I do not own any of these characters. They all belong to J.K. Rowling.
A/N: Thank you for the wonderful reviews! I had part of this chapter typed out last night after I posted the first chapter, but I decided to re-do it because I just wanted to. I didn't like how it was coming along, so I took a different approach to it and also I'm having a few home difficulties to deal with so I have to stop every so often to do some things. So, here it is, the better part of Chapter 2. Tell me what you guys think, please! - Min
Wally4ever: Thank you! I can't wait until it unravels too. I keep wanting to skip ahead to the better parts, but I have to put in the important stuff, or the things that lead on so that it makes sense. ;-; I agree about Remus/Hermione stories. That's why I'm writing this as my first fan fiction and I can't think of a word for them either. Well, here's the update!
Dakforces: Thank you! Here's the next chapter.
Evil Cat Hater:Thank you! I didn't want to make another cliché story with a time turner or portal so I decided to take a different lead with this story. The whole ordeal with the owl and the golden light will be revealed in a later chapter. I'll try to get that typed soon!
The cold, October wind whipped about the silhouetted trees, causing them to creak and groan mournfully in the dark abyss of the night. The wind rippled over the water of the lake, leaving the water splashing against its bank in white foam. The full moon left an eerie light about the grounds as it began to rise up into the sky and wisps of clouds drifted through the heavens momentarily shadowing the glow of the moon.
Hermione Granger lay at the bank of the lake, feeling slightly groggy and her upper body smarting painfully as if she'd been kicked by a horse. She opened her eyes slowly and shivered involuntarily as the wind lashed against her bare arms and her slightly bare legs. She didn't remember it being this cold before.
Closing her eyes for a moment and thinking, everything rapidly flooded back to her and she gasped, whirling her head to look for Draco, but that was a bad idea. She suddenly became dizzy and she felt bile rise up in the back of her throat as her vision blurred again.
"Ugh…"
She closed her eyes and swallowed heavily, trying to keep herself from spilling all the contents of her stomach out. After she was sure she wouldn't be sick she opened her eyes and pushed herself up off the ground until she sat on her knees. She looked around once more and realized that the castle wasn't lit up like it had been during the ball. She must have been out there for a while, considering that the ball must be over, but she noticed that the full moon was just now coming into view. She could have sworn that Malfoy had chased her outside when the moon had been in the middle of the sky…
She cringed at the thought of Malfoy. Whatever he did to her, he was going to pay dearly for it. Hermione shook her head, still feeling slightly groggy then she crossed her arms against her chest, rubbing each of her arms for warmth. She didn't trust herself with standing up just yet, knowing that if she tried and got dizzy, it most likely meant she'd be going for a nightly swim in the lake with the squid.
She began mumbling to herself all the spells she would cast on Draco the next time she saw him, but unexpectedly, she heard a far off noise and she stopped speaking instantly. The girl turned her head sharply to see what the noise was, and saw the Whomping Willow outlined against the sky. The noise was coming from that direction.
Who would be at the Whomping Willow? Hermione wondered to herself, and forced herself to stand up. She fought the wave of dizziness that threatened to overtake her, and she slowly made her way to the tree. She was a Prefect, so it was her duty to make sure no one was wandering around on the grounds at night. She could get in trouble herself, but she might as well make sure that no first or second years were playing around with the tree; they would get hurt.
As she neared the tree, she heard growling and the sound of something in pain. Three forms could be seen from where Hermione stood. On closer inspection, one looked like a deer, another looked like a large dog, and the other was…
Hermione gasped and stumbled backwards a bit, tripping as she was still in her high heels and fell on her bottom with a soft thud, the grass cushioning the fall. She stared, wide-eyed at the third form that had just turned to look at her when it heard her gasp. She stared, eye to eye with a werewolf; its long, sharp teeth glistening in the moon light and its eyes raging with madness. The girl wasn't exactly scared at that moment, she was more shocked than anything. The only other time she had ever been face to face with a werewolf was in her third year when Professor Lupin had forgotten to take his potion and had changed right in front of Harry, Ron, Sirius, Professor Snape, Peter Pettigrew, and herself.
She watched as it lashed out at the large dog, trying to get past it so that it could get to something beyond it… then she realized it was her. When Hermione become conscious of this, she scurried back a bit, knowing she wouldn't be able to get up and run if she tried, even if she took off her high heels. Then something tugged at her mind and she was lost in confusion.
The whole scenario of things in front of her seemed to flip a switch in her mind. She desperately scanned her thoughts, trying to figure out what it was. Finally, she grasped what it had been that seemed so recognizable.
