Author's Note: My new series of one-shots, because we allll know I can't commit to a real story. Some may be missing moments, for an alternate universe, or nitpicking random flaws throughout the series. I've got a bunch of ideas running through my head, but I doubt any will develop well or into full-length stories.
The Quibbler
Summary: How it was decided Hermione was trustworthy enough to receive a time-turner for her third year.
Collateral
Hermione Jean Granger decided, as she walked through the door into the muggle bookstore, that this summer- her summer after her second year at Hogwarts- was the best thus far in her life.
After being petrified for nearly six months, she rejoiced in her ability to move, to walk, to talk- to experience life. The magical tutor Hogwarts provided two days a week to help her catch up on her second year coursework allowed her the use of magic (a fact Ron, and Harry- if he ever responded to her letters- was or would be very jealous of), and the muggle secondary school teacher that taught her in the mornings made for a very educational summer.
The secondary school teacher was the reason she was here- at the bookstore, WH Smith, the local non-magical bookstore. As a condition to put forth the tuition for Hogwarts, Hermione's parents required her to be tutored for her A-levels to keep up with the mundane community. (She had, of course, no qualms about it).
Browsing the shelves for her requisite reading- a novel called "To Kill a Mockingbird"- Hermione's eye caught a book title with a familiar name. Her breath hitched-
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
Her gasp whooshed out. Her eyes scanned down the rest of the shelf, searching, looking.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Breathing in ragged heaves, her hands inched toward the books that claimed to be Year's six and seven; she'd never heard of those two things before… (She knew all about the wizard prison, and the Tri-Wizard Tournament- anyone who read "Hogwarts, A History did- and she knew of Dumbledore's secret association, of course. It was in many of the books about Light wizards that Harry was featured in.)
She stopped her trembling fingers an inch before the book cover for "…The Half-blood Prince", right abov the author's name… Now why did "J.K. Rowling" sound so familiar?
A mantra pounded in her ears.
Hermione twisted and instead grabbed Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. She quickly read the back cover, her mouth twisting unpleasantly. She clenched her jaw and flipped through the books pages until she saw her name- Hermione Granger.
Eyes wide, she read a perfect description of her first encounters with Harry and Ron.
She dropped the book like it was scalding, then turned heel and fled from the store, her muggle book forgotten, as she ran from the books that she knew would tell her future.
As she sped through door, one thing ran through her mind-
Terrible things happen to wizards who meddle with time.
Somewhere, an Unspeakable nodded in approval. His quill glistening with black ink, he placed a check on the piece of parchment before him.
Approved for academic time-turner usage.
And done.
I kinda liked it!
~Ale-Mar~
