A / N
I know I've not updated in a while. So here are two chapters as a compensation. Be sure to read them in order.
Xx_
Sia.
04 Hogwarts
"Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure."
— Luna Lovegood, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
August 22, 1977Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
The day had started out fairly normal for Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts. The term was starting soon and she had been working on the lesson plans when Fawkes had arrived with a note from Headmaster Dumbledore to come into his office. What she had never expected to see was the three witches standing in the middle of his office facing him with their backs turned to the door. She knew, then and there, that her life was never going to be the same anymore.
"Minerva," Dumbledore greeted warmly, "I would apologize for calling you so early in the morning but the reason is important. May I introduce you to these young witches who have stumbled in the castle this fine morning?"
Even as he said this warmly, Minerva could notice something different in his tone. He looked somewhat rigid?
With a nod, she walked around the table to where Dumbledore was standing and faced the three women. Teaching the Marauders and seeing their antics had made her immune to shock and surprise. Or as she used to think. McGonagall stifled a gasp when her eyes landed on the other occupants of Dumbledore's office. When she had seen them from the back, she had thought them to be people from the Ministry or Aurors perhaps, with the posture in which they were standing and the way they were clutching their wands in their hands as if expecting a fight to start right then and there.
But looking at them now, she couldn't help the shock she felt.
They looked so young. Barely out of school or if they were out of school, at all. All three of them were pale and skinny with bones protruding out of as if they had been starving for almost a year. The faces were stoic and expressionless as those of soldiers, and were covered with various bruises all across. Some were dark while some were fading. And their eyes… Their eyes were so hard, emotionless and unforgiving as if they had seen the world in its worst. As if they had experienced all the horrors of the world and somehow managed to survive out of it.
There was a sudden feeling in McGonagall that wanted her to just hug the young women standing before her and provide them with warm home-cooked food.
She swallowed the feeling. First she wanted to know what had happened and who they were.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Well, I myself don't know their names as the first thing they told me was they wanted to see you. And now that you are here," He turned to them, "I think introductions are in the order."
She watched as the woman… the girl in the middle turned her eyes to him. Her brown eyes seemed to harden even more before she took out a parchment out of her muggle hoodie. McGonagall's eyebrows raised when instead of giving the parchment to the Headmaster, the girl looked at her, her eyes softening just a little, and raised it to her.
Tentatively, she took the parchment before opening and reading it.
"Hermione Jean Granger." She read aloud. It didn't escape her notice how the three girls stiffened. The girl who had given her the parchment pressed her lips together before giving a nod. "Ginevra Molly Granger." The girl at the right nodded. She was a little taller than the girl in the middle, Hermione, albeit an inch. "Luna Pandora Granger." The last one smiled at her a little. She had a dazed look on her face as if feeling nostalgic but her eyes were as hard as her sisters'. "Born on February 13th, 1960."
Hermione Jean GrangerGinevra Molly GrangerLuna Pandora GrangerDate of Birth: February 13, 1960
"Granger because that's a muggle last name and is unlikely to be associated with anyone." Luna had remarked. "But why February 13, my birthday? We arrived in this world on August 11, didn't we?"
"We did." Ginny confirmed. "My birthday. Or Ginny Weasley's birthday, I should say."
"We share my last name now and we arrived on Ginny's birthday," Hermione started. "Your birthday, probably because we are connected now. Something respective to each of us is now connected. The ritual made us family-"
"Triplets." Ginny quipped.
Hermione sent her a faint smile. "Yeah, triplets."
"We are from the future." Hermione told them bluntly.
A look of disbelief passed over Professor McGonagall's face before she frowned. Dumbledore, however, looked the same except the twinkling in his eyes dimmed a little.
"Future?" Professor McGonagall asked sharply, "Surely you don't expect us to take this seriously, do you? After just showing us the parchment with your date of birth."
Hermione felt a prodding in her head making her send a sharp warning to Dumbledore with her eyes. Dumbledore's eyes widened infinitesimally but he recomposed himself. "We used a ritual, whose specifics I cannot indulge further, but yes I expect you to take this seriously. We are from 2001 and we know how to destroy Voldemort."
"But you are just children." McGonagall sounded surprised and incredulous at the same time horrified.
Now that caught Hermione off guard. Children… children? The things she had done weren't something that a child would do. Things that Ginny and Luna had done weren't something that children would do.
