AN: Thank you guys for reading! WOW I can't believe I have hit 138 followers! That's crazy!

Thank you so much for your support! Every time I see a review or follow I get even more excited to continue writing. I am overwhelmed with the response.

I would like to address a review I got from a guest reader!

"So Hermione being a part of the Order is a secret from the Marauders, but they have the Marauder's Map that can see Dumbledore's office...so I think they probably have a pretty good idea what's going on. I mean, Dumbledore, Mad eye Moody, James' parents, Andromeda Tonks, etc.. The Marauders aren't stupid! They obviously know that group of people isn't sitting around knitting or sharing casserole recipes!"

Well, it states very clearly that Hermione just went through Dumbledore's office to use the floo and go

to the Order meeting at a seperate location. It also says that Hermione wasn't sure they had the map yet. If my implication wasn't clear, that meant that they have yet to make it. There also have been several mentions in conversations with just the Marauders that they are suspicious of where she has been disappearing off to. I don't know if you just missed all of this, but it was all there. They aren't stupid, I agree. Which is why I have made sure to show conversation where they talk about Hermione having secrets. Even if they had the map, the most they would've known was that Hermione left Hogwarts grounds via floo.

Sorry if my response sounded rude, but I believe you just missed stuff while reading.

I expect fifth year will move a lot slower than the next two years at Hogwarts. I think this story will go on past graduation and through a few years after that. This might be a way longer fic than I initially anticipated! Maybe around 100 chapters. I am outlined up to forty for now and that's only through fifth and sixth year. WOW.

ALSO sorry for the long Author's Note! And the five day absence. I am in classes and working all week, so it looks like two chapters a weekend is about my schedule until school gets out June 1st. Look forward to this summer because I am sure I will be updating every couple of days then!

Disclaimer: Don't own anything!

Chapter 11: Clio

A couple weeks had passed since the meeting, and Hermione was yet to be able to have a conversation with Pandora about talking to the Grey Lady. The girl was aloof and had a tendency to disappear right when Hermione spotted her.

This was precisely why she was so pleasantly surprised when she was making the trek to the library one day and was stopped by a willowy figure blocking her path. Luna had been rather tiny, but her mother had a couple inches on Hermione.

Pandora had half her silvery hair piled on top of her head and had feathers braided into a few loose strands. Hermione grinned.

She opened her mouth to ask about talking to the ghost tonight when Pandora tilted her head and said, "Tonight, isn't the best night I believe."

Hermione frowned and narrowed her eyes. "Are you a legilimens?" Pandora smiled at her mischievously. Hermione needed to remember to do her Occlumency exercises.

"No, I don't think I'd like being in people's minds."

Hermione threw her hands up.

"How do you know what I am thinking then!" Luna had been the same way, and it had always unsettled her.

"The women of my family are quite talented at Divinations. Did you know that?" Hermione thought about Luna. She was sure if Luna ever had the chance she would've been one of Trelawney's favorites.

"I don't believe in Divinations."
Pandora just continued to smile at her.

"Perhaps you should, Hermione Granger."

Hermione didn't like the sound of that. She moved on and asked, "Well, why exactly won't tonight work?"

Pandora winked when she simply said, "Happy Birthday."

Hermione paled drastically. She didn't know what she'd been expecting, but that wasn't it.

"Tomorrow is fine though. Don't worry about setting a time. I shall find you" Then she turned and began to walk away.

"So creepy," Hermione mumbled under her breath before she continued her walk to the library where she was meeting Remus and Lily to work on a paper.

I hadn't realized I creeped you out so much, Hermione Granger.

Hermione rolled her eyes at Luna's dreamy voice.

When she entered the library, she went to their usual table and plopped down next to Remus.

He smiled at her then continued the conversation he'd been having with Lily.

Hermione hadn't even realized it was her birthday. This was not how she'd planned on her day going.

"What's the date, Remus?"

