Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

AN: This is the second half of the Hogsmeade Weekend chapter as promised. An as you can see, a lot more is happening.

I don't want to take up anymore of your time so just tell me what you think.

Chapter 15: Hogsmeade Weekend Part 2

Hermione and Peter grabbed the closest carriage to them and stepped inside and the thestrals started moving immediately. Peter was thrown back into his seat and he laughed.

"I've always wondered how they got the carriages to move." Hermione glanced at Peter. "I know that it's probably stupid, considering all the magic around us."

"It's not a stupid question." Hermione muttered. "Thestrals."

"What?"

"Thestrals pull the carriages."

Peter's eyes widened. "You mean they're actually creatures pulling them? Wow, I never thought they were creatures. I wonder what they look like." Peter wondered aloud.

"Be careful what you wish for."

Peter watched Hermione curiously. "Can you see them?" Hermione nodded. "What do they look like?"

"They're like horses, almost as thin as skeletons with a wing span of about six feet. They represent death, but they're very playful creatures. It's better if you never see what they look like." Hermione explained.

"Why is that?"

"Because if you can see them then you've seen death." Hermione said softly.

Peter looked stricken. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know."

Hermione placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's ok. You didn't know, no one does."

"Do you need…" Peter shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

Hermione laughed and wrapped her arms around him. "Thanks for being here."

"It's what friends are for."

"Yeah, it is." The carriages stopped abruptly. "How about we get on with that date of ours?"

"Sounds like a plan."

-

Thankfully the rest of the date ran smoothly, without any talk of death or thestrals. Things hit a bit of a snag when the entering the Three Broomsticks laughing as Peter was retelling one of the Marauders' funnier pranks.

They came face to face with the rest of their rag tag group and they were all surprised to see them together. "Mya? Peter?" Lily asked curiously.

Hermione didn't know what to say so she turned to Peter. "Should we join them now or do you want to get another table?"

Peter glanced nervously at James and then back at Hermione. "Lets join them. I think I've learned everything I can."

"Glad I could help." Hermione smiled. "So what have you guys been up to?"

No one replied until Hermione looked pleadingly at Lily. "We've just been hanging out in here. Wondering where-" Hermione shook her head. "Wondering where Madam Rosmerta was with our drinks."

Remus took the hint and started to talk to Sirius and James, but James continued to stare at Hermione. She was starting to get uncomfortable and didn't know how she was going to slip out if he kept watching her.

"So what did you and Peter do?" James asked curiously and everyone stopped talking to listen to what she had to say.

Hermione looked at Peter to say something, but he turned away. "We've just been around Hogsmeade, taking in all the scenery and such. Since this is my first trip to Hogsmeade."

"Why didn't you just go with all of us? We could have shown you all the things Hogsmeade had to offer." James replied.

Hermione glared at James, she had thought that he had gotten past his jealousy. "Yeah, well Peter offered first." Hermione growled.

"But we're all your friends." James reasoned.

"Well then maybe you should have offered first!" Hermione growled angrily. "You know what. I'm not feeling too good right now. I think I'll head back to Hogwarts and I'll see you all later."

Peter grabbed Hermione's hand before she could walk away. "Do you want me to come with you?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, you stay here with them. I'll be fine on my own." She stood up and left the Three Broomsticks without a second glance. As soon she past the double doors she made a run for it to the Shrieking Shack. If she was to get Gaunt's ring she had to disappear unnoticed so the shack was the perfect place to disappear.

She took one last glance around her to make sure she wasn't followed before she apparated to the Little Hangleton. She felt the familiar pull in her midsection and felt as if she was being pulled through a straw.

Hermione had done a lot of research after talking to Dumbledore back in her time and figured there wasn't a better place to hide the Gaunt ring. Plus, Riddle is arrogant enough to think that no one would find it.

It was a dismal place, the shack was covered in weeds and brush. There wasn't anything happy about this place, it reminded her of a cemetery. It was so dark for being the middle of the day. She shivered, this place gave her the creeps.

"If I were a ring where would I be?" Hermione mused to herself.

She took a step forward and she felt the enchantments instantaneously.

"Ah, what do we have here?"

She closed her eyes and felt the magic swirling in the air. It was dark magic, but she knew she could get through it. Hermione lifted her hand and brushed her fingers along the edges of where the a sphere of magic was erected. It was pulsing with life and she could feel its energy calling to her. Her eyes flew open and she squeezed her hands into a fist. The magic began to pulse quicker until it collapsed into itself.

