A/N: I'm trying to write a few chapters ahead of time before Christmas break ends, but I'm impatient so I'm posting it now. As far as the battle goes, I have tried to make it blatantly obvious they were losing and try to mimic the panic and grief Hermione felt in that situation. I don't know how well I did, but fair warning for you for the chapters ahead. Enjoy!

EDIT: This chapter has now been changed from what it originally was and reposted, so if something seems very different, it is. I'm keeping most of the original A/N in place though.

"I am not sure how, but it appears you are quite out of place, the year is 1977."

Hermione stared, uncomprehending, "But, that's not possible."

Dumbledore sighed, knowing it would take a lot of convincing to get this girl to understand, "Given everything that you have told me, time travel is really the only explanation that I can think of."

Hermione refused to believe it, "The only thing that can turn back time is a time turner, and that only goes back a few hours at most!"

"Hearing that statement only reinforces my theory, due to the fact that time turners are currently still in the process of being developed."

Hermione huffed and sat back in her chair in defeat and said simply,

"How?"

Dumbledore looked surprised at her easy acceptance of such a concept, but she waved him off, adding,

"When you have seen and done as much as I have nothing surprises you."

Dumbledore nodded in acknowledgement of her statement, but said nothing. Though all he could think was 'What has this child been through?'

"I believe that the real question now lies in how you came to travel here. After all, there has been very little record of time travel more than a few hours. And judging from what you have told me, there has been no change in that in the future."

Hermione took on an annoyed expression, "This is doing nothing to explain how I got here."

Dumbledore held up his hand calmly, "Miss Granger, I understand that you have just gone through a great ordeal after being through a battle and time traveling, but I must ask you to maintain some amount of calm while we figure this out."

Hermione nodded, ashamed, "I'm sorry Professor, I know you are just trying to help."

"That's quite alright my dear," Dumbledore stood up and walked over to the cupboard containing the pensieve,

"Now, I believe the simplest way to go about this would be to take a look at your memory to pinpoint exactly when you time traveled and allow me to view some of the events leading up to it."

Hermione swallowed thickly and nodded.

"Okay, but I'd rather not see it again if you don't mind."

Dumbledore nodded his consent and Hermione put her wand to her temple and drew out a long, silver strand of memories and placed it inside of the pensieve. Dumbledore nodded once more before entering her memories.

Hermione sat back to wait for Dumbledore nervously. She had decided to start memories from directly after her leaving the Chamber of Secrets, when everything had started to go wrong. She did her best to shut out the abundance of memories floating to the surface of her mind, but she knew it was no use. It may have been simpler to just go with Dumbledore if she was going to relive it anyways.

Meanwhile, in Hermione's memories, Dumbledore was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. There were tears trickling down his old face as he watched the destruction around him within Hermione's memory.

Dumbledore decided he was lucky to be in such good shape for someone of his age, because he often had to sprint after Hermione when he would get too caught up in watching everything around him. He tried and failed multiple times to join the fighting, or yank someone back before they were killed. He failed each time before remembering he was in a memory and had a job to do.

He followed after Hermione, letting out a scream unbecoming of a headmaster when a young boy no older than fifteen was literally blown apart and splattered the walls with a nearby scream of 'Dennis!'

Dumbledore listened to Voldemort's call for Harry to come to the Forbidden Forest and watched as Hermione began to assist in gathering dead. He watched the barely of age girl hug her loved ones until Voldemort called out their death sentence.

Dumbledore tried and failed to duel the memory Tom Riddle, and joined Hermione in her desperate sprint through the castle to find Harry. He felt Hermione's desperation as she yelled at the boy who looked so much like the current James Potter. He watched with trepidation as the boy ran off to his death.

When the ceiling caved in Dumbledore began to look at Hermione in awe.

In Hermione's anger and grief, the air around her began to crackle with magic. As she dueled the old Lucius Malfoy several bursts of magic broke away and made large gashes in the walls. She dueled with a ferocity he had only seen once before in Grindelwald and possibly himself. Hermione probably would have won right off if she did not have the grief of the blonde girl's death blinding her. Dumbledore was amazed when a simple reducto shattered a shield that was well beyond NEWT level.

Dumbledore cried out in horror when the boy who looked to be a Longbottom gave his life for Hermione. He stood there for a moment before taking off after Hermione just in time to see her blast an old Bellatrix Black into a wall without even using her wand.

Tears started pouring down Dumbledore's face in earnest as he watched Hermione trip over Hagrid's bloody body and scoot away, screaming at the top of her lungs in panic. He noticed the magic in the air go up in intensity and gather as a light blue glow around Hermione's scrambling form.

