Sirius wouldn't speak to her.
Hermione felt the weight of his silence, a painfully familiar mirror echo of the cold shoulder she'd given him after November. Each glance he sent her way was filled with frustration and disappointment. Nothing James said could seem to diffuse the tension, and Sirius barely gave Remus the time of day on the matter. Finally, though, after just one day of tense stares and uncomfortable silences, Remus approached her, his brow furrowed with concern.
"Fancy a walk?" he suggested softly.
They left the castle, wandering along the lake's edge in the balmy spring air. Hermione cast a casual Muffliato around them as they walked, grateful for the space to speak openly. She took a deep breath, piecing together what to say, sensing this was a conversation she'd been putting off.
Remus waited for her to begin, his expression soft yet searching, an indication that he was ready to hear whatever it was she had been holding back. Hermione hesitated, the words catching in her throat, and she wondered if she had done the right thing in keeping so much from him until now. He had already guessed the gist of it already anyway, at least the part that there was something going on regarding Peter in the future. But she trusted Remus, deeply, and maybe it was time he understood exactly why she'd been so cautious. And everything else really.
"So… you're from the future," he started, his voice gentle, giving her the lead.
She nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yes. I came back here by accident. But… that's not all. There's so much more to it, Remus, and some of it…" She trailed off, biting her lip, then forced herself to continue. "Some of it involves all of you."
She told him as much as she could bear to explain—about the dangers that lay ahead, the betrayals, and the alliances that would shape their future, or at least what she knew of them. As she spoke, she watched his expression carefully, the way his eyes shifted between disbelief, sorrow, and a quiet, almost pained acceptance. She realised, as the story spilled out, that Remus was perhaps the most resilient of them all, that he'd known suffering long before Voldemort's rise to power, and that somehow, he sensed the gravity of her words before she even said them.
When she finally finished, they both stood in silence, Remus gazing out over the lake as though it might hold some answer. His hand reached for a nearby branch, idly snapping a small twig from it, turning it between his fingers as he took it all in.
"So… you think Snape's redeemable," he said at last, choosing his words carefully, "since he went on to protect Harry at times and, what—brewed a complicated potion for me?"
"It's more complicated than that." Hermione met his gaze, her own steady but pensive. "I don't know if he'll ever change. But if there's one person in the world who might make him question his choices… it's Lily."
Remus sighed, shaking his head with a soft, bittersweet chuckle. "James has really embraced this whole 'rewrite history' thing, hasn't he? He's acting like all of this is just another obstacle on the Quidditch pitch. He honestly believes that we can change it all, just like that."
There was a hint of admiration in his voice, tempered with amusement.
She smiled a little, watching him. "Well, that's James. Ever the optimist. He's got this… belief that things can be set right. I think it's that confidence that makes him who he is."
A soft smile tugged at Remus's lips. "That's James Potter, alright. Unwavering optimism, even when faced with rejection a hundred times or—well, a literal future warning of doom. That's never been enough to stop him."
"Honestly… I still don't understand what made his Lily obsession disappear so fast," Hermione chuckled softly.
Remus chuckled, looking at her with raised eyebrows. "You really don't see it, do you?"
"See what?"
His grin widened. "Well, I think that the so-called 'Hermione Prewett obsession' that's taken over his life might have something to do with it."
Hermione's cheeks turned pink, and she let out an uncertain laugh, trying to keep her voice casual. "Should I be worried, then? That this… whatever this is, will last only until the next obsession comes along?"
Remus smirked, raising his eyebrows in amusement. "No, I wouldn't worry. You're different. You're encouraging him every day, spurring him on… whereas all he got from Lily was rejection."
Hermione bit her lip, her gaze drifting across the lake. "Still… it's strange to think about. In my time, he held on to his feelings for Lily so much longer."
Remus shrugged thoughtfully. "Maybe it was a close thing. Maybe he'd already started letting go, and if Lily hadn't come around in the end… well, it could've gone another way."
She tilted her head, contemplating his words. "I think… if I remember correctly, they were Head Girl and Head Boy together."
Remus let out a bark of laughter, a faint gleam of horror in his eyes. "Merlin save us all from James Potter as Head Boy. How does that even happen? He's not even a prefect."
Hermione shrugged, grinning. "Well, he is a Quidditch Captain. Maybe that's equivalent in Dumbledore's mind in terms of prerequisite. Or maybe Dumbledore has a wicked sense of humour."
Remus snorted, still chuckling. "Honestly, if he can appoint a werewolf prefect, I wouldn't put anything past him."
