Chapter 4 – In the Marauders' time

"Ah, finally!" Black exclaimed when he saw her going out. His two Gryffindor fellows were still with him, as well as Filch who was losing his temper.

"Mister Black!" Dumbledore cried out, behind Hermione. "May you lead Miss Stagent to the Gryffindor's Common Room so that she may go to her dorm? Could you also please avoid any questions from any student, at least for tonight? We will clear everything tomorrow morning at breakfast."

Sirius bowed his head.

"Thank you!"

"But Headmaster…" Filch started to say, with a plaintive voice.

"Argus, come into my office, Mister Potter and Pettigrew as well! We will settle this story quietly."

The three men followed the Headmaster silently. Hermione remained alone with Sirius.

"So, how…?" He started to say.

Hermione raised her right hand briskly to stop him.

"I need to rest!" She said with a weak voice.

Sirius stared at her but led her to her new home, without saying anything.

He left the corridor, walk down the stairs and arrived in the corridor of the third floor. He was heading to the Gryffindor Tower, looking after Hermione. She was walking behind him but didn't pay any attention on the route they were taking. She didn't see the wonderful paintings that were talking quietly between each other, nor did she see the armors moving their swords to frighten any student that would come across them or even the moving staircases that loved to play tricks.

Sirius stared at Hermione with curiosity. Normally, newcomers would be amazed with this outstanding scenery but the young woman he was leading towards her new house was deeply lost in her thoughts and remained silent, her head down. He refrained himself to talk and kept walking.

Actually, Hermione's silence was masking the turmoil she was feeling. Dumbledore assured her he would find a way to make her go back to the future but she didn't want to wait without trying anything. She also had to find a solution by her own. And the first thing she needed to do was to find information on her Time Tuner. She knew that the power to go back in time was discovered fifteen years ago by a wizard called Clarence Wilford. But she had never tried to know more about this strange person who was still alive but was now leaving away from the wizarding world. Could she write to him? Or maybe…

Suddenly, her vision was blurred. She rubbed her eyes and had to lean on the wall, not to fall. She felt tired, her forehead seemed to burn, and her legs didn't work correctly anymore. The corridor started to move. She saw Sirius who were walking without paying attention on her. She felt extremely alone and a sudden fear. She held her hand towards him but was unable to say or scream anything. Completely exhausted, she fell to the ground…

"Hermione! Wake up!"

"Hey! Wake up!" An anxious voice said.

Hermione felt that someone was shaking her. She woke up after a brief dream and opened her eyes. She had a close-up look on Sirius's face. The latter had closed his eyes and while bending on her, he was trying to kiss her.

"Hey!" She shouted, blocking his face with one hand. "What were you up to?"

She struggled, regaining some strength and hit him on his head. Sirius backed off, while massaging his forehead.

"Ouch! Are you crazy? Why are you always so violent with me?" He asked with a plaintive voice.

"Did I hear well? You dare asking?" Hermione said indignantly while she got up.

Sirius got up as well and looked at her with a sad face, still rubbing his head.

"And stop staring at me with that hangdog look!" She cried out. "What did you want to do?"

"But I just wanted to give you a kiss! You fainted, so, I thought that a kiss would wake you up!" He said with a confident tone like if it was the most normal thing to do. "Have you ever heard of the story of…"

"And do you always kiss weak girls like that?" She stopped him harshly.

"Oh but I don't think you're a weak girl," he answered softly. He got close to her, touched her hair and stroke it.

Hermione was taken aback and slammed his hand to stop him touching her hair and raised her wand as she was backing off.

"Don't touch me!" She shouted. "And don't ever try to kiss me once again!"

"Alright, alright!" He said, raising his hands. "I apologize!"

"I don't believe you!"

"And if I swore it?"

Sirius put a hand on his heart and said: "I solemnly swear that I would never attempt to kiss you again unless it's an emergency!"

"Take back what you said!" She cried out, grinding her teeth and moving her wand in front of him.

"I solemnly swear that I would never attempt to kiss you again except if you decide to kiss me!"

"You are dreaming!"

"But why are you so mean?" He exclaimed with an innocent voice. "A lot of girls would dream to kiss me!"

"I'm not one of them! And I'm not mean! You are exhausting! Now, lead me to my bedroom!"

Hermione said these last words while raising her wand again.

"This is not a toy!" He cried out, lowering her wand with his hand. "I will lead you to your room but please, put your wand away! I didn't try to rape you!"

"Who knows?" Hermione snapped.

Two teenage girls walked past through them, stared at them and laughed. Hermione looked at them with murderous eyes. However, she put her wand back in her pocket and crossed her arms.

"It's much better like that!" Sirius replied with a soft smile. "You see, we can get along well!"

"Shut up!" She shouted.

Sirius sighed so desperately that the two girls, having good humour, laughed louder. Sirius took advantage of the situation and started to talk to them: he told them all his bad fortune he had with Hermione, exaggerating all the facts. She sighed angrily.

"Can you stop playing dumb?" She cried out after a minute.

She took his arm and pushed him in the corridor of the eighth floor.

"Bye bye, young ladies!" Sirius said to his new admirers. "How was I?" He asked, turning back to her.

"And you dare asking… They thought you were entertaining but if you want, you can go with them! I can find my way alone!"

"Aren't you jealous?"

"What? You are dreaming!" She said indignantly. "Who would be jealous of your girlfriends? Not me, I assure you?"

Sirius stared at her suddenly, with a smile.

"Why are you smiling?" She replied, annoyed.

"I am not smiling! But do you feel better?" He asked more seriously.

"Why are asking that?"

"Well, you fainted suddenly. You know, I was worried! Do you want to go to the Hospital Wing?"

"No, it's ok," she said feeling her strength disappearing suddenly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am fine!" She replied more firmly.

He looked at her. He wanted to add something else but didn't and went on. He just glanced at her from time to time.

They finally arrived in front of the Fat Lady portrait, the same one from Hermione's time. The Fat Lady was having tea with a next-door portrait friend and was eating a dry biscuit with delight.

"The password is Pumpkin Head," he said to Hermione.

"Correct!" The Fat Lady answered, while the portrait opened to a long narrow corridor.