Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
This story is rated M for language and lemons. Read wisely!
This is a time travel/Marauders Era fic, and no, it will not be a time loop or time turner fic. I will explain more in future chapters.
Please remember to REVIEW to let me know what you think. I always appreciate a good opinion.
Enjoy, my dears!
Dear Miss Granger,
If you are reading this, then I will have passed away. This letter was to be sent to you in the event of my death, as a last effort to save as many lives as possible, even some who have already passed. I have created a spell that may take you, and only you, back in time to 1977 when the Marauders begin their final year at Hogwarts. Your presence alone can change the timeline and save many lives, including the defeat of Lord Voldemort well before your time. This being said, there is a catch, as I'm sure you have assumed by this point. If you choose to do this, you will remain in that time period, there is no way to send you back to 1997. You will have to make a new life there, new friends, new love. It is your choice, but I have chosen you because I know you are capable and will make the best and most logical choice for everyone. Enclosed, you will find another parchment with instructions on how to perform the spell if you shall choose to do so, another letter to open when you arrive in the past, and one more that I have written to my past self. You may choose to keep this secret to yourself or share with someone close when you arrive in the past, but it is up to you. You have learned that meddling with time is disastrous, but I fear at this time that it would be even more disastrous not to do so. You are a brilliant witch, Miss Granger, and you will know what you need to do.
Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Order of Merlin, first class, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot.
P.S. I did quite like Fizzing Whizbees at the time.
Hermione stared at the letter, then continued to reread it time and time again. She had already made up her mind when she read that it would save lives, no matter the cost to her, and she knew that was why he had chosen her. He knew she would do it with no questions.
She then read the instructions and the spell.
Praeteritum Tempus – cast the spell while circling your wand thrice directly above your head towards the sky. You must concentrate on "1977 Hogwarts" as you would for apparation directly after speaking the incantation.
Good Luck
She practiced the incantation and movements a few times before hearing a knock at her door. She quickly placed all of her things (including the letters and a few pictures) inside her beaded bag (which had been packed for days anyways) and opened the door.
"Are you ready yet, Hermione?" Ginny asked as she walked through the door. She had been at the Burrow ever since sending her parents away and Bill and Fleur's wedding was about to take place. Hermione looked again in the mirror, her red dress and hair in place before nodding and walking out the doorway with Ginny.
She didn't cry while thinking of everyone she would never see again. She had told herself to have one last night with them, and she had to be strong. She could mourn their friendship later when she was gone.
She truly let herself have fun at the wedding, her last big hurrah before leaving her friends for good. She even danced with Victor again! It was the best last night she could have asked for, until right in the middle of the reception, Death Eaters showed up.
"Harry! Ron!" She yelled through the commotion. When she finally found them, she shoved a portkey in their hands and activated it before saying, "I'm sorry, I love you both, goodbye."
They disappeared with the portkey and she raised her wand, muttering "Praeteritum Tempus" and concentrating on 1977 Hogwarts before she felt a strong tug at her navel and heard a deafening crack, then everything went black.
Sept. 1st 1977
Sirius Black and Remus Lupin were walking up to the castle, having gotten off the train last and missing the carriages, when they heard a very loud crack, louder than apparation, come from the road directly in front of them.
They quickly ran towards the figure laying on the ground, not able to see much since it had already become dark out.
Upon further inspection, they found that it was a girl who looked to be around their age, wearing a beautiful red dress, her wand in one hand and a small purple beaded bag in the other. She seemed to be unconscious, a cut ran across her cheek with a small droplet of blood dripping from it. Her shoes were missing and her dress had a tear.
"Sirius, we have to take her to the hospital wing, now." Remus said, standing back up and letting Sirius carry her.
Sirius picked her up, noticing how light she felt, and the two boys rushed towards the Great Hall doors to get her inside.
As soon as the doors were open, everyone stared at them. Dumbledore immediately noticed the girl in Sirius' arms and walked over to them quickly.
"Madame Pomfrey, come quick!" Remus yelled, as Sirius continued walking towards the hall to get the girl to the hospital wing. James Potter quickly stood up from the table and followed his friends. Madame Pomfrey met them by the doorway and continued to walk with them.
"Where did you find this girl?" She asked the two boys accusingly as they walked briskly.
"There was a loud crack and she just appeared on the road in front of us as we walked up from the station. She was already unconscious when we got to her. She couldn't have apparated inside the grounds, could she?" Remus told Madame Pomfrey and Dumbledore.
"No, Mr. Lupin, she could not have apparated inside the grounds." Dumbledore told him as they finally arrived at the hospital wing. Sirius gently laid the girl on one of the beds, stepping away only enough to let the Medi-witch do her job.
"Remus, James, Sirius, why don't we head back to the Great Hall while Madame Pomfrey fixes her up. I trust that this young lady is in the best of hands.
