Yule 1974
4 December 1974
Time passed on, and soon it was time for Yule. Being raised muggle made it difficult to mentally switch to Yule, but Hermione made a conscious effort after Pandora and Regulus explained the holiday to her. Christmas was a Christian muggle holiday, while Yule had been around since the fifth-sixth century CE, almost three and a half centuries before Christmas.
The difficulty was that Hermione had no idea what to get her friends, and she had no money, nothing to her name. Not getting anything was a sign of clear disrespect.
Her problem was solved just over a week before term let out, with Barty, surprisingly. "Hey, why don't we do a secret gift swap this year?" He suggested. "Like we buy one random gift and then lucky dip?"
"That sounds fun!" Pandora clapped. "I'm in."
"Me too," Dorcas nodded from where she was half draped across Evan. They were in the Slytherin boys dormitory, spread out across the room, which was far nicer than Gryffindor's.
"I'll play," Evan agreed.
"Yeah," Hermione held back the comparison to a similar muggle game.
"Only if," Regulus put his book down. "It's not scandalous." He didn't have to explain why it would be bad to take something scandalous at home. They all knew.
"Yay!" Barty clapped.
12 December 1974
Two days before the Yule holidays, Hermione saw her first targeted prank towards the Slytherins. Pandora and Hermione had travelled to the Dungeon before breakfast to trade gifts, but stopped when they saw the common room.
Every single part of the room was painted in sparkly gold. The furniture walls, mirrors - all. A couple of students loitered, trying to charm it away, and Hermione could only watch in stunned silence as the red stained students moved, glittering with every step.
"Let's just," Hermione gestured to the stairs to the boys dorm, and the other girl followed.
The dorms were in a similar state. A red Dorcas sit on Barty's bedazzled bed, riffling through Barty's trunk frantically. Barty, Evan, and Regulus's voices were coming from the bathroom. Hermione went to sit on Evan's bed, but Dorcas stopped her. "The boys can't get in the girls' dorm, so we weren't hit, but as soon as you sit on a gold surface, you turn red," Dorcas explained, and Hermione straightened.
"Any luck so far?" Pandora asked.
"Nope. We're all just hanging around and waiting," Dorcas sighed.
"We'll go get Professor McGonagall," Hermione said. "And kill my brothers."
"It wasn't them," Dorcas gestured to the bathroom, and Hermione went to see. Barty and Evan were standing in front of the mirror, grumbling about something. Hermione craned her neck to try and see Regulus, and her eyes widened.
Oh. Oh.
Black is so dead.
Regulus was the only non-red student. Instead, he was fully jet black, you could barely tell it was him. Across his back were two shiny green words - Toujours pur. The Black Family Motto. Even with his skin, Hermione could see the tear tracks as he seemed to be forcing himself to stay calm.
Oh no. She knew that look.
"I'll handle this. Cas, look after Reg. Pan, can you grab McGonagall," Hermione marched out of the glittery dorm and up to the great hall, boiling with rage.
Black was laughing with his friends at the Gryffindor table. Every table was full except for Slytherin's, and they were clearly reveling in it. Hermione stormed over to the older boy, yanking him up by his collar and slapped him hard across the face. The Gryffindors went quiet, and Potter, Lupin, and Pettigrew were on their feet, watching carefully.
"What the hell!" Black narrowed his eyes, pushing Hermione away. "What is your problem!?"
"What is my- what do you think Black, really?" Hermione was astounded. She drew her wand and cast a silencing charm around the two of them. "Do you have no shame? Did you ever stop to think that maybe Regulus hates that house just as much as you do? Do ever think about how you're treating him? You are acting just like your parents!"
"I am Not like them," Black's jaw hardened.
"Really? You verbally and physically make Regulus feel like nothing, you treat him like absolute rubbish because of him house, you ice him out because he isn't how you want him to be, and this morning, you forced the family belief and values on him. Look at yourself! You are exactly like them, as much as you like to pretend otherwise. No leather jackets or red ties can change that. Nothing can change the fact that Regulus was on the verge of a panic attack this morning because of what you did to him!"
Hermione took a deep breath before lowering the sound barrier, her voice now even. "Take a good look in the mirror, Black. You won't like what you see." She started to walk away, when his hand grabbed her wrist and pressed a vial of blue liquid into her hand. Hermione nodded before going back to the Slytherin dorms.
