Chapter 11
"Forget love, I'd rather fall in chocolate."
As Hermione's bushy brown hair disappeared around the corner Lily sucked in a breath. Warily she turned to meet James eyes and saw that he was as apprehensive as she. His look of bewilderment almost made her laugh. But he held open the portrait and gave her a mocking bow.
"After you, Evans."
Lily sniffed and brushed past him. As much as she didn't want to eat with him, she wasn't about to let him win in their battle of stubbornness.
"I think we can call this our second date." Even his voice sounded smug.
Lily froze. One foot was in the kitchens and the other was still in the hall. She slowly turned her head and glared at James who had a distinct smirk.
The arrogant little—
"If you ever tell anyone about this Potter I'll be sure to deduct house points. You forget I'm still a prefect." She let a self-satisfied smile spread across her face at his stunned expression. But it didn't stay for long and he winked.
"I'll just win them back at the next quidditch match."
That did it. Lily could feel her face flush in anger and her lips became a thin line. "You are the most egotistical person I've ever met Potter!"
He grimaced and shook his head. "You're right, I'm sorry. I won't tell anyone."
This stunned Lily more than the usual arrogance. Potter being contrite? It reminded her of Hermione's advice that James was growing up. And the last time they'd been alone together, at Hogsmeade, he hadn't been so bad.
She sighed in resignation and James grinned.
When she'd entered through the portrait he followed close behind but didn't touch her. It relieved her that he wasn't always pushing his luck. Or maybe he knew she'd react badly to it.
It isn't really a date. It's just two friends eating a late dinner. Stop acting so unreasonable.
Instead, Lily smiled at an approaching elf, who bowed so low their ears scrapped the ground.
"Hello missus!" The little elf squeaked and Lily guessed she was a girl. "My name's Lolly. Is there anything we can be doing for the missus and sir?" She turned to James and bowed equally low.
"Why thank you Lolly." Lily was a little surprised by the gentle tone James used with the elf but didn't let it register on her face.
"We missed dinner, Lolly. So if there are any leftovers or something…"
"Lolly will set a table for you. If the young masters could wait just a few moments." She bowed again and watched the two sixth years with giant tennis ball eyes.
"That'll be fine Lolly, thank you." James said and the little elf scurried away.
James and Lily stood in an awkward silence until the elf returned and both wizard and witch gave her huge, grateful smiles.
"Lolly has set a table, come this way young masters." She led them past several other elves that were clearing up the dinner plates and watching James warily. He was known for his pranks even among the elves and they had too much work to do to put up with his shenanigans tonight.
"Here you are missus and sir. Lolly has heated up plates for you." She gestured to a low wooden table with a simple setting. It wasn't romantic by any means and Lily was relieved. For one horrible moment she'd been worried Lolly would think her and James were on some kind of date and would set the table accordingly.
They sat in their respective chairs and ate in yet more uncomfortable silence. Lily fidgeted and glanced at James a few times but he seemed to be brooding.
"James?"
"Hm?"
"You're very quiet." Lily sipped her butterbeer.
"As are you." James played with his vegetables before sighing and buttering a roll.
"True." She set the goblet down with a clunk.
More silence.
"James?"
"What?"
Lily set her fork down and brushed her hair away from her shoulders. James looked up for the first time and stared at her green eyes. She looked almost sad. "I really wish you would leave me alone." A pained expression went across James' face and Lily winced. "That came out wrong. What I meant is I want to be friends. But I could never like you James. There's too much bad blood between us."
"Pardon?"
"Sorry. Muggle phrase. What I mean is that we've never gotten along and honestly I really don't understand why you like me anyway. So I think it'd be better if we were friends." Lily took a deep breath and looked at James for his reaction. He seemed stiff in the shoulders and his expression was still pained. Really she didn't mean to hurt him but maybe since she was being honest he'd finally respect that she would never ever date James Charlus Potter.
"Oh Evans. If you knew how you made me feel… maybe if you did know you'd finally like me back." He shook his head and his smile became sad. He pushed his potatoes around his plate before setting his fork down. His eyes met Lily's and she blushed.
