I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.
Mary Anne Radmacher.
Beta: Grammarly. I seriously need an actual beta, but where do I start to find one?
December 12th, 1971
They finally found it, exactly where it was less than 27 years in the future. Even though the trip back to the Gryffindor Common Room didn't take long, Hermione's shoulders still sacked with relief after getting away from the evil thing.
"How did you lots managed to live with it for half of the year again?" Elisabeth asked on their way back to the Room, amazement tinted in her voice.
"Honestly? Sheer dumb luck." Hermione said with a shrugged. "Now come to think of it, Professor McGonagall has predicted it since day one." And despite their situation, Hermione laughed.
Yule 1971
It took a lot of soothing from both of them to calm Adelia down when she saw them brought the Diadem home. When she has calmed down, and the three of them were enjoying cuppas next to the fire, she softly spoke to them.
"I know it is inevitable, but I wish that both of you will have the childhood you two deserve, to not worry about it so soon. I am sorry for lashing out at you both earlier. Please forgive this old lady."
"Oh, Mémé! Please don't say so!" It was the first time Hermione called Adelia mother, and it promptly brought tears back to the older woman's eyes, though it was happy this time. Elisabeth smiled brightly for being able to witness such a sacred moment.
Later on, Joseph found them sleeping next to each other in front of the fire. All have a content expression on their faces. It brought a smile to his normally stoic face.
"Zinky." He whispered.
"Yes, Master?" The elf whispered back, noticing his Mistress and his little Mistresses.
"Please bring me a big blanket for them." The house-elf bowed, with a pop, he was back with a cosy blanket with him.
"Thank you, Zinky." When the elf popped out, Joseph silently stepped closer and gently lay the blanket on top of them. He gave each ladies in his life a tenderly kiss on their forehead and tiptoed out of the living room.
Hermione and Elisabeth didn't waste any time in befriended the Ravenclaw. Pandora only took one look at them and said: "I hope your journey back has been good so far, cousins." If it was someone else, they might have been defensive. However, she was Pandora, Luna's mother, so there was no surprise when she knew of them. They became fast friends after that, meeting regularly near the Black Lake. Although Pandora never knew the full detail of their time-travelling, she never pried, to which the twins appreciated.
January 3rd, 1972
The compartment door slid open.
"Hey, Pandora." Both of them greeted at the same time. "How was your Yule?" Hermione cheerily asked.
"Elisabeth, Hermione, how great to see you two! We went to the Ministry several times this summer. Did you know, there were a lot of Heliopaths there. How was yours?" Pandora answered in that same voice Luna used. Hermione chuckled at the mention of Heliopaths, and Pandora looked at her knowingly.
The compartment soon filled with chatters, sometimes joined by Adrian Anderson and Benjy Fenwick.
True to her prediction, it didn't take a lot of convincing to get Elisabeth to visit Hagrid with her. Hagrid, himself welcomed their visits with open arms. Maybe because there was no more Sorcerer Stone, and school works were a bore, but Hermione found herself enjoyed these trips to Hagrid more this time around. They often talked of magical creatures, and Hermione already discovered his interest in Cerberus and dragons. She sincerely hoped that he would not buy one this time, no matter how adorable the name "Fluffy" or "Norberta" were. They talked plenty about the school Thestrals, with Hagrid being very surprised they even knew of it. "Not loads of older students even knew, yer know! How did ye two know?"
"We read it in Hogwarts: A History, of course," Elisabeth answered, a bit of nervousness in her voice. Hagrid didn't seem to notice, however, and chuckle pleasantly.
March 10th, 1972
"Hagrid!" The two said excitedly.
"Oh, hello, come on in!" Hagrid said, opened his door wider for them. "You lots won't believe what I found near the forest last night?" Sharing a nervous look, they stepped into the Hut.
March 20th, 1972
They were drawing out the 1970s timeline when Hermione recalled it.
"Did you know, the Sorting Hat told us to visit it?"
"Really? Do you know why?" Elisabeth answered, still busying with listing things out.
"No, it just said to visit it sometimes. Do you think it knows of the future?" Hermione scratched her chin, unknowing of the ink mark stained on her jaw.