The area around the shack began come into focus and Hermione's heart quickened. She had never done that before, taken complete control over another person's magic like that.

She would be lying if she didn't admit she was a little scared of what she was becoming, but she had a job to do. So against her better judgment she walked toward the remains of the shack where she hoped the ring would be.

The floor swung open on its own accord and held her wand up defensively, daring anyone their to hex her, but no one was there so she stepped inside. The floor boards creaked under the weight of her person and she hoped she wouldn't fall through any of them.

"Just think light." She whispered to herself.

'That's like thinking hot on a cold day, it doesn't work.'

"Oh, shut up. I'm a little busy here. I love how you decide to annoy me now of all times." Hermione growled to herself.

Her inner voice sneered. 'I'm only here because you think what you said is stupid. Now I'm beginning to think you're stupid as well. Who in the name of Merlin asked themselves why their here?''

Hermione almost didn't want to answer, but she didn't want to give the dumb voice in her head the satisfaction. "It's because I've come to the conclusion that you are not me."

'Now… wherever did you get that idea?'' The voice asked in a bored tone.

"I'm not this pig headed in real life." Hermione said smugly.

'Oh, you are. You just don't vocalize it so it comes to play in your tiny brain.'

Hermione growled dangerously. "Shut up!"

An she promptly fell through the floor.

'Nice going smart one.'

"Go away." Hermione groaned.

'And let you live this down? I think not. I'll stay here and see how you get out of this marvelous predicament.'

"You could help me." Hermione felt as if someone had hit the inside of her head. "Ow. What was that for?"

'For that ridiculous statement. If you can't figure out how to get out I wont be able to come up with anything brilliant.'

Hermione grinned. "You just called yourself stupid."

'Oh, Merlin. I'm leaving.'

"Finally," Hermione breathed.

She reached under her to see if she could pull her leg out of the whole she made, but her hand brushed against a box. It came up easily and she saw that it looked like the ring boxes that jewelers gave out with purchases. Her heart jumped in her chest. There was a good chance that whatever was in this box was exactly what she needed, but first she needed to get free.

She wiggled her leg experimentally and was happy to find that it was not broken. So she used her arms as leverage and she began to shimmy her leg out of the awkward placement.

After a few minutes she was rewarded and her leg was no longer stuck. Unfortunately, the ring box was not where she left it.

Her first instinct was to curse and yell like a child, but she took a deep breath. "Relax Hermione. Inanimate objects don't just run off on their own." Out of the corner of her eye she caught a bit of movement and turned swiftly. "Lumos."

There, sitting peacefully, was a rat. He looked completely content to hold the small box in his arms, but Hermione needed it more then he did. She took a quiet step forward, but his beady little eyes opened instantly. The rat took a hesitant step back as he saw how large she was.

Hermione sighed and saw a small leaf sitting by her feet. She picked it up and transfigured into a cube of cheese, but he didn't look eager to have it. So she tried to remember what exactly they liked to eat and then it hit her like a ton of bricks, peanut butter.

So she placed the cube of cheese a top another leaf and transfigured the cheese into a slab of gooey peanut butter. The rat's nostrils flared up and his tongue came out to lick his lips.

"Would you like to trade?" Hermione asked quietly, but he wasn't paying her any attention.

Instead he put the box down and scurried to the peanut butter hungrily.

Hermione smiled triumphantly.

'You outsmarted a damn rat. Why are you happy?''

Hermione's smile almost dropped. "You can't destroy my good mood."

'Wanna bet? You-'

"Lalalalalalala… I can't hear you."

'You're such a child.'

Hermione didn't care, the voice was once again gone. Sometimes she really didn't like herself, but she pushed that aside and grabbed the small box and opened it. The evil energy was palpable and she shivered as its magic licked the edges of her own threatening. She snapped the box closed.

With the flick of her wand the rat was left alone to enjoy his feast in peace.

-

Peter turned to James angrily, "What was that about? She didn't do anything to you." He growled.

James' eyes narrowed. "You're one to talk. Why was she with you the entire day? Why did she go to Hogsmeade with you." He spat angrily. "We're all her friends you know."

"You sure aren't acting like one now." Peter growled.

