The next morning, Hermione had woken up early, determined to get her meeting with Sanji Patil—the Astronomy and Arithmancy expert—out of the way. If her hunch was correct, Sanji must have been related to Parvati and Padma Patil. She guessed their aunt based on the resemblance and the shared last name. They covered everything quickly, and by the time the rest of the castle was starting to stir, Hermione was already back in the Gryffindor common room, surrounded by a pile of parchment and ink pots, diligently working on the essays that had started to pile up.

She was scribbling furiously, her quill scratching across the parchment, when she heard footsteps approaching. Without looking up, she called out, "Leave me alone," assuming it was Sirius or James coming to bother her.

"I can come back later," a gentle voice said.

Startled, Hermione's head snapped up to see Remus standing there, his expression caught between amusement and concern. "Oh, it's fine," she said quickly, her cheeks heating with embarrassment. "I thought you were someone else."

Remus chuckled softly. "I gathered that much," he said, dropping into the chair opposite her. "You look... busy."

"Just trying to get ahead," Hermione admitted, setting down her quill and rubbing her eyes. "It feels like there's never enough time to get everything done, and I can't let myself fall behind."

Remus nodded in understanding. "I know the feeling," he said. "I've been known to pull a few all-nighters myself."

"Somehow, that doesn't surprise me," Hermione said with a small smile. "You seem like someone who's always prepared."

Remus's gaze softened, and he gave a slight shrug. "When you've got as much to manage as I do, it pays to stay on top of things," he said, his tone light but with an edge of something Hermione couldn't quite place.

She nodded, recognising the weight behind his words. "Well, you're welcome to stay if you want," she said, gesturing to the scattered papers around her. "But I should warn you—my study habits aren't exactly exciting."

Remus's lips quirked into a smile. "I think I can handle it," he said. "Besides, it's nice to see someone taking their studies as seriously as I do. I've got some reading to catch up on anyway."

They settled into a comfortable silence, and for the next hour, the only sounds were the rustling of parchment and the soft crackle of the common room fire. It was strangely companionable, and Hermione found that Remus's quiet presence was both soothing and motivating.

Their peaceful morning was abruptly interrupted by a loud commotion near the stairs leading up to the girls' dorms. Hermione and Remus exchanged curious glances as they heard a few exasperated groans and muffled laughter from the gathering crowd.

"Looks like James is at it again," Remus muttered with a fond, resigned sigh, setting his book aside.

Hermione's brows furrowed as she craned her neck to see what was happening. Sure enough, there was James, standing at the foot of the girls' staircase with a smug, determined grin on his face, holding a bouquet of conjured lilies in his outstretched hand. The flowers shimmered softly in the light, their petals a delicate mix of white and pink. A growing crowd of Gryffindors had formed around him, watching the scene unfold with a mix of amusement and disbelief.

"Evans!" James called, his voice loud and clear, a cheeky smile plastered on his face. "I won't move until you accept these!"

A collective groan rippled through the common room, and Hermione rolled her eyes. "Is he seriously doing this?" she whispered, incredulous.

Remus chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I'm afraid so. He's convinced this is going to win her over. He even practised the flower conjuring spell for an hour yesterday."

Hermione buried her face in her hands with a sigh. "Unbelievable."

Just then, Lily appeared at the top of the staircase, her expression caught between anger and utter disbelief. She looked down at James, who was blocking the way with a triumphant grin, holding out the bouquet as if it were a peace offering.

"Potter," she said, her voice dangerously calm, "move. Now."

"Not until you take the flowers," James replied with a wink. "I made them just for you. Conjured them myself and everything."

Lily's eyes narrowed, her patience clearly fraying. "If you don't move in the next three seconds, I'm hexing you."

"Oh, come on, Evans," James pleaded, holding the bouquet higher. "Can't you see I'm just trying to be romantic here?"

"Three," Lily began, pulling out her wand. "Two—"

James's confident grin wavered, and he quickly thrust the bouquet forward. "Okay, okay, here, take them!" he said hastily, practically shoving the flowers into her hands.

Lily snatched the bouquet, her face flushed with a mix of fury and embarrassment, and then—true to her word—she flicked her wand. A jet of bright pink sparks shot out, hitting James squarely in the chest. He stumbled back, his hair turning a vivid shade of purple as the crowd erupted in laughter.

