"Forever and Always"

Disclaimer: do not own Hermione, Lupin, any of the marauders or the time turner. They all belong in J.K.Rowling's fabulous universe! I'm just a little kid playing on her playground. And guys, thanks so much for the reviews!

Chapter 3: ease in!

As that week continued, Hermione noticed how hard it was to keep her mouth shut about the future. She also couldn't help noticing that everything she had heard about the marauders was true times ten! Sadly, James was every bit as arrogant as Snape had said. He ruffled his hair a lot and showed off in classes containing Lily. Sirius was one of the funniest boys Hermione had ever met. He was always cracking jokes and being sarcastic while looking maddeningly handsome. Peter was horribly dweeby without even trying. He was much too busy trying to be cool for James and Sirius, who generally ignored him, to do anything else.

Then there was Remus. He was not as charming as James or as handsome as Sirius. But every time he smiled at Hermione, he lit her heart on fire. He was intelligent and seemed to be the only marauder to take notes in class. He was usually reprimanding the other marauders; Hermione noticed this reminded her of when he was her professor. But there was another element of his personality she had never seen, he was happy. He was deliriously happy around his friends.

She didn't really talk to Lily until potions class, when she got paired up with her.

"Today," began Professor Dermott. "we will be working on the Shrinking Solution. This is a rather complex potion so I will pair you off. Um, Mr. Lupin and Mr. Pettigrew, Mr. Potter and Mr. Black…er………Miss Evans and Miss Baker…"

Hermione/Jillian made her way over to Lily's table. Lily smiled and gave her a little wave.

"Hi." Lily said when Hermione had all her things in place and her cauldron on the desk. "So, you're the exchange student?"

"Um, yes, and you're the famous Lily Evans?"

"I don't know about the famous part…"

"Well, the way James talks about you!"

"Oh, that boy doesn't know what he wants."

"I think he wants you."

"Well…"

"You don't want him?"

I want someone who is not only caring to me, but also caring to the people around him."

This surprised Hermione, she had always thought that Lily and James were happily in love from day one but this did not seem to be true.

"So, what's the first ingredient?" Lily asked.

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"So, Moony, d'you like Jillian?" Sirius asked. He and James had moved their desks next to Peter and Remus'.

"Oh yeah, she's great." Remus replied, while pouring wormwood into their cauldron.

"No! I mean," Sirius ran a hand through his hair. "Come on mate, I see the way she looks at you and you look at her…"

"Yeah," said James. "I mean, this is you." He put a dreamy look on his face and said, "Jillian, do you need my notes for Transfiguration?"

"Yes Remus," Sirius said, putting on a fake falsetto and grabbing James' hand. "I shall keep them until tonight when we reunite in the common room darling."

"Oh, hold me!" James exclaimed, throwing himself on Sirius. The two collapsed to the floor in giggles.

"Boys?" yelled Professor Dermott. Sirius and James poked their heads up. "Yes?" they asked.

"Can we concentrate more on our potion, please?"

"Sorry." They said, putting on charming smiles. When the attention finally came off them, they turned back to Remus.

"That is not how we act." Remus said, holding up his measuring cup to see how much armadillo bile he had.

"Yeah, but that's how you wanna act!" James said.

"Why dontcha ask her out, Moony?" Peter squeaked.

"Oh come on." Remus said, now chopping up some caterpillars. "If I asked her now, after one week of knowing her, it would be too forward!"

"Fine," said Sirius. "Ask her to the Halloween Ball."

"Er…." Remus' eyes shifted from side to side and he paused in mid-slice of his caterpillar.

"Come on, that gives you two weeks to 'ease in' so to speak." Sirius said, winking at a girl a few rows away who swooned. "Trust me! I'm a pro."

"Well, I don't know about that but, ok, it's a deal." Remus conceded, shaking Sirius' hand, therefore sealing the deal and getting caterpillar slime all over Sirius.

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A/N: well, what do u think? I like how it's going so far but I need your help. Should she eventually go back or should she stay there and change time? Review and let me know!