Finding the time to plot their secret Animagus project was a challenge. With Remus around, they were constantly on edge, fearing he'd catch wind of what they were planning. The full moon nights were their only safe windows—the 24-hour stretch when they knew exactly where Moony would be, either at the Shrieking Shack or in the Hospital Wing recovering. But even then, they had another obstacle: the books they needed were locked away in the Restricted Section. Sneaking in meant breaking several rules, and they had to be careful.

It was the end of October when James finally decided it was time to bring Hermione in on another secret—his family's prized heirloom. The Marauders brought her up to their dorm room, the atmosphere tense with the weight of Remus's absence. Hermione sat on Remus's bed, biting her lip, clearly worried. James cleared his throat, pulling her attention back to him.

"So. The Restricted Section," he started, drawing her gaze up to him. She furrowed her brows as if confused, though she had a pretty good idea of where this was going. "I have a way to get us in, but it's a two-person job at maximum. Care to join me?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow, pretending not to know what he was talking about. "And how exactly are we not going to get caught?" she asked, playing along.

James's lips curved into a grin, and he pulled out a shimmering, silvery fabric from under his bed, draping it over his arm. "With this," he said, holding it up for her to see.

Hermione's eyes widened just enough to convey surprise. "An Invisibility Cloak?" she asked, keeping her voice calm.

"Not just any Invisibility Cloak," James said with obvious pride. "It's been in my family for generations. No one will see us coming—or going."

She reached out to touch the material, letting her fingers brush against the smooth, cool fabric. "That's... brilliant," she said, genuine admiration in her voice. She had seen the Invisibility Cloak before—Harry's, to be precise—but holding James's and knowing it was the same one Harry would have in the future still felt surreal.

Sirius leaned back on his bed, his arms crossed as he watched her reaction with a smug smile. "This thing's saved our skins more times than I can count. And now you get to be part of the fun."

Hermione hesitated for a second, then looked back at James. "You're sure about this? I mean, sneaking into the Restricted Section is—"

"Necessary," James said firmly. "We need those books. If we mess this up..."

"It's not just us we're risking," Hermione finished, her eyes softening as she understood his urgency.

James nodded, his expression serious. "Exactly. So, are you in?"

Hermione gave him a determined nod. "I'm in."

"Good," he said, clearly relieved. He handed her the cloak, their fingers brushing briefly. "We'll go tonight, after curfew. Meet me by the portrait hole."

"Tonight," Hermione agreed, the sense of adventure mingling with anxiety as she folded the cloak carefully in her lap.

Sirius, never one to be left out of the conversation for long, grinned and leaned forward. "So, Kitten... ready for your first proper Marauder mission?"

Hermione smirked. "I think I can handle it. Just don't get jealous when James and I come back with all the information."

Sirius chuckled, but there was a hint of seriousness in his gaze. "Oh, I won't be jealous," he said. "Just make sure you don't get caught, alright?"

"We won't," James said confidently. "We've got the Cloak, and we've got Hermione. We're covered."

The words made warmth bloom in Hermione's chest, even as she felt the weight of the responsibility. She was in—completely—and whatever lay ahead, she knew she wouldn't back down. She was part of this madness now, and somehow, that felt exactly right.

Hermione met James at 10 PM on the dot at the portrait hole. His face lit up with a mischievous grin, and he pulled the Invisibility Cloak over them both, wrapping them in a cool layer of shimmering fabric. "Ready?" he whispered, his excitement barely contained.

"Ready," she said, nodding, before casting a quick Silencing Charm on their shoes. The Fat Lady's curious voice echoed behind them, asking who was sneaking out at this hour, but they were already slipping away, silent as shadows.

"Good idea," James breathed, his voice barely audible. They moved cautiously through the dim corridors, dodging Peeves, who was humming a bawdy tune to himself as he floated past, and ducking just in time to avoid running into Filch, quite literally. "It would be nice to have the map already," James murmured close to her ear once the caretaker rounded the corner, and the warmth of his breath sent a shiver down her spine.

Hermione suddenly found herself acutely aware of how close they were, pressed together under the cloak against the wall. James's tall frame loomed over hers, his body solid and warm, and she could feel every movement he made. She swallowed, confused by the strange flutter in her stomach. This was James Potter—Harry's father. She had never thought about Harry this way, never even considered it. But James... James was different. He had a physicality, a kind of presence that was impossible to ignore. He was confident, broad-shouldered, and built like the Chaser he was—so unlike Harry's lean, Seeker's frame.

