Chapter Two
The first thing next morning Hermione quickly went to the children's room who were already awake and arguing .
" Is not "
" Is too "
"Is not "
" Boys nows not the time . "Said Hermione ignoring how they were glaring at each other .
But they both shut up .
As the boys got ready Hermione went out to the main living room. Mind whirring .
Everything was at stake one wrong step and they might not win the war or they could not exist at all. One day at a time she reminded herself .
Suddenly the door opened and Minerva who still looked far too young followed by Dumbledore and the Weasleys , all of them from a younger looking Molly and Arthur to a twelve year old Ginny with a awkward young Harry Potter and thirteen year old Hermione Granger but none of these held her attention her attention was held by fifteen year old Fred Weasley who was alive. Hermione stared at him . She reached out to touch him but stopped herself just in time. . It was too much
"No! Fred! No!"
Percys voice rang in her ears even now all these years later.
Fred's eyes staring not seeing anything clearly dead ,was etched in her memory and into her very soul.
Hermione wanted very much to be violently sick .
Slowly she began to stare at Ron who she hadn't seen looking that young and free since well forever.
" This is weird " said James behind her .
" It is a bit well -"Teddy trailed off not sure exactly how to put it into words .
She didn't blame him . They stood as if no time had past since she had been a thirteen year old. That when she realised to them it hadn't .
Teddy's small hand crept up to hers and Hermione felt her spine straighten and she had squeezed it back protectively.
Hermione could feel her heart thudding heavily in her chest as she stared at them
"Excuse me but how are you exactly related to my grandchildren " Molly coldly
"I'm their Aunt " Said Hermione carefully trying not to recoil.
"She's telling the truth Molly " . Said Dumbledore .
" Don't look into my mind " . said Hermione sharply as she realised what had happened . Molly relaxed
"I apologise " said Dumbledore candidly .
He was alive, not rotting away in the White Tomb ,but actually alive ,she reminded herself , turning away from him.
He was still a liar.
" This is James and Teddy ". Hermione introduced them.
Teddy and James stared at Harry and Ginny unsure of what to do.
The Weasleys stared back at them taking them in .
Teddy and James shifted awkwardly all eyes on them .
Then Molly opened her arms
Hermione could have died of relief .
At Hermione's nod they ran forward into there Nan's arms .
Molly hugged them back awkwardly.
"You don't know us do you " said Teddy slowly and sadly .
"It's alright dear you can tell me every thing said Molly tears in her eyes .
"Within reason ' Hermione carefully .
" I am not a real Weasley." Said Teddy heart brokenly .
" He's adopted into the family " Hermione said firmly " and just as much Weasley than any of them .
Teddy smiled a watery smile at her.
" So is James adopted too. " asked Arthur cautiously .
"No " said Hermione bluntly .
"No is that all you're going to say your not telling them which one of my kids has actually fathered him. " Why didn't he suspect Ginny ? Hermione couldn't help thinking.
"Actually Grandad-" started James rather awkwardly
" Minerva, why don't you take Teddy to Hagrid's for tea , I'm sure he'd love that ." Hermione spoke quickly .
Albus nodded in agreement.
"Very well " said Minerva .
'But we want to know why there is two Uncle George's and why they've got both ears and why -"
Hermione quickly said "This is Uncle George's twin Uncle Fred" .
Teddy and James openly gaped at Fred .
" The guy Freddie's named after? ." James asked . Hermione nodded .
"Now off you go"
"But-"
"That wasn't a suggestion" said Hermione
" God you're worse than Mum honestly ,said James angrily desparately not looking at his twelve year old mother as Teddy's hair changed colour to purple .
"Did your hair just change colour " said Ron .
" Yeah I -
"Now Teddy "
He stuck his tongue out at her ,but when her eyebrows rose he scowled as Minerva silently ushered them out the door .
" We have time to see them again Molly , we can get to know them" said Arthur at Mollys enraged face .
"You will allow that won't you "said Arthur
Hermione nodded " As long as we are stuck here , you can see them , but please don't ask them about the future."