Another prod. Hermione's wand twitched and she almost raised it at Dumbledore but Ginny's left hand squeezed her right, pleading her not to lose her temper right now. She took a deep breath and stared at him with a hard glare. "The future we come from is dark, very dark. Voldemort becomes the single most powerful being in the whole magical world as well as tof Britain. His Death Eaters torture muggles on a daily basis. He had control over the whole of Europe and major parts of Africa and Asia. The last we heard, which was basically two days ago, was that his regime was growing and he was in talks with the Magical Committee of Russia."
She felt another prodding and tightened the shields in her head.
"I can show you some of my memories and take Veritaserum later if you want. But the questions will be asked by my sisters and they cannot be any further than the basic ones. I refuse to give details before you start to trust us." Hermione told them. "Professor Dumbledore, may we use your pensieve?"
"Very well, if you must." Dumbledore nodded once, realizing that either they were really from the future or had done a thorough research on him and the castle. After all, it was no easy task to enter Hogwarts without the wards rising.
With a stiff nod, Hermione put her wand on her forehead and took out the memories she thought were relevant. Not too much nor too less. Just enough to make them see the truth. When she was done, she put the crisps of white light in the pensieve Dumbledore had drawn. With a pull similar to that of a portkey, everyone was drawn in the memories.
"Where is everyone?"
The battle of Hogwarts had come to a pause when Voldemort had called his Death Eaters back.
The Great Hall was filled with the dead bodies of students, teachers, aurors and even some death eaters, alike. The injured were nursing their wounds while the dead had their family around them, crying and sobbing.
Red. Everything was red with blood. What was the point of a war based on blood when all blood bleeds red?
"Everyone has turned to you, Hermione," McGonagall said, her voice as resigned as she felt, "You and Ron. A month has passed since Harry's death and you both are their only hope. They think only you two could finish what Harry couldn't."
Hermione nodded and rested her cheek on Ron's shoulder.
"We'll do our best."
"Safe house was compromised." The voice was hollow, defeated. McGonagall was hollow and defeated.
McGonagall gasped when she came back from the pensieve. She couldn't shake the image of herself she saw in Hermione's memories. The future her looked so old, emotionless, crushed and demolished as if all life had been sucked out of her. She was a shell of what she was now and then she realized what the three girls had gone through. They had literally experienced the horrors of the world.
There was a tense silence around them before Hermione broke it. "Veritaserum?"
Dumbledore raised his hand and called for Veritaserum non verbally. She took a sip, just enough for a couple of questions.
"What you showed us is true?" Ginny questioned her.
"Yes."
"Are we from the future?" Luna asked.
"Yes."
"What intentions do you have, Miss Granger?" McGonagall asked. Hermione raised her sculpted brows at her, reminding her that she said the questions will be asked by her sisters only. She sighed and looked at Ginny who repeated the question.
"I want to kill Voldemort." Hermione answered. "I want him to suffer as we did."
"Were you part of the Order?" Dumbledore looked at Luna, silently asking her to ask Hermione.
Hermione thought before answering. "Initially, no. But later, yes."
"Why-"
"I'm afraid the truth session is over now." Hermione interrupted. "I hope you trust us now."
She let them think of their answer as she casually looked around the office. She had made a clean sweep of gaze when she had entered the room but now she looked more closely. She had never spent much time in Dumbledore's office in her timeline. But she had come that one time when she had accio'd the books on Dark Magic after his death. Also, Harry spent a considerable amount here in sixth year and told her and Ron everything he could.
She was staring at Fawkes who was sitting on his golden perch behind the door when she felt another prodding in her head. Clenching her fists, she reigned control on her anger and let him enter her mind, showing the man what he bloody wanted.
Dumbledore visibly recoiled just after he entered her mind, for witnessing one's own death was not a feast.
His widened eyes met Hermione's and she raised a brow, challenging him to make an attempt again.
"We trust you." Dumbledore finally said, sighing. McGonagall nodded, too shook to say anything.
"Good." Hermione nodded appreciatively. "Now, the main reason we came here is because we will need some help. We are going to join the Order of the Phoenix and when we are going to hunt down-"
"I apologize for interrupting Miss Granger," Dumbledore said, "But I cannot let you three do what you are planning to do. You are not of age and we cannot let young children bring the darkest wizard of all times down on their own."
