DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters used hereafter.
CHAPTER 8: CURIOUS
By the time Peter got back to the common room, soaking wet, everyone had already gone to bed. The common room was unlit except for the glowing cinders left in the fireplace and the occasional flash of lightning that lit up the sky outside. Peter made his way over to one of the couches, still shaking from his encounter with the hooded figures. He was sure they were Slytherins but he hadn't seen their faces so he couldn't be sure.
He stayed there all night thinking about what he'd gotten himself into. He had betrayed his friends. Not directly but in a way. He had promised people, who were no doubt enemies of them that he would spy on Hermione. Hermione was one of their friends now, which meant she was his. But why could he not just accept her? Why was he thinking like this? It wasn't his fault she wasn't to be trusted. She was the one who wouldn't tell anyone about her past and always acted strange. She was the newcomer. The stranger. His friends should trust him over her. He hadn't betrayed his friends; he was merely protecting them. Doing what they wouldn't. What they couldn't. There was no harm in investigating the girl. They deserved to know the truth and he would find out for them. Then everything could go back to normal. Peter chuckled to himself, the plan fully formed in his mind. He'd be the one to save his friends from her. Whoever she was.
The next morning the boys came down to find Peter curled up on the couch in front of the fire.
James gently shook him awake. "Peter. Peter wake up. Peter"
Peter woke with a jump. "James! You scared me!"
"Sorry mate. Why were you sleeping on the couch?" asked James concerned.
"Oh… um, I came back to the common room late and I was too tired to bother going upstairs. It was easier just to lie down here." Lied Peter
"Oh, right. Well we're going down to breakfast now. Coming?" asked James
"Yeah, sure" Peter stood up, dots dancing around in front of his eyes.
"You should go shower first though, you look horrible." mocked Sirius.
"And a change of clothes wouldn't go a miss either." Added Remus with a grin.
Peter laughed, "You guys don't look too great yourselves either."
"What? Hey! We just washed! We're completely clean! Except maybe Sirius." Grinned James.
This earned him a punch on the arm.
"Come on, I'm starved. See you in a bit Pete." Said Remus dragging the other two from the room.
"Don't call me Pete." Whispered Peter under his breath as he watched them go before turning and walking up the staircase to the boys' dorm.
After breakfast the group split up to go to their individual classes. James, Sirius and Peter all headed off to Divination class while Hermione, Remus and Lily all headed off to Ancient Ruins. Lunch came and passed quickly and before they knew it they were sitting in the last class of the day. Transfiguration.
Hermione always enjoyed Professor McGonagall's classes, even if they were shared with the Slytherins. Today they were transfiguring armchairs into Badgers and back again. It was really quite funny. Some peoples chairs still had tails or ears while there were others chasing badgers with cushions sticking out of their backs around the room. For a while Hermione forgot all about her troubles and it was like being back in her own time with Harry and Ron again.
It didn't last long though. At the end of the class Professor McGonagall called Hermione up to her desk as everyone else hurried to pack up and get out. The Marauders and Lily stopped at the door to wait for her but Professor McGonagall hurried them out with a frown before closing the door sharply and turning back to Hermione.
"Ms. Granger. How are you getting on?" asked Professor McGonagall with a slight smile.
Hermione was slightly shocked but she managed to say "Fine Professor, thank you for asking."
"That's good Ms. Granger. I'm glad you've settled in so well and that you seem to have made a few friends. I didn't ask you to stay behind just to ask you how you were getting on though. The real reason I asked you to stay behind was because Professor Dumbledore asked me to give you a message. Now, being from where you are from, you are sure to know a lot of things that nobody in the world knows about."
"Yes Professor. I suppose I do." Replied Hermione.
"Indeed. Professor Dumbledore wanted me to make sure that you know the consequences that telling a person such things could have. He seems to have the idea that you would be thinking of telling things that should not be told to certain people." Said Professor McGonagall.
"Ho… How?" Stammered Hermione.
"The Professor is a powerful man. He knows a lot of things."
"Well, I guess I was thinking of telling my friends. The other day I had an… encounter with a person I know in the future. A person who I have reason to dislike. A lot. And I guess it got to me. I got so upset and I just wanted to tell everyone the truth and not have anything to hide anymore." Admitted Hermione.
"I can understand that Hermione. You have shown that you are a strong person through this. I cannot however express enough to you how important it is that nobody knows of this. Just yet anyway." Said Professor McGonagall a smile on her thin lips.
Hermione nodded. "I understand Professor. I have used controlled time travel before and I know the importance of such matters. It was just a moment of weakness I guess that made me want to tell."
"I'm glad you understand Hermione. You may go now and enjoy the rest of your day."
"Thank you Professor." Hermione said turning to leave.
"Oh, and Hermione?" said Professor McGonagall.
"Yes Professor?" said Hermione turning again
"Please feel free to come and talk to myself or Professor Dumbledore at anytime."
"Thank you Professor." Hermione left the room closing the door behind her.
To her left she heard a scuffling noise. She turned to look but there was no one there. 'How odd' she thought but turned and left in the direction of the common room.
Back in the common room the others were all waiting for her to go down to dinner.
