CH 5 : THE MARAUDERS:

The next morning arrived too quick. She made her way to the Great Hall early to snatch a seat farthest from Slughorn. She was supposed to attend the higher classes with Slughorn today. She mentally groaned.

There were very few students at this time though she couldn't help but notice that Snape was already there as well. She did her best to appear casual and with a brief spark of joy, took the vacant seat between McGonagall and Thomas Anderson.

Anderson was a young healthy man with short black hair and black eyes (lets picture a spectacled Ben Barnes, people). He wore thin rimmed spectacles and she finally came to notice that most of the early students were senior girls with red giggly faces, with their eyes firmly pasted on his face.

For one really unpleasant second, she was reminded of Gildery Lockhart. He was anyway busy in a conversation with Dumbledore. So obviously, she decided to ignore his presence and focus on her favorite teacher, McGonagall.

"Good morning, Professor," I said.

"Morning, Ms Evergarden. You look sick, are you okay?" she asked with her same no-nonsense voice.

"Yes, I just couldn't sleep properly."

"Ah Ms Hermione? Sorry for the interruption " Anderson said.

"Hello."

"I'm Thomas Anderson. Please call me Tom. I'm glad there's someone else joining the Head Table who's new here as well. I was so nervous that I would not be able to locate the Great Hall that I got up extra early to get here." He said with a chuckle. He really was very handsome, she noted with some indifference.

"Same" She replied with a small smile.

"So I was just talking with the HeadMaster and we were discussing if I should restart the Dueling club for the older years or not. Apparently it had ended in a disaster last year. What do you think?"

"Oh it sounds brilliant. Fifth year onwards seems like a good place to start, I think. With the current environment as it is, our students should know how to protect themselves." Her mouth was hurting again from talking so much.

"Ah, indeed. Though I have been tipped that if I want to avoid trouble and teach properly, I should start from the sixth year 'coz there are some really troublesome bunch in fifth year apparently. Maybe i'll get the hang of it by next year."

"That is if you manage to stay till next year." She muttered under my breath darkly.

"Pardon?"

"Ah nothing, though I think the trouble-some may learn some discipline if it's something as interesting as getting to duel." She smirked.

"Hmm."

She then shifted her entire attention on her food and thankfully, he took the hint and went back to his own food as well.

The rest of the breakfast went in a cacophonic blur as students kept streaming in.

The following uneventful day had her worried that she would fall into some mind numbing limbo and again miss some important detail about the past. She was getting paranoid.

The marauders were living up to their reputation. It seemed they tried to initiate the new DADA professor by charming his spectacles to change into neon colors every 5 seconds only for it to be blocked and sent back at James' glasses. That had been interesting only she knew it might be her turn next. While she had always discouraged Fred and George from pranks, she herself had barely ever been their target.

And it was time to face the music it seemed.

She noticed that Lily Potter and Snape took the front seat, together. Despite knowing their history, it was still strange to see the surly professor be friendly. She nearly even dropped her own wand when she saw him smile.

He had a nice smile. Huh? How strange. Perhaps he was still taking care of himself since now he has Lily.

A loud voice interrupted her rather inappropriate musing, "Ow let go Padfoot, I belong to you, no longer."

"Oh there we go again," Remus said, rolling his eyes.

"You know it's Lil-" as James continued.

"Class, take your seat," she interrupted.

"Hmph, well if it isn't the new teacher. About time we met Minni's new best friend."

"Prongs, you mean Minni's second best friend. We are her first."

"There are multiple things wrong with that statement," Remus said.

Pettigrew just shook his head and snickered.

She looked towards Slughorn and asked, "are they pulling a comedy skit right now?"

He chuckled.

"Ask us, Mademoiselle. We are the resident pranksters, aka the four Marauders. I am Sirius Black, at your service." And he just grabbed her hand and planted a kiss on it.

She looked down her nose at him as if he were a new species.

"Yes, thank you for marking your attendance. Now, off to your seat." As she not-so-discreetly wiped the back of her hand on to her robes.

"Gah another uptight one. But we do love Minni also. Oh I mean friendly love, Lily. No, friendly like! NO! FRIENDLY FRIEND. I MEAN JUST FRIEND."