"That's what you get for blocking the stairs!" Lily snapped, tossing the bouquet over her shoulder as she pushed past him and disappeared down the steps.

James, now sporting a bright purple head of hair, stood frozen for a moment before breaking into a wide grin. "She took them!" he declared, looking positively delighted despite the hex. "She took the flowers!"

Hermione shook her head, unable to hold back a laugh as she watched the ridiculous display. "He's hopeless," she muttered, half to herself.

"Completely," Remus agreed, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "But that's James for you."

"Do you think he'll ever learn?" Hermione asked, glancing at Remus.

He shrugged, a fond smile on his face. "I don't know," he said quietly. "But if anyone's stubborn enough to win Lily Evans over... it's James Potter."

Hermione couldn't decide whether to be impressed by his persistence or exasperated by his methods. Either way, she knew one thing—life with the Marauders was never dull.

And with that, she turned back to her essay, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

At lunch, Sirius plopped down in the empty space beside Hermione, fixing her with exaggeratedly sad puppy dog eyes. "Kitten, why don't you like me?" he asked, his voice an almost whine.

Hermione looked up from her plate, raising an eyebrow. "Whatever gave you the idea that I don't like you, Black?"

Sirius leaned in closer, his expression turning dramatic. "I'm the only one from the Marauders who you still get snippy with... or who you insist on calling by last name. You barely talk with Peter, but even he gets first-name privileges."

"Oi, leave me out of this," Peter quipped from across the table, sounding uncharacteristically defiant for once. Sirius shot him a surprised glance, and Hermione couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips, but managed to keep a straight face.

"Maybe you just deserve it," she said, setting her fork down. "You're the only one who constantly pranks me, after all."

He grinned, his usual cocky confidence returning. "Oh, so that's it? A bit of harmless fun, and suddenly I'm the bad guy?"

"'Harmless' is debatable," she retorted, crossing her arms. "Glitter that doesn't vanish for three days, slime that magically reappears... need I go on?"

"Kitten, it's my way of showing affection," Sirius said, grinning widely. "It means you're part of the group."

"Is that so?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Because from where I'm sitting, it feels like you're singling me out."

"Oh, I am," Sirius said, with a cheeky grin. "But that's just because I know you can handle it. You've got more bite than you let on."

Hermione shrugged, sticking with her cover story at all costs. Until she figured out what made Sirius tick—and why he would one day turn into someone so dangerous—she wasn't about to lower her guard about him. "Maybe I'm just too busy dodging your pranks to bother learning your first name," she said coolly.

Sirius shrugged, clearly unfazed. "You have to admit, you handled them well," he said, a mischievous gleam in his eye. "But if I stop, does that mean you'll finally call me Sirius?"

Hermione pretended to think it over. "Maybe... if you manage to go an entire week without pulling some ridiculous prank. And not just on me. No pranks at all. On anyone in the castle."

"A whole week?" Sirius echoed, looking both scandalised and amused. "You're asking the impossible, Kitten."

"Then I guess I'll be sticking with 'Black,'" she said with a satisfied smile, picking up her fork again.

He groaned dramatically, throwing his head back. "You're a cruel woman, Kitten. Cruel and merciless."

Hermione just laughed, shaking her head. "You're the one who asked, Black. You know the terms."

Sirius looked at her with a mock-serious expression, clearly plotting. "Fine. I accept your challenge, Kitten. One week, no pranks—just to prove I can do it. And then... you'll call me Sirius."

Hermione's smile widened. "Deal," she said, holding out her hand to shake on it.

He took it eagerly, his eyes gleaming with determination. "You're on."

"What are you guys betting on?" James asked, joining them, his hair still a vivid shade of purple from Lily's jinx. Hermione had to admit, the girl really was talented that the charm still held on so firmly despite James's attempts to cancel it. Or maybe he didn't try at all and was wearing it as a badge of honour, Hermione didn't know.

"Oh, just a little challenge," Sirius said, smirking as he dropped Hermione's hand. "Kitten here doesn't think I can go a whole week without pranking. I, of course, plan to prove her wrong."

James's eyes widened with mock shock. "A whole week? No way you'll last that long, Sirius," he said, grinning. "You're doomed."

"Oh, thanks for the vote of confidence," Sirius said, rolling his eyes. "Just wait. I'll be the very model of restraint."

"Now that I have to see," Hermione said, smirking. "And when he does fail, I get to keep calling him Black forever."

