A/N: Next chapter is up! I cannot wait to finish this because now I am getting into Fanfic Binding, I want to own all my favourites in hardback. Thus, when I am finished my own 2 stories I will be able to make them hard copies and that is just so exciting to me! Right now I am binding Rowena's Study by Kousa and Bring Him to His Knees by Musyc.
For now, please enjoy this new chapter!
-oOo-
Chapter 10
Hermione ran to her room, afraid to turn back and look at James after their kiss. She fell into her bed and cried for herself and her inability to feel comfortable showing affection. She so badly wanted to be happy, show James how much she appreciated him and every word he had said to her, but it would end in disaster, she knew it. She couldn't lose anyone again, certainly not Sirius or Remus, and she would not allow Lily to sacrifice herself in this time.
And James.
He would never stand against Voldemort, wandless, again.
Hermione needed to deal with Peter. She needed to watch out for her new friends and make sure that they found love and happiness in their future. Remus and Lily could settle down and be happy with their own children. Sirius could have a chance to decide if he wanted to settle down with a single witch. James could move on. He could find another witch, a normal one, and move into Godric's Hollow with her. He deserved to be with a normal witch, that wasn't marked for death. He had said he would wait, but she wasn't worth that. There was no guarantee she would survive, and if she did survive, how much more broken would she be?
James needed to move on, and she needed to not send him mixed messages. Like kissing him and running away, for example.
She fell asleep with tears running down her face as she thought of James being with another witch and finding the happy ending that she desperately wanted but did not deserve.
Shell Cottage, April 1997
Hermione was curled in on herself, laying in the bed silently crying when she heard the door creak behind her.
Looking up, she saw the figure of Remus Lupin standing in the doorway.
"Remus," she whimpered.
The werewolf Marauder ran to her as a father would to a daughter and pulled her into his arms. She climbed into his lap and sobbed against his chest. Her body was still convulsing from the Cruciatus Curse, Remus' heightened senses heard her heart beating out of rhythm with each convulsion. He wondered how much longer her strong, compassionate, and magnificent heart would have lasted. He rocked her back and forth moving his hands up and down her back soothingly as he whispered comforting words in her ear. Reminding her of her strength, her ability to withstand the vile monster and come out alive.
As she calmed down and wiped her nose with her arm Remus caught the scent of blood through her bandage. Before she could snatch her arm away Remus had held onto her wrist and removed the covering.
She knew the moment he saw the word. She heard him snarl and growl, sounding more and more like Moony. He had almost jumped up in anger, but at feeling her almost fall, he restrained himself. He tightened his arms around her and stood, turning to the bed and placing her down carefully. He couldn't sit, he needed to move, so he began pacing.
"Remus…" she whispered.
"Hermione...Mione...that shouldn't be there! You do not deserve this; you are not that disgusting word. I'll kill her!" he roared.
"Remus, please," Hermione reached out to him, her hand shaking, lip quivering, and eyes tearing up once more, "Please, look at me," she begged.
He looked up into her eyes and his softened, however, his eyes caught the scar once more and the anger returned. His body was stiff as he walked back to her on the bed, sitting beside her and pulling her to his side.
"Mione, you have become the bravest person I have ever known. I thought Sirius was brave for surviving Azkaban and escaping with his mind intact. I thought James was brave for befriending a werewolf and a Black, and never giving up on L-Lily, and I thought Harry was brave for surviving the Dursleys and growing up into a kind boy that L-Lily would have been proud of," Remus pulled her in tighter as he spoke of his family, "But today you have proven that you are far braver than them all.
"You were thrust into this world with no prior knowledge, you became the smartest in your year, proving to everyone that their preconceived judgments were wrong. You helped Harry all through first year, in second year you figured out the Basilisk and survived. Third year you managed to figure out my secret and kept it to yourself from the kindness of your heart, not from fear of a monster as a teacher. Fourth year you stood by Harry when no one else would. Fifth year, I thought that was when you were the bravest, you survived Umbridge. She targeted you yet you never backed down. You also survived Dolohov and lost Sirius. Sixth year you stood by the Order as Hogwarts was attacked and now? Now you have survived Bellatrix's wrath, something that stirs fear in most Aurors and Hit wizards.
"Not many people have lived to say that Hermione. You survived it and you never gave up on your friends. This wor-, these lesions," his thumb lightly brushed over her re-bandaged arm, "will scar. I know a lot about scars Mione, and it has taken me 30 years to accept mine, yet even then, it is not full acceptance. During Hogwarts, I had James and Sirius telling me my scars were badges of honour, proof I survived. I lost that for twelve years until you came along. You reminded me, every day you reminded me that I should not be ashamed of them, they were proof I survived another moon, I could never believe you, or them. But now I can see that your words are true. This is proof you survived.
"This is proof you are brave. A beautiful and brave heart that never gave up in the face of death. Promise me that you will remember those words," Remus kissed her temple as he waited for her response.
"I promise Remus. If you promise me in return," Hermione whispered back. Her throat still burned from screaming for hours.
"For you, I promise," Remus held her in his arms until she fell asleep, and when she awoke again, he was gone. Harry and Ron were waiting for her to begin the plan into Gringotts.
-oOo-
Hermione bolted awake, tears running down her face from the memory that came to her in her dreams. She had forgotten about that conversation with Remus, so much had happened immediately following it. She had broken her promise to him.
She rolled over and looked around her, thankful that she had drawn her curtains shut the night before and placed silencing charms on them. Her tears returned and she broke down in sobs.
At least it wasn't a nightmare, she tried to remind herself.
She wasn't sure which was worse, nightmares of her torture, or a memory of her Remus. Her Remus she would never see again.
She knew she technically had Remus Lupin here and now, a happier Remus, but he didn't know her. He didn't know her secrets and fears. He wouldn't hold her in his arms like her Remus had, like a father, because this Remus was her age. It would be nothing like the platonic, father-like hugs she remembered. It wouldn't be her Remus.
It was the same with Sirius. He was her age, he wasn't her best friend's godfather anymore, and he wasn't her surrogate uncle.
She didn't have her support circle anymore, no one here really knew her. She didn't have anyone that gave her the same comfort as her time. There was no brother, no best friend, no father figure, and no uncle.
There was no family.
Wiping her eyes, Hermione decided she needed to escape. She couldn't be around anyone right now. Quietly, to ensure she did not wake any of her dorm mates, Hermione climbed out of bed and tip-toed down the stairs, through the common room, and out into the corridor. She immediately set off to the Room of Requirement, sneaking in through the door that appeared for her.
