Catty3120 guessed again...XD. Draco is definitely not happy about the Unbreakable Vow. I'm catching up to the insane amount that I've pre-written and soon it'll be back to weekly updates, the schedule for that is on my profile :). (Thank you so much btw)

Important note - I will be able to write properly during August, I figured it out so you should be getting fairly frequent updates :).

patty cake rocks : I'll explain all of that later haha, I just thought it'd be nice to slip in there ;)

Suzululu4moe : That is going to be an interesting plot point in their second year for sure.

Guest : Thank you so much *blushes and wriggles toes in pure happiness* (I'm a bit odd I know)

NekoDarkHeart : I'm glad you did :) and I loved writing that part :D

Carved Smiles : I'm trying! Thank you, thank you :")

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, only the storyline is mine.

Please let me know what you think, and I just updated It Was Her Ginger Hair if you wanted to check it out :)

April 29th, 1972

As she had predicted Draco had not taken the news of the Unbreakable Vow well. She spent hours in the Room of Requirement convincing him that he needed to do it, she didn't like it anymore than he did, but it was necessary.

After that he had avoided her for days, silently fuming at what Dumbledore had essentially forced them to do. Draco had let out a string of curses at the man before McGonagall started the spell. She hid a secret smile at the venom in the boys' voice as he repeated the vow. Minerva did not approve of foul language but in this case she was proud of the Gryffindor, and she was glad she had met both of the Potter siblings. She did not approve of the mischief that her first year Gryffindor boys partook in, neither did she appreciate Gideon Prewett and James Thomas' encouragement towards the young boys; but she was still quite fond of the lively first years.

Remus doesn't know we're coming...he might react horribly. We purposefully came late in the morning after so he isn't ashamed of us seeing him..right after. Not that he has anything to be ashamed of, he isn't a monster, and none of this is his fault. Hermione snarled internally, feeling a sense of protectiveness rise up inside of her.

Hermione and Draco tentatively entered the Hospital Wing unsure what they were going to see. The windows were wide open and the morning breeze swirled into the room, the bright rays of sunshine shone on the two rows of starch white beds on opposite sides of the room. The bed farthest from the door on the left side had its curtains closed.

"Draco," Hermione reached behind her and ended up tapping his chest. Draco turned his head to the left and looked over his shoulder at Pomfrey's office. The Mediwitch was staring at them carefully, her long skirt folded under her as she sat on one of the chairs outside her office. Draco nodded curtly at her before following Hermione across the room; she was practically sprinting across the room. When they reached the drawn curtains, Hermione faltered. What if this is a horrible idea, what if it ruins everything? Draco sensing Hermione's doubts, put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Family and all that other shit, right?" Draco arched an eyebrow, and before Hermione could answer, he gently pulled the curtains back.

Remus was curled up in a ball backing them, Hermione's eyes widened as she saw the large cut along his spine, along with the other cuts and bites that littered his body. A large black and blue bruise ran along the length of the side that they could see. Remus. The cuts were already healing, Madame Pomfrey had taken care of them as soon as he was brought back to the infirmary most likely.

Hermione leaned her head on Draco's shoulder and he uncertainly pulled her into his side.

"He's not alone anymore, Mione."

"No, never again." Hermione promised. There were two chairs next to each bed, and Hermione and Draco sat there all morning watching over their slumbering friend. At some point they fell asleep on the lip of the mattress facing each other.

...

Remus woke up with sore, aching muscles and the familiar shoots of pain running up and down his spine. Exhausted he rolled onto his back, ignoring the sharp jolt he got when his spine hit the bed, he extended his arm and was confused when he met something soft, something soft that spelled like...chamomile and mint. His senses were still overtly alert from the remnants of the Full Moon. Hermione smells like Chamomile, and sometimes like Vanilla...Draco is mint and something a lot stronger that I can never make out...but why...why is so soft and -

Remus sat up suddenly, pain radiating through his body but he didn't care, he looked to his right and there they were. The black haired twins, both slumbering away quietly. Draco's hair was sticking up in the back, recently it had started to look more and more like James'. Hermione's curls partially covered her face, her nose scrunching up in her sleep, and Remus was confused when he saw that both twins had broken out in a cold sweat. Hermione was no longer peacefully dreaming, her hands were grabbing the sheets tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"NO!" Hermione woke up with a start, her hand tugging at her curls as she sat back in her chair, eyes still closed; she had woken Draco up and he looking around with wild eyes. He still looks like he's dreaming. Draco began to bang his hand down on the bed, fury in his eyes.

