Chapter 6: Just Trust Me
Clod… clod… clod… my heels were far too noisy as the halls were far too silent. I was to meet the marauders back up at the Gryffindor tower in twenty minutes while they were off taking care of some "business." They figured I knew my way around the castle well enough. Therefore, I was left to travel through these solemn hallways alone.
Being the gentleman he is and always has been, Remus offered to escort me, but the others simply would not consent to this. They declared it was essential for him to carry out with their so-called plan. I'd heard of the crazy things they would do in their youth, but to experience it first hand was another.
How I wished he was with me now… or any of them for that matter. I tried to think of anyone else I might know in this era like Harry's mother, Neville's parents, and the Woods… even Snape… who I would gladly avoid.
These thoughts lead me to dwell on the fact that I couldn't reveal to them my secret nor should I have revealed so much to the Marauders. Surely this wasn't the end of their questioning.
Before I knew it I was standing in front of the Fat Lady, but of course this did me no good for I hadn't been told the password.
Think Hermione! There are only so many things it could be…
"Excuse me!" a giggling red head collided into my side, nearly knocking me head first onto the stone. I would have made a very bold remark regarding her rude behavior until I realized she wasn't addressing me nor was it her fault.
More laughter echoed around me… familiar laughter I'd heard only hours ago.
"Sorry Lils! Come as a surprise, did we?" James' head appeared out of thin air. "I know how you just love my cloak. Stunning, isn't it?"
He pointed to the invisible heap concealing him and three of his mates.
"I swear, Potter!" the girl exclaimed, straining herself to keep a straight face. "If you so much as even try to sneak into our dorms with that thing again, I'll have to report you to the headmistress!"
"Ah, but you have to admit, it was very much fun the last time." James lifted an eyebrow suggestively.
"Just ignore that drunken boyfriend of mine and his crew of miscreants," the girl told me as she quickly muttered the password and opened the portrait just enough to what she thought was only room for two.
"And miscreants we are!" Sirius roared joyously as he pounced between us.
"Funny how it exactly relates to what we're about to do," Peter commented as James grabbed him by the mouth, nestling his head comfortably in a strong headlock.
"Tis' hilarious, dear Peter!"
The red head continued as if they'd never arrived.
"You must be Hermione." I nodded slowly as she said, "Don't worry. The boys told me everything. I'm sure you'll fit in just fine."
"Everything!" I could feel myself begin to panic and turn red with alarm.
"Of course," the girl answered lightly. "You're the exchange student from Durmstrang, right?"
I exhaled deeply in relief.
"Mmhmm!" As my mood lightened and my curiosity grew, I began to act friendlier towards the girl. "And you must be Lily… "
I paused as if waiting for Lily to finish.
"Evans, yes," Lily said, "I assume you were told that you would be sharing dorms with myself and Lydia. Don't worry, she not too much of a nuisance… usually. I'm Head Girl so, naturally, it's my duty to show you around the school… "
"The boys took care of that," I interrupted.
All I needed was an endless tour of the one place I knew best.
"I'm sure they did." Lily smiled with a hint of a twinkle in her eye. "Well then, I suppose we should sit down and get to know each other a bit better… seeing as we're going to be together constantly from now on."
"Sorry love, but I'm afraid there'll be no time."
James suddenly had a glare in his eyes that I had seen in Harry's so many times before. They had the look of adventure.
"We figured we'll be able to become better acquainted if we perhaps explored the grounds a bit more thoroughly," Remus tried to explain, but seeing the look Lily gave him he added quickly, "I mean, they, of course. After all, it's my duty to disagree, but if worst comes to worst I'll say they forced me with an unforgiveable."
The others and I laughed at the absurdity. Lily, however, remained stern and slightly disappointed, looking rather like McGonagall. Now, who else does that remind me of?
This was a side I'd rarely seen in Remus. Not often did he bluntly defy the rules in front of me. Although I have to admit… as much as a goody-goody I may seem, it intrigued me… he intrigued me.
Standing with that goofy smirk on his face, long choppy bangs tossed to the side, and robes hanging loosely around his thin yet sturdy figure, I was captivated by his presence.
It wasn't long before I, myself, was caught staring with a grin just as ridiculous as his own when Sirius whispered, "I know who someone's been dreaming about."
He grinned a dazzlingly white grin and nudged me teasingly, but I nudged him back a bit harder than intended.
"Oh, sod off Black."
I felt like a Weasley, red to the ears.
"Alright, we'd better be off. I hope that cloak is warm enough for you, Hermione," said James, casually carrying the ever-so-familiar map in his left hand.
"It will have to do," said Sirius, looping his arm over my shoulders. "Not like she'll feel the cold after an hour or two."
I was suddenly very doubtful. "Actually, you know it's been a long day. I don't think this is a go- "
"It's great idea! Quit worrying and relax. Besides, you said it yourself, Lily. We need to have some time to bond."
This was getting scarier by the minute. What could they possibly have planned?
Before I had anymore time to debate, he slipped his hand down my back and shoved me through the portrait.
The others followed hastily. Even Lily had an eager look on her face as she was obviously used to these odd surprises.
"It's after hours you know," I informed them. "You don't think someone's going to notice six teenagers wondering the school in the late evening? I have to say, I'm astonished we aren't using your cloak, James."
"Do you honestly think all of us could fit under that thing? It's squished enough with just the four of us," Sirius remarked, quickening his steps. "Besides, no one will ever catch us taking the rout we're on. Plus, we have the… umm… well, I suppose you already know about the map."
"Yes, of course," I told him idly.
"Alright then."
He nodded, ending the conversation. Everyone seemed to be in great hurry.
