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Sirius searched the entire castle twice. He searched the library four times.
A pit hung low in his stomach when he met up with the other two marauders hours later at dinner.
Suspicions confirmed: she wasn't here.
"I just don't understand," James said, running his hand through his hair, "We looked everywhere, library, quidditch pitch, infirmary again, kitchens, she's absolutely not here."
"What if she died?" Peter said softly, "Would her name disappear from the map?"
Sirius met James' eyes. Neither of them had really considered that possibility. Truth be told, they didn't know what would happen to the map if someone died, it wasn't something they had experienced before.
"Honestly Pete," James said, "I don't know. But we probably would've heard about it by now if she did."
Sirius watched Peter push some food around on his plate as his mind went over the possibilities once more. Aside from her dying, which Sirius really didn't want to think about, the most realistic thing he could think of was that she had taken herself to St. Mungo's.
But how she would get there was a mystery to him.
As Sirius stared at the table, not feeling like eating much, he heard James mutter, "Woah, what the hell."
Sirius glanced up at his best friend to see him staring in shock at the entrance to the Great Hall. Following his line of sight, Sirius turned his head, only to see the girl they had searched for all day standing right in front of them.
As if she felt their stares, Hermione turned to look at the group of boys, sending a small smile their way before walking over to join them.
"Ok, remember," James said leaning into the table, "She doesn't know that Moony is Remus and she doesn't know we were there."
As Sirius finally started to put some food on his plate he felt her sit down in the spot next to him.
"Good evening boys," She said casually as she poured herself a glass of orange juice.
Sirius briefly glanced at James across the table.
His friend put on a relaxed smile before saying, "Long time no see, my friend! We were worried about you, you've been MIA for about a day now."
"Oh!" She said, sounding surprised, "I'm sorry, I should've mentioned I was spending some extra time in the library today. I feel like I've been falling behind a bit lately."
Sirius glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, impressed at the ease with which she was able to lie to them. If he hadn't already known that wasn't the truth, it would have been nearly impossible to tell otherwise.
Peter let out a chuckle and said, "Behind? With all the work you do I'm sure you're at least a week ahead."
"Yes well," Hermione continued, "It's not as far ahead as I would like."
"You know, Remus was in the library for a while this morning," Sirius finally said, "He mentioned he looked for you but wasn't able to find you."
"Oh, I was set up in one of the far back corners, he probably just didn't see me there." She said easily.
Sirius turned to face her, she seemed so calm and unbothered.
"Hey!" They heard a shout from across the hall as Marlene and Lily strode over to them.
As the two girls took their seats at the table Lily said, "Oh. Hermione are you alright? We were all a bit worried, no one's seen you in at least a day."
Sirius heard her laugh from beside him, "Oh, don't worry Lily, I was just telling the boys I was getting some extra studying done in the library."
"What about last night?" Marlene asked, "You didn't come back to the dorms. I personally gave you the benefit of the doubt and assumed you found a nice bloke to spend the night with, but Lily here was rather worried."
She laughed again and said, "Nothing to be worried about, and unfortunately my night wasn't so interesting. I came down with a stomach bug and spent the night in the Hospital Wing, but I'm feeling a lot better now."
Lily and Marlene quickly believed her, but the boys knew nothing she said was true.
She had clearly prepared to be questioned and Sirius definitely appreciated her efforts to keep Remus' secret. But still, he couldn't help but wonder why? She didn't know it was Remus. And she was just attacked by a werewolf. If that happened to anyone else at this school Sirius was sure they would be running through the halls screaming about it.
After some time, the group began walking back to the common room.
Lily, Marlene, and Hermione led the way as the boys followed slightly behind them.
Sirius noticed that Hermione looked stiff as she was going up the stairs, but other than that, there seemed to be no traces of what happened the night before.
It was so hard for him to believe that less than 24 hours ago he saw her basically on the brink of death.
The group hung out around the common room for a while, soon joined by Dorcas and Alice. Not long afterwards Hermione excused herself for bed, saying that she was still a bit worn out from her stomach bug.
