A/N Hello everybody! I had this idea, because over the summer I read loads of Sirius/Hermione Time travel stories. I decided to do my own, but I really hope it's not like any others! Apologies if it is! Oh yeah, in this, Harry learns about Horcruxes in the summer after fifth-year because Dumbledore decides he needs to know quickly. Please review!
Summary: AU. When a surprise attack happens at Hogwarts in the beginning of Hermione's Sixth-Year, Hermione, Ginny and Luna are suddenly pulled back in time to the Marauders Era – not before stopping at Fate's doorstep. Now they have the power to change the future without being caught, bring some Dark people into the Light and finally – fall in love?
NON DH compliant, or really HBP, and some of OotP. (Harry finds out about Horcruxes in private lessons in the Summer Holidays)
[EDIT SEPTEMBER 2015: I haven't updated in about a year, and it has been about two years since I posted this, so I've decided to do some revamping to make it more original and hopefully get more updates, because when I started I was about 13/14 and less knowledgeable about writing. In some places there won't be too much difference in the writing, but in others there will and there is one pairing change which will be made clear later on.]
Chapter One
Fate
"Well that Professor Slughorn is rather annoying, I mean, who asks hand-picked students to have dinner so they can boast to him?" Ginny Weasley stated to her friend Hermione Granger as the Hogwarts Express trundled through the overgrown fields and bushes of the countryside. Hermione, having come back from a Prefect meeting a few hours ago, looked up from her book, A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration, which she had been reading.
"Harry said that when he taught before he had a club like that, good for connections I expect," she replied, bookmarking her book and placing it on the seat by her.
"Stupid if you ask me, do you think he'll be good at teaching Defence?" Ginny asked, now munching on a Chocolate Frog and peering out the window.
Hermione opened her mouth to reply but another occupant of the compartment they were in, Luna Lovegood spoke up first.
"Hopefully not as bad as Professor Umbridge," she said, her eyes wide behind her copy of the magazine The Quibbler. "She was vile."
Ginny and Hermione nodded in agreement and Ginny started up her rant of how and why Dolores Umbridge was such a horrible person and teacher. Luna retreated behind her Quibbler after a few minutes listening to the rant and Hermione, with a small smirk on her face at Ginny, went back to her book as they had already heard more than once from Ginny, her brother Ron Weasley and Harry Potter why Umbridge was horrible.
"I thought you were going to sit with Dean," said Hermione, cutting off Ginny's rant a while later, after being bored of the continuous stream of insults.
"Oh, I was but I went to that weird meeting that Harry and Neville also went to and so when it was over I went back to Dean's compartment, but their conversation was so boring I decided to leave sharpish."
Ron and Neville re-entered the compartment five minutes later. They had just been down to see the trolley lady as Ron had just missed her when he and Hermione had come back from their Prefect meeting earlier.
"Budge up Hermione, you're taking up the whole seat," said Ron, his mouth currently full of liquorice.
Hermione scowled and picked up the books that were indeed taking up the whole seat and placed them back in her trunk.
"Why do you need all those books anyway?" asked Ron, now eating a Cauldron Cake. "Are you trying to read the whole booklist before classes start?"
The comment made Ron snigger at his 'joke' and Ginny smirk; Luna just kept behind her Quibbler.
Hermione rolled her eyes "No, I just like to get through them."
The conversation veered off, ending in Neville, Ron and Ginny in a heated discussion about Quidditch (especially about the Chudley Cannons, which Ginny said sucked and Ron trying and failing to come up with the reasons why it was better than Ginny's favourite team, the Holyhead Harpies)
"Where in Merlin's name is Harry? Neville – where'd he go again?" Ron turned to Neville, for Harry had not come back from Professor Slughorn's compartment and Neville had told them he had snuck under his cloak to follow Zabini.
"I don't know, you don't think he's in trouble do you?"
"I expect not, Harry will be ok, as long as the Wrackspurts that come on the train don't get to him." said Luna. Hermione caught Ginny's eye, and the red-head grinned. She looked away, trying not to laugh out loud.
