Chapter 2;
"The distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion." -Albert Einstein
The dull throbbing circled her head as consciousness floated into grasp. Opening her eyes inch by inch the dull roar grew louder. The stream of sunlight across her face made her groan involuntarily, it was pure toture. She began to see shapes form in the bright light. Walls, beds, candles, end tables... this all looked familiar. The bright open space couldn't possibly be what she thought it was. But as the wavering images came into clearity she realized it was where she thought. The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's hospital wing lookes bright, sickeningly chipper, and slightly different. Her heart race as she noticed the beds. They looked older, brass instead of steal with extremely more uncomfortable pads then she remembered. It was all white too. The walls, the ceiling, the floor, the linens, the end tables. It was blinding and tje lack of color, which you could find in her memory of the ward, made her heart accelerate.
Was she dead? She remembered everything. Lucius mentioning Fred, Ginny's corpse, stabbing the blonde man, falling, passing out; she must be dead. Hogwarts was a training ground now, where they trained the purest to perfect standards. She must be dead, the pain though; the tenderness, the ache of healing skin stretching made her unable to believe this was her heaven. If she was dead why could she feeling this pain? The sound of sharp, precise, footfalls reached her ears. It wasn't until a nurse walked around her curtain did she realize something was really wrong. Her uniform was old, the typical candystripper uniform muggle nurses used to wear back before her parents were kids. The only difference wads this nurse was levitating a tray behind her. Upon seeing her eyes open and focused she jumped.
"Oh dear! You're awake!" She looked wearily at the young girl giving Hermione the impression she was scared of her. Why though? Why should she be scared of her? "I must go fetch Headmaster Dippet."
Hermione's mouth went dry, her throat burned. Headmaster Dippet? The outfit. The hospital wing. The time turner! Oh dear lord what happened? This was impossible! Hermione's heart raced as she watched the woman rush towards her office to floo call the man she had only seen in history books. This was bad; if she was right, if she really did end up here of all places then how was she to get home? It was impossible! That one phrase repeated over and over in her mind. The sound of several people approaching her bedside had her gripping the bedsheets tightly. Three figures turned to stand at the bed. The school nurse, whose name she did not know, Headmaster Dippet, and an exceptionally young, still smiling and breathing, Albus Dumbledore. The sight of the fallen headmaster had her heart clench and her to retreat further into that voidless darkness that consumed her. The middle aged healer gasped at the emptiness she saw in the girls chocolate orbs.
"I must see to the other patients!" She rushed out, her sadness for the tortured girl dripping off of her. Hermione watched her retreat before she turned back to the two men before her.
"Where am I?" She asked this question although she had no doubt she knew where she was. She needed her suspicions confirmed though.
"You are at the infirmary of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." When Dippet stopped talking her mouth formed an 'o' shape though no sound came out. He shifted he position and patted her leg awkwardly, "We are glad you are awake though m'dear. You have been out since Albus brought you here three days ago."
"Where did you find me?" She asked the question directly to her Headmaster but the real man in charge spoke.
"He found you in Diagon Alley, said you were worse for wear." He looked at his watch then back up, "I must go, I have a dinner to oversee, any questions please ask Albus, he is the second in command on my ship."
Hermione watched as the less graceful headmaster turned on his heel and headed towards the two doors leading to the hallway. His frame was slouched, as though he had no confidence, and he limped slightly. Hermione couldn't help but compare him to the Dumbledore she knew. While Dippet portrayed a weak, fragile old man Dumbledore portrayed a pillar of strength. The difference was astounding and Hermione wasn't surprised that Dippet didn't stay headmaster for as long as others. Her eyes returned to the familiar twinkling blue eyes that helped guide her through some hard times.
"I believe that the story I have told the headmaster will suffice amongst others." His voice was the comforting tone he had in her time, just not cracking with age.
"The story?" Hermione raised her brow. What was this man talking about?
"Well I couldn't very well tell Dippet that I found a time traveler. He would call in the ministry." His smile was large and bright, filling her with good memories.
"How did you know?" She was flabbergasted, Dumbledore had this uncanny nack for just knowing everything.
"The unmistakable shards of my time turner tipped me off.' He lifted a newer, shiner turner out of his midnight blue robes. Hermione couldn't believe it! She had used Dumbledore's time turner her third year. She gave it back to McGonagall though, how did Lucius Malfoy end up with it though? Her stomach churned realizing she might never know how he came to posses it. Asking wasn't an option seeing as he wasn't even a sparkle in his dad's eye. "Perhaps I should let you rest, tomorrow during dinner you will be sorted into a house."
"I'm eighteen." The thought of doing her final year in this unrecognizable time scared her. If she had ever decided to return to school it was to be with Harry and Ron at her side.
"And you have never finished your schooling. This is essential to your story." He straightened his robes out from their imaginary creases. She frowned at his comment.
"How do you know I haven't finished school?"
"The same way I know of your late husband. I am truly sorry for your lose."
Hermione sat up ridgedly. How dare he? "Don't ever speak of him!" She snapped. What gave him the right to shuffle through her thoughts? He must have done it upon finding her or else she would have been able to block him out. She never felt so much anger towards the long bearded wizard.
"Don't worry child, your secret is safe with me." He placed, what was supposed to be, a comforting hand on her shoulder. Instead her anger intensified. No wonder people called him a meddlesome old fool! "Your name is Hermione Faye, you were homeschooled by your witch mother and muggle father. You are my niece. Grindwald attacked your immediate family, leaving you to be placed in my care- which in turns explains your sudden appearance at Hogwarts. Anything else you may fabricate if you wish. I hope you the best until we find a remedy to this shocking situation."
"Wait!" She called out to his quickly retreating form. Though she hated him at the moment there was one very important question she had to know. It seemed he had already sensed her question.
"Today is October 19th, ninteen-forty-four." With that he was gone.
A/N:
Hello again! I was extremely happy to get some reviews. I hope posting this chapter so soon proves it. I don't know how I had time to write but I am glad I did. While I like this chapter, I feel-well- know this is just a boring filler chapter. I still hope you enjoy it though. I'm right now trying to decided whether to start the next chapter tonight or not. Hmmmm... well the more reviews the more I feel compelled to write. Hope everyone has a wonderful night! (It's 11:10pm-23:10- here)
3 Maria