She recalled Sirius taking form of a large black dog just like the one in front of her. She knew that Professor Lupin turned into a werewolf, and Harry's father turned into a stag. She learned this from Harry, and saw some of it herself; but how was this possible? Sirius was dead, Harry's father was dead, and Professor Lupin… he just wasn't at Hogwarts.
What had happened to her? Was she having a dream? What was going on in front of her couldn't possibly be what her mind was screaming at her. The Marauders were broken, and it couldn't just be a coincidence of what she was seeing in front of her. Nothing would be that ironic and surely Dumbledore would have said something to her about there being a werewolf at Hogwarts.
There was a loud growl and the girl was conveyed back to her senses once more. She looked in front of her, seeing that the stag had dragged the werewolf back a few yards but it was flailing it arms menacingly in the air and had hit the large dog in the face, knocking it over. It was getting back up on its feet but the werewolf had passed by it and was advancing on Hermione, regardless of the stag that continued to try and pester it away.
Hermione then got all feeling back in her body and kicked off her high heels, stood up and dashed in the opposite direction of the werewolf. It let out a strangled howl as the prongs of the stag slammed against its chest. Smashing its right paw into the face of the other large animal, it caused it to stagger slightly, leaving an opening for the werewolf to run after the fleeing girl.
Hermione of course, wasn't going to take any chances by looking over her shoulder. Just by the noises beyond her, she knew that the werewolf had broken free of its hold by the other fauna and was advancing on her. She wasn't particularly looking where she was going and she found herself running towards the forbidden forest, her breathing coming out in large gasps likely caused by the spell that had hit her before.
Damn! How could I get myself in this situation again! Last time this happened, we trapped ourselves in the forest! The girl cursed herself between pants, for letting that happen again. It was just way too ironic for this to be happening; especially with how things turned out in third year. Though, last time she wasn't by herself…
Before she could acknowledge it, she found herself going head first into the foliage of the forest. The eerily lit grounds suddenly turned into pitch black shadows and forms. She desperately pulled herself through problematic bushes and vines but kept getting stuck. This was a problem.
The werewolf had to have been right on her heels when she'd entered the forest area. She couldn't hear the creature though, through the odd noises coming from the tress and undergrowth. The hairs on her arms and the back of her neck stood on end as the muffled sounds of the night came to her. She backed up away from the tangle of shrubbery she'd caught herself in and felt her back hit the rough bark of a large tree.
She took long, slow breaths as she stood stationary against the tree. Her chest hurt remarkably more worse than it had earlier and her feet stung from her bare-footed run across the grounds and through a small part of the forest. Her mind was reeling and she felt a light throbbing at the back of her head where a headache was coming along. The girl buried her face in her upturned hands, not knowing what she was going to do.
The one thing going through her mind was, what had I just seen? The only thing that would come to mind was the Marauders in their time. Before Sirius had died, he'd told her stories of him and his friends' monthly adventures. There just wasn't any logical explanation that she could think of.
Hermione let out a low sigh and moved her hands away from her face, only to shriek loudly when she saw the face of a deer nearly inches from hers, visible even in the darkness. She tried to back away but cursed herself for forgetting that she was pressed up against a tree.
At her scream, the stag she'd seen earlier froze and turned its head frantically from side to side. It would have been rather comical if she hadn't been in any danger. Then, the stag promptly turned to the girl and pushed her to the right of the tree. Hermione couldn't see where she was going, but she was petrified with fear and allowed the stag to push her through the bushes and shrubs.
A howl echoed through the forest and Hermione narrowed her eyes, trying to determine where the howl came from. It sounded close, but the rebound of the noise confused her senses.
A twig slapped her across her face and she winced, then another hit her… then another… and another. The antlers of the creature behind her pressed firmly into her back, guiding her in some unknown direction. The area around her seemed to be getting lighter and lighter, though only to some extent as she advanced to what she figured was the exit of the forest. Hermione sighed with relief when she could make out the light filtering through the edge of the forest but the relief was short lived when a large form jumped out in font of her, lashing out.
She whimpered as she ducked down and felt twigs and thorns slice against her arms and legs. The stag jumped over her and she shut her eyes tightly and covered her head with her arms. Noises became even more muffled and distant and she figured that the animals had moved off. When she assumed it was safe to move, she looked up to see a clear path and she jumped up, hurrying out of the Forbidden Forest.
She dashed across the grounds once more, this time with a destination; Hogwarts Castle. The cool grass felt good on her feet and she suspected that they were bleeding from her trip in the forest. When she got towards the entrance of the castle, she couldn't catch her breath anymore and she flopped down on the ground in front of the main steps.
Breathing became painful and she struggled for air, lowing her head to the ground. The itching cold of the wind around her blew her brown hair about her face wildly, obscuring it from view. Her dress was rumpled and slightly dirty from her seemingly constant falling on the ground and the adventure in the forest. The girls legs were tucked under her and her dress was whipping around violently and she put her hands in her lap to keep it down.
