Hello again! I hope you enjoyed the last chapter. I am sorry for all the chapters where the characters aren't reading the books, but I feel it is necessary to develop the story. Without further ado, on to the Story!

Sirius softened at the sound of his name from his brother. However, before he could answer someone walked into the room. He looked over at the door and surprise overcame him. Standing in the doorway, was none other than Albus Dumbledore.

Regulus turned around as he saw his brother's eyes shift to something behind him. Noticing who it was, he decided now was one time that he would be happy down in the Slytherin common room.

"Professor . . . " said James, standing up and stating at the old man.

Remus turned around at James' words. Hermione's eyes flitted to the table where the book was. As soon as she looked, it disappeared. Trying hard not to smile, she made eye contact with James and tried to communicate to him that the book was gone. He got the message and Remus and Sirius, noticing his eye contact with Hermione, noticed as well. It was obvious to all of them that the sender of the book did not want Dumbledore to know about it. Hermione didn't blame them. Dumbledore had harmed more than he had helped while alive and in death. He had pushed Harry to do things that had cost lives and strained Harry to emotional breaking points. It wasn't fair. This man had pushed everything off onto a 17-year-old because he wasn't brave enough to face it himself.

"Good morning, boys," he said kindly and then continued laying his eyes on Hermione. "Would you introduce me to your friend?" He looked at Hermione who in turn smiled back very kindly, a trick she learned while facing paparazzi and ignorant ministry officials.

James opened his mouth to answer, clearly happy to have a chance to tell Dumbledore, but Hermione beat him to it.

"I'm Emma. Emma Watson," she said, using the first name that came to her mind. Emma was one of her muggle neighborhood friends. Dumbledore would not know that name. She smirked as she saw James look at her angrily.

"May I ask, Miss Watson, how you came to be here? I do not believe I have seen you before." He said this all with mild amusement. However, Hermione knew better. He would not rest until he knew exactly what was going on. Judging that it would not be smart to lie to the greatest Legillimens of all time, she told the truth . . . only leaving out a few things.

"I don't know how I got here. I can't remember anything before waking up in the middle of this room," she said and gestured to the room and boys, who each smiled mischievously in turn, even Regulus.

"Well," he said, his brows furrowed, "Would you mind coming to my office so we can work this out?"

"Oh, of course, Sir," she said. Standing up, she followed the Headmaster out of the room, not looking back. If she had, she would have seen the looks of puzzlement on those remaining.

The trio of Marauders were all caught up in their own theories as to why Hermione lied to Dumbledore. Why the book had disappeared and what would happen to Hermione. James was angry that Hermione had lied to Dumbledore, or had it been them she was lying to? He didn't like anything about her. There was something up and it made him uneasy.

Sirius stared at the spot Hermione had just left. He didn't know what to think about what had just happened. Why didn't Hermione trust Dumbledore? Was her name even Hermione? He wanted to be angry with her, but found that he couldn't. He loved her. She was the first person he had ever truly loved. Why did she have to be so mysterious?

Remus closed his eyes, thinking back on when Hermione had first arrived. A flash of white light. She had looked scared and shocked when she had seen them. What was it about them that made her scared? He didn't know, but he did know that she didn't seem scared anymore. Putting that aside, Regulus seemed to know her. How was that even possible? They hadn't seen her leave the Room of Requirement. He wanted so desperately to finish reading the book. He knew that was where he would find his answers. That was the only hope for answers he had left.

Someone behind them cleared their throat very loudly and the Marauders looked around startled. They had forgotten Regulus was there.

"Does someone want to explain what the hell is going on?" he asked, his voice soft and cold.

Hermione followed Dumbledore to his office, neither of them saying a word.

"Phoenix tears," he said softly and the gargoyle let aside letting him enter. Hermione followed him into the office. Slightly amused, she looked around to see that nothing had really changed since she had last been there. When she lost all trust in the man standing in front of her. When she had jumped into Snape's memories, only to be disgusted by what she saw. She knew that Dumbledore was trying to do the right thing, but he did it the wrong way.

Putting on a happy face, she shielded her thoughts. She felt the barriers go up instantly. After Harry started his occulemency lessons with Snape, she had taken an interest in the concept. Studying constantly, by the end of the War, she had it mastered.

"Now, Miss Watson, may I ask how you got here?" said Dumbledore more forcefully than before.

She feigned confusion. "I already told you, Sir. I don't know. I just remember waking up in the middle of the boys messing around."

He looked into Hermione's eyes. She could feel pushing in her mind. Instantly, she formulated a memory of flashing white light and then waking up in the Room of Requirement. She felt the outside presence leave and knew that Dumbledore was satisfied with what he had found.

"Well, Miss Watson," he began, "a case like this has never been seen before. We will try and find your parents to get you back home. Do you have any memories of them that could be helpful?"

"I'm sorry, Sir, I can't remember anything," she said as she scrunched up her face into pretended concentration.

"Well, continue to try to remember your past. Of course, these things cannot be forced. In the meantime, we will allow you to stay at Hogwarts. I am presuming that no one else truly knows about this . . . Including the young men you met in the Room of Requirement," at this he paused and looked at Hermione.

With her nod, he continued, "Then we shall put out the story that you are a transfer from Beaxbatons. If you remember anything, please feel free to come by my office." He looked at her to make sure she understood. When she nodded enthusiastically and smiled he continued.

"We will need to test you to see where your current education has been left off, that is, if I am correct in assuming that you are a witch."

"You are, Sir, she said, looking him in the eyes.

"Very well," he said, "at Hogwarts, we have a tradition where we sort the students into houses. Their house becomes like their family while at school. You must be sorted as well." With that he pulled the sorting hat of its shelf and walked over to Hermione.

"What is that, Sir?" asked Hermione feigning ignorance.

"This is the Sorting Hat. It will look into your mind to see which House you belong in." He promptly put it on her head and stepped back.

It had only taken the Marauders about ten minutes to describe the situation to Regulus. He stayed silent the whole time, and when they finished, he spoke.

"Do you really expect me to believe you?" he yelled. "How thick do you think I am?"

"Reg," started Sirius, sadly looking at his angered brother.

"No, I don't want hear it, Sirius," he spat.

He sat back and turned his head so that he wasn't facing any of the Marauders. The boys sat like this for about five minutes, all of them wondering what to do. However, they were startled when a loud thump echoed through to room. Regulus got up and went to the source, finding a book on the ground. One look at the title and he realized they hadn't been lying.

"Y-y-you weren't lying, he said, staring at the three other boys.

"No, we weren't, said James, taking the book from Regulus. When he opened it, a note fell out. Sighing, he started reading it.

Dear Marauders and Mr. Black,

You may continue reading without Miss Granger for the time being.

Sincerely,

A Friend

"Alright," said Remus, "Let's do this."

Please Review! I wanted to thank Jannafrancine for being my 20th reviewer. I also want to thank everyone who has reviewed at all and got me to a place where I could have a 20th reviewer. Please tell me how this chapter was. I feel like I'm losing it. Also I would love your opinions on which house Hermione should be in. Whichever house has the most votes will most likely be the one she's in! So please tell me which house you want.