DISCLAIMER: Deep in the jungle there lies a mountainous tree with millions upon millions of leaves. Every year, one leaf falls off. By the time the last leaf falls, I will still not own Harry Potter.

Summary: Through the barrier and into…a different time? Hermione finds herself in the Marauder's time. In a story of hate, lies, and hurt, Hermione finds something else….love.

Chapter 5:

When the train arrived at the platform, Hermione's nervousness grew. Her hands were shaking slightly and she tried to hide them behind her back, hoping that none of the guys noticed.

She didn't know what was going to happen when she stepped off the train. For all she knew, she could very well step back into her own time.

Sirius and Remus left the compartment immediately after the train started slowing, mumbling something about their carriage. James, however, sat there and stared at Hermione who was visibly shaking but trying desperately not to show it.

James mentally laughed at her nervousness because he had felt the same when he first came here and also tried to hide it.

He reached out and touched her shoulder lightly to gain her attention. "Nervous?"

She sent him a small smile. "A little."

"It will be fine," he assured her, giving her shoulder a small squeeze. He rose swiftly and held out his hand to her. "Come on, stay with me and I'll take care of you."

"Promise you won't leave me for some prettier foreign girl," Hermione teased which she received a handsome smirk and a "Yes," from James.

"Okay then," she said as she smiled again and took his extended hand, rising from the seat. He smirked at her before leading her out of the compartment and into the corridor which was packed full of eager kids anxious to get to Hogwarts. A path was easily made for them to walk down as students jumped out of the way of the popular James Potter.

Hermione watched as many students, younger perhaps though some looked as if they too would be 7th years, looked at James in awe. He was the guy everyone wanted to be and who every girl wanted to be with, Hermione thought, just like Harry.

James held onto her hand as they walked off the train and through the gathered crowd of students that waited for their friends before getting a carriage. Neither noticed the curious looks from the guys or envious stares from the girls thrown at them as they walked hand in hand. Nor did either noticed a particular red head staring at them.

"So how do we get to the school?" Hermione asked, thinking it would be better to show a little bit of ignorance for propriety's sake.

"Oh, well the first years go with Hagrid, he's the gate keeper here, a giant bloke." James gestured towards a group of kids gathered off to the side. Sure enough, Hagrid was in the middle of them, towering thunderously over their small statures.

"And those who are not first years?"

James smiled at her. "We travel by horseless carriages."

Hermione raised her eyebrows, pretending to be amazed. "Horseless? How exactly does that work out?"

"Magic," James answered airily and Hermione couldn't help but to smile and roll her eyes. Of course he would come up with an answer like that.

Sirius and Remus were waiting for them beside an empty carriage. Remus smiled at them as they approached, but Sirius glanced down at their clasped hands and cast a dark look at his best friend before quickly turning and climbing into the carriage. James frowned, wondering what caused this sudden change of mood in his best friend.

"Is this the 'Marauder's Carriage'?" Hermione joked.

Remus bowed formally and gestured towards the carriage. "Why yes, my lady. May I present the Noble Carriage of the Marauders. Watch your step."

She laughed as Remus handed her up into the carriage and then doing the same thing to James, who took it with a laugh and giggled like a girl. Hermione took the seat beside of Sirius, smiling at him which he returned after a brief hesitation. James and Remus sat across from them.

The carriage ride to the school was tense. Sirius remained in his foul mood and would not talk to anyone. He stared out the window broodingly and only acknowledged anyone when it was required, giving them a cold look before turning back to the window.

James had a distant feeling as he sat watching his friend that whatever was bothering Sirius involved him. Of course, this feeling could come from the fact that each time Sirius glanced his way, his eyes would harden and he would snarl his lip in a Slytherin-like way.

Remus, on the other hand, lounged back in the carriage. He stared from one friend to another then back again. He wondered how long it would take his two hot-headed friends to figure it all out and forgive each other for their inanity.

Hermione didn't pay any heed to any of them. She was intensely worried about whether she would be able to back to her own time or not. Therefore, her every thought was consumed with the upcoming confrontations with Dumbledore.

"Hey," James said, nudging her knee and bringing her out of her trance, "we're here."

She turned and looked at him. He looks so much like Harry, she thought sadly, except for his eyes, those intense hazel eyes that separate him from his son.

