Brown Eyes

Chapter 7: Changes to Come

The next few weeks were quiet with James and Sirius playing a game of wits, each one trying to out due the other. They were at a standoff, neither was better than the other. While that was going on Hermione felt like she was walking on nails, James and Sirius continually paid her attention and wouldn’t give her a moments peace. Which didn’t make it any easier to get friendlier to Peter.

Hermione noticed how subtly close Lily and Remus were when they thought no one was paying attention. So Hermione paid very close attention to how they interacted, the way they subtlety touched one another and held hands under the table. The way they ended up sitting next to each other for every meal, but kept a friendly distance apart.

Hermione noticed all of this and more, it was the only thing that kept her distracted enough to not think of James. He had been popping into her thoughts more than usual and she found herself staring at him.

****Flashback****

James and Hermione were walking around Hogwarts grounds trying to find the rest of the gang. They got split up when Peter got lost, they had all separated to find him. Hermione was alone until she ran into James, someone had found Peter because they shot sparks into the air.

But the duo had yet to find anyone, they were just walking around aimlessly. "James, I need a break, can we stop for a second please?"

James nodded and sat next to her on a nearby log, "Would you like some water, Mya?" She nodded. James transfigured a leaf into a small glass cup. "Augementa." He pointed at the newly transfigured cup. Hermione took it with a blush. They sat in silence with the occasional sip from Hermione.

"Mya?" Hermione turned to look at James, coming face to face with a few inches between them.

She licked her lips, "Yes?" She whispered. They inched closer, their breaths mingling. Hermione’s eyes fluttered closed. She knew it was wrong, but her body and heart yearned for this boy.

"I don’t remember." Their lips were barely brushing when a loud bang erupted, they turned to see a guilty looking Remus.

He mouthed sorry and they all saw Lily, Peter and Sirius coming out of the brush. The other’s looked towards James and Hermione, each with identical blushes painting their cheeks.

"What were you guys doing just sitting here?" It came out more harshly than Sirius intended.

"Mya needed a break so we were stopping to rest for a minute. Do you not care about Mya's well being?" James snarled.

"Of course I do, but if it was me with her I would have offered to carry her. So she could relax and keep looking." Sirius finished smugly.

"Well, I didn’t want to gar her while I was walking on the harsh terrain."

"So you’re telling me it’s not because you’re too weak."

"Boys! Shut up, we are going to go back to the castle and I would prefer not to miss dinner!" Hermione stalked off.

Lily looked at the duo with a glare and ran up to catch Hermione, when she reached her she grabbed Hermione’s arm and began to console the furious girl.

"Evans! What did we do?" James yelled.

"Figure it out, Potter!"

Surprisingly Peter was the one to come up to Hermione’s defense, he had taken quite the liking to her from the few weeks she had already been here. Hermione had talked the herbology teacher to take Peter on as an apprentice and he worked in the green house on his free time. Just recently he was given the responsibility of the key, where he had access at anytime.

"You guys shouldn’t be acting this way in front of Mya, with the way you guys work neither of you will get her. She’s a wonderful person and you shouldn’t fight over her like this. Mya doesn’t like that two best friends are going to lose their long friendship over a girl." Peter stuttered a little, but his voice held conviction.

"Peter’s right you guys. Soon she might not even hang out with us, with the amount of tension there is around the two of you. You know there are some species of animals that let the female choose the mate, maybe you two she lay off and see which one of you Mya wants." Remus offered.

The two boys looked intrigued, while Remus’ words boosted Peter’s confidence in himself a little more than before.

"You’re right. Thanks, Wormtail and Moony." The two boys said at the same time. "We’ll let Mya decide."

****End Flashback****

Remus had relayed the information to Lily who in turn told Hermione. Right now she couldn’t get the kiss out of her mind, or the almost kiss. But just brushing his lips was amazing, his lips had felt so soft. Hermione shook her head, she needed to focus on the horcruxes. So far Voldemort should have only made five; his diary, Slytherin’s locket, Hufflepuff’s chalice, the ring, and Ravenclaw’s diadem.

Now all she had to do was find them, if she remembered right Slytherin’s locket was in the house of Black, Tom Riddle’s diary was in the Malfoy vault, Hufflepuff’s chalice was in the Lestrange vault, and the ring was in some shack far away. "Damn." Hermione had no idea where Harry had found the diadem, he had destroyed and found that without her.

