Disclaimer: I don't own the characters I write about and I don't profit from them.

Brown Eyes

Chapter 9: Controversy

Hermione wasn't looking forward to the meeting with James on the Quidditch pitch in a few minutes. She knew it had something to do with brooms, but he had left so fast she couldn't tell him no. So she planned are marching right up to him and telling him flat out that she was going no where near those death sticks.

'Oh who are you kidding, you would anything that boy asked you to do. Including climbing on so called death sticks.'

'I would not. I told you already that I'm planning on telling him no.'

'You could have caught him earlier, he asked you hours ago. Just admit it you want to see him, and it'll be romantic. Flying under the stars, together. Think about it.'

'Oh shut up. Honestly, I don't think you're me.'

The voice huffed and didn't reply. At that moment she was feeling very smug, she just one upped-- oh damn it, all she did was tell herself off. Now she felt like an idiot, she just argued with yourself. It was one thing to talk to yourself, but another thing entirely to respond.

Sirius didn't know what was wrong with him; he felt so out of it recently. He was fighting with his best friend over a girl that he only wanted to shag, while James wanted to be with her.

He felt low, but for some reason he felt like he had no control of his actions. Sirius had been getting migraines more often, and he kept forgetting important things.

"Hey Sirius," Remus said, his voice filled with sadness.

"What's wrong mate?"

"I don't know, I was so happy yesterday and than my day just went down hill. Everything that could possibly go wrong went wrong; I think it has something to do with the full moon. It's coming in two days, and I already feel drained; like I have no control of my body." Remus dropped his head in his hands.

Sirius placed his hand solidly on Remus' shoulder, to offer any comfort he could. "I'm sure you'll feel fine after the full moon's over; you're just want to get it over with already.

"You're probably right," Remus lifted his head and offered Sirius a small smile. When he looked into Sirius' eyes, he saw the veiled sadness. "How are you mate?"

"I honestly don't know, and I still can't determine why I'm fighting with James over Mya. I don't even know if I like her in a romantic way. Don't get me wrong I think she's beautiful, but I don't want a relationship with her and I know that James does. What's wrong with me Remus? I feel like I have no control."

Sirius looked devastated, and Remus didn't know what to do. It sounded like Sirius was being possessed in some way. Especially since he didn't know why he was acted the way he was, but first he had to research.

"Well, maybe you should sleep on it. Maybe something will come, and you'll realize what is really going on." Remus knew that he didn't help Sirius, but he needed to know what was going on before he brought it up with the rest of the Marauders.

Sirius looked hesitant. "Thanks mate. I think I'll go up and take a nap right now." Remus watched Sirius walk up the staircase. When he was out of sight Remus walked to the library; he needed get some research done before dinner.

Straight ahead and to the right, under the Quidditch hoops was James, standing proudly in his Quidditch gear. His grin took over his entire face, nothing could spoil his mood.

He had it all planned out, he remembered his promise to Remus about letting Mya choose. But there was no problem with taking her on a ride to see the sunset, it was romantic but he could pretend it's just to get her over her fear of heights.

James was anxious to see Mya's reaction. He knew she was a smart girl and probably realized his plan even before he finished saying it, but so far she hadn't canceled. That was a good sign.

Finally he saw her, the sun was making her hair shine like a golden halo. From where he was standing she looked like a goddess walking towards him. He would have to say the Goddess Athena, because if he said anything else she would get offended. He smiled at the thought; he felt like he already knew her.

Hermione saw James and couldn't help her reaction. Her heart leaped and she couldn't stop smiling, he just looked so handsome standing there under the Quidditch hoops.

'Now all I have to do is tell him I can't stay. I can do this.' She took a deep breath, she was ready. When she caught James' eyes she couldn't help but melt.

"James."

"Mya, I'm glad you could make it."

"So what are we going to do?" Hermione looked uneasily at James.

He indicated to the broomstick in his hand. "I thought I should teach you how to ride a broom."

"I already know how to ride a broom; I just don't like to ride because it scares me." Hermione confided.

"Well that's where I come in. I'm going to teach you how to get over your fear."

"I don't want to."

