A/N: IMPORTANT! I know I've been away for a long time and I'm sorry. Also I have BAD NEWS: unfortunately, I'm going to put this story ON HOLD. The reasons being that I have writer's block (I literally have no inspiration for anything, for not one of my stories. This chapter literally took me MONTHS of writing and rewriting), I had a few rough months this summer and I changed colleges (so I need to get the hang of things all over again). I'm very very sorry about this but I at least wanted you guys to have this one chapter before I disappear again for an undetermined amount of time. I know it's been a very long time since my last update and I don't know when I will post again, but I hope you can at least enjoy this chapter nonetheless. This chapter is not proofread so if there are any mistakes (grammar/spelling), just let me know. Please read and review.

Thank you to everyone who read this story and waited (and kept waiting) for an update. And thank you for all the support and reviews!

One thing was certain and that was that Hermione couldn't be happier about the fact that Valentine's day was over. The week leading up to it and the day itself had been so exhausting.

It all started the day after the quidditch game. The marauders were already very popular but after their win their popularity rose even more if it was possible. Girls approached them with cards, chocolates, confessions, and the marauders always declined. Not that it stopped the girls from trying again and again.

James didn't accept any of them because, as said, he had his eyes set on Lily, even though she declined without batting an eye every time he asked her to be his valentine. Remus declined because there was a full moon that week and he was feeling unwell. Not that he told this to anyone but Hermione knew. Peter declined the few girls who asked him out, though Hermione wasn't really sure why. And even Sirius was declining one invitation after the other. This was also a riddle to her, seeing as he was known to be a playboy.

One of the scenarios where the marauders were asked out and declined happened during breakfast on Tuesday.

The girls were chatting among themselves, about Alice and her date with Frank, about what they were gonna do on valentine's day, whether they were gonna be asked out by someone they liked or just about class. That was at least until the marauders walked into the great hall and took a seat next to them.

The first thing that came out of James' mouth was, "Lily-flower, be my valentine?"

"No," Lily replied automatically. She didn't even stop in her conversation with Marlene and Alice.

"You okay, Remus? You look a little pale," Hermione asked him, ignoring James and Lily's small, almost non-existing conversation. She became used to that a long time ago.

"Yeah, just feeling a little off," he replied and gave her something she thought was supposed to be a smile.

"Well, if you need anything or you want some help with anything, just tell me."

They went back to eating and the conversations happening around them. However, only a few minutes later Marlene tapped Hermione's shoulder and pointed to her left. There was a small group of girls coming their way.

The boys seeing this started grumbling, saying that it was too early in the morning to deal with such things and that they couldn't even eat in peace. This, of course, made the four gryffindor girls laugh. Apparently, popularity came with a price.

The girls blushed and smiled, gave the boy they were interested in something as they asked them out just for each one of them to get rejected. The last girl asked Sirius to be her valentine and just like usual the question was answered with a 'no, thanks'. However, the girl, unlike the others, didn't leave it at that.

"Come on, Sirius, we're gonna have so much fun when we go to Hogsmeade together."

"But I'm not going to Hogsmeade with you."

"But why not?"

"Because I don't want to."

"Come on, we both know that can't be it. I mean I would understand if you have a date already but declining me without a reason is just not okay."

"The reason is that I'm not interested in you, which is reason enough." And before she could say anything else or start a fuss, he added, "And I already have a date."

At this, everyone in their group, both guys and girls, stared at him. Since when did he have a date? And who was it?

Suddenly he draped his arm over Hermione's shoulder and said, "Hermione's my date for valentine's day."

It took a second to sink in what he had just said before she asked, "I'm your what now?"

The girls were snickering and the boys were trying their best to hold their laughter, not that they were doing a good job.

"Oh, come on, Hermione, don't act so surprised." He leaned in and whispered "Help me out here, okay?"

She didn't give him an answer and instead turned towards the girl. Sirius thought she would play along but, unfortunately, he was mistaken.

"I'm sorry, I think he hit his head somewhere because I have no idea what he's talking about," she told the girl as she shrugged off Sirius' arm of her shoulder.

The girls' chuckles became louder and the guys just burst out laughing. Then she stood up and said, "Well, transfiguration is about to start so I'm off." She walked away, the girls getting up after her, their laughter only getting louder the longer it went on. And if Hermione had looked back, she would've seen the incredulous and shocked look on Sirius' face.

Later after transfiguration on their way to History of Magic, Sirius said, "What the hell, Hermione! I thought you'd help me out there and you just left me there." Only mentioning it brought back a round of laughter.

"Well, it was you're problem to begin with. Plus, I don't like to be used as a substitute date."

"But I thought that you'd said that if we wanted help with anything we should just tell, right?"

"That was specifically for Remus," here he looked a little surprised, "and you only asked after you were already putting up a performance." She gave him a little smirk at that before entering the classroom and taking her seat next to Lily.

Then there was Remus' transformation. It happened Thursday night and the next day he looked worse for wear. He was pale, looked exhausted and was just a little less his normal happy and easy-going self. During that day she repeatedly asked him if he was fine and if she could do something but he always just waved her of, saying he was fine if only feeling a little under the weather. She knew better, of course.

