DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters used hereafter.

CHAPTER 8: A DARK ASSEMBLY

The rest of the classes before lunch could not have gone any slower from Hermione's point of view. The second the bell that signalled the end of Care for Magical Creatures rang, Hermione shoved all her belongings into her bag and stormed of up to the castle desperate to be alone. The others watched concerned as she went.

"What's up with her?" asked Peter.

"Shut up Peter, she's upset about something" snapped Remus as he walked away hoping to catch up with her.

"And what's with him?" added Peter under his breath.

"He's just worried about her Peter, don't worry about it." Said Lily kindly.

"I'm more concerned about her." Said James as the four made their way back to the common room, "What was that with Malfoy anyway? She seemed to know him."

"Yeah, well everyone knows about the Malfoys don't they?" snarled Sirius, "Pure blooded snobs the lot of them. Think they're better than everyone else. Real dark wizards too."

"Yeah, really powerful." nodded Peter a little bit too eagerly.

The others all looked at him and then walked off leaving him standing there alone.

"What's so wrong with being powerful?" he muttered quietly before turning and heading in the opposite direction.

Hermione pushed her way through the portrait hole and ran up the stairs to the girls dorm. Slamming open the door she flung herself on to her bed and pulled the curtains around her, casting a silencing charm around it. Sitting there on her bed Hermione finally gave into the tears. The large salty drops rolled down her cheeks as she sat there and let out all the sadness and pain that had built up over the last few weeks. It was like someone was slowly drawing out a poison that had infected her body. It didn't make any of it go away, but it did make her feel better. For a while at least… Eventually she would have to face everyone. Her new friends and the people who haunted the future of the world.

Remus was pacing back and forth in front of the staircase to the girls dorm when the group arrived. He looked up when they entered and ran straight to Lily.

"Lily! Thank goodness you're here. I couldn't get up." He motioned towards the staircase with his hand, "Please, go up to her. Please."

Lily smiled kindly, "Allright, but I don't know if she wants to talk to anyone right now" The look on Remus' face made her add, "I will try though."

She turned and walked towards the staircase.

"You guys wait here, I won't be long." She called over her shoulder leaving the boys to sit down in the chairs around the fire.

None of them said a word. Lily knocked cautiously on the door to their room.

"Hermione?" she called.

When she didn't get a reply she gently pushed the door open and entered. She looked around and spotted the drawn curtains around Hermione's bed. Sighing she walked over and drew them back to find a crying Hermione huddled at the head of the bed.

"Oh Hermione" she whispered and went to the crying girl, "Don't cry please. Tell me what's wrong."

Hermione just sniffed loudly and a new wave of tears overcame her. Lily hugged her tightly.

"Please, what's wrong. You can trust me."

Hermione raised her head and pushed the tears from her eyes, "I knowi can," she said quietly, "It's just so hard, everything that's happened. It's just so unfair."

"What's unfair Hermione? Please tell me." Pleaded Lily

"I can't right now, I still need to get it all straight in my own head." Whispered Hermione.

"Okay, I understand, but when you're ready to talk I'm here." Said Lily

"Thank you Lily" Sniffed Hermione.

"Anytime. Now, you have our boys in quite a state, they're all worried about you. Especially tall, blonde and clever." She added with a wink.

Hermione laughed and pushed away more tears. "I did act pretty weird I guess. I should go down and apologize to them."

"Take your time though, we don't want them seeing you all tear stained now do we? I'll go down and wait with them." Said Lily standing and moving towards the door, she paused and turned "I'm just curious, you seem to know Malfoy. Is he the reason you're here?"

Hermione looked at Lily for a moment and then nodded solemnly. Lily's expression changed to one of deepest sympathy before she turned and left.

Hermione sat there on her bed for another few minutes before she got up and went to the bathroom to clean herself up.

Back down in the common room, Remus had resumed his pacing and nearly walked straight into Lily as she came back down.

"Well?" he asked desperately, "Is she okay?"

