Some people walk in the rain,

others just get wet.

Roger Miller


November brought that dreary stretch, disliked by teachers and abhorred by students. The holidays are just far enough away to seem like an eternity and the weather is, in a word, grey. I have found over the past few years there will be a day, somewhere in this span of time that will test my endurance, patience, and sanity. With the blessing of those three charming first years, the day came a bit earlier than I expected, in fact, it came the day after the Halloween feast.

My last class on the first of November was the first year transfiguration class with the Gryffindors. Each student was still buzzing due to the amount of sugar and excitement of the previous night. The first years tend to be overawed by the Halloween Feast and often overindulge on the sweets. Having not quite made it to the Halloween Feast my first year, I speak this from observation, not experience. Though each year I am still infinitely grateful to not meet a troll in the castle, especially since that little prank that the Weasley twins pulled my first year as a professor...

After ten futile minutes of trying to get the children to focus, I was nearing my wits end. The Advanced Transfiguration class had been dreadful as no one was able to do the spell. The third years had managed to transfigure half the desks to chickens, despite that the spell had nothing to do with either desks or chickens. I had to then spend my two free hours prior to the first years' class collecting chickens and restoring them to their rightful, silent state. I was suffering from a headache, sneezing fits due to the feathers still floating about the room, and absolutely no tolerance for noisy eleven year olds.

I spent some time explaining the day's lesson, putting notes on the board, and answering the two legitimate questions asked by Miranda. I find that I call them by their first names in my mind, but I live up to Minerva by using the Mr. and Miss when speaking.

After answering Miranda's last question, a hand goes up next to her.

"Professor Granger!" Anthony asks, or rather hollers.

"Yes, Mr. Lewis?"

"Is it true that a Mountain Troll once was in the castle?"

Inwardly I let out a huge sigh. This is just like my second year when we put poor Minerva in the position of explaining the Chamber of Secrets. I knew there was no way out other than to at least explain something of the past.

"Yes, it was quite some time ago and is most assuredly not something any of you need to worry about happening again," I assure those looking a bit fearful. "And for those of you thinking that this would be a grand prank to pull, I can assure you that you cannot accomplish the task." A swift glare is given to the pranksters in the class.

"Is it true that students took down the troll?" asked a boy in the back corner. I would hazard one of parents were in the upper years that year.

Here an audible sigh escaped my lips. I knew that if I truly tried I could reign in the class and attempt to finish the lesson. There were just thirty minutes left now of the class. I fought the inner battle of whether or not the grand effort was worth it. I decided, just for today, to play historian with the children. Each class inevitably would ask me about my history, the Golden Trio, and our exploits. At first I was amazed at the level of notoriety we achieved among our peers as students and the Wizarding World as a whole. Ron and I always knew that Harry was famous, but our spotlights surprised us. Ron adjusted quite quickly. I am still struggling with it all.

"Yes, should you like to hear the story?" I asked the children, knowing both the answer and that Harry would kill me for this. He hated the attention and disliked having the younger students in awe of him and older students hero-worshiping him.

"And that is how I became friends with Professor Potter and Ron Weasley. And that is why you should not go off by yourself in the castle," I concluded with a bit of a lesson. The professor in me could not resist.

"So you've known Professor Potter, for like, forever?" asked the indubitable Nicholas.

"Not quite forever, I was eleven when I first came here, just like you." I smiled. As I began moving back down the aisle, I noticed the charming Anthony cast a sidelong glace at Miranda and Nicholas. She gave a small sweet smile while Anthony looked confused. They really are doing well living up to our reputations. What was that glance about though?

One of the girls, soon to be the class beauty, raised her hand. "Yes, Miss Murphy?"

"Is it true that you dated both Viktor Krum and Ronald Weasley?" she asked in a hushed, awed tone.

I laughed again. "Yes, I did," and before the class clown in the back could make a comment, "No, not at the same time."

"Why did you stop seeing them, Professor Granger?"

"Miss Murphy, this is the one and only time that I will answer such personal questions for the duration of your time here at Hogwarts. That said, Viktor Krum and I did not last for long, distance is not conducive to a romance between two very young people. Ron Weasley and I dated for a while but realized it was more just because we felt like everyone expected us to be a couple. From our earliest days here as students, our fighting reminded people of old married couples and a few even of Professor Potter's parents. Our dating relationship ended long ago and with no bad feelings on either of our parts."

