Chapter Text
Chapter 06: Sorting
Thursday, 1 September 1977
When the first of September arrived, Hermione woke up at five in the morning, feeling tense; having only had just two glorious hours of sleep despite the calm state she had been in the previous night. She had been tossing and turning the whole night, thinking about how she was going to keep up her cover story so that no one would be suspicious of her. She was anxious but at the same time excited to meet Harry's parents. She kept wondering if they were anything like Harry. She hadn't exactly given them a thought during the last month and only meeting Remus had made her think about meeting Lily and James.
As Hermione lay in her bed, her thoughts drifted to her friends and to the feeling she had had all those years ago when she had entered Hogwarts for the first time, not knowing anyone. She thought of the people she would lose for good if she didn't find a solution that would send her back. She thought of Ginny, her fiery nature, and Harry – his bright, emerald green eyes, his courageousness and selflessness. She thought of Ron. How they never had the chance to talk about what had been starting to grow between them. She thought of her parents and how she missed them. She knew that if she had the chance to go back, she would take it.
She wondered what would happen if she couldn't find a way to go back. If she was doomed to live here for the rest of her life. She swallowed the lump that had started to form in the back of her throat and took a couple of deep breaths. Even though she had read possibly every book the library had on Time magic, she was quite certain there would be an answer somewhere. If she had somehow managed to come here, she would eventually find her way back.
Deciding to put those thoughts in the back of her mind and instead focus on the day, Hermione sighed and slowly got out of her bed before she made her way to the bathroom for her morning routine. After washing up and coming back to her room, she put on the new school robes she had purchased a month before and went downstairs for breakfast.
Later that day, Hermione walked to the school well before the rest of the students were going to arrive there. She wanted to be prepared and really, she didn't want everyone to stare at her, no more than necessary, as she was quite recognisable with her plain black school robes. The robes were going to change to match the house colours only after she was sorted.
Sometime after she had arrived to the school, McGonagall spotted her lurking around in the Entrance Hall, and her stern expression softened a bit when she saw Hermione worrying her lip and pacing a bit along the hall.
"Good to see you again, Hermione." McGonagall said as she approached her, her emerald-green robes swishing silently as she moved.
Hermione smiled politely. "You too, Professor." She replied, her voice wavering a bit from nervousness.
"Follow me, then." McGonagall merely said, walking to the Great Hall, and then across it. Hermione followed, wondering where she was leading them.
As they reached the teacher's table, she turned right, and led her to a chamber. "You may wait here. As discussed, you will be sorted with the first years, who will be arriving shortly." McGonagall said and exited the chamber after Hermione nodded to her. She was too nervous to speak. Slowly, the voices and sounds from the Great Hall grew and after some time, she assumed the rest of the school had arrived.
Hermione sat in a chair by the wall when the doors on the other side of the chamber opened. Thirty or so small children drifted slowly to the chamber. At first everyone admired their surroundings, but then, one by one they noticed her. Hermione was glad that no one asked about her or talked to her. She wearily thought that they would soon find out anyway.
The door on the side of the Great Hall opened and McGonagall walked in. She eyed the first years for a moment, as if to check if everyone was there before she spoke.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term feast will begin soon, but before you can join the rest of the students, you will be sorted into your houses," she explained. "The Sorting is an important tradition because after you are sorted into your house, you will live amongst the students in your house, take classes with them and sleep in your house dormitory. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards…" McGonagall spoke and Hermione's focus faltered a bit since her old Head of House was giving the first years the exact same speech she had once heard.
Instead she let her mind wander a bit and eyed the batch of new students and how they listened to the older witch carefully and a bit anxiously.
"…I will return in a moment. Please wait quietly." McGonagall finished briskly and left the room.
As Hermione and the soon-to-be first years waited for McGonagall to return, Hermione thought back to her previous sorting. She had been frightened, although she had read about the sorting from the Hogwarts, A History, as she had wanted to prepare herself as much as possible. She remembered how Harry and Ron had wondered what exactly was required at the sorting. She of course had simply rolled her eyes at them, for not orientating themselves beforehand.
After a moment, McGonagall returned and spoke with a stern voice again. "Now, form a line. And follow me."
