October 1979
Longbottom Hall
Despite it being two decades prior, Albus Dumbledore remained nearly the same. Truth be told, she couldn't find a single difference in him at all, and he seemed to be completely at ease with the time-travelling witch across from him.
Slowly—deliberately—he read the scroll many times through. It was enough times that Hermione had begun to squirm and shift, her bum going numb from sitting so long in a hard wooden chair. Finally, when she was about to beg for respite, his blue eyes snapped up over his half-moon spectacles and locked onto her.
"This missive is from myself."
"Yes."
"And in it, I state that the time you are coming from is 1998?"
She gulped. "That's right."
Waving his knotted fingers over the now-discarded scroll, he peered back at her. "In this letter, I also warn myself of many casualties to come. It says that we do, indeed, end Tom Riddle's reign of terror, but that he returns through the creation of dangerously dark artefacts."
"Right." She sighed. "Horcruxes. And yes, it's true. All of it. I was sent back to help. I know the pieces we're looking for, the pieces he's created by now, and we've got to destroy them—and him—prior to Halloween 1981." Reverently, she placed the journal on the table between them, pushing it gently closer to him. "You gave me this; it's most everything we need to end the war."
Canting his head ever so slightly to the side, Dumbledore loosened a tight breath. "What happens on Halloween 1981?"
She chewed on that question a moment, thinking of all the implications of that night; of how one single moment could ripple out for decades to come. "Everything, sir."
xXx
Longbottom Hall was a lovely country English manor; nothing like the shabby, beat up HQ from her time at Grimmauld Place. No, Longbottom Hall was flooded with bright, natural light and pale, flowery wallpaper. Even the thick clouds hanging low outside the windows couldn't banish the cheerful mood that the decor set.
Heart pounding, Hermione stood just behind Dumbledore as he filled in the small group gathered about her sudden appearance. It wasn't the entire Order; the Weasleys were missing, along with Moody and several others. As he spoke, her gaze roved the room. Near the front of the table was a slight couple, a tall man with wiry glasses and a crinkled brow and a girl with short, tawny hair and soft features. The Longbottoms.
A handsome man with a broad set of shoulders and curly blond hair sat beside them—Hawthorne McLaggen—and next to him, a girl with a severe glare marring her pretty face. A few more faces Hermione had memorised in preparation for her trip were clustered around a long table and finally, she landed on the most familiar faces in the back of the room. Sirius stood with his arm slung over Marlene's slender shoulders, Remus next to them. Then it was James, standing stock-still with his arms crossed over his broad chest and Lily draped over his back, resting her temple on his shoulder.
She gulped and turned away, refocusing on the matter at hand.
"Miss Granger is to be given every clearance. This mission is of the utmost importance." Dumbledore paused, turning towards her and gesturing for her to come forward. "The floor is yours."
"Thank you, Professor." She nodded and stepped up to the table, pulling scrolls from her beaded bag and flattening them magically to the table. "These are specifically what I'm looking for. They're dark artefacts that are paramount in the destruction of You-Know-Who—"
"What are they?" A thin boy with tight features piped up, and when Hermione looked at him, the breath was nearly knocked free of her lungs. Peter Pettigrew.
Gathering her wits, she returned her gaze to the images in front of her. "Horcruxes."
"Never heard of 'em," James Potter scoffed from the back of the room, and Hermione couldn't help the cutting glare she shot at him. She didn't want to dislike him, but her irritation towards him continued to grow.
"I'm not surprised." Her flippant tone made his jaw clench, and Hermione smirked back at him before returning her attention to the images laid out on the table. "These are the ones we know of in my time. I know where some of them are, but the others… Without Harry, I don't—"
"Harry?" Alice Longbottom interrupted, brows rising toward her hairline.
Shite. She hadn't meant to say that. With every ounce of will that she had, Hermione fought the urge to look at James and Lily. "Yes. My friend, Harry. He's important in all this. The ultimate hope is that while I'm here, we defeat Riddle once and for all but if we don't, then he's our only chance in the future."
