Disclaimer: I do not own or have any rights to Harry Potter

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Chapter 11. November Rain

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Hermione's appearance and health dramatically improved since her outburst, no-one asked about it, they all knew enough to know that Hermione had been through more than any one of them could possibly imagine. Sirius became slightly more protective, keeping her away from the Slytherins; Hermione didn't mind she kind of felt flattered at the attention. She still joined Sirius by the fire at night but took herself to bed when she grew tired, her dreams weren't so bad now, she felt as if a weight that had been resting on her shoulders had been lifted.

The third weekend of November brought with it the first of the years Quidditch matches, Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw. At breakfast, James, captain and star chaser helped one of the newest chasers, a young fourth year, calm her nerves, while Sirius, the teams star beater, piled his plate with food.

Hermione watched him eat with a bemused expression. "How can you eat all that?" she asked gesturing to his plate. "You're going to be flying in less than an hour," she reasoned with him, his actions the polar opposite of Ron's who could never eat before a match.

Remus laughed beside her. "It's no use Hermione, I've been saying the same thing for the past five years and he just eats more."

Sirius grinned and continued to eat, glad to see the amusement in Hermione's eyes, and pointedly ignored the blonde Ravenclaw attempting to flirt with him as he ate his bacon.

He was about to reach for some more when Hermione snatched up the last piece and proceeded to eat it. He raised and eyebrow at this. "That," he said putting on a hurt look, "was mine."

Hermione mearly smirked and poked out her tongue at him. Sirius and Remus burst out laughing both pleased to see this side of Hermione they had never seen. Lily entered the room then and sat down immediately drawing James attention away from the poor chaser.

"Lily," he said. "How are you this fine morning? Ready for Quidditch?"

Lily just shrugged. "It's just another game."

There were four simultaneous outcries of this. "Just a game?" Sirius said his voice low and unbelieving. Remus wore a expression of a mixture of shock and hurt while James virtually looked on the brink of tears

"What?" asked Lily innocently.

"Yeah," agreed Hermione, ready for some fun. "I mean all you do is fly around on old broomsticks and try to play with three different sized balls, I like the little golden one best."

She sat there waiting for a reaction from the boys. James was the first to speak. "They aren't old broomsticks they…..they're the best." He said staring at Hermione like she had grown a second head.

"Quaffle, Bludger and that 'little golden one' you happen to like so much is a snitch." Explained Sirius, who was also staring wide eyed at the bushy haired girl. "I cant believe you don't know this, I thought you said your friends played," then he saw the familiar twinkle in her eyes, well a twinkle he knew well, but had never appeared in her hazel eyes, "wait a minute…..you're having us on aren't you? You know that's not funny."

Looks of comprehension dawned on the other boys faces as Hermione and Lily burst out laughing. "Hermione Thomas," Sirius barked, she stopped laughing and looked into his eyes. "If you want to joke about Quidditch," he said threateningly, "continue to do so if it makes you laugh at our stupidity," he finished beaming at her.

She smiled at him. "Ill keep that in mind."

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Hermione, Lily, Remus and Peter made their way up to the Gryffindor section of the Quidditch stadium to wait for the game to start. Unfortunately for them autumn seemed to want to be cruel today and it was pouring down with rain. 'Merlin' thought Hermione 'This is worse than Harry's third year match' as sleet rain stung her cheeks, she would feel bad for Sirius and James, but her present situation didn't make her think about much past a hot chocolate and a book.

The match seemed to last forever with the score only being Gryffindor 100, Ravenclaw 90 after three hours.

"This is ridiculous!" shouted Hermione over the rain.

"Ye youngins always insist on playn' though don't ye,'" came the booming voice of Hagrid from behind. Hermione had visited the half giant a few times with the others but didn't extend her previous friendship with him, he knew her too well in the future. Unfortunately Sirius seemed to share a unique love of dangerous creatures that ranged somewhere between Hagrid and Charlie Weasley.

The Ravenclaw captain called a timeout and Hermione told the others she would be right back. She ran down onto the pitch and up to the Gryffindors. Both James and Sirius turned to gaze curiously at her as she ran up to them.

"Hermione," shouted Sirius over the rain. "What are you doing?"

For the first time since meeting him Hermione ignored Sirius' question earning her a hurt frown. Instead she turned to James. "Where's your seeker?" she asked.

He called his seeker over. "Oi, Malloroy over here."

The sixth year Gryffindor came running over, boots squelching in the increasingly muddy pitch. "Sorry capt, I cant see a thing, glasses keep fogging up."

Hermione just beamed. "Thought so," she said, earning curious looks from her two friends. She took out her wand and pointed it at the head of the seeker who's eyes grew wide with fear. "Impervius" she said as a blue light erupted from the tip of her wand.

"Hey," exclaimed Marlloroy. "I can see, thanks Hermione."

James and Sirius looked at her astonished. "Is there anything you can't do?" asked Sirius with an amused expression to which Hermione just grinned at.

