My dears!

It's been mental, it's still mental. School work is drowning me slowly. Which is why I'm not posting as often as I was for a while. Everyone's responses to the last chapter made me especially happy. Also a lot of people are interested in the Ravenclaw boy I introduced in the last chapter. He's going to be around a bit more in future, but I guess you'll just have to wait and see ;) Thank you for all your support, reviews, just thank you!

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Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, and only the story line and any OC's belong to me.

Friday, September 5th, 1975

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Vanilla and honey. The smell swirls around the smell of parchment and chocolate.

His fingers are buried in her curls, her fingers are grasping at the fabric of his shirt by his lower back.

Hermione let out a soft pant as her wizard ducks his head back down for another searing kiss. She isn't sure if a shiver runs down her back because of him or the cold stone pressing into her back-perhaps it's both.

She can feel him holding back, treating her like she's delicate, even though he definitely knows she isn't.

Hermione can hear his rapid heartbeat, she can hear everything, and it is both strange and wonderful.

His lips moved roughly against hers, and she nipped at his bottom lip when their lips part. Their tongues smoothly move across each others, Remus tastes distinctly of mint. The kiss is slow, languid and Hermione finds herself smiling into it.

Remus is the one who breaks away first, pressing a kiss to the tip of her nose. "We should get going or we're going to be late for class," Remus said softly, his forehead pressed against hers, his eyes speckles with amber and gold.

"We have our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher for the first time today," Hermione commented, lips pursed.

They probably had a few minutes before the first period started, and they really didn't want to be late for their first DADA class; no one knew what kind of teacher they were going to have this year. Last year's had been incredibly boring, and he had given them little to no practical exercises, only theoretical ones.

"I suppose we best get going," Hermione pouted, leaning up to give him one more chaste kiss. She squatted down slightly and grabbed her bag, her hands deftly fixing anything out of place due to their impromptu snogging session.

Hermione walked towards the mouth of the alcove, peering to the left and to the right, once she saw that the coast was clear, she stepped out. Walking into the middle and waiting for Remus, who was right behind her.

He slipped his hand into hers and they began to quickly head for their destination-luckily it was on the same floor or they most definitely wouldn't get there in time.

They burst into the classroom, and were greeted by numerous sets of eyes. The spot at the front was empty-which indicated their professor wasn't here as of yet.

Hermione and Remus hastily made their way over to the seats their friends had saved them on the far side of the class in the back. A seat between James and Draco at the back for Hermione, and a seat in the middle of Peter and Sirius for Remus for the row in front of that. Sirius was turned all the way around in his seat, leaning on James's table, Peter was seated sideways in his chair, and had been conversing with Draco.

Hermione noted that Marlene was staring at Draco from a couple seats away, and one of her Slytherin classmates was chattering away at her, but the honey blonde was clearly not paying her any mind.

At that exact moment, the door opened and their new Professor walked in, with a confident ease.

"Hello everyone, sorry I'm a little late...Professor Sprout wanted to have a quick word," the tall man smiles apologetically as he put his things down on his desk.

There's something extremely familiar about him, but Hermione can't put her finger on it.

Reddish brown hair, bright blue eyes, a spattering of freckles. A sharp jaw, and his tousled hair almost reached his shoulders. He was definitely fit. He had a long, slightly curved nose. He had a long gait, but he was light on his feet, with a slight bounce in his step.

"I graduated the year before you all began Hogwarts, so I doubt that any of you will recognise me...uh, unless you knew my brother-"

"Gideon," Hermione said a touch louder than she intended, and then all eyes were on her. She wasn't embarrassed as she would have once been; no burning cheeks, no averted eyes, she merely met Fabian's gaze head on.

"You must be Miss Potter. Gideon mentioned you," Fabian smiled warmly, and Hermione cocked her head to the side before returning her own grin.

"And, you must be Fabian Prewett," Hermione said, sitting up a bit straighter. This ought to prove interesting.

"Yes, that would be correct," Fabian waved his wand at the board, and in sharp, slanted writing appeared the words, Professor F. Prewett.