"So what do you need from us?" Alice continued, her voice kind but fragile. Hermione smiled, noting the subtle traces of Neville in her delicate features.
"Help. Which I know seems a broad stroke, but it's what I need. Even if we find the Horcruxes, we have to destroy them beyond repair. I'll need people working actively to track down a solution. And more so, I know it's a lot to ask, but I do need help to track these down—"
"We'll do it." Sirius lifted a finger, his elbow still slung around Marlene's neck.
Hermione's eyes rounded, jaw falling open as she uncharacteristically stuttered. "You—you will?"
Sirius looked to his friends, then down to Peter at the end of the table, nodding at him once. "Sure. We're in need of a little adventure—eh, boys?"
James smirked and rolled his gaze back to her, shrugging. "Why not?"
Huffing out a sharp breath, she snapped her fingers, gathering her belongings into neat stacks and muttering under her breath. "Brilliant."
Once she'd packed up, she turned to Dumbledore. With the room blooming to ambient noise, she asked him where she might stay until her task was complete.
"There are rooms here in Longbottom Hall, well equipped for members of the Order who need rest. Hogwarts, of course, is always open to you as well."
"No need there, 'eadmaster." Marlene appeared, bright grin and belly button still on display. "Birdie can stay with Lil and I. We got the extra room."
The rest of the Marauder clan curled around them and for the first time since, Peter was also in tow, quiet and tucked near the back behind James, but there all the same.
"I wouldn't want to impose—" she said, squirming.
"Oh, wouldn't worry about that, love." James grinned at her, a strange sparkle twinkling in his eyes. "You've already bombarded our lives and warned us of our untimely deaths. I hardly think it's an imposition now. More of a self-preservation tactic."
Baring her teeth in a weak attempt at a smile, Hermione slung her beaded bag over her shoulder and said farewell to Professor Dumbledore. "Guess I'm coming with you lot, then."
"Aw," Sirius crooned, wrapping his elbow around her neck and dragging her in to rustle her hair. "Don't be so Sirius." He paused to waggle his brows, and Hermione quickly detangled herself and shoved him off, smoothing her now tempestuous curls as she growled at him. "We're really quite fun; you just have to know us to love us. Except Peter—no one loves Peter," Sirius amended, and the wizard in question glowered and playfully shoved his friend in the back. "Just yanking your dick, Petey." Sirius turned to her, dropping his voice low like the two of them were conspiring in something. "He's so sensitive."
Groaning, Peter stepped forward. He stood just about her height, maybe an inch or two taller, and his lips lilted in a weak smile. "I'm the last of them: Peter Pettigrew. How d'yah do?"
"Hermione Granger." She nodded once, quickly taking his hand out of years of politeness driven into her brain and continued following the crowd.
Once out on the lawn, Remus, Peter, and Lily quickly Apparated, smoke billowing into the air to signal their departure. Hermione stared forlornly at the dreaded motorbike, her lips pulling down into an exaggerated pout.
They were farther from the flat now, much farther, which meant a longer ride in that rickety sidecar that felt at serious risk of falling off over London, with the way the bloke drove.
"Jamie," Sirius called, climbing across his bike and dragging Marlene across his lap. "You'll make sure the birdie gets back to the girl's flat, yeah? I've got important business to attend to." The witch giggled and kissed him deeply, and Hermione couldn't help but gape at the pair of them. With Marlene dangerously perched against the handlebars, the bike growled and hissed, the lights flickering on and temporarily blinding Hermione.
Rushing to cover her eyes, she was blindsided as James shouted his assent and wrapped a thick arm around her waist.
"Wait!" she shouted, just as a sickening pull of magic tore her across Britain.
When the world stilled, Hermione braced herself against the nearest thing she could reach that wasn't bloody swirling, and her eyes clenched shut as she took long, deliberate breaths through her nose.
"I'm going to throw up," she managed, bringing her fist up to her lips.
