It had been only a few weeks after Voldemort's return and Cedric's death. Everyone had been sent home with grief in their hearts and fear in their minds. I sent my prayers to Amos Diggory and apologized to Harry for what it must of been like seeing Cedric die even though it was no ones but Voldemort's fault. My vine wood, dragon heartstring wand resting in my hand, the Lumos charm flickering from my sleepy state slipped out of my hand and my heavy eyelids slid shut.
Waking up to the familiar tapping on my window, I hopped out of my still well-made bed and threw open the window. I nearly yelled out in surprise when Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix fluttered through the window. He looked young, flaming plummage bright and sure sign he had been reborn awhile ago. Stroking Fawke's head as I tore the letter open with my free hand. The parchment had Dumbledore's familiar calligraphy flowed the surface and I read quickly seeing as it must be important.
"Dear Miss Granger,
First and foremost, let me express my most sincere apologies at inconvienencing any summer plans you may have had. But I require your assistance in a matter concerning the nearer future. Fawkes carries around his neck an amulet. Please put it on, and then we shall speak face to face in a very near time.
Yours Truly,
Albus Dumbledore
Glancing up at Fawkes who gently inclined his head belching flame and burning the letter to cinders, he slipped the amulet off his neck and into my now-emptied palm. It was only two in the morning, what could Dumbledore possibly need? After rebrushing my hair and teeth and pulling on my day clothes I took a closer look at the amulet. Defiently goblin-craft, golden chain that was broken on the end with no clasp. The center piece was dark emerald ringed with jade, sapphires, and amethysts, and plated on a gold backing. Decorative carvings were etched into the gold and upon closer inspection turned out to be a mass of smaller snakes making up a bigger snake which had rubies for eyes and moonstone slivers for fangs. This piece of jewerly would be worth a forture, you wouldn't need a broker to tell you that.
Feeling even more confused, I held the broken chain of the amulet around my neck and squeaked in surprise as it fixed itself. There was still no clasp and it was just big enough so it fit comfortably, but not big enough to get off. Suddenly, a strange feeling fell upon me, it was like taking a strong sleeping pill then drinking a bunch of those Muggle energy drinks. Then the familiar grip of the magic of a Portkey gripped my skin and pulled me through to my destination in silent flashes of color and light.
I felt the grip of the Portkey lessen and focus came back to my eyes. The whirring sound of the golden instruments that had always sat in Dumbledore's office seemed loud in the quiet room. All the past Headmaster's were asleep in their frames and I stood still waiting for Dumbledore. I finally heard his footsteps as he entered at the top of the stairs in his long robes. "Ah Miss Granger. So good of you to join me, please take a seat." Dumbledore said, indicating the chair by his desk. Doing as he asked I sat and folded my hands and kept my eyes on my Headmaster, who promptly strolled down the steps and calmly sat at the large, straight-backed chair in front of me.
"Now Miss Granger. I do appreciate you attending my little meeting I have arranged and I wish to get right down to business. You have used a Time-Turner before, you have proven skill and aptitude much beyond normal students of your age. Therefore, I think it's only appropriate that I choose you for this certain task. As you well know. Lord Voldemort has gained much power in a very short amount of time since his return and the Ministry does nothing to accept that its real. Between Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasely, yourself and myself, not many others truly believe he's back. But I have a plan to stop Voldemort before he becomes a threat. I need you to go back in time to Hogwarts school year of 1943-1944. Lord Voldemort or how he was known during his school year as Tom Riddle will be sixteen years of age. He would have made at least one Horcruxe by then and you are to destroy anyway of him making any more. Do you understand?"
It was a lot to take in, but I knew I had no other choice. I nodded in agreement and Dumbledore opened a drawer in his desk. "Keep that amulet, it has quite a few useful powers, and I'm quite sure it has more I don't know of. Also give this letter to my younger self, it will explain everything to him and how he can help you if you need it. You may keep your name and your blood-status and will be starting in your fifth year. But if anyone asks you are obviously a new student who was home-schooled by your father until his tragic death studying werewolves. Your mother died at childbirth, and you have no other family that is known of. The rest is up to you to make up. Again past-me will take care of everything for you, good luck." Dumbledore reached over the desk and pressed two fingers onto the amulets' face, looking down I saw images begin to swirl and twist and sand slipping through cracks. The draw of time travel began to pull at me, bringing me away from the present time to 1943.
