A/N: Another update! Fun Fact: this chapter is originally split into two, but I've decided to merge it in the end. Things had been really stressful for me since I found out we'll be back in the hospital in September. Just so you know, it's bloody frustrating for medical interns like us because technically, we're not employees yet so we won't be having the same benefits as a resident. Oh, and yeah, did I forget to say our covid cases are continuously rising every day? So yeah, sorry I'm just ranting a bit ahahah enjoy this fic! This is honestly the only thing that makes me happy right now.
Thank you to my Beta, lozipozivanillabean.
xxvi.
it starts with our eyes well acquainted with the dark
(Overture by Sleeping at Last)
December 25, 1977
Hermione watched her brother in amusement as he nervously darted from one room to another.
Today was Christmas Day, meaning that Mary MacDonald was coming over and joining the Pettigrew family for Christmas lunch. Peter had thankfully gotten over his initial hesitation and had invited Mary over to finally meet his family. Anya was actually the first one to know about this. Hermione was only able to discover it when her mother sent an owl, excitedly breaking the news and already wondering what she would do for Christmas lunch.
Hermione's amused glance landed on their small dining table, decorated with stuffed Christmas turkey and pigs in blankets, baked potatoes, delectable puddings and pies with pitchers of pumpkin juice and tea. It was relatively less grand than the last meal Anya had prepared for Lily and Sev. Knowing her mother, Hermione had taken it upon herself to help Anya make Christmas lunch, making sure she didn't get too excited and start baking and cooking enough to feed a battalion.
"Peter," Hermione called out with a laugh. "Blimey, just sit down."
Peter walked out of the toilet looking paler than usual. "Listen, Mary is brilliant," he vehemently reassured. "Maybe she gets a little too excited with things she loves – Sirius did once say she gushes a lot – but she's terribly sweet and very kind and—"
His sister laughed once more, cutting him off from his tirade. "I'm sure she'll be fantastic," she replied. "James did say she's a riot and she's close with Lily."
"Speaking of James," her mother piped up as she laid a tray of various biscuits on the table, "why didn't you invite him over?"
Hermione's cheeks reddened, unable to meet her mother's eyes. "It's not the same as Peter, Mum," she said with a deep frown on her face.
"Oh, it's definitely like my relationship with Mary!" Peter exclaimed, stomping inside the kitchens. "You should have seen how much hand-holding they've been doing lately, Mum."
"Shut up," she hissed with a glare, swatting him across his chest.
Anya quirked an eyebrow, clear interest in her eyes. "Well, sweetheart," her mother said, "why don't you invite him over for New Years?"
"It's not like that," the brunette insisted once more. "Besides, the Potters are spending the holiday in Italy to visit family. They'll be gone until a few days before the start of term."
She noticed how Peter and Anya exchanged meaningful glances, prompting her to scowl darkly at the Yorkshire pudding she was making.
Her relationship with James was still… complicated, simply put. She already allowed herself to give in to temptation and had basked under the sunshine she realised he had always been. She had already allowed herself to hold his hand while they walked through the school corridors, or to spend study sessions with him alone in the library, or to even let him carry whatever things she had around just so he could shift them in his arms and hold her hand again.
Hermione knew she was venturing through dangerous waters. It had been exhausting fighting to pull away from James's orbit, which was why she had finally relented. What was worrisome, however, was what would happen if she let herself get too attached. What would happen to her if James realised Lily Evans was the only one for him? What would she do then?
Which was why, no, this relationship wasn't the same as Peter and Mary, because Peter looked like he wanted to spend his forever with her.
Hermione couldn't, for obvious reasons, of course.
These thoughts ceased when their doorbell rang. Peter stiffened momentarily, before he broke into the widest smile, and ran off towards the door.
He soon came back, Mary MacDonald towing behind.
The raven-haired witch with a sweet face shyly smiled at them. Hermione noted how she still wore semi-formal dress robes despite Peter's insistence that she could wear something casual. Although a Half-blood like them, Mary mostly grew up in a Wizarding household and such traditions were hard to break.
"Good afternoon," she politely said.
"Hello," Anya said, hastily wiping her hands on her apron. She strode quickly towards the witch and beamed brightly. "I'm Anya, Peter and Hermione's mother. Come and sit down, sweetheart. I heard you like biscuits with chamomile tea? I've prepared enough to last you a year." And she started to sweetly laugh, melting whatever nervousness Mary had.
As Anya pulled the witch towards the table, Hermione smiled, noting what Sirius meant when he'd said Mary gushed a lot. But the girl was sweet, and very polite to her mother. Hermione could already see the twinkling in Anya's eyes, no doubt imagining a future with babies that looked like Peter and Mary.
She glanced at her brother, whose cheeks were flushed and his lips stretched wide.
"I can't believe I hesitated at first," Peter whispered to her when he strode forward.
Hermione beamed and briefly held his hand. "Mum likes her already," she said. "Don't worry about unnecessary things anymore."
"And you?"
Her heart swelled with warmth at the fact he genuinely cared about her opinion. "Why should my opinion matter?" she asked, followed by a small laugh.
Peter softly snorted. "I'd rather my sister didn't torment the girl I'm going to like for the rest of our lives," he pointed out.
Hermione remembered the conversation she'd overheard between them, of Mary fiercely protesting that Peter wasn't the lesser Pettigrew, prompting her to smile fondly at him, and then at the girl who had undoubtedly already stolen their mother's heart.
"She is good to you, Peter," she finally said. "Any girl who thinks Peter Pettigrew is worthy of her time is instantly a good person in my mind."
Peter looked marvellously relieved by her words. "She chatters a lot," he warned.
"I'm best friends with Lily Evans," Hermione pointed out with a laugh. "Have you seen how her mouth runs?"
"Point taken," he concurred, mirroring her laugh.
-ooo-
Hermione excused herself when Peter and Mary got cozy on their couch as they watched an inane Christmas movie.
"Oh, Merry Christmas, Hermione!" Mary exclaimed, entangling herself from Peter's arms to catch up with the brunette.
"Merry Christmas to you too," she replied with a smile.
Mary then hastily rummaged inside her pocket and pulled out a neatly wrapped medium-sized gift, with a silver ribbon tied on top. "I'm sorry if it's terribly imposing, but I wanted to give you a gift today," she said as a sheepish smile bloomed on her face.
