I loved the response to the first chapter! Thanks and more thanks to all who reviewed!
Now: Chapter Two in which you will find out more information about Hermione.
***Chapter Edited as of 7-16-11. I took into account a rather rude but brutally honest review about this chapter. I hope I fixed my mistakes. Sorry to those who thought it was unrealistic.***
The next morning, Lily awoke with a small smile playing on her face. She was going to Hogsmeade with James Potter next week! Then Lily looked down at her hands, and saw the blood and grass on her hands and arms.
A girl, blood, grass, knife in her side!
Lily groaned, then checked the clock on her bedside table. 6:24 in the bloody morning. Lovely. At least she was the first one up so she could take the first shower. Shower, breakfast, talk with James or Dumbledore. Maybe not exactly in that order.
Lily peeked out from behind the curtains of her four poster bed to see if her dorm mates were still asleep. Even though there were five beds in the room, only four were occupied. Mary McDougal, Dorcas Meadows, herself, and Alice Prewitt. All her friends were still asleep, so she crept into the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, she could see it was worse than she had thought. She had had nightmares all night, only falling into a deep sleep in early morning, and she could see it on her face. Deep bags under her tired eyes, traces of blood still on her arms and under her nails, her hair a mess. Definitely not enough to win James over by beauty, so it would have to be by her wit alone.
Laughing to herself, she stepped into the shower, washing and drying without really thinking about it. Her thoughts were on the mysterious girl she had helped last night. What was her name? Who was the boy she was talking about? Was she okay? Could anyone be okay after looking like that?
When she was finished dressing, she almost ran down the stairs to see if James was up. He was, and was obviously waiting for her, along with Sirius and Remus. He gave her a hug and peck on the nose, then leaned down and whispered in her ear, "The boys were still up when we got back. They were wondering what had happened and I told them so they want to see her when we are done with breakfast. Is that okay with you?" The concern on his face was endearing, making her shiver slightly. Dear Lord, she was falling more in love with him every day.
"Of course, James. I don't mind it at all. But where is Peter?" She relaxed in his hold, comforted by it. He smelled so good...
"He's still sleeping. He didn't want to come," he murmured. "You know Wormy gets queasy around blood. And there was plenty of that last night." Excuses given, he straightened up and they all trooped down the 'secret' passage to the Great Hall.
After a quick breakfast (where between James and Sirius the half of the Gryffindor table they were at was empty in minutes) the four sat down in a secret passage to figure out what to do. They had hardly sat down when the Headmaster ducked his head in and asked them to come with him, eyes twinkling in a rather annoying way considering what the quartet was thinking about.
"Headmaster Dumbledore? Is the girl okay?" James asked. Lily was trying to keep up the man's fast pace. If they turned right at the next corner they would be heading to the hospital wing. She had gone the same way last night...
"Yes. Madam Pomfrey is going to bring her around in a few minutes and I wanted you to be there. I assume you told Mr. Black and Mr. Lupin what happened last night?" Dumbledore paused long enough for James to nod and turned right. He gave James a disapproving glance, which the boy interpreted to mean, 'You should have kept your mouth shut.' Oh, well. What was done was done.
The Headmaster turned his gaze back to the corridor in front of him. "With some investigating, we discovered that her name is Hermione Granger. And Mr. Potter? She might have a very strange reaction to you. Go along with what ever she says, if you can, as she is going to be under a potions induced haze and will not be completely lucid. The potion will also cause her to be influenced easily, so you are in no danger. Ah, we are here!" They had indeed arrived at the hospital wing, where Madam Pomfrey and McGonagall were waiting.
McGonagall gave Sirius a stern look, and he knew her well enough to know that now was not the time to joke around. "Mr. Black and Mr. Lupin? I need you to stay out here please. This will not take long, but if you want to you can start back to Gryffindor Tower. Enjoy your weekend." Both boys seemed a bit put out at the brief but kind dismissal, but turned around anyway, knowing they would get the full story out of James later.
"After me, if you please, Mr. Potter, Miss Evans." Madam Pomfrey's voice was crisp and professional, showing none of her apprehension at the Headmaster's plan. She had always been in awe of the great Headmaster, but really! Using children to get information was unacceptable to her. But there was a reason he was the Headmaster and she was the school nurse.
The small group moved together toward the curtained section of the ward, where they all knew a horrible sight awaited them.
Dumbledore just twinkled sadly at the sight of the girl, while Pomfrey lowered her head. Minerva's lips tightened into thin white lines, anger and sadness welling up within her. From what they had discovered the night before, this girl was one of her Gryffindors. It was her cub lying hurt in the bed!