James looked blue in the face and he was almost shouting in her face now. Poor girl.

"Silencio," Hermione waved her wand over James, "Another word from you and that will be points from your House."

James threw his hands up in the air dramatically, Sirius wiped an imaginary tear from his cheek, Remus just looked grateful and went to join Peter who was already seated.

But as soon as they sat down, Sirius jumped up with a hand in the air, "Last question!"

Looking at that hand, she wondered if this was how Snape felt.

"Yes?" she asked in a controlled voice.

"How old are you?"

"20 and five points from Gryffindor."

"Are you into younger guys?"

"Sure but they have to pass as human beings first. 10 points from Gryffindor."

"I am a human being!"

"I just can't bring myself to believe you, Black. 15 points from Gryffindor."

Everyone was watching it like a tennis ball match now. She wondered how many points Black was willing to lose.

"Well you aren't that much my type anyway but we'll find someone, not to worry. Since there is a sea of young boys you said you are soo into."

Her eyes narrowed, "doubt it. 20 points from Gryffindor."

James had now smacked a hand on Black's mouth to shut him up. Slughorn coughed and laughed nervously, "Now, now, that's enough, Mr Black. Let's get back to class. Ms Evergarden, will you observe or lead?"

"I'll lead, Horace. Thank you very much."

"Today we will be brewing Draught of Peace, one which often comes on OWLs. It can calm anxiety and soothe agitation. Be warned: If you are too heavy-handed with the ingredients you will put the drinker into a heavy and sometimes irreversible sleep, so you will need to pay close attention to what you are doing." Wow, she really felt like she was parroting Snape there.

"I have listed the ingredients on the board, kindly get your supplies from the closet."

As the class got busy, she kept a watch on everyone. Lowered the flame where required, adjusted the quantities and so on.

She noticed that Snape's textbook was littered with notes. She sighed. How this Half-blood Prince had annoyed her once. She had to grudgingly admit that he knew what he was doing though.

"Alright, if your potion is turquoise blue in colour and emitting a silver-ish vaour, bottle it up and bring it up front."

There were 5 vials. She stared a little too much into Lily's eyes. As Remus was handing in his, she asked him to stay back after class.

"Eleven inch essay on the properties of moonstone. Class dismissed." Slughorn nodded at her and left first.

She silently jinxed the vial Sirius had pocketed and Marauders were the last ones to file out.

"Ah you guys go ahead. I have to talk with Professor Evergarden."

"Woah there, Professssor. I know I suggested it but slow down a little. This young man can be quite the beast in bed." Sirius said slinging his arm over Remus' shoulders.

"More than you can say for yourself, I bet," She smiled winningly.

"Maybe I should dem-"(demonstrate) James and Pettigrew both wrested him out of the room, thankfully.

And then it was just Remus and her.

"I am sorry for his behaviour. He can be quite childish sometimes."

She snorted, "you don't have to apologize for that. Sit."

She silently cast the Muffiato spell.

"Remus. How do I say this? I may have a solution to your furry little problem," She said trying to control her grin. His face which still lacked the scars that had marred them, she wanted to keep it that way.

"I don't understand," he said guardedly.

"Let me explain. I was actually previously working on a potion, that's why Dumbledore actually asked me to join Hogwarts. He has informed me of your situation. Please don't be angry, he thought it would be for the best and you have my full secrecy. I have been working on a potion that will allow you to keep your human mind even after transformation."

"I still don't understand," he looked ready to bolt.

SheI leaned forward and took his hand and gave a squeeze, "I know that you are a werewolf, Remus. I can create a potion that can help."

She stared deep into his eyes and his eyes got a glassy sheen to it.

"I can help, Remus," She whispered.

"Bu-but ...Thank you."

"Now onto the main thing. While the potion itself is ready, I want to experiment more. So that the ingredients used are more easily available and the werewolves will be able to access it everywhere at a good rate. Otherwise there will be a good chance of people exploiting it. That's where you come in, will you allow me to use you as a test subject? You can say no, you'll still get the verified potion."

"I- I'd love to be of any help, Professor."

"Then we have a deal," smiling she extended my hand. We shook on it.

"Come to me one week before the full moon, you'll have to consume the potion once every day for a week before the full moon."