Isn't that what you did when you entrusted three children with the knowledge as dark as the sky on cloudy night, and made them go on a secret mission, away from everyone? Hermione wanted to ask.
Instead, Ginny was the one who burst out. "What do you mean we are not of age? We are twenty-one."
"No dear," McGonagall found her voice and said softly, "You are seventeen."
"What's the year, Professor?" Luna asked.
"1977."
McGonagall watched as a look of complete horror planted over the three sisters. Whatever they had expected, it was not this time period.
"1977?" Ginny asked slowly.
"1997." McGonagall confirmed.
Hermione's eyes widened and she looked at Ginny and Luna. "Harry isn't born yet, neither are we. That means we can save them. All of them."
"You cannot start to save everyone, Miss Granger, if you don't have proper training." Dumbledore said.
"Proper training?" Hermione scoffed. "I would like to tell you that we have been living off ourselves since the past four years fighting Death Eaters. We are more trained than your Aurors, here."
"No doubt about that, Miss Granger." He continued calmly. "But as it is established, you three are seventeen and like any other seventeen year old, you'll have to attend school here. Tell me, did you three finish your schooling?"
"We didn't." Luna answered.
Ginny and Hermione were too angry to answer him that she had to. What did Dumbledore think of himself? Here he had three witches from the future knowing every possible answer to defeat Voldemort and he wanted them to attend school. That was outrageous.
"Well, then it is final. You three will attend Hogwarts as seventh year students before you start the fight against Voldemort. Meanwhile, you can pass information to me so the Order can take measured steps." He decided, firmly.
"Excuse me?!" Hermione lost it. "Who do you think you are? Telling us what to do and what not! We are not the pawns in your grand scheme of Greater Good, Albus. Not anymore. We will do what we have to do. You are no one to say anything. You have no right."
McGonagall gasped. No one had ever raised their voice at Dumbledore ever. He was a great man and always thought for the welfare of others. What had Dumbledore done in the future?
"You are correct, Miss Granger." Dumbledore's voice was stiff. "I don't have any rights on you but the Ministry does. And if they get to know that there are three young witches rebelling on their own, it wouldn't do any good for you."
"Are you threatening us?" Hermione's voice was deadly calm, a complete contradiction to her wand which was itching to raise at him. Ginny and Luna clutched Hermione's arm to stop her from exploding at him.
"I am just telling you the fact, Miss Granger." Dumbledore was eerily calm. "You have magical blood and thus fall under the Ministry. If they get their hands on you, I don't know if I'll be able to protect you."
Hermione scoffed and her face hardened even more than it was. "You protect me? You didn't protect me at that time, Albus and I know that you won't ever. Until I become the King in your Chess, you wouldn't have any obligations for me."
She took a deep breath while Ginny and Luna held her arms tightly.
After a few moments of silence, Dumbledore spoke. "I don't know what I did to make me so untrustworthy in your eyes, Miss Granger, but I do hope that you'll forgive an old man for a deed he has yet to do."
Hermione chose not to say anything. Ginny and Luna, though, were holding her hands to prevent any outburst but it didn't make them look less livid. Do something and apologize, it's not always that easy.
"Miss Granger," McGonagall started. Her voice was calm and comforting, very opposed to the usual stern and hard she sounded as a transfiguration professor. "We don't know the future, yes. But we know the members of the Order. They are not likely to take orders from girls who have yet to finish school. Also, the fact of your identities need to be kept a secret. It would be fatal if gets in the wrong hands. Trust us, Miss Granger. Attending Hogwarts will be the best thing for you three for now."
Hermione looked at Ginny and Luna. They had a silent discussion before Hermione and Ginny sighed. And Luna looked smug.
"We'll attend Hogwarts, Professors." Luna declared. "We'll be the seventh year students this year."
"We'll stay under the radar and keep low profiles so as not to attract unwanted attention." Ginny reluctantly said.
"But we will join the Order of the Phoenix after the year ends." Hermione negotiated firmly. "We'll share the information with the people we trust and you, Albus will do as I say and that is stop treating people as pawns in your game. Agreed?"
