In Open

Because," Hermione said softly, and then there was their lioness. She sat there regally, her tail wrapped around her paws, her eyes on Remus' face. His jaw had dropped open and his eyes widened.

"You!" He gasped. James, Sirius and Peter had morphed back to add their own comments.

"Merlin's Beard!" James was goggling at her. She gave a heavy, feline sigh, and morphed back.

"But…but you were a lioness way before we were animagi," Peter said in surprise. Hermione's eyes narrowed on him.

"Because a female couldn't possibly excel at a greater rate than a male child?" Hermione asked acerbically, her voice chilly.

"No, because it was amazing enough we did it so young…you were even younger!" Peter continued. Hermione smiled tightly at him.

"What can I say? I'm amazing," she said coolly.

"I told you that already," Sirius muttered by her elbow. She glanced sharply at her and he was watching her with those veiled eyes again.

"My Own," James said with wonder in his voice. "You are amazing, but why didn't you say anything?"

"You lot weren't," Hermione said with a shrug. "I figured you wanted it to be a secret, so I respected your privacy."

"How did you know? About me, I mean," Remus asked her suddenly. She turned to look at him.

"Any idiot with eyes to see would know what you are," Hermione said sharply. "I am not an idiot."

"No, you're definitely not that," Remus said quietly, frowning.

"They figured you out, did they not?" Hermione pointed to his friends. He nodded.

"Yeah, they did." He admitted.

"So why is it so out of the realm of possibility that I might do the same?" Hermione asked tartly. Remus frowned again.

"You never said anything," he said quietly. Hermione sighed heavily.

"Just because I know something doesn't mean I need to scream that knowledge from the rooftops. I respect you, and your privacy. Why would I do something that might hurt you or make you uncomfortable?" Hermione pointed out. Remus nodded slowly.

"That…that makes sense, I guess," he said slowly. He wasn't quite sure that that was the actual truth, but it did make sense. Very well, he would accept it for now.

"You're not going to run off and tell Snape, though, right?" Peter asked. The look that Hermione turned on him was absolutely scathing. Her lip curled.

"Unlike some, I know the value of loyalty," she practically sneered at him. "I will not betray your confidence in me."

"Right," James said with a hand on his sister's elbow. "That's all that we can ask. Wait a minute…when you disappear, are you coming out here to run in the Forbidden Forest?"

"Yes, and I shall continue to do so," she said firmly, a certain look in her eye when she looked at her brother.

"But…you could be hurt!" James said, worry evident in his eyes. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I, as a lioness, am far safer than a nice, juicy stag, trust me," she said dryly. Sirius snorted.

"She's got you there, mate," Remus said with a chuckle. James glared at them.

"Thanks for your support," he muttered. Then he turned back to Hermione.

"No," she said flatly.

"But," he tried.

"No, James," she said firmly. He growled in frustration.

"Hermione, I just want you to be safe," he said finally.

"You could lock me in pretty glass box and keep me there forever," she said flatly, "but I would be miserably unhappy…and eventually grow to hate you."

"I would never do that!" James exclaimed, hurt evident in his features.

Then trust me enough to let me be my own person," she said tartly. "The lioness is a fairly safe form. She is a predator, a hunter. The teeth and claws aren't just for show."

James nodded once, but his eyes said that he would reserve judgment for a bit longer. She released the breath she'd been holding. James needed to realize that she was growing up, that she was becoming a woman. Merlin knew that half the time he was more restrictive than their parents. Father and mother at least acted as though she were intelligent enough to govern herself through a day's activities. She was going to need to be firm with him, that was obvious. She sighed.

"Perhaps we've had enough fun for one night," Sirius said quietly, his eyes on his blood brother's face, but then he glanced at her. There was none of the blatant worry in James' eyes. Instead, there was a grudging respect, and that something else that already lurked in his eyes whenever he looked her way. She swallowed and nodded.

"Yes, let's go back in," she murmured, and allowed Sirius to put his hand on her elbow to guide her toward the castle.