Disclaimer: Again, Harry Potter is not mine. I own the plot and the flashback.
Chapter Eight
On the morning of her first Hogsmead trip in 1976, Hermione woke up early as usual but didn't get out of bed. She'd had trouble sleeping the night before. Dreams of home had hounded her every time she'd closed her eyes. She'd seen Harry and Ron, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley, Tonks and Remus. She sighed and stood up, wandering over to the window. Lily stirred across the room.
"Mhm… shut up, Potter…" She groaned in her sleep. Hermione smiled softly at her. Lily hated James even in her dreams. Hermione sighed again and picked up her toiletries, heading for the shower.
She stepped under the hot stream of water a few minutes later, hoping it would keep the memories at bay. It didn't. Instead they flashed more vividly before her eyes. She slid down the wall, unable to distinguish her tears from the water already on her face. She didn't want to go home but she didn't want to be here either. It just hurt too much.
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When Hermione finally stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around herself, her roommates were up, talking and laughing. She found the clothes Lily wanted her to wear and returned to the bathroom to get dressed. Lily found her staring at herself in the mirror with a disgusted expression.
"You look amazing." Lily assured her.
"Let's just get this over with." Hermione sighed. Lily rolled her eyes as the brunette scooped up her jacket and her bag and started off down the stairs. Lily followed. The boys were already in the Common Room. Remus had convinced them to wait.
"Come on, Remus. I'm so hungry I may die. Do you want me to die?" Sirius pleaded. Remus shot him a glare. Sirius huffed and fell silent. Lily came down the stairs in a light blue skirt that fell past her knees and a gray sweater. James stared at her. She glared back at him.
"Hey, Lil. Where's Hermione?" Remus asked.
"She was right behind me," Lily turned around and looked up the stairs, "Hermione! Come on!"
"No! I've changed my mind!" Hermione shouted back.
"You promised!" Lily yelled.
"I hate you!" Hermione's voice sounded resigned. She finally came down the stairs. Sirius couldn't take his eyes off of her. A deep red sweater clung to her upper body and a black skirt swirled just above her knees. Her blond hair fell around her shoulders naturally and she was clutching a jean jacket to her chest. She looked nervous.
"Wow, so this is what she wanted you to wear?" Remus smiled. Hermione scowled suddenly and nodded.
"I had to bribe her with all my notes and study help for month." Lily rolled her eyes. Hermione sighed and then caught sight of Sirius, who snapped his mouth shut. She took in his dark blue shirt, jeans and leather jacket and then turned away quickly, trying to dispel the memories. Unbidden the rushed into her mind,
Flashback
"Oi, Mione! Look!" Sirius came bounding into the Library where Hermione had been hiding. Hermione laughed at the eager look on his face.
"What is it, Sirius?" She asked. He held out a huge book with a bow wrapped around it. Hermione took it confused.
"Ron said that your birthday was in August! Happy Early Birthday!" Sirius grinned happily at the stunned look on her face.
"Wow, this is Advanced Magic," Hermione flipped through it slowly, "Wandless Magic and I've never even heard of these… This is amazing, Sirius. Thank you."
"Come on then!" Sirius grabbed her arm and began tugging her out of the room. Hermione set down the book and let him drag her along.
"Where are we going?" Hermione tried to conceal the laugh that rose into her throat. Something about Sirius always made her laugh.
"You'll see, hurry up!" Sirius continued to pull her down the hallway. Suddenly they arrived in the kitchen. There was Ron, Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, Tonks and Remus gathered around a large birthday cake covered rather haphazardly in icing and candles.
"Wow…" Hermione breathed.
"Sirius set it up. He tried to bake the cake but almost blew up the kitchen so Molly took over." Remus smiled.
"Ron said that you seemed down lately. Sad or something. Now we can't have that so… Happy Birthday." Sirius grinned.
"Make a wish." Ginny laughed. Hermione blew out the candles and closed her eyes for a second. The small group cheered and Sirius suddenly grabbed her, spinning her around in the air.
"Sirius! Stop! Somebody! Help!" Hermione screamed, laughing. He set her down, grinning happily. Hermione staggered into a chair as Mrs. Weasley began to cut the cake.
Hermione staggered, suddenly, wrenching herself out of the almost painful memory. She began to fall but Sirius, moving quickly, swept her up before she hit the floor. She gasped for breath, holding back tears.
"Hermione! Oh, God! Hermione, are you okay?" Lily's voice sounded unusually far away. Sirius supported the small girl looking over her head at Remus with large, confused eyes.
"I'm sorry…" She muttered into his shoulder, finding her balance. Sirius let go of her and she swayed slightly.
"Are you okay?" He asked, softly. She gulped and nodded.
"How dare you scare me like that?" Lily swooped in and wrapped her arms around Hermione, relieved.
"Sorry, Lily." Hermione whispered.
"Don't you 'sorry, Lily' me! I thought you'd died! You went so pale and your eyes went blank! If you ever do that to me again…" Lily trailed off, her threat disappearing as she stepped back away from Hermione.
"Come on. Let's go before they leave without us." Remus smiled at Hermione and the group trooped out of the Portrait Hole. Sirius watched Hermione still. The color had not returned to her face and her smile held even less light then usual. He was worried about this strange girl, he realized. Something was haunting her and he was determined to find out what it was.
Okay, so I lied again. Remember my temperamental muse? Well, here is an example of the little bugger. My story has suddenly decided that it hates the train tracks I had set for it and has veered off into the countryside. I may have to change earlier chapters to account for these. Crap… Anyway, Review
Cheers
