DISCLAIMER: Nothing's mine. It's all the creation of a brilliant genius named J.K. Rowling.

SUMMARY: AU, third year. Hermione Granger is running late when she bumps into Draco Malfoy. Draco accidentally breaks her Time Turner, sending the two of them, along with Cedric Diggory and Cho Chang, back in time almost nine hundred years. There, they must combine their skill with the four most famous figures in the history of Hogwarts to fulfill their destiny and make – or change – history.

RATING: PG-13 to be on the safe side. Some content every now and then will not be for the very young or faint of heart.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This fic was inspired by a friend of mine, who writes under the pen name Freelancer. One of Freelancer's stories, entitled 'Those Ravenclaw Girls', is about the founding of the school and the relationship between the Hogwarts Four, specifically Godric Gryffindor and Rowena Ravenclaw. I find this pair rather fascinating myself, so I decided to include a more-than-friends relationship with these two. (F., if you're reading this, I hope you're grateful) Anything else I need to comment on or clear up before I begin? *thinks* Nothing comes to mind. Okay, let's get started.

CHAPTER ONE

-Running Late-

Hermione Granger was late for Transfiguration.

Hermione hated – hated – being late. She was constantly obsessing over things like memorizing new spells, studying for classes, and getting and/or keeping her two best friends out of trouble, but time was probably her biggest obsession of all. Being prompt was like breathing to her. Lateness was unacceptable, and that's what she was: late.

Instinctively, Hermione's fingers flew to the Time Turner she was wearing around her neck. It would be so easy to just give it a little shake and go back a few minutes. That would give her plenty of time to get to Transfiguration, and who would ever know the difference? I would, she told herself. It wasn't right. If she did it this time, she might be tempted to do it again, and there was no telling what that would lead to. She agreed to be responsible with this device, and that move would be abusive to the privileges entrusted to her. She would just be late to Transfiguration and suffer the consequences.

She hugged her heavy textbooks close to her body and quickened her pace. She had been walking fast before, but was now at a near run. Then, she rounded a corner without looking and ran into someone. Both of them ended up on the floor.

Hermione stood up and started to gather up her things. "Sorry about tha-" She stopped apologizing when she saw who she had run in to. "You!" she said. "What are you doing out of class?"

The blond-haired, gray-eyed Slytherin named Draco Malfoy glared at her, stood up as well, and straightened his robes. "I was running an errand for Professor Snape, if you don't mind," her fellow third-year sneered.

Hermione almost laughed. "Since when do you run errands?"

"Since it gave me an excuse to miss part of Transfiguration," he retorted.

That made a little bit of sense. Transfiguration was far from Draco's favorite subject, but what he really detested about the class was its instructor, Minerva McGonagall. Hermione, on the other hand, adored McGonagall. The two of them had a lot in common, and it was McGonagall who arranged for her to use the Time Turner. She was also the head of Hermione's house, Gryffindor, and that gave them even more common ground.

"Is there a problem here?" came a gentle male voice.

Hermione and Draco half-expected the school's headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, but when they turned around, they saw that it was actually a sixth-year Hufflepuff named Cedric Diggory. Cedric was a tall, handsome boy with brown hair and peaceful gray eyes. He was well liked by all who knew him. With him was Cho Chang, an attractive fourth-year wearing the robes of Ravenclaw house.

"No, everything's fine," was Hermione's mumbled response to Cedric's inquiry.

"We heard a crash," said Cho.

"She ran into me," Draco replied.

"It was an accident!" Hermione said, a little too loudly.

"Whoa, hey, calm down!" Cedric said, motioning with his hands for emphasis. "It's all right, and remember, there are classes in session."

"Speaking of which," said Hermione, "why aren't you two in class?"

"We had to talk to Madam Hooch for a minute," Cho answered. "You know, one of those emergencies that can't wait." There was a Quidditch game between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tomorrow. Cedric was the captain of Hufflepuff's team, and since Roger Davies, Ravenclaw's captain, was preoccupied at the moment, Cho rose to the occasion and discussed things with Cedric and Madam Hooch in his place. "Where are you going?"

"Transfiguration," Hermione said, "and I'm late. And – oh, thank you, Cedric."

Cedric had picked up one of her books that she had missed and handed it back to her. "You're welcome," he said.

"Why don't you just give this thing a turn?" Draco asked, and grabbed the Time Turner. "We all know how much you hate being late."

"Malfoy!" Hermione cried. She tried to grab his hand and pry his fingers off the tiny hourglass, but was unsuccessful. Draco pulled one way. She pulled the other way. Cedric attempted to separate them, but could not.

Finally, the cord the Time Turner hung on could no longer stand the tension, and snapped. Hermione and Draco stumbled backwards. Draco lost his grip on the small but powerful object, and it went flying through the air.

"Get down!" Cedric shouted. At his command, Hermione, Draco, and Cho held their arms up to protect their faces. He put his arms around the other three in an attempt to use his body as a human shield.

The Time Turner hit the wall and exploded.

A/N: Yes, I am aware that it's short. This was more of an introduction than an actual chapter. The following chapters will be significantly longer.