The common room and boys dorms were back to normal, but the students were still red, no matter how hard Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, and Slughorn tried to fix it. Hermione walked over to where Mulciber was sitting and poured a few drops from the vial on his arm. Immediately, his skin swirled back to it's regular shade.
"What is that stuff?" Mulciber rubbed his arm as if it burned, glaring at her.
"No clue. Black gave it to me, so I thought I'd test it first," Hermione shrugged. She duplicated the vial and handed the second one to Slughorn before going upstairs to the boys dorm.
Barty, Evan, Pandora, and Dorcas were comforting a shaking Regulus. "Oh Reg," Hermione leaned down, pouring a few drops. Regulus barely blinked as his body t, turned back, tear stains on his cheeks, and an empty expression on his face. "You're okay. It's okay."
"What is that?" Barty asked as he swirled back.
"The cure. Black gave it to me," Hermione said.
"How did you get him to give you that?" Evan raised an eyebrow
"Yelling and comparing him to his parents."
"Do you have a death wish?" Dorcas winced, rubbing her arm as it went back to normal. "How are you feeling, Reg?"
Regulus was silent, his face numb as he stared endlessly at the wall. "Hey Reg, can you explain the Runes homework to me? I just can't get a hang of it," Hermione said softly.
Like he had been switched on, Regulus stood up and moved robotically to his trunk, removing his Runes textbook. Hermione sat next to him on his bed and listened patiently as he explained their assignment.
13 December
They pushed gifts to the next day, where the group reconvened on the dorm beds. A stack of six presents lay on Barty's bed, so he automatically went first (at least, that was Barty's reasoning, as if he hadn't insisted the presents go there).
Barty peeled back the wrapping and cackled with laughter. "What is it?" Dorcas craned her neck. Barty tore the rest of the wrapping and Hermione snorted. It was small and fluffy with bright purple fur and soulless plastic eyes that looked like they were following you.
"Oh my Merlin!" Evan rolled over to hide behind Regulus, cackling with laughter. "What is that?"
"It's a Furby," Hermione laughed.
"It's demonic," Dorcas corrected. "My turn!" she grabbed a blue present and yanked it apart to reveal a fluffy white blanket. "Oh my- it's so soft!"
"Wanna trade?" Barty held out the Furby.
"Not a chance Crouch."
"My turn," Evan reached for a parcel and unwrapped it to reveal a flakey yellow star. "Reg, I think this was meant for you- is that a Beater Bat?"
"It's a pinata. You fill it with candy, hang it up, and then whack it to make the lollies fall out," Hermione explained. "That's two muggle gifts already, and I'm the only person who knows a tiny bit about muggles."
"Not true! I watched the Exorcist last year," Barty folded his arms.
"Right," Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Since you got a star, it's Reg's turn."
Regulus reached forward and plucked a green parcel from the pile. He opened it and immediately groaned. "Barty-"
"Hey, we're not supposed to say-"
"Who else would get me a whole bunch of miniature naked statues!" Regulus lifted the gift and let handfuls of statues fall. The room dissolved into laughter.
"I thought the Rule was nothing scandalous?" Pandora asked.
"It was. Barty, it was literally the only rule!" Dorcas laughed.
"You know, these have a lot of potential," Hermione picked one up. "Plant it in your brother's room and replace it every time they get rid of it. They'll think they're going insane."
"That's clever," Barty nodded.
"Okay. Pan, what gift do you want?" Hermione asked.
"I'll take the pink one," Pandora grabbed it, and Hermione snatched the remaining red one. She peeled back the wrapping to reveal a piece of parchment. "What is this?" she frowned.
Hermione pulled out her wand and tapped the parchment. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
The other five leaned in to watch the map form. "What- did you make this?" Dorcas asked.
"Nope. Nicked it from the four Gryffindorks," Hermione smirked. Lies.
"So you mean this map shows-"
"everyone," Hermione nodded.
"Everyone?" Evan repeated.
"Everyone. Where they are, what they're doing every minute of every day," Hermione nodded. "To disguise it, all you need to say it Mischief Managed."