Hermione glanced at it in surprise. "Oh," she said, suddenly feeling flustered. "You shouldn't have. I – well – I didn't even buy you anything!"
"It doesn't matter," Mary said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Actually, I didn't plan on buying you a gift. But, while I was out shopping, I came across this book and instantly thought of you." Her eyes comically widened. "Oh, silly me, of course I just had to ruin the surprise." She expelled a lovely laugh, her blue eyes glinting brightly. "Peter said you're a mean bookworm. So am I! I hope we can exchange books in the future? I love this book with a reverence. I'm not sure if you've read it already, but if Peter wasn't exaggerating then, maybe you already did, but oh well. More books to add to your collection, eh?"
The brunette stared at her with wide eyes. Peter wasn't kidding when he'd said she was a chatterbox. She glanced over Mary's shoulder and saw her brother watching them in amusement, his shoulders shaking with his suppressed chuckles.
"Thank you," Hermione said, gingerly taking the gift from Mary's hands. "This is very thoughtful of you, Mary. I – well – I'll scour my bookshelf and search for anything that might interest you." She looked hesitant. "You don't mind Muggle books, do you?"
"Oh, dear me, of course not!" Mary exclaimed. "That's a Muggle book you're holding. In fact, I think wizard fiction is very weird."
Hermione grinned. "Tell me about it."
"Anyway, I hope you enjoy that!" Mary said, surprising Hermione yet again when she enveloped her in a quick hug.
The brunette chuckled and patted her back, thanking her once again.
Hermione went to her room and left the couple alone, thinking of continuing some of her holiday homework now that she had nothing left to do.
She settled on her desk and softly smiled at the gift, before neatly tearing it open. Anne of Green Gables stared right back at her and Hermione smiled in surprise as she honestly hadn't expected this book. She had read this before, of course, but she had read this as Hermione Granger. Hermione gingerly brushed her fingers across the title, fondly remembering the feelings that were evoked from reading the novel.
Hermione placed the book away, promising to read it after she was finished with her studies, and pulled out her school materials.
While she was engrossed on a particularly interesting Arithmancy question, her attention was suddenly diverted towards her bedroom window. She instantly recognised James's owl, Thunderbolt, merrily pecking the window with his beak.
Surprised, Hermione opened the window and let the handsome owl inside. He hooted happily when he landed on Hermione's desk, sticking out his leg.
Hermione knitted her eyebrows as she untied the small, silver box with a gold ribbon tied around it. She'd already received James's gift earlier this morning amidst the various gifts she had received from friends and family. He, of course, had sent her the ridiculously expensive school materials he'd bought during their last Hogsmeade date.
Thunderbolt affectionately nipped her finger, begging for treats. Hermione absentmindedly scooped a few from a jar on her table and let him eat on her palm.
"Merry Christmas," was her goodbye, as the owl happily hooted before opening his magnificent wings and flying out of the window.
Hermione gingerly unwrapped the box, frowning instantly upon recognising it as a jewellery box. She opened it, a gasp tearing from her lips, as she beheld a beautiful bracelet resting on a velvet cushion inside.
It was a round sapphire gemstone flanked with two, glinting diamonds strung through a silver band. Hermione highly suspected this bracelet had cost more than the school supplies James had bought for her.
There was a rolled parchment placed next to the bracelet. As Hermione unrolled it, her eyes instantly flew through the words.
Hermione,
I hope you don't mind. I hope this isn't crossing a line. The first time I saw this, I instantly thought of your eyes.
Merry Christmas,
James
P.S. Because seriously, who wants to get school supplies for Christmas?
She rolled her eyes at his postscript and tenderly lifted the bracelet from its box. It was really beautiful and Hermione thought it was sweet James had thought about her eyes when he'd seen it.
Unable to stop a smile from stretching on her face, Hermione unclasped the bracelet and wore it around her wrist.
Merlin, it looked even prettier when worn.
January 6, 1978
Anya gave them both a hug goodbye and shooed them towards the Hogwarts Express. "Promise to write!" she called, and waved her hand happily until Peter had ushered Hermione further inside.
"It's weird, isn't it?" Peter said, leading Hermione as he searched throughout the train for his friends, "how a new year has come and things are still ridiculously the same?"
Hermione glanced at Peter's back in surprise, unsure as to why he was suddenly saying such thoughts. However, Hermione couldn't help but slightly disagree with her brother. News about increasing attacks decorated the Daily Prophet and their television. Not even the forced censorship from the ministry could stop people from speculating – was Voldemort steadily gaining enough power to finally wage an ultimate war? It didn't help that Hermione had once caught her mother applying more spells to strengthen their wards at home. "Thieves have been rampant, don't you know?" was Anya's mere answer, but Hermione saw her mother's eyes and the fear in them.
She knew this year would be different, especially now that Regulus was a Death Eater and she wanted to voluntarily help him destroy the horcruxes. Gone were the quiet days of Hermione Pettigrew. With the war steadily gaining momentum, Hermione had to work double time in order to really bring Voldemort down and save the people she cared about in the present and future.
"There you are!"
A compartment door was suddenly slammed open, James's head peeking outside. Her mind instantly went blank, mouth going dry, as he fully sauntered out of the compartment he was staying in, to approach the Pettigrew siblings.
Merlin and Morgana, she realised she had missed him.
Very much.
"Wormtail, hi, all right?" he asked, good-naturedly thumping him on the back.
"Yes, actually," Peter said, a wide, goofy grin appearing on his face. "Mary did come over during Christmas and it was amazing! You should—" His words died down as his smile turned into an annoyed scowl. "Yeah, why am I even talking when it's obvious you're not even listening to me?"
"Hmm?" James distractedly asked, his hazel eyes trained intently on Hermione.
"Berk," Peter sighed, already dragging his trunk inside the compartment.
"Hi," Hermione shyly said, her cheeks warming in embarrassment.
James's smile grew as he took a few more steps, shrinking the distance between them. "Had a good holiday?" he asked, already reaching forward to hold Hermione's hand. His hand was still big and warm and fitted perfectly with her own.
"It was lovely," she said with a laugh. James grabbed her trunk and started pulling her towards the opened compartment. "Peter wasn't kidding when he said it was amazing. Mary was wonderful and my mother instantly liked her. She won't stop pestering Peter about when he'd ask for her hand in marriage." She gave his hand a tender squeeze and asked, "How was Italy?"
"È stato bellissimo," he answered with a handsome grin and a perfect accent. "I'd love to take you there someday, Hermione."
