Disclaimer: I own nothing. J. K. Rowling owns everything recognizable.

A/N Anything in italics is Hermione's thoughts.

Chapter 1

Slowly Hermione began to awaken to the feeling of warmth and heat on her skin. She hadn't felt heat in so long, usually all she felt was the cold and dampness of her cell. Bracing herself for this newest trick she gradually opened her eyelids and was momentarily blinded by the light surrounding her.

What happened to the darkness that had surrounded her since she came to this Hell. Blinking repeatedly, her vision quickly returned and the white landscape resolved into images of the outdoors. She focused her vision on the first thing that became clear, it was a really old building that was dilapidated and abandoned looking, with white paint peeling and the windows boarded over. There was a broken fence that surrounded the entire house.

What are they doing to me now? After a few minutes her mind started to clear of the fog filling it and Hermione realized that the dilapidated house in front of her was none other than the Shrieking Shack.

How did I get here? Is this another trick they are playing? She racked her memory to see if she could remember the last thing that happened to her.

*****Flashback*****

Hermione was lying on the cold stone floor of her cell. Her body was adorned in bruises and cuts of varying stages. She received more each time the Death Eaters came to her cell to "teach" her the lessons that were required. She rolled from her back onto her side to try and relieve the pain that was racing up her spine. She was still in an incredible amount of pain, but at least this relieved some of it from the stabbing agony to a dull throb.

She returned to her daily activity of counting the number of stones that made up her "home". This activity occupied her mind everyday until the Death Eaters came to see her. Usually after the lessons she would remain unconscious for a long period of time, she never could tell how long.

The heavy footsteps in the hallway announced the arrival of the Death Eaters and too soon for her, the lock was retracted and three masked and hooded Death Eaters entered her cell. She turned her head to look at the three figures in her cell. She refused to back down and cower at their presence. The Death Eaters didn't even speak to her, they just started firing curses and hexes at her defenseless body. She immediately wished for her wand, but it had been taken as soon as she was brought here. She quickly lost track of the spells that were fired at her.

After an agonizing eternity, two of the three figures retreated from her cell. The third figure approached her and knelt down in front of her. She couldn't tell who it was. The black robe and death eater mask giving them undistinguishable. Moving quickly the figure removed a vile of potion that was a sparkling purple with emerald green laced through it.

The figure reached up and removed his mask before speaking. "Granger you must drink this. It will make it possible for everything that has turned out wrong to be changed. It is up to you to do this," whispered the voice. Slowly Hermione looked up into the cold eyes of her former potions professor. She had never seen the urgency that filled them at this moment before. She nodded her head and Snape quickly poured the potion down her throat. The potion felt like ice traveling throughout her entire body. It felt as if her heart was frozen and couldn't beat. Her body tensed at the sensation and her mind began fogging, before she locked eyes with Snape just before her vision dimmed and she knew no more.

*****End Flashback*****

What had Snape meant when he said that the potion would allow everything that had turned out wrong to be changed? Hermione didn't know what to think, at the moment she could only focus on the fact that she was away from the hell she had been imprisoned in for so long and was so close to Hogwarts that she could feel the magic of the school reaching out for her.

I have to get to Hogwarts and speak to Professor McGonagal. She quickly began to stand and immediately fell back to the ground as pain that felt like fire swept through her entire body. Every nerve ending in her body felt as if it was being scraped raw by a dull knife. Her muscles felt as if daggers were ramming through them causing immense pain and her muscles to tremor.

She took slow, deep breathes as she willed for the pain to recede. When the pain had receded to a manageable level she lifted herself slowly to her feet. The pain spiked horribly through her entire body as she stood and her vision threatened to turn black, but she was able to remain on her feet this time.

Scanning the ground around where she had been laying she tried to locate her wand, hoping that it was nearby. Scanning the ground left her with no trace of her beloved wand causing a lead feeling to in the pit of her stomach. I have no way to defend myself. Snape must have not been able to get ahold of it. They will kill him when they realize I am missing. Her missing wand caused her to feel as if she was missing an essential part of her.

Stumbling a few times, she tried to gain control over her trembling legs. She forced her legs to carry her forward towards the safety that Hogwarts provided. After what seemed like an eternity the gate of Hogwarts came into view, bringing tears to her eyes. Her strength was rapidly leaving her body, but the sight of Hogwarts being so close and standing brought a feeling of hope that she thought was long extinguished. With her strength failing her, she stumbled and crashed to the ground. The pain erupted through her as her body impacted with the hard ground and her vision went black.

Hermione awoke to the sound of low whispering that reminded her of running water. Realizing, that for the first time in a long time she was laying on a bed, without pain coursing through her body caused her to relax further into the softness surrounding her and try to become lost once again. Being unable to drift back off, she gradually opened her eyes and took in the sight that surrounded her. She had almost given up hope of ever seeing this room again. At the moment it was the most beautiful sight that she had ever beheld. Her gaze swept over the Hogwart's infirmary greedily, taking in every detail that she could see from her bed, the starched white linens, the high windows and the potions cabinet. As her gaze swept across the room it finally landed on the source of the whispering.

Standing just inside of the infirmary doors stood Professor Dumbledore. His midnight blue robes covered in the phases of the moon stood out brightly against the white walls of the infirmary. He was talking to Madame Pomfrey in hushed, urgent whispers. At the moment that her eyes locked onto his figure, her face took on a look of disbelief and his gaze swept over and locked onto hers.

Madame Pomfrey, realizing that Hermione had awoken covered the distance between Professor Dumbledore and Hermione in seconds. She began waving her wand back and forth over Hermione, running diagnostic spells as Professor Dumbledore approached the opposite side of the bed. Hermione's eyes never left Dumbledore's as he approached. This can't be happening. Professor Dumbledore is dead. He can't be walking towards me in the infirmary. This can't be happening. He is dead. He is dead.

"This can't be happening," Hermione whispered so low that it barely sounded as if she had made a sound. Dumbledore gazed down at her smiling. "I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Can you tell me your name and how you came to be in your present condition outside of the gate."

"Professor Dumbledore how are you here. Am I dead?" asked Hermione. Dumbledore's look became more inquisitive as he looked over at Hermione. "Why would you think that you were dead?"

Suddenly, the last words that Snape spoke to her replayed in Hermione's mind. "Granger you must drink this. It will make it possible for everything that has turned out wrong to be changed. It is up to you to do this." Searching Dumbledore's face and seeing that it looked much younger than the last time she had seen him two years ago she ventured a guess.

"Professor Dumbledore, could you please tell me what year it is?" whispered Hermione. Looking surprised for just a brief second before it vanished, Dumbledore smiled down at her and said, "My dear it is August 1, 1977." Hermione just nodded as she took in the information that she had just been supplied. Dumbledore watched as a cascade of emotions flashed over Hermione's face before it settled with a look of resolve. Dumbledore watched her as she seemed to reach a decision. Hermione locked eyes with Dumbledore before she said, "Professor Dumbledore, my name is Hermione Granger and I won't be born until the 19th of September 1979."

Please press the button and review!