Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I do not make any money on writing this. I don't own This is war, either. That song is by Thirty Seconds To Mars.
Chapter 1:
Two Long Lost Friends, a Traitor and The Future-Makers
A warning;
To the prophet, the liar, the honest
This is war
To the leader, to pariah, the victor, to Messiah
This is war
This is war, by Thirty Seconds To Mars
It was morning when she first awoke. She didn't open her eyes. She didn't want to know the voices she heard to know that she was awake. She needed time to deal with everything. Why didn't Professor McGonagall tell her that she would be going back to the marauders? Didn't her professor know? Or had all the time she had spent with Dumbledore made her favourite professor just as sly as he had been, or was. Depending on how you looked upon it.
The voices were whispering, so low that she could only hear small pieces of what they were saying.
"She fell, I think," one voice exclaimed, while a second replied, Hermione had no idea what the reply was, however. In a panic, Hermione wondered where her wand and cloak was, but barely looking over at the nightstand, she saw both. She felt her body relax.
"There is no point in trying to seem unconscious, I know you are awake," A voice replied, and Hermione looked up into the eyes of a seemingly annoyed Minerva McGonagall. Hermione relaxed even more.
"Minerva. Thank God. You said to come find you?" Hermione exclaimed, thankful that Minerva had found her. Minerva narrowed her eyes at the young teen. She had clearly never seen her before.
"I do not know who you are child, but it would be in your best interest to explain how you ended up here, when you never have been a student at this school." Minerva was angry. And a bit frightened. How did this student know her name? Albus Dumbledore was currently away at Wizengamont business, and she did not like the fact that a stranger had appeared in the library at her watch either.
Looking around, Hermione saw that the voices she had heard before belonged to Lily Evans and James Potter, Head Girl and Head Boy, if she remembered correctly. Hermione gulped. McGonagall had said that the prophecy was read to her twenty years earlier. What if it was exactly twenty years, and she had went further?
Hermione gulped again.
"Could you hand me my bag, please? I think I have something that might explain me being here." Hermione replied, hoping that it was Minerva's box, and not just something that she had bought in the recent years. Minerva did so, albeit, holding her wand at the same time. It was dangerous times, and although this girl seemed too young to be a Death Eater, one could never be sure. Hermione slowly opened her bag, and lifted the jewellery box out of it. Before unbuttoning the top of her mattered shirt and pulling out the time turner. Minerva gasped.
Later that day, Hermione was excused from the hospital wing, and at dinner, introduced as Minerva's niece, who tragically had been orphaned the night before. Those who questioned further, namely Remus Lupin, and Severus Snape, were told that since Minerva was her guardian after her fathers passing, and her life had been in danger, she had been transported to Minerva's side.
Hermione gulped as she was asked to sit down on the three-legged chair. Minerva had yet to tell her what her task was, and she was unsure of Gryffindor would be the house to best fit her task. While nervous about the future, she was also glad. She got the opportunity to finish her education. She got the opportunity to get to know those who would become her Harry's family, and maybe, just maybe, she might be able to change the horrible future that was looming over all of their heads.
She sat down, nibbling at her bottom lip. The whole Great Hall was looking at her. Well, nearly the whole Great Hall. Her eyes landed on the one person that wasn't bothered, or interested on her arrival: Severus Snape himself. Hermione grinned to herself, oh how fun it would be to land in Slytherin. She imagined what her Potion Professors reaction would be.
Giggling are we, Miss Granger?
Oh, she thought. Hello. It's been a while, oh fuck, ignore that. It'll be a while. Fuck, forget that too.
Ah, Miss Granger, no need to hide anything for me, for I am just an old ratted hat, am I not?
I think you are more than that. You have a mind of your own. Many of the people watching us right now have not.
You certainly have a mind, Miss Granger. Ravenclaw would earn greatly by gaining you. But Intelligence isn't everything about you, now is it? Do not mistake me, you have Intelligence and wisdom to last you several eternities, and you are logical without fault, but these are not your most prided abilities, are they? Neither is your sharp-mindedness.
You're right. But you know that, you're always right.
