A/N: Hey guys, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! My gift to all of you is this really long chapter.
I'm glad you guys liked the multiple perspectives in the last chapter. It won't be in every chapter but occasionally it'll switch to other characters. Also, please don't hate me because of this chapter…
Also, something weird was happening when this got uploaded... I don't know what happened but I had to take this chapter down and reupload it. (Apparently this caused an alert to be sent that said Ch. 10 was also uploaded, which isn't the case). Sorry for the inconvenience and the extra email/alert!
Disclaimer: I still own nothing! Harry Potter belongs to J. K. Rowling! (Please don't sue me).
Chapter 9 - Surprises
"I don't know what happened but these notes are far better than any of the notes you've given me in the past," Hermione heard Remus say from one of the tables in the Gryffindor Common Room.
It was late and he had just gotten back from "visiting his sick mother" and was now looking through his notebooks that James, Peter, and Sirius had just given him as he nibbled on a chocolate bar. Even though she was sitting on the other end of the room, Hermione could tell that he looked paler than usual, and dreadfully tired, but other than that it didn't look like he caused harm to himself when he was transformed the other night.
"Oh, you're just saying that, Moony," grinned Sirius, who sent a wink towards Hermione who was sitting by the fireplace. She playfully rolled her eyes back at him.
"No really… These notes are actually very well written." he turned towards James with his eyebrow raised. "It was your turn to take notes, right? I'm impressed, you did a very good job, James."
Hermione watched Sirius turn towards James with a look of disgust in his eyes.
"I knew it was his turn!" yelled Sirius. "You prat! You said it was mine!"
Hermione snickered to herself as she watched Sirius crumpled up a piece of paper and throw it at James who easily dodged it.
"Huh, I guess it was," said James with a smile.
"So Sirius actually took these notes?" asked Remus, glancing between James, Sirius, and Peter. "Wait a moment…" He flipped through his other notebooks with a furrowed brow. "This handwriting is way too neat for it to have been either of you three and—wait – are those notes for Ancient Runes? None of you are even in Ancient Runes with me!"
Remus looked around at his three friends, who shared guilty expressions, and sighed. "Alright, whose notes did you steal?" he asked calmly.
"We didn't steal anything," huffed Sirius, crossing his arms. "Frankly, I'm insulted that you would think we nicked some other student's notes."
"Well you lot clearly didn't write them," countered Remus as he flipped through one of his notebooks.
Hermione sighed. "Don't worry, they didn't steal them," she called over to them. She didn't want Remus to think that his friends had actually stolen someone else's notes.
Remus looked up at her sitting by the fireplace, clearly surprised by her comment. Hermione stood up and walked over to the table where the four boys were sitting and pulled up a chair next to James.
"How do you know?" he blinked as she sat down.
"Because I took those notes for you," she said as she reached for his Ancient Runes notes and opened them. She then reached into her bag and pulled out her own notebook and opened it next to Remus's to show that the notes were identical. "See, I took the Ancient Runes notes. You know, since I'm in that class as well."
Remus stared at her, with his mouth slightly opened. He quickly closed it and turned towards the other boys and raised his eyebrow. Sirius shrugged at him and Remus turned his attention back to Hermione.
"You didn't have to do that," said Remus, frowning slightly. Again, he looked between his friends then back at Hermione. "They should have taken them."
By the looks at it, he seemed slightly embarrassed that she had taken his notes instead of his friends but Hermione had no idea why. They were just notes, it honestly was no big deal to her. She wondered if it had to do with him not wanting her to discover why he was gone.
Hermione gave a small shrug, trying to show that she was oblivious to his situation. "I only did it because they wouldn't make up their minds as to who was going to take the notes. The idiots wouldn't stop bickering in the back of class. It was quite annoying, actually. Taking your notebook was the only way to shut them up."
"We only bickered because we couldn't remember whose turn it was," defended Peter.
There was a laugh from beside her and James leaned back in his chair, balancing it on its back legs, and put his hands behind his head. "I guess it was actually Hermione's turn to take Remus's notes after all."
There was a smug look on James's face and he seemed very pleased with himself. Sirius, however, scowled at his best friend.
"You're just glad that you got out of your turn!" said Sirius, starting to crumple up another piece of paper.
"You better not be thinking of littering in this Common Room again, Sirius," said Remus disapprovingly.
Sirius flushed. "Fine. I'll just do this." He turned and lightly punched James in the arm instead.
Peter let out a gasp as James's arms flared as he lost control of his balanced chair and fell backwards to the ground with a thump. A few surrounding students in the common room turned and saw James sprawled on the floor and laughed as James rolled around moaning in a very fake fashion.
"Are you alright, James?" asked Peter with wide eyes, leaning over the table to look at him.
Hermione ignored James on the ground and turned her attention back to Remus as Peter stood up and hurried around the table to help James up.
"Honestly, it was no problem. Taking two sets of notes is actually an incredibly beneficial way for me to remember information," said Hermione truthfully.
There was still an odd look on Remus's face. "Thank you, Hermione," he said with a small smile. "It means a lot that you took these while I— while I was away…"
He paled and his smile fell. He looked away from Hermione as he suddenly became very interested in organizing his stack of notes.
"I'd be happy to take them whenever you aren't in class. If these fools continue to take your notes you may never catch up on what you missed," said Hermione, gesturing towards the situation on the floor next to her.
James was still on the floor faking and Peter, the dolt, was trying with all his might to pull James up, not realizing that James had no desire to get up off of the floor. Sirius sat by, shouting encouragement to Peter telling him to pull James harder.
"Just pull a little harder, Wormtail! I'm sure you can get him up!" said Sirius while James let out a loud, exaggerated, moan from the floor. Sirius then laughed at himself at what he had said.
The two of them ignored Sirius and watched Peter tug at James for a moment before Remus spoke again, with that same odd expression from before. "You don't have to do that, Hermione."
That was when Hermione realized why he had a funny expression on his face when he found out she had taken his notes and also why he also had it now. It wasn't because he thought she might find out about his condition, which she originally had thought. It was because he didn't want her to pity him. He thought she was only doing it because she felt bad for him, not because she wanted too. His pride had been hurt.
