Turn back time - Hermione Granger in the Marauders era

Chapter 1 - Platform 9 3/4

Four years earlier: 1977

Hermione stared up at Platform 9 and 3/4 at Kings Cross Station. She beamed widely at it. It was September the 1st 1977, Hermione's sixth year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She poked her index finger through a space inbetween the bars of her cat's cage. "Ready, Fawcett?" She said quietly, so that no one around could hear. She straightened out and glanced around. All the muggles were too busy rushing to their correct platform, nobody seemed to notice her. She walked towards the brick wall of the platform casually, then quickened her pace a few metres away. Her heart beat fast, but only because of excitement. She swiftly sweeped through the wall. Hermione was greeted with the familiar Hogwarts Express and witches and wizards rushing around her. It was 10:40, Hermione always arrived promptly on time, unlike most of her class mates. She smiled at the recollections of the memories that she had with her best friends, Lily Evans, Marlene McKinnon and Mary MacDonald, and their experiences at Hogwarts. It was a comfort to know that there would be more memories to come!

Not wanting to be in the way, or get on the train alone, Hermione stood beside the wall so that she could see everyone get on the train. Some of the students' parents had come through to the Hogwarts Express too, but as Hermione's parents were muggles, she had just said goodbye to them at the entrance of Kings Cross station. She didn't really mind, she wasn't awfully close to them. Obviously, she loved them dearly, but since she had started Hogwarts, she'd been distant with her parents. Hermione was the second child of four and all of her siblings were muggles too, which made her the odd one out, the runt of the litter.

Hermione finally noticed her best friend Lily Evans thirty or so metres away. Hermione waved at her, eagerly pushing her trolley forward towards her. They embraced each other happily.

"Lily! How are you?"

"I'm great! How are you?"

"Great, great. Good summer holiday?"

"Yeah, I suppose. You?"

"Alright,"

Hermione and Lily continued to make enquiries after one another for several minutes before deciding to go into the train and meet their other best friends Mary and Marlene in there. They sat down in their usual compartment, four away from the front of the Hogwarts express at precisely 10:52 and gossiped eagerly of their summer holidays. Not that there was much to tell on Hermione's side.

"...And then we went to France and saw the Eiffel Tower and all of that French stuff,"

"Oh, well Sacre Bleugh!"

Lily snorted. "I had no idea what anyone was saying, so for the whole of the two weeks I was just walking around smiling. It got boring after less that 24 hours! But it was nice to spend time with my parents! Oh, how are your siblings?"

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Izzy and Jenny have been such a pain! But Joshie is lovely, I was hoping he would get a Hogwarts letter, but no such luck. He's starting secondary school next week."

Lily smiled in acknowledgement of what Hermione was talking about, but her smile was short lived as the doors of the compartment opened. Standing in the doorway was James Potter and his ignorant band of followers.

"Hey, Evans," he said, walking into the compartment happily. "Hey, Granger,"

Hermione smiled slightly and acknowledged his greeting, whereas Lily looked tired. "Hello Potter," she said wearily. Sirius, Remus and Peter followed into the compartment after James. They stood in the door way, James and Sirius looking pleased and Remus and Peter looking awkward. Sirius half laughed at the situation. "Room for... Four more?" He smiled.