This Can't Be The End

Chapter 1: Hidden Compartments

1978

Under the starry sky where the suns last rays fell James Potter raced ahead of his fellow Gryffindor Quidditch team anxious to get a shower in the big castle. Tonight was the full moon, his friend needed him.

Remus Lupin opened the castle doors and slipped into the night, covered by an invisibility cloak borrowed, he and Peter Pettigrew huddled together underneath. Suddenly a shining light surrounded Peter and he disappeared, in his place was a rat. The rat scurried over to the base of a seemingly dormant tree. Putting his paw on a knob the tree froze, keeping its branches stock still so the boys could slip through a trapdoor underneath its base. The castle doors opened with a bang. Remus span around forgetting he was covered with the cloak and held his breath until he realised a familiar black haired boy sprinting closer.

Oh damn where are they? The black haired boy thought desperately. Hope I'm not too late!

Remus pulled off the cloak and scowled at him.

"Sorry I'm late, quidditch practice and all" James puffed apologetically, wiping his brow with the back of his hand.

"I wish the moon was late," Remus replied darkly, scowling at the almost risen moon. "Come on, better get this over with." they entered the tree.

1998

Hermione's day couldn't have gotten off worse. It was the first day of 7th year, last night had been a shock, none other than Draco bloody Malfoy it seemed had been made Head boy, so they had to share a common room as well as most of their lessons. Even now he couldn't stop calling her a 'mudblood' non-stop. Her only escape now was the quiet solitude of the library.

Sitting in the common room in a straight back chair in front of the fire, surrounded by piles of books, doing an essay on the unforgivable curses for Professor Rodney, a blonde streak blurred past in a hurry, apparently not noticing her.

"Twitchy little ferret aren't you," commented Hermione scathingly, not looking up at him, but writing down the correct wording for Avada Kedavra.

"Mudblood" Malfoy replied darkly continuing into his room.

'He he he' she whispered sarcastically to herself 'one nil to me' she checked her watch 'half an hour, could make it' she left her stuff on the table and went to the library.

Strolling up and down countless bookshelves ten minutes later, she searched for one particular book. Damn she thought, yawning and pushing long brown hair out of her eyes there all taken . . . CLUNK.

Her fingers had brushed past a concealed button on one of the top shelves opening up a hidden compartment in the back of the shelf.

What's this? Reaching up she pulled out two dusty items: a very dusty book and a very dusty necklace. Blowing off the thick layers of dust she carefully carried them to the closest table. Placing the book on a table and the necklace in her pocket, she glanced at the title . . .

THE MARAUDERS MEMORIES

She rubbed her eyes thinking that her brain was acting up because of how tired she was but no it was still there.

Suddenly the library door burst open and in came a familiar, tall lanky redhead boy and another familiar shorter black-haired boy, both of 17 years. Swiping the book off the table Hermione quickly hid the book behind her back and somehow managed to slip it in the bookshelf behind her. Something about this book made her feel as if she needed to keep it to herself and herself alone

As soon as they entered the shack a ray of moonlight from the newly risen moon passed over Remus' face. He doubled over in pain, just in time he thought sarcastically over the howling of the inner wolf in his head. Crying out in pain he felt his face elongate into gaping jaws and his hands fold into paws, his cloths rip as his back expand and fur bristle all over his body. He let a long echoing howl escape his jaws, reverberating into the night. Looking around his canine eyes peering into the darkness he spotted three familiar shapes: a stag, a huge bear like dog and a rat.

Took you long enough Sirius Remus said telepathically

I was waiting for you here Sirius replied, padding up to lick Remus' snout apologetically. I wanted to get out early, you know me. A lopsided grin spread over the dogs face.

Suddenly the upstairs floor shook and silver light poured through the cracks between the floorboards. Remus ear's pricked up and his senses went into overdrive.

Some human was upstairs.

"Harry, Ron what are you guys doing here?" Hermione asked making sure the book was properly in the bookcase.

"We came to find you" Harry replied weaving through tables to reach her. "We checked your common room and had abuse thrown at us by Malfoy."

"Naturally. Bloody git." added Ron

"But you weren't there"

"We could understand why you had left so we decided to check for you here." Ron ended.

"Yeh well you found me, what did you want?" she said. In her head she made a list . . .

1. Help with the essay

2. Help with the essay

Or 3. Help with the essay

"Hermione, you should know us by now, try and guess"

"Hmm let me see . . . Help with the essay!" she replied with mock thought, raising an eyebrow.

"Got it in one" Harry agreed grinning happily

"Look it's late and I really need to get some sleep and anyway you guys should get some sleep to especially with the Quidditch game on tomorrow. I'll help you with the essay later ok" Hermione said sleepily.

"Ok sure 'mione, you look as if you need sleep at any rate," Ron said understandably

"Plus you've gotta be up to cheer us on!" Ron and Harry smiled.

"Oh thanks a million guys," she said running up to them and giving them each a hug and a small peck on the cheek. "Well I've just gotta get a book out, so I'll see yous tomorrow kay"

"Ok see you tomorrow Hermione" Harry said. She waved as they departed.

Phew, luckily they didn't see that book, too many awkward questions that I don't have the answers for. She grabbed the book and departed herself.

Once at the common room portrait she slipped inside. Sitting in a lumpy sofa reading as the firelight gleamed off his platinum blonde hair was Malfoy. I hope I can sneak past with out his notice she thought desperately.

With success she managed to get past Malfoy and into her room. Slamming the door shut she pulled the necklace out of her pocket she blew the remaining dust off. Throwing the book unceremoniously onto her bed she examined the necklace. Glinting slightly from the moonlight coming in from the opened window, it seemed as if the necklace looked familiar somehow. Expertly crafted and shaped a Chinese lung dragon coiled majestically around a full moon. She had remembered seeing something like this ages ago . . . In her childhood perhaps, it looked so familiar. With to many other things on her mind at the moment she placed it back in her pocket.

Getting comfy on her four-poster bed she opened the book.

Two things happened then that Hermione did not intend. First she felt a strange sensation in her stomach as a strange silvery light surrounded her. And secondly she saw the necklace she had placed in her pocket fly out and as if by magic (it probably was) hovered to her neck and clasped itself around her neck. A strong breeze came from the pages, so strong that the force of it whipped around her and lifted her slightly off the bed. The last thing she remembered was a slamming open of a door and a shell-shocked Malfoy gazing at where she had just disappeared.