"What was that? I didn't hear you." James stood up in his seat and it fell behind him. He was waiting for Peter to back down, to shut up and sit down like he was prone to do when someone confronted him.

"I said, you sure aren't acting like a friend." Peter yelled. "You are acting like a jealous boyfriend."

James was ready to yell that he was, but he stopped himself. "Then why don't you explain to us why you were with Mya. Aren't we curious boys." James turned to Sirius and Remus.

They didn't want to get into it, but James glared at them. "Yeah, we're curious." Sirius mumbled.

"See, I'm not the only one who wants to know." James pointed out.

"James please. You're making a scene." Lily pleaded. "It's not like they did anything wrong. You're being irrational."

He turned angrily to Lily. "Irrational? I'm just concerned for a friend."

Remus stepped forward. "Calm down James. There's no reason to get angry. None of us are the bad guys here. Why don't we take this outside?"

They all stepped outside of the Three Broomsticks so they wouldn't be interrupted, but Peter started to walk away.

"Where are you going?" James barked.

Peter didn't even turn around. "I don't have to explain myself to any of you."

"Yea, walk away. It's what you're good at."

Peter stiffened. "You know what? You're right, that is what I do best, but at least I don't turn my back on my friends. Mya agreed to go with me to Hogsmeade because I have a date tomorrow and I didn't want to make a fool of myself. She promised she wouldn't tell any of you because I was embarrassed. Happy?"

James stopped dead in his tracks. "Peter, I'm-"

"Save it. Its not me who you need to apologize to." Peter started to walk away again, but James followed him. He didn't catch up until they were in front of the Shrieking Shack.

"I'm so sorry, Peter. I was just jealous and I let it get to my head." James apologized.

"I know."

"I didn't mean what I said." James tried to make amends.

Peter turned around, "you did. Its ok, you're right. I do have to get stronger."

"No, Peter. You are strong and we know that you'll never run away when we need you. I wasn't thinking clearly, but you're one of our close friends and I had no right to say that to you." James smiled at Peter and pulled him into a brotherly hug.

"Thank you."

James nodded.

-

"Wow." Harry muttered. "I didn't know my dad could be so mean."

"What did you see?" Remus asked curiously, hanging off Harry's every word. He had come to live for these moments, they were like chocolate.

"Hermione went to Hogsmeade with Peter and dad was pretty upset. You should have heard the things he said to Wormtail. I can kinda see what turned the guy evil." Harry joked.

Remus looked at him sternly. "That wasn't funny."

"Sorry."

Remus sighed. "Your dad had his moments of anger, but all around he's a good guy. One of his biggest problems is his jealousy. Not to mention he already feels insecure about Mya keeping their relationship a secret."

"But she already showed him earlier that he was the one she cared about." Harry reasoned and Remus looked confused. "When you found him in the hallway he had just been properly snogged by me mum."

"That explains the distant happy look."

Harry's face turned sour. "I actually wish I never had to see that. Its disturbing enough to see 'Mione snogging someone, but its my dad."

"An she's your mum." Remus logically pointed out.

Harry looked at him wryly. "Would you enjoy watching your mom and dad making out?"

"Ok, good point. Anyways, your dad has never been good with his feelings. Even when he was interested in Lily he got jealous when we would talk to her. He doesn't quite grasp his negative feelings, he just doesn't understand them." Remus had been on the wrong side of James' temper a time or two because of Lily because they would always study together.

Harry laughed. "I'm just glad I'm not like that."

"Just give it a few years and you'll be just as bad as he is, but you'll have Mya to straighten you out." Remus grinned.

"Why do you call her that?" Remus looked confused. "Mya, I mean."

"Because that's who she is to me."

"I know that, but you never call my dad James. You always refer to him as my dad, but Hermione is my mother as you've already pointed out." Harry pointed out and watched Remus.

Remus smiled stiffly. "I do know that. I think it's because all this time Lily was your mother in my mind for years. An its hard to think of Hermione as your mother now given everything I still remember. I can stop myself from calling Lily that, but it takes some getting used to."

"That makes sense. It's hard for me too, but then again it isn't. Lily may have been my mother, but since I never knew her its almost too easy to put someone else in the spot she used to hold. I feel guilty for that, but I think it has to do with my dying as well." Harry gestured to himself. "This person I am now is a little different then the one I was before. The way my mind is set up is difficult to explain, but sometimes it feels as if I'm remembering a life I lost, even though I've yet to see my life. While the one I have is slowly disappearing. Does that make sense?"

