A Twist In Time
THANKS TO: ChristinaAngel, athemina, nightstarz, mangagirl18, Nosi, dinawen, Ellyanah, HaruJam, Fiona-Potter, lemonwedges4, Xx Tohru xXx Seraphina xX - FOR REVIWEING CHAPTER 9!
A special THANKYOU to Nosi, who offered to beta my story and has worked her magic on this chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. J.K.Rowling does!
Chapter 10: Resounding Confusion
Hermione lay deep in thought, trying to tie her head around the intricacies of time. Sure she had time travelled before, but this was just out of her hands. The complications of travelling back in time were numerous as it was, but travelling back in time whilst already back in time was preposterous! How ever would they manage it? With so many students running around, and Hermione a professor, it would be impossible to stay inconspicuous.
But Hermione was getting ahead of herself.
There was still the issue of how they would actually be getting back. The chances of jumping into the Room Of Requirement and landing three weeks back in time were little to none. They needed a device, a time turner, something that could pull them back three weeks. But that was exactly the problem. Hermione had never heard of a time turner that went back weeks. She'd read theory, much of it, but she'd never heard of one actually existing. Not in 1997 and most certainly not in 1977. Oh how it all infuriated her. But mostly it infuriated her that they were doing all this for a book. A book…a book that in no certain way guaranteed them a happy return to their time. It was all so very much out of her hands that it annoyed her.
"Hermione!"
She jumped and looked around to see Ginny staring at her with concern.
"I was saying that maybe you should eat something, you look haggard."
"I think I'll pass, Ginny," sighed Hermione, turning to look up at the ceiling. Her plate lay in front of her, untouched. How could she eat? What with all that was happening and would be happening. They were going to Dumbledore after breakfast and Hermione hadn't been able to sleep all night. She was so consumed by her thoughts she nearly fell off her chair when the Owl Post came. Trying to calm herself and look as professional as possible, she looked around and nearly yelped in surprise when she saw a large black owl circling the Slytherin table. The owl seemed ancient, flying with slow, strained movements towards its owner.
"Harry," she called, her eyes on the boy with the black bird. Harry, who was quietly discussing something with Ron slowly turned around, his words dying on his lips. Hermione turned to see both his and Ron's eyes on her. "See that boy there," she whispered, subtly nodding her head to the boy with the black bird, "who is he?"
Harry looked closely at the boy before turning to Hermione.
"Well, I wouldn't know seeing as I don't teach him," said Harry with a light chuckle. "Why, what's-"
"Actually," said Ron and both Harry and Hermione's eyes flew to him, "He's a sixth year. I teach him. I was going to tell you before, but I must've forgotten with everything going on. Guess who he is?" Hermione and Harry looked back to the boy.
"Dunno, but he looks familiar. Do we know him in the future?" asked Harry, turning back to Ron, Hermione following his lead.
"No, actually, he's Regulus Black, Sirius' younger brother. The one we heard all about," said Ron, smiling at their expressions of shock.
"I had completely forgotten about him!" squealed Hermione.
"So had I," agreed Harry fervently.
"Gave me the shock of my life when I asked for his name," laughed Ron. His grin vanished. "'Course it didn't take long for me to get over the fact that he was the other Black and realise what he is, or what he would become." Harry and Hermione's faces darkened.
"I wonder when he becomes a Death Eater," asked Hermione, leaning back in her seat and watching said boy walking out of the Great Hall with the bird.
"And when he chickens out," added Harry. The others nodded. Hermione checked her watch and let out a sigh. As interesting as this was, they had more pressing matters at hand.
"We better get going," said Hermione to all five of them, getting up. "Don't want to be late; we have a lot to discuss." They all nodded and slowly got up.
The walk to Dumbledore's office was a quiet one, with the occasional comment on the weather and late students. As they ascended the stairs, Hermione thought she heard Dumbledore's voice along with another. Harry, who was ahead of her, threw her a questioning glance before knocking. The voices came to an abrupt halt then:
"Enter."
Harry stepped through first, followed by the others. Hermione was surprised to see a sulky looking Lily Evans sitting in front of Dumbledore, her hands folded in her lap. When they entered, she turned and gave them a look full of surprise before smiling weakly at them.
"Ah, I see. I'll be right with you Professors, I was just finishing up with Miss Evans as it is," said Dumbledore, looking at Lily, who had gone back to sitting dejectedly in her chair. "So Miss Evans, suffice to say I find Mr Potter's plans quite brilliant. Halloween spirit, Miss Evans, Halloween spirit. Now why don't you run along, here's a letter excusing you for any lateness this meeting may have caused."
