AN: My old fic of Hermione/Snape got sort of boring to me and I don't really have any motivation to finish it. So I started a new one, yay!
This fic is slightly AU I guess, in that Hermione isn't best friends with Ron and Harry. Also because of this, her patronus isn't an otter. And she didn't receive the time-turner from McGonagall. It was just easier to exclude them aight. Reviews are immensely appreciated and give me motivation to continue. I hope you enjoy!
Hermione Granger huffed with explicit annoyance as she trudged across the school grounds, covered in a light blanket of snow, books clutched to her chest. Her cheeks glowed a radiant red, partly from the nipping cold, and partly from the jeering sneers of her classmates. She sighed, recalling with a surge of renewed anger the remarks about her bushy hair and eager-to-please school work ethic.
The grounds held an eery air. It was completely silent and it seemed Hermione was the only student around. She continued working her way through the snow until she came across a snow-crusted log just at the great lakes edge. Dusting it off with a mitten covered hand, she sat heavily upon its structure.
'Ignorant bunch of snobs is all they are, no reason to listen to them,' She thought.
It was true. The students envied Hermione and her perfect grades. Not so much the hair, that was just an added bonus for teasing material. Yet she couldn't help but get the smirking faces out of her head. She always had a well thought retort that shut her pursuers up, but the damage had already been done. Every time they teased her it felt like she was a sewing cushion, and a new needle was inserted. Pretty soon she'd be completely covered and she didn't know what would happen then.
She wistfully began to fiddle with her wand, silently casting her patronus. She watched it's elegant wisp dance lightly across the crisp air in the shape of a fluffy feline. She fondly thought of Crookshanks, who was undoubtedly curled somewhere in the dungeons. It seemed her cat friend preferred the coldness of the darkened chambers to the warmth of the Lion's den.
A commotion began to ring out behind Hermione. She knew the din immediately. Turning her head sheepishly, she came face to face with her main bullies and their sniveling, laughing faces.
"Oh look! It's the squirrels nest." Hermione's face reignited with her blush as her unruly hair was targeted. "Oh but how did it get out of the trees?" The voice belonged to the pug-like face of Pansy Parkinson, a fifth year Slytherin
Her lackeys snickered behind her like a hovering pack of Hyena's waiting for scraps. It lasted a few moments until another girl named Sera Peruve chimed in, "How adorable, her patronus is a kitty-cat! What are you, 4?" This emitted another shrieking chorus of laughter much to Hermione's discomfort. She quickly gathered her things and began to walk away, but was almost immediately pursued.
"And just where do you think you're going!" The pack of females began to trot behind Hermione, causing her to pick up the pace. She quickly began a full out run, the cackling group on her heels. "We aren't done with you ye- OUCH," Hermione granted herself a quick glance, giggling slightly at the sight of Sera's face as she stumbled into the now. The short delay allowed Hermione the chance to speed off into the Forbidden Forest by the path designated by Hagrid for their classes. The girls pursued her relentlessly, beginning to catch up again.
Hermione felt herself growing tired, and she dreaded what would happen once they caught her. She also dreaded the day to come, no doubt a continuous replay of today's events. She shoved her hand into her coat pocket, sliding behind a towering oak tree. She heard the clambering stomps of the others only a few meters away. She pulled out the time-turner, mulling over its glimmering golden essence. She thought with a pang of guilt how she had slipped the item from McGonagall's desk, who was out to provide aid at another school, just earlier today.
She planned to return the item tonight, she only wanted to study it after she had read about them in one of the books she snuck from the Forbidden section of the library. Damn her brain and its nagging voice, constantly urging her on to learn more about absolutely everything.
'Well, it looks like its coming in handy today,' She thought, a fierce pain of nervousness shot in the pit of her stomach. She squeezed her eyelids shut, fingers firmly grasping the rim of the spinning center.
"THERE SHE IS!" Squealed one of Hermione's attackers. They were so close she could feel the vibration of their steps. Immediately, she gave the time-turner a quick spin. She instantly regretted it, feeling the vacuuming sensation drill down upon her head. It felt as if she was on the loop of a roller coaster that kept spinning over and over. There was an intense pressure as well, almost burning all across her skin. She couldn't help but shriek.
000000000
The Slytherin girls came to an abrupt halt, their eyes bulging inside their skulls. They all remained quiet, in a silent green huddle until Pansy decided to speak. "What the hell?" The girls all looked from one to the other and suddenly felt very foolish.
00000000
The world seemed to compress, then expand at the same time. Hermione was roughly thrust against the earth, now clear of snow and instead littered with beautiful pink flowers. She sucked in air as hard as she could, it felt as if she hadn't breathed in hours! She was sprawled on her back in her winter clothes as the sun beamed upon her between a break in the trees. She looked around, and realized she was in the same place she was when she turned the time-turner, but not there.
She attempted to sit up, regretting it as she felt a shocking pain surge through her body. She groaned, flopping herself down again on the earth. She sighed, realizing she couldn't reach her wand. She closed her eyes, allowing the rays of warmth to cover her in its sunny gaze until she could come up with a solution. All of a sudden, Hermione felt the glimmering light of the sky disappear, and felt no light at all. She opened her eyes surprised, and let out another shriek as she spotted a towering figure before her. She attempted to shuffle away before recognizing the beast-like shape as Hagrid, the grounds keeper.
She felt relief wash through her. "Hi, Hagrid," She said breathlessly.
"Aye, wut wussat? A've we met?" Hagrid peered down at Hermione's crumpled form curiously.
Duh! She mentally slapped herself. She had time-traveled backwards. Of course Hagrid wouldn't recognize her.
"Uh, I mean well uh..I'm hurt.. I sort of, y'know, got lost?" Hermione's voice rang out sheepishly. She felt so foolish to be caught in a state like this.
Hagrid grunted, a bushy brow raising, obviously not believing that. "Well then, we bet get you to the Headmaster, straight 'erway!" He lured down, grasping Hermione by behind her knees, and the upper of her back. He began to trudge back towards the magnificent castle that was Hogwarts. Hermione felt herself unable to handle the pain of being shifted so suddenly, and passed out in Hagrid's arms.
000000000
A fifth year sat by the lake's edge, where Hermione was, well, years ahead. His black curtain of hair shadowed his facial features. Dark eyes watched the lumbering figure of the grounds-keeper as he carried a crumpled bundle back to the school. His eyes squinted, interests peaked. He decided not to act on it for now, and instead settled for folding his arms behind his head and laying back upon the spring grass.