A/N: Special thanks to my beta Alicia.

Chapter 17

"Hey," Harry said falling in step with George, "about what Hermione overheard."

"Not you too." Hermione's persistence aggravated him. If she got to Harry, it would be insufferable.

"No, just listen." George acquiesced, and Harry continued, "Isn't the part where James said no one would be hurt weird? He said Sirius, and Hermione specifically?"

"Especially when Sirius…" George's remark died.

The boys considered the overheard argument. They paired it with their own observations. They got nowhere.

"Maybe Hermione," Harry suggested timidly.

"No," George answered adamantly. "She'd keep harping saying it proved her point."

Harry nodded. "I don't understand. We've been here for weeks. They've asked ordinary questions. So have we. And now…" He scrunched his forehead digesting. Had they been too comfortable with the marauders, because they'd known Sirius and Remus in the future?

"And now," George picked up the thread, "they are interested. Too interested." He relented somewhat in his stance against Hermione's constant warnings. If Harry simply aimed to discuss things and not take action, he'd be willing to talk. Besides this presented an insight into the bizarre behavior of their roommates.

"What sparked their curiosity in such a way they're willing to resort to underhanded methods to get answers?" It was perplexing. Pretty soon Harry would be assisting Hermione in dissecting every minute of their time here. Scrutinizing every word and gesture. Analyzing every second of every minute of every day.

"Hermione's birthday," supplied George. "That's the last thing of interest that's happened."

"Uh-huh. Have you noticed anything odd about Sirius, or Hermione?"

George made a face. "Nothing comes to mind."

"Me either." A worm of doubt wiggled. It was the feeling of knowing something, but it's on the edge, just out of reach. It was like searching for a word that's on the tip of your tongue, but you can't say it, but you know it. Frustration drove his thoughts. They were drawn to Hermione's party. The answer lied in her birthday. His instincts guided him to her gifts.

"The necklace."

"What necklace?" a puzzled George asked.

"Sirius gave Hermione a necklace. That isn't the sort of gift you give to someone you just met. The other presents were nice. But they were impersonal. That necklace…"

"What are you getting at? Do you think they're dating?"

"No. Hermione would have said."

"Are you saying he likes her, or something?"

Their eyes met in mutual understanding. A hundred different clues surfaced.

"Sirius's behavior," Harry said.

"His stuttering," George offered. "His nervousness at the party." Excitement fizzed. Bubbled. Their enthusiasm grew as they unraveled the mystery.

"He likes her. He fancies Hermione." Conviction reverberated in Harry's tone.

The boys shared a profound moment of complete disbelief before absurdity overcame them. Uproarious laughter burst free. The rollicking sound continued for several minutes. It took a while for them to calm down, and speak coherently.

"Sirius fancying Hermione." George chuckled.

"Wrong direction that," Harry said. More laughter escaped. Sirius liking Hermione seemed farfetched.

"She's not his type. You should have heard some of the stories…" George stopped abruptly remembering that Harry was dating his sister. "Maybe you shouldn't have. Anyway," he said, "it doesn't matter."

The amusement buoyed Harry's troubled mind. The longer he thought, the more it made sense. The niggling persisted. Sirius had a crush on Hermione. His laughter faded. He turned to George.

George had the same realization. "It's not the first time Hermione inspired feelings in someone unexpected."

"Victor Krum." The prime example.

"We'll keep an eye on the situation. She's the one telling us not to get involved. She can't start a relationship with Sirius. He's your godfather."

"Not yet," Harry replied. "We haven't been born."

"This is confusing," George confessed.

"We're getting ahead of ourselves. It's one sided. Hermione hasn't shown signs of liking him."

George smirked. "Listen at us being intelligent, and logical. Maybe it's time we spill the beans. We can start with the fact that Hermione is dating my brother."

"Small problem," Harry said. "She's not."

"But Ron is part of her life. He can't be easily dismissed. He gave her a ring."

