a few exceptions. In her time there had been so many secrets. Too few clued in to what was necessary to win. If she was going to do this her way, she wasn't going to leave anyone in the dark.

"Miss Granger, please begin when you are ready."

She cleared her throat and started, "The information I am about to share is key to our success in the war. Which is why it is paramount that no one outside of this room is aware of the details." She'd come up with a particular idea the previous day. She pulled out a long blank piece of parchment and pulled her wand out from her hair which then tumbled down her back. She cast a few quiet charms on the parchment that she had been researching prior to the metting with a few dark added twists of her own making. "I have charmed this parchment, so that everyone who signs it will be held accountable. If you sign this paper, you are vowing to keep everything said in this room secret. If you break that vow you will be permanently silenced as a result. In other words, you will never speak a word again. It is irreversible, so I hope this is enough motivation to remain quiet." Her eyes swept the room and narrowed. "I assure you, if my trust is betrayed I will know, and my personal vengeance will be swift and most unwanted."

With that she passed the parchment to Dorea, who signed it without hesitation.

"Is this really necessary?"

She met the eyes of Moody and her lips quirked when she said, "This is what I like to call, constant vigilance, Alastor Moody." Her smile grew when he laughed.

"Nicely said, Pup."

She turned back to the paper and watched as someone hesitated for a moment before signing their name.

Her smile dropped and her stern expression returned, "If you don't sign this, there will not be another opportunity to be briefed. I don't take kindly to spies, and I definitely don't take kindly to hesitance with this certain cause."

After this she watched with satisfaction as everyone in the room signed the paper. When it got to Dumbledore, she was intent. He seemed to eye the paper before signing it quickly, and passing it to Charlus who signed it without any fanfare.

"Excellent." She tucked the parchment back into her notebook for further charming later. "Now I may begin."

She had debated for a while on how to start this. She'd eventually decided on what she knew as the beginning. This information had been given to Harry when Sirius Black had escaped from Azkaban during their first year.

"In five years, a seer by the name of Sybil Trelawney will approach Albus Dumbledore with a prophecy about the war. By this point half the people in this room will be dead."

There were gasps and cries, but she was expecting this. She knew she couldn't offer them words of reassurance because some of them she didn't even know how or when their deaths came to be. She moved on.

"The prophecy reads, 'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...'

She'd had this prophecy memorised since it had first been revealed to her.

"The person the prophecy speaks of is a boy who is born July 31, 1980. His name will be Harry James Potter." She let the words fall out of her mouth. Harry James Potter. "He along with the rest of the Order will fall on June 14, 1995. This occurred just moments before I was sent here."

At this Hermione turned and shifted her eyes between Charlus and Dorea.

"He was my best friend," she said.

Charlus's expression was grim, and Dorea had wet eyes. They knew she had to be speaking of their grandson. His middle name was James.

"Is he…" Charlus started.

"James's son." She kept reminding herself that she'd decided on full disclosure.

"Does James…"

"He doesn't make it, but I'm going to save him." She looked at the two people that had essentially adopted her as their own daughter. She put as much determination into her next words. "I'm going to."

Dorea held back a sob. Hermione ignored her own heaving grief and looked up again. There was a heavy tension in the room now.

"My plan involves defeating Voldemort before this prophecy can come to pass."

"And how exactly are you going to do that, Pup?"

Everyone was relatively apprehensive now.

"Has anyone here heard of horcruxes?"

Everyone turned when Dumbledore sucked in a breath.

"Are you implying that he has split his soul, Miss Granger."

"Seven times."

At this Dumbledore reared back.

"But that's…"

She didn't let him finish.

"Which is why I was chosen to be sent back. I was taken because when I was caught by Snatchers they recognized me as Harry Potter's companion. We had destroyed three of them when I was caught. I am not sure if they destroyed more. I'm assuming not. I was the researcher. I knew how to look for them. The only reason I was kept alive by Voldemort for so long was because they assumed Harry would eventually come for me. I was bait, and I was a well of information on the Order. I'm guessing the only reason the Order didn't ever actually come was because they assumed that I was compromised. That was our protocol on snatched members." A few more gasps. McGonagall was now mumbling under her breath.

"You would just… give up on them?" Molly Weasley asked.