Hermione took in a deep breath as she followed McGonagall and the first years out of the chamber, to the Great Hall. She glanced around her and took in the thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in mid-air over the four long house tables, where the students were sitting. The tables were filled with golden plates and goblets and every student eyed the arrivals with unwavering interest. And then, with curiosity, as their eyes flickered to her direction. Hermione knew the school hadn't had any exchange students in decades, so of course people were curious. She faced the rest of the school as McGonagall placed a stool and the Sorting Hat in front of them, trying not to listen to the whispers which were undoubtedly about her. The Sorting Hat began its song and after a short time the song was already over – Hermione was startled when the hall burst into applause. She had been too nervous to even listen to the Hat's song.
As the sorting started, she glanced at the Gryffindor table and spotted Remus sitting near the front. He was talking with someone, a boy, with their heads drawn together until Remus looked up and saw her looking at them. Remus gave Hermione a small smile and Hermione hoped that her smile back to him didn't look like a grimace as her nerves were starting to get the best of her. The boy next to Remus was also eyeing her, but with curious and somewhat haughty expression. It was Sirius Black. He gave her a once-over, taking in her looks, and Hermione felt her face heating up from the close inspection. Sirius smirked smugly and turned back to the table to talk with his friends. Hermione exhaled hard, annoyed at herself for her reaction. She turned her eyes to look at the line of first years instead.
As "Armstrong, Martha" was sorted into Hufflepuff, Hermione began to think possible houses for her. What if she was sorted into some other house this time? Would it be that bad if she was a Hufflepuff or a Ravenclaw? Yes it would. She reminded herself. She could not afford to be anywhere else. She had to be where Harry's parents were. Where Sirius and Remus were. And Peter…Merlin…She wasn't going to go there, not now...
Hermione glanced over the Great Hall again, and heard that "Baldwin, Matthew" was sorted into Slytherin. She knew it would soon be her turn. She tried to calm her nerves and brace herself.
"Dumbledore, Hermione!" Professor McGonagall called and Hermione swallowed hard. Whispers suddenly echoed throughout the hall.
"…Dumbledore, did she say?"
"…As in Albus Dumbledore?"
As Hermione walked towards the stool, trying not to misstep, she could see McGonagall give her a tight smile. The whispers and quiet laughter were making her more nervous and she was briefly reminded how Harry must have felt when he was sorted.
She sat on the stool, put the sorting hat on her head, closed her eyes and waited. The sounds from around her became muffled and the only thing she could now see was the insides of the hat.
"Well, well, well, Miss Dumbledore…Or, is it Miss Granger?," the Sorting Hat spoke in her ear with a mischievous voice. Hermione flinched.
"I can see your mind and this isn't the first time we've met. At least it isn't for you. Difficult. Very difficult…"
She pressed her lips together and thought. Gryffindor. I belong there. I need to be there.
"Do you? I know that that was your house previously, but where should you be put now…" the Sorting Hat murmured. Hermione felt a pang of annoyance as the Sorting Hat started to ramble. "You've got wit beyond measure and Ravenclaw would suit you well, you know. You value loyalty and you could do well in Hufflepuff too. And then there's Slytherin…"
No. Not Slytherin, She thought, gritting her teeth.
"Not Slytherin? You could do well in there as well…" the Hat said thoughtfully. "Very well, then. Better be—"GRYFFINDOR!" the Sorting Hat shouted the last word to the whole hall.
The Gryffindors started to cheer loudly in their table.
Relieved that it was over, she put the hat back to the stool and quickly made her way to her new, albeit familiar, house table. She eyed the long table, her eyes stopping at Remus, who was smiling and beckoning her over. As Hermione neared him, she noticed that Sirius, who was sitting next to Remus made room for her between them.
"You know, I’ve never seen anyone look so confident in sorting. Must come with age. Nice outfit by the way. You'll fit in brilliantly." Sirius said with a wink as she sat down next to him.
Hermione blinked and unthinkingly looked down on her robes, until she realised that the part of her outfit had in fact been a joke - seeing as they were all wearing same outfits; their school robes. She kept quiet and forced herself not to blush as both Sirius and Remus chuckled at the bit of humour.
The sorting went on for a bit and when it finally ended, Professor McGonagall retrieved the hat and walked briskly away.
Dumbledore stood up and eyed the students over his half-moon spectacles, smiling at them warmly. "Now...to our new students, welcome, to our old students, welcome back! Another year full of magical education awaits you; it will be very much the same and somewhat different than it has always been. But I will not keep you from this delightful feast any longer."