Minutes passed slowly, seeming like hours. When she was able to inhale and exhale at a normal stature she pushed herself off the ground slowly, and looked up at the castle from what she could see at her position.
The night seemed so peaceful, so tranquil set in the stage of a cold October night. The castle loomed up into the sky in front of her and for some reason, it seemed different. Entirely different from how she knew it. The thought of that sent awkward chills up her spine, causing her to shiver more. Looking back at the Forbidden Forest one more time, she slipped quietly into the castle.
Hermione trudged through the darkened hallways of Hogwarts, winding her way through the corridors to the only place she could think of; the Hospital Wing. As she passed by the paintings hanging on the stone walls, she felt an odd sense of foreboding and she trembled reluctantly like she did when she was on the grounds outside. Something didn't seem right; of course things weren't right.
"Malfoy did something…" She said quietly and jumped at her own voice as it echoed along the passageway. "I'm going to give myself a heart attack. Come on Hermione, this is Hogwarts. You've known this place for years… there's no need to get all worked up…"
The girls eyes however, moved from side to side as if she knew something was going to jump out at her at any moment. The feeling of that was only brief, as she soon found herself outside of the doors to the hospital wing. Her breathing was now coming in ragged gasps.
Hermione opened the door quietly, then stepped inside. She took as deep of a breath as her body would allow her and she said loudly, "Madam Promfrey? Are you a-a-awake?" She choked out the last part as a series of coughs caught in her throat.
Her body wrenched forward a bit from the chain of coughs that racked through her body. Tonight was not her night. She groaned loudly and felt slightly nauseous as her head throbbed painfully after the coughs subsided. A door to her left opened with a bang and she heard someone gasp and then footsteps shuffled towards her.
"What happened to you?" Hermione looked up to see a rather sleepy, younger looking Madam Promfrey.
"I-I--" Hermione had another series of coughs. After a bit, when she could breathe properly again, she continued lamely, looking up dumbfounded at the nurse. "I was hit with a spell."
"Alright, sit down." The older woman pushed Hermione to the nearest hospital bed and made her sit down then bustled off to one of her many medicine cabinets. She returned carrying two bottles of potion. "Take this, it'll help your cough."
Hermione took the bottle that the nurse offered her and opened it, drinking the contents. It wasn't too bad, it tasted strongly of honey and lemon, and also something that she figured was cinnamon. Then the older woman gave her another bottle which Hermione recognized as Pepper-up potion.
When a few moments passed and the constant feeling of coughing subsided, she looked up at Madam Promfrey.
"So, don't just sit there girl, what exactly happened to you?"
"I got hit by a spell." Hermione repeated.
"I know that already. But how did it happen? What spell was it?"
Hermione looked down at her hands and replied, "It was during the ball. Draco Malfoy decided to try and hex me and he chased me outside to the lake. I told him to stop but he wouldn't, and he was about to put a hex on me when an owl came out of nowhere and flew at him. He got the spell mixed up and everything, causing him to hit me with another spell of some sort and it knocked me out. I woke up just a while ago on the grounds by the lake… and…." Hermione didn't know how to explain what she'd seen and she was oblivious to the stare that Madam Promfrey was giving her.
"You were outside? Just now?" The woman asked forcefully.
"Yes."
"Was there-- I mean, did you see anything?" She asked quietly, staring piercingly at Hermione.
"You might think me crazy… but I saw a werewolf…." She replied softly, her face flushing.
When the other woman didn't say anything, Hermione looked up. She was shocked to see Madam Promfrey pale in the face and her lips were white and thin.
"Were you hurt by the werewolf?" She asked suddenly.
"N-No, I was just chased by it."
The older woman breathed in relief. "Good. Now… What did you say your name was?"
"I'm Hermione Granger… Don't you remember me?" The brown haired girl stared at Madam Promfrey unbelievably.
"Remember you? I've never seen you before, I don't think." The nurse replied tartly, clearly offended for some unknown reason.
"B-But, remember all the times I was in here with Harry and Ron? Like in our first year, after the whole ordeal with the philosophers stone? Or when I was petrified after the Chamber of Secrets was opened? Or in my third year when…." She trailed off, seeing the clueless look on the other woman's face.
"I don't know what you're talking about, dear. Maybe you should get some rest." Hermione watched as she was eyed with discomfort.
"No!" Hermione said loudly and stood up. "I don't know what's going on tonight, but I'm going to find out."
"Dear, I don't know what you're talking about!" Madam Promfrey exclaimed, clearly feeling harassed.
