Chapter 2- And So It Begins

All of the sudden there was the glare of a blinding light. Hermione tried to close her eyes, but found that the light seemed to be lowering its intensity. Blurs of objects started to form, and within seconds they began to take on shapes. It seemed that she was back in her bed in the Hospital Wing. Except now it was daytime, and there was no scene of chaos, but cleanliness and peace. And there was something else different about the Hospital Wing, something that she could not place. And that scared her, as she realized that there something utterly wrong here…

Hadn't she just walked into the Room of Requirements? If so, how in the world had she gotten back here in the first place? No magic that she had ever read of had the power to do something like this, and Hermione liked to think that she was well-versed in magic by now, but she didn't have an explanation for this feat.

Hermione sat up in bed. Surprisingly, she felt perfectly well, not sick at all. She noticed that the night stand to her side was filled with candies and gifts, and alittle pink purse. She looked at them curiously; she did not remember them being there before. Hermione reached out for the purse, and unbuttoned it open. She stuck her hand inside the bag, and pulled out a hard, shiny, rectangular object. For a moment she stared at it in shock. It was a mirror, a perfectly normal mirror.

But that was not the problem. No, the problem was what she saw in the mirror. She didn't see herself, but another in her place. It was the reflection of a girl with a heart-shaped face, unlike Hermione's egg-shaped one, and tight little dark brown curls, unlike her own bushy brown hair. The whole face was different, much softer looking than Hermione's. The only thing that remained the same was her eyes. Hermione still saw her very same brown eyes.

Hermione had heard of mirrors that altered your reflection. A sort of scary little joke you might find in a crummy joke shop. 'Calm down, Hermione, it's only a trick,' she told herself. She put the mirror down and reached out to touch her own hair. She needed to prove to herself that it was only a very sick joke. And she was almost complete convinced that it was a joke, too. That is, she was half-convinced until she felt tight curls flatten under the pressure of her hands.

What in Merlin's name had happened to her? Her new appearance had certainly confirmed that there was something wrong. Her mind was thinking a mile a minute, one conclusion less likely then the next. She was beginning to feel a bit lightheaded and fell back on the bed. It was as if the room was spinning around her, she felt awful.

"Odie, finally you're awake," someone exclaimed as they entered the Hospital Wing. Hermione was relieved; finally someone who could explain to her what was going on. But apparently they were looking for someone called Odie. Hermione looked around the Hospital Wing, but there was no one but Hermione there.

"Odessa Todd, answer me when I speak to you!" said a bubbly little blonde. She was small, about Hermione's age, and was wearing a do-rag in her hair. Hermione wondered when the last time anyone had worn that… but no; it couldn't be, could it…?

The girl grinned and ran up to Hermione, hugging her, and stepped back as she started to babble, "Oh my gosh, are you okay? I seriously almost cried when you were just laying there, all sprawled out like that. I cannot believe that Tom Riddle actually beat you that time- I mean everyone thought that you were a sure win and…"

The girl continued to babble, but Hermione didn't hear a word. Her blood ran cold as she heard the name of Tom Riddle. Hermione remembered that it was his name on the diary back in second year that had possessed Ginny. Now she was sick, for because he possessed her he left an everlasting scar on her soul. And it seemed that the scar had opened up when he came back, the pain growing as he grew in power. It was almost the same as Harry's scar, yet totally different. Hermione remembered the countless hours she had spent in the library to crack that mystery.

But before Hermione could ask any about it, specifically why she was they way she was and why she was being referred to as "Odessa Todd" and what Tom Riddle beat her at, she was interrupted from thought once again.

"Miss Prewett, Miss Todd," said a man's voice. She turned to see two men. One was in a healer's uniform, and the other was someone who looked vaguely familiar. It was a slightly younger Dumbledore. Hermione felt like she was going to cry- she had missed Dumbledore so much!

"You," said the healer pointing to Hermione, "bed. And you," he pointed to the blonde girl, Miss Prewett, "out. You will see Miss Todd when I say she is fit to leave."

The Prewett girl waved good bye, and hurriedly walked out the door. From the minute and a half that Hermione had known the girl, she seemed to like to do everything in a hurry.

