Title: Little Spark of Madness

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter in anyway, that belongs to JK Rowlings. I don't make any money from this either. I just do it for fun :) All original characters are my own, those would be the ones that you don't recognize from the books.

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When you forgive, you in no way change the past - but you sure do change the future.

Bernard Meltzer

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Christmas Day

Christmas morning was a nice quiet affair after the drama of the Malfoy Yule Ball. Over the past few days Harry and Hermione had spoken more about the events that had happened.

Harry had tried to not say anything to her, but in an effort to not have her blow up Sirius' broomstick he had cracked slightly the previous night saying, "I am just saying that maybe you should hear him out, and then hex him. He does deserve a good hexing, but maybe not as bad as you think."

Hermione had glared at her brother, but had dropping it not wanting to ruin their Christmas Eve. It felt like a lifetime ago, but last Christmas Eve they had almost been killed by Nagini on their Horcrux hunt.

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Christmas morning Harry came into his sister's room to nudge her awake, "Happy Christmas 'Mione."

Mumbling Hermione peeked her eyes open as she felt the cool air in her face. "Happy Christmas Harry."

He just grinned, "Come on down stairs Aunt Minerva is already up and breakfast is almost done, I swear she didn't sleep last night."

Rolling her eyes, "You do realized she is up before all the students as a teacher right?"

He chuckled as he tossed her house robe to her, "Come on!"

Harry had gotten her a few new books on transfiguration, one was about how to become an animagus which caused their Aunt to raise a eyebrow.

Surprising them both Minerva calmly spoke up, "I will help train you both safely if you truly want to try it. There are a great many more books that you can have." Getting up she had left the room and come back with 4 large tombs, "Here, you will want these. However, do not attempt to transform when I am not present."

Their Aunt already knew from their memories that the marauders had been studying in secret since their third year and should be successful sometime this year. "I am proud of my boys I hope you know that. They may drive me up the wall, but they will accomplish something so advanced that not many attempt it, all to help a friend. I cannot think of a more noble cause."

Hermione had gotten Harry a nice pair of quidditch gloves for games so his other pair could be practice gloves. Along with new supplies and potions for his cleaning kit.

Their Aunt had surprised them with her gift to them, Hermione had received a beautiful silver locket with an engraved 'M' in the center. Looking up at her Aunt she saw tears forming, "All children in the McGonagall line have a piece of jewelry that represents our family lines. I thought it was time you two had your own."

Hermione looked over at Harry who was holding custom silver cuffs for his shirts with the same 'M' engraving on each.

The three of them had hugged before moving onto other gifts.

Lily had gotten her a charm bracelet, James had gotten her a pair of beautiful warm winter gloves so she would stop freezing at their games, Remus and Peter had both gotten her a bag of sweets from Honeydukes. Even though she saw Harry get a gift from Sirius she didn't mention that she hadn't received anything from him. After everything she just wanted the whole thing to be over, he had hurt her too much over the past few months for her to be concerned about not getting a gift.

Surprisingly Severus had sent her a gift as well, although she wasn't sure what the cream like substance in the small glass bottle was. She had set it aside to talk to him first before opening it. The card had only thanked her for the new scarf that she had gotten him, and to enjoy her gift.

She had picked up the bottle a few times staring at the white substance inside trying to recall every potion so she could figure out what it was.

Kings Cross Station

Harry and Hermione had been dropped off at Kings cross earlier than usual since their Aunt needed to get back to the castle to prepare for the students arrival.

Harry and Hermione were probably the first two on the train. Hermione had started walking to the cabin that she had sat in with Narcissa on the way home when Harry grabbed her arm and pulled her back towards the cabin that he and the boys sat in on their first day.

She sat near the window and Harry sat across from her as he watched her knee nervously bounce up and down, "Harry I don't think this is a good idea after the whole ball thing."

Harry kept looking out the window for his friends, "No, it will be fine. We need to all start getting along."

Harry was avoiding her gaze knowing that he never told her why Sirius had left her alone. That was his to tell.

He knew he had told about his and Hermione's past, but they had agreed to tell it when the time was right. No matter if one of them was missing. She accepted that there had been an argument between the boys and Harry had let everything slip.

She didn't know what made her more nervous. Seeing Sirius again after everything, or seeing all of the boys and knowing they knew what happened to her as she stared at her unblemished arm.

Smoothing her purple skirt skirt nervously as she fidgeted nervously. "Seriously Harry. He hates me, just let me go find Lily. I'll go sit with Lily if you don't want me near Narcissa. Plus I really don't want all the questions after you told them what happened to me."

