Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters created by JKR
In the middle of Seventh Year, Hermione Granger travels back in time courtesy of the new Transfer Student. Now, stuck in the Marauders Era, Hermione discovers what it's like to fall head over heals in love, and, with the help of her new friends, she starts a tradition that will ensures that Hogwarts will never be the same again...
Mainly set in the Marauders Area.
HG/SS
AN: This story has been reposted with significant changes to the plot! If you have previously reviewed this story, I hope you can find it in your heart to review it once more! Thanks!
Enjoy, and please review!
A Step Back In Time
Chapter 3
Gryffindor Common Room
"Please Lily! Just a little bit...?" Sirius asked with annoying life like 'puppy dog eyes'. Lily sighed and glared at her friends antics. "No, Black! Take your own notes for once! You can't always mooch off of someone else's hard work!" she shouted, trying to keep the smile from showing on her lips. "Reeeemuuuss! Can I copy your notes, then?" Remus looked up from his homework with a frown. "Like Lily said. Take your own. I swear..."
"Jaaaameeesss! They're being mean to me!" Sirius pouted, looking towards his black haired friend. James laughed. "You should have asked them before they started their homework like I did. Now they're all grumpy about it. Really, Padfoot. I thought you knew better than to ask for notes after they've already begun!" James chastised playfully as he swatted his friend with his Defense Against the Dark Art's textbook, causing Sirius to fake cry.
"What is the awful noise!" Lily cried out angrily, slamming the book she had been reading onto the end table. Standing up, she looked wildly around the room, ending her search by looking directly at Sirius. "Oh. It's just your voice..." she muttered as she sat back on the sofa she had previously occupied. Sirius scowled. "That wasn't very nice, Lily." he stated quietly, pulling himself into a large arm chair.
And then, when all had quited down, there was a tap at the window.
"Is that an owl? At this time of night?" James asked, trying to get a better view as he walked up to the window.
"Looks like. Let it in, maybe it has something from my mother... I haven't hear from her in weeks and she said she would write!" Lily shouted as she ran to the window, coming to stand directly behind her boyfriend. As the pane of glass was lifted, the small owl shot into the room as if it were in a panic, knocking over inkwells and scattering random sheets of parchment. 'I'm reminding myself of Ron's Owl!' Hermione thought with a grin. Pulling the same stunt she had just done to Trint, Hermione swooped low and caught her claws in Peter's hair before settling herself on the hearth of the fireplace. With an aire of staisfaction, she looked around the room to survey the damage she had caused. 'Good. At least they know I'm here...' she thought as she grined to herself.
"Hey Prongs! It has something in it's beak; looks like a letter! You get on the left and I'll get on the right. Maybe we can catch it the blasted thing!" Sirius stated in agitation. Seconds later the portrait hole opened and a small first year walked in. Seeing the escape, Hermione took to the air once again and zoomed out the door with the Marauders close on her tail feathers...
Under the Invisibility Cloak
"Stop stepping on my feet!" A'Marie whispered in annoyance.
"Only if you watch you elbow!" Trint shot back heatedly.
"If you make me drop my Camera, I swear to Merlin you'll regret it!" - A'Marie
"Would you two be quiet! I'm trying to find Herm-.. Hoots!" (AN: when they're causing trouble, they don't use their real names, just in case some one hears them, and they don't use their nicknames unless no one else is around.)
"Sorry, Birdbeak..." they both said at the same time. Severus rolled his eyes. "There she is! Four halls away on the second floor! Binns' is just down this hall. Lets run... hopefully that damned ghost will hear us and decide to follow." At Severus' words, they took off down the hall, slapping their shoes against the stone floor loudly. Binns was hot on their trail...
"Catch it! Catch it!" James whispered loudly to his friends. Hearing running coming her way, Hermione stopped and dropped the rolled piece of parchment onto Peter's head, then flew out the nearest window.
"Yes! What does it say, James!" Sirius sang out as James retrieved the small roll. Opening it, James roared in anger. "Who the hell are the Half Blooded Royalty!" he shouted as he crumpled the parchment, throwing it down the hall in annoyance.
A soft click sounded just before Binns made himself known.