"What happened to the ball?" The younger girl demanded.
"What ball?"
"The Formal Halloween Ball that Professor Dumbledore had set up!" She huffed, frustrated. The other woman stared at her warily and Hermione felt even more confused. "It.. It was Halloween, wasn't it?"
"Of course it was, but there was no ball." She replied.
Hermione sat down on the bed again, staring open mouthed at the other occupant in the room. She was too confused now. "I need to see Professor Dumbledore…"
"You need to rest." Madam Promfrey retorted.
"No, I need to see Professor Dumbledore." Hermione stood up again and rushed past the nurse, ignoring her cries of protest to come back.
Hermione ran out of the Hospital Wing and turned right, running down the long corridor before taking a left. She took a shortcut behind a statue of a famous witch that Harry had shown her once, then dashed out behind a tapestry before turning left again. It was easier for her to run now that she could breathe properly. Soon, the girl found herself standing outside of the stone gargoyle statue that led into Dumbledore's office.
"Lemon Drop." Hermione said firmly, but the statue didn't move. She could have sworn that was the password. Dumbledore always told the Prefects and the Heads of each House the password to his office whenever he changed it. She tried again; nothing happened. "Acid pop? Chocolate frogs? Fizzing Wizbees!"
She narrowed her eyes slightly when the gargoyle jumped aside. That hadn't been the password before. Deciding that she would question her professor later about it, she trudged up the stairway and up to the doors of his office. She knocked loudly two times, not even sure if Dumbledore would be awake at the moment. For a moment, she thought he was asleep because no one said anything from inside, but them a muffled, "Come in." came from the room.
Hermione pushed the doors opened and stepped into his office. A desk sat in the middle of a semi-large room, though it seemed small with all of the paper and objects that were piled up on the cabinets and on the floor. Next to the window behind Dumbledore's desk was a perch with a large, red phoenix that slept with its head tucked under its right wing. Professor Dumbledore was sitting at his desk in his infamous pose; head bent slightly downwards with his fingertips pressed together under his chin. He looked up at her from behind his half-moon spectacles when she entered.
"Erm… Professor Dumbledore…" Hermione began, not sure of how to begin.
"Sit down and explain why you're here at such a late hour, Miss….?" He paused, waiting for her to answer.
Hermione just stared at him disbelievingly. "Professor, it's me, Hermione.. Hermione Granger…"
"Miss Granger, I'm sorry to say.. I don't know who you are." He told her.
"But… what…." Hermione was speechless. She flopped down in an armchair in front of Dumbledore's desk and stared at him in doubt. "I don't know what's going on…"
"Miss Granger, please, kindly explain what has happened."
Hermione went into full explanation of what had happened during the ball with Draco, then how she woke up on the grounds and was chased by a werewolf. When she mentioned the werewolf part, Dumbledore hurriedly asked her if she had been hurt by it. She told him no, and he nodded, relief clearly visible on his aged face. After she told her story, the professor sat quietly behind his desk, staring at her in an amused way.
"Hermione, what year is it?" He asked out of the blue. Hermione answered him and she saw a small smile appear on his face and his eyes sparkled more so. "Miss Granger, I believe you have gone back in time twenty years."
"What!" Hermione cried, jumping out of her chair in shock. "What do you mean I've gone back in time twenty years?"
"I believe that when mister Malfoy hit you with his misshapen spell, it sent you back in time. That is my theory from what you have told me. I did feel a slight alteration in time not too long ago and I suppose that was you arriving in this time, Miss Granger." He told her and the girl just nodded, not really understanding. "I know what you will be asking me soon though, and no, I do not know how to get you back to your own time. I will, however, look into it and try to find out a way to send you back."
"What will I do until then?" The girl asked numbly, everything just now sinking in. She would have thought it impossible to go back twenty years in time, but hey, anything could be possible with magic.
"You will continue attending school here." He told her simply. "If anyone asks, you are looking for a school to go to for your O.W.L.S. and N.E.W.T.S. and you'll just be visiting here for now. I am right though, that you are not above your sixth year?" Hermione told him what year she was in and he nodded then continued. "Though, under any circumstances, you are not allowed to tell anyone about you being from the, erm, future. There could be terrible consequences involved if you do so. I don't want you trying to stop things from happening, for good or for bad. Just try to keep things under the usual flow and try not to get involved with things that can be time altering."
Hermione nodded once more. She couldn't believe her luck. She'd be spending a while in a time era that she didn't know anything about with people she didn't know. Wait… She thought to herself. I do know people here! Just… they're younger than I would remember them and they don't know me… So it was the marauders that I saw outside! She blinked and smiled slightly to herself. She hadn't been imagining things. A sudden thought came to her mind and she looked at Dumbledore.
