DISCLAIMER : Harry Potter is and always will be Miss JK Rowling's property. Not mine. This is merely a fanfiction.

AUTHOR'S NOTE : Hello folks! This is my first time making a many-chaptered fanfic. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish this because I dearly, dearly like this idea. It's been plaguing me for months and it won't just stop. So, this fic starts at the end of Harry Potter's third year. Hermione will be my protagonist, yeah. The pairings aren't decided yet, but I'm thinking that it's either Draco or Cedric. No Ron, no Harry. Sorry.

TITLE : Other Champion

PAIRINGS : Hermione / ?

GENRE : Adventure, Romance, Mystery(?)

SUMMARY : Just before their third year at Hogwarts ends, Hermione Granger receives a message from her future self. Four years later - although only a day has passed - Hermione emerges from her training given by her future self - who warned her that their future is doomed. Armed with knowledge of spells, curses, wards and the facts and truths about the upcoming war, it's up to Hermione to literally change the course of events. Add to that, though, was that.. Cedric Diggory isn't Hogwarts Champion? Why did Dumbledore allowed students not of age to put their names in the Goblet of Fire? And why was her name being called as one of the Triwizard Champions? Powerful!Hermione. AU, starting Fourth Year up to the last book.

WARNING/S : Spoilers for the books! :) Oh, the Battle of Hogwarts didn't end with Voldemort dying - instead he escaped and the war continued for one and a half year.

Fourteen-year-old Hermione Jean Granger sighed as she closed the last book she managed to grab before Madam Pince came breathing down her neck. Honestly, it was useless. She felt absolutely dreadful about the upcoming trial of Buckbeak, Hagrid's hippogriff. Deep in her gut, she knew that the case was doomed because, well, it would be easy to spot who will win or not. 'Innocent' student harmed by a careless teacher, the Ministry would view it as that. Not that Hagrid was careless, though, but Hermione couldn't argue the fact that what Hagrid sometimes teach them were quite dangerous. Still, that did not shake her determination to at least support Hagrid. Augh, stupid Malfoy and his blasted father.

Just as she was about to return the book on their proper places, a piece of paper slipped out from one of the books. Curious, Hermione bent down to pick it up but was royally surprised when the note itself rose.

Thinking that it was levitated by someone nearby, Hermione spun around and peered at the whole library. Growing more confused at seeing none other than Madam Pince, since it was already nearing curfew, she then turned towards the note and examined it. She noticed some writings on it and as if on cue, it glowed.

Who was your first muggle teacher? The question was written there. Hermione wondered if it was meant for somebody else, but seeing as she was alone, she decided that it must solely be for her.

"Miss I-Irene Mont," she hesitantly whispered. The note shivered up before transforming into a scroll of paper, which she warily took and opened.

Mercury,

Follow the Grey Lady. One week, no less and no more. Seek and you shall find.

The note ended there. Follow the Grey Lady, One week - no less and no more. What did that mean? Seek and you shall find. Hermione dubiously looked down at the note before casting an 'Incendio' on it.

Mercury. The note had said Mercury. That means it was for her. And, from her. Mercury - one of the elements from the muggle Periodic Table of Elements. It is written as Hg, which, coincidentally, are her initials. HG. Mercury was a code she created for herself at the start of third year, in case her future self wanted to communicate with herself. It completely surprised her. Mercury.. she pondered and pondered what could her future self possibly want with her.

Hm, better get back to the Common Room. Curfew's gonna start in a few minutes. I'll just ask for this.. Grey Lady tomorrow. she thought, shrugging. Tucking her bag underneath her arms, she made her way towards the Gryffindor Tower.

Three days later

"Sir Nicholas, good afternoon. May I ask you something?" Hermione asked the passing ghost in the Common Room. Both Harry and Ron looked up from their Wizard Chess and looked curiously at her. Sir Nicholas, the resident Gryffindor Ghost, however, looked pleased.

"Ah, Miss Granger! No problem, no problem. What is it, dear?" Sir Nick asked a bit pompously.

"Err, I was wondering if you could lead me to the Grey Lady. I know she's the Ravenclaw Ghost, but I don't know who.. It's alright if you had any matters to do, I'd just ask someone else," she added a bit hastily. Sir Nick chuckled.

"Oh, dear, I was wondering when you might ask me that.. Do you want to do it right now?"

Hermione nibbled on her lip. One week, no less and no more. Should she contact the Grey Lady now or later on?

"Not yet, Sir Nicholas," Hermione replied. "After four days. Is that alright?"

"Of course it is, for a fellow Gryffindor."

Four days later, meaning one week since the note

"Ah, yes, Hermione Jean Granger, isn't it?"

"Yes, milady." Hermione answered, feeling nervous. The Grey Lady, which she learned from some of the portraits as Helena Ravenclaw, hovered before her. Most Ravenclaws she asked described her as helpful but always sad, reasons unknown. But now.. why does it seem.. excited?

"You have a lot to learn, young student. Follow me," Helena said. She drifted away, and Hermione followed. Up and pass the moving staircases, up until they reach the seventh floor. Hermione dearly wanted to ask why Helena/The Grey Lady was leading her here.

Then, the Grey Lady stopped floating before the wall facing the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy.

