Falling into 1976

Breakfast

The next morning, Sirius and Remus woke up earlier than the rest of the boys, per usual. After yet another failed attempt to wake James and Peter up, the duo headed down to the common room.

"I didn't think anyone else would be up this early,"

Sirius and Remus both whipped their heads around to see none other than Hermione Granger, who was sitting on one of the plushy chairs in the common room. She stood up and walked around their stunned faces, heading for the portrait hole.

"See you in class, Black, Lupin," Hermione opened the portrait hole and was about to step out when she suddenly turned around and smiled warmly at them, "And thank you for saving me,"

This seemed to bring both boys out of their trance, and they both smiled widely and started walking toward her.

"Anytime my dear lady, always happy to help out a damsel in distress," Sirius remarked, sending her a wink, and her smile fell and she gave him a half-hearted glare.

"I'm hardly in distress if I'm unconscious, but I'll let it slide," She murmured, but both boys could tell she was only slightly annoyed.

"Well, allow us to escort you to breakfast," Remus began, "It's the least we could do after Sirius' blanent insult to your ability to take care of yourself,"

She smiled again, and Sirius noted how her whole face lit up when she did so.

"I already know my way down, but I'd love the company," She said, turning toward the portrait hole. The boys took this as their cue to follow her, and they hurried to walk in step with her.

"So Granger, how do you know your way around the castle already?" Sirius questioned, looking slightly confused.

"I spent a few nights here over the summer, and Dumbledore gave me a grand tour as well," She said, grateful for the time she and Dumbledore had spent going over the finer details of her story.

"Really? That's cool, I didn't know Dumbledore gives tours," Remus remarked, "They should do it for the firsties,"

"Well I am the first transfer student in a while, and I do agree that first years should have tours. Thankfully Beauxbatons isn't as confusing as Hogwarts!"

"Where's the fun in that?" Sirius asked, keeping a straight face.

Hermoine and Remus rolled their eyes simultaneously, making Sirius pull a face and remark, "Ew, I don't need two Remus' before breakfast,"

"But after breakfast is okay?" Remus said, raising an eyebrow. Sirius grinned, "Well at least I've woken up by then and had coffee, and I can zone out most of your strange likeness,"

Hermione snorted, as did Remus, and Sirius' face fell into a mock-shocked look. "See what I mean! It's way too bloody creepy for 7:00 am!! Remus, you need to go away and come back after I've had breakfast so I only get to be lectured once about homework or respect or whatever else your bloody minds can come up with!"

Remus gave a short laugh, but Hermione seemed fixated on a spot on the floor, seemingly staring at nothing.

"Granger, you alright?" Sirius asked, slightly concerned. She blinks a few times before giving them a pained smile and a short nod.

"We're here," She said, breaking the silence that fell on the trio. Sirius grinned at her. "That we are, but it's not like you're getting rid of us anytime soon! After all, both of our dorms are still asleep and I need my coffee!"

With that, the three entered the great hall and started on their meal.

"So, Granger, tell us about you,"

"Well for starters, you can call me Hermione," she said, giving him a brief smile.

"Nah, too long," Sirius remarked.

"Excuse the mutt, he hasn't learned his manners yet," Remus interjected, Ignoring the offended 'Oi!' from Sirius.

"But he will use it as an excuse to give you a nickname,"

"A nickname, you say? What's yours?"

"Well, Remus dear has collected a rather large assortment of them. Ranging from Remmy to Moony to Blondie," Sirius said with a straight face.

"Really? I, personally, would go with a combination of all three, they are all much too good to not be used," She said. Sirius gave a bark of laughter as Remus groaned, and Hermione allowed herself a small smile.

Fifteen minutes later, most of the Great Hall had been filled, with the exception of James and Peter, who tumbled in after another five minutes.

"Five years! Five years of brotherhood, and what do I get to show for it? An empty dorm, and no one to wake me up in the morning!" James cried as he sat down next to Hermione. Peter laughed in agreement, sitting down on the other side of Sirius.

"Oh, shove off Prongs! You know the only alarm clock you would wake up to has red hair, green eyes, and currently listed as the least likely to be at your bedside in the morning," Sirius quipped. James turned pink and rolled his eyes, obviously used to the teasing. Hermione gave a small smile and turned back to her food, getting lost in her thoughts.

Before she had left, the wizarding world was in celebration. Harry had killed Voldemort during the final battle, and only a few of the Death Eaters remained. Hermione and Harry had all been in Diagon Alley when the last of the Death Eater launched an attack, sending her back here.

Looking back, it may have been a good thing. She could change the future, so that these things never have to happen, and nobody has to die. But she wasn't so naive. Everything she changed would have consequences, good or bad. If Voldemort were to make a horcrux she didn't know about, he may never be defeated, even temporarily.

Harry always said it was like having the world on your shoulders; the knowledge that you were the only one that could save the people around you. Hermione had tried to alleviate it, to no avail, but now she knew how it felt. She could change the course of the future, and she was the only one who bore the knowledge of it.

"Hermione! You okay?" Peter called from across the table.

"Yeah, I just got lost in my thoughts," She replied asently.

"So, er... how old are you?" Sirius said, attempting to make conversation.

"Physically? Fourteen,"

"And mentally?" James asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Much older than you lot, that's for sure. Charming the Slitherin's hair red and gold? Seriously?" She asked, referring to the prank they were planning the moment before, making sure to flash them a cheeky smile that felt foreign to her face. She could feel her thoughts drifting again as the boys laughed, and she cast a quick tempus charm to check the time. As she stood up, Sirius and Remus frowned at her.

"Where are you going?"

"Library," She answered, "I need to do a bit of reading,"

"Class hasn't even started yet!" Sirius moaned, "You don't have any homework!"

"Homework isn't the only reason people use a library, Sirius," Remus said, before turning toward Hermione, "Do you want me to walk you there? Hogwarts is a bit confusing at first, even if you have had a tour,"

"No, it's alright, the Library is one of those things that I could never forget the location of,"

With that, she walked out of the Great Hall, leaving the marauders to themselves.