Knowing she had to be careful about what she said next Hermione mustered up the friendliest voice she could. "I know I don't have to, I want to. What are friends for?"
The use of the word "friends" must have had a bigger impact than she thought. Remus met Hermione's eye and smiled his little crooked smile. Lily had mentioned to Hermione how the Marauders were sad that she had been ignoring them. Maybe this was a turning point.
"What are friends for," Remus repeated back to her with a smile.
.:~*~*~*~*~:.
Hermione began to get closer to the Marauders the longer she was there. When she had told Remus she was his friend she had meant in. She liked being around the Marauders. James and Sirius were the jokesters that kept everything interesting. There was never a dull moment when she was around them. Remus, well Remus, was the one that kept her from going crazy due to James and Sirius's shenanigans. He was always so calm, well mannered, and he and Hermione were probably the sole reason anyone ever got any assignments done. Hermione didn't include Peter as a friend and she felt no guilt over it. Peter must have felt the same way because he didn't speak to her just as much as she didn't speak to him.
Trying to divide her time between the boys and Mary and Lily was slightly difficult. Yes, Lily seemed to be warming up to the boys but she still wasn't at the point where she would spend all her time with them. Mary, on the other hand, didn't really seem to want to spend any time with them. It wasn't that she didn't like them. She got along with them fine – except Sirius, Sirius seemed to piss her off for some reason – she just had other groups of friends that she would hang out with, particularly a group of Hufflepuff girls in their year.
Since she lived with Mary and Lily, and usually sat with them during classes, Hermione spent a lot of her free time with the boys. However, that Sunday, she didn't want to spend time with anyone.
Hermione woke up late that morning. Even in her own time, Hermione always went to breakfast, even on the weekends, but today she missed it. She slept right through it and she did it purposely.
When she had woken up, Lily and Mary were already gone. It was a strange feeling, waking up in the dormitory alone, since she was usually the first one up. She had been awake for a little over an hour now and spent a good portion of that time crying.
It was because today was September 19th. If she had never left her own time, today would have been her seventeenth birthday. Well, it still would be her seventeenth birthday… or maybe it would technically be her negative third birthday since she wasn't even born in this timeline yet.
All she wanted was for the day to end before it even began. There would be no Harry and Ron to spend the day with, no common room party with stolen food from the kitchens by the Weasley twins, no gifts – not that she cared –, and no letter and package from her parents. Thinking of her parents sent a pain through her chest. This would be the first time she would not hear from them on her birthday.
The door of her dormitory creaked open slowly and Hermione could see a small beam of light come into the room from behind the closed scarlet curtains of her four-poster bed.
"Hermione?" asked a low voice cautiously. "Hermione, are you alright?"
Hermione just groaned and put her head under her pillow and pulled her blanket over her. If she ignored the voice maybe it would go away.
"Maybe she's sick," whispered another voice.
"Hermione, are you sick?" said the first voice, which Hermione now identified as Lily's. "You never sleep this late."
"Should we get McGonagall or Madam Pomfrey?" whispered the other voice, which belonged to Mary, when Hermione didn't respond.
The last thing Hermione wanted was to be made a spectacle of and have someone call someone for her.
"I'm not sick…" mumbled Hermione.
She could hear Lily and Mary whispering to each other and Hermione just wanted them to leave her to mope around in self-pity in peace.
"Then something's wrong. What's the matter, Hermione?" asked Mary softly. Hermione could hear the concern in her voice and it made her feel a little better to hear that the two girls cared.
"I'm—I'm just tired is all…" said Hermione. It wasn't necessarily a lie but it wasn't the main reason she wanted to stay in bed.
"The lunch block will end soon, Hermione," said Lily in a soft comforting voice. "Please come and eat something, you've already missed breakfast."
"I'm not hungry," said Hermione, and if on cue, her stomach betrayed her and let out a growl. She cursed herself and stuffed her face deeper into her pillow.
"You sure sound not hungry to me," said Mary and Hermione could hear the smile in her voice. "If you really don't want to get up we could bring you some food from the Great Hall."
Hermione sighed. Maybe she should get up. If she just stayed in bed all day she would probably just feel worse later on. She would just over think things all day and have no distractions from her own poisonous thoughts. Plus, if she got up, she could throw herself into her classwork to distract herself.
"Fine, I'll come to lunch," said Hermione, forcing herself to sit up in bed. "I'll meet you guys downstairs in a few minutes."
"Great, see you in a bit," said Lily.
The dormitory door shut and Hermione pulled open the curtains around her bed open. The dormitory was dark and still around her. None of the torches were lit and the curtains on the window were drawn shut. Hermione walked to the window by her bed and opened the curtains, letting in the afternoon light. It instantly made her feel slightly better.
She quickly dressed in jeans and a blouse, not even bothering with her robes since it was the weekend. Her hair was even more of a mess than usual due to her lying in bed all morning. There was nothing she could really do with it so she quickly tied it in a plait to keep it from getting too out of control. Grabbing her schoolbag, she left the dormitory.
Lily and Mary were waiting for her by the fireplace when she entered the common room a few minutes later. They both gave her a smile but Hermione could see the worry in their eyes.
"Ready?" asked Lily.
She just nodded and the three of them walked to the Great Hall.
Lunch wasn't very eventful. Hermione was distracted for most of it and only spoke when directly spoken to despite Lily and Mary's many attempts to include her in the conversation. She couldn't help but stare longingly around the Great Hall hoping that maybe, just maybe, an owl would come with something for her but she knew it was no use. Anyone that would have sent her something either hadn't been born yet or had no idea she existed.
"Hermione?" said Lily with a worried look from across the table.
She looked up at Lily who stared at her strangely. "Yes?"
"I asked if those sandwiches were good," said Lily, pointing at Hermione's barely touched plate.
"Oh," said Hermione. She hadn't been paying attention and now Lily and Mary were giving her very worried looks. "Yeah, they're good," she said mindlessly. "You can take them if you'd like."
But Lily didn't take a sandwich.
"Are you sure you're not sick?" asked Lily.