After that Hermione just stuck to her book, Luna with her Quibbler, but occasionally peering her huge eyes around it and swatting away Wrackspurts whilst Neville, Ron and Ginny started chatting together.
"Hermione? We're here! Hermione? Stop reading!"
Hermione had unintentionally tuned everything around her out so that her sole focus was on her book. Suddenly it was ripped from her grasp, she looked up to see a smirking Ginny shoving it back into her trunk.
"Come on Hermione, Ron and Neville left ages ago, they went to find Harry on the platform."
Hermione looked around to find Luna standing by the door, and, apart from Ginny and herself, the compartment was empty.
"Oh," she said.
"Did a Wrackspurt get you? I knew there were some in here during the journey," said Luna, wafting her arm around in random places.
Hermione and Ginny exchanged grins before moving out of the compartment. They had long since got used to Luna and her creatures.
They hurried out onto the station where the very last stragglers were moving towards the last three carriages. The three girls hopped into one of the carriages, Hermione wrinkled her nose slightly at the smell.
"Eurgh, OWLs are going to be horrible this year – I mean, Hermione was awful last year –"
"Ginny!"
"What? It's true!"
When they got to the front gates they found that Filch the caretaker was there along with Professor Flitwick, and a very long line was waiting to be searched.
"All these security measures," said Ginny sadly as they cut through the line (much to everyone's displeasure) to find Ron and Neville.
"Mm… well, since He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back, it is obvious,2 said Luna, absentmindedly knocking some second-year over as she flung her arms around.
Ginny giggled as Hermione helped the little girl up. Luna apologised before heading up the long queue, finally spotting Neville and Ron.
"You took ages," Ron said as they greeted them. He and Neville were about halfway along the line already, and Ron was frowning a bit.
"Hermione was too caught up with reading and do you realise how long this line is?" demanded Ginny.
"You'd have thought they'd get more people to do this, not just Filch. He takes forever!" said Ron, shaking his head.
"We still can't seem to find Harry," said Neville anxiously as they moved forwards in the line.
"Do you think something happened to him?" asked Hermione worriedly.
"Malfoy looks overly-pleased, do you think he's done something to him?" said Ron uneasily.
Malfoy was looking over to them in his Slytherin group, miming something around his nose.
"Git," said Ginny, though she looked slightly worried.
"I hope not, not with all those Slytherins," said Hermione, watching as a girl started yelling at Filch because he was doing a very thorough search of her bag.
"THAT'S PRIVATE!"
"Oooh, look, here comes McGonagall!" Ginny grinned.
"What is going on here?" Professor McGonagall snapped, her voice drifting over the line so everyone stopped and listened.
"This girl will not let me go through her belongings, it's very suspicious," said Filch nastily.
McGonagall stared at the girl, before turning to Filch.
"If your sensor did not pick up anything she is free to go, and please, Mr Filch, hurry, the line in getting exceedingly long."
Ron sniggered at Filch's expression.
"Don't laugh, he's going to jab us now," said Ginny, groaning.
Soon it was their turn to be checked, Filch jabbing them with the Secrecy Sensor rather angrily and going through their bags and shoving them back to them furiously.
They finally managed to make it to the Great Hall for the feast. They said goodbye to Luna at the Ravenclaw table and Ginny said good-bye to sit with Dean and Seamus. Hermione and Ron sat down a few people away from Ginny while looking around for Harry.
"He can't have gone far…" said Hermione anxiously.
"I dunno if he stayed on the train for too long with no one knowing it could leave," said Ron, looking troubled.
"Don't say that!" squeaked Hermione. "Imagine him going all the way back to London!"
Dumbledore had got up to speak at that moment.
"I'd like to say just one word before we tuck into this feast which is – enjoy!"
Hermione, though keeping an eye out for Harry, helped herself to roast beef and Yorkshire pudding whilst Ron started stuffing his face with gusto. Hermione wrinkled her nose at him in disgust.