"Perhaps. It could be a possibility. It said it See great potentials and opportunities for me in Slytherin. But then again, it could just have been how it talked."
"It told me something similar..." Hermione, lost in her thoughts, missed Elisabeth efforts to get her back to reality. "Do you think we should go?"
She finally said, minutes later.
"You are back!" Elisabeth exclaimed loudly, much to Hermione's surprise. "Well, I think so? We could use Harry's cloak to seek in when Dumbledore is out?" Elisabeth answered, attention now entirely on the matter at hand.
And off they went. The chance didn't come until months later, however. For someone with many occupations like Dumbledore, he was never absent that year.
With no adventure at the end of the year, their second first-year passed in a blink of an eye. Both decided that they would do just enough for their end-of-the-year exam. They ended up landing third and fourth places. They were even more satisfied with how the year turned out when both Remus and Peter joined them in the study group with Lily and Severus. Although Severus would occasionally glow at the two Marauders(they haven't called themselves that just yet), he never said anything. It was a small step, but hopefully, they were now closer to their goal.
July 1st, 1972
As the two made their way to their destined compartment, they stopped by Pandora's to said their goodbye. The girl has become their close friends since Yule. In one of the letters from home, Adelia even mentioned visiting Pandora's family during the summer.
"Hey, Pandora. Where are the other two?" Elisabeth greeted. Beside her, Hermione waved excitedly.
"Elisabeth, Hermione, hello! Adrian and Benjy will be here soon. They are mingling with other boys, I think. Will you two be able to come over for the summer?" Pandora answered softly from her seat.
"Yes, of course, we will. We can't miss it for the world!" Pandora chuckled at Hermione's words. "You might want to strengthen the ward around the Manor this summer." She said, though her voice was airy. That got their attention right away.
"Why?" Hermione asked urgently, immediately worried for her adopted family. They were her only family now too, after all.
"Nothing serious, but it will come into the known soon enough."
They still a little weary, but trust that the girl would have warned them if there was anything too severe. Soon enough, Pandora was swift in a hug by the Derwent twins.
"See you in the summer, Pandora." They both said.
"Remus!" Hermione called out when she arrived at their apartment. At the same time, Elisabeth called out Peter. "Peter, how are you?" James and Sirius were too shocked to say anything. They were mostly surprised at Elisabeth there, given that she was rarely there when they were around. Sirius recovered quickly, though, and immediately turn to his dramatic-self.
"Kitten!" Hermione froze straightaway. The nickname was one he used to call her in the future before Harry told him of their second year. Blaming her reaction because of the silly nickname, but not its complicated history, he continued. "Have you forgotten about me? Aren't what we have special to you?"
"Sirius," Remus called out, almost warningly. He already slipped in the role of the group's mother hen' flawlessly, it seemed. "Hello Hermione, Elisabeth, sorry about him." He told them.
Pretending to ignore Sirius, Hermione answered. "No matters, we just came by to give you two these." She gave both Remus and Peter a small piece of paper. "These are our address. Please write to us, yeah?" Even though she was still uncomfortable whenever she looked at Peter. She has promised Elisabeth to give a chance, and she did. It proved to be fruitful when Hermione saw less of Peter-the-rat, but more of the young and innocent Peter.
"Yes, of course." Said boy said. Remus followed suit with a similar answer.
"Alright, see you all after summer!" Hermione said, pleased with the answered she received. She turned to leave, and Elisabeth followed, after waving her goodbye as well.
When the two girls left, James asked in curiosity.
"I didn't know you two are friend with Elisabeth?"
"Yeah, we are. Do you have a problem with that?" Remus answered. His fear thrown aside, replaced by the protectiveness of his friendship with the Slytherin girl. Beside him, Peter sat nervously. The boy didn't say anything but didn't deny James's question either.
"Well,...no. But she is a Slytherin!" James said adamantly, trying to get his point across.
"So? Elisabeth is a nice girl, and she is my friend." Remus said evenly.
"Peter?" Sirius spoke up, curiously. "You have been quiet. You seem to be her friend too."