With a clap of his hands, the food appeared on the empty dishes on every table. "Tuck in!" He said with his blue eyes twinkling as he sat down to eat.
Hermione's stomach rumbled as her eyes wandered along the table. There were roast beef, roast chicken, fried sausages, stew, casserole, roast potatoes, jacket potatoes, boiled potatoes, mashed potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, peas, sprouts, carrots and gravy. She loaded her plate with a bit of everything, ending up with a pile that would make even Ron Weasley proud.
She had missed it - Hogwarts feasts and dining in the Great Hall. During the past month, Hermione had mostly had her meals at the Hog's Head before and after she had been at the school. She had visited the Hogwarts kitchen a handful of times, but it had been mainly to have a snack and to chat with the house-elves.
As everyone helped themselves food on their plates and started to eat, she glanced around the table, finally eyeing the people who looked to be the seventh year Gryffindors. Her eyes stopped at the boy sitting opposite to her.
He looked so much like Harry there was no doubt who he was. She unintentionally stared at him, remembering the last time she had been at the very same table with Harry. But something was amiss. She examined his looks more carefully. His eyes. They were hazel and not emerald green. James was also well-built, while Harry was lean. The messy mop of black hair was exactly the same though, and James also wore glasses. But there were differences in their expressions, as James had a certain hint of arrogance floating around him, while Harry was always hunched, as if trying not to draw attention to him.
James seemed amused and a bit…pleased by her ogling at him. "Hey there, new girl," James said, chuckling when Hermione looked away, slightly embarrassed.
She could see a couple of girls near them roll their eyes with exasperation. Hermione cleared her throat and plastered a polite smile on her face. "Um…Hello."
"So, a Dumbledore, huh? James Potter," James introduced himself, holding out his hand.
Hermione shook his hand. "Hermione Dumbledore," she replied, eyeing him and the others around them curiously.
While James merely grinned at her, there was a sharp clearing of one's throat on the other side of Remus.
"You'll have to excuse Potter for his lack of manners. Hi. I'm Lily Evans." The redhead next to Remus said, leaning a bit forward so that Hermione could see her over Remus. She had long, wavy auburn hair that cascaded down her shoulders and back. She was beautiful and her long lashes only highlighted her bright emerald green eyes. Harry's eyes.
"Hermione Dumbledore." She said, shaking Lily's hand.
"So…Are you a seventh year as well?" Lily asked kindly.
Hermione nodded. "Yes, I am."
"Brilliant! We are all seventh years," Lily said with a warm smile, waving her hand to the people around them. "This is Alice Brown," Lily gestured to the girl sitting next to her, who leaned forward to wave at Hermione. She was a familiar looking petite girl with a black hair and a pixie cut that suited her perfectly. Her face was heart-shaped, and she had a pair of kind blue eyes. Hermione waved back and smiled widely at her, after realising that the girl was in fact Neville's mother.
"Marlene McKinnon," Lily nodded to the girl sitting opposite to Alice. The girl in question studied Hermione for a moment before flashing a bright smile and running a delicate hand through her golden hair. Her blue eyes looked over Hermione and her voice was sugary when she greeted her. "Hi there. Just call me Marley, okay?"
Hermione smiled and nodded at her.
"And Mary Macdonald," Lily said, waving her hand to the girl opposite to her. Mary had a long dark brown hair that tumbled over her shoulders, her figure was shapely and her teeth flashed white when she smiled and greeted Hermione cheerfully, who greeted her back.
Lily glanced at the boys before she spoke to Hermione again. "The arrogant prat on your other side is Sirius Black and I's advise you to stay away from him." She said, smiling sweetly at Sirius, who had narrowed his eyes back to Lily, when Hermione turned to look at him.
"Why thank you, Evans, for the introduction." Sirius said to Lily with a wry look in his eyes, before they flickered to Hermione. "But I really must say it doesn't do much justice because, honestly, I'm awesome." He said and winked at her. James sniggered on the other side of the table.
"Sirius Black." Sirius drawled, holding his hand to her and flashing a charming smile.
Hermione eyed him closely. He was very handsome, beautiful even, with the stylishly shaggy, but surprisingly silky looking hair, with his high cheekbones and soft, full lips. He had a dazzling smile, which he undoubtedly used in his favour. But her gaze was stuck into his grey eyes, which were staring at her with a piercing look. The same grey eyes she remembered seeing in her time.
"Nice to meet you," Hermione said simply, shaking his hand briefly.
