Chapter 4 – Meeting

(I don't own any of these characters)

Harry and Remus met Dumbledore just coming out of the Great Hall, Harry looked at him sadly, "Any news sir?"

"No Harry I am afraid not, but I am still trying to find her." Dumbledore placed a hand on Harry's shoulder offering him some comfort. "Why don't you get something to eat, while I have a talk with Remus, I believe that Ginny and Ron are still in the Great Hall."

Harry nodded and went off to find them.

Remus and Dumbledore walked up to the headmaster's office, both caught up in their own memories of the girl that had disappeared. Dumbledore's voice broke into the silence, "Chocolate Frog" Remus looked up and realised that they were standing before the stone gargoyle that led to Dumbledore's office. As they sat down, Dumbledore picked up a bowl and held it out to Remus, "Lemon drop?" Remus shook his head.

Remus looked searchingly at Dumbledore's face, "You know where she is don't you?"

"Of course, but I did not want to alarm Harry and the others just yet."

"What actually happened here Albus? Harry told me Hermione was hit by a hex, how could that make her go back in time?"

"The hex hit Hermione's time turner and my guess is, that the hex activated it in some way."

"When are you going to tell everyone what has happened, and when she will be returning to our time?"

Dumbledore sighed, "I thought I would speak to her close friends and her teachers later to explain everything. I will also make a general announcement informing everyone else that Hermione has had to return home for a while. As for when she will return to the present, you already know that she will not be back till near the end of the school year." Dumbledore paused thoughtfully "This needs to be kept as quiet as possible otherwise the wrong people will find out."

"You mean Voldemort?"

"Yes Remus, I think it would do a lot more damage if he finds out."

"What about Snape and Malfoy?" Asked Remus worriedly.

"ProfessorSnape is to be trusted and he will be able to let me know what information the Malfoys' have regarding the situation." Reassured Dumbledore, "we know that she will be ok Remus."

Remus nodded and got up to leave, "you will let me know if anything happens?"

"Of course."

Remus left the office and went to find Harry.

Harry, Ron and Ginny were just leaving the Great Hall when Remus found them; they looked so sad and lost. "Hey guys, was lunch good?"

"It was ok. What did Dumbledore say to you?" asked Ginny, she had tears in her eyes.

"Not much, but he is going to speak to you all later." Remus pulled Ginny into a hug, "it will be ok, and she will come back."

"How can you be so sure?" Harry asked.

"Because I trust Dumbledore and you should trust him too, he is going to do everything he can to get her back" replied Remus, "I have to be going now, but you know where I am if you need me, ok?"

They nodded and said goodbye to him, Harry gave him a quick hug before putting his arm around Ginny. Remus watched them as they made their way back to their common room. He then walked out of the castle.

As Remus walked past the lake, he remembered how he had found Hermione. She was unconscious in the corridor on the seventh floor, he didn't recognise the girl that was lying on the floor in Gryffindor robes. He had carefully picked her up, her scent was lovely it was strawberries and vanilla, it had sent shivers down his spine, he quickly taken her to the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey had asked him to get Dumbledore while she was looking the girl over. He remembered going to Dumbledore's office and informing the headmaster of what had happened and then he had made his way back to his common room wondering who the girl was and enjoying the lingering scent that was on his robes.

As Remus reached the gates he was smiling, today would hopefully be the start of the rest of his life. He stepped through the gates and apparated back to Grimmauld Place, he found Molly and Arthur in the kitchen, they looked up as he walked in. "Any news?" said Molly passing him a cup of tea.

"Well we know where Hermione is, but Dumbledore has not spoke to Harry, Ron and Ginny yet. So please don't say anything to them yet."

Molly looked confused, "Where is she then and when will she be coming back?

"Hermione has travelled back to the past, the hex hit the time turner she was wearing and it was activated. She won't be back till near the end of the school year."

Molly gasped, "It can't be true. How far back has she gone?"

Remus looked at them both wondering what their reactions would be. "She has gone back 20 years."

"But that is not possible." Molly had tears streaming down her cheeks and Arthur was trying his best to comfort her.

Arthur looked at Remus carefully "Isn't that when you were at Hogwarts?"

"Yes Arthur, I was in my seventh year with Sirius, James, Peter and Lily. I was the one that found her unconscious and took her to the hospital wing."

"But if you knew this was going to happen, how come you did nothing to stop it?" shouted Molly angrily.

"Molly you know that you can not mess with time, Dumbledore knew it was going to happen as well, but we didn't know exactly how she managed to get sent back. I couldn't tell anyone. We could not change history just like Hermione will be unable to change the future."

Remus got up from the table, "I'm going upstairs for a while, if you need me just shout." He gave Molly a quick hug as he left the room.

A/N Sorry it has taken so long to update. My sister is in hospital and I was lucky enough to get food poisoning!!

I hope you are enjoying the story so far.