"Yes..." Peter started anxiously. "Yes, she is my friend." He got more confident by Remus encouraging nod. "She helped tutor me in Potion, you know. If not, I would probably fail." He turned sheepish at the end of his answer, afraid of their reaction.
"Oh..." That was all James said, too speechless to say anything else. Perhaps he should ask his father advice later about this, he thought to himself. Their compartment lapsed in silence for quite a time. It was not until Sirius broke the ice.
"Do you guys think Chudley Cannon will win this summer?"
July 15th, 1972
Heeded Pandora's warning, the first thing they did coming home was upgrading their ward. Now the Derwent Manor would probably be one of the most impassable places in Britain. Both the elders Derwent has been reluctance at first, not understanding the need of it. Fortunately, they relented, seeing as the Manor's ward need an update anyway.
Hermione and Elisabeth have been using their time to become Animagus afterwards. It has been something Hermione wanted to do since her third year, but never have the time. The sisters even succeeded in persuading the rest of the family to join them. Since the second week of July, none of them has been able to talk correctly. Hermione never laughed harder since the war, at the image of her adopted father, fuming, because he couldn't pronounce the word espresso right. Even their elder elf, Zinky, couldn't even hold back her laughter. Thankfully, it was something he usually has, and the elf has been able to understand him, if not Joseph would have been on a diet from espresso for a month.
The first time she saw her form during meditation, she gasped in surprise. Hermione knew that her Patronus would likely have changed, with going through the war and all. She would have never thought that it changed to that, though. Hermione fathomed that she could see the similarities, but it was still a surprise to her.
July 19th, 1972
Remus was finishing his summer homework when he heard the 'pop' of Apparation. He turned around right away, prepare to defend himself if it was Greyback. Even when Remus himself was not a hyperthymesia, he could always recall that night. To his relief, it was just a house-elf, wearing a nicer pillowcase than his clothes. It was holding a tube, with thick blue liquid inside.
"Dot is here to deliver the Wolfbane potion to Mister Remus Lupin. Dot's owners told Dot to tell Mister Remus that they are only trying to help, and they will keep Mister Lupin's secret." Dot began in what Kurt and Ron would have dubbed as, "Hermione's lecture tone". "Dot's owners advised Mister Lupin to take each dose a day, up to the full moon. Dot will bring Mister Remus other tubes each day." Dot finished her speech and extended the Potion to Remus. The boy himself was eyeing Dot with a suspicious but hopeful gaze.
"Wh-who is your owner, Dot?" Remus finally sputtered out the first question in his mind.
"Sorry, Mister Lupin. Dot can not say." Said house-elf said, adamantly.
"Oh-okay, Dot. Please tell them, thank you, whoever they are." Remus extended his hand to Dot. After Dot handed over the Potion, Remus sniffed it immediately. It smelled like Wolfsbane, alright. Remus shuddered in disgust because of the smell. When Remus looked up, he fully expected the elf to be gone, only for the said elf to stare at him with her big green eyes. "Yes, Dot?" He asked, calmer this time.
"Dot needs to make sure that Mister Remus drank it now. Dot's owner said so." Then she resumed her staring at him. Remus gulped. He knew that he should not trust this said owner, but he would willing to give anything a try, at this point. "What will this do Dot?"
Dot tipped her head to a side, trying to recall what her Mistresses have said. "They said it would help you keep your mind during the transition and reduce the pain as well, sir." Dot nodded twice at the end of her's answer, silently confirming with her memory.
Remus looked apprehensive but drank all of the Potion in one shot. He cringed up because of the taste straight away. He handed the Potion over to Dot, and the elf Apparated away.
Remus was agitating the whole week, even more, after each dose he took. His mother noticed it, and even his quiet father acknowledged it. But they let him be, blaming the full moon. It did not stop until the day after, when he woke up, feeling much happier than he has for years. When Dot appeared again with the Wolfsbane potion next month, Remus asked with the first opportunity he got.
"Please let me know who is your owner, Dot! I want to thanks them very much." Dot looked almost sad at his words.
"So very sorry, Mister Remus, but Dot can not do that. Dot's owner will let Mister Remus knows in their own time." Dot bowed slightly.
Dot kept delivering the Potion every month, even at Hogwarts. Remus kept asking the same question every time, but the little elf never bugged.