Lily and James gasped and squeaked (well, Lily gasped and James squeaked but rest assured it was a very manly squeak) at the sight of the girl in the hospital bed. The light streaming in from the windows made the shadows cast by the girl's own bones on her cheeks stand out even more, and her bruised form was obviously ill. James looked at her face and had to hold in a growl when he saw the hand shaped bruise on her face. It was a ugly shade of blue, green, and purple and would probably take days to go away without Madam Pomfrey's help. Who had done this to her?
"Are you ready for me to bring her around, Headmaster?" Madam Pomfrey asked. She gave the teens a final disapproving look, obviously wanting them to be somewhere far away. Dumbledore noticed the look of course, and shook his head faintly. He wanted Mr. Potter present for the girl's awakening.
"Yes, Poppy. Mr. Potter, Miss Evans, I want you to stand back, with Mr. Potter in front. Professor McGonagall and I will be a bit further back, as Miss Granger might have an... adverse reaction to us. Mr. Potter, I want you to play along with what ever she says. Do you understand?" Dumbledore's voice was harsh, and he was obviously somewhat worried. Lily was worried as well, asking herself why Dumbledore wanted James in the front? If he was concerned about danger, why was her boyfriend the one who would get hurt?
Madam Pomfrey bent over the girl, putting her wand to Hermione's temple and muttering a few spells. She made sure the girl's wand was in her hand and backed away. "She will awake in exactly ten seconds," Poppy said, trying to sound professional and barely managing it. "She will feel no pain and will only be conscious for an hour. After that she will fall back asleep and will probably wake up tomorrow, all healed. And remember that blatant persuasion will have a strong influence on her. "
James focused on Hermione as the girl started to groan, then slowly open her eyes. He was the closest to her bed and could see in slow motion as Hermione's eyes snapped open, as she clutched her wand and almost flew out of the bed, ending with her wand at James' neck. James stiffened, feeling the smooth wood touching the base of his head. What in the flippin' world was happening? "Someone tell me where-" She gasped and turned James around. "Harry!"
James was winded by the amount of force the small girl put into her hug. He could feel her nose pressing into her chest, and wondered what Lily would think, looking back at her nervously. She saw his fear and smiled at him, obviously still a bit spooked over the sudden reversal of the situation. He could tell she was more than a little annoyed with Dumbledore for putting him in harm's way.
Meanwhile the girl was chattering excitedly, "Harry! Oh Harry, if you ever do that again I will skin you alive! Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Her voice was slurred, but obviously concerned. It seemed that she was not unused to this sort of thing. "The last thing I remember was Voldemort, and, and Bellatrix and some kind of spell and I was knocked out. You were so stupid! Dobby made you leave me behind for a reason and the next time you plan a rescue mission like that, Harry James Potter I swear I will castrate you myself," at this, Hermione went quiet, her head still pressed into Harry's chest.
"Thank you for coming back for me, Harry. Bella was trying to find out where you were and every time she would use the Cruciatus and it would hurt so bad but I didn't give you up, Harry." Her tone changed a bit as she squeezed him again. "You feel a lot heavier, Harry. It seems like you've been eating, so how long was I out for? The last time I ate something filling was at Number 12 Grimmauld Place before we stormed the Ministry. Where are we, Harry?" With this she looked up at him, eyes wide and loving at first before they narrowed. Before James could say anything, he was spun around again and her wand was poking him in the base of his spine.
"Where am I? I swear I will kill him if you don't tell me where I am and where Harry is-" Her eyes locked on Dumbledore's and she went pale. "NO! You're dead! You're dead! Albus Dumbledore died last year! He left me books in his will, HE IS DEAD!" Her voice was still slurred, but her mind seemed sharper, clearer.
Dumbledore stepped a bit closer to Hermione. "Miss Granger I must insist you let go of young Mr. Potter there. I will be forced to hurt you if you continue to manhandle my students. Now can you sit down and explain what you mean about me being dead?" Hermione's shoulders slumped, defeated. In a kind of daze, she sat down heavily on the bed.
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore. Could you tell me what happened? Last time I remember is 1998 and you, James Potter, and Lily Potter are all dead. What is going on?" Hermione asked, putting a hand to her head.. It was so not turning out to be a great day.
James looked at Lily, mouthing to her, "Dead?" She shook her head, frowning, mouthing back, "Time travel." She frowned again, then smiled, mouthing, "Lily Potter?" James grinned back at her. Lily Potter would be a reality!
Dumbledore looked at McGonagall before turning to Hermione. "Miss Granger, I think you have fallen through either space or time, placing you in your past or in another dimension. Today is October 14, 1977. I am Albus Dumbledore, and with me is Poppy Pomfrey, Minerva-"
"McGonagall, James Potter, and Lily -Evans if it is 1977. I know them Professor. Professor McGonagall was my Head of House and James and Lily Potter were the parents of my best friend. Madam Pomfrey had fixed everything from my teeth to a partial animal transformation in my second year. I know all of you. Well, I at least know of you." Hermione's voice trailed off.
