Severus and Hermione walked down to the second floor and made their way over to the Headmaster's office.

Severus turned to the Griffin guarding the door and spoke the password.

"Jelly beans," he said, "Professor Dumbledore loves muggle sweets." He put his arm out for Hermione to go up the stairs first.

The pair walked up the stairs in silence. Once they reached the door at the top, Severus knocked on the door.

"Enter." said a gruff voice on the other side. Hermione pushed the door open and walked into the office.

"Professor Dumbledore, this is Hermione Granger. I found her on the 7th floor. Looking for your office. It seems the staircases decided to take her further than she needed to go."

"Hello, Hermione. I have been expecting you. You are free to go Severus."

"Good evening Professor, Ms. Granger." Snape said as he left the room, a bewildered look upon his face.

"Now Ms. Granger can you explain how you came to be in the castle?" Dumbledore asked over his half-moon glasses.

"Well, Sir, I am not sure how much I can tell you. I-" Hermione stopped to think about how to continue, "I am from the future. My Time Turner is broken. I did not know it was broken until it was too late."

"I see. It would be wise if you said no more. I will, of course, look for a way to get you back to your time. I assume then that you are a student. We shall get you sorted and get you your school things this weekend. What year were you in Hermione?"

"I was a 7th year but never got to attend. So I would be a 6th year."

"Have a seat and I will fetch the Sorting Hat."

Hermione sat down in one of the arm chairs in front of the Headmaster's desk. She looked around while she waited for Professor Dumbledore to return with the Sorting Hat.

Dumbledore walked back into the room with the beaten old hat she remembered from her sorting.

"I will place the hat on your head and he will decide where to put you." Dumbledore said setting the hat upon Hermione's head.

Hermione jumped a little when the hat started to speak to her.

"Ah we meet again, Ms. Granger. You still have a brilliant mind. Plenty of courage and bravery I see. I stand by my original choice, my dear." the hat spoke to her, but shouted to nobody in particular, "Gryffindor!"

"A wonderful House indeed!" Professor Dumbledore clapped.

"Thank you sir. If we could figure out my schedule I am very hungry and quite tired."

The next morning Hermione was sitting at the table eating breakfast when 4 boys surrounded her.

"Who are you?" asked a boy who looked a lot like Harry.

"Where did you come from?" asked a boy who looked like Sirius.

"Why are you at our table?" said a 3rd boy.

"Leave the young lady alone to eat before asking her so many questions!" a boy whom she was certain was Remus, "Sorry about them. It isn't very often we get a student in the middle of a term."

Hermione looked at the group of boys again and suddenly gasped.

"Is something the matter?" the 3rd boy asked her with concern in her eyes.

"No you just look like some of my friends from home. I miss them dearly. My name is Hermione. And you are?" she asked the boys as they stared at her and filled their plates.

The one who looked like Harry spoke first.

"I am James Potter. The guy across from you is Remus. The guy next to him is Sirius. And the one next to you is Peter. We are in Gryffindor as well."

"Oh nice to meet you." she said and went back to her breakfast.

A few minutes later Remus looked at her and saw a couple tears escape down her face. He got up and motioned to Peter to move to his spot. Remus sat down and wrapped an arm around Hermione.

Hermione jumped a little at the sudden contact.

Remus leaned down and whispered in her ear, "It is okay to cry, but never do it alone. From this moment on you have the 4 of us. I promise." He reached up and cupped her face and used his thumbs to wipe the tears from her face.

"James I am gong to show Hermione the way to our first class." he spoke over her head. ←

END PART let me go 3 doors down (later on)

Remus and Hermione left the Great Hall and headed up the Grand Staircase towards the DADA room. Remus kept glancing at the young lady next to him. She looked very sad and defeated.

Suddenly Remus stopped and pulled Hermione into his chest in a bone crushing hug. Just as he was about to let go he felt her arms wrap around him and pull him close. He rubbed her back as her sobs wrecked havoc on her body. She was shaking so bad Remus pulled them to the wall so he could hold them both up.

