Chapter four: Suspicions

Well there's a million other girls who do it just like you.
Looking as innocent as possible to get to who,
They want and what they like, it's easy if you do it right.
Well I refuse, I refuse, I refuse!

The next morning Hermione showered and dressed, but ran into someone on the way to her first class- scattering all of her books. The other girl crouched to her knees to help pick them up. "I'm so sorry!"

Hermione glanced up with a smile that froze and then faded as she looked into the painfully familiar green eyes of Lily Evans. "N-n-not at all! I'm Ariel."

"Lily."

"Ariel! I've been for- " Severus stopped at the sight of Lily, who cast her eyes down at the sight of him. He'd come to the torturous realization that he had placed her on too high a pedestal for too long a time- and that if their friendship had meant anything to her at all she'd have heard him out at the end of fifth year. However, his head knew this, but his heart still seized at the thought of her name. "Hello, Lily." He whispered.

The redhead whispered back, "Hello, Severus." She had wanted to forgive him the moment he apologized, which was immediately, but her friends had all agreed that if she did it would be a betrayal to all other Muggleborns. She never had a good enough argument against that opinion. But oh, she missed him.

"Um, hey." Hermione said to break the rising tension. "Did you want to walk to Charms together?"

Severus nodded, finally breaking free of his melancholy thoughts. "Yes, you weren't at breakfast. After yesterday, I was worried."

"Oh dear, well we can't have Severus Snape being worried, now can we?" Lily watched him offer Ariel his arm as he used to for her. At least he had someone- even if it was someone else.

Severus and Hermione walked to each of their classes together where he was quick to see she would be at the top of the class by the end of the first week, just behind him that is. The Marauders noticed, and Remus hoped there was nothing between them. He doubted there was; he was protective of her even more than with Lily, but in a completely platonic way. She was very much the same with him, glaring at any of the Marauders coming near him. Particularly Sirius. But Remus wanted to walk her to class. Peter wanted to learn more about her to see if she would be an asset to his master. James fumed at anything to do with Snape. And Sirius fumed about his broken nose- even if it did make him look more ruggedly handsome.

In Potions Hermione and Severus partnered up together. "So tell me more about this devious Potions professor of yours." There was something about the way she had talked about him before that made him want to ask. Something about it bothered him. Across the room at his own miserable cauldron next to Frank, Remus Lupin's ears perked up and guiltily listened in- desperate to know more about the girl that tugged at his heart.

"Oh but he's not really, he just acts like he is. He's saved my life more times than I'm sure I even know. He's a hero- the bravest man I've ever met."
"There were more times than your arm?" He asked, referring to her scar. Remus' palms grew sweaty. Her arm?

"Countless." She whispered sadly.

"Tell me another story."

"He called me an insufferable know-it-all on a regular basis. Hated my friend Harry. But he did things for us we never noticed until the end. Once in third year," she spoke softer, "he threw himself between us and a werewolf even after we had just disarmed him. He just focused on keeping us safe."

Remus felt both nauseous and confused at this, and he could smell the stench of Severus' fear. He knew he'd never have a chance with her now. What if she found out about him?

"Hey, stranger." Remus said jovially. She smiled at him as he walked beside her.

"There's no one stranger than you."

"Oh ho! Cutting, my lady, very cutting. How do you like Hogwarts so far?"

"I love it, feels like home. But, I don't think your friends like me very much." She looked up at him and he grabbed her hand and stopped walking.

"Maybe not, but I do," Remus breathed and thought about kissing her.

"Remus!" They jumped apart to see the Marauders and Severus who were watching, each with their own look of disapproval.

"What are you doing with him, Ariel?" The Slytherin asked tensely.

"We're friends, Severus."

"You shouldn't be," Sirius snarled. "Remus, she's trouble."

Remus gripped her hand tighter. "Leave it alone, Padfoot."

Severus came forward and tugged her away from Remus gently. "I told you he was bad news, Ariel. And he is. They all are."

"No, he's not. You're blinded by hatred and you always will be. That's okay. I understand. I know the reasons, but he is my friend. Just as I am yours."

"See, Moony?" James said. "She's just a snake in red."

"What are you implying, Prongs?" She asked darkly. He looked as though he'd been slapped.

"Don't call me that, Death Eater."

"Oh deer, you do get all of your information wrong, don't you?" She lowered her voice to where only he and Remus could hear. "I, however, always get my information correct."

James looked as though he could slap her, though of course James would never. But Remus still stood in front of her, Moony protecting his mate. "Leave her be, James. You don't know her."

