The boys could hardly wait, for once, for the night of the full moon to arrive. Well, three out of four felt this way. The fourth, as can be expected was much more aloof about the subject, never looking forward to this time of the month. However, he did realize, a much bigger adventure would begin after the night was over.
Containing their excitement, the healthy three helped the indisposed one into the hospital wing where Madame Pomfrey was waiting. She, of course, knew Remus Lupin's secret, and was used to the monthly visits from the four Marauders. She gave James, Sirius, and Peter a sharp look as she began to tend to Remus, knowing full well that they would be interested in the girl recovering in a bed across the room.
Remus soon slipped into unconsciousness as Madame Pomfrey gave him a draught for pain. She turned to the remaining friends, who weren't even looking at their fellow comrade, and instead across the room where curtains had been drawn up around one of the beds, "You may leave now."
Sirius turned his gaze to her, "Oh come on Poppy. Can't we even see her? We are concerned about her welfare!"
Madame Pomfrey rolled her eyes as James and Peter nodded along to what Sirius had said. "She is fine. And I don't believe she would like to have three young men watch her while she sleeps."
"You're right, that would be very creepy." A feminine voice spoke. All eyes flew across to the girl who had appeared from behind the curtains. She looked only slightly better than when she had been found, for she was covered in bruises and bandages instead of blood, wearing a light blue dressing gown over her hospital gown.
"Miss Granger!" Madame Pomfrey closed the distance between them swiftly, trying to usher the girl back into bed. "You should not be up at this hour!"
"Please, I haven't been out of bed in days!" Hermione pushed Madame Pomfrey's hands away from her. The boys watched in keen interest. One, in particular, couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was, despite all of her obvious ailments. Yes, Sirius Black was soon entranced.
"I insist you sit down at once!" The nurse contended. "You don't want to repeat what happened yesterday."
What had happened yesterday, you may ask? The boys were definitely curious, and it showed on their faces. The girl smiled sadly as she allowed herself to be driven back in bed. She answered their silent question, "I have the slightest of problems in that I tend to pass out if I walk anymore than a few feet."
James, Sirius, and Peter drew closer as Hermione found herself tucked neatly into bed again. Her eyes seemed to flick over their faces, linger on each for a second before moving onto the next. She scrutinized Peter the longest, and he quickly grew uncomfortable under her gaze. There was something sad that seemed to be engrained in her features, something that wouldn't disappear no matter the face she made. They all sensed a great deal of tragedy in the air around her.
Hermione, herself, could hardly contain the sensation of needing to cry. Here were some of the men she had grown up hearing about—only they weren't hardly those men yet. She both knew and didn't know them. Hermione had known it would only be a matter of time before she met the Marauders as they once were, if in fact they were at Hogwarts. They were just the sort of people she expected to get into trouble just for the sake of their curiosity. Remus, though unconscious, had an uncontrollable effect on the room, making her feel safe despite being so far from the familiarity of her own time. And James, who looked so much like his son, made her hurt deep within her chest. Sirius made her heart skip a beat. Though she recognized him, she had never seen him in all his young adult glory. He seemed so sure of himself—hardly the shell of the man she had come to know in her years at Hogwarts.
Finally, was Peter. Hermione did not know where he was at with the Marauders. Where did his loyalty lie as of late? It was not something she could determine from one simple look. She would have to investigate once she emerged from the hospital wing.
Hermione took the chance to introduce herself before Madame Pomfrey shooed the boys away for the night. "My name is Hermione Granger. I hope you will all come to visit me some time."
Madame Pomfrey shot her a look of annoyance that she elected to ignore as the boys introduced themselves. Each of the Marauders (minus the unconscious one) felt keenly under observation. Hermione's way of looking at them was sharp and unyielding, her eyes seeming much older than her age.
"Alright, you three. Off to bed. Its nearly morning already." Madame Pomfrey showed them to the door as Hermione lowered herself to lay down again. How could she still be tired after laying around for days on end? Thankfully, excluding her fainting spell yesterday, she had managed to fall back into circadian rhythm; her nights spent sleeping (albeit not well, due to being plagued by nightmares) and her days spent talking with Dumbledore in hushed voices about her situation. They had come to the same conclusion: there was no feasible way for her to return to her own time.
Not only had time turners not been designed to send someone forward, the future Hermione had left behind was not one that she would want to go back to. Everyone she knew was likely already dead—an idea that left her feeling weak and alone.
No, she could never go back. Never.
Dumbledore also seemed wary of the implications of her presence. If anyone else caught wind of the young time traveler, it could mean disaster. Voldemort's growing crusade would flourish if she was ever found out by them. And the fact that Hermione knew so much of the events to come? Well, it was certain that he would use the information he had gained to his advantage. If he didn't, the future of himself and all those around him would be even bleaker than he had ever imagined.
Therefore, a cover story had been crafted on her behalf.
Hermione had been declared a member of the Order of the Phoenix, the sole survivor of a secret subdivision that operated under the radar of even the highest officials in the group. She had been living on the run for the last year (which wasn't even a lie); such was exactly what Dumbledore told the members of the Order. They were, of course, horrified that he would keep such a secret from him, but even more, they were desperate for information about the girl, who he had promised not to reveal more than he had to about her.
Hermione would change everything. She knew this. She knew that because of her, so many people—magical and muggle alike—wouldn't have to die. And regardless of the mounting isolation she felt, that thought alone allowed her to sleep at night. She yearned to heal faster.
She had a lot of work to do.