Hey guys! Here's the second chapter and I really hope you will like it! Thanks for those who favorited and followed the story and those who reviewed! Means a ton to me to see that people are reading this! This chapter is kind of like the transition chapter I decided to slip in. Originally, this and the next chapter were the part of the same one, but I haven't finished it yet so I decided it was far too long and I didn't want you to wait too long! R&R! Hope you will like it :)

Disclaimer: Not mine, unfortunately...

This Is Not A Fairytale

This Is Not Where I Belong

September 4th 1944. Hogwarts 8:39PM

It felt as for the few short moments she didn't exist anywhere, as is she just disappeared. But, since she was able to worry about not-existing, Hermione was sure that she was still alive and somewhere. But the floating feeling of emptiness lasted for a few more seconds before Hermione felt herself breathing and thinking clearly once more. She opened her eyes to find herself sprawled over the cold floor, staring at the well-known ceiling of her school. Her baggage landed right next to her and was thankfully unharmed. Something told her that having her unmentionables thrown around wasn't a great way to start the new school year.

Propping herself on her elbows, Hermione could see the easily recognizable long hallway of Hogwarts. Seeing the flames that enlightened it, she was sure they arrived at night, which was good considering that they had fewer students to worry about seeing her in a vulnerable state she was in. Remembering she didn't arrive alone, Hermione turned her head around to see her three team mates unconscious, lying on the floor just as she did moments ago. The boys stirred after a few moments, confused looks on their faces, while Astra continued sleeping, her chest rising and falling slowly.

Shifting her weight as she stood up from the stone floor, Hermione could feel her back protesting. It felt like she was slammed to the floor with a large force, which wouldn't be that impossible considering the power of the spell they used to get the four of them here. Hermione removed the dust gathered on her dark cloak and secured her bushy locks of hair into a high bun before turning to the two boys who were sitting and were obviously in pain by their experience. Astra was still sleeping quite peacefully on the floor next to her baggage.

"We need to get started and check if we reached our destination," Hermione said as she crossed her arms seriously "For all we know we might've ended in the wrong year."

Ivan nodded slightly before he rose to his feet, all amusement drained from his eyes. It will return later, but he was in far too much pain to be his easy going usual self. He too dusted off his cloak and walked over to Hermione as she waited. Alexander too was soon on his feet and he took his baggage before looking up at Hermione for instructions. Great. She didn't want the responsibility of being in charge of this, so she averted her gaze towards Astra.

"What are we going to do with little Starlight over here?" Ivan asked with his casual smirk "Leaving her sprawled in the hallway sounds fun, but kind of mean. But she does seem to be very tired."

"We need to wake her up, we can't risk getting caught here by someone," Hermione said ignoring his ridiculous proposal of leaving the girl there. She walked up to where Astra was lying and crouched next to her. Grasping her shoulder lightly she gently tried to wake up the girl. Upon a few seconds Astra's green eyes opened slightly.

"Are we there yet?" she asked and yawned slightly.

"I believe we are in Hogwarts, but we still need to check what the date is," Hermione answered as she helped the petite blonde up. She was shaky on her legs but caught her balance after a few more moments. Still yawning slightly, Astra took her suitcase with the Beauxbaton's logo and seemed as ready to go as she'll ever be.

"Okay, we all know the plan. First we will be off to check if the time is right, get ourselves sorted and try not to screw up with our backstories," she smiled slightly in order to improve the atmosphere "After that, we'll see what we will do next based on where we are. Are we ready?"

"I have no idea, Granger," Ivan answered honestly and smirked "Let's see where we stand and then we'll see if we are as ready as we think we are."

Agreeing upon this, Hermione and Ivan led the group with confidence while Alexander and Astra strolled casually behind them, gazing around as if they never truly saw Hogwarts. Astra was still quiet and yawning because of her nap earlier and Alexander was just as broody as he was always.

As they walked through the empty corridors she knew so well, Hermione supposed that the students were currently on the Sorting Ceremony in the Great Hall and that they were happily eating and laughing. They were having fun and enjoying their time while she and her friends were tasked with destroying someone who will grow up to become a Dark Lord. Life truly had a great sense for irony. Too bad Hermione couldn't find it in herself to be amused by it. She remembered Headmistress McGonagall's instructions about where Dumbledore's office was situated since she refused to just barge in the Great Hall.