"Thank you Professor," said Lily, a weak smile in place. She stood up, nodded to the other Professors and walked out. As soon as the door was completely shut, Dumbledore motioned for them to take their seats. Once they were all seated comfortably, they turned to Dumbledore who was waiting for them to organise themselves.
"Now that we're settled, I have some news." They all turned to each other, eyebrows raised.
"Today, the trial of Mark Jugson was concluded and the Minister announced in great delight that Mr Jugson was sentenced to life in Azkaban," said Dumbledore, no smile present on his face. Harry sighed and looked down at his lap while Hermione perked up, a curious look on her face.
"Life? How is that?"
"Well it seems Mr Jugson could've gotten away with a few less years but all chance of that disappeared when they checked his wand. It was discovered that he had used the Cruciatus curse three times and the Killing curse twice. Enough to warrant the life sentence," said Dumbledore before sighing sadly. "It is sad to know that one of your students wastes his life away like that. Mr Jugson was no genius, but he could've lived nicely, had he not ruined it all."
"Well Death Eaters don't want to live nicely," said Ginny, her face twisted in disgust. "They want power, and they want it for themselves only."
"Never mind that," said Harry tiredly, massaging his temples. "Remember Professor, when you and Luna told me about changing the timeline? Well this is a good example of it, isn't it? Jugson isn't meant to be in Azkaban. And here we are, chucking him in a lifetime before he's meant to go in." Ron perked up at this.
"Yeah, I know what you're saying Harry, but have you thought that…haven't you thought that this is maybe better for us? You know, if he was in jail…then he wouldn't be able to attack at Bill and Fleur's wedding and…" he trailed off, looking hopefully around.
"I agree," said Neville in a small voice from the corner of the room. He looked around timidly. "A lot of people could be saved…we could make a world of difference…Harry, your parents…my parents…"
"NO. Stop," broke in Hermione, her face a mask of pain. "As enticing as that may seem Ron, Neville, we absolutely cannot do that! Don't you see what other implications this could bring around? Harry, I can tell you're being swayed but you were with me when we went to rescue…your godfather in our third year! You know what could happen, what would happen! Changes, and not necessarily good changes! You've taken risks before all of you, but this is not one I'm going to let you take. I'm sorry, I know it hurts, but we just can't…take that risk."
"Miss Granger is correct. I cannot allow you to take these risks," said Dumbledore, suddenly saddened. "I too, am sorry, for the future seems to be anything but happy." Ginny sighed tiredly. She moved forward on her little chair and looked at everyone hard.
"What's done is done and nothing can be changed. Don't you lot go doubting that. We're not here to debate this, we're here for something different. There is a book, and Hermione thinks it could get us back. I know we're not going back to heaven, but we're going back to where we belong. Belonging. I know we all need it. So why don't we set our sights a tiny bit lower, and try to find that again. Our belonging."
"Ginny's right guys," said Harry, leaning forward a little. "Get your brains back in place; we have other problems to solve."
Hermione looked at Ginny and smiled a little. She loved how strong Ginny was, in times when even her resolve was wavering. Ginny fought for the right, not for herself. Hermione shot her a grateful glance before turning to Dumbledore, her feet in place.
"Well Professor Dumbledore, we came here to…throw some ideas around," said Hermione, a little lost as to how she should start off.
"That's one way of putting it, I guess," laughed Harry. The others chuckled a bit and Hermione allowed herself a weak smile.
"I may come off as a little silly and far-fetched during my explanation, but I do think that there is a solution to my problem and maybe you are the key to that solution. It started around two weeks back, maybe a day or two after we arrived. I was in the library trying to find any books that might've been of some help to our case, that is, getting us back to the future. I came across a book that I think…I feel is very important in our search for a way back to the future." Hermione paused, trying to articulate the insanity they were experiencing.
"May I request Miss Granger, that I see this document?"
"Well Professor that is the problem. The day I had seen the book I was involved in a minor accident, and I lost all of the books I had found. When I tried retracing it yesterday, Madame Pince informed me that a 'Harriet Lord' had borrowed the book three weeks ago. The thing is, if the girl had borrowed it three weeks ago, why did I spot it on one of the shelves two weeks ago? Not to mention that there is no 'Harriet Lord' currently attending Hogwarts. We found it all a bit of a…mystery."
