As soon as Hermione and Remus slipped back into the common room, skirting curfew by just a few minutes, they found James sprawled out on the sofa, his arms crossed impatiently. He shot up the moment he saw them, his eyes narrowing in mock irritation.
"Oi, where did you two run off to?" he demanded, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips despite his best attempt at looking stern. "You know it's Sirius's birthday in two days, right? I can only keep him distracted with Peter for so long. We need to plan."
Hermione looked a bit guilty as she dropped her bag onto a nearby chair. "Sorry, we just got... caught up in some map research," she said, gesturing vaguely to the pile of books they'd brought back from the Library.
"Yeah, right, research," James teased, giving her a knowing smirk. "Well, you're here now, so come on. We need a plan that'll blow last year's prank out of the water."
"Prank?" Hermione echoed, eyebrows raising. "I thought we were planning a celebration, not another one of your elaborate stunts."
James's grin widened mischievously. "Oh, we're planning both. It wouldn't be a proper Marauder birthday without a little chaos."
Remus chuckled, settling down into one of the armchairs and crossing his legs comfortably. "What's the idea this time?" he asked, his eyes sparking with curiosity. He knew well enough that any birthday involving the Marauders meant something outrageous was on the horizon.
James leaned forward, his voice dropping to a low, conspiratorial whisper. "I've got a few ideas, but it needs to be something epic. We're talking legendary. You in, Kitten?" His gaze locked onto hers, a playful challenge dancing in his hazel eyes.
Hermione hesitated, feeling the intensity of his look. It was hard to refuse when he looked so enthusiastic, like he was inviting her to be part of something special. She swallowed, feeling her heartbeat quicken, and forced herself to lean back slightly, putting just enough distance between them to steady herself. "Uhm, yeah," she said, trying to sound nonchalant, even though her voice was a little shaky. "Just tell me what needs to get done."
James, caught up in the thrill of planning, didn't notice her slight retreat, already too busy scribbling down notes on the parchment in front of him. But Remus did—Hermione caught the flicker of awareness in his gaze from the corner of her eye. He looked at her with an almost too-knowing expression, but, to her relief, he didn't say a word. He simply leaned back in his chair, his smile softening with a hint of understanding.
"Great. We're going to sneak into the kitchen the night before and get the house-elves to help us with part one," James explained, outlining the first phase with enthusiasm. "I want to make sure we have the biggest, most ridiculous cake Hogwarts has ever seen—like, something so over-the-top that Sirius won't be able to resist diving right in."
James's enthusiasm was infectious, and Hermione found herself leaning forward again despite herself, getting caught up in the details. "And what's part two?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.
James's eyes gleamed mischievously. "Part two involves a surprise prank—one that he won't see coming." He pointed at the second half of his parchment, where he had drawn a crude sketch of what looked like a large, colourful explosion. "We charm the cake to release fireworks when he cuts the first slice."
Hermione's eyes widened. "Fireworks? Inside the Great Hall? You're mental, James!"
Remus snorted, shaking his head. "Typical Marauder plan—dangerous and completely over-the-top. What could possibly go wrong?"
"Everything," Hermione said dryly, though she was already grinning. "But I suppose I'm in."
"Good," James said, flashing her a triumphant smile. "Now, you're in charge of getting the house-elves on board, Kitten. They love you, and we need all the help we can get for this to be pulled off properly."
She rolled her eyes, but couldn't hide her amusement. Sirius dragging her off to the kitchens about a hundred times was paying off now apparently. The house-elves really did like her. Maybe because she was always very polite and kind with them. "Fine. I'll handle it. But if this goes sideways, I'm blaming you."
"I'll take that risk," James said, laughing as he began to jot down more details on the parchment. Remus shot Hermione a sympathetic smile from his armchair.
"It's Sirius's birthday, after all," Remus said with a shrug. "I suppose chaos is inevitable."
Hermione couldn't help but chuckle. "I guess I'd better start practising my charm work," she said, already mentally planning her approach with the house-elves. It was going to be a long couple of days leading up to Sirius's birthday.