"I don't feel sick, no," said Hermione.
"If you say so…" said Mary and she sent an unbelieving look to Lily.
"Actually, I think I'm going to go to the library and study," said Hermione beginning to stand up.
"What? Wait—" said Lily but Hermione was already halfway down the table.
She felt really bad for just ditching Lily and Mary but she honestly needed the time alone. It had now been almost exactly three months since she left her time and landed twenty years in the past. She wasn't any closer to finding a way home, she hadn't seen her friends or family for three months and now she didn't even have them on her birthday.
The library had always been a safe haven for Hermione. There was a great sense of comfort being surrounded by tens of thousands of books lining the thousands of shelves. The stone walls and wooden floors created a relaxing atmosphere.
As soon as she entered she immediately went and grabbed a copy of Hogwarts: A History. She was glad that there were copies left of the shelf. Feeling the book in her hands was a comfort in itself. It had been her favorite book for years and while she was there over the summer she had read it numerous times. Since term had started, she hadn't had a chance to come to the library just to read it. Not having her own copy with her still bothered her. She would have to buy her one in this timeline.
She found an unoccupied corner, deep in the library, and sat down, abandoning her schoolbag for Hogwarts: A History. The corner she had chosen was reasonably secluded and surrounded by books. To one side of her was the stone wall of the library and the other was a large window that showed the Hogwarts grounds. Hermione could think of no better way to possibly feel relaxed and empty her mind.
Hours passed and the window showed how the grounds were no longer lit up by the sun but instead covered in early evening shadows. There was a very good chance that she had missed dinner but she didn't care. This time she honestly didn't feel hungry.
There was the sound of approaching footsteps and Hermione looked up from her book. She peered through the piles of books surrounding her and saw a figure looking up and down the aisles around her. Whoever it was, they seemed to be looking for something.
She slightly shifted her position from behind the books to get a better look when the figure turned and looked directly at her, their green eyes looking right into hers.
"Hermione?" said Remus. He slowly walked towards her as she quickly tried to hide back behind the books.
The top of one of the piles was lifted up, revealing Hermione's hiding spot, as Remus moved it to the side.
"I thought you weren't avoiding us?" he said with a sad smile as he placed the books on a desk.
"I'm not avoiding anyone," she sighed. "I just needed to be alone."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not particularly," she said. He looked slightly hurt. "Sorry," she added.
Remus shrugged and he moved some of the books to sit down next to Hermione. It was a little snug in the corner but it wasn't uncomfortable.
"That's a very interesting read," he said, pointing to the copy of Hogwarts: A History in Hermione's lap.
Hermione smiled at him, "You've read it?"
"Of course," he smiled back. "I'm a little surprised that you're reading it, though."
Finally someone else had read it! She had been trying to get Harry and Ron to read the book for ages now. At least there was someone here she could talk about it with.
"I read it before I came here," she said. "It's truly fascinating. It's probably my favorite book."
It was her favorite book but she couldn't let Remus know that without him becoming suspicious.
"I guess it helped influence you in transferring here," he smiled.
Hermione nodded.
"What were you doing snooping around the library anyway?" she asked him, trying to change the subject. She would talk to him about the book some other time.
His smile wavered for a second. "Lily sent me. She's worried about you."
A wave of warmth went through Hermione as she thought of Lily. Of course she had been worried and sent Remus to find her.
"Where's the rest of the gang?" asked Hermione. It was rare seeing Remus without James, Sirius, or Peter. The only time he wasn't with them was in Ancient Runes or when he had prefect duty with Lily.
"Sirius and Peter are in the common room. James was at Quidditch practice when I left to come here but I'm guessing it's over and he's probably up there with Sirius and Peter now, it's getting late," said Remus. He paused for a moment before continuing. "Lily wanted me to bring you back to the common room."
"Oh," she said softly. "I don't know, Remus…"
"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" he asked.
He gave her such a sincere look that she felt herself break. The tears she had suppressed since that morning started building up in her eyes and she tried her best to hold them back but failed. At this point, Remus was looking extremely concerned and looked at a loss for words as Hermione put her face on his shoulder and softly cried silent tears. He didn't push her away like she had expected – after all, she was acting ridiculous – but he let her use his shoulder for comfort. They stayed like that for a few moments. Hermione on his shoulder and Remus patting her back.
"It's my birthday…" she finally whispered.
Remus shifted in position and she was sure he was staring down at her. She craned her neck up and looked at his surprised face.
"Is that why you're upset?" he asked. There was no sign of humor in his voice like she had expected and she nodded. "You're homesick."
It wasn't a question and Hermione straightened up in her own chair and stopped leaning on Remus. She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. With a shaky laugh she smiled somberly. "I miss my friends."
Remus nodded in understanding. Another moment passed as they sat together in silence.
"Just so you know, I won't force you to go back to the common room but you can't stay here," he said, breaking the silence. Hermione looked at him in confusion. "The library closes in ten minutes and Madam Pince won't like us being here."
Ten minutes? Hermione hadn't realize that it was already nearing eight. Nearly six hours had passed since she came to the library.
"But just beware, curfew is in an hour and I don't want to have to give you a detention." He jokingly gave his Prefect badge a shake and smiled.
"Alright, fine. I'll go back to the common room," sighed Hermione. A few years ago she had accidentally stayed in the library past its closing and being scolded by Madam Pince was not something she wanted to experience again.
On the way out of the library, Hermione returned her book and she and Remus made their way back to Gryffindor tower.
The common room was crowded due to it being so close to curfew and James and Sirius were entertaining a group of onlookers in front of the fire with a game of exploding snaps. Of course, Peter was in the front row and cheered loudly as a card exploded in Sirius's hand leaving a small cloud of black smoke.
"Hermione!" called Lily. She smiled and got up from a chair in the back of the common room and hurried over to Hermione. "How are you?"
"I'm fine, really Lily," insisted Hermione and she returned Lily's smile. "I'm sorry for acting so strangely earlier."
"Don't even think about it," said Lily carelessly, with a wave of her arm. "I'm glad Remus brought you back."