Dumbledore heard Hermione muttering 'I have to get out of here," over and over again as she dragged herself towards the nearby wall. Dumbledore watched, shell-shocked, and the light peaked and a door that did not exist appeared right next to her. Hermione dragged herself through it and Dumbledore followed, stepping over her when she did not make any move to stand up.

Dumbledore looked around and realized that they were in a hallway identical to the one they had just left, barring the fact that there was no battle going on. As soon as the door behind Hermione closed, it disappeared, taking all traces of the battle with it. He looked on with sadness as Hermione broke down, but snapped to attention when Hermione shot up and cursed a young Lucius Malfoy, all traces of an emotional breakdown gone as she went back into battle mode.

Dumbledore was once again impressed when Hermione tore through his protective wards and blew apart his gargoyle as if it were nothing. The memory ended with Hermione entering his office.

Hermione waited just under five minutes for Dumbledore to come back; knowing that time passes faster in the pensieve. Hermione decided to keep herself busy during that time so as to not dwell on her memories.

She started by casting some cleaning spells on herself and siphoning as much of the blood off of herself as she could. Hermione then set about repairing everything in the office she had broken during her interrogation of Dumbledore. When she had finished with that, she took down the wards around the office, leaving only the silencing charm.

By the time Hermione finished, Dumbledore had exited the memory. She turned around and barely had time to register the tears on Dumbledore's face and how shaken he looked before she was swept into a bone-crushing hug. She hesitated for a moment before hugging him back, surprised at how much she longed for the comfort.

After a moment, Dumbledore stepped back with his eyes still watering.

"I'm sorry my dear girl, I don't know what came over me. If you'll excuse me, I'll be right back."

With that, Dumbledore rushed out of the room.

Hermione stood there abashed for a moment before rolling her eyes and sitting down. Dumbledore almost never showed real emotion, but so far today she has seen him look confused, borderline angry, and now the old man was crying. This has been a weird day. Then again, it wasn't every day you fought in a battle or time-traveled either. No, this sort of thing was supposed to happen only once a year. Hermione wondered for a moment if she was crazy.

As Hermione pondered this, Dumbledore re-entered the room, looking significantly more calm and collected. That annoying twinkle in his eye was even back.

Dumbledore settled himself back into his chair and began to speak once more,

"Upon reviewing your memories I have noticed that you are performing a great deal of extraordinary magic that I have never seen the equal of."

If there was anything Hermione expected him to say after that episode, it wasn't that.

"I'm not sure if I understand what you are saying Professor," Hermione said slowly.

"After your friend caved in the ceiling, I noticed you started to gather a visible area of magic around you, an aura you may call it. You used otherwise simple spells to do things beyond their normal capability and power. The door you went through brought you here, but I believe from what I saw that you created that door."

Hermione stared at Dumbledore, maybe everyone was right, and Dumbledore really is off his rocker.

"That's not possible. I couldn't have done that."

"I am aware that it should not be possible, but from what I have seen in your memories I think that is the only viable possibility. When you went through that door, you ended up in the same hallway, but a different time."

Hermione sat back in her chair and continued to stare at Dumbledore. In a crazy sort of way, it did sort of make sense. She didn't think that she did it, but she did remember thinking 'I have to get out of here.' But this isn't exactly what she meant. Time travel was a bit extreme.

Finally, Hermione relented,

"Okay, so say I sent myself here. Hypothetically. How do I get back?"

Dumbledore sighed deeply and leaned back, looking very much his age in that moment.

"Hypothetically, if you sent yourself here you might be able to send yourself back. In reality, I don't think that is possible. I believe that if you were sent here, it must have been for a reason. It is highly likely you will never go back."

Hermione let go of a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. She waited to feel something; shock, anger, sadness, something. But she felt nothing. Instead she just nodded.

"Okay. What happens now?"

Dumbledore sighed, "Well, it is important that no one knows that you are from the future. When you came through the door, you attacked the Lucius Malfoy of this time. I took the liberty of wiping his memory. He is now in the hospital wing believing that he tripped and took quite the tumble down the stairs."

Hermione smiled sheepishly, "Sorry. Even though he deserves it, young or old."

Dumbledore chose to ignore her last comment and continued, "We are only a few days into term, so I believe you should join in with the school and be as discreet as possible. I can sort you now if you would like?"

Hermione nodded her assent and Dumbledore walked over and took the Sorting Hat down from a high shelf. She then felt the Sorting Hat slide over her eyes for the second time in her life.