Dumbledore stared at her for a moment before sitting back in his chair. He sat there in contemplation for a while and no one dared interrupt him. Hermione could see that this would only be adding to his problems, and she felt no need to be the one to rush him. Slowly, Dumbledore leant forward and placed his arms on his desk.
"It seems Miss Granger that you have stepped upon a second case of time," he said, a slight frown marring his face. The others looked up at him in surprise. Ron leaned forward excitedly.
"That's exactly what we thought! It seemed something like a case of time travel- Luna and Hermione were discussing it yesterday. We were thinking this Lord character was obviously some guy who showed Hermione the book on purpose! He must've known Hermione would be the one who'd go to the end of Earth, or time, to get it. And so Hermione somehow needs to go back and get the book before this person 'borrows' it. The only problem is…we're not quite sure how Hermione's meant to go back."
"Your theory comes close but essentially it is wrong," said Dumbledore, a little smile on his face.
"What?" they cried in unison. Harry stood up.
"What do you mean? I don't understand Professor!" he said, his frustration evident.
"What I mean Mr Potter, is that you and your friends have failed to look at this from all perspectives. You all naturally assumed that this Harriet Lord was someone whom, like you, was after this book, someone who was laying out a trail for you to follow. Harriet Lord is indeed laying out a trail, but you never considered the fact that Harriet Lord could be someone you know, someone in this room." They all stared at him, their eyes wide with comprehension.
"It's you isn't it?" cried Ron, his voice strangled. Dumbledore looked at Ron and let out a gust of merry laughter.
"No I was suggesting one of you six, more specifically Hermione. You were correct in saying that Harriet Lord chose Hermione for this. Suffice to say, Hermione knows herself best." He turned to Hermione who was avidly staring at a spot just above his head. She slowly turned to face him and began to nod her head.
"That would explain why I saw the book and not anyone else. But, how do we know that- no offence Professor- that you aren't right and that this Harriet Lord turns out to be an entirely different person? I mean, if it was me, how did I get back to the past to start with? I thought that there were no current methods-" Hermione shakily stood up and stepped closer to Dumbledore, "-and if you're insinuating that there are, then that would mean that the rest of us could go back and that this whole thing is entirely meaningless and-"
"You are right Miss Granger," said Dumbledore, effectively quieting the hysterical Hermione. "There are no current methods, legal or illegal, though if someone looked long and hard, they might just find a way."
"Are you saying that we have to find the way?" asked Neville, hesitating a little.
"Please, Mr Longbottom, let me finish," said Dumbledore, smiling at Neville. A blush crept up Neville's cheeks and he gave a small smile of embarrassment.
"Sorry Sir."
"As I was saying, there may be a way, but I do not think that these methods are attainable, for us at this time."
"What do you mean?" asked Harry whose frustration was getting the better of him. "What are you suggesting? That we don't go back and get this book? But you just told us that it was Hermione! That means that she does go back and that we have to find a way to get her back!"
"No Mr Potter, you are wrong. It seems you are all too used to doing things yourself. Sometimes, you have to give someone else a chance to do the hard work. When it is Miss Granger's time, nothing will stop her from going. All you have to do is wait for her time to come."
Hermione stared hard at Dumbledore before leaning back in her seat. Wait? Wait…for her time? Who could Dumbledore possibly think would come along and whisk her back a couple of weeks, of their own accord? It was bloody preposterous. Unless-
"Sir," asked Harry uncertainly, "Are you saying that Hermione just has to follow her daily routine, like normal, and be prepared for the possibility that she will be plunged into the past, at any unknown time?"
"Yes."
"But, by who?" asked Ginny, who for the last half an hour or so, had been trying to wrap her head around it all.
"That is something Miss Granger will be able to tell us when she comes back from her little journey." Hermione sat back and sighed. Things were getting far too complicated for her liking. How would she teach her lessons as normal when there was someone lurking around waiting to take her away?
"All this for a book," said Ron uncertainly. "I dunno Hermione, I know you're all for books and stuff, but I think this is just a little too much. We don't even know if it has anything of value in it!"
"I know Ron," said Hermione tiredly, rubbing her aching temples. "But it looks like we've just found out that I have no say in going back. Some mystery man is going to come and whisk me away, whether I like it or not."
"You are all looking at it the wrong way," said Luna, standing up and slowly walking around the room. "Hermione, with you back in the past, not only will you be getting this book, but you will have a chance to sit back and watch all these things over again. Think about it, you'll be going back to a week before we arrived. That's one week of extra research. You get to see our grand arrival; you can tell us if you notice anything that we didn't in our royal panic. There are a lot of things you can do the second time round. This is one chance full of opportunities. Why do you think people crave the idea of time travel? And to think we're getting it the easy way. We don't even have to lift a finger. Someone is doing all of it for us."