A clap of thunder rumbled exceedingly loud around the Great Hall followed by a blinding flash of lightening. Hermione and Ron exchanged a worried look.
Stifled screams and murmurs swept across the Great Hall. Everyone looked up at the enchanted ceiling to find the clear night sky that had been present previously had vanished, and, in its place were alarming pitch-black clouds that made all the lights extinguish very suddenly. Everyone was feeling a cold wave of panic now, and nobody was moving. The food on everyone's plates were being left untouched as they clutched their friends for support. The only way anybody could see was when the lightening flashed through the tall windows, illuminating the white, panicked faces of the students.
The teachers were unsuccessfully trying to calm everyone down and produce some light from their wands.
Harry suddenly appeared next to them when another roll of thunder echoed through the Great Hall.
"Harry! Where were you?" squeaked Hermione.
"And what's with the blood?"" asked Ron worriedly, glancing at the windows and at Harry's nose.
"No time," panted Harry. "Listen, I think Death Eaters are coming – Snape, he brought me in, groaned in pain because his Mark started burning, and then he pushed me in here."
"Where'd he go?" asked Hermione, her hands shaking. "We have to tell Dumbledore!"
But at that moment, a vicious stroke of lightning and gust of wind made the windows shatter and the lights be extinguished from the teacher's wands.
"Something is really wrong here." whispered Hermione.
"Ron? Harry? Hermione?" asked a timid voice beside them.
"Ginny?"
"What's going on?" asked Ginny fearfully.
"Dark Magic."
Hermione gave a shriek as Luna's voice suddenly sounded next to her.
"Luna!" Hermione whisper-shouted.
"How did you –?" began Harry, but was interrupted by another clap of thunder.
Then, a girl screamed.
"The door way!" she shrieked. "Death Eaters are in the doorway!"
At this pandemonium broke out.
Spells from the Death Eaters shot all around the room, and what Hermione could tell from the green lines of light whoosh past her hair, that they were killing curses. And they were hitting their targets.
Students were dropping like flies, they didn't know who was who and if they were good or bad. Ginny saw people from all houses dropping to the floor whilst their friends screamed in horror.
Hermione felt someone push her down under the table with Ginny and Luna. She was breathing rather shakily, not knowing where the Death Eaters were.
Suddenly the table was blasted away and Hermione, Ginny and Luna were without protection.
"There's the Mudblood!" cackled Bellatrix Lestrange, her hair crackling around her face.
"And the blood-traitor Weasley!" growled another Death Eater.
"Do it!"
All at once about ten spells streaked across the room and hit Hermione right in the chest. She fell down in pain, her hands being grabbed by Ginny and Luna.
She thought she was going to die – the light was slowly fading ... But so were her hands ... And her legs ...
Luna gasped as Hermione starting fading before their very eyes. She suddenly found she was unable to let go of the bushy-haired witch and saw, to her horror that she was starting to fade along with Hermione.
To her left, Ginny looked petrified, her red-hair turning slightly grey, and soon the three girls had vanished completely.
The Death Eaters, seeing their job was done, immediately vanished through the doors. Everyone remaining was so in shock that they couldn't move. The lights slowly flickered back on.
"Where's Hermione?" Harry shouted suddenly.
"And Ginny!" Ron said in a panic. "And Luna!"
The remaining students and teachers looked around them, gaping in shock and terror.
They'd gone.
xxx
Hermione was falling backwards; it was as though someone had grabbed her from behind and was pulling her back. It was so dark around her she couldn't even see her hands, but she could feel Ginny and Luna clinging on.
Weirdly, Hermione was suddenly thrown to the left so fast it made her head feel giddy. She thought of nothing when she felt her mind go black.
"Hermione?"
Someone was slapping her face.
"Hermione!"
"Hermione, we know you're awake, your eyes a moving."
The slapping stopped, five seconds later a whoosh of cold water drenched Hermione's face and hair.
"WHAT THE HELL?" she yelled, opening her eyes to find Ginny standing there with Luna just behind. "GINNY!"
Ginny tried to look innocent. "You weren't replying!"
