Disclaimer: I really wish I did own these characters, but I don't. Unfortunately for me, they're all owned by JK Rowling, without whom, the world would be a dismal place.

A/N: This is my first fic. Please review and let me know how I'm doing. Sorry this chapter's so short, but it's only a prologue.

-------------------------------------------

"Do it Hermione," Harry said firmly. "It's our only hope."

She glanced around the room looking at each of the others as they nodded in agreement. "Do it," they echoed.

Hermione took a deep breath, and looked at the object in her hand. It was hard to believe that this small object might make it possible for them to save the future… to change everything. She raised the arm holding the object high above her head, and looked about the room one last time. Swiftly, and with surprising force she threw the object against the ground. It shattered into a thousand pieces, and the force contained within imploded. A glowing orb appeared in the middle of the shattered glass.

In an unexpected whirl of wind, Hermione felt herself lifted off her feet. She tried to look around, but couldn't see the others. Oh no, she thought, what if something's gone wrong.

Suddenly, she felt herself pulled towards the orb. In a blinding flash, Hermione lost all awareness of where she was. A wave of heat washed over her body causing her to flinch in pain, and then her whole body jarred as she hit something hard.

All of a sudden, everything stopped. A gradual numbness began to spread through her body, and before she knew it, she had lost consciousness.

------------------------------------------

Slowly, Hermione began to regain consciousness. She could hear a murmur of voices around her. She opened her eyes, and cautiously sat up. She groaned in pain, as every inch of her body ached. One look around told her it had worked, that they had traveled into the past. She jumped when she suddenly heard Ron speak.

"So now what?" he asked, looking around at his friends, spread out on the ground. "What do we do now?"

"I dunno. Walk up to the school I guess," Harry said, slowly rising to his feet. "That's the only thing we can do."

"And pray," Hermione interrupted happy to hear her voice working. "Don't forget pray."

"Since when have you become religious?" Ron laughed. They all flinched; his laugh sounded hollow. "Anyway, what are we going to pray for?"

Hermione looked at him seriously, suppressing her feelings of hopelessness "We can pray that Dumbledore believes us."

With that the rest of them stood up, and in silence they walked up to the castle.