Werewolf in Disguise

As they headed down to the Great Hall, Remus and Hermione began telling each other about themselves (well who she thought she was), what Hogwarts was like, the Slytherin/Gryffindor rivalry, the Marauders themselves, and James obsession with Lily Evans.

“So, you sit around during class and plan pranks to play on people?” she asked, becoming even more intrigued with the good looking boy beside her.

“Basically,” Remus answered. “We all do well in our classes, so sometimes we get bored. Especially when we were in History of Magic a few years back! Professor Binns never pays attention and we could get away with anything. Along with Lily and a few others, we’re pretty much the smartest students in school, which is probably why we haven’t been expelled yet.”

“Wow, that almost sounds like fun. So, where does Lily fit in the group? Is she one of you?”

Remus snorted, “James wishes! He’s been in love with her forever, but she absolutely hates him. She thinks he’s arrogant and pigheaded, and she’s actually not far off the mark with that one. James is an only son and his parents are getting older and they’re filthy rich, so he’s a bit spoiled, and he acts it.”

Hermione laughed at the description and Remus decided he’d have to get her to do that more often. “What about Sirius? He and James seem close.”

“Well, of all of us, they’re closest. More like brothers then anything, especially since Sirius moved in with him over the summer.” At her look he added, “let’s just say that Sirius and his family don’t see eye to eye on some things, like the importance of others you could say.”

“Oh ok. Well, correct me if I’m wrong, but Peter doesn’t seem to fit your group. I know I’ve only barely talked to any of you, but I feel like I know you all already, sounds a bit mental actually,” Hermione said shaking her head. “You don’t have to answer me, I’m just being nosy.”

“Not at all,” he said grinning at her, she really was the prettiest girl he’d ever met, even with the bushy hair. “Well, since the four of us share a dorm, it became, the four of us. I guess you could say I’m the brains of the operation, while Sirius and James come up with the ideas, and Peter, well, he’ll do anything, and I mean anything, that James asks him to do. He’d never get him hurt, mind, but it gets a bit annoying watching Peter all but worship him. They all know my secret and they’ve kept it well hidden for years, so your secret will be safe as well.”

“Will it be ok if we don’t say anything to anyone yet?”

“Of course, you just let me know when and if you’re ready, but be warned, they may find out without you telling them.”

Hermione couldn’t help but admire the way he spoke of his friends. She thought Lily hating James was a bit odd, he seemed likable enough. She was interrupted from her thoughts as Remus stopped short, pulling her close with the arm he had around her back which she hadn’t been able to forget about.

“Well, well, well….what do we have here,” someone sneered, stepping out of the dark corner. They were almost to the Great Hall and the murmurs of voices could be heard. “Found your latest victim, Lupin?”

Hermione walked forward as Remus tried to hold her back. She extended her hand for him to shake as she said, “Hi, I’m Hermione, who are you?”

He sneered at her without taking her hand and replied, “someone who doesn’t want dirty hands thank you very much. You better watch this one, he can get a bit vicious.”

“Oh I think he’s quite all right,” Hermione said, lowering her hand and stepping back to Remus. “Besides, I’m hungry and he’s taking me to eat dinner.” With that, she began walking with Remus to the Great Hall.

“Who was that piece of work?” she asked.

“Severus Snape,” he remarked. “Best to stay away from him if you can. He has a uh, history with us and he won’t hesitate to hex you for just being seen with one of us.”

“Maybe after dinner I can go to the library and see if I can find out what’s going on with me.”

“You the bookworm type?”

“I think so, yes,” she said grinning.

“Well, I tend to spend a bit of time in there myself, I’ll walk you there later, ok?”

Entering the Great Hall, they walked over and took their seats with James and Sirius.

“What kind of history does he have with you guys?” Hermione asked, piling food onto her plate.

“What history?” Sirius asked, wanting to engage her into conversation.

“We met Snape at the door,” Remus supplied.