James chuckled. "I'll take that bet," he said, plopping down beside them. "I give him... three days, tops."

"Three days?" Sirius scoffed. "You lot have so little faith in me. Just you wait—I'll make it to the end of the week."

Remus, who had wandered over at the sound of the commotion, raised an eyebrow. "Did I hear that right? Sirius is swearing off pranks for an entire week?"

"That's right," Hermione confirmed with a grin.

Remus looked amused, glancing at Sirius. "I almost want to see you pull it off," he said, shaking his head. "But I'm not holding my breath."

"Oh, ye of little faith," Sirius said, grinning with unshakable confidence. "This week will be the easiest week of my life."

"Easiest week of your life?" Hermione repeated, a teasing glint in her eyes. "I don't think you know the meaning of the word 'easy,' Black."

"Watch me," Sirius shot back, his grin widening.

James leaned back, clearly entertained. "Well, I guess this week is going to be interesting, at least. And if nothing else, I'll enjoy watching you squirm, mate."

Sirius just laughed, his eyes gleaming with the challenge ahead. "We'll see who's squirming by the end of the week," he said confidently, and with that, the deal was sealed.

That afternoon, Hermione finally made it to the Library, her favourite place in the entire castle. She couldn't help the spring in her step as she made her way through the familiar aisles, feeling a wave of comfort wash over her. With the, in her opinion, quite unnecessary review sessions finally out of the way, she now had the freedom to dive into the books she loved. She found the same corner she'd always favoured in her own time and settled in, pulling out a couple of tomes she had been in the middle of before her abrupt travel back in time.

She had barely gotten halfway through the first chapter when she heard a familiar voice.

"I was beginning to think the Marauders had either kidnapped you or you weren't as studious as I thought," Lily Evans said, standing over her with a bemused smile.

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Oh, don't give me that look," Lily said, plopping down in the seat across from her. "You've been spending an awful lot of time with them. I just don't understand how you can stand Black and Potter."

"They're not that bad," Hermione said, though she could feel the slight defensiveness in her own tone.

Lily snorted. "Not that bad? You mean you enjoy being the target of Black's practical jokes?"

Hermione's lips twitched. "Actually, I just bet him that he can't go a full week without pulling a single prank on me or anyone else."

Lily's eyes widened in surprise. "And he agreed to that? What did you wager?"

Hermione shrugged, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Apparently, his need for approval or being liked is greater than his need for pranking. He can't get over the fact that he's the only one I'm refusing to call by his first name."

Lily's brow furrowed, clearly taken aback. "He cares that much about a name?"

"Surprisingly, yes," Hermione said with a soft laugh. "I think it's more about pride than anything. He just can't stand being the odd one out."

Lily shook her head, incredulous. "Unbelievable. You're actually managing to get under his skin. That's... impressive."

Hermione shrugged again. "I guess I am. It's kind of funny, actually. He's trying so hard to behave just so I'll call him Sirius."

Lily chuckled, leaning back in her chair. "You know, for someone who claims not to like him, you're definitely getting to him in ways no one else has."

Hermione's smile softened, and she looked down at her book. "Maybe," she said quietly. "But it's nice to be taken seriously for once—even if it's by someone who doesn't usually take much seriously at all."

Lily regarded her thoughtfully for a moment before speaking. "Well, just be careful," she said, her tone more serious. "They're not all bad, but they can be... overwhelming. Potter especially. I don't want you getting dragged into their messes."

Hermione smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Lily. I'm not about to let them turn me into a prankster. I've got my own mind, you know."

Lily's expression softened, and she nodded. "I know you do," she said, her smile returning. "Just don't lose sight of it."

Hermione gave her a warm smile, then gestured to the open books around her. "Well, if you're so worried about me, you're welcome to join me here and keep me out of trouble."

Lily's eyes lit up, and she pulled out a book of her own. "You know what? I think I will."

When Hermione returned to the common room before dinner, she found Sirius sprawled out on a sofa in the most ridiculous position—upside down, with his legs dangling over the backrest and his head hanging off the edge. He looked utterly bored, letting out exaggerated sighs every few moments. As soon as he spotted her, James rushed over, looking desperate.

"Please, please, call off this bet," James begged. "I cannot deal with him like this."

Hermione glanced at her watch, raising an eyebrow. "Really? It's barely been six hours, and he's already calling it quits?"

