Disclaimer: I don't own HP.

Chapter 3

Hermione arose from bed around ten o'clock, awake but hardly refreshed. She was confused, to say the least. Her dreams had begun to fade as soon as she opened her eyes, but enough images remained to trouble her. She shoved the dreams back into her subconscious and slumped to the bathroom. Hermione showered and dressed quickly and met Lily in the common room by eleven. She was excited about spending the day alone with Lily, and was looking forward to her first Hogsmeade visit that would not include a trip to the Quidditch store. She was also a little relieved to be away from Remus and Sirius for the day. Last night had added to her suspicions about the boys.

"All set?" Lily asked her brightly. Hermione suspected Lily's sleep had been sweet and untroubled. It was odd - Voldemort already had great power and supporters in this time. The Death Eaters had been terrorizing the wizarding world for several years, and Hermione knew Lily, James and the rest of the Marauders would soon join Dumbledore and the Order. She suspected that Voldemort weighed heavily in the minds of all Hogwarts' students, but they talked very little of him. Perhaps they took the whole idea of "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" seriously.

"All set," Hermione answered. "Beautiful day, no creepy boys looking over our shoulder, and most of all no Quidditch store!"

"Hermione, do your friends at Beauxbatons talk incessantly about Quidditch, too?" Lily asked sympathetically. "I mean, I'm a fan and all, one can hardly date James Potter and not enjoy Quidditch, but it gets to be a little much."

"Ugh, I'm over Quidditch! It's all Harry, Ron and Ginny talk about. I appreciate that it's important to them, but studying is important, too!" She was on a roll. "I get excited about the games, I really do. But you don't get outstanding O.W.L.s on the Quidditch pitch! Youngest seeker in a hundred years blah blah blah. That's great, Harry, but how's your herbology grade? I'm proud of Ron, and everything, but it's not the only thing he has going for him. And I cannot stand those groupies that rally around. Lavender Brown is lucky I didn't hex her into next week when I caught her with Ron -" All the color went out of Hermione's face when she realized what had just happened.

Lily looked amused. "Hermione, tell me how you really feel. So that's a big thumbs down for Quidditch, no? Hmm, what else… Oh yeah - who is this Ron? Do you have a secret Beauxbatons boyfriend you haven't told us about? Oh, dear, what will Sirius and Remus think?"

The only thing redder than Hermione's face at that moment was her Gyffindor t-shirt. She thanked Merlin that apparently Lily's attention went to the Ron love and Quidditch hate, and not the incriminating details about her life. Hermione had spoken very little about her supposed Beauxbatons life, rightly worried that she may contradict herself and give something vital away. It wouldn't do for her to go off on another tangent like this. She was grateful this deluge had not occurred in front of Remus. Speaking of whom, it couldn't be a good sign, either, if Lily had noticed the boys' attention towards her.

"I don't think Sirius and Remus care about my love life," Hermione said, cheeks still warm. She didn't believe it, but she was determined to play dumb.

"You keep thinking that. So… Who's Ron?"

"Ron's my friend," she answered truthfully. "That's all right now. One day, maybe more, but things are complicated right now."

"Well, I don't imagine he was wild about you running off to Hogwarts to meet up with some strange guys, now was he?" Lily asked. "What did you tell him? Does he know about your dreams?"

"No, I didn't tell anyone except my Divination professor and Dumbledore. Top-secret information, after all," said Hermione. "I didn't exactly tell him I was leaving. I didn't really have time. I doubt he's thrilled, though."

"Probably not," said Lily dryly. "If you didn't tell him you were leaving… I don't think your immediate future with him is too terribly rosy, no offense."

"No, that's probably an understatement," said Hermione. "We'll work it out eventually." I hope. She mentally shook herself off and smiled at Lily. "But no more boy talk! I've never been to Hogsmeade." Lie! "I hear it's wonderful."

"You'll love it. Lots of bookstores," Lily said, eyes twinkling.

Two hours later Hermione and Lily were strolling leisurely down the main street in Hogsmeade. They had already visited Honeydukes and the Three Broomsticks. Hermione and Lily had loaded up on cockroach clusters, sugar quills, Chocolate Frogs and Fizzing Whizbees for the boys. Hermione blanched at the cockroach clusters.