For a moment, everything was quiet. Then she felt rather than heard his figurative jaw drop.

'You've had quite the life Miss Granger." She heard in her head.

'Tell me about it.'

'I've sorted you before.'

'Yes, you have.'

'I think you will find what you are looking for here.'

'What?'

'I stand by my last decision with, Gryffindor!"

Dumbledore seemed pleased and said, "I assumed as much from you."

Hermione nodded, "I was a Gryffindor last time."

Hermione was still puzzled by what the Sorting Hat had said to her, but decided not to dwell on it for now.

"Well, I think that we should be able to keep your name to same, and stick as closely to the truth as possible without revealing too much. That way you will not have to remember as much. I believe the easiest way to go about this would be to say that you are my niece. It would explain your familiarity with the castle, and your early involvement with the war."

"Aberforth has kids?"

Dumbledore gave a light, empty chuckle, "One might jump to that conclusion, but it was my sister, Ariana, who had a family."

Hermione didn't know what to make of this information. She had thought that Ariana was too unstable to even live on her own, let alone have a family. Her impression was that Ariana had severe lack of emotional development and learning disabilities.

"But I thought that she…?"

"Was mentally handicapped? I'm afraid that was a cover story that went a little too far."

At her curious look he continued, "You see, my sister was a powerful young woman, even more powerful than myself. Even at age six she had powerful waves of accidental magic frequently. I'm sorry to say that my parents were almost afraid of Ariana, and extremely overprotective. It was not my father who attacked those muggles, but a bout of accidental magic from Ariana when she became upset at their teasing. So, when my father went to Askaban a lot of attention was drawn towards my family that my mother did not like. My mother concocted a cover story for Ariana while my father took the fall for the attack, and we kept her sheltered to hide her from anyone who may wish her harm or to use her power. No one ever knew how smart she really was, and after Grindelwald turned, we faked her death and she went into hiding. Grindelwald was one of the few people that knew the true story."

Hermione took a deep breath to allow herself time to process what Dumbledore had just told her. Somehow, she wasn't overly shocked. Then again, the story she knew was told by Rita Skeeter, and Dumbledore was known for his secrets.

"So Ariana had a child?"

Dumbledore smiled sadly, "Yes, a daughter. She was believed to be killed during Grindelwald's reign. Ariana and her husband were killed by Grindelwald himself, but their daughter's body was never found. It would be easy enough to say her daughter was put into hiding and killed by death eaters. Had she lived, she may very well have had a daughter your age."

"I'm sorry Dumbledore, I never knew."

Dumbledore sighed heavily, and looked as though he was remembering something before shaking his head to clear it.

"That is quite alright, not very many people do."

Dumbledore seemed to reflect for a moment longer, before his tone became business-like, "Now, I can draw up some papers and a fake birth certificate tonight, and have it in the Ministry's record by tomorrow. This will also give you access to all of my accounts at Gringotts, solving any future money problems."

Hermione made to protest, but Dumbledore held up a hand, "I come from an old family and have a substantial salary as the headmaster, so I have more than enough money. I doubt I would even notice if someone stole from me. Therefore, you have no choice in the matter."

Hermione huffed but didn't say anything.

"Good, now as much as I would like to continue this I do not think now is the time. You look simply dead on your feet. You may sleep in my chambers for tonight and I will have a house elf bring you something to sleep in. The guest room is the first door on the right. Tonight is Friday, so you will have the weekend to get everything sorted and get settled in. Off you trot!"

Hermione smiled slightly at Dumbledore's usual giddiness and twinkle making an appearance and walked to the stairs in the back corner of the room. She started to walk up the stairs, but stopped and turned slightly to look at Dumbledore, who was sitting at his desk starting the papers.

"Oh, and Dumbledore?"

Dumbledore looked up and turned around, "Yes?"

"What happened to Ariana was not your fault. I hope you know that."

Dumbledore just gave her a heartbreakingly sad smile and nodded,

"Thank you."

Hermione nodded and smiled, and then ascended the stairs and walked into the guest room. Old habits die hard and all that, she warded the entire room. She didn't wait for the house elf, or for anything really. She just walked over to the bed and collapsed on top of the covers, asleep before her head even hit the pillow.

A/N: So, in case you didn't follow my crazy explanation, Hermione will be legally Ariana's granddaughter, making Dumbledore her great uncle. Her last name in this time period will now be Dumbledore, even though it comes from her "grandmother's" side because Dumbledore will be her legal guardian. I wanted to give Hermione and Dumbledore a mix of a mentor relationship and family, so I made him her uncle. Thanks for reading!