Here's the latest chapter. I'll try to have the next one done before the end of this year. Hope you like this - it's in Hermione's POV.
Nightmares and Winchester, too.
Regret.
That's what she felt about her plan. Now that she actually had some time to think it through. How could she have let this happen? For maybe the first time ever, Hermione Granger hadn't completely thought out what she was going to do. And it wasn't just that. She got Harry mixed up in this ruse despite his obvious reluctance.
She started to feel sleepy, and no matter what she tried to do to stay awake, she felt herself giving out. This was so not the right time to take a nap especially during a class. Briefly noticing fellow Head Terry Boot looking at her oddly, Hermione drifted off into an uneasy daydream.
Hermione found herself in the potions chamber of first year. She was twelve years old again, throwing her arms around a boy who she may never see again. The idea that someone her age could just face danger like that, it was almost unfathomable to her. She was proud to call him a friend – a true friend.
"Hermione!" Dream!Harry's startled voice took her out of her reverie.
"Harry --- you're a great wizard, you know."
"I'm not as good as you."
"Me!" said Hermione. "Books! And cleverness! There are more important things – friendship and bravery and – and I think I'm falling in love with you -"
Harry said nothing. What was there to say?
"You drink first."
Before she could beat herself over the head for the slip, the dream took her to another location. This time, she was standing in a nicely furnished living room of a spacious home. Hermione looked around to find an older Harry, most likely in his early twenties, sitting on the couch with a baby in his lap. A small tuft of fiery red hair had escaped from the baby's little cap. Harry was smiling at the baby.
"We're going to visit Aunt Hermione today, Brookie. She'll be happy to see you." He said, getting rather somber when he spoke the last part.
Hermione went to sit beside Harry, and when he made no notice of her, she concluded that she was an invisible observer this time around.
"Hurry up, Harry! We have to be at the cemetery by ten!" A female's voice shouted from the kitchen.
"Brooke's all ready to go, honey."
The moment she saw her face, she knew her nightmare had come true. Ginny had gotten what she wanted. And she had led herself into an early grave.
Again, the dream shifted.
Hermione was on a cobblestone street in what looked like London, but it was as if she went back in time to maybe the 1800s – she assumed as much from the gas lamps lining the street and the presence of horse-drawn vehicles clattering up and down the street. She moved quickly to the right after seeing a horse-drawn buggy coming her way.
"Watch it, you!" The driver of the buggy barked at her, waving his arm.
Hermione spared a glare at him before a commotion at the house behind her drew her attention.
A boy, no more than twelve years old, was being scolded severely by a dumpy woman with an apron.
"Get out of my house, you thief!"
"The door was unlocked, miss." He gave her a remorseless smile.
"It's madam to you, boy. What's your name again? I'll be keeping a lookout for you, horrible little thief y'are."
The boy grinned easily, "William Winchester, madam. Good day!"
Before the lady could say anything else, the boy had already run off.
Just as Hermione could feel herself awakening from this really strange daydream, she saw the boy again in a dark alleyway. He was looking at her with a slightly curious expression.
"You shouldn't be by yourself, miss. There are scoundrels about." He warned with a smirk on his face.
"Who are you? Should I know you?"
But the boy didn't answer her questions and just continued talking like he hadn't even heard her, "I didn't ask for this life, miss. I was disowned. My family thought I was a bit useless. Well-" And he created a bright blue flame of fire in his hands, "now they're going to pay for that."
The boy looked at the magical flame reverently, petting it with his right hand.
"What's your name, William? Your real name…"
"William Winchester is my real name."
"No, it's not."
"Yes, it is. Do you want to see my birth certificate?"
"Just tell me who you are. I can't possibly be dreaming about a complete stranger."
"Well, maybe you are. I have nothing to do with you being here."
"Potter." All her other dreams had to do with him somehow anyway.
The boy stepped back suddenly, shaking his head.
"Just leave. Go away."
"What's your name?"
"Harry Potter."
"What did you say?" She uttered in shock.
But the boy didn't say anything else.
Just as he planted his flame on a discarded newspaper and watched it burn – the glowing fire reflected in his hazel eyes; Hermione felt herself be shaken by the shoulders.
"Hermione? Hermione, wake up, would you? You practically slept through the entire class!"
Hermione rubbed her eyes wearily, and stood up collecting her books.
"Sorry, Terry. Lack of sleep caught up to me I suppose."
"Happens to the best of us -- even the great Hermione Granger. I heard about your break-up with Harry…how are you holding up?"
"I'm doing as well as I can be."
"Well that's good. Hey I was wondering if you'd want to go out with me next Hogsmeade weekend? No pressure."
"Uh, sure. Why not?" Hermione answered in a rush before the "No! No! No!" part of her brain had time to interject.
Terry kissed her lightly on the cheek and smiled at her, "We'll have a good time, trust me. See you later, Hermione!"
Hermione waved goodbye to him, and walked off to her next class.
She just had to ask Harry if he knew of any family that shared his name from the 1800s. There had to be a good reason why she was introduced to this boy who she didn't even know existed until a few minutes ago. The other dreams, sure, they were clearly nightmares, but the last one was definitely something that she had to investigate. A mystery needed to be solved, and she would be the one to solve it.