"Where are we?" asked Hermione.
"We don't know, we only woke up five minutes ago," said Luna.
Hermione sifted so she was resting on her elbows.
Looking around it seemed that she was in a field that seemed as though it was floating on a cloud. Hermione was lying on a patch of enchanted flowers that made it feel like a mattress.
"It feels like we're on a cloud," said Luna, sitting crossed-legged next to Hermione.
"But why are we here?" Ginny mused. "All I remember is that Hermione got loads of spells to her chest and she started fading so Luna and I grabbed onto her and faded too."
"I remember I felt like I was being pulled backwards by someone," Hermione remembered. "It felt as though…"
"What?"
"That you were going back through time," said a new voice.
Hermione, Luna and Ginny jumped, and looked behind them.
Three women stood behind a large thistle bush. They were extremely beautiful, but had a slight haughty and evil smirks on their faces. The first woman seemed to be the youngest with long blonde hair down to her hips. She was holding some sort of thread on a rod and was wearing a toga-like top and balloon-type trousers that were both a dark blue. The second woman was obviously the oldest with hair even longer than the first but was jet-black. She was also wearing the same sort of clothing, but slightly more extravagant and silky, in the colour of red. She held a pair of shears. The third woman had wavy brown hair with a measuring rod in her hand, and wore the same clothes as the first in green.
"Who are you?" asked Ginny bluntly, staring at them.
"We," said the blonde one. "Are the Moirai…"
"Or in your native tongue, the Three Fates," put in the black-haired.
"You are here to see your destiny," said the brunette.
"I am Atropos, eldest of the three fates, I use my shears to cut the thread of a person's life," said the second woman.
"I am Lachesis, I use my measuring rod to see how long mortals have to live," said the brunette.
"And I am Clotho, youngest of the Fates, I spin the thread of life, deciding when people are born," said the first.
"Well," said Ginny. "I'm Ginny Weasley."
"We know who you are Ginevra Weasley, as we know who you two are, Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood," said Clotho, smiling while Ginny made a face at her full name.
"We have limited time to tell you what you need to know," said Atropos briskly. "You have just witnessed what the Death Eaters accidentally made happen. You travelled through time. However we picked you up before you got to your destination."
"To make the world a better place, you must go into the year of 1976 to differ the future. You can, if you put your mind to it, change it for the better, saving innocent lives from harm. Do you understand?" Lachesis carried on from Atropos.
The girls nodded.
"We have to destroy Voldemort?" whispered Hermione.
"Yes. Luckily, you all know how to kill him, as Albus Dumbledore told Harry Potter who told you Hermione, during the summer, and, in turn, Ginevra and Luna," said Clotho.
"But he might not have made all the Horcruxes in 1976," Luna said.
"That is correct, he had made five in 1976, but do you know which they are?2 asked Lachesis.
"Well his Diary would be one," Hermione said "Harry destroyed that in Second-Year."
"Yes, any others?"
"Harry said that when he saw the memory of Hokey and Hepzibah that he killed her for a cup and locket," said Luna.
"Helga Hufflepuff's Cup and Salazar Slytherin's Locket."
"A ring!" said Ginny excitedly.
"That's all we know," said Hermione
"Good, we cannot give you so much information, you must figure this out for yourselves, when you go into the past you must change it. For better or for worse," said Atropos.
"We're going into the year with the Marauders aren't we?" said Hermione suddenly.
The Fates just smiled.
"Once you are in the past, your future – or your previous lives will be erased. Forever. To make one last thing easier for you we are dropping you off in August of 1976 so that you have time to sort yourselves out," said Lachesis.
"You mean we'll never go back?" asked Hermione.
"And never see our families again?" Ginny gaped. "Do we have a choice?" she added weakly.
"The Fates have decided, you cannot," said Atropos, the haughty expression re-appearing.
"But our family – our friends –"
"Do not exist because the future ceases to exist as soon as you touch down," said Atropos in such away it made Ginny say no more.
Ginny looked downcast at the fact she wouldn't see the people she loved in the same way again. Ever.
