HELLO MY DEARS!
I am currently freaking out, because FTT is two followers away from 800. Which is mental. INSANE. I can't believe it. Thank you all so much for reading, reviewing, following and favouriting this story. It means the world to me. Really it does.
I wasn't going to post a chapter until this weekend, but I just got so excited, because writing their fifth year is something I've been really excited about for a really long time.
I can't personally mention everyone whose reviews made me almost cry over the last few days in this A/N, but seriously, thank you so much. You are all such loves xxx
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Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, and only the story line and any OC's belong to me.
This chapter is for Henny! My darling, darling Henny xxx
The train's whistle was reverberating through the air as it slowed on the tracks, screeching slightly as it came to a stop. The cool wind blew across the platform, carrying the orange, red and yellow leaves skittering across the stone.
A vast man stood there, awaiting the children that would be flooding out of the train in mere moments.
The bright light from the lamps was illuminating the surrounding areas as the last bits of sunlight were now fading away, leaving behind a dark, inky sky.
The doors to the train swung open, and like ants they all rushed onto the platform, excited conversation buzzing in the air, there was a certain excitement that was palpable and pulsing around them.
"Firs' years this way! O'er here, firs' years!" Hagrid bellowed, a lantern held up above his head in his left hand.
A raven haired witch hopped off of the train, curls bouncing about, she was grinning widely and she already had her robes on-even if her skirt was a bit short, and her short, fat tie was loosened a great deal, and the top button of her blouse was undone.
"Hagrid!" She exclaimed excitedly.
"Hermione! Yeh're lookin' well!" Hagrid said happily as the young witch hugged him tightly, he responded by patting her back with his free hand, careful to keep the lantern a ways away from her.
Hermione stood back, hazel eyes sparkling with mirth, "How have you been Hagrid?"
"Bin good. Kept fairly busy fer the most of the summer," Hagrid chuckled then, and Hermione heard it rumbling deep in his gut.
"Good. I'm glad to hear it," Hermione smiled warmly.
A deep voice from behind her pulled her attention away, "Hagrid."
"Draco! 'S good ter see yeh," Hagrid said.
"You too Hagrid-" Draco smiled genuinely, throwing an arm around Hermione's shoulders, "-if you'll have us then it'll be lovely to come round for tea soon."
"I'd be delighted," Hagrid responded joyously.
Hagrid reached into his pocket then and pulled out a gold pocket watch, "ah, bes' be off. Time ter get these firs' years to the boats."
"See you later, Hagrid!" Hermione and Draco chorused, and when they turned back around they saw Sirius, Remus, James and Peter walking towards them.
Draco stepped back from Hermione, ruffling her hair. Hermione turned her head to look at him, smiling brightly at him. Draco responded with a small smile of his own-the moment was broken however as Sirius threw an arm around Draco's shoulders and tugged him along with him, heading in the direction of the carriages.
"We're fifth years, how mad is that?" James said aloud, though he looked as if it was more of a mental observation as opposed to anything else, Peter was on his left hand side and Hermione was on his right. Hermione smiled as she felt Remus slip his hand into her right one.
Hermione spotted Lily, Nancy, Kira and Alice up ahead; Lily and Remus had both gone to the Prefect's carriage half an hour into the train ride to have a meeting with the current Head Girl, a Hufflepuff named Stacy-Hermione had yet to have a proper conversation with her redheaded friend. The Thestral hitched to Lily and the other's carriage trotted off, the carriage lurching forward sharply at first. Hermione watched them move off into the distance as she walked. Lily gave her a small wave as she got further and further away, and Hermione managed to raise a hand before her friend got too far away.
The slightly damp earth sunk beneath their feet as they diverged off of the cobblestones onto the dirt path, a few carriages had left already, but there were still hordes of students eagerly clambering onto the remaining ones, trying to make sure they all got seats with their friends.
Hermione frowned slightly as she saw Marlene appear out of nowhere-coming from their right, seemingly out of thin air or the shadows, and quickly fell into step with Draco and Sirius. Then, like a ray of sunshine in the darkness, Mary came running towards them, instantly grabbing onto Marlene's sleeve with a bright, cheery expression. There was a bandaid on the Hufflepuff's cheek as well as one on her right knee.
Students were lining up for the carriages now, after some older prefects had tried to insert some order into the situation. They were not too far back from the front and Hermione smiled gently when she saw some third year Gryffindor boys roughhousing together, laughing and ribbing each other.
"Can we all fit onto a carriage together?" Mary asked as Hermione and the other Marauders joined Sirius, Draco, Marlene and herself.
"Definitely, there's more than enough room" Hermione cocked her head to the side thoughtfully.
"Oi, mate, don't look now, but Dorcas is shooting you a nasty look," James said in Sirius's direction, his eyes ahead however at the brunette girl who was facing backwards on her carriage, arms crossed, her eyes narrowed as she glowered at Sirius.
Sirius merely sighed, letting go of Draco and rubbing his hands through his hair in frustration, "It's not like we could have seen each other properly this summer...her family went off to vacation in America...plus we're fifteen, it's not like she expected us to be together forever."
