A/N: I'm trying to write everything so that it more or less adheres with the canon timeline and wouldn't drastically change the outcome of the entire series, so Harry's story and knowledge of things is basically going to be exactly the same as it was in the books. I'm using Shaya Lonnie's amazing timeline and organization to help me write. You can find it on her weebly: .com in her FAQ's.
7/5/16 update: I've combined what I originally had as chapters 3 & 4 into one chapter (this one) so if you've been keeping tabs on this fic, don't be alarmed!
Chapter III: Gunhilda Will Take You To The Sweets
Breakfast, October 29th, 1993
Hermione, of course, was never able to take her mind off of that blasted time-turner, but who could she tell? It was bad enough that Fred knew, and she couldn't let other people in on the secret that McGonagall had entrusted her with. Harry would accidentally let it slip to Ron. Ron would hate her for spending so much time with his brother. Ginny would eternally torment her brother for setting foot inside a library. And her dorm mates… well, she couldn't exactly tell Parvati or Lavender or any of the other girls. They were too busy giggling over who they were going to take to Hogsmeade and the obscene things that they were going to do to them.
Hogsmeade! Hermione slapped her palm on her forehead, realizing that she had completely forgotten. Ron and Harry looked at her over the breakfast that lined the table, and she was going to say something about Hogsmeade until she remembered that Harry couldn't go. She sat there, sputtering a little bit, and both Harry and Ron tilted their heads at her.
"Hermione, you okay?" Harry asked her kindly. She swallowed her words and some of her oatmeal, and calmed down enough to reply. She wasn't about to risk reminding Harry that he couldn't go with them to Hogsmeade.
"Yeah just realized that I didn't return my charms book to the library yesterday, and it's due today; that's all." She muttered. Ron and Harry grinned at her, and went back to discussing the upcoming Gryffindor-Hufflepuff match. Secretly, she was glad that Harry couldn't go to Hogsmeade, what with Sirius Black running out and about. She had learned some high level defensive spells just in case Harry snuck out and ran into him at Hogsmeade, but Hermione was hoping that she wouldn't have to use the spells, considering that she hadn't exactly had ample time to practice them. Theory was all that she had going for her at the moment, but she decided that theory was better than nothing and would have to do. When Hermione had finished with her food, she looked up at the boys, who had long been done their third helpings. "You guys wanna head over to the greenhouses for Herbology?"
Ron looked at her with a pouty face. "We still have like 15 minutes left, Hermioneee."
"And it takes 10 minutes to walk down; I don't wanna risk being late because you were too lazy to stand up, Ronald." Harry laughed and began to grab his bags.
Ron gawped at Harry picking up his bags. "You're just going to give in?! Just like that?!
"We might as well just go, mate. Come on." Hermione smiled at her friend- this was his way of sticking up for her. Ron made a dramatic sigh as he slung his bag over his shoulder and with that, the trio set off in the direction of the greenhouses. Before they were even out of the Great Hall, Hermione made eye contact with another red-headed student that was steadily decreasing the distance that was between them, and immediately averted her gaze to the floor. He cast her a goofy grin, and grabbed Ron under his elbow and gave his little brother a noogie.
"Hey lil Ronniekins, how's it been? Hermione here doing all your homework for ya?"
Ron quickly turned piping hot red, pulled himself out of his brother's chokehold, and looked in a direction opposite to where his two brothers stood, trying very hard to appear mature and confident. "Don't call me that, Fred. Leave me alone."
Fred and George feigned gasping. "Alright Mister. Don't be surprised when you see dungbombs in your bed for that sass." As they began to walk away, Fred slipped a note into the pocket of her robes that contained the time turner. Without acknowledging Fred at all, Hermione began to sprint towards the greenhouses. Leaving Ron and Harry far behind her, looking intensely confused. "Hermione, wait up!" They shouted, but she only slowed her pace slightly. "We're going to be late!" She shouted, completely aware of the fact that they'd be on time to class, regardless of whether or not they ran. Once she knew she was far enough away from them to steal a glance at the note that was left for her, she reached into her pocket for the small piece of crumpled parchment.