Sirius, who hadn't said anything yet at this point, decided to speak up. "I'm staying." The others looked at him, surprised by his announcement.
"Mr. Black, I assure you she will be just fine." Dumbledore told him and he just pulled up a chair and scoffed.
"I'm staying." He said defiantly, crossing his arms, showing them he wasn't going to move.
"Very well. Shall we?" Dumbledore said to the other two Marauders who gave Sirius a confused look before turning and walking back to the great hall for the welcome feast.
"Why did you decide to stay, Mr. Black?" Madame Pomfrey asked him as she continued to work on the girl.
"I found her, it's my responsibility to be here when she wakes. Gotta take credit for being her knight in shining armour after all." He told the witch with a wink, however he had a strange feeling about the girl. When he picked her up, a shock ran through his entire body. She smelled of parchment, honeysuckle, and something he couldn't quite place, but whatever it was struck him as the most heavenly scent.
"I don't know when she will wake, but she is stable for now. I'll be in my office, if you need me then yell for me." Madame Pomfrey told the boy who nodded and leaned back, propping his feet on the edge of her hospital bed.
About an hour later, Sirius opened his eyes when he heard the girl cough from the bed. He quickly conjured a glass of water and handed it to her, not missing the way her eyebrows rose as she saw him, nor the look of recognition in her eyes when they met his.
"Feeling better?" He asked her and she nodded.
"Yes, thank you." She replied.
"What is your name?" He questioned, wondering about this mysterious girl.
"My name is Hermione, what is yours?" She asked him back, already knowing who it was as she looked into his piercing grey eyes.
"Name's Sirius Black. My friend and I found you just outside the castle unconscious after we heard a loud crack. You know you can't-"
"Apparate inside Hogwarts grounds, yes, I know. I didn't apparate. I'm not actually sure what you would call it, but I was sent here with a spell." Hermione told him and he just looked at her with one eyebrow raised.
"And who would send you here with a spell, looking like that? Why do you look like you were just in a fight, in a dress?" Sirius continued, wanting to know more.
"I happened to have been at a wedding reception when Death Eaters," she watched as his eyes snapped up to hers as she said it, " attacked us. I used the spell on myself before they decided to kill me, didn't exactly have time to change clothes." She told him, hoping he'd drop the questions. She should've known better.
"Mr. Black, you should've told me my patient was awake!" Madame Pomfrey scolded the boy and Hermione couldn't help but smile.
"I'm feeling just fine, may I be released so that I can find Professor Dumbledore? I have something I need to discuss with him urgently." Hermione told the medi-witch who reluctantly agreed to let her go, as long as Sirius escorted her to the Headmaster's office.
"Fuck, I don't know the password." He said as they arrived outside of the Gargoyle. She looked at the younger Sirius and smirked.
"Fizzing Whizbees." She spoke and the gargoyle began to move. Sirius looked at her like she had grown two heads. They both walked up the stairs and knocked on the door.
"Ah, Mister Black and Miss-"
"Granger, sir, Hermione Granger." She responded to Professor Dumbledore, who had the same twinkle in his eye when he spoke as before.
"Miss Granger, I assume you came to me to explain your strange arrival?" Dumbledore said, motioning for them both to sit in the chairs in front of him.
"Yes, sir. I have this letter for you." Hermione said as she opened the little beaded bag and reached her entire arm inside it, Sirius looking at her with a shocked expression, then pulling out a letter and handing it to the Professor.
He took his time to read it thoroughly before looking back up at Hermione.
"Ah, I see. Well then, Miss Granger, would you care for Mr. Black to leave while we discuss your arrangements, or do you wish him to know?" Dumbledore asked her and she looked over at the boy for a moment.
He was very handsome, obviously well kept. His long black hair hung to his shoulders in light waves, and his grey eyes just the same as they looked when he was older, except without the cold, hardness from his time in Azkaban. He looked more free, happy, not as haunted in this time. Hermione had already made up her mind that she would share her secret with the first Marauder that found her, minus Peter, so Sirius was it.
"He may stay, though I'd rather him take a wizard's oath to make sure it stays between us three, sir." Hermione told the Professor who nodded and looked towards Sirius.
"Okay, what is going on here?" Sirius asked and Hermione looked at him.
"Take the oath and you'll find out." She told him and he swore under his breath. He was too curious about the girl to not do it, so he pulled out his wand and held it up.
"I, Sirius Orion Black, swear to not divulge or repeat the contents or secrets of this conversation to anyone other than those in this room unless otherwise approved by Professor Dumbledore or Hermione Granger." The magic sealed itself around them all and he put his wand away. "Now will someone explain what is happening"
"My name is Hermione Jean Granger, and my birthdate will be September 19, 1979." She said and Sirius opened his eyes wide, staring at the girl then back at the headmaster.
To be continued...