"Evans," James Potter shouts along the Gryffindor table. "Evans. Evans. Evans. Evans."
"Shut up, Prongs," Remus says, taking a long drink.
James sits back down, shooting a hurt look in Remus' direction that makes Peter laugh. "Pads, Moony's being mean to me," he says, sticking his bottom lip out.
"Nothing I can do," Sirius says. "You know what he's like before he gets his morning coffee. You'd do better to leave the Lily-bugging until lunchtime."
"Or better yet, don't do it at all," Remus says. "It hasn't worked so far, Prongs, what makes you think it'll work this time?"
"I've grown four inches," James says, grinning proudly.
"I don't think it was your height Evans ever objected to, mate," Sirius says, giving a bark-like laugh. "It was your obnoxious personality."
"Ouch," James says. "Coming from you, man, that hurts."
Sirius opens his mouth to reply but before he can do so, there is a loud bang, a flash and a crash as a body lands on the Gryffindor table right in front of them. She is a small, young brunette – fairly pretty and dressed in a denim jacket, a hoody, a plaid button down shirt, tight jeans and sneakers. Hardly anybody notices these features, however, because they are more focussed on her many injuries. There is blood pouring out of a long slash up her left side, her right leg is pointing at an angle that no leg should point, one of her ribs is broken so badly it's broken the skin and she has a large head wound, as well as many other minor cuts and bruises.
"Professor McGonagall," Sirius shouts, turning to the teachers with an expression of pure terror. "Professor Dumbledore!"
"James, run and tell Madam Pomfrey," McGonagall shouts anxiously as she hurries down the aisle towards the table, her glasses slipping haphazardly off her nose. James takes off at lightning speed and Sirius, Remus and Peter all back away from the table as Dumbledore, Flitwick and McGonagall descend on the table, charming a stretcher to carry her out of the room. The boys watch in horror as the white material becomes very quickly soaked with her blood, but before they can see much more, she is out of sight.
"What the hell?" Remus whispers. "Who was she?"
"What happened to her?" Sirius says. "I've never seen anyone that beat up in my life."
"She looked so young," James says, re-joining them. "She can't be any older than us."
"You think she's 17?" Peter says incredulously. "What was she doing at 17 to end up like that?"
"Falling off a building?" Sirius says. "I can't think of anything else that would cause injuries like that."
"Did you hear what the professors were saying?" Remus asks James.
"I don't think they know who she is," James murmurs. "McGonagall looked absolutely terrified but also really confused. Dumbledore wasn't giving anything away though."
"Do you think…" Sirius glances around and then lowers his voice. "Do you think she's something to do with the Order?"
"She can't be," Peter says. "They don't allow underage wizards."
"Maybe she's with them," James says, his eyes flicking to the Slytherins. Theodore Nott is deep in conversation with Narcissa and Bellatrix Black and Severus Snape, but they all look as baffled as everybody else.
"I don't think so," Sirius says. "Her sleeves were rolled up and she didn't have the Mark."
"True," James says. "Merlin, do you think she'll survive?"
"I don't know," Remus says. "McGonagall doesn't worry easily but she looked really concerned."
"We should get going," Peter says. "We're going to be late for Transfiguration."
"Yeah, Wormy's right," Sirius says. "Maybe McGonagall can tell us more when we get there."
But McGonagall either couldn't or wouldn't tell them anymore. Every day, the four boys asked for an update on the young witch's condition but the answer was always the same: 'She's still unconscious'. Finally, on the fifth day, she snapped at them, 'I will tell you when there is any change, boys. Thank you for your concern.'
"We're not getting any more out of her," James says. "I think it's time we paid a visit to the hospital wing – don't you?"
"No," Remus says firmly. "I'll be there in a couple of days anyway, let's just wait."
"I think Remus is right," Peter says nervously. "She's obviously not well, we don't want to disrupt her recovery."
James' eyes fly to Sirius, who sighs heavily. "I agree with…Remus," he says finally. "We'll sneak in in a couple of nights – that way if we get caught, we can claim we're visiting him, not her."
"Fine," James says sulkily, his attention switching straight back to Lily. "Oi, Evans!"
Remus rolls his eyes and Sirius smirks as they follow James down the corridor.
"Hey Moony," Sirius says, pulling the cloak off and sitting down beside Remus' bed. "How you feeling?"
"Bit rough, but fine," Remus lies. "Are you guys okay?"
"Yeah, course," James says, subconsciously rubbing a cut on his left arm. "Have you seen her then?"
"She's over there," Remus says, pointing to a bed on the opposite side of the room. The other boys hardly noticed her upon entering the room – she looks so tiny in the big white bed. Now they've seen her though, they can hardly bear to look away. Her upper arms are wrapped in bandages and the bottom half of her body is concealed by blankets, but the bits of her that they can see are covered in angry red scars or big purple bruises.