However, in her rush to escape the common room, Hermione did not notice the podgy boy sitting before the fire. Peter watched her leave through narrowed eyes and made to follow her. However, he was unable to find her when he left the portrait hole. He cursed, wishing that they hadn't lost their map to Filch.
When Hermione turned to look at the room that had materialized for her, she found a carbon copy of the library at Grimmauld Place. It was her sanctuary at headquarters, her place with Sirius and Remus. Her feet moved her towards the couch, where she sat and curled herself into a ball, sobbing into a blanket that looked like Mrs. Weasley had knit it. She had left a replica of it behind before Yaxley had prevented their return after the Ministry.
That was before she had lost everyone.
She had lost so many. She didn't know what it was for someone to remain.
She had received little parenting and love from her mother and father after her displays of magic. She lost her surrogate family, the Weasleys, murdered in front of her eyes. Her father figure and uncle were ripped from her, and replaced with teenage copies. Her brother in all but blood had died brutally, the boy that was similar to James Potter with Lily's eyes would never exist now.
Her time was gone.
Her family was gone.
Would Hermione Granger, muggleborn witch, even be born on September 19th, 1979?
She was so distraught, Hermione fell into another memory-filled sleep.
Grimmauld Place, December 1995
"Hermione are you in here?" the voice of Sirius Black spoke into the dark library of Grimmauld Place. Hermione lay on the couch snuggled into her Weasley blanket crying quietly in the dark, "What am I thinking, of course, my little swot is in here."
Hermione chuckled through her cries at Sirius' teasing. Sirius and the twins were the only ones who could get away with teasing her for her bookworm ways, as they meant endearingly. They enjoyed listening to her rants, asking her questions, and giving input, they didn't just humour her or roll their eyes at her. The twins utilized her knowledge of charms and potions to help with failed product attempts, and Sirius loved to see 'Mini-Moony' appear. He had once commented that she was so similar to Remus and Lily that she could have fooled him. Following that comment, however, Remus destroyed one of the rooms with accidental magic from suppressing the urge to hurt Sirius. None of them had understood Remus' anger, but now she did.
"I'm here Sirius," she whispered, her voice cracking slightly. Sirius lit the lamp on the table and sat on the couch beside her. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his side.
"Now, kitten, why are you crying in the dark? The weasel hasn't struck again, has he?" smirked Sirius, he was not a fan of Ronald Weasley or Molly Weasley. Resulting in him being very vocal about his feelings regarding Ron's obvious feelings for Hermione, he did not deserve her, he would say. Hermione regretted ever telling him Malfoy's name for Ron.
"It's nothing, Sirius, I'm fine. Go see Harry, he needs you more, this term has been hard on him," Hermione tried to distract him with his godson, it used to work until he caught on. Now he dealt with Harry before he even approached Hermione.
"Kitten, Harry is fine. I just checked in on him and we had a good talk about good and bad, like the discussions we've had in this very room. He listened to me and seemed to calm down, hearing it come from an adult and not just his best friend he refuses to listen to seemed to put something into perspective for him. I left him playing Exploding Snap with the youngest Weasleys. Now that I have taken care of our number one priority of Harry, tell me, Hermione, why are you crying in here, alone?" Sirius asked. He only said her name when he was truly concerned about her or angry with her.
"Of course, you did," she growled, realizing he caught on to her Harry-distractions. Harry was their priority, everyone's priority, yet Sirius still made time for her. He was here, Harry wasn't, Ron wasn't, Ginny wasn't. The twins would be, she knew, but they were working with a time-sensitive potion that Molly could not discover, she wouldn't see them until tomorrow morning. She loved her friends, but they really did have the emotional range of teaspoons.
"Hermione," he warned, Sirius was not going to make excuses.
"Sirius, how, how did you handle being the only Black in Gryffindor? Were you punished for who you were?" she asked quietly. Whatever Sirius was expecting, it was not that. He rubbed his free hand down his face as he thought the question over.
"Bringing back old memories here, kitten," he tried to joke, but she could hear the tenseness in his voice, this was difficult for him, "Yes, I was. I was so excited at eleven years old to be at Hogwarts and sorted into the House of the Brave. I made a best friend immediately on the train and he was sorted with me, James and I became inseparable from day one. Even before the Sorting, we promised each other that even in different houses we would be friends. Once in my dorm, I met Remus and Peter, we didn't become best friends with them immediately, it took a few days, but we were friendly. I was living with three boys who I could introduce to my first best friend, my little brother, and we would have such adventures away from the eyes of our 'proper' parents.
"The very first morning I realized how naive I was about my sorting. A Howler arrived from my mother, I had dishonoured our family by being sorted into a House of Blood Traitors. That Howler was all the permission needed from the great Black family that anyone could target me. Gryffindor didn't stand up for me, so within a few days I only had one friend, James, but then Remus and Pettigrew joined, and we formed the Marauders. A prank war started, beginning to protect me and then later to protect Lily. Soon everyone knew not to mess with us, you mess with one of us, and you get the other three. After that, I thought I was safe. That was until I went home.
"Punishment in the Noble and Ancient House of Black was bad, however cutting curses was the worst of it. Walburga favoured isolating me, starving me, and locking me away. That was what I was expecting when I came back here, being kept from my brother, Reggie, but it was more than that. Walburga did not think my previous lessons were enough, so she turned to the torture curse, and it became my standard punishment. I was punished for being a Gryffindor, for being friends with Blood Traitors and half-bloods. I refused to renounce my friends or my house.
"Reggie followed me to Hogwarts a year later, but he was no longer my brother. He told me the moment after the Sorting Feast, when he was placed in Slytherin, that he would uphold the family honour and I was dead to him. I was punished in every way for being a Black in Gryffindor, Hermione, and not once did I bow my head to anyone and give in. I always kept my head high, and chin up, and was proud of who I was. Proud that I was breaking away from the darkness that was my family. Proud to be friends with James and Remus. Proud to prove that family can be chosen, not just based on blood," Sirius spoke quietly for his whole speech, with his fingers twirling in Hermione's curls.
"Oh Sirius, I am so sorry. You didn't deserve any of that torture," Hermione said softly into his chest as tears poured down her face.
"It made me who I was, it formed the Marauders, so in some ways, I thank my family for my past. Now kitten, you keep avoiding my question."
She didn't speak for a long time, sitting and biting her lower lip as she considered what to say. Sirius was about to ask her again when she spoke, "Has Harry told you about our Defence professor?" Hermione asked.