“You didn’t hex him did you Remus?” asked Lily. She had beautiful auburn hair and startlingly vivid, green eyes. She had been sitting down the table a ways, but scooted next to Hermione when she sat down.

“Of course we didn’t,” Hermione said confused. “Why would he hex someone for just talking? Although he didn’t sound so pleasant.”

“Because, these guys can’t go through a complete day without hexing him, it’s quite pathetic actually,” Lily said rolling her eyes as the boys grinned.

“He usually hexes us first, but Evans tends to miss that part,” James said, his voice lowered slightly.

“In any case, you’ve been a “man“ for almost a year now, you should know better then to hex someone for fun. I daresay you start it most of the time Potter,” Lily said, with a slight bite to her voice.

Hermione turned back to Remus, “um, hates him did you say?” she said starting to giggle as Remus nodded his head and chuckled.

Sirius was starting to feel left out and tried to talk to Hermione again, “So, Herms, what can you tell us about yourself? Have you remembered anything?”

“Herms?” she asked incredulously.

“Ok then, Hermy?”

“Absolutely not,” she stated.

“How about ‘Mione?” he tried again, as the others grinned.

“How about Hermione and we leave it at that?” she asked looking slightly angry at him.

“Ok, but we’ll find a name for you yet. We have several for Lilykins over there already. You know,” he said looking at her again, “you’re even more beautiful when you’re angry.”

Hermione blushed slightly and looked down at her plate. Remus however, started to feel his anger build, knowing Sirius was flirting with her when she was his…his? When did he start thinking like that? He’d only known her half a day. Getting himself back under control, he too began to eat, though rather sadly, thinking that if Sirius really wanted Hermione, then he didn’t stand a chance. No one, not even the girl in question, stood a chance if Sirius found someone he wanted and it looked very much like he wanted her.

Hermione then looked over at Peter, hoping to steer the conversation away from her, “So, Peter, what courses do you take?”

Peter began telling her all about his course schedule and how much he hated Potions. Hermione could see why the guys liked him. He was more quiet then them, but he had a certain charm if one could get past his looks.

“He even has a stupid club, it’s called the SlugClub, and all the people with influential relatives are in it,” said Lily.

“Except Evans, she’s just so good at Potions that he kisses her feet,” James said laughing, “not that she doesn’t deserve it of course.”

“It’s not like I want to go to his meetings or anything Potter, I just take my classes seriously, unlike you guys,” she spat.

“He even worships Snivellus, and that’s just gross,” shivered Sirius.

“Well, Severus is very good at potions Sirius, and deserves the credit he’s given,” Lily stated, defending him once again.

“So Lily, Dumbledore said I’d be rooming with you and two others, I hope that’s ok,” Hermione said, redirecting the conversation again.

“Oh pajama party in the girls dorm,” Sirius said as James grinned. James too thought that this new girl was very pretty, and seemed fun to be around. He also hadn’t missed how she tended to move the conversation around when things got tense. He liked her immediately, but she just wasn’t Lily Evans.

“That’s groovy, Hermione!” Lily exclaimed. “The other girls are great, Celine is the brunette on our side,” she said pointing down the table and waving, “and Samantha is the blonde. Hey, if you’re finished we could go on up to the Common Room and I’ll show you around, then introduce you to everyone. But I must warn you to be cautious.”

“Cautious?” Hermione asked, as the boys looked confused, then grinned. What in the world was there to be cautious about in the Common Room?

“Well, you’re, how do I put it?”

“Fresh meat?” James supplied.

“Newest hotty around?” Sirius supplied.

“Going to be in trouble with the guys who think of you as a new conquest,” Remus said, grinning at his best friends and shaking his head.

“Exactly, Remus,” said Lily, again ignoring James and Sirius.

They slowly made their way to the common room. Hermione tried to follow and pretend she didn’t know exactly where they were going and which steps to skip. She didn’t even know how she knew these things and she didn’t want to have to explain it either.