Sometimes James said the silliest things.
"Well…tell me then." She was treading in dangerous waters by asking, but she really was curious.
James eyes lit up at the idea of talking about his favorite topic, Lily Evans. "Let me see…When you walk in a room, it's like a magnet. I can't help looking over and watching you."
Never mind, she didn't want to hear this.
"I like it when your friends are there. Your face lights up and you smile. You never smile at me like that but I wish you would." He gave her a wink. But the way he was speaking touched her.
Lily didn't know what to say to this so she took another bite of the plate in front of her. She slowly sipped her butterbeer and watched James over the rim of her goblet. He was staring at her too, his glasses hiding his eyes so she couldn't see them properly.
"Then when you're studying you'll rub your eyes when you don't know an answer. But when you do you'll scribble across the page so fast your fingers are a blur." James seemed to have forgotten Lilly was there because he continued. "When you're happy you walk with an almost skip. But when someone upsets you, usually me," He looked at her sheepishly. "You'll walk faster and swing your arms with your cute little hands in fists."
Lily blushed. "I do not!"
James chuckled at her expression and licked his dry lips. "But all those things are why I like you Lily. Seeing you everyday makes me happy. Holidays are almost torturous."
"When you talk like this James. You're different. I can almost like you." Lily stared down at her plate and realized she wasn't all that hungry after all. She completely missed James giddy smile.
O
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"H-h-hello. I'm Hermione." She held out her hand and tried not flinch when Barty Crouch Jr. grasped it. She felt as though she was missing something. She knew he was a future Death Eater and she was terrified of him for what he'd done to Harry but there was something else…
"It's lovely to finally meet you my dear." He gave her a small bow and kissed her hand.
"Ever the politician, eh Barty?" Snape sneered.
"Are you really going to hold that over my head until the end of time Snape? I'm nothing like my father." Barty rolled his eyes.
"Yes well that's not why we're here." Regulus cut in. "Here Granger. It's from Slughorn." He passed her a thin envelope and when the boys didn't walk away she reluctantly opened it.
Dear Ms Granger,
This is an invitation to an elite club here at Hogwarts called the Slug Club. As faculty advisor to this esteemed group of students I would be honored if you would join us the Friday October 22nd for our first meeting of the term. It's by invitation only and all the brightest and best witches and wizards in your class will be there. It will take place at seven pm sharp and dinner will be served along with dessert. I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Horace Slughorn
"Lovely." Hermione muttered.
"It's quite an honor. We're all members of course." Barty gestured to Snape and Regulus. "There's also a dance that old Sluggie holds every year before Christmas. It sounds a bit dreary but it has its moments."
Hermione glanced at Remus who had a pained expression. "And you, Remus? Are you in the Slug Club?"
"No I'm afraid not Hermione."
Hermione knew why too. Because he was a werewolf. As a faculty member Slughorn would be privy to such information and of course he wouldn't want a werewolf, no matter how great a wizard he was, in his collection. Hermione almost tossed the letter back in Barty's face but instead threw it on the table. "I will think on it."
Regulus and Barty looked shocked but Snape seemed only mildly surprised.
"We will see you around then, Granger." Snape said and pushed his fellow future Death Eaters toward the library entrance.
Hermione looked back at Remus who still had his mouth hanging open in shock. "You look silly Remus."
"But are you sure Hermione? Turning down the Slug Club just for… well, Sirius and James say it's not so bad…"
"Even Sirius and James are in it? Then I definitely can't leave you out Remus. And I'm not doing it for you anyway. Slughorn's only trying to widen his circle of connections. I'll have no part in it just to boost my ego."
Remus closed his mouth to reply and instead gave her a small smile.
"Of course not Hermione."
But Hermione was already lost in thought. When she'd met Barty she could have sworn she'd felt a pang at the back of her head. Could it be she'd forgotten some memory having to do with him? "I need your help with something." Hermione leapt to her feet and began slamming books into her bag.
Remus jumped to his feet and helped Hermione pack her bag. "What is it?"