"Black! Potter! Lupin! Pettigrew! What in Merlin's name are you four doing out after curfew!" The ghostly Professor snarled. "Up to Mischief, no doubt! Twenty points from Gryffindor and a weeks detention for each of you!" and with that said, the ghost vanished throught the nearest wall. Which happened to be a broom closet...
The Marauders quickly made their way back to their dorms, shoving a few first years out of their way as they entered the common room. Looking up from her book Lily frowned. "So, what was it?" All at once, the four boys began to explain what had happened.
"He took twenty points taken from Gryffindor!" Remus complained as he threw himself onto one of the sofas.
"And a week of detention!" Peter added quietly.
"Damn owl... It was a trick. You realize that, don't you James?" Sirius replied darkly.
James nodded his head slowly, then turned to his girlfriend. "Lily, do you know who the Half Blooded Royalty are?" after a moment of silence she replied. "I don't know. I've never heard of them before. It's most likely the Slytherins. I know for a fact that you four have been harassing them a lot lately... Maybe they thought it was time for pay back?"
Slytherin Common Room
"Oh, Dear Merlin! Did you see the looks on their faces when they read the note?" A'Marie howled with laughter.
Trint grinned. "What about their shock when Binns showed up! That was bloody priceless!"
Severus nodded his head in agreement. Turning to Hermione, he took her hands in his "And we couldn't have done that without you. You're amazing, Hermione!" he stated with awe.
Hermione lowered her head in embarrassment. "I'm sure you could have gotten another owl to do the same thing. But, you should have seen their common room when I was through with it. A right mess, it was!" And once more, they all broke out in laughter...
Sunday Morning
-
"Granger! Time to get you arse out of bed!" A'Marie shouted as she ripped Hermione's blanket away, causing the smaller girl to groan and shiver in the drafts of the dirty dungeons.
"But it isn't daylight yet!" Hermione insisted as she reached blindly for her covers, more than willing to get back to her peaceful sleep and dreams of a certain black haired Slytherin male...
A'Marie rolled her eyes. "We're in the Dungeons, Hermione. There are no windows for daylight to come through! And I thought you were supposed to be smart... Now get up! It's already half past six, and the boys are already waiting for us!" With that statement hanging in the air, Hermione jumped from her bed and ran around the room, searching blindly for her school robes while trying to rub the sleep from her angry eyes. Emerging from the bathroom a full three minutes later, the slightly bushy haired seventh year sighed. She really did hate mornings...
"And how do you suppose we do that? They'll think we were up to the same thing as last night." Severus was saying when Hermione fell onto the common room sofa.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "What are you three up to now?" she asked, looking at each person for a few seconds before turning to the next.
Severus smirked. "We've decided that a Prank War is to be issued. An end of the year competition, so to speak; and only the Gryffindors and Slytherins are allowed to participate... Do you think we would be able to get Dumbledore to allow it and let it go on as a tradition?"
Hermione thought for a minute before replying. "Well, some one could always ask him. I have nothing to do at the moment, so I can go before everyone else is awake, if you'd like."
"Perfect. Now, all we have to do is talk to the old coot and then inform the Marauders..." Trint added.
Dumbledore's Office
"Headmaster? Do you think I could have a moment of your valuable time?" Hermione began in a soft voice. "It would only take a few minutes, I'm sure..."
"Ah! Why of course, Ms. Granger. Please, have a seat." The Twinkling Headmaster exclaimed as he gestured to an empty chair before his desk. "Lemon Drop?"
Hermione smiled. "No thank you, Sir... Well, I was just thinking, Sir... In ...my time ...there is a tradition amongst the Slytherins and the Gryffindors... An end of the year Prank War. I... I'm not sure how much I should tell you, but, it started this very year. How it goes is, four seventh years from Slytherin and four from Gryffindor, have at each other. Occasionally, other houses are involved, and, if that is the case, they go to either one of the Feuding Houses and ask that they get back for them. Like revenge... Neither Hufflepuff nor Ravenclaw are allowed to participate. At All. And it's only for the last six months of school. A few days before graduation, the eight Pranksters involved are allowed to choose new Members for the following year. Sirius, Peter, Remus and James are known as the Marauders, as I'm sure you know... But, what you don't know yet, is that the Slytherins have made their own group. The Half Blooded Royalty. This group consist of Severus Snape, Trint Lorell, A'MArie Snugg and myself. I am simply here to inform you of what will be going on. In my time, you didn't approve of the Prank War, therefore, none of the Professors did either. But, with approval or without, the Prank War will happen. It would just be easier if you went along with it. No one has ever gotten seriously hurt because there are rules that the participating groups must follow, that had been made among themselves. I could... give you these rules... and make it seem like your idea. Both Gryffindors and Slytherins alike will be grateful. As I've said, no one has ever gotten seriously hurt. They do this because of the natural rivalry between their houses, and quite frankly, it keeps a lot of younger students studying because they can't be picked if they aren't at least an above average student. And again, as I've said before, it will happen with or without your approval."
