A/N: Here's chapter 12. It's posted a little later than expected but here it is. You know the drill: if there are any mistakes (grammar/spelling), let me know. Please read and review.

Thanks to Angel From Above Is Here for proofreading.

A couple of weeks had passed and no one had mentioned the discussion in the common room ever since. Hermione thought it was for the best. Just let it be and move on from the matter.

One of the reasons why no one had brought up the topic again was that there was a quidditch match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw the upcoming weekend. Another reason was that Valentine's day was also only a couple of weeks away. So it came as no surprise that everyone was excited about the two events and just pushed the whole discussion out of their minds.

It was Wednesday evening, just after dinner and Hermione was reading in front of the fire in the common room. There was a fair amount of noise – seeing as a lot of first, second and third years were still making banners and drawings for the upcoming match – but she didn't mind and just blocked it out. It was still a lot quieter than when the marauders were in the room.

Suddenly she felt someone sitting down next to her and looked up. It was Remus.

"Mind if I keep you company?" he asked, his own book in hand.

"Go ahead." Then she asked, "Where are the others? I haven't seen them since dinner."

"They're still at the quidditch pitch. James wants to get as much training in as they can and Peter and I usually sit in the stands during training. However, I was getting too cold so I thought better of it and came inside. Figured I'd be more comfortable in front of the fire instead of out in the cold."

She nodded and with half a grin said, "And that's why they call you the clever one."

He gave a grin of his own, "Why, thank you."

The conversation stopped and, getting comfortable, both focused on their story again. Hermione appreciated the situation. In her own time not many people her age liked to read, let alone read together in silence. And yes, she had met Remus in her time and knew he liked to read, however, there was the age difference and everyone was so focused on Voldemort and avoiding one disaster after another that they never had the chance to really read in calm and comfortable silence as they were doing now. She enjoyed it, it was a nice change.

While reading they would change positions to get comfortable, yet they didn't disturb each other. And ultimately they ended up with Remus in one corner of the sofa, his legs stretched out in front of him and Hermione leaning against his side with her knees pulled up and feet in the other corner of the sofa. They sat like that, comfortable enough so they didn't change positions again. And they were still sitting like that when the Gryffindor team, followed by Peter, entered the common room.

In less than a second Peter had thrown himself on the ground in front of the fire, trying to warm himself up after sitting in the cold for hours. Seeing this she looked up to look at the rest of the team. Looking at them, it was clear that they too were cold, despite the fact that they had been busy for a few hours unlike Peter who had just been sitting in the stands.

Seeing her sitting there in front of the fire, Sirius said, "Mioneee, I'm cold, warm me up." It almost sounded a little like a whine. And as he said it he made his way towards her, hands outstretched.

She saw him coming and went to retort but before she could say anything he had his hands on her cheeks. She yelped at the cold and slapped his hands away. Of course, this resulted in laughter from everyone who was still in the common room.

Sirius expected a lecture or something for doing this. What he didn't expect for her to change into some kind of worried mother.

"You're freezing! Did you guys really train from dinner 'till now in this weather? Are you out of your minds?!" she said, looking at them. "Go upstairs, shower and change in something warm. Then come back down and sit in front of the fire before you freeze to death."

It was silent for a moment, everyone looking at her. Then, slowly – as if remembering or registering what she just said – they went to their rooms in order to change into something warm and dry.

And while the boys were upstairs changing, she settled herself back against Remus.

Remus let out a chuckle and said, "Calm there, mom."

She turned to look at him and saw the grin he was wearing. Then she turned back and said, "Someone has to take on the role or else you guys will end up hurt or dead by doing something stupid." There was a small pause. "Well, maybe not you, but those three would," she said, indicating to the stairs where the other three marauders had vanished.

"Yeah, probably," he admitted with a grin.

They went back to their reading until the other marauders entered the common room. And a little to Hermione's surprise – surprise that she didn't have to say it a second time – the three immediately took a seat around the fire, Peter muttering about how nice and warm the fire was.

