Now, I know you all think I am a bit insane for posting so much, but I have had this story in the works for awhile and have rekindled my love for the concept. I hope you all are enjoying our Marauders as much as I am! Thank you for your comments and favorites, much love and gratitude!
0o0o
"If you start me up! If you start me up I'll never stop!" Sirius hollered and mimicked air guitar as they were drinking with the Weasleys. They had not left the Burrow after dinner and Sirius got a few drinks in Remus to relax him some. They were now singing the Rolling Stones and George was completely at home joining in.
Hermione was watching from a distance with Ginny as the wizards were all acting like complete twits and laughing. "They are prats," Hermione commented with a small smile and Ginny nudged and pointed at Harry.
He was between the marauders and singing along with Sirius as Remus pretended to play drums. "This is going to be good for him. I don't care how long they are here, I am so happy to see him smile like that."
Molly appeared and started to chide the group of men. "You boys are going to be the death of me!" She cried and Sirius grinned widely at her.
"Come have a drink, Molly." He offered and she scowled.
"You are too much like your cousin!" She huffed and walked up to the girls. "Bad influences, Hermione." She murmured and Hermione smiled.
"You make a grown man cry," Sirius exclaimed and Remus chuckled and shook his head.
"They are pretty entertaining, mum." Ginny declared and the older woman rolled her eyes and shook her finger at Ginny.
"Don't you start." With that, the older witch bustled away.
Remus whispered something to Harry and the younger man blushed. "I don't think so." Harry declared and George patted Sirius.
"Argos, do you think you both are going to be here awhile? That witch over there is in need of a good time." George nodded in Hermione's direction as the witches approached.
"If he honestly thinks he can supplement my good time, George, he is quite mistaken." Hermione retorted and Remus covered his mouth, almost spitting the ale out on the ground.
"Love, did you have too much to drink again? I would hate for you to be clawing at me like last night." Sirius teased with a smooth expression which only ruffled her.
"It isn't every night someone so easy is available," she responded and Ginny dropped her jaw.
"Last I checked she ended up in my bed, not yours, Argos," Remus said and Sirius chuckled.
Ginny pulled away from the witch next to her and shook her head, "you did not tell me that!"
Hermione stood up taller with a raised eyebrow, "I can sleep next to an attractive man without shagging them, Ginny."
Remus blushed but speaking with mirth, "it did help that she was catatonic by the time I finally got her under the blankets."
George shook his head and laughed, "Hermione Granger! I did not know you were such a feisty witch. Maybe I made the mistake of not snagging you up myself."
Hermione smacked his arm and shook her head, "don't let your girlfriend hear you or she will hex me to oblivion."
"Hermione kept me alive for years... I am quite sure she had to be more than intelligent to do that for Ron and I." Harry declared and downed his drink.
"Hermione," Ron's voice came from behind her and she turned. "Can we go have a chat?" He asked unsurely and the marauders glared.
Sirius moved to speak but Harry patted his shoulder. "We will be here when you get back, Mione," Harry told her and she nodded to the group.
"Excuse me," she murmured and they walked away and through to the kitchen.
Remus gave Sirius a look and the animagus groaned and got himself another drink. "She is still sprung on him?" He asked and Harry nodded.
George snorted and tossed his hand in the air, "Merlin knows why. He broke her heart during Christmas of all times to break it off."
Ginny rolled her eyes and sipped her glass, "she will figure it out. I warned her before that he is a twit."
Harry glared at her and shook his head, "they love each other. Ron is just trying to figure it out."
"Keeping your options open is not 'figuring it out,' Harry," Remus told him and he grimaced.
"Thank you, Romulus. The voice of reason." Ginny said simply and Harry groaned.
Harry shot Remus a scowl, "Now you have her agreeing with you."
"Being a war hero has its benefits, at least my brother things so," George said flatly and Ginny rolled her eyes.
They drank their spirits in silence a few moments as the conversation drifted. The marauders were not very content to see her so gone for such an immature wanker, but not much they could say. Ginny watched Harry grow agitated with denial and she felt a twinge of sadness for his false hopes.
"Hermione, dear, why are you in such a rush?" Molly called and Hermione left out the front door.
Remus shook his head and cleared his throat, "I will go get her," he murmured and left the group.
Ginny made a sound as he got to the front door, "Romulus, be gentle, alright?" Ginny said with sympathetic eyes.
The werewolf nodded and went out the door to find the flustered witch. She wasn't hard to track down as he could smell her frustration on the air. It was bitter like lemons against her sweet natural scent. She was hiding by a tree and bundled the dress around her as she rested her forehead on her knees. He could tell the witch wasn't crying yet, but very close.