"Professor, I happen to know that Remus Lupin was outside tonight… he's the one that attacked me after he transformed into his werewolf form. I have no intention of letting him or anyone else know that I know about his secret, but I was wondering… Even if you don't want me doing anything that will alter the future, would it be okay if I made a potion that I have knowledge and practice of that will help him during his transformations? I don't think that would hurt anything in this time era." She asked him.
"You mean, you know how to make a potion that will help Mr. Lupin during his transformations? How so?"
The girl smiled at the professor and replied, "It doesn't cure lycanthropy but it does prevent the extremely dangerous dementia which would otherwise accompany the transformation from human into werewolf. (The effects are pretty much copied from http/ meaning that I didn't come up with it. All credit goes to that site.) Or in other words, professor, when he transforms, he will keep his mind instead of being lost in the intelligence of a werewolf. He would simply be able to go into a room and curl up quietly to sleep. He'd be of no harm to anyone, including himself."
She watched as Professor Dumbledore stared at her, first without any signs of him acknowledging what she said, then he smiled. "If you would be kind enough to brew this potion for Mr. Lupin, I would supply you with all of the ingredients you need. You have no idea how happy the boy will be."
Hermione smiled at this, thinking of a younger professor Lupin and his reaction of the potion when he found out. "I'd be more than happy to do it, sir. Just, don't let him know that I'm the one making the potion because otherwise, he'll know that I know…. You know." She scrunched her nose up, trying to find the words for it but couldn't.
Professor Dumbledore just laughed lightly and said, "That's quite all right. I wont let him know that you know you know." He repeated what she said and Hermione's face became a shade pinker. "If you'd kindly write down what you need for the potion on this piece of parchment, I will get them for you." He pushed a piece of parchment towards her with a quill and some ink.
Hermione took her time to write down all the ingredients she needed and the tools she would need. Handing the paper back to Dumbledore, she watched as he scanned the paper. "This is a highly advanced potion, Miss Granger. Are you sure you can do it?"
Hermione just laughed and smiled boldly. "If you knew me like the future Professor Dumbledore, you'd know what I'm capable of."
She watched as he just smiled, his eyes twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles. "I'm quite sure I'd feel the same if I knew you more. Now, about living arrangements. What house were you in?"
"Gryffindor." Hermione replied proudly and the older man nodded.
"You will, of course, be familiar with the dormitories and other accommodations involving the Gryffindor Common room. You will not, however, be sleeping there tonight. I see that you have had quite a night so you will be spending the night in the hospital wing and when you are feeling better, I would like you to come back up to my office and speak with me about everything that will need to be done, such as getting your schedule for your classes fixed and we will arrange a trip for you to go to Hogsmeade to get robes and other supplies you will be needing." Professor Dumbledore stood up and flourished his wand towards Hermione. All the dirt and grime on her clothes and skin disappeared and she thanked him, noticing that she had been a mess before she came in. "Now, since it is two in the morning, I believe it is time for bed. I will see you in the morning. Goodnight Miss Granger."
"Goodnight Professor." Hermione replied and left the office.
She made her way through the corridors, retracing her steps back to the Hospital Wing. The lights inside of the room were on and she figured Madam Promfrey was still awake so she knocked then entered the room once more. The nurse fussed over her and had her change into a hospital gown then she made her lay down for the night. As the nurse went back to her own room, Hermione rolled over on her side and closed her eyes but sleep didn't claim her just yet.
As she lay there in the dark room she reopened her eyes and stared out of the window at the bright full moon. She let all the information she'd learned absorb into her mind. She was back in time twenty years and she would have to stay there for a while until Dumbledore found a way for her to go back. What would Ron and Harry think? Suddenly, Ron came fully into her mind and she felt herself blush at the memory of the dance. He had almost kissed her if it hadn't been for Malfoy. Sighing once more for that night, Hermione closed her eyes again and sleep tugged gently at her from the corners of the other realm of dreams and memories.
A noise, muffled and distant, echoed through Hermione's mind. The warmth of her blanket wrapped tightly around her kept her on the edges of sleep, but the noises in the room pulled her slowly into consciousness. Voices could be heard to her right and she dimly recognized Madam Promfrey's. Hermione opened her eyes a bit, her blurry vision imaging the people in the room into colorful blobs.
There were five people, including Madam Promfrey. They all looked like students, and as the girls vision became clearer, she saw with a slight jolt in her stomach, that they were the Marauders. They were speaking loudly and Hermione wanted to toss a pillow in their direction for waking her up, even if she didn't know them in this time. Irritation was still something that overcame her feelings. She heard what sounded like a younger version of Professor Lupin speaking.
"Is the girl okay?"
