Shortly after the feast, James had departed on the pretense of ‘introducing his new acquaintance to some inspirational companions.’ Needless to say, Draco was not thrilled about being dragged by his enemy’s father, not that he was in any way thrilled beforehand. Hermione had merely watched with a smirk as Draco and his contemptuous mood was pulled through the dense crowd in the Great Hall.
“Well, since we are finally free of male influence, how about we go meet the girls?” Lily asked after they had finally made their way through the tumultuous crowd. “I hope you don’t mind, but due to class numbers, both you and Draco will be staying in seventh year dorms instead of sixth.”
Hermione nodded her approval and felt a small weight lift off her shoulders. At least she would have one some-what familiar face as a roommate. It was funny; Hermione couldn’t help but feel that she had met Lily before.
“Here we are, Gryffindor Tower,” Lily announced as they approached the familiar portrait of the Fat Lady, who was apparently just as boisterous as in the future before, as she kept four young first years from entering in order for them to hear her remarkable voice. Hermione cringed as she heard the unrelenting strains being emitted from the canvas’ inhabitant. Equally unfortunate, the Fat Lady’s voice was still as dreadful as Hermione had remembered.
Lily strode up to the portrait and placed a large smile on her face. “My goodness, was that your voice I just heard from down the hall? You are getting better and better every week,” Lily complemented, her voice sweet, though a little over the top to be completely believable. The Fat Lady, however, failed to notice any hint of insincerity.
“Why thank you, my dear,” the portrait said, blushing with pride. “Though I’m afraid my voice is not what it once was.”
Hermione had to hold her breath and bite her cheek to keep from scoffing at the Fat Lady’s unashamed attempt at fishing for compliments. Lily, however, continued with her act.
“Nonsense, and I’d hate to interrupt your demonstration, but we have had such a long day and are quite tired. I do wish I could stay and listen, but with classes starting soon and all…” Lily trailed off innocently.
The portrait smiled and put her hand to her heart in an exaggerated fashion. “Why of course, I wouldn’t want to keep you from your beauty sleep.”
“Thank you. Giggling Hornbies.”
The Fat Lady accepted the password and swung open, smiling at Lily and Hermione as they walked through, and sending looks of disdain as the four first years slipped into the common room as well.
“Whenever she starts on one of her demonstrations, a little sweet talk will always do the trick,” Lily explained once they were safely inside.
Huh, it really hasn’t changed much, Hermione thought as she followed Lily into the Gryffindor common room. The shades of red and gold that adorned the room were just as vibrant as Hermione had remembered. Even the big, cushy sofas and armchairs were arranged exactly as they were in the future. She did notice that there were a few stains and scorch marks that were missing from certain sofas and tapestries, no doubt because it would be some time before Fred and George arrived at Hogwarts.
“The dormitories are up those stairs, girls’ to the right and boys’ to the left. We’ll be in the room marked Seventh Year Girls,” Lily said as Hermione followed up the steps.
When they finally reached the right door, Hermione saw a giant, hand written sign that read ‘Home of the Prowling Lionesses. Brainless Lions Beware!’ Hermione giggled at the sign and Lily grinned at her reaction.
“Like it? Lor came up with it one night and we decided to make it stick!” Lily explained with a laugh. “You’ll meet her now, she’s quite the character.”
Lily threw open the door, which slammed unceremoniously against the wall with a loud crash. Hermione walked in just in time to see a small, brunette girl flip backwards off her bed in surprise. The other two who had been sitting with the girl erupted into giggles.
“Bloody hell, Lily! I could have been seriously injured!” the girl complained as she gingerly sat up and once again resumed her seat on the bed, all the while rubbing her lower back.
“Sorry, Lor. Girls, this is Hermione,” Lily introduced, pulling Hermione forward. “Hermione, these are the girls. That klutz over there is Lor, short for Loralie,” she said pointing to the brunette who had tumbled to the floor. Lor rolled her eyes at Lily’s introduction and smiled at Hermione, nodding her welcome.
“And that one on the left is Alice,” Lily said as she motioned towards a pretty blonde who was sitting with her legs crossed and a chocolate bar in her lap. Hermione, realizing who this was, held back a sudden lump that had appeared in the back of her throat. She didn’t want to think about what the young woman in front of her would endure, and blocked an image of Neville Longbottom from entering her mind.
Instead, Hermione waved shyly at the blonde, who waved back. “And last but not least, the brunette to the right is Michelle,” Lily finished. Michelle smiled as well and welcomed Hermione to Hogwarts.
