Title: Ripple
Disclaimer: I do not own characters or ideas from Harry Potter, those belong to J.K. Rowling and I am mearly borrowing them. No copywright infringement is intended.
Rating: Story as a whole: R (to be safe)
Cahpter Rating: PG-13
Summary: Hermione Granger is a normal witch, well as normal as she can be when she's Harry Potter's best friend. Prophesies happen to Harry not her. Thats what she thinks anyway, until she is thrown into a world where prophesy is everything and most of them are about her. She always wanted to meet Merlin, pity she doesn't remember ever hearing about him.
Notes: Okey this is the first story I've posted online in about five years so I'm a little nervous. I'd appreciate constructive critisim, although I'll be happy to recieve any review your willing to give me :) Hope you enjoy my story.

Chapter 1: The Beginning

Many years after all is said and done,
She will be born the key to unlock the past.
From obscurity she will ascend to greatness,
A ripple that shall undo what is done.

From the collected prophesies of,
Morgana Le Fey

The sun was shining and the day was bright and clear, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was still and hushed, suspended in anticipation of some great event. The school was holding its first Ball, since the Yule Ball in Harry Potter's fifth year; it was to be held on Halloween. Today was the first Hogsmeade weekend of the year.

Students and teachers alike were already moving in groups towards the village, excitedly whispering about the Ball, the costumes they were going to buy and the dates they were going to ask or bring. Everyone in the castle it seemed could talk of nothing else, even the portraits on the walls were speculating and placing bets.

Everyone that is except for one sixth year girl sitting in the library, mumbling, in a distracted way over a dusty old tomb.

"Now," Hermione muttered to herself, growing more and more vexed with every turned page. "I know it has to be here somewhere, I just saw it last week for heavens sake!"

"Hermione!" The loud voice rang across the deserted library, causing the brunette to start guiltily. "Here you are I've been looking for you everywhere." Ginny Weasley stormed across the library her face set in a disagreeable scowl.

"Ginny really," Hermione scolded, setting herself up for a long drawn out rant about the importance of quietness when in a library. "This is a library" Hermione began injecting into the word 'library' the same holy emphasis as one would use when saying 'church' or 'mausoleum.'

"You shouldn't shout and you most certainly shouldn't stomp. I know you've been out of sorts since Snape banned you from playing in the first quidditch match of the season, but really, you should have thought of that before you threw your potions book into his cauldron. Which I might add is a disgraceful way to treat a book, not to mention the reaction it could have caused in the potion, you're lucky the cauldron just exploded...."

Hermione trailed off as she watched Ginny's expression get blacker and blacker, maybe reminding Ginny of the potions incident wasn't the best choice of topics to distract her from the reason she was in the library.

"Do you know what today is?!" Ginny exploded, tapping her foot and resembling her mother to a degree Hermione wasn't quite comfortable with.

"Er.." Hermione said articulately.

"I'll tell you what today is," Ginny said cutting her off. "Today is Saturday, the beginning of the Hogsmeade weekend, the only Hogsmeade weekend before the Halloween Ball, the Hogsmeade weekend you promised to come with me so we could find costumes!"

"Ha," Hermione laughed nervously tugging on a strand of long curly hair, "it's that weekend is it?"

"I know you didn't forget Hermione," Ginny said, her eyes narrowing threateningly, "you never forget anything."

"I'm sorry Gin, your right I didn't forget, I just got distracted that's all." Hermione gestured helplessly to the piles of research and books that littered the table she was working at. "I thought maybe I could work in the morning and we could go shopping for costumes in the afternoon..."

"Oh honestly Hermione," Ginny huffed. "Schools barley begun and your already as buried in your NEWT research project as any other student in seventh year."

"Well," Hermione said flushing, "I happen to find my project extremely interesting, research isn't a chore for everyone you know."

"Oh never mind that now! If we leave it till the afternoon we'll miss out on the best costumes." Ginny cut in impatiently. "Pack it all away this instant and come with me, or I'll never forgive you." She added jokingly finally smiling at her friend.

Hermione sighed, conceding defeat in the wake of Ginny's determination, sometimes she wished she had a friend who understood her passion for learning. Not that she didn't love her friends for who they were it was just, sometimes it would be nice not to have her interests dismissed so easily.

"Where are Harry and Ron?" She asked Ginny as she gathered her material.

"They've already gone on ahead, they sent me to look for you, I think the real reason is so they could avoid been dragged around with two girls looking for clothes." Ginny confided shaking her head with a smile.

"Probably," Hermione agreed, "wait here for a seconde while I go put these away." She said, hurrying off into the depths of the library before Ginny could protest.