“Epsiky,” Lily said as the Fat Lady’s portrait swung open. “We had to change the password so that everyone would remember how to stop James and Sirius’ nosebleeds after the fourth wrestling match,” she explained.

“She loves us, she just won’t admit it,” Sirius said loudly as Lily grinned.

“You love yourselves enough for the both of us.”

“My, my young lady. Are you new here?” the Fat Lady asked.

“Yes ma’am, I‘m Hermione,” Hermione answered.

“Why milady, how are you on this fine, lovely evening?” asked James.

“Surely you’re absolutely divine. You always are when you look as beautiful as you do tonight,” Sirius said dramatically.

Surprisingly, the Fat Lady blushed and giggled.

“What was that about?” Hermione asked Remus.

“Well,” he started slowly, “we tend to break curfew a lot, so having her like us helps keep us from getting locked out.”

“Oh, I see. It would seem you’re not as innocent as you hope to appear,” Hermione said grinning.

Remus leaned to her ear as the rest followed inside, “I am far from innocent, pet,” he whispered.

Hermione looked up at him shocked and blushed slightly. Why was it his breath did that to her? She shouldn’t be feeling such things from one comment, and he called her ‘pet,’ that certainly was a new one.

Remus had thought for a moment that he went a little too far in his flirtations. Surely she couldn’t be “innocent” she was 18 already. She came of age a year ago. When he saw her grin though, he just grinned slyly back at her. Maybe Sirius would win her in the end, but he would give it a good chance first.

As they walked in, Sirius grabbed her around the waist, effectively pulling her away from Remus, and pulled her to the fireplace. “This, my beautiful maiden, is where we do hours and hours of homework, flirting, and planning of our evil ways, but not always in that order.”

Hermione giggled at his antics and slowly extracted herself from his grasp. Lily came to her rescue and said, “Let’s go to the dorm shall we?”

“Sure, goodnight guys, thanks again for helping me,” she said as she waved sweetly at them and made her way up behind Lily.

Sirius flung himself on the nearby couch and sighed, “I think I’m in love.”

“Who is it this week, Padfoot?” Remus asked with a little more bite in his voice then he intended. He felt an overpowering need to protect her from everything…and everyone.

“Whoa, I’m not stepping on your toes, am I mate? Cuz you know I wouldn’t do that,” he said seriously.

“No,” Remus sighed, “I’m sorry. There’s just something about her though and I can’t figure it out. I don‘t think she‘d take too kindly to being your flavor of the week.”

“Something, like a rocking body?” Sirius asked, grinning at his friend.

“No, I agree with Remus,” James joined in, “she’s just very comfortable to be with, like I’ve known her forever. Her and Evans are going to be tight I can tell you that.”

“I like her a lot. She was really nice to me,” Peter said, also joining in the conversation.

“Well, I guess I’m going up to bed. See you guys later,” Remus said walking off, slightly deflated that he practically gave Sirius the go ahead to go after Hermione.

Down in the common room the boys were talking quietly. “I think Remus has a thing for her, but I can’t tell for sure. Maybe I should back off,” Sirius was saying. “That would blow though, I really could see myself with her.”

“But for how long, Padfoot? You go through girls like crazy. If Remus does have a thing for her, you should definitely back off. I know he goes through his fair share of girls as well, but this could be serious,” James responded.

“Or maybe,” Peter said slowly, “No one should go for her until we all get to know her better. She might even get James’ mind off Lily.” The three burst into fits of laughter at that comment and then headed up to bed as well.

Meanwhile up in the dorms..

“This will be your bed,” Lily said pointing to an empty bed. “It’s right beside mine, but no one uses it. This is so exciting. Sam and Celina are great, but they can be a bit much. I think you and I will get along great!”

“You know, I get that impression as well,” Hermione answered. “Um, Lily, Dumbledore said that he’d get my school stuff and I could go to Hogsmeade this weekend for everything else, but, well, in the meantime…” she broke off, looking slightly embarrassed.