"Mya, come on. It'll be fun, and I wont let you fall."

"It's not safe and I much prefer both feet safely on the ground. Thank you very much."

James laughed. "Mya."

"Don't Mya me, mister."

"Fine," James mounted his broom and lifted it from the ground. "If you wont get on by yourself--" he zoomed towards her and caught her, immediately after he flew up. "--I'll get you on myself."

He laughed at the look of pure terror on Hermione's face until he noticed she was starting to lose her color.

"Mya, you have to breath."

She didn't respond for a few seconds before she finally let go of the air she had been holding. "I'm sorry, I panicked."

"It's okay, just don't scare me like that again." She nodded.

Hermione's eyes were shut tight, and her hands her clamped tightly to the stick of the broom. James watched her like a hawk; her stance was too stiff for her to be comfortable.

"Mya, I need you to loosen your grip on the broom. You need to hold it loosely and your eyes need to be open so you can see where your going. I know you don't want to fall."

That seemed to peek her interest, she had never thought of it that way. If Hermione continued to act the way she was there was a possibility that she would hurt not only herself, but James as well. She couldn't do that. So she swallowed deeply before she did what he asked.

"Much better. Now scoot back towards me and relax." James helped her by pulling her back into him.

Hermione gulped. "It's actually not that bad," her eyes were now focused solely on the sunset before her. "It's beautiful."

"I know, I wanted to share it with you. I figured since you don't really like brooms, that you've never seen a sunset from one. It's one of the most beautiful things you'll ever see." James was babbling.

Hermione angled her head to the right a little so she could see his face, she looked serene and happy. "Thank you for sharing this with me." She couldn't stop herself from brushing her lips softly across his.

James blinked when she pulled away. "Mya?"

"That was nice," she blushed. "We need to go though, because dinner will start soon."

James looked hesitant before he looked at her face, she looked a little embarrassed from her small display of affection. "You're right. Now I want you to take it down for us."

"How do I do that?"

"Well remember that to take the broom up?"

"Yeah, you lean back slightly."

"Good, now just do that opposite. To go down just lean forward s--"

Hermione leaned forward too fast, and James caught them just in time. "What happened?"

"I was trying to tell you that you need to lean forward slowly because if you move too fast you'll go down too fast. Unfortunately, you were too impatient." Hermione had the decency to blush.

"Oops,"

James looked down at her, 'Merlin, she looks beautiful.' James leaned forward to brush his lips against hers. Hermione saw him and closed her eyes, she lifted onto her toes and met him halfway.

Right when they were about to meet the bell rang, signaling that dinner was just beginning. "We should go," Hermione couldn't look him the eye.

James lifted her chin with his finger. "Mya, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. All we did was show how we felt about one another."

"I know, but that doesn't make it any better. We could hurt a lot of people."

"We are good for each other Mya."

"How can you know that?"

Remus and Lily were at the Gryffindor table alone, without the marauders or Mya. "Where do you think everyone is? It's not like them to be late."

"I don't know, but I remember Mya saying something about brooms and Potter's." Lily responded.

Remus looked around, and when he verified that no one was watching them he lent in close. "There's something wrong with Sirius, just today he told me he didn't know why he wanted Mya so much."

"What does that mean?"

"Well, I tried doing some research and I'm beginning to believe that he is being possessed."

"You mean someone is controlling his mind from afar or someone is in his body with him?" Lily watched him peculiarly.

"From the way he is acting I believe it's from mind control."

"Why mind control?'

"There are moments when Sirius comes out, like earlier today, the only thing that confuses me is the fact that he remembers everything. He just doesn't know why he does what he does." Remus was rambling on about his findings, making Lily's head spin.

"Sorry, you lost me after remembering." Lily laughed at Remus' expression. "What? I'm entitled to a no brain moment."

Remus laughed. "Now the question is, should I tell them?"

"Tell who what?"

They looked behind them to see Mya. "Mya! About time you got here. Where is everyone else?"

"James is somewhere on the Quidditch pitch and Peter is talking to Professor Sprout. She said something about helping in the greenhouses, and he looked excited. Oh, and I have no idea where Sirius is."

