Chapter 6: Christmas Break 1975
Hermione's POV
Her first day of break is spent relaxing and visiting with Zarab. He is curious as to what changes her actions have made so far in her own timeline and she has no problem telling the Keeper of Time about it, knowing that he will not interfere with events as they unfold. On the second day of break, over breakfast she decides to ask Zarab about going to Diagon Alley.

"Would you mind if I go to Diagon Alley for a while today? I want to purchase some Christmas gifts for the various people I seem to be befriending." Pausing, she looks down at her plate thoughtfully, "Also, if I purchase a bird for delivery could I leave the bird with you when I fade if I can't find something else to do with the bird?"

Blinking, he tilts his head sideways, "Ummm sure, but I don't know anything about taking care of a bird."

She chuckles softly, "Well most of the wizarding birds are easy to take care of. Make sure they have a food and water dishes, access to outside, and they pretty much take care of themselves."

Nodding, he answers, "Alright, I can do that. I am sure that there is a charm for food dishes that can make sure that there is always food..." his voice trails off, giving a shake of his head he continues, "Do I need to come with you?"

Grinning, she shakes her head no, "Nope, I should be fine. I learned some new shielding charms that are useful."

Smiling in relief, he answers, "Good, good, good. I need to get some work done so I will be at the Department. You have your armlet?"

Lifting her left wrist she lets the sleeve pull back showing it.

He nods before activating his and leaving.

Shaking her head she cleans up then focuses on Diagon Alley, the Leaky Cauldron and apparates. She's not sure where she learned to do so, but it is something that she woken knowing in this time frame. When she first solidifies, she is woozy, as if she had motion sickness, but it passes quickly. Smiling, she looks around and decides to start with her shopping by stopping at the Magical Menagerie in order to see about acquiring a raven or other bird of similar nature. While she had contemplated an owl, she decides something different is more to her tune.

Upon first entering, she looks around to see if there is anything there that would work for her. Unfortunately, none of the animals she sees calls to her. Sighing, she remembers how Crooks had picked her, not the other way around and glances around for the clerk. When she sees the man coming out of a room, she watches for a moment to make sure he is not helping someone else before approaching him.

"Excuse me sir," she murmurs, touching his sleeve lightly.

He jumps slightly, muttering in response, "Oh! I am sorry, I did not notice you. What can I do for you miss?"

Smiling at him warmly, she inquires, "Do you have any other birds? I do not want an owl, and none of these birds seems just right for me, you know?"

He nods, looking at her carefully, "I have other birds in the back. However, they are for those who are serious, not for those who just want a delivery system."

For a moment she considers it. She knows that she will be here such a short time compared to the birds life span. Yet at the same time, she really wants to see if there is one that is right for her. Perhaps if there is, there is some way for her to either freeze her bird in time or find someone to take care of it for her that would be worthy.

"I would still like to see them," she finally answers with a firm nod.

He smiles, leading her through the door, into a small magical hall, and out through another door. When he opens the second door, the room she enters is amazing. It is setup to mimic different parts of the world with an area like a forest, another like a swamp, a small area like a desert, and a fourth like a jungle. That's what she can see from the door, however there is a path dividing them and leading farther in.

"Wander around or find a place to sit comfortably. You will feel drawn to where you should be if one of these birds is what you need," he instructs her. He then leaves the room, and shuts the door behind him.

Smiling, she wanders towards the back and finds an area that mimics the highlands of Scotland where she plans to set up the safe zone. Spotting a bench, she decides to sit down and watches as different birds fly around. As she sits there, a small bird comes swooping down to land on a stand just feet from her. It appears to be silvery white, with cream, brown, and black markings. Something in her, tells her that the bird is not done growing. Mesmerized she holds her arm out and is startled when it flutters over to her, landing on her wrist. It is slightly heavier than she expected but she smiles wider, gently brushing her finger down its back.

