Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling. All characters, places, descriptions, etc (unless original and created by me) belong to her.

Summary: It was a small pack, of course, just the five of them, but together they were something wild. Hermione finds herself in the Marauders' Era with four new best friends.

A/N: A little holiday fun today. Merry Christmas to those who celebrate!

Chapter 24: Memento Mori, Memento Vivere*

30 October 1977

The Library

Hermione thought she was getting a handle on this whole werewolf mess. The three days before the moon and the three days after the moon, she was quickly realizing, were almost as bad as the moon itself. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured this time around. Although, apparently Pup had been a little too eager to chase Peter. Hermione brushed this off as Pup being playful and not fully recognizing Wormtail as a friend.

Hermione, once again, bounced back from the moon a bit faster than Remus. This was just one of the differences between the two of them that was keeping her up at night. By everything she knew about werewolves, they should have the same symptoms, especially since Remus was the one who bit her. So why was she so different? And on top of that, she had just experienced her first two full moons. Her original plan had been to return to Harry and Ron and Sirius after two months. Hermione had taken to clutching her beaded bag at night, willing it to take her home.

Her two months were up. Why was she still here? Why wasn't she back yet? How long was she supposed to stay here? Was there anything she could do? Or did she just have to let the chips fall on their own? Hermione wanted to hide herself away in the library to research, but she had already promised time to worry about another. So when she was feeling up to it, she carefully approached Regulus.

"Hi," she said simply as she sat down at their table. Regulus barely looked up from his potions essay. "I wanted to thank you, for your help before-before, well you know."

"No problem."

"I really mean it. I really appreciated it. Sirius sort of found out we were spending extra time together so I had to explain to him–" Regulus scoffed.

"Bet that went well." Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I think you know exactly how well it went." She lowered her voice. "He saw my bruises." Regulus straightened his shoulders.

"He thought I was beating you, didn't he?" Hermione nodded. Regulus shook his head. "He never was one for sharing."

"Excuse me?"

"Sharing. Sirius doesn't share well." Regulus threw his hands up in defense at Hermione's glare. "Hey, I'm not suggesting you're an object or anything. I'm just saying, his behavior has a pattern."

A bit of an awkward silence fell around them.

"So, did you tell him the truth?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"He was surprised. I think he's trying to understand, but it's hard for him. Remus isn't like that around the moon. He's more primal, yes, but not so full of… of…"

"Rage? Power? Madness?"

"I was going to say energy." Regulus laughed and Hermione smiled. "I think he's more hurt I didn't go to one of them about it."

"They can't help you like that." Regulus shook his head. "They can't see that part of you, not like I can. They won't let themselves see you as something dangerous."

"But why can you see me like that?"

"We're the same." Regulus said it like it explained everything. Hermione raised an eyebrow and Regulus sighed. "Okay, it's like this. The first time we met? Remember that? I saw it then." Regulus lifted two fingers to his right eye.

"It's in your eyes. There's a hardness to them, but it's softer. Like you have this survival instinct and these walls, but they've only been recently fortified. I'm guessing it has to do with why you transferred here. I've got it, too.

"You've been through shit, that much is obvious. There's darkness in your eyes, too. Not a bad darkness, not evil or anything, but more like I know you're capable of going to extraordinary lengths for people you care about."

Hermione was speechless. She just sat there blinking at Regulus before she spoke.

"Really, is there anything you don't know?" Regulus chuckled. Hermione fell serious again. "You said you have it, too. But… I mean, doesn't Sirius?"

"My brother has a million walls and a chip on his shoulder that's been growing for years. Yeah, he's got a hardness in his eyes, but I dunno, I think it's Potter that did it to him. He thinks he's special, like he's the only one who can justify having walls. I don't think he even considers the possibility of others suffering like him.

"He may try to understand you, and maybe he does get it, I don't know. He may see what you're capable of, but I don't think he'll be able to accept it, not for a long time."

Hermione didn't respond. For an hour, they both sat there. Hermione read her charms text, and Regulus had forgone his potions essay to sketch again. It took Hermione a while to gather the courage to ask the question that had been on her mind all week.

"Regulus," she started softly. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"Practice," Regulus grunted, not looking up from his sketch.

"I may be a muggleborn, but I do know that's not normal for a pureblood to know." Regulus looked up at this.

"No offense, Hermione, but I don't think you know a lot about how pureblood families work." His tone bit into Hermione. She winced.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up. Please forgive me. I just—I care about you, Regulus. I… I–"

"I'm fine, Hermione. I've learned how to survive, and I'm good at it. You don't need to worry about me, yet."

"Yet?" Hermione furrowed her brows. Regulus looked like he was really regretting his last words. "What do you mean yet?"

"Forget it, it's fine. I'm fine. Everything is fine." Regulus started gathering his books. Hermione reached out a hand to stop him, grabbing his forearm. Regulus twitched, and Hermione realized she had grabbed the arm with the mark.

"I'm not going to press, Regulus. I don't expect you to tell me anything, but… I'm here. I'm here and I trust you and I'll be there for you." She looked deep into his eyes, trying to tell him more than what she was saying. But she knew she couldn't.