Thankfully, James's elaborate schemes, which had grown even more ambitious by the next morning, had kept every Marauder occupied over the following two days. Whether it was executing pranks, charming decorations, or orchestrating elaborate distractions to keep Sirius clueless, every free moment was consumed with party planning. It was a relief for Hermione, as it meant Remus didn't have the opportunity to corner her about her odd reaction to James. She knew he had noticed; his perceptive gaze had lingered on her more than once. But at least for now, they were all too preoccupied with the upcoming surprise.
By the time the party was in full swing in the common room, filled with enchanted streamers, magically inflated balloons, and an endless supply of Honeydukes sweets, Sirius was clearly in his element—laughing, joking, and basking in the attention. Hermione was leaning against the wall, watching the chaos unfold with a smile when Remus slipped up beside her.
"Hey," he said, his voice low enough to blend into the general noise of the celebration.
"Hey," Hermione replied, feeling the slight edge of anticipation that always accompanied conversations with him lately.
Remus studied her, his gaze gentle but direct. "You've been avoiding me," he said quietly, his tone making it clear it wasn't an accusation, just an observation.
Hermione's smile faltered, and she shifted uncomfortably, looking away. "I've been busy," she said, gesturing vaguely to the party around them. "We all have."
"Uh-huh," Remus said, his voice patient. "Busy enough to dodge every chance I had to talk to you alone?"
She opened her mouth to argue, then closed it again, knowing he was right. Instead, she sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "I'm not avoiding you, Remus," she said, choosing her words carefully. "I just... needed some space to think, that's all."
He didn't push, but she could feel the weight of his curiosity pressing in, his eyes never leaving her face. "And have you figured out what you needed to think about?"
"I... I don't know," Hermione admitted, feeling a rush of frustration at how uncertain everything felt. "It's complicated."
Remus raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Well, yeah, fancying one of your best friends kind of is."
Hermione's eyes widened, and she felt a flash of panic. "I do not fancy James!" she blurted out, her voice a bit too loud. She could feel a blush creeping up her neck, and she crossed her arms defensively. "I can't fancy James. He's... he's into Lily! They're meant to be—a match made in heaven."
Remus's eyebrows shot up, and a small, knowing smile played on his lips. "I never said it was James," he said gently, clearly enjoying her flustered reaction.
Hermione's eyes widened as her face heated up, realising she'd walked right into his trap. "I—I just assumed..." she stammered, struggling to find a way out of the awkward admission she'd inadvertently made.
"You assumed because he's the one who makes you blush," Remus said calmly, his gaze kind but unrelenting. "But if you really think he's meant for Lily, why are you so worked up about it?"
"I'm not!" she insisted, though her voice lacked conviction. "It's just... it's complicated, like I said. James is... he's charming and infuriating and..."
"And exactly the kind of person who gets under your skin," Remus finished for her, his tone sympathetic.
Hermione pressed her lips together, feeling a familiar ache in her chest. "I don't have a place in this equation. I just need to get over it," she said firmly, though her voice wavered. She knew the future.
Remus gave a small, sad smile, his eyes darting over to where Sirius was holding court at the centre of the party, laughing and carefree. "I know the feeling," he said quietly, almost to himself.
Hermione's breath caught, and she looked at him, truly looked at him, for the first time. Suddenly, her third year memories—the subtle trust and loyalty Remus had displayed even when everyone else had abandoned Sirius—clicked into place. The quiet way he had never quite managed to speak ill of Sirius, or hand over information that could apprehend him, even when he was supposedly a traitor, made so much more sense now.
"Have you talked to him about it?" she asked softly, her voice gentle.
Remus shook his head, his expression tightening. "No," he admitted. "I'm pretty sure he doesn't... swing that way. And besides, I don't want to ruin our friendship. What we have now... it's enough."
Hermione's heart ached for him, and she reached out, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "I'm sorry, Remus," she said, meaning it. "I didn't realise."
He shrugged, his smile tinged with a bittersweet acceptance. "It's alright. Some things aren't meant to be," he said, his gaze still fixed on Sirius, who was now playfully tussling with James over the last slice of cake. "But that doesn't mean I can just turn it off."
Hermione nodded, understanding all too well. "I know," she said. "It's the same for me."
