Disclaimer: The following recognizable characters/plot/dialogue/etc. in this chapter and those to follow are not mine, nor will they ever be mine. This disclaimer is mine, though.

Story: Is A Hope

Summary: Hermione Granger, having just completed her sixth year, will not be joining her two best friends on their hunt for horcruxes. Dumbledore left her with her own mission to complete, though her instructions are as vague as the ones he gave to Harry. Time travel, unlikely pairings, and angst ensue.

Plans for the Story: I am planning on keeping it as compliant to every book except Deathly Hallows, though hopefully it will stay (mostly) compliant up until Deathly Hallows, keeping all characters in character at all times (though there may be a few slips in order to have a plot...), attempting to make the ship a little more viable, and trying to break the mold of the typical Hermione/Tom time-turner scenario (it's that I don't love them, they're just very common).

Main Pairing: Hermione Granger/Tom Riddle Jr.

Updating Plans: Once or twice a week during the summer.

Other: Please forgive me. I am new to fanfiction. Guide me and teach me all you know. The first couple of chapters will be a little boring since people normally don't travel back to 1944, and the plot is begging me to set it up properly.

Chapter One: The Will

Hermione Granger woke from a restless sleep exhausted. It was the day before Bill and Fleur's wedding, and Hermione was beginning to feel as though the weight of the world was upon her shoulders. Between assisting Mrs. Weasley with beautifying the Burrow, trying to keep a steady relationship going with Ron, preparing Harry and Ron in every way she could think of for their quest, and neglecting preparations for her own, she was under more stress than she had ever been before. It wasn't that she particularly minded the work, it was the consequences if she didn't complete it in time that made her want to scream.

During his sixth year, Harry wasn't the only student at Hogwarts receiving guidance from Dumbledore. Hermione had been receiving private lessons from the old wizard, but was instructed to keep it a secret. She had enjoyed it thoroughly. She'd never quite understood why Albus Dumbledore was teaching her the subjects he was.

He had instructed her on a variety of topics. Mostly on time travel, though not the classic time-turner variety. He introduced her to a whole new branch based on Ancient Runes, delving into the theory behind it. It was said there was a way to travel through time by performing a complicated ritual. Not much was known about it, and even Dumbledore didn't know too much, but he insisted that Hermione learn about it as much as she could. Over the time they tried to gather facts about it, she also studied Occlumency. It was a lot harder than she thought it would be, and she felt guilty about chiding Harry about not learning it in their fifth year. Dumbledore was kind and blamed it on her strong personality, but Hermione knew he meant her short temper.

She rolled over onto her side and squinted in the daylight. Ginny was still sleeping soundly, but she could already hear Mrs. Weasley preparing breakfast in the kitchen. She got dressed and decided that she would try to prepare some more for she and the boys journeys. It was bizarre to think that for the first time in years, they wouldn't be an inseparable trio. Packing, making lists of information, and trying to crack codes were the least she could do. Even if she couldn't be there physically, hopefully by supplying all the information she could pour out of her brain, it would be like she was there. Besides, she wasn't worried about them being able to solve the mysteries Dumbledore had left to Harry. It was her journey she was worried about. She hardly even had a place to start, let alone a place to end.

The last meeting Hermione and the wizard had was short, but to the point. He basically told her that while he was positive that she would want to help her friends on their mission, she must not neglect hers. She was confused as to why Dumbledore spoke like he wasn't going to be able to help them, but now he was gone. "Perhaps he had known more than he told me," she mused. It wouldn't be the first time. He also told her about a secret recipe he had for pumpkin soup. She thought that he must have been finally growing too old to realize how foolish he sounded. As far as she knew, pumpkin soup and time travel had nothing to do with each other.

She took the two bags she had started to prepare out from under her bed- a small beaded bag for her and a tan rucksack for Harry and Ron. Inside each bag were bottles of potions, books, and essentials such as food and water that she had stolen from the Weasley's kitchen. In the boy's, she had put pages and pages of notes, sorted by topic, that she hoped would assist them when she wasn't there. She also had put Harry's invisibility cloak and the fake locket. She began to review the notes. There was certainly not enough information on Horcruxes, but there wasn't much that she could do about that. She had added a list of possible ways to destroy them, even if they seemed impractical.

Ginny stirred in her bed. Hermione quickly shoved the papers back into the bag and hid them in their place under her bed. Then she stood up and grabbed the book she was currently reading- Olde and Forgotten Bewitchments and Charmes. Ginny opened one eye at the rustling and groaned when she saw that all Hermoine was doing was reading.

"Good morning, Ginny," Hermione said, trying her best to not sound anxious.

"Hermi-," the rest was followed by mumbles as Ginny rubbed her face free of sleep. She was definitely not a morning person.

"I think your mum is cooking breakfast. Smells like bacon and eggs," Hermione really had no idea what Molly was cooking, but it was a struggle for Hermione to talk to Ginny anymore. Ginny, like Molly, had been trying to figure out what the three of them were up to.