The twisting around made me sick so I closed my eyes until I felt the world still around me and I felt firm ground. Reopening my eyes I saw a much older fashioned Headmaster's office, Dippet's portrait on the wall was gone, but a real life Dippet sat behind a desk and where I had been sitting a younger Dumbledore, a teacher in this time sat speaking with each other. I was standing by the door and at the slightest step I took forward, Dumbledore swiveled in his seat to look at me and I hurriedly stepped forward to deliever the letter to him. He took it with no complaint and opened it, amid the curious looks of Headmaster Dippet who smiled slightly, but looked unsure of the situation. Dumbledore who must've been very quick at reading the three page letter from himself, smiled broadly at me and settled everything down rather well. "Ah, sorry Miss Granger, I had forgotten to tell Headmaster Dippet of your arrival." Turning back to Dippet, Dumbledore began explaining to him my whole fake reason of being here. Very clever of himself, Dumbledore is.
I didn't really pay much attention to his explaination, until I heard the fragment of, "...she'll be staying in Slytherin from her letters of recomendation from the Ministry." Oh God, why Slytherin? Dumbledore will pay for that. I could easily destroy Riddle's needed Horcruxe knowledge as a Gryffindor or the other two Houses.
"Very well," Dippet said, standing from his chair. "Miss Granger, I'm sorry for any confusion and loss of loved ones and I hope you will enjoy finishing your remaining years of eduaction here at Hogwarts. Everyone is probably finishing the Welcoming Feast about now, so I'll have Tom brought up to escort you. Dumbledore if you don't mind, please send for Miss Granger's school things."
"I don't mind at all Headmaster," and Dumbledore swept out of the room. While Dippet sent a Patronus to Tom, I paced the room, shaking I was about to meet the most evil wizard of my time. I would have to go to school with him and share the same House with him. It was truly nerve-shattering. A light knock on the door and then the door swung open. In stepped a Tom Riddle. He was many inches taller than me at about 5'10", when I was only 5'6", and his black hair fell over his equally dark eyes that stood out against his pale skin. He walked with a air of importance and strode into the room, greeting Headmaster Dippet warmly.
"Tom, my boy. How good it is to see you again." Dippet gushed out.
"Please, sir the pleasure is still mine to hold." Tom said politely. His voice was smooth, but I felt danger and lies laced with every word. Tom approached me slowly taking me in, like a predator examining his prey before the kill. Sticking out his hand I took it in mine and we shook. "Tom Riddle, sixth year."
"Hermione Granger, fifth year." I replied softly. He smiled slightly and tilted his head toward the door. "Come on, dinners over. Goodnight Headmaster."
"Goodnight Tom, Miss Granger. Classes start tomorrow so get a good rest." Tom led me down the steps and through the halls. I tried to appear the look of being lost, as if it was really my first day at Hogwarts. Tom's voice broke through my thoughts. "Don't worry about getting lost, I'll show you around for the first week and help you catch up on anything your home-schooling might've left out. The Slytherin Dormitories are down in the dungeon, any problems you have you either discuss with me or with Professor Slughorn. He is our Head of House." We appeared ahead of the throng of Slytherins coming and I was introduced to many of other Slytherins including Abraxas Malfoy, Draco's grandfather and Orion, Sirius's father. After telling me the password and bading me goodnight, Tom left me to follow the other fifth year girls up to bed.
So much time seemed to have passed so quickly and I had no idea how or where to start on my job. Sleeping in a nightgown left on the bed for me by a house-elf no doubt, my eyelids began to droop and I eventually fell into a deep sleep with the Serpent Amulet around my neck.
