Hello everyone, This is my first fanfic, so I'm hoping you go easy on me. I welcome any reviews, because I want to improve. Well, wish me lot's of luck and such.

Summary: McGonagall allows Harry into Hermione's time-travel adventure. Harry is pulled into intense study sessions and survival training. Hermione is tackling a problem called time. Ron is being very Ron. Time travel, intense study, Quidditch, training, classes and Chess, Harry is in for one interesting year.

Pairings: HPHG (Other pairings to be decided)

Disclaimer: I do not, nor ever will own Harry Potter and its affiliated characters.

Enjoy the story. ~Kit

Lesson 1 ~ A Secret Shared

It was the beginning of a new year at Hogwarts. The air was thick with September first excitement as crowds of housemates and friends greeted each other. Even if the mocking voice of Draco Malfoy was an unwelcomed blight, Harry Potter felt at home.

The castle seemed to glow with new term wonder, and even Hermione Granger stood in the hall in reverie. The door into the great hall stood open at the right; Harry followed the crowd toward it, but barely glimpsed the enchanted ceiling, which was black and cloudy tonight, when a voice called, "Potter! Granger! I want to see you both!"

Harry and Hermione turned around, surprised. Harry grew nervous as her sharp gaze focused on the trio. Professor McGonagall had a way of making him feel he must have done something wrong.

"There's no need to look so worried – I just want a word in my office," she told them. "Move along there, Weasley."

Hermione gave a small wave to Ron and motioned for Harry to walk beside her. Still feeling rather off, he complied with her comforting whims. "They probably just want to check on you Harry, if anyone has to worry it's me," she whispered to him.

"Hermione Granger, get in trouble? Never," he whispered back.

She gave him an indignant huff and a small smile. McGonagall gave the couple a warning cough. "In you go," the professor directed them. "Professor Lupin sent an owl ahead to say that you were taken ill on the train, Potter."

Before Harry could reply there was a soft knock on the door and Madam Pomfrey, the nurse, came bustling in.

Harry felt himself going red in the face. "I'm fine, really!" he exclaimed.

"Harry," Hermione scolded, "calm down."

"What happened this time Mr. Potter?"

"It was a dementor, Madam Pomfrey. One swept into our compartment and got in real close. Professor Lupin gave us all some chocolate after our encounter, but Harry had it the worst –"

"Hermione!" he cried, embarrassed. "I'm fine."

The two missed a dark look that passed between the two adults. Madam Pomfrey gave him a disapproving look, "Well, why don't I have a look just in case?" Without another word, she began fussing over Harry. "You won't be the last to fall ill because of those things, horrible, nasty creatures," she mumbled. "Hmm, yes, all clammy."

"What does he need?" said Professor McGonagall crisply. "Bed rest? Should he perhaps spend tonight in the hospital wing?"

"I'm fine!" said Harry, jumping up. The thought of what Draco Malfoy would say if he had to go to the hospital wing was torture.

"Well, he's already had chocolate... Are you feeling any different than usual Mr. Potter?" Madam Pomfrey inquired. Harry shook his head and opened his mouth. "I know, I know Mr. Potter, you're fine. Miss Granger, should he show signs of distress, please inform either myself or Professor McGonagall, if there's nothing else?"

"Are you sure you feel alright, Potter?" Professor McGonagall said sharply.

"Yes," said Harry.

"Very well. Kindly wait outside while I have a quick word with Miss Granger about her schedule, then we can go down to the feast together."

"I-I'll be able to take all my classes won't I?" Harry heard Hermione ask as he exited the room. The door closed behind him and McGonagall let out a small, frustrated sigh. "Won't I?" Hermione asked quietly biting her lip in anticipation.

"Yes, Miss Granger, you will be able to take all your classes. Yes, well, while we could have you taking all of your classes on an even schedule, I feel that you would be more comfortable taking classes with your friends. So, instead of putting you into Ravenclaw classes I have convinced Professor Dumbledore to grant you this."

She took the odd ornament and said, "I don't understand. What do you mean by putting me into Ravenclaw classes? We have classes with them all the time..."

"Well, without the device you have in your hand, we would have had you taking certain core classes with another house. However, the device I have given you will allow you to keep your classes."

"What is it Professor?" Hermione asked curiously.