"Do you remember when I told you I'd lose my memories?" She walked quickly toward the back section of the library with Remus right behind her.
"How could I forget?"
"Yes well… we need to find some way of reversing it." Hermione began running her fingers over the titles on the nearest shelf and muttering under her breath. "Ah! Here!" She pulled a book from the shelf and Remus stretched to read its title, The Magical Aspects of Time and Travel.
"How did you know about this book Hermione?"
"In my third year I used a Time-Turner and studied as much as I could about them. This is where I got some information but it's mostly about the theory and assumptions and what I needed was facts." Hermione turned to about the middle and ran a finger down the page.
"What are you looking for?"
"For something… oh! It is ill-advised to travel too far back in time. Most time travelers experience headaches, dizzy spells and forgetfulness. Oh well, that's specific." Hermione rolled her eyes. "One traveler, a Mr Terence Green, traveled almost nine years and seven months into his past. He slowly lost his memories I know all this… Where is the information on curing these symptoms?" Tears filled her eyes and she dropped the book her hands were shaking so much.
"Hermione? It'll be okay, we'll find something!" Remus began searching the spines of the books on the same shelf.
"Remus, what am I to do?" Her voice was thick and Remus gently reached for her shaking shoulder.
"You'll be fine Hermione. There has to be something more on the subject." Remus pulled the book towards himself and perused the page that it had fallen open to. "See, look at this."
Terence Green's time traveling case has been studied extensively. When he arrived nine years in his past, his attempts to change things were thwarted even with his knowledge of the future. This is believed to be because he went back for a specific reason and he could not change this event because then there would be no reason for him to travel into his past. This is consistent with the Norikov Self-Consistency Principle.
"What does that mean?" Remus asked.
"It means that Dumbledore has to remain dead." Hermione said slowly and looked at Remus' look of surprise. "Even though I went back in time to save him I cannot because if he's no longer dead than I would have no reason to go back in time and he could not be saved… Does that make any sense?"
"Not really, no."
Hermione looked around in frustration then picked up a book. "Say I drop this book." She released it and it thumped on the library's red carpet. "But say that I didn't want that book to hit the floor so I use a time turner to go back and stop it from hitting the floor." She picked up the book once again. "So in the past it never drops because I've stopped it. But now in the future I have no reason to go back and stop the book from hitting the floor."
"It's a paradox."
"Exactly."
"So you can't stop any of the things leading up to Dumbledore's death because otherwise… you would never come back into the past. Which is impossible because you're here." Remus' forehead furrowed. "This is making my head hurt."
"You're telling me."
"So can you change other things? Because you didn't originally go back to change them?"
"In theory, yes, I think so."
"Well what else does the book say?"
Terence Green slowly lost his memories and became thoroughly convinced that he was in the correct time. Unspeakables believe that this was a survival method. The witch or wizard's innate magic abilities erase memories that would make the witch or wizard want to return to their own time because…
Hermione had stopped reading and Remus looked nervously at her pained expression. "What? What does it say next?"
"Because… the witch or wizard's magic 'believes' that they will never return to the proper time and so it uses the memory erasing as protection. The magic user will most likely want to stay in the new time." Hermione's voice cracked. "This is ridiculous I don't want to stay here! Why is my magic hurting me?"
"Please don't get upset Hermione. I can't stand it. It doesn't say that. It can't!"
"But it's all here Remus."
Remus ripped the book from her hands and flipped through the pages so fast Hermione's vision blurred.
"B-but Harry… and Ron. I-I won't ever see them again?"
"You will Hermione. You will!"
"Harry and Ron are just so…they're just my best friends. Every moment I've been here I miss them more and more I just…" Hermione dropped her head and bit her lip. A slow aching burn was in her nose and behind her eyes but she'd already cried in front of Remus. She wouldn't do it again.
"Hermione I swear we will do everything in our magical power to make sure you return to your friend." The words wounded Remus. He could actually feel the knife sinking into his chest with each word. But her smile of gratitude dulled the pain and he was able to smile back.