"Unfortunately, it does. I feel that way as well because of Moony. He remembers everything and every now and again I get a glimpse of it, but it makes the memories from now start to fade." Remus admitted hesitantly.

"Exactly!" Harry said excitedly. "That's exactly what it feels like. Do you think I'll ever get her back?"

"You're just like you're father." Remus grumbled. "More mood swings then a five year old girl." Harry glared. "Of course you will. For Merlin sake, she's going to be your mother."

"I know, but what if the same thing that happened to Lily will happen to her?" Harry asked curiously. "What if she doesn't make it?"

Remus stared at Harry. "What I don't think you've grasped yet is that Mya is a second chance at life. She's going to be there because she's changing the past. She's destroying Voldemort before you're born so that you can have a different life, so we all can."

"I'm just scared to lose her." Harry wiped the tears from his eyes before Remus could spot them. "She's so important to me."

"She's important to us all."

"No, its different for me. Hermione's my best friend."

Remus looked a little angry. "She's my best friend too."

"But she's my mother." Harry whispered. He didn't know what was up with him these days, he wanted to instill the thought that Hermione was his. That she was important to only him, even though he knew that wasn't true at all.

Remus took a deep breath to calm himself down. "You won't lose her. You know how strong she is."

Harry nodded. "I hope so. I wish I was there to protect her."

Remus laughed. "Don't let her hear you say that. She thinks she can handle anything without anyone's help."

Harry almost wanted to tell Remus that she wouldn't because she's not here, but he knew Remus was right. He'd seen that attitude of hers more then once in the last six years of their friendship. He sighed, a friendship he would no longer remember soon. It felt as if everything he'd done, all his hard work was for nothing. After everything he'd been through he wouldn't remember any of it. That was worst of all, the thought that he was indeed useless as the Dursleys always said he was.

He waited for Hermione's smiling face to tell him that he was not useless, anything but in fact, but she wasn't there. She wasn't there to make it better and to tell him that things would get better.

All he had was a head full of images, but it wasn't enough. It kept him from losing his mind, but he wanted the real deal. Harry had a pretty good idea that he was going to be very possessive of Hermione when he was born, that even his dad would have to fight him for her.

Harry hit his head against the table in front of him.

Ron was right, he really was a momma's boy.

-

Hermione stuffed the box into her robe pocket and made her way back toward Hogwarts, hoping that her friends weren't there yet or they'd ask too many questions. She took a few more steps, before something stopped her.

"Who's there?" She growled. "There's no use hiding since I already know you're there."

Severus stepped out of the shadows. "I wasn't hiding."

"Couldn't fooled me. Cowardice is something I'm sure you're capable of since I've already witnessed it on more then one occasion." Hermione replied flippantly. After the day she had she saw no reason to pull any punches.

He flinched. "I am not a coward."

"Then why did you run away from me? We had agreed to share something personal with each other, but as soon as I answered your question you ran away. Like a coward." Hermione couldn't help pointing out again.

"I am not a coward." Severus grit.

Hermione's eyes flashed dangerously. "Prove it."

"I don't have to prove anything to you." He spat angrily.

"We're friends now, aren't we?" Hermione said loftily. "I just want you to share something with me and of course, not run away with your tail between your legs."

Severus' eyes steeled. "Very well Granger. What do you want to know?"

Hermione pondered his question for awhile, there was a lot of things she wanted to know. The key was figuring out what he was willing to share. "Are you using me? I don't like being used"

Severus looked taken aback. He was expecting something more along the lines of, are you a death eater. "No."

"That's good." Hermione smiled.

"You're just going to believe me? Even though I could be lying." The words spilled forth before he could stop them.

"You're my friend Severus and I trust you not to hurt me when it counts. If you tell me you're not using me then I believe you." Hermione said simply. "Is there something more you'd like to tell me?"

Severus shook his head. "The Dark Lord has taken an interest in you."

"I thought he would."

"You're not worried?"

Hermione smiled grimly. "I've very worried, but I don't think it'll make much of a difference. He'll want to meet me regardless of my feelings."

Severus shifted to look at her. "He wants us to bring you to him."

"An by us, you mean the Slytherins?" Hermione asked perceptively.

"It's getting harder to convince them that I've got everything under control." Severus admitted.