Hermione looked up. Molly Weasley was mortified. A few other members looked disgusted with the prospect as well. She remembered before they'd gone on the run in the summer after her third year, Charlie Weasley got snatched delivering a message to Aberforth in Hogsmeade. No one ever heard from him again. Molly had screamed for months that they had to go after him.

"We were losing the war. Saving one member, even if they were important, was a risk we couldn't take." Hermione turned and looked at Dumbledore when she said, "We were expendable."

Dorea had stopped crying, but this made her want to cry again. Hermione's hatred of the headmaster suddenly made sense. They'd left her there on his orders. Eight months she'd been there, and Dumbledore had probably had the resources to get her out the entire time. Hermione took a deep breath and leaned forward so that her hands were resting on the table, forearms out. Mudblood and wrist scars on full display.

"I know what the Horcruxes are, where they are for the most part, how to destroy them, and this time no one is expendable." She looked at the terrified but determined faces of the members around her. Dorea had a look of pride on her face. Hermione held onto that as she continued.

"Tom Riddle's Diary, Marvolo Gaunt's Ring, Salazar Slytherin's Locket, Helga Hufflepuff's Cup, Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem, and Nagini."

"That's only six," said someone she didn't recognize.

"The seventh won't be created until 1981," she responded.

"Out of curiosity, what is the seventh Horcrux?" Dumbledore asked. Hermione sighed and stood up straight again.

"The Seventh Horcrux was Harry." There were a few shocked faces, but for the most part everyone seemed to be accepting of this overload of information. "He will feel when we destroy them. He'll get weaker. I propose we find all of them, besides Nagini, and keep them until we are ready for a final battle. Then we'll destroy them all at once, get the snake, and kill him when he is at his weakest. I suggest everyone in this room learn Occlumency."

After this last suggestion Hermione finally took a seat.

"I am still developing a plan to retrieve all of the Horcruxes," she said with a sigh.

She looked up and everyone was still staring at her expectantly.

"For now, are there any questions?" For a second, there was silence, and then several people spoke up at once.

"How are we supposed to learn Occlumency?"

"When will we start looking for the Horcruxes?"

"You said you know where they are for the most part… how are we supposed to find the rest?"

Hermione was getting overwhelmed.

Charlus stood up.

"Enough!"

Everyone quieted for a moment and stared at the usually quiet man.

"Hermione is still recovering. That is quite enough for tonight. When she has a plan, you will know. For now, Dorea and I will be taking her home."

Hermione smiled up at him gratefully before Dorea reached out and helped her gather her notes.

It had been quite some time since she had been the recipient of any kind of stern parenting, and for the first time in her life, it hadn't bothered her.

"Thank you, Charlus."

He put a solid hand on her shoulder when she stood and silently started heading in the direction of the floo.

"You don't have to answer these questions tonight, Hermione."

Not even Dumbledore protested when they each reached for a handful of floo powder.

When they got back to Potter Manor, Hermione bid them a quick goodnight then scrambled up to her room. She was physically and emotionally exhausted which only tripled when she walked in to see James and Sirius playing a game of exploding snap on her bedroom floor.

"Oh," she whispered. They both managed to hear her and looked up.

"Oh indeed." James was back to his odd attempt at looking suspicious while serious did it without any effort.

"Hullo. Did you guys need something?" She carefully walked over to her dresser and put the notebook in. She cast a silent locking charm before turning back to them. They were both looking at each other and having what looked like a silent argument before Sirius sighed and looked up at her.

"You were screaming in your sleep last night," he said matter of factly.

Hermione didn't know what she was expecting, but that hadn't been it. Her entire body tensed, and she looked anywhere in the room but at the two boys in front of her. She could feel a blush spreading across her entire body.

"Was I?"

She was thankful she had a wand now and would be able to cast silencing charms.

When they didn't say anything she added, "Sorry, it won't happen again."

James looked taken back by that and both boys jumped to their feet. He then walked straight up to her and pulled her into his arms. Such blatant affection like this, was something she was still getting used to.

"Hermione, we aren't saying that you have to stop or anything…" Then he stepped back and looked thoughtful. "Although, I'm sure if you had any control over it, you would have stopped already."