"Hermione, mind if I join you?" He asked and she gazed up at him.
She wiped her face and smiled at him, "please do, I just needed some air."
He climbed next to her and sat comfortably against the tree, "it is very pretty out here. Molly and Arthur did a great job." Remus murmured and she laughed.
"They did, such a colossal home. They really love their children."
Remus reached for her hand and she grasped it, "want to talk about it?" He asked and she squeezed his fingers.
"He told me he wanted to try again, but nothing serious. Something about how he needed to make sure he was ready. I asked him if the reason he had the urge to try was that he was jealous. Ron shot off about me being some tart and shagging strangers." She paused and Remus glared, "so I told him to wank off on his own then and left the house."
Remus chuckled and tucked her under his arm, "that is more like it!"
She snuggled close to him and he felt the tug of emotions stirring again. "Remus, I wish we could stay like this. Part of me missed you." She muttered and he smiled and kissed her hair.
"Memories are great coping mechanisms." He reminded her and she shook her head against him.
"I have to wonder who is more buggered by this situation," Hermione declared and stood up, thankfully she was smiling.
Remus stood and shrugged his shoulders, "shall we take it one day at a time then?"
"Tell me something, Moony..." She trailed off and looked away from his eyes, "can I stay with you and Sirius again, tonight? I really don't want to be in my flat all alone."
Remus nodded and tucked her under his arm again as they walked toward the house. "We can clean out one of the other rooms and you can stay for as long as you like. I am sure Padfoot would be thrilled to have more than just my company."
Hermione's smile told him everything; she was more frightened of her loneliness than he ever could be. "Thank you, Remus."
0o0o
Remus had finished cleaning out the spare room for Hermione while she showered. Sirius was down the stairs and he knew his best mate felt a little dejected by the last somber moments at the Burrow. The animagus told the werewolf about how Harry privately railed him. The young Potter spoke of how Hermione had been through enough and didn't need them to give her false hopes about either of the Marauders staying.
Remus listened for her after she bid them good night and shook his head when he knew she was well on her way to slumber. "He is right, Padfoot. We cannot give her false hopes."
"You heard what that wanker told her. How horrible and jealous he was. That does not sit well with me, Moony."
"Yes, but neither will giving Hermione the thought that we would stay behind for her."
"You said we."
Remus felt slapped and he frowned, "well, yes."
"We as in both."
"I know what I said, Sirius."
"We as in you want more than a bloody shag because you don't like single shags either."
The werewolf groaned and sipped his water, "I know what I said, Padfoot."
Sirius shook his head and scratched at the table, "Moony, this is more complicated that we first thought yesterday."
Remus nodded and exhaled heavily, "I know, she does too. Well about me that is." He was trying to deflect the heaviness of the conversation.
Sirius snorted and grimaced, "you may think your wounded and tender act works on women, but she would crawl into my bed first."
The werewolf arched an eyebrow, "is that so? You think she really wants to shag you more than me?"
"You are the brother type, Moony. Soft and gentle, but completely platonic. I get her blood boiling."
Remus rolled his eyes and shook his head, "I highly doubt she sees me as platonic."
"I highly doubt she doesn't. You and your limp todger."
"Fuck off, Sirius. We both know that my wand is far sturdier than yours."
"Less used," they both laughed at that and Remus nodded.
"Touché," the werewolf grumbled and ran a hand through his hair.
"How does a puff like you get her to smile like that," Sirius snapped as he reflected on them coming back into the Burrow earlier.
"I shagged her against a tree first," Remus retorted with a grin and Sirius rolled his eyes.
"I thought you didn't tell tall tales, Moony."
There was a scream and both the marauders turned pale. Remus bolted from his chair and Sirius followed as they ran up the staircase, skipping steps, and opened Hermione's door. She was struggling with her blankets as she cried out.
"Stop it! Please stop!" She howled and they jumped on the bed, trying to rouse her.
"Mione, wake up!" Sirius shouted and Remus tried to pull her blankets from her.
She struggled and pushed their hands away from her as her eyes flung open. Each one of them stopped moving as she rubbed her arm and became more aware. Her breath was hot and almost sickly on the air, her brow covered in sweat. Hermione glanced at both of them and eased a bit before reaching for the glass of water on her nightstand and sitting up.
Remus took her arm and gasped as he saw the scar in the dim light, "who would do this?" He asked and her eyes grew glassy.
"It happened before the war. We were captured and..." She didn't say anymore because they both could clearly see it.
She was tortured mercilessly and still was fighting battles long after the demons had been put to rest. Sirius looked closer and anger filled his heart; he couldn't believe he never caught what the words on her arm said before now. He had a gruesome feeling that a relative of his was responsible because they had a bad habit of doing wicked things.