"He's mentioned her, she's a vile toad from the Ministry. She's the reason Moony can't get a job or legally marry. She is one of the most despicable people in the wizarding world with her prejudiced thinking. I know she isn't teaching you magic and has been handing out detentions to Harry for everything. He also told me you've had a few as well, which I found quite surprising, I thought you had a clean record?" he smiled, but it vanished at the panic in her eyes. She was hiding something.
"After first year I never got one. Now I am receiving them, more than Harry knows about. I just tell him I was in the library," explained Hermione.
"Why are you lying to him?" Sirius asked.
"Same reason he is lying to you," she retorted. He stiffened at her words.
"What?"
"Well not lying, rather omitting the truth. Sirius, her detentions, they are barbaric. I receive them because of who I am, a muggleborn who is best friends with Harry Potter. If Harry knew he would only receive more himself, or an expulsion, both of which she would be ecstatic to give. He is going through so much on his own, he has this war on his shoulders, and the entire wizarding world against him thinking he's a basket case. I can't add to that, so I can't tell him," Hermione told him passionately.
Sirius loved Harry but he hated how oblivious the boy was to how much Hermione sacrificed for him. How many times he and Remus had to talk to her and support her for what she was going through? Sometimes he felt guilty that he took Hermione under his wing more than Harry, but Harry had limitations, placed by Dumbledore. Hermione also kept Harry alive, without her a lot of his adventures would have resulted in his death, so Sirius decided, with Remus, that to support Harry they had to support Hermione. Then she wrapped herself around their heart as their surrogate child and niece, they would never not help this brilliant witch.
"What are you not telling Harry? That you are getting more detentions?" Sirius asked slowly, he had a feeling detention was only the beginning.
"Detention is a loose term. She has been using a blood quill on Harry," she said quietly. Sirius felt his blood boil, blood quills were illegal, yet his godson was being subjected to one, at school no less!
"You said she's using one on Harry, but not yourself. What is she doing to you?" he asked with his eyes closed, fearing what she would say.
"It started with one," she whispered, she was itching her hand the whole time and he finally noticed why, she had a scar from the blood quill. He grasped her wrist and pulled her hand forward, seeing the letters in the flickering lamplight.
'I will learn my place'
He growled at the sight. Hermione's place was in the wizarding world. She was a witch! A better witch than Umbridge, she was better than all the Purebloods, and most likely every other witch and wizard out there.
It wasn't her blood that did that, it was her brain and her heart.
But this bitch of a professor thought she could do this to his Hermione. If Remus saw this, he may rip the woman apart limb for limb. He was so wrapped up in the words on her hand that he almost forgot what she had said. Almost.
"You said started with, what is she doing now?"
"As a muggleborn, I can clean without magic. I am provided bleach and charmed boiling, scolding water to dip my rag in. I do this after my lines. After my detention my hands and knees are burned red raw, I had Murtlap Essence that heals them up at night. She wants to break me, and I haven't yet. I won't. I won't let her break me for being me," Hermione broke down as she explained to Sirius, sobbing into his chest as he held her tightly. His hands were in fists as he willed himself to stay beside her and not go running off like he did that fateful Halloween night. He would not lose his chance to be with his family; Remus, Harry, and Hermione, by seeking revenge.
Sirius held her for hours as she sobbed and fell into a fitful sleep against him. Remus was not going to be visiting tonight, so he was the only support she had until the twins came out of their makeshift potion lab the next day. It was times like these he wished that Harry and Ron were more aware of the emotions of their best female friend, even the female Weasley wasn't seeing what was in front of her. Hermione needed them but they always took advantage of her kind heart and accepted her support but never reciprocated it. He would need to speak to Harry before he sent him off to Hogwarts, tell him to be mindful of his friends, and be observant of what his friends are going through for him. He would speak to the twins too; they would most definitely look out for their 'little witch', as they dubbed her.
Hermione roused a few hours later, still cuddled up into Sirius. She looked up and saw that he was still awake, staring into the fire that he must have lit at some point. He looked down at her and into her eyes, not breaking contact.
"Kitten, I want you to know that we will do everything we can to protect you. You protect us, and we protect you. Family is about supporting each other, I chose James and Remus at Hogwarts, and now you chose Harry and Ron, you even managed to get the twins around your little finger. Remus and I chose you and Harry. You are our family, don't forget that, never hide secrets from family when we can protect you."
-oOo-
Hermione woke up slowly from her dream. It had felt so real, she could even feel Sirius's emotions and his thoughts. Was that what happened or was she just imagining his point of view in her dream?
It didn't matter, she missed her Sirius. Her uncle. The man who found her in her darkest times and pulled her from them when no one else would. She wanted her family back.
She stayed in the room all morning and did not leave for classes.
She couldn't.
She couldn't look at Sirius or Remus today.
They weren't hers.
They were copies, fake Remus and Sirius, but she knew that was a cruel description.
They were real, it wasn't their fault she formed such a strong bond with their future selves.
She sat in the Room until she knew lunchtime was starting and she could ignore her stomach no longer. Running back to Gryffindor tower she ran up to her dorm and changed into her uniform, which hung far too loose on her, and made her way down to the Great Hall
-oOo-
James woke up in a bad mood the next morning, he fell asleep alone, the other side of the bed cold. Hermione didn't sleep beside him and he could blame one wizard.
Peter.
Well, not entirely true, Voldemort was the reason Peter was a threat in the first place, so really it was two wizards, but James concentrated on Peter. He was the closest enemy who was preventing him from being with Hermione.
She had told him that until Peter was dealt with, they couldn't be together. Then gave him the most amazing kiss of his life. Was it a goodbye kiss? A wait-for-me kiss? What did it mean?
James sat up most of the night contemplating his future path with Hermione. He would not let her rejection damage their friendship, that would only show her he was only interested in her for one thing. Their friendship would not suffer from her decision, but he knew she liked him. He knew she wanted to be with him, but she was scared, scared of Pettigrew and what he could do, but also about being intimate with someone, physically and emotionally. This meant he couldn't push her, she had to be ready.
If he had to wait a thousand years, he would.
James trudged down to the Great Hall and sat beside Sirius who was almost dozing into his cereal. Remus was cuddled into Lily, his eyes closed in contentment as his head leaned on her shoulder. Peter was stuffing his face as usual. The girls were sitting further up the table flirting with some seventh-year Hufflepuffs sitting behind them, however, looking around he did not see Hermione. He voiced his concern about her absence to the group.
