A/N: Gasp! Two in one day? What is this sorcery? S/O to Spook and Betty, my personal DJs and muses for this chapter.
EDIT: A reader noticed some indescrepancies with the Head Boy and Girl in chapter 9 so I cam back to fix it cause I like that pair better.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I don't make money from this fic.
August 18, 1976 London, England - Diagon Alley
Hermione stuck close to Sirius and James as they made their way through the Diagon Alley, towards Flourish and Blotts. Already, she'd gotten quite a few looks from witches and wizards who knew the duo and were surprised to see them accompanying a girl they'd never seen. Euphemia had sent the children on their way with a coin purse, telling the boys to watch out for Hermione, then heading down Knockturn Alley. She'd needed some magical pesticides for the garden that weren't available in Diagon Alley.
Hermione wasn't much concerned about the staring; that had followed her everywhere since she'd befriended Harry. She was more worried about the potential for confrontation. She knew James and Sirius were as protective as it got and all she wanted was to get her things and find Remus without a fight breaking out.
The three made it to the bookstore without incident, but as Hermione gathered her books she heard the unmistakeable sound of Sirius cursing. She sighed, plucking the last book she needed, Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6, from the shelf before following the sound of James and Sirius's voices.
She turned the corner to see three boys, dressed in black sneering at James and Sirius, and Sirius with his hand on his wand. Sirius's books were on the ground before him and James had a hand on his shoulder.
"Snivellus, you'd better shove off if you'd like to keep your nose intact." James growled, his own hand on his wand.
"Or what, Potter? It's two against three, and your mum is nowhere in sight, now is she?" Snape said.
"Snape, clear out." Sirius murmured, clearly trying to keep his temper. "Let us be, we've done nothing to you."
"On the contrary, Black, you've teased me relentlessly since first year. I think it's about time I return the favor." He drawled.
"James?" Hermione called, trying to call some attention away from the boys. The three Slytherins turned toward her, eyebrows raised.
"And who's this then?" Snape sneered.
"I'm their cousin, Hermione Potter." She said, holding her books close to her chest. "I'm a transfer student from Beauxbatons. Fifth year."
"Just what the world needs, another Potter." Snape rolled his eyes.
"I'd appreciate it if you'd leave my cousins be, please." Hermione said. "I promised my aunt we'd meet up in half an hour, and if we aren't there, she will come looking. I'll have a hard enough time helping them get all their supplies in order in that time without confrontation." Hermione stood her ground, but found no reason to be impolite about it. Severus Snape may have been a right git to the boys, along with everyone he'd ever taught, but she'd be hard-pressed to resort to foolish name calling when he'd done nothing to her.
"Since you asked so nicely." Snape said, turning back to the boys. "Levicorpus." he said, flicking his wand at James and Sirius.
"I'll ask you one time, and one time only." Hermione started calmly. "Let them down, please." Snape turned to see her standing with her wand drawn.
"And what will you do if I -"
"Locomotor wibbly. Tarantallegra." Hermione said, directing her jinxes at each of Snape's henchmen in turn. One boy fell to the ground, his legs giving out. The other began dancing uncontrollably. "You're next. I won't ask again." Hermione nearly growled.
"Liberacorpus." Snape muttered, backing away from the girl. Hermione muttered the two counter-jinxes and the three boys retreated as James and Sirius were dropped to the floor.
"Wow, Hermione. I suppose you really do know you're way around a wand." Sirius said, rubbing the side he'd fallen on.
"I told you, I'm a big girl. I don't know what you two did to deserve that, but it was clearly well-earned." she said.
"You bet it was." Hermione heard a girl's voice behind her. She turned to see a girl with brilliant red hair leaning against the shelf, holding a stack of books. "Potter and Black have tormented Severus since first year. He started fighting back a few years later, though things have rather escalated recently." She said. "I don't believe I've met you. I'm Lily Evans." She said, shifting her books to hold out a hand.
"Hermione Potter. I'm a transfer from Beauxbatons. James and Sirius mentioned you." Hermione said, shaking her hand.
"Oh they did? I expect it was terrible, what they said. Wouldn't believe a word of it." the other girl said, wrinkling up her nose. Hermione chuckled.
"Actually, they just said you were really smart." Hermione told her. Lily blinked once.
"Really? I'd believe it from Potter, but Black?" She said, sounding stunned. Hermione shrugged.
"Who knows? I can barely figure them out half the time. I'd better go help them, though. I'll see you around?" She asked. Hermione hated to admit it, but she missed having girl friends. Her bout of jinx-work had reminded her very much of another fiery redhead and she was longing for someone to talk to who wasn't a hormone-ridden boy. Lily nodded to the girl.
"Yeah, I'll see you." she smiled. When Hermione turned back to the boys, they'd mostly gathered up their books. Hermione helped them find the rest of what they needed so they could be on their way. She paid for their books from the pouch Aunt Euphemia had given her and hurried the boys along; they still needed new ink, quill sets, and robes, and James had wanted to stop by Quality Quidditch Supplies to get some new gloves. She glanced up at the clock behind the cashier and sighed. They'd never be on time to meet Remus.
Later, London, England - The Leaky Cauldron
Hermione plopped down in a chair beside Remus, letting out a sigh. Remus looked up at her bemusedly.
"Hello to you, too." He chuckled.
"I don't know how you put up with them. It's worse than trying to take care of two toddlers." She sighed.
"We're not that bad." James protested, taking a seat across from Remus.
"Besides," Sirius said, sitting across from Hermione. "Snivellus started it."