Sirius stepped forward, "What Jamie is trying to say, is that we're worried about you." Sirius reached forward and put his hands on her shoulders. The odd display was reminiscent of the Sirius she'd known briefly in her own time, and for a second she had trouble discerning the two in her head. "Kitten?"

The nickname was making it even more difficult. She's always assumed that the older Sirius called her that because of his odd bond with Crookshanks. But this Sirius in front of her had never even met her half kneazle companion.

"Why do you call me that?"

As soon as the question was out of her mouth she immediately wanted to take it back.

"Never mind don't answer."

She shook her head, and the blush got darker. She was screaming at herself in her head to get a grip, and Sirius was smiling at her like he had some big secret. She had just spent an hour talking about the war, but these two boys in front of her were somehow worse.

She changed the subject, "Well, what do you want me to do about it?"

James looked like was in deep consideration for a moment before saying, "Have you tried Dreamless Sleep?"

Hermione was immediately shaking her head again. "Pomfrey has left a couple doses for me, but I won't take it."

"Why not? What if it helps?"

"It's addictive, and I can't become reliant on it. I'll just tough it out," she admitted.

Honestly though, the Dreamless Sleep Potion sitting in the drawer of her bedside table had been getting more and more tempting. The nightmares were like she was still there in that place, but she hadn't known she'd been screaming.

"I have a proposition," said Sirius, who still had one hand on her shoulder. He removed it to clap his hands together. "Maybe you're having nightmares because you're alone! We'll move a couple beds in here, and all sleep in your room until we go back to school."

Hermione was skeptical at best.

"I don't know…"

James was slapping Sirius on the shoulder.

"That's a great idea, Sirius!"

"I don't know if I feel comfortable…"

It wasn't sleeping with two boys in the room that was concerning her. She'd done that plenty with Harry and Ron when they were on the run. It was her concern over what they might hear. If she was screaming in her sleep, who's to say she wasn't talking too?

"Nope! No arguments, Hermione. We'll be your knights in shining armour, and save you from all the demons in that giant brain of yours." James tapped her on the forehead once and ran out of the room. Sirius and Hermione could hear him yelling for Tilly from down the hall.

Sirius turned and smiled that same secretive smile again, "Don't you worry, kitten. Jamie's snoring will drown out all the scary voices in your head."

Hermione seriously doubted it. "Right…"

"Well, get in some pajamas, and I am sure James has Tilly working on the beds," he said as he followed James out of the room. Hermione took a moment to survey her space. There was definitely room for the two boys, so that excuse was out of the question. Why did Pureblood manors have to be so ostentatious? She sighed resignedly.

Ten minutes later she emerged from the loo to a maze of beds, and a very happy house elf speaking excitedly to James and Sirius.

"Tilly is very happy you is taking care of Mistress Hermione like this. Tilly hears Mistress Hermione in her sleep. Mistress Hermione screams for help! Mister James and Mister Sirius will help her now!"

Hermione wearily walked behind the elf and climbed into her bed.

"Tilly, it's only for tonight!" Hermione yelled.

Both looked a lot more subdued when they looked at her this time. She assumed it had to do with Tilly's submission about how she'd screamed for help.

"You's be saying that now, Mistress, but when they help you, you won't ever let them leave."

Hermione sighed for the umpteenth time and climbed under her covers. James's bed was directly next to hers, and Sirius's was horizontal at the foot of her own.

"Good night!"

With that Tilly popped out of the room, and an awkward silence took place.

Hermione was laying on her side facing away from James when she said, "If I scream, just shake me until I wake up."

Sirius sighed.

"Yeah, okay," said James. If she hadn't been so exhausted, she would've questioned him about his sarcastic tone.

She fell asleep mad at herself for feeling so comforted with the boys so close. They were just another form of Dreamless Sleep.

AN: Alright guys! SO I clearly have changed the entire timeline of books 1-7 of the Harry Potter series. More of what actually happened will be revealed as we go. This was a pretty long chapter though. From this point forward their will be many more Marauders/Hermione interactions, so don't lose hope! I am trying to make the development of their bonds realistic. Hermione is currently untrusting, traumatized, and in soldier mode. The boys are still silly teenage boys.

Anyway let me know what you think, and thank you for reading!