"It's alright Gin, you still have us," said Hermione smiling.
Ginny sighed.
"I know but –"
"You won't see your family or Harry or anyone anymore for a long time. I know."
Ginny smiled weakly.
"Because of your lives at the moment we have given you a history – Hermione, you are now a pureblood, as it is safer that way, and Luna and Ginny are still pure-blood. Considering that your surnames are of use on others, we shall give you new ones as it will avoid questions," Clotho told them
The three girls stared at the three Fates, the true nature of what was happening sinking in. They were no longer the girls they were – they were new people with a near-impossible task thrust on their shoulders. Why had the Fates chosen them?
"Now, Ginny, you are the only daughter of Daphne and Kenneth Ettington, both high-ranked Aurors. You may keep your middle name 'Molly' as it is a common name and doesn't catch any attention. That goes for all three of you. Hermione, you're the second daughter of Frederick and Rose Brooks. You have an elder sister, Gwendolyn. And, finally, Luna, you are the eldest child of Samuel and Ophelia Fox. Hermione's father and Luna's mother are also Aurors, and both your mothers stay at home."
"Hermione Brooks," repeated Hermione.
"Ginny Ettington?"
"Luna Fox," nodded Luna.
"Now for your histories," said Lachesis. "All three of your families – The Brooks', Fox's and Ettington's – have all been living in the outskirts of the same village (Whitsbury, we've made it, but you shall never visit). Recently, you have been attacked by Voldemort and his followers. Previously, your families have tutored you together, but now you think it's safer for you to go to Hogwarts. They are, what you call, blood traitors and had decided to go into hiding. All your parents were killed, as was your 'brother', Luna, and your sister Gwendolyn. When you get to your destination, you must send a letter to Professor Dumbledore to ask to go to Hogwarts, as he must have heard from the Daily Prophet. If someone approaches you that you apparently 'know' don't act suspicious, and don't get found out."
"We better change your clothes to suit the era," Clotho said examining them "Here…" she produced three sets of clothes. One was a pair of short dungarees, a Mickey Mouse top and some black combat boots. The second, a long floral maxi skirt with a big tan belt, a floaty white dream-catcher print and tan boots. The last was a floaty blue short skirt, a bright pink top with black writing (something about the Sex Pistols) a yellow belt and flat yellow ballet pumps. Ginny immediately grabbed the first pair, Luna chose the second and Hermione sighed as she had to stick with the last one.
Atropos tapped each of them with her shears and their clothes changed over. They dropped their old robes on the floor and they vanished.
"I think that is all…" said Atropos.
"What? You mean, you're just gonna dump us there?" Ginny exclaimed.
"Yes, you know enough," Atropos said. "But remember, you have the ability to change everything. It means you can make it much worse than it will be – know your bounds and decide which area is more important."
"Hold together," Clotho instructed. "We are letting you go."
They did as they were told; holding each other's hands tightly.
The three fates circled around them in a weird fashion, mumbling different things under their breath. Out of each of their chests a blinding streak of white light exploded out, straight at the three girls. Hermione felt the now-familiar feeling of being tugged backwards by someone. All around her was a blur of every colour; it hurt to look at so Hermione shut her eyes tightly, wishing the motion to stop. It went on and on until Hermione felt so dizzy she thought she was going to be sick.
When everything stopped, the three girls got thrown to the floor, which was cold and wet. Large drops of water were dripping down onto their faces, making them open their eyes cautiously.
"Where are we?" croaked Ginny, wincing as she lent on her elbows. Her head was still spinning and it was hard to make everything stay in focus.
"I think we're in a side street in Diagon Alley." said Luna, standing up. She had got used to the motion quickly, whilst Hermione and Ginny were still groaning on the floor.
"Well, Lachesis said that we had to ask Dumbledore about our places. D'you think we should get a room at the Leaky Cauldron?" asked Hermione, finally managing to get up.
"That sounds good, we better go quickly, we're already soaked through." said Ginny, rubbing her head.
