Chapter Five

Sirius, Remus and Peter sat in their favourite sofa in the Gryffindor Common Room.

Remus, his eyes filled with worry, shot a glance at Sirius. "Do you think our plan has worked?"

"Of course," replied Sirius, in a haughty voice, "all Marauder's plans work!"

"Not all," objected Remus, "remember that time when you tried to get Snape into that vanishing cupboard, but you pushed Gerald McCombe in, instead?"

Sirius let out a bark of laughter. "Oh yeah, I forgot about that!"

Suddenly, Mauve Lindon, the stunning sixth-year Gryffindor beauty, walked past Sirius, and gave him a very suggestive look.

Sirius smirked, and got up. "Well boys, here I must leave you."

He headed straight over to her, and tapped her on the back. Mauve spun around, and smiled to see it was Sirius.

"Why, hello. You look like an angel," he drawled, secretly congratulating himself that she blushed.

"And you look like the devil himself," she retorted, her hands on her thin hips. Her blonde hair tumbled down to her waist, framing her heart-shaped face.

The Gryffindor door opened, and the voices and people that entered distracted him. "She's here, Pertida!" she squeaked.

Sirius turned around and saw Pertida and James heading towards him, both wearing bright smiles. He ignored Pertida's eyes that suggested she had been crying.

"Did my plan work?" he demanded, stressing the word 'my'. Sirius didn't believe that all of Remus' plans worked, and none of Sirius' did. He wanted to prove Remus wrong for once.

James looked at him, grinning. "It was your plan, huh? Not Remus'?"

"Definitely not Remus'," Sirius snapped, offended. "It was mine; and I thought of it all alone."

James looked at him, with doubt. "Yeah right, Sirius."

Pertida punched James' shoulder playfully. "Give over," she said, and Sirius looked at both of them with suspicion.

"You're not…together, are you?"

Pertida and James looked at each other, before they both burst out laughing. "Of course not!" James replied.

Pertida told Sirius delicately: "Anyway, I'm engaged."

000

Hermione knew as soon as that phrase had come out of her mouth that she had committed her biggest mistake.

The laughter immediately died from James, as he mirrored Sirius' expression: incredulous horror. "Y-you're engaged?" Sirius exploded. The whole Gryffindor Common Room fell silent, as they watched the three.

Hermione flushed. "Well; yes."

"To who?"

The girl who was behind them, who in Hermione's opinion looked very pretty, but could probably act as mean as a rattlesnake, gasped out loud.

"Oh my God," she shouted, in a Texas accent. "Who would think that? The new girl is engaged – already!"

"Mauve," growled Sirius, in a threatening way, "shut-up!"

The girl called Mauve tossed back her hair (that Hermione was secretly jealous of) and sauntered up to Sirius. "Why, honey," she said, "don't act like a Mudblood lover."

Gasps echoed around the room, and Hermione felt every single pairs of eyes on her. Time seemed to stop as everyone watched Hermione, dreading what she'd do. Hermione stood still in her tracks, her heart slowing down by a mile. It was angrier and louder than ever, and Hermione was surprised Mauve couldn't hear it.

Hermione blinked away her tears, and like she did a few days ago, ran up the Girls staircase.

000

Before Mauve turned one hundred and eighty degrees, Sirius grabbed her wrist. He was trembling with rage, and not even Mauve's pretty face could simmer down his anger.

"You-You-You-"

"I'm what?" questioned Mauve, sweetly. "Watch your language, Mister Black."

"You're like them, through and through, aren't you?" Sirius shot out, fiercely.

"Like what, Mister Black?"

"Don't play dumb, Lindon! You're like a stinky, rotten Slytherin! An exact replica, in fact! A stupid, selfish, filthy Slytherin!"

Mauve's eyes danced with anger. "At least I'm not a blood-traitor! A Mudblood lover!"

Sirius slapped her hard around the cheek. The slap sounded as loud as a Banshee shrieking, and to Mauve's yell of anguish, it was as painful as diving into a pool of sharp rocks.

"You jerk!" she cried, "you horrible blood-traitor! A good family always has a black sheep!"

"Shut-up," ordered James, his voice deathly quiet. A glint that resembled madness gleamed into Mauve's eyes, as she faced James.

"Don't you dare order me around, Mister Potter! You have less authority than Mister Black!"