"Hey Hermione," said James, pointing to his own frames. "Do you think you could do me too?" Hermione repeated her water repelling charm then headed back up to the stands wishing the boys luck.

Within half an hour of the timeout the game had been won Gryffindor winning 270, Ravenclaw 110.

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The Tuesday afternoon following the match Hermione and Lily watched the four boys leave the common room. James came over to them before exiting. "We're going to go and see Hagrid, would you like to join us?"

Lily shook her head but Hermione in desperate need of a break nodded and followed the Marauders out of the common room. "So what are we going to see Hagrid for?" she asked. "He hasn't got another rather large creature has he?"

Sirius just flung an arm around her shoulders. "That my friend, is a surprise."

Hermione wondered what she had got herself into but reasoned nothing could really be as bad as Hargid's pet dragon or Grawp. Hermione however reasoned too soon as they made their way down to Hagrid's hut.

"Allo Sirius, boys, Hermione, follow me, its in the forest."

Hermione eyed the half giant warily, and Sirius just chuckled. "Its ok" he said quietly. "Hagrid said its asleep."

"Oh great, that just makes me feel so much better," she mumble back following behind Remus as the six of them made their way into the forest. After walking for about ten minutes Hermione started to hear something one does not usually associate with the Forbidden Forest. Soft music started to reach her ears through the trees 'oh Merlin no' she thought as she moved closer into Sirius. He seemed to sense her fear and put a protective arm around her waist, Hermione leaned into the touch as they neared a clearing, in front of her she heard the muffled yell of surprise of James followed closely by Peters and Remus'.

As herself and Sirius stepped up to the clearing Hermione muffled her groan there in the middle of a field, wooed to sleep by a magical harp was none other then Fluffy, tied up with a chain, links as large as Hermione.

"Ta da," said Hagrid spreading his arms in display a proud grin on his bearded face.

"Hagrid!" exclaimed Sirius who moved slightly away from Hermione who was rooted to the spot to get a better look, "where'd you get it?"

"Won it," said Hagrid proudly. "Named him Fluffy."

Across to the side Peter tripped over a root and fell to the floor. "Peter!" exclaimed Sirius, "You're worse than my cousin." Hermione smiled at this reference to the pink haired witch, but her smile faded when she noticed the silence. The others had noticed this too.

"Is it just me," said Remus. "Or did it just get really quiet?"

"Back up slowly," said Hagrid as the teenagers stared up frozen at the three headed dog with baring teeth.

Then Sirius had to make a typical Sirius remark "That would be soooooo cool right now, if it wasn't trying to kill us."

Hermione just grabbed his hand, "RUN!" she screamed tearing off through the forest followed by the Marauders. Only when they reached Hagrids hut did they stop running. "Where's Hagrid?" asked Hermione fearfully.

"He'll be ok," reassured Sirius. "He knows what he's doing."

As the Marauders and Hermione caught their breath Hagrid came striding out of the forest. Hermione walked straight up to him and jabbed him in the stomach with her finger, as his chest was too high. "That was the most stupid…most…..irresponsible thing I've ever seen," she scolded tears of fear streaming down her face, hands trembling.

Hagrid looked ashamed and bundled the trembling girl in his arms, "I'm sorry Hermione," he comforted.

The others came up and Sirius took the sobbing Hermione out of Hagrids arms and bid the half giant farewell as they made their way up to the Gryffindor tower. When they reached the portrait Hermione had calmed down slightly, fear gone, however she had turned her fear induced anger around and was presently ranting at the boys. Lily looked up when they entered and saw Hermione's puffy eyes.

"What did you do?" she asked the boys accusingly.

All four Marauders held up their hands and proclaimed their innocence. Hermione smiled at Lily's over protectiveness.

"It wasn't their fault; Hagrid introduced us to a three headed dog who didn't like to be woken up."

Lily looked shocked at this. "A three headed dog?" she whispered. "That man is crazy!"

"Yeah," agreed Hermione. "Explains why Sirius likes him so much."

"Hey!" came the indigent reply from the boy in question.

Hermione just smiled sweetly and followed Lily over to the desk and pulled out some homework.

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Hermione woke up one morning at the beginning of December and made to get up, only to snuggle back into her bed, saving herself from the morning chill. She looked over at the other girls and noticed the even breathing caused by sleep coming from each bed. Hermione cast a warming charm on her clothes and hurriedly got dressed before making her way down to the common room. The sight greeting her outside the windows made her smile. Soft snowflakes were falling from the sky onto the snow covered grounds of Hogwarts below. She was so entranced by the dancing flakes caught in the wind, that she didn't notice Sirius until he was standing next to her.

"First snow," he commented joining her by the window.

Hermione smiled and looked over at him. "It's always the best one, its all downhill after that; cold, wet…..cold," she said shuddering at the impeding winter.

He laughed at her as the ballet of snowflakes reflected in her hazel eyes. "Well," he said, eyes gleaming. "I don't know what you do on the first snow but here at Hogwarts we have a tradition," he said mischievously.