Regulus nodded silently and pulled his arm from her grasp. He put his books in his bag and handed Hermione the sketch he was working on before leaving the library. Hermione looked at the parchment.

He had sketched her again. But this was the first one with the scar over her eye. Hermione stared at herself on the page, focused on the scar. She didn't know what she was supposed to feel.

31 October 1977

Gryffindor Common Room

"Ugh, why do we have to study on a day like today?" James groaned into his charms book. "I mean look outside! The weather is perfect and we're stuck inside!"

Peter craned his neck to look out the window. The sky looked like an angry sea, and lightning was terrorizing the grounds.

"Take it up with Professor Twitchet, Prongs. She's the one who set an exam for tomorrow." Remus didn't look up from his notes. "Lily do you have notes from Friday? I can't understand my own writing."

Lily shuffled over from her table across the room and placed her charms notes over Remus'. She smiled at the werewolf before returning to her side of the room. James watched her the whole time.

"Ouch!" James shouted rubbing his shin. "What was that for?"

"You were staring again," chuckled Sirius. James shrugged, smiling.

"Can't help it."

At that moment, Hermione bounded down the stairs, making a beeline for James.

"James! I need your help!" She bent down to whisper in his ear. "Grab the cloak and meet me outside."

Hermione smiled at the other Marauders, spinning her beaded bag in her hand. She waited patiently for James to return and the pair left.

"Okay, what's up? What are we doing?" Hermione smiled.

"It's Halloween! We're going to celebrate. But first we need supplies!" Hermione led James down the familiar pathway to the kitchens. When they arrived, Hermione called out for Lido, who appeared within seconds.

"Master Remus' friend!" She shouted happily, but her face fell when she saw James. She looked at Hermione with big eyes. "Where is Master Remus? Is Master Remus okay?"

"Oh, no, Lido, Remus is fine. I just brought James with me today." Lido narrowed her eyes at Hermione.

"Why no Master Remus?"

"Because we're trying to surprise him!" Lido accepted this answer and nodded.

"Then what can Lido do for Master Remus' friend?"

"I need sweets, Lido," Hermione said as she opened up her beaded bag. She pulled from its depths a huge basket. James stared at her with wonder. "I need sweets, and pastries, and candy, and anything sugary. I need you to make this basket overflow. Can you do that?"

"Of course. No problem for Lido." Lido reached out and took the basket from Hermione before scurrying off to fill it. Hermione turned to James.

"You've got to teach me that," he said, pointing at her bag. Hermione smiled.

Gryffindor Common Room

"Marauders Meeting right now, boys," James announced as he and Hermione returned. Both looked extremely happy, but Remus noticed Hermione was cradling her bag.

"Lily, will you bring the girls up to the boys room?" Lily raised an eyebrow at Hermione.

"Why?" Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I'm trying to be sneaky, Lily. Just help me, yeah?" Lily smiled.

"Alright." She turned to the other girls at her table. "You heard her, up the stairs we go."

When everyone finally made it up to the Marauders' room, it felt like a true celebration. Candy and sweets came overflowing from Hermione's bag. Sirius had, with only a little prodding, graciously offered to share some of his firewhiskey stash. And Remus, too, had put a few of his sacred chocolate bars in the mix.

Mary had gotten her radio and lively music was blaring from the tiny speakers. Lily and James were dancing around the room. Hermione laughed as Lily allowed James to dip her before she spun away to dance with Dorcas and Marlene. James was beaming. Hermione didn't think she'd ever seen him look happier.

Sirius was sitting on the window seat, cigarette in hand, blowing smoke out into the stormy night. The sound of thunder mixed with the music and seemed to fill everyone's bodies with a constant thrumming. The lightning lit up the dark room like the flash of a camera. Hermione imagined the sky capturing pictures of them.

Flash. James and Peter tossing each other candy to catch in their mouths.

Flash. Lily and Remus sitting side by side, swaying in time with the music.

Flash. Dorcas, Mary, and Marlene hand-in-hand spinning in a circle.

Flash. Sirius pulling his cigarette from his lips, smoke following it like exhaust.

Flash. Hermione, watching her friends with a smile plastered on her face.

The Gryffindors toasted to friendship and fun, and much more to come with the second half of the school year. And they were happy. While Hermione watched her friends revel in the spirit of Halloween, Peter made his way over to her.

"So why all this?" He gestured around the room. He hiccupped before continuing. "Why so much effort into Halloween?"

Hermione chose her words very carefully.

"I wanted them to have a happy memory of this day, one where we're all together, just one happy memory."

1 November 1977

Charms Classroom

Nine Gryffindors sat at their desks early Tuesday morning, groaning simultaneously. The girls were all rubbing their foreheads, trying to will away their headaches. Peter looked green, like he would be sick any second. Remus was resting facedown on his desk, moaning every few seconds. Sirius had yet to remove his sunglasses.

James nudged Hermione softly with his shoulder. She blinked tiredly and looked at him. He was grinning from ear to ear.

"Worth it."

A/N: *Remember that You Must Die, Remember that You Are Alive