A/N: A special thank you to my beta Alicia.
Chapter 16
Harry snatched his glasses in frustration. He rubbed his eyes. The text ran together. He couldn't distinguish individual words. He slammed the book closed disturbing Hermione. She glared at him, and returned to her essay.
The library's stale scent hadn't diminished in the two hours he'd been closeted with Hermione. He rolled his shoulders. The other tables were empty, no students in sight. They were alone in the stacks.
"Hermione," he whispered. He cast sidelong glances watching for Madam Pince.
"What?"
Her tone did not invite conversation, but he waited. Hermione's fingers clutched her quill. She resisted the urge to raise her eyes. She avoided private moments with Harry for a week. Her luck exhausted itself. How could it not with him following her every move. She thought she would be safe in the library. She should have brought Lily.
She had five minutes to herself before he strolled in. He plopped at her table. He unpacked his bag, unrolled his parchment, and got his quill ready. He hadn't said a word. She hoped her fierce concentration would derail his intentions. Harry knew not to disturb her once she was absorbed in her work. A shift in tension told her he would not be put off this time.
"What?" she snapped. Her waspishness instructed him to drop it.
"We have to talk." He used the tone he reserved for insolent D.A. members.
"No, we don't," she insisted adding, "it's not your concern." She dipped into the tone she reserved for misbehaving students.
"You're my best friends," he stated as if this declaration settled the matter of his interference.
"Who had a relationship that didn't include you," she retorted.
"I'm not a busybody aiming for the juiciest gossip," he snipped. "I am your friend, who happens to be worried about your wellbeing." He let that sink in before he continued. "I also need to tell you that Ron is an unthinking git." He dug into his Gryffindor courage to admit, "He's not the only one."
She winced at his use of Ron's name. "Harry, you know I don't talk about him when he does something like this." A string of memories flashed. Ron's decision to go to America. Ron deserting them in a forest. Ron's public display with Lavender Brown. In those instances, Hermione leaned on Harry, but she also shut him out. She didn't talk about the hurt Ron inflicted intentionally, or unintentionally. She and Harry shared no heart-to-heart chats. They weren't going to now either. Hermione returned to her potion's homework.
"And me?" Harry asked.
Her quill stopped scratching, but she didn't look up. "What about you?"
"I'm sorry." He'd been saying that a lot lately. Each time he promised to do better, but he hadn't learned to follow through.
"For what?" Exasperation leaked into the words.
"Giving you —"
"Enough," she cut through his words. "It's fine. We're fine. Everything's fine." Her tone indicated that nothing was fine, but her fierce gaze dared him to argue.
He swallowed then licked his lips. "I'll see you at dinner." Subject dropped. He stuffed his supplies into his bag. He stood. He hesitated.
"I do not want to talk about it," she enunciated each word with a crisp bite. "Leave me alone." He didn't leave. "Is it so hard for you to follow simple instructions?" She sneered.
He straightened his spine. He walked stiffly to the exit. At the door he turned. Hermione sat hunched over her work, but her quill still wasn't moving.
#
Harry's departure spurred James into action. He strode into the library. He had no time to second guess his motivation. She was there. The abruptness of her appearance halted his forward momentum. He expected to search for her, instead she was thrust upon him. Her solitary presence easily discerned.
Outstretched fingers wrapped around James's arm. Captured in the firm grip he was jerked back through the door. Another harsh jerk spun him around. He came face to face with an annoyed Sirius Black.
"What are you doing?" Sirius asked as he released his prey.
"Going to the library." James smoothed the angry wrinkles in his robes.
"Prongs," drawled Sirius. The command, and accusation clear.
"I was going to talk to Hermione."
"Prongs," Sirius snarled. "We discussed this."
"Yes, and if you would listen. We could manage Moony's plan. Without you, I'm left to any means necessary."
"I told you this is a ridiculous idea."
"You expressed your feelings. We don't agree."
"We?"
"The rest of us. We think there is something else going on. We're going to find out what it is."
"How I feel doesn't matter?"
"Of course it does."
"But not enough for you to call this off." Sirius pointed to the library.
"Not when you're wrong."
"What makes you right?" A bite in his words. Anger stirred in his vivid blue eyes.
James felt the eyes boring into him. He met the anger. "Look, whether you believe us, or not, it's for your own good."
"Do not use me for your self-serving purposes. I've had enough of that," Sirius spat. He fumed.
"Padfoot, I'm trying to protect you." James defended their decision.
"How so? By using me?"
"We told you why this is necessary. We've explained how we plan to do it. It isn't going to hurt anyone. Not you. Not Hermione. We just want information."
"As I said, you don't have to sneak to get it."
"I wasn't. I was going to talk to her."
"If that's true." Sirius regarded James. "When I ask you for your mirror, it won't be in your pocket."