Her eyes widened at his claim, but James didn't seem to notice as he finally led her inside the compartment.
"Hey!" Sirius exclaimed with a petulant frown. "What happened to the rule 'no girlfriends allowed'?"
Hermione made a face at the word 'girlfriend' and was about to correct Sirius, but James snorted and pushed Peter to the side until the scowling blond was pressed against the window. "She's Peter's sister," James explained, directing Hermione to sit in the middle whilst he took her other side. "She's also your friend. Hermione's an exception."
Hermione examined the whole compartment with a scrunched nose. The floor was already littered with snack wrappers and Wizard's chess was open on the floor, the chess pieces merrily prancing around and waving their little swords in the air.
"Had a great Christmas, Hermione?" Remus asked with a kind smile.
Peter answered for her, already gushing about the events that happened with Mary at their home. Sirius was making various, ridiculous comments, earning him some punches from Peter and Remus, but it was obvious how they were genuinely happy for her brother. It was obvious how happy Peter was too.
Hermione distractedly glanced at James when she felt him suddenly squeeze her hand tightly. Glancing at him in question, she noted how his eyes were trained intently on her hand. Or, more appropriately, on the gleaming bracelet wrapped around her wrist.
"It's very beautiful," she said, feeling her cheeks reddening. James slowly lifted his eyes to meet hers, and Hermione felt her breath hitching with emotions. His eyes were the brownest she had ever seen, the green merely flecks around the outside, like a halo. The handsome smile on his face reached his eyes and Hermione found herself unable to stifle her own smile.
"It looks like your eyes," he finally said, giving her hand another fond squeeze. "Very beautiful."
A crumpled parchment suddenly zoomed in between them. "Oi, lovebirds," Sirius exclaimed. "No googly eyes in front of us."
Hermione flushed and glared at the disgusted wizard. James threw him a rude hand gesture, but his cheeks were also sprinkled with pink. "Shut up, Pads," he grumbled under his breath.
Conversation after that, was mostly the boys talking about their plans on how to graduate with a blast – literally. Hermione's eyes didn't return to their normal shape for the entirety of the conversation, after listening to Sirius and Peter pitching various ideas that bordered insane. Remus remained amused throughout, even suggesting things that he thought would help. James wasn't any different, loudly insisting how the timing of their plans should be after the graduation speech, or about how they would sneak everything inside Hogwarts without getting caught.
"You're Head Boy," she exclaimed, aghast. "How can you even support this preposterous idea?"
James boisterously laughed. "Hermione, relax," he said. "We're all going to do this after Dumbledore has declared us as graduates. After that, we're students no more and they can't really expel us then, can they?"
Hermione groaned while the other three excitedly cheered, once again adding more suggestions that could embellish their already elaborate plan.
Despite the disbelief, Hermione found herself laughing at some jokes Peter would crack, or roll her eyes at Sirius when he spouted more ridiculous things.
This train ride was definitely the most eventful she'd ever had. Lily and Sev were nice companions, but they mostly talked about the holidays and future lessons. Hermione wondered if they were even worried she hadn't sat with them this time. But then, she realised she may have given them some private time together and they were most likely thanking the lucky stars above.
Speaking of her best friends, Hermione deduced that the couple was definitely going steady. Like what Peter had done, Lily invited Sev to her home for Christmas and New Year. Lily reverently wrote to Hermione despite her parents' rule, wanting to recount detail-by-detail how her holidays had gone, most especially because Petunia also invited over Vernon, and she had been unwilling to be bested by her younger sister.
"It was a bloody disaster," Lily wrote. "Petunia and Vernon were extra nasty, snarling untoward comments at Sev and his 'grubby, little clothes'. They were even more cruel than Potter and Black! You should have seen how I was trying my best to hold my tears and my tongue. But Sev was… Sev was brilliant and a sourpuss, calmly retorting thinly-veiled sarcastic quips that even made Vernon turn purple. I think the whole ordeal was ruined when Petunia caught Dad trying to hold in a laugh. Suffice to say, Petunia hates me more but my parents love Sev, sourpuss and snarky comments and all."
Hermione was infinitely happy for her friends. But, at the same time, worry bloomed in her heart. They only had six months to go before the Marauders and her best friends graduated, and yet, James and Lily weren't together. In fact, they didn't seem to like each other at all. Harry had told her before that his parents had gotten together when they were in seventh year, so it was understandable how worried Hermione had become.
Added to that, was the fact that Hermione seemed to like James more and more each day. Despite the distance, they constantly swapped letters over the holidays. James was arrogant but sweet, quipping things in his letters that made her blush in embarrassment. James was, well, rather forward with his words, hiding behind the guise of his letter to tell Hermione how she truly made him feel. They weren't scandalous, of course, but Hermione was sure Peter would see red if he ever read one of James' letters for her.
So, with James and Lily dating other people right now, things weren't exactly in their proper place. Hermione often wondered if dating James meant betraying Harry, by stealing his right to be born in this world.
Panic was starting to rise up from her stomach again and Hermione tried to tug her hand away from James, but his grip was firm and warm and safe.
Hermione hated herself for not trying harder.
She blinked her eyes widely when James suddenly ducked his face closer to hers. "Knut for your thoughts?" he asked, even fishing the copper coin from his hand and extending it towards Hermione.
Sirius loudly snorted. "With that big brain of hers," he started, "her thoughts must cost at least two galleons, Prongsie-mate."
James laughed and slipped the knut inside his robe pocket, only to pull out two galleons and a piece of toffee. Hermione rolled her eyes but accepted the toffee. "Nothing exciting, honestly," she lied through her teeth. "I was just wondering how you will all fair in the upcoming NEWTs."
Predictably, they expelled numerous groans, prompting Hermione to smile.
"You only have at least five months before the exams," she continued despite their protests.
"Hermione," Peter whined, "we're adhering to your colour-coded schedule, blimey."
"We're really fond of you, Whiskers, which is why we keep you around," Sirius seriously said. "But please, can you bloody fucking spare us today? We're not even at Hogwarts yet!"
"Language," Hermione clucked, but Sirius merely pouted.
"Save your swottiness for Hogwarts," James sighed. "You'll have plenty of time to mother us once we get there."
Hermione was unable to keep in her laugh. "I'm just trying to remind you of the inevitable," she pointed out. "Don't look at me like that."