"Ah, don't be so dramatic." A gentle hand wrapped around her hip, and her eyes shot open.
She was sitting in the lap of one James Potter, and her eyes nearly bugged from her skull at the realization.
"Ack!" she cried out, crawling backwards until her back was pressed against the wall. As her fingers pressed into a soft mattress, covered in a red and gold quilt, she realised for the first time where she was. "Did you seriously Apparate me into your bedroom?"
He pulled a face in his all righteous mockery, feigning innocence as he looked around. "Damn, did I? My mistake, love. Meant to take you to Marley's." The playful smirk twisting his face made her eyes narrow into slits as she flattened herself further against the wall.
"Why are you pestering me?" she hissed, her nose wrinkling in disdain. "I've not done anything to you, and while clearly it seems to be just a horrifying personality flaw, it's really quite annoying."
"It's not pestering—it's flirting." His perfectly white teeth sank into his bottom lip and Hermione sucked in a sharp gasp, her jaw falling open.
"How would your girlfriend feel about you Apparating another girl into your room and then flirting with her? Although, I have to tell you, even though I don't have much experience at this, you're shite at flirting." Without waiting for an answer, she clamored from his bed and sprinted for the door. She'd just barely twisted the handle when he pushed it shut and invaded her space.
"It's sweet of you to notice, but I don't have a girlfriend." His lips quirked as he stared down his nose at her.
Turning, she simmered her rage, engulfing flames transforming to low burning embers. Resting against the door, she peeked up at him, a coy smile tugging at her lips. "James?" she breathed, shoulders rising and falling in time with her breath.
"Yeah?" He stepped into her, his chest brushing up against hers as his gaze drifted to her lips.
"I know we just met, and we don't really know each other—" With a hard flick of her wrist, her wand fell into her grip and she quickly brought it up, stabbing it into his neck. It was delightful watching his features fall into a defeated glower. "But I'm actually not so bad with a wand. Top of my class at Hogwarts, took down a troll first year, fought some Death Eaters, and have been on the run hunting Dark Lord's splintered soul for the better half of a year." With a soft growl, she pressed her wand tip more firmly into the hollow of his throat. "Don't fuck with me."
Despite the fact that her speech was impassioned and intended to be terrifying, the stupid bloke grinned and took a step away. "Whatever you say, love."
Clearing her throat, she turned and wrenched the door wide, quickly marching from his room. Upon arriving on the other end of the hall, she remembered she was in the wrong damn flat.
To her left, James grabbed one of the beers still sitting on the centre table and pulled his wand free, casting a cooling charm on it and then cracking it open.
"Want one, love?" He smiled up at her before taking a slow drink and somehow, just like that, James Potter claimed the spot as the most irritating person she'd ever met. It was completely impossible that he was in any way related to Harry.
The door opened and Remus entered, his eyes narrowing at James relaxing on the sofa. "Why did I know you were going to be here, Jamie?"
"I do live here."
Without another look in his friend's direction, Remus straightened and fixed a familiar smile on his face. "Sorry about Prongs. I promise we're not all so—well, we're not so much."
From the couch James groaned, and in her peripheral vision, she could see him tilt his beer can to his lips. "You're playing favourites again, Moony. Sirius is far worse than I am."
Flinching, Remus acquiesced and held his hand out to her. "Right, well, I'm not as bad as them. Peter's all right too."
Warmth bloomed in her chest as she smiled at her old friend. "I've handled worse, but thank you for the apology."
"Do you want to tell us about what we're meant to be looking for?" Remus asked, gesturing for the armchair which she quickly took.
Hermione shuffled through her bag and pulled free the photographs.
"This here—" she pointed to the first photograph,"is the diary of Tom Riddle, and as far as I understand, it's now in the possession of Lucius Malfoy."
James had been lounging in the corner of the sofa, but something visibly perked in him at the mention of that name and he shuffled closer, leaning forward over his knees.