"Dray! Dray!" Remus said worriedly, leaning over and shaking the boy, Draco's head snapped up and his eyes focused on Remus'. A relieved look passed over his face.

"Sorry...about...shit. Mione," Draco twisted to look at her. Hermione still hadn't opened her eyes and Draco timidly tried to remove her hands from her hair.

"Give...give me a second." She requested shakily. What on Earth happened to both of them, and how have I never seen Draco freak out before? He does keep the curtains dra - silencing charms. Remus concluded, it made sense as to why he had never witnessed Draco's nightmares. "We're here to help, Remus and - I am having nightmares. Brilliant," Hermione laughed sharply, finally she opened her hazel eyes and met Remus' green ones.

"Help me?" Remus frowned, and then he looked down and saw he didn't have a shirt on. They must have seen! Oh no. I'm going to have to lie, or leave Hogwarts and then - a cold sense of dread ran through his body at the thought of having to live with his Father every day for the rest of his life.

"We know, Remus." Draco said in a calm voice, his grey eyes carefully regarding the young Werewolf.

Remus recoiled instantly, moving backwards on the bed until his spine painfully crashed into the wall.

"It's alright, love." Hermione tried to say before Remus brought his knees to his chest, terror and sorrow filling his face.

"I'm a monster," Remus spat, self hatred splayed across his features.

"Don't you dare say that again," Hermione stood up abruptly, her chair falling back, a loud clattering noise ensued after it hit the ground.

"If you're a monster then I'm a monster," Draco rolled his eyes, climbing onto the bed and sitting cross-legged facing his friend.

"You are good. Remus Lupin. You are the farthest thing from a monster," Hermione growled, climbing onto the bed, but unlike Draco she didn't stop there. She crawled towards Remus and knelt right in front of him. Remus' eyes darted back and forth between the twins, unsure what to do. If they don't want to get rid of me, and they aren't afraid of me then -

"Why haven't you told anyone...have you told anyone?" Remus' eyes widened and panic began to set in.

"Of course not," Hermione scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're our friend, Remus. Family. Why in Gordric's name would we do that?"

"Can't get rid of you, mate. I need someone besides Mione to have a somewhat intelligent conversation with." Draco chuckled as Remus' jaw dropped.

"Wha-"

"We're here for the long haul, you can't get rid of us even if you wanted to," Hermione beamed, reaching out to take one of Remus' hands in hers, nuzzling the inside of his palm.

"Ignore her, she's just glad that we've finally told you we know," Draco chortled at Remus' dumbstruck expression.

"I don't know what to say,"

"You don't need to say anything, from now on we're going to be here before and after each Full Moon. You're secret is safe with us, love." Hermione swore, silently adding in her mind, and soon during. All this had done was cemented in Hermione's mind that Draco and her needed to learn how to be animagi, even if they didn't end up going with him until their third year. Hermione was determined to help their friend out.

Remus began sobbing then, and Hermione understood, he thought they were going to be disgusted, even spiteful towards him. What has his Father done to him that has made him so afraid of his friends finding out. One day Lyall Lupin and I are going to have a long, long chat. Hermione promised furiously, I don't know how his Mother treats him, but seeing as Lyall's public hatred and determination to eradicate the Werewolves, especially Greyback is what caused that vile man to attack Remus. I would imagine all she knows about Werewolves is what her husband taught her.

"We're going to be here for you till the end, mate." Draco said sombrely next to her and they shared a look. For as long as we can.

...

June 30th, 1972

"Can you believe our first year is over already?" Sirius whistled lowly as they sat in their customary circle. Peter was overjoyed in between James and Sirius, and then anti-clockwise from Sirius was Draco, Remus and then Hermione, who was leaning on James' shoulder, holding Remus' hand.

"No," Hermione whispered quietly, her thoughts drifting back to her original first year in Hogwarts. We encountered Voldemort for the first time. We all almost died. Draco almost got us in trouble for Norberta, but we ended up in detention with Hagrid anyway. The troll in the bathroom, where Harry and Ron saved me and we became friends from there. How overtly eager I was to prove myself. This year Hermione had aced all of her tests without really trying, yet not drawing attention to herself by not speaking up in class unless she was called on. Something McGonagall chose to do frequently. Lily, Remus, Draco and Snape were at the top of the ranks with her; Sirius and James complaining to Remus, Draco and Hermione that they never saw them study yet they did so well.