Lily eyed me suspiciously.
"Wait… how does she know about the map!"
Whoops!
"When she saw me with it earlier, I had to explain," James covered up quickly.
Thank goodness I have this team of liars on my side, though it was partly Sirius' fault. I can not let that keep happening.
Before I knew it we were taking a light jog through hallways even I hadn't discovered, which quickly turned to a full-on run.
"How much time?" Peter asked, breathing heavily.
"Fifteen minutes," answered Remus.
What in the world is going to happen in fifteen minutes? Supposedly, I was the smartest witch of my time and I can't even figure out what a group of troublesome boys are up to.
Finally, we approached a very curious opening in an old, red curtain hanging from what looked like the top of a twenty foot window. James popped his head inside for a second as if to check for an all clear and quite suddenly tossed Lily through it who gave a short "whoop!" and down she went.
It must be safe enough for James to have carelessly tossed his girlfriend through god knows what kind of weird tunnel it might be.
"You're next m'lady." Sirius carefully took my hand and led me to Remus standing just beside the curtain.
"Forgive me, Hermione, but I promise it will be alright. Whatever you do, keep your feet forward and refrain from touching the top and sides. It's all very old."
Remus warned me as he lifted me as easily as a broom stick and tried to perform the same action James had just done with Lily, though I wasn't quite as easy going.
From the minute he apologized, I could hardly listen to his other words and began struggling. However, Remus' grip was strong and hard to resist.
"Please, Hermione. You must trust me. Did you not trust me in your past life? I couldn't have been too much different, was I?" I looked into those two honest, blue orbs and couldn't help but give in.
It didn't take much convincing from someone so beautiful and polite and respectful as dear Remus.
And so I let myself slide down the grimy, cobwebbed tunnel of doom or so I would have described it. To others who could look past the filth might be able to enjoy the excitement of sliding through the walls of Hogwarts itself, zooming down at top speed. I hadn't realized we were so far up.
If I thought the ride was unpleasant enough, the landing had to of been the most surprising and objectionable aspect of the monstrosity of a journey. The ground was hard and flat, causing my landing to be more abrupt than I expected.
One glance beside me told me Lily felt just as disgruntled as I.
"Watch out!" Remus howled, but not soon enough. Luckily, he had spread his legs just in time to skid behind me in almost the perfect position to cradle my lap in his own, which I seemed to find myself in rather often in this time.
Not long after, we heard Sirius' voice boom through the tunnel.
"INCOMING!"
At least this gave Remus and I enough time to scurry out of the way, or rather roll, into a position where he blushingly found himself atop of me.
"Well, that was an adventure I'm certainly in a hurry to do again!" Sirius laughed, obviously unaware of our expressions.
"I'm afraid the phrase is the other way around, Sirius." Lily breathed.
Soon after came James, who pummeled headfirst into a summersault, finishing his exit with a "whoohoo" similar to Sirius', while Peter threw himself beside a tree and held his head as if this was the end of his night.
It was the first time I actually took in our surroundings. After seeing that we were indeed at a very far and deserted end of the castle, I concluded that this must have been a passage Filch hadn't found until years later. One that Fred and George may have known about yet couldn't have taken.
As the boys, minus Peter, announced we better head on, I sensed this had a great deal to do with Hogsmeade, but I was only partially correct.
We didn't travel far before the back of the Hogshead came into view. The dark, stone building looked even more miserable at night.
We crept around and drew our cloaks over our heads as Sirius instructed before making our entrance. I wanted to trust that if Remus was as willing as he was to pull through with this adventure, then I should be as well. But I couldn't help feeling a bit frightened.
Yes… Harry, Ron, and I fought a three-headed dog, rescued a convict, formed an illegal alliance, and faced Voldemort with his death eaters just as they were gaining power, but all those times, I knew what I was getting myself into.
I was just beginning to realize how much I detest surprises.
I found myself rather relieved when no one even looked up as Sirius whispered to the stout, wart-headed man serving drinks, nor when James took six bottles of a substance unknown to me under the counter, nor when Peter clumsily knocked a flask onto an old hag at the bar, nor when the others made a proud exit, clearly looking satisfied with whatever mischievous deed they might have committed. Only Lily and I were confused.
Apparently the "people" or whatever they may call themselves were either too drunk to even comprehend where they were, much less give a single thought to a bunch of ruthless teenagers, or they were so caught up in their own evil deeds that no one could have pulled their attention elsewhere other than Voldemort himself.
I was finding the air to be colder than expected and extremely eager to know our next destination, but the only answer I could pull from them was, "You'll find out soon."
They had not even the decency to drop the slightest hint!
One glance at his muggle watch again and Remus declared, "We'd better sprint for it. That portkey wasn't easy to get!"
"Portkey! Remus Lupin, you tell me how you got a portkey and where that leads to this instant before I go anywhere!" I screamed, grabbing his collar.
He pulled me forward as he spoke, "There's no time. Just trust me… "
I did trust you and you shoved me down a tunnel!
Before I could respond or think another thought, we were dashing down a hill just past the shrieking shack.
The others arrived a split second before us and a broken teapot was thrust into our hands.
Talk about random…
Everyone's fore-fingers were touching and away we went… me, holding my breath the whole way.
A/N: Finally, the plot bunnies were set loose. I was becoming so frustrated with this story until these ideas came rushing to me all at once. I'm thrilled to say this next one is going to be EXTREMELY fun to write. Sorry for the cliffhanger, but I promise you won't be disappointed after my next update. I thank my very gracious editor for encouraging me to remain committed to the story as well as the others who support my writing.
Peace and cheese!
Lunatik/ Nique
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