"What happened to her?" Sirius breathes, creeping over to her bedside and kneeling beside it.
"They don't know," Remus says, climbing out of bed and joining the other three beside her. "They think she was attacked."
"Has she woken up at all yet?" James murmurs.
"No, apparently not," Remus says, but even as he says it, the brunette's eyes flutter open.
They fall first on James and she smiles wanly, reaching out and squeezing his hand as her lips form the word 'Harry'. Then they move onto Remus and now they widen, her brow furrowing with confusion. She flicks her eyes back to James, zeroing in on his eyes and her mouth forms a perfect little O before she moves back to Remus, reaching out and squeezing his hand tightly. Then she looks over to the other side of the bed and her eyes fall on Sirius. She beams as tears start to roll down her cheeks and she reaches for his hand, lifting it up and kissing it lightly. She strokes his face, as if she can hardly believe he's there, and then pulls back, her eyes moving onto the fourth Marauder.
If they were confused before, they are entirely baffled now, as she starts to panic, her eyes bugging out of her head as she scrambles as far away from him as she can get. She is reaching for her wand, but James shakes his head reassuringly, gesturing for Peter to get out of the room. Peter scampers off, her eyes not leaving him the entire time. It's only when he's gone that she relaxes, bursting into a fresh wave of tears, throwing up in the bucket beside her and then screaming as blood starts to pour out of her side.
"Oh Merlin," Remus says. "Go, Prongs! Padfoot, go!"
"Get Pomfrey," James says, already running towards the door. "Come on, Sirius, we have to go!"
"We'll be back," Sirius promises the brunette. Even through the pain, she nods gratefully.
"Madam Pomfrey," Remus shouts, banging on the mediwitch's quarters. "Madam Pomfrey, she's bleeding pretty bad!"
Madam Pomfrey comes running out less than thirty seconds later and snaps, "Go and fetch Minerva and the headmaster!" Remus takes off instantly, taking one of their well-known shortcuts and climbing through a painting and into Dumbledore's office.
"Mr Lupin," Dumbledore says politely. "This is a surprise. What can I do for you?"
"She's awake, sir," Remus says breathlessly.
"Fetch Professor McGonagall," Dumbledore orders, instantly sweeping out of his office. Remus nods, hurrying down to McGonagall's office and banging on the door loudly.
"Mr Lupin, what is the meaning of this?" McGonagall says sharply as she opens the door. "Do you want to wake up the whole castle?"
"She's awake, Professor," Remus says. "Professor Dumbledore asked me to fetch you."
"Very well," McGonagall says. "Remus, do you feel well enough to return to the tower?"
"Oh yes, Professor," Remus says anxiously. "But there's something I need to tell you first."
"What is it, Mr Lupin?" McGonagall asks impatiently.
"The boys came to visit me and she woke up while they were there," Remus says hurriedly. "She recognised us. She knew us. What does it mean, Professor?"
"I don't know yet, Mr Lupin," McGonagall says heavily. "Hurry back to the common room now – I'll speak to the four of you in the morning."
"Yes, Professor," Remus says, breaking into a run and not slowing down until he gets back to the common room. He says the password and climbs through the portrait hole to find the other Marauders waiting for him. Peter is curled up on the couch, looking lost and confused, while James and Sirius are pacing up and down in front of the fire.
"Remus," James says anxiously. "Is she alright? What happened?"
"I got Dumbledore and McGonagall and they sent me back here," Remus says.
"Is she alive?" Sirius asks.
"Yes," Remus says. "Yes, I think so."
"Oh, thank Merlin," Sirius says, collapsing into an armchair.
"She knew us," Remus says. "Sirius, when she saw you, the relief…do you know her?"
"No, I don't…" Sirius trails off, thinking hard, and then says, "No, I definitely don't. I'd know her anywhere – did you see those eyes?"
"Don't get too attached, Padfoot," Peter says nastily. "She'll be dead by morning."
"Peter!" James and Remus gasp as Sirius buckles, stunned by his friend's harsh words.
"I know she freaked out when she saw you," Remus says. "And we'll find out why, I promise. But there's no need to be cruel."
"She's a weirdo," Peter says. "I don't see why you're all so worried about her. She's just some random."
"Yeah, some random who practically fell into our laps," James says. "She's just a kid, Pete, don't be so heartless."
Peter pauses, assessing the expressions on each of his friends' faces and then he nods. "I'm sorry," he says. "I was just confused."
"We all are, Pete," Remus says. "Come on, we should get some sleep. McGonagall said she wants to speak to us tomorrow."
"Okay," James says, heading towards the stairs. "You coming, Pads?"
"Nah, I think I'm going to stay here for a bit," Sirius says, staring sullenly into the fire. James frowns and then gestures for Remus and Peter to go on without him. He leans on the arm of Sirius's chair and asks, "Did it stop?"