“Your bed will be that one over there,” Alice said, pointing to a bed directly in the middle. “You’ll be between me and Lor, but if she starts snoring just throw a pillow at her head. She’ll usually roll to her side after a small fit.”
“Yes, and one of these days I’ll have you experience waking up in the middle of the night to a pillow landing on your head!” Lor exclaimed, sending her own pillow at Alice for punctuation.
Hermione was surprised at how comfortable she felt around these girls. She took a seat on the neighboring bed beside Lily, and laughed with the group. She was suddenly aware of why Lily had seemed so familiar. Lily reminded Hermione so much of Ginny. It’s no wonder Harry fell for her.
Hermione was jerked from her thoughts when she received a question from Michelle.
“What?” Hermione asked, stunned, to say the least.
“You heard me! What’s going on with you and that blonde hottie with a body? What was his name, Draco? Anyway, he’s one fine boy,” Michelle exclaimed. The rest of the girls seemed to agree enthusiastically.
“And did you see his biceps? I only got a glimpse when he crossed his arms, but Merlin! I would have fainted had it not been for his robes acting as an annoying cover!” Lor added as she pretended to fan herself.
“I know! So tell us, is he your boyfriend or something?” Michelle asked again.
“Or a friend with benefits, maybe?” Lor threw in with a devilish smile.
“Me and Draco?” The words seemed so foreign and vile on Hermione’s tongue. “No, no, no. We’re merely…friends is all. Nothing else,” Hermione exclaimed with exuberance. And even friends isn’t anywhere near the truth.
“Wait,” Lily said as she held up her hand. “You mean to tell me that he is currently unattached? Available? Single?” Lily asked, each word voiced with more disbelief and excitement than the last.
“I guess,” Hermione replied, extremely uncomfortable with the current conversation. “Though I don’t know why anyone would want to date him, he’s such a pompous git.”
“I’ll be the judge of that!” Lor said with a wicked grin.
Lily rolled her eyes. “She does have a low standard, that’s for sure.”
“I do not! I merely have a thing for lost causes!” Lor retorted in an attempt to justify herself, an attempt that was lost on the four girls around her.
“Call it what you want, but it doesn’t matter, because I call him,” Michelle announced.
“You can’t call him! Besides what about Remus?” Lily asked, laughing. By now, even Hermione found herself laughing at the girls’ antics.
“Of course I can! And Remus hasn’t made his move yet, so until he does, it’s goodbye Remus and hello Sexy!” Michelle exclaimed, throwing her pillow in the air.
The rest of the night was spent in a similar fashion. Hermione couldn’t believe how much she was enjoying herself. Usually, it was only Ginny who was able to pull Hermione away from her studies and force her into a girl’s night, though Hermione always secretly relished those rare occasions. Now, she found herself joining in freely, and couldn’t help but wonder what Draco was doing right now, though she was certain he wouldn’t be happy. He would make sure of that himself.
“I can’t believe you dumped a girl because her eyes were too close together!” Draco exclaimed as he laughed in hysterics.
After the feast, James had dragged Draco out of the Great Hall where they met up with three other Gryffindor boys, each who looked to be seventeen, except maybe for the portly blonde, who Draco could have mistaken for an overgrown second year he looked so sickeningly boyish. The other two looked vaguely familiar, and it wasn’t until after James had introduced them that Draco recognized his third year DADA professor, Remus Lupin, and the notorious murderer, his mother’s estranged cousin, Sirius Black.
Draco was surprised as he also noticed that Lupin, though still tattered and worn looking, appeared to be quite better off in youth, for Draco dully noticed that he wasn’t half bad when it came to looks. Even James was well off. Sirius, on the other hand, had the air of an all-out lady’s man with his long, dark hair. Or perhaps player would be the more correct term? Draco had a suspicion that this boy had never kept a girl for longer than a week, truly a man of his own heart. How sickening was that? Draco felt his stomach clench.
Deciding that it would be best in the long run, Draco begrudgingly decided to forge a friendship with these men, as weak and false as it would be. He was stuck here, so he might as well milk it for all it was worth. Who knew, he might even come out with extra ammunition to use against Potter.
After the somewhat quick and informal introductions, Draco found himself being led to a giant portrait of a fruit bowl. James had gone up and tickled the pear, which caused the painting to swing forward. Draco was amazed and slightly embarrassed that he had not known about this entrance into the kitchens. I bet Potter and his Weasel friend even know about it, he thought in disgust.
Needless to say, after a long trek to the top of one of the north towers carrying mountains of plunder and eight butterbeers later, Draco found himself to be quite enjoying his company, though his was positive this felling would wash away with the Butterbeer in the morning.