She returned within a few minuets slightly out of breath, coming from the opposite direction from which she'd gone. This placed her directly behind Ginny, who didn't notice, still looking expectantly in the direction Hermione had disappeared.

"Er, Gin," she cleared her throat "ready to go?"

Ginny whirled around in surprise, her eyes bugging to find Hermione standing behind her, she did a double take, looking in the direction Hermione had disappeared then back at Hermione again.

"Where did you go?" Ginny asked with a puzzled frown. "How did you do that?" She asked suspiciously, looking uncertainly over her shoulder again as if expecting a second Hermione to appear.

"Oh nowhere," Hermione replied vaguely. "Madam Pince just lets me store my things back there." She waved in the general direction from which she'd reappeared. "So," she flashed a smile, "let's get going to Hogsmeade."

Hermione and Ginny strolled together into Hogsmeade arm in arm; all of Ginny's suspicion was forgotten as she chatted excitedly about the Halloween Ball.

"It's such a good idea don't you think?" Ginny asked smiling. "I was so glad when Dumbledore approved the idea, it's about time us prefects organised something fun instead of just enforcing rules." Ginny had been made this year's fifth year female prefect; her male counterpart was, much to her distaste, Colin Creevy.

"It will be fun," Hermione agreed, "we haven't had anything like this since the Yule Ball in forth year." Hermione privately thought that this was because Balls sent everyone, fourth years up, into a state of near hysteria over who they were going with and what to wear.

Never the less she was looking forwards to finding the perfect costume, even she, despite what some people may think, enjoyed dressing up occasionally.

"And the themes fantastic," Ginny enthused. "Even though I think Cho's a right bitch after last year she did come up with a good idea."

"Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed. "It's true that Cho has proved herself to be...not very nice but..."

"Oh Hermione," Ginny interrupted giggling, "you know its true! And fancy going out with Draco Malfoy this year, he is such a slimy git, no mater how hot his gotten this year." Hermione's head whipped around to stare at Ginny in horror. Ginny didn't notice she was too entrenched in her rant.

"She just did it to get back at Harry!" Ginny scowled. "It was a good idea though," she continued thoughtfully. "Historical People or Characters, it's broad but not to broad." Ginny suddenly turned to look at Hermione slyly, "Has anyone asked you yet?"

Hermione started in surprise at the subject change and just as quickly flushed bright red; she knew what Ginny was really asking.

Had Ron asked her yet.

"I don't think his ever going to ask me." Hermione sighed suddenly feeling gloomy. It was ridiculous, who ever thought Hermione Granger would be moping about a boy, one of her best friends at that.

"That's not true Hermione!" Ginny encouraged. "I'm sure he will, it's the perfect opportunity, his liked you since fourth year, probably longer. He won't risk you going with someone else again." Ginny had wanted Ron and Hermione to get together longer than Hermione herself had wanted it.

So Hermione hated having to tell her what she had to tell her now, especially since it involved Harry.

"That's just it Gin, his made sure I wont be going with anyone else." Hermione looked miserably at the ground as she spoke. "His suggested that he, Harry and I all go together, as friends and Harry, the idiot, agreed of course." Hermione shot a quick look at her friends face, "I'm sorry Gin."

"My brothers the idiot." Ginny said flatly. "And what do have to be sorry for? I gave up waiting for Harry Potter to notice me a long time ago; I'm just sorry you have to be subjected to my brother's stupidity.

Hermione smiled wanly, she knew, even though Ginny wouldn't admit it, that she was disappointed that Harry wouldn't be asking her. In fact it didn't seem like Harry would be asking any girl out in the near future, ever since Cho had started going out with Malfoy he seemed to have decided that girls were not to be trusted, at least not in a romantic sense.

"Anyway," Ginny continued archly, "I already have a date."

"Really?" Hermione asked, this been the first she'd heard about it. "Who?"

"Roger Davis." Ginny said smugly, tossing her shining red hair over her shoulder.

"That's great Ginny." Hermione grinned, sometimes she envied the effortless way Ginny attracted, and went through, boys, but then again only sometimes.

Hermione carefully hung up the sealed dress bag that contained her costume for the Ball, it had taken most of the day but eventually she along with Ginny had managed to find costumes they were happy with.

A frown crossed her face as she flopped down onto her bed, she really, really, wasn't happy with this little arrangement of Ron's for the Ball. She could already imagine Malfoy's taunting words.

"Oh look, its potty, weasel and the mudblood, you're a threesome now are you?" She muttered to herself imitating Malfoy's arrogant drawling voice. "Ug, why do Ron and Harry have to be such morons? They just never think!"