And that took us to the end of the class. As the children scampered out of class, I sunk into my desk chair and began massaging my temples. The hallway was noisy as the students rejoiced at the end of the day and in eager anticipation for dinner.

After a few moments I rallied my strength waved my wand to extinguish the candles and arrange the stray items in the room. Without a backward glance I shut the door and trudged to my room. I peeled off my robes and put on my warm, old, flannel pajamas. They were from my mom several Christmases ago so they are well washed and worn, the perfect comfortable clothes for the end of a very bad, long day. I got my hair out of my face with a rubber band and settled into my chair by the fire.

I must have dozed off because Harry woke me up with a plate of food in one hand and a concerned look on his face.

"Hermione, are you alright? You missed dinner. I brought you some things. Actually Dobby tried to send the entire contents of the kitchens with me, but I assured him I would not be able to carry it all up here," he tried to get me to smile.

It worked. "Oh, Harry," I groggily replied as I did a quick check to see if I had drooled while sleeping. No drool in sight, so I was safe.

"I am fine. I just had a long day today and with the headache I had earlier it just put me out of sorts. I'm fine now that I had a bit of a nap," I replied.

"Good, I wouldn't want my Mione getting sick now," he patted me on the head.

"Harry Potter, do not treat me like your pet dog, thank you very much," I said with as much indignation that a girl in flannel pajamas, messed hair, and a growling stomach can muster.

"Hermione that would be a compliment. You know I have a soft spot for dogs. Especially ones with uneven tempers," he laughed and I glared. "Do you want me to go?"

"No, no, stay here and keep me company. Actually, you may have a bad day on Monday," I smirked as I took a bit of the chicken.

"What did you do?"

"I did nothing," I fluttered my innocent looking eyelashes. He raised his right eyebrow.

"Its more like what I said that you should be worried about," I triumphed with this and proceeded to take a few bites of the vegetables while Harry slowly brewed over what I could mean.

"My last class today asked the inevitable questions about the past and to get it out of the way, I caved and actually went a bit beyond where I normally go. That Miss Murphy can be so sweet and charming when she looks up at you with those big doe eyes. Without even trying she will get you to spill everything."

At this Harry was looking decidedly concerned, "Hermione Granger what did you say?"

So I told him of my retelling of the Mountain Troll incident and how we've known each other forever. "Honestly, we're twenty five. The kids make it seem like we're at death's door. And since we have knocked that door several times we should know better than them!"

Harry laughed at this. "That's true. Merlin, Mione, we have been through it all haven't we?"

"Let's see how many friends begin speaking to each other due to a troll, get tangled in deadly weeds, play a giant game of life-threatening chess, have the opportunity to poison themselves and face the most evil creature to walk the earth all in the first year? That's not even to mention the more recent adventures of keeping Ginny from killing her mother the day of her wedding, keeping Ron from killing us by drowning us in his messes, the ever persistent Rita Skeeter, your personal fan club which now has the additions of Ron and mine's to it."

Harry chuckled, "Our lives really are the stuff that movies and books should be about. No one would believe it's true though!"

I did a charming sort of snort laugh in response. This cued Harry to laugh in response. "Oh, Hermione, I love when you do that!" He doubled over laughing. I, in all my glory as a witch, hexed him so he started squealing like a pig. He looked so utterly appalled when that first squeal came out of his mouth instead of a laugh! That face! I love when I can one-up Harry.

After a few minutes of Harry rolling on the floor in fits of squealing, I took pity on him and said the counter-curse. "Now be a good boy and come sit by me on the sofa. I need a pillow."

Harry obliged and he sat there silently stroking my hair until I dozed off again some time later. He then carried to me to bed. I came out of my slumber enough to murmur, "Good night, Harry," as he tucked the covers around me. "Good night, Hermione," he whispered as he kissed my forehead.

The next morning I woke up and reveled in the fact that it was Saturday. Tragically, the weather did not feel the need to mirror my mood. It was a steady fall of rain and it seemed the sort of shower that would continue unabated all day. I hopped in the shower, got dressed, and headed to breakfast.

I chatted with the other professors over toast and coffee. Harry wandered in, late, as I should expect. "Harry, we have exactly four minutes before our rounds should start," I scolded.

Minerva chuckled, "Why Miss Granger, you do sound just like you did as Head Girl. As I recall, even then, Harry was seldom on time for your patrols."