"She's quite fine. Just exhausted from the night." Madam Promfrey huffed.
"So, I didn't… I didn't…." Remus trailed off quietly.
"No, you didn't. She's perfectly fine as I said before."
"Who is she?" Said an unfamiliar voice.
"That is none of your business, Mr. Potter." The older woman told him sternly.
"But it is our business." Another voice piped up and Hermione saw that it came from a boy who was facing her. He had blondish hair and he was short and somewhat overweight. She recognized him as the younger version of Peter Pettigrew.
"Mr. Pettigrew, I will not have any of this. If you keep it up, I'll make you guys leave."
"Come on, Poppy. You couldn't do that to us." Hermione watched as a boy with long, shaggy black hair spoke with a lopsided grin.
Madam Promfrey shook her head at him and waggled a finger at him. "Mr. Black, I'll have you know, I could do that to you. Now, Mr. Lupin, if you would, please go to that bed over there. I'll be back in a bit." The woman then bustled out of the room, closing the door behind her.
Hermione watched as she pointed to the bed next to Hermione and they all shuffled over to it. Hermione was about to feign sleep when the younger version of Remus stopped in front of her bed as he realized she was awake. The others stopped to turn to their friend and saw what he was looking at, and then Hermione had four pairs of eyes on her.
The girl blushed and struggled to sit up, wincing slightly from the pain in her upper body and acknowledged them quietly. "Hello."
"Good morning, fair maiden!" Sirius exclaimed loudly.
Hermione took notice of his profile. He was tall, about the same height as Harry had been. His dark, shaggy hair hung in his eyes and around his face, grey eyes sparkling in the dim light of the room from behind the curtain of raven hair. He had the air of a child around him and he smiled broadly and easily. He looked nothing like he had during her third year all the way until his death. His face wasn't sunken in and his eyes held a mysterious sparkle in them and Hermione suspected it was mischief.
Beside Sirius was the split image of Harry with a few alterations and no doubt, that was James Potter. He was slightly taller than Harry had been, being the same height as Sirius. He had dark, mocha colored eyes and his face held the same image of mischief as his friends'. His unruly raven hair hung messily around his face and his glasses had slipped to the end of his nose.
Standing slightly behind James was Peter. The shortest boy of the group seemed unsure of himself, fiddling with his thumbs and staring shyly at Hermione. His blue eyes watched her in an insecure way that made the girl want to comfort him and reassure him about things.
She then turned to look at Remus' appearance. He looked like he had when he was older though there weren't as many scars lining his face. He still looked pale, his russet hair falling into his eyes like Sirius' though his wasn't as long. His blue eyes glinted like the other boys, except that his held knowledge and trust, along the lines of something else that Hermione couldn't figure out. He was shorter than James and Sirius, though taller than Peter.
"Sirius, why do you always do that?" James groaned at his friend.
"Do what?" The other boy grinned cheekily at him.
James shoved his friend playfully and winked at Hermione who blushed again. He walked to the side of her bed and extended a hand out to her. "I'm James Potter."
"Hermione Granger." The girl replied, taking his hand and shaking it slightly.
"This is Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and Remus Lupin." James told her, pointing idly to each in turn. Hermione only nodded, already knowing who they were. "Nice to meet you. We haven't seen you around before. What house are you in?"
Hermione hesitated, then said, "I'm in Gryffindor."
"Gryffindor?" Peter piped up, eyeing her curiously. "Why haven't we seen you before?"
"I'm new here." She said carefully. "I'm checking out schools because I'm trying to find a nice place to take my O.W.L.S and N.E.W.T.S.."
"Oh. Well, you'll like it here." Sirius told her loudly. "With the Marauders here, I don't think you'd be able to leave!"
Hermione mumbled under her breath, "You're so full of yourself."
"What was that?" The dark haired boy asked, leaning closer to her. Hermione noticed that Remus was grinning now, no doubt he'd heard her with his werewolf hearing.
Hermione grinned at him and asked, "So, Remus was it? I don't think you'd be able to show me where the library is later?"
The other boys around them groaned but Remus' face lit up. "You mean you like the library?"
"Of course. It's the best place to go when you want to get away from obnoxious boys." She told him, wrinkling her nose and jerking her head in James and Sirius' direction.
"Hey! Obnoxious isn't the word for it! It's just because you loath guys like us because of our awesomely good looks." Sirius countered, doing a little hair flip with his right hand.
"As I said… Obnoxious." She rolled her eyes, only to get an evil cackle from the boy.
"I'll show you obnoxious!" He shouted and bent his legs and outstretched his arms. Hermione highly suspected he was about to jump on her bed but she acted first and threw her fluffy white pillow head long against his face with a loud fwump!