Hermione breathed in deeply and nodded, "we all have ghosts we need to conquer some time."
Sirius kissed her forehead to leave and she shook her head, "please, not yet? Talk to me about something good?"
"Oh, alright!" The animagus said with a dramatic flair and flopped down next to her. "But I am not going to sit."
"Stay, good dog," Remus snickered and Sirius snorted.
"Funny, Moony. That never gets old."
Remus squeezed Hermione's hand before he stood up. "Where are you going?" She asked and he turned to her.
"Just was going to give you two some privacy," he murmured and she snorted.
"We aren't shagging, Remus. Come and stay? Whether you both like it or not, I cannot tolerate Sirius company without yours." She snickered and Sirius groaned.
"That is completely false," the animagus snapped and she giggled.
Remus scrunched his expression and felt a little torn. "Please, Remus?" She asked and he smiled.
"Oh, alright. Maybe Sirius and I can tell you some of our stories from Hogwarts."
The marauders told her elaborate stories of the age of Marauders and made her giggle, gasp and sigh at the good memories they shared. Before long the young witch had fallen back to sleep and the Marauders smiled; she was something different.
0o0o
"Put some clothes on, you wanker," Remus grumbled as he sipped his tea.
Sirius was strutting around in the buff and grinning, "come on, I know you think my arse is gorgeous, Remus."
"I might be desperate for a shag, but you are the last sod I would stick my cock in." The werewolf growled and grabbed the paper.
Sirius walked up to him and stuck his face next to the werewolf, "live a little, Moony." The animagus teased and Remus pushed his face away.
"After this many years of you trying to get me to, you really think I am going to shag you now?" The werewolf arched an eyebrow at him and Sirius grinned.
"Never hurts to see if you haven't changed your mind. After all, you are the man who properly folds your socks."
"Sirius, you don't even like knobs, come off it."
"You are quite right, Moony. Then again, it would be another thing to tick off the list."
Remus rolled his eyes and shook his head, "that is what getting pissed at the pub is for."
The dark-haired marauder snorted at his friend not being goaded like he usually got. Sirius had no attraction for the man, but always enjoyed Remus becoming flustered from being accused of wanting to shag him. Sirius ran his hand through his hair and went to go get some tea. "You should really put on some clothes before Hermione wakes up. Last thing she wants to see in the morning is your knob."
As if summoned by her name, Remus could hear the woman creeping down the stairs. "A knob is a knob, Moony. She might like what she sees." Sirius waggled his eyebrows and Remus smiled.
"True, but then again she may be unimpressed," it was his turn to goad his fellow marauder.
"I am completely appalled at your suggestion. I am absolutely-"
"Naked and uninspiring in the kitchen," Hermione finished and sat down at the table.
She flicked her wand and stole Sirius's cup of tea as it landed in front of her. "Good morning, Remus. I had a fantastic dream about you, however," she smiled at the werewolf.
They now were going to enjoy this hidden game together. "Oh? What type of dream might I ask?" Remus murmured with a mischievous smile; he understood her desire to make the animagus squirm.
"It was a heated dream, I could swear I woke up panting," Hermione finished and Sirius scowled.
"That isn't right, you should be dreaming of a man with far better caliber in the bedroom." He spat, making another cup of tea while Remus stifled a laugh.
"Did I get the chance to show you what it was like to curl your toes?" The werewolf asked and Hermione lost character and blushed deeply.
Remus did not hold back his chuckling and shook his head, "I suppose I will do better next time," he finished and Hermione sipped a large mouthful of tea.
"You don't need to dream of me doing that, kitten, I will without the slumber." Sirius retorted and sat at the table.
"Kitten? Isn't that a bit far reaching, even for you, Sirius Black?" Hermione asked taking the paper away from Remus.
The werewolf shook his head and smiled, "she is too crafty for your wiles, Padfoot."
Sirius smirked and leaned to the young witch, "I can make you purr like one if you like."
Hermione bit the inside of her cheek and tried not to look at him over her paper, "keep dreaming, Sirius." She grumbled but it did not have the conviction.
"What are we to do today? Fumble about in the library?" Remus asked and Hermione felt relieved to distract herself from the tension.
"That sounds like a very good plan. Grimmauld has a fantastic library about secretive magic."
Sirius groaned and shook his head, "oh alright. But I am not making breakfast."
Hermione stood up and patted his shoulder, making sure to not look down at the naked man. "I will, not to worry. I don't think you can make anything edible."
The animagus frowned and shook his head, "you are awfully flinty today."
She giggled and nodded, "oh, yes. Seems the Marauders bring that out in me."