Chapter 3

"The First Encounter"

The weeks passed and everyone was still curious to the quiet, mysterious and aloof transfer student who rarely talked to anyone. In class Hermione barely talked and if possible never. The professors rarely bothered her even though they often caught her sleeping or day dreaming.

"I tell you Lily that girl is our Professors new favorite!" Cassie Ross said irritatedly while looking at Hermione as discreetly as possible who are sitting quietly with Anica at the other end of the Gryffindor table.

Lily remained silent although she couldn't help but agreed with all the rumors concerning the transfer student. She really didn't care about the rumors but what really bothered her was the fact that Hermione's seemed lack of interest was causing Gryffindor to lose points. The DADA professor, Professor Lain deducted the Gryffindor's several points when that Granger girl was unable to perform a simple spell.

She liked Professor Lain as he was the only teacher that did not favor the girl. Even Professor McGonagall was soft when it came to the Granger girl, blatantly ignoring Hermione's lack of attention.

Lily often caught the girl sleeping in classes that they shared and would not be the least surprised if she did the same in all her others. But for some reason all their professors with the exception of Professor Lain seemed to like the girl.

She looked at Granger with a glare who was talking to Anica animatedly or rather Anica was talking animatedly while the girl listened quietly.

Hermione POV

Hermione had heard the rumors that circulated Hogwarts about her but she chose to ignore them. If she really wanted she could answer every single question in class in detail or perform any spell perfectly. She still received O's in her homework, it was just in class she planned what to do about the future in her head.

She was surprised by the obvious hatred that Lily showed towards her. She had caught Lily glaring at her several times, where was the kind and loving woman who saw good in everyone that Sirius and Remus used to describe to Harry and her?

In her stay in Gryffindor house she tried her best to avoid everyone especially Lily and the Marauders however it seemed that the Marauders had taken a great interest in her judging by their curious glances.

They might be the Marauders but she was Hermione Granger and she wasn't the brightest witch of the age and brains of the Golden Trio for nothing. The years of practice in wandering around the castle without being noticed helped her a lot. She even managed to charm their Marauder's map into her advantage without them noticing.

"Hermione Granger is becoming more mysterious as time passes by."Sirius said while looking at the girl who was silently listening to Anica.

"And if I didn't know any better I would think that she was avoiding us." James said with a frown.

Every time that they tried to approach her she would suddenly disappear without them knowing how, unless she knew all the secret passageways around Hogwarts which they were confident that she didn't.

"I think it's about time for her to know the Marauders." Sirius said mischievously after all the Black family were not known for their patience.

"Padfoot leave her alone." Remus said in his most strict voice although he himself was also curious about the mysterious girl.

"Oh come on Moony, we won't hurt her we'll just make her life more interesting as a welcome gift." James said with a very charming smile that rewarded blushes from the nearby girls.

Remus just shook his head and reluctantly agreed knowing that Sirius and James never backed down once they made a decision.

Hermione was walking in the empty corridor that led to the Gryffindor common room. For some reason the silence soothed her uneven feelings because despite her strong and cold appearance there was a large hidden hole in her heart that's got wider as times passed by and she wasn't sure if there would ever be a cure.

She knew that she was becoming detached and almost a loner type but the last thing she wanted to do was get too attached to anyone but it seems despite her coldness for unknown reasons Anica, who is also her room mate, had taken a great like to her.

"You are like this magical grass Hermione." She remembered Neville had once told her while they were helping Hagrid with the school gardens.

"Really Neville, of all the things that you could compare me with, you chose grass."

Neville just smiled softly at Hermione's indignant face. "You are like them because without doing anything you grow into people. You can be as cold as you want on the outside but people will still feel the warmth in your heart."

She was speechless for a while and didn't really know what to say to that.. "Wow…gee Neville thanks I guess."

She felt her heart constrict upon thinking about her dear friend who had been captured by the death eaters and had probably died while they tortured him.

Hermione came back to reality when she felt the familiar auras following her and she silently cursed herself for not noticing early.

"They really don't know how to give up, don't they?" she thought to herself.

She felt as if they were all playing one big game of hide and seek because as she continued to hide from them, they seemed to sought her out even more.

She walked casually but still felt their presence behind her. When she saw an opportunity she quickly but discreetly turned to her right and hid in the dark waiting for them.

Hermione raised her eyebrow when she recognized the nervous figure of Peter Pettigrew frantically looking for her. The first time that she saw Peter she expected to feel deep loathing and a desired to kill him on the spot but surprisingly she felt nothing towards the traitorous Marauder.

"What are you looking for Peter?" She said suddenly, emerging from her hidden spot.

A loud squeak erupted from Peter's mouth followed by a loud thump as Peter fell to the floor due to Hermione's suddenly appearance.

Hermione studied Peter. He was shy and nervous almost all of the time but you could see in his eyes just how much he treasured his friend and it made Hermione wonder what happened for him to betrayed them.

"Are you okay?" Hermione couldn't help but felt pity upon seeing the fear in Peter's face. She offered her hand which he took hesitantly. It took some control for her not to smirk when she felt his hand shaking in hers.

"T-thanks."