A groan came from the crowd around James and Sirius as Hermione saw Remus whisper something in James's ear. She hadn't even seen Remus leave her side when they entered the common room but whatever he was saying upset the crowd because James and Sirius stopped their game.
"Don't worry, guys," grinned Sirius to the small crowd in front of him. "We'll be back!"
The crowd murmured as James and Sirius ran up the stairs towards the boys' dormitories and returned shortly. Instead of going back in front of the fire, they made their way to the portrait hole.
"It's almost curfew!" called out Lily to them. "You'll get caught!"
James sent her a wicked grin. "I'm positive that no one will catch us, Evans. But thanks for voicing your concern for us."
Hermione was sure that she saw him pat his bag where she had a good notion that the invisibility cloak and Marauder's map were tucked safely away in it.
"Don't worry, Lily," said Remus who reappeared beside Hermione. "If they get caught then it's just one more detention they'll have this year."
Remus left again and went over to talk to Peter so Hermione joined Lily at the table she had been sitting at when she came in. A few minutes after James and Sirius had left, the portrait hole opened and Mary climbed in and joined them at the table. The three of them talked for a while and Hermione was grateful that neither of them brought up Hermione's "episode" from earlier.
About half an hour after the disappearance of James and Sirius, the portrait swung open and in crawled the two boys with huge, satisfied, smiles on their faces. Their arms were piled high with snacks and bottles of butterbeer.
"Told you we'd be back!" yelled Sirius as he and James dumped their stolen goods on the nearest table. His eyes found Hermione through the crowd and pointed at her with a huge grin. "Now let's have a party for the birthday girl!"
"Cheers to Hermione Dawson on her seventeenth birthday!" shouted James, holding up a bottle of butterbeer in her direction. "Without her, Gryffindor would have considerably less points!"
Hermione's mouth dropped open and she felt her face start to burn as every head in the common room turned towards her. Lily looked just as shocked as she felt. There was a rush of people coming up to her wishing her a happy birthday as they made their way to get food.
Remus sent her a wink from the other side of the room.
"It's your birthday?" gaped Lily, not even trying to hide her surprise.
"That's why you've been so distant today!" said Mary.
At that moment, James and Sirius walked up to them with butterbeers in their hands.
"Here you are, birthday girl," said Sirius handing Hermione a bottle. "And one for you," he handed one to Mary with a wink and Mary pursed her lips as she took it.
"Let's not forget Evans," grinned James and he handed a bottle to Lily who accepted it with a small smile.
Sirius moved to beside Hermione and lowered his voice. "This was actually Remus's idea but Prongs and I plan on taking full credit. Happy Birthday."
With a wink and salute, he and James walked back into the crowd and joined the party.
"Why didn't you tell us it was your birthday!" said Lily as she opened her bottle of butterbeer.
"Because I didn't want a big deal to be made," sighed Hermione. She took a sip of her butterbeer and let the sweet liquid warm her body. "As you see, my plan backfired."
"If you don't mind me asking, how come it being your birthday makes you so upset?" asked Mary. "Most people love celebrating their birthday, especially when they turn of age."
Before she could answer, Lily spoke up with a sudden realization, "In the Great Hall earlier," she said, "During lunch, you kept looking around as if you were waiting for mail. Did you not hear from your friends? Was that why you were upset?
Hermione's chest tightened at the thought of her friends. "No I haven't heard from them," because they aren't even born yet she thought. "It just didn't feel right not being able to spend my birthday with my friends," said Hermione, taking another sip of her drink.
"Well, you're here celebrating your birthday with your new friends," said Mary with a smile and nod. "Now let's celebrate."
Mary took Hermione and Lily's arms and dragged them into the party.
The food that had been taken from the kitchen was delicious and Hermione was grateful for it since she had missed dinner. When Hermione had believed that there wouldn't be a party with stolen food by Fred and George she had been right. This time the party was planned by Remus and the food was stolen by James and Sirius. Even though she couldn't be with Harry and Ron she had Lily and Mary and that wasn't so bad. It was a night she never would have expected in her wildest dreams.
And it was clearly a birthday she'd never forget.
.:~*~*~*~*~:.
September ended and the first day of October arrived with an unexpected heatwave. All around the school students were rolling the sleeves of their robes up, desperately trying to keep cool. One boy, the Ravenclaw that Hermione had Charms class with that had called out, constantly was using the Augamenti charm on himself as he walked down the corridor, leaving a trail of water behind him. Filch spent the entire day with a mop in his hand, trying to catch him but with no such luck.
No one knew why it was so hot that Friday on the first day of October. If anything, it felt like June. The sun was shining and once the last block of classes ended almost the entire school was spending time outside, including Hermione.
As soon as class ended Lily and Mary had talked Hermione into joining them by the lake and they were now sitting with their shoes and socks off at the edge of the lake, their feet hanging in the water of the dazzlingly smooth surface of the lake. Although Hermione initially wanted to get started on her weekend's homework, she had to admit the cool water did feel amazing and did a marvelous job of cooling her off.
"Out of all the years I've spent at Hogwarts, it had never been this hot in October," said Mary as she wiggled her toes under the water.
"I'd sit here all day if I could," sighed Lily with a smile, closing her eyes. "It feels so lovely now."
"It's not lovely, it's hot," said Mary rolling her eyes and using her hand to fan herself. "This better be a onetime thing. If October continues to stay this hot I may die."
"Stop being so overly dramatic," said Lily. She kicked her foot and splashed water in Mary's direction. Mary gasped as she got hit with the cool water and kicked some right back at Lily.
All hell broke loose as Mary and Lily splashed water at each other, yelling and laughing hysterically. Hermione tried to shield her book bag from the water but she grinned as she watched the two of them.
From somewhere behind her, Hermione could hear someone give an enthusiastic cheer followed by voice, undeniably Sirius's, saying loudly, "put that away, will you? Before Wormtail wets himself from excitement."
Hermione looked over her shoulder and saw the Marauders a few yards away. Sirius and Peter where watching James play around with a golden snitch and Remus was reading a book. They were sitting in the shade of a beech tree on the edge of the lake; the very same beech tree that she, Harry, and Ron had spent the day doing homework under last year. The memory brought a bittersweet smile to her face.