"Right here love." Sirius whispered behind Hermione's ear, causing her to shiver to shock.

She turned around quickly. "Sirius, sorry I didn't see you there," he was so close that she had to back up.

"It's okay love, you were distracted." Sirius' eyes gleamed oddly from the candlelight.

"Maybe we should eat, I'm sure James and Peter will be here soon." Before Sirius could grab Hermione she grabbed her. "Come on Mya, we'll sit on the other side." Lily took the long way around the Gryffindor table.

"Thanks, he was being extra pushy today. I don't know what's up with him." Hermione looked exhausted and Lily couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

"I don't know what to say. Just the other day he agreed to let you choose, but today he's coming on strong again. It's like he doesn't remember what he said." What Lily said got Hermione thinking, he didn't remember. Sirius didn't seem to have any idea about his promise.

Hermione pulled away from Lily as gently as she could.

"Mya?"

"I'm sorry, I just remembered that there was something I needed to look up." Hermione rushed to the exit of the Great Hall where she ran smack dab into James.

Remus and Lily noticed immediately how they acted around each other, they blushed and their touch was more intimate.

"Mya." James voice held a yearning that no one had ever heard.

"I have to go," and she pushed past James and left.

Remus knew immediately that whatever was controlling Sirius was back and ready for more. He wondered if he should warn Mya, but he didn't want to risk getting it wrong and making something out of nothing. He was more worried from what he noticed between Mya and James. Whatever was controlling Sirius wasn't going to be happy with the recent development. 'What are we going to do?'

Hermione practically ran to the library, she couldn't take the chance that James would follow her. Right now she couldn't deal with him, she needed to focus on Sirius' predicament. What Lily said got her thinking. What if Sirius wasn't in control of his body?

She grabbed book after book from the shelf, trying to remember which book she had read that had something to do with possession. "Ah ha here it is." Hermione pulled the book closer and read the passage.

"'To identify if someone is possessed. The wizards most prone to getting possessed are the one's that have darkness creeping at the edges of their soul. When a body is in possession of another being there are certain symptoms to look for. If they are possessed spiritually there will be a slight shadow in their eyes when feeling strong emotions. If a body is possessed through the mind then there will be moments where they act like themselves and you can see a shadowed figure through reflective surfaces.' So obviously Sirius is being possessed through the mind, now I just have to make sure." Hermione returned to the book to look up the cure. "'To get rid of spiritually possession you just need a container to absorb the soul. The potion must bee--" Hermione skipped over that.

"'To get rid of a mind possession is a little more difficult. First you need to identify who the person is, which is to simply catch them on the night of the full moon and look at their reflection. Luckily they don't know that you can see them. After you've identified the perpetrator you must locate their shrine; which should contain a replica doll with a lock of hair, spiritual blade, and a cauldron. To stop the possession there is a specific process to follow.

Step 1: Burn the doll, by using the spiritual blade thrust into it's heart.

Step 2: Pour the contents slowly down a cleanse drain.

Step 3: When the doll is properly burned, the ashes will disappear.

Step 4: The blade will be perfectly intact and unscathered.

Step 5: Take the blade and take to a safe and secluded area.

Step 6: Destroy the spell with the blood of the one possessed.

It could take up to twenty-four hours for the results to show.' Well that doesn't sound too hard." Hermione commented sarcastically.

Hermione didn't even want this added stress, but she knew that it was inevitable. Someone was playing against her and she was determined to beat them. She checked the star chart and noticed that the next full moon was in two days.

'Merlin! I'll have to get him before Remus transforms. I'll be cutting it close.' She took a deep breath. 'This is the worst time to wonder why I never became an animagus.' There was irony in that statement, unfortunately there was no alternative.

Remus watched James stricken face from his seat, and for the first time in their seven years of friendship James looked utterly devastated. Thankfully Sirius had missed the whole scene.

Lily looked Remus straight in the eye and he knew she understood. "Sirius, let's go get Peter before he misses dinner. You know how he gets around plants." Lily laughed sweetly

Sirius watched her like a hawk, like he knew what she was trying to do. Until he gave in, "Okay." They left quickly.