Hermione turned back again to the healer and her former headmaster. Well, if she was in the past, then technically he wasn't her former headmaster. But in her past, specifically, he was. Wasn't he? Hermione decided to end that trail of thought; it was getting to confusing for her to follow.

"So, Miss Todd, let's have a look at that wrist of yours," said the Healer. Wrist, which wrist did he want? He expected her to know, didn't he? Hermione held out her right arm.

"Come now, Miss Todd, no time for games. You know that I meant the other wrist," said the Healer impatiently. Hermione flushed and switched arms. She noticed that Dumbledore was now eyeing her with suspicion.

The healer felt for the bones in her wrist, and turned her hand at different angles. Obviously she- no Odessa Todd, had injured it somehow. And that was why she- no Odessa, was here. Hermione was here for totally different reasons, ones that she wasn't very sure of herself.

"Well, everything seems to be in order. Albus, your young duelist seems to be back in perfect health once more," confirmed the healer.

"Good, good," Dumbledore nodded, "Now, if you wouldn't mind, Adam, I would like to have a word with my student."

"Oh yes, of course," the Healer nodded, just standing there.

"Alone," added Dumbledore. The healer's face flushed, and he exited the room.

Hermione suddenly felt very nervous- what was she going to say to Dumbledore? Would he even believe her?

When the healer was most definitely out of hearing range, Hermione spoke, "Headmaster- no, that isn't right, Professor Dumbledore, I have something really, really important to tell you and I-" he stopped her. Hermione's face brightened up- did he know already?

"Never fear, Miss Todd, I understand. We all must lose sometimes, it is losing that makes us stronger, it helps us to improve upon ourselves," this time Hermione found herself interrupting Dumbledore.

"It's, it's not that, Professor it's… it's something different," she found her voice trailing off. She mentally berated herself; she had some time to tell Dumbledore what was going on, so that maybe he would help her. But now she was about to cry instead.

"Is there something you would like to tell me, Miss Todd?" Dumbledore popped the age old question he had asked so many. Hermione looked up at him, wiped a tear from her eye and began.

"I went to the Room of Requirements last night, sir, only that it took place after now. I was afraid, very afraid, and rueful, and altogether hopeless. And somehow, the Room decided to send me here… the point is, sir, you're not talking to Odessa Todd. My name is Hermione Granger, and I," she struggled with the next few words, "I'm from the future."

Dumbledore's facial expression was filled of suspicion, surprise, and worst of all, disbelief. What if he didn't believe her- she had counted on him believing her. Who was there to turn to if not Dumbledore?

"You, you are not Miss Todd;" he concluded slowly, "The Room of Requirements is more peculiar and mysterious than it appears. It has strange ways of knowing exactly what we need. For some reason or another, it saw fit to bring you back to mid-September of 1943. One cannot be sure, but once you fulfill whatever it is you required to do, I'm sure you will return back to where you came from. Now you best be off, I'm sure Luci Prewett must be waiting."

Hermione nodded, and started to walk off. Then she remembered the purse and candies and things that were left on the night stand. She stuffed them all in a tote bag leaning against the bed and was on her way.

"One more thing, Miss… Granger," called Dumbledore. Hermione turned around to look at him, and he started to talk again, "You are obviously in this time for a reason but, I warn you; time is a delicate thing. Do what you must, but other than that, you must be discreet. Even the smallest of choices can have the greatest of effects on the future."

"I, I will try, sir," Hermione nodded. But that was a promise she just couldn't keep.


Jessi Brooke: Hello folks! This was a weird chapter, I dunno if I liked it or not. This is the most reviews I've gotten off the first chapter before, and life is pretty good, so I'll shut up now and thank the people who matter most, the reviewers!

FredandGeorgeWeasleyareMYKings: Thanks. Hmm, now that I think of it, I wonder why I killed off Ron, now that I think of it, probably because I would go a little nutty like Hermione if he died. Don't kill him JKR!

sexy-jess: Thank you!

seerofsorrow: Thank you, this chapter kind of gave you more info, sort of... okay, not really so much, but this was more of a setup chapter.

The singing Sky: Hola chica! Get well soon! Thanks for the review, btw.

justareader: Thank you, I could tell you what happens next but then... well it wouldn't be too pretty- just kidding;) .