Hermione sat up, with the feeling that something profound and immensely spiritual had happened to her. It was also cold. She was at the edge of the frozen Black Lake. Hogwarts itself rose majestically behind her, its forbidding Lancet-style early Gothic turrets and spires gave her a sense of nostalgia. It was time to find out what Dumbledore meant when he said there would be no second chances for her, because this looked suspiciously like a second chance. She stood, brushed the snowflakes off her robes, and made for the castle.

At her knock, the double oak doors were opened by a dour, suspicious man.

Hermione smiled politely. "Hello, sir. I was wondering if I could talk to Professor Dumbledore?"

"And who might you be?" The man squinted at her.

"Hermione. Hermione Granger. I've got some business to discuss with him."

He eyed her unconventional robe style. "Where'd you come from?"

"I just got back from the United States." It wasn't a lie. "It's a private matter, please, I won't make any trouble."

"Follow me, then," he said.

Hogwarts wasn't changed much. The were some unfamiliar portraits, but everything else was the same. The castle was notably empty. "Holiday break?" she inquired of her reluctant guide.

"Yes." After a while, he added, "It's the only reason I'm letting you in."

Just then, a wizard swept past them.

"Dumbledore?" Hermione gaped.

Dumbledore was much, much younger. His grey-brown beard and hair was shorter. The only reason Hermione recognized him was his twinkling blue eyes.

Dumbledore stopped. "Hello, Apollyon. Who might this be?"

"She says her name is Hermione Granger, and that she had business with you." The man, presumably the caretaker before Argus Filch, Apollyon Pringle, said gruffly.

"Professor Dumbledore!" Hermione pretended to be shocked. "I'm astounded that you cannot remember me. We bonded over, um, lemon drops at the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers meeting a few years ago, remember?"

Dumbledore paused for a moment. Then his eyes twinkled. "Ms. Granger! How good to see you again. You've grown. Let's talk in my office, shall we? Thank you, Apollyon."

"Hmph," said Apollyon Pringle, and shuffled away.

Once he had shut the door, Dumbledore turned grave. "Now, what is this all about? I'm not a member of the Most Extraordinary Society."

Hermione felt very, very tired all of a sudden. "Excuse me, sir. What date is it?"

"Tuesday, 17th December, 1935," said Dumbledore.

"1935," repeated Hermione. She did the math. 1935... Which means, at the moment, Voldemort was eight. She chuckled at the thought- inwardly, of course. If she managed to convert Voldemort, or Tom Riddle, she should say, to the Light, all her problems would be solved. And those of the entire British magical community, eleven thousand people. It must be the task the dream Dumbledore had given her.

The real Dumbledore gestured for her to take a seat in front of his desk, the same desk used by Professor McGonagall in her Hogwarts years.

"Lemon drop?"

"No, thank you." Hermione was hit with yet another wave of nostalgia. "You might find this hard to believe, Professor, but I'm from the future."

"I guessed as much," Dumbledore agreed. "You are breaking several international laws. I hope this is important."

"There's going to be a Wizarding War, Professor Dumbledore. Three, actually, but I don't think I could do anything about the first one. It won't be just Hogwarts that will be destroyed. The Ministry, and Diagon Alley, and the entire magical community. Many, many people will be killed. Something's already happening now, and it'll be too late soon. I think that's all I can tell you. I need to insert myself into this timeline and fix it."

"And… when are you from?" he asked weakly.

"2001."

"2001," repeated Dumbledore. "That would be… 66 years from now."

"That's correct, Professor."

"Why have you come to me for help?"

Hermione shrugged. "You were my Headmaster, and appeared at the entrance to the afterlife when I almost died. Instinctual trust, I think."

Dumbledore took a deep breath. "Don't give me any more information, although I'm dying to know. I will assist you, as one of my future students." He closed his eyes for a second. "I've always dreamt of meeting a time traveler, but it feels a little anticlimactic, you know?"