With a start, Dumbledore realized he must have done terribly wrong to the girl in front of him that made her look at him with so much distrust. "Agreed, Miss Granger. Though, I must ask you to come to me in case you have to share any information during this year period. I apologize for what I did in your future, I really do and would like to take this opportunity to earn your trust back, if you will allow."
Hermione let out a breath. "You are a good man, Albus. But the things you've done for your Greater Good are just…. bad. I cannot assure that you'll get my trust or not but be assured that you will be informed of the plans we wish to take."
Dumbledore sighed. He was willing to take as much. "Very well. The term will start from September 1st. You all will be re-sorted before the feast. You can go to Diagon Alley with Professor McGonagall to buy the school supplies. Do not worry about money, it will be taken care of."
"We have money." Ginny told him with her chin raised. The five red pouches were safely kept in Hermione's beaded bag.
"Of course, Miss Granger," Twinkling returned to Dumbledore's eyes, "But as you know Hogwarts provides tuition fees for all its students. And for students who have lost their parents, vaults are opened in Gringotts for their basic amenities. Now, your case is unique but still falls in the category. Hogwarts will open your vaults in Gringotts for you."
Ginny nodded, understanding it.
"Thank you, Professors." Luna smiled at them.
"Thank you." Hermione grunted. She poked Ginny lightly in the ribs when she didn't hear her say anything.
"Yeah, thanks." She said unwillingly. Dumbledore had never done anything harm directly to her but she had witnessed enough to make a mind about him.
McGonagall took them to their living quarters which were on the sixth floor of the building. It was guarded by a painting of Günther der Gewalttätige ist der Gewinner, as it was written below his painting. He nodded at McGonagall when she brought the three witches to him and looked curiously at them. The quarters weren't fairly used, in fact they were never used at all so it was fairly a surprise for Günther the Violent when they had approached. After showing them their rooms, McGonagall smiled tentatively at them and informed them that their meals would be provided in their rooms unless they wished otherwise. Her eyes lingered on Hermione for a bit more before she left.
The trip to Diagon Alley was scheduled for two days later.
"Very persistent, that bloke, Dumbledore." Ginny remarked as she jumped on the bed after taking a shower. She sighed in bliss, feeling the comfort of a proper bed in years.
"You felt it too?" Hermione looked at her from the mirror, brushing her hair. Blood Ritual had, thankfully, taken out the bushiness of her brown mane leaving behind tamed curls that fell around her mid back.
Because of her blood connection to Ginny and Luna, her hair now sported blonde highlights with few thin red streaks through it. It was weird to see herself with these shades but somehow it felt natural on her hair. Her other features, however, were basically the same as before. A little more than 5'4" height but not 5'5" as Ginny always made sure to remind her, her skin was pale though it was paler than when she used to be a normal teenager with proper diet. Her eyes were still honey brown. She was thankful that her appearance hadn't drastically changed though the same couldn't be said for her sisters.
Magic had taken Ginny's signature burnt orange hair as they were a burning connection to the Weasleys. Instead she now had Hermione's chestnut brown hair but with the burnt orange streaks through them. It was straight and fell to her waist. Her eyes were dark brown as before. She was an inch taller than Hermione as before.
Magic had also taken Luna's blonde hair though there were many families that were blondes. Her hair was a few shades lighter than Hermione and Ginny's but with blonde highlights. It fell to her waist in loose curls. Her eyes and height were exactly the same as before; silver and 5'2", the kid of the group.
"So many times." Ginny replied, making space for her on the bed, "Once when we just entered his office and then everytime after he couldn't get into your mind. He stopped after you showed the memories, though. What did you show him anyway to make him visibly recoil?"
"His funeral." Hermione told her, slipping under beside her on the bed and sighing deeply in comfort. "Gods, I could get used to it."
Ginny grunted, agreeing. The door opened and Luna came inside She lied on Ginny's other side and let out a dreamy sigh.
"Dumbledore used Legilimency on you too, Lu?" Ginny asked her.
"Yeah." Luna said slowly. "When we met and then many times after that. He had a lot of Nargles on his head. They are messing with his head. He's not going to stop using Legilimency on us, you know?"
"Figured that." Hermione commented.
"So we are going to Diagon Alley, the day after tomorrow." Ginny said after a long while. Sleep didn't come easy to them at all. "Any purchases you want to make?"