Gently, Remus cupped her cheek in his hand and resisted his impulses to kiss her. He didn't need to confuse her any more when she was this distraught and it would be terribly selfish of him to do it.
O
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"Hello Hermione."
"Oh! Hello Doriana, I didn't see you come in." Hermione gave Doriana a small smile before returning to her eggs.
The blonde girl sat in the seat next to Hermione and began filling her plate. "So I never got to hear how your date went."
Hermione suppressed a dubious face before nervously brushing her bangs back. "Not much to say." She hadn't even been aware that Doriana cared or that they were friends like that.
"Really? I thought you and Sirius would make a great couple." Doriana said innocently but watched Hermione's expressions from the corner of her eye. She made a face of surprise before covering it with a smile. Doriana smirked inwardly; Gryffindors were ridiculously easy to read.
"I never really considered it."
"Well maybe you should." Doriana said innocently. Although the Gryffindor was playing the innocent act, Doriana knew better. She'd seen the way Remus looked at her sometimes and she wouldn't stand for it. Just because Hermione was new didn't mean she could come in here to Hogwarts and steal Doriana's love right from under her nose! She'd loved Remus since second year and how long had Hermione been here… five weeks? Six? It was silly, but thankfully Sirius seemed interested and if Doriana knew one thing, it was that Sirius would not give up until he'd had Ms Hermione Granger. Remus wouldn't want her then….Doriana was sure of it.
"I don't know…. Sirius is a friend. It'd be so awkward and I just…" Hermione tried not to think of how much she liked Ron and they were friends. Besides, she didn't need another reason to stay in 1976. She still hadn't come up with a way to reverse her disintegrating memory.
"Well you need your boyfriend to be your best friend, don't you? That's the best type of lover."
Hermione blushed and quickly sipped her pumpkin juice to hide it. Doriana was very forward, she honestly didn't understand why she liked someone like Remus who was quiet and reserved.
"He likes you too and I've heard things from some Hufflepuffs and a few Ravenclaw girls." Doriana winked. "He's quite attractive."
"W-w-what?" Hermione's voice was shrill.
"I wouldn't let something that hot and willing slip from my fingers." Doriana smirked at Hermione's horrified expression and grabbed a roll.
Hermione did not want to hear these things about Sirius of all people. She had guessed of course, even when he was older she couldn't help but appreciate and wonder from afar. But honestly, Doriana was insane…wasn't she?
Mission accomplished, Doriana rose from her uneaten plate and said goodbye before running off to the Ravenclaw table.
Doriana grabbed her bag and ran from the Great Hall. The bag hit her hip rhythmically as she strode down the halls, her eyes peeled for a raven haired boy.
O
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Hermione was exhausted. The last two weeks had been stressful, but she'd finally done it. James had gotten an 'Outstanding' on his potions essay and Sirius had scrapped up an 'Exceeds Expectations' in Charms. Even though she'd told them they had it in them the whole time they were insisting on celebrating.
"Firewhiskeys for everyone!" Sirius shouted through the common room. A few first years cheered but everyone else rolled their eyes.
"Don't be absurd." Hermione scolded. She was hiding her pride almost as well as McGonagall did.
"Come now, love! This is cause for a celebration!" Sirius lifted an imaginary goblet. She couldn't really remember when he'd started calling her 'love' but it was driving her mad.
"How many times do I have to tell you it's Hermione! For Merlin's sake Sirius, I just want to beat you upside the head sometimes." Hermione growled as she finished a Transfiguration study guide. She'd started doing her homework even earlier so she'd have more time with the Marauders. She'd be damned if they didn't become Aurors.
"Ah Hermione. Let the idiot have his fun." James joined in. He was stretching a new pair of quidditch gloves his parents had sent them this morning. The dragon hide was tough but a spectacular gold color to match his Gryffindor robes.
"Don't forget that quidditch match tomorrow James. When we win, we'll have yet another reason to celebrate."