"It's not." James gifted Sirius with the same smile he displayed to professors.
Sirius nodded thoughtfully. He produced his wand. "Accio mirror." Sirius tightened his hands into fists. The mirror floated to him. He flicked his wrist to send it back to James. "It always has to be the hard way with you. I don't understand why you think you have to do this."
"You try then," James said. "When you're shut down, I'm sure you'll come round to our way of thinking."
Sirius slumped his shoulders. "You are an arse." He ground through clenched teeth. He turned and stalked away.
"James," a muffled voice called.
"Moony?" James held up the mirror. The werewolf's face confirmed what he already knew. "No, it isn't a mistake. And yes, we are doing the right thing. He'll come round." A confident grin hid surfacing doubts.
#
Remus sighed heavily. He put away the mirror. He decided to wait for Sirius to storm in. He'd try to sit quietly through the raging tempest. It would be difficult to control his temper in the heat of the moment. The full moon heightened his emotions.
Peter's sudden movement jolted Remus.
"Where are you off to?"
Peter jumped. "Out," he squeaked. He scurried to put the solid barrier of the door between them.
The evasive answer provoked consideration. He surmised the hasty departure to be in avoidance of Sirius. Wormtail took pleasure when the marauders lambasted other students, but he hid and cowered if they came at him. Remus couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than that. Peter's behavior was strange. Normally, he was underfoot clinging, and drooling on their every word. Now, he disappeared for long stretches without explanation. He acted shifty. Remus marked it for further examination.
All of his friends were behaving abnormally. The situation between Prongs and Padfoot was a rare occurrence. They squabbled, and disagreed. They were teenagers. This was different. Padfoot habitually followed Prongs's schemes without an inkling of hesitation. If Padfoot disapproved of a plan Prongs would add it to the rubbish pile, and start again. Or Padfoot would make a suggestion that caused the whole thing to fall into place. But not this time. This time Sirius vehemently refused any part of it.
What was it about Hermione that made Sirius so trusting, and the rest of them suspicious? Sirius's denial fueled Remus's curiosity.
The door banged open. Remus poised for the brutal verbal attack.
"Dinner?" James asked unconcerned.
#
Hermione inched the library door open. She cautiously peeked out. They were gone. The angry pitch and roll of the conversation lured her to eavesdrop. She wished for an extendable ear. She managed to hear enough. She rushed to the Great Hall.
Harry, and George filled their plates. She barreled toward them. She flung herself onto a bench gulping air. She took a deep steadying breath. She cast a hurried, but thorough glance. No marauders.
"I've got to talk to you."
"Now you want to talk?" Harry asked. Her rebuke still smarted.
A patented eye roll embellished her response. "When you're done sulking like a two-year old, I have something important to say." She expelled an impatient huff before flouncing away.
George watched her. "What was that about?" he asked.
"I'm not sure." Harry's food left a bad taste in his mouth.
George considered his friend. He pushed the contents of his plate around without taking a bite. "So," he drawled, "you are sulking." It was a statement.
"I am not." Harry scowled at his own childish denial.
"Good," George said. "I'd hate to think we missed out on what she had to say, because you were sulking." He said it as a joke, but it held a note of censure.
Harry capitulated. He vowed to treat her better. But that hadn't stopped him from hounding her, or behaving like a spoiled brat when she'd come to him. He was sulking. It was wrong. He pushed his plate away.
#
Boys! Stubborn. Obnoxious. Ungrateful prats. Hermione stomped her foot in consternation. She may have been out of line in the library, but didn't he understand. She couldn't talk about something she hadn't processed yet. Besides she couldn't talk to Harry about Ron, because Harry stuck up for Ron. He didn't see her side. Although, he called Ron an unthinking git. He said the same about himself. Blinded by irritation, vexed with aggravation she blundered into someone.
"We've got to stop running into each other." Sirius smiled at her. His hands steadied her. "I don't think my toes can stand it."
"Sorry," she murmured. She snubbed the butterflies his touch sent dancing. She took a step away from him. His hands fell.
Disappointed at her unenthusiastic response Sirius was momentarily paralyzed. By the time he recovered she had maneuvered past him. Disbelief manifested.
"What's the matter, Black, your charm not up to par?" a Slytherin mocked.
Sirius flicked his wand at the offending party. A rancid smell emerged from the boy's robes. It clung to him.
"Eeww!" A couple of Hufflepuff girls squealed. "Disgusting." They darted by him into the Great Hall.
"Haven't learned to bathe yet, Parkinson?" a fellow Gryffindor quipped.
Shooting Sirius an evil look the Slytherin boy clumped off toward the dungeons.
"Bleh, what's that smell?" James asked.
"A snake," Sirius replied. A look, and their animosity shifted. It retained a presence, but it lessened in their combined hatred.