"James and that stupid snitch," grumbled Lily. She and Mary had finished their water battle and she too was watching the Marauders. "He isn't even the seeker, he's a chaser!"
"It makes him feel cool," shrugged Mary. "Who cares what they're doing anyway?"
But Hermione couldn't stop watching the boys. Another group of girls sitting a little while away were also watching the Marauders; they looked at James and Sirius longingly causing Hermione to roll her eyes. She watched as James stuffed the snitch in his pocket. Of course Sirius would be the only one to be able to make James stop showing off…
"Just ignore them, Hermione," said Mary trying to pull Hermione's attention away from the boys. "They're being stupid."
Hermione turned away and stared back at the lake. "James could get in trouble for stealing that snitch," she mused.
"Then today wouldn't be any different from any other day when James lands himself in detention," snorted Mary. Hermione laughed and Lily shook her head with a small smile.
James did find himself in detention often. Usually accompanied with Sirius. They managed to get themselves in detention at least once a week for their pranks, hexes on other students, or their nightly strolls around the castle. One would think that someone who owned an invisibility cloak would not get caught so easily but this obviously was not the case for James.
"All right, Snivellus?" yelled James causing the three girls to look back over to him.
They were not the only ones staring along with the other group of girls now. It seemed that everyone in the vicinity was staring at James, who was now standing alongside Sirius. Peter sat, looking on with a great sense of anticipation while Remus was still sitting against the tree with his book, but he was looking up with his brows furrowed in worry. James had this gleam in his eyes as he called out to Snape who had appeared from behind some bushes.
Hermione heard Lily gasp as Snape reacted instantaneously by dropping his bag and diving into his robes for his wand. Even with Snape's instant reaction he was no match for James, who quickly disarmed him. Sirius howled with laughter from beside James.
"Impedimenta!" said James as Snape tried to dive for his wand, which had flown into the grass behind him. Snape was almost at his wand when he was knocked off of his feet and into the grass.
A crowd had gathered around to watch the fight between Snape and James. Peter was now standing and looking on hungrily. While some of crowd looked on in distaste, Hermione was disgusted to see that most of them seemed thoroughly entertained to see James attacking Snape. For the first time in her life, Hermione felt bad for her potions professor.
"Lily, no!" gasped Mary. Hermione turned towards the two girls as Lily jumped to her feet and started moving angrily towards the boys; her face set in vengeful determination. She never ended up making it, Mary had moved too quickly and was now up from the edge of the lake and holding Lily back. "You don't want to get involved!"
"Like hell I don't!" said Lily, her green eyes blazing.
Hermione too was now standing and trying to help Mary who was struggling with a squirming Lily. Lily sent Mary such a livid look that Hermione was surprised that Mary hadn't faltered or let Lily go because of it. In the month that she had known her, Hermione had never seen Lily look so angry.
Snape was now staring up at James with a look of the purest loathing. He was muttering a mix of swear words and hexes. Not that the hexes did anything since his wand still lay in the grass behind him.
James's eyes narrowed as he stared down at Snape. Clearly not pleased with his language.
"Wash out your mouth," he said coldly before he raised his wand again. "Scourgify!"
Pink bubbles started to pour from Snape's mouth and Hermione felt sick as he started to choke and gag on them. Beside her, Mary's hands were covering her own mouth in shock. Neither of them realized that Mary had released Lily when her hands went to her mouth until they heard Lily yell.
"Leave him ALONE!" she yelled as she marched up to them, still barefoot from the lake.
Hermione moved closer to them in an attempt to follow Lily but Mary grabbed her arm and held her back before she got all the way there. "No," whispered Mary. "I think Lily needs to do this on her own." Hermione huffed and crossed her arms. It was taking all of her willpower not to go and yell along with Lily but Mary had a point. This seemed like something Lily had to get out of her system.
As Lily approached, Sirius and James turned to face her and James's hand automatically went through his hair to make it messier.
"All right, Evans?" James asked in a pleasant tone while Snape continued to choke on bubbles on the ground beside him.
"Leave him alone," said Lily darkly. She was giving James a look of pure disgust. "What's he done to you?"
"Well," James paused and pretended to think for a moment before continuing, "it's more of the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean…"
Around him the crowd laughed but no one laughed harder than Sirius and Peter. Hermione noticed that Remus at least had the decency not to laugh but she was angry that he just sat there and did nothing to control his friends. After all, he was a prefect! Instead, he seemed to be staring intently at his book trying his best to ignore the situation next to him.
Lily didn't laugh either.
"You think you're funny," said Lily angrily. "But you're just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter. Leave him alone."
If Hermione thought that Lily had been softening up to James over the past month she had been wrong. Lily seemed to despise James. How in the world did these two end up married?
"I will if you go out with me, Evans," said James quickly. "Go on… Go out with me, and I'll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again."
If Snape had been looking at James with hatred before he had said this, it was nothing compared to the rage in Snape's eyes now. The impedimenta jinx was wearing off and Snape spat out pink soapsuds as he slowly pulled himself towards his fallen wand.
"I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid," spat Lily.
"Bad luck, Prongs," said Sirius to James before looking back at Snape who was almost at his wand. "OI!"
Sirius's warning was too late. Snape had reached his wand and aimed it directly at James. There was a flash of light and Hermione watched as a gash appeared on James's cheek, dripping blood onto his robes.
James spun around, a look of fury in his eyes and aimed his wand at Snape. There was another flash of light and Snape was hanging upside down with his robes falling over his head to show his skinny, pale legs and his underpants.
The crowd around them cheered while James, Peter, and Sirius laughed.
The furious expression on Lily's face wavered slightly and Hermione swore she almost smirked before her fury returned. "Let him down!" she yelled.
James grinned at her. "Certainly." He waved his wand and Snape fell to the ground in a heap. It took him a moment to unravel himself from being caught in his robes before he jumped up with his wand pointing at James.
He wasn't quick enough as Sirius yelled, "Petrificus Totalus!" and Snape went rigid and once again fell to the ground.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" yelled Lily. She reached into her robes and pulled out her own wand.
