((A/N: Sorry for the long wait!))

It was 7:30 pm and she was getting ready to go to professor Lupin's office. Her head was full of questions, curiosity. She knew that professors Lupin and Dumbledore knew something that she didn't. Something important, that no doubt concerned her and the time tuner.

She exited the common room at about quarter to 8 so that she would not be late, after watching a vigorous game of exploding snap between Ron and Harry from under the cloak. She walked slowly down the corridor pacing herself.

To her own surprise, she was not dreading this meeting, but with every small step, she got more and more apprehensive of what was going to happen tonight; what she was going to find out.

She knocked twice on the large wooden door and turned the brass handle, letting herself in.

'Good evening, Miss Granger.' Was what greeted her, followed by a 'Please take a seat.'

Dumbledore started the meeting off with what Ron might have described as the maddest sounding short speech ever.

'Miss Granger, this is a very noble thing you have done. You will not be punished for what you did because, alas, it has not occurred yet.

'But there is a problem, as always, with brilliant plans.' The headmaster's eyes were glistening over the top of his half-moon spectacles. Lupin took up the story, 'I don't think you know, Hermione, but there are three different types of time turners.'

He held up the golden chain that he had pulled out of his pocket. 'The first is a short-term time turner. This particular one can go up to a year back in time, but can only bring you forward a week. As I said, there are three types: Short term, normal: which can bring you forward or back within a year, or long term which can take you back and forth further; 500 years to be exact.'

She was puzzled. 'So how come the short-term one is muddled?'

Professor Lupin started to pace around the small office. 'Excellent question. We still don't know the answer, although many wizards have tried for decades. On the bright side, the short term turner is perfect for getting to over-lapping classes; that's why you got one. And believe me, you're not the first one to have signed up for all the classes.'

Dumbledore was grave. 'I trust you now know what this means, Miss Granger?'

'I can't go back.' She was frozen in shock. 'What do I do?' She had not meant to pose the question out loud, but she badly needed an answer, at least better than the scarce ideas that were floating around her almost empty mind.

'There's no way to get you back before at least a week before the time comes, and we can't get another time turner, because their locked away in the department of mysteries…' Lupin stopped pacing. 'So you'll have to relive the next few months – or should I say, for you, the next few months. To look on the bright side, you get to live 4 months longer than you would have originally overall. For some people, that's a huge bonus.'

'Sure, great.' Her mind was wandering, of all the bad things and not concentrating on the bonuses. What could she do? At the very least, she'd have to keep herself hidden at all times. That restricted her opportunities almost to zero. If only she could slip it off every now and then, it didn't have to be all the time…

Dumbledore was x-raying her again. She had a feeling that she knew what he was going to say.

'Miss Granger, you know the rules. You must not be seen. Although that obstacle has been bypassed by the fact that you have brought Harry's invisibility cloak with you on your travel.

'I will make it a task of tomorrow to get the past Miss Granger into my office along with Mr Weasley and Harry Potter. I will bring them up to speed, and ask them to look after you.

'Furthermore, if you ever have nothing to do, Professor Lupin and I could always use an extra hand.'

She waited, but there was nothing else. Silence filled the room until a question rose up from her vocal cords. 'Will I be able to go to my classes?'

'You may if you wish, but always sit at the back of the class so that you can slip out easily, and do not answer any questions.'

That much was obvious. If she started answering a question from under the invisibility cloak, it would draw people's attention to what appeared to be thin air.

Lupin came into the conversation again after the long explanation. It was late, and it was clear that he wanted to wrap this up and get some shut – eye.

'I think that's everything of importance. If you do not have anymore questions, you are excused.'

'One last thing, Miss Granger. It is of vital importance. It is this: Everything you do here will effect the future.'

Lupin opened the door. 'I will notify you when it is time to go back – well, forward in this case.'

'Thank you.'

She walked out the door and tripped on a trick step, her mind muddled. The question was answered. There was no more mystery, but there was an even bigger weight resting on her shoulders now.

It was going to be a long 4 months.