"Not technically," Harry said. Harry gave Hermione Ron's ring. And she had said not one word about it. "It doesn't matter. We stop this before it starts. We both know how charming Sirius can be when he sets his mind to it. Hermione is vulnerable. That makes her susceptible."

"Harry, old chum, you've been spending too much time with Hermione."

"What?" Harry asked.

"You're being sensitive, and sensible."

"You bloody git."

George sniggered. "I'm only saying." He put his hands up in surrender. "This keeps getting more and more complicated. We've got serious work to do. Our prank is needed now more than ever. How can they get googly eyed for each other if they're enemies in a prank war?"

"Pranks are not always the answer."

"Sshh!" hissed George. "Never speak such blasphemy again." He slung an arm around Harry ushering him into the castle.

#

"You want to do what?" Lily asked with a shrill note at the end.

"Shush," admonished George. He canvassed the area for prying eyes, and listening ears. "We've discussed this."

"We've never discussed this," she protested. "This topic was not brought up."

"You said you wanted to help." George pouted.

"I do, but you said nothing about…" she waved her hands in complicated motions at a loss for words.

"Lily, I don't see what the big deal is. It isn't as if you'd be going alone."

"We need to rethink this part of the plan. I'm sure if we tried, we'd discover another option."

George shook his head. "I'll talk to Hermione. She won't have qualms."

"Oh, yes she does," Hermione blared in his head.

George clenched his fists. He hated this connection. It was amusing at first. At present it was downright annoying, especially since Hermione deemed it necessary to barge in more frequently. George's thoughts strayed.

"Language please," clucked Hermione.

"Get out of my head."

"You wanted to talk to me."

"I did, or do but in person not like this. You know I don't like —"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

George strangled his temper. He choked the embers. Smothered them before they could kindle.

"HERMIONE!" Harry bellowed.

George winced. Hermione broke the connection.

Lily studied George carefully. His facial expressions, and extreme concentration were at odds with their conversation. She felt he'd forgotten her presence entirely.

George blinked. Awareness crashed into him. Lily's eyes were more piercing than Harry's. An awkward tension enveloped the pair as they caught each other staring.

"I'll be off then." George fumbled the exit line. He sheepishly walked away in search of Harry, and Hermione. They had to talk.

#

"Hermione," George said straining for a semblance of equilibrium. "This is getting out of hand." Hermione feigned innocence. "Do not pretend you don't know what I'm referring to."

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean," she stated clearly.

"Hermione," Harry warned. "It isn't the time to be playing around. You've been intruding on our minds far more than necessary."

"Intruding?" she asked. "I wouldn't have to resort to such measures if you'd give the threats against us proper treatment."

"Threats?" George asked incredulously.

Harry leaned his head back. He sighed.

"Yes, threats. Contrary to what you think we are in danger of being discovered."

"You're blowing this out of proportion," Harry said.

"They've done nothing!" exclaimed George. "But you've been stalking our thoughts. Barging in whenever you feel like it."

"I'm protecting us."

"That's a nice way of putting it. I call it spying. I wasn't even talking to one of them," George said in a quiet fierce way.

"I know," Hermione admitted. She wouldn't shrink. She would not apologize.

"It's unnecessary," Harry declared in a deceptively calm voice.

"No —" Hermione began to vehemently disagree.

Harry held up his hand discouraging further remarks. "You know how I feel about someone being in my mind."

"It isn't the same thing," Hermione said. "I can't see your memories, only your thoughts."

"They're private, Hermione. How would you feel if we crept into your mind uninvited? It isn't a comfortable proposition, is it?" George inquired. "Even if they are just thoughts. They are mine. You have no right to them unless I share them willingly."

Hermione's eyes widened at George's speech.

"He's right," Harry said. "You've got to stop."

"I'm trying —"

"We got it," George said. "Protecting us. If we were in real danger that'd actually mean something." George stood crossing his arms over his chest.

She tried to stop the flinch, but her body betrayed her by cowering slightly under his intense examination.