"We have to do something!" Hermione said to Mary but Mary was just watching with her mouth slightly open, not seeming to hear Hermione.
"Ah, Evans, don't make me hex you," groaned James.
"Take the curse off him, then!" said Lily.
With a defeated sigh, James turned towards Snape and waved his wand and undid the spell.
"There you go," he sighed as Snape struggled to his feet. "You're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus—"
"I don't need help from filthy little mudbloods like her!" Snape yelled at James.
The color drained from Lily's face as she took in what Snape had said. She blinked. "Fine," she said blankly. "I won't bother in the future. And I'd wash my pants if I were you, Snivellus."
"Apologize to Evans!" roared James. He pointed his wand back at Snape and his eyes were filled with rage.
"I don't want you to make him apologize! You're just as bad as he is…" Lily spat.
"What?" asked James in aghast. "I'd NEVER call you a – a you-know-what!"
"Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just got off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid snitch, walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can – I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK."
She looked as though she was going to cry and she turned away from James and quickly walked in the direction of the castle.
"Evans!" James shouted after her, "Hey, EVANS!"
Yet, she did not turn around.
"I'm going after her," said Mary and she took off after Lily, calling her name.
"What is it with her?" demanded James trying to hide how hurt he was as he watched her walk away.
"Reading between the lines, I'd say she thinks you're a bit conceited, mate," stated Sirius as he watched Lily and Mary walk out of sight.
"Right," said James looking furious. "Right—"
James turned back to Snape and flicked his wand. There was a third flash of light and Snape was back in the air, upside down again.
"Who wants to see me take off Snively's pants?" called James.
There were cheers and shouts of encouragement from the crowd who seemed to loath Snape even more after what he had said to Lily.
"Stop!" yelled Hermione. There was no Lily to fight this fight and no Mary to hold her back. She couldn't stand by and let this happen. She ran up to where James was standing and stood between him and Snape. "Just let him be!"
James stared at her with wide eyes. "You heard what he said to Evans! Don't you dare defend him, Dawson!"
Hermione stared him down for a moment before pulling out her own wand. James eyed it carefully but Hermione had no desire to use it on him. Instead, she turned around and waved it at Snape and he fell back to the ground.
"Get out of here," she called out to him.
"I didn't need help from one mudblood what makes you think I wanted help from another?" he spat at her.
"Hey!" called Remus who had abandoned his book and was finally standing, looking on in anger.
"How DARE you?" shouted Sirius
"Don't talk to her like that!" yelled James at the same time. He and Sirius pointed their wands threateningly at Snape.
"No!" yelled Hermione, moving in front of their wands. "Don't!" She turned towards Snape and narrowed her eyes and said as icily as possible, "Just go before I change my mind."
Sneering, Snape pulled himself off the ground, grabbed his bag and hurried off towards the castle.
"And you lot can clear out!" she yelled towards the on looking crowd.
The surrounding people sent her odd looks and murmured as they slowly broke apart and went about their own business. Hermione turned back towards the Marauders, who were wearing looks of anger.
"You shouldn't have let him go, Hermione," said James. "Not after what he called you and Lily."
"I'm used to it," growled Hermione and all four boys' eyes widened and they looked shocked.
"Are you alright, Hermione?" asked Remus cautiously as he took a step towards her.
"No, I'm not alright!" yelled Hermione. She turned towards James, Sirius, and Peter. "You guys are awful! And you—" she turned towards Remus. "You're just as bad as them for not trying to stop them! You just let it happen! I had higher expectations of you!"
Furious, Hermione turned away from them and walked back to the edge of the lake. Lily and Mary had both left their shoes by the water and Hermione picked them up and put them in her bag before quickly slipping into her own shoes.
"Hermione, wait—"
But Hermione ignored them and started walking back towards the castle to find Lily. The boys didn't bother following her.
Hermione didn't enjoy the walk back to the castle. She was feeling infuriated after what she had just witnessed. She no longer felt any sympathy towards Snape. Although James had attacked Snape unprovoked, that didn't excuse what he had said to Lily and herself. Lily had every right to be upset by it.
And the Marauders! They were all a bunch of bullies! Snape had always said James was arrogant and she couldn't help but agree with him. The behavior James and Sirius displayed was disgusting and the fact that Peter egged them on and Remus didn't do anything to stop it was just as bad. She couldn't believe that Remus would just let that happen… Out of all of them he had the most sense, he could have made them stop.
The common room was empty due the heat; everyone was still outside. Hermione walked through it and started to make her way up to her dormitory. As she neared the door, it opened and Mary came out, closing the door quietly behind her. Mary gave a little jump when she turned and saw Hermione.
"Blimey, Hermione…" she gasped and her hand went to her chest. "I didn't see you coming."
"How's Lily?" asked Hermione.
Mary frowned and shook her head. "I think she just needs some time alone."
"You and Lily forgot your shoes, by the way," said Hermione reaching into her bag and pulling out Mary's shoes.
"Thanks," smiled Mary as she took them. "Here, let's get out of the stairwell."
The two of them walked down the stairs and into the common room. They sat down on one of the couches and sat silently for a moment. Mary put her shoes back on.
"I can't believe that happened…" muttered Hermione, breaking the silence.
"I'm not surprised," sighed Mary, crossing his arms. "It was bound to happen sooner or later. I never liked Snape."
"What did Lily even see in him?" asked Hermione. She could never make any sense out of the friendship between Lily and Snape, it was too strange.
The look on Mary's face gave Hermione the impression that the story she was about to tell had been told to her many times.
"Lily's family lives in Cokeworth. You know, in England? Well, Snape's family lives there as well; in the same neighborhood. They've known each other since they were nine."
This was definitely news to Hermione.
