Chapter 2 –

That day Hermione accompanied the marauders to all their classes including Defense Against the Dark Arts taught by a scruffy looking wizard with long hair called Professor Barker and Divination taught by a veela called Madame Idrille whom the four boys obviously found completely fascinating. Hermione thought that she made the subject of divination even harder to stand then it already was. At one point James stood up and reached out for her making the entire class laugh apart from one girl with auburn hair seated at a table not too far away who looked rather disgusted. Her name, Hermione learned from Sirius, was Lily Evans who turned out to be the person Hermione was most grateful to meet.

"James fancies her," Sirius whispered to Hermione during Divination. Hermione smiled.

"Does she fancy him?"

"She's in denial, but I know she does," Sirius said looking over at her. She was still scowling a little by the time James had finally been forced back into his seat by Remus. Sirius leaned back and tossed a lock of his sleek black hair behind his face and looked around amusedly as Hermione, Peter, Remus and James all began copying a long list of notes from the board. Sirius was entertained by Hermione's intense precision. "So do you like divination?" Sirius asked Hermione as he watched her scribbling down the notes as fast as she could. "Because it certainly appears that way."

"No," Hermione said, not looking up. "I think it's a load of rubbish." Sirius narrowed his eyes.

"Oh, right, well that explains your enthusiasm," he said, smirking sarcastically. Hermione blushed slightly.

"It's because it's my first day here, and I thought I should make a good first impression on all my teachers."

"You should meet Lily," Lupin, who was sitting on her other side, said. "She's just like you. She has her passions and her hobbies like everyone else but makes an effort even at the things she hates."

"And then whines about it," added Sirius. Remus shook his head and went back to his writing without another word.

"I'll get her for you after class," James said, sitting up and acting mature for the moment at the thought of getting to speak with Lily.

When class ended James made a point of packing up his books quickly as he rushed across the room to Lily who was just about to leave.

"Hey, Lily, how are you?" James asked in sincere kindness. Lily smiled slightly.

"I'm fine thank you. Well, I have to go," and Lily grabbed her bags and was about to rush away when James stopped her.

"Wait, er – I want you to meet someone," he said. Lily rolled her eyes.

"Is this another one of your pranks, Potter, because I won't fall for it this time. That incident with the History of Magic book and the pickled eyeballs was only because I was sick that day and -- "

"Evans, calm down," said Sirius who was now walking over with Hermione to rescue James.

"This is Hermione Granger," James said gesturing to Hermione who smiled shyly and gave a little wave. "And Hermione, this is Lily Evans," James said. Lily smiled, the frustration with James still evident on her face.

"She comes from twenty years into the future!" Peter Pettigrew said itching his head. Lily rolled her eyes.

"Very funny," she said. Then she turned to Hermione. "What house are you in?"

"er – Gryffindor," she replied.

"What? No. And your in your seventh year? No I would know you," Lily said.

"Well, actually, Peter was right. I've come back in time," she said wincing a little in hopes that Lily didn't shun her as well.

"Are you serious?" Lily asked. "That's amazing! They've only invented small forms of time travel in our time… such as going back a few minutes or so and it isn't even efficient. This is amazing. And you're in Gryffindor? Excellent! Do you like Ancient Runes?" Hermione began to nod her head enthusiastically before Sirius Black joined in.

"Yeah, she's way too intelligent and a bit of a know-it-all like yourself so I'm sure you girls will have loads to talk about," Sirius joked. Hermione and Lily both opened their mouths in protest before another voice joined the conversation.

"Besides," Remus said from the table having just finished packing up his books, now striding over to join them. "Hermione needs a girl to hang out with as well, like in the Girls' Dormitory where Sirius simply can't follow—"

"Hey that never stopped me," Sirius said. James and Peter laughed and Lupin couldn't help smiling a little.

