I apologize to anyone I told that this chapter would be up momentarily when I replied to reviews on Saturday night. I tried to submit the document and it wasn't working again. I was not very happy about it.

So I'm pretty much an idiot. I was so excited that I was able to get the last chapter up the night that I didn't realize it was the unedited one. The only main difference is that Professor McGonagall has Hermione meet her on Friday, not Tuesday. Sorry about that.

Just A Stupid Crush

Chapter 5

"Are you ready, Hermione?" Professor McGonagall asked me. It was Friday after classes and I was ready to begin my animagus training. Obviously I have read all about becoming an animagus so I know a little what to expect. The first thing you have to do is take a potion to find out what kind of animal your animagus will be. Then you have to try and transform different areas of your body until you can get the whole thing down and hold it there for long periods of time. Obviously it isn't easy and probably will take the entire year if not longer. I think it took Sirius, James, and Peter so long because they started in their second year and they did not have anyone who had already been an animagus to help them. In my case, I am now in my seventh year and I have Professor McGonagall and Sirius to help me.

"Yes, I think so," I replied a little nervously. When you took the potion, you were supposed to see what kind of animal you would become. What would happen if I didn't see anything? I would be so disappointed. I have wanted to do this practically since Professor McGonagallshowed usher being an animagus back in third year.

Professor McGonagall transfigured a bed from one of the desks and told me to lie down. I did so and she handed me a vial of potion. I took it nervously and looked at Professor McGonagall. She just smiled encouragingly at me and nodded. I closed my eyes and drank the whole potion. Luckily it did not taste too badly.

All of a sudden, I saw myself walking through a dense forest. I walked and walked all-the-while becoming more nervous. What happens if I don't see anything and just keep walking in this forest? But then, I heard soft footsteps. It sounded like something small and on four legs. I looked around, but could not see anything yet. I walked a little farther and saw a bushy tail sticking out from behind a tree. I walked towards it excitedly. I got to the tree, looked around it, and saw a foxsitting by the base of it. It looked like it was grinning at me and it staredup atme with brown eyes. Then it turned and ran away. The next thing I knew I was back in Professor McGonagall's room.

"Professor," I said excitedly, "I'm going to be a fox!" Professor McGonagall just smiled proudly at me.

"I think that is enough for tonight," she said, but then she saw my disappointed face and added, "I know you would rather keep going but I know how tired that potion will make you. It is best that we stop for today. Come back next Friday and make sure that you concentrate on exactly what the fox that you saw looked like."

"Professor, is it strange that the fox wasn't red?" I asked her a little nervously.

"Not at all," she replied. "Out of curiosity, what color was it then?"

"Brown," I replied smiling.

"Yes that would make sense," Professor McGonagall said. "Now run along, and make sure you get plenty of sleep between now and next Friday. It is important to be well rested for this training."

"I will. Thank you, Professor!" I said excitedly. As I was leaving the room, I could not get the smile off of my face. To make it really stick there, I decided to go see Sirius and tell him about what happened. I never did go see him this week. I figured it would make more sense to tell him everything all at once instead of looking like I was stalking him. I do that sometimes; stalk him. I almost know where he is at any point on any day. It's a big problem, I know.

I made my way towards Sirius' room. I got to his door and knocked. It was Remus who opened the door. I wasn't really surprised that he was there. It seemed oddly quiet in the room. I hoped I wasn't interrupting anything important.

"Hi Remus," I said. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything. I can come back later."

"No, no, don't be silly. I was just on my way out actually," Remus said kindly.

"Remus, you just got here," Sirius pointed out.

"Yes, but I do have an awful lot of grading to do. I'll see you later Sirius. Have a good evening, Hermione."

"Thank you, Remus. Goodbye," I said to him. Sirius was looking at Remus strangely before he said goodbye too.

"Have a seat, Hermione. What's up?" Sirius asked. I sat and told him all about what happened while I was with Professor McGonagall.

"A fox, huh. I can see how that fits. You're intelligent, sneaky, the bushy hair-"

"My hair has calmed down a lot! And how am I sneaky?" I asked defensively. Sirius just laughed.

