A month had passed since Sirius had come to Hogwarts. The students found him charming and fun while extremely smart. Sirius did all of his homework perfectly, knew all the practices, and was wonderful on tests. What amazed him though was that Hermione was still the top of the class. She and Sirius had a competitive streak going. They would glare at each other during tests and smirk if they got a practical lesson right before the other. The teachers were all impressed and trying to keep up. Even Snape had to admit that their knowledge in potions was extensive. Sirius didn't know how he ended up in this knowledge war. He didn't even like school! He did, however, enjoy competition. Hermione was enjoying every minute of it. She was so happy to have someone be on her level of intellect that she almost forgot her suspicions of Silos Banther.
Sirius had gotten in a few pranks on Snape. He had replaced his quill with the encouraging comments quill. So, when ever he graded papers, students would get many complements from the professor instead of cry worthy criticism. He figured out the problem within two days of students giving him strange looks.
Sirius also somehow managed to put a large bullseye on Snape's back with the words take your best shot printed below it. He dodged most of the spells thrown at him, but a few hit. Snape finally figured out the problem after two four solid hours of spells being thrown at him.
Sirius also payed the house-elf Dobby in a sum of ten pairs of socks to put itching powder in the potion professor's trousers. It was amusing to watch him squirm all day. Snape did know how to play off the after effects of the cruciatus so a little itching powder didn't bother him overly. The thing that bothered him was that his prankster wouldn't just let him be! He knew it wasn't the Weasley twins, it was defiantly the new student who thought it was so fun to prank the potions master.
Sirius went spiking Snape's drink with canine sharpening potion. He really did look like a vampire and acted like a vampire too. To add insult to injury, Sirius sent him blood pops throughout the day. To say the students were terrified would be an understatement. That one ended up being blamed on Malfoy because Sirius planted the canine sharpening potion and a stash of blood pops in the git's bag. It was joyous to watch Malfoy get yelled at in front of the entire potions class!
The last prank of the month was Sirius paying Dobby to help him again. He asked the elf to cut Snape's robes to look like bat wings. It was hilarious for his dramatic entrance into class. He never even noticed! Snape took to glaring at Sirius whenever he was pranked and Sirius tried to look as innocent as possible.
Hermione didn't like any of the pranking going on. Sure, pranks were funny and all in good fun, but Snape was being targeted for malicious intent. Hermione liked Snape. No matter how mean or snarky he was, she held the highest respect for him. He was intelligent, knew how to take control of his classroom and he did love to teach. She could see the happiness in his eyes when a student got an answer right or when he went off on a rant about a potion. He was just bitter and that was fine with her. She stopped caring about his insults to her, she knew he didn't mean most of them.
Hermione was distracted from her suspicions of Silos Banther for a while. Harry seemed to like him, as did the other boys. The only boy who seemed annoyed with him was Ron and that was because he was "stealing Harry from him." It was very immature of Ron.
Silos's nastiness towards Snape pointed towards someone with a grudge. How was that possible though? Silos didn't know Snape. Unless...it wasn't Silos? If he was Changing his looks like Hermione suspected then he maybe wasn't named Silos at all!
She searched the library for different ways to alter one's appearance. She found nothing other than glamors or polyjuice. No other potions or spells. Her mind was organized and analyzing and she was starting to get worn down by all the school work and research. She had started to sleep in and not wake the boys up. They wouldn't say it out loud, but they missed their bushy haired alarm clock.
Harry was worried about her. He would find her asleep on the couch in the common room and take her back up to the dorms. He was convinced that no one was watching when he took her to her dorm, but he was wrong. The rumor mills started up with different stories that Hermione and Harry were sleeping together and all sorts of weird things. The two just ignored it all until Professor McGonagall took notice to the rumors.
She sat them down in her office and talked to them about the importance of not doing any of those kinds of activities before a certain age. Hermione and Harry tried to protest that they weren't doing anything, but their words fell to deaf ears. They came out of the office red as tomatoes and couldn't look at each other straight in the eyes for a week! They eventually got over their embarrassment though. Hermione decided that the school could shove off and Harry completely agreed.
Hermione was getting fed up with her lack of research and decided to think outside the box. She thought of the stupidest thing she could do and went for it.
That's how Hermione ended up in front of Snape's office door with a determined look. She knocked on the door and heard a drawn out "enter." She entered his office and looked around. It was a large rectangular room with books everywhere. There was a fire in the fireplace that lit up the room in soft light. His desk was in front of the door and two uncomfortable looking chairs sat in front of it. Snape however was grading papers and said in an annoyed tone, "no matter how mush I enjoy seeing you look around my office I expect you have something to ask me, Miss Granger?" Hermione snapped out of her gaze and cleared her throat. She was about to speak when Snape held up his hand. "Have a seat Miss Granger." She hesitantly sat on a chair in front of his desk and waited for him to look at her. After five whole minutes of sitting in silence, he put down his quill and looked to Hermione. "Continue." Hermione cleared her throat once more and asked, "I want to know if there are any potions to hide one's appearance other than polyjuice." He raised a questioning eyebrow and asked, "whatever for, Miss Granger? I hope you do not plan on brewing anymore highly advanced potions in the girl's lavatory? As I recall, your last attempt didn't turn out to well."
