Title: Little Spark of Madness

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter in anyway, that belongs to JK Rowling's. I don't make any money from this either. I just do it for fun :) All original characters are my own, those would be the ones that you don't recognize from the books.

"It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting it's sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessons. But it is never gone."

Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy

July 28th, 1975

Hogwarts Head Girl and Boy Common Area

Hermione and Harry were relaxing on the plush couches in the head common room.

Hermione was lying back reading a book on time travel trying to find if there was a way to go back to their own time. While Harry was playing with a golden snitch that was flying slowly around the room. They had only four people in this time for company plus the Hogwarts house elves of course. No one else knew that they even existed yet.

They had both managed to give their own accounts of their six years at Hogwarts and their year on the run. It had been nothing short of exhausting.

Hermione had been so caught up in her memories of being on the run that she had even given them her time at Malfoy Manor with Bellatrix. She had panicked at first, but then realized like the rest of her memories that she'd given for them to review it was now fuzzy and no longer caused her the same pain that it once had. She asked the Headmaster if she could leave it out of her head when she got the other back. He had agreed to keep it in a vial locked away in case she ever did want it back.

It was nothing she wanted to remember so vividly, something she knew would never heal. The past two nights were the first since it happened that nightmares did not plague her about what happened.

Harry had given up memories of the Dursley's hoping that if the worst happened and history repeated itself that he would be given to Remus or Sirius and not them. Not again.

Dumbledore, McGonagall, Urquart, and Mistle were currently in the Headmaster's office looking over their third year in detail. That is when more details about the first wizarding war had started to appear. Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were both shocked out of their minds that Peter Pettigrew had betrayed his friends. James and Lily were dead and Sirius had been forced into Azkaban without a trial.

Peter was only a 15-year-old boy right now, but now they knew one path that he may follow.

Everyone had agreed that Peter would be treated no differently upon his return to school. He was still innocent, another innocent that they could save if possible.

Harry and Hermione were both slightly uneasy about that, but reluctantly agreed to give him a chance. They had seen firsthand what he became and while they weren't sure they could befriend him. They wouldn't act hostile around him either.

Luckily being in the middle of summer not even the teachers were around so Harry and Hermione could walk the grounds. Harry took great pleasure in having the Quidditch pitch all to himself. While Hermione studied on various subjects with full access to the library on promise that everything would be well taken care of.

Hermione would take her books and parchment with her to the quidditch pitch so that neither of them were alone. Harry had even gotten Hermione up on a broom once trying to show her again the basics of flying.

Bored Harry leaned his head back off the edge of the sofa that he was lying on as he looked at Hermione from upside down. She was certainly 15 again, but she had seemed to start taking care of her hair again. It was still curly, but loose shiny curls. They fell to her mid back since it had been well over a full year since she'd gotten a haircut.

Without looking up from her book Hermione perked an eyebrow, "Harry why are you staring at me?"

Blushing slightly Harry rolled over to his stomach, "You started doing your hair again, it has been a while." He stopped for a moment before changing the subject. "Dumbledore said if we are still here we will be put into 5th year."

Closing her book, a she frowned at him still caught up on the first thing he said. "So, I should be a mess again? I want to forget my time on the run, and this gives me something I couldn't do when we were. I want things to be different, we have a chance to do it over again. I know it might seem vain, but at least…. never mind"

Harry frowned as she stopped talking and looked down at her book again, "At least what Hermione?"

Sniffling she traced the cover of her book lightly with the tip of her finger in embarrassment and sorrow, "Ron actually thought I was pretty when I started taking care of my hair. At Yule Ball? Before that neither of you ever noticed I was a girl before that, hell I was an afterthought as a potential Yule Ball date. Neither of you thought to ask me until you both had a challenging time finding a date."

Harry blushed again lowering his gaze from hers, "Hermione I didn't ask because I don't think about you like that."

Hermione flushed brightly as her face shot up looking at Harry. Hurt written clearly on her face, "A girl?"

Raising his hands in defense he quickly looked at her, "NO! Bloody hell no. I don't think about you as someone I would want to date."

Harry felt like shrinking away seeing her eyes shoot open in a glare as he hastily added to his previous comment, "I mean because you're my sister! You're my family Hermione, you never left me even when I was an idiot. You were always there helping me. I think of you as my little sister, and even though you're technically older. I was happy no one asked you, because I didn't think anyone was good enough for you. Viktor made you happy that night though, I never saw you so happy. You started changing then, but I never stopped thinking of you as my sister. I don't think I would want anyone else here with me."

Hermione set her book on the table as tears flowed down her cheeks as she got up and walked over to Harry sitting beside him. Resting her head on his chest as she hugged him, "You're the brother I never had. I love you Harry."

He smiled wrapping his arms around her in a hug, "I love you too Hermione."

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The two of them fell asleep on the couch and did not awaken until the next morning when Chipy popped in with breakfast. "Mornings! Up, Up. Headmaster wishes to see you both this morning."