They burst out in a fit of giggles, the sound drifting softly across the lake, but beneath their shared humour lingered the weight of all Hermione had just told him. Remus's gaze softened as he looked back out over the shimmering water, his expression more serious.
"Thank you for trusting me with this, Hermione," he murmured, the sincerity in his voice grounding them both in the moment.
"Always," she replied, her voice equally quiet, a gentle reassurance passing between them. But she could see a trace of concern still clouding his face. Remus took a steadying breath before broaching the inevitable topic.
"Peter…" he began slowly, glancing back at her. "It's heavy, knowing all this. I can see why you can't tell Sirius. And I don't think you'd get away with revealing just the time-travel part without him digging for more. He's never been one to let things go when he's suspicious, you know?"
Hermione nodded, relief easing into her expression. "I'm glad you see the problem. It's the last thing I want, to put more strain on him. And if he knew… Remus, you know how he'd react. I can already see him storming off, cornering Peter—"
"Hexing him into oblivion, most likely," Remus added with a chuckle, though the mirth didn't quite reach his eyes. "Sirius would make a mess of things, that's for sure."
She sighed, running a hand through her hair in frustration. When had she started doing that? James was probably rubbing off on her. "So… he has to stay in the dark. At least for now. You could always just snog him senseless, you know. He's a teenage boy, Remus."
Remus raised an eyebrow, a sly grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Snog him senseless, eh? I mean, as diversion tactics go, it's not the worst plan I've heard."
Hermione smiled knowingly. "If anyone could pull it off, it's you, Remus. He's more likely to listen to you than to anyone else."
Remus nodded, the hint of a smile tugging at his lips as he looked out over the lake. "Maybe you're right. If anyone can keep him grounded, it's… well, it's me. Even if he won't admit it half the time." He gave a rueful grin. "Guess I'll have to work my charm."
Hermione laughed. "Don't act like it'll be such a chore. You're practically the only one who can rein him in, and I know he listens to you."
"Well," he replied, a warm glint in his eye, "I suppose I have my ways. And maybe a few more in reserve, if needed."
"Good," she said, patting his shoulder. "You can write a book about it, maybe title it 'Dealing with Marauders: A Guide to Calming Infuriated Canines.'"
Remus chuckled, glancing at her with a playful glint in his eye. "A best-seller for sure. 'Chapter One: How to Keep Your Boyfriend from Hexing Half the School Out of Sheer Loyalty.'"
Hermione smirked. "And don't forget Chapter Two: 'Strategic Snogging as Conflict Resolution.'"
He snorted. "Maybe I'll save that chapter for private readings only."
They shared a laugh, the lingering tension dissolving as they both let their thoughts settle. Hermione tilted her head thoughtfully. "But really, Remus, he needs you. More than he'll ever say. He may be the first to jump into trouble, but you… you're the reason he might just think twice. You give him the balance he needs."
Remus's expression softened, a mixture of affection and understanding in his eyes. "I think he sometimes forgets that he doesn't have to fight every battle alone. But I'm here for that—to remind him he doesn't have to take on the world by himself."
Hermione squeezed his arm gently. "Exactly. And besides, if anyone can help him see reason in all this, it's you." She added with a mischievous grin, "So yes, please go and snog him senseless if that's what it takes."
Remus laughed, running a hand through his hair. "Guess I'll have to put my all into the task. You know, for the greater good."
"For the greater good," she echoed, grinning. As they started back toward the castle, Remus rolled his eyes with a laugh.
"Well, I'll let you know if there's an opening for co-author in Dealing with Marauders someday. I've a feeling you'd have quite a few contributions."
"Oh, absolutely," Hermione replied, eyes sparkling. "Though, I'd probably rename the chapter to 'How to Deal with Prongs without Rolling Your Eyes Every Few Seconds.'"
Remus chuckled, clearly delighted by the suggestion. "That's a challenge even Dumbledore would find daunting."
Hermione laughed, shaking her head. "He is his own unique brand of charming chaos, isn't he? Honestly, he'll be a menace if he ever becomes Head Boy."
Remus smirked. "You think he won't use every ounce of power he has to mess with the Slytherins? He'd probably make it his official duty. It'd be in the handbook—'Managing House Rivalries, Pranks Included.'"
They shared a knowing look, imagining James with the power of a badge and absolutely no restraint.
Hermione added with a grin, "Oh, and just think of how he'd handle responsibility meetings. Half the prefects would need counselling after."
"Right!" Remus shook his head, a grin forming. "I give it two months before McGonagall tries to stage an intervention, insisting he rebrand himself from 'Menace of the Halls' to 'Respectable Head Boy.'"
