The common room was in chaos. The sixth year girls and the sixth year boys seemed to be about to brawl across the couch. Some of the furniture was upturned and there were papers everywhere. Some of the younger kids had ink on their face but everyone looked on ready for the fight.

"James Ignotus Potter so help me God, I will punch you in the throat!" Lily's hair was falling out of the long braid that she had it in. James was smirking at her, running his hand through his hair. Hermione almost laughed. She couldn't believe that was something he actually did in real life.

"I love it when you use my full name, love." Yes, he may look like Harry, Hermione decided, but they were definitely two very different people. Lily actually stomped her foot.

"Argh! You are the single, most infuriating, arrogant,-"

"Charming, brilliant, fit-"

"INSUFFERABLE ARSE I HAVE EVER MET!" She took out her wand and James actually looked a bit frightened. Sirius pulled him back a little. They both knew what she was capable of having been on the receiving end of more than a few of her hexes.

"Lilykins, don't you think-"

"You will be next Black," she spat.

"I do think that is quite enough." Hermione was so entertained that she forgot her Head of House was standing next to her. Everyone turned and their mouths dropped open. "Miss Evans, please put your wand away and you will see me tomorrow night for detention."

"Eva-" James started, trying to defend her.

"You too Mr. Potter and Mr. Black as well. I'm sure you had some part in this whole debacle." Hermione looked up at her and there was a stern sort of fondness in her eyes.

"Minnie," Sirius said grabbing onto his chest, "You wound me." Hermione swore she heard about five girls sigh out.

"Would you like to make it two nights?"

"No thanks, I have more pressing matters to attend to." With that he winked in Hermione's direction and she had a sinking suspicion she just became public enemy number one. In any case, it brought her quite a bit of attention.

"Other than to give out detentions, I am here to introduce your new sixth year classmate."

"I told you," James said grumpily. Remus shushed him and Lily sent him a murderous look.

"This is Hermione Granger. She will be continuing on with you for the rest of the year and next year. Make her feel welcome but also leave her alone." Everyone knew that this was directed to the chaos in the corner. Sirius smirked at her when she glanced in his direction. She rolled her eyes. Honestly. Was this what he was actually like?

"Yes ma'am," the chorused.

"Now, get to your studies." With that she turned and left Hermione to the wolves – so to speak.

James and Sirius went to go greet her but were immediately stopped with a quick stinging jynx sent by Lily and a jelly-legs jynx sent by another witch with long blonde hair.

"Hi Hermione," Lily said, holding her hand out. "I'm Lily Evans and this is Marlene McKinnon." Hermione shook both of their hands and smiled. They ignored the giggles from the younger girls as Remus was freeing his friends in the corner.

"It's nice to meet you both." They smiled.

"We're sixth year too," Marlene said and Hermione tried very hard not to be intimidated by the obvious fire that was Marlene McKinnon. "We haven't heard of any transfer students before." Hermione knew that this was coming. She tried to ignore all the curious stares coming her way.

"Oh, I used to be homeschooled." She had practiced this conversation in her head a million times and she figured that she knew what the next question was going to be.

"Why come to Hogwarts now?" Lily asked, directing them back to a group of plush chairs in the corner. Sirius and James looked like they wanted to come join but a glare from Lily stopped them in their tracks.

"Um," Hermione started, "my family was killed in an attack by those new Dark wizard followers." Enough people were listening that the new silence was heavy.

"Oh Merlin, Hermione, I'm sorry," Lily said, reaching out a hand and placed it on Hermione's arm.

"I'm adjusting," Hermione told them.

"Still," Lily said. "I can't imagine. I don't always get along with my family. Especially my sister but I don't know what I would do without them."

Hermione tried not to bristle at the mention of Petunia. She had only briefly met the woman but Hermione would never forgive her for the way that she treated Harry.

"Professor Dumbledore mentioned that I would be spending the summer with you," Hermione said, trying to change the subject. She was curious how that came about. Lily brightened up.

"Yes! My parents have already set up the guest room for you. It's going to be great. For once it will be nice to have someone to talk magic with over the summer." Lily was a mover, cleaning up the pillows and papers from her duel with James.

"I am very grateful," Hermione told her. "I don't have anywhere else to go." Nobody knew what to say after that.

They spent the rest of the afternoon getting to know each other. Professor McGonagall had snacks brought up so that the girls could help Hermione get settled into her new dormitory. Hermione learned that there were four sixth year Gryffindor girls – Lily, Marlene, Alice, and Mary. She choked a little on pumpkin juice when she was introduced to Neville's mother. Even if she wasn't told her name the resemblance would have been enough.

Her four poster felt like the closest thing to home. It was in the same place it was in her own time. She curled under the covers later that night, excited for classes the next day and ready to start building a life where Harry didn't have to die.

Hermione woke up early for her first day of classes. She was excited to be back in the normal swing of things at Hogwarts and then felt a little bit guilty that she was happy. There was something bigger than preparing for NEWTs to worry about. She was there for a reason.

She charmed her hair into gentle curls, it was easier to put up that way if need be. This was something she figured out while they were on the run and she wished that she had figured it out years ago. The uniforms that were provided for her were made to size when put on. They were a little more fitted than she was comfortable with, having grown up with conservative dentists for parents. Her wand was the same though and familiar in her sleeve.

"Good Morning Hermione," Lily said, joining her as they headed down for breakfast. "I'm glad I'm not the only one who understands the importance of being prepared for class." Hermione pulled her book bag a little higher on her shoulder. The weight was comforting and familiar.

"I'm just happy we have Transfiguration first. Professor McGonagall seems to be a wonderful teacher." Lily nodded as the girls fell into step next to each other.