"Hermione? Are you talking to yourself again?" Lavender asked as she and Parvati walked into the room giggling. They plopped down onto the bed next to Hermione, one on either side, both scrutinising her intently. She squirmed, uncomfortably wondering what was on there minds this time.

"You know you really work yourself to hard." Parvati said.

"Yes." Lavender agreed. "You don't leave nearly enough time for the important things in life."

"The important things?" Hermione asked nervously.

"Yes, you know like boys, makeup, the Ball, why I bet you haven't even decided how you're going to do your hair and makeup yet!" Parvati exclaimed.

"Um..."

"Yes! Which is why you're so lucky to have us!" Lavender grinned. "I mean you just have to realise Hermione that sometimes real life," Lavender continued placing an intense emphasis on the words 'real' and 'life', "is more important than..." she trailed off confused. "What's the name of your project again?"

"Ancient Runes and Magical Artefacts, with a particular focus on artefacts that depict runes whose origins date from Celtic times and whose function or purpose is uncertain or not understood today." Hermione replied starting to feel vaguely nervous and a little indignant.

"Yes exactly," Lavender agreed. "Which is why, Parvati and myself, have come to offer our service in regards to preparing you for the Ball."

Hermione blinked at the peculiar formal phrasing Lavender had used, and then glanced sideways at Parvati to see her nodding and smiling enthusiastically. Hermione's vaguely nervous feeling had suddenly progressed to that of feeling like a cornered animal.

"That's very nice of you two to offer but I'm sure you're both awfully busy yourselves, what with preparing for the Ball and..." Hermione trailed off much as Lavender had before, "have you two decided on a NEWT project yet?"

"Oh," Parvati waved a hand dismissively, "Lavender and I are doing a joint project on Divination, working with Professor Trelawney and Firenze." She giggled at the mention of the centaur. "But there's plenty of time to focus on that after the Ball, and Lavender and I absolutely insist on helping you get ready."

"Absolutely," Lavender agreed nodding her head. "Just because your been dragged to the Ball by your two moronic best friends doesn't mean you can't look great."

"So, show us your costume so we can start brainstorming hair and makeup ideas." Parvati demanded.

Hermione sighed in defeat and rose from her bed to fetch the costume bag she had so recently hung up. Lavender and Parvati eagerly bunched closer together on Hermione's bed as she opened the zip of the bag.

"Ohhh!" They both gasped as they peered into the bag, "Hermione it's beautiful," Lavender breathed with Parvati nodding in agreement.

"By the time we've finished with you, you'll look stunning for the Ball!"

"Yes, those boys you call friends won't know what hit them!"

"Catch you later Hermione!" They both called in unison as they hurried from the room already whispering and planning together.

Hermione watched them go with no small amount of trepidation, there was just no arguing with those two when they set there minds to something. And the Ball was still a whole week away! Hermione thought to herself in exasperation, it was official dances at Hogwarts drove everybody to complete distraction.

"Is it time?" asked a young male sounding voice.

"Not yet, soon, we must wait until the barriers are at their thinnest." A much older and more powerful sounding voice replied.

"Do you really think it will work, do you really think it is a woman who is the key?" The younger voice asked with a hint of incredulous disbelief in his voice.

"I am certain she is the key," the older voice replied. "As for whether we can prevent what is coming, that remains to be seen. We have to try however, or else all is lost."

"I don't understand, she is supposed to come back anyway, how will bringing her back early change anything? Would it not be more effective if I simply slew her?" The young voice asked impatiently.

"It is not for you to understand!" The old voice replied sharply, the power always present in his voice growing more potent. "If we bring her back on our own terms she will be on our side, she could be our most valuable ally. As for killing her? Have you no honour? She has yet to commit any crime, she is innocent. Besides we do not know the consequences ending her life prematurely could bring about."

"How can you be so certain she will be on our side?" The young voice asked in a more subdued tone of voice.

"The prophesy says, 'And she will not know him, or any of the people she meets in her travels, although she once knew there tales well.' She lives and was raised in the world order we are now in the process of creating. If she knows me she will follow my words and advise unquestionably. She will trust me implicitly before she even knows me." The older voice explained with satisfaction, "and she will distrust them just as fiercely."

"And now? What do we do now?" The young voice asked eagerly.

"Now?" the older voice replied. "Now we wait. We wait until All Hallows Eve."

Well, there you have it, that's chapter one. Chapter two shall be out ASAP. So pretty please review and tell me what you think.

Thanks from the author, you can call me Mel.