As they stood before the doors to his office, which were closed as expected considering the older wizard was probably attending the Ceremony, every one of them spoke little and they seemed lost in their own thoughts. It was scary in a way she couldn't imagine up until now. They all left their homes, everything they ever knew in their lives and sacrificed their very existence only to provide a safe outcome for the world they left. They were supposed to feel proud by their selfless actions, but the truth was that none of them felt like the hero he was supposed to feel.

Hermione was leaning onto a wall and twirling her wand in her hand, her gaze lost somewhere in the distance. Astra was sitting on her large suitcase, her eyes tired and barely open. Alexander stood next to her, his arms crossed and his gaze concentrated on a single point on the door. And Ivan was also leaning onto the wall like Hermione on the other side of the door, but he was staring at the ceiling.

Hermione was the first one to hear the steps as she pushed herself off the wall and straightened herself. She stopped herself from jumping when she saw the familiar face of her old Headmaster, looking not as old as when she last saw him, walking towards them in his green robes with purple stars and his half-moon spectacles. His slightly confused look transformed into a small smile as he neared the four new students.

"What a surprise. Is there anything I can help you with?" he asked calmly watching the four of them behind his spectacles with interest. Before she could stop herself, Hermione stepped forward.

"We are the new transfer students," she said with a smile "Here is the letter explaining our circumstances." Hermione gave him the white envelope given to her by McGonagall. Dumbledore carefully took the envelope before turning it in his hands. Raising his gaze up he nodded towards the door.

The Transfiguration teacher had an interesting office. It was not small, but it was overflowing with artifacts, books and scrolls all over. Hermione turned her head around the office a few time and so did the others, since it was hard to notice anything from the first time looking at it. In Hermione's opinion it was a big pile of mess, but had its own charm, as did its owner who now sat behind a large wooden table and looked at the four youngsters with amusement, the letter sitting open in front of him.

"Now, I must admit I am quite interested in how I managed to send four students back in time," he said "But I suppose I'll have to wait for a couple more decades to find out, won't I?"

"I am very sorry, sir, but we cannot answer any more of your questions about the future besides that what is already written in the letter," Hermione answered.

"Yes, I wouldn't dare ask them, even. Knowing your future can sometimes be more frightful than not knowing it," he answer with a smile "But, what I do need to ask whether or not you have your backstories and names figured out."

"Of course we do, sir. My name is Hermione Pierce, a Beauxbaton's transfer student came here to finish my last year of education. The other lady is Astra Rey, a sixth year transfer from Beauxbaton's," she explained before looking at Ivan "Then we have Ivan Dieter and Alexander Frey from Durmstrang, also seventh year transfers."

Hermione was kind of unsatisfied with the fact that she would spend the rest of her life as someone else. Instead of being a muggleborn witch, she was now a halfblood whose origins were quite blurred. Astra ended up with the last name of a large but not so prominent pureblood family, as did Alexander, while Ivan ended up as a halfblood and was quite excited to try himself in this role. None of them were muggleborn since it was a dangerous thing to be at the time of Grindelwald.

Dumbledore looked at them for a couple of seconds before nodding. Hermione looked over at her companions who looked positively ready to get on with the Sorting and go to sleep. Astra was already on the verge of falling asleep again. Hermione kind of felt sorry for the girl. Because of her petite figure and her gentler nature, she ended up as a sixth year, which put her a bit isolated from others.

"Very well, we will proceed with the sorting right away, since I am sure that your travel was difficult and you only wish to go to your dorms," Dumbledore nodded and stood up from his table "We will need to visit the Headmaster and inform him first of the new students. You will also acquire you schedules there."

Dumbledore led them through the hallways, occasionally passing by a student or two who threw them curious looks. Hermione knew the way to the Headmaster's office by heart, but still walked two steps behind Dumbledore so she could appear as a new student should. As they reached the statue, Dumbledore announced the password and before long they were climbing the familiar spiral staircase.

Behind a gigantic table was sitting a half-bald man who was writing something with a look of disinterest on his face and who Hermione immediately recognized as Headmaster Dippet. For some reason, she felt instant dislike for the man, although she knew she had no apparent reason to do so.

"Ah, Dumbledore. What is it? I am very busy at the moment with the paperwork," he announced, not raising his head from his papers "I cannot be disturbed by insignificant things."

"Of course, I just wanted to inform you that four transfers arrived late and need to be sorted to their Houses," Dumbledore simply said.