Sirius watched her disappear up the staircase before Lily said, "Ok guys, what's going on?"
Out of the corner of his eye Sirius saw James staring at the fire.
Knowing that James couldn't handle being questioned by Lily, Sirius turn to her with a smile, "What ever do you mean, my dear Lilikins? Why would anything be going on?"
"Cut it," Marlene chimed in, "All three of you were acting weird around Hermione today and you were all super skiddy this morning when you were asking about her. What happened?"
"Nothing happened, per se," James said looking up, "It's just that we get a weird vibe from her."
It was subtle, but Sirius noticed the brief glance that Dorcas and Marlene exchanged.
"You get it too?" Sirius asked, looking at Marlene.
"It's not necessarily that we get a weird vibe from her," Marlene said. "It's just that we noticed she has some unusual habits."
"Like what?" James asked.
"It's nothing too strange," Lily said, shrugging, "Just small things."
"Like, she puts up silencing spells at night," Marlene continued for her, "She keeps most of her things in her handbag, instead of her trunk or her backpack, and she never gets changed in the room like the rest of us do."
"But those are all such small things," Dorcas continued softly, "Honestly, she could very well just be a private person."
Sirius noticed Marlene smile slightly at Dorcas' comment.
"What kind of stuff have you guys noticed?" Lily asked.
Slightly hesitant, James briefly explained their first encounter with her in Diagon Alley.
The girls looked shocked.
"We also saw her talking with Malfoy in the corridor one night." Peter said.
"I don't know," Lily said, "Yeah, some things seem off, but she's been nothing but kind to us so far, plus, she's finally starting to open up more. I think we should just go about things like normal."
Sirius knew Lily was going to say that before she even said it. He had the same conversation with James and Remus, of course Lily would say the same thing.
But still, that weird feeling rested in his stomach and Sirius couldn't shake it. He knew they were right. But that wasn't going to stop him from trying to find out more.
The next day was Sunday and Hermione was pleasantly surprised with how quickly the marauders moved on from their questioning the day before.
Early in the day all the Gryffindor seventh years, excluding Remus who Hermione assumed was still recovering, decided to spend the day outside while the weather was still nice.
Hermione sat leaning gently against a tree with Lily, Alice and Frank left for a walk around the lake, James and Sirius sat on the grass with Peter lying beside them.
"Who do you think is gonna try out for seeker now that Kane is gone?" Marlene asked. She was lying on her back on top of a picnic blanket she brought, watching the sky above her as Dorcas, sharing the blanket, lay with her head resting on Marlene's stomach while she read a book.
"I heard Preston Fawley mention he was going to try out the other day." Lily chimed in, sounding like she was only half paying attention.
"Yeah, I figured that," James replied pensive, "Although even if he does I know Tills is also trying out and I've seen him fly and he's bloody fast."
Hermione was only half paying attention, focusing primarily on an essay for charms they needed to write before Thursday.
"Do you play Hermione?" Marlene asked, breaking her out of focus.
"No, I don't," Hermione replied, "But I love to watch, my three best friends from home were all excellent players."
The conversation quickly moved on and Hermione let her mind wander to Ginny Weasley. It took a while for it to happen, but Ginny could easily be considered one of Hermione's closest friends.
Definitely not as close as Harry and Ron of course, but closer than most others.
Hermione was honestly surprised with how little Lily Evans reminded her of Ginny Weasley.
Hermione always assumed the two would be very similar, maybe it was the red hair, or falling for a Potter, or the fiery yet charming reputation. But now that she was actually here, with Lily Evans, the resemblances were much less than she imagined.
After some time, the group trekked back to the castle for dinner.
The group dispersed after dinner, with Lily and Alice going to the library, Dorcas and Marlene going back to the dorms, and the boys wandering off without an explanation.