"Real charming, Black, you're such a gentleman aren't you?" Marlene drawled lazily, leaning into Draco as he wrapped his arm around her waist loosely.
The Marauders and company were now towards the front of the line, and Mary was the first to climb on since James had opened the small door and insisted she go first. She had smiled gratefully at him, and he stepped on the black step up and onto the carriage next to Mary, rearranging his knapsack when he sat down so that it was in between his legs. Hermione's lips twisted to the side in interest at how Mary was smiling shyly at James. Draco and Marlene were next-Draco's hand was on the small of Marlene's back as she climbed onto the carriage, when she sat down across from Mary in the open air carriage, she tucked her short bangs behind her ears.
Draco automatically scooted in beside her, and then in they all went, Sirius and Peter, and Remus gestured for her to go first-she climbed into the carriage and found herself sitting across from Peter, and Remus quickly joined her. She tried not to think about it too much, about whether it was weird or too sudden, she simply intertwined her hand with Remus's and rested their hands on his thigh. She noted silently that Marlene had her hand on Draco's thigh and he was whispering something in her ear.
Hermione simply inhaled the fresh night air deeply and laid her head on Remus's shoulder-he gently rested his chin on top of her head and she tuned everything else out, focusing on listening to Remus's strong, steady heartbeat and his soft breathing. She closed her eyes and felt the carriage jerk as their Thestral started moving. The gentle swaying of the carriage, the sound of the Thestral's hooves sinking into the soft earth, and the slight squeaking in the left back wheel, filled her senses.
She stayed like that until they reached Hogwarts, until Remus gently touched her shoulder and her eyes sprang open.
Hermione opened her eyes at saw it. Hogwarts. One of her favourite places in the world, her second home. Strange. A wave of sadness rippled through her for a moment as she came to a realization. My first home, the home where I was raised the first time with my biological parents. The home of Monica and Richard Granger...I don't consider it home anymore, Hermione thought morosely. Sometimes her memories of when she was little-and didn't know anything about the Wizarding World-seem so strange and foreign, as if they are someone else's memories. It feels like lifetimes have passed since then.
Her companions are quickly filed off of the carriage, and Hermione couldn't help the small smile that brushed her lips when Remus placed his hand on the small of her back.
They followed the trail of other students that were all bustling through the doors to the Entrance Hall, to her left Hermione caught sight of the lanterns from the boats glowing across the Black Lake. It seemed like eons ago, her first time travelling across that lake. Eons.
She quickly focused on what was going in front of her as they partially ascended the entrance stairs; the Entrance Hall was bursting with students as they all waited to get let inside the Great Hall.
"I'm going to lead first years to the Common Room...aren't I?" Remus ducked his head and murmured in her ear.
"Fifth year prefects always have to," Hermione giggled lightly, turning her head and pecking the tip of his nose.
"You guys are so adorable it's almost disgusting," Sirius groaned from behind them, and Hermione glanced at him over her shoulder, silently sent a stinging hex at his right forearm. He's resulting glare, harsh flinch and muffled curse were an absolute delight to enjoy.
"Alright! Single file now!" Hermione heard an all too familiar voice say as the doors to the Great Hall swung inwards. She was surprised more people hadn't shoved themselves inside, or found a space on the Grand staircase on everyone's right.
"Was that Minnie?" Sirius asked eagerly, stepping onto Hermione's step and propping his chin on her left shoulder.
"I believe so, Sirius," Hermione smirked knowingly, reaching backwards to affectionately ruffle his hair.
Ten minutes later they had all entered the Great Hall and went their separate ways to their various house tables.
Hermione spotted Riley amongst her friends at the Hufflepuff table, and she noted that she wasn't the only one-Sirius was staring at her intently, enthralled, enchanted, bewitched.
Hermione pursed her lips and shook her head a bit as she sat down at the Gryffindor table-they were a bit closer to the back of the Great Hall than they normally were-across from Draco, James and Peter. Remus and Sirius were on either side of her, and not too far down the table was Frank, Alice, Nancy, Kira and Lily.
Frank had gotten a lot taller, his limbs lanky and a bit awkward for his frame, but Hermione was positive that it would all sort itself out based on the pictures she'd seen of an older Frank-not to mention when she'd seen him in the future.
I can't let that happen, I can't let that fate befall them, Hermione thought to herself, dreading how time seemed to be slipping away from them, so much to do and not enough time to do it all in.
Alice had chopped off all of her hair, and was now sporting a pixie cut, her hair maybe a few inches away from her scalp. Her face had thinned out a bit and she looked more regal somehow. She looked a little more tan, and there were some freckles dusting across her nose now.
Kira's hair was as untamed and feral as ever, a massive explosion of big curls around her head, it'd gotten much longer since Hermione had last seen her, and Kira looked stronger, more lithe and powerful. Like a jaguar ready to pounce. Kira's pale blue eyes were darting around, drinking in her surroundings.
Nancy's dead straight, strawberry blonde hair had grown out, it was now below her shoulders, and it was currently pulled up into a high ponytail, her blue eyes were trained downwards on a few pieces of parchment-sheet music Hermione assumed.