"I was only joking about your hair. And how are you sneaky? Well, let's see. There was the Sorcerers Stone in your first year, figuring out how the basilisk moved around in your second year, you figured out that Remus was a werewolf in your third, not to mention that you kept your time-turner a secret for the entire year, you helped Harry tremendously with the Tournament your fourth year-"

"Alright, I get it. I guess I can be kind of sneaky," I said defeated.

"There you go. It's nothing to be ashamed of. It was what us Marauders were known best for. Now you'll have to show me when you can transform entirely. Did McGonagall tell you when she thought that would be?" Sirius asked.

"No, but I think I would be lucky if I managed by the end of the year," I said a little modestly.

"Oh I think you'll be done well before then. If you need any pointers, you know who to ask," he said winking at me. I laughed and tried to keep the blush off my face.

"Will do," I told him. "Thanks Sirius and I'll see you later."

"Alright, bye Hermione." He opened his mouth again and looked like he wanted to say something else. I didn't move and looked into his eyes and briefly got lost. I realized that he must have changed his mind about whatever he was going to say and I shook myself slightly, smiled and made my way towards the door. I need to be more careful. That shouldn't have happened. I opened it and was a little surprised to see Remus standing not too far away from the door. I wondered how long he had been there. He smiled at me and then told me to leave to door open. I did so and he walked inside. I decided Ginny, Natalie, and I needed to have another little chat.

Sirius' POV

"Finish all that grading already, Remus?" I asked innocently.

"Have a nice little talk?" Remus asked me smiling slightly and ignoring my question.

"Oh yeah, just wonderful. We talked about the weather and when we think the world will end. It was very pleasant, you should have been here for it," I replied sarcastically.

"Come on, Padfoot. Be serious."

"Remus, I can't do this and you know it! How many times do we have to talk about it," I said starting to get angry.

"If you can't do it, then why do you still have feelings for her?" He asked seriously.

"Because I'm a fool! Because I can't get her out of my head! Because she's starting to haunt me even in my dreams. And yet, I cannot do a thing about it. What do you want me to do about it Remus? You obviously want me to go after her, but how do you propose I do that? She'sstill my student, stillHarry's best friend, and she is stillunder 18."

"What does her being under 18 have to do with anything? She is of age now," Remus said sounding confused.

"Because she is muggleborn and is probably used to the idea of becoming an adult at 18. Harry always tells me that he forgets that he is of age right now because for most of his life he thought that wouldn't happen until he was 18, not 17."

"She is still of age, no matter what she thinks. As for her being Harry's best friend, I'm sure as long as he knows that you would be happy together, he would be all for it. I don't think he would have a problem with it and I don't think Dumbledore would have a problem with it either. If you're so worried about her being a student, then just wait until she graduates. It's not too much longer. So now what problems do you have with it now?" Remus asked. He was much too smart at this for my liking.

"She would still be disgusted at an old man like me going after her," I said after thinking for a moment. Remus just shook his head at me.

"Sirius, come on. We've talked about all of this already. She wouldn't care. I've already told you that I think she likes you just as much as you like her. You should have seen her as she was walking out of your rooms just before. I could see it in her face. Just do something about it. Remember that love conquers all," Remus said philosophically. Love? Now that's something I hadn't considered. I don't love her do I? No, no, absolutely not. It's just a stupid crush, I have already decided this. And it needs to end now.

"Remus, please. Just drop it. I don't want to think about it anymore," I said a little pleadingly. I just want to forget about her. Well, I don't want to forget about her, but this was getting way out of control. I don't know what Remus is talking about. Hermione would never like me. She's too good for me anyway. She deserves better than me. I'll try to forget about my feelings for her and if that doesn't work, well I don't know what I would do. Maybe then I'll take Remus' advice, but only after I make a real attempt to forget about this nonsense.

Authors Note: I hope you all liked this chapter. I should be able to get the next chapter out in the next couple of days. Oh and by the way. The whole Hermione taking a potion to see what kind of animal she will be able to turn into was not, and I repeat, not my idea. I read it in someone else's story but I cannot remember which story it was. I'll try to track it down so that I can give the proper credit. Same deal as usual. Please review and tell me what you liked and/or didn't like about this chapter. Thanks!