"Ah hum," the man cough, catching her attention as he appears next to her. Startled, she fingers her wand, then shakes her head. "That is a silver gyrfalcon, beautiful bird, long life span, they get to be as big as owls, loyal as well. She is still young just learning to fly so long flights would take her time."

Hermione glances at the bird, then at him, thinking to herself. A gyrfalcon, they were considered the royal hunter for years, they are also the bird of choice in deserts as well even though they are dark tones there. It would be a perfect symbol, a predator who is balanced because it is a fierce hunter, yet loyal to its family, and mates for life. Perfect! "I would like to purchase her, and whatever else I will need for her."

The man nods, and motions for her to follow as he goes back into the primary part of the shop. Once there, he gathers several small bowls, boxes of food, a book on gyrfalcons, heavy gloves, and a perching stand. Placing them all on the counter, he also collects a large cage as well. "Your total is twenty-five gallons, eleven sickles, and two knuts."

Digging the money out of her purse, she hands it to him before asking, "Is there anything against me having her on my shoulder while I am shopping? This way she can spend some time getting used to me."

Startled, he glances around before replying, "You can, just be careful. As she gets bigger the habits learned now will be her habits for life. She will be as smart as or smarter than an owl."

Smiling to herself, Hermione shrinks everything down before placing it into her bag. After leaving there, she heads to the Owl Post to rent an owl to send a message to the potion director of the company who would make Sleekeazy in her time frame. While she waits for a response she finishes her shopping in town, spending most of her remaining money on her various gifts. She had just returned to the cottage and settling Annon in when the man in charge of sales for the company she approached about Sleekeasy has a message delivered to her with a small brown owl.

Opening the missive, she sees that the man wishes to meet with her in order to discuss her offer. Grinning, she grabs a pen, asking the bird to remain for a few minutes. Replying, she says that she will be in Diagon Alley at Madam Peri's Café at noon, he is welcome to join her for lunch. Retying the letter to the owl's foot, she hands him a treat as well before it takes off.

Humming, she returns to wrapping her gifts so that she can send them the following day. When she is done with that, she decides to make supper because it is well past six pm and she is getting hungry. Once the food is in the stove, she uses the jump bracelet to return to the Time Room in order to tell Zarab that dinner is nearly done. He nods, finishing up what he is doing before the two of them return to the cabin. Once at the cabin, she pulls the food out of the oven so they can eat.

Over dinner they discuss how her day went and what he was doing with his. When they are done, they retire to their respective rooms. For a little while she plays with Annon before she is tired and goes to bed.

The following morning she is woke up by Annon pecking at her hair and flapping her wings energetically. Yawning, she gets up and lets Annon out to fly around as she wants while setting up a food and water dish for her. While Annon is out, she gets cleaned up, showering and dressing for the day. Upon finishing getting ready, she goes into the kitchen to find a plate full of fresh bagels under stasis, a jar of jelly sitting next to it, and a note from Zarab telling her he is in the Time Room.

Shaking her head, she goes back to her window and calls for Annon. A few minutes later, she comes swooping in. Grinning, she hands Annon a treat and then asks her if she can deliver the packages to each of the people for Christmas. Annon chirps looking at the name on the first and carefully picking it up before flying out the window. She cannot help but chuckle, and leaves the packages by the window in order for Annon to take them to their destination.

While Annon is off delivering packages, she got to work on making a thing of the Sleekeazy for the representative. By the time it is done, she has just an hour before she is due for the lunch meeting. With that in mind, she gets cleaned up and focuses on the apparation point. A few minutes later she is walking into the café that she had specified for her meeting. Not long after sitting down, a mildly overweight gentleman is shown to her table and takes a seat across from her.

"Miss Zeit?" he inquires, as he pulls the seat out.

Hermione nods, "Indeed, Mr. Vandercarr," she stands long enough to shake his hand before the two of them are seated.