Dippet raised his gaze and looked over the four of them before again lowering it and continuing scribbling on the paper. His lack of interest appalled Hermione who expected him to at least ask some questions about them and their pasts, the reasons they were here. As those questions never came, she relaxed a bit, hoping that more people will be as easy to work with as he was.

"That's wonderful, professor, but as I said, I am quite busy," he announced again "Why don't you help the new students and sort them out. I am sure you'll do a marvelous job."

Dumbledore nodded slightly and took the Sorting Hat from the table. He instructed Astra to sit onto a small wooden chair, Hermione remembered from her own sorting. Astra looked almost fearful as she sat on the chair with the Hat on her head. She frowned a bit, obviously discussing something important about her sorting with the Hat before it shouted.

"Ravenclaw!" and in seconds the hat was off of her head and she was happy because of it. Hermione couldn't say that she was actually very surprised by what happened. Astra was very intelligent and curious and there was no doubt Ravenclaw will do well for her. Hermione hugged her shortly and smiled at her.

Alexander sat next on the chair with disinterest as the Hat was slipped to his head. He took a lot longer than Astra, but he never seemed to change his face expression. Hermione started uncomfortably shifting her weight from one leg to another as she waited the hat to declare something. Finally, after almost ten full minutes, the Hat shouted "Gryffindor!". That wasn't a large surprise either for Hermione. Except his brooding persona, he was quite the Quidditch player from what she heard and his personality also seemed reliable and honorable enough for the House of Lions.

Ivan was very possibly trying not to explode from excitement. He beamed at Hermione and winked, as if trying to say that everything will be great. While not completely persuaded, Hermione returned the smile and nodded in encouragement, not that he needed any. The Hat was soon on his head and he seemed quite amused by the things it said to him, if his smile was anything to judge from. But, not too long after the Hat yelled "Slytherin!" and in seconds he was confidently strolling towards Hermione.

Finally, once Hermione sat down on the chair with everyone looking at her and the Sorting Hat suddenly slipped on her head, she felt weirdly excited, but suppressed it. In seconds she could clearly hear the Hat's voice in her mind.

"Ah, Miss Granger, or is it Miss Pierce you're called this time around? I seem to recall you've been sorted into Gryffindor the last time we talked."

"Yes, and that's where I would like to be sorted this time around, too,"

"Hmmm… I don't think that you are supposed to go to Gryffindor any more than you're supposed to go to Hufflepuff, Miss Pierce. I feel like Ravenclaw would do you good, or even better – Slytherin."

"What? I haven't changed that much to go to Slytherin, have I?"

"Oh, do not worry so Miss Pierce, I just have a feeling you've overgrown your place in Gryffindor, like you are searching for more, and that more would be at hands reach in Slytherin."

Hermione spent a few silent moments as she thought about what the Hat was saying to her. She overgrown her place in Gryffindor? What does that even mean? It wasn't as if there was some kind of limit preventing her to come into the House of Lions, was there? As she pondered on this, the Hat seemed to make the decision for her instead.

"Slytherin!"

And before she could open her mouth and stare, Hermione was up from the chair, the Hat was off of her head and Ivan playfully winked at her. She was just sorted into the House of Snakes. Hermione knew it was always a possibility for her to be sorted anywhere, but it never included Slytherin since she always erased that name first from the list. Of course, after that she would erase Hufflepuff and she was so sure she would be sorted into Gryffindor again or into Ravenclaw, since the Hat wanted to put her there the last time.

What also surprised her was the fact that both 'halfbloods' Ivan and her were acting as were sorted in the so-called 'purest' of the Houses. Of course, Ivan was a pureblood and perhaps the Hat recognized him as such, but it still didn't explain letting a muggleborn into Slytherin. Hermione knew from experience that something like that was extremely rare. Still, it was better than the alternative of being in the House of Snakes alone.

While completely unplanned and shocking, Hermione quickly pulled herself out of her reverie and tried to tune in what professor Dumbledore was saying.

"…to prefects and the Head Boy and Girl who are from the Houses Slytherin and Gryffindor, respectively," he said "Based on what the Hat sensed from you, these are you schedules for this year," Dumbledore handed them the papers before smiling cheerfully "I see you all on Transfiguration tomorrow, but it is time now for you all to go to your respective dorms."

At that moment there was a knock on the door and a tall and pretty dark haired girl in Gryffindor uniform entered and nodded towards professor Dumbledore and Headmaster Dippet, who was pretty much still scribbling something in his papers, ignoring everyone else.