You're loyal to. You would certainly go to an early grave for your friends. And hard working you are too. Patience isn't a problem either, but Hufflepuff isn't a place where you would feel good used, is it?
Well, no. I have a question to you while I sit here. Peter Pettigrew… Why did he end up in Gryffindor? Hermione thought her question to the hat replied.
Mr. Pettigrew is daring, and while not always courageous, and not often confident, he has the possibility to be the best Gryffindor this school has ever seen. You, however, are both confident and courageous, and you can be daring, but you never act without thought, at least not in matters of others well-being. And you are brave, my dear. Braver than most might guess at first sight.
Hermione nodded. Perhaps there was hope for Peter after all.
You could also do well in Slytherin. You are determined. You get what you set your eyes on, and you are ambitious, resourceful and accomplished. All qualities that Slytherin himself cherished and wanted his house to promote.
Hermione nodded again. She wondered how long she had sat her now. Would she be considered a hat-stall?
What will it be? What will it be? Hm… Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw are off the bench I guess. It has to be either Slytherin or Gryffindor. What do you think, Miss Granger? Where would you feel at home? Where would you be able to perform your mission the best way possible?
She sighed. She had no idea. What about Severus Snape? What are his qualities? She wondered. Hermione knew she was pulling it short when asking about other students, but if it could help her mission… That damn prophesy, she thought, why didn't Minerva just tell her? Hermione sighed.
Do not take my mind of your own sorting, Missy. But I'll have you know that Severus Snape would do well in any house, much like yourself. He is brave, and daring, but not stupid. Much like yourself. He is loyal and hard working. He is clever and highly logical. However, he is ambitious without fault, and more determined than you, dear. He is innovative and resourceful, and in the future, I believe he will be highly accomplished. You must not be so easy to judge Miss Granger; people are more than their house. Much like you.
Hermione sighed. I'm not narrow-minded. I know that people have abilities from other houses than their own. I know that in time, you'll probably talk to Harry Potter, and wonder if he is a Slytherin or a Gryffindor, and a younger myself, that you'll consider placing in Ravenclaw.
I think it'll be GRYFFINDOR!
Hermione sighed. She wasn't sure if she was reviled, or not. While it was sort of comforting that she was to go back to her own common room. She stood up, before handing the hat back to Professor Flitwick. As she walked down the stairs, she heard whispering all over the hall, and again, she wondered how long she and the hat had conversed. The Gryffindor's, however, applauded, as Hermione walked across the floor and sat down at the Gryffindor table, next to the red headed witch, she now knew was Lily Evans. Hermione wondered if time would punish her too much for trying to save them: Or if time wouldn't allow it at all.
As the whispers and clapping died down, food appeared at the table, and people started throwing massive amounts of food onto their plates.
"Hello! I'm Lily Evans, Head Girl, We'll be sharing a dorm together with Marlene McKinnon over there," Lily informed her, before pointing at Marlene. "Alice Heyes," Lily continued, and pointed at Alice. "Mary is her somewhere too, but at the moment, I can't see her. Mary McDonald that is," Lily finished. Hermione smiled at her.
"I'm Hermione, Hermione Granger. Sorry for accosting you in the library yesterday, I thought you were one of my best friends," Hermione replied, feeling her eyes tear up at the thought of her old friends. Lily noticed, that much was clear, but she chose not to say anything about it. That's when someone whistled, causing both Hermione and Lily to look up at once.
"Aren't you going to introduce us to your new friend, Lily-flower?" A voice questioned, and Hermione felt her heart beat faster at once. Sirius Black jumped down on the bench on the other side of the table, causing a bunch of first and second years to have to move seat, as James Potter, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew placed themselves beside their longhaired friend. Lily sighed.
"This dog of a man that so rudely interrupted us is Sirius Black, the well mannered one over there," she nodded in Remus direction, "is the most intelligent guy I know, Remus Lupin. That's Peter," she hinted at Peter to, before turning towards James Potter. " And the last one is Potter. He's Head Boy, and I have no idea as to why." Lily again finished. Hermione smiled at them.