"Miss Granger-" Dumbledore said loudly, but was cut off by the girl.
"I have to find a way to get back to my dimension or my time. We are fighting a war and I am the brains behind the three person operation. Harry and Ron needed me to defeat Voldemort. Do you know how to get me back to my proper place?" Hermione was determined to get back to Harry. If he got hurt without her there to restrain him and talk some sense into him...
"I'm afraid not, Miss Granger. However, you say you are in charge of an operation or war against Voldemort? I am afraid you have lost me there," Dumbledore looked almost apologetic. Hermione sighed and pressed her eyes with her hands, looking thoroughly annoyed.
" I am not in charge. I am just the researcher and the dictionary. My best friend is the leader. The entire war is being fought by myself and my two best friends, one of whom is prophesied to defeat the Dark Lord. I am the one who is the 'brains' of the operation-slash-war so to speak. I am the one who holds them back and stops them or rescues them from the stupid situations they often get into. And that is why I need to go back. Do you understand?" Hermione looked up and glared at Dumbledore, then looked quickly at James.
James, who was staring at the strange girl he had helped the night before, was startled by what he saw in her gaze. Something that looked like love, at least until she looked directly into his eyes. Shock, again. And a studying kind of curiosity that scared him more than he would have liked to admit. But while he was being honest with himself, James had to admit she was more than cute and he could see himself with her. If not for the Lovely Lady Lily who was going to Hogsmeade with him next week... James' eyes flickered over to Lily, and he allowed himself a small smile.
"I do understand, Miss Granger. But I am simply at a dead end to help you. I can offer you a spot at Hogwarts for the duration of you stay. You would be staying in the seventh year girl's dorm, along with Miss Evans here. Do you accept?" Dumbledore looked slightly ashamed of his inability to help the girl, but continued anyway. "Of course you will have unrestricted access to the Restricted Section of the Library and I full expect you to make full use of it and the Hogwarts Fund. Perhaps Lily or one of her friends could lend you robes before you get a chance to purchase you own in Hogsmeade next week?"
Lily started to answer, but was unintentionally cut off by Hermione. "No, Professor, I can Transfigure my own robes. It will be simple enough if you can get me some small scraps of cloth. It is always easier to do permanent Transfiguration if you start from the same material. Do you mind, Professor?"
Dumbledore's eyes widened as he considered the possibilities of permanent Transfiguration. He was curious as to how far Magic had developed more than twenty years into the future... then he realized he had yet to answer the girl. "Yes, of course that would be fine Miss Granger. Is there anything else you require?"
Hermione's brow furrowed as she began to think quickly. "Would it be possible for you to get a few potion ingredients? I know of a student here who is infected with lycanthropy and I know how to make a potion that would alleviate his symptoms, allowing him to have more control over his body during the change. Would that be acceptable?" Her eyes had quickly flown to James, then focused back on Dumbledore, who looked very excited.
"Of course it would be acceptable. I'm sure our friendly werewolf will be very excited about the potion. Now I am sure you are feeling sleepy, as the spell Madam Pomfrey used should be wearing off in around a half hour. Mr. Potter, Miss Evans, Professor McGonagall, and myself will be leaving now. Do you have any questions?"
"Yes, one, why are James and Lily here, and two, how soon can I start classes?"
"Mr. Potter and Miss Evans are here because they are the ones that found you, and you can start classes Monday. Today is Saturday. Goodbye Miss Granger." Dumbledore managed to sweep out of the room with his robes flaring impressively, effectively ending the conversation before it went in a direction he didn't want it to. McGonagall was slightly less quick to vacate the room, she looked at Hermione with sad eyes before taking her leave. James just gave her a cheeky grin and a wink, while Lily smiled shyly and waved. Hermione waved back, already feeling that the girl would be a good friend.
Dumbledore was waiting outside the door for the rest of the students. His eyes were grave as he addressed them. "You do know you cannot tell anyone about this, not even Miss Prewitt or Mrs. Black or Lupin. We just want to get Miss Granger home as soon as possible. Would the two of you mind showing her to her classes? I cannot impose on you how important secrecy is in this situation. We need to get Miss Granger home without altering this dimension or timeline. Do you understand?"
The two teens nodded, then were shooed off to enjoy their weekend, knowing they would probably burst with the secrets they had been entrusted with.
So... what did you think? I was very excited about this chapter, and even more excited about the next two. I have more than half of chapter five written, and will probably finish it and chapter six over this next week.
If I update on Wednesday, will you guys read and review as much as on the weekend? Would you like twice weekly updates?
***Nine more chapters until Harry!***
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