Fabian pursed his lips before continuing, "this is my first time teaching so I hope that we'll all be able to get along. From what I understand, your education in practical defense has been a bit slacking for the last few years."

Hermione snorted softly, but thankfully no one else heard it, that's an understatement. Our last couple of Professors were so mundane and boring, I hardly recall their faces.

"Which is why I want to get an idea of where everyone is, and why today we'll be doing a bit of friendly sparring," Fabian said, but there was a steely warning to his words.

It was no secret that Gryffindors and Slytherins didn't get along. Which was why most teachers would be hard pressed, or so bold as to have them spar during their first teaching class.

Fabian clearly wasn't a pushover, you could tell by the way he held himself. Everyone else seemed to sense it too.

"Right, now everyone up, and let's move the desks out of the way," Fabian instructed. In the following minutes, the entire class followed his instructions, even the Carrows.

"I have one rule, no harmful hexes or jinxes," Fabian said, and it was understood throughout the entirety of the glass that-for their own good-they not break said rule. "Is that understood?" He met every single student's eye as they responded with, "yes, sir."

"Right, one person shall be performing the jinxes, and the other will be using Protego to protect themselves-" Fabian projected his voice so that they could all hear him with crystal clarity, "-I'd like everyone to get into pairs, and try not to go with your friends."

There's a beat of hesitation at the last bit, the snakes and the lions slowly turning to look at each other. Right, like there's no way this couldn't go horribly wrong, Hermione thinks sarcastically. Proper attempts at inter house unity doesn't really happen until after the second war. Though it seems like Fabian is a step ahead of the curve, Hermione muses wryly, it's an interesting move for sure.

Even though he said that, the pairs still end up not as mixed as he had probably hoped. The Carrows were together, James and Sirius, Peter and Lily, Frank and Alice, Nancy and Kira, Marlene is with Avery, Remus is with Draco, Mulciber is paired off with a Slytherin girl that she can't quite remember the name of.

In actuality, the only pair that is properly mixed, would be her and Snape. How had she ended up across from the dark eyed, raven haired boy? She had absolutely no idea. Draco shot her a glance, and she could tell that he was silently asking if she wanted him to switch places with her, she subtlety shook her head. She could handle Snape.

She gripped her wand in her hand a modicum tighter as she saw the hard look in Snape's eyes. There was no love lost between the two of them, Hermione wasn't foolish, she knew Severus detested her.

"Remember, keep it clean and focus on what you're doing. No messing about," Fabian said, and he then leaned up against his desk, crossing his ankles and he held onto the lip of this desk-wand still loosely in his left hand.

Hermione bowed to Snape, but not too deeply, lest he try and use a tripping jinx or something to that effect. Snape's lips are curled into a sneer as he follows her example.

"I'll send jinxes first, and then we'll switch," Hermione said tersely, and Snape gave her a curt nod in response. Both of them got into their duelling positions; Snape went for the more flashy stance, with one hand raised above his head, and Hermione went for a more relaxed approach, one hand limp by her side, the other raised and at the ready, bending her knees slightly.

"Protego," Snape said in his smooth voice.

Hermione threw a silent hiccoughing jinx first, and Snape's eyes widened as he felt it hit his shields, but he didn't make an utterance of sound at it. Hermione smirked, his shields were strong, and she was going to let him think they were impenetrable-or at the very least that she couldn't break through them. She'd showed off enough for now. She would be sure to use only verbal spells from now on.

Everything she threw, he blocked. It was a back and forth dance, that lasted until Fabian yelled, "switch!"

Their Professor was currently walking around, correctly stances, telling people to loosen up, not to be as stiff. Let their spells and wands be a direct extension of them as they duel.

"Protego," Hermione said gently, readying herself. She almost found herself smiling at Snape's aggressive yet refined method of attacking. She felt spell after spell hit her shields, and outwardly she knew it didn't look like she was doing anything. She wasn't exerting too much effort, but she frowned so that Snape thought that perhaps he was getting somewhere.

His eyes narrowed to slits before he threw one final spell, a slicing hex-packed with emotional magic, which was dangerous and potent in itself. It actually make her take a step back, and recast her Protego silently.