"James, mate. Come sit with me." James moved like the walking dead. "Do you want to tell me what happened?"

James shook his head 'no,' so Remus was about to speak.

"Well you see I took Mya on this broom ride because she told me she doesn't like devil sticks." James smiled at the memory. "Can you believe she called them devil sticks? I couldn't. Well, anyways, I planned on taking her up during the sunset because it's romantic." James paused as he tried to gather his thoughts.

"Well what went wrong?"

"That's the thing, I didn't think anything was wrong. We flew up, and she was enjoying herself. When she opened her eyes and looked at the sunset she looked so happy, and she kissed me. Right on the lips, tongue and all." James' smile grew wider. "It was amazing, I never imagined it could feel that incredible. When she kissed me the air was practically charged with magic." James looked at Remus for answers.

"Usually when a full-blooded wizard and witch come together their magic weaves together and steadily grows until they--" Remus blushed.

"Until they what?" James asked impatiently.

"Until they consummate," he whispered.

"What?"

"Consummate."

"Bloody hell, Remus I can't hear you!"

"Consummate!" Remus screamed and everyone looked at him, causing him to blush a bright red.

"Oh," James' face was red also. He looked at Remus expectantly after the outburst had died down. When Remus didn't seem to catch on, he exploded. "Continue."

"Oh, sorry. Anyways, where was I, oh yes. The magic steadily grows until the consummate. The stronger the witch and wizard, the more powerful the experience is, sometimes there is a strong burst of magical energy that could do practically anything." Remus finished.

"But that's the thing, Mya isn't a full-blood. She's a muggle-born like Lily."

"Yes, that does pose questions, but she is an extremely powerful witch. Now you never finished your story."

"Sorry, after she kissed me when went back to the ground and I was about to kiss her again. When the dinner bell rang, and than she was all embarrassed. I told her there was nothing to be embarrassed about when two people show how they feel about one another. Than I told her we were good for each other." He paused again, so he didn't lose it in the Great Hall. His magic was held on by a thread and all the Professors could feel it.

"What did she say to that? When she came in she looked drained." Remus was eager to know how things were going between his best mate and Mya, but he could tell that it wasn't exactly stable yet.

"She said, 'How can you know?' As if we shouldn't be together. I don't understand why she's so hesitant."

Remus didn't know if this was a good idea, but he had to say it. "Maybe Sirius is a reason. If she was to be with you, don't you think that would cause controversy?"

Lily walked with Sirius in silence for awhile, she didn't know what to say. She only asked Sirius to go to give Remus a chance to talk to James.

"So where are we headed?"

"To the greenhouse, Mya said that Peter went to speak to Professor Sprout. So at this time of day she'll be tending to the plants that grow during night fall." Lily explained as the walked down the rocky path.

Sirius watched Lily from the corner of his eye, they had never been close. She had only ever really talked to James and Remus. "Lily, what's the real reason you brought me out here?"

"To keep me company."

"But you could have asked either Remus or James." Sirius used logic against Lily for the first time in his life.

"Yeah, that's true, but Remus needs to rest with the full moon coming in two days and James looked emotionally exhausted. While you are rested and ready to go." Lily smiled sweetly.

There was nothing Sirius could say back to that. So he just nodded in agreement. "So why is Peter talking with the teacher?"

"Mya said that the Professor wanted to talk to him about helping around the Greenhouses."

"Why would he want to do that?"

Lily glared. "Your friend likes herbology."

Sirius shut up for the rest of the walk. What Lily said made him feel stupid, he didn't even know what one of his close friends enjoyed. While Lily battled with herself on whether or not to say sorry. She felt bad after she caught a glimpse of his face; he actually looked sad and a little guilty.

"I'm sorry Sirius. I didn't mean to make you feel bad, it's just sometimes you guys don't pay enough attention to Peter. Don't get me wrong, I didn't notice either. Actually Mya pointed it out to me. She explained that sometimes we ignore Peter like he isn't really there. She said, 'Getting insulted all the time…feeling like you're not wanted or needed… a can only take so much." Lily eyes reflected her sadness. You could tell she truly felt upset about the way she had treated Peter.