Lily had changed the most, yet somehow stayed the same. She had gotten taller, she'd gotten slimmer, her cheekbones were slightly more pronounced and there was a touch of hardness to her that wasn't there before-it was in her eyes Hermione decided after a moment. Her vibrant green eyes looked tired, not as innocent and carefree as they once were. Her dark red hair that she had cut chopped off a couple years back now was longer than ever, free and running down to the middle of her back. She was still as pale as ever. Lily is Hermione's fierce warrior, and she is starting to look quite the part.
There was a pleasant buzz of chatter as friends caught up, told stories and joked. All waiting for the first years to arrive.
Hermione leaned back a little-her hands reaching out in front of her so that she could get a good grip on the table-and turned her head towards the Great Hall doors, she knew from experience that the first years would be gathering to the right of the doors, out of sight from here. Often they would close the doors and reopen them when the first years were entering so as to provide a brief barrier when McGonagall gave them her small speech and explained what was meant to happen when they entered the Hall.
"Looking for the first years?" Remus asked, and Hermione angled her head back at him, his hazel eyes watching her with warmth.
"Yep. I just feel...restless."
Hermione knew exactly why as well. During the summer, she'd spent more time in her animagus form alongside the other boys so that they could all get used to it. The vixen had grown accustomed to the noise of a small group of people, and she was currently being assaulted with all of the boisterous voices surrounding and pressing in, pushing down and engulfing her.
It had been fine on the train since she'd up a noise nullifying charm so they couldn't hear anyone outside the compartment, but now all the incessant chatter was practically deafening.
Hermione was eternally grateful when McGonagall entered the Great Hall, emerald robes billowing out behind her as short wix were following her closely. Hermione watched them all, looks of wonder and awe on their faces as they looked towards the enchanted night sky on the ceiling, trepidation was also mixed onto their faces when they noticed that all eyes were on them.
Hermione leaned her head on Remus's shoulder as she silently watched them all head to the front.
There they stood, anxiously awaiting their name to be called so they could be sorted into their various houses. Hermione clapped politely when each child was sorted, moving off towards their respective houses; ignoring how Sirius and James's heads were ducked together and how they were whispering conspiratorially.
Hermione's ears perked up when she heard a name she hadn't heard in years, "Gilderoy Lockhart!"
Hermione's head turned sharply, and next to her, she felt Draco's attention pique, his head also turning towards the front. Hermione reached out subtlety, brushing Draco's thigh and his grey eyes met her hazel ones and she knew that he was thinking along the same lines she was.
It was strange seeing him now, not even five feet tall, his robes a little too long, any longer and his legs would be tangled up in the ends. Blond hair, bright blue eyes so full of hope, so pure, so innocent. It was hard to reconcile the boy whose cheeks were still slightly chubby with baby fat and the man she had once thought to be utterly dreamy. She twisted her lips in disapproval and younger Hermione, what had she been thinking.
That he was brave and knowledgeable...and not a fraud like he turned out to be, Hermione mused.
Gilderoy had been seated on the stool with the sorting hat for at least a minute, and Hermione was about to wonder if it was having trouble deciding when it yelled out, loud and clear, "RAVENCLAW."
Draco snorted softly beside her, his head turning back to the table and slumping slightly. Hermione shook her head lightly before relaxing back into Remus.
"Did you two know him?" Hermione heard Remus whisper a moment later, and she fought to keep her body relaxed and her breathing even.
"No, he just looks like someone we used to know," Hermione lied easily. She should have been wary of how smoothly the lie had rolled off of her tongue, how her voice hadn't trembled, not even a little. She decided there were more important things to worry about, so she hastily tried to take her mind off of it.
September twentieth...that's the next full moon. We need to tell Remus before that, it wouldn't do if we just shifted and showed up. Moony would probably have a fit. However we do this, we need to do it carefully. Ease Remus and Moony into it, Hermione thought pensively. Then she suddenly recalled that Draco said he needed to talk to her later that night. She glanced at the side of his face, dark bangs falling forward-almost in his eyes-his head angled downwards as he stared absently at his clasped hands that were resting on the table. His long eyelashes fluttered as he quickly blinked twice.
"-as our older students will know, the Forbidden Forest is off limits, and under no circumstances are students to go into the Forest unsupervised, and especially not at night-" Hermione tuned into Dumbledore's welcome speech for a brief period, but shortly tuned him back out again. She wasn't particularly interested in what he had to say these days, her fuse when it came to the Headmaster was getting increasingly shorter and shorter as time wore on. She'd had a lot of time to think since coming to the past, and a good portion had been spent on Dumbledore and the things he would do in the future that would surely come to pass.
"Now! Let the feast begin!" Dumbledore announced happily, and Hermione's eyes sought out the food that appeared in front of them, she was starving and all of the heavenly smells were filling her nostrils-everything looked absolutely delicious. The sounds of mirth and merriment sprung up around her; Peter, Sirius and James were joking about something or another as they began to pile chicken, roast potatoes, carrots and other assorted foods onto their plates.
Whilst she poured herself a glass of pumpkin juice-being careful to put the pitcher down gently when she was finished-her mind couldn't help but wander. What does Draco want to talk to me about?