"Honorable Professors, as the only living heir to the Marauders must make a memorable entrance!"

At this I laughed and Minerva struggled to keep a stern countenance. She would not give up her façade in front of the students if it was at all possible to avoid so. Harry inhaled some breakfast and the two of us left for our morning rounds.

Not much was to be found in the castle. It seems the dreary weather dulled the enthusiasm that was running amok yesterday. Most students were keeping themselves out of serious trouble by studying or staying in their common rooms. Harry and I kept up our running conversation. Even after fourteen years of friendship we never run out of things to talk about, even if the topics are mundane or seemingly insignificant. When we were wrapping up a conversation about wool sweaters, we heard something behind us. Whatever it was, it was very quiet and working hard to stay out of our sight. Our days of hunting horicruxes and Death Eaters were well applied to students sneaking around the castle. The added aid of the original Marauder's Map gave us an edge.

Harry pulled his out to see as I pretended to stop and check an empty classroom for any snogging students. He whispered the words and the map introduced itself to him. Before names appeared, the gasp behind me helped me to figure out who the culprits were. The only others in the castle that could know the words that would bring the map to life were three young Gryffindors who were determined to be just as memorable as Harry.

When he saw their names and my hunch was confirmed, we had a silent conversation. He raised his eyebrow. I smirked. He nodded down the hall. I tapped my index finger to my nose. He winked and I smirked again.

We took off at a fast pace down the hall making full use of our longer legs to gain distance on the shorter first years. We rounded a bend, said a few words, waved our wands several times, and bolted down the hall. Taking another quick turn, we stopped and utilizing a few special charms were able to see as the three children found our surprise.

Confetti fell from the ceiling, that wonderful muggle substance Jell-O flew at them, and a banner rolled down from the ceiling with great panache…

"Those wishing to be Marauders or perhaps another Trio,

Would be wise to remember, they have yet much to learn,

For the Trio minus one still makes a formidable duo,

Who on ambitious and curious students can turn!"

"I can't believe they did this!" Anthony said in shock and admiration.

"I can't believe I'm covered in Jell-O. And its lime, I hate lime!" moaned Miranda, clearly a muggle born.

"Dude, I so have to learn how to do this!" concluded Nicholas.

Harry and I chuckled. He cleaned up the hall and the students with a wave of his wand. I shrunk the banner down and replicated it twice to give each student a memento of this.

I know what you are thinking. Hermione Granger, former Head Girl, perfectionist, the one who thought expulsion worse than death was pulling pranks on students and she was a professor! These students though were special, they understood and were proud of the trust we placed in them to live up to our reputations and keep this secret to themselves. Plus I found over the years of my friendship with the boys, the Second Wizarding War, and frankly too much time with Fred and George, that having a sense of humor and not taking everything too seriously can often change or save your life. So Hermione Granger grew a sense of humor and a devious alter ego.

As Harry and I walked further down the hall we began to lose the conversation the three students were having.

"We so have to get even for this…" "…they're professors!..." "Hmmm…do you think…" "Oh, that would be so sweet…"

"Harry, do you think we started something that they will manage to finish?" I pondered.

"Hermione, you know that we can handle anything together, even three audacious first years," he draped his arm over my shoulders. "Hey, lets go get some fresh air. Our time patrolling is done."

"Harry, its raining still! Plus I have essays to score." I reasoned with him. I should know better, I really should.

"Hermione, you are coming outside no matter what you try to say!" he declared, swinging me over his shoulder and carrying me to the side entrance to the grounds. He then proceeded to plop me down in a nice spot of mud, several centimeters deep. The mud made a squelching sound as it covered my shoes and stockings.

"Harry James Potter, you are a dead man!"

"Oh, I'm scared. I've never heard that before from you!"

Thus began a highly mature and invigorating chase around the back side of the castle out of sight from any windows the students could be looking out of. However, we forgot about the side door and the three imps from our former house.

"See, I told you, it is so perfect!"

"You're right, how sweet!"

"You said that before, Mira."

"Well, Nick, its still true."

"Mates, I think I know where our mission lies that will make us as famous as the Marauders and as admired as the Golden Trio."

I noticed them poke their heads through the doorway but they went back inside. I couldn't hear their conversation over the rain and as they turned back in nearly immediately, I was unconcerned.