On an exciting day that looms not far ahead, you can find me with the one-eyed witch who cured the itchies in the hallway that's 2 floors above the first; it'll take us below the sugar quills.
Forge
PS (Don't) F(orget the) red
She rolled her eyes. Was he inviting her to Hogsmeade with him to get candy? Ridiculous. And meeting near the statue of Gunhilda of Goosemoor on the third floor? Hermione was surprised Fred even knew of the statue, let alone know that it was Gunhilda who cured Dragon pox. All things considered though, she supposed she would have to give Fred some time in her day. Her original plan was to go to Hogsmeade with Ron, but she knew she would have no fun spending the day with him in Hogsmeade at Zonko's. The only reason she was going with Ron was because Ron wouldn't have Harry, but really, all she wanted was to spend time at the legendary bookshop, Tomes and Scrolls. If she went with Fred instead, it would be easier to abandon him and submit to her heart's desire. Now, all she needed was to get Ron to go with someone else so that he wouldn't have to feel lonely.
Hermione looked behind her, and both Harry and Ron were slowly making their way towards her. She was lucky that they weren't the type of people to rush to class, regardless of whether or not she did.
" 'Mione, you didn't have to rush so much; me 'nd Harry are still early and we didn't even run."
"Whatever, Ron." The three took their place at their stations in the greenhouse, and when Professor Sprout began to talk about different varieties of Shrivelfigs, Hermione forgot everything else that had happened that day and was swallowed by the curriculum.
Morning, October 31st, 1993
Hermione hadn't had a spare moment with Ron since she got that letter from Fred. She needed to come up with an excuse about why she couldn't go to Hogsmeade with him so that she could meet Fred on the third floor, and now, she would have to tell him the day of the trip.
Hermione met with Ron and a couple of the other third-year Gryffindors in front of the portrait, and they set off in the direction of the courtyard. Hermione sent an apologetic look to Harry, who sat in front of the fireplace alone, and suggested that he talk to Professor Lupin while they were in Hogsmeade. The portrait shut behind her, and she told Ron to go ahead with Dean and Seamus.
"I'll catch up with you later. I've got to stop in the library for a moment." He gave her one last glance, and then ran to catch up with his dorm mates. Turns out, it would be easier to get rid of Ron than she thought it would be. She set off in the direction of the third floor corridor, and when she arrived at the statue of the one-eyed witch, Hermione found herself alone.
She sighed. Of course Fred would be like any other boy, either abandoning her or arriving extremely late. What could she expec-
Midthought, Hermione found herself being pulled behind the statue and she tumbled down a dark chute, and into the arms of a familiar redhead. Doubled over from laughing so hard, Fred offered his hand to Hermione, who refused to take it.
"Honestly," she huffed, "you could have given me some sort of warning." Slowly, she pushed herself off of the ground, dusting herself off and blowing her hair out of her face as quickly as she could. "I don't know why you find this so amusing. I could have been seriously injured, yet you're just over here laughing and mocking me. Your mother would be asham- would you please stop laughing and listen to me?"
"You," Fred gasped through laughs, "shoulda seen- your- face. You," he wheezed, "have cobwebs in your hair." He burst into another fit of giggles and Hermione crossed her arms across her face, picked the webs out of her hair, and began to walk forward, but stopped when she realized she didn't know which way to go.
"Just show me how to get to Hogsmeade through here, Fred."
Fred took a deep breath to calm himself down. "Alright, alright, follow me. I've got a light up pygmy puff that I can put on my shoulder so that we don't have to be completely in the dark." He started walking forward, and Hermione followed the flashing technicolor piece of fluff into the darkness.
Not too much time had passed before Fred came to an abrupt stop. Hermione, who was too busy sucking in and memorizing her surroundings, ran into him and fell. Again. But this time, Fred didn't laugh and instead he stared at the ground next to Hermione with a concerned look on his face.