"What?" Sirius says dozily.
"The world," James says, as if it's obvious. "Did the world stop turning when she looked at you?"
"Yeah," Sirius says.
"She's the one, mate," James says.
"And if she dies?" Sirius asks with a forced carelessness.
"She's not going to die," James says. "She can't. Not now."
"I want you to tell me exactly what happened," Professor McGonagall says calmly.
"Professor, how is she?" Sirius asks anxiously.
"She's fine, Mr Black," McGonagall says. "Well, fine is relative at this stage, but she's alive and awake. So far, however, she is refusing to speak to us. Now, tell me what happened last night."
"She woke up while we were visiting Remus," James explains quickly. "She recognised us all, especially Sirius – she cried when she saw him, she looked so happy. And then she saw Pete and absolutely lost it; she tried to curse him and after he left, she threw up everywhere and I guess she reopened her wound?"
"She tried to curse Mr Pettigrew?" McGonagall says, her brow furrowing. "That's extremely strange. Why would that be?"
"She looked scared," Sirius says, absolutely baffled. "I can't think of a reason why."
"But she recognised you?" McGonagall says. "And she looked happy to see you?" Sirius nods and McGonagall sighs. "Okay, Mr Black, I'd like you to go and see her. She's still very unwell but it might do her some good to have company, especially someone she recognises. Take Mr Potter and Mr Lupin with you – I'd suggest Mr Pettigrew stays behind for now until she is well enough to explain herself."
"Okay," Sirius says. "Can I go up there now?"
"Yes," McGonagall says, checking her watch. "Sirius, she's been through a very traumatic incident, the scale of which we don't yet know – do not push her please."
"Of course, Professor," Sirius says, already heading out of the door. "Boys, come on."
"What am I supposed to do?" Peter says pathetically.
"You can get a head start on the Transfiguration homework," James says, winking at Professor McGonagall, who smiles faintly.
"Excellent idea, Mr Potter," McGonagall. "Now run along, Mr Pettigrew, I'm extremely busy."
The three Marauders run off without Peter, who heads back up to the Gryffindor common room. They reach the hospital wing and Sirius – rather uncharacteristically – knocks on the door. Madam Pomfrey opens it an inch and sighs. "Any trouble, you three, and this little arrangement is off," she says strictly. "You understand?"
"Yes," Remus says and the other two nod, bouncing on their heels.
"In you come then," she says, letting them in to the room. They walk sedately down to the end of the wing and gather around the girl's bed. She looks round at them all vaguely and then reaches out and grabs Sirius's hand.
"Sirius," she says croakily and he almost jumps out of his skin he's so shocked.
"Yeah," he says. "That's me. Do you have a name?"
She nods but doesn't answer, turning to the other two. "Remus. James." They both blink at her for a moment before nodding in confirmation. She smiles and points to herself. "Hermione."
"Hermione?" Sirius repeats. "That's a beautiful name."
She blushes scarlet and swats him – the movement is so pathetic that his heart almost breaks. "How are you feeling?" Remus asks quietly.
"Tired," Hermione confesses. "Newspaper?"
"You want a newspaper?" James asks, summoning one from the other side of the room and handing it to her. She scans it anxiously and then her face falls.
"1977," she reads aloud. "September 19th."
"Yeah," Sirius says encouragingly. "That's what year it is."
She nods, points to herself again and says, "18 today."
"Oh, Hermione," James says, his voice betraying his sadness. "Happy Birthday."
"Happy Birthday," the other two echo shakily. She nods and smiles weakly. Then her finger moves to Sirius' chest and she raises an eyebrow.
"I'm 17," he says quietly. "Do you…do you know how this happened to you?"
She nods but then her eyes fill with tears and she doesn't speak again, instead watching them with interest. "So, I guess when you get out of this bed, you'll be joining our year group?" Remus says with forced breeziness.
She nods and then shrugs. "You'll get to meet all of our friends then," James says warmly. "Lily and Marlene and Cass and Al and Frank."
"Mhmm," Remus says, watching her carefully now. "And Peter."
Once again at the mention of Peter, her eyes bug and she shakes her head frantically. She swallows, sniffs, and eventually chokes out the words, "You can't trust him." All three of the boys frown and James whispers, "What do you mean?" but it seems the effort of a full sentence has exhausted her and she lies back, falling asleep almost instantly.
The three boys exchange a look before Sirius kisses Hermione's hand lightly and they all head towards the door, hurrying straight up to Professor Dumbledore's office.
"Ah boys," Dumbledore says. "How is our young guest?"
"Her name is Hermione," Sirius says. "She turned 18 today and she looked baffled to find out it was 1977."
"She knew us, sir," James says. "Before we even said anything, she knew our names."
