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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Just Breath.

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Headmaster's Office - May 7th 1976

The group had taken a small break while Charlus and Dorea watched their grandchildren carefully, memorizing their features.

They talked about a few other lighter subjects as they let the Potters and Sirius absorb everything they'd learned.

Hermione who was still curled up on Sirius' lap look over to her Aunt, "I actually had a question for you. Something that Galen told me in the infirmary."

Harry raised a brown, "Remus said you were worried about him when he left to find Madam Pomfrey and all but ran from Galen when they returned. You never told me why."

Hermione bit her lip as she glance at Sirius before looking back to her Aunt, "He asked me if me being worried about him, being there with him, meant I'd chosen him since I was with him rather than Sirius. He wanted to know if he could begin to publicly court me."

Hermione saw her Aunt stiffen as she felt Sirius' grip on her waist tighten. Looking at her brother she could see the confusion on his face and she knew he'd been in the dark as well. Looking back to her Aunt, "He said he'd placed a marriage request for me, and that he knew of others. Is it true?"

Straightening in her chair their Aunt gathered herself, "I spoke with the Headmaster after your... Uncle owled me with a concern about your requests. You have received five marriage requests to date Hermione."

Charlus cleared his throat as he leaned forward, he'd never had a daughter, but his father raised him so he would be ready if he did. "What are we going to do about that? More people means more problems, especially in the situation we are in."

Watching the younger girl's eyes widen at the information Minerva sighed, "I didn't tell you because if you knew who, you would be forced to go on dates or attend events together. I know you were terrified when Mrs. Black forced you to go to that ball with Sirius. Neither of you wanted to go to to that. You do not need to be informed by your Uncle until your 16th birthday. We were trying to give you more time to yourself."

Harry was watching his sister as he saw the panic in her rise, "Can you tell her who? We can just keep it a secret so they don't know."

Minerva looked at Hermione, "Would you be able to keep up the facade of not knowing? You already know of Sirius and Galen. There are two others that are currently attending Hogwarts, the fifth already graduated. Every time they speak to you they are gauging if you know about it. You would not be able to reject their invitations after you are 'informed'."

The Headmaster sat in his chair, "Now that you have more than one marriage request, you will not be able to reject any invitation as long as you are not already attending something with another possible suitor or have specific plans set. Basically whoever asks you first."

"What if I really don't like someone? What if I want to reject a marriage request to stop having to go places with them?" Hermione looked at the Headmaster.

Charlus looked at her with a pained expression, "In order to reject offers, you must accept one fully. If you accept before your 18th birthday, the young man will have the right to set the wedding date before you graduate if that is their choice. After the wedding they will have the right to remove you from school to become their wife at home full time if that is their choice. You may be stuck going on unpleasant outings for years if you wish to graduate depending on your husband."

Hermione jumped out of Sirius' lap ignoring his pained protest of her heel accidentally coming down on his foot. Screeching, "WHAT!"

Hermione's head was snapping back and forth between the Headmaster her Aunt and her grandparents for all intents purpose, "You make it sound like you know there will be unpleasant dates?"

Minerva sighed, "One of your requests comes from an older man who is less than… proper. I've spoken to the Headmaster already about hiring a chaperone for you my dear. It is within the rules, they are there to ensure your chastity."

Hermione kept her Aunt's gaze as she turned bright red from embarrassment, avoiding all looks from the males in the room. "Your chaperone will be required to go on ALL dates, with all your suitors, no picking."

Hermione glanced at Sirius whose own cheeks were slightly flushed at the conversation. Looking at her empty seat next to him before sitting in it, she didn't know why she'd sat in Sirius' lap for so long. "I will go crazy not knowing, I will do my best not to make it seem as if I know. The older man can't take me from school now correct?"

Shaking her head Minerva was glad she could give her some good news, "No, you are not his wife and Hogwarts students are not allowed to leave during the year. There is however one Hogsmeade trip left this year, he could ask for you to meet him there if…"

"Hermione will you go to Hogsmeade with me after OWLs?" Sirius blurted out knowing that the old man would try as he ignored the protective looks that he was receiving on Hermione's behalf from every male in the room except the Headmaster.

Hermione stared at Sirius as her cheeks pinkened, "Yes I'll go with you Sirius." She gave him a small smile of thanks before looking back to her Aunt who was sporting a grin.

"Well, since you have a date that won't be an issue. But he can request you from the moment you step off the train for the Summer hols if he finds out you know prior to your birthday. Sirius cannot ask you to spend every moment with him for all of the summer." Minerva continued on as she gave Sirius a pointed look.

Looking at her niece, "You're sure you want to know?"