"I don't even know why I'm bothering to adhere to your rigorous scheduling," Remus said with a grimace. "I'm not even planning to become an Auror. The ministry would surely gloss over my name if I ever attempted."
"That's not true!" she blurted out almost immediately. Remus quirked an eyebrow, prompting her to blush. "Well, okay, we all know the world is fond of discriminating against people just because they're not like the rest, but that's bullshite. If I have my way, I'm going to rigorously write laws in the future and abolish any discriminatory practices for people like you, Remus, because it's so outdated and unfair."
Remus's golden eyes shone fondly at her words. "I'm not going to be surprised if you really did purse that, Hermione," he said. "But, really, I don't mind not becoming an Auror. It'd be too much of a hassle. Besides, I plan on applying for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post."
"But that position is cursed!" James exclaimed with a gasp. "We didn't know you wanted to do that."
The werewolf sheepishly smiled and rubbed the back of his neck. "I wasn't really planning on it," he confessed. "But Dumbledore mentioned in passing how Professor Sullen plans to retire after the school-year ends." He grinned at Hermione. "Perhaps, I'll be able to see you all-year round and will teach you Defence next year, Hermione."
James's eyes widened. "Maybe, I should apply as a teacher too," he seriously declared. "If it meant I'll be able to see you all-year round, too."
"Don't be ridiculous," Hermione said as she threw a light glare at James. "Your schedule's already designed to focus on the knowledge and skills needed to be an Auror. It'd be a waste to give up what you really want to do for just one year teaching me."
"Aww, but Hermione, at least I could see you every day," he whined, but the brunette merely laughed and pushed him away.
"So, you do plan on accepting Dumbledore's offer?" Peter asked, shooting a disgusted look at his sister and best friend.
Remus shrugged and leaned back in his chair. "Well, Dumbledore already knows about my affliction," he said. "At least I'd still have the Shrieking Shack for my transformations. The only difference is that you lot won't be there."
"What the hell are you talking about, Moony?" Sirius asked, looking at Remus like he'd grown another head. "Of course we'll be there! Granted, we may have all graduated and chosen a different career path, but that doesn't mean we won't try to accompany you during the full moon."
Hermione noted how Remus's eyes shone a little brighter when Peter and James vigorously nodded their heads. "Auror training is ridiculously hard," he pointed out. "I'm sure the ministry will work you like a horse, especially with the environment nowadays."
"Oh, right! Speaking of the ministry," Hermione exclaimed. "I just remembered something I've been meaning to tell you." When they gave her identical looks of curiosity, she continued. "I think it's best if you register yourselves as Animagi." Their faces scrunched up in protest, but Hermione wasn't done. "Animagi are scarce, as we've always been taught, and the ministry will surely consider you more favourably as Aurors because of this skill. Besides, the ministry doesn't even consider anyone for the post of Auror if they have committed a crime. It is better if you adhere to the law."
"I know you're right, but that's bloody bothersome," Sirius muttered, crossing his arms against his chest. "All that bureaucratic shite."
"Better safe than sorry," she said with a deft shrug.
"Fine," James said with a sigh. "We can just lie and say we've managed to become one recently. You know, because technically it was illegal."
Hermione nodded her head to concur.
-ooo-
Hermione walked out of the Great Hall after bidding goodbye to Lily and Sev. James apologised to her profusely, telling her he had some Head Boy crap he needed to do and had to go to Dumbledore and therefore couldn't escort her back to Ravenclaw Tower.
"It's fine, James," Hermione said with a laugh. "I'll see you tomorrow."
James looked at her with stars in his eyes and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "Goodnight, Hermione," he said. He grabbed her hand once more and stared at the bracelet on her wrist. A ridiculous smile stretched widely on his face as he bid her another goodbye and walked away.
Hermione made a brief stop at the library to borrow a few books she had been meaning to read for advance studying. Madame Pince had given her a surprised look, obviously unused to having students in the library on the first day back after the Christmas holidays.
She bid the strict librarian goodnight and was surprised when Madame Pince gave her a small smile in return. She knew the librarian was wary of her and her friends because they were admittedly always quite rowdy when inside. Hermione hoped the smile meant the librarian liked her more.
Hermione was journeying back to Ravenclaw Tower, the corridors now scarce of students, when she was suddenly pulled into an alcove. A scream sat on the tip of her tongue, but her wand hand was quicker. The brunette blindly poked her wand tip into the person's side.
"If you don't release me," she darkly hissed, her grip on her wand tightening, "I'm going to hex you."
A low chuckle washed over the exposed flesh of her neck, creating goosebumps. "Blimey, Pettigrew, it's just me."
Hermione scowled and twirled around, her wand now pressed threateningly under Regulus' chin. "You shouldn't sneak up on people like that!" she whispered shrilly.
Brief fear crossed his silver eyes as he slowly raised his hands to gesture surrender. "Apologies," he murmured.
Hermione gave him a glare before slowly lowering her wand. "What do you want?" she asked. "What's the matter? Why did you suddenly pull me into a dark alcove?"
Regulus looked at her in mild amusement. "I was trying to find the time to corner you, but Potter's been joined to your hip the whole time," he pointed out. "So, the rumours are really true, then? You're really dating James Potter?"
"None of your business," she said, hoping that the darkness was enough to cover the redness on her cheeks.
"And he's over Lily Evans?" he persisted.
"None of your bloody business," she continued with a sigh. "What do you really want, Regulus? It's been a rather tiring day and we have classes at eight in the morning tomorrow. I'd like to retire to my bed as soon as possible."
The amused smile on his face melted into a firm, hard line. "I've done a lot of thinking - like what you said to do last year," he said. "And I've made up my mind. I'm still in, if you are."
Hermione's eyes widened, hope forming in her heart. "Are you really sure, Regulus?" she asked. "This isn't some test you can pass if you study hard enough. This isn't some Quidditch game you can win if you catch the Golden Snitch. This is war, and in war you have to accept the fact that lives may be sacrificed in the end."
Regulus had an indecipherable look in his eyes. "Will you do it then?" he softly asked. "Sacrifice yourself for the people you care about?"
She thought of Anya and Peter, of Remus and Sirius and Lily and Sev. She thought of Regulus too, and how desperate he was of righting his wrongs. She thought of James with hazel eyes and a golden smile, managing to make her heart flutter even with a single glance. She thought of Ron, with eyes as blue as the deepest ocean, staring lifelessly heavenward. And she thought of Harry, who only wanted to be happy in this world.