She watched his arms flail about wildly for a moment after the pillow slid off of his face and landed on the floor. "That was foul!"
"No, you are. Refrain from jumping onto my bed and I wont do that again." She retorted dryly.
Sirius' face lit up in mock horror and he slapped both of his palms against his face. "I wasn't going to do that!"
"Yes you were." Remus eyed him warily.
"No I wasn't!" He looked over at James and whispered loudly, "I don't like it when he reads my mind."
"I didn't read your mind, Padfoot. I've just known you long enough to understand your actions." The russet haired boy replied.
"Oh yeah? Then what am I about to do?"
"You're about to get a foot in your face, that's what." James laughed, watching the other boy.
"Humph. Shows what you know." Sirius then did a little frolicking dance around his friends and Hermione's bed.
Hermione couldn't help but laugh as she watched the boy leap across the tiled floor with his hands wiggling behind him like propellers. She was familiar with this type of behavior from Harry and Ron, so it wasn't anything new to her. At the thought of Ron and Harry, she frowned. She wasn't sure how long it would be before she saw them again…
"What's wrong, Doll?" Sirius plopped down on the end of her bed and faced her.
"Nothing worth talking about." Hermione shrugged. "I need to go see the Headmaster, so if you guys don't mind, I need to erm… get dressed."
She pushed Sirius off of her bed and shut the curtains before hurrying out of the hospital gown she'd worn during her sleep. She looked down and grimaced at the large purple bruise that had extended over her stomach and then she gasped in shock when she saw a red zigzagging pattern along her abdomen. The lines curved and crisscrossed in a unique pattern. She shuddered slightly and decided to ask Dumbledore about it, then slipped on the dress she wore the day before. She didn't have her shoes with her and cursed herself for that. "Hey, can I borrow one of you guys' wands?" She asked, poking her head out of the curtains.
Remus handed her his wand and she used it to say a simple spell that untangled her hair and brushed it for her, then she flourished the wand, making her high heels appear. They were dirty from her running around outside so she used scourgify to cleanse them of the filth. She then handed the wand back to Remus and pulled the curtain back. "Thanks Remus. I don't have any of my stuff with me at the moment, including my wand." She told them, and inwardly began to worry. If she didn't have her wand, how was she going to use magic?
When no one said anything, she turned to look at them, only to see them staring at her open mouthed. "What?" She huffed.
"W-why are you dressed like that?" James inquired.
"Because, this is what I was wearing yesterday when I came here. I was at a formal party before that, so I had to come here like this." She lied. "I don't have anything with me at the moment, so I had to wear it again."
"Oh." Came out of all their mouths.
"Would you like us to show you where Dumbledore's office is?" Sirius asked, not taking his eyes off of her.
"No thanks, I know the way. I had to speak with him last night."
"You sure? Just to keep you company?" James questioned.
"I'm sure Remus wont want to be alone in here." She frowned at him. "You should stay here to keep him company." Then she walked over to the door and left the room, insensible to the looks the boys were giving to her. Before she shut the door, she heard Peter ask, "How'd she know Remus was the reason why we were here?"
Hermione walked down the halls, feeling slightly nervous. She passed a few students on their way to breakfast and they all gave her weird looks that made her bow her head so that her hair covered her face. She was out of place, not wearing any robes. Then she remembered, she was out of place. She didn't belong in this time. Inwardly moaning, she came up to the gargoyle statue and said the password.
She walked up the staircase once more and knocked three times. Dumbledore opened the door and motioned for her to come in.
"Good morning. You're here earlier than I thought. Did you sleep well?" He gestured towards a chair so that she could sit down.
"I did, sir. I was awoken though, by the infamous Marauders." She grinned.
"Ah, what a lovely way to wake up." His eyes twinkled as he situated himself in his own chair on the other side of his desk.
"It is." She concurred. "Now, professor, about staying here. I don't have my wand with me…"
He nodded. "I figured as much, from what you told me last night but I have come to a solution. Since you are from a future time, your wand has not yet been bought. I will have one of the professors here take you to Diagon alley after your trip to Hogsmeade so that you will be able to get your wand."
The girl sighed gratefully and nodded. She hadn't thought that her wand would still be there at Olivander's. "So when will I be going to get the stuff? How will I get the stuff, by the way? I have no money with me."
"The money will be no problem. We will use Hogwarts emergency fund to get you everything you need." He held up a hand to stop her from arguing. "Miss Granger, we consider this an emergency. We have to make sure no one finds out you are from the future. Even in this time, there are dangers to take to mind. If the news gets out to anyone of the wrong kind, there will be problems."
"Yes… but, I don't want to be a hassle."
"Nonsense. You're not a hassle, and I'm always willing to help my students in need." After he said that, there was a knock on the door. "Come in."