Harry sighed running a hand through his messy hair, "They don't know everything, just that you were hurt and I knew you could handle yourself. I told Mr. Potter more, but not them and I don't think he would have told them."

Hermione sighed as she took one of her new books out of her bag and began reading while they waited for the others to arrive. She was nervous, but she knew she needed gather her Gryffindor courage and just suck it up.

A few moments later the platform was busy with everyone rushing on board. Finally a few moments before the train was going to leave the door to their compartment was flung open and Remus stumbled inside the compartment. He stalled for a moment seeing Hermione sitting in the cabin with her brother before James plowed into the back of him.

Stumbling he quickly sat next to Harry, "Oh, Hello Hermione. How was the rest of your holiday?"

She nodded politely as James sat down beside her. Peter quickly sat by James and Sirius who had been coming in last slunk down next to Remus. "It was fine thank you, and how was the rest of your boys holiday?"

Peter just grinned, "It was great we spent that majority of the time on the pitch behind James house. Too bad Harry wasn't there, him James and Sirius could have gotten in a lot of practice."

Hermione nodded at Peter, "Well I am sure they will be fine, the first game back against Hufflepuff isn't for two weeks and from what Harry said they start practice again tomorrow."

James just grinned down at her amused, "For someone who doesn't like Quidditch you sure pay attention to the schedules."

Rolling her eyes a bit as she turned the page although she knew she wouldn't be able to concentrate on the words, "I never said I didn't like Quidditch James. I don't like watching my brother, cousin and their friends barrel towards the earth at great speeds playing chicken with death, or seeing them in the hospital wing, or flying. I do hate flying."

James bumped her shoulder with his as a large grin crossed his face, "You said brother and friends…. Plural. So you not just worried about Harry and my glorious self on the team eh? And since Peter and Remus are not on the team that means you care about …"

"I tudor Damen and Marckus in Charms, so yes we are friends." Hermione cut him off before looking out the window as she sat up a bit straighter, she wasn't yet ready to talk about Sirius.

The room got silent for a moment before Sirius spoke up quietly, "I am sorry you know, but you know why..."

Harry cleared his throat cutting off Sirius with widened eyes, but before he could speak Hermione rounded to face Sirius slamming her book shut in a very unhappy manor. "I am so glad you're sorry about ditching me for hours. Only to come back and ditch me again at the first opportunity."

Before anyone could react Lily opened the door and looked straight to Hermione, "Hey, I needed to talk to you for a few. Can I borrow you?"

Uncrossing her ankles she stood grabbing her bag while holding her book close to her chest, "Not a problem, let's go. I think the boys will have more fun if I am not here anyways." Looking at her brother, "I told you it wasn't a good idea for me to be here."

Walking between the boys as she exited the cabin and followed Lily shutting the door firmly behind her. Sirius leaned forward and looked around Remus who was now regretting where he was sitting. "Um, am I missing something?"

Sinking in his chair Harry ran his frustrated hands through his messy hair, "She is really fast to blow up sometimes… I didn't tell her WHY you weren't there. Your reasoning wasn't mine to tell her. I only told you what happened to us, because it happened to us. It was my perspective, I didn't tell you her side of it. Trust me she's told me more and it makes me sick. But it wasn't my place to give her your explanation or apology. You will need to talk with her, I won't get in the middle. I've been there before and I shouldn't have been, the ball thing was only the final straw. She isn't happy with you in general."

He sat there remembering the ordeal with Ron, Hermione and Lavender. He had tried being in the middle, but it wasn't fun. Then when Hermione was in the middle of Harry and Ron during their big fight fourth year. That had nearly cost them their friendship.

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Hermione followed Lily down the corridor of the train before they ducked into a compartment that only had Severus in it. Smiling the girls both sat opposite of him as he blushed squirming uncomfortably in his seat, "Thank you for the scarf Hermione, and thank you for the book Lily. Please don't hex me."

Hermione beamed as she saw the scarf she gave him around his neck, "Oh your welcome! I am glad you liked it, I thought about making you a red one. I figured black and grey was a better choice."

Severus stopped his face flushed as he looked at the scarf around him, "You made it?"

Hermione nodded pulling out her long metal knitting needles, "I like to knit, I have made blankets, scarves obviously, hats, mittens, sweaters, socks. It relaxes me."

Lily looked at Hermione before she pulled out a similar bottle to the one that Hermione had gotten, "Sev? We were wondering what this was? Is it something to prank the boys with? Or?"

Severus' cheeks turned pink slightly as he shook his head, "I made it for you girls… it is a face lotion. I thought girls liked that kinda stuff?"