"Very mature, Sirius." Remus reprimanded.
"In his defense, we didn't even see him until Sirius's books were on the ground." James said.
"But you should have seen Hermione."Sirius said. "Came to our rescue like a proper friend, she did. Used a Jelly-Legs Jinx on Wilkes, and a Dancing Feet Spell on Rosier. It was beautiful."
"Was going to send a Bat-Bogey hex at the git if he didn't let you down." She muttered, a blush tinting her cheeks.
"You what?" Remus asked. "You've been spending too much time with James and Sirius." he said.
"Not like I have much choice." she laughed. Remus allowed that. The waitress came then, and the conversation was lost to ordering. Lyall Lupin and Aunt Euphemia sat a few tables away, allowing the children their privacy while still having supervision. Once their orders were placed, James turned to Hermione.
"What did Evans have to say to you, Hermione? After the spat?" James asked. He'd been too busy talking Sirius down from punching Snape in the face to actually pay attention to Lily, it seemed.
"Just told me you picked on that boy a lot." She shrugged. "Who was he, anyway. She called him Severus, but never mentioned a last name."
"Snape." James said, wrinkling his nose. "He and Evans have been friends for years."
"I think she finally cut ties with him last year, though." Remus pointed out. "Just after O.W.L.s, remember?" James nodded.
"What else did you talk about?" James asked eagerly. Hermione frowned.
"Well, I told her that you and Sirius had mentioned her to me." She said.
"You did?" James asked, hopefully.
"Yeah. She seemed surprised when I told her you two just called her smart." she told them.
"You told her I thought she was smart?" Sirius asked, groaning.
"Yeah, cause you did." Hermione said. She looked at Remus with pleading eyes. The boy laughed and took pity on her.
"James has been pining after Evans since third year. Nearly as long as Sirius has been taking the mickey out of her every chance he got." Remus chuckled. Hermione nodded slowly.
"So, is what I said good, or bad?" she asked.
"Both, it seems." He replied, looking between their friends.
"Boys are confusing." Hermione said, distraughtly.
"Tell me about it." Remus murmured.
August 27, 1976 Hogwarts, Scotland - Headmaster's Office
"What?" Hermione asked, shocked, looking up at Dumbledore.
"It seems you are no longer bound to the timeline. As such, there is no 'future' to send you to." Dumbledore said, calmly.
"But- then what about the visions? And the headaches? Does this mean I'll never be able to go home?" Hermione asked, beginning to panic a bit.
"Please try to calm down, dear. In theory, this development means that you will no longer physically age, but also, given your headaches and visions, there is a chance that you will have the ability to transport yourself through time without aid of an outside force.
"A word of advice, though, Ms. Granger. Were I you, I'd finish my education before pursuing your own time further. This time is as much your home now as any, and while you risk altering the world you knew, you do not risk losing your life in the process. Perhaps you could even change the world as you knew it for the better?" Dumbledore told her.
Hermione breathed in deeply. She was outside the timeline. She could enjoy her time here, could further her friendships with the boys she'd gotten to know over the course of the last few months, without fear of having to leave them. There was a war coming, but perhaps, with her visions, she could help to save lives? Maybe she could help create a time when her best friend wasn't an orphan? She thought about it long and hard, finally looking up into piercing blue eyes.
"I think you're right, Headmaster. Going back to Hogwarts is the only thing that makes sense. I can't protect anyone if I'm not educated, or worse, if I'm stuck in a dark lab nine stories underground when the war breaks out." She said. "I want to help, in any way I can. I want to save lives." Dumbledore's eyes sparkled at her words.
"Very well." He said. "It seems the Sorting Hat has chosen your house well, Ms. Granger."
"Potter. It's Potter." Hermione said. Dumbledore smiled widely at the girl and nodded again,
"Quite right, I mustn't slip up and ruin a cover story of my own creation, now. Have you had any visions since the last, Ms. Potter?" Dumbledore asked. She shook her head.
"No, just awful nightmares. Sometimes a couple times a week." She shivered. "They're all Muggles, and I can never pick out a date or time, nothing useful. And of course, they never use their names. It's really quite awful." Hermione said, feeling sick at her stomach.
"I'll have Madame Pomfrey know to keep a stock of Dreamless Sleep Potion for you, should you need it. You really shouldn't take it more than three times a week, though." He told her.
"That should be fine. I don't like taking the stuff much, anyway. Only take it if I absolutely need it." Hermione confided. Dumbledore nodded.
"Smart girl. Are there any other concerns you have before the beginning of the school year?" He asked.
"I'll be able to come see you if I have a vision, right?" She asked.
"Of course." He said. "But, should you find me unavailable, Professor McGonagall has been informed in full about your situation. As your Head of House, she will be able help out. I have relieved Mr. Lupin of his prefect duties to keep up appearances that you've never been to Hogwarts. As part of his duties, he's to accompany you to the dorm and inform you of all you need to know, though I'm sure that will take quite a bit of acting on your part." he said, a smirk of mischief in place.
"I've also notified the Head Boy and Girl, Gideon Prewett and Daisy Hookum, about you. One or the other should be round to check on you periodically." Hermione nodded.
"I don't want too much of a fuss, though I know that's asking for a lot for someone in my position." She said. Dumbledore smiled wryly at her.
"People will talk, dear. But you don't have to listen." He told her. She thought that over for a moment, then smiled.
"You're right." she said. "I think I'm all set, sir."
"Very well. You can use the floo to get home. I'll see you soon." He said, watching as she stood to leave. She waved to him before disappearing in a whoosh of green flame.