"What? No," Sirius chimed in from his upside-down perch, his voice defensive. "I'm not quitting. But I'm bored out of my mind."

"He's being insufferable," James said, his tone almost pleading. "Please, Kitten, you've got to help us out here."

"Sorry, no can do," Hermione said, giving James a sympathetic but firm smile. "Your problem, not mine."

"You mean our problem," James corrected, grinning at her in that charming way he always did when he was trying to get his way. "You're one of us now, remember?"

"Then do something productive with your time, for Merlin's sake," Hermione said with a hint of exasperation. "Make a map or something. I don't care."

James froze, his eyes going wide. "How do you know about that?"

"What?" Hermione said, confused. She thought that project was nowhere in the works yet, since they had it signed with their Animagus nicknames. Which they were clearly not yet, she hadn't heard them using those, not even once. "What are you talking about?"

James's gaze darted to Sirius, who had flipped himself upright so quickly he almost fell off the couch. His expression was somewhere between shock and suspicion. "You just said—"

"Never mind," Hermione interrupted quickly, her heart skipping a beat as she realised she'd said too much. "I was just talking about maps in general. You know, like... geography. Something to pass the time."

Sirius narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced. "Uh-huh. Sure you were, Kitten."

Hermione forced a laugh, trying to sound nonchalant. "Honestly, you lot are so paranoid. I have no idea what you're talking about."

James didn't look convinced, but he shrugged it off, clearly unwilling to pursue it further in the middle of the common room.

"We can tell her, no?" Remus piped in quietly, surprising them all with the suggestion.

James looked torn, glancing between Remus and Hermione. "Well, it was originally your idea, so I guess if you're okay with it."

"Alrighty, Marauder meeting," Sirius announced suddenly, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He hopped up from the couch, making purposeful strides towards the stairs.

James grabbed Hermione by the hand, and started pulling her toward the boys' dormitory after him.

"Wait, what?" Hermione sputtered, caught completely off guard as James all but dragged her along. "What's going on?"

"You'll see," Sirius said with a wide grin over his shoulder, refusing to explain as he led the way up the staircase. Behind them, Remus and Peter exchanged a quick look before following, both looking a mixture of curious and hesitant.

They burst into the fourth-year boys' dorm room, and Sirius quickly shut the door behind them, casting a Muffliato charm with a flick of his wand to ensure privacy. "Alright, Kitten," he said, his grin widening. "You've been officially invited to your first real Marauder meeting."

Hermione's eyes widened, her heart beating faster. "And what exactly is this meeting about?" she asked, trying to hide her nervousness.

James gave her a sheepish smile, running a hand through his perpetually messy hair. "It's about a project we've been working on. Something... special."

"Special, huh?" Hermione said, crossing her arms and giving them a sceptical look. "And you're sure I'm allowed to hear about this special project?"

Remus nodded, his expression gentle and reassuring. "We trust you," he said simply. "Besides, you've already guessed a bit, haven't you?"

Hermione's breath caught, realising that they were actually about to tell her. She had expected them to keep their secrets, to be wary of letting her in, but here they were, ready to share something she knew was important. "Alright," she said quietly. "I'm listening."

Sirius grinned, clearly excited, while James looked both nervous and proud. Remus took a deep breath, then spoke.

"We're making a map," he said, his voice steady but full of excitement, pulling a worn piece of parchment from his trunk. "It's not ready yet, but the end goal is to have every corner of Hogwarts mapped, and enchant it so it would show every person in the castle at all times, in real time."

He laid out the parchment on his bed and tapped it with his wand. "I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good."

To Hermione's amazement, the blank parchment began to transform, thin ink lines crawling across the page, sketching out the familiar outline of the castle. It wasn't the fully detailed version she knew from Harry's hands, but even in its unfinished state, it was remarkable. The layout of the castle appeared—walls, classrooms, and staircases—but there were some gaps, sections where the lines cut off abruptly or corridors faded halfway. Still, the most impressive aspect was the network of hidden passages and tunnels they'd already managed to uncover and mark, some of which Hermione recognised from her own time.

"There's a lot we haven't drawn in yet," Remus admitted, pointing at the incomplete sections. "And the biggest challenge will be the enchantment to track everyone in the castle. Right now, it's just the castle layout and the hidden passages we've discovered."

Hermione leaned closer, genuinely impressed. Though there were no moving dots of people on the map yet, the level of detail they'd already achieved with the hidden passages was astonishing. Some passages seemed familiar, but others were entirely new—secrets she'd never known about despite all her time in Hogwarts.