Remus's eyes softened as he looked at her, and they shared a quiet, knowing moment, a bond forged out of their mutual, unspoken longing. "I guess we're in this together, then," he said, his voice lighter, but still tinged with sadness.
"Yeah," Hermione agreed, a small, rueful smile tugging at her lips. "I guess we are."
For a few moments, they sat there, two people caught in the same current, caught between what they wanted and what they could never have. Then Remus gave her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. "We'll be okay," he said gently. "We've got each other, right?"
Hermione nodded, the weight in her chest easing just a bit. "Right," she echoed, feeling a little less alone in her heartache.
Remus gave her a smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes, before turning back to the party. "Come on," he said, his tone brighter. "Let's go make sure Sirius doesn't end up hexing half the common room before the night's over."
"Good idea," Hermione said, forcing herself to focus on the present. They stood up together, side by side, and rejoined the party, knowing they were each carrying a secret the other now understood all too well.
The roar of the crowd was deafening as students poured into the stands, banners waving and voices shouting in excitement. It was the first Quidditch match of the season: Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. Hermione had never seen the appeal of the sport, not even when she'd started cheering for Harry, but now, sitting in the Hogwarts stands and seeing James on his broom, her perspective had subtly shifted again. She told herself it was about supporting her house—James, Sirius, and even Marlene—but deep down, she knew that wasn't the full truth.
Sitting between Remus and Lily, Hermione felt her pulse quicken as James and the team took their positions. It was the first time she'd seen him in full Quidditch gear since her "awakening," as she privately called it, and the sight of him in his scarlet robes, windswept hair, and confident smile did things to her she'd rather not think about. She'd avoided practices under the excuse of having too much work, which was true enough, but also because she didn't want to be caught staring.
For once, she hadn't brought a book, which didn't go unnoticed by Lily, who had her eyes narrowed suspiciously. Hermione shifted in her seat, focusing too intently on the pitch below.
"Well, that's a first," Lily commented, her voice cutting through the noise around them.
"What is?" Hermione asked, tearing her gaze away from James and turning to her friend.
"Potter not showing off," Lily said with a wry smile. She tilted her chin toward the pitch, where James was hovering in formation, his focus completely on the cue to start the game instead of making a spectacle of himself.
Hermione's eyes flickered back to him, watching the way he handled his broom with effortless ease. It was clear he wasn't trying to impress anyone, at least not right now. He was just... being James, and it was startling how different he seemed when he wasn't putting on a performance. She swallowed, suddenly aware that her cheeks were warm.
"Maybe he's actually taking the match seriously," Hermione said, trying to sound indifferent. She could feel Remus's amused gaze on her, as if he could see right through her attempt to play it cool.
"Or maybe he's finally growing up," Lily muttered, but there was a flicker of curiosity in her tone, as if she wasn't quite convinced.
The whistle blew, and the game began in earnest. Hermione watched, barely blinking, as the players zoomed through the air, red and green blurs weaving in and out of each other. James's focus was intense, every muscle in his body coiled and ready for the slightest shift in the game. For once, he wasn't doing stunts or tricks between plays—just playing with pure, calculated skill. It was... captivating.
Sirius, acting as Beater, sent a Bludger hurtling towards a Slytherin Chaser with a ferocity that earned him cheers from the Gryffindor stands. Marlene, darting around as a Chaser, moved with seamless coordination with James and Rodrick, scoring with quick, precise passes that made Hermione cheer along with the crowd.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lily watching James, too, and for a moment, Hermione's heart sank, before she reminded herself this was exactly what she wanted. She told herself it didn't matter—Lily was the one James really wanted. But Lily's gaze seemed more thoughtful than admiring, and Hermione wasn't sure what to make of it.
"Come on, Potter, keep your head in the game!" Remus muttered beside her, leaning forward as James executed a sharp turn to block a Slytherin attempt at scoring. Hermione found herself mirroring his movement, her fingers clutching the edge of the wooden seat.
A cheer erupted from the Gryffindor side as James intercepted the Quaffle and launched into a daring, spiralling manoeuvre towards the goalposts. Hermione held her breath, her eyes locked on him as he swerved past a Slytherin Beater, dodged a Bludger with a deft twist, and scored with a triumphant flourish.