Hermione decided to spend a little more time outside. Eager for space and fresh air, she grabbed her bag and walked back towards the lake. Nestling against the same tree she spent many days under with Harry and Ron, she pulled out a thin, colorful book and laid it on her lap.
Staring out onto the lake, Hermione took a deep breath and tried to feel the unfamiliar feeling of peace.
As she watched the sun set in the reflection of the water, a gentle rustling came from the grassy space on her side.
Turning to face the noise Hermione was surprised to see the thick, dark fur of a familiar looking dog.
As he hesitantly walked towards her Hermione felt herself smile.
Hermione knew it was Sirius, of course, but honestly, she didn't care.
She missed her Sirius and being able to talk to him so freely, to be in his calming presence. She reached out her hand and it met the dark fur. Hermione never realized how soft it was.
What's the harm? She thought.
She looked to the lake aching for peace she couldn't find, but here was the man that brought her so much peace and clarity and hope in the future.
What was the harm, in talking to him like she used to. He wouldn't respond, obviously, as Padfoot, but maybe talking to him, even just a little, would make her feel better.
Hermione brushed the back of his ear and said, "Thanks for your help the other night. That was frightening wasn't it."
His ear perked slightly, but Hermione genuinely did mean her thanks. Without him, she likely would have died.
"It was frightening. I was really worried for a bit. But everything is alright now. I shouldn't have been out anyways."
As her gaze shifted from the shimmering reflection of the lake to the silver eyes surrounded by dark black, Hermione couldn't help but smile.
"You know, I used to have a friend with eyes just like yours." She said, thinking back to grey eyes staring at her over the edge of a cup of coffee.
Smiling slightly, she continued stroking his fur as Padfoot nudged his nose against the book rested in her lap, an almost quizzical expression on his face.
"I know, it's not my usual reading material," Hermione chuckled slightly, "But Dumbledore gave it to me."
After a brief pause she continued, "I've already read it a few times, but I still feel like there's something I'm missing, if that makes sense."
Padfoot rested his head on top of the book in her lap.
For the first time since she got here Hermione felt like she was home. She felt like she was with her Sirius. She felt like she never left 1998. She didn't know what it was about being around Padfoot instead of Sirius. His animagi didn't age quite the same as he did, so it was easier to pretend nothing changed. To pretend no time passed.
Eventually, Hermione's eyes drooped closed as her thumb absentmindedly stroked dark fur and she fell into a calm, nightmare-less sleep for the first time in weeks.
It was dark when Hermione woke up.
The waning moon reflected on the lake, a dark silhouette stood in front of her.
Squinting her eyes at the face of the figure Hermione saw a slight smile with white teeth grace sharp features.
"Tired, are you?" Sirius' low voice said, "How long have you been out here?"
Hermione chuckled, she knew that Sirius knew exactly how long she had been out here.
"I'm not sure," she responded, "I just fell asleep reading, I suppose."
He stretched his hand out towards her, gently grabbing it, Hermione allowed him to pull her to her feet.
"It's almost curfew," He said as they walked back towards the castle.
Sirius couldn't help himself.
Peter wandered off to detention for something or another after dinner and James left to bring some leftover dessert to Remus in the hospital wing.
Sirius would make sure to see Remus later that night, but as the rest of the girls left for either the library or the dorms he wondered where Hermione would go.
As she walked through the empty corridor and onto the uneven footpath outside Sirius wondered, briefly, if she would remember Padfoot from that night.
She wouldn't say anything to Sirius about what happened, but maybe she would to Padfoot.
And so, as she sat under a tree staring out onto the lake, a look of desperation on her face, Sirius shifted into his animal form and made his way over to her.
He approached her slowly, careful not to startle her. As she turned to look at him a faint, serene smile graced her face, reaffirming to Sirius that this was a good idea.
Once he was within reach Hermione stretched out her hand to scratch behind his ear, Sirius would never understand why that felt so good.
Enjoying the peaceful feeling, Sirius was surprised when she said, "Thanks for your help the other night, that was frightening wasn't it."
