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: It's short 'n sweet, but I hope you all like it nonetheless.

Chapter 36: Cor Ad Cor Loquitur*

28 January 1978

Gryffindor Common Room

It was Saturday night, and despite a full day sans classes, the Marauders still had not had to chance to talk with Hermione. Remus had advised his friends that Hermione might need some space before the pack descended on her. And the other Marauders had agreed to allow her that space, for the time being.

Dinner had been a quiet affair. Hermione was missing, though Lily assured the boys that she had been holed up in the library all day. After the meal, the Marauders perched in the common room, each keeping an eye trained on the portrait.

Hours passed by and Hermione was nowhere to be seen. Peter was the first to go up to bed, shortly followed by James. Sirius merely grunted when the two took their leave. His eyes hadn't strayed from the entrance to the common room for hours. Remus looked worriedly at his friend and waved his hand in front of his face to catch his attention.

"Mate, are you okay?"

Sirius blinked and looked at Remus.

"Where is she?"

"I'm sure she'll be back soon," Remus suggested. "I told you she needs–"

"She needs space," Sirius cut him off. "I know, I know. You already said. But how do you know that? Did she tell you."

"No, she didn't tell me. I just—I just know, Padfoot. Trust me."

Sirius snorted under his breath and turned his gaze away from Remus back to the door. Remus rolled his eyes.

"Okay, what was that for?" Remus raised an eyebrow as Sirius shrugged. "Hop off, Padfoot. What was that for?"

"S'nothing." Sirius fell silent before shifting his whole body to face Remus. "It's just a bit strange, yeah? I mean, I just realized I have feelings for Pup, and yet you're the one acting as if you two are on a whole different level."

"What are you on about?" Remus pulled back in confusion.

"Just give it to me straight, Moony. Marauder's honor." Sirius took a deep breath. "Do you fancy Hermione?" Remus' eyebrows shot up. Sirius leaned forward.

"What? No!"

"Are you sure, Moony? Don't lie to me. You don't want to snog her senseless? Shag her in a broom cupboard?"

A growl ripped through Remus' throat. Sirius sat back in defeat.

"Okay, that doesn't mean anything."

"Oh, sure, yeah it doesn't." Sirius said sarcastically. "What am I supposed to think when you do shit like that?"

"It wasn't me!"

"Oh, so I'm not competing with you, it's Moony I have to worry about?"

"No! That's not what I—Ugh!" Remus raked his fingers through his hair. "Listen, Pads. It's nothing, I swear. It's just a feeling Moony gets around her. It's not romantic. It's like a sense of duty or like an obligation."

"So it's just that she's a werewolf, too? That she's in your pack?"

"Not exactly…" Remus started. His fingers tracing the lines of his other palm. "It's different. We're a sort of pack, you, me, Peter, and James. I could feel that before she came. She's part of it now, but it's not that. I mean, yes, I feel protective of you lot, but if I'm being honest…"

Remus closed his eyes.

"If I'm being honest, I know if it came down to it, I'd fight, kill, hell even die for her." He looked deep into Sirius' eyes. "I'd even hurt one of you."

Sirius just blinked, unsure of what to say.

"Can you imagine that, Padfoot? 'Cause I can! I seem to have no problem envisioning tearing Peter limb from limb every time he gets too close to her. Do you even know how must more terrified I am every time we go down to the Shack now?"

"Why didn't you tell us, mate?" Sirius said after a moment.

"It's not because she's a werewolf," Remus said ignoring the question. "At least, I don't think so. There's something else to it. I just know it." He finally looked at Sirius' shocked face.

"It's not like I'm acting on these impulses, or that Moony is for that matter. Or that I even want to!" Remus gave Sirius a sad smile. "It's the potential. It's knowing I could do it."

"I'm sorry, mate." Sirius said simply. "I don't know what to say. Fuck, Moony. What do you want me to say?"

"I dunno. Nothing, I guess. Just—Look, Padfoot. You need to trust me when I say there are no romantic feelings I'm harboring. I promise you I'm not looking to go after Hermione. I'm just being protective."

"I know," Sirius sighed. "I mean I knew even before I asked you. I just, I dunno, needed to hear it from you."

"You got to work on that, mate." Remus smirked. "I mean I'm protective, but you're just on some other level. Like that shit with Regulus?" Sirius shook his head.

"Yeah, that was bad."

"You know she was awake, right?"

"Fuck."

"Yeah," Remus said. "I thought you told her you were okay with them hanging out."

"I lied, okay. Obviously I'm not cool with it." Sirius put his face in his hands, hiding from Remus. "I know it's fucked up—and I think we've long established that I'm fucked up—but I just keep thinking she'll choose Reg over me."

"She's not Walburga." Sirius interrupted Remus with a scoff. "No, but really, she's not. And that's not even counting the fact that she's a muggleborn werewolf."

Sirius chuckled and raised his head. The two friends smiled at each other at the thought of their Pup facing Sirius' mother. Remus cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly.

"Look mate, for what it's worth, I'm good. I know I don't have any right over her, but I approve… of you two… together, I mean."

Sirius tried to suppress his smile, Remus' words meaning more to him than he cared show.

"Yeah, well, make sure Mr. Growly gets the memo."

A/N: *Heart Speaks to Heart