She shook her head, trying to clear the unwanted thoughts. Now was not the time.

"You alright there, Kitten?" James whispered, his voice low and teasing once they set out again. There was something about the way he said it, the gentle rasp in his tone that made her heart skip a beat. She was used to Sirius calling her that, always in a playful, exaggerated manner. But this... this was different.

"Yeah, sorry," she managed to say, forcing her focus back to their task. They were here to find information, not get distracted by anything else. She reminded herself firmly that James was infatuated with Lily, and nothing had ever suggested he saw her as anything other than a friend.

They slipped into the Library, the door creaking softly as James eased it open with a whispered Alohomora. Hermione couldn't help but marvel at how easy it was to break into Hogwarts' supposedly secure spaces. They navigated the rows of shelves until they reached the Restricted Section, James casting a quick glance around to ensure they were alone.

"You'd think they'd make this more challenging," Hermione muttered, feeling a flicker of irritation at the lax security.

James just smirked. "Hogwarts has never been one for airtight security," he whispered, echoing her thoughts.

They scanned the shelves, fingers trailing over dusty spines until they found a few books that looked promising, James pointing out ones they had already checked on previous rounds. Hermione pulled down a heavy tome with silver runes on the cover and started flipping through it, carefully skimming the sections about advanced transfiguration and Animagi transformation. The library books were spelled against any copying charms, which meant she had to write down the important notes by hand. She set to work, the scratch of her quill barely audible in the vast, silent room.

James hovered beside her, flipping through another book, occasionally showing her a passage he thought was relevant. Their shoulders brushed, and she tried to ignore the warmth radiating from him, forcing herself to focus on the pages.

She was halfway through copying a particularly complex passage on the required ingredients and their properties when she paused, feeling his eyes on her. "What is it?" she whispered, not looking up.

"Nothing," he said quickly, but there was a strange note in his voice. "Just... you're good at this. Research, I mean."

Hermione blushed, grateful for the dim lighting. "Years of practice," she said softly, feeling oddly pleased by the compliment. If only James knew how many hours she had spent looking into Nicolas Flamel, or Basilisks.

They worked in comfortable silence for a while, the weight of the task at hand settling over them. Occasionally, James would lean in to read over her shoulder, his breath warm on her neck, sending tiny jolts of awareness through her. She knew she shouldn't be feeling this way—James was off-limits, tied to a future she couldn't, wouldn't, change—but the attraction was there, simmering beneath the surface, whether she liked it or not. It was like a switch flipped and now she couldn't undo it.

They had just finished copying down the last of what they needed when they heard a noise—a faint rustling from somewhere deeper in the Library. James tensed beside her, his hand gripping her arm instinctively.

"We need to go," he mouthed, his face close to hers.

Hermione nodded, quickly stuffing her notes into her bag. They crept back through the shelves, moving as one, their footsteps soundless thanks to the silencing spell. As they reached the exit, James carefully pulled the cloak back over them, and they slipped out just as the unmistakable sound of Filch's muttering to his current cat—all Hermione knew it couldn't possibly be Mrs Norris—drew closer.

Her heart was hammering by the time they made it back to the safety of Gryffindor Tower, both of them grinning like they'd just pulled off a great heist. As they ducked into the common room, James pulled off the cloak, his eyes gleaming with exhilaration. "We did it," he said, his voice low and triumphant.

"We did," Hermione agreed, feeling the adrenaline still thrumming in her veins.

"Remind me never to doubt you again, Kitten," he said, the nickname slipping out easily, his expression warm and genuine.

Hermione just smiled, trying to ignore the way her pulse quickened. "Let's just hope all this information is worth it," she said, pulling out her notes and tucking them safely back into her bag.

"It will be," James assured her, his voice steady but his gaze lingering for just a moment longer than necessary. He flashed her a quick smile before turning back toward the staircase leading to the boys' dormitory.

"Come on," he said, his excitement returning. "We've got some Marauders to update."

They climbed the stairs, their footsteps echoing softly in the quiet corridor, and reached the dormitory. James pushed open the door, revealing Sirius and Peter waiting impatiently. Sirius was sprawled out on his bed, throwing a rubber ball—making Hermione wonder where he got that, it was clearly Muggle—against the wall while Peter watched from his own bed, fiddling with a Chocolate Frog wrapper.