"If it's the only way, I will," she firmly whispered, her words reverberating around the stony walls of the small alcove.
Desperation appeared in Regulus' eyes, his hold on Hermione's arm tightening. "Then I'll help you," he resolutely said. "I hope we will survive through all of this. I just want – I just want the Dark Lord—" He took a sharp intake of breath as his silver eyes turned steely with determination. "I just want Voldemort to die."
The way he said his name, with disgust and exhaustion and fear, made Hermione's eyes water with overwhelming emotions.
"Me too," she whispered. "Me too, Regulus."
January 28, 1978
Hermione was awakened on Saturday morning by incessant tapping on her window.
She blearily glanced at her alarm clock, annoyed to see that it was still five in the morning. It was Saturday after all, and although Hermione woke up earlier than her roommates, she still had two more hours to go before her supposed alarm.
The Ravenclaw groggily stood up from her bed and briefly glanced at her roommates, noting that they were all still asleep. Hermione scowled in envy as she opened the window, letting a handsome, sooty owl swoop inside and land on her bedside table. He howled in annoyance, perhaps reprimanding Hermione for making him wait outside in the cold, before sticking out his leg.
Hermione stared at the owl with mild amusement, already guessing that he most likely belonged to a haughty, Pureblood wizard. She untied the parchment from his leg. The owl took flight even before being given treats, and Hermione hastily closed the window to protect herself from the cold.
She unrolled the parchment and smiled, recognising Regulus's handwriting.
Pettigrew,
Who wakes up at seven am on a Sunday? But fine, I'll meet you on the seventh floor. Don't be late.
R.A.B.
Hermione snorted at the letter, wondering how Regulus could complain about waking up early on a weekend, when he'd practically done the same thing today. Her eyes slowly latched onto his signature, her smile faltering. She gingerly brushed the initials of his name, fondly remembering the letter he'd penned to Voldemort in the future, telling him he'd discovered his secrets and vowed to take him down.
Shaking such thoughts away, Hermione walked towards her small desk and grabbed spare parchment and her turkey quill. She penned her reply, all the while thinking how she could slip this short note to Regulus without his Slytherin cronies noticing.
After writing the letter, Hermione slipped back into her bed and closed her eyes once more, hoping to catch a few more winks before her alarm went off.
-ooo-
Hermione smiled warmly when the Marauders sauntered inside the Great Hall and journeyed towards the Ravenclaw table. James and Peter, as usual, flanked her sides whilst Remus and Sirius sat across from her.
With Hermione's new relationship with James, the Head Boy had announced to his friends that he'd like to spend his meals with his lady love. Hermione rolled her eyes at his antics, but James insisted. Since the Marauders were basically joined at the hip, it didn't surprise Hermione when the other three also joined James on the Ravenclaw table.
The new arrangements of course, changed Lily and Sev's schedule of having meals with their best friend. During breakfast, Hermione found herself usually alone. She always woke up earlier than her friends so she really didn't mind. Lily also often woke up early, but she spent her breakfast chattering away with her Gryffindor friends, Mary and Marlene. During lunch time, Lily and Sev would join her on the Ravenclaw table, and Hermione would watch with thinly-veiled amusement - mixed with slight disgust - how sickeningly adorable the two were being. Hence, James had no choice but to agree to eat with her at dinnertimes, his other friends clambering behind him.
"All right, Hermione?" the bespectacled wizard asked, sliding down on the bench beside her. Like clockwork, his hand gripped hers and gave it a tiny squeeze.
"Yeah," she said, smiling at her brother and the other two. "How was the career orientation?"
Sirius made a face and started piling food on his plate. "Waste of two hours," he murmured. Then, to Remus, he asked, "Hey, do you think I could be a Dragon Tamer?"
Remus snorted. "McGonagall said that 8 in 10 Dragon Tamers had to shave their heads because hair can be a fire hazard. I'm sure you won't let anyone touch your hair just to work, Pads."
"Too true," Sirius said with a loud guffaw, fondly cradling his hair like it was Merlin's gift to humanity.
"I can't believe so many students want to become Aurors," Peter moaned, despondently tearing his bread into pieces on his plate. "How am I to compete against them?"
"You heard what McGonagall said," James pointed out with a frown. "Things today are… tense, what with the increase in attacks and the threat of Voldemort growing stronger each day. We're a bunch of Gryffindors, Peter. Of course we'd want to fight."
"And recklessly get yourself killed, I'm sure," Hermione snapped, scowling darkly at her plate.
James silently squeezed her hand once more, smiling handsomely at the brunette. "Nobody's going to get killed, Whiskers," he assured. "Nobody can easily kill us."
Except there was somebody, and that somebody had mercilessly killed him with a well-aimed Avada Kedavra. Hermione tried to shake the image of a dead James Potter, hazel eyes empty and dull, just to keep her emotions at bay. It was too early to worry about things like that. She still had the task of procuring all of Voldemort's scattered horcruxes and destroying them, just to make the bastard mortal once more.
"I think I need a break from all these NEWTs and this career crap," said Sirius with an exhausted groan. "Fancy a stroll tonight, lads?"
Hermione mentally projected her calendar and frowned. "The full moon has already passed," she slowly pointed out under her breath.
"We sometimes like to venture outside, even if Moony's not going to, you know," James said. "Just to discover more secret passages to add to the map. Speaking of which, when are you going to return the Marauder's Map?"
"I thought you said it's done?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow and opting to ignore his question.
"There's always room for improvement," he replied with chuckle. "So, fancy a stroll tonight, Whiskers?"
Hermione would have loved to transform into her Animagus and trailed behind the Marauders, but she had an early appointment with Regulus tomorrow. She didn't need to think thoroughly to decide which one was priority. "Sorry," she finally said with an apologetic smile. "I think I'll pass this time."
"Why?" Peter asked with a frown. "Don't tell me you're going to stay up late to study tonight, Hermione."
"So what if I am?" she petulantly asked, not bothering to dispel his accusations. Sometimes being a swot actually had its merits.
"You're really no fun sometimes," Sirius said with a sigh. "Come on, Hermione. We'll show you the different secret passages we've discovered through the years."
Hermione mentally thought those passages might not be so secret for her already, after years and years of trailing behind Harry Potter. "I still think I'll pass," she stated matter-of-factly. Her eyes landed on Remus and frowned. "What do you do on nights when you don't have to, you know?"