Dumbledore smiled widely. "Yes... This does sound rather enjoyable! I think I will make the announcement over breakfast. How does that sound, then?"
"NO! Um... It started with a challenge from Slytherins. We wouldn't want to change Time too much, now would we...?" Hermione stated rather quickly.
Breakfast Hall
"Hermione! Well? What did he say?" "Is it a go?" "When do we tell the Marauders?" All three of her Slytherin friends bombarded her with questions as soon as she had sat down for breakfast.
Hermione gave a scowl and shushed them. "Would you three be a little more discreet? We don't want them to know about if before we issue the challenge!" she chastised half heartedly as she began to fill her plate with eggs and toast.
When her task was complete, she looked at each friend in turn. "Dumbledore has agreed to the Prank War. As long as the rules are followed. The rules consist of: No trying to kill anyone. No Unforgivable Curses. Nothing that would land anyone in Poppy's care for more that a week. No student under Seventh Year will be allowed to participate and, last but not least, Have Fun! And, for added entertainment, both groups involved are allowed to prank Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw and they can't prank back." Hermione added with a smirk.
Severus grinned. "So, how do we go about issuing this challenge? It's not like the Marauders would let us get anywhere near them..."
Again, Hermione smirked. "I think we should challenge them in person. I'll write a letter, give it to Lilly, and she'll pass it on to James. Thats actually where I was heading after my breakfast was finished."
30 Minutes Later; The Library
"Lily! Do you think you could do something for me?" Hermione asked as she practically cornered the red headed seventh year in the back of the Library.
Lily looked around nervously, causing Hermione to laugh. "Don't worry, I'm on my own. Besides... we don't have anything against you. It's the Marauders that we're after."
Lily gave an audible sigh of relief. "Thank Merlin! I thought I was in trouble when I saw you walk over here."
Both girls laughed. "But anyway," Hermione stated, getting back to the subject at hand. "do you think you could give this message to James? I'm sure he'd love to know what we're up to..." she stated as she held out a small, folded piece of parchment. Lily took the letter and looked at Hermione, asking if she could read it.
"Oh! Go ahead." the bushy haired witch stated with a smile and watched green eyes dark across the parchment in amusement.
"Oh my... Sure, I'll give it to him at lunch, alright?"
"Perfect! Thanks Lily... they would have never taken that if I or any other Slytherin had tried to give it to them." Hermione stated as she turned and left the Library.
Lunch
"What do you mean, 'it just appeared'? Letters don't just appear, Lily!" James shouted as he eyed the letter in his girlfriends hand wearily. Lily scowled. "Just shut up and read it, James!" she shouted back with equal force, causing the other Marauders to flinch.
Looking the letter over, 'The Marauders' was written on the front in black flowing script. As James opened it, Sirius, Remus, Peter and Lily leaned over his shoulders to read from behind.
"Meet us by the lake tonight at Seven. We think you will enjoy what we have to say...
-The Half Blooded Royalty"
"Are they serious! Do they really think we'll go after they got us in trouble last night?" James shouted, causing other Gryffindors to glance at them. "No way. For one, we don't even know who to expect. Knowing the Slytherins, it coulde easily be Voldemort!"
"But Prongs, why would they want to hand us over to Voldemort? It's not like we're muggle bor, or anything like that; besides, they aren't asking us to meet them after curfew, and, we'll still be in the No Apperating Zone of Hogwarts . It's not like we could get into any trouble this time..." Sirius reasoned.
"Yeah James! Aren't you curious about what they have to say?" Lily asked sweetly as she grabbed hold of his arm to pull him close.