“Oh Merlin! You need clothes! This will be so much fun! The girls and I will dress you up all week! I think you’re my size and we can play in my closet until we go to Hogsmeade. Wait, how do you know what that is?”

“Dumbledore explained everything to me,” said Hermione quickly as she started to slip out of her robes.

“Hermione!” Lily yelled. “What happened to your leg?!”

“Oh yea,” Hermione said, lowering her head to look at her torn jeans as she slowly tried to slide them down. “Ouch, geeze!” she gritted her teeth together against the pain as tears sprung to her eyes.

“Um, Hermione, I don’t mean to pry,” Lily said looking at the wound in earnest now, “and you don’t have to answer me, but I’ve been doing extra studies on healing and such, for after school, and well, that looks like…Hermione, it looks like a werewolf bite.”

Hermione’s head snapped up and she stared at Lily. She was going to have to better then this if she was going to keep her secret safe. She started to panic when instead, the whole situation started to weigh on her and tears began leaking from her eyes.

“Oh Hermione, I’m so sorry!” Lily said sympathetically as she wrapped her arms around her new friend. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Hermione shook her head and they sat on her bed, but slowly, she let the whole story flow out of her. Her conversation with Dumbledore (leaving out Remus of course), what she could and couldn’t remember, and how scared she was.

“Well, between you and me, which this whole conversation is, I think you weren’t sent to the place as much as to a certain person. Maybe you were sent to someone who could help you get through this,” Lily said and Hermione knew she had also left out the name they both knew.

“Maybe you’re right,” Hermione said as she wiped her face.

“I’m always right! Unless I’m wrong, but I’d never admit it, especially to Potter.”

“Speaking of which, you know my secret, now tell me yours. You really do like him don’t you?

“Yes,” Lily sighed as a sad look crossed her face. “But he’s so arrogant and he can be so mean, like what he does to Severus. He hexes other students in the halls for fun, although not so much anymore. He struts around like he owns the place just because he’s a bloody Chaser and the Quidditch captain.”

“So, if he were to say, shrink his overlarge ego, you would go out with him?” Hermione asked slyly.

“As much as I hate to admit it, yea, I’d really like to go out with him,” Lily said, shocking herself and Hermione both.

They talked long into the night about anything and everything and became fast friends. Each understood the other and couldn’t believe how easy it was to be together and talk like they were. Hermione didn’t know for sure, but she had a feeling that she didn’t have anyone like this in her own, old life. Lily was also as much of a bookworm as she was.

The next morning found the girls in a rush to get ready. They spent so much time picking Hermione’s outfit, that they were rushed to get ready themselves. Hermione made a point of not letting the other girls see her leg, even though Lily told her they wouldn’t know what it was. Lily then taught her a quick non magic trick with her hair, called muggle mouse and spray gel. After working for a few minutes they had her bushy hair, sleek and curly, adding another element to her understated beauty.

Lily grinned at her and whispered, “Remus and Sirius can fight over you, but just remember that one day, I may want James, so he’s off limits.” Hermione couldn’t help but giggle at this, she didn’t know what was funnier, the thought of two boys fighting over her, or Lily admitting her feeling yet again.

She was surprised when they walked downstairs and the Marauders were waiting on them. “Peter went on ahead, saying he was literally going to starve to death, but we decided to wait on you girls,” Remus said.

“Good morning boys,” Hermione grinned as they walked over. She had her arm looped in Lily’s and drug her along too. James grinned when he saw her, but with a look from Hermione, didn’t say anything.

“Good morning angels,” Sirius said, grinning with a sexy grin. “Shall we go find food before we tackle Potions this morning? I‘m sure you‘ll be in there with us,” He offered her his arm, which she took, shifting her bad to the other side, and letting Lily and the others follow. James staying surprisingly quiet, while Remus was silently fuming inside. It was getting harder to control his anger and he was worried about what would happen the week of the full moon. Two weeks to go. ‘At least’, he thought grimly, ‘I’ll have her alone then.’ And he turned to talk to Lily.