He nodded.

"Thank you again Professor."

"Don't thank me just yet, I'll find you after the moon. Tell me then." He nodded, the happiness unmistakable on his face.

"Alright, hurry up now. Your friends will be waiting." Pulling him up from his chair and pushing him towards the door, trying to hide just how much this was saving me.

This alone made so many things worth it. The main problem now would be to brew the potion exactly according to memory and it will take extraordinary precision. If only she had the elder Snape.

Since the potions lab was accessible to all staff, she needed a separate private space to brew Wolfsbane. Moaning Myrtle's bathroom? Perhaps not what with the inquisitive Marauders roaming about.

Her quarters will have to do. It was spacious enough and she was not using the kitchen to it's full use anyway. She will have to start today. The time blurred as she pondered and worried if she remembered it exactly or not, after all if not perfectly brewed, it could be fatal. She set up the room and ingredients how she wanted it, trying to postpone the inevitable.

She sighed, shutting her eyes to gather her wits about her, still trying to recall it perfectly.

And when she opened her eyes, she gasped. There was a potion there, in what was an empty cauldron just a moment ago. She tried backing away, only to stumble and fall.

She looked down at her arms, the sleeves were neatly folded up and she was perspiring from the heat. She looked at the clock, fear creeping up her spine. She was missing an hour and a few minutes.

She peered into the cauldron, clutching her wand for dear life. It was taking on a blue-ish tint. What? Was it her work? Why was she missing time again?

The potion was to be left to simmer and she had nothing more to do. She had to do research on time travel.

She donned on her cloak and set out towards the library anxiously.

As she moved towards the restricted section, she caught sight of Snape. Her magic thrummed. Curiously, she peered over his shoulder, he was reading a page titled 'Unforgivable curses'.

She pursed her lips and Snape, finally aware of her, snapped the book shut. Ah, Dark spells and curses. Narrowing his eyes he said, "How did you sneak up on me?"

I learnt it from you, she thought. Ignoring his question, she pulled his book from him, something nagging her in the back of her mind. "Let me see that for a second."

"Hey!"

She backed away from him, flipping to the index.

Occlumency, Legilimens, Unforgivable curses, Necromancy, Blood curses, hex and jinx,-

Blood curses. Blood. She looked up at Snape who was watching her with a calm facade. Her magic. Ofcourse! Blood magic had been used for time travel. Is that why her magic or blood has been responding to him every time?

"Meow," the feline sound broke through her hallelujah moment and both Snape and her eyes met in alarm. She shut the book, ready to escape and suddenly came back to Earth and realized that she was a teacher now.

Unbidden, the revelation and watching Snape scurry up brought a smirk to her face, she whispered "Stop."

He froze. She approached him silently with her wand raised. His face strained as he took a step back, expecting harm.

He felt as if an egg had been cracked on his head, travelling down. Looking down, he realized she had cast the disillusionment charm.

"Go, stand still behind that rack."

Just then Filch came, puffing for breath, "Caught you, you little-uh."

"Professor. Evergarden." I reminded him, standing tall, trying to keep his attention on me.

"What are you doing here at this time?"

"Exactly what you are. I was patrolling when I thought I'd come here to take some books for tomorrow's lesson. Is there a problem, Mr. Filch?" I tried to keep my eyes away from his cat, Mrs Norris as she kept hissing at me.

"No, no. Do let me know if you see any students out though. I have prepared the perfect torture method for the little brats."

"Of course! Sounds wonderful!" She replied smiling wishing he would go away already.

He muttered something about torturing some more under his breath as he finally left and she relaxed.

"Finite incantatem," Snape muttered.

A pause, "Why did you help me and what do you plan to do with that book?" he asked, staring at her.

"Nothing!" she replied, handing it back to him to his surprise. "I have nothing more to say to you tonight, Mr Snape. You should leave before you get caught." she said a little impatiently.

"Before I go, I wanted to let you know that I would like to work with you."

She nodded.

"We shall discuss this tomorrow. Now go before I change my mind and deduct points," she added a little forcefully.

She made sure that he had left and whirled around, facing the Restricted Section.

She quickly retrieved some books and left, unaware of the eyes watching her.