That brought a smile to her face, Severus was trying to protect her. So he did like her deep down. It would just take some time to get him to see that fact as well. "You don't have to worry about that. I have a feeling I'll be seeing him very soon." She said cryptically.

Severus whipped around. "You would do well not to see him."

"I know that, but I'm almost positive I won't have a choice." Hermione sighed. "It's complicated Severus. There are some things in this world that happen whether we are ready for them or not. Its inevitable that I come face to face with your Lord. I'm hoping that it'll be a cold day in hell before I see him, but I know that it'll happen regardless. I've come to accept that."

"How can you be so nonchalant about the whole thing? He is a dangerous man." Severus growled in irritation.

"He is no man, Severus."

"Then what would you call him, Princess?" Severus spat.

Hermione turned to face the fading sun in the distance. "A monster."

"Then a monster he is, but are you willing to invite the monster into your life and the lives of your friends? Because that'll be what it comes to. He will hurt you where it hurts the most, your loved ones." Severus practically yelled at her back. "He wants you Princess."

Hermione turned to glare at him. "I know all this already, but if I don't meet him he'll still try to hurt me through my friends."

"Then fight back!"

"I am." Hermione's eyes shined. "He won't know what hit him."

"You can't do it alone." Severus muttered.

"I don't want anyone dying because of me. This is a battle I'm to face alone." Hermione said strongly.

Severus laughed at her ignorance. "You can continue to believe that, but we both know that will not happen. Whether I like them or not Potter and his gang are very loyal to their own. You're one of them now and they'll never let you go off on your own."

"What about you?"

"I fight for myself."

Hermione nodded. "How very Slytherin of you."

Severus' teeth gleamed dangerously. "You have no idea."

"But I do." Hermione sighed. "I need to be getting back to my dorms. It was nice talking to you as a friend."

"Goodnight Granger."

Hermione watched as he retreated back into the shadows. "You're not a coward after all." She started to make her way back to the castle, but someone grabbed her from behind and pulled her into the Forbidden Forest.

She tried to yell, but they had their hand firmly over her mouth. Her eyes gleamed and the person was thrown back, dropping his hold of her.

"Damn, Mya. What was that for?" James groaned against the tree he was thrown against.

"James? You idiot. I could have really hurt you."

James smiled weakly. "I think you did. That was some magic, I didn't even know you had your wand out."

Hermione realized that she didn't. "Expect the unexpected."

"I'm beginning to realize that with you. You never do things the way I expect you to." James groaned.

"Are you ok? Do you need me to take you to the Hospital Wing?"

James shook his head quickly. "No! I don't want to go back there. It was murder the first time. I'm just out of breath right now. Give me a minute to get it back." James closed his eyes and tried to even his breathing.

Hermione wasn't all that surprised to feel his magic pouring out to heal his injuries. With his display in the common room he could be capable of a lot of things. It was no wonder the Voldemort wanted him in his ranks. James would be a very good ally and a horrible enemy.

"See," James grinned. "All better."

"That was amazing."

"It's nothing special, it just heals minor problems. Its something that has been passed down through the Potter's for years. I'm going to teach it to my children one day." James smiled warmly at Hermione and she felt her insides warm.

Hermione wasn't ready to go down that road just yet. No matter how much she wanted Harry around. "So why were you out here?"

"I came out for a quick fly. I needed time to think." James rubbed his hand through his already unruly hair. "I was a right git to you and Peter back in Hogsmeade, I'm sorry. I know you told me it was nothing, but my jealousy got the better of me."

"You really need to stop that. You're the only guy I want to be with James." Hermione leaned her head on his shoulder. "There isn't any one else that I want."

"It's just hard because no one knows that we're together. So it could be so easy for one of them to get the wrong idea about you. I don't want to lose you." James pulled her onto his lap and nuzzled her neck.

Hermione giggled. "You're not going to."

"I hope not. There are so many guys out there that would kill to be in my position right now." James grumbled.

"Don't forget all the girls that want the James Potter." Hermione teased.

James grinned roguishly. "Nah, they don't even stand a chance."

Hermione shook her head. "No, because you're mine Mr. Potter. An I don't plan on letting you go for a long time."

The smile on James' face grew enormously at her words. It felt nice to know that his feelings were reciprocated almost one hundred percent. They sat quietly in the Forbidden Forest for awhile, just enjoying each other's company.