Hermione began to pace, she had a few hours to herself to think about this. She felt the need to research maybe that would help her find it. Hermione stopped and stared at the portrait before her, it was the portrait Sir Cadogen. Thankfully he was hibernating.

An idea popped into Hermione’s head, who was the descendant of Rowena Ravenclaw? The Grey Lady, and the story behind her was she was so jealous of her mother’s wealth and status in the world that she stole her mother’s diadem. Hermione had remembered seeing a portrait of her somewhere in the castle.

Hermione was getting so excited, she knew where most of the horcruxes were hidden and was about to go find another. Hermione took off running through the halls, but ran into a solid mass.

"What’s the rush sugar?" Sirius slurred with a roguish grin on his face.

Hermione turned in disgust, he was drunk and he smelled like a pig. Hermione yanked her arms from Sirius, but his grip didn’t loosen it tighten and he pulled her closer. "Let me go, Sirius, you’re drunk."

"Baby, why don’t you like me? I’ve never felt this way about anyone before like I feel for you." Sirius’ face looked completely sincere and for once Sirius didn’t look like he was trying to impress anyone. Sirius looked vulnerable, it broke Hermione’s heart to see him this way.

"Sirius, you are one of my best friends I couldn’t lose that with you, if anything changed that it would break my heart." Hermione said honestly.

Sirius pushed her back in disgust and she staggered back, "So it is Prongs. He always got the girls that I wanted the most. Why him? Why not me? Am I not good enough for you? Please tell me and I’ll change, Mya." Sirius was almost crying at her feet in his drunkenness.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about, Sirius, get up, Sirius. Just because I don’t like you that way doesn’t mean that I want to be with your best friend. He is no better than you, you both are two amazing people I am so glad I got the chance to meet you both. Sirius, you should never have to change for a girl, unless you change on your own because she makes you a better person. I want you to remember that." Hermione began lecturing.

She looked down to see if he soaked in anything she said, there Sirius was using her legs as pillows are fast asleep. Hermione shook her head, she levitated him up and walked him to the Gryffindor Common room.

Hermione didn’t have the time to talk to the Grey Lady, maybe tomorrow; a day that isn’t so emotional. As she walked Sirius up the boy’s dormitory and laid him on his bed she thought of James. Did she like him or was Sirius just talking out of his ass while he was drunk?

She remembered reading somewhere that most of the things that come out of a drunk's mouth is what they believe to be the truth. Is that how he really felt about himself? About her? Did Sirius really care about her or was she just more challenging than the rest?

A headache was coming on she could feel it, she rubbed her temples in a circular motion to stave off the inevitable. She was so frustrated. Between school, her constant and never ending thoughts of James, and the impending search for the horcruxes. All of this was piling up and making it very different for her to concentrate on anything anymore.

Headaches were more frequent and she experienced a few blackouts where she couldn’t remember what happened for a few hours. But she didn’t want to go to Madam Profrey because she didn’t know if it was just her reaction to time travel.

Someone behind her cleared their throat, she jumped and turned quickly with her wand ready and the spells ready to spill from her mouth. She was shocked when James was standing behind her looking worried.

"Are you okay, Mya? I’ve been watching you for the last fifteen minutes and you haven’t noticed me or anyone else. Are you feeling well? Do you need me to take you to the hospital wing?" James stood before her like something out of a fantasy. His hair was windswept, his lips pink and swollen, and he was in his Quidditch uniform.

Hermione shook her head, she didn’t hear anything he just said. "No, no I’m okay. Just a little tired, I didn’t get much sleep last night."

"If you’re sure."

Hermione nodded, "I am." She looked once more at his uniform. "You know what I never understand is how anyone could get on those death sticks. I had this friend and he loved Quidditch, but he always got injured. He was seeker and he was an amazing flier." Hermione’s eyes sparkled as she spoke of Harry.

Whenever she thought of him recently he brought warm maternal feelings from her, it got her thinking that maybe she stayed in this time and helped Lily and James take care of Harry. That thought once again sobered her from romantic thoughts of James.

When she looked back up she noticed that James’ face was a mixture of jealousy and confusion. Like he didn’t know if he was supposed to feel jealous, or why he was jealous in the first place.