"Finally!" Sirius exclaimed, sitting up the moment he saw them. "Took you long enough. What did you find?"

Peter looked up, his eyes widening with curiosity. "Did you get what we need?" he asked eagerly.

Hermione pulled the parchments out of her bag and spread it across the bed, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment as the boys leaned in to study it. "We got everything that seemed relevant," she said, sitting down beside the pile of notes. "There's a lot about the preparation phase for the Animagus transformation, mandrake leaf in the mouth for a month, a bunch of convoluted ingredients, waiting for electrical storms. It will definitely take a while."

James's eyes widened with excitement as he scanned the notes. "Mandrake leaf for a month, huh?" he said, grinning. "I knew it would be complicated, but this sounds... well, doable. Just a bit of patience and perseverance."

"Yeah, and let's not forget the part about waiting for a lightning storm," Sirius said, smirking. "That'll be a bit trickier to plan."

Peter's eyes darted nervously to Hermione's notes. "A month with a leaf in your mouth?" he said, his face scrunching in discomfort. "What if we swallow it by accident?"

"Then we have to start all over again," Hermione said, her tone serious. "This isn't something you can rush or mess up. We need to be absolutely sure we're ready for each step, or the whole thing falls apart."

Sirius groaned, flopping back dramatically onto his bed. "This is going to be torture. I can't even laugh properly with a leaf stuck in my mouth for a month!"

James smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, come on, Sirius. You can still prank people. You just have to be careful not to swallow the leaf while you're at it."

"Yeah, right," Sirius shot back, rolling his eyes. "You try keeping a straight face when you've got a leaf in your mouth, James. One good laugh, and it's game over."

"We could try some kind of modified sticking charm," Hermione suggested, biting her lip thoughtfully. "Something that keeps it stuck to the roof of your mouth for example, so it's out of the way."

James tilted his head. "Not a bad idea. But would that mess up the potion later?"

Hermione shrugged. "I'll have to look into it. But honestly, the sticking charm is the least of our worries. For the Animagus transformation to work, you need the mandrake leaf in your mouth from full moon to full moon. We've already missed the window for this cycle. The moon's been up for hours."

Sirius groaned. "So we have to wait another month? Brilliant."

Hermione nodded. "Yes, and we'll need to gather the other ingredients before we start. If we don't have everything ready by the end of the month, we'd have to start over."

James leaned forward, interested. "What are the other ingredients?"

"First, a crystal phial," Hermione said, ticking them off on her fingers. "It has to be bathed in pure moonlight when putting in the ingredients. So even if we keep the leaf in for the whole month, if the night is cloudy on the full moon at the end, the whole thing's a bust."

"Great," Sirius muttered. "So, we're praying for good weather too now."

"There's more," Hermione continued. "We need a silver spoonful of dew from a place untouched by human feet or sunlight for seven days."

Sirius's eyebrows shot up. "Untouched by sunlight? Where on earth do we find that? Or more like how do you guarantee no human feet have touched the ground there?"

"No idea," Hermione admitted, frowning. "And then there's the chrysalis of a Death's Head Hawk Moth. They're extremely rare. I don't know where we'd even begin looking for one. Let alone four. One for each of us."

Sirius groaned dramatically, throwing himself back against his pillows. "Four? You've got to be kidding me. One was bad enough."

James rubbed the back of his neck, looking more determined than daunted. "We'll find them. There's got to be someone in the Magical Creatures department who can point us in the right direction."

"Maybe," Hermione said, not sounding entirely convinced. "But even if we do find them, the rest isn't exactly simple either. There's a reason this whole process is so rare and strictly regulated."

"That's why we're doing it ourselves," James said with a grin. "No rules, no limits."

Hermione shook her head, though a smile tugged at her lips. "You say that now, but let's see how you feel after spending a couple of months with a leaf in your mouth because we had to start over for one reason or another."

"Oh, come on, Kitten," Sirius teased. "If anyone's going to crack first, it'll be you."

Hermione gave him a look of mock offence. "I'll have you know that I have more self-control than the lot of you put together."

Sirius's eyes sparkled with challenge. "Oh, we'll see about that."