"Professor Dumbledore sir, I heard we have new transfers in Gryffindor," she smiled slightly and there was something recognizable on her face as Hermione watched her.

"Ah, yes we do," Dumbledore said "Mr. Frey this is the Gryffindor Head Girl, Miss Minerva McGonagall and she will show you to the Gryffindor Common Rooms. If you have any issues feel free to visit whenever."

Alexander bowed to her, Durmstrang-style, and Hermione could swear young McGonagall didn't expect that because she blushed furiously and nodded quickly. Hermione was quite surprised to see young Minerva McGonagall in Hogwarts, and wondered briefly why her Headmistress never said anything about this?

Just a few seconds after a boy with a prefect badge and Ravenclaw uniform entered the room and formally greeted Dumbledore and Dippet, who continued scribbling on his paper with obvious disinterest. Hermione's dislike for the current Headmaster was growing by the minute. The Ravenclaw prefect introduced himself as Jordan Abbott and seemed interested in finding out about Astra's schedule and grades in Beauxbaton's. Ravenclaws sometimes tended to be more biased and mean than Slytherins when it came to their studies and grades.

Seeing that she and Ivan now only needed the Head Boy, who was conveniently enough from Slytherin, to take them to their dorms Hermione patiently waited while Ivan was looking around the big office. What made Hermione nervous was the fact that she knew who the Head Boy was, or rather who he was becoming. Ivan knew that too, but he kept his masterfully crafted easy-going façade and Hermione couldn't do anything but feel a bit jealous about his acting skills. Everything would be so easier for her if she was a better liar and actress.

Upon hearing to firm, confident knocks on the door, Hermione felt her lungs tightening. Before she could mentally prepare herself for seeing him, he strolled in calmly and let his gaze pass over the room, like he owned it. He was tall, at least seven inches taller from Hermione's 5ft6 frame. Everything about him held a certain air of perfection and politeness, from his dark hair and uniform to his friendly-looking smile. Only his eyes, which were very dark green, seemed to be very empty.

"Professor, Headmaster," he greeted shortly with a polite smile "I hear Slytherin will have two new transfer students?"

"Ah, Tom," Dippet finally rose from his seat with a wide smile and tapped him on the back "Yes, Slytherin will from now be home to two brilliant new students. Mr...?" Dippet muffled something as he looked at Ivan.

"Ah, I am Ivan Dieter. Transferred from Durmstrang for my seventh year," Ivan smiled widely and shook hands with him before smiling slightly at Hermione who was still trying to smile something that didn't look like a grimace "And this lovely lady is Hermione Pierce, a seventh year also, transferring from Beauxbaton's. Between me and you, if anyone is brilliant here, it would have to be her!"

Hermione wanted to shake his hand and even managed to smile a bit, but he bowed and kissed it with a small smile tucking at the corner of his lips. Hermione's tight smile was now stuck on her face as she tried not to scream, run or do anything else that might be inappropriate or suspicious.

"A pleasure, Miss Pierce," he said "The House of Slytherin is glad to have you both."

"Aren't they wonderful, Tom?" asked Dippet as he beamed at him but then something in Hermione's hands attracted his attention "And wouldn't you look at that. It seems young Miss Pierce has the same number of classes as you do. Astounding, I say, never saw a witch with such a capacity, I admit,"

"I have a wide field of interests, Headmaster," she tried not to sound offended by his tone.

"Of course, of course Miss Pierce," he nodded "I just hope this won't strain that pretty little head of yours." Dippet laughed shortly, oblivious to curses Hermione was tossing at him in her head.

"You needn't worry, sir. I have yet to find a subject I am not good with in my school studies," Hermione said confidently. The way Dippet's face froze told her he didn't expect her to answer him anything. From the other side she could feel Riddle's gaze on her, obviously surprised too. He was probably wondering whether she was all talk or if she was actually that intelligent. Hermione suddenly wanted to prove herself to all of them, but when a hand clasped her shoulder she calmed down. Thankful for the distraction, she smiled to Ivan.

"Very well, then," Dippet said a bit colder than before "Tom, you should get the new students back to the dormitories, it is quite late and they all had a long journey." With that he returned back behind his table and continued scribbling on his paper.

Hermione found herself subconsciously clenching her hand into a fist. Thankfully, before anyone could notice, Ivan slipped his hand into hers as a sign of support and smiled reassuringly. The two of them left the office like that. Being in the House of Snakes along with the darkest wizard of all times was dangerous, and they were perfectly aware that in the future they will only have each other to lean on.