"We know you are concerned for our safety. Here's the deal."

"Deal?" she piped. Her face hardened as she heard her own weakness.

"Yes. It's nonnegotiable. You will stop eavesdropping on our thoughts. In turn we will alert you to any trouble. Once we've contacted you, you may enter."

"But, Harry," Hermione started.

"No, Hermione," Harry said firmly. "This is it. Oh," he added, "if you are in trouble, you can contact us. Otherwise stay out of our minds." Harry, and George leveled stern looks at her.

She slumped. Two against one. Why did it always end up that way? Two to one. It never failed. Ron and Harry. Now, George and Harry.

#

George strode away after witnessing Hermione's gesture of defeat. She misused their connection. A connection he found unnerving. He had never shared a bond this strong with anyone including his twin.

#

Harry waited for the door to close. "What's going on?" he asked Hermione.

"What do you mean?" She had no desire to repeat their previous conversation.

"Why were you spying like that?"

But he apparently did. "I told you. It's not my fault neither of you will believe me. The marauders are up to something. We are not prepared. It's that simple."

"Didn't you realize we would call to you if we needed you?" He'd been doing that for months.

"I didn't think about it that way."

"I find that hard to believe. Tell me what's really going on." Harry cocked his head. Hermione's behavior puzzled him.

"I overstepped. I crossed boundaries. I get it. I apologize." She spoke in short staccato sentences.

"I wasn't asking for an apology." She didn't respond. She kept a blank expression as she stared at him. "That's it?" He pushed.

"I don't know what you want me to say," she said. A tinge of panic. She was afraid of where this was going. "Drop it. I've learned my lesson. You, and George have every right to be mad. I wouldn't want it done to me. I should have thought before I acted."

'Hermione, I'm not trying to make you feel bad. I'm trying to figure out what's bothering you?"

"Nothing." She emphasized the reiteration severely, "There is nothing."

"Why don't I believe that?"

"I haven't the foggiest. Sounds like a personal problem to me. If you'll excuse me. I've got homework."

Harry resisted the urge to go after her. She wasn't acting like herself. He slowly walked in her footsteps. He narrowly missed the marauder hidden under the invisibility cloak.

#

James stood outside the classroom straining to hear their conversation. He stumbled upon the trio while running an errand in preparation for the full moon. He thought it a stroke of luck. Bad luck. He hadn't heard a single word.

These three were very good with silencing charms. Vigilant one might say. Such measures were unnecessary for the average Hogwarts student. Only students with something to hide cast those kinds of spells. He'd know, because the marauders exceled in them.

James's curiosity was more than piqued. It buzzed. He had to tell Remus of this new discovery. It was their first sign. The trio's behavior thus far had been no more suspicious than his, or his friends.

"Did you get it?" Peter asked eagerly.

James looked down at him in a superior manner as he revealed the results of his errand.

"Good." Sirius smirked.

"Are we sure this is going to work?" Remus questioned skeptically.

"Yes, Moony," James replied exasperated.

"What's worrying you?" Sirius asked.

"Nothing," Remus answered.

"They'll assume it's part of the prank war." James assured them.

"It's their turn to retaliate," Remus said.

"We got tired of waiting," James replied.

"What about when I leave?" Anxiousness radiated from Remus's every pore. He'd fought hard to conceal his secret. His friends uncovered the truth through sheer determination. Their new roommates were not to be underestimated.

"We'll cover for you. We got this," James said. Now was not the opportune time to disclose his information. He opted to spend his time reviewing their plan for tomorrow night. Moony was nervous enough without adding more doubts.

"Maybe you should stay here this time."

"What?" Sirius barked.

"And leave you all alone?" James asked.

"Or you don't want to miss the adventure?" remarked Remus.

"Moony, you don't mean that," James said. Hurt inflected his voice modulating a quiet tone.