The girls hurried out of the alley to the main street. The Diagon Alley now was not that much different to the one they knew. It had most of the same shops, like Ollivanders, Flourish and Blotts and all the others (except Fred and George's shop). However there were a few more, like a Wizarding Hairdresser and a second-hand Potion supplies shop. The Alley looked slightly fresher and cleaner than it was, Gringotts was a just bit whiter.
"We can go to Florean's shop tomorrow, if it's sunny, what I wouldn't do for an ice cream…" said Ginny longingly.
Because of the weather (which was very rainy) nobody was about except two elderly wizards and a small boy. Hermione, Ginny and Luna walked straight through and into the back door of the Leaky Cauldron.
"Miss Brooks! Miss Fox! Miss Ettington!" called a voice. It turned out to be the younger version of Tom the landlord. Twenty years had done some good.
"Tom!" said Hermione, walking forwards and fixing a smile on her face.
"Dear, dear, I was so sorry to hear of what happened!" he said sadly "It is devastating, your family were good, good people and did not deserve that. The Prophet said about everything."
"Thank you Tom, would it be possible if we could have a room until September 1st? We have decided to ask Professor Dumbledore to go to Hogwarts – it is meant to be safe there, is it not?" said Hermione politely. Tom nodded hard.
"Not at all my dear, I can't let my favourite customers go homeless, hmm?" he said. "Hogwarts is the safest of course, Dumbledore makes sure of that. Follow me ladies."
They walked up the small creaky staircase to Room 15. It was a wide spaced room with three four poster beds along the left wall, each with a white bedspread, hangings and a bedside table. There were two large windows on the wall straight ahead, with a pretty view of Diagon Alley. The rest of the room was filled with a chest of drawers with a mirror, a wardrobe and a door leading to a small bathroom.
"I hope it is all right, not anything like your houses in –" babbled Tom.
"It's perfect, thank you!" said Ginny smiling. Tom nodded, bowed and left.
Ginny turned to face the other two. "So," she began. "It is two o'clock in the afternoon. Shall we write that letter to Dumbledore now? Then we can go into muggle London and buy ourselves more clothes. Oh, we need to get money from Gringotts then, I assume we have a lot, considering the way Tom treated us."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Fine," she sighed "But I think tomorrow I want to get my hair cut, Hermione Brooks does not want to have bushy hair for much longer."
Ginny nodded. "It's weird calling yourself Hermione Brooks, isn't it? How come I got the name Ettington? It sounds like I'm some sort of snob."
Hermione nodded and grinned.
"Shall we do the letter?" asked Luna.
The others agreed, so Luna got a piece of parchment and quill. She chewed it in thought.
"What exactly are we going to say?"
"You know, just ask Dumbledore whether we can have a place! He can't exactly say no, can he? I mean, we're homeless and underage, well, Hermione nearly isn't. That reminds me, are we going to be in the same year? Luna and I are younger than you, you know, and I bet the Marauders are in their sixth-year like you, Hermione."
"Good point," said Hermione. "And it'll be easier to be in the same year, so maybe we should tell Dumbledore we are of the same ability and should be in sixth-year?"
"Good idea," nodded Ginny. "Go on, Luna, write the letter."
Luna began to write.
'Dear Professor A Dumbledore,
Due to recent events that have made us currently homeless, we are asking whether we are able to get three places at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for September the first. All three of us are at the same ability, even though myself and Ginny are one year younger, and wish to be in the sixth-year together. Is there any space? If there is we shall be most grateful.
Yours faithfully
Luna Ophelia Fox, Ginevra Molly Ettington & Hermione Jean Brooks.
"Finished," said Luna, setting down the quill and letting the ink dry. "What shall we do now?
xxx
The three girls headed back to their room around five o'clock. They had been shopping for two and a half hours. Ginny had dragged them into every shop possible, buying (after they had gone for an exchange at Gringotts, where they found their families were very rich, much to Ginny's excitement) tops, jumpers, skirts, shorts, trousers, shoes, belts, necklaces and everything possible.