The stands exploded in applause, and Hermione's cheer joined the roar, her heart pounding. James was grinning from ear to ear, turning his broom back towards the centre of the pitch, but just for a split second, his eyes flickered up to the stands, and she could have sworn he looked directly at her. Her breath caught, before she realised it was Lily he had been looking at.
Lily's laugh brought her back to reality, and she forced a smile, clapping along with the rest of the Gryffindors. Remus nudged her with his elbow, an unreadable expression in his eyes.
"What?" Hermione asked, feigning innocence.
"Nothing," Remus said, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Just... enjoying the match, same as you."
She didn't have a chance to respond before the game resumed, faster and more intense. Hermione let herself get swept up in it, cheering with abandon when Gryffindor scored again, biting her lip whenever the Slytherins made a dangerous play. And through it all, she couldn't quite tear her eyes away from James, the centre of the storm, pulling Gryffindor's team together with every confident pass and strategic move.
By the time the match ended—Gryffindor winning by a narrow margin thanks to Marlene's final goal—the stands were alive with celebration, and Hermione felt breathless, exhilarated, and a little overwhelmed by the emotions thrumming in her chest.
"Still think Quidditch is boring?" Remus teased as they made their way down the steps, caught in the sea of cheering Gryffindors.
Hermione just laughed, her voice nearly lost in the noise. "Maybe I've been converted," she admitted, a smile breaking across her face as she glanced one last time at the pitch, where James was surrounded by teammates, his grin brighter than she'd ever seen it.
The common room was alive with the energy of victory—laughter, cheers, and the clinking of Butterbeer bottles filled the air. Red and gold streamers hung from the rafters, and students crowded around tables laden with snacks, recounting their favourite moments of the match.
Hermione was perched on the arm of a couch, chatting animatedly with Marlene and Remus, when she saw James pass by Lily with a casual, "Hey, Evans," and nothing else. No flirtatious quip, no smug recounting of his goals—just a simple, normal greeting before he moved on to join Sirius, who was leading the chant of a Gryffindor victory song near the fireplace.
Lily blinked, clearly caught off guard. Her brow furrowed as she turned to Hermione, who was watching the exchange with barely concealed curiosity. "Is it just me, or is Potter... different?" Lily asked, sounding genuinely perplexed.
"Different how?" Hermione asked, though she already knew what Lily meant. She had noticed the shift too—James had been acting oddly subdued ever since she had given him that talking to the day after the full moon, a stark contrast to his usual over-the-top antics.
"He just said 'hey' to me," Lily said, her voice coloured with disbelief. "And he didn't mention the game at all! I mean, he scored thirteen times and blocked two near-goals. Normally, he'd be—"
"Bragging endlessly," Marlene interjected with a knowing smirk. "Yeah, I noticed it too. Maybe he finally got over his ridiculous crush on you."
Lily looked almost disappointed at the idea, and Hermione felt a strange twist in her chest at the expression. "Do you think he's... sick or something?" Lily asked, glancing over at James, who was now laughing at something Sirius had said.
"Maybe he's just maturing," Hermione suggested with a shrug, though she knew that wasn't quite right either. She couldn't put her finger on it, but there was something different about James tonight—something quieter, more thoughtful.
"Or maybe he just doesn't want to scare you off," Remus added, his tone light but his gaze shrewd. "You always did say you wished he'd act normal, didn't you?"
Lily frowned, clearly not sure how to respond, then turned her attention back to the celebration. "I suppose," she said slowly, but she didn't look convinced.
Hermione watched her for a moment longer, then shifted her gaze to James, who caught her eye from across the room. He flashed her a quick, almost shy smile before turning back to Sirius. Her stomach did a little flip, and she quickly looked away, taking a long sip of her Butterbeer to hide her reaction.
Remus's voice broke through her thoughts, a teasing lilt in his tone. "Something on your mind, Kitten?"
She rolled her eyes at the nickname—it was kind of weird coming from him—but couldn't suppress the smile that tugged at her lips. "Just enjoying the party," she said breezily, though she knew he didn't buy it for a second.