They were closer than before, they had slowly been inching towards one another. James looked disappointed when she pulled back a little. Until an idea struck. "I have something to show you tonight. Meet me at the Quidditch pitch after dinner." He ran off to began planning the perfect night. If he timed it right he could have her in the sky before the sunset.

Hermione shook her head at him and laughter was her only reply. She turned back around, her thoughts focusing once again on tonight and what Sirius had told her. What’s a girl to do?

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Through his flashes of memory Harry could see what Dumbledore meant. Sirius thought he was in love with Hermione or Mya as they called her. James wanted Hermione with him forever, he was just waiting for her to realize.

Unfortunately Sirius was his competition for her favor, his best friend. Which made it difficult to go for her without it hurting their relationship. Harry just wanted to knock Sirius upside the head and tell him to get over it.

Remus walked into his dorm, that seemed empty since his mother had left. He missed her a lot, he waited all day for his memory flashes. Where he got to see his mother and father. Sometimes it was depressing that he didn’t get to be with them, but other times it was nice. Like watches home movies about your families, the things you wouldn’t have understood before.

"Yes, Remus." Harry asked. His mood wasn’t the greatest after seeing another scene where both his father and godfather wanted his mo- Hermione.

"I wanted to know if you could tell me anything else about Mya and James."

"Her name isn’t Mya, it’s Hermione! Get it right!" He yelled, he didn’t know why he was acting this way. If Hermione was here she would have given him his special look she saved just for him and given him a hug.

But she wasn’t, she wasn’t there to help him. Or make him feel better, she was away. Making sure that he was going to be born and all he could do was whine like a child for his mother. The most important woman in his life. Even when his mother was Lily, Hermione was the most important woman in his life. She was his everything.

Harry was pulled from his musings by a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Remus. "It’s okay to be upset, we all miss her very much as well. She’ll come back to you, she has always been there for you even when everyone else wasn’t."

"I know, but I need her now and she isn’t here." Harry mumbled.

The look on Harry’s face broke Remus’ heart, in a way he understood Harry’s pain. But he knew it wasn’t the same. He may miss them, but they’re just his best friends. These were Harry’s parents and only family. "When you need Hermione most she’ll be here. With her arms wide open and her special smile she gives you. You just wait."

Harry nodded, he knew what Remus said was true. But a part of him deep down thought that he would never see any of them ever again. That’s why he clung so tightly to when the memories came. It was his only link to them.

"Now can you tell me what has been going on with my friends?"

Harry nodded, "The last few weeks James and Sirius have toned down their antics to impress mom, since you know how she is with pranks. What they don’t know is that she actually doesn’t mind them." Harry smiled at the memory of all the things he and Ron did and Hermione would scold them, but she couldn’t stop the smile from showing up.

"I miss her smile, it just lit up a room. You could be upset and she would brighten up your day. She’s amazing. I remember this one time during the full moon, it was one of the unexpected one’s, I still hadn’t told her even though she already knew. But she was with me when I began to transform, she stayed with me and calmed me in her human form. I don’t know how she did it but I was forever thankful, she kept me in control and human." Remus was reminiscing.

Harry looked at him oddly, "When did this happen, Hermione never told me."

"Oh it was about twenty years ago, your mother probably doesn’t even remember. But it’s one of my most cherished memories." Harry looked at Remus and saw that his eyes were golden. Which meant that it was a memory that just hit him.

Harry blinked and Remus’ eyes were back to normal, "What were you saying?" Remus had no recollection of Moony’s memory.

"Nothing. I need to talk to Dumbledore. Excuse me." Harry left Remus with his thoughts, the one’s he remembered and the one’s he knew nothing about.

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Hermione was stopped dead in her tracks, she had just seen Harry. He had been talking to Remus about her and James, it was so odd. It was like Harry had actually been there, he had been so close. She could almost touch him, Merlin she missed him so much. He kept her going.

Was it a sign, "Maybe that I need to focus on Harry’s life, maybe I’m getting too close to James. I should pull back, he needs to be with Lily or Harry won't exist." Hermione was mumbling to herself.

"Is this true?" Remus came out of nowhere. "That Lily is meant to be with James? Mya tell me, I deserve to know. You know I do." Remus put emphasis on the you, he knew about he watching.