Remus startled and looked down at her. She was chewing on the end of her quill and looking up at him with a confused expression. The last time she'd asked that she had been feverish and banging her head against the wall of the Potter's dining room. The fact that she was asking now, honestly scared Remus.

"It's the 19th of September." When her frown deepened he added, "1975."

Lily snorted from across the table and said, "I think she knows it's 1975, Remus."

Hermione looked distraught. Her last birthday she'd been starving in a tent in the middle of the Forest of Dean with two boys. It was a few weeks before she'd been snatched.

The year before that she'd spent the day time traveling to get to classes before collapsing into bed without a single birthday wish. The year before that Harry and Ron had forgotten. The year before that she'd had no friends.

Birthdays weren't something she'd found enjoyable or necessary since probably the year she'd turned four or so.

When Remus or Hermione hadn't responded to Lily's quip about the year Lily had taken notice. Did Hermione know it was 1975?

Clearly this mystery was going to be much more difficult to solve than Remus being a werewolf.

Lily watched as Remus carefully reached out and gripped Hermione's shoulder.

"Hermione, is everything alright?" He looked nervous.

A million things were running through her mind.

Hermione jumped and yanked away. She stood and tossed everything back in her bag.

"Actually, I am not feeling that well, I think I might go." Then she spun and actually ran out of the library with Madam Pince frowning at her disturbance.

"Remus, maybe you and the boys should call off the plans for tonight."

Remus frowned.

"James was so excited when Dorea told him about Hermione's birthday though. He even got the elves to make a cake." Remus was still watching the doors where Hermione had disappeared. "It's strawberry. Her favorite. Should I go after her?"

Lily tilted her head. "I don't think she'd want to be followed."

Remus looked back down at the parchment in front of him. "She's not very good at asking for help when she needs it." That comment caught her attention again.

Lily was trying so hard to not be nosy and ask Remus about Hermione. Her parents had always told her she was too curious for her own good. After a couple minutes of silent contemplation she decided to just do it. What was the harm in just asking? If anyone would know anything it'd be Remus. Hermione seemed to be closest to him out of everyone.

"Remus…" He looked up at her sharply like he knew what she was going to say. Lily shrunk back a bit, but then her Gryffindor bravery kicked in and she squared her shoulders. "On that first night I was trying to apologize to Hermione about what happened on the train, and I grabbed her wrist. Hermione's sleeves rode up, and well…" Lily looked distraught. She glanced around quickly, leaned forward, and whispered, "She has these scars on her wrists? They're white criss crosses, like the skin there had been… torn off almost?" Remus gave her one of the saddest looks she'd ever seen from him, and that's when Lily's eyes begin to fill with tears.

"That's not my story to tell, Lily."

Lily wiped her eyes angrily and frowned at the table. Remus wouldn't have reacted like that if she'd been wrong.

"Something very bad has happened to her, Remus. I just know it." Lily sniffed and looked up at her very serious frown. "And I'm going to help her."

Lily was using her determined and motherly voice. Remus smiled fondly. She used that voice with him all the time.

"I think she could use a friend like you."

Hermione had been suspicious at Pandora's comment, and then she'd sat down with Remus and thought about how the boy's had been acting lately.

James had tackled Peter that one night, and all the boys had been especially jumpy the past couple of days. Remus and Lily had both traded their Prefect's rounds for that night.

They were planning something. Hermione knew it.

How had they even known?

Then the answer came to her in the form of Harry's disembodied voice.

My Grandmother. Dorea.

Hermione finally made it outside and groaned.

Of course! Dorea had asked her sometime over the summer when her birthday was during one of their conversations, and Hermione had responded absentmindedly. Now Hermione had a mission.

She was going to hide.

Hermione huffed and started stomping towards the lake. The sun was going down, and it was rather chilly, but she could cast warming charms. She remembered a particularly large rock she could position herself behind where they would never find her. She could finish her paper, but she'd probably have to skip dinner. Perhaps she could go to the kitchens and nab something later.