Hermione looked over at Harry before nodding, "I'll go crazy not knowing. Honestly, I'll be lost in my books till OWLs anyway, and I won't be able to concentrate on them if I am questioning who."

Minerva nodded, "Very well. You already know Sirius Black and Galen Avery. You have also received requests from Lucius Malfoy, Rabastan Lestrange and Kosco Zambini."

Choking on air Hermione sat straight in her chair her fingers gripping her thighs so she wouldn't jump, "Zambini! No no no, Lucius told me he was looking for wife number five since all the others DIED mysteriously after not giving him a son! Ugh, he was all handsy…. He told me my hips looked good for 'bearing boys'…."

The last part came out as a whisper as she sank into her seat as close to Harry as she could get while staring at the floor. Charlus snorted as his wife put a calming hand on his back, "That man will not get near any member of my family."

Hermione's eyes shot to Sirius' as she heard him apologizing, "I am so sorry I left you alone at the Yule ball. You danced with Zambini and Malfoy there."

Sighing Hermione reached over and took his hand, "Rabastan saw me there by never came over, it would have happened if you were there as well. It isn't your fault Sirius, we discussed this."

The Headmaster nodded with a serious demeanor, "That is why a chaperone will be brought in. We don't need one of the men putting you in a compromising position that may force your hand."

Hermione snorted as she gave a dry laugh drawing the attention of the room, "My hand is already forced and you know it. Mrs. Black has had me by the neck since day one. She would destroy Mr. Potter by revealing her so called knowledge about his siring Harry and I. We can't very well say, 'No, were James' sprogs. Doesn't matter that he was three months old when we were born! Doesn't matter that Lily hasn't decided that she even likes him yet! That doesn't happen till seventh year!"

Sirius looked over at her smirking, "Seventh year?"

Glaring at him, "Hush you!"

Her glare faded quickly seeing hope shining in James' eyes, "Harry said Lily Potter earlier didn't he? I almost missed it. She says yes!"

Rolling her eyes at James, "You have got until seventh year buddy, and a long way to go I think."

James just grinned at her as if nothing could take away the happiness that he felt, "Shouldn't you be calling me Dad? I don't think I like the back talk, your grounded."

With the ice broken the room broke into laughter as Hermione's jaw dropped, "Excuse me? Oh no no no. That is not happening."

Sirius chuckled until James' eyes were on him, "And no more sitting my baby girl in your lap! Definitely no broom closets, and I better never find you in the dorm alone."

Hermione blushed fiercely as James called Sirius on being handsy with her as Harry leaned in close to her ear, "I think it has gone to his head."

She just glared at her brother as Charlus looked up at Minerva, "Would it be possible to be a part of reviewing her Marriage requests?"

Minerva frowned, "My brother truly believes she is our niece Charlus. He wouldn't understand why you wouldn't need to be there, in fact it would be a conflict of interest since he is aware of the supposed blackmail." Adjusting herself in her seat, "He has already agreed to let Hermione have the final choice though. There are only a few months left before their birthday, I don't see her getting a ton more. It is possible to receive others after,I will let you know if she does though."

Charlus was put out but nodded his thanks, "Very well. I would like it if the children both might come to the manor this summer break for a week or two. So Dorea and myself could get to know them."

Minerva smiled understandingly, "I am usually here at the school until the end of July, over a month after the students leave. They can stay with you until then?"

Dorea beamed at the thought of everyone coming over, "Oh yes. A house full of kids, Remus will be staying with us too. I will be baking a lot of cookies!"

Sirius turned and looked at Harry and Hermione with a curious look before shaking it off.

Hermione frowned, "What is it Sirius?"

"Nothing. I just. It is weird that you are James' kid is all." Hermione could clearly tell he just threw it in, but she was too relieved to care at the moment so she let it slide.

James looked to the Headmaster, "Um, since Remus is going to be spending the summer with us, shouldn't he know?"

Harry looked away, "If he knows will you tell Peter too? I know the moment we leave here you two will probably ask Mione and me about a million questions. I don't know how well I will be able to answer Peter. Remus sure, he was like a uncle to us. He taught me how to cast a patronus charm in my third year, breaking the rules. But Peter… our future wasn't kind to him."

Dorea placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, "Tell him. Be honest. Maybe down the road if something tempts him, or things get too hard. It might make all the difference if he knows what could happen. Do it gently though, remind him that you are his friend now."

"I agree, the truth can hurt. However seeing the pressure ands stress gone in the two of you, it can set you free as well." Charlus wrapped an arm around his wife.

James stood and walked to his dad wrapping his arms around his waist in a hug, "I am sorry I doubted you."

Charlus hugged him back, "I know why you did it Son, I don't blame you. No one could have seen this coming."