"Why not "asked Ron rudely
" Because bad things happen to those who mess with time " said her younger self .
Hermione felt a roll of nausea as she remembered last time she had said those words .
"Three turns "Dumbledore had said .
"Are you ok ? " asked Fred concernedly.
Did he really just say that?
Oh God
She couldn't do this
" Yeah " lied Hermione thickly .
"We have questions " said Arthur briskly
"Of course "
"How old are they ?" asked Molly
Hermione spoke " Teddy is the eldest grandchild and is eight said Hermione carefully and James is five . "
"Which one of us is the father " asked Percy who had been watching her with quiet disapproval .
"That doesn't matter " said Hermione .
"One of us is a parent and your not even going to tell us"demanded Ron angrily.
"That's about right "said Hermione firmly.
"That's not fair , we deserve to know , "started Ginny angrily
And what if that stopped James being born . Did they really think there'd be no consequences for this .
" I'm sorry , But I can't possibly say". Hermione interrupted firmly.
"But " started Fred.
Fred who was alive ,distinctly and utterly alive.
Hermione felt her chest constrict.
" I have my first lesson in a few minutes please excuse me." She got out.
Leaving the Weasleys staring after her in shock.
Hermione practically ran out the room she couldn't bear to be there a second longer.
Molly was furious . " She barely told us anything about our grandchildren " .
"I'll look out for them Molly" promised Albus .
In.
Out .
In .
Out .
Trying to breathe in the ladies room was impossible ,Hermione found before she was sick . Breathing heavily she shivered .
Fred was alive .
Fred was alive .
He had stood not two feet from her.
She felt herself gasping for breath and she didn't care. Not just Fred , Remus ,Dumbledore ,Tonks all of them they were all alive .
What if she could save them?
She needed to think , she needed a plan . What if she changed something and it went disastrously back in her own time,like James and Teddy not being born or Voldermort winning the war.
Could she take that chance?
How could she just leave them to die?
Her family would never forgive her if she didn't try, For that matter she wouldn't forgive herself if she didn't try.
She'd she end up in Azkaban for changing time .
But as soon as the thought crossed her mind she knew it didn't matter. She would try to save whoever she could.
Slowly she went to the Defence Against the Dark Arts class ignoring the pointed staring and whispers following her all the way up there
"Today I would like to introduce you to my assistant Professor Granger " said Remus his eyes suspicious and voice cold.
" Today she will be taking the lesson. "
Hermione shouldn't have been surprised , but her eyes widened panicking she had no idea what the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaw third years had been taught . She had no curriculum ,no nothing .
Then she remembered the DA the very first thing Harry had taught them was Expelliarmus .
" Put your books away . Today we are learning or relearning the disarming charm
I want everyone to pair up "said Hermione
"But everyone knows how to do that " said angry familiar voice .
"Are you Zacarias Smith ? She asked .
He nodded clearly surprised ,
Hermione remembered him saying the same thing to Harry in the first D. A meeting. In another two years . Hermione felt her stomach roll. This was too much .Taking a deep breathe she spoke
"This curse saved my friend twice over" she said . Quickly putting a blank mask on her face before she was sick .
"Let's begin. "
Slowly the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws partnered up . Slowly they began casting
"Terry move your feet or you'll overbalance" she said without thinking she didn't notice the look of surprise on his face being called by his first name.
The thing was all these children were part of the D.A. and she knew them at least all their names by sight.
It was bizarre seeing them all like this all young .
And some of them she knew were definitely dead in her time .
Her stomach was doing somersaults before getting herself together.
"Hannah flick your wrist a bit more "she said this time on purpose ,she could do this , she could be Harry and ignoring the panic in her chest which was getting tighter and tighter she began rectifying them slowly .
She was a good teacher .
Lupin had to admit and she knew what she was doing .
Lupin had to protect her from Sirius Black so Voldemort would never find out about the future and make sure she wasn't working with Black to kill Harry . It was big job he knew but he would protect Harry no matter what.