Both Hermione and Lily flushed and jumped over hugging Severus causing a bright blush to stain his cheeks with boys girls hugging him, "Oh thank you." "We just didn't know." "You're so good at potions."

"Thank you."

As they sat back in their seats lily opened her bottle for the first time, while hermione got hers from her satchel, opening it as well.

Lily smiled smelling the flowery lotion, Hermione's was more of a berry smelling. They both smiled. Before the three of them sat and talked the rest of the trip until it was time to change into their robes.

Lily and Hermione had gotten up to go change in the changing stalls while Severus just locked the compartment and covered the windows.

The door to the changing stalls was long, but moved quickly. Once in the door there were doors after doors that seemed to go on forever so everyone could get into one quickly. The miracles of magic.

As she got into one she quickly stripped down and put away her clothing nicely before pulling on her grey uniform skirt and white blouse. Pulling on her thick white tights and sweater, before her shiny black mary jane shoes.

Gathering her items she went to open her stall door only to be pushed back inside, by a taller boy. "EXCUSE ME!"

When he turned around she stood there in shock seeing Sirius Black shutting and locking the stall door. Straighten up she clenched her jaw briefly before addressing him. "Sirius? What in Merlin's name are you doing? I am still in here!"

Sirius put a hand out cutting her off from the door as she tried to unlock it to leave, "I needed to talk to you. I need to explain since your brother decided to get all noble and not mention what happened at the Ball."

Hermione crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently, "Fine explain then Sirius, but hurry so I can get out of here."

Taking a breath he closed his eyes for a moment before looking into her eyes, "I am not sure how much you know about my family. They pretty much worship the new rising so called Dark Lord. I hate it, which is why I spend so much time with the Potter's. They are the family that I wish I had been born into."

Running his free hand down his face, "At the ball I really did head straight to the drink table for you, but Lord Malfoy and Lord Lestrange were there and wanted to talk. They tried to get me to join. I didn't want them to bring you into the meeting, when they asked if you should join… I just said you meant nothing so they would leave you alone.

I knew it would happen eventually, so that is why I have been distant from you. It wouldn't have worked if their kids had come home saying we were friends at school. When I went to get our coats, Lestrange was there and gave me a parting gift. I had to take time to compose myself, I wasn't with another girl. I swear it Hermione, Harry said you got pissed while we were dancing because some girls were looking at me. I haven't even snogged another girl since I sent the marriage request for you."

Hermione leaned against the stall wall as she took in what he had said, looking up at Sirius she realized he had been protecting her the whole time. It made sense to her now. The Sirius she'd know in her time once said he would have died to protect James and Lily. He was doing the same for her, he was just being stubborn about keeping her in the dark. "What did they do to you? The parting gift?"

He shrugged his shoulders, absent mindedly running a hand through his dark hair. "A few light curses. Nothing to life threatening I guess, it isn't like they can harm me too badly. My father and the great and Noble House Black would be slighted, and that wouldn't be good for anyone. The parting gift… just a well placed punch to the gut. I am over it."

She noticed his free hand rubbing his gut before she nodded her head and reached out tugging his shirt and undershirt from his waistband and lifting them slightly revealing a portion of a healing bruise the size of a fist.

He grabbed his shirt and yanked it down, "I am over it okay. Just don't mention again, to anyone. I just wanted you to know that I really didn't want to leave you that night, I was planning on trying to be friends at least."

She nodded as her curls bounced softly around her shoulders, "Friends? We will need to work on that."

He nodded and dropped his arm to reach into his bag pulling out a dark blue wrapped box. Holding it out to her he nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "I think we can do that, in private though. I still can't risk them thinking that we are friends or anything. I uh, I had gotten you something for Christmas. I didn't want to owl it to you though, especially after what happened. I wanted to give it to you. Oh and thank you for the sweater, it is really soft actually."

Hermione frowned, "I don't like that idea of still pretending you hate me in public, but I guess until we come up with a plan I will go along with it."

She paused taking the offered gift slowly, "You didn't need too get me anything. I am glad you liked the sweater though." She stopped remembering Severus embarrassed reaction to her making the gifts and decided not to tell Sirius. She didn't know why he had reacted like that, maybe getting homemade things wasn't great.

She unwrapped the box revealing a beautiful cream colored quill set with a dark blue swirl design. "Thank you, they are beautiful. I needed some new ones."

Sirius nodded and they both jumped as someone banged on the door for them to hurry up because the train was heading into the station. Sirius turned and yanked his shirt over his head as he turned to pull his uniform from his bag ignoring the crimson blush that was now adorning Hermione's cheeks, "Um Sirius. I am still in here. OH DEAR!"

