Train wrecks probably were less painful. Hermione winced as her mind grew clear from the soupy stupor of alcohol and into a hangover worth noting. Her mouth was tangy. She didn't remember how she was lying against pillows, but she knew she was in her room.

Her eyes focused as her nose drew in a new smell in the room. Food. It made her stomach twist.

"Potion's on the night table," Sirius's voice blared into the room.

The sight in front of her was Remus's back in her chair at the desk. The crumple of pages being maneuvered was intrusive on her sensitive ears. Hermione groaned and found the uncorked potion. "I feel like the Knight Bus ran me over," she hissed before drinking it.

"There's also water and orange juice when you're awake," Remus murmured without turning.

Hermione set down the empty bottle, and glass appeared from behind her with Sirius's fingers at the lip. "Drink me," he snickered.

"Not the first time I've heard you say that," Remus chuckled.

"You both are going to kill me," Hermione groaned before taking the water in her hand.

The bed shook as Sirius laughed. "That was incredibly funny the first time. Do you remember James's face? That was a worthy experience, despite the punch he gave me."

Hermione had gulped down the drink and sat up. "What are you two doing here?" She growled while scrubbing her face.

"Despite your sure lack of memory, Hermione, you asked us to stay. I think Sirius fed you at least three-quarters of the bottle," Remus declared as he reached for a book.

A tray floated in front of her, filled with food and drinks. "Feel like eating yet? It's nearly eight-thirty," Sirius murmured.

Hermione breathed with a nod. "I have to get ready," she announced while reaching for the tea. It was made, just how she liked it. Now that was an exciting musing. "Who made my tea?"

"Moony," Sirius declared as he nabbed a muffin. "He said he knew how you liked it."

"How?"

Remus glanced back with an arched eyebrow. "I don't know."

"You remembered how I took my tea? What an odd thing to recall from all the memories you lost," Hermione huffed before sipping it.

Sirius had swallowed before inching closer to the witch. "You know, I think we might be able to recall smaller things. I vaguely remember Molly Weasley shaking a finger in my face."

"That was quite often," Hermione laughed with a shudder.

"She never was going to like you, Padfoot. You're too feisty," Remus teased as he flipped through the book on the desk. "Hermione, your theories are fascinating."

"Thank you, Remus," Hermione said.

"You lost me when you started talking about DNT," Sirius snorted as he tossed a few parchment pages on the blanket.

"DNA," Hermione corrected him.

Remus swiveled the chair and crossed his leg while knitting his fingers together- a very professor action that Hermione stifled a smile. She enjoyed his lust for knowledge, and this was no exception. His lips were fixed in an asymmetrical smirk. "Your concept of it being more than magically influenced is a well-rounded theory, but it lacks clarity."

"Well, the only clarity I had was the information coming through the ministry. I attempted to search in other countries for a basis."

"True, but a theory is only as strong as its weakest point."

"Blah, blah, blah, yes, we all know you both want to mind-fuck each other in an argument, but we got places to be," Sirius snickered as he climbed off the bed.

"I tried to see the difference between families. There's no real correlation between who was affected and who wasn't," Hermione sighed.

"Other than one thing," Remus added.

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Stop fucking with her and tell her that it's magic-related."

Hermione was mid-bite as her eyes grew wide. "How did you get that concept?" She questioned after swallowing.

"Because the answer to why is there. You stated that many of your subjects had performed magic in the four hours leading up to their sleep the night before," Remus said as he gestured back to the desk.

"Yes, but there's no hard evidence that it was the reason they lost magic," Hermione declared as she shifted away from the desk.

"Magic leaves a signature. If that signature is followed back to the wizard or witch who used magic, then it could be used to disable such," Remus responded.

"Like electrical current on the water!" Hermione exclaimed and jumped from the bed. "Remus! Oh, that's amazing!" She leaped over and hugged him.

Remus laughed and returned the embrace. "I was just following your research, Hermione."