"Her curtains were closed, she may have slept in. We'll likely see her in class," said Mary from behind James as she leaned over to grab the notes she had loaned to Peter. James nodded but felt a pit in his stomach that Hermione was not in fact sleeping in.
They all went to each of their classes that morning with no Hermione in sight. After their second class, they went up to check on her and found that her curtains were closed around an empty bed. None of them had seen her leave, meaning they were unable to determine when she left. They all became extremely worried about her whereabouts.
James had a sinking feeling in his gut that she was going to be closed off whenever they did find her. He knew she would have bad days, but ever since arriving at Hogwarts, that was all she seemed to be having.
He understood. She left everyone behind, she was in this very castle when the battle that killed her family and friends had happened, and Pettigrew was part of her worst nightmare and a constant threat to her and her new friends. He understood why she was closed off, he just wished that he knew how to help her. When it was just them, writing letters back and forth, her words portrayed a happier and funnier Hermione as time went by. Sitting in the alcove swapping stories with her, he saw the light in her eyes returning, but now he knew the darkness was seeping back in and he didn't know how to help.
Being with her and showing his love for her constantly would help, though that required her to let him in, to let their friends in.
Love was what she said helped Harry survive. Love was the strongest magic, he had to remind her of that and maybe it would help her get through her dark times. He needed to find her!
It wasn't until lunchtime that he spotted her, He saw a flash of her chestnut curls in the Entrance Hall, slipped out from the crowd, and followed her bouncing curls. Hermione had snuck into a corner with two people, and upon closer inspection, he saw that it was Regulus Black and Severus Snape. He cast a notice-me-not charm and pressed himself against the wall, close enough to hear them.
"You had your meeting then?" Hermione asked quietly.
"Yes, and you are going to need to hear it all. When can we meet?" Regulus replied.
"I will see when we can meet without the vermin interrupting," replied Hermione, "Everyone?"
"Are you ready for this Sev? No going back," asked Regulus.
"Yes. Find a place and time, we are partners I potions tomorrow so inform me then. For now, I will be off," Severus replied, his cloak billowing behind him as he stalked down the stairs to the dungeons.
"Bloody bat of the dungeons," murmured Regulus, but Hermione heard and burst into giggles. To think the youngest Black, Snape's friend would make the same jokes that she, Harry, and Ron had made with Remus and Sirius. Regulus' lips quirked into a small smile before he schooled his expression and left Hermione alone, "'til we meet, Granger."
James slowly walked over to her when the Slytherins left, she was still giggling when he was standing in front of her. He felt a little jealous that Regulus Black had managed to make her laugh, even if he didn't mean to. She needed to laugh; he would cast aside his jealousy if it helped her heal.
"Mi, there you are my beautiful little witch," greeted James, Hermione's giggles stopped almost immediately. His heart twisted a bit at the thought he ended her happiness.
"Hi James," she said quietly looking behind him for his ever-present friends, "Where is everyone?"
"I lost them in the Great Hall, you missed breakfast, you must be starving," he took her hand and led her towards the Great Hall doors. She started pulling back from him, looking at the doors with a slight panic, "Mi, what's wrong?"
"It's- I- Are Remus and Sirius in there?" she asked anxiously. James frowned and nodded, indicating that they were, "I can't go in James, I can't see them right now."
"What, why? What happened Hermione? You know they would never hurt you," James was confused, she had a great bond with Sirius and Remus, and he was quite jealous of how their magic could sense her somehow as if they had known her for years, which it turned out she did.
"I had dreams last night," she started nervously, "not nightmares, but memories. I miss my Remus and Sirius; they were my family. Seeing them after that is just confusing, they aren't mine, and they don't know. They don't know any of it, but I do. My Remus was like- was like-" she couldn't keep talking. Her throat closed and the tears fell, she could barely breathe through her sobs. Her body went into a panic from lack of oxygen, she was trying to breathe but her lungs weren't expanding, and she wasn't getting enough air. Her breathing started coming in small, quick, shallow breaths, and her vision started to blur without enough oxygen in her system.
James' eyes went wide at the sight of her breakdown, he had seen her cry before and even witnessed the beginning of an anxiety attack. However, this was different, this was sheer panic causing her body to fail her, she needed to breathe! He pulled her to the dark alcove that she had stepped out of, just before her knees buckled. He leaned up against the wall and pulled her back to his chest and slid down, so they were huddled on the floor.
"Breathe Hermione, in and out," James soothed her, his hands rubbing up and down her arms, his cheek resting against her head as he placed kisses in her curls, "Just breathe in and out Hermione, just like that."
Hermione's panic attack lessened, finally inhaling large gulps of fresh air, James' hands calming her as they caressed her arms.
"Thank you, James," she croaked, "I can never thank you enough for the help you have given me."
"Mi, I told you I'm here for you, here to remind you of the beautiful and wonderful person that you are. You deserve love and happiness, and to achieve that we need to help you heal from your past, or that trauma will follow you. Will prevent you from moving on and finding happiness, and Mi, I can't live in a world where someone who sacrifices everything, cannot find happiness. Now let's go eat in the kitchens and you can tell me about those dreams."
James pulled himself up off the ground and helped Hermione up after him, together they made their way down to the kitchens. Fortunately, Remus and Sirius were aware that James had sneaked off to find Hermione and had managed to distract Peter from questioning his absence. However, both were unaware that Peter was taking note of both James and Hermione missing together and for absence and forming a plan. He was going to have to recruit some Slytherins to help him stalk the Gryffindors when he was indisposed or unable to follow them. He did not need to fail in his task from the Dark Lord, he may not be the smartest, but he wasn't stupid. Defy the Dark Lord, or fail him, equals punishment. And he would not go through another Crucio.
-oOo-
Peter had been aware of Hermione and James' absence, he also had noticed that James was distracted while Hermione had been missing. With both of them now somewhere unknown, he knew they were together and he needed to plan. He needed to learn more about this mudblood witch, and that required eyes and ears in places he could not always be. He needed spies. This led Peter to be standing in front of Kaden Stevens, a sixth-year Slytherin, who rumour had it, his father was trying to cozy up to the Dark Lord.
"What's in it for me Pettigrew?" sneered Stevens.