Curious, Hermione turned to ask the Grey Lady what they were doing here. However, there was a smile tugging on the ghost's face and it shocked Hermione.

"Remember what I said clearly, Miss Granger. Walk three times in front of this wall, all the time thinking this phrase thrice : I need the place to find myself."

Feeling clueless, Hermione couldn't do anything more than nod. The Grey Lady then drifted away. Hermione started pacing in front of the wall, thinking.

I need the place to find myself. I need the place to find myself. I need the place to find myself.

To her amazement, a door was now in front of her. Heart pounding loudly, she twister the knob and opened the door.

She gasped. It was the exact replica of the Gryffindor Common Room, minus the students. Hermione slowly entered the room, curious at how it worked. She inspected the room obsessively. Every tile, every scratch. Exactly like her Common room. Does this room copy Hogwarts' Common Rooms? Dazedly, she plopped down on her favorite squishy chair by the fire. Even it's squishyness was replicated!

"I see you've made yourself at home."

Hermione froze and immediately twisted around to see the owner of the voice. Her jaw fell when she saw who it was.

It was herself.

However, it wasn't exactly like her. Gaping, she took in the view as what she reckon as an older Hermione stood before her. She looked like her, yet she doesn't. Her hair was still bushy, although it was slightly tamed and it was, in a word, pretty. Gone was the large front teeth, yet there were still some freckles adorning her button nose. She had a petite body, with curves at the right places. Older Hermione looked.. beautiful. And yet.. she noticed something besides those. Upon closer inspection, she saw scars. Not just little scars but heavy scars. It looked almost.. like battle scars. Hermione blanched when her eyes fell to her other self's arm, where she could see the faint trace of a scar which read Mudblood.

Older Hermione grinned as she saw her looking at the scar. "Yes, rather crude, isn't it?"

"But.. what.. h-how? Why?"

Older Hermione held out her arm for her to see. "It was my second scar to earn. Personally, it was the most horrible back then for me, but after I killed Bellatrix - the one who did this for me - I started wearing it proudly. It was like a token you see. I ceased being ashamed by it."

Hermione's mind reeled by what she said. Scars? Bellatrix? Killed?

"What, are you in some kind of war or something?" she blurted out.

"Sadly, yes, we're in a war."

"How old are you?"

"It says on my birth certificate that I'm 20, but in a way, I'm 21."

Hermione frowned. That was way too young for a warrior.. and to have many scars..

"How many years have you been in war?"

"Two and a half."

"That means you've been fighting when you were 17 or 18?" Hermione asked incredulously. Is she really from the future or from another universe?

"Yes."

"If you're on a war, why did you came here?"

Older Hermione seemed pensive for a moment, sighed, then answered. "I really hoped it wouldn't come to this. It was only a contingency plan. I'm here to train you. How to fight, defend, win. Everything I know, in hopes that our future will change. It's a really big risk. I even had to recreate the Room of Requirement. Stupid Fiendfyre."

Hermione was royally shocked when she heard this. After a minute of processing, she asked. "What's fiendfyre?"

Older Hermione grimaced. "Cursed fire. It takes a lot of power to control it. It's going to be one of the curses I'll teach you."

"Excuse me?" Hermione choked out. "You're gonna teach me cursed fire?"

"Oh, don't worry," Older Hermione said offhandedly. "It will be easy for you. Fires are our specialty, if you must know."

"If you say so. What can I call you, by the way?"

"Maybe.. hm. Jean, as it is our middle name." Older Hermione, or Jean, sat down beside her. "Don't worry about the time, okay? I've recreated this version of the Room of Requirement. The Room of Requirement is exactly as it is called - whatever you require, it gives." Jean explained, seeing her befuddled look. "I've made it so to be suspended between time and space. It's quite tricky, though. But what matters is that I did it and you're here.

Hermione's jaw slackened. Time and space?

"That's.. that's too much.. for words."

Jean smirked. "I won't be teaching you that so don't worry. Just basics - spells, enchantments, wards, curses.. I'm definitely sure you can manage it," Jean assured her. She gulped nervously.

Jean smiled. "I'll enlighten you to what will happen. It all started during the First Wizarding War, when Professor Albus Dumbledore was interviewing a Seer.."

Hermione stared.

"So, Lord V-Voldemort is immortal in your world?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Jean sighed. "We thought that the Battle at Hogwarts would be the last - but we thought wrong. We retreated immediately as possible, reinforced Hogwarts' wards and made it our headquarters. For two years, we've been looking for ways on how to kill Riddle but we always fail. That's why I need to train you; to prevent him from becoming immortal. If you can prevent deaths and losses along the way, all the more better."

"And what do I do afterwards?"

"Help Harry destroy him. He is destined, of course, as the Chosen One."

"Chosen..? Oh, the Prophecy."

"Indeed." Jean seemed crestfallen for a minute.

"I still can't believe that Trelawney isn't really a fraud," Hermione said, grinning. Jean grinned back.

"So, ready to start your training, mini me?" Jean asked her. Hermione, grin growing wider, replied.

"You bet."

AUTHOR'S NOTE : Yeah, start. If someone does read this, can you please review? I'd like some insights _ Thank you, thank you.