"Alright, enough," James cut in, though he was laughing. "Let's focus. Hermione, if you can look into where we might find the chrysalis, that'd be a huge help. I'll start asking around about the phials, and Sirius... try not to get us all expelled. I think the Forbidden Forest would be a safe bet for the dew collection. Does anyone have a silver spoon?"

"I can nick one from home at Christmas," Sirius said with a dramatic shudder, clearly dreading the thought of returning to Grimmauld Place for the holidays.

Hermione raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "Or, you know... you could just buy one?"

Sirius pulled a face, his tone teasing. "Where's the fun in that?"

"Because going home to your family that you hate for Christmas is fun. Sure," she said dryly. "I always knew you were a masochist."

"Fine, fine," Sirius relented, throwing up his hands. "I'll owl order one. Happy?"

"Extremely," Hermione replied, her voice saccharine. "Especially since that means it'll get here next week instead of after the holidays—nearly two months from now."

James snickered, clearly enjoying the exchange. "Alright, one silver spoon sorted. Now, Peter, what about you?"

Peter, who had been sitting quietly, looked up, his voice hesitant. "What do you need me to do?"

"Could you find out if Professor Sprout has any mandrakes in the greenhouses?" Hermione asked, remembering the screaming plants from her second year, though she wasn't certain if they were currently grown at Hogwarts.

Peter's face brightened a little at being given a task. "Yeah, I can do that. I'm sure I can sneak a look when she's not around."

"Good," James said, nodding in approval. "We'll need them for the leaf phase, and we don't want to waste any time."

Sirius sat up, rubbing his hands together. "Alright, so we've got our assignments. Let's meet back here in a few days and see where we're at. And, Kitten," he added with a playful grin, "try not to show us all up too much."

"I wouldn't dream of it," Hermione said with a smile, feeling a rush of excitement mingling with the apprehension. They had a plan, and it was risky, illegal, and completely reckless—but they were in it together.

They each went over their individual tasks one more time, making sure everyone was clear on their roles. James was already planning how to obtain the appropriate crystal phials, Sirius was grumbling good-naturedly about silver spoons, and Forbidden Forest reconnaissance, and Peter was nervously gearing up for his first bit of sneaking around in the greenhouses.

As they parted ways, Hermione felt a strange sense of purpose settle in her chest. They were embarking on something huge, and for better or worse, she was right there with them—shoulder to shoulder in their daring, foolish quest.

As she prepared to go back to her own dorm, Sirius leaned in to whisper, "You know, Kitten, this might just be the most fun we've ever had."

Hermione shot him a challenging look. "You mean the most trouble we've ever had."

He grinned. "Same thing."

Hermione hadn't slept much after the late-night sneaking and planning, but she was determined to be there for Remus. Bright and early, she made her way down to the Hospital Wing, stifling a yawn as she slipped through the quiet corridors of the castle. The early morning sunlight filtered through the stained-glass windows, casting coloured patches on the floor as she hurried along.

She knew the boys wouldn't drag themselves out of bed this early—they always reserved their visits for the afternoon when they could all come as a group. But Hermione couldn't wait. She had been thinking about Remus all night, her concern for him outweighing her own exhaustion.

When she pushed open the door to the Hospital Wing, she spotted him instantly. Remus was sitting up in bed, a few bandages visible beneath his hospital issued pyjamas. He looked pale and tired, but he managed a weak smile when he saw her.

"Hey," Hermione said softly, pulling up a chair beside his bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," he said, though his voice was hoarse and a bit shaky. "Just... exhausted, you know?"

Hermione nodded, understanding without needing any further explanation. "I brought some chocolate," she said, pulling out a small bar from her pocket. "Thought it might help."

Remus's eyes lit up at the sight of the Honeydukes bar, and he accepted it with a grateful smile. "Thanks," he said, unwrapping it slowly. "You didn't have to come so early."

"I thought you could use the company. Besides, it's not fair you missed out on the chaos at the feast last night." It was really rotten luck, the full moon falling on Halloween of all evenings this year.

Remus's smirk returned as he took a bite of the chocolate. "Let me guess—Sirius did something outrageous?"

"Oh, you have no idea," Hermione said, laughing. "He tried to break his record of eating pumpkin pasties, and of course, Peter and James egged him on. They all ended up in a sugar coma halfway through."

Remus chuckled, shaking his head. "Typical. I suppose I'll get the full report when they come by later."

"You can count on that for sure," Hermione promised.