While taking their seats in front of the fire, Sirius said, "You guys look cosy."

"Probably a lot cosier and warmer than you guys were outside," Remus told them with a smirk.

"Seriously, who stays out for so long in this weather?" Hermione asked them.

"Well, that's all on James," Sirius said, sending a pointed look James' way.

"Don't look at me like that. Next match is against Ravenclaw and though they don't play dirty like Slytherin, they're a strong opponent. I just want to get as much training in as possible." James huffed a little.

"That doesn't mean that people should get frostbite from being outside for too long, though," Peter said.

"Well, no one said you had be there, did they?"

Peter gave a little huff before he said, "I like seeing you guys train though."

"Then don't come complaining afterwards."

Hermione watched them go back and forth before she said, "Honestly, with the way you train your team in the worst of circumstances, you're almost as bad as Oliver Wood."

"Oliver Wood?"

"He was one of the quidditch captains at Beauxbatons. Forced his team to train even when a small hurricane was raging outside," she explained.

The last couple of weeks, when it came to smaller things, it became easier for her to lie. She didn't know how she felt about that. On the one hand she had less of a chance of revealing something important about the future. On the other hand it meant that she had been here for so long already and had adapted in such a way that lying had become like a second nature to her. And that last bit, she didn't like it. Not at all.

"Well, that may be so but there was no hurricane today, was there?" James said as some kind of lame retort, not knowing what else to say.

Sirius just burst out laughing. "Mate, seriously?" he asked between laughs.

"Oh, shut up, Pads."

After some bantering Sirius turned to look at Remus and said, "And what about you, you traitor?"

"What about me?"

"How dare you leave us in the cold while you sit cosily in front of the fire, warming yourself up?" he asked in mock offense.

"Oh that," he said as if he remembered. "That's because I'm the clever one." A grin making itself known on his face.

"And who told you that?"

"Hermione."

All four turned to look at her. She shrugged as she said, "Well, it's true."

"Well, there you have it," Remus said with a smirk on his face.

All three marauders reacted offended and said things like "You're calling us dumb?!" or "How can he be smarter than us?!" or "How dare you say that?!" They were very dramatic about it.

She took it in stride and waited until they were finished for her to elaborate. "Oh, hush you. I never said you were dumb. I only said that out of you four Remus probably is the cleverest."

And before they could retaliate, she stood and said, "It's getting late, I'm going to bed. Goodnight."

A chorus of 'goodnights' was sent her way as she made her way upstairs.

James also made his team train until late in the evening the next day. This time, however, Peter was clever enough to come inside when he got too cold.

On Friday it was just like any other day of the week. When they entered the common room in the evening, however, it was Lily who made a comment about it instead of Hermione.

"Where you training 'till this late again?" she asked.

"No, Evans, we're cold, soaked in sweat and in our training gear because we picnicked outside and talked about flowers," Sirius replied sarcastically.

"Pads," Remus said in warning.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." It seemed that training such long hours in the cold was finally having an effect on his good mood.

"Yes, we were training," James said, the tiredness – or maybe exasperation – seeping a little in his voice.

"You know the game is tomorrow, right? It's important to rest so you have enough energy for the game. You know that, right?"

"I know, that's why we came in a little earlier. Well, that and Sirius' awful mood," he said, pointing in Sirius' direction.

Sirius just huffed and made his way up the stairs, more than happy to go take a shower and change in some warmer clothes.

"Why is he in such a bad mood?" Remus asked.

"Who wouldn't be in such a mood after training such long days in the cold?" Hermione replied with a question of her own.

"It's not the cold. Normally, he wouldn't act like this because he's cold. It wouldn't bother him. So, what happened?" Remus directed the question to James.

"Regulus. He was sitting in the stands."

Peter and Remus gave looks as if asking what happened.