Mione, come on! Bask in the glory! Plus there will probably be cake!

"Shut up, Ronald!"

She hadn't realized she'd spoken out loud, but suddenly someone was grabbing her arm to stop her speedy get away.

Hermione jumped and tried to pull away. The grip was tight and her mind was so frazzled already that she began jumping to conclusions.

"No! Let me go!"

The grip on her bicep loosened and suddenly a very apologetic Sirius was standing right in front of her.

"Hermione! It's just me!"

Hermione put one hand on her chest to try to calm her erratic heartbeat. Sirius was frowning at her. She almost growled when she realized she'd been caught so soon. He'd seen her outside which meant that that would probably be the first place they'd look if she got away from him. Bollocks.

"Your friend from before was named Ronald, right?"

Hermione startled and just stared at him. What did that have to do with anything?

"You just told him to shut up, Hermione."

Her eyes grew even wider. He was calling her Hermione and not kitten which always meant he was upset with her for some reason. She grew nervous and shrunk into the large jumper she'd changed into earlier. Even though Dorea had bought her so many new clothes, Hermione gravitated towards James's old clothes.

Focus, Mione.

She shrunk even further.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she mumbled.

Hermione didn't want him to find out about the voices. If he found out he'd think she was crazy, and she wasn't crazy. She just had a little trouble keeping a firm grip on her sanity sometimes.

That's exactly what a crazy person would say, Mione.

"Shut up!" Hermione clutched her head with her hands.

Now that's just rude. What would my mother say?

"Ugh! Just be quiet for two seconds!"

Suddenly, hands were on her wrists and were pulling her hands gently away from her face.

Hermione tried to pull away and looked around feverishly. It seemed like there wasn't even anyone else outside. It must be dinner time.

She was looking anywhere but at the boy in front of her when he put both his hands on her cheeks and turned her to face him.

Hermione was looking determinately at the light stubble on his chin. Stubble? At fifteen? Only Sirius Black would have stubble at fifteen.

"How often do you hear his voice?"

He definitely thinks you're crazy.

Hermione flinched. Sirius noticed. She sighed and said so quietly that Sirius almost couldn't hear her, "I'm not crazy."

Hermione continued to stare at his chin and tried hard not to cry. She must look even more batty than she sounded with how much she was blinking. He was going to tell James, Remus, and Peter, and then they would all know. She'd been doing so good. No episodes since she passed out in Lily Evan's arms.

"I never said you were crazy, kitten," he said softly.

Hermione looked up into his eyes. She tried to look for any indication that he was lying or that he was scared of her, but all she saw was concern.

"It's only sometimes, Sirius."

Liar.

Hermione flinched again and Sirius took note.

"What did he say just now?"

Hermione hesitated. Her eyes welled up. "He called me a liar."

Sirius sucked in a breath and carefully wiped at her cheeks with the pads of his thumb. "Is it just Ron?" He whispered.

Tell him about all of us.

Hermione shook her head. Sirius looked so sad she closed her eyes.

"What did Ron say just now?"

Hermione shook her head again and her voice cracked when she said, "It wasn't Ron this time."

Sirius's eyes widened, but then he was letting go of her face and pulling her into a gentle hug.

"What kinds of things do they say?"

Hermione gripped the back of his shirt like she had a tendency to do when her mind floated away. He held on to her more tightly, and she'd never been more grateful.

"Ron and Harry, they say good things. They help me... focus." Hermione sighed. "There are other voices though." Sirius was almost scared to ask this next question, but she was talking and she hadn't really talked to them about things in a couple weeks.

"And they don't say good things?"

Hermione pushed her face against his chest and shook her head slightly.

"I hear his voice sometimes," she was still whispering, but Sirius knew who he was. He frowned.

"Maybe you should…"

"I don't want to tell anyone." Hermione pulled away and used her sleeve to wipe her face. "I didn't even want to tell you."

Maybe you should talk to someone about it.

