A/n: All right, this is going to be a little bit confusing. The first
segment below is taken from OotP, though modified slightly. It can be found
on page 791of the US edition. Everything else is my writing - just not my
characters. I know this chapter is rather fragmented and short, but trust
me, that's just the prologue. No more jumping about in future chapters, I
promise.
~
The footsteps coming from the Hall of Prophecy were getting louder. Hermione spared a moment to wish Harry hadn't shouted, but it was too late now.
"Come on!" Harry yelled, taking off for the door, still standing ajar, at the end of the room. Neville followed, Hermione hot on their heels. However, she was abruptly halted; the cabinet, which was still falling and shattering, rising and healing, slammed down at her feet. She waited a few precious seconds for it to right itself, then started running once more. Only then did she notice that one of the hourglasses that had filled the cabinet had snagged its chain on one of her bushy curls. She ripped it out, barely missing a stride as she thrust it hastily into her pocket.
~
The following June, the students of Hogwarts returned to their parents. And if Mr. and Mrs. Granger noticed a thin golden chain around their daughter's neck when she got off the train, neither commented.
~
With a final, defeated yawn, Hermione set the book she'd been reading on her nightstand. She'd just read the same sentence five times without understanding it - a sure sign that she needed rest. She turned the lamp down low, and lay there, willing sleep to come.
Sighing, she pulled out the golden hourglass that hung around her neck. It was a time-turner, most likely, though Hermione had never used it as such. She'd found it in her robes when she was discharged from the hospital, and had kept it on a whim. One never knew when something like that might come in handy - look at Buckbeak and -
She winced, reluctant to complete that thought. Though she hadn't always approved of Harry's Godfather, Sirius Black had been a good man, and a comfort to her friend. The thought of him still hurt.
Hermione had, briefly, considered using the time-turner to save Sirius once again - but this was rather different than last time. Then, Sirius had still been alive when she and Harry had gone back. Still, having the golden charm comforted her, and she lay there, admiring the play of the dim light over the glass. It remained in her hand as she slowly drifted into sleep.
That night, the dreams assaulted her, and she moaned in her sleep, tossing restlessly until, finally, she rolled straight off the bed.
She woke with a jolt, realizing that suddenly she was on the floor - not in bed, where she belonged. Hazily, she sat up, rubbing her eyes and yawning.
"Who - what - who is that?"
The sound of another voice in her bedroom made her freeze, and she reacted instantly, drawing her wand from the pocket of her nightshirt. Steeling herself against visions of Death Eaters, she whirled to face...
Herself.
~
The footsteps coming from the Hall of Prophecy were getting louder. Hermione spared a moment to wish Harry hadn't shouted, but it was too late now.
"Come on!" Harry yelled, taking off for the door, still standing ajar, at the end of the room. Neville followed, Hermione hot on their heels. However, she was abruptly halted; the cabinet, which was still falling and shattering, rising and healing, slammed down at her feet. She waited a few precious seconds for it to right itself, then started running once more. Only then did she notice that one of the hourglasses that had filled the cabinet had snagged its chain on one of her bushy curls. She ripped it out, barely missing a stride as she thrust it hastily into her pocket.
~
The following June, the students of Hogwarts returned to their parents. And if Mr. and Mrs. Granger noticed a thin golden chain around their daughter's neck when she got off the train, neither commented.
~
With a final, defeated yawn, Hermione set the book she'd been reading on her nightstand. She'd just read the same sentence five times without understanding it - a sure sign that she needed rest. She turned the lamp down low, and lay there, willing sleep to come.
Sighing, she pulled out the golden hourglass that hung around her neck. It was a time-turner, most likely, though Hermione had never used it as such. She'd found it in her robes when she was discharged from the hospital, and had kept it on a whim. One never knew when something like that might come in handy - look at Buckbeak and -
She winced, reluctant to complete that thought. Though she hadn't always approved of Harry's Godfather, Sirius Black had been a good man, and a comfort to her friend. The thought of him still hurt.
Hermione had, briefly, considered using the time-turner to save Sirius once again - but this was rather different than last time. Then, Sirius had still been alive when she and Harry had gone back. Still, having the golden charm comforted her, and she lay there, admiring the play of the dim light over the glass. It remained in her hand as she slowly drifted into sleep.
That night, the dreams assaulted her, and she moaned in her sleep, tossing restlessly until, finally, she rolled straight off the bed.
She woke with a jolt, realizing that suddenly she was on the floor - not in bed, where she belonged. Hazily, she sat up, rubbing her eyes and yawning.
"Who - what - who is that?"
The sound of another voice in her bedroom made her freeze, and she reacted instantly, drawing her wand from the pocket of her nightshirt. Steeling herself against visions of Death Eaters, she whirled to face...
Herself.