She'd worked out who the Marauders were instantly, although Lupin was the only one with a nickname right now. Fred and George came gushing to her about it, but Hermione was still pissed off annoyed at them, and merely said "I know" before walking off. Hermione had been borrowing the map for when she would time travel back, as to not get caught by anyone. It was good she'd had it on her, and managed to charm Fred and George's names to Granger instead of Weasley.
"My brother made this?" Regulus said skeptically as he admired it.
"Lupin probably did most of the work," Barty shrugged. "It's impressive. Won't they notice it's gone?"
"Don't worry about that," Hermione waved a hand, peeling the wrapping back on her gift and tilted her head. "Carrie?"
"A book," Dorcas picked it up and read the blurb. "The story of misfit high school girl Carrie White, who gradually discovers that she has telekinetic powers. Repressed by a domineering, ultra religious mother and tormented by her peers at school, her efforts to fit in lead to a violent rampage of revenge."
"Is that Stephen King?" Hermione grinned, snatching the book from Dorcas's hands. She'd read several of his books, and Parvati had gotten her IT for Yule in second year, which Hermione loved. "I've heard amazing things about him."
"There's another couple of books - The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle, and the Princess Bridge by William Goldman," Evan read aloud.
"So out of the four of you, three managed to find muggle gifts. The most purebloodiest purebloods," Barty tutted. "If your parents could see you now."
"Shove off Crouch," Evan laughed. "Hey Mione, can I borrow one of those to read?"
"As long as it isn't Stephen King's," Hermione hugged it to her chest. Evan grabbed the closest book - A Wrinkle In Time - and tucked it into his trunk.
"Time to beat up a pinacolada," Barty grabbed the pinata and hung it up.
"Pinata, Barty. A pina colada is an alcoholic drink," Hermione laughed, shaking her head and getting up to help him.
"Same thing," the boy shrugged.
17 December 1974
A few days later, and Hermione was practically alone in Ravenclaw. Blue-robe wearing fifth and seventh years were staying at Hogwarts, but all the fourth years and younger were spending the holidays at home while it was still safe to do so
The other houses were the same. The full moon wasn't until the twenty-ninth, so the Marauders were gone. Lily, Fred, and George were the only people sticking around that Hermione knew. She hadn't spoken to them, not until Lily came and sat next to Hermione at breakfast. "Is that Stephen King?" she asked.
Hermione glanced up from where she had been quietly reading. "You know Stephen King?" she asked.
"Yeah, my sister got me that book to show wizards as a fear tactic, but I have only had a chance to get to the first chapter. Is it good?" Lily asked.
"A fear tactic?" Hermione raised an eyebrow
"She said if I let my magic friends read it, they'll be terrified, but Marlene loved it and I'm too scared to show it to the boys. They'll be inspired," Lily laughed.
"Definitely," Hermione nodded. "We had a gift exchange thing - basically White Elephant - between Barty, Dorcas, Pandora, Evan, Reg, and I, and I got a bunch of muggle books. Barty got a Furby."
Lily gasped, dissolving into laughter. "That's traumatizing."
"He deserves it for getting Reg about a hundred tiny nude statues when we made 'nothing scandalous' literally the only rule," Hermione shrugged.
Lily's jaw dropped. "That's not what I expected from him. Crouch seems so..."
"Elitist?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"Would you tell him if I said yes?" Lily winced.
"He'd definitely be offended. There's nothing Barty loves more than causing a scandal to annoy his Dad," Hermione shook her head. "He's a smarter Sirius Black."
Lily's smile faded. "About Sirius... what did you say to him? He's been off ever since."
Hermione sighed. "If I told you, you'd tell Lupin, and he'd kill me."
"Remus wouldn't do that," Lily tried. "Was it that bad?"
"I basically compared him and made him out to be like his own personal terrorists," Hermione ran a hand through her hair. Lily's eyes widened. "I know, it was harsh. But the way Reg was acting." She shivered. "It wasn't undeserved. Black needed to hear it."
"Remus, Pettigrew, and Potter are going to kill you," Lily agreed.
"Will you tell them?" Hermione swallowed.
"No. They will come to you in their own time. It won't be pretty, but I'm not going to be the one to say it," Lily sighed. "They're very protective, those four. Relentless, too."
"I've noticed," Hermione said dryly as a heart shaped envelope landed in front of the red haired girl, who promptly burned it. "Maybe he'll respect your wishes. One day," she lied.