"Well, if he ever does get there, I suppose we'll be his safety net." She tilted her head at Remus. "And the author and co-author of Surviving Marauders: A Guide for Those Who Dare."
"Catchy. I can see it now. And Chapter Four… well, I think it'll be on How to Convince Padfoot that 'Low-Profile' Is Not Synonymous with 'Hexing the Slytherin Table,'" Remus finished, chuckling.
"Perfect," she agreed. "I'm sure it'll be required reading for anyone daring enough to join our ranks."
They were still chuckling when they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, trading half-formed ideas about potential Marauder book chapter titles, when Sirius appeared from around the corner, looking like a storm cloud ready to burst. His gaze went straight to Hermione, his expression hardening as he walked over and looped his arm around Remus's shoulders, pulling him close in a swift, almost possessive gesture. The laughter faded, tension simmering in the air.
"Oh, look who's back from a cosy little stroll," Sirius muttered, glancing at Hermione with a look that spoke volumes. It was almost as if he could physically drag Remus away from her if he thought he needed to. "Met with any Death Eaters along the way?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, determined not to engage. She knew how to handle his glares by now, but this one seemed particularly cutting. Sirius narrowed his eyes in response, his jaw tightening. Remus gave him a small nudge, trying to ease the tension, but it only seemed to make Sirius's grip firmer.
Just then, a voice cut through the brewing hostility. "Will you give it a rest, Black? I asked Hermione to talk to Severus," Lily said smoothly, appearing from behind them. Hermione's head snapped to Lily, eyes wide in shock at the bold-faced lie. She hadn't expected Lily to intervene, much less fabricate a story on her behalf.
Sirius looked at Lily, thrown off for a moment, his suspicion wavering. "You… asked her to talk to Snape?" he repeated, his tone laced with disbelief. He didn't look entirely convinced but was clearly taken aback.
"Yes," Lily replied, meeting his gaze steadily. "I thought he might listen to someone neutral, even if he was hell-bent on ignoring I existed all." Her tone was almost matter-of-fact, but Hermione could sense Lily's quiet intent to defuse the situation.
Hermione held her breath, watching as the gears turned in Sirius's mind. He still looked like he was fighting the urge to challenge her, but Lily's composed tone seemed to get through, cracking his stubborn resolve.
Remus seized the opportunity to interject. "Sirius, we're all on the same side here. Hermione's just trying to help."
Sirius's jaw tightened briefly, his grip on Remus loosening but his eyes still fixed on Hermione with a hard edge. "Fine," he muttered, sounding more resigned than convinced. "But I don't want to hear another word about Snape. He's not our charity project, or our problem for that matter."
"Understood," Hermione replied, her tone carefully neutral, though a faint spark of triumph flickered beneath her calm expression.
Lily, watching the exchange with an air of quiet patience, gave Hermione a small, encouraging smile before turning to Sirius. "You know," she said with a touch of lightness, "it's a beautiful day outside. How about you take your boyfriend"—she nudged her head towards Remus—"and enjoy a nice stroll around the lake? A bit of fresh air might help."
Sirius's expression softened, the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his mouth despite his earlier frustration. "Fine," he said with a half-grumble, shooting a look at Remus. "What do you say, Moony? Fancy a lap around the lake with yours truly?"
Remus chuckled, clearly amused by the entire situation. "Can't think of a better offer," he replied, nudging Sirius's side playfully. "Lead the way."
As they headed out, Sirius threw a last pointed glance at Hermione, his tone softer but still guarded. "No more shady meetings, alright?"
Hermione nodded, biting back a smile. "Noted."
When they were finally out of earshot, Hermione hung back, shooting Lily a grateful look. "Thank you for stepping in."
Lily shrugged, giving Hermione a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Don't mention it. I just know how Black can get with anything involving Snape. He can be… intense."
Hermione offered her a small smile. "That's one word for it."
Peter's birthday fell on the day after a full moon, which meant that the Marauders were in no shape for the usual celebratory antics. There had been a bit of excitement during the moonlit hours, mostly because Moony had developed a particular fixation on Wormtail. All night, he seemed bent on chasing the rat in endless circles around the Shrieking Shack, driven by some inexplicable werewolf instinct to hound him wherever he scurried. Finally, after a harrowing chase, Wormtail had scrambled to the top of a rickety cabinet, clutching its edges as he peered down at Moony, who sat below, staring up at him with an intense and unsettling focus.
Hermione couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt, remembering that she'd told Remus everything about the future just days before. But she told herself it was all for the best, even if watching Moony hunt Wormtail all night felt a little too on the nose. When morning came and they transformed back, everyone was able to laugh it off, albeit in exhausted relief.