#
A properly chastised Harry avidly listened as Hermione related the overheard argument. Wistfulness flowed. They clustered in a private corner of the common room discussing secrets. Ron, Hermione, and he had done the same thing countless times. It was familiar. So familiar, he experienced a shock at seeing a different Weasley in Ron's place.
"Are you certain?" asked George.
"Yes, that's it," Hermione confirmed.
"They're not curious, they're suspicious," George clarified.
"It's odd." Hermione commented interpreting Harry's expression.
"What's odd?" George asked.
"Several things," Hermione said. "Why are they getting suspicious? What have we done to arouse their concern? Curiosity is expected, welcome even. It's a natural response. Suspicion stems from distrust, or dishonesty."
"Huh?"
She hushed George with a look. "We're new. Strangers. Of course, they would have questions. That makes sense. Lily asks a ton of questions. But from what I heard the boys are skipping routine curiosity. They are suspicious," she repeated to drill the importance into their dull wits. "We are dealing with the marauders. We have to determine why they are suspicious. And what we're going to do about it."
"Wait, how do you know we've done something?" Harry asked stuck at the beginning of the discussion.
Hermione waved the question away. "I don't get why they aren't in agreement. The four of them are thick as thieves. Shouldn't they be on the same page? Why is Sirius doubting James? They're like brothers."
"Brothers disagree, and fight all the time," George explained.
"It's out of character for them," Hermione stressed.
"You don't know that," Harry interjected. "It's impossible for us to know every detail of their lives. We didn't have enough time…" he stopped short.
"What we do know," Hermione retorted, "doesn't fit with their current behavior. It doesn't make sense for Sirius to take our side over James."
"As terribly important as this sounds," George broke in, "let's get back to the figuring out what to do part." Staying on track might prevent another argument. He could smell the fight brewing. "We can debate the petty goings on between the two love birds later." Harry, and Hermione relaxed. Argument diffused.
"Their suspicions stem from us not talking about ourselves," Hermione said.
"We have been," Harry protested.
"In detail?" prompted Hermione.
"Not exactly," Harry hedged. The stories they told lacked specifics. In hindsight he realized how many pauses they took for substitutions of names, and places.
"We do talk," George added. He was miffed at her automatic assumption that he, and Harry were at fault.
"What do you leave out?" Hermione pounced. She recognized their avoidance. Their defensiveness. She was on to something.
"We tend not to mention names, or places. We can't spout off particulars." George tilted his head. He leveled a pointed look at Hermione.
"So really," Harry said, "all we have to do is let detailed information slip. Tell more stories, and stuff."
"Yes," Hermione said, "that is exactly why we need to work on our cover story."
"Why?" George asked. He wasn't sure how she arrived at that conclusion. "They accepted it," he added.
"You said yourself you don't use names. I'm guessing they picked up on the half-truths. That's what's causing the problem. Especially for Remus. He's good at sniffing out information. We need to develop our cover story. As Harry said, we should add specific details."
"I don't agree," George said. The gears grinded in Hermione's head. A dangerous preoccupation with details meant more work for him.
"Why?" demanded Hermione. "Is this about Remus?"
"I'm not disagreeing about Remus." The werewolf possessed the uncanny ability to detect a lie. "Reign it in, Hermione. They are suspicious, which could be construed as curiosity. No further action required beyond dropping some names."
"It is not mere curiosity," Hermione insisted. She bristled at the seemingly abrupt change in George's demeanor. She thought he understood the implications. That he was on board with her diagnosis of the problem, and the solution. "They are taking action," she reminded them. "James, and Remus have a plan. Which means we need a plan to combat their plan." She paused to ensure that made sense. "The problem with lying is you forget what lies you've told. And there being three of us complicates things."
"Which is why we should stick to the truth, or as close as possible," Harry advised.
"Come on," George said. "Don't you think you are overreacting? They think something fishy might be going on, but they have no clue. I can't imagine them discovering the truth. There's no need to panic." The outlandishness of their situation provided security.
"They're crafty," Hermione said. "Remus won't give up on a mystery. He latches on until he solves it."
"That doesn't necessitate an in-depth study session. I won't sit for hours while you drill us relentlessly on useless information. I say we go in another direction." He wiggled his eyebrows. He added, "A distraction," in such a devilish tone that even Peeves would have been nervous.
"What kind of distraction?" Hermione asked worriedly. George's methods for diversions were big loud affairs. A pyrotechnic show of fireworks. A swamp exploding to engulf an entire corridor. He didn't do small.
"Nothing on a major scale," he said. "We reinitiate the prank war. Also, we mention little tidbits of information," he added as a concession. Hermione would not retreat from the issue. "We stay within the boundaries of the truth, but give enough specific details about trivial things to dissuade their suspicion. We hide our vague answers. No one will be the wiser."
