Chapter 4
During the walk up to the castle Hermione was silent. All she could think about was how embarrassed she was. She was replaying the scene over and over again in her head. If only she hadn't have given that bag to Peter to carry! Hermione was pulled out of her reverie by the sound of voices on the school grounds. Hermione looked at Remus out of the corner of her eye. She thought about the look on his face when he handed her back her bag she realised that, if it was possible, he was almost as embarrassed by the situation as she was.
They trudged up the front steps and into Hogwarts in an uncomfortable silence. As they neared the portrait that was the entrance to Gryffindor common room Hermione broke the silence by saying "Thanks for taking me into Hogsmeade today, I really appreciate it."
"No problem, I enjoyed it, really. Look I just wanted to say that I'm sorry about what happened with Peter." He finished with a tint of red creeping up his cheeks.
"Oh, well that's okay. It's not like he meant to do it. Anyways Dumbledore told me that the head girl would show me my rooms, but he failed to mention who the head girl was. Do you think you could fill me in?"
"Little Red Ridding Hood."
"Little Red Ridding Hood?"
"Oh Sorry, that's the password to the common room."
Hermione looked up and saw the portrait of the Fat Lady swing forward, revealing the entrance to Gryffindor common room.
Remus ushered her into the familiar red and gold common room. She looked around amused at how little the common room had changed over the years. Remus led her to a sofa where they each deposited Hermione's bags. Remus sat down and said "Anyways as you were asking the Head Girl is-"
"Lily Evans pleased to meet you. I assume you're Hermione?" An eager voice cut off Remus.
Hermione looked up and stared into the emerald green eyes of Lily Evans. Hermione spaced off for a minute when she thought of the fact the she was meeting her best friend's dead mother. Hermione shook her head and regained her composure when she saw Lily shoot a worried glance at Remus. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude, you just look a lot like someone I know." Hermione lied.
"Oh that's alright; you've probably had a long day anyways. If you follow me I'll show you to your rooms. "
Hermione grabbed her bags off the couch and stood to follow Lily with Remus right behind her. She watched as Lily pulled aside a drapery in a dark corner of the common room. She walked through a small doorway and came face to face with a water nymph that resided in a portrait that presumably covered the entrance to her new rooms.
Lily turned to Hermione and said "The password is Flobberworms. You can change it whenever you want; all you have to do is ask her. Well I have to get back to some homework so I'll leave you in peace. I'll probably have a timetable for you after dinner. See you later!" Lily flounced out of the room and back into the common room.
Hermione and Remus walked inside and took a look around. The room was filled with deep red and gold fabrics with plush couches in front of a small fireplace. Hermione walked up a set of stairs at the back of the room. Reaching a landing she found a large bathroom that was connected to her bedroom. Her Bedroom contained the standard four poster bed that adorned all dormitories in Hogwarts. There was a large dresser and wardrobe. Walking over to the bed Hermione and Remus dumped their packages onto the bed.
Walking past the mirror she chanced a glance in. When the mirror noticed the glance it said "Exciting day dearie? Well it brings out a lovely colour in your cheeks." Hermione suppressed a giggle and moved to the dresser where she found an envelope. Opening it she found a not from Dumbledore.
Hermione,
I hope you find your new chambers to your liking. In the trunk at the foot of your bed you will find all of the equipment that you will require for your classes. Your timetable is currently being drawn up and will be presented to you after the evening meal. I have been successful in the situation regarding your time turner. The ministry is unsure of how long it will be until you may return to your own time but have assured me that it will be for no longer than a month.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Hermione carried the note back down the stairs and into her own little common room. She walked over to the fireplace and threw the note in, watching it as it was consumed by flames. When Hermione and Remus emerged into the common room they spotted the rest of the marauders laden with Hermione's belongings.
When they had finally gotten all of Hermione's stuff into her rooms they sat down around the fireplace. Peter was the first to speak. "I'm sorry for what happened earlier, Hermione."
Hermione looked at him and saw his face go beet red. Hermione giggled. "It's all right. It wasn't your fault. Actually, when I think about it now it's pretty funny! You should've seen your face. I wish I had a camera."
When the boys stopped laughing Remus checked his watch. "We should head down to the great hall. Dinner's soon."
The five of them stood up and walked out through the portrait among the other Gryffindors. Sirius turned back towards Hermione and gallantly offered his arm to her with a bow. Hermione giggled and accepted it. As they started walking Remus caught up to her and Sirius and slung his arm through Hermione free arm, leaving James and Peter trailing behind.
Hermione smiled at the both of them. She steeled herself as they entered the great hall. By the time she and her escort reached their spots at Gryffindor's table the whispering had started. Professor McGonagall tapped her glass to get the students attention. When everyone was quiet Dumbledore stood up. Clearing his throat he began "Before you begin your evening meal I would like just a moment of your time for an announcement. We have a new transfer student attending the school. Her name is Hermione Grangié.