"Anyway," Remus continued. "She also needs someone who is well above our standards in thoughtfulness—"

"Hey!" Sirius protested. At this point Lily and Hermione were in a fit of laughter and Lily finally spoke.

"Alright, alright, you can stop lecturing me. Of course I'll hang out with Hermione," Lily said, now turning to her. "Well come on, let's head up to the commonroom and get started on Ancient Runes," motioning for Hermione to depart the Divination room.

" Hey, just because we're letting you hang out with her doesn't mean you can steal her away from us," Sirius called as they began walking away.

"Oh shove off, Sirius," Lily said.

"I'll see you later, then!" Hermione called back to the four boys.

"Bye, Lily!" called James.

That night the marauders sat in the commonroom for a while until everyone left to go to sleep a little before midnight giving them a chance to discuss their new encounter.

"I think she's nice," said Lupin who was sitting back in a scarlet armchair looking more tired then ever. "She seems very clever."

"She likes you Sirius," said Peter from the other armchair.

"She does not you great bloke. She only just met me this morning for God's sake," Sirius, who was sprawled out on the sofa, said looking around frustrated. He summoned a butterbeer out of nowhere and began drinking it down immediately.

"Anyone else want one?" Sirius asked. Everyone except Lupin nodded and Sirius summoned them butterbeers just as quickly.

"Hey Sirius, are you going to ask her to the winter ball?" asked James, who was sitting in front of the fireplace.

"Of course not. You know I'm asking Dimaia," Sirius said rather loudly.

"I thought you were over her," said Remus.

"Yeah, well we had our fun. But I still want to go to the ball with her," Sirius said.

"Sirius, you've got to stop messing with girls' heads. Honestly, give them a break," Lupin said, now leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.

"Oh come on, Moony, lay off. You know Dimaia doesn't care--"

"Well all right. Then I'm sure you won't mind if I ask Hermione to the ball," Lupin added now even more wide-awake then he had been the whole day. Sirius hesitated for a moment.

"W-what?" he said stuttering a little bit.

"Yeah, I already told you I think she's pretty and smart and really nice so I think I should ask her--"

"Alright! Alright! You got me. I – I do want to ask her. A little," Sirius said a bit too quickly. Lupin smiled satisfied, now allowing himself to look exhausted again. "But that doesn't mean I will. There are plenty of girls for me to choose from. Why should I pick her anyway…" Sirius trailed off brushing aside a lock of dark black hair away from his gray eyes.

"Well I know who I'm asking," James said sitting up.

"James you know Lily won't say yes," said Peter. James's eyes suddenly grew wide as is with sudden enlightenment.

"Guys! Do you think that perhaps Hermione would be able to convince Lily to go out with me? I mean she thought I was cool, right?" He exclaimed. Sirius nodded contemplatively.

"Your right, James that just might work. I'll talk to her about it," Sirius said.

"Cool, well I'm going to bed. "'Night all," Lupin said yawning and standing up, his thin blonde hair a mess.

"Wait, Moony. When's the next full moon?" asked Sirius.

"A couple weeks. All right, I'm tired. I'll see you all tomorrow."

"Same," said Peter. "Goodnight guys."

"We'll be right up," called Sirius now turning to James. "Yeah, so I'll talk to Hermione about Lily tomorrow. Hopefully she'll loosen up a little after that."

"Yeah hopefully," added James, his eyes getting a little foggy as he gazed off across the room. Sirius sniggered.

"You are so gone over her, its incredible really," Sirius said shaking his head in disbelief.

"Wait till you're dead in love with someone, Padfoot. Then I'll be the one laughing," said James. Sirius laughed again as he ran his hands through his hair and sat up.

"Not likely, James. Don't hold your breath," Sirius said as he stood up and stretched. His tie was loose and falling off and his white shirt was untucked. "Let's go to bed."

A/N: Thanks for reading everyone! I hope you enjoyed it. Please take a moment to write a review. They're greatly appreciated and very helpful as well! Chapter 3 will be up soon.