"I'm going to miss this when I go back home this Summer," Sirius admitted, Hermione saw him deflate and she knew it was because of the horrible household he had to return to. Maybe it was the blank way his grey eyes bored into the carpet fibres in the middle of the circle that made her say it, she was unsure, but before she could stop herself she started speaking.

"Come stay with us for part of the summer," Hermione blurted, James and Draco grinned at the suggestion.

"Mum is going to love this," Draco chuckled, "I'll send Storm tonight to let her know, so she isn't taken off guard when we get off the train." Hermione knew that Draco had been sending more letters to their parents than the other Potter children, something Dorea hung over their heads in her letters. Hermione was happy that at least in this time Draco was surrounded by so much love.

"She's still miffed that Dad gave me the Invisibility Cloak without telling her," James shared a grin with Sirius. McGonagall was not pleased when they stuck Mrs. Norris' feet to the ceiling. Filch was furious for weeks, he calmed down only for them to break into his office and steal some of his confiscated items. Hermione laughed internally, she used to be upset when the twins played pranks, but she found herself enjoying watching the Marauders getting up to mischief.

"That's cause she knows you wreak havoc on the school with it," Remus grinned. After Hermione and Draco had started spending time with him during the full moon week, he had grown more confident in himself.

"Don't pretend that you weren't right there, Remus!" James teased, wagging his finger jokingly.

"You can't argue with that one, Remus." Draco laughed loudly.

"Are y-you sure that no one will hear us down here?" Peter asked worriedly. Hermione was learning to not hate him outright, she was trying her best to give him the benefit of the doubt. Until he proved her wrong that was.

"Do they ever?" Sirius patted Peter on the back, "not to worry, Peter. It'll be fine."

"It's settled then, you're all coming to stay with us for part of the summer," Hermione beamed merrily.

"My parents are taking me away for the entire summer," Peter said sadly. This may be a terrible thing to think, but at least I won't have to tolerate him this summer.

"Where to, mate?" Sirius asked, clapping the small boy on the back.

"Dad didn't say in his letters," Peter answered meekly.

"We should probably head to bed," Hermione declared, "we have to get up early to catch the train home."

"Mione is right, let's go to bed, you lot." James said, getting up and pulling Hermione up with him.

Remus is slowly but surely opening up to all of us, Sirius is doing what he does best, joke around and flirt, James is hopelessly infatuated with Lily, and Draco is well...nice? This has been one incredible year, Draco and I are working on becoming animagi, and soon we'll be able to help Remus through the full moon to the best of our ability. Hermione contemplated about her boys as she hugged her brother goodnight, heading up the stairs to the girl's dormitories. I really do love them. Hermione smiled as her head hit her pillow, snuggling down under her sheets, and for the first time since the war Hermione slept through the nice undisturbed.

...

July 3rd, 1972

"Dray, you did owl Mum and tell her we're bringing more than a few strays with us, right?" Hermione nudged Draco, who looked up at her half a Sugar Quill poking out of the side of his mouth.

"Mmmm,"

"You lot owled your parents and told them you'd be coming with us?" Hermione looked around the compartment and all of the boys nodded with the exception of Peter who looked sad and dejected in the corner across from Hermione, he was fiddling with the bottom of the train's window.

"Mum was a bit...reluctant...in her letter, but she said that both of my parents are going to come and...meet yours." Remus said slowly, a deep frown on his face.

"My parents are kind of glad to be rid of me," Sirius said happily, tucking some of his long hair behind his ear.

Hermione knew that Walburga and Orion were not the nicest people, but she felt like Sirius downplayed just how bad his home life was, with light-hearted jokes and plastered on smiles. I remember the bruise that he had Draco cover up that extended across his shoulder and onto his neck after Christmas Break.

"I think Dad will be happy to have so many people in the Manor," James was practically vibrating in excitement in his seat.

"What about your Mum?" Sirius asked, leaning back against the seat, flicking his hair over his shoulders.

"Mum is excited as well, but she won't show it at first."

"Your Mum was in Slytherin?" Remus piped up, smiling faintly at Hermione when she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Only one I like, the rest of those snakes can go to hell," James said darkly.

"I don't remember you hating them that much last week, Jamie. What happened?" Hermione frowned. What happened in the last few days to make Jamie detest them so much.