"Fred, what are you looking at?" She followed his gaze to the ground and immediately, she realized that her time turner had slipped out of her pocket. But instead of being its usual gem-encrusted, golden-tinted accessory, it was spinning on its axis and the gems were slowly switching spots. Each revolution took a couple seconds and the movements were not frantic, but Hermione and Fred found themselves worried nonetheless.
Hermione pulled it by the chain and put it back into her pocket. "So is there an exit near here?" Fred, who was still looking at her pocket, lifted his arm up behind him and pulled a ladder down.
"How convenient! I assume this leads to Honeydukes and that we are currently 'below the sugar quills'? Come on, then! I'm itching for some nougat chunks." She made her way past Fred, who had to blink a little bit to come to his senses, and then continued her way up the ladder. He let her reach the top and push her way out through the trapdoor until he followed her slowly up the ladder.
Hermione looked around the small pantry that she seemed to have entered and tapped on a glass jar of green liquid that was slowly churning itself. Shelves were stocked high with what she assumed were ingredients for candy, but she wasn't sure how much she would trust Honeydukes after realizing that the jar she had just tapped was full of flobberworm mucus. There were a couple doors leading out of the pantry, and Hermione realized that she didn't know which one to employ as an exit.
"So which way is it to-", Hermione began, but she was quickly cut off by Fred, who had regained the impish glint in his eyes. He had his hand on her mouth, and she couldn't help but admire his smell of smoky caramel and parchment.
"We need to be quiet," he whispered. "Mr. and Mrs. Flume haven't realized that George and I use this entryway yet." Hermione pursed her lips together, and Fred removed his hand from her face, leaving Hermione longing for his caramel and parchment scent yet again. He took a couple steps to the far corner of the dingy room and tapped thrice on a stone embedded into the wall. A small arching exit appeared and Hermione saw an alleyway that she thought must be in between the Three Broomsticks and Honeydukes, but of course, this was her first school visit at Hogsmeade so she couldn't be 100% sure. Fred ducked under the arch and out into the breezy autumn air, and Hermione followed quickly just as the opening in the wall began to close back in to itself. She took a few deep breaths as she looked at everything around her- she was still amazed by the wizarding world, even though she had been living in it for the past two and a half years of her life. Fred gazed at her, thoroughly amused by how intrigued she looked by everything around her.
"So, prefect-to-be Hermione, are you going to tell on me?" he smirked. She opened her mouth and then closed it, quite obviously mulling over what she would do.
"Well Fred, although this isn't technically within school rules, I wouldn't say that you have broken any. I am willing to forget that this ever happened if I ever discover that this is indeed against the rules, and therefore, against my morals."
Rolling his eyes, Fred began walking the opposite direction of the town's centre square. "Where are you going?" Hermione asked.
"I'm going to show you something that is most definitely against the rules. Are you willing to come with me?" Hermione wasn't so sure, but he kept walking ahead of her (which was purposely done so that she didn't have enough time to contemplate her decision), and Hermione quickly followed suit.
Within a minute, Fred stood in front of the Shrieking Shack. A couple seconds later, a panting Hermione stood by him. "You planned, in advance, to take me to this ugly shack? Honestly, I think the dingy pantry we were in before was quite sufficient. I think that I'm going to head to Madam Malkin's to meet with some of my dorm mates. I'll see you later?"
She spun on her heel and took a step back in the direction of Honeydukes, but Fred pulled her back. "This is the Shrieking Shack. Have you not heard the legends?" Hermione shook her head. "Well, I have, and I've been dying to explore it but George has refused to come with me. I figured, that with you, I'd have someone who was both curious enough to come with me but also skilled enough to protect themselves if any of the legends were true. Are you ready?"
Hermione looked around and observed the absence of students around the shack. "Well, I certainly don't believe in any silly ghost stories," she harrumphed, and then began her way down the steep incline and into the shack.
"I never said they were ghost stories, did I?"