The two grumbled as Harry rolled over forgetting that they fell asleep on the couch only to land hard on the ground with a grunt.

Hermione just chuckled as she stretched out her back before getting up and sitting at the small table where Chipy had placed their breakfast. Hermione placed a few pieces of sausages and an egg before buttering a piece of toast.

As Hermione was taking her first bit Harry just sat down before loading his plate with nothing but sausages and stuffed a whole one into his mouth.

Frowning Hermione calmly placed her fork down, "Really Harry? Cut them into bite sized pieces, or you will choke yourself. You're not competing with Ron anymore, you don't have too…" She looked down at her plate pushing her food around a bit remembering that Ron died in their time, and wasn't even born yet in this time.

Harry just gave her a sad smile before cutting up the rest of his sausages, "It is okay Hermione. I miss him too."

They continued to eat quietly before heading up the stairs to their own rooms to get ready for the day.

Thirty minutes later they were both standing in the headmaster's office along with Professor McGonagall, and Misters Urquart and Mistle.

Everyone was silently for a moment before Mister Urquart stepped forward, "I don't know where to start. The two of you have faced so much in your short years, so much more than I have faced in my own time. Ogres, werewolves, The Dark Lord, basilisks, horcruxes, dragons, and so much more. I admire both of you so much." At the last bit, he turned and looked at Hermione sadly causing her to look away.

Mister Urquart turned and looked at the Headmaster, "We have all gone through all the memories, although I know we will need to go through many more times to gather all the information. Mister Mistle and I agree on one thing. The children will not be able to go back to their own time. And if they do make it back to their own time, it won't be anyone's doing. They need a home here besides Hogwarts."

Mister Mistle nodded, "Yes, I know that there will be two new students transferring to Hogwarts this year due to their families being killed by death eaters. They are coming from other countries. One from France and the other is coming from Italy I believe; their closest families are here. We could easily explain they are two more that are coming here due to the loss of their families as well. They have technically lost them due to the war so it wouldn't be a lie."

Mister Urquart turned and looked at Harry and Hermione. "If you both are okay with it, Mister Mistle and I agree that the best thing would be for you guys to pose as brother and sister. Twins since you are in the same year and your eyes are now identical. Both of your hair is chestnut brown, Hermione does have curls but she also has longer hair. You both have similarities, you could pull off being twins. There is also a spell we will do, it will change your blood a bit. This is more for Hermione's sake since she has no pure blood line in her. Basically, you would share Harry's lineage. If anyone were to check that you were truly twins it would be able to be confirmed."

Harry smiled as he looked at Hermione, "I don't have a problem with it. She already is my sister."

Hermione just hugged him as she gripped the back of his shirt tightly, "Yes, it is fine with me too. But what about our birthdays? I am older by almost a year."

Urquart nodded, "You both arrived here on July 19th, would that be a good birthday for you to share? You must both change your birthdays, in the future someone may try to connect you with your future selves when, if, they are born."

Hermione frowned, her nose wrinkling slightly in mild disgust, "I would be one of the younger students now."

Harry just nudged her with his shoulder, as he smirked at her. "It isn't so bad, we would be twins Hermione. Harry and Hermione…." turning to face the others, "What would our last name be? We couldn't use Potter. What would our last name be?"

Dumbledore nodded his head, "Yes, in order for this to work we would need to find a family that would take them in." Turning to the others in the room in question, although the look on his face said he already knew the answer. "Do you have any ideas."

Mister Mistle stepped forward slowly, "There is someone that we have in mind. It would be perfect and we wouldn't need to let anyone else in on the secret."

Professor McGonagall straightened as she looked intently at the man, "Who? Anyone would be naturally curious about where these new family members came from."

Mistle nodded his head hard enough that Hermione thought he might get whiplash from it as he pulled a file from his briefcase. "You, actually, Professor. I know is it hard, but I know you just received word last month about your youngest brother Robert McGonagall Jr being killed along with his family. What if the records were altered to show that your nephew and niece survived the attack? Your brother hasn't been around in well over 15 years, so no one would know them."

The professor nodded her head significantly calmer while deep in thought, "I see your point. It would make logical sense. They would be half-bloods then." Turning her head to Harry and Hermione, "Would you both be okay with being family to me? You would go through school with my last name. It won't be easy."

Hermione couldn't beam more if she tried, "I've always looked up to you! You were like a grandmother to me at school. You always believed in me."

Harry smiled at her, "During my first year you were the reason I was the youngest seeker. You always looked out for us."

Professor McGonagall smiled at them both with so much emotion as she learned how much she meant to them, "I never got to meet my brother's children, it would be nice to have you both here as his children. Even though not true, it would be as if a part of him was still here."

Minerva look to Mister Mistle with a questioning gaze, "Can you fix the records? To show they are my niece and nephew? However, Harry will strongly resemble James and Charlus Potter. We can't possible keep up a glamor charm to hide the prominent Potter features. Eventually they will fade."