"He didn't say or do anything as far as I know." Then he gave a sigh. "But you know how Sirius is, just seeing him sets him off. It's almost as bad as when he sees Snivellus."

"But what was Regulus doing in the stands?"

"I don't know and, honestly, I don't care. I just know it set Sirius off and I just hope he doesn't let it affect the game tomorrow."

"Sorry but have you met Sirius?" Lily asked them. "He would do anything to win. He wouldn't be so dumb to let this affect his game."

The marauders shared a look and Hermione had her lip between her teeth, knowing that Sirius' actions could be influenced by his anger quite easily. At least in the future.

Seeing this, Lily was a little less certain of what she had just said.

They dropped the subject as James also went to their room to change in something more comfortable and warm.

After some time James came back down stairs. Sirius, however, chose to stay in their room, fuming in anger.

But apparently, whatever he had or hadn't done in his room the night before, it had helped because when Hermione saw him walking into the Great Hall with the other marauders and taking a seat, he seemed back to his usual happy self.

Yet she still asked, "Everything okay?"

"Of course, why wouldn't it be?" he asked her.

So, he was going to act like nothing happened. Okay, she got the hint and would play his game. Even if it was only for now.

"Ready for the game?" came Marlene's voice from next to her.

"Of course we are. Ravenclaw doesn't stand a chance," Sirius boasted.

"So sure, are we?" she said while lifting a brow.

"Of course, James didn't keep us at the field for days on end just to lose."

"You'll come and watch, right?" James asked the girls. Though, everyone knew he especially wanted Lily to be there.

"We'll be there," Marlene replied for the girls.

"Everyone?" Sirius asked with a raised brow as he turned to look at Hermione.

When she had just arrived in this time she had avoided making contact with anyone or participate in certain events as much as possible, not wanting to get attached and hoping she would be back in her own time as soon as soon as possible. So, as a consequence she also avoided the quidditch games.

Another reason she hadn't been to previous games was that, to her, it felt just too weird seeing a Gryffindor quidditch team with totally different players. Especially when it came to the position of seeker, which Harry had had ever since first year. But now, seeing that after months she was still here, she could at least do and act like the other students. And she could just try to push the fact that Harry wasn't the seeker to the back of her mind.

"Yes," she said. "Everyone."

He gave her a grin and said, "Good." Then he went back to eating.

The Great Hall was bustling with excitement and contained energy. And sooner than expected people were leaving, going to get ready and making their way down to the stands. The earlier you got there, the better the places you got.

When the girls were trying to find a seat, just a few moments before the game was supposed to start, they were waved over by Remus and Peter who had saved them some seats.

The two teams entered the pitch and the captains shook hands. Then, the game began.

It was a little strange attending a quidditch match of the Gryffindor team while Harry wasn't on the team. But once the game was on its way she managed to ignore that fact. And when she had managed to push that detail to the back of her mind she was just as invested in the game as she was when she was supporting the Gryffindor team in her own timeline.

She was screaming her lungs out in encouragement and was cheering and clapping every time they scored a point and clenching her fists and gritting her teeth every time Ravenclaw scored one. People wore make-up and flags and banners were swung around. And she could easily understand why.

James was a chaser and the way he was riding his broom, he was flying around like he belonged in the sky. It reminded her of Harry and it wasn't difficult to know where Harry had gotten his talent. And yes, she had seen the gold plaque with James' name in the trophy room during her first year but now she saw with her own eyes just why he had gotten – and deserved – it.

Sirius was a beater and an amazing one at that. He always hit his mark, never missed – even though they had been afraid of that the previous night – and would make a show out of it, knowing he was just that good. Well, he never had been one to be modest about something.

The commentary – though not the entertaining, funny and slightly biased comments of Lee Jordan, nor the calm, strange or airy comments of Luna – was good and normal for a change.