Peter, (AN: as we all know) didn't seem to like the idea... "Prongs... It sounds like a trap... Maybe we should just ignore it..." he whined.
But, James had made up his mind. "Lets do it. Lily's right; I'm way to curious..."
Slytherin Common Room
"So, do you think they'll come?" A'Marie asked for the seventeenth time.
"I honestly can't see the Marauders as the wussing out type. They're too Gryffindor to see this as anything but a Challenge. Which, is technically what it is..." Hermione stated thoughtfully.
A'Marie sighed. "So, what exactly are we going to tell them? I mean..."
Severus rolled his eyes at that statement. "We're starting a Prank War with the Marauders, Pussy. What do you think we're going to tell them?" he asked with sarcasm.
7:00 PM; The Lake
It was indeed a sight to behold. Storming the grounds from the North, was the Half Blooded Royalty, in all their Slytherin glory, and from the South came the Marauders, showing off their Gryffindor courage.
As soon as Severus and James had gotten close enough, both had their wands drawn and hit each other with the same spell. In an instant, both boys were hanging limply in the air.
And before they could cause any real damage, two feminine voices shouted disarming hexes. After the commotion had died down to a slight roar (AN: lol), it was clear as to what had happened. Lily was holding Severus' wand in her free hand and Hermione was doing the same with James' wand, leaving the two boys stranded in the air.
"How about a negotiation?" Hermione clucked happily with a smile plastered on her face. Lily nodded. "Sounds like a plan."
"How about... I give James back, if – and only if – all four of the Marauders agree not to prank a single Slytherin for a full week." Both girls looked at the Marauders.
"No way! No freaking way!" James shouted from his spot in the air. Hermione smiled. "But Prongs! Don't you want to get down? Well, while you're just hangin' around, how about we tell you why we called you out here, hmm? I've spoken to Dumbledore today. He has agreed to let us have some fun. A Prank War... The Marauders against The Half Blooded Royalty."
James' head snapped towards Hermione.
"Are you serious! That would be awesome!" Sirius shouted, earning himself a glare from his best friend and leader. Glancing back towards Hermione, James asked "And what would the winner get?"
Hermione thought for a moment then replied, "Well, first I'd have to talk to Dumbledore again... but I was thinking about a trophy. Something to keep in the school... But anyway, this is how it's going to be. First, only four Seventh Years from Gryffindor and Slytherin will be allowed to compete. Thats us. At the end of every year, the last team members will get to choose four new members to keep the tradition going. Everyone will have to sign an agreement to follow all of the rules, though. Just to make sure that no one will get seriously hurt or anything like that. And secondly, once someone signs the agreement, they can't back out. If they do, they will be... Penalized... Lily and I will come up with the agreement and enchant it. Well? What do you think?"
James frowned. "It sounds alright, but what about-"
"And in return, the Slytherins can't prank any Gryffindors for the same allotted time, while they ready themsleves for the... compitition." Lily stated, trying to appease her boyfriend.
Jamse sighed and shook his head in defeat. "Alright. Today will begin the week of truce, and come next Sunday, well... we'll let you be surprised..." he stated, a feral grin gracing his full lips.
"Surpise this!" Hermione muttered as she twirled Severus' wand in a couple of loose circles, then violently flicked it to the side, causing James to do cartwheels before being thrown from his mid-air position and into the trunk of a large tree just six or seven feet from where he had once been. Lily hid a smile as she hurried to her boyfriends' side and helped him up.
"...Wasn't fair... truce... remember?" Jamse gasped out as he clung to Lily's arm.
Hermione threw him an innocent look. "Woops... the wand slipped."
CHAPTER 4 PREVIEW!
With a smile, Hermione continued "As for the other three, well, lets just say that they might just think twice about stepping through the doors of the Great Hall without preforming charms to see if anything is amiss."
"And what do you have in mind, exactly?" Trint asked in amusement. Both Hermione and Severus smirked at the Slytherin couple, but it was Severus that answered this time. "Pink boxers and bunnies; ...and nothing else. They, unlike Black, will not be feeling ignored once they enter the Great Hall for breakfast..."
AN: I'd just like to say thanks to those that have reviewed! It means a lot to me to know that 'most' of my readers have no complaints about the storyline/plot/pairing/descriptions! -