Remus shrugged and grinned roguishly at his friends. "Pretend I'm walking my pet dog and stag for the night," he joked. "I let Wormtail ride on my shoulders. It gives him the illusion he's taller than Prongs."
"Very funny, Moony," Peter grumbled under his breath, his cheeks flushing at the joke. Hermione apologetically smiled at her brother, knowing that he was still tetchy about his puny Animagus form compared to his other friends.
"It'll be fun. Promise," James said, peering at her with his hopeful, hazel eyes. "We need someone who'll get us out of trouble."
Hermione snorted. "Please, I know you'd just tune me out if I continued to nag you about your idiotic shenanigans," she deadpanned.
James innocently grinned. "When did we ever tune you out, Hermione? Honestly?" he asked amidst the chuckles his other friends were trying to suppress.
The Ravenclaw sighed and gave them a withering glare. "Just stay out of trouble," she warned. "If you get expelled before you even take your NEWTs, all of my efforts to get you diligently studying would have gone to waste."
January 29, 1978
Hermione woke up at five in the morning, much to her disgruntlement. She blamed her adrenaline for waking her up before her alarm, knowing full well what this day meant for her. She tried to close her eyes and catch a few more winks, but her body was uncooperative. Knowing it was futile, Hermione hauled herself out of her bed and started to get ready.
She silently shook her head at the small mess her roommates had made. It was mighty amusing how they had planned a pseudo girl's night out yesterday, with Alex displaying various nail polishes she had brought from home. Hermione had wanted to politely excuse herself, wanting to sleep early to get ready for the next day, but her roommates had cajoled her into joining. Hermione had relented, having no choice but to sit on the floor and let Dorothy paint her nails in pretty midnight blue and bronze colours.
Hermione eyed her newly painted nails and smiled in amusement. She must admit, they were actually pretty. Besides, her Ravenclaw friends had been a nice distraction for her last night. When they'd finally let Hermione slip away to her bed, she'd been so knackered that sleep instantly claimed her.
Since it was still terribly cold out, Hermione donned a worn dark blue, thick sweater that matched her bracelet. She wore a button-down denim skirt and some tights to protect her legs from the cold.
She brandished out her wand and magicked the mess away, most of the belongings landing on Alex's equally messy bedside table. Hermione then quietly left their room and journeyed out of the Ravenclaw Common Room.
The corridors, as predicted, were devoid of students. Even most of the portraits were still dozing off in their frames.
Hogwarts was serene that day and Hermione took that moment to stop in her tracks and gaze appreciatively at the worn, stone walls and high ceilings of the castle she fondly called home.
When she arrived at the seventh floor, Hermione was surprised to see that Regulus was already there.
"It's not even seven!" was her greeting, quickening her footsteps to reach the Slytherin.
He merely quirked an eyebrow. "Well, you're here too," he stated matter-of-factly. "Besides, I couldn't sleep last night."
Hermione noted the dark bags under his tired, silver eyes, but it was obvious how he had been anticipating this day too. Regulus was practically humming with a nervous energy she'd never felt from him before. He constantly glanced around, as if expecting that someone would finally jump out and kill him for betraying the Dark Lord.
The brunette smiled sadly at the Slytherin, knowing this would be his life from now on until they'd finally killed Voldemort.
"Regulus," she coolly greeted. "Are you all—"
"No time for pleasantries," he cut her off. "Why are we here?" He wildly gestured at the empty corridor and eyed the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy with disdain.
Hermione rolled her eyes at his melodrama. No doubt a Black trait, remembering all the times Sirius dramatically pointed out things.
"Because the horcrux is here," she said in a low voice.
"Where?" Regulus insisted, his eyes now narrowing suspiciously. "Is this a trap, Pettigrew? Luring me somewhere abandoned just to kill me and get away with murder?"
The brunette snorted. "If you continue being annoying, I just might do that," she offhandedly threatened. Regulus merely stared at her with thinly-veiled amusement in his eyes.
Hermione then turned towards the bare stone wall opposite the tapestry, her hand climbing up to brush it. It had been ages since she'd been here. She clearly remembered how the whole room had been destroyed by Crabbe's blazing Fiendfyre, also costing him his life.
"Where's the horcrux?" Regulus insisted once more.
"Here," Hermione plainly said. "Behind this wall."
The Slytherin's eyes roamed across the huge stretch of bare wall as a frown appeared on his face. "There is no door," he said.
"There is," she replied. "If you know where to look."
Hermione closed her eyes and ignored Regulus's dubious look. 'We need a place to look for Ravenclaw's Diadem,' she chanted inside her mind as she walked in front of the wall. She did it twice more and before she could open her eyes, she knew it had worked when Regulus released a soft yelp of surprise.
"Told you there's a door," she said with a smirk as her eyes snapped open and saw how his eyes had almost bulged out of their sockets.
"How did you—" The words died down from his lips as he looked at Hermione like he'd never seen her before. "Does anyone know about this place?"
The brunette shrugged. "Maybe," she said. "I don't doubt some desperate students might have stumbled upon this room, even though they don't really know the magic it entails."
"Your Gryffindor friends?" he continued.
Hermione wore a secretive smile. She admittedly had been curious as to whether the Marauders had discovered the Room of Requirement during this time. Apparently, after skimming through the Map she still possessed, she found out that nothing had changed and they still hadn't discovered this elusive room. It gave Hermione a sense of satisfaction that she knew something secret they didn't.
"Merlin, no wonder Potter likes you so much," he murmured under his breath as he opened the door and tentatively peeked inside. Hermione's blush was left unnoticed by Regulus, who by now was busy ogling the towering knick knacks the room boasted. "What the fuck?"
Hermione pushed him further inside so she could step in and had another wave of déjà vu. Her skin prickled at the memory of the licking Fiendfyre and she half-expected that a blazing inferno would appear and swallow them whole. But the room stayed fire-free and safe, save from the precarious pieces of furniture stacked high up to the ceiling of the whole room.
It looked the same the last time she'd been here. Hermione hoped the diadem was still where they'd last seen it, buried under decades of grime and dust.
"What are we looking for again?" Regulus asked, snapping out of his surprised stupor to look at the silent witch.
"Ravenclaw's Diadem," she said. "Are you aware what it looks like?"
