Note: Set in HBP, Canon Divergence

Hermione looked around swiftly, assessing the space around her. The common room looked so similar than before, but she knew it wasn't the one she was previously standing in. She mumbled under her breath about the boys practising spells in that blasted journal without knowing their effects and consequences.

Whatever the spell they'd used bounced off the walls and hit her while she was reading on the couch. Her book and the boys were nowhere in sight. Obviously, this was a consequence from the spell.

What Hermione didn't know, which was another thing to add to her irritation, was what was wrong in the first place. Did she travel in time? Was she propelled into a parallel space (it could be her irrational mind talking with that bit)?

"Moony, you here?" called out a voice approaching. "I was looking for my–Oh, I haven't seen you here before."

Hermione froze, not turning around to face the male just yet. She knew that only a few people knew to use that nickname so casually. It confirmed that she was sent through time; that was not good in the slightest.

When she returned to the right time, Hermione was going to use her biggest book to knock sense into them.

She felt a presence close to her, standing directly in front of her actually. The curly haired witch blinked in surprise, staring the dark-haired teen in the eyes.

"What's the matter? Kneazle got your tongue?" he asked, a sly grin on his face. "Still waiting on a name…"

Shaking out of her initial shock and clearing her throat, Hermione took a deep breath. The aftermath of tampering with time would be catastrophic; she had to be careful.

"Hermione," she answered. "Hermione Granger. And you are…?"

He gave her a look, and Hermione interpreted that he looked almost offended by the statement. "James Potter," he replied with a bow. "At your service."

Oh, Merlin, it was really really confirmed. She was having a conversation with Harry's father, and she couldn't say a word. To make matters worse, it was possible that he was attempting to flirt with her.

She was so wringing Harry and Ron's neck for this.

"A pleasure," Hermione said stiffly, hoping to get out of the conversation smoothly. "If you excuse me I just have to–"

James grabbed her hand, shaking it himself. "It's impolite to introduce yourself without shaking hands," he said cheekily. "You don't want to seem rude, do you?"

Hermione brought her hand back quickly, a faint blush rushing to her cheeks. "No, I don't," she said. "However, I don't think that my level of rudeness was your goal."

He shrugged with a chuckle. "Perhaps, perhaps not." His eyes swept over Hermione, and her blush intensified. It appeared like he was checking her out in more ways than one. He was a Marauder after all. "What year are you, anyway?"

She gulped. She couldn't very well answer with the way he looked at her. He'd know if she was lying (it wasn't her strongest suit) so what was a girl to do?

"I just transferred today," Hermione said quickly. "From the States."

He raised a brow. "You picked up the accent nicely," he replied smoothly.

Hermione bit her lip and glanced at the floor. She tried coming up with something quick, only to be saved by someone calling for James. He gave her another look, one that told her that it wasn't over. He sent another grin her way as he adjusted her glasses.

"Until we meet again, Hermione Granger," he told her before calling after the other student and jogging up the stairs to the boys' dormitory.

She released the breath she didn't realise she was holding and rushed out of the common room without looking back. If anyone knew what to do, it'd be Professor Dumbledore. She had to find him and figure out how to get back before she ruined time (no matter the tempting thoughts). At least, she had to figure it out before James tried flirting with her or get information out of her that he shouldn't.

Word Count: 686