"So Remus tells me you two met already?" Sirius asked, and Hermione nodded, glancing at Remus.
"Alright. So…last but not least, that's Peter." Sirius gestured to the boy next to James.
Hermione turned to look at the boy in question and was a bit surprised. Peter didn't look at all like the plump, unpleasant man she had met in the Shrieking Shack many years ago. Young Peter Pettigrew was actually rather handsome in his own way. He was slightly shorter than his friends and he had a round face and a kind look in his green eyes.
The night before, Hermione had thought about meeting Peter and how would she react. She'd wondered if she could treat him like everyone else, as he most likely wasn't a Death Eater yet. She'd wondered if she could treat him like every other schoolboy. Now that she looked at him and saw how he was smiling at her innocently, she felt kind of bad. He probably hadn't done anything yet. There was still a chance for him to change how he would turn out.
Hermione smiled back at him and held her hand out to him. "Good to meet you, Peter."
Peter gave her a small smile and shook her hand. "Likewise, Hermione."
As they continued their meals, Lily mentioned to James something about a Heads meeting the next day after classes. Hermione glanced at the Head student badge on James's chest, and couldn't help but wonder why Dumbledore had given the Head Boy position to James. She had the understanding that James and Sirius were the most reckless and rule bending students in the whole school.
There must've been some sort of confusion in her eyes since Sirius gave her a wide grin. "Yeah, believe me, we were all equally surprised," he muttered.
"Oh, that's not what I…" She tried to explain quickly, looking between James and Sirius.
Sirius merely laughed at her as James narrowed his eyes at his mate.
"So Dumbledore… You are related to our Headmaster, right?" James asked. "Why are you coming to Hogwarts just now? We don't actually get that many transfer students in here," he said and took a sip of his pumpkin juice.
"Um, yes, the Headmaster is actually my uncle. Aberforth, the Headmaster's brother is my father. And the reason I'm only now attending Hogwarts, is because I lived in Australia until this July," Hermione explained, trying not to sound too monotonic.
James eyed her with interest. All the seventh year Gryffindors were staring at her, surprised by her story.
Mary was the first to react. "Fuck me…Dumbledore's niece…" she said, shaking her head in astonishment.
Lily shot her friend a withering look.
Sirius barked a laugh. "What Macdonald said." He stated, eyeing Hermione with mild amusement. "Although, I can't help but think Dumbledore's got an ulterior motive behind this…" He continued with a sly smirk.
Hermione let out a small laugh, "Well, somebody has to keep you lot on your toes, if anything Remus here told me about you is true."
"Dude?!" James, Sirius and Peter said in unison, as they all narrowed their eyes at Remus.
Before Remus could say anything for his defence, Dumbledore stood up and lifted his hands, smiling again at the students in front of him. Everyone became quiet as the Headmaster started to give the start-of-term notices.
When the feast was over, Lily and James lingered behind, being Head students. Hermione followed the rest of the seventh year Gryffindors to the Gryffindor Tower.
Alice walked next to Hermione and they spoke about the castle and the changing staircases on their way up. "Have you been at Hogwarts before?" Alice asked.
"Well, yes actually I have. I lived with my mother in Australia until this summer and then I moved to stay with my father in Hogsmeade. I practically lived in the library for the past month," Hermione said with a small laugh. "So I know a little bit about Hogwarts because of that."
Alice nodded, studying Hermione's features. "So you studied magic in Australia?" She inquired with enthusiasm. "I'd love to hear about your school sometime, if you are willing to share," she continued brightly.
Hermione smiled and nodded at her. "Sure, of course."
On their way up Hermione glanced back and saw Sirius and Remus walking a small distance behind them. Just before Hermione moved her eyes away, Sirius looked up and gave a wide smile at her, before turning back to Remus, who was in the middle of telling a story, based on the way the was gesturing with his hands while talking rapidly. Hermione felt a mix of bewilderment and excitement course through her. She wondered, what was it about.
Before they reached the portrait hole, Lily and James caught up with them and while James stayed behind with his friends, Lily joined Alice and Hermione.
Lily turned towards Hermione. "So I don't know if you already knew where the Gryffindor tower is, but nevertheless, that is the portrait to our common room." She said, pointing at the portrait of the Fat Lady ahead of them.
"You have to give it a password to get in." Lily said and spoke to the portrait, "Sparkling wine."
As they walked in, Hermione raised her eyebrows while Alice and Lily sniggered.
