Hermione was falling. Her eyes were tightly bound shut and she couldn't open them however hard she tried. She couldn't breathe, it was as if she was being choked. And then came the screams. They grew louder and louder until they were almost unbearable. Hermione begged them to stop. Her heart was pounding and she seemed to be gaining speed. What was happening? She had to escape this place. Harry and the others were in danger, they needed her. Sirius! Her mind rejected the very thought, the pain was too great. Then came the moment of impact.

xxx

Harry stared at the ground in disbelief. Where Hermione had been standing just moments earlier, there was a pile of seemingly smashed time-turners. He watched, entranced, as each instrument rose in the air in turn and mended itself, before falling and shattering once more. As the cruel cycle continued, Harry couldn't help but feel that the Department of Mysteries was mocking him.

xxx

Hermione bolted upright, panting and covered in sweat. She shielded her face from the cold light that stung her eyes. Every inch of her body was trembling. She forced herself to take deep breaths and gradually felt her heartbeat returning to normal. Slowly forcing her eyes open, she glanced reluctantly at her surroundings and she saw to her disbelief that she was in the hospital wing at Hogwarts. But how on earth-

'Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes?'

She jumped at the sound of the unexpected voice and instinctively reached for her wand. It wasn't there. She panicked. Where were her robes? She was wearing a hospital gown.

'Whoa there, take it easy!' The voice laughed.

Hermione quickly turned her head to see who had spoken and winced at the effort. Everything hurt. A figure was sitting cross-legged on the next bed and was eyeing her with great curiosity. His long, wavy hair and mischievous smile were unmistakable. It couldn't be. A wave of relief rushed over her. Hermione had never been so glad to see Sirius Black's face.

'You're alive!' She gasped.

'Yes, so it would seem!' He grinned, whilst pretending to check his own pulse.

'Oh thank goodness!' Hermione gasped, she felt tears prickling in her eyes.

'Well, I'm flattered you care so much about my wellbeing,' Sirius mused as Hermione's eyes grew wide. 'Most touching. Miss-?'

'Does Harry know you're here?' Hermione asked, as she tried to prop herself up on her elbows. Her body ached in protest.

'Who?' Sirius looked at her blankly, but Hermione's brain was whirring so fast she hardly heard him.

'But- but I don't understand. How did we get here? We were at the ministry and, and I saw you. You were there, fighting and then, then you fell through the…' She faltered and her bottom lip trembled. Her mind couldn't process what was happening. It was an unfamiliar sensation. 'Am I dreaming?'

Sirius sighed and ran a hand through his long, wavy hair. 'Well, I am dream-like but luckily for you love, you're wide awake.' He flashed her a grin. 'By the way, have we met? What house are you in?'

'Wha-?' Hermione looked at him properly for the first time. He looked like the Sirius she knew, but with deliberate mistakes. His hair was thicker, his face fuller and there was a warmth in his grey eyes that she'd never seen before. They were bright, intelligent and danced with mischief. She realised they were missing that hard, haunted look that Azkaban forced upon its prisoners.

Hermione couldn't take her eyes off his face. It was, well, handsome. Perfectly symmetrical, besides an angry cut that shone on his forehead. His skin was fair and clear, in perfect contrast to his dark hair which fell loosely at his shoulders. Sirius cleared his throat. Hermione realised she'd been staring at him for some time and, to her surprise, her cheeks flushed as she broke his gaze. 'I don't understand. What happened?'

'Sounds like someone's got a concussion. That or you're speechless in my presence,' he teased, apparently enjoying himself. 'To be fair, you were completely out of it when Poppy brought you in last night. I arrived just before you did, see I'd got into a pretty heated disagreement with the Whomping Willow.' He gestured to the deep cut on his forehead. 'Knocked me out cold. Prongs bet me a galleon that I couldn't touch the tree's trunk without getting hit. But I'll get him back, don't you worry!'

He winked playfully, and ran a hand through his mane of hair. Hermione stared at him blankly and Sirius sighed. Clearly his usual charm wasn't having the desired effect.