Sirius looked at Hermione, "I am going to stop being a prat to you, no more pushing you away."

Hermione just smiled and nodded her head, "I think it will be fine, and if it isn't we will just deal with it. Let's just hope the others don't realize I know about their marriage requests."

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Harry, Hermione, James and Sirius had left the Headmaster's office soon after their conversation died leaving the adults to talk in private about options for Hermione's chaperone.

Getting to the boys dorm they saw Remus and Peter were gone, along with their bags and assumed they'd been dragged away to do studying.

James and Sirius fell back on their beds as Harry and Hermione sat of his.

Harry looked at his two mates before clearing his throat, "So, any questions?"

James just raised his brow as he lifted his head, "I have about a million or so, probably more. I think my first question is to Harry, and it is going to sound a little cryptic. Did you know? Before Remus told you about him? Does she know? I know you tried talking him into telling her…"

Harry just grinned as Hermione spoke up, "If you are referring to Remus' being a werewolf since childhood then yes I know. I've known for nearly eight years, so I have the both of you beat. I won't force him to tell me though, that is his choice."

Sirius looked at her with apprehension, "and you are fine with it?"

Hermione hit him with a pillow at him, "I have studied with him, laid with my head on his shoulder, fallen asleep on him, laughed with him, I am fine with it." Going wide eyed as she looked to Harry with pure excitement in her eyes, "HARRY! They know, that I know, that they know, that Remus is a werewolf now!"

Harry's face was one of disbelief at her rambling outburst, "Is it just hitting you Mione?"

Growling as she huffed tossing the pillow at him again, "No! We can make the potion for Moony now! We couldn't before because they didn't know were we were from, there would have been questions."

James raised a finger with his mouth pursed, "One it is really weird to hear you call him Moony. Two, what potion?"

Hermione beamed at James while practically jumping up and down, "Oh relax Prongs, or I'll get you antler warmers for Christmas. The potion is called wolfsbane and it isn't invented for years, but I can make it in secret so the real inventor will still get his acknowledgment. He will still transform… painfully unfortunately, but it will help Remus keep his own mind during the full moon, less injuries and such. Less of a chance for him to hurt someone if he comes across someone. If he saw me in his wolf form without wolfsbane I wouldn't probably be dead. On wolfsbane he would be able to remember me, he would be able to fight the urge to attack me."

James and Sirius mouth were dropped open as Harry grinned at them, "She knows about you too Padfoot. So are you happy know I had you abandon your idea a few weeks back to find her in dog form to see if she would pet you?"

Sirius held his hands up in faux innocence, "I was just going to snuggle her? Maybe a few wet slobbery kisses." He grinned at her as she blushed.

Clearing her throat she gave him a look, "You might have walked away with a limp after I fixed you."

She smirked hearing him whimper and cross his legs, "Did you ever find it odd that Peter got a stinging hex to the rear last month, he was limping for two days?"

James eyes shot up, "He never told us why! What happened?"

Hermione looked at her brother, "I just stepped out of the shower, with my towel wrapped around me, thank godric, when I saw him in a corner in his rat form. I hexed him about four times before he scurried from the room." Huffing she muttered, "Pervy boys."

Sirius let a growl at the thought of wormtail trying to see her naked. He turned pink as he saw his friends and Hermione staring at him, "He shouldn't have peeped like that s'all."

Hermione just smiled, "Well good to know you never planned to spy on me as padfoot then."

Sirius just blushed deeper before getting whacked in the head by James' pillow.

Harry just gave Sirius a look before he shook his head, "Alright next question?"

Sirius bounced up and down, "Your Mum is Lily!"

Hermione raised an unimpressed brow, "That wasn't a question you know?"

Sirius just waved his hands in the air as if it didn't matter, "No, I mean all this fuss about marrying you because you are really a Potter and while you are. You are still a half blood!" He started laughing, "She is destroying the one thing that she is hell bent on saving! That's rich."

Sirius bit his lip as he became more sullen, "You said James and Lily were killed in 1981. Did I raise you? Or Remus?"

Harry looked down playing with the fuzzies on his blanket, "We didn't know either of you till we were in third year. So no. We stayed with Lily's muggle family. Part of Peter going down the dark path… well I guess we should start when the prophecy was told."

Harry and Hermione spent the rest of the evening telling the boys what happened from James and Lily dying, Peter's betrayal, Sirius being framed, Remus being an outcast, Peter in hiding and up to their Hogwarts years.

They had fallen asleep before Remus and Peter made it back finding their friends all deep in sleep with tear tracks down their faces curled up in bed together after having pushed James and Harry's beds together.

Both boys got into their own beds uncomfortably left to wonder what had happened.