Authors Note; Hi, sorry I haven't updated in a while. I had a bit of writers block and I've also been super busy but I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thanks xxx

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"Please take the blame! I'll pay you! I'll set you up with Remus or Sirius whichever one you want please help me!"

Hermione closed her book, sat up on her bed and sighed looking at her troublesome brother. "What is it you want me to take the blame for exactly? And Remus and Sirius? That was the best you could do? I mean Remus is alright but Sir-"

"I'll have you know Sirius is a dashing lad. Anyway I need you to take the blame! I set fire-"

Hermione opened her book again and lied back down. "Nope, not happening."

"To Mum's favourite placemats and tea towels."

"And why would you do that exactly?"

"I was trying to prepare fireworks to go off for when Sirius arrived later... but it went horribly wrong."

"He is going to be utterly heartbroken when he finds out you set fire to something without him." Hermione smiled, clutching her chest mockingly.

"JAMES FLEAMONT POTTER YOU GET DOWN HERE RIGHT THIS SECOND!"

James looked over at Hermione pleadingly but she didn't even notice him she was too busy gasping and clutching her sides. "Your middle name is Fleamont! This is just priceless!" James just set a glare on her at the exact moment Dorea appeared in the doorway. "JAMES POTTER WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY TEA TOWELS!"

He set his best innocent look on her and asked "What do you mean, mum."

She scowled at her son. "You know exactly what I mean James Potter! Don't try and pull that innocent act on-"

"JAMES, HERMIONE, DOREA. SIRIUS IS HERE!"

Dorea's face instantly morphed from a scowl to a smile. "He's here early! Oh, I missed that boy!" she left the room immediately, running down the stairs, with James and Hermione soon following. Hermione sprinted down the stairs so fast, overtaking even Dorea.

They all arrived in the Dining Room greeted by a beaming Sirius and a delighted Charlus. Hermione, who made it down the stairs first, was pushed aside by Dorea. Dorea wrapped him in a bone crushing hug before releasing him and smothering him in kisses. "Oh, I need to go get my camera, I'll be back in a second." With that Dorea sprinted out of the room.

Hermione then ran over to him, wrapped him in a hug, gave him a kiss on the cheek before grabbing him by the shoulders and holding him at arms length. "Sirius! James' middle name is Fleamont." A complete look of shock and disbelief washed over Sirius' face before it changed to a look of absolute delight. James on the other hand had never looked more irritated.

"Oh Merlin 'Mione. I love you. Th-Thank y-you so- so much." Sirius said in between laughter. "Fleamont! Bloody Fleamont, oh this is hilarious." Hermione and Charlus started chuckling while James was slowly going red.

"HERMIONE! SIRIUS!" James exclaimed, looking much like a small child not getting their way. He looked like he was about to say more but, lucky for them, Dorea walked back in. "Okay! James go stand over by Sirius and Hermione. Don't forget to smile!"

James begrudgingly walked towards Hermione and Sirius, mumbling rude things about what his mother should do with the camera instead. Sirius slung his arm lazily over Hermione's shoulder and James tried to stand behind them, only to be told by his mother to stand on Hermione's other side. He stood stiffly to Hermione's right now with a noticeable distance between them. Charlus couldn't hold his laughter anymore and filled the room with it.

"Charlus! What is it! Why are you laughing! James stand closer to Hermione!" Dorea said sternly, causing everyone except herself and James to chuckle. "Hermione told Sirius James' middle name and now James is having a tantrum over it dear." Charlus told his wife with amusement written on his face.

"Oh." Dorea said with a smile on her face. "James put your arm over Hermione's shoulder like Sirius."

"Hermione dear! Dinner's ready." Dorea called up the stairs. Hermione was in the library. She was researching elementalists and seers. She got a bit side tracked with the whole Chamber Of Secrets fiasco. Now however, she had enough spare time to research as much as she possibly can. When she gets back to Hogwarts it will be the same, since she will finally be able to have a normal year. Well, as normal as it's ever going to get for Hermione Granger.When she gets back she will also have to restart her training in the Room of Requirement. She had gotten quite good in her own time. Well, she would have had to with the Death Eaters as a constant threat.

She had faced them a number of times. More times than she would like to count after Harry died. After Harry died the war esculated, it got so much worse for the side of the light and so much better for the Death Eaters. Muggle-borns, half-bloods and blood traitors were being hunted, tortured, slaughtered. There was even experiments set up all over the country, camps they liked to call them, they would test and rip apart muggle-borns limb for limb to find how they get their magic.