"This ring here, I know what village it's located in; Professor Dumbledore gave me that, at least. The locket—" She paused, wracking her brain for the information tucked away in her journal. "I'll need to talk to Sirius for that. Dumbledore thinks there are more. In a memory Tom Riddle confessed to wanting to make seven." Both men gaped at that, sputtering at the thought. "But this is all I have… a handful of pages with half formed thoughts."
She stared thoughtfully at Dumbledore's neat scrawl before continuing. "There is a note here that may link the Lestranges to the cup of Helga Hufflepuff."
Snorting, James ran a hand through his messy black hair, his eyes lit with amusement."The Lestranges? "Those twits can't possibly have anything to do with all this. They barely know the right ends of their wands."
It felt like she'd swallowed glass as she nodded, remembering the list of crimes committed by those 'two twits,', as he'd deemed them. "I assure you, that both Rudolphus and Rabastan Lestrange are very dangerous, but it's not so much them. Dumbledore believes the cup was given to Bellatrix Lestrange; she's the one who places it in the vault. I've just no idea when she gets it."
"Bellatrix?" James coughed, choking on his beer as he rocked in laughter. "You're barking, love. I'm not saying the bird is a breeze to get along with or anything, but she's certainly not—"
Remus erupted, growling and rubbing at his temple. "Merlin, Prongs!"
At the same moment, Hermione snapped. "She is!" Her voice echoed around the barren room. "I know, all right? I know it's a lot to take in, but this will all go a lot smoother if you trust that I'm not exaggerating every damned thing!" The silence was fraught, and she winced at its sudden presence. "I'm sorry. I can't imagine what this is like for you. I don't mean to be insensitive, it's just… I need you to trust me."
James finished off his beer and set it aside, rubbing his large palm across his face as he looked to Remus. After a long moment of silent conversation shared between the two Marauders, James shrugged. "We'll start as soon as possible, then. Whatever you need, just tell us where to start."
Relief flooded her chest, and she sagged happily under its presence. "Thank you," she breathed. "We start here." She pointed to the ring. "But I'll also need to talk to Regulus Black… and possibly stalk Lucius Malfoy."
At the name, Remus' eyes blew wide, his lips coming together in a tight purse and Hermione's gaze shot over to James, who was laughing into his hand. "You have impossibly difficult requests. You know that?"
With a mirthless laugh, she flicked her wand and collected her materials, thinking of what she was going to have to ask of these boys before the end. "We're just getting started, I'm afraid. Professor Lupin—"
"Professor?" Remus rose to his feet, a curious tilt to his brows and a smile tugging at his lips. "Now that is surprising, but Remus will do for now. Or Moony if I'm being wolfish."
"You're always wolfish, Moony. What's that saying? Wolf in sheep's clothing?" James knocked his boot into Remus' knee and in turn, Remus shoved him back.
"Right. Sorry." She shook her head. "Old habits, and all that. Would you help me to the other flat? I'd ask Mister Potter but I fear I'd only end up back in his bedroom," she deadpanned, turning with a flat stare to the man smirking on the sofa.
"She's a fast learner; I'll give her that." Clapping his hands, James rose and sauntered down the hall; she watched him go, fascinated by the way he moved.
Remus startled her by speaking from just over her shoulder. "One day. One of you witches is going to have to fill me in on how he does it while being such an insufferable git."
"Sorry?" she asked, turning with her brows tightly knit.
"Girls are always so bloody infatuated with him; I've no idea how he does it."
"I'm not—" A blush crawled up her neck and her jaw fell open. "That's not—" she sputtered awkwardly, ignoring the sly smile on Remus' lips.
"It's okay. You wouldn't be the first one. Something about a Potter, I tell you." Remus chuckled to himself and held out his elbow for her. Wrapping her fingers around his forearm, she was struck by the truth of that simple sentiment.
xXx
Appearing in Lily Evan's flat, for the second time was quite surreal. It was small and rather dingy, sparsely decorated but still far more so than the boy's. Pushed up against the wall was a hideous orange sofa, woven yellow threads making an intricate pattern. Sitting there, legs wound up under her and a book open in her lap, was Harry's mum.