She was torn in two, she could ruin everything. But Remus was right, he of all people deserved to know the truth. "There’s a prophecy that talks of a boy to defeat the Dark Lord, that boy is said to be born from James Potter and Lily Evans. I can’t say much more you’ll have to ask Dumbledore for anymore information." Hermione offered in defeat, she felt terrible because she knew that Remus and Lily were just getting their relationship started.

"We will." Remus said and he dragged her up to his office.

They came upon the gargoyle, "Password."

They began naming off every single sweet they could think of, and nothing would work. Finally Hermione lost it.

"OPEN THE BLOODY STAIRCASE. WE NEED TO SPEAK TO PROFESSOR DUMBLEDORE RIGHT NOW!" The statue jumped away in fright.

"Wow, you’ve got everyone afraid of you now."

Hermione shrugged, it was pretty much true.

"Come in," Professor Dumbledore exclaimed before they could knock on the door. Remus turned to Hermione.

"The gargoyle moved, of course he has a way of knowing when it moves. So no surprises." Hermione answered in a matter of fact manner before he could get a word in edgewise.

"You’re full of surprises, sometimes it feels like you know us better than we know you." Remus answered before he turned back to Professor Dumbledore.

"You have no idea." Hermione mumbled, but with his super werewolf hearing he heard what she said but didn’t comment.

Dumbledore looked highly amused, "Is there something I can do for the two of you?" The twinkle in his eyes were beginning to lose their spark.

Hermione could see the tension that lay just beneath the surface, he was man who liked control. Yet here a situation that beyond his control, and he was powerless to stop her.

Remus cleared his throat and gulped nervously, "Is there really a prophecy regarding James and Lily?"

Dumbledore looked at Hermione, he was surprised at her audacity. To let information out like that was not good, who knows who or what was listening in. "Yes, but-- this is confidential information do you understand?" When they both nodded Dumbledore continued. "There has been a prophecy that came upon us a month ago."

Hermione’s head swiftly moved in Dumbledore’s direction, that was too coincidental. She fell into this time a month ago exactly, why didn’t Dumbledore tell her. He was hiding something, and now was the time to tell her. What was he up to? She could tell it was about her.

"What’s the prophecy that counteracted the first prophecy?" Remus asked and Hermione nodded.

"That I can not say, but it is safe to say that Lily is free to be with whomever she pleases. James as well is no longer tied down." Dumbledore explained meaningfully.

Remus glanced at Hermione through the corner of his eye and saw her flush, ‘So she does like Prongs, good to know it’s not one sided. Bad to know that she doesn’t like Padfoot.’ Remus didn’t know what to do or where his loyalties should lie, they were both his close friends.

"Thank you, Professor, for clearing that up," she glared at Dumbledore angrily, catching him off guard with the amount of fury lurking in the young girl’s eyes.

Hermione was pissed, the Professor hadn’t told her of the new prophecy. ‘Does he expect me to figure everything out all on my own?’ She growled to herself. The two men watched her internal argument take on new life.

‘Of course he does it’s bloody Dumbledore.’

‘Maybe he thought you could figure it out, everybody doesn’t call you the smartest witch of the century for nothing you know.’
‘I know that, don’t insult me. But still… everyone needs a helping hand every now and again. If he was smart he would have realized that my heart would overrule my head. For Merlin sake my friend’s life is on the line.’

‘Get off of it, he already told you in no uncertain words that James is free game. You know you’ve been undressing him with your eyes every chance you get.’

‘Dumbledore could be wrong, come on Professor Trelawney made the prediction, that woman is a joke. She’s bound to be wrong and I have not been undressing him, he just reminds me of Harry.’ Hermione nodded for emphasis.

Dumbledore and Remus were watching Hermione oddly, there she was before them. Her face changing, her stance switching and little noises came and went.

‘Don’t lie to yourself and me, it’s not healthy. Just admit it and we can all die happy.’
‘What is it with you?’

‘I am you, smartest witch of the year, huh? Ha… I wouldn’t want to see your competition.’

Hermione groaned in annoyance, she was pissing herself off. Her inner witch just thought she knew everything. Bloody know it all. Hermione took one look at the two wizards before her, threw up her arms in exasperation and stalked from the room.

Remus looked at Dumbledore. With his eyes twinkling madly he shrugged his shoulders. Proving that the great and powerful Dumbledore truly didn’t have all the answers. He called Fawkes and disappeared with a flash. Leaving a very perplexed werewolf to ponder what exactly he missed.