The bell finally rang and as the students filed out .
Ignoring tightness that was getting tighter and tighter in her chest,Hermione couldn't help the awkward silence that was there between her and Remus half of her wanted to pull him into a hug him the other half of her wanted to burst in to tears. Remus was watching her with cold eyes clear with suspicion and she couldn't pretend it didn't hurt. She could feel her heart thumping in her chest . Slowly she sat down on a desk.
" Why did you start with Expelliarmus? " asked Remus despite himself.
" It was what I was taught "said Hermione
"I see" said Remus
They fell into an awkward silence again.
Tell him.
Just tell him not to be at the Battle of Hogwarts she thought desperately .
Hermione opened her mouth to speak as the bell rang. Closing it slowly she watched Seventh year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs file in.
"I am Professor Lupin and this is my assistant Professor Granger today we'll be studying Grindylows said Remus ."Professor you are not needed for this class" he told her . Flushing she nodded grabbed her beaded bag and left .
Hermione felt tears build in her eyes and as she quickly left the classroom and ran straight to the nearest bathroom . Locking herself in she burst into tears , then began howling in tears like a wounded animal. For Remus , for Tonks and for Teddy . For Fred .
She only had half an hour break she knew and she had spent the last twenty minutes crying getting a grip on herself she wiped her eyes and left the bathroom not looking where she was going .
And walked straight into Sybill Trelawney and Minerva
" I suppose your going to tell me you think I am a fraud but I wasn't wrong the Grim is after Potter and he will die" said Trelawney haughtily
Hermione was suddenly hearing the words again
" Harry Potter is dead" Voldermort had said his cruel laugh and Harry broken in Hagrids arms .
Grief and pain went through her even as she regained her bearings.
"Don't be ridiculous Sybill" she heard Minerva say a moment later
" Professor Granger are you alright . " asked Minerva
Hermione nodded and quickly went on her way with a quick sorry. Leaving both Professor McGonagall and Trelawney staring after her.
Hermione quickly went back to class chest heaving . She almost stood stock still in her tracks .
This was ,no is the Gryffindor and Slytherin Defense Against the Dark Arts class and Neville was standing before Snape in his grandmother clothes. It was worse than deja vu . Hermione struggled to breathe.
Snape was alive .
"The Mudblood isn't teaching us is she" said a very young Draco Malfoy sneering up at her .
For once Harry and Ron weren't going to back her up , they would for their Hermione but not for her . Hermione knew it with one look at their faces .
" Fifteen points from Slytherin for disrespecting a teacher ." She said ignoring his indignant splutters ,
"This place is going to dogs ,wait till my Father hears about this" said Malfoy impatiently.
Hermione couldn't help it she rolled her eyes.
Quickly going to the back of the class and began taking notes .
" Perhaps Professor Granger wants a go at the boggart" Remus offered .
" No thank you Remus " said Hermione tiredly.
Ron' s boggart was once again a huge spider.
Seamus's was a banshee.
Hermione was trying not to let the de ja vu overwhelm her.
Then she saw Lavender Brown and her breathing nearly stopped.
There wasn't a scar on her as if she never had been in a fight with Fenrir Greyback. That was because it hadn't happened yet . How could she not warn them what was to come ?
Hermione still stared at Lavender as the rest of the class faced the boggart not noticing how the girl had become red from scrutiny .
As Harry neared the boggart , Remus finished by quickly standing in front of the boggart turning it into the moon .
"Ridikulus " said Remus and the boggart turned into a balloon and then exploded .
"That's enough for the day " said Remus .
As the class left Hermione saw Remus look up at her .
" Why didn't you try the boggart ?" He asked.
" I don't know what my greatest fear is, "she said refusing to discuss her nightmares with him.
"I see " said Remus watching her warily .It hurt that he didn't trust her, Hermione quickly got a grip .
" I better go and see what my nephews are doing since we got a free period ". Hermione rushed out the classroom not wanting to spend one more minute with Remus ,she made her way to Hagrid's once again ignoring the staring whispering as she went by.