The Slytherin shrugged. "I remember from History of Magic that Binns said it had three oblong sapphires and an inscription of Ravenclaw's quote. Something about wit…"
"'Wit beyond measure is a man's greatest treasure'," Hermione absentmindedly murmured, her fingers already brushing over tattered books and worn couches, and of suspicious-looking sweaters and dust-filled blankets, all neglected and collecting century-old dust. Some things looked relatively new, untouched by time and dust, and some looked like they had been in this room since the foundation of the school. "We should split up."
Regulus grew wary at her suggestion, prompting her to continue. "This will make the search easier," she said. "Just as long as you don't touch anything suspicious, you'll live, Regulus."
"That isn't exactly helpful, Pettigrew," he murmured darkly under his breath.
Hermione expelled a soft laugh. "This room is relatively harmless," she assured. "Most things here are unintentionally lost by unsuspecting students."
"Except there's a horcrux in this bloody place."
Her smile widened in amusement. "Yes, well, Voldemort intended to keep it here because the bastard thought he was the only one who could purposively search for this place." When Regulus still looked doubtful with her suggestion, Hermione sighed. "Just look for a diadem with sapphires and the inscription. It's easy to notice. I promise. I think it's worn by an ugly bust, but maybe it's different in this timeline."
Regulus's eyebrows slowly knitted together. "What do you mean 'in this timeline'?" he asked, looking at her with more suspicion.
"Never mind that," she said a tad too quickly. "Just don't touch it if you see it. Horcruxes are really evil and they can manipulate you."
"That's not very helpful either," he ground out once more.
Hermione's hand itched, terribly tempted to slap her palm against her forehead. "Merlin, just don't touch it and you'll live, Regulus," she gasped exasperatedly. "Whoever finds the horcrux first will call the other over, especially if it's you. I need to confirm if it's the real diadem or not."
Regulus glowered, still hesitant at her suggestion, until he finally sighed. "Fine," he said. "If I die today, I'll haunt you for the rest of your life."
"What happened with 'I'm willing to sacrifice my life for this cause'?" Hermione teased, prompting Regulus to snarl at her in annoyance and proceed to scour the east side of the room.
The brunette chuckled and started at the opposite side, training her eyes to quickly scan the numerous piles of junk and treasures in search of the familiar diadem.
Hermione spied broken broomsticks and new dragonhide gloves, some ridiculous wigs and gaudy baubles, and tomes so old she wondered if they were overdue books from the library. The different knickknacks piqued her curiosity, as she tried to imagine their story and how they had lost themselves in this room forevermore.
The brunette recognised the towering junk which she and Ron had climbed up in order to avoid the unforgiving fire of Crabbe's Fiendfyre. It still looked as precarious as ever, and she remembered how as Hermione Granger, she had been constantly thinking that if she let go or missed a step, she'd plummet down to her death. Hermione shivered at the memory and firmly told herself that she would never let that happen ever again.
Hermione suddenly paused as a tall cabinet, covered by a moth-eaten blanket, greeted her eyes. Her heart stuttered at the sight, instantly recognising it as the Vanishing Cabinet Draco Malfoy had fixed during their sixth year.
With shaky hands, Hermione pulled the cloth down, disturbing a flurry of dust that prompted her to release a mighty sneeze.
Her eyes watered at the sight of the unimposing wooden cabinet, her right hand tentatively touching its cool wood. This was the cabinet that had let the Death Eaters inside, subsequently reigning terror over the whole school and ultimately leading to Dumbledore's death. Hermione had always wondered, if this cabinet had never been discovered or had never existed, there would have been any way for the Death Eaters to infiltrate Hogwarts. She figured, probably not.
"I FOUND THE DIADEM!"
She flinched at Regulus's Sonorus-ed voice and reluctantly pulled away from the cabinet.
Hastily wiping her tears away, Hermione followed the direction of Regulus's voice and found him staring wide-eyed at an ugly bust with a tarnished diadem sitting on top of its head.
Despite the rust and dust, the sapphire still proudly gleamed under the bright light of the Room of Requirement. Hermione slowly pulled out her wand and pointed it at the diadem. "Wingardium Leviosa," she whispered. As expected, the diadem did not even budge, the horcrux protecting it from any simple spell.
"That's it, isn't it?" Regulus asked, his voice strangely hollow and strained.
The brunette grabbed a small, discarded cloth and slowly approached the diadem. Her heart thudded loudly inside her ribcage, her blood rushing to her ears. The diadem twinkled menacingly, mocking her of the future she had lost and the future she wanted to desperately save.
With the cloth's protection, Hermione lifted the diadem from the bust's head and looked at the reverse side. Ravenclaw's famous quote was inscribed there, suspiciously spared from rust. "It is," she thickly said, swallowing down her sudden trepidation. "It's the horcrux."
"You feel it too, don't you?" he breathlessly whispered, eyeing the diadem with an intense gaze. "The dark magic it emits."
Hermione slowly nodded her head and placed the diadem back onto the bust. She transfigured a red, unpaired slipper into a box that could fit the diadem inside. She then gingerly placed the diadem inside and locked it with vehemence, numerous warding charms spilling out from her lips until she was satisfied it was protected enough.
When she looked back at Regulus, he was staring at her strangely. "What?" she asked, grasping onto the box.
"Where'd you learn all those warding spells?" he curiously asked. "Most of them I haven't even heard of."
Hermione bit her tongue, unwilling to divulge that, after being on the run from Voldemort and his Death Eaters for years, learning as many warding spells as possible was important. "Never mind that," she said once more. Regulus's face crumpled in frustration, undoubtedly annoyed by all of his unanswered questions. Hermione gave him an apologetic smile and a silent promise that he'd know one day. Just not right now.
"Well then," he said, "we finally got the diadem. What's next?"
Hermione uncertainly glanced at the box. "I – well – I still need to figure it out," she said.
"Can't we destroy it?" he asked, warily glancing at the box too.
"It's not that simple," she said with a sigh. "You saw how it didn't even budge with a simple Wingardium Leviosa. Horcruxes are impenetrable to simple spells. You have to use other means."
"Such as?"
"Fiendfyre," she simply said. "And basilisk venom, to name a few." Her eyes darkened, remembering the suffocating despair she had felt upon discovering that Harry Potter was a horcrux too. "The Killing Curse, too, apparently."
"You can make a horcrux out of another living thing?" he gasped. "Much less a person?"