At breakfast, James and Sirius still managed to rouse themselves enough to put up their usual floating banner above the Gryffindor table, flashing in bright red letters: Happy Birthday, Wormtail! Peter blushed a bit, smiling despite himself as a few Gryffindors cheered him on and clapped him on the back. But mostly, the day felt like survival mode, each of them dragging themselves from one class to the next, barely staying awake.
By dinner, the group was yawning through their meals, eyelids heavy, the weariness of the night catching up with them all at once. Hermione, James, and Sirius shared a look, and without even needing to say a word, they all decided to skip any grand finale for the evening.
When they finally stumbled back into the common room, Hermione leaned over to Peter and gave him a soft, if a bit forced, smile. "Happy birthday again, Peter. We'll make up for the quiet day soon, I promise."
Peter nodded, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Honestly, I don't think I could keep my eyes open for anything more. But thanks, all of you."
And with that, they each collapsed into their beds, finally letting exhaustion claim them. The promise of proper celebrations could wait for another day.
The weeks leading up to O.W.L.s were nothing short of an endurance test. Hermione was relentless, throwing herself into revision with a single-mindedness that bordered on obsession. She put every side project, every lingering concern, and every stray thought on hold until her exams were over. Any interruption—no matter how well-intentioned—was met with a sharp retort and a narrowing of her eyes that could silence even Sirius mid-quip. And before she knew it, June 6th arrived, taking her by surprise with how fast the year had flown.
The exams came in an unyielding wave. Monday was Charms, with the written exam in the morning and practicals in the afternoon. Tuesday brought Transfiguration, which was equally intense. Wednesday saw them in the greenhouses for Herbology, and Thursday was Defense Against the Dark Arts. By the time the afternoon practical for DADA was over, they were exhausted but oddly exhilarated. For the first time that week, they could breathe.
James, Sirius, and Peter were lounging by the lake, basking in the freedom of the brief respite. Remus sat a bit apart, his Ancient Runes book open but largely forgotten as he watched the others with a mixture of amusement and a hint of something darker. Hermione sat beside him, rubbing her temple, grateful for the break but dreading her Ancient Runes exam the following day.
Just when she thought they might be in for a quiet afternoon, she noticed Sirius's gaze sharpen, locking onto a lone figure near the edge of the lake: Severus Snape.
Hermione barely had time to react before Sirius was on his feet, striding purposefully toward Snape with a glint in his eye that Hermione recognized all too well. "Sirius, don't," she warned, rising to her feet.
But he didn't stop, and a glance told her that James was watching, torn. "Sirius," James called out, half-heartedly.
Sirius ignored them both, drawing his wand with a flourish. With a flick, Snape was yanked into the air by his ankle, his robes billowing around him as he dangled upside-down, his underwear on display for all to see. The few students lounging nearby snickered, and Peter let out a loud laugh, egging Sirius on.
"Put him down!" Hermione snapped, her voice low and furious, as she marched over. But Sirius only shrugged, a defiant smirk on his face.
"Come on, Kitten, it's all in good fun," he said with a laugh.
Remus sat under the tree, his face impassive as he watched the scene unfold, though his Ancient Runes book was forgotten in his lap, his eyes flickering with discomfort.
Snape, however, didn't find it funny in the slightest. His face was flushed with humiliation, his eyes narrowed with unmasked fury. Hermione could see Lily approaching from the opposite direction.
Lily, whose furious expression had twitched for an instant as though she was going to smile, said, "Black, let him down!"
"Sirius, enough," Hermione said, pulling out her own wand when he didn't back down, her patience finally snapping. "Petrificus Totalus!"
Sirius froze mid-laugh, his smirk cut off as he went rigid, toppling backward into the grass. The Levicorpus spell broke, and Snape fell to the ground with a thud. He scrambled to his feet, his wand clutched tightly, looking between Sirius, who lay stiff as a board, and Hermione, whose wand was still drawn.
"Are you okay?" Lily hurried forward to him, her voice strained.
"I don't need help from a couple of filthy Mudbloods," he spat, his gaze flicking over Hermione and Lily with an expression of pure disdain.
The air seemed to freeze, every eye turning to Hermione. Her breath caught in her throat—not because of the insult itself, but because of what it implied. In this time, she was supposed to be Hermione Prewett, a pureblooded witch. Only James and Remus knew her true origin among the students, while Sirius and Peter believed she'd been taken in by the Prewetts. And now… now the secret was out in the open (the version Sirius and Peter knew if Hermione played it right), exposed by one careless word.
"You should apologise, to the both of them," James said in a dangerously cool tone, his wand drawn at Snape as well now.