Mister Mistle got up and wagged his finger back and forth, "We won't need too. I know you never knew your late brother's wife, but I found their marriage certificate. Her name was Adeline Byrne. She was a pure blood from Ireland and the last of her family. Well, on her father's side, Adeline's mother was Charla Byrne, and her maiden name was Potter. Charlus Potter's aunt who left home at 18 and never returned. If Harry resembled James it could be traced back through his mother's side. As for Hermione, she does have a similar jaw line to Harry. It is just more settle and feminine."

Dumbledore sat back in his chair nodding his head, "I think it would work. If anyone looked too far into their past they would find the Byrne and Potter line as well. They would be half-bloods so they wouldn't stick out as muggleborns or pure bloods."

Rubbing his chin between his fingers Albus contemplated something for a moment. "I will write to Charlus and Dorea Potter about your arrival though, I think it would be best if we let them know about the physical similarities before blindsiding them. I will take care of it."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Raising his hand as Hermione started to defend her muffle heritage, "I know being a muggle born is something you are proud of, but we need you to blend in. A muggle family wouldn't know how to take you in and keep a secret. As a half-blood, even though not entirely fair to your past, you would not stick out."

Hermione sighed and nodded her head, "As long expects me to act prejudice against muggle borns." Looking to Harry and then to Professor McGonagall, "Professor are you sure you're alright with us taking your last name?"

The professor nodded her head in her normal manner, "Yes, although I believe you should start referring to me as Aunt Minerva outside of school. I will still ask you refer to me as Professor in class though, it wouldn't do well for the two of you or myself to be called Aunt Minerva in front of the other students."

Harry nodded his head, "I think we can do that Aunt Minerva." He paused for a moment hearing the phase come from his lips, "Well it is a good thing we aren't supposed to have known you before coming here. It will make any mix ups understandable."

Hermione nodded scrunching her nose a bit, "Also, since we 'arrived' here over summer we will be familiar with the castle as we had free range to explore while you were finishing up preparing for the upcoming school year before we head to your home."

Minerva nodded her head as well as Dumbledore before he spoke up, "We will still put you with a prefect to help you around though for classes, and you will both need to be officially sorted into a house."

Harry and Hermione both snapped their heads to the Headmaster before Harry spoke. There was almost a demanding presence in his voice, but as Hermione laid a hand on his arm he calmed down, "We are in Gryffindor. We were both sorted our first year."

The Headmaster nodded, "In 1991 I believe, it hasn't happened yet. We can sort you now, we will be sorting the other two children in private as well. With everything that has happened to you both, and to them I don't feel a public sorting would be wanted."

Hermione shook her head, "What if we are separated? We have been through so much, fighting, lies, what if it changed us? The hat almost stalled on Harry the first time between Gryffindor and Slytherin, and it thought about placing me in Ravenclaw."

Dumbledore nodded as he picked up the sorting hat from its place on the shelf, "It might, but from what we have all seen from your memories I doubt it will."

Harry squeezed her hand knowing how alone she had felt her first year, "Even if you or I get something else we will still spend time together."

Dumbledore walked over to the new siblings with the sorting hat, "Normally we do this in alphabetical order. However, seeing there is only two of you, ladies first?"

Hermione nodded her head as she stepped forward sitting on the stool that had been placed next to the Headmaster, "Your right. I am being silly Sir."

The moment the hat got within an inch of her head it all but shouted out, "Gryffindor!"

Smiling as she remembered hearing the same short during her first year, but like Dumbledore had been sure of her experiences had only made her stronger.

Harry's experience with the hat ended much the same however the hat did stall momentarily once more after trying to place him in Slytherin once again.

Harry looked to Hermione with a grin, "I guess it is good that we like red and gold so much."

Hermione just grinned and nodded her head, "True." Looking to Minerva with a frown, "How will we pay for the school items?"

Mister Mistle popped his head up, "Once the paperwork is done you will receive your 'father's' estate and bank accounts. It belongs to the McGonagall household, but as you will be his children the funds will go to your caretaker until you are both of age."

Harry frowned not feeling comfortable taking the late man's money, "I…"

Minerva cleared her throat, "You didn't know my brother, but he was a kind man. I know that he would not mind this to help save your lives. Besides you will be McGonagall's for the rest of your lives. It wouldn't be right for you not to have an inheritance. And in Hermione's case a dowry left by her father. The McGonagall name may be muggle, but my mother was a Ross. The Ross' were a very prominent and wealthy pureblood line."

Both Harry and Hermione nodded. Hermione looked at her Professor and now Aunt, "I guess we should learn about our family for the rest of the summer."

Minerva nodded, "I only need to finish up one more thing and we can leave for my home tonight. There are plenty of family journals and photos for you to go through."

Hermione's eyes glistened with the thought of research, while Harry grumbled at the thought of leaving the pitch for studies.

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