Lily tilted her head. "You're one of the only people to say that. It's always 'give James a chance Lily', and never 'respect Lily's wishes James, no means no.'"
"You're telling me. Do you know how many 'gold digger' and 'slut' comments I have got just for being friends with Regulus, Evan, and Barty?" Hermione took a sip of pumpkin juice.
"Complete bogus. It would be so much easier if I was into girls," Lily sighed.
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "They'd find a way to blame muggles for that. Just wait for Black and Lupin to get together first, then come out."
Lily's jaw dropped. "You see it too!"
"Anyone with eyes can see it. I don't think Black has figured it out yet, but Lupin definitely has," Hermione said
"Apparently when Sirius and Mary were together, Mary said he moaned Remus's name," Lily whispered.
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "He's subconsciously there. Good to know. Maybe I can get Reg to pester him about it."
Lily hesitated. "Black, he's um, not..."
"Homophobic? Evans, you don't share a room with Barty and Evan and be homophobic. Those two are our Black and Lupin," Hermione sighed.
"You poor thing," Lily chuckled, hesitating for a moment. "You're trusting me with this. Why?"
Because Lily Evans was a hero. She was like Harry in so many ways. She reminded Hermione so much of him, and it made her want to spit out all her secrets and worries. Nobody had ever said a bad thing about Lily Evans. Hermione couldn't help it.
"You have a vibe," Hermione said instead.
Lily tilted her head at that statement. "Same. You and your brothers both have it. I don't understand what it is."
Hermione shrugged. "I'm going to the library to work on my Transfiguration homework," she stood up.
"Can I come? I have to finish my History essay, and probably have to actually pick up a book for it since everyone was asleep - Marlene was in charge of notes for the period and she took them home with her," Lily sighed, getting up and grabbing her book.
"It's annoying they haven't exorcised Binns already," Hermione groaned. "A lizard could teach us more."
Lily laughed as they made their way out of the hall, pretending not to see Hermione dump the rest of her goblet of pumpkin juice on Fred's head. On the way to the library, a thought struck Hermione and she frowned. "Why didn't you go home for Yule?" she asked.
Lily's eyes lowered. "My parents are fighting again. My sister warned me not to come. They might get divorced."
Hermione's eyes widened, and she wrapped the girl in a hug. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Thanks," Lily pursed her lips.
"Does anyone else know?" Hermione asked, leading her over to a bench and sitting down.
"Just Mary and Marlene," Lily sniffed.
"Talk to Sirius," Hermione blurted. "Look Evans, your friends don't come from a broken home, and it shows. Sirius knows better than most."
"He comes from a..." Lily sighed. "We're not friends."
"That takes effort on both sides," Hermione told her. "I had two friends back home - Ron and Harry. Harry came from a broken home and we didn't. We could never truly understand why he acted the way he did."
"What did you do?" Lily asked quietly.
"We helped. In any way we could. Last year, the twins and Ron flew a car to bust Harry out during the summer after they'd locked him in his room with bars on the windows. We tried to help him but I could never understand how they could treat him like that," Hermione swallowed. "there's only so much..."
For Harry. This was all for Harry. He will never experience life in the Dursleys. She refuses to let that happen. He didn't deserve that.
"What happened to them? Ron and Harry?" Lily asked quietly.
"I... don't know. We had to run. Fred and George removed any memory they had of us. It was safer that way, for us and them," Hermione chewed her lip.
"That's so horrible," Lily gave her a hug.
"I'm supposed to be comforting you," Hermione murmured.
"Just because someone else is going through something doesn't mean our own sufferings should be ignored," Lily said softly.
"That should be a daily affirmation," Hermione said
Lily laughed. "Come on. You have homework, remember."
"Teachers want us to ignore our sufferings. I should go do GCSEs instead," Hermione groaned.
"Come on," Lily said. "Besides, too late now anyway."
"Maybe I should move to London-"
"During a war? Great idea."
"Pretend to be an American transfer student-"
"Not with that accent you won't."
"Go off and have a future-"
"As a woman in the seventies," Lily snorted. "Dream smaller."
"Can you stop crushing my maladaptive daydreams for a minute please?" Hermione huffed.
"Not a chance," Lily tugged the younger girl down the hall.
"I hate you."
"Liar," Lily rebutted.