Sirius was caught off guard that she mentioned it so quickly and so calmly at that, but even more so when she continued to say, "It was frightening, I was really worried for a bit. But everything is alright now. I shouldn't have been out anyways."
She stared back towards the lake. Sirius hoped she would keep talking, he had so many questions he couldn't see any other way to get the answers to.
As she turned away from the lake and looked at him again, her brown eyes were filled with an intensity he didn't know, as if she was seeing through him, as if she understood him.
"You know, I used to have a friend with eyes just like yours." She finally said.
Used to? Sirius wondered. Was she talking about him? He supposed they could be considered friends. But then why did she say 'used to?'
She smiled another soft smile, this time one filled with sadness. Sirius noticed for the first time the book sitting in her lap. Thinking it good to distract her from whatever she might be thinking, he gently nudged it with his nose.
"I know, it's not my usual reading material," Hermione chuckled slightly, "But Dumbledore gave it to me. I've already read it a few times, but I still feel like there's something I'm missing, if that makes sense."
Trying to look at the cover, thinking it odd that Dumbledore gave her a book to read, Sirius discovered that there was no title.
Hermione gently brushed the thumb of her left hand on the pages of the book while her right absentmindedly stroked through Padoots fur.
With his head resting on her lap Sirius watched her touch the pages of the book when he saw a bandage sticking out from beneath her robes, likely an injury from the other night.
He hoped she would say something else. From the few things she said so far, Sirius could tell that she was more comfortable with him like this, and she seemed so different when she was comfortable.
The hand that was running through his fur eventually began to slow before stopping altogether while her breathing evened out.
Once Sirius was sure she had fallen asleep he spared a glance at her.
The sun was setting slowly over the lake and the bright reflection gave her a soft orange glow. Sirius noticed for the first time that she had a light brush of freckles splattered across her nose.
It was odd seeing her like this. She looked so peaceful, so innocent, so pretty?
He wondered how he had never noticed before, it seems so obvious now.
Sirius stayed there with his head on her lap thinking about everything that had happened.
Everything up until tonight pointed towards something being off about her. But now, with his head in her lap and her hand in his fur, even breathing as she slept peacefully, it was so difficult to believe that this girl could be a part of anything suspicious or malicious.
The time passed by quicker than Sirius would have liked and eventually all traces of the sun were gone and the stars reflected on the lake.
Gently pulling himself away from Hermione, Padfoot transitioned back into Sirius.
As he stood there in front of the sleeping girl he hesitated to wake her up. Not wanting to disrupt her sleep he looked out over the lake, the waning moon filling the water with light.
Eventually, Sirius decided it was best for them to go back inside. He tried to wake her up peacefully, so he faked a cough hoping it would be enough, and thankfully, it was.
Hermione stirred before slowly opening her eyes.
She glanced around before turning to face Sirius.
He smiled down at her, "Tired, are you? How long have you been out here?" He asked, pretending like he didn't know.
Sirius watched her laugh slightly, "I'm not sure, I just fell asleep reading, I suppose."
Reaching his hand forward, Sirius was pleased when she accepted his help. After pulling her to her feet, Hermione straightened herself out and the pair began walking towards the castle.
"It's almost curfew." Sirius said, not really knowing what else to say.
"Oh," Hermione said casually, "Thanks for dragging me in. I probably would have stayed out here all night otherwise."
The pair fell into silence once again.
But it wasn't awkward, or at least Sirius didn't feel awkward, he wasn't sure if Hermione felt the same.
He couldn't explain it.
He felt closer to her, he felt like he understood her a fair bit more than he did just a few hours ago. He just didn't know why.
It's not like he actually learned anything about her, he didn't even speak to her. Maybe it was because she seemed so much more relaxed? So much more real?
This is ridiculous. Sirius thought.
She didn't even know that he was Padfoot, he was no closer to her than he was a few hours ago.
As Sirius pulled open the large front entrance to the castle he watched Hermione walk through the door and told himself to get a grip before it was too late.