Hermione bounced from the werewolf and launched on her tiptoes to kiss Sirius on the cheek. "We have so much to do! I have to get ready. Let's attempt to get to my office by nine," she voiced while marching from the room.

"I got a kiss," Sirius chuckled as the bathroom door shut beyond the room.

Remus rolled his eyes and waved his hand in the air. "It's not a competition."

"It is, and I'm winning," Sirius grinned.

"You're a bloody pox, Padfoot," Remus groaned.

"You're just mad because she likes me better," Sirius taunted with a pout.

Remus moaned as he stood from the chair. "Think what you like. I'm not here to entertain your need for validation."

"Please just admit you wanna shag her?" Sirius huffed as he stomped toward the mattress. "Something, Moony, anything. It wouldn't hurt if you just put yourself out there."

"How about you stop trying to get me in the sheets with witches and I'll leave well enough alone," Remus retorted as they cleaned up the half-eaten breakfast.

Sirius pointed a slice of toast at the werewolf. "No, I'm tired of your bull shit. I wasn't there for you in Hogwarts for you to throw away good things."

"Merlin, Padfoot, stop it. Who knows what that poor witch went through. The mourning and sadness, leave her be," Remus growled.

Sirius bit into the toast and sneered before swallowing. "Fine, then I don't mind taking her up on the offer."

"What offer?" Remus groaned.

"For her to feel something more than disappointed. I'm not dim, Moony. I see what this is," Sirius snapped.

"You're hopeless," Remus said as he took the tray.

"No, I'm Sirius. I'll prove you wrong, and you'll be pissed I'd done so," Sirius responded and walked away.

Remus shook his head as the animagus stopped at the doorway. "Don't be upset when she rejects you because of our hidden past."

"I won't," Sirius replied before leaving the room and knocking on the bathroom. "Ten minutes, love. I'll be ready to take on the world with you."

Remus could hear her laughter echoing in the bathroom walls. "Don't terry, we have work to do," she voiced.

Sirius skipped off, and the werewolf exhaled. He was on a mission to prove how much of an ass he could be- well, fine. It was a barmy task anyway.


"You charmed the heart right out of me

Don't need no broom, I'm flying free

I think by now it's plain to see

I'm nothing without you"

"Would you please stop that incredulous droning!" He hissed in the dark.

The gangly wizard huffed and scrubbed his face in the dim light. "My mum used to sing that all the time," the other responded. "It wouldn't kill you to crack a smile, would it?"

"As interesting as your life was growing up in a hovel, Mr. Weasley, I would prefer you to stop your sharing," the other wizard snapped.

"Snappy Snape, always the charmer," the Weasley retorted. "George and I had given you a decent run for your patience. I suppose even without your memories, you're just the same."

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose and paced. "I'm positive if I remembered you and your twin, I would have endured your whining less."

Fred leaned against the mound and twitched his nose. "You don't remember anything? Even in my fourth year when I lit that Slytherin's robes on fire in your classroom?"

"No, and I'm quite positive that wouldn't have been a memory I would have retained," Snape replied.

"What's the last thing you remember?"

Severus inhaled and rolled his neck. "Becoming a spy for the Order. Albus told me it would change the tides if I helped him."

"Oh," Fred mumbled.

"What?" Snape hissed.

"That didn't work out too well for you. Too little too late," Fred mused.

Severus paused his fidgeting with his robe and glanced over in the darkness. "Why?"

"Well, Harry's parents died anyway."

Severus held his breath and pushed down his remorse. "And what happened to the boy?"

"Oh, Harry? He did great things. Got into loads of trouble, and you hated him. The last thing I remember is getting ready to go to Hogwarts. I'm assuming I died, I wouldn't be here with you if we didn't," Fred replied as he cast his face backward, view the veil upside down. "Funny, I never thought this place would be this… dead," he laughed.

"Shut your mouth," Snape grumbled.

Fred turned toward the card deck he found and sat up. "Want to pass the boredom with a game? Hermione taught us over the holiday in her fourth year. It was a decent way to stay out of the chaos by the Triwizard tourny."