Hermione flushed and stuttered. "No, I, um, suspect that someone isn't who they appear to be." Snape sat silent for a moment before nodding. "There are many potions that can alter one's appearance, but they would need hourly doses. Does this person carry around a flask or suspicious liquids?" Hermione shook her head and Snape hummed thoughtfully. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. "A spell then? I'm guessing you've searched for glamours?" Hermione nodded and Snape sighed. "Well if it is a spell than what is the counter for most spells? A simple answer for a complex problem." Hermione's brain went into analyzing things and she smacked her forehead in shear amazement. "Finite Incantatem!" Snape's lips lifted into a sort of smile as he nodded. "It was so simple! I over thought the whole thing!" Snape once again nodded and said in a drawl, "one with an intellectual mind thinks that everything is complicated. Sometimes you need to go back to the basics to solve even the trickiest of problems."
Hermione looked at her professor and said, "logic! It's pure logic. Nothing magical about it." Snape smirked and said, "yes, you would know enough about that. For you used cool logic in the face of fire as the Headmaster states." Hermione flushed and knew he was talking about his potions riddle in first year. "Well, if that is all Miss Granger, you may go. I would love to say it was unpleasant, but that would be a lie." Hermione beamed at him and got up to leave. When she was at the door, Snape stopped her with the question, "why did you come to me?" Hermione turned her head and answered, "because I knew you would listen. You wouldn't dismiss the idea that someone snuck in because you don't have the ridiculous vision that Hogwarts is completely safe. I trust your judgement more than any other teachers." They stared at eachother for a moment and both came to a deeper understanding of each other. Snape wasn't a bastard teacher and Hermione wasn't a stuck up know-it-all. He waved his hand and dismissed her.
After the meeting with Snape, she began to put her plan into action. She would get Silos alone and use the spell on him and see if it worked. If not, no hard feelings. If so, then Hermione may have to kill him. She was prepared to do that for Harry's safety.
It was the next day and Hermione planned to put her plan into action within the week. She had fallen asleep in the library again and needed to get back to the dorms to get ready for classes. She was too late to eat breakfast and she was just rushing to catch up with everything. She just felt set back on everything even though she was a month ahead of everyone! Harry invited Hermione to relax by the lake and she accepted without another thought. Studies could wait for today. She was tired!
Hermione was walking down the hill to the lake when she noticed a head of blonde hair rushing towards her. She stopped and sighed. She was at the end of her tether and Malfoy was not what she needed at that moment. She was tired, angry, and worn out. Malfoy and his cronies stepped in front of him and she sighed. "What do you want Malfoy?" He ignored her comment and sneered, "have a nice night with Potter, Mudblood? I didn't take you for the whorish type!" Hermione's eye twitched and she tried to shove past him. He just shoved her back and he laughed when she tripped and fell. "You look good beneath me, Mudblood. C'mon guys, let's go get scarhead, maybe he'll be more fun to push around." Hermione's temper snapped. She deeply growled and Malfoy stopped laughing. Her eyes narrowed and in a flash she sprung up and jumped on Malfoy. They fell to the ground Hermione pinned him down. He whimpered and Hermione growled again. "Get off Mudblood!"
Hermione wanted to make him hurt. She felt the bone crack under her fist as it collided with his face. Her anger wouldn't leave her as she kept punching him. He tried his hardest to get her off, but failed. Hermione felt a spark run up her shoulder as someone gently touched her shoulder. She stopped, breathing hard, bloody fist still lifted in position for another strike. "Hermione." She felt tears pool her eyes as she was pulled up. Hermione kept her back to Harry and looked around her. There was a crowd of students watching her in fear. She looked down to Malfoy's bloody and frightened and bloody face. She still felt the anger, the hurt, the need to protect when Malfoy threatened to bully Harry. She spit in Malfoy's face and growled, "you are not my superior and you will not hurt Harry!" Her magic was crackling around her and she looked up and caught the eyes of Silos Banther. He looked positively terrified. She knew he was an intruder. He wanted to hurt her Harry. The logic in the back of her mind started to come forth as she felt her hand being gripped. She growled at Silos, very wild cat like. She turned to walk away and caught Harry's green eyes. They weren't angry, but sad. He knew she would snap one day. Today she was finally pushed over the edge. He pulled her hand and they walked towards the lake. The spring sun shone down- and the breeze relieved the heat. Harry knelt down by the lake and pulled her down to do the same. He took her bloodied hands and put them in the water and washed off the blood. Hermione's anger began to wash away with the blood. Every stroke of his fingers calmed her. Hermione closed her eyes and whispered to Harry, "I'm sorry."
