Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter franchise and I'm currently hoping to keep it that way since I already have too many things to take care of now. =P

Note: This is my first story so please tell me how you all think I did. This chapter was meant to be short, sort of a Prologue, and kind of confusing as well. Sorry about that. I also plan to make this story not too long since there won't be much that I plan to write about. Well, hope you enjoy =)

Not 1997 Anymore

It was a total accident, something like this wasn't supposed to happen…at least that's what Hermione thought.

"Professor?"

Hermione snapped out of her reverie to look up at one of her sixth year students. Ironically, it was one of Ron's older brothers…Bill.

"Yes Mr. Weasley?" she asked as she moved a stray curl behind her ear.

Bill blushed lightly as he shuffled his feet a bit.

"I was wondering if you would mind accompanying me to the Christmas Dance."

Hermione, not surprised that he was asking her this sighed internally. He was the fifth boy to ask her to go to the dance with them. She was tempted to say yes just to get them to stop but she couldn't.

"Unfortunately Mr. Weasley, I am going to have to tell you the same thing that I have told the other four young men that asked me previously. I will only be staying for a few minutes before leaving to take care of some business that Professor Dumbledore has asked me to do."

Bill looked slightly upset but he covered it up with a smile that wasn't all forced.

"Of course, sorry for taking your time."

"That is not a problem, besides, I don't think it would do well for a teacher to go to a dance with a student anyways. Even if said teacher and student are close in age."

Bill laughed and waved bye to Hermione as he left her classroom for dinner. Hermione smiled before grading the last paper from her earlier classes that day. Putting down her quill she looked outside her window and had a slightly sad look in her eyes.

Oh how she missed Harry and Ron, and the rest of the Weasleys. Sure she saw the older boys of the Weasley family almost everyday at Hogwarts, but she wanted so badly to go back to her time. But Albus had said that it would be a while before any news on whether or not she would be returning home was not yet made.

Only four and a half months had gone by since she arrived in this time period. How she had gotten there was still a mystery to her, since she couldn't remember anything of the incident. But now she was surprised that she also didn't exactly know what was happening before the incident either. Only that she was wearing a lovely dress of red, and her hair was done nicely for some sort of event.

Standing up, Hermione stretched her sore muscles before moving away from her desk. Taking out her wand she gave it a flick and everything was neatly put away and arranged the way she liked. Approving of the now cleaner looking classroom, she made her way towards the Great Hall. Thoughts of returning home pushed to the back of her mind for the time being as she was set on indulging herself with some delicious food, courtesy of the house elves.