They opened the door with difficulty, for they had so many bags between them. When they had dumped all the bags on the bed, they realised that an owl was pecking at the window. Luna went over and let it in.
"It's a letter from Dumbledore!" she said, opening it.
"Read it out Luna!"
"Dear Misses Fox, Brooks and Ettington
It would be a pleasure for you to join us at Hogwarts, and it is acceptable for all three of you to join the sixth-years. Please choose the following N.E.W.T subjects that you wish to take (in experience, try not to take all of them):
Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Astronomy, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Divination, History of Magic, Herbology, Muggle Studies, Potions and Transfiguration.
And reply back. I have attached the booklist so you may buy the books in Diagon Alley.
Term starts on the 1st September; please be at Platform 9 and ¾, Kings Cross Station for 11 o'clock. Please follow the First-Years on the boats so that you can enter the Sorting Ceremony.
Hope to speak soon
Albus Percival Wulfric Brain Dumbledore
"Well, at least we know we can go then. Shall we reply now?" asked Ginny.
"We need to decide which subjects to take," said Hermione. "We should take the ones which give us the most advantage. And each of us should take a different one so that we can observe all the classes and get more of an idea of how to help the future."
"Alright," said Ginny. "Well, obviously we need to take Defence Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration and Charms. And probably Potions and Herbology too."
"I'd like to do Care of Magical Creatures," said Luna.
"And Arithmancy and Ancient Runes," said Hermione. They looked at Ginny.
"I'm not doing Divination!" Ginny said.
"C'mon Ginny, we have to be in practically every class!"
"Hermione you walked out of this class!"
"Because it's not my type of subject! Anyway, Trelawney won't be teaching the class at the moment."
Ginny crossed her arms and scowled.
"What else?" said Luna.
"Well," said Hermione. "That's six for both of you and seven for me. Anything else?"
"No way," said Ginny, unfolding her arms. "I think I'll suffer a grave death if I do anymore – especially as I'm taking Divination."
Hermione wasn't listening. "Maybe I should take History of Magic?"
"Nobody takes History of Magic," said Luna. "What's the point?"
"What about Muggle Studies?"
"Why would you need to take Muggle Studies?" Ginny scoffed. "You're Muggleborn!"
"Not anymore," Hermione reminded her.
"Oh right, can't we just say our parents made us grow up with Muggle appliances?"
"That would be easier," said Luna. "Shall we write back to Professor Dumbledore now?"
Hermione and Ginny nodded and got a fresh sheet of parchment. They carefully wrote down their chosen subjects and then consulted the sheet of parchment that contained which books they needed.
"We'll have to make a day of it," said Hermione, scratching her nose at the long list and crossing the lessons that they didn't need off.
"That's alright," said Ginny. "We have to get loads of other stuff too, remember? Books, robes, trunks, animals … parchment and quills … Quidditch supplies …"
Hermione raised her eyebrows and placed the supply list back down.
"Shall we see if we can get a bite to eat?" asked Luna.
Hermione nodded. "Sure, I'm starving."
When they had all seated around a small rickety table eating a portion of Shepard's Pie each, Ginny noticed a Daily Prophet with their names on.
"Hey look!" she said through a mouthful of peas.
"Straighten it out so we can see." Hermione told her. They leant over the table to examine the article.
DEATH EATERS ATTACK ON THREE WIZARDING HOMES – IS ANYONE SAFE?
During the late evening of the 21st of August, numerous so called "Death Eaters" infiltrated the houses of the notorious Aurors, Frederick Brooks, Samuel Fox and Kenneth and Daphne Ettington, in the outskirts of Whitsbury. Rumours have spread that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named himself arrived at the scene to join his followers. The Death Eaters murdered Frederick Brooks on the spot before moving onto his wife, Rose, who had been looking after their daughters Gwendolyn and Hermione. Gwendolyn was murdered alongside her mother, but Hermione managed to escape unscathed. Meanwhile in the Ettington house, Daphne Ettington was struck down but her husband mysterious disappeared whilst the murder was underway. His disappearance is still being explained but Ministry Officials said he is "presumed dead.". Likewise with the Brooks', their only daughter Ginevra also managed to escape Samuel, Ophelia and Christopher Fox were also dead at the scene, their daughter Luna escaping with the other two girls.
