Her First Impression

Hermione had abandoned her own book. She found herself sharing the book that Remus was reading instead, when the door banged open in a dramatic fashion, revealing two dark-haired wizards. Hermione's eyes widened slightly as she realised who they were, just as the boys tumbled to the floor.

One of the pair jumped up in a smooth and elegant motion, leaning against the door-frame. His eyes trailed over her in a slightly leering manner.

Hermione straightened at the sight. She had lost herself in the book, and in Remus' company, and hadn't wholly prepared herself for this moment - for seeing Sirius Black again, or James Potter for the first time, for that matter.

Her eyes took Sirius Black in and she understood the stories she had heard before about the girls who would throw themselves at him. Yes, he had been extremely handsome in her time, but it was clear now just how much Azkaban had taken away from him.

It was the same feeling when she looked at Remus and realised the effects the war had on him. All the pain and suffering, all the people lost, all the transformations alone, and suffering in a world that didn't accept him. It pained her.

The younger Sirius Black was devilishly handsome with his high aristocratic cheekbones and lips that looked like they were set into a perennial smirk. He had an air of danger about him, and, judging by the way he dressed and the clear indication that he put a lot of care into his hair, he knew exactly how good he looked.

She didn't let her eyes linger for too long - the younger her had a slight crush on Sirius Black, but at that moment, she didn't even feel an attraction. Her gaze moved to the floor, where a boy with equally dark hair was pulling himself up, fixing a distracted Sirius with a glare.

She felt Remus get up from the seat next to her, reaching out a hand to help James Potter from the floor.

"Moony," the boys shouted when Remus was in reaching distance. James pulled him down to the floor, with Sirius all but diving on top of them both, the three of them ending up in some strange sort of group hug. Hermione watched in amusement, at the heap of boys on the floor, before the play fighting began.

She watched the three with a strange sense of longing. James was Harry's father, after all, and Remus and Sirius were both so important to her in her own past, and Remus was the most important person in her life in the current time.

But to the three of them, she was just a stranger. Maybe not as much to Remus, but there was so much she was keeping from him, that she would continue to keep to herself for a long time.

"Are you done?" came a voice, and the group froze, three sets of eyes falling on a smaller boy who was watching them from the other side of the door, his arms folded across his chest.

An arm darted out, grabbing for the newcomer's leg, but he was too quick, moving back and out of the way. He glanced at Hermione and rolled his eyes. "Every time," he said, gesturing to them. "You get used to it. You learn when to dodge."

Hermione smiled uncertainly back. The boy was nothing like she suspected, but judging by the fact that Sirius Black and Remus Lupin were currently on the floor with someone who shared a resemblance to Harry, she could only determine that the small boy standing outside the compartment was Peter Pettigrew.

"How long does this last?" Hermione asked.

With a grin, Peter pulled out his wand, making Hermione's fingers itch to reach for her own, though she resisted. It wouldn't look good if she pulled a wand on Peter just yet.

"Aguamenti."

Hermione began to laugh as she heard a high-pitched wail, and watched Sirius jump up, dramatically thrusting a finger in Peter's direction. The two other boys appeared not to be bothered by the stream of water that had hit them.

"How could you?" Sirius demanded. Peter turned and ran, Sirius disappearing behind him, leaving Remus and James on the floor.

Without Sirius, the pair were left to catch their breaths. Remus got up first, offering James a hand for the second time, pulling him up. The pair quickly cast drying spells on themselves. It was only when Remus turned around, he remembered Hermione's presence.

Hermione tried to not laugh at his embarrassment as he tried quickly to compose himself. "James, this is Hermione… she's been staying with us. Hermione, this is James Potter, one of my best friends."

"Oh, so this is the girl you mentioned?" James replied, raising his eyebrows, an amused smile appearing on his lips. "We've been eager to meet you, Hermione." He bowed slightly, taking her hand and placing a kiss on it.

"Are you trying to charm me, James Potter?" she asked, unable to hold back her smile. She had been worried that James would be too much like Harry, but James had a self-assured confidence that Harry had never even come close to possessing.

"It's not working?" James asked, pouting slightly. "And here I thought I was the most charming bloke in all of Hogwarts."

"I think that title goes to Remus," Hermione replied, with a grin in Remus' direction. "Sorry, James. But it is nice to meet you, I've heard a lot about you."

Hermione didn't feel the need to mention that it hadn't been this version of Remus that had told her most of it.

"All good things?" James replied hopefully.

Hermione pulled a face and shook her head. "Sorry James."

The door was flung open again and Sirius strutted in, his hair immaculate.

"So… you're Remus' new girl?"

"She's not my girl," Remus muttered.

Sirius nodded, a slow smile appearing on his lips. "Want to be my girl?" he offered in a slightly husky voice.

Hermione raised her eyebrows at him. "Not really," she replied, enjoying the look of shock appearing on his face. Clearly Sirius Black wasn't used to rejection.

"Hermione was just about to tell us how she ended up at the Lupins, weren't you?" James asked, attempting to cut off a dramatic meltdown that he was certain was due to happen at the rejection.

"I… I was…" she began, not sure what to say.

"Hey, back off," Remus interrupted. "All you lot need to know was that she was hurt and she's been staying at my house to recover."

"Is that all you're going to tell them?" Hermione said.

"That's what happened," Remus replied softly.

"I was almost dead and Remus saved my life," Hermione insisted.

"My father -"

"Yes, he did the spells to heal me, but you were the one who performed the stasis charm seconds before I died. I could feel myself slipping away, and then I felt your light -"

"Is that all you felt, love?" Sirius asked, grinning. "Because a pretty girl like you -"

"Shut it, Sirius," Remus growled, before turning soft eyes back to Hermione.

"That sounds all soppy and stuff, doesn't it? But that's how it was. The light was the only thing keeping me alive. I owe you my life, Remus."

"You owe me nothing," he insisted, blushing.

"Remus never mentioned any of that," James said, looking between them.

"I get the feeling that he doesn't brag about his achievements," Hermione replied.

Remus blushed at the words. "Anyone would have -"

"No, not many people would have cast that spell," Hermione interrupted. "I think you have too much faith in people."

"Well, maybe you don't have enough faith in people," Remus replied, with a soft smile. His words were said without any venom.

"I did, once," she replied. Her hand moved to her chest, resting on the bandage. "I have faith that there are good people out there, I just know that more than that, there are cruel and sadistic ones too, and that too many people only look out for themselves."

"So - how did you almost die?" Peter asked.

Hermione glanced at him, having not noticed his return, as her eyes had been on Remus.

"I'd rather not talk about it," she said softly. She didn't trust Peter, knowing his future.

"Is she coming to Hogwarts?" Peter asked, the only Marauder who hadn't heard of Hermione before.

Remus nodded. "Yeah, she's new," he confirmed. "Hermione will be in our year."

Peter dropped down at the other end of the seat, and Remus sat down in between Peter and Hermione. Hermione leaned against him once more, seeking warmth and something she wasn't quite certain about. All she knew was that it just felt right to be so close to him.

She picked up his discarded book and began to read, knowing that Remus would want to catch up with his friends.

Remus smiled at his friends. "So, how were your Summers?"