"With your help, I can report back to Him that you are assisting, that'll be a good word for your dad, no?" smirked Peter. His friends underestimated him, he may have been a cowering first year, too afraid to accept his Slytherin tendencies that the Hat acknowledged, but years of 'friends' talking down to him had changed his mindset. Slytherin was where he should be, these people understood his self-preservation, to pretend to be a Blood Traitor to survive and join the Dark Lord's ranks upon graduation and share the secrets and trust he had built over the years.
He wanted to help create the world he knew it should be. No Mudbloods, no blood traitors, no one to make him the butt of the joke. He would have power; he was promised power from his master.
If James, Remus, or Sirius stood in the way of his dream, then he would gladly give them up.
If this Hermione stood in the way, well he would take great pleasure in being the one to personally see to her destruction.
"Alright, your word you pass on my father's name, he is loyal, he just isn't from an old family. What do you need me to do?" Stevens casually leaned against the table as he listened to Peter's plan, "Wonderful, and all you need me to do is watch her. Am I allowed to touch?" he smirked evilly, Peter's smile in return told him everything he needed to know.
Marauders and Lily Evans were off limits, Hermione Granger was to be observed.
"If an opportunity arises, have fun with her. However, do not break or kill her. He wants to meet her at some point after more knowledge has been gained. Anything you learn, I need to know immediately," Peter instructed before leaving the Slytherin alone in the classroom.
Now Kaden Stevens had a mission, his first task for the Dark Lord.
He had noticed the new girl; it wasn't often that Hogwarts had new faces besides the first years. He was intrigued by her, she was close with the seventh-year Gryffindors as if she knew them for years.
She was also pretty, pretty for a Mudblood.
But what are Mudbloods for if not for practice?
-oOo-
James and Hermione had stayed close to one another all day, she had explained her dreams to him as she cried in the kitchen. He held her and explained to her that yes, her Sirius and Remus were gone, and she wouldn't have them as father or uncle figures in this time, but they would still be there for her the exact same way. The only difference would be that this Sirius and Remus would form a sibling bond with her, rather than parental bonds.
"Just think, Sirius as a brother! So much more fun than an uncle," he laughed.
"But Uncle Sirius was the drunk uncle that said such inappropriate things, who will do that now?" she smiled.
"Hermione, it's Sirius, he will always be the drunk one saying inappropriate things," he pulled her into his side, walking up the corridor with his arm slung over her shoulders, "Talk to them, tell them everything. They will be able to help you too."
"Maybe, just not yet. There's too much going on," she said thoughtfully, "We need to find a distraction for tomorrow. He can't follow us."
"Don't you worry your pretty little head about it," chuckled James.
-oOo-
Hermione slept in her own bed again, with a silencing charm on her curtains. When she had been woken by her second nightmare that night, she began wondering if maybe James had been right. Maybe he could keep her safe from her own thoughts. While being beside him she didn't have a single nightmare and now she was having multiple a night or being shown memories that hurt just as much as the nightmares.
As morning arrived the next day, Hermione climbed out of bed looking very pale and with heavy, dark marks under her eyes. She cast a quick glamour charm to hide the worst of it from her friends and the school. She wanted to avoid James mentioning it and suggesting she sleep in his bed again. She wasn't sure if she could resist if he offered. Sleeping in his bed would be too close and she would give in to her temptation.
While he didn't say anything to her, he was exceptionally affectionate during the day. During classes without Peter, he sat close enough to her that his thigh was pressed against hers. He also started playing with her curls, reaching his arm over her chair and wrapping a ringlet around his finger. He would twirl the curl around his fingers and would do that all through class unless he had to write a note, however, he didn't move if he had to use his wand, choosing to do that one-handed.
Their next class was potions, and though James was already aware that Hermione was partnering with Snape, he still felt his body stiffen watching his witch near the Death Eater wannabe. He had to keep himself distracted to prevent himself from checking on Hermione constantly. He knew she was a capable witch and could handle anything any Slytherin would say to her.
"Granger," Severus greeted her at her new station, "Prove me wrong, I have never found a partner good enough since-" he quickly glanced at something behind her before cutting himself off. She knew what he was going to say, Lily, no partner was good enough but Lily. But he lost Lily as a partner the moment their friendship ended.
"I assure you, Snape, I am more than qualified to be your partner," she smirked at him, remembering the disbelief in his older self's eyes when he learned that she had brewed Polyjuice Potion in second year, Sirius had laughed in his face when he was sputtering at the impossibility of such a feat.
An hour later Hermione and Snape had a perfect potion and a tidy station. She looked behind her and noticed that many of the other students had almost perfect potions, colours were slightly off for most, but everyone was still cleaning up their mess. She liked working with a clean station, clean as you go, but Harry had always been a 'chaos is best' mentality. Snape seemed to agree with her, he threw away scraps of ingredients as he went along, and Hermione stoppered the bottles as they were measured out. Nothing was left to clean by the time they completed their potion, except wiping down the desk.
"Granger, it is not often I am proven…wrong," Snape turned to her with a slight upturn on his lips, was he smiling?
"I think that might be my new favourite activity," she quipped. She picked up her bag and walked away to stand with Remus and Lily, waiting for James and Sirius to finish cleaning up their cauldron. Severus was about to call her attention to him to ask about the meeting time when he spotted a note peeking out from the bottom of his cauldron.
'Seventh Floor, Barnabas the Barmy. 7 pm'
-oOo-
"So, she proved to Sourpuss Sev that there are other competent potion makers out there?" laughed Regulus. He and Severus were walking through the castle toward the location Granger had given them.
"Reg, I don't, I don't understand. She did things exactly how I do them! Little things that I do, simple things no one notices, she did them!" hissed Severus, "How I wipe my blade after each cut of each bean to oxidize them slightly longer. How I cut diagonally rather than straight. These are tricks I have learned over years of studying, reading mastery books and apprentice journals. How would she know these Reg?"
"Oh, what if that portal she came through was a time one?" Regulus said lightly.
"A time one?" Severus asked with a frown.
"Yes, think about it. She knew everything about us, she knows about a Malfoy that isn't born yet, Weasleys that don't exist, and now she knows your potion secrets," chuckled Regulus, not believing a word that he said, "Ohhhhh maybe she's your daughter!" Regulus burst out laughing at the look of horror and disbelief on Severus' face, he decided to take pity on his friend, "Oh relax Sev, she's muggleborn, can't have a Prince as a daddy."
"Hurry up, let's get this over with," mumbled Severus. They walked to the seventh-floor corridor with the tapestry Granger indicated in her note but no one was there, "Are we early?"