The Ministry is reeling after the death of four high-ranking Aurors and they have stated it is a sad day for all within the wizarding community.
Ministry Officials are currently researching for the past few days about why such an event happened and will continue to do so until questions have been answer. (For more information about the three daughters saved, turn to page 9).
By Andrew Marks
"Oh," said Hermione.
"So we're meant to be traumatised?" asked Ginny.
"I guess."
Ginny suddenly snatched the paper away and rifled through the pages.
She cleared her throat.
"Hem hem," she began, making the other two snort. "THE THREE AUROR'S DAUGHTERS – WHY WERE THEY SAVED? After recent events involving their families, Hermione Jean Brooks, Ginevra 'Ginny' Molly Ettington and Luna Ophelia Fox have all recently become orphans in the worst way possible. But why, even when You-Know-Who himself arrived at their house, were they still alive when Ministry Officials got alerted of the disturbance in the somewhat peaceful village in Hampshire? All three daughters were home-schooled together by Fox and Brooks' mothers and rumour has it all three are extremely bright witches which could add to the community. Their lives were very luxurious but the question is – what are they doing now? And where will they go? Rumour has it that Brooks, Fox and Ettington are making their way to France, to begin an education at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. Only time will tell… by Rita Skeeter" Ginny looked at Hermione, who was scowling at the paper.
"I see she's still writing."
Ginny rolled her eyes "C'mon Hermione, it's just the same as it usually is – actually it's quite tame for her – it was only a bit nosy on her part. We'll go to the shopping in Diagon Alley tomorrow – you can stock up for your library and get a nice new haircut! I saw a sign saying it's in the top five wizarding hairdressers!"
Hermione sighed "Fine."
As they ate their pudding, they watched the people come and go, all of them spotting the three girls and whispering. They only stopped when Ginny glared at them.
"It's rude to talk about people behind their backs."
The middle-aged women, who were having dinner as well, blushed and turned away, Ginny smirked.
"Shall we go before Ginny hurts someone?" asked Luna to Hermione, ignoring Ginny's protest.
Hermione grinned and nodded, dumping the Daily Prophet in the bin on the way out.
By the time they reached their beds, they realized that they hadn't had any sleep for a long time, so they each went to their respected beds.
"This is going to be weird isn't it?" said Ginny as they settled down.
"Yeah," said Luna "Especially when we will have people we knew in our old life."
"Like Sirius and Remus, Snape and Harry's parents." said Hermione
"Ahh, but Hermione dear, we do not know of this 'Harry' or anyone for that matter, we have to do a fair bit of acting to get through the first few months of Hogwarts." Ginny said.
"Don't remind me, we'll have to ask where everything is at Hogwarts, like where the bathroom is." groaned Hermione.
"It'll be different. I'm going to help Severus Snape." said Luna.
"Why?" gasped Ginny. "He's a right bast –!"
"I think that would be good," cut across Hermione. "I mean, you can try. We have to save a lot of people don't we?"
"Not necessarily," said Luna "If we do it before a certain time, everything will be alright."
Hermione nodded, eventhough the others couldn't see her.
"We should help Sirius' brother," she said aloud.
"That's a good idea," said Luna. "I'll try do that as well, you two aren't always good when it comes to Slytherins."
Hermione snorted and nodded again. She went on nodding until she fell into a deep, refreshing sleep.
Ginny, on the other hand, lay wide awake, thinking about her life now. On the plus side, she didn't have to worry about money, but she had no family other than Hermione and Luna.
Would that be enough? She had taken having a huge family for granted, never really imagining life without it, never thinking about it. But it was gone. The Weasley's would never have a Ginny; they might have another girl, but not Ginny. She wouldn't have it ever again. She couldn't stop the single tear escaping, but she let herself fall into a sleep, a lot less deep than Hermione's.