"Actually, I have more authority than you." James flashed her his Head-Boy badge. "That's a detention for you, Lindon. You're a disgrace to us Gryffindors."

000

Hermione pursed her lips, telling herself notto cry. Why is it that, she wondered, whenever I'm in my dormitory, I'm usually in tears?

"Hey Pertida, it's me."

Clover came into her view.

"Oh God, I look a mess," wailed Hermione, but Clover ignored her wail. She sat down on Hermione's bed and hugged her.

"Ignore that stupid prat," she advised, "her opinion isn't worth anything."

Clover let go of her, and Hermione was glad she had stopped snivelling. "Was it that obvious that I was…" her voice trailed off, into nothingness.

"Muggleborn?" Clover said, softly. Hermione nodded.

"Yeah. You see, no-one's heard of the surname 'Hart', so we just assumed you were Muggleborn."

Hermione nodded, accepting the answer. "Are you a Pureblood?"

Clover turned a deep shade of red. "Me and Sandie? Yes, we are."

Again, Hermione nodded. "I thought so," she muttered, absent-mindedly.

"I'm not one of the strict ones, though. My family aren't dark."

"I know that also; otherwise you wouldn't be talking to me."

000

Hermione went down to the Common Room, late at night, knowing it wouldn't be as crowded. She was right; for only Remus, James and Sirius were there.

"Hi, guys."

"Pertida," yelped Remus. Like a sixth sense, Hermione knew they were talking about her.

She turned to Sirius. "I'm sorry, but I crashed while I was taking the flying lessons. In the process, your broom got snapped. Oh Sirius, I'm so sorry."

"It's alright," said Sirius, stiffly. Hermione cringed by how cold Sirius' voice sounded. They all looked at her as if she was an alien.

"Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was engaged, guys! How would you like to tell strangers that your fiancée is dead?" Hermione burst out.

All three looked visibly shocked, and slightly ashamed.

"We're friends now, Pertida," James said softly, and as an after-thought; "I'm sorry."

"You don't need to be sorry about my fiancée," said Hermione, "you didn't know."

"We should be, anyway," contradicted Remus, "we had no right, Pertida, no right."

Hermione looked at Sirius. "What do you say about the matter, Sirius?" she said, quietly.

"I agree with Remus, and don't bother about my broom, I'll by my own on a Hogsmeade trip," answered Sirius, to Hermione's surprise…

(flashback)

Hermione was at the shops, deciding what she should buy for her Mother's birthday. She wished she had thought of going to Hogsmeade; there would be such a better selection!

She scanned her way through the shelves, and spotted a perfect present: a charm bracelet. Hermione grinned as she bought it.

Something in the air frightened Hermione. She walked faster, ignoring the coldness. Her present was in her thick coat pocket, and she couldn't wait to see her Mother's delight when she opened it tomorrow.

Hugging herself with joy, Hermione turned around the corner and entered the street.

Hermione gaped at what she saw. There was the Dark Mark hovering over her house, where her parents were. She ran to her house and unlocked it, not thinking of the danger she could be in. She entered the house, and tears fell from her eyes as she went to the Kitchen.

There, her parents lay. Dead.

(end of flashback)

"Pertida? Pertida?"

Hermione's eyes snapped open. They were all looking at her, full of concern.

"What happened?" she asked, timidly.

"You were in your own world," said Remus, with a grin.

Remaining stony-faced, Hermione went back to the Girls Dormitory.

A/N: Feel free to give me any: tips/praise/ ideas…

Thanks to:

BexyLou: thanks Alice: thanks Kates Master: lol…however, I'm not going to give away the ending :grins: Padfoot's Sidekick: yeah…well…to add in a little mystery ;) ghilliekitten: yeah…I want some, too, now. :Sighs:. RainynDawn: thanks for the warning…but I checked through the Guidelines and it didn't mention anything about it…anyway, in case if this story does get kicked off, I've saved it on Word and I'll repost it again and complain. String bean 458: :lips sealed: Holabulooooooooo: thanks profet: lol…it doesn't matter…and thanks ;) ForgottenIceTea: all will be revealed….aizi: Ah, well… swirlywhirlynutcase: As my other stories didn't exactly…go on, I vowed this story shall! Rane2920072: thanks! and here it is! Total Fan Of Yours: This story made you cry::mouth falls open: thanks for the review. TeoBlaise: who will it be? An answer will be revealed…later…later on! Amrawo: thanks!