And then it was Saturday, or Valentine's day. Hermione and Lily had decided they would spend the day together in Hogsmeade, seeing that Alice and Marlene had dates and they did not. Not that they minded, of course, they just didn't really like the whole overly romantic idea of Valentine's day. And to their surprise, none of the boys had dates either, also deciding to spend the day together like it was a normal Hogsmeade trip.

The girls spent their day looking through the shops, buying things they liked and stocking up on snacks and of course, the day wouldn't be complete without drinking a sweet butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks.

To their surprise, they only met the guys in one or two shops. They left them alone, even in the Three Broomsticks, where they normally would barge in and sit with them at the table, they didn't do so this time. On the contrary, the four marauders entered the café some five minutes before the girls had finished their drinks and decided to return back to the castle, having had enough of the cold weather for the day.

You could say that Valentine's day wasn't so exhausting, but the same could not be said about that same evening when everyone was gathered around the fire in the Gryffindor common room, telling about their day – how their dates had been, the gifts, the shopping – everything really.

The guys were looking at what they had bought today – the refill of their sweets and snacks, new products from Zonko's – while the girls were listening to Alice recounting how her date had been with Frank. He had surprised her with a bracelet – which she had put on and was now proudly showing off – then he had taken her to Madam Puddifoot's and finally they had wandered around the little village.

When the girls started snacking on a few of the sweets they had bought Hermione was reminded of the fact that she had bought chocolate. And not all chocolate was for her. she went to her room to grab the small bag containing the sugary treat and went back down stairs.

"Here, Remus," she said as she gave him the bag and retook her seat again next to Lily on the sofa. He raised an eyebrow in a silent question before looking inside the bag, seeing several bars of chocolate.

"Uhm, Hermione what is this?"

"Remus, I thought you were the clever one," she said a little teasingly before she went on, "It's chocolate, obviously."

"I know, I can see that. what I meant was: why give it to me?"

"You love chocolate, right? So today while stocking up for myself I bought some extra for you."

"Why?" he asked a little sceptically.

"Because you haven't been feeling well these past few days." And before he could say anything in response she went on, "And don't you dare say you're fine, we both know you weren't feeling well. And seeing that you feel better when you eat some chocolate I decided to buy some, so just accept it, eat it and feel better."

He looked at her for a moment before a small smile crept onto his face. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." She gave him a small smile in return that slowly turned into a little smirk as if to say 'I know everything'. Little did he know that she really did know everything.

And just when she was about to return her attention back to the girls, Sirius spoke. "Why does he get chocolate and we don't?"

"Because he needs it," she said as if to dismiss the matter. Sirius, however, wasn't planning on backing down so easily.

"Just because we don't need it doesn't mean you couldn't get us a little chocolate."

"Sirius –" she started but said man cut her off.

"Or is there something more going on? Do you like him?" He said it teasingly but there was something in his eyes that she couldn't place. It was like there was no sign of teasing in his eyes whatsoever, the teasing smirk on his face not reaching those storming orbs of his.

The matter of someone maybe having a crush was all that was needed to get the attention of the girls to focus on them – gossip and someone's love life was always so very interesting.

"What? Why would you ask that?" she asked incredulously.

He shrugged, "Just voicing the conclusion I came to based on several observations."

"And what so-called observations did you see?" she asked, an eyebrow raised in some sort of combination of a question and a challenge.

"Oh, that. You always ask how he's doing, you kissed him under the mistletoe and now you buy him chocolate." His smirk widened, certain he had her cornered.

"First, I ask how he's doing because it was obvious he wasn't feeling well. Second, I kissed him on the cheek. And third, he feels better after eating chocolate so of course I bought him some."

"And what about the fact that you told him that if he ever needed anything he should just ask you?"

"Because I would help him if he asked for my help. That's what friends are for."

"But when I asked you to help me, you left me hanging there." That last statement wasn't said in a teasing tone anymore. It almost sounded a little bitter, hurt.

She blinked before answering, "I already told you that I don't like to be used as a substitute." She let out a small sigh.

"But who said –" He cut himself off. He cleared his throat, not wanting to start raising his voice like he was beginning to do. He was losing his composure and almost had said something that he hadn't meant to say aloud.

"Who said what?" she asked, wanting to know what he was trying to say.

"Nothing."

"Sirius, what –"

"Just leave it." He said it in a steady voice, soft and almost defeated. Then he stood up and went to his room.

They watched him leave before Hermione turned back to the remaining three marauders, asking, "Do you know what he was trying to say?"

They just shrugged their shoulders and shook their heads. However, it didn't escape Hermione that they had given each other a certain look. The same look she often gave to Harry or Ron when they were being secretive. She knew that look probably better than anyone else.

And now, here she was. It was Sunday morning and she was still lying in bed – it was still too early to get up – replaying the events of the previous day – well, evening. She still didn't know what he had wanted to say and she didn't like not knowing. But she also knew that this wasn't something that she could just look up in a few books at the library. So, heaving a sigh she accepted the fact that he would tell her when he was ready – at least, she hoped he would.

Then again, she was keeping her fair share of secrets too. And she didn't tell anyone either.