MY DEARS!

I finally, finally managed to get the muse to work with me and finish off this chapter. I really hope you enjoy it, the pacing for this school year will be a bit different from the others I think. In the beginning at least it's going to be a bit 'slower' in terms of there not being too many time skips, not more than a few days at least.

THANK you all for all of your lovely reviews, seriously, they make me so happy. SO happy!

Please leave a review and let me know what you think ;)

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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 dedicated to LCB who reviews on almost every chapter of FTT so far, you darling human.

Tuesday, September 2nd, 1975

Great Hall

It was a rather boisterous and lively morning, the excitement of a new year was throbbing, pulsing in the air. Laughter bubbled out of many a mouth, the older years were enjoying their freedom before their heavy workload began to pile onto their backs-taking this precious time to simply revel in their friend's company. The younger years-especially the first years-were watching the small displays of magic from the older years, that seemed almost trivial to their elders.

Wands were waved absently here and there: buttering toast, pouring drinks, getting bacon that was quite a bit away to meander its way over to their plates. Girls putting up their hair with quick, muttered spells, ties being tied the old fashioned way or with a soft incantation.

Magic and life was everywhere, the feeling of new possibility was vibrantly alive in the atmosphere.

Minerva McGonagall was making her way towards a particularly jolly group of students-all whilst ducking under floating books and stepping over the odd pile of various objects that the students had brought down to breakfast with them.

She stopped with a stern tap of her heel against the stone, just as Sirius Black absently levitated the plate of bacon to his right and across the table to Peter Pettigrew.

"Good morning, fifth years," she said, clearing her throat. She was carrying a small stack of papers that was neatly tucked against her body.

"Did you miss me, Minnie?" Sirius asked, winking at her-his grey eyes shining with mirth.

"Good morning, Mister Black. I trust you conducted yourself in a respectable manner this summer...as I would expect you to continue doing this school year," McGonagall said in a no-nonsense tone, her deep green eyes-much like the depths of a secluded glade-narrowed.

McGonagall's black hair was as per usual pulled back into a low, neat bun. She was dressed in velvet emerald robes that were secured around her waist with a thin black belt, they had a high neckline and its long sleeves came to her wrists, on her feet were pointed, black leather button-up boots and on her head was her signature black pointy hat-which was of course cocked to one side.

"Of course, Minnie. I always conduct myself in a respectable manner," Sirius said with a charming smile.

McGonagall smiled merrily then, but there was a spark of fire in her eyes, "I really wouldn't wish to begin the school year by deducting points whilst breakfast is still ongoing. Classes haven't even begun yet.

Sirius's smile didn't falter, but he got the message as he didn't say anything further.

"Speaking of classes, here is your timetable," McGonagall said primly, pulling a piece of parchment from the stack and handing it to Sirius.

Sirius reached out and carefully took it from her, taking care not to snatch it out of her hands. She may be smiling, and he might like to test the limits, but something in her eyes was keeping all of his reckless urges and witty comments at bay.

McGonagall pursed her lips, tapping her finger against her stack of parchment before refocusing her attentions on the task at hand.

"Alice Brown, Lily Evans, Kira Higgins, Nancy Smith, Hermione Potter, Frank Longbottom, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Draco Potter, and finally, James Potter." McGonagall listed off their names as she handed them their respective timetables; Hermione scanned hers quickly-their workload was certainly heavier than that of the last few years, which meant she would have to put in some effort this year.

McGonagall gave them a curt nod and then moved on, she still had to give the Sixth and Seventh years their timetables before breakfast was over.

Hermione sighed softly through her nostrils and leaned into Lily-who was on her left hand side. She'd missed the redhead dreadfully, and she was so happy that they were reunited once more.

"This year is definitely going to be something," Lily sighed as her bright green eyes scanned her schedule.

Hermione's mind drifted to the errant thought that this was supposed to be the year that James humiliated Snape publicly, the year where Lily and Snape ceased to be friends. A lot of things were meant to happen this year, and she had no idea how to stop any of it from happening.

Hermione's eyes flitted over to the Slytherin table, and the greasy haired boy was staring directly at her, not Lily or James, her. How peculiar, Hermione thought to herself.

Snape was the first to break eye contact-Mulciber hit him on his arm to get his attention and then began to jabber away.

