Author's Notes and Disclaimers are at the bottom of the page.
One Magic Moment
By Alaynthe
Chapter Three: Talking
Hermione paused before entering Dumbledore's office. When she finally did, she looked around, finding it much the same as it had been in her own time. Fawkes was perched on one side of the room, and the walls were still covered with paintings of former Headmasters and Headmistresses who looked at Hermione with confusion and slight annoyance as she passed. After all, she had entered without permission. Thankfully, they remained silent. In the back of the office, at a small wooden table, Professor Dumbledore was playing chess with Professor McGonagall. Muggle chess, Hermione noticed. Then, she noticed something very important: they were much younger.
"Sir?" She asked, not sure what to say and also not wanting to interrupt. McGonagall looked up in alarm, but Dumbledore seemed merely curious. They stared at her for a long, silent moment.
"You wear a Hogwarts uniform, yet you are not one of our students," he said, eyes twinkling as usual. Had Hermione not been so confused, she would have been amused how he got straight to the point. "Or should I say, not currently one of our students?"
"I-I…" She was surprised at how he knew already—But then, it was rare for Dumbledore to be aware of anything that happened in Hogwarts. "What year is it?"
"1977."
Hermione was shocked. She knew she had traveled, but to actually put a point down made it feel so different and so much more real. No wonder they had stared at her school robes, no wonder they had looked so different while the castle did not. She felt light-headed, and guessed from the look of concern on McGonagall's face that the older witch thought she was going into shock. McGonagall acted quickly and conjured a soft chair for her to sit in. Dumbledore offered her a piece of chocolate, which she slowly nibbled.
"What is your name, dear?" McGonagall asked. "How did you get here?"
"Hermione Granger, Professor." She took a deep breath and began to speak, careful not to reveal anything about the future. Her use of a Time Turner Third Year had taught her that. "I had a Time Turner to take some extra classes. I was riding a broom with my friend, but he lost control and I fell." She sighed. "I'm from the future. In my time, it's 1998."
McGonagall gasped. "A Turner for years? Can it be done, Albus?"
"So it seems, Minerva, so it seems."
"Professor?" Hermione asked in a small, shaking voice. "How can I get home? If Year-Turners haven't been invented yet…"
"Have no fear, Miss Granger, Professor McGonagall and I will find a way." Dumbledore answered. From the other end of the room, Fawkes warbled comfortingly. "In the meantime, perhaps it would be helpful for you to join the other students. I see you are a Gryffindor." He smiled at McGonagall, who was always ready to take on another Gryffindor, especially one who came with her own Head Girl badge.
"There's only two Gryffindor girls in seventh year, and one's Head Girl, so I daresay you'll get some peace in the dormitory." She shook her head in amusement. "Crazy troublemakers, the whole lot of them! But they're a good bunch. Head Boy and Girl are both Gryffindors, the first time it's happened in two hundred years," she said proudly. Hermione gasped. That would mean…
She would be in the same House as Lily and James Potter.
Before she knew it, she was following McGonagall up the staircases to Gryffindor Tower, listening to stories of the Gryffindors' magnificent achievements. In the years between now and Hermione's first year, McGonagall had changed. Hermione was sure the professor was just as serious in class, but she'd never seen her be this friendly with a student. Nor had she seen her talk this much. Hermione sighed with relief as they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Here we are," McGonagall said. "The password this week's "Chocolate knickers.' If I make it through this year without killing Black, it'll be a miracle. You'll see what I mean soon enough."
At the password, the Fat Lady's portrait swung open, and McGonagall and Hermione entered the Common Room.
It was full, as usual for after dinner on a Sunday night, but with people she didn't know. Normally the Common Room was her favorite place to sit and study, but how could she get anything done here? She'd be waiting for Ron or Harry to come pester her to stop studying, or for Neville to beg for help with Potions homework; she'd be hearing every conversation they'd had in her head. For her, the Gryffindor Common Room held too many ghosts: the memories of the friends who weren't born yet.
~
Author's Notes:
Harry Potter is the property of J. K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. No copyright infringement is intended.
Thanks again to all Reviewers! Your comments really encouraged me to get out this next chapter!