"Tell me Sirius, does your enormous head ever deflate?" Lily called from her seat next to Hermione. She'd stopped seeing Snape altogether and although she refused James pleas for a date, she was sitting with them at meals even without Hermione's asking. Even joining them outside of the Great Hall and reluctantly partnering with James in some classes. James was over the moon with happiness and was barraging Hermione with his thanks and giving her more credit than she would've liked to take credit for.
"Why should it? The hot air in there helps him stay on his broom." Remus countered.
But despite his friends jeering, Sirius didn't lose his smile. "Oh shut up you. To Hermione then!" He lifted his imaginary goblet and waved enthusiastically to the group to do the same. Hermione blushed. "For putting up with my atrocious Potion skills, constant staring, although really I can't help it love, and for also being a most outstanding friend." He winked.
"Cheers!" They all called and Hermione blushed crimson and laughed.
The next morning when Hermione got down to breakfast she was feeling a little grumpy. She didn't really like quidditch and the Marauders had been talking about nothing else for hours last night, keeping her from her essay and making her stay up late to finish it. They'd also insisted she had to come and she wasn't about to miss the chance to see James fly and not be able to tell Harry about it. So she'd had to wake up at some ungodly hour for damn quidditch.
Peter was sporting flashy red robes and had painted his face gold. His cheering and screaming was eccentric and Hermione couldn't help clap and laugh with the whole Gryffindor table when he'd entered the Great Hall that morning.
"Where's your paint Moony?"
"Shut up Padfoot." Remus laughed.
"What's this? Are we going to have to delegate the title of 'Most Loyal Marauder' to Wormy?" Sirius patted Wormtail on the back and didn't notice Hermione choke on her toast.
"Alright there, Hermione?" James asked.
Remus touched her elbow.
"Fine." She returned to her plate and was quiet for the rest of breakfast.
They went to the pitch together but soon James and Sirius ran off with the rest of the team and Hermione took a steeling breath. "Do you have any more of that paint Peter?"
He looked a little surprised but gave her a big smile. He didn't look so rat-like when he smiled. "Sure Hermione. Right here." He withdrew a gold marker-like object from his pocket. "It's from Zonko's but the clerk said it would wash off in a few hours. Do you want me to put it on for you?" It was the most Hermione had ever heard him speak and it almost made her feel guilty.
She gave him a timid smile. "Sure."
"What's this?" Remus asked. He stood next to Hermione and watched warily as Peter uncapped the marker and the end glittered gold in the bright October sun.
"Hermione needs a makeover."
"Really? Hermione's doing it? Then I want some too!" Remus inched closer to her.
Peter laughed and applied the think glue like paint to their faces. "Are you sure this will come off?" Hermione asked half way through.
"Too late now Hermione. You'll look silly with only half your face painted." Remus loved saying her name. It seemed to roll off his tongue and make his breath taste sweeter. He couldn't help saying it over and over.
"Not as silly as you." She stamped her foot and Peter, Lily and Remus chuckled.
"Me too me too!" Lily laughed and jumped in front of Peter when Remus stepped aside.
Soon half the Gryffindors were gold as lions before Peter's paint was close to running out. Hermione preformed a few multiplying spells on it and everyone got a chance to be painted. Even a few Ravenclaws asked for the bright color.
When the team flew out and saw the sea of gold they burst into cheers and waved their fist at the stands. The quidditch match was 4 long hours. But Hermione had to admit it was one of the most exciting matches she'd been too. With Sirius as a Beater and James as Chaser the Gryffindors seemed to own the sky, there red robes flapping behind them and their flight fluid. The Gryffindor Seeker wasn't as good as Harry; she was slower and not as willing to make daring dives. But the Hufflepuff Seeker was brilliant; he would've given Harry a run for his money.
In the end, Gryffindor had scored more than two hundred points than the Hufflepuffs and the Hufflepuff seeker caught the snitch to end the embarrassing display. But it was still a win and James flew around the pitch and waved to the crowd. When he got to the Slytherins he stopped. He pointed his wand at his throat and Hermione had a bad feeling. "You're next Slytherins! Get ready for some real flying next month!" He jeered. The crowd laughed and Hermione chanced a glance at Lily who looked slightly pale but she only sighed and shook her head. Remus and Hermione looked at each other, matching faces of surprise written on their faces from Lily's reaction. It would have been just the sort of thing she would overreact to a few weeks ago. Then they looked back at the pitch where a fuming Professor McGonagall was giving James a pretty serious tongue lashing.