"This is a Time-turner," Professor McGonagall opened a second door. "In please, Miss Granger." She followed her favorite teacher into a more private area, briefly wondering why they had changed venue. They spent most of the next hour going over the delicacies of time-travel, before Hermione desperately tried to argue against keeping her schedule secret.

"Please, Professor, I know the dangers, and I won't tell anyone else. Harry and Ron spend so much time with me, they're bound to notice..." she trailed off at the thought that Ron would notice anything, "well, Harry would notice. He's much more observant than most would give him credit for."

"Miss Granger," McGonagall warned.

"Please, I know Harry, he wouldn't tell anyone else, and he can help me keep track of everything. It would be so much better if I had just one person I could talk to about the classes I'm taking, and well...He won't tell. Please?" she begged.

"Promise me you will tell no else," McGonagall replied sternly. Hermione gave her professor a stiff nod, thinking her rambling was for naught. "Well, I see no problem with letting Mr. Potter know, but he must not tell anyone. Mr. Weasley however is less likely to be able to keep a secret. If you are sure you wish to alienate one friend from a well kept secret, I will not stop you."

Hermione bit her lip, "I, um, thank you Professor."

"Very well, follow me," she commanded. Hermione followed her professor back into the office. "Now let us turn back one hour and head to dinner."

Hermione let out a sudden gasp, "That's why we moved to the other room!"

McGonagall nodded and motioned for Hermione to turn time. A brief moment later Hermione heard the door close, their other selves had just moved to the other room, and it had only been a few minutes for Harry. "Call Mr. Potter in. I would like an oath from both of you to ensure you will not tell anyone else about your device."

Hermione opened the door and called Harry back in. "You didn't talk me into the infirmary did you Hermione?" Harry whispered jokingly.

"She did not, Mr. Potter, however if you wish to stay there for the night it can be arranged."

Harry gulped, "No, Professor." He glanced nervously at Hermione's half-hearted smile.

"Good," McGonagall looked to Hermione, "I have given Miss Granger a device called a Time-turner. This is so she can attend her classes. I will allow her to give you the details later, as I believe we are due for dinner. However, I need an oath from each of you."

Hermione looked at Harry, "Follow my lead," she took a sharp breath. "I, Hermione Jane Granger, do so swear to keep all knowledge of true time-travel and time-turners to myself and those in this room, unless there is an extreme emergency that requires its exposure."

McGonagall nodded, "Quite acceptable Miss Granger. It will warn you and I if you are near braking this oath, but it will not bring harm to your life nor your magic. Mr. Potter."

Confused, Harry repeated Hermione's oath, word for word – after replacing her name for his. After another nod from their professor, they made their way to the Great Hall.

"What was that about?" he asked, still confused over the odd mood his friend was in.

"If I wanted to keep my classes with you and the rest of the Gryffindors, I needed to be in two places at once. Apparently the elective classes are scheduled around the Ravenclaw Core classes to accommodate their 'thirst for knowledge,' meaning that if anyone in Gryffindor or Slytherin wanted to take all the offered electives they'd need –"

"To be in two places at once, because we share most of our classes with the Slytherins, meaning the Ravenclaws spend most of their classes with the Hufflepuffs – the house known for hard work. I get it Hermione."

McGonagall gave a small cough, "I see what you meant about observant Miss Granger, but we are here."

They walked in as inconspicuously as possible, however Harry winced at a furious glare Snape had sent his way. He could almost hear the sarcastic voice sneer at him. People were pointing at him as he and Hermione passed their tables. Whispers filled the hall, and briefly, he wondered if news of his collapse had already spread across the entire student body. "Ignore it Harry," Hermione whispered, bringing a small smile to McGonagall's lips.

They parted ways with their professor as she moved to her seat at the head table. The two found seats on either side of Ron, who promptly asked, "What did she call you away for anyway?" Harry began to explain when Dumbledore stood up.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast..."

Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business.

"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises – or even Invisibility cloaks."

Hermione laughed as her boys gave each other a worried glance. As Dumbledore continued his tirade on the nature of dementors, Hermione, who promised herself she'd find more information on those despicable creatures, pulled out a crumpled piece of parchment to take some notes.

She set down her pen, which she had on her at all times due to its durability, and clapped hard as the new professors were announced. Her smile towards the two only faltered when Harry whispered, "Look at Snape! It's like he hates Professor Lupin as much as he hates me!"