Hermione let out a choked laugh and covered her eyes with her hand.

"Maybe I am crazy!"

Sirius sounded angry when he said, "I know crazy, Hermione, and you're not it!" Hermione flinched back. His family.

"Bellatrix." Sirius's eyes widened.

"Yes, how did you…"

Hermione cursed silently. She talked too much. She always talked too much.

We're going to have fun, just me and you, today, Mudblood!

Hermione hand moved to cover her mouth and she squeezed her eyes as tightly shut as she could.

Sirius sounded almost severe when he said, "You've met her haven't you?"

Hermione on instinct covered her forearm, and his sharp eyes zeroed in on it. He could feel his heart beat in his entire body. The worst part was that it made sense.

"No…" He was shaking his head so hard, and he felt like he was going to be sick.

Hermione finally gave into sobbing. He wasn't supposed to know. How had she been so stupid!

Stupid, girl!

"Stop it please!" She yelled through sobs. It was too much.

Sirius took a step back from her, and pushed his hand through his hair.

"Please tell me she didn't. Please."

Hermione dropped to the grass and pulled her knees to her chest.

"I hear her voice too," she gasped out.

That was all Sirius needed as confirmation.

He'd always imagined the people who did that to her as faceless Death Eaters, but they weren't faceless anymore, they were family.

When Sirius dropped to his knees in front of her, Hermione crawled over to him and wrapped her arms around his middle.

"It's not your fault. You aren't responsible for the sins of your family."

Sirius dropped further and gripped her so tightly she almost couldn't breathe. "How can you even stand to look at me?"

He sounded tortured.

"You're a good person, Sirius Black."

She hadn't thought of the implications of saying his last name until he stopped breathing. She held her breath until he dropped his cheek to the top of her head.

"You have to tell me now. When they're talking to you, you have to tell me."

Hermione sighed.

"Okay."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

There were a couple more minutes of silence before he pulled her closer for one more second.

"Come on, kitten. Let's go feed you."

He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and pulled her up to stand with him. When James did it, it felt like brotherly affection. When Sirius did it, it felt like a promise.

You're in so much trouble, Mione.

Okay, he didn't have to know about that one.

Hermione had forgotten the face freshening charms before walking into the Great Hall, so when she stepped into the Great Hall with a firm grip on Sirius's elbow and a puffy face everyone stared.

"Shit," Hermione mumbled.

Sirius looked down at her and patted her cheek affectionately. "Don't worry. You look cute after you cry."

"I most certainly do not!" She wacked his arm with her free hand and picked up the pace to her seat.

She knew for a fact that she didn't look cute after she cried. Her eyes would be bloodshot, nose and cheeks flushed red, and she'd have big puffy bags under her eyes.

When she sat down Remus and Lily shared a look which she did her best to ignore.

She piled a bunch of food on her plate and refused to make eye contact with anyone at the table.

Peter, who was sitting to her left nudged her with his elbow.

"Are you alright?"

Hermione ignored him completely and continued to stab at her plate.

"So… are you having a good birthday, Hermione?"

She glanced up at James's smirking face before looking back down.

"It's not my birthday, so whatever you're planning, cancel it."

"Nope. Sorry. Nice try," he practically sang.

Hermione scowled at him.

She turned to the left and frowned when she saw Sirius's distraught look.

He wants you to be happy, Mione.

Hermione shook her head, but then felt Sirius grip her hand under the table. She looked back up at him and he gave her an imploring look.

She sighed and turned back to James.

"There better be cake, Jamie."

James grinned and clapped his hands together.

"The woman wants cake!"

With that a collective sign echoed from everyone sitting around the table and suddenly everyone around her was wishing her a happy birthday.

By the end of dinner she was starting to think she'd never had a birthday as good as this one.

James had come through with the cake. A strawberry one with bright pink frosting had made its way around the common room and she was sung to for the first time in years. They sat playing games and laughing until the common room cleared out and it was just Hermione and the Marauders spread out in front of the fire.