Hermione had even been captured, taken to Malfoy Manor. There she was told to research 'The Fountain of Fair Fortune'. She wasn't told why, but she could guess. Voldemort must have wanted to drink from it. He must have wanted immortality and thinks that is the only fool proof way to get it. Hermione continuously told Lucius Malfoy, her captor that it was just a myth. A tale told to children. That the last line states it in fact carries no enchantment at all. Malfoy however just used the cruciatus curse on her and sometime he even jumped on her back. He told her he would continue to do so until she "learned her place".

The only way she was able to survive all this time was Draco's company. He was her only sense of comfort. Then one day, he stopped coming. Hermione wondered why until Narcissa paid her a visit one day under the pretence of looking for her missing earing and believing the 'mudblood' had something to do with it. She told Hermione that Lucius found out about Draco's visits and, without so much as a second though, he killed him. Hermione was shocked. She found it unbelievable that Lucius Malfoy, who cared about nothing more about the Malfoy name, killed his heir. The last living Malfoy, besides himself. Hermione voiced these thoughts to Narcissa. Narcissa informed her that there is another Malfoy, who was in the castle at that time. His name was Hunter Malfoy. He was a fifth year Slytherin known as Hunter McKinnon. He was the product of an affair, an affair between Lucius Malfoy and Shauna McKinnon.

Hermione asked Narcissa to get her some things so she could escape. Narcissa agreed and said she would be back soon with the supplies. Just to be sure no one would question the reason she was there she slapped Hermione on the cheek and walked out looking flustered and angry. A few days later, after Hermione got supplies from Narcissa, Lucius and Hermione were the only two people left in the castle. Narcissa had gotten everyone else out somehow. Hermione had spilled water outside the door and she attached string from one side of the door to the other. When Lucius came he slipped in the water, catching his foot in the string and falling, hitting his head on a sharp piece of metal that Hermione had placed. He was almost unconscious. Hermione grabbed his wand and, to this day she is ashamed of what she did next, she cast the cruciatus curse on him until he went unconscious. Then she put a full body bind on him just in case and ran for it. She ran for her life and didn't stop until she reached the closest Order safe house. After that day she began to train herself in wandless magic, never wanting to be in that position again.

"You know you can't eat the books, right Granger?" A voice said, snapping Hermione out of her thoughts. She looked up from her book to meet the stormy grey eyes of Sirius Black. He had a smirk on his face. He had really changed since Hermione had last seen him on the train. She was too preoccupied to notice it earlier but now she could see that he has grown a few inches, his jawline and cheekbones more defined and his hair a bit longer. If he wasn't handsome before he was definitely handsome now.

Hermione realised she had been staring a bit too long now so quickly said "Mmm? What?" 'That's intelligent, great.' she thought. "Dinner 'Mione. Dorea called you down ten minutes ago. When I got up here you were staring blankly at that book. Did you not understand it?" Sirius said gently. Concern and worry etched onto his face.

"What? No. I was just... reminiscing I suppose. Although I wish I wasn't."

"About your parents and friends?"

"No... it wasn't anything nice to remember." Hermione said getting up and putting away her book. She walked to the door and Sirius grabbed her arm causing her to look back at his concerned face. "You know you can always talk to me right?" Hermione nodded and quickly left.

"No, no, no. Puddlemore is better!" Sirius almost shouted at James who looked outraged. They were standing in the hallway outside the bedrooms arguing about Quidditch.

"You see that's where you're wrong, the Arrows are by far the best team in the league! Puddlemore don't even know what the Quaffle is!" James retaliated.

"Boys, boys, boys. I think we all know that the Harpies are by far the best Quidditch team." James and Sirius' heads both snapped away from each other to see Hermione leaning in the doorway to her bedroom with her arms crossed and a smirk on her face. She had her hair up in a messy bun and was wearing one of Ron's old Chuddley Cannons t-shirts.

James smirked at her. "Excuse me? The Harpies? Hermione you are hilar-" he was cut off however by Sirius' squeal. "Oh Merlin! Is that the Chudley Cannons! I love them! They are the best team ever! Top of the league and everything!" He said it all very fast. So fast, that Hermione and James had a hard time keeping up with him.