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None of the Gryffindors were at dinner that night except for Hermione. She'd sat in embarrassment for a few minutes before Doriana came to sit next to her.
"What are you doing here?"
"Well its dinner isn't it?" Hermione said irritably but looked doubtfully at the empty table.
"Well usually after a win the Griffs stick to their Common Room. Never actually been to one of those parties but I hear they get pretty crazy. But I forgot you're new; you don't know how these things work." Doriana drawled. She gave Hermione a smirk before setting down her goblet and standing. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do." She stopped and looked back. "Love the gold." Hermione touched her face in embarrassment and realized she'd yet to wash the gold paint away. Hermione muttered under her breath before setting her plate aside and leaving for the Common Room.
O
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Hermione jumped into her room and slammed the heavy door behind her and effectively shut out the loud music and drunken cheering coming from the Common Room. She was amazed she'd made it through the chaos unscathed to be honest. But then she looked up and froze.
Lily was lying on her back staring at the ceiling. Chocolate wrappers were strewn about and Hermione almost died when she realized that Lily had eaten every last bit of chocolate that James had given to Hermione for her birthday, the ones with firewhiskey in them.
"Good God Lily, what happened?"
Lily sat up slowly and stared at Hermione for a few long moments. Her eyes were glazed and she swayed slightly even though she was sitting. "Who 're oo?"
"What do you mean who am I? I'm Hermione, dear... Are you…. Drunk?"
"Drunk? Hmm. Odd." Lily laid back down and Hermione palmed her forehead. "I do not feel drunk."
"You don't?" Hermione restrained a laugh and came to sit next to the sloshed red head.
"Do oo 'ave any more of these?" Lily raised her hand and put the empty box of chocolates close to Hermione's face. Gently, she pried the box from Lily's hands and laid it aside.
"I'm afraid not."
"Shame. Oo could feel this good too."
"You'll regret it in the morning." Hermione reminded her and Lily sighed.
"Ah but that is tomorrow and it is today." Lily sat up again and stared at Hermione closely. "For now I am happy."
"Are you?"
"Yes for I am not surrounded by 'ames and his following of dimwitted…. What was I saying?"
"I have no idea dear. Maybe we should put you to bed?" Hermione asked hopefully.
"But we have only just begun the fun…. What's 're name again?"
"Hermione."
"…Her-my-one. I would like to join the party."
"I really don't think that's a good idea Lily."
"Shoot up Her-my-one." With surprising agility Lily leapt to the dorm door and flung it open. "I must tell 'ames that…. I don't know what I will say but I must go downstairs."
"What?" Hermione shouted. "No Lily don't!"
"'ames! 'ames! Where is oo?" Hermione attempted to grab the drunken girl but she slipped down the stairs and walked into the Common Room, still calling for James.
The Common Room seemed to have become worse since Hermione left it. She was satisfied to see that the younger years had gone to bed but the sixth and seventh years had taken the opportunity to bring out the heavier drinks and were lying in awkward poses around the room. A side table was knocked over and Hermione was horrified to see someone sleeping on a couch while his friends drew on his face with quills. She was amused to see that not a single person had bothered to wash off the paint, not even Lily, but Lily had apparently been busy doing other things. The Marauders were by the fire as usual and were staring at Hermione and Lily in equal parts, drunkenness and surprise. Hermione was relieved to see that Remus was sober and was directing Sirius to put down a bottle of firewhiskey.
"Lily?" James called out. "What are you doing up?"
"'ames—"
"Don't listen to a word she says!" Hermione finally caught up and clamped her hand over the girl's red face. "She's very drunk and- and it would be a bad idea to listen." Lily squirmed under her hand but she wasn't trying very hard or she was too drunk to push the smaller girl away.
