a dance with destiny

ix

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the order these words are in, everything else belongs to JKR

A/N: OMG GUYS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 200 VOTES & 7K READS!!! When I started writing this, it was just for fun, and I never thought that anyone would actually read it, or even enjoy it. Thank you so much!

September 22, 1977

That Morning (at a Reasonable Time), The Hospital Wing

3rd Person POV:

*Use of Profanity*

Hermione sighed quietly to herself when she opened her eyes, and opened her eyes, and was yet again met with the Hospital Wing Ceiling. She was getting rather sick of being here. Her thoughts strayed back to what happened last night – or, really, earlier this morning – and she groaned at the thought of breaking the news to the other Marauders. Maybe Minerva or someone will tell them, she hoped, but probably not. After all, since I was the one who "figured" it out, they might want me to break it to them. As she got ready for class, she pondered how exactly she would tell them. Hey, your other best friend – yeah, the rat – is a death eater, by the way.

She thought about skipping breakfast, but then decided that would be weird, not to mention the fact that she had promised Sirius she would see him then. Sitting down at the end of the table – she hadn't wanted to talk to anyone at the moment – she grabbed a slice of toast, beginning to butter it and, once again, getting lost in her thoughts.

However, she was rudely interrupted by a way too chipper James plopping down next to her, "Today's the day!"

"For what?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"The day Evans is going to confess her love to me!"

Sitting down on her other side, Sirius rolled his eyes, "Mate, you say that every day, and it hasn't happened yet."

"Nor will it ever happen," Remus added, grinning, from across her.

"You just wait! It'll happen, I swear it!" James cried indignantly.

Hermione nodded absentmindedly, staring at her toast. She couldn't bring herself to meet any of their eyes, knowing that what she would have to tell them later would crush them. She couldn't help but cling on to the hope that Minerva or Albus would tell them.

And, as it happens ever so often, one's wishes are granted.

When Minerva walked into the Great Hall that morning, she saw her daughter's expression, and she knew that it would be difficult for her to tell the boys. Taking a deep breath, she made her way over to them, "Potter, Black, Lupin, Granger, come with me, there is something I need to discuss with the four of you." Catching Hermione's eye, she winked when the boys weren't looking, and she smiled a little to herself at the girl's relieved face.

They walked to her office slowly, Sirius and James both pestering "Minnie," who only ignored them, and Hermione trailing behind, dreading the conversation to come.

Remus caught on to this, and hung back for a moment, letting Hermione catch up, "Hey, is everything ok?"

"Huh?" She looked up, startled, "Oh, yeah, yeah, everything's ok."

At his skeptical look, she offered a weak smile, and he dropped it, but stayed by her side.

"I wonder where Pete is," James' loud voice cut through her thoughts as they arrived at the Deputy Head's office, and Hermione couldn't help the wince that crossed her face. Both Sirius and Remus noticed it, however, but when they made eye contact, the two agreed to not say anything.