July 26th, 1972. Derwent Manor.
They knew that they did it when a small crowd of weirdly fit animals was staring back at each other.
"I think...we did it!" Hermione, in her red fox form, said.
"Hermione?! Is that you?" Elisabeth said, more like squeaked, in her snow owl form.
A deep voice that sounded somewhat like Joseph spoke up.
"Who is the Panthera?"
"It is me, Kurt, father."
"Ah, Kurt, good. Now you and Hermione should go and take a run, the rest, follow me. Remember, only on our property. Am I clear?"
"Yes, Father." It echoed in some forms, shapes or ways around the circle. No one blamed Joseph for his paranoia. If it were not for the update in their ward this year, Augustus Rookwood would have successfully attacked them. The press blamed his vengeance purpose, but the family knew better.
They were all exhausted but contended after their first expedition as Animagus. Even Adelia has forsaken her usual gracefulness and sagged right into the plush chair.
The Derwent built up the routine for the last month of summer, spending every afternoon getting used to their form. Hermione hasn't yet mentioned the fact that the future Marauders have named their Animagus. Although, Kurt has called her Vixen one time and she jabbed him back playfully during their run.
July 30th, 1972
The only day they broke this routine was to visit Pandora's family. Adelia apparated with them to Pandora's, unsure who has known of their time-travelling in the family. The Beaumont's cottage was modest, surrounded by flowers in the front, and a river in the back. Just as they arrived, Pandora opened the door, smiled at them blindingly.
"Aunt Adelia." Pandora greeted with a nod respectfully. "Hermione, Elisabeth!" She addressed them more excitedly. "Please, come in."
The inside of the cottage reminded Hermione dearly of a less messy version of the Burrow. It was warm and homey, despite being the summer, but Hermione didn't feel overheated at all. Mismatched things scattered around the house, but instead of clothes, it was magical objects and herbs she knew they used in rituals. Hermione was relatively sure she spotted a branch of Blackthorn somewhere.
Pandora and Luna must have got their hair from their mother's side, Hermione deduced. Lady Beaumont was a delicate lady with the same dirty blond and straggly hair. She greeted them warmly and invited them for tea, which they gratefully accepted. The fived landed in conversation smoothly but was interrupted by the arrival of Cassius Beaumont. He was a slender man, with the same chestnut hair that Adelia owned. He loved all creatures, mythical or not, and Hermione could see where Pandora got her love and knowledge.
When the adults finally dismissed them, the three girls spent their time exploring the cottage and the big garden. They were enjoying the fresh river water when Elisabeth spoke up.
"Thank you for the warning Pandora. We would have been unprepared when he came." She said appreciatively.
"Of course, I am glad I helped."
They ended up spending the afternoon at Beaumont's cottage, only leaving before dinner time.
August 5th, 1972
Throughout the summer, Hermione has received several letters from her new friends. Remus and Pandora corresponded with her regularly. She even received some letters from Peter. However, to her uttermost surprise, she received two letters, one from James, and one from Sirius. The first time Hermione saw James's scrawl closely enough, though, her heart clenched as memories of Harry went through her mind. But she squatted them down every time, and it got easier afterwards.
Sirius only sent one letter, came at the same time as James's, no doubt he has escaped his family to spent time with the Potter heir. He was his dramatic self in his letters, but it was surprisingly lengthy and thoughtful. Hermione didn't finish her reply until later, which led to her charging Dot with the task to deliver the answer, in case he is back to Grimmauld Place. Hermione was guilty of bothering the elf, much to the amusement of everyone, said elf included.
Author Note: My sincerest apology to all for my delay in the story. I didn't have the time during the week to work on it. My only available time was during the weekend, and still, it filled with works. I am trying my best here :( I have my plot and timeline developed up to the fourth year already, but there is a lot I want to write in between, so it took time. As you can tell, this is the end of year 1. How funny it is that I spent six chapters beforehand but only two for the actual school year. But don't sweat, I am only doing so because most of the juicy things will reveal much later. Don't skip these earlier years though. It is going to contain important detail that you wouldn't want to miss. Thanks for your time! 3