The Marauders watched them in interest before Sirius opened his mouth. "Really? Lily drunk?" Sirius staggered to his feet and pried Hermione's fingers from Lily's face. But he didn't release her hand and Hermione nervously tugged away from him.
"She's a bit of a lightweight." Peter observed and poured himself another shot.
"That's not such a bad thing." James countered but froze when Lily dropped onto the couch next to him.
"'ames. Oo floo awesomely today."
"Er…what?"
"I think she liked your flying James." Sirius smirked and threw his arm around Hermione's shoulders. "Join the party love. We are celebrating because of you after all."
"Not this again…" But she was dragged to the couch and stuck between Sirius and Remus.
"Hello Hermione."Remus flashed her a smile but his eyes flickered to Sirius' arm around her shoulders.
"Hello Remus." Hermione sighed. "You're not drinking are you?"
"No. The full moon's in a couple of days. I didn't want to fan the flame." He whispered.
"Then you can stick with me." She gave him a half smile and his heart fluttered. "I'll need a sane person around."
But things only became worse from there. Lily had somehow convinced Sirius to serve her more firewhiskey and before Remus and Hermione could catch her she was so drunk she seemed to have forgotten her own name.
Peter drank steadily and Hermione was almost impressed with how well he could take the alcohol. He seemed almost bored. James was similar but he was reaching a point that he would definitely regret in the morning. At least he was happy because Lily was there and not snapping at him, in fact, she was glued to his side and every few minutes would compliment his flying skills that morning.
Sirius was beginning to worry Hermione though. Every once in a while his hand would touch her back or thigh or knee or hand. He'd done this type of thing before, of course but it had never seemed so deliberate. She would look at Remus with a pleading look and he seemed furious but was unsure of what to say to make Sirius stop. Hermione was regretting ever letting Sirius sing to her, or innocently bump her knee under the table. This was not what she'd wanted at all. But then maybe she was overreacting. She'd feel incredibly stupid if she asked him to stop and he didn't really mean anything by it. Maybe he was just a touchy feely sort of person and she'd hurt his feelings by asking him to stop.
He wasn't even saying anything suggestive or seriously offensive. If he did she'd shoot him down immediately but he was sweet as ever and only seemed concerned with making her enjoy herself. He hadn't even asked her to drink anything, which was a relief. She secretly accused Doriana for putting the idea in her head that Sirius liked her as more than a friend.
"To the Room of Requirement!"
"WHAT?" Remus shouted. "Hell to the no, Padfoot. You get right back in your seat this instant." The young werewolf tried pushing the drunken mess of a boy back into his seat but his intoxication only seemed to make Sirius stronger.
"I will…do…what I like…Mooooony." Sirius stumbled to the portrait hole and looked back. "Well? Aren't you lot coming?"
"Yesh! To da 'oom of Recucherment!" Lily shouted and stumbled alarmingly next to Sirius.
"And why exactly, are the two most drunk people in charge here?" Peter muttered but he also stood before helping James to his feet.
"I must join the fair maiden over there my fine Wormtail-ed friend!" James pointed to Lily and she giggled.
"Er…right." Wormtail heaved as James' dead weight fell more heavily on his shoulder.
"This is not good Remus. What should we do?"
"Sirius is a fucking idiot!" Remus cursed and made Hermione jump. She'd never actually heard him shout so forcefully but his guilty expression afterwards made up for it. "I guess the only thing we can do is follow them with the map and hope Mrs Norris isn't patrolling the seventh floor." Remus sighed and ran his fingers through his sandy hair. It stood up and Hermione grinned at the silliness of the whole situation. She'd never really been around people who were drunk, since her parents weren't fond of alcohol and only drank on holidays and never in public. But in her fifth year Sirius and the twins had become so drunk they were belligerent during Christmas break. They'd only been forgiven by Mrs Weasley because of Sirius' intense good mood for the rest of the holidays, singing Christmas songs and cleaning Number 12 Grimmauld Place until it was unrecognizable.
"Are you sure?" But at Hermione's question Lily fell against the wall in a fit of giggles.
"Definitely. Without us they'll be caught for sure and James really can't afford another detention."