Remus took a small bite of the chocolate, his expression softening. "I appreciate it. It's... nice, having someone here first thing. The mornings after... they're the hardest."

Hermione's heart clenched at his words. "I know," she said quietly, not wanting to make a big deal of her knowledge. She reached out and gently touched his hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. "I'll always be here if you need me."

Remus seemed surprised by the gesture, his gaze meeting hers with a mixture of gratitude and something she couldn't quite place. "Thank you, Hermione," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I mean it. It means a lot."

They sat there in comfortable silence for a while, Remus nibbling on the chocolate and Hermione just being there, present, for him. The stillness of the Hospital Wing and the soft morning light made the moment feel almost sacred, like it was just the two of them in the entire world.

Finally, Remus broke the silence with a small, teasing smile. "You look like you haven't slept at all."

Hermione chuckled, rubbing a hand over her eyes. "I didn't get much, to be honest. I had... things to do." She hesitated, not wanting to lie but knowing she couldn't exactly tell him what they'd been up to.

Remus raised an eyebrow but didn't press. "Well, you should take care of yourself too, you know."

"I will," she promised. "But you're more important right now."

He shook his head with a gentle laugh. "I'm not sure I agree with that, but thank you."

They talked for a little longer about classes, mundane things that kept the conversation light, until Madam Pomfrey shooed Hermione away so Remus could rest. As she left the Hospital Wing, Hermione felt a warmth settle in her chest—a sense of quiet contentment that, despite the convoluted way she got here, this was exactly where she was meant to be.

"Kitten, where have you been?" Sirius whined dramatically as Hermione slid into the seat beside him at breakfast. He draped himself over her shoulders in mock despair, earning a few amused glances from nearby students.

Hermione rolled her eyes and shrugged him off, reaching for a piece of toast. "Oh, you know, Sirius," she said with a sigh, "some of us actually get up early to visit friends in the Hospital Wing instead of lazing about until the last possible second."

Sirius pouted, his eyes widening in exaggerated hurt. "You wound me, Kitten! Abandoning me for Moony first thing in the morning?"

Hermione snorted, spreading marmalade over her toast. "Oh, yes, because I'm sure you were just pining away in my absence."

"I was!" Sirius said, clutching his chest theatrically. "I had no one to torment at this unholy hour!"

"Well, consider this your lucky day," Hermione said dryly, glancing over at him with a teasing smile. "You've got me back for breakfast, and you'll have Remus in the common room this afternoon. Happy now?"

"Ecstatic," Sirius said, his grin returning full force as he nudged her with his shoulder. "But you owe me, Kitten. You missed out on the dramatic retelling of my heroic deeds last night."

"Heroic, huh?" Hermione arched an eyebrow. "Did you break another food-eating record?"

"Not just a record—a legacy," Sirius said, puffing out his chest. "You missed history in the making."

James, sitting down beside Hermione, rolled his eyes. "Oh, Merlin, here we go again," he muttered, shaking his head as he buttered his toast.

Hermione was instantly aware of his presence, her body reacting without her permission. She shifted slightly and forced herself to concentrate on the conversation. Her eyes landed on Peter who was sitting across from them, his eyes darting between the other two boys who were flanking Hermione. He was probably feeling left out. "How are you doing this morning Peter?" she asked nicely.

Peter's eyes widened slightly in surprise, and he gave Hermione a hesitant smile. "Oh, I'm fine, thanks," he said, his voice a bit uncertain as if he wasn't used to being addressed directly by a girl. "Just... you know, the usual."

Sirius snickered, leaning back with a grin. "The usual for you means inhaling enough breakfast to feed a small country."

Peter's cheeks flushed pink, but he managed to laugh. "Well, someone's got to make sure there aren't any leftovers."

Hermione chuckled, glad to see Peter relax a little. "Exactly, it's a very important job. Can't let all this food go to waste."

James grinned, playfully elbowing Hermione's side. "See, now that's why we keep you around, Kitten—you understand priorities."

She shot him a look, feeling that familiar, confusing warmth at his teasing. "Oh, right, because encouraging Peter to enjoy breakfast is clearly the most important role I can play here," she said dryly.

Peter laughed along, the tension easing from his shoulders, and he helped himself to another serving with a bit more confidence. Hermione's heart softened. She didn't want him to feel like he was always in the shadow of the other three, and this small connection seemed like a step in the right direction.

