Hermione Granger and The Marauders

September 1974

Sirius looked down at his feet and a sound came out that Hermione knew was the word "Sorry".

Lily laughed and clapped her hands together with joy, "You're the first person to make him apologise! I like you!" she giggled to Hermione. Hermione smiled back at Lily and began to relax her muscles "Think nothing of it. My brothers are like that. They just need a firm hand, that's all. I should imagine that you'll be a lot nicer to new students the next time you see them!" Hermione barked at Sirius.

"Padfoot? Why did you let that happen?" James said as they began to walk away. Hermione and Lily stayed in the Great Hall and for a moment Hermione forget when she was. She could have sworn that she was there with Harry and Ron. It made her feel a little upset after remembering they weren't there with her. Lily had noticed the glum look on Hermione's face and spoke up, "What's wrong?"

Hermione look up and smiled at Lily "Nothing. I just miss my friends that's all."

Lily nodded her head and her green eyes looked into Hermione's brown as she spoke, "You'll see them again. I'm sure they miss you too. What are they called?"

Hermione hesitated to tell her for a moment but what harm could a name do?

"Harry and Ron. I really do miss them. I'd be sat doing my homework and they'd be hanging over me telling me to hurry up so we can walk around the halls and the grounds. I'd tell them I was going as fast as I could but they've never been the type to want to do homework like I have." she smiled as she remembered all the times this had happened. Lily had been listening to everything Hermione had said and was nodding her head to every word.

"We could owl them if you want? I'm sure Severus wouldn't mind us borrowing Skipper - that's his owl." Lily stood up and was about to leave until Hermione grabbed her robes and pulled her back down.

"No it's okay. I'll survive without them for a while. It's them surviving without me that I'm having doubts about." Hermione laughed. She saw The Daily Prophet on the table and pulled it towards her to look for the date.

"Is this today's newspaper?" she asked Lily and was answered with a nod of the head.

Monday, 2nd September 1974

Hermione began to choke from the shock of the date and took several moments for her to sort herself out. Lily was there to ask if she was okay straight away and, of course, Hermione lied and said she was. She wasn't though. There was no way she'd be able to get back home. She couldn't even talk to anyone else other than Fred or George about it - no one would believe her.

"Do we have classes today?" Hermione asked Lily all of a sudden.

Lily shook her head and pulled a face, "Not now. It's five o clock, the lessons ended two hours ago. Do you have your timetable yet?  Hermione replied with a shake of the head, "Let's go and sort that out then - just so we can pass the time." The two of them stood up and walked over to professor McGonagall. Hermione was terribly nervous about coming face-to-face with McGonagal from the past. It wasn't like she'd know who Hermione was but it didn't feel right.

"Professor?" Lily started and she turned around, "This is Hermione, she's new, and hasn't received her timetable yet."

McGonagall scanned Hermione and it made her feel a little uncomfortable as her eyes looked her up and down. Then she nodded at Lily, took out a peice of parchment and pressed her wand against it. When she took her wand away Hermione's timetable had been left in its place.

"There you are, Hermione. You're in the same classes as Lily. I expect you'll help us get our good reputation back. What, with those four and everything It's very difficult to get any house points for Gryffindor." she told Hermione and then pointed over to James, Sirius, Remus and Peter, "Remus has his moments but he doesn't exactly prevent anything."