"We're not going to make you suffer through on your own. This plan will work. They're not going to suspect. We've kept it hidden this long. We'll continue to do so," Sirius said. Confidence and certainty pulsed in his words.

"Don't underestimate them," cautioned Remus. The foreboding Hermione instilled in him had not departed. It seeped into the deep crevices of his thoughts.

"We're not," James said. "We've dissected every aspect of this plan. Studied every angle. We know what we're doing. They're not even going to know we're gone."

Growling Remus gave into his friends. He ought to have expected they'd fight him. As they continued with preparations for their escape, his reservations somersaulted growing larger with each flip.

#

Hermione twitched the quill. It's incessant scratching as it raced across the parchment was not as comforting as usual. She made a mistake. She intruded on their thoughts. It stemmed from inner turmoil. A distraction, any distraction to focus on was preferable to where her mind dictated her thoughts go. Harry came close to coaxing her to talk. This new intimacy was a blessing, and a curse.

The boys were justified in their anger. She'd give them that. But the problem was there. It wasn't going to go away, because they didn't believe it existed. Hadn't that lesson been driven home already?

Yes, the marauders were distracted by the full moon, but after tomorrow night that particular distraction would disappear. Their focus would return to extracting information. Hermione declined to be caught unawares. Since the boys refused to acknowledge the danger, she would ensure they were prepared.

Baffled she paused. Did they not care what was at stake? The future depended on them keeping their secret. Why didn't they view this as seriously as she did?

She read her list twice. She waved her wand. She spoke the incantation. The words copied themselves onto two other pieces of paper. The three lists elicited a smile. She had rectified the situation. A burden lifted. She gathered her work. She folded each paper separately. She would slip the lists to the boys without inciting another scene.

#

The day moved astoundingly slow. The group trudged along the hallways to the D.A.D.A. classroom. Dementors were the last interesting subject they studied.

Hermione briefly entertained the notion of ditching. This class held no appeal for her. Harry taught Dumbledore's Army most of what they were learning.

"Do you think she'll lecture about some obscure creature today?" Lily asked.

"I hope not," Hermione replied.

"The classes aren't all bad. That, what was it called, you know the hairy, spiky thingy from last week was fascinating," George said.

"You only say that, because their venom might be useful in your products," Hermione scolded.

Before George could defend himself, Lily interjected, "Products?"

"George experiments with new inventions. He plans to own his own joke shop someday." Hermione peeked at the marauders.

George beamed. Harry felt the corner of his mouth lift as he caught Hermione's subtle glance at their classmates. She returned his smile tentatively. A shaky truce took shape. Hermione wondered how her lists were going to interfere.

Professor Caprise sauntered into the room. A jubilant expression adorned her face.

"She's too excited," Sirius said. Enthusiastic professors worried him. Difficult lessons. Harsh punishments.

"Yeah," James agreed. He noted the maniacal gleam in their professor's eyes.

"Students, attention please," her shrill voice cut through the chatter. She clapped her hands sharply. The shuffling stopped. "Today, we will be discussing three very important curses. In order for you to defend yourselves against them you must first witness how they are used. You must recognize the danger involved in being attacked by one of these curses. You must understand the degree of magic each one requires from its caster."

Hermione shot Harry a panicked look. They knew exactly where this lesson was headed. Professor Caprise confirmed their suspicions when she continued speaking.

"The Headmaster has courteously given me special permission to demonstrate…"

"She's not?" Hermione pleaded.

"Yes," Harry and George chorused.

"It'll be ok. She's not going to perform them on us." George's statement sounded like a question.

"She's not a death eater in disguise," Harry said.

"I can't do this," Hermione claimed. "Not when I know what it feels like."

Harry, and George looked at Hermione. Really looked at her. The anger, and resentment fled. Hermione survived on her instinct, and intelligence.

"Maybe it's a lecture, not a demonstration." Cynicism met George's conjecture.

Their fears were substantiated as she placed three containers on a table. Each contained a rat. Their gulps were drowned by the squeals, and screeches of their classmates.


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