James had been right, Ravenclaw was a tough opponent. So, when Gryffindor won the students in the stands went wild. Gryffindors were cheering and clapping, hufflepuffs supporting Gryffindor were doing the same, most ravenclaws felt a little dejected and the slytherins were looking at the Gryffindor team in disdain.

The party that followed that evening in the Gryffindor common room was a scene Hermione was very familiar with, seeing that the Weasley twins liked to organise parties after each win. There was food, drinks – probably prepared and brought by house elves, which she didn't like much but decided to overlook just this once – and music.

The first and second years had already gone to bed yet the rest of them were still celebrating.

Hermione and Lily were talking at the side of the room furthest from all the commotion that was still going on. Suddenly, Hermione felt arms wrap around her shoulders and a weight settle against her back. When she looked up, she saw Sirius leaning almost his full weight on her.

"Say, Mione, what did you think of the game? I told you we would win," he said with a wide, happy smile on his face.

"That you did," she said in an amused tone, giving him a smile of her own.

There was a small pause before he asked, "Well." He almost looked expectant to her.

"It was good."

"Good? Just good? Come on, Mione, don't pretend that you didn't like it. I saw you guys yelling and jumping in the stands," he said, a smirk forming. And there was the smug Sirius again everyone loved and hated.

"Okay, yes, it was a very good game," she admitted.

"Where is Potter?" Lily asked suddenly.

"What? Do you miss his company? Or have you finally realized your feelings for him?" he teased.

"Who has realized their feelings for who?" came James' voice from beside them.

If you speak of the devil.

"Evans, for you."

James seemed to start glowing for a second before Lily said, "No, I didn't. I just wanted to know where he was so I could keep avoiding the commotion."

Meanwhile Sirius was still leaning against Hermione. Then she pushed him off of her and said, "You look so light when you're flying but you're quite heavy, so can you carry your own weight?"

He mock-gasped and asked, "Are you calling me fat?!"

"If I say no will you be happy and stop leaning against me?"

"Maybe."

"Then no, you're not fat."

"Thanks but I already knew that." And not a second later he was once again putting his weight on her. She let out a small sigh. She should've known. She had seen that glimmer in his eyes, the one that says he is up to no good. Plus, it was almost frightening how much he looked like the Weasley twins when it came to behaviour. And knowing the twins, she was sure they would've done the same thing, only with the both of them. So, why she had thought it would work, she wasn't sure.

Well, it was not that she specifically minded. Having known the Weasley family for six years, she was used to quite a lot of things – especially when it came to the twins, Ginny and Ron.

"Don't you guys have to go back to your flock of admirers?" Lily asked, wanting to go back to her talk with Hermione.

"What? Jealous that you don't have a flock of admirers, Evans?" Sirius asked.

"Why would I be jealous? I don't need that. I only asked because it seems like the girls are watching you like hawks. You know it's Valentine's day next week, right? They all seem ready to strike, especially after today's game."

Hermione looked behind them and indeed, there seemed a lot of girls watching the two star quidditch players of that day.

"Don't worry about that. I don't want anyone else but you as my valentine, Lily-flower," James said in what was a quite normal tone for once. Not the pompous or flirty or whatever tone he usually used when he talked to Lily.

"Then I'm sorry to say that you probably won't have a valentine that day," Lily answered.

"What? How? Has someone asked you already?"

"No, I just don't want to be your valentine." It was said bluntly and a silence followed the statement.

Hermione decided to break it and turned to her side to look at Sirius and asked, "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Who's going to be your valentine?"

"Oh, interested, Mione?" he asked teasingly while raising an eyebrow.

"No, just saying you have options enough," she said as she pointed to the group of girls.

"We'll see, there is still time enough." He shrugged as he said it, seemingly not really interested in all of it. This surprised her a bit, seeing as both the Remus and Sirius of her timeline had said that Sirius had been quite the ladies-man when he was younger.

They stayed away from the subject after that, not knowing what else they could say about it, and went back to celebrating their win. The party went on until McGonagall finally put a stop to it, it was already past midnight then.