Chapter Text
As Hermione and Remus loaded their trunks into Remus's dad's Land Rover, they couldn't help but marvel at how quickly time seemed to be passing by. It felt like just yesterday they were nervous first years stepping onto the Hogwarts Express, and now they were heading into their fifth year—a year that seemed to hold the promise of both excitement and uncertainty.
"It's crazy to think we're already halfway through our time at Hogwarts," Hermione remarked, adjusting the strap of her trunk as she spoke. "Time really does fly, doesn't it?"
Remus nodded in agreement, a thoughtful expression on his face. "It feels like just yesterday we met for the first time."
As they continued to load their trunks, the conversation turned to their expectations for the upcoming school year—new classes, new challenges, and undoubtedly new adventures awaiting them at Hogwarts.
Meanwhile, at Potter Manor, James and Sirius were engaged in their own conversation as they lounged in the sitting room. Sirius, ever the provocateur, couldn't resist teasing James about his growing crush on Hermione.
"So, Prongs," Sirius began, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, "how's it going with our favourite bookworm? Still head over heels, I presume?"
James flushed slightly at the teasing, but he couldn't deny the truth of Sirius's words. Ever since Hermione had joined their group, James had found himself drawn to her in a way he couldn't quite explain. There was something about her intelligence, her wit, her unwavering loyalty to her friends that had captured his heart.
"Shut it, Padfoot," James replied, trying to sound nonchalant even as his cheeks turned a deeper shade of red. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Sirius chuckled knowingly, nudging James playfully with his elbow. "Oh, come on, mate. It's written all over your face. You're smitten, Prongs. Absolutely smitten, smitten for kitten. Merlin, I'm a poet!"
James rolled his eyes at Sirius's teasing but couldn't suppress the smile that tugged at the corners of his lips. Deep down, he knew Sirius was right. He was head over heels for Hermione Granger.
...
"Lily, I knew you'd be a prefect, this is amazing!" Hermione exclaimed, throwing her arms around her redheaded friend. "Congratulations!"
Mary and Marlene joined in the celebration, cheering and clapping as they surrounded Lily with hugs and high-fives. The news was definitely not a surprise, and they couldn't wait to see Lily in her new role of authority.
"Prefect Evans has a nice ring to it, don't you think?" Marlene grinned, giving Lily a playful nudge.
Lily laughed, her cheeks flushed with happiness. "Thanks, guys. I'm still in shock, to be honest. But I'm excited for the opportunity to make a difference and help out around the school."
Hermione beamed at her friend, feeling a swell of pride for Lily's achievement. She knew how hard Lily had worked to earn this honour, and she had no doubt that she would excel in her new role.
"Well, I think we should celebrate properly," Mary declared, rummaging through her bag and pulling out a bottle of firewhiskey. "Who's up for some fun tonight?"
The girls eagerly agreed, their laughter filling the compartment as they settled in for a joyful journey to Hogwarts.
...
The sounds of "Dancing Queen" by ABBA filled the dormitory as Lily, Marlene, Mary, and Hermione danced with wild abandon. They moved in sync as they twirled and spun around the room.
Lily, her red hair swirling around her as she danced, threw her head back and laughed, her eyes shining with joy. Marlene, her blonde curls bouncing with each step, clapped her hands in time with the music, her laughter joining Lily's.
Mary, her dark hair flying behind her as she moved, spun around in circles, and Hermione, her usually reserved demeanour forgotten in the moment, grinned from ear to ear as she joined her friends in their impromptu dance party.
Together, they moved across the room, their laughter mingling with the music as they let go. They were lost in the moment, caught up in the joy of ABBA.
As the song reached its crescendo, they threw their arms around each other and danced in a circle, their voices rising in a jubilant chorus as they sang along with the music.
And as the song came to an end, they collapsed onto their beds, breathless and exhilarated, their hearts full of joy and their spirits lifted by the magic of the music. In that moment, they were unstoppable, united in their celebration of life and friendship.
"I think it's time for Never have I ever!" Marlene declared pouring everyone large cups of fire whiskey.
"Never have I ever kissed Severus Snape," Marlene declared with a mischievous grin, kicking off their game of Never Have I Ever.
Lily took a large swig of her drink, giggling, making her friends screech in excitment.
"Ooh, do tell," Mary teased, leaning forward eagerly.
"It was during the summer holiday," Lily began, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Sev and I were out for a walk, and he just... kissed me."
Marlene clapped her hands gleefully. "Looks at Lils getting some!"
"Alright, my turn," Mary chimed in. "Never have I ever snuck out after curfew."
Lily, Marlene, and Hermione all raised their hands, laughing as they recalled their late-night adventures.
"Those were some wild nights," Marlene said, shaking her head fondly.
"Definitely," Hermione agreed. "But we always managed to avoid getting caught."
"Until that one time," Lily added, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
...
Hermione found herself surrounded by laughter as her friends egged each other on with dares, fuelled by the liberating effects of alcohol. The dimly lit dormitory seemed to pulse with excitement as they hatched their latest scheme.
Lily, her eyes shining with mischief, turned to Hermione with a mischievous grin. "Alright, Hermione, we've got a dare for you," she announced, her voice tinged with excitement.
Hermione raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Oh really? And what might that be?" she asked, her lips quirking into a smile.
