Hermione's keen ears picked up the sound of almost inaudible talking and small footsteps. She waited until the teens were right on her when she yelled, "Expelliarmus!" The witch watched as James and Sirius flew back and hit the sofa with a cushioned 'thud'.
Hermione noticed with a frown that they were wearing the same grins that the Weasley twins often had once they perfectly executed a prank. With a sinking heart, she saw that Lupin had jumped out of the way of her spell right before she had spoken it.
Moony was now grinning, with his wand in his hand. Hermione knew that she was the better and more experienced witch, but she was dead on her feet exhausted. The girl had a gut feeling that if they were forced to duel, Lupin would win.
It seemed as though Remus had made the same observation and now had a look of smugness plastered on his face. "Now Granger," he drawled, "You need rest. Lay down your wand and sit down. Dumbledore will be by in the morning to speak with you."
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Moony watched the fatigued girl eye him in a distrusting manner. He smiled as disarmingly as he could. Granger snorted, but complied by setting her wand down within reach and sitting down on a plush gold armchair. Sighing, the girl said, "Exactly how much did Dumbledore tell you about me?"
At first, Lupin considered lying to get more information, but then remembered that the witch was skilled at Legillimens.
"Only that you are his honored guest and that your past is off-limits." Granger nodded, looking slightly relieved.
"I would like you to know," the dangerous witch began, "that if it weren't two o'clock in the morning, I would destroy you boys with my hands tied."
Moony noticed that even though Granger's voice was fierce that her eyelids were slowly drooping. "Relax, Granger. Sleep for now and you can kill us in the morning." Remus knew she was fighting with herself to stay awake and wary. Knowing he was about to convince her he said, "I promise that we will try nothing and touch none of your belongings." The girl nodded and within the next minute was breathing evenly in her slumber.
James shivered worriedly, "I think that she could live up to her promise, eh Padfoot my old pal?"
The egotistical dog nodded and whined, "That witch is evil. She was asleep on her feet and she wounded me four times. It hurt."
Lupin snorted, "Stop whining Padfoot. I have a feeling that once Professor Dumbledore explains, she will be glad to have some company."
The two Marauders looked confusedly at James, who was laughing very hard, his hand clenched to his stomach. "What?" asked Sirius angrily.
"It's just that (more laughter) most girls have (ha, ha ,ha) to beg us to hang out with them!" He gasped, bursting with laughter. The other boys looked at each other and shrugged.
They made themselves comfortable and conjured up blankets. They went to sleep sprawled over Hermione's furniture.
Hermione awoke the next morning to the sound of snoring. She smiled at the sight of James' mouth hanging open as he muttered, "I don't wanna do my homework, Lily…" She glanced around the room to see if the boys had searched it. Everything was in order. Hermione strode over to her bookshelves and picked out one of her favorite Muggle novels of this time period, The Hobbit. She was halfway through the book when Dumbledore emerged from the picture.
Striding over to him, Hermione looked furious, indignant and annoyed. "Come with me, Miss Granger."
Hermione followed him up to her passageway room. Once inside, she placed a Silencing Charm over all of the numerous doorways. She whirled on her honored Headmaster and hissed, "How could you risk the entire plan? How could you give the Marauders any ideas of visiting me?"
Dumbledore beamed, "So, you've met them in the future, eh?"
Hermione nodded quickly, "One was my ex-professor who also happens to be a close werewolf friend of mine, one was an innocent escaped prisoner I helped set free and one who is the dead father of the person I came here to protect!"
Dumbledore sighed, blue eyes twinkling, "So you know them very well. At least you won't feel uncomfortable with them very long," In a more serious tone he continued, "Those boys have informed me of your nightly schedule."
"Oh…" said Hermione, blushing slightly. She had a feeling she knew what was coming next. "I find I cannot allow you to work yourself to death, Miss Granger, as I have grown rather fond of you. The Marauders will join you every evening for your training as well as eating dinner with you. They will alert to me if you aren't eating dinner, as I suspect you have made a habit."
Hermione looked down. It was true; she had been skipping dinner to get more training. "Yes sir." She said humbly.
"Good. They will spend the rest of today with you so you may get to know each other. Today is a Sunday so neither of you will have classes. Good day." Dumbledore lifted Hermione's Silencing Charms and strode out. Hermione waited a minute afterward and then left the room. She glided down the stairs and sat down with her book. Perhaps she could finish the series before breakfast.
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Remus awoke at 8:16. He yawned, stretched and rose to his feet. Glancing at his snoozing friends and grinned at the fact he was always up first. That's when he looked over and saw to his surprise that Granger was already awake, deeply focused in Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King. It seemed to Remus that she had read the entire series this morning, as last night she had only been a chapter into The Hobbit.
He slipped quietly over and touched Granger on the shoulder. She has her wand to his throat before he could even blink. She glanced up and, seeing who it was, snorted and stowed her wand back up her sleeve. The witch marked her page and rose.
"I suppose Dumbledore has already come?" Remus asked, trying not to sound worried. At least she hadn't killed him yet.
The brown haired teen nodded stood hand on hip, watching him. It seemed as though she didn't trust herself to speak. With a grin, Moony said, "What did he say?" He almost chuckled at the look of extreme annoyance that crossed the deadly witch's face. Almost.
"He told me you boys have to train and eat dinner with me every night." Remus smiled at the thought of Sirius's face when he learned he could see this girl everyday.
"And why is that?" Remus pressed, though very charmingly.
Granger sighed, "He wants you boys to make sure I don't from overwork or skipping dinner." Remus could tell it was hard for the independent girl to admit.
Feeling slightly superior Remus laughed, "Don't worry. Me and the lads are always willing to help a damsel in distress. Especially one as beautiful as your-"
"So now I'm a beautiful damsel in distress?" Granger hissed, wand poking into Moony's throat. "It seems to me that you fit that description more right now." Remus froze, makin ntal note that provoking this individual was a very bad idea.
Granger stowed away her wand and walked over to where the other Marauders were sleeping peacefully. "What time do these blokes normally get up?" she asked as though nothing had happened.
"I normally wake them at about ten…" he stopped short as he saw the girl walking up the gold stairs. "Where are you going?"
"To the bathroom!" she shouted. Remus sighed with boredom. The average witch he knew spent about thirty minutes in the bathroom. In two minutes Granger had reappeared at the top of the stairwell. It seemed she had taken a shower, changed into a new set of robes and had found time to conjure up two large buckets.
Suspicious, Moony asked, "What are those?"
"Nothing that concerns you," the witch replied flippantly. She levitated the two pails over the forms of the sleeping boys.
"You wouldn't dare…" Suddenly, the two buckets released their contents over the boys. They happened to be filled with gallons of ice cold water.
The drenched James and Sirius leapt up screeching and shouted in unison, "Moony!" Lupin suddenly realized Granger's plot.
"No! It was Hermione Granger, the witch from last night! I swear it was." Sirius advanced on him menacingly, wand raised. "As if. No witch would ever do this."
"And I had always thought you were a good liar." James glared, wand level with Remus' face.