"She knows what happened to her," Remus says frantically. "And she said we couldn't trust Peter. What does she mean?"
"I don't know, boys," Dumbledore says anxiously. "Hermione? She didn't give a surname?"
"No sir," Sirius says.
"I'm going to go and speak to her now," Dumbledore says. "Hopefully she will have more to say to me. Boys, I'd like it if you went back to visit her this evening. Clearly your visits are already doing her some good."
"Yes sir," James says.
That evening, when the boys return, Hermione is sitting up in bed and looking much brighter. "Hello," she says quietly. "How are you all?"
"Fine," Sirius says, sitting beside her and reaching out to grab her hand. She looks at him, surprised, and he drops it quickly but she shakes her head, smiling as she holds one of his between two of hers. "How are you?" he asks nervously.
"Much better," she says, smiling weakly at a hovering Remus and James. "Sit, sit."
"Did Professor Dumbledore speak to you?" Remus asks as he sits down.
"Yes, I talked to him," Hermione says quietly.
"Can you tell us?" Sirius asks.
"Yes, of course," she says, lying through her teeth. "I'm a Seer. I was taught in a special private school with five others. We were attacked and my friends were all killed. I'm the only one left and my teacher sent me here to protect me."
"Merlin, attacked by who?" Remus asks and now Hermione shoots him a scathing look.
"Death Eaters," she says quietly. "Who else?"
"Why would they come after you?" James asks. "You're just a kid."
"I see things though," she shrugs. "I saw you. I knew I would meet you. I was so relieved when I saw you the other night – I knew I'd come to the right place."
"What do you see about Peter?" Sirius whispers.
"You can't trust him," Hermione insists. "He will betray you all."
"How do we know we can trust you?" James asks tightly.
"Well for one thing, I know your secrets and I haven't spilled yet," she says. "Have I, Prongs?"
"You mean-?" Remus breaks off, horrified.
"Yeah, Moony," she says with a warm smile. "I know and I don't care. I think it's an amazing thing your friends have done for you and I don't wish to discredit that with what I say about Peter but you must trust me. You cannot trust him. Not with your lives."
"Well," Sirius says. "I don't know quite what to say to that. Are you okay, Hermione?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Hermione says, but she's suddenly teary-eyed. "You guys should be getting back, it's almost curfew."
"Yeah, I guess," James says. "Night, Hermione."
"Goodnight," she says warmly, waving at Remus.
"Night," Sirius says, leaning down and pressing his lips to her forehead. "Sleep well and-"
"And dream of me," she says, beaming up at him. "An old friend used to say that to me."
"Sounds like a wise guy," he laughs. "Night, Mione."
"Goodnight, Sirius," she says, watching the three Marauders leave. As soon as they're out of sight, she claps her hand to her mouth to stifle her sobs and breaks down. She has barely five minutes of peace, however, before Professor Dumbledore walks into the room.
"Oh, Miss Granger," Dumbledore says sympathetically, sitting down beside the young girl. "Talk me through it?"
"I was born in 1979," she says quietly. "At the end of the First Wizarding War, James and Lily Potter are killed by Lord Voldemort, who was then somehow defeated by their son Harry. Harry's godfather, Sirius Black, is charged with selling them out, but he didn't, it wasn't him – it was Peter. But Sirius went to Azkaban and Harry went to live with Lily's sister. In 1991, he starts at Hogwarts and in 1993, Sirius escapes Azkaban. He finally confronts Peter, alongside Remus, in 1994, but he escapes and in 1995, he helps Voldemort return to power. In June 1996, Harry gets word that Sirius is in danger and he and I, with four of our friends, went to the Department of Mysteries to save him. But Sirius died. And then you died and the stuff with the Horcruxes and we were supposed to win because we got rid of them all but then we found out Harry was a Horcrux too and he died and then Remus and Tonks and suddenly we were losing and I was being chased and I ran up to your office because I thought I'd be safe there and I was bleeding and my leg was broken and I could hardly move and then I tripped into your shelf of Time-Turners and then…suddenly I was here." She breaks down in a fresh wave of sobs.
"Hermione, I am…I'm so sorry," Dumbledore says. "As you're aware, there is very little in wizarding lore about travelling forwards in time."
"I'm stuck here," she says, nodding listlessly. "Even if I could go back, I've probably already changed too much."
"Exactly," Dumbledore says. "But you can help us. You know what happens, you can help us change it."
"I can try," Hermione says. "But I don't know everything. I don't know what's already happened and what's yet to happen and I…I can try, Professor."
"That's all I can ask, Hermione," Dumbledore says. "You should rest now."
"Sir," she says as he gets up to leave.
"Yes?" he says.
"We need to save Sirius," Hermione says. "Even if everything else goes wrong, we can't let him go to Azkaban again."
"We won't," he promises.