"He was the one that first realized she was a witch," continued Mary. "Lily's sister, Petunia – who sounds like a nasty piece of work to me from what I've heard – treated Lily awfully when she found out. At that point, Snape was the only other magical person that she knew. They became friends and stayed friends until about ten minutes ago by the looks of it…"
Why hadn't anyone ever mentioned in her time that Lily has been good childhood friends with Snape? Everyone must have known… Dumbledore, McGonagall, Sirius, and Lupin all knew and no one said anything. Why hadn't anyone told Harry that his mother had been friends with Snape? All those years of Harry not trusting him could have been avoided by telling him that. Would Harry have trusted Snape and given him more of a chance if he had known? Hermione wasn't so sure. Maybe he was better off not knowing.
"I'm honestly surprised that they even lasted this long. They're so different from one another," said Hermione.
Mary snorted. "More like exact opposites. Everyone Lily has befriended has been the anti-Snape. She has always had very kind friends. Look at you and Remus, for example. She was also good friends with Alice Fortescue and Marlene McKinnon before they graduated last year. Both of them Gryffindors and both of them very nice."
"And you," added Hermione and Mary smiled reluctantly.
"Yes, and me… but I wasn't always supportive of Lily, especially last year," said Mary, her smile fading.
"What happened last year?" asked Hermione. She couldn't imagine Lily and Mary not getting along. Especially since they were the only Gryffindor girls in their year.
"Snape's friends happened," said Mary, her brown eyes seemed to grow darker at whatever memory she was thinking about. "Have you have the misfortune of meeting Mulciber and Avery? The Slytherin blokes that sit in the very back of the Potions classroom and hang around Snape at meals?"
Hermione knew exactly who Mary was talking about. They were both fairly large for sixteen year olds and each had equally awful sneers for faces. There was something incredibly creepy about the two boys. When she first heard their names she had recognized them from her own time. Mulciber and Avery were both Death Eaters and both of them were at the Department of Mysteries fighting against Dumbledore's Army.
"They're evil, Hermione," said Mary when Hermione didn't reply. "Especially Mulciber. And I don't mean evil in a teenage arsehole type of way. I mean evil," she lowered her voice even though the common room was empty. "They use Dark Magic."
"How do you know?" asked Hermione widening her eyes. Of course she already knew this but how on earth would Mary know?
"Last year, I was leaving the toilet when I heard footsteps behind me. When I turned around, Mulciber was walking towards me. Avery was by his side, and Mulciber called me a blood traitor for being friends with Lily. I turned to walk away when I was hit by some spell. I remember feeling like I couldn't breathe… like all the air was being sucked out of me."
Hermione gasped and her hand went to her mouth and Mary shuddered slightly at the memory.
"It was like I was drowning but out of water," said Mary slowly, shaking her head. "The last thing I remembered was the sound of Mulciber and Avery laughing. Someone else was coming and I saw the two of them run away before I passed out and woke up a week later in the hospital wing. If that other person hadn't found me, who knows what could have happened. I never could prove it was them since I had my back turned but I'm positive it was Mulciber."
"It sounds pretty obvious that is was them and that sounds like very dark magic!" gasped Hermione. "You could have died! How could they get away with that?"
"There were no witnesses," said Mary bitterly. There was definitely no sound of forgiveness in her voice and Hermione didn't blame her. "I didn't talk to Lily for a while after I left the Hospital. I had tried to convince her to stay away from them but she kept defending Snape, saying it wasn't his fault because he wasn't even there. Still, he's friends with those two and who's to say he wasn't actually there?" she scoffed and crossed her arms. "Lily ended up getting in a fight with him a few weeks later anyway and she apologized to me and we've been fine ever since. Thinking back, I probably shouldn't have taken my anger for them out on her…"
"I'm sure she didn't blame you, Mary," Hermione tried to comfort her.
Mary laughed bitterly. "Of course she didn't! Because Lily deserves better than all of us. And she certainly deserves better than Snape and it kills me that it had to come to this for her to see it."
Hermione and Mary continued to talk on the couch for a while. They stayed in the Common Room instead of going up to the dormitory to give Lily as much time and space as she needed. It started to get dark out and more and more people entered the common room. None of the Marauders made an appearance.
A muffled yell came from outside of the portrait hole and Hermione and Mary looked up and then at each other. Another yell came followed by a thump on the portrait and more heads around the room looked up in confusion.
"What-?" started Hermione. She stood up and was followed by Mary.
They walked up to the portrait hole and started to crawl through as they heard another person yell. With a quick glance at Mary, Hermione pushed the portrait open.
Standing in front of the portrait was none other than Severus Snape, looking extremely pissed off. Around him stood a bunch of Gryffindor first years looking frightened.
"What do you think you're doing, Snape?" demanded Mary as she climbed out of the portrait.
"This Slytherin keeps trying to get into the Common Room!" piped up a small blonde boy who was pointing at Snape. "We wouldn't give up the password but he keeps yelling and trying to make us!"
"And he tried to bang on the Portrait of the Fat Lady!" said one of the first year girls.
Mary sent a daggered look towards Snape and he actually recoiled at it. She looked down on the group of first years. "Go on, then. Get in the common room, we'll deal with him." She seemed to spit the last word with as much venom as she could and the first years hurried past her and climbed through the portrait hole.
"Should I get Professor McGonagall?" asked Hermione, looking at Mary.
"No!" yelled Snape, looking slightly frightened now.
"And why shouldn't we?" demanded Mary. "I'm sure she'd love to know that you're yelling at first years and trying to break into our common room."
"Please, Mary… Let me talk to Lily," he begged.
"Absolutely not!" said Mary.
He turned towards Hermione. "Hermione... I'm sorry about what I called you and Lily. It was an accident! Please, just let me explain to Lily."
Mary quickly turned to Hermione, her mouth open. "He called you one as well?" she demanded.
"Yes," muttered Hermione who was still staring at Snape. He was now on his knees, looking incredibly pathetic.
"I didn't mean it!" His dark eyes were wide as he stared at Hermione. He had obviously given up trying to convince Mary who, by the look of her, would have liked nothing better than to squash him like a cockroach.
"You should leave before James and Sirius come back, Severus," said Hermione. Snape's eyes narrowed at their names. "I saved you from them earlier but I doubt I can stop them again if they catch you here."
Snape clearly didn't like admitting that Hermione had been the one to stop James and Sirius from doing any serious damage to his person but he held back his protest.