The conversation had turned to more mundane things about life at Hogwarts while they were eating breakfast when Professor McGonagall came up to their table with a piece of parchment in her hand. The guys all looked slightly worried at her stern look, but kept silent, all trying to think what prank they had pulled recently that would make her come to their table.

“Miss Granger,” she began, “my name is Professor McGonagall.” Hermione already knew this, as her friends and pointed out all the professors and told her about them, along with what pranks they had pulled on each.

“Pleased to meet you, Professor,” Hermione answered smiling sweetly at the Transfiguration professor.

“As your head of house, I have your course schedule for you. I see you received your books from Professor Dumbledore. Very well, I look forward to having you in class soon.” And with that, she walked back to the head table.

The boys all let out the breaths they had been holding. “You know,” said Sirius as he slowly leaned closer to Hermione, as though to talk to James on her other side, “we really haven’t pulled a good prank in awhile, since we left on holiday.”

“Well, we should do a small, quick one first, so we can do it soon. Then we’ll plan a bigger one later. What about…” he put his finger to his chin thinking, while Hermione smiled looking between the two, “I know, turning the Slytherins hair pink?”

“We’ve already done that Prongs,” said Remus, “What about turn their robes instead, maybe to…”

“Gryffindor colors!” Hermione said, proud of coming up with an idea. “And they’ll all have to say something nice to the opposite sex, in Gryffindor of course, before they’ll change back.

Remus just grinned at her saying, “Great minds.” The grin was short lived however when Sirius, in a movement of pure happiness, wrapped both his arms around her and kissed her cheek.

“Gorgeous and smart,” he said softly, “no better combination than that.”

“Sirius, back off, I can’t breath,” Hermione laughed. Then suddenly she squealed as James through his arms around her as well, saying “Hermione sandwich!”

Finally extracting herself from the boys and their antics she looked at her schedule. It wasn’t a very full schedule and that disappointed her.

“What do you have?” Remus asked, his tone even and not giving away his real emotions underneath.

“Only Potions, Defense, Transfiguration, Charms, Arithmancy, and Ancient Runes, but I have three every other day, that‘s different,” Hermione sighed.

“ONLY?! ONLY?! Not another brain, you’ve got to be kidding me!” James sighed dramatically. “We already have Evans and Moony over there as brains, we need someone more laid back to add to our group, not another brain.” The laugh coming from him was slightly overriding the seriousness he was trying to convey.

“Need I remind you, Potter, I am not part of your little group. I’m only sitting with you to help protect Hermione from you four,” Lily said scoffing. Hermione shot her a look that was hard to miss, then let it go. How were these two going to get anywhere with their attitudes?

James leaned to her ear and whispered so only she could hear, “Will you please sit with us at every meal then?” He looked so serious and pleading that Hermione just gave him an encouraging smile. Lily however, scowled at him.

“Well,” started Peter, “we all have Potions (except me), Defense, Charms, and Transfiguration. Only Lily and Remus have Ancient Runes, and I think, only Remus has Arithmancy.”

“Well, at least I know I’ll have some help in all my classes then!” said Hermione, breathing a sigh of relief that she wouldn’t be alone (and secretly pleased that she’d have a class with Remus all to herself).

They left the Great Hall and headed to the dungeons, Hermione again being careful to walk behind someone else, although she was sure they had just walked by a shortcut. Sirius was still walking beside her and placed his arm on the small of her back as he led her to a desk in the classroom.

“You must be Miss Granger!” a short, rather walrus-like man said stepping in front of her.

“Yes sir,” Hermione replied.

“Welcome dear! Now, are you related to any Grangers I may know of?” he asked and Hermione chuckled as she was reminded of her previous conversation about the SlugClub.

“No sir,” she said proudly, “I’m muggleborn.”

