A/N: I forgot to mention last time, if you haven't yet figured it out, I'm screwing with the timeline of NCIS characters a little. We know that the war occurred in 1997, which means that it was just Gibbs and DiNozzo, and no Director Shephard, but for the purposes of this story Director Shephard made more sense. Also, I love McGee and Ziva too much to leave them out. Yes, I know that using Kate would at least be closer to cannon timeline, but… Sorry, I just like Ziva more. ^_^

Also, I'm kind of writing this in show format. At the beginning and end of each chapter is where the photos, or "phoofs" go. If anyone would like to design these "phoofs", I would be totally in love with you forever, and give you lots and lots of virtual cookies. And of course, link to them in the story.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs was never surprised by anything. He was a Marine that had been through battle, and a man who had lost his family. He was an NCIS agent that dealt with insane, bizarre, dangerous and just plain wacky people on a regular basis. But seeing a girl randomly appear out of thin air? That was a new one.

He acted on instinct and pulled out his gun. He'd always been more of a "shoot first, ask questions later" kind of guy. Taking a good look at the girl from behind his Sig, it was easy to see that she had been through hell. Her clothes were torn and bloody, she was covered in scrapes and bruises and she had the look in her eyes of someone who had recently experienced immense pain and loss. He knew that look well. He saw it on the faces of victims' families often, and had even found it on his own visage whenever he had accidentally caught sight of his reflection in the time following Shannon and Kelly's deaths.

"Who are you?" Gibbs asked.

In a shaky voice, the girl replied, "My name is Hermione Granger. I am a friend of Molly Prewett Weasley. And I am here to see Jenny Shephard."

She was here to see the Director? Strange. "Is she expecting you?"

"I don't— I don't know," the girl named Hermione answered timidly.

"What business do you have with Director Shephard?"

"I can't tell you. Only that it's important, and I need to see her right away," Hermione pleaded.

This was getting stranger and stranger. It could be some sort of trap, Gibbs mused. But his gut told him it wasn't. The girl was sincere, that much he could tell. What her relation was to Jenny? He could only guess. A relative, maybe?

"I'll see if she's available," was all he said.

"Please, just mention the name Molly Prewett. She'll know who it is," Hermione told him.

Gibbs studied her for one moment more, then turned and walked away, in the direction he had been coming before a girl popped out of nowhere and shook up his afternoon.

The inside of Shephard Manor was everything Gibbs hated. Stuffy, covered in expensive antiques and relics, furniture that was too costly to sit on, nothing that encouraged comfort or relaxation. He had never been able to understand how anyone could live in a house like this. But then, most people never understood how he could live the way he did, so who was he to judge? What was the saying? "To each his own," or something like that.

It didn't take long to find the study that he had only exited a few minutes prior.

"Jethro?" Jenny Shephard greeted him in a surprised tone, looking up from the paperwork scattered across her antique desk. "Did you forget something?"

"Care to tell me why there's a girl on your front lawn that looks like she's just been attacked asking to see you?" Gibbs got straight to the point.

"What?" Jenny's face and tone belied her shock.

"Said her name was Hermione Granger, begged me to see you. Said to mention the name 'Molly Prewett'. She said it would mean something to you." Gibbs watched the Director's face carefully for any hint of a reaction, and he was not disappointed.

A flash of recognition crossed her face, followed by surprise, and then that distant look in her eyes that suggested she was remembering something from a long time ago.

"Jenn?" he prodded.

Pulled from her trance, Director Shephard immediately schooled her features back into the mask she often wore at work when dealing with sensitive information, completely unreadable.

"Bring her up."

"Am I missing something here?" Gibbs asked, hiding his surprise at her reaction.

"Jethro, please. Just bring her up."

Gibbs stared at Jenny's face for a moment, before turning and leaving the office.

When he got back to the lawn, he found Hermione waiting for him in exactly the same spot he had left her, as though she had been afraid to move anywhere else. He noticed that she was constantly looking around her, watching her surroundings, and seemed unable to remain still.

"Follow me," was all he said.

Without a question or comment, she followed. He observed her as they walked through the house. She did not seem to take any notice of her surroundings, other than to occasionally check behind herself as though she expected to be followed. If she was in any pain from her numerous cuts and other ailments, she seemed not to notice.

Gibbs stopped outside the study and tapped on the door to announce their presence. If it was just himself, he wouldn't have bothered, but he wanted Jenny to be prepared for the visitor, just in case. One could never be too cautious, of course.

"Come in," Jenny called.

He ushered Hermione in first, following close behind her, hand inching toward his weapon. Even though his gut told him she wasn't dangerous, Gibbs always took the precaution of being near his weapon in the company of strangers.

"Mrs. Shephard," Hermione began.

"Ms. Shephard," Jenny corrected.

"Ms. Shephard," Hermione acknowledged. "My name is Hermione Granger. I am sorry to disturb you, but I have a matter of much importance to discuss."

"You said Molly Prewett sent you," Jenny prompted.

"In a manner of speaking," was Hermione's hesitant response.

"In a manner of speaking?" Jenny questioned.

"When did you last speak to Molly?" Hermione asked.

"A few months ago. We've been pen pals; we've kept in touch fairly regularly since our teenage years. It's been a long time since I've heard from her, she never answered my last letter."

"She was in hiding," Hermione said.

"Hiding? From what?" Jenny queried, surprise on her face.

"That's what I'm here to discuss," Hermione answered.

"Why didn't she come along as well? Why are you alone?"

At this, Hermione broke down in tears.

"B-because th-th-they're all d-dead! I'm th-the l-l-last one." And with that, Hermione collapsed on the ground, sobbing.

Gibbs looked to Jenny, who appeared frozen in a state of shock.

What the hell was going on here?