Hermione shook her head slightly, concentrating instead on Lily, who was humming absently-still looking over her schedule, probably already planning when she could sneak down to the greenhouses; to try and sweet talk Professor Sprout into providing her with some of her precious plants, in order for Lily to use in her potions.

Lily stopped and twisted her head to look at Hermione, "what do you think? Do you think we'll survive OWLs?"

"I'm positive we will, Lils," Hermione smiled gently, reaching up and around to pat Lily's left cheek.

"How are you always so sure, Mione?" Lily murmured, angling her head towards Hermione's so that their faces were inches apart.

"We-"

"Oi! Lupin, your girlfriend and Evans are about to snog!" A voice yelled from behind them at the Ravenclaw table.

Hermione rolled her eyes, and twisted to look at the culprit of the unappreciated outburst.

She saw dirty blonde hair, bright blue eyes, thick eyebrows, charming yet boyish features. Broad shoulders, sinewy muscles, yet he looked nimble and light on his feet. He was just sitting down, and he playfully pushed one of his housemates away when they wolf whistled at Hermione.

Lysander Smith, half-blood, in their year, and she recalled that he had tried out for the Ravenclaw team last year-attaining a position as a Chaser reserve. Even though Hermione personally thought that he was a much better player than all three of the Chasers that had been chosen over him.

There was a weird feeling in her stomach that came with the way he looked at her, it wasn't a disgusted, uneasy feeling like when Cormac had been trying to pursue her all those years ago. It wasn't even like how Remus looked at her sometimes. It was strange and she didn't know how to feel about it.

Which is why she simply narrowed her eyes and turned back around, reaching for the piece of buttered toast Remus had prepared for her, taking a large bite and feeling the butter melt across her tongue.

This year certainly was going to be interesting. That much was for sure.

It didn't take long for them to all finish up eating, and Hermione had an idea for the perfect way to let the other boys be alone.

"I think we should get going, Remus," Hermione turned to her boyfriend, placing a hand on his shoulder, wiping away the little bit of jam at the corner of his mouth-raising it to her finger and licking it off.

Remus swallowed thickly, blinking rapidly, his cheeks burning.

Hermione angled her head towards Draco for a moment and cocked an eyebrow, and from his curt nod she gathered that he understood.

Hermione smirked before standing up and stepped backwards and over the bench, squatting down to grab her book bag and Remus's. She put them both over one shoulder and stood up.

She took a few steps before glancing back over her shoulder, her hair flying out as her head moved. "You coming?" Turning around and continuing her way out of the Great Hall.

Remus nodded dumbly, scrambling out of his seat, and half jogging, half walking to catch up to her. Easily sliding his own bag off of her shoulder and slinging it over his.

She focuses for a moment and she can hear Lily, Kira and Nancy getting up, and she can hear their excited chatter. Good, the boys should be alone soon, and Frank and Alice will be too wrapped up in each other to pay them much mind.

Hermione laced her fingers through her boyfriend's, smiling up at him when he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

She just hoped they remembered to put up a Muffliato.

Draco wandlessly and nonverbally threw up a Muffliato without really even thinking about it. It was like second nature now-he liked his privacy and people were oft too curious about other people's business, when it truly didn't concern them.

"You put up a-"

"Yes, Sirius. I'm not an amateur," Draco rolled his eyes, picking up his pumpkin juice and taking a sip.

"I saw the look Mione gave you, what's up?" James butted in, leaning in closer to his brother, lying across Sirius in the process-who was sandwiched in the middle and had his chin resting on the table.

"Hermione and I discussed it last night, and-"

"Last night?" Peter injected, and Draco sighed heavily, finally putting his glass down, running his finger around the rim absently.

"Yes. Last night, that's not important. We were saying that it's probably time we tell Remus about us being animagi."

"So he doesn't have to spend full moons alone anymore," Sirius said, sitting up abruptly, and displacing James, who glared at his best mate.

"Yea. We wanted to know what you guys thought before we moved forward," Draco finished.

James grin is almost blinding, and in a bright and cheery tone, he said, "let's do it, Paws."

Love,

Indieblue xxx

P.S. Henny, I think there are some things coming up that you are going to love me for *winks*