"Nope!" called out a voice behind them. They jumped in surprise as a door magically appeared behind them, with Granger's head poking out of it. They followed her into the room and found they were the last to arrive. Lily, Remus, Sirius, and James were already seated in a room that looked like a dark and dreary kitchen. It was covered in dust and had no windows that let in light, but it had a large fireplace that looked like it could fit five people standing comfortably inside.
"What the fuck?" called out Regulus as he looked around the room, "Why the fuck are we in Grimmauld?" Sirius glared at him as everyone else looked down awkwardly and Severus looked at him with confusion. He looked at Granger, his demand clear in his eyes.
"This is the Room of Requirement; it takes on any room you request. I may have not completely thought through the location before I asked for it," Hermione said sheepishly, "I apologize, but it can't be changed without leaving the room and I don't particularly care to be caught by anyone snooping."
"You thought of this room?" he asked her. He had thought this was a sick joke from Sirius, showing him their kitchen covered in dirt and abandoned like his brother always wanted. He glanced at his brother quickly, question in his eyes about how this unknown witch knew about their home. However, Sirius looked away and would not meet his eyes, their brother-bond was destroyed years ago.
"Yes," answered Hermione shortly. Regulus was not going to get any more answers than that regarding the room, it seemed. Hermione walked towards the table and took her seat, gesturing for everyone to join her. She was sitting in between James and Remus, with Lily on Remus' other side and Sirius on her other side. The boys had effectively blocked the girls from the Slytherins. Severus and Regulus situated themselves across from the Gryffindors and only when they were seated that she spoke again, "Would you like to go first before I explain anything?"
Regulus and Severus sat stoically in their seats, showing no trace of emotion, their masks were in full effect. It saddened Hermione to see their masks in place, even before her war, the children of Death Eaters had to learn to hide themselves, and their emotions to protect themselves. They had to hide their true selves and subject themselves to a world of fear and terror, only to be offered up to a madman and witness rape, torture, and murder.
It was enough to turn anyone into a monster, which most of them became in the end.
Lucius Malfoy was an example; he became even crueler as the years progressed. Each time they faced him he delved deeper into his inhuman and monstrous side. His son was terrified of the man he used to belove. A man he looked up to and thought of as a hero became the villain in his son's life. The man who sacrificed him to the Dark Lord, and would do so again and again, all for the praise of a psychopath.
"You already know of Pettigrew?" asked Severus to the room, he noticed each of the Marauders flinch at the mention of their traitorous best friend.
"They know everything I know. So, tell me what I don't know. What did Riddle want with the rat on such short notice, in person no less? A great honour in your ranks I hear," Hermione spoke, she held her chin high and kept her back straight. She would appear strong and in control before these Slytherins. She knew their game; she couldn't show weakness. Regulus and Severus scoffed at her last words.
"A great honour indeed," Snape said dryly. Hermione smirked at her old Potions Professor, his attitude and voice were the same.
"A week before term we had a meeting, it was brought to the Dark Lord's attention that a new member had joined the Marauders, specifically a mudblood. One that attracted attention due to the sudden protectiveness of the Marauders. A girl who spoke of people that did not exist. A Malfoy son, Weasley twins. This information was enough for the Dark Lord to summon the rat for Friday evening to have him watch her," Regulus explained.
Hermione's blood ran cold. He knew about her before school even started. She had been heard in Diagon Alley. She was so stupid! She should never have spoken so freely in public!
How could she have been so ridiculously foolish? She was Hermione Granger! She wasn't supposed to jeopardize missions, she was supposed to be the one who prepared for all possible outcomes. Protect the ones around her no matter the cost to herself. Now she had placed a target on her back and in turn, the Marauders.
"He knows about Hermione?" asked an ashen-faced James.
"Very much so. The meeting was moved up, we brought Pettigrew before him, simpering fool. The Dark Lord demanded information about you, Pettigrew informed him of nightmares, protectiveness from the Marauders, and your left arm. Potter is of interest also, regarding yourself," Regulus raised one eyebrow. Almost asking them if they were a couple.
Hermione was almost hyperventilating. James was rubbing soothing circles on her lower back discreetly, but it was too much for her. She jumped up off her seat and began pacing.
She had already failed. Pettigrew knew she and James cared for one another. He was going to target James more.
"After that?" She had stopped pacing and turned to the young Death Eaters
"His original plan remains; however, he wants to know everything about you. Weaknesses, your relationships, if you threaten the plan. He is to learn of your past. Who targeted your family to make you the sad orphan child who has nightmares," said Snape, "After that, he had Pettigrew leave the room and informed us that Rookwood-" he was cut off by Hermione's gasp.
"Rookwood?! He's already in the Department of Mysteries isn't he?" demanded Hermione loudly. Everyone around the table looked at her in shock. James wanted to take her away from all this. Voldemort knew about her. Knew about him. This would drive her further from him.
"Yes. Specifically, a portal" Snape spoke the words carefully, this was the moment of truth.
"FUCK!" yelled Hermione. She slid down the cabinets, pulled her knees up to her chest, and held her head in her hands. James jumped up and sat at her side pulling her into him, she couldn't have another breakdown today.
The room was silent. Everyone had been quiet so far except for Hermione and the Slytherins, James was a bit more involved, but the others had stayed silent. Listening, learning all the information.
Lily and Sirius were observing the people they used to care about most. Deciding if their change of heart was worth letting them back into theirs.
Lily watched Severus. He refused to make eye contact with her, he had looked at everyone but her. He had given Remus a slight nod, she knew he did not want to be on the wrong side of a werewolf, again. He had sneered at Sirius with complete disgust, not having forgiven him for the prank that resulted in his almost death at the hand of said werewolf in the room. He glanced over at James, he had never bothered himself about the leading Marauder, Potter had been the reason he was saved from the werewolf. He looked at Hermione with suspicion and confusion, he was trying to figure her out, calculating all her movements and words.
Lily could see his shame, she could see it through his tense shoulders, slight frown, and fidgeting fingers. Lily wanted to believe he was on a path of redemption, looking for an escape, to turn to the Light and prevent that awful future Hermione came from. But part of her was scared that Hermione's future wasn't their timeline anymore, this Severus may happily follow the Dark Lord and planned to give them up. She knew it was silly, but Lily was still scared. Scared to let her old best friend back into her life. To possibly lose him to the Darkest people imaginable.