Harry shook his head and responded softly, "I'm not the one you beat bloody." Tears fell from her eyes and fell into the water. She looked into Harry's comforting green eyes and he pulled her hands out of the water. He dried them off and held them in his. He brought them to his lips and kissed her sore knuckles. He brought her hands down and still held them. "It'll be alright." Her tears fell freely and Harry held her close. He rocked her back and forth as she cried, whispering reassurances in her ear and stroking her hair. She calmed down and they both gazed to where the gaggle of students were starting to go away and gossip about the moment. Hermione saw the blonde head of hair being lifted from the ground and she felt a growl come from her involuntarily. Harry held her tighter and she whined. "I'm just so tired, Harry. So tired." He picked her up and walked her over to a shady tree where he sat down and cuddled her to him. Her face was buried in the the nape of his neck. Her arms rested on her stomach and her legs were curled up. Harry rested his head on hers as he wrapped his arms around her. "Then rest. I'll be right here." After a minute or two her breathing evened out and she was fast asleep. Harry just sat and listened to her breath and he too fell asleep.
Sirius watched the whole event unfold. He was near by when he saw Malfoy walk up to Hermione. He rushed over to try and help and saw the ferocious look on Hermione's face. She fell to the ground when Malfoy pushed her and he was close enough to hear her growl. It sent a shiver up his spine and he was feeling frightened just by hearing it. He tried to move from his spot to save the blond git from Hermione, but he was too late. He watched in terror as Hermione pounced on Malfoy and attacked him. Students gathered and some even screamed in fright. They couldn't believe what their resident bookworm was doing. In an instant, Harry was on the scene and had no fear in touching her shoulder.
They watched in curiosity as Hermione instantly stopped, breathing hard. Harry lifted Hermione off of Malfoy and they could all see Malfoy not moving. He wasn't dead, but seemed close to it. Hermione's eyes met several students and they backed away. Her eyes finally met his and he was terrified to find that they flashed gold. She started to hunch and growl at him and in that moment, he knew she knew. She knew he was a fake. Hermione's bloodied hand was grabbed by Harry's and she stopped. They all watched as Harry led Hermione to the lake. The students watched in fascination as others began to help Malfoy. His "bodyguards" were staring dumbly at the kid they were supposed to protect.
The students started to turn away to gossip to their friends, but Sirius stood watching them. He watched as Harry cleaned Hermione's hands, kissed her knuckles, and held her close. He watched as Hermione turned to see Malfoy getting carried away. He saw her face twist in fury and Harry hold her tighter. He watched them fall asleep under the tree.
Sirius decided that he needed to see Remus and that's what he did. Sirius rushed to Remus's office as fast as possible and ended up knocking on his office door. It opened and Sirius rushed in. "Cancel the spell. I need to talk as myself for a while." Remus complied and Sirius was now Sirius again. He plopped down on one of the chairs in Remus's office and put his head in his hands. Remus gave him a questioning look and asked, "what is all this about, Sirius?" Sirius mumbled something and Remus asked him to speak up. "I'm fucked!" Remus sat down across from Sirius and motioned for him to continue. "I just watched Hermione beat a boy bloody for threatening Harry. The threat wasn't even that big! Malfoy only threatened to bully Harry and she beat him half to death! What will happen when she confronts me about me being a fake? I'm scared of a little girl!" Remus's eyes widened and he had nothing to say. All he could say was, "holy shit!"
Sirius chuckled and muttered, "Moony must be worried if he swears." Remus ignored the comment and had to ask the question that was swimming through his head. "How are you so sure that she'll find out?" Sirius looked him in the eyes andreplied, "because she already has!" Sirius saw the questioning look so he continued. "She looked straight at me and her eyes flashed this gold color. She growled at me! Not anyone else! Me!" Remus's brain stopped for a minute. Growling, animal like behavior, eyes flashing gold? "You just described werewolf attitude..." Sirius's jaw dropped and he came to the same conclusion Remus did. Sirius thought about it further though. "She can't be a werewolf, Remus. You never sense one during the full moon and she sure doesn't smell like one. She smells more cat like." Remus was so hopeful that he found another werewolf, but his hopes were shot down. "Sorry, Moony." Remus nodded and cleared his throat. "Well, what could explain those things if not Lycanthropy?" Sirius thought for a moment and it came to him. "Kitten!"
Remus looked confused and Sirius continued with his findings. "Harry said that she put cat hair in a polyjuice potion and some of the senses stuck. Cats growl, have nasty tempers and some have golden eyes!" Remus thought that that was most likely the answer. Remus looked at his watch and saw it was almost dinner time. He waved his wand and Sirius was back to his thirteen year old self. He transfigured his hair and eyes and a couple of other features. Sirius pouted and got up and stretched. "As for your fear of Hermione, she is very scary. Just act like everything's normal and try to seem as non-threatening as possible. Don't act suspicious and if you're positive that she knows, let her find out and explain the situation. Be honest and use logical arguments." Sirius nodded and exited Remus's office. Remus hoped that everything would turn out fine.