Songs Through Time

I Always Liked That Best Cyndi Thomson  

Hermione sat alone outside in the twilight on the brisk September evening. The fire flies danced in the air, probably one of the last nights she would see them she mused to herself. She watched the partial moon cross the sky it was in the receding stages Lupin must have just had the moon before school started.    

"Curfew is coming." Hermione jumped and looked at the owner of the voice.   

"Oh, hello Remus, you startled me."  

"Only because you were thinking so hard. What could possibly hold your attention so completely?"  

"The moon honestly." Hermione stopped to look at the object in question "I have a friend back home he-" Hermione stopped unsure of what she should or shouldn't say after a lengthy pause she finish rather lamely, "he was a truly unique man."

 Lupin seemed to debate that for a minute before he reached out his hand to her, "come on, we'll be late and then I'll have to dock points from you." The laughter in his voice made it clear that he was merely kidding. Hermione smiled taking his hand to rise but not letting go right away he was comfortable to familiar and similar to himself in the future if not for the wore down look that was no longer on his shoulders.   

They made their way through the castle in comfortable silence just enjoying each others company. They reached the portrait hole and Remus mumbled the password softly "Telum of diligo" he blushed as he stepped back to let her in first.  

Hermione saw the blush but decided to let it pass she hadn't come back to the past to romance anyone just to fix the things that had happened.  

They made their way over to the other boys to find Lily sitting on James' lap and Sirius and Peter playing Wizards Chess. She sat in one of the arm chairs going into her book bag for a text book to read. The knowledge in it was out dated but it made her feel more at home sitting and reading slowly one by one or in small groups the common room emptied til it was just the Marauders and herself even Lily had gone to bed. Hermione interrupted the almost quiet argument that was going on. "Boys?"  

The word yes was choruses at her and she giggled at her own mysterious thoughts where had it come from and was it a good idea. She didn't know but she was going to try it any way. "I would like to try and become an Animagus and I was thinking since you all seem to know how to manage the mischief it would take to go about sneaking around and being up to general no good you might have some ideas."  

They all stared at her open mouthed for a minute before James said, "You want to what?" and Sirius said "What makes you think we know anything" Peter sat gapping like a cod fish and Remus smiled saying "That would be amazing."   The boys all looked at each other and seemed to have a silent conversation with themselves.  

Finally James spoke up "We've been trying but its harder then we thought. Especially with all the other students."  

"I have just the place" Hermione said a little more excited that they included her it was almost like being home with the boys.   

"What? Where!" Sirius said his excitement evident in the slight bounce he made.  

"We'll have to wait till tomorrow night as its quite late now" Hermione said as she looked at the clock noticing it was well past one in the morning and they all had class in the morning, "tomorrow night after dinner meet me in front of the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy teaching trolls ballet on the 7th floor."  

"But, what about patrols" Peter stuttered nervously.  

"It will be fine" Remus said with a smile "they don't patrol there till closer to curfew"  

"Alright, so, tomorrow"  James said with a bit of a smile.   

The next day came quick as it was already all but a few hours from dawn.

Hermione walked into breakfast still tired from sleep she trudged to the Gryffindor table and sat down not paying the least bit of attention to who was around her her thoughts on the book in front of her nose if anyone else picked up the book it would be How To Design a Potion, which she had already read so she could answer any questions, but was actually how to become an Animagus there wasn't much to go on basically it said you had to brew the potion to help relax your mind into a lulled state clearing it of all except what you wish to do then mutter the spell and with the focus of your energy you can change.   Hermione sighed how would she find these ingredients along with the Horcruxs.   

"What's wrong?" The voice surprised Hermione and she turned to look at Severus. He had walked over to the Gryffindor Table of his own free will.  

"Nothing really, just feeling a little stressed is all."  

"Its only the first Friday of school" He looked disbelieving at her.  

"I have a lot on my plate"  

"Maybe I could help?"  

"Well," She paused to think about it, should she tell Serverus her plans to become a Animagus, would he tell on her, would he want to become one too, what animal would he be? So many questions. She decided they would need to speak in private so not even thinking about it she grabbed his wrist and dragged him out of the great hall into a unused class room.   

He remained silent while she studied him. After a lengthy pause she said "I like- that is- I want to try- IliketobeaAnimagus"  

She said it fast in one breath quick like ripping of a band aid and staring at the ground. She brought her eyes up to Severus face trying to judge his reaction but he just stared back at her for a minute before he said "how can i help?"  

Hermione threw her arms around Severus "Oh I thought you'd be so mad, I'm so glad you're not"   Severus uncomfortable in her grasp looked at her strangely "why would I be angry it would be amusing to be able to change into animals"  

Hermione stared at him for a moment before grinning "My little rule breaker"  

Severus snorted "If anything you're the little one, what do we need?" Hermione and Severus bounced ideas off of each other on how to acquire the ingredients until the bell rang informing them they were about to be late to class the both rushed to potions to take there seats together gasping for air a little. Hermione found herself smiling this could be interesting, she couldn't wait to find her inner animal.   

"Oh, there is something I forgot to mention" Hermione paused debating if she should say it or not.  

Severus raised his eyebrow waiting for her to speak and when she didn't he fianlly snapped under his breath "well?"  

"The boys are in on it too"