Lily smiled, "Yes, she was just a bit overcome by her situation."

"What do you mean?" asked Sirius.

"She won't tell me anything yet, she says she's still trying to get it all straight in her own head. It has something to do with Malfoy though. That's all she said. Please don't ask her anything else, she'll talk when she's ready." Said Lily

Remus looked like he was going to explode, "I'll kill him!" he yelled

"And I'll help!" added Sirius.

"Please don't." came a small voice from the staircase. It was Hermione. "He hasn't done anything yet, and you'd never be able to prove anything."

"What do you mean 'he hasn't done anything yet'?" asked Lily, "You just told me…"

"I know what I told you. He did cause my situation, but not yet."

The others all looked at each other confused.

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked James curiously.

"You'll know soon enough." Said Hermione, who had decided that it would be best to tell her new friends everything.

She could trust them. They were good people. Except maybe Peter, she wasn't sure about him yet. Hermione looked towards the window, there was a storm brewing outside.

Rain was pouring down and lightning flashed across the sky. Down by the lake a number of hooded figures stood around in a circle.

"Whoever she is she's been lying." Said a silky voice from underneath one of the hoods. "The Dark Lord has no record of ever killing a family of 'Grangers'. Even if he did, it's doubtful that a pathetic girl like her would survive without him knowing."

"So who is she?" asked another voice.

"I don't know but we should find out." Replied the first voice, "I want to find out how she knows me too."

The sound of a branch snapping nearby made the group freeze.

"Go." Said the first voice and two of the group moved towards the forest.

Peter sat trembling behind a tree praying they wouldn't see him. He heard the two approaching his hiding place and tried to make a run for it.

"STUPIFY!" yelled one of the hooded figures and the spell hit him right in the back.

When Peter came round he was surrounded by hooded figures staring down on him.

"P… P… Please… Please don't hurt me…" he begged.

"Silence!" shouted one of the figures. "Pettigrew, isn't it?" asked the voice.

"Y…Yes sir…" stammered Peter, now drowned in sweat and soaked by the rain.

"Stand up." Peter stumbled to his feet. "Now then, you were listening to us?"

"I… Yes…" said Peter avoiding looking up at the figure.

"I see. So you heard what we were talking about?"

Peter nodded, "About Hermione."

"Yes, the Granger girl. She is a Gryffindor."

"Yes sir, she hangs around with us."

"Ah, yes. The 'Marauders'. The figure paused as though thinking, "Pettigrew?"

"Y…Yes?"

"You want to live don't you?"

"Please don't kill me!" begged Peter falling to his knees before the figure.

"Get up!" spat the figure, "We're not going to kill you… yet."

Peter gulped.

"No no, you could be useful. I want you to do me a favour Pettigrew."

"Anything!" stammered Peter.

"I want you to spy on the Granger girl. Tell me everything you can about her. EVERYTHING."

"Y… Yes sir, I will sir."

"Good, now go!" spat the figure kicking him away.

Peter slipped in the mud and stumbled forwards towards the castle leaving the dark figures standing watching him in the pouring rain.

"Watch him. He had better not betray us."

"Yes sir" said the rest of the group and they all walked off in different directions leaving the one figure standing alone.

"I'll find out the truth Granger, you can bet on that."

A/N: Another update! Yay, I got time. Anyway, hope you enjoy it. Stuff is starting to happen!

amrawo: enjoy camp. There should be lots of updates when you get back, can't wait for more of your lovely reviews!

pyro the dark angel: trust me, I will. It will be extremely painful and nasty ;) thanks for the review!

Remmy's Gurl: indeed they do ;) I was going to make it Snape but I have a better idea for him, you'll just have to wait. Your review is much appreciated as always!

PaulC: I love you too! Aw, isn't that sweet? Thanks for the lovely review, the fits will be explained soon enough and I will worry about updates because I love updating!

faeriekittie306 animelover: LOVE THE NAME! Thanks for the review!