"Luna, you're exactly right," said Neville, rubbing his hands together. "But I think the thing that has got us all held up is-"
"-why this someone is doing it for us."
"Yeah look guys, I'll catch up with you later."
"WAIT, James!"
James ignored Sirius as he ran down the corridor after the ball of red hair that was currently weaving through the tangle of students making their way to lunch. He hoped she had calmed down after the stunt he'd pulled earlier. If he was lucky she would be in a good enough mood to not burn him to the ground when he told her about the Hogsmeade visit tomorrow.
"Evans!" he called and she turned back, coming to a slow stop. James wished he could say that she looked happy to see him.
"What is it Potter?" she asked tiredly, and James could see the bags under her eyes. "Please hurry, I have to run to the Gryffindor tower and then down to lunch."
"Oh-yeah-okay," said James a little nervously. "Umm…tomorrow's the Hogsmeade visit and-"
"No I won't do the honourable thing and go with you," she said turning away and walking down the hallway. James sighed and ran after her.
"No! Hold up Evans! I didn't mean on a date! Damn it, will you wait a while?" She stopped again and turned back to him.
"Then what did you mean?" she asked, lifting her eyebrow. James grinned.
"Head business," he said simply and he couldn't help the smile that was growing on his face. "Dumbledore approved my Halloween party suggestions. We're organising Gryffindor and so we need to grab the materials and stuff."
She stared at him suspiciously and James could feel a rejection coming on.
"Couldn't you just get them yourself? You're the one who went running off to Dumbledore to start with. And how do I know this isn't some trick you're cooking up to get me on a date?"
James felt a bubble swell up in his chest. She hadn't refused him! Yet, anyway.
"Well its head business so it means both of us have got to participate," said James, shrugging. "It's not a trick, I swear. It won't even take up the whole day. Just a bit of it, and then you can go back to your friends and stuff. I swear it's just for the Halloween party."
"Fine, Potter," she said, already turning away. "We'll leave after breakfast."
It took all of James' will-power not to jump up in the air and whoop with delight. She hadn't refused him! He frowned when he realised he'd told her they wouldn't spend the whole day together. He shrugged. Any time is better than no time. James turned on his heel and ran all the way down to the Great Hall. He walked in and sat down near Sirius and Peter.
"Guess what guys?" he said, barely able to contain his excitement.
"What?" asked Remus who was sitting across from him, eating at an unbearably slow pace.
"Lily agreed to go out with me!"
He looked around, expecting them to smile and pat him on the back in congratulations. What he didn't expect was for Sirius to snort in amusement as Peter and Remus shared a look.
"What? I'm not lying!"
"Of course you're not James. But-"
Remus cut him off, looking at James concernedly.
"-Are you sure you didn't…misunderstand the situation? Lily has hated you for an immeasurable amount of time, why would she go on a date with you now?"
"No! I asked her if she would go with me to Hogsmeade for head business and she clearly answered-"
"See!" said Sirius. "It's for head business! That's completely different to a date." James turned to Remus who nodded his head in agreement.
"Peter-what do you say?" Peter looked around like a trapped fly.
"Umm…well it's a date if you want it to be James," he said, throwing James a grin. James turned to the others. They were looking at him, shaking their heads.
"Oh fine, think what you want," said James, disappointment creeping in to his voice. He grabbed some nearby chicken and salad and started eating ravenously, his hunger only catching up with him now. "What are you guys doing at Hogsmeade tomorrow?"
"Dunno," said Sirius, giving a little shrug. "What do you want to do Remus?"
"Yeah about that…I can't go Hogsmeade tomorrow," said Remus, staring at his food. "It's just you and Peter I think."
"What? Why?" asked Peter, looking for some nearby bread rolls.
"I have some…homework I need to catch up on. Anyway, I got to go get my stuff from the tower," he said, standing up and quickly walking out of the Great Hall. The three of them watched him leave the hall before turning back to their food.
"What's up with him?" asked James, his voice slightly muffled by the chicken.
"Dunno," shrugged Sirius. "Like he said, he has homework."
"Yeah but…Remus always finishes his work the moment he gets it."
They all glanced at the doors as though Remus was still walking out of them. James shrugged and as one they turned back to their food.