The pleasant silence was interrupted when James suddenly jumped up and ran up the stairs. Hermione barely had time to contemplate this before he was sprinting back down with a small collection of brightly wrapped presents in his arms.

Hermione stared at them with wide eyes. When her eyes darted from a particularly horrendous pink bow back up to the boy holding them, he was smiling happily down at her.

"You really think we wouldn't get you something?"

Hermione's face was frozen as he plopped down on the floor right next to her and dropped the small pile in her lap.

"Mum and Dad sent quite a few. I think you might be their favorite."

"I…"

Hermione was truly at a loss for words. Until this afternoon, she hadn't even known it was her birthday, and now she was sitting there with more presents than she'd ever gotten in her life. Her parents had always been very pragmatic about Christmas. A few books and maybe a couple articles of clothes every year.

"Well, are you just going to stare at them?"

Hermione carefully reached for one of them. It was from Peter. She smiled up at the mousy boy and carefully unwrapped the small box. Sugar quills and a long purple scarf.

She grinned at him when he nervously said, "You said you liked purple a few weeks ago."

"I love it, Peter. Thank you." She wrapped the scarf around her neck and Peter looked relieved.

"Mine next!" James shouted. She waited for him to pull it out before unwrapping it and seeing a large Gryffindor red jumper that had the words "Potter's #1 Fan" stitched on it in gold lettering. Everyone was surprised when she slapped a hand over her mouth and started laughing full heartedly.

"For quidditch games, I expect?" She asked through laughs.

James grinned, "Of course! My sister should be my biggest fan." Her laughs faded and a soft smile landed on her face. My sister. Harry used to joke that she was his sister, and now here his father was saying the same thing. How odd. She felt warm all over.

She stood and pulled it on over her button down and pulled the scarf out from under it. It fell to just above the hem of her skirt.

She looked up at James incredulously.

He shrugged and said, "You'll grow into it."

She looked down and started laughing again. "Merlin, I better not! This could fit three of me!"

"You like it?"

"It's perfect, James." He popped up and smacked a kiss on her forehead. She wiped at her forehead.

She dropped back to the ground, and Remus pointed at a present.

She smiled and it only grew when she opened it to see a small charm bracelet with a wolf, a small cat, a rat, a grim, and a stag charm placed all around it. The charms moved like they were real animals. She grinned up at Remus who shuffled towards her and clasped it on her wrist.

"I've been saving up for some new robes, but I thought this was better."

She threw her arms around him and whispered a quiet thank you before Sirius stood and clapped his hands together.

"My present for you needs to be collected. Give me a mo."

Hermione watched as the charms on her wrist curled up on her skin. She smiled when the wolf stretched and appeared to howl.

She froze when she heard a quiet meow. She whipped around clapped a hand to her mouth in surprise when she saw a nervous Sirius Black standing above her with a tiny grey kitten in his arms.

She gasped, "Sirius, you didn't!"

"You don't have a familiar, and I thought it was fitting." She held her arms out and wiggled her fingers. Sirius quickly handed over the kitten who stretched and cuddled into her sweater.

She cooed at it and pressed a few kisses to the top of its little furry head.

"I thought you could name it Sirius, but it turns out she's a girl." She looked up at his smirking face.

"I think I'll name her Clio."

"The Greek Goddess of History?" Remus asked.

"Yes." Hermione smiled to herself.

Sirius cleared his throat and scratched his forehead, "I also thought she'd be able to keep you company on full moons until you become and an Animagus."

Hermione looked up at him in gratitude.

Clio stayed curled up in Hermione's lap for the remainder of presents. All of which were from Dorea and Charlus. It was a collection of clothing, books, and jewelry.

Hermione went to bed wearing all her new presents from the boys with Clio on her chest and the thought that she'd never felt so spoiled in her life.

When she wrote a letter the next morning to thank Charlus and Dorea she addressed it to Mum and Dad.