"Just don't eat all the bacon, mate," Sirius warned, grabbing a piece for himself. "Some of us are still growing."

Peter rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Sure, Sirius. Like you're not already tall enough to scare half the first-years."

"Terrifyingly handsome, you mean," Sirius corrected, winking at Hermione, who just rolled her eyes and threw a bit of toast at him.

Lily approached the table with a determined look on her face, clearly wanting to speak to Hermione about something important. "Hey, Hermione, can I—"

But before she could finish, James practically leapt up from his seat, nearly knocking over his juice in his haste. "Evans! What a coincidence seeing you here!" he said with a broad grin, his voice overly cheerful.

Lily's expression immediately turned exasperated, her attention shifting from Hermione to James. "Potter," she said coolly, folding her arms. "What do you want now?"

"Just to say good morning, of course," James said, his eyes twinkling as he attempted to look innocent. "Maybe walk you to your first class?"

Lily let out a huff, clearly unimpressed. "No, thank you. I can walk myself, as I have done every single day at Hogwarts."

James's grin didn't falter. "Oh, come on, Evans, don't be like that. We could—"

"I was talking to Hermione," Lily interrupted, turning back to her friend with an apologetic look. "Sorry, what I was saying—"

But James, seemingly unwilling to let go of the moment, interjected again. "You were going to say something lovely, I'm sure."

Lily's patience was visibly fraying. She shot him a glare that could have melted steel. "I was going to ask Hermione something, and it has absolutely nothing to do with you," she said sharply.

Hermione couldn't help but stifle a laugh, covering her mouth with her hand as Sirius let out a low whistle beside her. "Ouch, Jamesie, rejected again," he teased.

"Shut up, Sirius," James muttered, still trying to look nonchalant as he plopped back down next to Hermione, clearly determined to stay within earshot.

Hermione just smiled apologetically at Lily, who gave James one last glare before refocusing on her. "I'll catch you later, Hermione," Lily said, clearly deciding to have the conversation away from James's persistent interference. She gave a tight smile and walked away, shaking her head as she went.

James watched her go with a hopeful expression, but Hermione didn't miss the hint of disappointment in his eyes. "You really need to work on your timing, James," she said gently.

"Hey," James said, trying to sound casual, "she talked to me, didn't she?"

Sirius snorted. "Yeah, mate, if you consider 'telling you to go away' as talking."

Hermione forced herself to focus on her plate, feeling a flutter in her chest as James's arm accidentally brushed against hers when he reached for another piece of toast. She tried to ignore the warmth spreading up her arm, taking a steadying breath. It was ridiculous, she told herself. This was James—Lily's James, not hers.

Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that had lodged itself in her chest, and she sighed quietly, trying to push it away. "You know," she said, her voice lighter than she felt, "you'd get a lot farther if you just... stopped pestering her every five minutes."

James gave her a sideways glance, his expression wry. "Oh, and what do you suggest, Kitten? Just pretend I don't exist?"

Hermione bit her lip. "Maybe just try being yourself without the theatrics. You're... you're not as bad as you think, James. You know, when you are not trying too hard."

He looked genuinely surprised by that, his brow furrowing. "So, in your professional opinion... as a girl, I mean," he said, leaning a bit closer, "you're saying girls don't actually want guys to woo them?"

"Not like this," Hermione replied, holding his gaze steadily. "It's not about impressing them with flashy gestures or showing off. It's about being... real, I suppose. Showing who you actually are. I mean, do you think Lily will say yes just because you make a spectacle every time you see her?"

James hesitated, clearly grappling with the idea. "But... I thought girls liked that kind of stuff. You know, the attention, the big gestures. I mean, Sirius said—"

"Sirius is not the expert on everything," Hermione interrupted gently, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Trust me, James, sometimes less is more. You've got to let her see the side of you that's not putting on a show. The real you."

He leaned back, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "The real me, huh?"

"Yeah," she said softly. "The one who cares about his friends, the one who's willing to help people without expecting something in return... the one who's willing to sneak into the Library in the middle of the night just to get answers to help someone else. That James is pretty great."

He blinked at her, surprised, and for a moment, she thought she saw something soften in his gaze. But then Sirius, never one to let a moment stay serious for too long, leaned in with a mischievous grin. "See? Even Kitten thinks you're redeemable. There's hope for you yet."