"Well, it's nice to meat you, I'm Hermione Granger." Everyone smiled and said 'hello'. Hermione still had a hard time believing that she currently sat together with Remus, Sirius, James and Lily. It was a sick form of reality, making her be able to sit together with what should have been Harry's family, when he only got a few months. It was in many ways unfair. That's why she was relieved when Minerva ascended the stairs from the teachers' platform and informing her that she would need to see her in her office after dinner. At least she got a few moments to get used to the situation. She needed a few moments.
After a few more minutes with conversation with those all dead in her future, she stood up, excused herself, and followed Minerva out of the Great Hall.
The trip up to Professor McGonagall's office was done in complete silence. A few students were mingling in the halls, but most of them where at dinner still. No one paid closer attention to where the professor and she were going.
McGonagall stopped suddenly, and placed her wand on a shelf under a portrait. The young male in the portrait looked down at her, his eyes shone of hatred and hurt. However, he opened up the portrait, and the professor and Hermione stepped in. Hermione was curious as to whom the man in the portrait was, but either Minerva didn't realise her curiousness, or she choose not to feed it. The latest was probably the right assumption, Hermione guessed.
The office they had entered was oval shaped, so much that Hermione realised that they must be in a tower. She remembered being here once before, the first time she got the time turner from her mentor. Not much had changed since than, or rather, from now to than.
Hermione saw the chair behind Minerva's desk move, and realised that Minerva was already sitting. She sat down swiftly too, afraid that her professor would be annoyed at her for studying her office. She felt unsure as to how she should behave around the people from this time. Especially those she knew from the future. Her past. Their future. Oh fuck it, she thought. My head gets dizzy when thinking about the concepts of time too much, her brain stated.
Professor Minerva McGonagall gazed down at the young female. "I fear that perhaps my older self set you out on this mission without informing you of its significance." Minerva stated, her voice emotionless. It usually was when she admitted to a wrongdoing.
"Your mission," she continued, "the prophecy," Minerva's voice cracked. "It's all about one thing. You need to take down Voldemort before he becomes untouchable." Hermione looked up at Minerva in shock. She wanted her to change time? Was she ready to do this, she questioned herself. Was she ready to meet the faith she now had no choice but to go out on? Was she ready for everything that could happen if she took this path?
"You made an unbreakable vow on the prophecy." Hermione stated. Somehow she just knew. Minerva nodded sadly. "I am to change the course of history." Hermione stated again. Professor McGonagall nodded again, this time with a small smile on her lips. "I will be destroying the time-line I came from. I will never be able to come back." It was a final statement; Minerva could sense that.
"Yes, dear. You will be living in this time-line for the rest of your life." Hermione sighed. She would never be able to return to her past time-line, but thinking back to what she had left, part of her was glad. She would be able to get to know what should have been Harry Potters family. Part of her was also sad; she would have to live through the terror of Voldemort once more. Hopefully not for as long as she once had. This time, while siting in a chair in her transfiguration professors office, she broke down to a pile of heaving sobs, crying for those she had lost for now, and crying for those she perhaps would lose in the future.
There was a quick knock on the door, and without being allowed to, Severus Snape entered the room, parchament in hand, only now noticing the crying girl. He seemed uncomfterable.
"Professor McGonagall, The headmaster is back and wants to see you in his office, swiftly," Severus said, trying not to look at the girl. He did not want to see her tears. He did not want to know that they were made because of death eaters. Death eaters like him.
"That is fine, Mr. Snape. You may leave my office," Minerva requested, before looking down at her pretended niece.
"You'll be fine, Ms. Granger. Women like us will always be fine in the end. We will perhaps not be happy, but we'll manage. We always manage," Minerva whispered, so softly and quietly that Hermione barely heard.
If only that was true, she thought. If only that was true.
A/N:
So: that was the end of chapter 1. What do you think?
I just wanted to add that English isn't my mother-language, so if you see any mistakes I would be happy to fix them.
Also, I haven't got a Beta, so if you know anyone… send me a message
Sincerely,
CapabilisMaiden