"James loves them," Lily confided. "Can you imagine? It's completely disgusting, to say the least. I threatened to never kiss him again, but nothing can cure him of the addiction. It's sad when your boyfriend would rather eat a bug than kiss you. Where do we go from there?" she asked in mock distress.

Hermione laughed. "I don't think you have anything to worry about. Lily, you have that boy wrapped around your finger. You have all of those boys wrapped around your finger."

It was Lily's turn to blush. "They're great. He's great. Mind you, it hasn't always been love and pixies. James used to be a right git. Talk about Quidditch obsessed! His head was as big as a bludger. Ick. He's really grown up in the past two years. We all have."

"You two were made for each other," Hermione said truthfully. "You always seem so happy." She refused to tear up again. "I envy that."

"What about you and this Ron character?"

"Like I said, it's complicated. Ron and I are a slightly volatile match. Most of our conversations end in arguments." Hermione felt she was being simplistic and dismissive about her feelings for Ron, but she couldn't dwell on him right now. It hurt too much.

"Perhaps you should keep your options open, then," Lily teased. "I told you, Remus and Sirius will be very disappointed about Ron."

"I really think you're mistaken, Lily," Hermione protested. "Sirius is an outrageous flirt, I'll grant you, but I've noticed he's like that with a lot of girls."

"He is, but I do think he likes you, Hermione," Lily said.

Hermione shrugged and looked at her feet. This was too much. Hermione didn't want to bury her head in the sand, but neither did she want to encourage all of this talk. Hermione was reconciled to the idea that Sirius and Remus were different people than when she knew them, but really - as much as she liked the attention, she couldn't help but feel a tad uncomfortable that her best friend's godfather had the hots for her. His dead godfather at that. And as for Remus… Hermione's growing appreciation for her former professor was something she refused to think too much about.

"Just be careful," said Lily. "If you really have someone else you're interested in, tell them. Don't make a big production of it, just casually mention Ron. I wasn't kidding about either of them. Remus would never say anything, but I think his feelings are a bit more genuine than Sirius's."

"He's never indicated anything like that." Also not entirely true, she thought. "He doesn't trust me, either," Hermione protested. She was completely out of her element. What happened to a boy free day? Hermione knew Lily was only trying to help, but her feelings were too jumbled to for her to know what she wanted.

"I don't think that's true," Lily said. "Well, not entirely. It's a lot to swallow, Hermione. Don't get me wrong," she raised a hand against Hermione's protestations. "I believe you. You can't blame the boys for being cautious, though. It's a strange story."

"I know," Hermione said, sighing. "I don't know what I would think if I were in their position. Remus definitely doesn't believe me, though. I don't know what I can do about that."

"He'll come around," said Lily. "He might not be one hundred percent sure of your story, but he likes you anyway. Like I said, be careful."

Hermione nodded. She had no intention of mentioning Ron to the boys. Any information about her real life was bound to trip her up sooner or later. Frankly, she wanted to drop the subject. Romance was the last thing she needed. Even looking at Remus and Sirius sometimes felt like a betrayal of Ron.

She and Lily continued shopping for rest of the afternoon. Hermione bought a new copy of Hogwarts, A History for this time period. The girls walked past the Hogs Head and towards the road home. Suddenly, Lily stopped and looked sheepishly at Hermione.

"You're going to kill me."

"What's wrong?"

"I just remember that I promised James I would get him a broomstick servicing kit," Lily said.

"No!" Hermione cried in mock horror. "I thought we had a no Quidditch agreement!"

"I know, I'm sorry," Lily apologized. "Look, wait here. I'll be twenty minutes, tops. You remain Quidditch free. I'll take one for the team."

Hermione laughed. "Okay. I'll wait in the Hogs Head for you."

"Ew," said Lily. "That place is kind of dodgy."

"Well, I have to prove myself as a Gryffindor, right?" Hermione smiled. "You go on, I'll be fine." Lily gave her a slightly skeptical look, but headed toward the Quidditch supply store without another word. Hermione entered the Hog's Head. She had been there only once, during the forming of the D.A., but it looked exactly the same. She even thought it was the same bartender. She ordered a gillywater and took a table in the back of the pub, near a door that was slightly ajar. She assumed it led to a storeroom.