For a few moments the two of them exchange the required pleasantries before getting down to business. "According to your message you have a formula for a hair potion that you would like our company to purchase from you?"

Taking a sip of her drink, she nods once replying, "Indeed."

"What makes you think that it will be successful or that we would want to buy it?" he asks politely.

Smiling, she responds, "I already sell three to four cauldrons of it a week to the sixth and seventh years at Hogwarts, since break has started I have also gotten several requests by owl post for it from girls' family members who have discovered it through their student family member. I do not have the time or inclination to make a successful business of it. However your company already sells a hair products and other beauty care products, so it would be logical for you to add to the stock."

For a few minutes she lets him think on it before she reaches into her purse and pulls out a pile of envelopes before passing them to him. "Read these, if you would like testimony to the effectiveness of it. These are just some of the requests that I have had for it, I have more back at the cabin. If you would like, you can even contact some of my classmates to ask them about it."

The next forty-five minutes is spent discussing the purchase of the potion and the contract to go with it. By the time they are done with lunch, they have ironed out an agreement which includes a five thousand gallon buy out for the formula and rights to it, plus a royalty fee of two knuts per sale for the next twenty years to be deposited into her Gringotts account. The paper work will be delivered to her the following day to go over in order to sign as needed.

Once that is done she heads to Gringotts in order to see how one would set up the automatic processes. She is on her way out of Gringotts when she spot Mulciber and an older man that she assumes must be his father walking in. Inclining her head in greetings, she keeps on moving, however as she does so, the older man asks Jacob something and as she passes he grabs her arm. With a speed born of practice, she zaps him with her stinging spell and has her wand re-hidden before he knows what hit him.

"The polite thing to do is to verbally ask me to hold a moment, grabbing my arm on the other hand is not." Her soft hiss of anger carries no further than the older wizard but he catches on quickly.

A dark look crosses his face as he responds, "I'm not some child to be messed with."

Smirking, she replies, "Are you sure? That was definitely a juvenile action." Pausing she glances between the two before inquiring tightly, "What did you want?"

Startled, the older man jerks his head back and glares at her, before motioning to Jacob.

Jacob steps forward answering her, "I wish to thank you for the solstice gift."

"You're welcome Jacob. Now, I need to be on my way, I have a schedule to keep. Good day." Before they have a chance to say anything else, she walks away. As soon as she can, she ducks into an alley and uses the armband to return the cabin. When she gets there, Annon is on her perch and a letter is on the desk that she has for doing work. Once she is done checking it for jinxes, curses, and other spells she opens it to discover that it is a very silted letter of thanks from Snape.

The following days until Christmas fly by. She receives the paperwork and had reviews it before asking Zarab to also review it. Once it's determined that everything promised is in it, she signs it and has Annon take return it. She also manages to talk Zarab into staying at the cabin for Christmas so they can celebrate it together. Zarab, who has not celebrated a Christmas in years, seems baffled by what to do but manages to get a small vial of Felix Felicis for her as a gift. A small pile of presents also appear as well, mostly from her housemates but a few from some of the other students that she has sent gifts to.

Happily, she enjoys the season, even as the back of her head has the running thought that she is running on borrowed time in the wrong time frame. However, she refuses to dwell and spends only a little time over the first week working on it.

The week after Christmas is spent with her in Muggle London working to purchase several pieces of old property using false documents. By the time winter break is done and she is returning to Hogwarts, she has acquired more than fifty acres of land that she can work on over the summer. Because of how large it is, she will be able to start the small community set up that she desires, making multiple safe houses and one large safe zone. Whenever she feels she has some free time, she bounces between making the hair potions and the Time Garden where she visits with Ayumu and works on her spells.

As she boards the train to head back to Hogwarts, she reflects on the fact that it was a really good winter break. While she had not spent all of her time working on her projects, she has made headway.

For anyone who is curious: Annon is Japanese according to a name site that means Harmony or Balance