Sirius watched Regulus but he couldn't for long. Regulus was quite the opposite of Severus. When he wasn't speaking to Hermione he was staring unblinkingly at Sirius. He tried to keep eye contact, but Sirius broke it by looking down at his hands. He could tell Sirius knew something, something bad. He could see it in his eyes. It may have been years since his close bond with his big brother, but he could still read him like a book.
Gryffindors.
Sirius looked at him like he was a ghost. A ghost that broke his heart. But Regulus didn't understand because he was right in front of him.
While Sirius wanted to watch his brother and study him, he couldn't. Severus never looked at Lily allowing her to watch him, but Regulus didn't give that to Sirius. Regulus held his head high like a true Scion of the Noble and Ancient House of Black. Whenever he made eye contact with him, he pictured the Inferi. He imagined watching his brother die trying to do the right thing and he wasn't there to protect him. He shut his brother out and wouldn't listen to the little brother try to fix his previous wrongs and he had died for it. How could he look his brother in the eye after knowing that?
Severus was too ashamed to look at Lily and Sirius was too ashamed to look at Regulus.
Time passed in silence until Hermione composed herself. She had to think of a plan, Voldemort knew.
"Do you mind explaining this portal? It seems they already know," Regulus spoke, nodding toward the Gryffindors.
"That portal was a fail-safe for Dumbledore," Hermione said as she sat down at the table again, "Let me introduce myself. Hermione Granger, minus two years old, nice to meet you," she said sweetly. The Marauders and Lily laughed at the looks of shock that appeared on both Slytherin's faces. It wasn't often you could surprise a snake, let alone two.
-oOo-
Hermione told them her story. She explained about Pettigrew's second betrayal, the loss of the Potters, and the defeat of Voldemort. At first, they seemed pleased by her story, their master defeated, but their smiles quickly disappeared when she got to his resurrection.
"He resurrects?! That shouldn't be possible!" cried out a horrified Regulus, "that is, that is dark, evil magic!"
"The vilest," Hermione confirmed. She told them of the Prophecy of the Chosen One, the death of Dumbledore, she skipped over exactly who murdered him, but when she got to the peak of the war she paused.
"That dark magic that resurrected him?" she reminded them, "Horcruxes."
Regulus' mask dropped. Absolute horror showed on the young boy's face. Because that was what he was, a young fifteen-almost-sixteen-year-old boy, a wizard boy with a hundred years ahead of him. A hundred years he never saw in her time.
"I knew he was psychotic, but this is...there are no words to how evil this is," he whispered.
"He made seven," what little colour he had left was gone. His eyes bugged out of his head as he looked up at her. Snape was sitting almost petrified with terror. Their master was worse than their imaginations could fathom, "We destroyed them all, but lost in the end. Chosen One ended the Dark Lord, but his followers showed no mercy," Hermione finished.
Regulus and Severus sat in silence, processing everything they had been told. Their master had to be stopped, they had to free themselves from a guaranteed horrible future.
"How do you know us? You knew what we wanted," asked Severus with narrowed eyes.
"Regulus I didn't know, I only knew of you because of Sirius. Severus, you were my Potions Professor," replied Hermione.
"That makes sense," he said to her, "You knew my custom changes to our potion, I didn't know what to think."
"I made a joke that you were his kid," laughed Regulus. The Gryffindors all looked at him with bewilderment, the stoic and composed Slytherin could laugh joyously.
"Nope, just a good student," Hermione replied with narrowed eyes. Little did they know that Snape reminded her of her own father. His constant need to belittle her successes, his snide remarks about her knowledge and appearance, and most of all; the coldness in his eyes when he looked at her.
"Granger, I believe you, but you're telling me Pettigrew's plan worked? You come from a time when the spineless rat succeeds in his plan? The boy can't tell the right side up of his wand" asked Regulus incredulously.
"He knows our weaknesses," Sirius said quietly, staring at the table with a frown. Regulus looked at his brother with some surprise for speaking. He thought he was having a silent audience, from how Granger was running the show, especially Sirius. He had thought that if they did speak, it would be in the form of screaming and hexing one another.
"Yes, he succeeded, fools are underestimated, and he plays the perfect one. He took it further though and it resulted in destruction. I am not allowing that future to happen. Will you work with us to stop them?" Hermione asked them both.
"How?" asked Severus. He would not bind himself to some other group of people with a leader if he did not know what he was getting into.
"Well, first it's recon – muggle term for reconnaissance – observe his plans. I don't know what Peter does to succeed, I don't know if it was a love potion, imperious, or large doses of alcohol. I am also assuming that there are plans in place regarding me?" Both boys nodded to confirm she was correct, "for now, just continue gathering information and sharing it with us. I will come up with a communication device so there is no chance of us getting caught together."
Hermione now had some galleons to make tomorrow as well as collecting the ingredients from Dumbledore for Wolfsbane, after her Order meeting.
Her life was too busy, she had just lost a war a month ago.
Severus left the room as soon as Hermione indicated she was finished; she would give them their communication piece when available. For now, they were to observe and wait to inform them unless it was urgent. James checked the Map and noted the coast was clear, indicating it was safe to head back to Gryffindor Tower.
Everyone left except Sirius and Regulus.
The brothers stared at each other across the table waiting for the other to speak. The silence in the room was stifling, Sirius wanted to speak to his brother so badly, but the words wouldn't leave his mouth.
"I-I-," Sirius choked, he took a breath and forced the words out, "How are you, Reggie?"
Regulus looked at him with his mask on full guard, but Sirius saw a flash of happiness in his eyes as he said the name 'Reggie'.
"Not well Siri, not well," Regulus replied using his old name for his brother. Sirius stood up and rushed to his brother and pulled him in for a hug. He would never let him go again; he would not drown with Inferi.
Regulus held onto his brother as though frightened he would disappear. The mask fell and so did the tears.
Brothers had become enemies.
Now those enemies had turned into brothers once more. Never to look back.
They held one another until the tears stopped, Sirius did not let go until he felt Regulus pulling away. From now on he would always be there for his little brother, always there for him until he didn't need him. He would never let go first.
"Collecting yourself a band of misfits Siri?" Regulus smiled when they were sitting at the table once more.
"Who else does a misfit fit with if not for other misfits?" retorted Sirius with a smirk.
"She is really from the future?" Regulus asked. He believed her story, but he had questions. Questions he knew Sirius would not pacify him.
"Yes, a horrible one," sighed Sirius, he knew where Regulus was going with this.
"I made that up as a joke to Sev, I didn't for a moment think it could be a real possibility," Regulus mumbled, almost to himself. He looked up at his brother, a question in his eyes.