"What did McGonagall want?" asked Sirius.
Hermione looked at him for a second. "She just wanted to know how I was getting on." I
It wasn't a lie. Just not the whole truth.
"Are you guys coming down to dinner?" she asked turning to leave.
"Yeah, coming." Said Lily following her.
The boys didn't move though.
"Are you guys coming or not?" called Lily over her shoulder.
"In a minute." Yelled back Sirius before turning to the others.
"She's not telling the truth." He said straight away.
"How do you know that Sirius? How can you be sure?" said Remus loudly.
"Calm down mate. He has a point. I don't think she's telling the whole truth either." Said James.
"I'm not saying we can't be friends with her or we shouldn't trust her. I'm just saying that she's not telling us everything." Said Sirius slightly hurt.
"Everyone has secrets," snapped Remus.
"I know and I understand that. Please don't get mad, but I think we should ask her about it or something. Maybe she can give us a good reason for not telling us at least." Said James
"Yeah, you're right. Sorry." Muttered Remus.
"Don't be. It's ok. Now let's go down to dinner." Said James.
The four stood and left the common room all of them thinking hard, only Peter was thinking hard about something else…
Remus couldn't stop thinking about Hermione. It was all too confusing. Everything about Hermione confused Remus. Not just the mystery that was her past and the odd way she sometimes acted but there was something else about her that confused him. It was the way she made him feel. He couldn't describe it. He knew it was a good feeling but he couldn't pin down what it was.
Rolling over onto his back Remus stared up at the plain ceiling above him. It was the middle of the night and the storm was still raging outside. He could hear the massive raindrops lashing against the window, threatening to break the glass, the periodic flashes of lightning and rumbles of thunder. The others all seemed to be asleep.
He could hear Sirius snoring loudly in the bed nearby but then he heard another sound from across the room in the direction of Peter and James' beds. It sounded like somebody crying. Pushing the covers back Remus sat up in bed listening carefully. It was definitely the sound of someone crying. It had to be either Peter or James. But why?
Swinging his legs over the side of the bed and pulling back the curtains he stepped onto the stone floor. It was cold against his bare feet as he tiptoed across the dark room. When he reached the bed the sound was coming from he realized it was Peters.
Why would Peter be crying in the middle of the night?
Pulling back the curtain around Peters' bed Remus could see Peters' figure outlined by the soft moonlight. A flash of lightning lit up the room for a brief moment, showing him Peters' tear stained cheeks.
"Peter?" he whispered kneeling down beside the bed. "What's wrong Peter?"
Peter moved his head and reached Remus' gaze. Sniffling loudly he pushed himself up into a sitting position.
"N… N… Nothing." He muttered between sobs.
Remus looked at him disbelievingly.
"Come on Peter, don't tell me you're crying for nothing. There has to be something wrong."
Peter suddenly stopped crying and his expression changed. His face seemed to get darker and he moved closer to the edge of the bed.
"I said there was nothing wrong Remus. Why are you always so persistent? It's quite annoying you know."
Remus looked at Peter in shock, "What? I'm only concerned about you Pete. I heard you crying and I came to see what was up."
Another flash of lightning lit up Peters face showing his pale skin and black rings around his eyes.
"Don't call me Pete. You know I hate it." He whispered
"Sorry. You never said anything before."
"Well I'm saying it now aren't I?" hissed Peter and he moved his hand beneath his pillow in one swift movement drawing out a long thin dagger and driving it into Remus' heart.
Remus fell backwards. Peter's face appeared above him. A horrible grin plastered across it.
"Silver Remus. That dagger is made of silver. You know what silver is used for don't you." Remus tried to call out for Sirius and James but he couldn't.
He tried to push himself away, but Peter was too fast. Grabbing hold of the dagger stuck in Remus' chest Peter twisted it and pulled it out, raising it in the air above Remus.
"Goodbye old friend" he hissed before plunging the dagger downwards…
A/N: Again I've taken ages to update. Things have been chaos though. I was happy with this chapter. I actually wrote the end as the beginning at first but then I decided to change it for shits and giggles. Enjoy.
pyro the dark angel: I hate Peter a lot too. There might be some burning going on, you never know. Thanks for the review.
Fk306 animelover: Apologies about the mistake with your name. I have a good excuse but you don't have to believe me if you don't want to. I have a friend called Kitty and I was talking to her at the time so I guess it was subconscious. Sorry. Thank you for the review.
missy87: we shall have to wait and see. Thanks for the review.
PaulC: A lovely review as always. The reason she doesn't know whether to trust Peter or not is because he hasn't yet done anything wrong. I'll think about finishing it, but I can't guarantee anything. And shut up about that. Certain people might be reading this and cop on, certain people are dumb but not necessarily completely dumb ;)
amrawo: thank you for your review, I'll have loads up for when you get back.
singingbookfreak: thank you for your review. I'm glad you took the time to read it and that you enjoy it.
MessedUpSOMuch: A friend of Pauls? Thank you for the review, I'm glad you like it so much.
Remmy's Gurl: Thank you for the review as always. She hasn't told anyone as you see. It was never my intention to have her tell. That doesn't mean people wont find out though.