Hermione was thinking about sending a non-verbal tripping jinx his way, but restrained herself, settling for a dirty glower instead.

"Okay, I think that's good for today. That was a brilliant effort for our first session. Everyone seems to be pretty good so far. Not everyone is as strong using Protego, but that's completely fine. It's something we're going to go more in depth with this term. Please put the desks back in their places and then you lot are dismissed," Fabian said, strolling back to the front of the class.

Mint. He's right behind her, and when he whispers against the shell of her ear, she isn't surprised or shocked, "what happened there?"

"...nothing. Nothing you need to worry your pretty little head about at least," Hermione murmurs, and Draco's warm breath washed down her neck-sending goosebumps along her skin-as he sighed heavily.

"Hermione."

"Draco," Hermione shot back, twisting her face so that she met his gaze-he was closer than she had originally anticipated, but she didn't let it faze her. "I can handle myself."

"I know," Draco snorted, reaching out to tuck a stray curl behind her ear.

"Then trust that if I tell you it's nothing, that it's nothing," Hermione said harshly, striding away and grabbing her bag from her awaiting boyfriend by the door. "Thank you, babe," Hermione smiled at Remus.

"Everything okay?" Remus asked, quirking an eyebrow. Hermione exhaled sharply through her nostrils, Remus could always sense when something is amiss.

"Yea, it's grand," Hermione smiled tightly. Remus could tell that she wasn't being entirely honest, but he didn't press further, holding the door open for her.

Once they were outside he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side. Hermione hummed contentedly, a small smile on her face. Remus Lupin was certainly one of the best things that had ever happened to her.

Draco watched as Hermione and Remus headed off to their next set of classes for the day. Hermione's wild curls bouncing about in her high ponytail. Both of their robes billowing out behind them as they moved.

He adjusted his bag strap before shoving his hands into his pockets, and couldn't help the wide grin that split across his face when Sirius passed by and rumpled his hair, James stopped kiss his cheek dramatically and Peter waved happily before they headed in the same direction as the other Marauders.

Jasmine and honey. Draco heard and smelled his witch moments before she wrapped slipped her hand into the nook of his, and held onto him.

Draco angled his head to look at her, and was greeted by raised eyebrows and a 'what?' look. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her temple quickly.

"Want me to walk you to class?" Draco asked reticently, staring into the deep blue eyes of his girlfriend.

"How gallant of you-" Marlene snorted, before she smiled shyly up at him, "-I'd love that. Whilst we walk, you can tell me what just happened to your sister that had her feather ruffled."

Draco groaned softly at that, Marlene was too observant for her own good sometimes. Most of the time he thought it was brilliant, because it made way for more intriguing and stimulating conversations.

They began to meander their way to Marlene's class, and Draco was just waiting for her to say something, he just knew that she was going to make a further comment.

"You don't have to if you don't want to," Marlene shrugged, a cavalier expression on her face. Draco narrowed his eyes at that-it was definitely a sneaky technique to get him to tell him what she wanted to know. He may not be a Slytherin anymore, but he's still fairly cunning. He knows how Slytherins work, or most Slytherins do that is.

To her credit though, he was backed into a metaphorical corner with this one. If he tells her, then she'll have won. If he doesn't, she'll still have won, because then she'll tell him 'it's fine', which means it's the farthest thing from fine.

Marlene is a highly complex girl, and Draco knows that she would pretend to be upset just to garner sympathy and then still get what she wants. She's brilliant and cunning, and it's a big part of what he likes about her.

"She's fine, I was just checking on her cause I hadn't talked to her since dinner last night," Draco said easily, it was a partial truth, and it seemed to placate Marlene for the most part.

Marlene stopped abruptly, and Draco glanced at her in confusion, but then her hands were slithering up his body and she was grabbing onto the lapels of his shirt and bringing him down to her. Draco watched her eyes flutter shut as she pressed her lips to his. Draco closed his eyes and took his hands out of his pocket-one hand moving to wrap around her waist, the fingertips of his other barely brushing against her cheek. It was soft and short, but warmth spread throughout his body in moments.