"The Chudley Cannons? Oh well this year the Harpies will beat them same with next year and the year after. After that the Chudley Cannons won't win for like thirty years." Hermione said, remembering all the information she read from a Quidditch book in her time. She wasn't a Quidditch fan, but when Harry became the Gryffindor seeker she read whatever she thought might be helpful.

"Oh yeah? And what makes you so sure hmm? And if you hate them so much then why are you wearing a Chudley Cannons shirt?" Sirius questioned. Hermione had to look away, tears were starting to well up in her eyes. She mumbled something incoherent and looked down at her feet. "What Mione?" Sirius asked, more gentle this time. She coughed and said, "It's silly really. I'm just a bit home sick and this was my friends top." There was silence for a moment until Hermione spoke again. "I'm going to go downstairs now okay." She began to walk swiftly to the stairs. She accidentally bumped into James' shoulder but she kept walking to the top of the stairs, only stopping once she got there. She turned around to James and softly said, "You shouldn't be so quick to judge Puddlemore brother. They will make their comeback soon, beating the Arrows many times in the process." and with that she was gone.

"DIAGON ALLEY" Hermione said, taking a pinch of floor powder and dropping it over herself, sending her into the flames. It wasn't her favourite method of transportation but she had to admit, it was convenient. She passed a dozer or so grates until she found the right one and stepped out of the flames into the Leaky Cauldron. She waited patiently for James, Sirius and Dorea to step out. The first one to greet Hermione was Dorea, then James, who was followed by Sirius. The gang made their way through Diagon Alley passing the pet shop, Quidditch shop and ice-cream shop before reaching Hermione's favourite store. Florrish and Blotts.

She walked straight in and the smell of parchment and books overwhelmed her. She looked at the books for half an hour until Dorea had purchased all the school books. When it was time to leave, Dorea almost had to pull Hermione out by the legs. Thankfully however, she didn't. After Florrish and Blotts they went to get their robes fitted in Madam Malkins. Hermione did not enjoy this shop. The same however could be said for James and Sirius since they grumbled their way through it. After Madam Malkins Dorea and the boys went to the Quidditch store while Hermione went to Florescue's ice cream parlour to meet with Severus and Lily.

She saw a familiar mop of sleeky black hair. Hermione ran up to Severus from behind and tapped him on the shoulder. He spun around as quick as a snitch could fly. "Hermione! How are you?" Severus said in his usual drawling tone with a hint of excitement, although he concealed it very well. "Good, and you? How's your Summer been so far?"

"It was okay. Same as usual really." Severus said cutting the topic short with a hint of pain. This was clearly a topic he wanted to avoid, and Hermione would drop it... for now.

"Have you seen Lily?" Hermione said

"She's inside getting ice-cream. She'll be out in a-" Severus began only to be cut short by a squeal. "HERMIONE!" Hermione turned around to see Lily. She had changed quite a bit over the summer. She was a bit taller, had a bit more freckles, had a bit of a tan and shockingly had a warrior style haircut. Surprisingly, it suited her. "Lils! Your hair is so cool!" Hermione gushed.

Lily smiled at her, "Yah I wanted to do something different... I needed a change and when I got home for the summer I was still finding all bits from the Chamber in my hair so I just decided to get the scissors and cut."

"Well, I love it."

"I can't believe we only have one more week left before we go back to Hogwarts." Sirius said one afternoon, lying across the end of Hermione's bed, throwing a ball in the air and catching it lazily. "Mmm" Hermione said not really paying attention. She was propped up at the top end of the bed, with her legs under her blanket and her nose stuck in a book.

"Hermione? Did you hear me?"

"Mmm yah I know."

"Hermione?"

"Yah..."

"I'm a baby kangaroo."

"Yah. Same."

Sirius tolled his eyes, grabbed Hermione's book and jumped up before the she could catch him. "OI! Give me that! It's my favourite book!"

"Narnia? What's that about? I thought your favourite would be Hogwarts; A History or something?"

"Humph. Your worse than Ron. No, while I enjoy Hogwarts; A History, it is not my favourite. Narnia is a muggle book set during World War II. Four siblings are sent to a safe house and the youngest finds an entrance to a magical place called Narnia. It really is quite brilliant."

"Yeah well... okay... we're going outside now for fresh air."

"We?" Hermione said, eyebrow raised.

"Yes, we."

"I don't think so. If you don't mind I'll have my book back now." Hermione said making a grab at her book. Sirius pulled it back before she could get it.

"Actually, I do mind. We're going outside to enjoy the rest of our holidays from school."