'I'm Sirius, by the way. And you would be-?'

'I-I-' Hermione stuttered. The whole thing seemed so surreal. She was spared answering by the arrival of the matron.

'Ah Poppy, you're looking exceptionally lovely this fine morning!' Sirius cried. 'Tell me, is that a new apron?'

'You know fine well it isn't, Mr Black. You're in here often enough!' Madam Pomfrey pretended to scold him, but couldn't help but smile. 'And that cheek of yours will get you into trouble one day!'

'So they tell me.'

She placed a pale pink potion on his bed side table.

'You wouldn't have any firewhiskey to wash this down with, would you?' Sirius asked.

But Madam Pomfrey's attention had turned to Hermione. 'Oh goodness, you're awake!' She picked up Hermione's wrist and started examining her.

Hermione began an examination of her own. She observed that Madam Pomfrey was also different. Her now auburn hair was peppered with greys, and her cheeks were plumper and rosier. There were fewer laughter lines around her eyes and mouth. She looked younger. Everyone here looked younger.

And then it hit her. Her last memory of Department of Mysteries came flooding back. Hiding from Death Eaters in the Time Room, pushing Harry out of the path of MacNair's curse, the spell ricocheting and hitting-

The Time-Turners.

Hermione buckled under the weight of her realisation. She gagged and gestured wildly at Madam Pomfrey, who understood and passed her a sick bucket. Hermione vomited loudly.

'On second thoughts, forget that firewhiskey, Poppy.' Sirius called. 'I've just had a flashback to what happened the last time. Are you ok, love?' He asked Hermione, who nodded meekly in response.

'Poor dear, you've had a terrible time of it by the looks of things.' Madam Pomfrey fussed. 'Now, Professor Dumbledore requested to see you as soon as you came round. If you ask me, you should be left to rest but the Headmaster did insist.' She pursed her lips. 'But I suppose under the circumstances…' Her voice trailed off, as she headed for her office. 'He'll be here any moment I expect.'

Dumbledore wanted to see her. That had to be a good thing, Hermione reasoned. If anyone could help her escape this extraordinary turn of events, it was him.

No sooner had she thought that, than Albus Dumbledore himself entered the Hospital Wing. He called out a greeting to Madam Pomfrey, before turning to her two patients. There was something comforting about his presence. Hermione noted that his appearance was almost unchanged, with only the length of his hair and beard indicating the passage of time.

'Good morning.' Dumbledore smiled at Hermione and Sirius. He seemed completely at ease, as though there was nothing peculiar about the situation whatsoever.

'Good morning, Professor,' said Sirius, who was looking bemused. 'Very nice of you to visit, sir.'

'It is always a pleasure to see you, Mr Black,' Dumbledore smiled and his blue eyes twinkled. 'Though I must confess, and you must forgive my rudeness, that I have come here to seek a private audience with Miss Granger.'

Dumbledore bowed his head to Hermione.

'Granger.' Sirius repeated, thoughtfully. Hermione frowned slightly. How did Dumbledore her know her name?

Madam Pomfrey had reappeared. 'Come with me, Mr Black. A walk around the grounds will do us both good.' She helped him off the bed and handed him a dressing gown and a pair of slippers.

'Ah Poppy, I've come down really dizzy all of a sudden. You'd better go without me.'

'Nonsense, Mr Black. You were just telling me how much better you were feeling'. Madam Pomfrey took Sirius under the arm and steered him towards door.

'What? Can't a dying student eavesdrop in peace anymore? Shocking business!' Sirius said, playfully. 'See you around, Granger!'

They left, with Madam Pomfrey firmly insisting to Sirius that he wasn't dying and was in fact forbidden to do so whilst under her watch.

Dumbledore's piercing blue eyes surveyed Hermione through his half-moon glasses.

'Well,' he spoke at last, 'It seems to me, Miss Granger, that you and I have some catching up to do. Your arrival is, ah, untimely, to say the least.'

Thank you very much for your kind reviews, I hope you enjoyed the second chapter!