"Wands." Hermione told her seriously. "We need to get new wands. God knows we cannot use the wands we have now on a daily basis. It will seek attention, if anyone recognizes my Bellatrix's wand."
"You are right." Ginny agreed. "Even I use Mulciber's wand now, mine was blasted off the day we did the Ritual."
Ritual ultimately led to the wandering of the thoughts to Neville.
"I use Carrow's too." Luna said. Her voice was thick with emotion as a tear slipped out of her eye. "Since Neville was cursed."
There was no conversation after that. All the girls were filled with their own memories and past they have left behind. Sometime when the Moon was high in the sky, each of them slowly drifted off to sleep.
August 24, 1977
Potter Manor
"I am pregnant."
There was a beat of silence.
"Remove the watermelon from under your shirt, Padfoot." Remus Lupin said, not even looking at him. "We will be late."
Just as he finished saying that, the watermelon slipped out from under the shirt. Sirius Black looked at it for a second before crying out loud, "I just gave birth."
"Congrats, mate!" James Potter clapped Sirius on the back and pretended to wipe a tear out of his eyes. "You did it."
James picked the watermelon from where it had rolled to and stuffed it inside a blanket, clutching it to look like a baby.
"One day, Evans and I are going to have a baby like this, too." He said adoringly, eyeing the bundle in his arms, "Just like this."
"Like a watermelon?" Remus dead panned.
"No, like a baby!" James said horrified, "Why would you say that?!"
"Probably because you are holding a watermelon in your hands." Peter Pettigrew answered, holding a laugh.
James looked at the watermelon before sighing and unrolling the blanket, putting it on the center table. "I wonder where I am going wrong. Why wouldn't Evans date me, Remus? Tell me. You are her friend. You are living my dream; holding her hands when she's about to trip or making space for her head on your shoulders when she falls asleep beside you in the common room. Tell me, where I am going wrong?"
"Probably where you are the one who makes her trip with a jinx or prank." Remus pointed out. "Or where you won't study with her to look cool."
"I know. You weren't supposed to tell me that, Moony!" James glared at Remus.
Remus looked at him incredulously, "Then, what was I supposed to do, Prongs?"
Peter laughed, making both of them turn to him.
"You will date her, Prongs," Sirius assured him, setting himself on the arm of the couch beside James, "And the day you get married to Evans will be the day I'll propose to the love of my life."
"That doesn't sound really assuring, Padfoot." James said dryly. "Merlin knows you'll never find the love of your life with the way you are going."
"Hey, I resent that!" Sirius exclaimed, "I would have you know that the universe didn't put my soulmate in my path, yet. But when it does, I'll never let her go."
"Yeah, sure." James shrugged.
"I am Sirius. Take me Siriusly!" Sirius poked him in the shoulders making James retaliate. James shoved him off the arm making him fall on the floor with a thud. He immediately stood and shoved James back and soon they were a tangle of mess on the floor, fighting each other off.
"Not my hair! Hey, just not my hair!"
"My glasses! Padfoot, don't break my glasses!"
"Remus, Peter, darling, let's go. Let them poke each other's eyes out." Euphemia Potter said as she walked in the Floo room eyeing her sons in distaste. She then noticed the watermelon on the center table and glared at the duo who paid no mind to her and continued fighting. "Mipsy!" She called. With a loud crack, the house elf appeared bowing her big head and looking at her with adoring eyes. "Will you be kind enough to take the watermelon to the kitchen, Mipsy?"
"Of course, Mrs Potter!"
"Thank you, Mipsy."
Mipsy picked the watermelon off the table and disappeared with another crack. Euphemia looked at the two figures who were still lying on the ground, oblivious to the world around them before looking at the other two boys in the room she had come to love as a mother. "Let's go, Remus. Peter. Idf someone doesn't need a new broom then we won't get them a new broom."
It was only when his mother and friends had gone that James heard his mother's last line in his head. He quickly scrambled to get to his feet. "No. Mom, wait! I need that broom. Wait, I'm coming!"
James ran through the Floo in a hurry, worried his mother would refuse to buy him Nimbus 1500 he had been eyeing ever since it had come in the Alley. Sirius, on the other hand, carefully ran his fingers through his hair, making sure there were no knots and they weren't out of place before stepping in the Floo.
Marauders at the end, hmm? Who saw it coming?
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