Disclaimer: Just three words: Joanne Kathleen Rowling


LOVE ALWAYS FINDS A WAY
Chapter 7: Promises

"What's that?" Hermione asked sharply before he could read on. "Accio!"

The badge zoomed out of his hand and into hers. James and Sirius looked at her in surprise. She glanced at the badge and looked at Remus, petrified.

"Rosemary," he said quietly.

"What did you say?"

"Rosemary," he said again.

She sighed raggedly and sank down on the steps, relieved.

"Rosemary," he repeated, going over to her. "Are you okay?"

"Just great," she said faintly.

"We know about you," James said, kneeling in front of her. "We know you're from the future."

Hermione paled even more, if that was possible. "How did you find out?"

"The chain Peter stepped on, it held a Time-Turner, didn't it?" Remus said.

She nodded silently, but her hand still held fast to her Head Girl badge.

"What time are you from?" James asked.

"It was July 3, 1998, when I got transported. I was twirling the chain of the Time-Turner, and I accidentally let go," she explained.

"So you're from 20 years in the future," Sirius asked, to clarify. She nodded. "Bloody hell," he swore. He grinned. "That's amazing!"

"You're Head Girl," Remus said, nodding to the badge she held in her hand.

"Was Head Girl," she corrected. "Or really, I'm going to be Head Girl."

"So, do you know us in the future?" Sirius asked excitedly. "What are we like 20 years from now?"

Suddenly, her expression changed. She looked stern as she stood abruptly. "Please don't ask me that," she pleaded. "With what I could tell you, I could change the future, and I can't do that. I won't do it. The outcome would be disastrous, and I swore to Dumbledore I wouldn't. Promise me you won't ask me to tell you anything, and that you won't tell anyone else?"

She looked so sad that Remus assented readily. After a second, Sirius nodded as well. James hesitated.

"Can I tell Lily?" he asked.

Hermione thought for a moment, then nodded.

"What about Peter?" Sirius asked.

Her expression grew cloudy."I ... I think not," she finally said.

"Why—?" But Sirius caught himself and didn't finish the question.

"Do I have your word that you'll keep my secret? And that you won't trick me into divulging any more?"

Sirius laughed. "What could possibly—?"

"Does she have your word, Mr. Black?"

Albus Dumbledore stood the top of the stairs. Sirius' mop fell from his suddenly limp hand.

"Y-yes, sir."

"And you, Mr. Potter?"

"Yes, sir!"

And Mr. Lupin?"

"Absolutely, Professor."

Dumbledore clapped. Yellow ribbons of magic exploded from each of their wands and wound themselves around Hermione's hand, which still held her badge. The intertwined strands shimmered there for a moment before they slowly disappeared.

"A wizard's word must never be broken," Dumbledore said. "Remember that."

The three boys nodded mutely. Dumbledore regarded them all for a long moment before he clapped again. The mops and buckets disappeared, and the hall suddenly was sparkling clean.

"Please go straight to your dormitories," he said gravely. "Miss Gardner, a word."

They nodded and scurried off, each giving Hermione an encouraging glance as they passed her. She and Dumbledore followed them at a much slower pace.

"They know, Miss Granger?"

She nodded, looking down at her feet.

"But they do not know anything of what will happen in the future?"

She nodded again, still looking down.

"Then, there's no need to be so glum, Miss Granger! Nothing has been changed, as far as I can tell."

Hermione looked up, a small, hopeful smile on her face.

"Professor, could you keep my Head Girl's badge?" she requested. "My name's on it, and I wouldn't want anyone to accidentally find it."

"Of course, my dear girl," he said, taking the badge from her. "And I am still researching ways to help you out of your predicament. I think you'll be back to the future in no time at all, if you don't mind the horrible pun."

Hermione laughed. "Thank you, Professor. I really hope so!"

"Do you?"

Dumbledore's light blue eyes passed over her searchingly, and she felt herself blush.

"Of course. I..."

Dumbledore abruptly changed the subject. "Is there any advancement in time-travel you know about that has not been invented or discovered yet in this time? Perhaps we shall conveniently invent or discover it.

Hermione thought back to everything she had been told about time-travel by Professor McGonagall when she first received her Time-Turner. She glanced down at her hands and was surprised to see that she still held the book Sirius had stolen. She was sure the answer would be in here, but just as she was about to show it to him, she remembered that little moment she and Remus had after he had taken the soap out of her hair...

"No, sir," she answered.