"Neither do you." Sirius pointed out.

"I know her better than you do."

"That isn't saying much!" Peter inserted, finally joining the conversation. Severus grabbed Ariel again and managed to pull her away from the scene and down the corridor. She waved sadly to Remus.

That night she left the dorms to clear her head- she had a lot to think about. How was she supposed to set Severus on the right path if the Marauders, two of whom she loved dearly, kept getting in the way? Then she heard voices in the hall and ducked into an alcove.

"I'm telling you guys, she's not on the map." James.

"But we saw her come this way. Where could she be if not in castle grounds? Unless she is a Death Eater." Sirius.

"Guys, I'm telling you she isn't. What if she's hurt?" Remus. She smiled.

"Yes, but have you seen her arm?" Peter. That rat. I have to get that map, she thought to herself. They stopped in the middle of the corridor.

"She's NOT a Death Eater!" Remus insisted again.

"You're just saying that because you fancy her," Sirius said.

"And you only think she is because she broke your nose."

"But, I mean, she's friends with Snape."

"So used to be Lily."

"Don't talk about Lily!"

"Don't talk about Ariel!"

"Guys!" Sirius shouted to break them up. "Let's just find out."

"I don't know, Pads."

James sucked his teeth, a nasty Muggle habit. "Afraid we're right?"

There was the sound of a scuffle and Hermione peeked around the corner where Sirius and Peter were holding Remus back- whose blue eyes had bled into Moony's topaz. She let out a quiet gasp, never having seen Remus like this. He heard it, looking over before shrugging the two off.

"I'm sorry, Prongs. I don't know where my head is at. It's just Moony, you know." He suddenly looked tired and James clapped him on the back.

"I understand, mate."

Hermione steered clear of the Marauders for the next week, focusing on the mission on hand. She and Severus were close, and she thought herself a success so far. Remus and Sirius both noticed her distance but said nothing as Remus tried to keep everyone distraced.

On the fifteenth, a Thursday, Sirius sent a tripping hex at Severus, making him fall and cut his lips on his teeth. Hermione had his teeth as well.

"Severus!" She exclaimed, but Sirius blocked her from going to help him up. That was when she noticed it was only the three of them. He backed her into the wall behind her.

"So, Mason." He snickered. "What does it take to be accepted into the Death Eater ranks? Money? Intelligence? A good lay?"

"Sirius, please." She implored. "I don't want to hurt you." She very easily could have, having more knowledge in that area than he did at this point. This wasn't a Sirius she knew and she wasn't sure what to expect from him. In her time they were close friends, even when Harry wasn't around. Or especially when Harry wasn't around. But this Sirius was dangerous and unpredictable, much like Harry- if she were Draco.

"Expelliarmus!" It was Severus. "Are you okay, Ariel?" Hermione nodded. "Then why the bloody hell didn't you do anything?"

"I didn't want to hurt him."

"Ariel!" Hermione ignored him, but he ran up beside her. "Hey, I've been looking everywhere for you."

This was painful, but she would find a way to be with him later. Right now, he and his friends were endangering her purpose. She had to stay on target. "Leave me alone, Remus."

"What's wrong? What did I do?" Remus' heart pounded at the thought she didn't want to speak to him. Moony paced back and forth like a caged animal. She glared at him.

"Why don't you ask Sirius?" And she sped up to get away from him and to Minerva for her Animagus lessons."

"How could you do that?" Remus yelled. "She won't even hardly look at me now!"

Sirius yelled back, his face red in ire. "There's something wrong with her, Moony, and if you weren't so lovesick about her you would see it too!"

"We've barely been here two weeks, Sirius. Give her chance."

The four of them were each on their respective beds with a Silencing Charm around the room. Sirius took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down as well as his friend.

"She is nowhere on the map. Doesn't that sound a little odd?"

"It doesn't automatically make her a Death Eater, Padfoot."

"You're right," James agreed. "That's why we want to be sure. There is something about her we don't trust. Let us prove ourselves wrong."

~~~
In case you haven't noticed, I love puns and inside jokes. Sorry if they're a bit casseroley (so cheesy and corny its practically a casserole). Sirius and Hermione have to come to a head at some point, right? Hold that thought and don't judge him too harshly. He just wants what's best for his friend. What do you think of the scene with Severus and Lily? Or the whole forbidden love with our to lovebirds being separated by their friends? Let me know in the towel section down below! Love always, Skye