I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER OR ANYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH THE BOOKS.
It was the start of Hermione Granger's sixth year of schooling at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She sat in the back seat of her parents car humming softly to the music as they headed to King Cross station. When the car came to a stop she slipped out of the car and headed inside the station, her father close behind lugging her trunk, her cat in her mother's arms.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to this," her mother sighed as she took a deep breath and followed her father through the barrier. Hermione gripped her trolley and at a run followed after the woman. As the smoke cleared around her she saw her parents waiting close by. After hulling her trunk into a empty compartment she went to say goodbye.
"Do write, dear," her mother sobbed into her hair as she pulled her into a rib crushing hug.
"I will, mum. Once a week," came her muffled reply.
"Emily," her father said gently, "don't suffocate the poor girl."
Emily Granger reluctantly let go of her daughter and she was quickly pulled into a not so crushing hug by her father. "I'll miss you, Pumpkin."
"I'll miss you too, dad."
Hermione sadly watched her parents walk back through the barrier to the muggle world. She wished they could be part of the magical world, her world. Sure they knew about it but they weren't part of it, not really. Her sad face was instantly erased when she turned. A large group of people stood a few feet down the platform, many of them with flaming red hair. As she rushed forward a voice called to her.
"Hey, Hermione. How was your summer?"
"Not bad. I took some extra credit classes and went to the states with my family. How's your business going?" she answered to George Weasley.
"Great. The shop was an instant hit," George replied.
She opened her mouth to speak but was silenced by screams. She looked up to see curses flying through the air around her. She pulled out her wand but was afraid to fire it into the fog. What if she hit a student? She felt a hand grab her and pull her down.
"What's happening?" she heard Ginny yell from beside her.
"I don't know," George said from above her. He must be covering her and Ginny, she thought.
And then she felt it. It was like a bomb had went off on top of her. She saw the light from the curses as they all collided into them the same time. Was that three or four? She couldn't tell. Then the world went blurry and she felt as if she were spinning. Then just as suddenly as it had started it stopped and all went black.
Harry whipped out his wand but feared to shoot it into the fog. Then it suddenly cleared from around him and he saw them. Four hooded, masked figures shoot a stream of curses into the crowd.
"Stupefy," Harry yelled and one of the figures froze. Ron was beside him yelling his own curse. Where was Hermione? Hadn't he seen her moments before? He yelled another curse, but it was to late. The figures disappeared taking the frozen one with them.
Screams and cries continued and Harry saw the order members trying to bring order to the crowd. (no pun intended) After the injured were taken away and the one dead body removed the order and Weasleys regrouped.
"Were is George and Ginny," asked Fred looking around for his twin.
"I could have swore I saw him around here somewhere. Though on second thought that could have been you, Fred," said Tonks scratching her bright green hair.
"And, where is Hermione?" Ron added.
"Are you Okay?" a voice said as if from a long distance away. Hermione felt a hand on her shoulder and tried to swat at it but her arm felt like lead She groaned.
"Hello? Can you hear me?" the voice said, but it sounded closer this time.
"Should I get help?" a different voice said. Hermione pointedly decided she did not like the voice.
"No, they are coming around," the familiar voice said.
Hermione opened her eyes but snapped them shut as they were met with a blinding white light. She squinted and could see dark shapes moving in and out of view.
"Hey, there," the voice said from very close this time, "how you feeling?"
What happened? She racked her mind trying to remember. Then it all came back. Screams and curses. George! Ginny! She tried to rise but fell back, her head hitting the ground with a dull thud.
"Shouldn't have done that," she groaned to herself. "Head hurts!"
"Take it easy, love," the voice said. She quite liked the voice unlike the unpleasant one. She reached out trying to find where it came from and her hand met fabric which she grasped onto. She pulled herself up and felt a hand steady her by being placed in the middle of her back, for which she was grateful. She dared another look. She blinked as her eye adjusted to the light. She saw people gathered all around her as her vision cleared. Didn't they have anything better to do then stare at her? She scowled. Then she felt relief flood her; Harry was standing in front of her and he was fine. But as she observed him further, looking for any injuries she may have missed, she noticed he looked different. Where was his scar? Why did his eyes look so bland, not their usually vibrant green? She frowned.
"Are you okay?" the voice asked. She turned to see a boy about her own age supporting her as he sat on his knees. He had dark gray eyes, they were captivating. It was like watching a storm, she almost expected to see lightening flash in them. His hair was dark and lay casually around his face, some falling into his eyes. She paled as she turned back to the Harry look-a-like. No! It couldn't be. She was dreaming, that had to be it. She pinched herself on the arm, which she noticed was still gripping the boy's shirt, but she didn't let go, afraid she wouldn't be able to stay in a sitting position without the support.
"Ow," she hissed. "This can't be happening."
Then she heard a familiar voice. She leaned over the dark haired boy to see two heads of red hair, a light brown haired boy leaning over them.
"George? Ginny?"
"Hermione," Ginny cried sounding frantic, "what happened?"
"I don't know what happened," she said, "but I think I know where we are."
"Me too," she sounded as though she wanted to cry. "This isn't good."
"What do you mean?" George asked, "Where are we?"
"He's not going to like this," Ginny sighed.
"Who are you?" the dark haired boy said sounding frustrated that she hadn't answered his question.
"I'm Hermione," she said, looking at him, "and that's George and Ginny. We are transfer students who obviously didn't have a very good transportation provider." She scowled for good measure.
"Well, the train is about to leave so we might want to get on."
"Oh," she said in a small voice as he helped her to her feet.
"Would you like to sit with us," she heard the brown haired boy said to Ginny and George.
"Sure," came Ginny's answer. Hermione thought it sounded like she didn't really mean it.
Hermione, Ginny, and George took up the back as they followed the boys onto the train.
"Where are we?" George whispered as they climbed onto the train.
"You don't recognize any of these people?" Ginny hissed.
"I think we are in the past," Hermione gulped. Actually saying out loud seemed to make her feel worse.
"That can't be possible!"
"Well, obviously it is," snapped Ginny.
They were ushered into a compartment, sitting opposite four boys, all about seventeen.
"I'm Sirius, by the way," the dark haired boy said, "and they are James, Remus, and Peter," he pointed to each of them in turn.
Hermione saw George pale and Ginny shoot him an I told you so look.