“Oh well, ok then,” he said dejectedly. “Take a seat and let’s get started. If I’m not much mistaken, there is a free one by Severus there, on the other side of Miss Evans.”

To her dismay, that was indeed the only free seat. Sirius had tried to save her one, but James had sat down too quickly. At least Lily would still be beside her.

“But sir, couldn’t someone else move?” Sirius said, he really wasn’t happy having her sit by Snape.

“I think I can manage Sirius,” she said. She then took her seat and smiled sweetly at Severus who just sneered back.

“Today we’ll be brewing a potion of change, a potion of trouble, a potion of great possibilities. It’s called “Polyjuice Potion” and should be easy for my N.E.W.T. students. Since we are all fresh back from holiday, I thought I’d start off easy, before we continue to the harder potions that will also be on your exams. However, if brewed incorrectly, this potion can have severe side effects. Since it takes a month to brew, we won’t even be fully brewing it,” he said clapping his hands together.

“Now who can tell me what the potion is used for?”

Hermione’s, Lily’s, and to her surprise, Severus’ hands shot up in the air.

“Ah, Miss Granger, let’s see if you can keep up with my two star students. Go ahead, then.”

Hermione then rattled off, in detail, what the potion was used for and what the consequences were for getting it wrong, by say, adding a cat hair. This was something she didn’t know how she knew, but the information was all there in her head.

“Very good, very good indeed Miss Granger. Ten points to Gryffindor! You know, I’m having a small meeting this Saturday in my office if you would care to join us, just a small group of friends and you could get to know some of the other students,” Professor Slughorn said, as the Marauders just laughed.

“Thank you very much, Professor, but I already have plans for Saturday,” Hermione replied sweetly.

“Oh, ok, maybe next time. Class, please gather your supplies and begin.”

“Stay here, mudblood and I’ll get what we need. Do you think you can handle lighting the fire under the cauldron?” Severus asked, with venom in his voice.

“Oh, I think I can manage that just fine Severus,” she replied tartly as she immediately had the fire started and the cauldron ready.

They worked diligently through class and were further along then anyone when it ended. Lily and Hermione had talked and laughed while they worked, while Severus just scowled. It would seem working with Severus and Lily wouldn’t be so bad after all. When class ended, Professor Slughorn praised their work and gave all three five points. Severus didn’t speak another word to her, not that he had said anything more then he absolutely had to, but Lily was very excited.

“I’m so glad I have you as my partner! Severus is really good at potions, but he lacks a certain, um, character, that makes class fun,” Lily said, jumping up and down as she packed her belongings.

“Severus,” Hermione said as nicely as possible, “perhaps you could show me where things go, so next time I’ll be able to help.”

He scowled down at her again and said, “Fine, follow me.”

“You’re really a nice bloke aren’t you?” she said as they drew closer to the store room and further away from the others.

“Excuse me?” he asked hatefully.

“I was being sarcastic, surely you know what that means,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I was just thinking that as long as we had to work together, maybe we could try getting along. Maybe even talking to one anther, stranger things have happened you know.”

“No stranger thing will happen in this room, mudblood, so shut up and stop talking to me,” he said, looking slightly flustered at her nerve and niceties.

She snorted, “that’s funny, stop talking and shut up. You really couldn’t have done better then that?”

“If you think,” he said menacingly, stepping closer to her, “that hanging around Potter and his gang will keep you safe, you better think again. Do not speak to me that way!”

“Potter and his gang? They’re being nice to me, which is a lot more then I can say for you. However, I have no intentions on joining in on their, um, fun against you. If you open your eyes you would see I’m trying to make friends here, so stop being an arrogant prick!” Hermione said and as she stormed off threw back over her shoulder, “and the word Mudblood doesn‘t bother me, I‘ve heard worse.” She really just wanted to scream in frustration. How could one person be so, so, Snapeish?! Was that even a word? Well it was to her now anyway.