"Again, I'll decline. I'm not interested in muggle foolery," Severus huffed.

"You're loss. I'm bored and hungry," Fred said.

"Was it my fault?" Snape asked in a quiet tone.

Fred paused his shuffling and glanced in his direction. "It was too far gone by the time you switched sides. Peter Pettigrew made sure of it."

Severus covered his face and breathed.

"Besides, who would believe that a marauder would prove disloyalty for power?"

Snape snorted as he uncovered his face. "They were a menace to be sure. Unstable wretched creatures."

"They were human, just the same as you. Different cloth, Snape. We all see heroes and villains through different views. Us students couldn't stand you, and you killed Albus."

"I wouldn't have done that," Snape hissed.

"You did. I only wish I knew why. Alas, you don't have your memories," Fred grumbled as he continued to shuffle.

The door creaked, and light pooled inside a fraction.

"It's part of my job, Sirius. I have to secure everything the Unspeakables left," a feminine voice groaned.

"I don't understand why it's your job."

"That might be why," Remus said as the sconces brightened, revealing the pair.

"What the f-" Sirius couldn't finish as Remus clamped a hand over his mouth.

Hermione pushed by the marauders and screamed with a grin. "Fred! Oh, Fred!" She rushed toward him.

Fred hooted as he climbed to his feet in time to catch her. "Hermione, look at you! You're so old!" He teased as he swung her.

"And you," she started when he set her down. "You're you!"

"Merlin, you're so much cuter than I thought. How's my little brother treating you? I knew you both would hash it out," Fred snickered as he tugged on a curl.

Hermione scuffed her shoes on the stone and breathed. "We got a divorce. It grew too hard."

"Oh, bad luck," Fred sighed.

"Snivellus," Sirius growled as he approached the wizard off to the side.

"Oh, lovely, Black, and Lupin. The joys of seeing the world's biggest fools when I arrive," Snape grumbled as he stood.

Remus pushed by Sirius and held out his hand. "Bygones?"

Severus sneered at the hand. "Not on my life, Werewolf."

"Severus, don't be rude. We have tons to go through and not much patience," Hermione sighed.

"Who are you?" Snape questioned with narrow eyes.

Fred scruffed Hermione's curls. "Your favorite insufferable Know-it-all."

"I'm Hermione Granger, I work under Minister Shacklebolt," Hermione clarified.

Sirius skipped up next to her and smirked. "She really is your worst nightmare if you aren't going to be kind. She likes us more," he winked.

Hermione groaned and waved at Remus. "Call it a truce until we can figure this out? They've been back a couple of days longer than you."

"Fine," Snape grumbled and took Remus's hand. "You look ragged, Lupin."

"And you look gaunt, Severus," Remus sighed.

"You look gorgeous, Hermione," Fred added with a grin.

"Now that we've established what we all appear to be," Hermione paused to wave her hand at the door. "Shall we?"

Snape pulled from Remus with a sneer. "Gladly, it smells like wet dog in here."

Hermione poked his arm with a sharp stare. "Don't start with me, Severus. I'm not in the mood to abate your tongue." The witch marched down the mound while shaking her head. "How the bloody hell am I going to explain this now?"

Sirius smirked at Remus before glancing at the Weasley. "You're George's brother?"

"Yes," Fred grinned. "How's he doing?"

"Minus an ear, he's intact," Sirius replied.

"Are you coming?" Hermione called back as she reached the door.

Everyone else in the chamber winced. "Bloody bossy witch," Snape growled as he tore passed Remus.

"She only gets worse!" Fred exclaimed as he waved the others along. "Let's see what she has planned. It's always pretty decent."

"We've noticed," Remus and Sirius said at the same time.

The merry band left the Death Chamber, but not before Remus glanced back. The curtain seemed dim. He pondered the difference and doubted his memory. Why would it have changed?


Author Notes: See, I didn't let you down! It just takes a little patience lol.