The next night immediately following dinner, she walked to the corridor that she'd first met Pandora in.

The girl was perched on the exact same window sill she'd been on before. She smiled up at Hermione when she saw her walking.

"Hermione Granger! How was your birthday?"

Hermione smiled fondly.

"I take it, it went well then?"

"Yes, quite."

"Aren't you glad we waited until tonight then?" Pandora gave her a knowing smile.

Hermione was still too happy to get frustrated by the girl's frustratingly knowledgeable looks.

"Yes. Now where can we find the Grey Lady?"

Pandora slid off the window sill and started to walk towards the end of the corridor. She spoke over her shoulder, "My friend will get quite frustrated if you call her that. I would stick to Helena."

"Helena?" Hermione wracked her brain. "Like Helena Ravenclaw?" She asked with a bit of shock in her tone.

"Yes. Didn't you know?" Pandora gave her another one of her looks before turning down a new and decidedly darker corridor.

There at the end was the well known glow of a ghost. Pandora walked closer to her and smiled. The ghost floated down to them and looked at them suspiciously.

"Hullo, Helena. How are you tonight?"

"Same as I always have been and always will be, Pandora. And who is your friend?"

"This is Hermione Granger. She is trustworthy." Hermione looked at Pandora, shocked when she said simply, "She seeks your mother's Diadem."

Helena looked at Hermione sharply. Goosebumps spread over all of her body when Helena flew through Hermione and floated towards the end of the corridor.

"I will not help you!"

"Please!" Hermione begged.

The ghost stopped. Pandora stepped up and stood next to Hermione.

"I need to destroy it. A dark wizard has done something… vile to it."

Helena spun and looked at her.

"I know what he did! He was an evil wizard! An evil wizard who made similar promises as you!" Hermione tried not to shiver. She tried to think of what Harry would do. More than ever before she needed him. She wanted him back.

For you, Harry. I did it all for you!

Tell her what you're going to do, Mione.

She sighed and looked back up at the ghost.

"Tom Riddle… That evil wizard is Tom Riddle. And I'm going to kill him."

Helena stared through her almost. More than anything she looked sad.

"I'm going to," Hermione said with determination. Helena floated closer to her. Hermione stood up straight, "But I can't if you don't tell me where it is."

Helena looked lost as she started to float away.

"It's here in the castle. In the place where everything is hidden. If you have to ask… you'll never know. If you know… you need only ask."

Hermione gasped. She'd read about this place. The room of requirement. Harry had showed to her at the end of her third year.

Hermione turned towards Pandora and smiled, "The room of requirement! The room of lost things!" Pandora smiled back at her. Hermione turned towards the rapidly disappearing ghost, "Thank you, Helena!"

Hermione had grabbed Pandora's hand and all but sprinted up to the seventh floor. When she got to the empty bit of wall where she knew the room to be she paced in front of it.

"You're a peculiar witch, Hermione Granger."

Hermione smiled at her over her shoulder when the door appeared and said, "I could say the same to you."

When Hermione opened the door she groaned, but Pandora just smiled with amusement.

"This might take longer than I expected," said Hermione.

"Yes, I expect so."

"Can't you just use your powers and tell me where it is?"

Hermione was surprised when Pandora let out a loud laugh and said, "If it only it worked like that!"

Hermione groaned again and said, "Well, I guess we better get started then. If you find it, don't touch it. It is dark magic, and it will try to turn you against yourself."

They spent two hours digging through piles that night to no avail. Hermione only decided to head back when she realized that the boys had probably sent out a search party by now.

Pandora was waiting for her at the front of the room when she walked back.

"Oh, so you're back to knowing everything, huh?"

Pandora gave her that infuriating smile and said, "Like I said, Hermione, great friends."

AN: WOW had not planned on that chapter being so intense. But some development in Sirius and Hermione's relationship felt necessary. Hope you enjoy some angst;)

Please, please, please, let me know what you think in the reviews!