When they pulled away, he pressed his forehead to hers, "what was that for?"

Marlene grinned devilishly, leaning up to give him another peck, "I just wanted to."

"You're something else, witch," Draco chuckled lightly. For some reason he feels a tad mischievous, and Marlene must see it swirling in his eyes because she opens her mouth in protest. However, not fast enough, a flash of movement later, and he has one hand around her back, and one under her thighs, holding her in his arms. She squeaks softly, and she grabs onto her bag strap to ensure it doesn't jostle too much or slip off her shoulder.

"Draco Potter! Put me down!" Marlene says in a scolding tone, but she's smiling brightly.

"Nope," Draco laughed and set about walking down the corridor again. Deep in his mind though, he can only think about one thing, tomorrow is the day they tell Remus about being animagi, and none of them have any idea how he's going to react.

Saturday, September 6th, 1975

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Hogwarts Grounds

"This is a fucking joke, isn't it?" Remus growls at Hermione. His eyes are flashing amber and gold, and then he proceeds to walk away from her, again.

"NO. It's not a fucking joke," Hermione snarls back, having to half jog to keep up with his long, furious strides.

"Moony, we've got something to tell you," James swallowed a touch nervously. Remus frowned, especially when James fervently checked around them to see if anyone was around-it was still quite early, and most people were milling about their Common Rooms or the Great Hall if they were awake, not fancying a stroll onto the grounds. They were in one of the corridors that led onto the grounds, but near the steps which would take them down actual grounds themselves.

They'd gotten Remus down here by telling him they would be going to visit Hagrid, but when they stopped suddenly, and all of their faces grew sombre, he knew something was up.

After looking once more, James closed his eyes and focused. Remus's eyes widened exponentially as one of his best mate's bodies reshaped and reformed, until he had fully shifted into a proud yet slightly awkward stag.

"What the fuck just happened?" Remus exclaimed, gobsmacked. He frantically looked to the others to see if they had an explanation, but then his face contorted into confusion upon noticing that none of them looked nonplussed.

"Our best mate just turned into a stag, and none of you are freaking out," Remus said in amazement, voice laced with confusion. "Am I missing something, is this part of some bizarre prank?"

When Remus turned back around, James was standing there in his human form once more, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Well...love, we became animagi," Hermione tried gently, and she wasn't surprised to find that he knew what that was, of course he did. They were taught by one after all.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Animagi, it's-"

"I fucking know what they are, Sirius," Remus snapped. "What I'm confused about it why, when and how come I wasn't informed of this little...venture or whatever you want to call it?"

"It's so we can be with you on Full Moons," Draco said simply, leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. "Also, Sirius is Padfoot now. Wait till you hear what we're calling, Hermione."

"Yea. No. This can't be real. This is bloody ridiculous," Remus vehemently shook his head, pushing past all of them, and walking straight into the pouring rain.

"Moony! Wait!" Sirius called out, and Peter took a few steps as if he was about to follow him, but James put a hand on his shoulder.

"Let him be alone for now," James said sadly.

Hermione clenched her fists, and she was storming after Remus before any of them could stop her. Fuck that.

"We felt hopeless, like we couldn't do anything. With this, you won't be alone. Moony won't be alone!" Hermione screamed after her boyfriend, her voice being partially drowned out by the rain. She blinked raindrops out of her eyes, furiously swiping the stray hair that was sticking to her face out of the way.

"Right, for like five seconds before he mauls all of you for your thoughtfulness and effort," Remus retorts hotly over his shoulder.

"It will work, Remus. I swear. I know it will-" Hermione argued, "can you stop walking away from me?"

Remus whirled around on her so fast that she almost slipped in the wet grass as she had to stop so sharply.

Remus tightly grabbed her upper arms, and in a barely controlled voice said, "no. I will not risk your lives. I'm seriously, Hermione."

Remus's expression eased into one of guilt as he noted how gruffly he had just handled his girlfriend, and one of sadness. "I won't, Hermione," Remus whispered.

With that he let go of her, and once more strode away from her, into the heavy rain, and this time she didn't follow.