Hermione Granger let the book in her lap close with a soft slap, it was dry even by her own standards and really not that much help. She placed the heavy volume on the small stack beside her, re-reading the titles printed across the thick spines. The Moral Philosophy of Beasts and Captivity, Protecting Rights on Behalf of Other Species, and Legislative and Regulatory Options for Animal Welfare were just a few that she had read today. By far the most interesting book she had held today was her personal copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, but a book that gave a general description of Hippogriffs was not going to be that helpful when Hagrid had to take Buckbeak for his hearing.

Head still swimming with legal jargon, Hermione picked up her stack of books and started down the aisles of books to return them to their proper place. As her load slowly lightened, she made note of other book titles that seemed like their contents might be helpful. As promising as Compassionate Beasts: Understanding and Protecting Magical Creatures sounded, the library would be closing soon, and Madam Pince was a stickler for making sure that all students were out of the library at the proper time. There simply weren't enough hours in a day for Hermione to finish all of her class work and help Hagrid prepare for the hearing. She needed more time…

She stopped in her tracks when she realized her hand had strayed to the fine golden chain around her neck. All the time in the world was right there - No. She ignored those thoughts as she pushed another book firmly towards its proper shelf. That was only for studies. She'd promised McGonagall that. And yet, as the last book left her hand to slide itself into its proper spot, she was fiddling with the chain again. In a way, it would be studying, just not for classes.

She glanced around, making sure no one was there before pulling on the chain until she drew up a tiny, sparkling hour glass. She really shouldn't, Professor McGonagall's warnings sounded in her head as if the Transfiguration teacher were standing right behind her, but it wasn't like she was trying to change the past. She just needed another hour, and she'd only be here in the library, and it wasn't for herself it was for Hagrid.

It was against her better judgement, but Hermione did decide to turn back time an hour. She'd go to another part of the library, she reasoned, no one would ever know. Or maybe she would go back two hours. The more she went backwards, the more risk she took, but she'd been in the library all afternoon so what harm could it do? She loosened the chain just a little, drew a deep breath, and turned the hourglass the first time.

As she started to turn the hour glass a second time, she heard someone come around the corner. It was too late to tuck the TIme Turner away and pretend nothing happened, so she tried to turn to face the book case, but the person approaching wasn't going to let her off that easy. Whoever it was gave out a "Move it Granger!" before she felt a force slam into her back. Caught halfway through her turn, Hermione spun around once before her momentum brought her to the floor. She looked up to try and see who had shoved her, but all she saw was the tail end of a set of student robes disappearing around the books. She couldn't even tell what house they were in, although from the rude actions and calling her by her last name she was going to assume that they were a member of the Slytherin House.

A near silent ping sounded. If its source hadn't been right near her head, Hermione wouldn't have heard it at all. She knew what it was before she saw it, there was only one thing it could be. The sound came from the Time Turner, bouncing off the stone floor of the library. When had she even let go of it? And the hour glass.. it was still turning! The part of her mind that was still functioning properly was screaming for her to grab it, to stop it from turning anymore, but she could only watch with dread and horror as it spun over and over again. How many times had it turned before she saw it? How many times was it turning now as she saw it bounce against the floor again like a slow motion movie. The hour glass bounced once more before rolling to a stop.

At first, nothing seemed to happen. She was still on the floor of the library, staring at the Time Turner. Hermione hardly dared to breathe - could she be that lucky? - she picked up the hour glass. She let it rest in her palm as she stood up. Had it turned too many times? Maybe there was a fail-safe to keep her from trying to go back too far.

Before relief had a chance to wash over her, she felt it. That sensation she had felt many times over this year, the feeling that let her know time was about to rewind. What was normally a gentle pull backwards felt more like a jerk as colors violently blurred around her. Shapes flew by at a blinding pace, pressure was building against her ears to the point where she wanted to scream, and her stomach felt like it was rising into her throat then dropping to her feet only to fly back up.

As the colors and shapes started to slow down, her ears cleared up enough to hear words, a dialogue that would give her a brief glimpse at when she would be landing.

"I've never seen anything like this before…" one voice said.

"Do you think it could be some kind of plague?" a younger voice asked.

"No, I fear something like this could never come from nature. But who has this kind of power?"

"You think this was by magic?"

The scene around her was coming into view now. Her feet hit the ground but after her travel experience she was unsteady. She stumbled backwards, colliding with a table which resulted in a metallic clatter and the sound of a glass object breaking.

"Good Lord," shouted the first voice she had heard a moment ago. The sound of feet slapping against stone told her that someone was moving, and as the noise grew closer she knew whoever it was had come right over to her.

"Are you alright?" the second voice came from right next to her.

"I'm fine," Hermione said even as the room continued to swim in her vision. "I.. I just need to sit down-" Her sight went black before she fell.