Hermione, unaware of such a Hogwarts tradition, raised a questioning eyebrow.

"Oh," chuckled Sirius. "I'm not telling, it's a surprise, but," he said as he made his way back up to his dorm, "make sure you dress warmly today."

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At breakfast Hermione could feel the anticipation within the Great Hall. It was so thick it swamped her frustration. No one was budging about this 'tradition' not even Lily, who seemed as excited as the Marauders. As the hall emptied Hermione tried to eavesdrop on the Marauders conversation.

"EMPTY!" shouted Peter, startling Hermione who hadn't noticed the empty hall.

"Great," said James. "Lily," he said handing her a trumpet, "if you will."

Lily smiled at him, said a charm that even Hermione wasn't familiar with and tapped her wand to the golden instrument.

"You might want to block your ears," Sirius warned Hermione as he carefully blanketed his own with his hands.

Confused Hermione mimicked the boy next to her.

James grinned and raised the trumpet to his mouth and blew.

The sound was deafening as Hermione tried to block out as much as she could. When it stopped she looked up.

"Right," said Remus. "Lets go, Lily and Hermione, you're with us."

Lily grinned, "Wow, I actually stand a chance this year," she joked following James out the door, Hermione trailing behind her with a very confused expression.

When they reached the entrance hall Hermione could see a full scale war outside. House against house, ammunition commonly being in the form of a snowball.

Hermione laughed as she was dragged into the fray. Forming and throwing snowballs as fast as she could. The others all looked at her in a new light. She smiled to herself; the Weasley Twins could always put on a good snowball fight.

After a while she noticed Sirius kept disappearing into the bushes and reappearing behind the flank of another house, she was also positive she saw a large black dog running around which would explain his stealth like ability.

Hufflepuff was the first to surrender followed closely by a very sour and wet looking Slytherin. It was Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw but no one could stand a chance against the house with the Marauders. Lily and Hermione were now forming snowballs while the boys threw them towards the other team.

Eventually Ravenclaw pulled out defeated, which meant every Gryffindor for himself…..or herself. Hermione's laughter could be heard by the others as they moved to separate, making them each feel a little warmer.

Peter was the first to fall and soon the only Gryffindors standing were Lily, Hermione, and the remaining Marauders.

Remus lobbed a large white ball at Hermione who ducked and chucked one back but to no avail. Behind Hermione she heard footsteps in the snow, she spun around, snowball in hand, to catch Sirius sneaking up behind her, he grinned and threw his ammo at her to which she expertly ducked. The offending object however found a target in the form of Remus Lupins face.

Now it was down to four, Sirius grinned mischievously at the agile Hermione, who seemed to be able to dodge anything. Hermione didn't have long to ponder on the twinkle in his eyes as he sped towards her and yelled "KAMIKAZE" before tackling a startled Hermione into a snow drift, burying them both in white powder.

As a cold and wet Hermione got up laughing, she sent a mock glare to a very pleased looking Sirius. She looked around and could see Lily and James still competing. James looked ecstatic, while Lily seemed to be having the time of her life.

What Lily wasn't ready for was James' snowball to the face. She spluttered and laughed as James walked up to her, arms raised in victory.

"I think," he said grinning at the headgirl, "we have a winner," hecontinued proudly

Lily snaked one arm around his neck, much to James' shock, to which he automatically put his hands on her waist. She lowered his face towards hers but changed course at the end so she could whisper something in his ear. "That's what you think," and proceeded to shove a handful of snow in his face.

The others looked at each other and took this as their cue and lobbed snowballs at James who fell to the ground laughing.

"I surrender," he shouted. "Lily's the ultimate snowball fight champion!"

"That's better," Lily said offering James a hand up, she was however not ready to be pulled down on top of him. She got so caught up in his deep brown eyes she didn't even think of feeling angry at his actions.

"Yeah," said James huskily. "Much better."

With that Lily was snapped back to reality, she blushed and climbed off James. Ignoring the grinning faces of her friends, she headed inside, but Hermione could see the small smile gracing her friends' lips.

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That evening the group warm and dressed in dry clothes, sat in front of the fire talking when Professor McGonagall came through the portrait entrance.

"Mister Potter," she said somewhat solemnly. "Professor Dumbledore wishes to see you."

Confusion reached James' eyes. "I haven't done anything though Professor, if it's about the snowball fight, we do that every year," he reasoned.

"I'm aware of that James, please come with me," the Professor asked again.

The others were all shocked at the Professors use of a students first name and all looked pensively at each other.

"I'm coming too." Sirius said, standing next to his best friend.

"Now Mister Black, I don't think that…" but stopped short when Remus and Peter joined the two ebony haired boys, determination written on three faces, worry on the other.

Professor McGonagall sighed. "Very well, come along," she said leading the way out of the tower.

Hermione and Lily looked at each other both knowing what the other was thinking. 'This is not good' as concern filled forest green and hazel eyes.