Mary leaned in closer, her expression conspiratorial. "We dare you to sneak outside, pick a flower from the grounds, and come back without getting caught," she whispered, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Hermione's eyes widened in surprise at the audacity of the dare. "Are you serious?" she exclaimed, her heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
Marlene nodded eagerly. "Dead serious," she confirmed, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Hermione hesitated for a moment, weighing the risks against the thrill of the challenge. The alcohol coursing through her veins emboldened her, and she found herself nodding in agreement. "Alright, I'll do it," she declared, her voice tinged with determination.
The girls erupted into cheers, their laughter echoing off the walls of the dormitory. With a sense of purpose, Hermione slipped out of the room, her pulse racing with anticipation.
As she made her way down the deserted corridors of Hogwarts, her senses heightened by the thrill of the forbidden, Hermione felt a surge of exhilaration. The night air was cool against her skin as she crept stealthily toward the entrance to the castle.
With each step, Hermione's heart pounded in her chest, the adrenaline coursing through her veins. She reached the grand oak doors of Hogwarts and slipped outside, the moon casting an ethereal glow over the grounds.
Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Hermione scanned the surrounding area for a suitable flower to pluck. Spotting a cluster of delicate blooms near the edge of the Forbidden Forest, she made her way toward them, her movements cautious and deliberate.
With trembling hands, Hermione reached out and plucked a single flower from the earth, its petals soft against her skin.
As she made her way toward back to the castle, her eyes caught sight of James Potter sitting on the grass, a book open in front of him. Curiosity getting the better of her, Hermione veered off course and approached him.
"What are you doing out here, Potter?" she slurred slightly, trying to sound nonchalant.
James glanced up, his glasses glinting in the moonlight. "Finishing up some astronomy homework," he replied with a smile. "What about you?"
Hermione shrugged, feeling a bit lightheaded. "Just... taking a walk," she mumbled, realizing how absurd it sounded even as the words left her lips.
James raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her vague response. "In the middle of the night?" he teased, his gaze lingering on her flushed cheeks.
Hermione felt a blush creep up her neck as she struggled to come up with a coherent explanation. "Well, you see... it's a long story," she admitted.
James chuckled softly, his eyes sparkling with amusem*nt. "I'm sure it is," he said, reaching out to gently touch her arm. "But maybe you should head back inside before Filch catches you out here."
Hermione nodded, realizing he was right. "Yeah, probably," she agreed, feeling a pang of disappointment at the thought of leaving his company so soon.
As she turned to go, James called after her, his voice warm and teasing. "Try not to get caught next time, Mia."
Hermione couldn't help but smile as she made her way back to the castle.
...
The Great Hall buzzed with activity as students filed in for breakfast, their voices mingling with the clatter of plates and cutlery. The morning sunlight filtered through the high windows, casting a warm glow over the long rows of tables.
As the Marauders made their way to the Gryffindor table, their eyes fell upon the four girls huddled together, nursing their hangovers from the previous night's festivities. Remus's lips twitched with amusem*nt as he nudged James and Sirius, nodding toward their friends.
"Looks like the girls had a bit too much fun last night," Remus remarked with a chuckle.
James grinned, his expression mischievous. "Indeed they did," he agreed, his gaze lingering on the girls as they exchanged sheepish glances.
Sirius chuckled, his laughter ringing out through the hall. "I bet they're regretting their fun now."
Peter nodded in agreement, his eyes crinkling with amusem*nt. "I don't envy them one bit," he added, casting a sympathetic glance toward the girls.
As the Marauders settled into their seats, their attention turned to their friends, who were valiantly trying to muster the energy to face the day ahead. Lily groaned and buried her head in her hands, while Marlene reached for a glass of water with a grimace.
James couldn't help but grin as he watched them, his amusem*nt evident in his eyes. "Looks like someone's paying the price for all that walking last night," he teased, earning a playful swat from Hermione in response.
Despite their sore heads and bleary eyes, the girls couldn't help but smile at the playful banter of their friends.
...
The stars twinkled overhead, casting a soft glow over the astronomy tower as Hermione and Regulus sat side by side, their voices carrying in the night air.
"So, how was your summer, Reg?" Hermione asked, turning to her friend with genuine interest.
Regulus let out a sigh, his expression weary. "Oh, you know, the usual," he replied, running a hand through his dark hair. "Lots of family gatherings, endless lectures from my parents about upholding the family name."
Hermione nodded sympathetically, knowing all too well the pressure that came with being part of a prestigious wizarding family. "I can imagine," she said softly, offering him a reassuring smile.
Regulus sighed again, his gaze drifting toward the horizon. "And now I have Narcissa's wedding to look forward to," he added, a hint of resignation in his voice. "I'd rather be anywhere else than stuck at Malfoy Manor, surrounded by pompous purebloods."
Hermione sat up straight, a sudden spark of realization igniting in her mind. It was like a light bulb had switched on, illuminating the solution to a puzzle she'd been trying to solve for months.
Hermione took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to propose. "Well, since you're going to be attending the wedding anyway, do you think you could possibly bring me along as your plus one?" she asked, her voice tinged with hope.
Regulus's eyes widened in surprise at Hermione's request. "You want to be my plus one at Narcissa's wedding?" he asked, disbelief colouring his tone.
Hermione nodded earnestly, her gaze meeting his with unwavering determination. "Yes, please," she said, her voice soft but resolute. "There's something hidden there, something I need to get."
Regulus studied Hermione for a moment, his expression unreadable as he considered her request. Then, after a brief pause, a smile spread across his face. "Sure, Hermione," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "Consider it done."
