Chapter Three

Dear Miss Hart

Your books and timetable are in your dormitory. You have the same classes as Sirius, so it will be easier for you to get around Hogwarts. I hope you have a pleasant year.

Sincerely

Dumbledore

Hermione put the letter on the bedside table, and sighed deeply. Madame Pomfrey told her she would be released tomorrow, just before breakfast.

Just as she was about to fall asleep, Madame Pomfrey strode up to her. "You've got a visitor," she explained, "would you like to see her?"

The crowd had totally disappeared, as Madame Pomfrey had told her earlier, so Hermione let the girl in. She only hoped it wasn't Sandie.

A girl with long, pale hair walked up to her, her small blue eyes fixed on Hermione. The girl looked familiar, but Hermione didn't know where she had seen her before.

"I'm Clover," the girl said, "I'm in your dormitory."

"Aren't they all," remarked Hermione, thinking back to Sandie. "I'm Pertida Hart, by the way."

Clover smiled at her. "I know."

"So Pertida, do you like Sandie?"

Hermione gave her a look of pure horror. "I don't, I'm afraid. I find her very insensitive. I don't won't to be rude, but why ask?"

"I'm her sister."

Oh God…

Hermione wanted to sink into the bed and disappear. "I-I'm so sorry," she stuttered, "I didn't realize."

The apology sounded lame even to Hermione's ears, but Clover dismissed the apology with a wave of her hand.

"No worries, I don't like Sandie that much, anyway."

"You hate your own sister?" Hermione exclaimed. If she had a sibling, she'd treat it with so much care that they'd forget she was their sister but their Mother, instead.

Clover laughed. "No, I don't hate Sandie, it's just that…Well, we have nothing in common, so it's hard for us to talk."

Hermione nodded. "So, why are you visiting me, Clover?"

Clover tilted her head to the left, a ghost of a smile playing around with her lips. "Just to talk about every-day stuff, you know? So, how did you get here?"

I arrived here by Dumbledore telling me I must go back to the past, stay in Hogwarts for Seventh year, and then kill Voldemort when he arrives at the Potters house. Honestly, I just arrived here as students usually do.

"Oh, I flew here," answered Hermione, brightly.

Clover looked at her with curiosity. "Where's your broom? What model do you fly?"

Hermione wanted to slap herself for putting herself in this predicament.

"A Silver Arrow," Hermione replied, pointedly ignoring her first question.

"Sorry, I like to know other peoples business: where's your broom?"

Merlin, Clover can seriously put you on the spot.

"In the dormitory," Hermione gulped. Liar, liar, pants on fire…The childish rhyme sent shivers down her spine. Why did she feel so afraid?

Clover nodded. "I'll see you soon, Hermione. What classes do you have tomorrow?"

Hermione laughed.

000

The next day, it was all over the school that Pertida Hart had been released. Many students were wondering how the new girl would react by seeing Snape, or, walking around the grounds where she was being gossiped about.

Hermione, who was used to such gossip about her, certainly in year four by the Rita Skeeter articles, walked around with the Marauders with ease.

Peter, still scared by the way Hermione had reacted to him, walked behind her. He avoided talking and walking with her as if she contained a contagious disease, and at breakfast that morning he didn't even look at her. By no means, Hermione was pleased by the arrangement.

At break, they sat down near the lake, underneath a big tree. Hermione smiled; this was always where her, Harry and Ron sat in breaks.

"Are you glad to be released?" Sirius finally asked.

"You make it sound as if I was in prison," Hermione said, lightly.

"You haven't answered the question," Remus pointed out. Hermione leaned back onto the tree and stretched out her legs.

"Depends," Hermione replied, slowly. "I would enjoy it if no one was gossiping about me."

"I could stop that," James commented, arrogantly, "as I'm the Head-Boy."

Hermione looked at him, with pity. "In your life, James, you wouldn't be able to stop everyone. Some people, yeah, but not everyone."

Of course, she was talking about Voldemort. James looked confused.

000

James came into Charms late. Hermione, who had to sit next to Remus, glanced up when he came in.

He looked angry and upset, and when he sat himself down next to Sirius, Hermione saw red rings around his eyes. James Potter had been crying.

Remus' mouth dropped open, as half of the girls in the class did. Lily Evans, who Hermione was still angry with, stared at him with surprise. It was obvious James had never come to class before looking as if he'd been crying.

Hermione made a mental note to ask James after class what was wrong.

000

Sirius, for the first time, was at a loss. His best friend didn't even tell him what was going on. All best friends should share their secrets, right? No matter how dark they are. So as the bell for end of the day went, Sirius took James aside.

Remus, Pertida and Peter stood beside James, so he couldn't even think of escaping. Sirius stared at his best-friend's distressed face.

His hazel eyes looked right to left, continuously. Pertida looked so sad for him, that Sirius wanted to remind her it was he, Remus and Peter who were James' best friends.

"They're dead," he whispered, hoarsely.

"James," said Pertida, "who's dead?"

James bowed his head, and then he lifted it up. "He murdered them. He ruddy murdered them!" Tears broke free from his eyes.

Sirius thought how fortunate James was that the corridor was empty. "James…who's dead?"

"My parents!"

James spun around and slammed his fist on the wall. Pertida jumped back with shock, and James turned to her, a look of malicious spite across his face.

"I bet you never had someone that you cared for dead," he lashed out at her, and Sirius saw he enjoyed the pain that filled Pertida's soft brown eyes.

"I bet you have a perfect little life, filled with music and cookies!"

"You've gone too far, James Potter. You're out of order. As a matter of fact, all my family died. I saw them dying, too," yelled Pertida. "He killed my family, like he killed yours! In fact, I lived a harsher life than yours. At least you've got your friends standing beside you, unlike my friends, who are rotting away."

Tears in her eyes, Pertida fled.

"Merlin, I never knew." James slid down from the wall and crouched.

"None of us did, James," Remus sighed.

Unknown to them, a very surprised redhead had watched the ghastly scene, and was questioning James' new change.

A/n: sorry pps, most people chose shorter chapters! Anyway, all chapters will be around this length. I love if you send me feedback!

Thanks to:

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