She smile briefly at him and made to get out of the carriage, hoping to escape for her thoughts. Sirius had climbed out of the carriage before anyone else and held the door open. He held out a helping hand to Hermione which she graciously excepted, sending him a warm smile.

"Thank you Sirius," she said sweetly, letting her hand rest in his grasp. It felt oddly comforting, she realized, her hand in his. A feeling ran through her, but she dismissed it before she had the chance to analyze it.

"You're welcome," he smiled a roguish grin. The breath caught in her throat, making her bight at her lip shyly and looking down. He offered his arm to her, "If I may?"

She paused. Was it really wise to become close to him? He just being friendly, she chided herself, why would he have an interest in you? She smiled as she took his arm. "I would love for you to escort me to the school, Sirius."

She turned as Sirius was about to take off and looked in the direction of the carriage. "James?" she questioned. "Are you coming with us?"

James threw a skeptical look at Sirius. He didn't understand what he had done wrong. But he decided to dismiss his worries for now as he walked towards Hermione. "Yeah, I'm coming." He offered his arm to her which she took with her free arm.

Together they walked to the school with Remus following closely behind. Hermione was reminded of how she, Ron, and Harry used to walk exactly like this during her time, laughing and teasing each other playfully as they went.

Sirius and James, however, were not laughing nor teasing as they walked on either side of Hermione. Sirius, on one side, was throwing murderous glares at James. And James, on the other side, was casting curious glances at his friend.

Remus behind them watched with amusement. He spotted a Ravenclaw friend of his, Jessica Kingston, and walked away from the group towards her.

The glances between friends continued clear to the gargoyle statue when they were forced to stop when Hermione separated herself from them. She looked inquisitively at the boys.

James stepped forward and cleared his throat in an prominent manner. "Treacle Treats," he said to the statue which sprung to life before their eyes, revealing the spiraling staircase that lead to Dumbledore's office.

Hermione turned towards the two boys and smiled at each of them. "Thank you for bringing me here. I'm sure I can find my way from here."

"Well then my lady," Sirius teased giving her a slight bow, "we will bid you adieu."

Hermione chuckled while James looked at him, confused. "Aren't you just the intellectual," she teased, grinning at him.

Sirius wagged his eyebrows. "I've been reading some stuff by this muggle author. He isn't very well known yet and I doubt he ever will be with the language he uses."

"Who is it?" Hermione asked, wondering who Sirius was talking about.

"Some guy called William Shakespeare."

Hermione bit back the laughter that threatened to spill out. James looked at his friend. "With a name like that, no wonder no one reads his stuff," he commented.

Sirius nodded his head enthusiastically. "That we agree on."

Hermione rolled her eyes, though they were filled with laughter. "Well goodbye you two," she said, maintaining a straight face though it was difficult. "And stay out of trouble!"

"We will," James promised, smiling mischievously.

"Yeah," Sirius chimed, "we'll be sure to tell Mrs. Norris hi for you."

Before Hermione could reply, the turned and ran down the hallway. Hermione stared after them, sighing as she remembered her time when Harry and Ron would get the same impish look on their face as they went looking for trouble.

She turned and faced the stairwell. Nervousness collided with her head on and she took a step back. She didn't know what was going to happen past this point and to be honest, she was a little scared. What if Dumbledore didn't believe her?

Pushing her fears aside, Hermione took a step forward and onto the first step. She made her way silently up the stairs, dismissing all ill-begotten thoughts of what could happen, of what could become of her if she was to remain.

The door stood looming over her. A dark brown door with a white phoenix knocker was the only thing standing between her and her fate. Did she dare enter?

qpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqp!AMAYA!qpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqp

A/N: It took me a while but there it is. I just wanted to hurry and get it up before anything else unexpected popped up and inhibited me from doing it. Okay, update on my HORRIBLE Saturday. ACT's are EVIL, people! Believe me when I say this. They're so simple that you feel dumb because you CANNOT for the life of you remember any of it. The math is like 8th grade math but, as you sit there and stare at it, your mind literally goes blank of any knowledge you might have held at one point on that particular subject. Sorry to ramble, it just frustrates me cause I know I should have known it.

Okay….I'll try to update….er….I have a Speech Tournament Saturday so let's shoot for Sunday or Monday. I might, MIGHT, have a one-shot coming your way just for Halloween so be sure to look out for it.

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THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO READ THIS, IT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!

!AMAYA!