"Apparently the Fat Lady and her friend, Violet, have been boozing around in different portraits throughout the summer, hence the password," Lily explained while Hermione and Alice laughed and followed Lily towards the girls' staircase, where Marlene and Mary had already disappeared.
Alice went upstairs just as James spoke from near the portrait hole, "Ladies, just one moment if you may."
Hermione and Lily stayed behind, eyeing him curiously. James walked to them with a huge grin plastered on his face, took Hermione's hand and brought it to his lips briefly. "Good night, Hermione, and welcome to our house. If the girls give you any trouble, feel free to come to me," he said with a wink.
Hermione felt her cheeks warm up. Lily watched the display through narrowed eyes and let out a loud scoff. James smirked at the girls and made his way to the boys' dormitory with an irked looking Sirius following him.
When the girls reached the seventh floor, Lily spoke to Hermione before entering through the door that led to the dormitory. "He has a girlfriend, you know." When Hermione gave her a puzzled look, not understanding who she was talking about, Lily continued. "James, that is. He has been with her since last year." She said with a forced smile.
"Oh. Well...good for him I guess..." Hermione said awkwardly. She immediately began to analyse the bit of information. What did it mean if James was with someone else? Had this happened in her past or had something actually changed?
Lily was about to say something else but instead closed her mouth and went to open the door. They stepped into the dormitory and Hermione saw a familiar looking room. The dormitory was similar to the one she'd lived in during her sixth year, only one floor higher and instead of her previous roommates, there were now new ones occupying the room. Mary was already organising her books, parchments and quills on a small shelf next to her bed, while Marlene was flipping through a magazine on her bed, which was closest to the bathroom. Alice was rummaging her trunk on the opposite side where Marlene was lounging.
Hermione looked over the dormitory and saw her trunk at the foot of the first bed, next to Mary's. She went to her bed and took off her robes, leaving on her muggle clothes underneath. She folded her robes neatly on top of her bed before snatching a pair of pyjamas and her toothbrush from her trunk. Lily sat on her own bed, opposite to Hermione's and started to arrange her schoolbooks ready for the term before she too started to get ready for bed.
The girls started to talk about the upcoming term, the classes they were going to take and the news and scandals they had learned during the train ride. On some point, Hermione tuned out, as she wasn't that interested of the relationship drama of miscellaneous students Marlene and Mary were going through. She quickly changed into her pyjamas behind the closed curtains of her bed and when she flicked her wand to open the hangings, she saw Marlene flip the bird at Mary and both of them laughing about something afterwards.
"…So what are you all wearing for the party?" Mary asked as Hermione started to collect her things from her trunk for the next day.
Hermione looked up to Mary. "What party?"
Mary grinned at her. "Well, every year there has been a start of term party in Gryffindor common room and since, like fourth or fifth year, the boys in our year have been the ones throwing it. It's tomorrow night and it is going to be epic!" Mary said excitedly.
"Oh? So you're finally going with Remus?" Lily said and gave Mary a knowing look.
Mary heaved a sigh. "I wish...I don't know what he wants, if he wants to be my friend or maybe something more. Maybe I'll find out tomorrow…But what I actually meant was that this is our last year and our last start of year party." She said, a wistful expression taking over her face.
"I know! I'm so gonna miss this. The parties, Mary's and Lily's little escapades," Marlene said with a pensive look before flashing a teasing grin to the girls.
Lily and Mary both narrowed their eyes at their friend. "Speak for yourself, Marley…" Lily grumbled.
Hermione arched a brow. "Oh? What have I missed?"
Mary shrugged. "Lils and I went a bit rebellious in our end-of-term party last year…" Mary said simply, while Lily tried to suppress a grin. Marlene and Alice giggled at them.
"It's not even that funny…" Lily muttered, but grinned anyway. "At the end of the party…we sort of…snuck out of school and went to the Three Broomsticks, transfiguring our looks a bit so that Rosmerta wouldn't have noticed…" Lily explained, shaking her head with amusement.
Hermione smiled. "May I assume it didn't work?"
Everyone shook their heads, sniggering.
"But hey, we didn't get detention." Mary said with a sly grin.
Marlene snorted. "Probably because you had transfigured your looks to resemble Potter and Black, and it was them who suffered the detention in the end," she said, bursting into laughter. Mary, Alice, Lily and Hermione joined her.