“I’m serious! Besides, she wasn’t that great at snogging either, especially for a Hufflepuff,” Sirius confirmed, his swaying arm conveying that his eleven butterbeers had indeed taken affect.
James and Draco laughed even louder at this, while Remus, who was still on his third bottle, shook his head.
“One of these days, Padfoot, you’re going to find yourself a girl, a girl that you actually care about, and you’ll just throw her away like every other girl you date, if dating is even the right term for what you do,” Remus lectured, taking another sip of his half-full drink.
“Oh, Moony, Moony. One of these days you will finally date one of those girls who so obviously vie for you. And when that day comes, I will toast you for having finally made your first shag!”
Sirius announced, holding his now empty bottle up in the air for emphasis. Remus, however, was not amused.
“But seriously, Moony,” James started, his words half slurred for he was currently following behind Sirius on his tenth bottle. “When will you finally ask Michelle out? She’s not going to wait forever, mate.”
Remus blushed. “Let’s just drop this, shall we?”
“Touchy, touchy,” Sirius replied, swinging his bottle in his hands before he finally lost his grip and the bottle went flying and narrowly missed Peter’s head.
“By the way,” Sirius said, turning towards Draco, “what’s up with you and that bushy haired ? She was quite a looker!”
Draco choked on his butterbeer. “Who, Hermione? No way, are you kidding?”
“What?” Sirius asked in mock defense. “She did look hot.”
Draco shook his head. “No, no. Nothing more than platonic friendship there,” he replied, inwardly cringing at the idea of calling the little Mudblood his friend.
“Oh, so she’s free game?” Sirius asked in all sincerity.
James snorted and threw his empty bottle. “Blimey, mate, you waste no time do you?” he asked, laughing as he reached for a full bottle.
Sirius grinned and placed his hands behind his head. “You know me. Waste not, want not.” Remus sighed as the other three boys broke into hysterics.
Sirius too grabbed another full bottle. “I’ve dated the entire seventh year female population. I’m telling you, I’ve accomplished things most men have only dreamed of.”
James shook his head and pointed his finger repeatedly at Sirius as he finished gulping down his butter beer. “Not true! You still haven’t dated Loralie Stevens!”
“Who’s this Loralie Stevens?” Draco asked, his speech slow and forced.
“She’s the only seventh year girl Padfoot hasn’t dated, that’s who!” James answered. “And I’ll tell you why! He’s bloody scared of her!” James said, having barely finished his sentence due to his insistent laughter.
“I’m not scared of her!” Sirius shouted. “I just haven’t gotten around it yet!”
“Yeah right.” James snorted. “I’ll never believe that excuse!”
“Wait, aren’t there two seventh year girls whom Padfoot hasn’t dated?” All heads turned towards Peter, who had said nothing until this point.
“Who’s the other?” Draco asked, curious as to where this was going.
“Well, Michelle, right?” Peter stammered. His voice sounded shaky and unsure, even though he had yet to finish one bottle of butterbeer.
“I dated her!” Sirius exclaimed. “I dated her in fifth year.”
“Actually,” James countered, barely holding in his laughter, “I’m not sure that counted as a date.”
“Sure it did!”
“You weren’t even halfway to Hogsmead when she kneed you under the belt and left you lying in the snow!”
Draco burst out laughing and was immediately joined by James. Even Remus chuckled at James’ verification. Peter continued to sip his butterbeer, watching in silence.
“What the bloody hell did you do?” Draco asked, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes.
“All I did was tell her that if she played her cards right, she’d get an evening she would never forget. I told her the truth and nothing else. What’s so wrong with that?” Sirius replied, genuinely confused.
“Good for her,” Remus said. “That was a horrid thing to say, Padfoot.”
“See, he’s totally into Michelle! I told you!” James attempted to whisper, but ended up yelling all the same.
Remus groaned. “You have had seriously too much to drink.”
“Who’s had me to drink?” Sirius asked, looking around the circle of boys.
“I rest my case,” Remus said, as Draco and James merely erupted in another fit of laughter.
Draco laughed so hard that his stomach was starting to hurt. Merlin, tomorrow morning is going to be hell, he thought.
A/N:
Yes, I know, it's been a while since my last update. I haven't abandoned this story though, and I don't plan to! Special thanks to all those who have reviewed my story, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your comments! Hope you liked this chapter!
Just Another Time Traveler's Love Story by social loner
Chapter Notes: Special thanks to my wonderful beta, LucillaJoanna, for her spectacular help!