"But I enjoy reading!" Hermione protested.

"And I enjoy ice-cream. But you don't see me falling asleep eating it, or ignoring everyone else because I'm busy eating."

"You did that last week."

"Besides the point."

"Is it though?"

"Yes! C'mon Mi, just an hour." Sirius pleaded using his cute puppy dog face.

"Ugh half an hour! That's it!"

Sirius gave her a toothy grin. "Deal."

Half an hour however turned into twohours. Sirius and Hermione were in the middle of a water fight, eventually joined by James. It started when Sirius threw a jug of water at her. Hermione promptly ran to the nearest muggle village and bought herself a water gun. Poor Sirius didn't know what hit him.

Finally, the day they were set to return to Hogwarts approached. Hermione couldn't wait to see Remus, Regulus, Lily, Narcissa and Severus again. Remus had been away in France with his family al summer and hadn't been able to visit. Lily and Severus wouldn't visit over James and Sirius, and nobody knew of Hermione's friendship with Narcissa and Regulus.

Hermione boarded the train and put her trunk in an empty carriage, followed by Sirius and James. Hermione promptly left the carriage. Remus wouldn't be returning to Hogwarts for another two days because the previous night was the full moon and he was still recovering.

Hermione first went to find Regulus and Narcissa. She found them both in a carraige with a bunch of snobbish Slytherins Hermione only really knew by sight.

"Have any of you seen a toad, my friend has lost one." Hermione said making up an excuse as to why she entered the carraige.

"No now go away you filthy mudblood." One of the Slytherins said. Hermione turned to leave but subtly pushed a piece of parchment that was in her pocket out onto Narcissas lap, who was sitting closest to the door. The note said to meet her on the seventh floor tomorrow night with Regulus.

Hermione then left that compartment in search of Severus and Lily. She eventually found them down near the end of the train.

"Hey guys." Hermione said sliding open the compartment door and stepping inside.

"Hermione! How was your summer! Was Potter annoying! Ugh he's such a prat! He actually came up to me a few minutes ago and said-" Lily said all in one very long breath until Hermione cut her off, pressing her finger to her lips.

"Woah Lily slow down. My summer was good, James was fine how was your summer?" Hermione then lifted her finger and Lily began rambling again about her week in Ireland. Hermione looked at Severus and he laughed at her misfortune. Hermione glared in return.

After a while Severus casually mentioned that the Slytherins keep talking about some big thing that's happening at Hogwarts this year, apparently Barty Couch Jr. suggested it to Barty Crouch Sr. who then suggested it to the Minister for Magic who agreed.

"What's happening?" Hermione asked with interest. She thought that if Barty Crouch Jr. was involved that it can't be good.

"I don't know. No one would tell me." He shrugged and Hermione frowned.

SBHGSBHGSBHGSBHGSBHGSBHGSBHGSBHG

After the sorting ceremony Dumbledore stood up on the podium to welcome everyone home and to tuck in and on all the tables the food just appeared out of thin air. That would never get old Hermione thought.

After the pudding was gone and the crumbs had been scraped Dumbledore stood up again at the podium.

"So" said Dumbledore, the usual glint still in his eye. "Now that everyone is fed I must ask once again for your attention while I give out a few notices. Mr. Filch the caretaker, has asked me to inform you that the list of objects forbidden in this castle has extended to include exploding snap and dung bombs. The full list comprises of some four hundred and nineteen items, it can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office if anybody cares to check it."

The corners of Dumbledore's mouth twitched as if he thought the very thought of something checking the list was laughable.

He continued, "As ever, I would like to remind you that the forest on the grounds is out of bounds to sudentd as is the village of Hogsmede to anyone below third year."

Sirius and James snorted, the forest out of bounds? No, not for them.

"Also I would like to introduce our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Barty Crouch Jr."

Everyone in the hall cheered, except Hermione. All Hermione could think was how this was very very bad. At least it couldn't possibly get any worse she though, but she was about to be proven wrong.

"It is also my painful duty to inform you that the inter-house Quidditch cup will not take place this year." The whole hall interrupted into chatter, shouts and boos at this news. The boos courtesy of James and Sirius who were also throwing bread rolls in anger.

Dumbledore chucked "Quiet! Quiet!" The whole hall shut up. "This is due to an event that will be starting in October and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers time and energy but I am sure that you will all enjoy it immensely. I take great pleasure to announce that this year Hogwarts will be hosting the Tri-Wizard Tournament!"