"This is... amazing," she said honestly, looking up at the three boys. "I can't believe you've already done this much."

James's chest puffed up with pride, while Sirius's grin widened, clearly pleased by her reaction. "It's going to be the best map Hogwarts has ever seen," he said, almost bouncing with excitement.

"And you can't tell anyone," Peter said, his tone serious, which looked a bit comical on his round face. "No teachers, no friends, no one outside of this room."

Hermione nodded solemnly. "I won't say a word," she promised, feeling the weight of the secret settle over her. She traced a finger along one of the unfinished lines, the ink shimmering slightly under her touch. "How did you manage to find all these hidden passages?"

"Trial and error," James said with a grin. "Lots of late nights, a few wrong turns, and a handful of close calls with Filch."

Hermione smiled, fascinated. "I bet. And when you get the charm to track everyone working, it'll be... incredible."

"That's the goal," Remus said with a nod. "But it's finicky. We think we found the charm that would do the trick, but the castle is so huge that it will take some time to make it work at this scale."

"What is it?" Hermione asked, her curiosity piqued.

"The Homonculus Charm," Remus explained, his brow furrowing slightly. "It's complex, and the magic has to be strong enough to cover the entire castle without breaking down."

Hermione's eyes lit up with interest. "I've read about that one! It's difficult, but it should be possible... theoretically, anyway."

Sirius raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "And you know this because...?"

"Because I read a lot," Hermione said with a shrug, trying to sound nonchalant. "I could do some research if you want. There might be ways to refine the charm, make it more efficient."

James exchanged a glance with Sirius, clearly impressed. "You'd really help us with that?"

"Of course," Hermione said, smiling. "It sounds like a challenge. And besides, if it means getting the map to work, I'm all for it."

Sirius leaned back, grinning broadly. "I knew we made the right choice letting you in, Kitten. You're a Marauder through and through."

"What I don't get," Hermione said, furrowing her brow, "is how you managed to make the map at all. Hogwarts is Unplottable. It's in Hogwarts: A History."

"That just means you can't put Hogwarts on a map that would give away its location," Remus explained calmly. "You can still create a map of the internal layout as long as you're already inside the castle."

"Interesting," Hermione nodded thoughtfully, filing that information away. "I never considered that."

"Homeschooling's not all it's cracked up to be, eh?" Sirius joked, but the moment the words left his mouth, James smacked him upside the back of his head.

"Don't be an arse," James said sharply, giving Sirius a warning look. It was clear he thought that alluding to her supposedly deceased parents might upset her.

Hermione offered a reassuring smile, grateful for James's protectiveness and the fact that her slip-up hadn't raised any suspicion. "No worries," she said lightly. "There's a lot of stuff you can't learn from just books. That's why I'm so glad to be here at Hogwarts."

James's expression softened, and even Sirius looked a bit chastened. "Well," Remus said, breaking the tension with a kind smile, "you're catching up fast, so I'd say Hogwarts is agreeing with you."

Hermione's smile widened, feeling a warmth settle in her chest. "Yeah," she said softly. "It really is."

In an unexpected gesture, Sirius threw an arm around her shoulders, giving her a friendly squeeze. Hermione stiffened instinctively, the sudden physical contact from him catching her off guard. Sirius noticed immediately, his grin faltering as he released her.

"Hey," he said, his tone softer than usual, "didn't mean to startle you, Kitten."

Hermione forced a smile, feeling a bit awkward. "No, it's fine," she said quickly, trying to shake off the sudden tension. "I just... wasn't expecting it."

Sirius's gaze lingered on her, his eyes curious but not prying. "I'll keep that in mind," he said, dropping his arm and giving her some space. His tone was easy, but there was a hint of something more—an unspoken promise to be more careful.

"Alright, enough of this sentimental nonsense," James said, breaking the moment with a playful grin. "We've got a map to finish, and we need all hands on deck."

"I think it's time for dinner," Hermione said quickly, eager to excuse herself. "But I'll go to the Library afterwards, see what I can find. I'll see you later?" Her words tumbled out in a rush, and without waiting for a response, she was already halfway to the door.

The boys watched her go, a slight tension hanging in the air. Sirius's brow furrowed, his eyes lingering on the spot where she'd been standing just moments ago. "Did I do something wrong?" he asked quietly, genuinely puzzled.