She will be staying here for approximately a month and has been placed in Gryffindor. For the duration of her visit I hope you will all make her welcome. Thank you for your attention."
When the food appeared there were still some glances and whispering directed at Hermione although most of the attention was now on the food. Hermione filled her plate with food and tried to answer questions as best and vaguely as she could. She watched in amusement as the boys packed away as much food as quickly as possible.
When the boys were finally finished they headed out of the great hall, back towards Gryffindor tower. Walking through the doors of the great hall they were waylaid by a black haired Slytherin. He placed himself in front of their group. Beside her Hermione felt the marauders tense up.
The Slytherin looked at Sirius in disgust before he turned to Hermione. "I suggest you keep better company than these four. You never know what kind of animals they will turn out to be."
Hermione saw the boys reach for the wands. "So who should I hang out with? Surely not you. Being seen with a greasy stuck up pureblood is not my idea of good company, Snape." Hermione started to walk away through the crowds that had gathered. When she turned to see if the marauders were following she sighed. They were glancing at each other trying to decide if they should let him go. "Well are you just going stand there all day or are you going to escort me back to the common room?" she asked sweetly.
When the boys hastened to her side she moved to start through the crowds. A voice calling "wait!" made her turn back. The Slytherin was standing there. "You don't know what he is! He's a-"
Remus paled beside her and they all reached for their wands. Hermione cut him off and strode forward so that she could whisper in his ear "He's a what? If you yell his secret for this crowd to hear I'll yell yours. That's right Snape; I know your dirty little secret. Think on it." Hermione turned around and brushed past her new friends and through the crowd.
When she got to the top of the staircase she turned around and looked. The crowd was disappointedly dispersing. Snape still stood where she had last talked to him with his mouth hanging open. "Are you coming boys?"
The Marauders shot one last glance at Snape and then turned to follow Hermione back to the common room. When she got back to the common room Lily sought her out to give Hermione her timetable. When the Marauders arrived they went straight to her rooms, where she was found going over her timetable in front of her fire. She didn't like the looks on their faces. She knew she had taken a chance speaking to Snape like that.
Remus sat down on the couch next to her while the others arranged themselves on her various chairs. Remus started the interrogation. "What did you say to him? I think that's the first time he's ever been rendered speechless."
Hermione lifted her eyes from her hands and looked at Remus. "Oh it was nothing really, nothing important."
"Come on, it must have been good. He went as white as a ghost."
"I called a bluff, that's it. I figured that he had some dirty secret he didn't want everyone to know. I told him that if he said yours I would say his."
Sirius then cut in "How did you know his name?"
Hermione looked startled. She hadn't even realised she wasn't supposed to know his name. "I, um, heard some other people talking about him before I answered." She replied hoping that they would believe her.
James said "Are you sure that's all you said? He was pretty mad when we left, besides how did you know he was a pureblood?"
"I just figured him to be one. I find a lot of purebloods act the same way. I'm muggleborn and where I come from that is not a good thing. And yes that's all I said. Now if you're finished grilling me I have had a long day and would like to turn in."
James, Sirius, and peter all said "goodnight" and went to leave. When they noticed Remus was still with Hermione Sirius said "Come on Moony!"
"I'll be there in a minute Padfoot; you guys go on ahead without me."
"Alright, just don't snog to long. I still need your help with the transfiguration homework."
Remus stood up and took a step towards Hermione. When "Goodnight Hermione." He said and then quickly brushed his lips against hers. He turned around and exited the room.
Hermione stood there for a minute with her fingertips on her lips, stunned. Shaking her head she went upstairs and got changed into her pajamas. Climbing into bed she shut off the light and tried to sleep. She tossed and turned until she finally lay staring at the dark ceiling.
All she could think about was the kiss. She felt giddy every time she thought about it. Suddenly she sat up straight in bed. She muttered to herself "What am I thinking? He's my damned teacher! I can't feel anything for him. I'll be gone in a month and when I next see him He'll be 20 years older than me. If he tries it again I'll just have to set him straight" she sighed and lay down again shushing the little voice in her mind that said: but you liked it didn't you? And you want him to do it again.
When Hermione woke up the next morning she felt only slightly refreshed. She got up and showered. When she returned to her room she found a rose on her pillow. Picking it up, she smiled to herself and smelled it. The rose had a delicate smell. Fetching a bottle she filled it with water and placed the rose in it. When she looked at the rose she noticed that it was starting to change colours. She laughed when she saw it start to resemble an ever changing rainbow, just like her thongs. Humming to herself she finished getting ready. With one last glance at the rose she said "I am so going to make them pay for that one" and walked down the stairs and out into the common room where she found the Marauders waiting for her.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews. Schools just started up and I'm taking 2 sciences this semester so I'm going to have loads of homework, but I'll try to post once a week. If anyone emails me write fanfic in the subject b/c it will go into my junk mail and I don't want to miss it!