AN: i do hope you are enjoying the story so far and i strongly suggest you review (:
She landed with a resounding thump on the floor of what looked like the Headmasters office.
The three occupants had not heard her enter, so she drew out her wand and began crawling towards where they were making noise, determined to kill all those who had killed everything she had ever lived for.
She left a streak of blood behind her and could not push herself to standing position with the blood loss and broken arm.
As her energy wore away the glamour's she had placed on herself from the age of eight faded away.
The survivors and the death eaters that had attacked her had seen glimpses of her true self but not the real Hermione Granger, with her waist length shining black hair and brilliant green eyes, similar to Harrys.
She had a Gaelic tattoo of protection on her foot and a gentle Gaelic lilt in her voice, standing in sharp comparison to her screeching tones of Hermione Granger.
She paused as she heard someone say, "As you can see Professor Dippet I have organized everything to your exact specifications," in a false tone of geniality.
"Good, good, I am most glad Tom; I was afraid that the ball would not be able to go ahead but if you continue as you have been in two months the ball should be planned and ready to go!"
"May I be excused then, sir?" came the polite but obviously mocking reply.
"I would really prefer you to stay, as Professor Dumbledore wishes to consult me on the introduction of training to be an animungus after the school day has been completed as an elective subject. I would like to here from the students what their views are on this subject. "
An barely audible sigh was heard before the rustling of someone reseating themselves.
Hermione whispered Dumbledores name before doubling her efforts and pushing herself enough to stand.
She let out a muffled whimper as pain coursed through her, but nothing was to stop her battle hardened exterior from standing. It would be failure otherwise and a betrayal to Ron and Harrys name.
She took one shaky step towards the voices, all the while with her wand pointed straight and steady towards the sound, and her hands resting lightly on her kukri sword set, willing herself to remain undetected until the critical moment of discovery.
Unfortunately the impersonator of Dumbledore heard her previous whimper and had his wand out and aimed towards her.
She knew that if she did not act she would be killed, and yet, at the same time did not mind the peacefulness of death.
She was tired and in pain.
Her heart was broken.
She merely wished to rejoin her loved ones.
"I am sorry guys for not killing these Death Eaters too. I just wish to join you once more."
She kept her wand leveled but did not speak or move in any way.
"Dear God," Professor Dippet stated before rushing towards her, "Look at this poor creature!"
Tom placed a staying hand on the headmaster and merely stared at the girl, as if evaluating her.
"Careful headmaster, she could be a soldier for Grindewauld," Tom whispered to explain his staying hand. Hermione twitched at the slight movement but did nothing more than stare with her glowing emerald eyes at the young man and large elder one.
"Who are you dear? What has happened to you?" Dumbledore questioned with concern.
"It matters not who I am or what has happened, your comrades obviously attacked me. All I wish is for you to kill me with peace, I am tired of the torture. Do you think you can find it in your black souls to give this to me? I will fight, it is in my nature to try to survive, but really, all I can request is rather than capturing or torturing me you kill me." Her voice was scratchy from the battle cries and screaming sobs and came out as delicate, battered, yet highly persuasive.
"I am Professor Dumbledore, teacher of transfiguration here at Hogwarts and this is Head Boy Tom Riddle and Headmaster Professor Dippet. I assure you that you will neither be tortured or killed."
"But that means, it is the year of 1942. Oh God I am to live, aren't I?" She thought desolatley inside her head before collapsing into the kindly mans arms.
"Quickly call the nurse Tom, she is in no condition to be moved." Dumbledore laid her gently on the desk that the headmaster had cleared off.
"Looks like she's been through a war, that one," one portrait whispered to another in the background.
The nurse quickly bustled in and cut away the remnants of a silky, flowing white dress.
Her young body was on open display but no body besides Tom realized.
He stared deeply at her, enjoying the slight movement her breathing made, and the way her silky hair brushed lightly at his fingers.
The nurse muttered a few choice words about the state her newest charge was in before beginning to heal the mysterious, beautiful girl.
Dumbledore, noticing the heavy stare of Tom on her, sent him to organize the students in the great hall as many of the staff would be busy helping restore her to full health.
With a resentful look at the bumbling old fool he went, but not before memorizing her body with his eyes, and promising to himself she would belong to him.
They went to cut off her leather holster, holding both her wand and her sword set, only to find her grabbing the arm of the medi-witch with a speed that seemed sub-human.
"I am near death, not stupid. I will remove my weapons and keep them with me at all times. Touch them again and I will injure first and warn later," the half sleeping girl stated forebodingly before drifting away again.
The staff of Hogwarts continued stabilizing the young girl, removing the darkest curses they had ever seen on a student and healing injuries both internally and physically, although always moving with care and precision so as not to alarm her once more.
Although they would not admit it, each felt a chill when the girl threatened them so calmly.
They questioned where she came from and who she was while they worked.
"How did such a beautiful young girl get to be in the state she was in?"
"What kind of monster did this to her?"
"Did you see the way she reacted when Selene went to remove her weaponry, it was not human the speed she reacted, especially in the state she is in!"
"How does she even know how to use these weapons!"
"How did she end up here?"
These questions drifted through Hermione's head but she did not bother to even begin answering.
Already she was formulating a new plan.
She would reveal her pure blood status and go to the house originally chosen for her, Slytherin.
And when she had built a fierce reputation she would destroy Tom Riddle and his followers for everything they had done to her. She may not belong to the future anymore but she would ensure it would be a safe place for her friends to be born into.
She knew her place.
She would do her job, rid the world of the likes of Tom Riddle, and then die.
It was meant to be.