"Ask me."
"She knew of me through you. She never met me, and without her here, I highly doubt we would ever have spoken again. What became of me?" Sirius ran his hands down his face as he considered how to answer him. He would never mollify his brother, but he still had trouble with it himself.
"Our futures are slightly ironic Reggie," replied Sirius, "I have always been a Gryffindor, stood by my friends, and always shown true loyalty in the face of diversity. You have always been a Slytherin, pureblood bigot, on the path to the Dark Arts. Yet our future was that I died believed to be a dark wizard that betrayed my friends, while you died defying your master."
"We died?"
"We did. You, unfortunately, a few years from now," Sirius said sadly.
"That's why you couldn't look at me. How? How did it happen?" demanded Regulus.
"You discovered his secret. He used Kreacher to practice his defenses, half-blood maniac didn't learn his Old Family Codes," Sirius explained.
Every family of the Sacred 28 had their own Code.
The Malfoys never neglected duty, the Parkinson's always retained history, the Greengrass' never dismissed debts, the Nott's always regarded alliances and the Blacks always protected family.
To break their code was to acknowledge a grievous disrespect. Sirius being blasted off the tree was highly discussed by all the old families. Blacks rarely turned on their family. Andromeda was the last for marrying a mudblood. However, Walburga did not have a strong enough reason to convince the old families. To them, Sirius Black was still the Heir to the Noble and Ancient House of Black. Even her husband, Orion Black, had felt her actions were excessive, but he kept to his Code and stood by his wife. Sirius was off the tree; he would care for the family he had left. If Walburga died before him, he would reinstate his son. If he passed before his wife, then his son would be free of the woman that despised him.
"He harmed our elf?" asked Regulus incredulously.
"Kreacher only lived because you called him. To learn of what your master had made and had used your family to protect it, you were enraged. January, he took Kreacher, upon your graduation you went on your mission. You saved Kreacher but not yourself and died in the Inferi water," explained Sirius, "When she told me, I broke Reggie. I saw everything, all our games of hide-and-seek, sneaking the sweets down when Kreacher was cleaning up a mess we made, our pretend duels against the wizards who tried to steal our princesses. We hated each other so much that you didn't even feel you could come to me and ask for help, you were alone Reggie and I never want to abandon you again."
"I never hated you; I envied you. You escaped our home before me, I was left with mother and her lessons," Reggie spat, "she made it clear that if I followed you, punishments would double, especially yours for corrupting me. I had to turn away to protect you, Sirius. Always protect family."
"Always. Brothers forever," promised Sirius.
-oOo-
Remus and Lily went to the Head Dorms together, Lily wasn't ready to approach Severus yet. He wouldn't look at her, and until he could look her in the eye and apologize, she would not speak with him. Remus led her to her room to snuggle up with her and soothe her worries. He knew her so well; he knew when she was sad and needed his soothing words. He knew when she was mad and needed space or someone to yell at. He knew when she was angry and needed to talk out her frustrations. He also knew when she needed him physically, and when it was the last thing she needed. Tonight, was a night to hold her safely but not push her too far.
Remus loved his Lily. He would be forever thankful to Hermione for saving him from the loss of her, and the loss of his pack. He had been giving Hermione space because he knew she was hurting and wasn't ready to let anyone in. If they pushed her, she would take longer to open up emotionally.
Remus knew that he and Sirius had a special bond with Hermione they would need to acknowledge soon. However, there was so much distracting them.
He had Lily to care for, she was not as strong as she portrayed herself and this reminder of her loss of Severus was hard. He had the full moon coming up in two weeks. He had Peter to watch for and now Slytherin's to consider. Hermione was closed off and even if everything around him wasn't a complicated mess, their friendship would have to wait another day. He had his Lily to look after.
-oOo-
James walked with Hermione to the Head Common Room, having quickly checked the Map and saw Peter was in his bed. He sat her on the couch and simply watched her.
"You agree with what you said last night even more don't you?" he said quietly. She looked up at him with sadness exuding from her.
"Oh, James. I can't risk any of you, and I already have a target on my back. If I become too close to you, he will find a way to deal with me," Hermione leaned against his chest and snuggled in, he pressed a kiss to her curls.
"I would never risk you," he promised, "You are it for me, Hermione, it was as if you were made for me. Your scent and taste are all I want to smell and eat, your skin is so soft you are all I want to touch, your voice is so soothing, it is all I ever want to hear. Hermione Granger, you are all I could ever want," he spoke into her ear. She shivered at his words and turned in his arms.
"You make this very difficult, James Potter," she whispered looking into his hazel eyes. He drew her in, everything about him enticed her. She had never felt attraction like this to any of her previous flings.
His fingertips brushed against the skin of her belly; his lips hovered over hers as she looked into his eyes. He was so close, all she had to do was lean forward and they would be connected.
"I will always protect you, Mi, love," he whispered before pressing his lips to hers.
Hermione lived for his lips. Their taste. Their hunger. James was everything she could ever want. Soft and sweet or hungry and ravenous, he could do it all. She wanted it all.
Fuck Peter Pettigrew and double fuck Voldemort.
She could have him; they weren't there.
One night wouldn't be so terrible, would it?
As her mind ran away with those thoughts, James' lips moved on hers, but he did not deepen it. If he pushed further there would be no return.
She was addictive.
James, sensing where her mind was going, pulled back, one more single chaste kiss upon her lips before separating.
"Mi, love, we won't be together now but promise me you won't pull away. You won't distance yourself. We can all help you; love comes in many forms. Harry had it from his mother yes, but from you too. I'm sure that's why you survived as well, the love Harry had for you along with what you have had with Moony and Padfoot. Love can be in the form of friends, family, in lovers. Let our friends in, let yourself pick your chosen family, and let us finish this so we can be the lovers we should be."
Hermione gave a small nod and smile, promising him that she would try harder at putting her past behind her. Her friends and family were not the same people here and now, and the faster she realized that the faster she could build new bonds with these people.
They stayed on the couch and snuggled into each other as they fell asleep.
If Peter found them, they would look like two friends who dozed off on the couch, all they needed was to be near one another.
They didn't care if it was in a bed, on a couch, or the floor. It didn't matter.
James was near her, and he kept the nightmares away.
A/N: And chapter 10 is done! Please let me know what you think through reviews, and please favourite and follow if you are only joining us now! I will be working on Rebirth next, however I will be working my 4 day rotation at the hospital, starting tomorrow, so no new chapters until that is finished. Please be patient :)