"Two days ago..." James began to tell their group in the compartment. Hermione could see from Sirius' clenched jaw and the way Remus stiffened against her that they both knew what he was going to say.

...

James was having a fantastic morning, he had bacon, sausages, egss and a couple biscuits for breakfast. Draco was in a good mood as well, and seemed to be opening up more to them every day, so James was pleased with the progress. Maybe he'll tell us why he puts up silencing charms on his bed every night, not to mention how he and Hermione know so many advanced spells.

Remus and Sirius were walking with him down one of the corridors by the courtyard when James saw a flash of red hair out of the corner of his eye. Lily. James turned to look and he was stunned to see Lily on the ground holding her face, wide eyed and shocked. What the? The Carrow twins were standing with a few of their other Slytherin lackeys and Snape was standing looking down at Lily next to his housemates, a blank expression on his face. Why isn't that greasy haired git doing anything? Lily is supposed to be his friend.

James didn't know why he did it, he angrily jumped over the stone banister along the corridor and pulled his wand out and started throwing hexes at the Slytherins. Remus and Sirius close on his heels, both confused and surprised when they saw Lily. The pieces falling into place when Snape looked at them and then slowly walked away. The Carrows threw a couple hexes of their own before retreating.

"Lily! Are you ok?" James exclaimed in concern, falling to his knees next to the redhead.

"It doesn't have anything to do with you, Potter." Lily snapped, angry tears falling freely from her face, quickly getting up, and covering her swelling cheek. Sniffling she ran away and James fell onto the ground a deep frown etched onto his face.

"What just happened?" James asked incredulity.

"I think her friendship with Snivellus is a bit on the rocks." Sirius growled, "He probably let them hit her and didn't do anything,"

"That greasy git," James scowled.

What the three Marauders didn't know was that they were misunderstanding the events that had happened, but Sirius had been partially right, Severus Snape didn't stadn up for his 'best friend'. What they did know was this incident confirmed in their minds that most of the Slytherins were snakes, especially Snape.

...

"You can't know if he stood there the entire time and watched those idiots bully her," Hermione frowned.

"He still didn't do anything, and that is practically just as bad." Remus pointed out.

"So you're just going to hate him just like that?" Dray raised an eyebrow. He hated to admit it but the Godfather he knew was not similar to the boy he had observed all year.

"Yes," James confirmed, "it's not just that, it's the way he talks down to everyone. As if we are all a waste of space, and that none of us are good enough to deign to be in his presence."

"I agree with James, he's a pompous jerk." Sirius crossed his arms over his chest, a displeased look on his face. "If he really cared about Lily he would have stood up to his other snake friends, those Carrows are a piece of work, they worship the ground that Malfoy walks on." Sirius rolled his eyes.

"He sent a proposal to your cousin...what was her name again? Na-something? Right?" James asked.

"Narcissa, and yea he did," Sirius scrunched his nose in disgust, "He brags about dabbling in the Dark Arts. Cygnus and Druella would be happy to welcome him into the family despite the bad blood between Cygnus and Abraxas." Sirius informed his friends.

"Abraxas?" Peter spoke up, he had been silent for most of the journey so far, probably sad that he couldn't come with the rest of them to the Manor.

"Lucius' Father." Draco said quietly.

"Why do they hate each other?" Peter queried, rubbing his nose.

"Not sure, they used to be friends and then one day they were at each other's throats in Diagon Alley." Sirius shrugged. He didn't know and he didn't care.

"I really don't think you guys should just hate, Snape now. Not even giving him a chance to explain himself," Hermione scolded them, bringing it back to the previous topic.

"Hermione. He stood there and let his 'friends' bully his supposed friend. Anyone who can stand there whilst someone is being mean to their friend is not a good person." James said firmly.

So that's why they start to hate Snape, I guess it doesn't help that he practically tripped Draco a few months ago. It was an accident, but James isn't going to forget about that anytime soon. Maybe over the summer he'll have time to simmer down and forget about Snape. I can only hope. Hermione sighed, looking left and out of the window, the trees were blurring together as they sped by. Gosh I can't wait to see Mum and Dad and laze about the gardens.

This has nothing to do with the story but I listened to Ben Howard's 'new album' I forget Where We Are whilst I was writing this. I love that man so much! In dreams may just be one of my new favourite songs.

NB : The next chapter will be fairly long, dealing with their summer :)

-Indieblue xx

P.S. please, please let me know what you think, and if you want I'd really like it if you check out my other stories :D