Remus shook his head. "I don't think so," he said, his voice thoughtful. "I think she just wasn't ready for that... whatever 'that' was."

James shrugged, trying to lighten the mood. "You probably just startled her, Sirius. Not everyone's used to your grabby nature."

Sirius's frown deepened. "She's completely fine with anyone else touching her," he said, sounding frustrated. "She was practically pressed into Remus when he was showing her the map, and you had her by the hand all the way up here."

Remus looked a bit startled at the observation but quickly masked it with a thoughtful expression.

"Maybe it's just you, Sirius," Peter said with a slight smile, trying to ease the tension.

It had the opposite effect. Sirius's expression darkened, and he slumped back into the sofa. "That's exactly what I'm afraid of. That it's me. Why does she hate me? Do you remember, James, how she reacted to me when we met her in Diagon? It was like she was expecting me to hex her or something. What did I ever do to her?"

James raised an eyebrow. "Besides pranking her on the daily?"

Sirius shook his head, frustration etched across his face. "She was already up in arms about me the moment she first saw me," he insisted. "The pranks came waaay after."

Remus's gaze softened, and he leaned forward, speaking gently. "Sirius, not everyone gets you right away. Sometimes people have reasons for keeping their distance that don't have anything to do with you. Maybe she just needs more time to trust you."

"Yeah," James added, trying to sound encouraging. "You can be... a lot, you know. Maybe you just need to give her some space to get to know you for who you really are."

Sirius's shoulders slumped further. "I don't want her to be afraid of me," he said quietly, sounding more vulnerable than James or Remus had ever heard him. "I just... I don't get why she's always got her guard up around me."

"Well, she clearly doesn't hate you," Remus pointed out. "She's been spending more time with us, hasn't she? And she had been a good sport about the pranks, even planned one with us. That has to mean something."

Sirius didn't look entirely convinced, but he nodded slowly. "Yeah... maybe."

"Give her time," James said, offering his friend a reassuring smile. "And in the meantime, do try to lay off the pranks, at least on her, even after the week is up. Maybe if she sees you're not always trying to get a rise out of her, she'll warm up."

Sirius forced a smile, his eyes still shadowed with uncertainty. "I'll try," he said quietly. "But it's hard when she keeps treating me like I'm going to turn on her any second."

Remus reached over and gave Sirius's shoulder a supportive squeeze. "If anyone can win her over, it's you," he said with quiet conviction. "Just be yourself." And with that, they headed to dinner, leaving Sirius to stew over the mystery that was Hermione Prewett, determined to find a way to break down the walls she had so carefully built.

Hermione sat with Lily, Marlene, and Mary at dinner, deliberately choosing the other end of the Gryffindor table and avoiding the Marauders. It hadn't gone unnoticed.

Across the hall, Sirius's eyes flickered to her every few seconds, his expression a mix of confusion and hurt. James was quieter than usual, glancing between Hermione and Sirius as if trying to piece together a puzzle. Remus, ever the observer, noticed the tension but said nothing, keeping his thoughts to himself. Peter was oblivious as usual.

"Everything alright?" Lily asked, her voice low as she leaned closer to Hermione, noticing the way she kept her gaze fixed firmly on her plate.

"Yeah," Hermione said a bit too quickly, forcing a smile. "Just wanted a change of scenery, that's all."

Marlene snorted, giving Hermione a knowing look. "Avoiding the boys, you mean."

Hermione's smile tightened, and she shrugged noncommittally. "Sometimes it's nice to have a bit of girl time," she said lightly, hoping the subject would drop.

Mary, who had been observing quietly, tilted her head. "Did something happen with them?" she asked curiously. "You've been hanging around them a lot lately."

"Nothing happened," Hermione said firmly, keeping her tone casual. "I just needed a break from all the chaos. You know how they are—always plotting something."

Lily chuckled, clearly buying the excuse. "Well, if you ever get tired of them, there's always room for you here," she said with a smile. "You don't have to be a Marauder to be part of the fun."

Hermione felt a pang of guilt at the reminder, but she returned Lily's smile, grateful for the company. "Thanks," she said softly, finally allowing herself to relax a little.

But even as she laughed along with the girls, she couldn't quite shake the feeling of Sirius's eyes on her, a reminder that she was walking a very thin line between the friendships she was building and the secrets she was keeping regarding what she knew of his future.