She shrieked and turned to face the wall as he undid his belt buckle and clasp on his pants shoving them down his legs, "Hermione you've seen guys in swim trunks out at Black Lake. I am in boxers and a white undershirt, certainly more clothing than that. It is not like I am starkers in here with you."

Talking to him over her shoulder so she wouldn't have to face him even though she knew he would hear the panic in her voice, "You are in your underwear Sirius, this is different! It isn't appropriate, it wouldn't be appropriate for you to see me change either! I should leave."

She tried making herself as small as possible against the wall of the changing stall feeling him bump into her while changing, "I think that would be quite fun to see you in your knickers." She let a squeak out as he wrapped his arms around her, "SIRIUS!"

She turned to see him fully dressed, sweater and all. His robes hanging over his shoulder as he grinned at her, "No harm done then."

He grabbed his bag and tried opening the door only to find it stuck shut.

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Boy's Compartment

As the boys grabbed their bags when the train stopped at the platform. The four boys changed in the room after Sirius stormed out saying he was going to change in the stalls. "James had called out a 'since when?', but it was ignored as he left.

Lily came into the room as they were waiting for Sirius to return to get his bag asking if Hermione was with them since she forgot her bag in the other compartment. Harry took her bag but shook his head, "We haven't seen her since you left with her earlier. Sirius is missing too though."

The five of them headed to the now mostly empty changing stalls only to see one of the doors being banged on from the inside. "Someone probably pranked the doors."

Peter laughed, "Why haven't we ever thought of that?"

They went over to the door and Lily unlocked it with a swish of her wand as Sirius, who was in the middle of ramming the door with his shoulder came falling out hard onto the ground. "Omph! What the...?"

They all started laughing hysterically until Harry looked behind Sirius and saw Hermione standing in the door opening holding her bag nervously in front of her.

"What the bloody hell? Why were you in a stall with my sister?" Harry stepped over Sirius body grabbing Hermione's hand as he pulled her from the stall and trailing her along behind him leaving the now sober group of friends.

Hermione struggled to get her bag over her shoulder while keeping the fast pace that her brother had set. "Harry, please listen for a second. We were just talking and then he gave me a present."

Harry turned around his eyes wide at her. Looking over her shoulder she saw James' eyes almost as wide as Harry's. She turned back to Harry as he spoke with a tone that suggested that she had done something wrong, "He gave you a present? Alone? In a changing stall? Tell me where you changed before or after this present?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes, her tone unnaturally calm, "I was… I get it wasn't proper, and I told him as much, however I am not a child you know."

Harry nodded and backed down seeing the look Hermione was giving him. He usually only got that particular look when he was getting himself in trouble. "You better be thankful that you didn't get a hex just now. The only reason you didn't is because I know that you are trying to be protective, but as shocking as it may be I can take care of myself."

Hermione's hair sparked as she walked off leaving Harry to follow her towards the carriages. She still didn't know what to think about Sirius' declaration, but she knew that she was not going to accept him being rude to her in public any longer. Now she just needed to think about how to move forward.

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As Sirius pulled himself off of the floor finally he looked at James with his hands up, "The quill set I got her for Christmas. I also explained what happened that night."

James pushed his glasses up his nose as he sighed, "Okay. Probably wasn't the best idea to do it in a changing stall…. You know that it isn't appropriate, if word got to her Aunt about that..."

Sirius threw his hands up in the air exhausted, "Where would I have been able to get her alone at school James? She would have disappeared the second we got there and avoided me until I dragged her into a broom closet to talk with her since Harry didn't tell her about what happened. It would have been the same scenario."

Sighing james nodded his head reluctantly as he removed his glasses to clean them. "Are the two of you on friendly terms now at least?"

Sirius thought about it for a moment as he straightened his robes. "I am pretty sure we are. She did buy me a sweater for Christmas, and she liked the quills. She seemed worried about what happened to me, so I guess so."

Lily who had been forgotten until that moment walked between the boys not looking at anyone while she spoke. "She didn't buy the sweater, she made it."

Sirius looked at her in shock that even though Hermione had thought he hated her put actual energy and talent into his gift. "What do you mean by 'she made it'? People don't make things…. Do they?" the last bit directed at James who shrugged his own shoulders.

Shrugging her shoulders as she walked towards the exit, "Yes, people can make things, how do you think the sweaters in the shops happen? Whether by hand or magic someone makes them." Lily was giving both James and Sirius a look of disbelief. Remus and Peter were rolling their eyes at the boys as well before Lily continued, "Hermione knits, the muggle way too. No magic. Quite good at it. See you guys in the great hall."

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Another chapter down :)