Hermione sipped her drink, allowing her thoughts to drift to Harry and Ron. She hoped that they were still focusing on the Horcruxes and not on retrieving her. Although concerned that she was still in 1976 after more than two weeks, Hermione did believe Dumbledore would get her back in the end. She could not have Harry and Ron wasting their time on her. Deep in thought, she did not notice the handsome blond man who walked into the pub and over to her table.

"May I join you?" a cultured, horribly familiar voice asked. Startled, she looked up into pale gray eyes.

"Malfoy!" she gasped. How in the hell had that sneaky ferret followed her? She reached for her wand and realized she had handed it to Lily in the bookstore. Idiot!

"Have we met, Miss-?" Malfoy smiled, looking faintly puzzled. Of course, she thought, mentally slapping herself. This was Lucius Malfoy. He did look like Draco, but they were by no means identical. He was taller and more muscular than Draco, and his long hair was pulled back. Lucius looked to be twenty-five or so. He was wearing expensive robes and a smug expression. He looked very out of place in the Hog's Head, and Hermione realized with a start that he was probably a Death Eater by this time.

"You've been pointed out to me, Mr. Malfoy," she said coldly. "Please excuse me." Hermione rose from the table, but Malfoy blocked her way.

"Indeed? How flattering," he said. He didn't move from her path. Hermione knew that although Draco might be mostly talk, Lucius was another story. He was a dangerous man. "And who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?"

"No one you'd care to know," she said. There was no way she was giving Malfoy her name. "Nor do I have any desire to get better acquainted with you, sir. May I pass, please?"

"I wonder who's teaching manners at Hogwarts now," he said, his eyes flashing. "Surely that Muggle-loving old fool has taught you better than that? Here I am, attempting to be friendly, and I meet with such disdain. May I know who has besmirched my name to such a pretty young thing?"

"Does the fact that I'm muggle-born change your desire to get to know me?" asked Hermione. She knew it was a mistake to bait him, but she could not control her anger. She very much wanted to get away from him. "Get out of my way, Ferret."

Malfoy's eyes widened and his jaw tightened. He raised his wand and whispered a spell. In a flash, she was whisked into the storeroom she had noticed earlier. The door was now shut, with her and Malfoy inside.

"How dare you," he spat. His wand was raised at her and there was no other way out of the room. "You insolent little mudblood. Do you have any idea who I am?" He walked slowly toward her. Hermione backed up until she hit the wall. She was panting in fear, but she kept her head raised high. It was stupid to have provoked him, but she tried to remain as calm as possible. Surely Lily would be back soon.

"Perhaps I should teach you the etiquette you're so sorely lacking," Malfoy whispered. He towered before her. He reached down and tucked a curl behind her ear, his hand lingering at her cheek. She shivered at his touch and shrunk back further against the wall. "Imper-" Hermione was saved by the storeroom door opening. She looked up gratefully but her greeting of thanks caught in her mouth. It was Snape.

"Severus," Malfoy coolly greeted him. "You've interrupted my fun. I was just making a new acquaintance. Would you care to join our private party?"

Hermione looked wildly at the Slytherin. The expression on Snape's face was impossible to read. She refused to think about what might happen in this room. Silently, she pleaded with Snape to help her.

"This is Potter and Black's new whore," Snape said indifferently. "She came from Beauxbatons. The mudblood Evans will be coming back for her soon (Was he following them? she thought). Dumbledore has taken a special interest in her, and would no doubt notice her absence or any - interference with her."

"Pity," said Malfoy. "Well, mudblood, the pleasure was all mine. I hope we meet again. Perhaps when we have a little more time on our hands." Without another look at Hermione or Snape, he swept out the door.

Trembling, Hermione slid to the floor. She hated for Snape to see her like this, but she had no more control over her body. When the shaking subsided somewhat, she looked up at Snape. He was looking at her strangely, with a mixture of sympathy and disgust.

"Pull yourself together, Granger," Snape said. "I didn't think you were stupid enough to wander around by yourself. I think it goes without saying that I'd avoid Malfoy if I were you. Next time, he'll make sure he's not interrupted." He cast her one last imperious look before leaving. After a moment, Hermione calmed down and stood on still wobbly legs.

Good advice, Snivellus, she thought. And Hermione, don't ever leave your wand again. She walked slowly out the door, grabbed her bags and left the Hog's Head. Dodgy, indeed.