"I just want to apologize to Lily," he said slowly.
"She doesn't want to speak to you," said Mary.
"Then I'll sleep here! I'll stay here all night and talk to her when she leaves the common room tomorrow!"
Mary's eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't dare."
"Do you want to bet on that, Macdonald?" sneered Snape.
Hermione turned towards Mary. "Maybe we should just get Lily," she whispered. "She's the only one that will convince him to leave."
"Fine," said Mary, her face softening. "I'll get her."
Mary went to get Lily and Hermione was now alone with Snape who was still kneeling on the floor.
"I really am sorry," he said to her once the portrait closed behind Mary.
"No you're not," said Hermione, trying to keep a neutral tone. "If you were really sorry, and it really had been just an accident, you wouldn't have called me a Mudblood as well."
Snape's eyebrow raised at her casual use of the word but he shook his head and grew angry again.
"It's Potter and Black's fault! It wouldn't have happened if they hadn't attacked me!"
"Don't think we aren't angry with them as well. We'll deal them with later. Lily was trying to help you and how did you repay her?" said Hermione and Snape gave her a look of loathing.
Behind her, the portrait opened and Mary came out with Lily behind her. It looked as though Lily had been preparing to go to bed early. She was already in her dressing gown, had slippers on, and was wearing a look of distaste. The moment he saw her, Snape immediately stood up and took a step forward but Lily put her hand up and he stopped.
"What do you want, Severus," she sighed, crossing her arm.
"I wanted to apologize for what I called you…" he said quickly.
"And for what you called Hermione?" asked Lily and Snape's mouth fell open. "Did you think Mary wouldn't tell me?"
Snape sent the dirtiest look at Mary who stared him down.
"I think you should leave," said Lily.
"Just hear me out!" he begged.
Lily sent a look to Hermione and Mary. "Can you give us a minute?"
Before Mary had time to protest, Hermione pulled her through the portrait and they started to crawl into the Common Room but Mary stopped her on the other side of the portrait. She held her finger to her mouth to tell Hermione to keep quiet and she silently pushed the portrait open slightly so they could watch Lily and Snape through the small gap. Hermione felt a little bad for eavesdropping but her curiosity had won her over.
"Well?" said Lily. Her back was to the portrait hole but Hermione could tell that her arms were still crossed.
"I shouldn't have called you and Hermione that word…" said Snape.
"No. No you shouldn't have," said Lily.
"Come on, Lil—"
"No. I'm done," said Lily.
"You don't mean that—"
"Oh, but I do," said Lily. "This was the last straw, Severus. I've forgiven you for all the things you've said since we met but I don't think I can forgive this."
"I'm sorry," he said simply. His shoulders were slumped in a very non-Snape manner and he looked more vulnerable than Hermione had ever seen him.
"I'm not interested," she replied.
His mouth fell open and he gaped at her, obviously troubled by her response.
"I'm sorry!" he repeated desperately.
"Save your breath," she said icily back. "I only came out because Mary told me you were threatening to sleep here."
"I was. I would have done," said Snape earnestly. "I never meant to call you Mudblood, it just –"
"Slipped out?" There was not even an ounce of pity in Lily's voice. "It's too late. I've made excuses for you for years. None of my friends can understand why I even talk to you. You and your precious little Death Eater friends –" Snape flinched but didn't protest the statement. "You see, you don't even deny it! You don't even deny that's what you're all aiming to be! You can't wait to join You-Know-Who, can you?"
He opened his mouth, but closed it without speaking. He seemed to realize that Lily wasn't going to forgive him like all the times in the past.
"I can't pretend anymore. You've chosen your way, I've chosen mine," said Lily.
"No – listen, I didn't mean –" he started urgently.
"— to call me Mudblood?" interrupted Lily. "But you call everyone of my birth Mudblood, Severus. Why should I be any different?"
Snape looked at a loss for words, but with a look of distaste Lily turned and climbed back through the portrait hole. Mary and Hermione made a mad rush out of the portrait hole to one of the couches in the common room and Lily walked in. Her face looked like it was set in stone. Other people in the common room watched her as she walked up to the couch Hermione and Mary had sat at, curious about the argument that had just taken place.
"I know you two were listening," she said and sighed. "I saw that the portrait hadn't closed all the way."
They started to apologize but Lily smiled.
"Are you guys going to come upstairs and talk about it or not?" She was still smiling as she walked past them and up the stairs to the girls' dormitories.
Hermione and Mary exchanged a confused look but followed Lily up to their dormitory. When they opened the door, Lily was sitting on her bed and was… laughing?
"That felt so good," she choked out. "I should have done that a long time ago! I should have done it after what Mulciber did to you, Mary!"
Hermione watched in shock at Lily sat there laughing. Mary seemed stunned as well.
"Lil… Are you alright?" said Mary with her eyebrow raised.
"It's funny actually. I'm more upset about losing my shoes than I am about losing him!"
"I actually have your shoes, Lily," said Hermione, remembering that they were in her bag. She pulled them out and handed them over to Lily.
Lily laughing harder as she grabbed her shoes causing her hair to fall in her face. She pushed it away and gave a huge grin towards Hermione and Mary.
"Lily?" asked Mary looking slightly dazed at how Lily was acting.
"You know," said Lily, beaming. "I thought I'd be sad about this. About losing Severus as a friend but, I think I'm going to be just fine. More than fine. I feel free!"
And by the look on Lily's face, Hermione actually believed her.
A/N: Remember when I said don't hate me earlier? I originally said I wouldn't change things that happened in the first five books up until my story but I haaaaad to for this story. Well, I didn't change anything, I just moved it (it being Snape's lake memory and the aftermath) in the timeline. I know it happens at the end of their fifth year but I really wanted Hermione to witness the fall of Snape/Lily's friendship so I had it happen at the beginning of their sixth year. That is all.
The last part of this chapter is paraphrased from Order of the Phoenix chapter 28: Snape's Worst Memory and from Deathly Hallows chapter 33: The Prince's Tale. The dialogue from those scenes is copied from the books but the rest is paraphrased. Again, please don't sue me!
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