"Did James make a fool of himself?" the ginger witch asked, her nose wrinkling, but otherwise unaffected.
Stepping farther into the room, Remus rested his hands on the back of a dusty armchair, rolling his eyes."Of bloody course, he did. Apparated the poor girl right into his bed."
A furious blush crept up Hermione's neck, and she began sputtering with a weak defence about nothing happening. Lily burst into laughter, waving her off with a half-hearted dismissal.
Her flippant attitude irked Hermione, and she pursed her lips tightly taking a sharp step forward. "Is there somewhere for me to stay?"
"Hmm?" Lily had already found herself distracted, her eyes tracing the cover of her book.
"To sleep? I was told I could stay here for the duration of—well, for now. Is there a room or should I head back to…" Her voice trailed off as her gaze caught on Remus, staring at Lily with purposeful intent. She felt privy to something private, something horribly not meant for her, and when Lily turned back, she stole a quick glance at Remus before settling on Hermione.
"Sorry, of course. Room at the end of the hall. Not much in there, I'm afraid. But it's a bed."
Hermione's gaze flitted between Remus and Lily, puzzle pieces slowly clicking into place, and when Remus noticed he cleared his throat and straightened. "Right, well, better be off." He smiled weakly. "Hermione." His lips folded into a tight line as he nodded in her direction, then turned to the other witch in the room. "Lil." With a quiet crack he was gone, and Hermione felt uncomfortable in the space left behind in Lily Evan's home.
There were a million things she wanted to ask her; things that Harry would have desperately wanted to know, but they all fell flat on her tongue. With a resigned breath, she turned for the hall, only to be halted by Lily speaking again.
"Sorry about earlier," she said quietly. "With me being half-naked and all. Wasn't expecting company—especially company from the future." When her chin lifted, Hermione was rendered speechless by the ferocity of her green eyes; it was like seeing her dear friend, even from decades away, and idly, she wondered what he might be doing, or if they'd had any luck.
Hermione again felt too close, invading the poor witch's privacy, and she shifted her feet where she stood. "Oh, that's—no need to apologize."
"I'm a bit—" Lily's beautiful features crumbled as she tossed her book on the floor—causing Hermione to wince—and she folded in on herself. "Embarrassed," she finally choked out. "I'm not the kind of witch who—"
"Lily, it's really—" Words failed her and she took a few cautious steps forward, unsure how she was meant to comfort the stranger. "I'm not, well, I mean to say that I understand. It's not quite so taboo where I'm from." She flinched; she was doing a truly horrendous job at easing the girl's discomfort. "I mean, it kind of is—but I'm not judging you for having premarital sex or anything."
A loud guffaw burst from Lily's lips, and she wiped frantically at her damp cheeks. What in the hell was happening?
"Not about that." Sighing heavily, Lily choked out a final laugh and turned again towards her new flatmate. "It's complicated. Sorry, this isn't the proper way to greet someone, and I swear I'm not always such a Hufflepuff." Rising to her feet, she crossed the few steps and offered her palm with a false, albeit bright, grin. "I'm Lily Evans, officially."
Smiling weakly, their palms touched. "Hermione Granger. Pleasure."
xXx
A/N: Hello! I am posting early! Normally updates will come on Thursdays but I was getting a bit impatient since the response to chapter one was so lovely! I can't tell you properly how much your reviews and encouragement mean to me! I try to respond to reviews when time allows but rest assured, I read and cherish every one as it comes into my inbox.
If you're curious, Hermione left 1998 in April, before visiting the Lovegoods, Easter, and Malfoy Manor. So the information available to her is limited to the notebook and not the events that took place after.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter and with all the chaos in the world, I hope you are safe and healthy.
Thank you for reading!
Alpha's: Ravenslight & MCal
Beta: Nuclear Nik