Snape smirked, sensing the impact of his words. "Perhaps you should have been more careful, Prewett—or whatever you are—about where you discuss your past. The Three Broomsticks isn't as private as you'd like to think."
James's face drained of colour, a horrified realisation dawning in his eyes. He remembered their conversation at Valentine's—she'd spoken of her early memories, of feeling different, all things he'd thought were shared in confidence. Now, it was clear that someone had been listening.
Lily looked equally taken aback, both for the original insult, and then by the fact that Snape went ahead and revealed something so personal. Out of what? Embarrassment? To shift the focus off of himself? "Fine, I won't bother in the future. And you should wash your pants, Snivellus," she spat, turning away from him, and storming off to the castle.
Hermione winced. The retort cut deeper than any jinx could have, and she felt a pang of sympathy for Snape despite everything. But she couldn't help wondering if her presence here had somehow worsened the situation. Her interference, her time-travelling existence in this period—it had changed so much already. She found herself frozen, like a deer caught in lumos, staring at James. The tension in the air was thick, stretching taut between them.
Then suddenly, James's eyes widened, and before she could react, he moved. "Protego!" he shouted, shoving his wand up just in time to throw a shield charm between her and the curse that hurtled through the air. But in his haste, his stance was just slightly off, and the spell slipped around the edge of the shield, slashing across his face. James staggered, his hand coming up instinctively to his cheek where a thin line of blood began to appear.
Everything moved too fast to think. Hermione whipped around, her wand pointed directly at Snape. "Expelliarmus!" Her voice was as sharp as the snap of her wrist, and Snape's wand flew from his hand, landing several feet away.
She stepped forward, her voice low but carrying a quiet, chilling intensity. "I think you should go. Before I decide to become a bully myself, as you insinuated back in fourth year, and curse you while you're without your wand."
Snape's dark eyes flickered with something unreadable—anger, shame, resentment—before he dropped his gaze. His face was red as he scrambled to collect his wand, shooting her one last, venomous glare. And then, without a word, he turned and walked away, his figure quickly disappearing from sight.
As soon as he was gone, Hermione turned back to James, who was still clutching his cheek, looking both shaken and furious. Her gaze softened, and she moved closer, reaching up with her wand. "Stay still," she murmured, her tone gentle. With a careful wave, she cast a quick healing charm, the gash on his cheek sealing up, leaving only a faint line where it had been, and which would disappear in a few hours if she did the spell right.
James met her eyes, something vulnerable in his expression, a glimmer of uncertainty. "Did… did this happen before?" he asked, his voice low and hesitant, as if he already feared the answer.
Hermione swallowed, her own gaze clouding with uncertainty. She didn't have an answer. Everything about this felt altered, tainted by her presence in a way that could no longer be traced back to the original. "I don't know," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
He looked down, processing the weight of her words. Then, in one swift motion, he took her hand, his fingers closing around hers. "Come on," he said quietly, glancing around at the growing crowd of students whose eyes lingered on them. "Let's get out of here. Everyone's staring."
She nodded, casting one last glance toward the now-empty path where Snape had disappeared. But before they could slip away, she hesitated, realising she couldn't leave things unfinished.
"Sirius," she said, her tone cool as she turned toward him, waving her wand to lift the Petrificus Totalus she had placed on him. He rolled over as he regained control of his limbs, looking as though he might mutter something indignant, but her expression silenced him.
"Congratulations," she said dryly. "Did you get the entertainment you wanted?"
For a moment, Sirius looked like he might argue, but something in her tone made him pause. His usual defiance was gone, replaced by a rare flicker of shame. "Hermione, I—"
But she was already turning away, her gaze shifting to Remus, who watched her from where he sat, his face troubled. They exchanged a silent look, a mutual understanding passing between them. She trusted him to handle Sirius, to help him see the gravity of his actions. She then turned to Peter, whose laugh had been the loudest when Snape had been jinxed.
"I'd be ashamed of myself, Wormtail," she said, her voice steady and disappointed. "There was absolutely nothing amusing about this whole thing."
Peter's smirk faltered, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his face as he looked away.
Without another word, she let James lead her back to the castle, her mind whirling. They walked in silence, but when they reached the entrance, James stopped, his face troubled.
"I'm sorry," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "If I'd known… I'd never have brought it up there. I didn't think anyone would be listening."
She squeezed his hand, offering him a sad smile. "It's alright, James. You couldn't have known. Let's just… put this behind us for now, alright?"
He nodded, though the shadow in his eyes lingered. Together, they stepped through the entrance and disappeared into the quiet sanctuary of the castle, the weight of the afternoon's events pressing down on them both.