Hermione wiped tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes when Marlene spoke again. "Speaking of Potter…Lily, are you finally going to make his day and be his date?" Marlene asked teasingly.
Lily huffed with irritation. "Even if I would agree to…you know, do that, I wouldn't. Because he has a girlfriend," she said promptly.
Marlene chewed the inside of her cheek. "I didn't want to say anything, since I reckon even Potter doesn't know yet, but… I think he's not going to be taken for long…"
Everyone turned to look at Marlene in bewilderment. "What do you mean, Marley?" Lily asked as she frowned at her friend.
"I mean that the Hufflepuff slag Madison, whom he's been dating, you know, since last year, has cheated on him with some guy… I heard her talking about it with her friend on the train on our way here…" Marlene said dryly.
Lily and the others gasped at the news. "That bitch! ...I mean, should we tell him? Poor James!" Lily flared and looked at the others expectantly.
"Ooh, so you do actually fancy him, don't you?" Alice grinned at Lily. Everyone but Lily laughed quietly.
"You're all delusional," Lily sniffed.
Mary, Alice and Marlene exchanged knowing looks but said nothing at the matter.
The girls were soon ready for bed, wishing good night for each other after putting the lights off. Hermione agreed to go to breakfast with Lily after she learned that the rest of the girls were late sleepers. She wanted to wake up and get out of bed early, to prepare herself for her first classes.
With so many thoughts rushing in and out of her mind, Hermione lay on her back, staring at the canopy of her four-poster bed for quite some time before she eventually fell asleep.
In the boys' dormitory, the lights were still up and Sirius was scribbling on a parchment the boys had hanging on the wall, next to their bathroom door. Peter was the only one who had already changed into his pyjamas and was in the process of going to sleep. James was rummaging his trunk in search of the Marauder's Map, at least that was what he had told Sirius some time before. A moment later, Remus came from the showers clad in a t-shirt and boxers and stopped next to Sirius.
"What are you doing, Pads?" Remus asked and frowned as he read what Sirius was writing into one of the parchments.
They had several parchments attached on the wall and Sirius was always the one to put them back up each year when they moved to a different dormitory. The parchments were enchanted now, in a way that only the four of them could read them. That was just a precaution, since one time Sirius had brought a girl to their dormitory and when she had gone to their bathroom, she had seen some of the writings in them. Enraged was an understatement when describing her wrath. She had slapped Sirius across the face, hexed him good and stormed out before he'd had time to say anything. She had also told her friends about what she had seen, and Sirius had suffered somewhat of a depression regarding his affairs during that particular spring.
One of the parchments was a charmed list of all the single girls at Hogwarts, always changing when a girl got attached to someone. One parchment was a list of the fittest girls in their school, regardless of them being single or not. The list was divided into four columns, where each Marauder had their own favourites in ranking order. Needless to say that Lily was on top of James's list even though he had been dating another girl for a year now.
The third parchment was a list where each Marauder could place "dibs" or claims for one girl for each year and the others were then not allowed to pursue said girl at the same time. If the name was not erased from it by the setter, he continued having interest on the girl, regardless if he succeeded to get her attention or not. Of course the last addition to the rule was added when James had pursued Lily several years without any result. Sirius had actually kept his space empty for most of the years, since he had had no need to pursue any specific girl. He had more than enough of girls who threw themselves at him and he wasn't that particular of whom he wanted to seek comfort from. But now he was indeed scribbling a name on the parchment, which seemed to surprise his friend into silence.
James too seemed curious of Sirius's machinations, so he walked closer to him and peeked over Sirius's shoulder at the list. "So the new girl, eh?" James said and smirked at Sirius, who gave an innocent smile back.
Remus shook his head in amusement and said, "Pads, I don't think she's like the girls you usually go after…She won't fall into your charms that easily."
Sirius turned to Remus and gave him a smug smile. "Just wait for it, Moony. I'll have her in my bed by the end of this month, mate," he said and winked at him.
Remus eyed him with a doubtful look.
"Care to make a wager of that, brothers?" James asked, grinning slyly at the others.
"Sure." Remus said, smiling confidently.
"Let's." Sirius replied daringly.
"Just to make sure - you are saying that Hermione is going to have sex with you before the end of this month?" Remus asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, that's exactly what I'm saying, Moony." Sirius replied boldly. "Like I ever would take a bird to my bed just for sleeping," He said and gave his friend an incredulous look.