Hermione nodded shortly as an answered before she continued walking, it was then she saw the remaining three members of Marauders approaching them.

"W-wait!" She heard Peter say but she ignored him knowing that if she stopped her two weeks of effort in avoiding them would all be in vain.

"Some Gryffindor I am" she thought to herself.

She was forced to stop when an arm attached itself to her and yanked her back not too gently which made her lose balance and out of instinct she grabbed the front robe of whoever grabbed her. The next think she knew she was falling over along with the grabber.

Hermione's eyes almost popped out from there sockets when she hit the ground hard with James Potter on top of her but what shocked her more is when James collided onto her he landed perfectly on top causing his lips to touch her's.

James look as shocked as her but didn't make any attempt to move off of her. Only when Hermione pushed him did he move but he was still on top of her as if enjoying their closeness.

"Hey" The irritation of Hermione's voice was very visible but James made no indication that he heard her, he just continued looking at her,mesmerized.

"Potter!"

"Yes?" Said James with a big grin on his face..

"How long are you planning to lying on top of me! Only you are really heavy so move!" Hermione said indignantly while suppressing the urge to yell at her best friend's father.

James blinked several times as if not really understanding what Hermione wanted him to do. James couldn't help but growl out of unexpected anger when someone suddenly grabbed him away from Hermione. The owner of the offending hand was none other than the mischievous Sirius Black.

"What the hell Padfoot!" he hissed at his best friend only to received an annoying smirk in return. When he looked at Hermione again who like him was also now standing thanks to Remus' help. He didn't like the fact that Hermione was standing close to Remus but he had no rational explanation for it.

"Sorry Prongs, but if I didn't grab you, you might of crushed our lovely fellow housemate."

James just nodded his head while still looking at Hermione who was busy dusting off her skirt. He didn't know what happened but the moment that their skin touched he felt some sort of "magical spark", but while looking at Hermione for any indication that she felt it too, he was disappointed when he foujnd none.

Meanwhile Hermione couldn't help but groan in annoyance due to the Marauder's childishness. She tried to turn again to leave, only to be stopped again when Sirius casually put his arm around her shoulder.

"Can you please remove your arm from me"

She stared as calm as she could while silently reminding herself that this was Sirius her friend in the future and Harry's god father so she cannot hex him.

Sirius did what Hermione said but instead of leaving her alone he just move in front of her and blocked her path.

She sighed deeply to calm herself while chanting in her head. "Hermione relax Harry will be mad at you if you hurt Sirius." Thanks Merlin that she could still look as calm as necessary.

With a very trained poker face she look at Sirius. "What now?"

"Oh come on my lady don't show me that cold face of yours, it breaks my heart." Sirius said with a very seductive voice and smile.

For a moment Hermione's thought became blank upon realizing what Sirius is trying to do. "Oh Merlin he is flirting with me!" She shouted in her thought.

When Sirius winked at her and gave her a seductive smile it confirmed her suspicions and before she could control herself she laughed rather loudly that echoed through the empty corridor that surprised the Three Marauders except Sirius either because of her unexpected reaction or because it was the first time they had seen her laugh.

"Darn it Witch what is so funny!" Sirius said really annoyed, the girl was bruising his ego.

"Y-You!" Hermione said with difficulty between laughs.

"What!"

The three others were aware that Sirius was already starting to loss his patience and if the girl didn't stop laughing Sirius' anger might explode directly at her.

"Padfoot." James said behind Hermione trying to calm his best friend down.

When Hermione's laughter only died slightly Sirius' annoyance turned into anger. How could she just laugh at him for no reason? He crossed the remaining distance between them until they are only inches apart. He would never harms a girl but he could still stop her.

But all his plan are forgotten when suddenly the girl stop laughing instead she just look at him softly which really surprised him. He was never look at like that by others except his friends and Jame's parent…it was soft and full of compassion.

Sirius heart beats drummed his chest when suddenly Hermione caress his face gently. "Do me a favor, Black."

"Huh?"

"Never change and never allow anyone or anything to take this part of you, away from you." she said quietly so only he could here

Sirius was speechless while listening to every word that Hermione said. It seemed to shoot directly to a part of his heart and even though he didn't really understand what she said he appreciated it none the less.

"Although I would greatly appreciate it if you would be less annoying and less of a nuisance."

"Hey!"Sirius said annoyed but not angry, sort of fondly while suppressing a blush that pushed its way onto his face.

He yelped in pain when suddenly Hermione pinched his cheek not to gently.

"What the heck!"

He said annoyed while trying to get out of the girl's grasp.

Hermione let Sirius go and started to walk away from them before she blew too much of her cover away, and thank Merlin that this time no one stopped her or dared to follows her because if they did they might see the tears that started to continuously flowing from her eyes.

She never expected it, but Merlin! It was so painful having them near her but they would never see her that way their future because even if they are her friends in the future in this time she was nothing but their house mate and that hurt her more.

"What a very weird girl." Sirius said while caressing his abused cheek while looking at Hermione's retreating figure, this statement was silently agreed with by the rest of the Marauders.

AN:

Thank you all for the review hopefully you will all continue to read my story, thank you again and bless you.

Thank's to my beta bethanxo for your help…bless you always