"Practical," Hermione said with a flat inflection warning them.
"Don't be surprised," George said misinterpreting. "I've had lots of practice in this area," he bragged.
"I don't know," Harry said. His reluctance sprang from the niggling worm in his brain. Hermione's willingness to go along was quick. Too quick. Warning bells clanged.
"I did not agree," she stated. "We should refine those details you both keep mentioning." She waited for them to offer a suggestion. They didn't. "For instance, a list of substitute names."
George huffed, and puffed. He slumped. His elbows hit the table. He surveyed the common room. They remained unnoticed in their corner.
"George," Hermione said, "don't get all you know." She waved her hands for explanation. George exhibited traits similar to Ron. A surge of misery filled Hermione. "We've done, or said something."
George lowered his head. His next words were muffled, "I can't think of anything."
"Something small. The kind of thing we wouldn't think they'd notice."
"Hermione," Harry said. He faltered. His thoughts weren't coherent enough to be translated. A miniscule detail in James and Sirius's fight stuck with him. They weren't going to hurt anyone. Specifically, Sirius and Hermione.
"Harry?" Hermione snapped. Her patience worn thin from their reluctance to accept the danger.
"Never mind," he said. "They just want information," he reiterated for what felt like the thousandth time in this conversation.
"Who wants information?" Lily asked. She rested an arm on George's chair.
The trio startled. So much for their diligence in surveillance. Hermione recovered first. "Our friends back home. They want to know what it's like here."
"Oh." Lily's brows peaked. None of them received post.
George had his back to Lily. He threw Hermione a disbelieving look. She grimaced in return. She realized the irony in her blunder.
"Yeah," Harry said. He stifled the urge to kick Hermione under the table. "They told us before we left to write. We haven't."
Lily wasn't convinced, but she sat willing to dismiss it. Her new friends acted strangely sometimes, but they were also wonderful.
"Hey." George leaned into her. "You know our roommates pretty well." Lily nodded. "How often do James and Sirius fight?"
"They're always going against someone."
"No," he clarified, "with each other?"
"Oh. They argue all the time."
George seared Hermione with a pointed look.
"This discussion is not over," she warned.
"I hate it when you do that," George complained.
"Hermione, there isn't anything to worry about," Harry chimed in.
"We have work to do," Hermione persisted.
"No. We don't," George said.
Harry's curt nod ended their private chat. Hermione narrowed her eyes at the recalcitrant boys. She fumed. She glared distinctly at both in turn. She started a discussion of their potion's lecture, and consequently their potion's master. Harry, and George tuned the girls out.
Sirius, and James cavorted their way in. Their hijinks removed the evidence of the fight. Harry, and George looked at Hermione. The reason for concern evaporated. She rolled her eyes. She shoved away from the table. Her chair's screech muted in the carpet. She stomped hard on each, and every stair punctuating her displeasure.
#
"It isn't going away," Hermione said as they waited outside Greenhouse Number 3 for their Herbology lesson.
"They haven't done anything," Harry replied yet again. That statement played on repeat like Selena Warbeck on Christmas.
"Leave it," George said listlessly. His reply an automatic response triggered by Harry's words.
"No," Hermione said. Her forceful declaration failed to garner a change in her companions. "We're not prepared. If we're not prepared, we will mess up. Do you have any idea what kind of consequences a mistake could have?"
"Seriously?" asked George. "If they were going to do something, they would have done it by now."
"That isn't true," Harry said. "They're busy."
"What?" Hermione curated her tone to demand elaboration.
"The full moon," Harry explained. "They're planning their excursion." The marauders planned their outings each month. Having Harry, and George installed in their quarters caused additional arranging.
"Huh?" George asked. "Excursion?" George had not been privy to all the information concerning his idols.
Hermione started to explain, but Harry shushed her as more students joined them. She switched to stealth mode.
"On the full moon, Sirius, James, and Peter transform…"
"How?" interrupted George.
"They're animagi."
"No way. What are their forms?"
The questions continued throughout the lesson. Hermione's responses incited more, and more questions. George pestered, and cajoled.
"ENOUGH!" Hermione shouted. Pink stained her cheeks. The whole class stared at her. She ducked behind Harry mumbling a lame excuse.
#
"This is the perfect opportunity to refine the details of our story," she said as class ended.
"Hermione," George said, "for the last time, we're not doing it. We're not working on our story. We're not fine tuning the details. Leave it." He enunciated sharply. He evaded a shrill rebuke by striding off in the opposite direction.
"Harry."
"No, Hermione. He's right." He followed George. They had a free period. She glared at his back until he was out of sight. Her temper flared. Their inability to see the danger infuriated her. She'd show them.
I know it's been a while, but reviews would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