"But you and Lily are prefects! This is terrible!" Hermione's voice became shrill in her desperation but Remus only shook his head.
"We'll bring James' cloak. I don't think we'll run into anyone, it's pretty late after all." Hermione didn't ask how all six of them were going to fit under the cloak if they did happen to run into anyone.
Not convinced but concerned about her friend's welfare, Hermione followed Remus over to their stupid friends.
"Well I hope you're happy Sirius." Remus scolded.
"Of course I am, Moony my old friend! I'm skunk as a drunk!"
"If I ever get this drunk Hermione be sure to stupefy me until morning." Remus whispered to her and she laughed despite the awful situation.
"And if I ever get this drunk…well…. don't ever let me get this drunk." Hermione whispered back.
"Deal."
O
O
O
"Padfoot, I need to talk to you. Over here." Remus pointed to a corner of the Room of Requirement and Sirius stumbled next to him.
"What is it?"
"Drink this." Remus handed Sirius a vial of Sobering Potion. During fifth year, when the Marauders had discovered the Room of Requirement and its uses, not to mention the joys of firewhiskey, Remus had mixed enough Sobering Potions for the four of them in case of emergencies and had stashed it in the Room of Requirement. This was something Remus definitely saw as an emergency.
Sirius took the bottle and recognizing it, he winced but chucked it into the back of his throat. It burned worse than the firewhiskey and he choked for a moment before the fire went through his belly and into his blood. It worked after a few moments and even though Sirius' eyes were still glazed and he was swaying slightly Remus knew he'd be able to understand him.
Remus grabbed his friend's robes and brought their faces close together. "Listen up Paddy." His voice was gravelly and lower and more threatening then he'd meant to make it. He cleared his throat and shook Sirius. "What are you playing at with Hermione?"
"What d'ya mean Moony?"
"I know how you operate Sirius. But Hermione is not some conquest. She's our friend and I need to know that you're not gonna toss her out like last week's trash like you've done to half the poor birds in this school!"
"You wound me brother." Sirius answered. But even though his wording was light and joking, Sirius' tone was dark and full of indignation. "Of course I know Hermione's not just any bird. Haven't you been listening to a word I've said about her the last few weeks?" Sirius was careful though, he'd seen Remus' eyes and they'd changed to an ominous golden amber color. But that anger was beginning to make him wonder…
"Right…." Remus looked confused. His brow was furrowed and he should've been placated by Sirius' explanation but his anger wouldn't go away and he couldn't let go of his friend.
"Do you….like Hermione?" Sirius asked quietly. He sounded concerned and his words made Remus release his shirt.
"Like her? I…I don't…..well I never really…..no. No, I don't!" Remus almost shouted and their friends, who were sitting around the fire playing a drinking game (with Hermione fretting on the sidelines, begging them to stop), all looked over in alarm.
"Because if you do Remus…. You know what I said, about sticking by you. I'll back off….I wouldn't do it for anyone else. But if you liked her Moony…I would do it for you." Sirius grasped his friend's shoulder and Remus winced.
"She's not something you own Sirius, something that can be passed around to your friends when you get bored with her." Remus was surprised by how dark and angry his own voice sounded. He had no idea where the words had come from but they wouldn't stop and his voice only became more furious and lower with each syllable. "Clearly you don't like her at all if you would just stand aside and let me have her. Well let me tell you Sirius Black! I would fight for her! Because that's what she deserves!"
"Remus?" Hermione called across the room and Remus' heavy breathing instantly began to slow down and his heart rate slowed to a normal pace. Sirius noticed his eyes changing too, from the brilliant golden amber they'd been a moment before to the clear cobalt blue they normally were. And Sirius knew. But now that he had the information…. What was he planning to do with it? Especially after what Doriana had told him.
A/N: Sorry for the long wait for this chapter. I've been a little busy.
And I think my favorite part of this chapter was drunk Lily lol
That is all.
Kidding! Thank you to everyone that has reviewed and favorited and subscribed they make warm fuzzies grow in my tummy :)
Okay now THAT is all.