James chuckled, his easygoing smile returning. "I'll take that as a compliment," he said, winking at Hermione, making her heart skip a beat.

She just rolled her eyes, but her cheeks felt warm, and she couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze directly. Instead, she picked up her fork and began to poke at her food, feeling strangely unbalanced in a way she couldn't quite name.

Hermione was enjoying a rare moment of peace in the Gryffindor common room, curled up in a corner with a book. It had been a chaotic day—Lily had never circled back to ask whatever question she'd had, and the boys were being their usual unpredictable selves. But what bothered her most was how strangely off-balance she'd felt around James lately, his easy confidence somehow making her more aware of him than she'd like.

She glanced up as the portrait hole swung open, and her heart lightened when she saw Remus entering, looking a little pale but back on his feet. A genuine smile spread across her face, and she shut her book with a quiet thud, getting up to greet him.

"Oh, thank Merlin, you're the only sensible one around here," she said with a relieved laugh, and Remus chuckled in response as they sat back down.

"That's a terrifying thought, Hermione," he said, smiling warmly. "If I'm the sensible one, we're all doomed."

Hermione let out a relieved sigh. "You have no idea how true that is. James and Sirius have been... well, James and Sirius. And don't get me started on their latest antics."

Remus raised an eyebrow. "What did they do this time?"

"Let's just say I had to spend most of breakfast refereeing between them and trying to keep Peter from feeling like the odd one out," Hermione replied, rubbing her temples. "And, of course, James was busy pestering Lily the entire time."

"Ah," Remus said knowingly. "So, the usual, then?"

"Exactly," Hermione said, grinning despite herself. "I don't know how you manage to keep them in line half the time."

"I don't, really," Remus admitted with a wry smile. "I just let them burn off their chaos until they're ready to listen."

Hermione laughed softly. "Well, I'm glad you're back. I missed having a voice of reason to balance things out."

Remus's expression softened, and he gave her a grateful look. "I've only been gone a day."

"Still," Hermione said with a shrug, her smile lingering. "A day can feel like a lot longer around here. Do you want to escape to the Library with me?" she asked, her voice tinged with eagerness.

Remus, sensing her desire to get away, smiled and nodded. "Sure," he said, pushing himself up from the couch.

Just then, James appeared at the top of the stairs, his messy hair still sticking up from whatever mischief he'd been up to. He spotted them, and his face brightened. "Oi! Where are you two off to?" he called out, making his way down.

Hermione's eyes met James's, and for some inexplicable reason, her cheeks flared with warmth. Her heart skipped a beat, and she looked away quickly, focusing all her attention on Remus instead. "Let's go," she said hurriedly, grabbing his arm and tugging him towards the portrait hole.

"Wait—" James started, but Hermione didn't give him the chance to finish. She spun on her heel, practically dragging a bewildered Remus with her. They slipped out through the portrait hole before James could catch up, leaving him standing in the middle of the common room, staring after them with a mixture of confusion and surprise.

Remus raised an eyebrow as they walked in silence for a few moments before he spoke, his tone curious but gentle. "Okay, what was that about?"

"What was what?" Hermione asked, a bit too quickly, her cheeks still warm from the blush she was trying to will away.

Remus gave her a knowing look, a small, amused smile playing on his lips. "You practically ran out of the common room the second you saw James. You can't tell me that wasn't a deliberate escape."

Hermione's steps faltered, and she let out a huff of frustration. "It's nothing," she said, waving her hand dismissively, though she knew she wasn't fooling him in the slightest.

"Right," Remus said, his voice thick with scepticism. "Nothing at all, just a sudden desperate need to visit the Library." His eyes softened, and he added gently, "It's okay, you know. Whatever it is. You don't have to hide it from me."

Hermione stopped walking and hands falling to her sides with a bit more force than necessary, feeling caught. "I just... it's complicated, alright?" she admitted quietly. "And I don't even know what to make of it myself."

Remus studied her for a moment before nodding. "Alright. I won't pry. But if you ever want to talk... I'm here."

"Thanks, Remus," she said, giving him a grateful smile. They continued walking in a comfortable silence, making their way to the Library. Hermione knew she'd have to figure out her own feelings sooner or later, but for now, she was content to enjoy Remus's quiet, steady presence and the sanctuary of the Library away from the confusing mess her emotions were becoming.