"She is! We are super lucky to have her as our head of house. The only problem is that it's the idiots' best class." Hermione sent a curious glance her way although knowing that the sixth year boys were already animagi she thought she already knew where this was going. Lily sighed. "You'll see."

Breakfast passed in comfortable conversation. The girls were joined by Marlene and Alice shortly after but Hermione felt herself drawn more towards Lily. The more they talked, the more she saw Harry in her.

The Great Hall got noticeably louder when the four sixth year Gryffindor boys arrived. Lily rolled her eyes as she took a drink of her pumpkin juice. Sirius pushed James forward which caused Peter to laugh. Remus looked exasperated but just shook his head.

"That's my cue," Lily said, standing up.

"Aw Evans, don't leave on my account," James told her, sliding into the seat next to her and filling his plate. Sirius already had a mouth full.

"It's like we don't do this every morning, Potter." She grabbed her bag off the floor beside him and Hermione caught Remus's eye. He let out a big sigh and smiled at her as if to say he was sorry. Hermione's breath caught in her throat just a little. He was so much more alive than the older Remus she knew.

"Why start the day on a bad note though," he said through a mouthful of eggs. Lily's face turned disgusted. Peter sniggered. "Why not just go out with me instead and we could spend our mornings in my bed?" She narrowed her eyes dangerously.

"Back off, Prongs," Remus warned.

"I'm just letting her know what her options are," James said innocently. Hermione was watching the exchange like a tennis match. How on Earth did they end up married?

"I wouldn't date you if you were the last person on Earth." He put a hand to his heart but started to choke on a sausage. Peter whacked him on the back a few times.

"Tough luck, mate," Sirius started, a mischievous glint in his gray eyes. "I bet Hermione isn't so frigid all the time. What do you say, sweetness? Go out with me?" There were so many things that Hermione wanted to say. You're twenty years older than me. You did twelve years in Azkaban. Your mother would avada you for associating with a muggle born. However, she didn't say any of those things.

"I'm sorry, who are you?"

His face was something that she would remember for as long as she lived, whenever she lived. He looked like she had just slapped him across the face. The rest of the Marauders were laughing harder than ever before. James was on the floor, clutching his stomach. Remus has tears in his eyes. Peter, oh Peter, had his head on the table, hair in his eggs. Even Lily was laughing.

"Oh Merlin, Hermione, that was priceless. Come on, let's get to class." Lily dragged her in between the rows of tables out to the Entrance Hall. They could still hear the boys laughter until they had gone up at least one flight of stairs. Hermione was happy that she made everyone laugh but she also felt a little bad for possibly hurting Sirius's feelings. She did hold a lot of respect for his older self.

"You don't think I hurt Sirius's feelings do you?" she asked, as they turned down the Transfiguration hallway. Lily snorted.

"No. His ego is only edged out by Potters. I'm sure you didn't even put a dent in it. Honestly, that was the best thing I've seen in a long time." Just as she finished the boys in question came from another direction. Lily shook her head.

"How do you always do that?" she demanded. Hermione had to hide her smile. She obviously didn't know about the secret tunnel behind the tapestry around the corner.

"Marauder's secret, Lily flower," James told her.

"Maybe one day we can show you all the things and hideouts we know, eh Granger?" Well, it seems Lily wasn't wrong. Sirius was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.

"You're not really my type." Once again she left the boys in hysterics while the two girls entered the classroom. As usual Hermione took a seat near the front of the room. Realistically, if she was thinking about self-preservation, she would sit in the back and make as little noise as possible. But she was here to change things, make a difference, be noticed, and by God she was going to make a statement.

Professor McGonagall explained that they were going to start transfiguring objects into animals. Lily was taking furious notes. The boys in the back not so much. This was honestly a difficult piece of magic but if one studied enough-

"Miss Granger care to demonstrate since you seem to not need to take any notes?" Hermione didn't realize that she had been staring off into space. She blushed, it was very unlike her but regardless she pointed her wand at the teacup in front of her and almost laughed at the thought of Ron. With a wave of her wand a beautiful flock of yellow birds tweeted happily as they zoomed around the room.

"Wow," Lily breathed out.

"Well done, Miss Granger. Five points to Gryffindor." Hermione smiled and with another flick of her wand her teacup was back. The rest of class was spent trying to tame the wild beasts that the Marauders thought up and helping Lily try to make a little mouse run across the table. She was getting more and more frustrated as class went on.

"I can't concentrate when they're making so much noise," she ground out as a baby elephant trumpeted from the back of the room. She tried to turn her mouse back to a teacup but it still had a tail. She groaned.

"They are very distracting aren't they?" Hermione commented. She flicked her wand and fixed Lily's cup.

"It's so frustrating. They don't study or pay any attention and they are so bloody good at everything." She was getting more out of control with her magic. Hermione gently pushed Lily's wand arm down so she didn't accidentally hit someone.

"Just means we have to try harder," Hermione told her with a smile. Lily manage to smile back as the bell rang.

"I want a meter essay on all the things that can go wrong with human to animal transfiguration," McGonagall called as the class left. Hermione shook her head and shouldered her bag. That was something that she would be able to write about for sure.

The rest of the morning and lunch passed by rather uneventfully. She fell into a comfortable rhythm with the Gryffindor girls and was happy to be back in class. In fact, if she tried hard enough, squinted just right she couldn't see the bodies on the floor or blood on the walls. She almost felt at home. Almost felt back to the Hermione that cared more about grades than keeping herself and her friends alive.

Well - until Hermione walked into defense class and realized that they were to be actively dueling each other.