Hermione turned in her chair to see a younger Professor McGonagall enter the room. Professor McGonagall nodded to her and smiled slightly. "I assume she's ready to leave?"
"I am, professor." Hermione told her and stood up.
"Goodbye Miss Granger. Don't be afraid of spending too much. Get everything that you need, and also buy yourself something nice." The older man smiled. "Professor McGonagall will speak with you about your classes."
"Goodbye Professor." Hermione said, being led out of the office by the other woman.
Back in the hospital wing, Remus was sitting on a hospital bed after taking some potions that Madam Promfrey gave him. His friends were sitting around him, and they were talking about the 'new girl.'
"What do you think of her?" James asked the other boys.
"She's interesting." Sirius said, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"I'm just glad there's someone around here that likes the library." Remus huffed loudly, shooting the others a sour look.
"Oh, come on Remus. You know we all have reasons why we don't go in that horrid place." James said, waving a hand in the air over his head as he tried to get a point across. "I don't go in there because of that hideous accident with the books falling on me--"
"That hideous accident only happened because you and Sirius were waltzing around the bookshelves while singing a Christmas song in April." Remus supplied.
"Hey! I didn't ask them to fall on me, Mr. Book Worthy." James pointed a finger at Remus.
"Yeah, Moony, no one asked those books to leap out at us, all spines and pages!" Sirius exclaimed in a horrified voice, causing Remus to roll his eyes.
"Honestly, you guys can be so imprudent."
"Did you just call me a prune!" Sirius eyed his friend carefully.
"Yes James, and a rather attractive prune you make." James teased, earning himself a fist in his shoulder that caused him to fall backwards off of the hospital bed and onto the floor with a loud thump!
James mumbled something incoherently in his odd position with his legs sticking up over the side of the bed and his arms splayed out above his head. "What was that, Prongsie?" Sirius laughed.
"I hate you." He mumbled from the floor.
"I love you too, mate!"
"You guys…." Remus groaned and flopped over onto his bed, his head landing on the white pillows at the headboard.
"What?" Sirius asked innocently while James made no movement to get up.
"I don't know any of you." The werewolf said airily.
"Oh, come off of it, Mr. Prefect. You know you just absolutely adore us!" James called from his position on the floor.
"Yes, I adore you guys as much as I adore broccoli." He wrinkled his nose.
"Broccoli is good for you! With their green-ness and tree-like forms." James called out, waving his arms around wildly again. "Though, I'd have to say lettuce is better."
"And you'd say that, Prongs." Peter said after being silent for a long time.
"Yes! You guys are missing out on good stuff there."
"I bet we are." Remus retorted.
"So… What's up for today? It's a Saturday and Saturday's call for pranks!" Sirius cheered loudly and was shortly joined by James' shouts and Peters constant "Yeah, Yeah's."
"Whatever you guys plan, leave me out of it today. I don't think I'm up to it." The prefect mumbled as he turned on his side and buried his face into his pillow.
"Aw, does ickle Prefect not wanna' help his friendsy wiendies with their pranky wankies?" Sirius teased his friend.
"Stuff it, dog face." Remus muttered and shoved a spare pillow at his friends face.
"What is it with pillows today!" He shrieked loudly.
"You know, you sound like a girl." James said as he pulled himself up off of the floor like a sloth, all slow and mammal like.
"Do not!" Sirius cried indignantly.
"Do too."
"Do not!"
"Do too." Peter conveyed, smiling.
"Aw, come on guys. You don't mean it."
"Yes we do." They both chorused in unison.
Sirius put his hands in the air in mock defeat. "Fine, you guys win this time. But I'll have you know…" He trailed off.
"You'll have us know what? You scream like a girl?"
"Exactly." Sirius replied seriously to James.
"Thought as much." Remus said. "I'm going to bed guys. Go ahead and go to breakfast. I'll catch up with you guys probably around lunch."
"Right-o Moony." Sirius said and saluted him. "Farewell, sailor."
"Sailor?" Remus eyed him suspiciously.
"Aye, matey." James put in and Remus just buried his face in the pillow again.
"Off the breakfast!" James shouted.
"To Breakfast!" Sirius joined in.
"To another day of fun…" Remus mumbled.
"Indeed!" The other boys chorused.
The remaining three boys trudged out of the hospital wing and out into the hall. "Last one to the Great Hall has to kiss Filch!" James cried and all three boys took off running down the corridors and to breakfast.
I'd like to get a poll going, just for the fun of it all.
Who thinks Hermione should become friends with Severus Snape?
I'm wanting to know if she should, or shouldn't, with your oppinion! He will most likely be appearing in the next chapter or the chapter after that. - Min