"It is okay, Mi. Is there anything I can do for you?" Remus asked pulling her hair to the side to wipe the young woman's eyes.

"How touching, Lupin." a dark voice sneered behind them.

"Go away!" Remus said sternly, "This does not concern you."

Hermione turned around and encountered the boy she met when she first arrived.

"Severus, that is you name correct?" Hermione said holding her hand out, "I am Hermione Granger. Pleasure to see you again."

"I am afraid I can not say the same at this moment Granger. Whimpering females are not for me." he said as he turned on his heel and walked off.

"Don't take it personally. He is cold and heartless to everybody."

"I know somebody like him. He grew up to be caring. Selectively but still caring." Hermione wiped her eyes thinking of the Severus she knew compared to his teen-aged self.

Remus laughed. He pulled Hermione's hand to his elbow and lead her to class.

After classes the Marauders lead Hermione to the Gryffindor common room. James and Sirius didn't seem to take things to seriously that evening.

Hermione sat in a far corner hoping to escape all the noise that James and Sirius were making. Remus looked around for his new friend and frowned when he found her alone in a corner.

"James, Sirius!" he shouted to be heard above them, "Do you think you could quiet down so our new girl can join us? She seems lonely but I noticed earlier she doesn't like loud noises."

"Sure, Moony, we can do that for you." Sirius turned to find Hermione and spotted her in the far corner, "Hey, Kitten, would you like to join us?"

Sirius's smile fell when he saw her jump and reach for her wand.

"You weren't kidding, were you Remus?" James asked quietly.

"Unfortunately I wasn't. Whatever she escaped it was bad."

Sirius got up and walked over to Hermione.

"It is okay, Kitten. I did not mean to startle you." Sirius said reach out to touch her shoulder.

"Remus!" she yelled.

Sirius and James noticed Hermione looked slightly spaced.

Remus ran over to her and pulled her into his arms. He rubbed her arms and reassured her that she was safe with them.

"I am sorry I startled you, Kitten."

"Gods, Sirius can't you leave me alone. I have to do this. I told you everything already!" Hermione screamed at him and ran from the room.

James, Sirius and Remus looked at the retreating form of their new friend and wondered what happened.

"What is she talking about Pads?" Remus asked pulling Sirius to face him.

"I have no idea. I haven't had much chance to talk to her. She has been almost firmly attached to you from the beginning."

"He is right, Remus. We haven't had much chance to talk to her. Should we try to find her or do you want to go by yourself?" James asked Remus.

James stood and watched the faces of two of his best friends. Sirius looked confused as to what was happening. He was certain that he hadn't done anything to elicit that reaction from Hermione. Remus looked worried. What ever is happening with the girl is worrying him a great deal.

James and Sirius were jerked from their thoughts as Remus ran from the common room.

Remus was running around the hallways thinking of where Hermione might go. He checked every foot of the Library. He checked the kitchen but the elves had not seen the girl. When he reached the 7th floor he noticed a door that he had never seen before.

Slowly he walked to the door and tried the handle. It opened. He looked inside the room and what he saw was beautiful. The room had high vaulted ceilings and large open spaces. It was a deep emerald color with cream accents. In the middle was a king sized canopy bed. The purple bed clothes was hiding a lump that was shaking. After a moment of looking Remus concluded it must be Hermione.

He slowly approached the bed and sat down lightly and called out the Hermione on the other side.

"Hermione? Can you come out and talk to me please?" Remus asked softly reaching for the girl.

"I am sorry, Remus. I didn't mean to freak out like that." Hermione said popping her head out from underneath her blanket. "Will you let me explain?"

Remus shook his head and urged her to come closer. When she got to him she buried her head in his chest and took a few calming breaths.

"Can you promise to hear me out before you decide anything? I want you to understand." Hermione pleaded softly to him. She sat up and looked him in the eye.

Remus again shook his head and pulled them to the headboard to get comfortable. He motioned for Hermione to start.

Hermione took a deep breath and started her tale.