A throat cleared from behind her bringing her back to reality with a slight jolt of surprise. Hermione turned and as if seeing a ghost, a gasp left her lips.

Dumbledore.

Hello everyone so I have a beta now who is amazing and will be editing my work. Thank you so much Thornweed, you are amazing and just an absolute champion. Please show her some love and read her WolfStar story it is so good. Anyway, that is all for now.

Allons-y

The willowy white haired man in front of her was indeed her former headmaster. When he tried to move towards her, she drew her wand. In all honesty, she was surprised that she possessed it. The ten and a half inch vine wood wand was pointed squarely at the man she had once admired. She needed a question that he and she would know in order to verify his identity.

"What is the name of the secret group you created to defeat Voldemort," she said, her words full of as much bite as she could muster given that she was in the presence of a dead man.

His voice, not wavering for a moment, answered calmly, "The Order of the Phoenix. But how do you know of this, Miss...?"

"Granger, sir. Hermione Granger. I, uh, I was told to give this to you... from you. It should explain everything."

Digging through the pocket of her tattered and bloodied jeans Hermione retrieved the sealed envelope as Dumbledore moved towards her. His long, elderly hands reached for the letter, and he gestured for Hermione to take a seat in front of his desk. As he sat in his rightful seat, Hermione let herself settle to feel the velocity of this moment. She had obviously succeeded in her travel as Dumbledore was alive. If he did not know who she was, then it would have to be before the year 1991.

While reading the letter his face did not show a singular emotion, very unlike the professor. Hermione knew not what the letter contained though her curiosity was peaked. He placed the document on his desk and looked over his half-moon spectacles.

"Well, Miss Granger, it appears you have travelled quite a way. Are you aware of why you are here?"

His knowing glare made Hermione uncomfortable. She really had not thought about why he would send her anywhere or even anywhen.

"To be honest with you Professor, I don't even know when I am, so it is hard to know why," she said.

His brow raised as though he expected her to know when she had travelled to.

"Ah. Yes. Well, Hermione, you have traveled to the second of May 1975," he said.

1975! What the fuck had Dumbledore been thinking? She was not even born yet for Christ's sake. She had traveled twenty-three years into the past. What the hell!

Then it clicked. This was the time of the first wizarding war. Voldemort was new to his power. If Harry had not been born yet, then he was not yet a horcrux. Hermione really needed to read that letter.

"If I may be so bold as to ask, Professor, may I read the letter? Perhaps I will better understand my mission from Dumble… I mean you or the future you. I will answer any and all questions you have of me."

Hermione did not know what she was expecting the letter to say as Dumbledore handed her the letter, however, it was certainly not what she read on the aged piece of parchment.

Hermione is the last hope we have. Trust her.

Handing back the letter, Hermione held up her end of the deal by answering questions from the headmaster. Some were quite odd admittedly, but he had always been quite odd himself. Some of the questions were simple to answer like what house was she in and her age, but others took time to explain. Throughout this process, he was patient as she tried to compose the clearest picture of the past to him. Dumbledore listened without pestering or interrupting as she told him of Lily and James's sacrifice for their son and how it killed Voldemort mortal body. His soul latching onto the only living thing in the room and turning Harry into the seventh and final horcrux. She told Dumbledore of him choosing his own death and by whose hands, the events that led to the final battle, and how it had become lost in a matter of moments. Finally, she told him how she'd come to land in his office.

Pondering for a moment, Dumbledore did not speak. Instead, he rose from his chair and walked over to the large glass cabinet that held hundreds of vials each varying in size and color. With his back still turned, he began to speak after a prolonged silence.

"You have lived quite the life, Miss Granger. I am afraid to say you have come back to yet another dark time, but now that you are here I might call on you for the sake of the greater good to destroy the defiled instruments that hold his soul. It is indeed a time to choose between what is right and what is easy. You shall be enrolled here as a student once more. Working from the inside, you will be able to change the fates of those whose lives have not even begun. But for now I must ask you to drink yet another potion, Miss Granger, and this one will be most unpleasant. Three sips should do it."

Finally turning to face her, his face seemed grave as the gravity of the situation had finally sunk in. Standing Hermione took the vial from him. It held a purple liquid that had a golden sheen to it as it sloshed around in its container. Popping the cork, Hermione was repulsed by the smell of rotten eggs and unwashed gm socks that wafted from the bottle. Pressing it to her lips, Hermione took three short, sharp sips. Frankly, the taste was not much better.

The effects of the potion took but a moment to work. Feeling her bones shift and change was agonizing. It was as if someone had set fire to her bones whilst having hundreds of injections simultaneously. Though she remained silent, Hermione wanted to scream. Looking down at her arm Hermione saw the words that Bellatrix had carved into her arm at Malfoy Manor slowly start to disappear. It felt like a lifetime had come and gone by the time the pain stopped. When it was all over, Hermione must have had a confused look on her face because the Headmaster began to explain.

"It's called Fons Adulescentia. In English, it is called the Fountain of Youth, illegal to brew and highly sought by many. You are currently about 15 years of age. You will be in the house you were in when you attended Hogwarts. You may tell the students what you wish when they inevitably begin to pry, but know this, Miss Granger. We are both breaking numerous rules of time travel and because of this, I must ask if you are prepared for what is to come. By simply being here you may change the future in ways you do not yet understand."

The weight of his words hung in the air as Hermione contemplated the undertaking of this herculean task. However, the answer was as simple as they come.

"Yes, sir. I am ready."

Dumbledore's smile reassured Hermione that he did, in fact, believe she could change the tides of the war before countless people lose their lives. He had always spoke of the greater good and again Hermione followed him blindly. Dumbledore scrawled a note on a piece of parchment before taking his wand from the inner pocket of his robe. Casting a nonverbal spell, the paper disappeared with a pop.

"I shall arrange some of the necessities for you, Hermione. You will have a small amount of money at your disposal to help you become situated here. Once you get to your room a freshly laundered uniform shall be waiting. Once the school year ends we shall begin our quest."

Before Hermione could add anything further, a knock came from the office door.

"You called for me headmaster?" said a young redheaded girl as she entered the office. She was quite beautiful. Her light skin was not pasty like some other red heads, but by far her most attractive feature was her emerald green, almond shaped eyes.

"Ah, yes. Miss Evans, thank you for coming. This is our newest student Miss Granger. Can you please take her to Gryffindor tower and lend her any assistance that she may require."

The girl's smile was broad and filled with pleasure to help in whatever way possible. Once the girls were dismissed from the office and on their way down the winding gargoyles steps, the redhead introduced herself properly.

"I'm Lily. Lily Evans."

Two chapters in two days I am rather impressed by myself right now. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter but as I am returning to school, today this streak will not be continuing. As always, please review it really does inspire me to write faster to know people are interested. Thanks a heap and bye-bye for now.

Edited 1/6/17