Hermione wryly smiled. "It came as a shocker too, trust me," she said, her heart painfully clenching at the thought of Harry Potter once more. Sixteen years had passed since she had last seen her best friend, but she still felt the grief - raw and palpable. Now that she had finally found the first horcrux, her grief over Harry Potter's death seemed much more tangible.
"Fiendfyre is a complicated spell," Regulus pointed out, lips curling in annoyance. "Only a well-trained wizard or witch can control it."
She nodded her head, thinking about Crabbe and his untimely death.
"Basilisk venom, on the other hand…" He sighed and ruffled his hair. "That's very rare, seeing as how basilisks themselves are impossible to find. I doubt I'd be able to haggle some on the black market without spending such a fortune that even my parents would become suspicious."
"Well, there's a basilisk under this school," she distractedly said, failing to see the look of horror that appeared on Regulus's face. "It'd be unwise if only the two of us went down and faced the beast. It's class XXXXX after all. We need someone trained to handle creatures with that danger level to confront the basilisk instead."
"I'm sorry," Regulus calmly drawled, "but do you mean there is a fucking basilisk in this fucking school?"
Hermione knitted her eyebrows in confusion, uncertain as to why Regulus was looking at her with such a wild look in his silver eyes. But then, she realised that said basilisk didn't even make an appearance until 1992. Of course he'd be horrified at the thought.
"It's dormant right now, if it helps," she sheepishly said, noting how a vein popped at his temple. "Just as long as nobody opens the Chamber of Secrets, then we're all good."
"I'm sorry," Regulus drawled once more, his voice strangely high pitched, "but do you mean the fucking Chamber of Secrets is fucking real?"
Hermione this time didn't stop her hand from slapping her forehead. "Damn it," she whispered under her breath. She didn't want to reveal too much, especially because she still had no clear plan on how to go about this 'destroying horcruxes' thing.
"Why the hell do you know all this?" he snapped. "Are you sure you're not a Seer?"
The brunette shook her head. "I'm really not," she answered.
"Then how—"
"Not yet, Regulus," she said with a pointed glare. "I'll tell you soon enough. I promise." When Regulus glowered, she reiterated, "I promise."
The Slytherin glared at her for a few more seconds before he shifted his eyes towards the ground and deflated. "Fine," he mumbled. He composed himself by breathing in deeply before lifting his head once more, this time marginally calmer. "What will we do with the diadem?"
"I'm going to keep it in my trunk," she explained. "I know it's not the wisest decision, but it's the safest. I can't let you keep it because your Slytherin friends might find it."
"I'm not worried about those buffoons," he insisted. "I'm worried about you."
Hermione's eyes widened in surprise, but Regulus ignored it. "You've felt the dark magic from it and I don't doubt that it'd try to tempt you to wear it," he said. "Dark artifacts like that manipulate anyone who's near. Trust me, I've been around enough of them too many times to know."
She smiled at his concern. "I know that too," she said, thoughts of Slytherin's locket weighing heavily down on her neck creeping into her mind. "Which is why I've warded it with the most complicated spells I know. Breaking said wards requires too much concentration - enough to distract you from dark magic temptation."
He still looked highly doubtful, but didn't comment on it further. Instead he said, "I think it's best if we leave now."
Hermione nodded her head to concur, tightly clutching onto the box which held the diadem.
Before they had completely walked out of the Room of Requirement, Hermione paused, a sudden idea forming in her mind.
"What's the matter?" Regulus asked, but Hermione was already stomping in a new direction.
She was once again standing in front of the Vanishing Cabinet when Regulus caught up with her. Wordlessly, Hermione pulled out her wand and tightly clutched it in her hand.
Without blinking an eye, she whispered "Incendio." Fire licked out of her wand and reached the cabinet, and she watched with satisfaction as the fire mercilessly swallowed the wood until there was a blazing inferno.
"Are you mad?" Regulus bellowed. "Why the hell did you do that?" He immediately shot protective spells around the burning cabinet to stop the fire from spreading.
Hermione hardened her gaze, her eyes not straying from the blazing Vanishing Cabinet. "To save this school," she steadfastly said, memories of a smirky blond she used to hate so much, with a gaunt face and dark bags under his eyes, flashing before her eyes. "To save a boy."
-ooo-
Hermione warily eyed the box placed on top of her bed.
It was a relief that the dark magic was unfelt underneath all the warding spells she had placed, but the mere fact that she knew a horcrux was lying beside her bed made her uneasy.
She knew that the Great Hall was already filled with hungry students merrily eating their lunch. Lily and Sev were most likely already waiting for her, but Hermione couldn't bring herself to leave. She wasn't hungry, after all. Her stomach churned uncomfortably and she had this inkling she'd empty her stomach even before she had finished her meal.
This was really it. She'd really started the horcrux hunt, with Regulus Black of all people, and Hermione started questioning her choices again. With the Ravenclaw Diadem in her possession, it was already the point of no return. Especially now that Regulus was on board, set to search for all of Voldemort's present horcruxes and destroy them once and for all - if it meant he'd be able to help in bringing the vile monster down. Especially now that Hermione had come to love everything this world had offered to her and looking away meant betraying all the people she cared about.
Her heart clenched at the thought of Harry, of how he'd be staring at her with such disappointment in his eyes. Her choices right now meant she'd go back to where Hermione Granger had always been – at the centre of the war, fighting tooth and nail to keep herself alive and the people she loved. It was a journey full of turmoil and pain and Hermione Pettigrew wasn't so sure if she wanted to put herself in that position once more.
Her grip on the box tightened as tears blurred her vision. "I'll do this for you, Harry," she whispered brokenly into the air. Everything Hermione Granger had done in the past had been for Harry Potter after all. It was all she had ever known.
Swiping her tears away, Hermione opened her trunk and accessed the secret compartment. She gently laid the imprisoned horcrux inside and threw another litany of protective, warding spells on her trunk.
As she closed her trunk, Hermione grew more resolute. Harry wanted her to be happy in this life and she knew that the only way to achieve that was to finally bring Voldemort down. She'd gladly go through all the hardships once more if it meant her friends would be safe.
If it meant Harry would be safe.
A/N: I know y'all like Regulus right now, with so many unanswered questions hahaha. But like what Hermione said, you will all know soon enough. Just not right now.
This chapter is so long! Sorry about that. Next chapter will be quite short though, but not exactly uneventful… hehe
See you again tomorrow!
With love,
WickedlyAwesomMe
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