Hermione had to agree, the look her Potions teacher gave Professor Lupin was one of pure loathing, the kind that Professor Snape usually had tuned to Harry.

"And with that done, Let the feast begin!" Dumbledore announced.

The tables were flooded with food and knives and forks began to dance in a frenzy of hunger. "So," Ron began taking a bite out of his chicken, "Whaf sid Miganaga wan'?"

"Ron, at least swallow before talking," Hermione scolded.

Harry shook his head, "Hermione's got a point Ron, one day, even I won't understand you."

Ron gave them an exaggerated swallow. "What did McGonagall want?" he asked again.

Harry shrugged, "For me, she just allowed Madam Pomfrey to fuss over me. Honestly, I was fine, and I am fine."

Hermione gave him a mocking smile, "It was a fight to convince both of them of his completely 'I'm fine' status."

Harry returned her smile with a smirk as Ron asked, "What about you? What was wrong?"

Hermione huffed, "I have it all worked out with the Professor. Don't you worry."

They gave her a shrug and returned to their meal, unaware of the change in their group dynamic. Had anyone else been paying attention to Harry and Hermione, they would have noticed a new spark of trust between them. Suddenly it was okay for the two reclusive teens to poke fun at each other and act their age.

At the end of dinner the trio walked up to the head table to give their favorite half-giant a hearty congratulations. Then they followed Percy, Big-Head Boy extraordinaire, up to the common room. "The password is Fortuna Major!" He announced to the hall of clamoring students.

The common room was just as they remembered, warm, friendly, inviting; it was home. Ron trudged up the boys' staircase, already half-asleep. "You coming Harry?"

"In a bit," He replied, watching as his lazy friend continued up the stairs. Noticing the dwindling numbers, Harry asked, "Want to talk about it now?"

Hermione shook her head, "Let's wait a while for the room to clear up. You know, you never did tell me why you blew up your aunt."

As Harry ran through the small tale of his not so successful blackmail scheme, the common room faded into quiet. As he spoke, Crookshanks crawled into his lap. Running his fingers through the cat's orange fur had calmed Harry as the story unfolded.

"I know it's a bit late Harry, but your aunt is very wrong. Your mother must have been the finest pick of the family. The only thing she is right about is that you have plenty of your mother in you, of that I'm sure," Hermione told him as she scanned the common room. "Okay, it's now perfectly vacant," she deducted, pleased. "We can talk about it now."

He stopped petting Crookshanks, earning him a small hiss. "I guess my first question would be, why tell me at all?" Harry stated plainly.

Hermione took a breath, "Because, after you told us about Sirius Black, I knew this year would be just as much trouble as the last. So, to ensure that you will listen to me, about your safety and your studies, I thought I would or should be completely honest with you in all things so you could trust me enough to listen," Hermione paused. "I was also hoping to show you how much I trust you. I did not want and will never want to force you to do anything. Oh, am I making any sense?"

"Okay," Harry blinked, "I think I understand, sort of. But, you know, I already trust you."

Hermione smiled. "Thanks Harry, but I want to be worthy of it."

"Well, why isn't Ron going to be in on this?" Harry asked without malice.

Hermione bit her lip, "Well, Professor McGonagall didn't think Ron would be able to keep the Time-Turner a secret if he was provoked. He would try to rub it in Malfoy's face."

Harry nodded, and chuckled, "Yeah, he probably would."

"Was there anything else, Harry?" Hermione asked after a brief silence.

"Yeah, would you mind if I tagged along in your study hours? You'd go insane if you were alone."

Hermione smiled, "We can ask McGonagall tomorrow." She paused, "If Ron asks, I wanted you to study spells with me to get you prepared in case you do meet Sirius Black. Is that okay? Because I wanted to do that anyway," At Harry's nod, Hermione relaxed. "Good night Harry and thanks." She kissed his cheek and made her way up her girls' staircase.

Crookshanks purred as Harry ran his finger through the ginger cat's fur. "Our Hermione is something else, isn't she?" he asked, touching the warm stain Hermione had left on his cheek. The cat gave Harry a lazy glare as he removed him from his lap. "Good night Crooks, and stay out of trouble."

*Bold text: Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban pg. 88-92 American Hardcover

Well, that's all of it. I hope this was refreshing and new. I'd love to hear your thoughts, so please review, and I'll get the next chapter out as soon as possible.