Harry walked into the Great Hall, his stomach rumbling with hunger. Behind him, Ron chuckled lightly and Hermione gave a small smile. Harry couldn't help but notice how her eyes flickered from one side of the room to the next and how her arm quivered at every sudden movement. They took their seats, Ron and Harry making sure Hermione was sitting between them. Harry quietly loaded his plate with food, watching the Hall fill up with students who had just returned from their visit to Hogsmeade.
"Where are the others?" asked Ron as he scooped some potato and dropped it on his plate.
"Well Neville and Luna are still in Hogsmeade," said Hermione, her voice low. "Ginny's up in her rooms, I think she said she's not very hungry." Ron nodded and the three slowly went back to their food, picking at it with very little gusto. The students all chatted loudly, talking about one thing or the other. Hermione sighed and leaned back in her chair.
"I don't think I'll be properly hungry for a while."
"Well that's what I thought when I realised we were eating food that's a good twenty years old," laughed Ron in between bites of food. Harry and Hermione burst into full-blown laughter and for a while, they were the victims of the professors' disapproving stares. They eventually stopped laughing and Hermione sighed again, except this time she looked a little more relaxed.
"I think I'm going to head on down to our rooms," she said, slowly getting up. Harry was getting up to follow her when suddenly there was a loud 'BANG' and he felt himself being hurled against the back wall. He felt a little implosion go off in him and all he could feel was pain.
Trying to ignore the excruciating pain, he staggered up onto his feet, wand in hand. Near him, Ron stood directly in front of Hermione, one hand restraining her, the other pointing his wand at the smoke unfurling in front of them. He heard Hermione whispering urgently.
"Ron let go! Dumbledore said we're not meant to stop it! If it's my time, you shouldn't be stopping it!"
"Doesn't mean we let our guard down!"
Before them, the smoke cleared and the whole school sat at their tables, watching the three professors in shock. Beside Harry, Professor McGonagall got to her feet, shaking with rage.
"MR POTTER AND MR BLACK! A WEEK OF DETENTION!"
Harry looked around and slowly lowered his wand. He shared a look with Ron and both of them sighed. This situation would have to end before it frayed their nerves. Harry hoped whoever it was would come take Hermione already. Next to him, Hermione was leaning on the wall, eyes closed, breathing slowly.
She moaned. "It was just a prank? I can't take much more of this. I felt much better with the knowledge that we would be the ones taking ourselves to the past."
Harry shook his head. "Never mind it Hermione. Right now I think the best thing is that we return to our rooms. Okay?"
Ron nodded his head and Hermione uttered a low 'okay'.
They slowly walked down the Hall, some of the students still watching them. Harry walked a little faster, thinking that Hermione would be safest in their rooms. Regardless of what Dumbledore said, Ron was right. They didn't have to let their guard down. Just as the thought crossed his mind, Hermione was blasted forward, crashing to the floor with a sickening thud. He heard a scream behind him and he distinctly heard Professor McGonagall shouting.
"Hermione!"
Ron and Harry ran up to Hermione, dropping to their knees beside her. They carefully turned her over and were shocked to see her bleeding from several cuts that had appeared all over her face. Ron grabbed Hermione by her shoulders and shook her.
"Hermione! Hermione! Wake up!"
"RON! Let go of her!"
Professor McGonagall came up behind them.
"It is okay, I WILL have Potter and Black punished for this! Just take her up to the Hospital Wing-"
However, she was cut off as Hermione stirred beneath them. Harry noticed with dread that her image was flickering. She slowly started to fade and Harry knew exactly what was happening. He roughly pushed Ron and McGonagall away, heaving himself out of the way. The students watched in amazement as Hermione slowly faded out of sight. With one last flicker, she was gone.
There was silence.
Ron and Harry stared at each other. What would happen now?
Again, there seemed to be no time to contemplate it as the doors were thrown open with an almighty bang. Harry and Ron spun to the doors and watched as Hermione limped in, her face tainted with dirt and numerous scars. Her clothes were torn and her face tear stained. Harry felt his heart stop.
Harry jumped to his feet, Ron not far behind.
"Hermione! What happened?"
A voice came from behind them, a voice they very much recognised.
"She wouldn't know…seeing as she's not the real Hermione!"
They turned and there before them stood a dishevelled Hermione, clothes torn and face stained with blood.
A second Hermione.
Okay, so that's the next chapter in! It took long, but I do hope it was worth it. Again, thanks to Nosi for beta-ing it and now can you all please drop a review, tell me what you think about where this story is going. I'd really like to know. :) Hope you enjoyed it!