"Yum," Ginny said with no enthusiasm. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Mum wants you two downstairs now. She wants help with preparing Harry's birthday breakfast," George (or was it Fred?) called through the door. Hermione sprung to her feet and walked to the kitchen. Ginny wasn't going to be going anywhere fast.

The rest of the day passed with little excitement. It was finally time to eat the cake Molly had made for after Harry's birthday dinner, but it was interrupted by an unexpected visitor. Kingsley had warned it might happen, and the Golden Trio had tried to prepare Harry for what he would say when he tried to prove that he had something to do with Dumbledore's murder. What they hadn't expected was the minister requiring all three of them to meet with him.

Hermione walked cautiously into the Burrow. What could he possibly want with all three of them? What if he was Imperiused and was going to try to kill all three of them? Hermione looked for signs that this could be the case, but she didn't see any.

"I've come about Albus Dumbledore's will," Scrimegour said, and she and Ron looked at each other quickly, then realized they shouldn't give too much away. The minister paused, waiting for one of them to speak before continuing. "He's left some things to each of you," he looked at each of them, gauging their reactions. "To Harry James Potter, I leave the Snitch he caught in his first Quidditch match at Hogwarts, as a reminder of the rewards of perseverance and skill. " He handed the Snitch to Harry, obviously expecting something to happen. Nothing did.

"To Ronald Billius Weasley, I leave my Deluminator, in the hope that he will remember me when he uses it." Ron took the device with a smirk and clicked it, amazed by what it did. He proceeded to do this until Hermione cleared her throat, at which time he blushed and looked down.

"To Miss Hermione Jean Granger, I leave my entire private library, in hopes that she enjoys the books as much as I did," Hermione let out a squeak. Scrimegour smirked. "You like books then? I'm sure Dumbledore's hold more secrets than you could imagine, right?"

"Well-," Hermione began.

"She's the brightest witch of our age! Of course he left her his books!" Ron looked at the minister with a look of utter disgust on his face.

"Thank you, Ronald," Hermione said, looking for the books. "So where are they, then?" She tried not to lose her nerve. She hadn't felt this nervous since she gave the speech at the first meeting of the DA.

He pulled out a small velvet pouch and handed it out to Hermione. "We've taken the liberty of shrinking them down for easy transport," he looked at her curiously, as though expecting another outburst. When one didn't come, Scrimegour continued, "He also left the sword of Godric Gryffindor to Mr. Potter, however, it was not his to give away, and has been returned to Hogwarts." After many failed attempts at arguing against the decision, the trio gave up. Scrimegour left, and they returned to dinner once more.

That night, Hermione snuck up to the boy's room. She decided it was finally time to tell them about her mission. She had been dreading it ever since she realized that she wouldn't be going with them after all, but she couldn't put it off any longer. Now the boys were looking at her expectantly, and curiously at the tan rucksack she had brought along.

"I have something I need to tell you, and I ask you not to interrupt me until I am finished speaking," she said, glaring at Harry as his mouth opened like he was a fish. "Now, as you know, I have been preparing for what we are to do this year. What you don't know," here she paused to regather her courage, "Is that I am not coming with you. Professor Dumbledore left me with my own mission. I know that you're probably upset with me-" Ron was turning purple, "-but I felt that this was the best way to tell you. I have prepared a bag with hopefully everything you need, and I'm really sorry I can't help you more." She started to cry. This wasn't how she wanted to end it.

"Hermione, what exactly is your mission?"Harry added air-quotes around the word mission. She looked up at him, only to start crying harder.

"I can't tell you. Dumbledore made me promise that I wouldn't tell anyone... not even you two."

"Well, given the circumstances-" Harry began.

"No."

"Hermione, I've known you since you were eleven. We've been through so much. I thought I would... I thought we were... AND NOW YOU DECIDE TO DO THIS TO ME?" Ron had spoken up at last. "WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DATING, AND NOW YOU JUST DECIDE THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR OWN FUN? No, don't ask us for advice or anything. What could the Boy Who Lived possibly know about defeating You-Know-Who? And his sidekick? No, he's worthless. The idiot wouldn't even know how to hold a book," He paused for breath before continuing. "How could you? JUST GET OUT OF MY HOUSE."

They all paused, hearing footsteps coming to the door.

"I- Ron-," Hermione sputtered.

"I thought you cared about me more than this, but I guess it was a good thing I've been cheating with Lavender behind your back," Ron spoke with a grimace.

Hermione crossed the room and smacked him. "Harry, take the bag, no matter what. It has everything in it. I know you'll destroy the Horcruxes," she spoke with tears in her eyes and she crossed the room and hugged him. He seemed awfully confused. She whipped around to Ron, "Ron, you're a bastard. I'm sorry Harry doesn't have better help than you," She spun on her heel and apparated down to Ginny's room, not the least bit surprised to find it empty. Everyone was probably interrogating the two boys as she gathered her things, carefully placing the pouch of Dumbledore's books into her beaded bag.

She hurried to the front door, determined to get out before anyone could stop her. The witch ran the yards to escape the confines of the Burrow's security measures. She wiped the tears from her eyes, and apparated to the first place she thought of.