"I never really thought of it that way."

"I don't think any of us did."

Dinner passed by uneventfully, everyone lost in their own thoughts. Remus caught between the full moon and Sirius' problem. Lily and Sirius with their newly enlightened view on Peter. James' focus was Hermione's odd behavior and if Sirius was really the reason why she didn't want to start something with him.

Hermione was focused or numerous things at the same time. At the top of her list was horcruxes. Following those was Sirius' condition, the full moon, Peter, Severus, her feelings for James, Lucius, and Voldemort's rising power. Her mind was overloaded with thoughts and she didn't know where to place her focus. Everything was important to her and she had little time to do it in.

She didn't know when she would be sent back to her own time. Technically she didn't even know if she ever would or whether or not she would actually make it.

After dinner the marauders and Lily went back to the Gryffindor dorms. While Hermione stayed with the excuse to speak to the Headmaster, so she bid them goodnight.

Hermione had to focus more on Severus and Peter, she had been neglected them and trying to focus on the horcruxes. But the horcruxes weren't going anywhere fast, and she didn't know how long she had to save them. All she knew was they both came fully to the dark side in their seventh year, so she didn't have much time.

She walked in the direction she thought the Slytherin Common Room was located, from the quick glimpse she caught on the Marauder's Map. Too bad she was lost. "Where am I?" She asked herself.

"Where you shouldn't be." Hermione turned around quickly, wand at the ready. She didn't see anyone, Hermione strained her eyes to see in the darkness. Until she saw a silhouette in the shadows.

"Show yourself," she had to be honest to herself. Here she was walking towards a room full of Slytherin's and all she had to protect herself was her wits. Hermione calmed down when she saw Severus walk out. "You scared me."

"Maybe that'll teach you not to wander where you don't belong mudblood."

"I was just trying to get more familiar with the castle." Hermione used as her excuse. "By the way I'm Mya, Mya Granger and not Mudblood. And you are?" She extended her arm to show respect, but all he did was glare at it suspiciously.

"None of your business, you filthy mudblood," he emphasized the word after she explicitly told him that wasn't her name.

"It's funny that you say that, since I've been here I've noticed how many people don't want to be muggleborns and half-bloods. Didn't I just see you sitting in the pureblood section at Slytherin? Funny how the things we wish to hide the most are the easiest to find out." Hermione taunted, she knew she was taking a risk. But it was a risk worth taking.

"You don't know what you're talking about you filthy mud--"

"Ah ah ah, that's such a nasty name, you don't want me to start calling you half-blood, now do you? So come on, I gave you my name. I think it's only fair you return the favor." Hermione teased, she wanted to get a playful side out of him. But he wasn't having it.

"I didn't ask for your name, you gave it freely. Why would I give you power over me by giving you the pleasure of my name?" He smirked wickedly at her, and now she knew she was getting somewhere.

"Well we can't be proper friends if you wont relay your name."

"Who said we were going to be friends?" At the corner of Severus' mouth a smile began to emerge. He couldn't help himself, she was actually a breath of fresh air. So far she hadn't made fun of him or tried to hurt him in any way.

Hermione pouted. "Oh, but we must. If we do not become friends I may break down into tears and that would not be a lovely sight."

"Than by all means, I don't have the heart to make you cry." Severus replied jokingly. "My name is Severus Snape."

Hermione extended her hand. "Pleased you meet you Mr. Snape."

"Severus, please."

"Severus."

"The pleasure is all my mine Mya." Hermione giggled. "What?"

"Your actually quite intelligent, I don't think I'd like to be on the opposite end of your wand in a fight." Hermione said jokingly, watching him to determine whether he was being honest with her.

His eyes lost the little sparkle they had gained. "You will do well to remember that," was his only response before once again he drifted into the shadows. Leaving Hermione alone to think about what he meant.

She stood staying in the same place several minutes after Severus had disappeared. Hermione didn't know what to make of him; he was friendly, but very distant. There was a lot of pain in him, and what she remembered he was in love with Lily and it was only her death that brought him to the light side. Now she needed to find a different way to change him.

Hermione sighed. 'What to do?'