Disclaimer: Mine? No no no, I'm afraid you're mistaken! I laugh at the very thought of it! Indeed!...Harry Potter actually belongs to J. K. Rowling =]

Warnings: None yet...^^

Pairings: None yet ^^

A/N: Hwa! ^_^ How is everyone doing? Merry Christmas Eve Eve by the way! Getting down to business, I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed:

Mitie Mouse, Alix, 123, aquamanda, Kitten-girl, *Serendipity*, lyndz, gff, Nickzchick & MidnightzStorm, BloodyAngel, Kat097, Ankle, Baz, and Ryoko.

A-RI-GA-TO!

^___^ And also, to *Serendipity*: The little boy was actually put in the story for the sole reason of distracting Hermione ^^; So, I doubt he'll make a second appearance here...

To MidnightzStorm: Oh, but, I do write to write! I swear! It's just that I like to go to FF.net before I go to bed, and actually see reviews to my stories. It's my only way of knowing what people actually think of what I write, or if anyone's reading my writing at all. Because, really, there's no point of posting a story on the net if no one reads it. The number of reviews I request aren't a requirement, it's just what I hope to get, like I said. Please don't think that if I don't get enough reviews, I won't post the next part. The only reason that I take so long to post is because I'm a slow writer, not because of reviews. And to anyone who thinks that my saying of how many reviews I hope to get is...ano...offensive, then by all means tell me and I'll stop. Really, it's just a rough number of reviews I'm aiming for ^_^.V

Extra: There was a Harry Potter fic that was posted around the same time as this, and had the same name! ^__^ Isn't that amusing?
...No? -__-;; Ok, then, go on and just read the fic...

Italics represent thoughts and emphasis on words.

----

The first thing Hermione saw when she awoke was a patch of messy black hair poking out over an edition of Quidditch Through the Ages.

She blinked owlishly.

Harry?

She realized, then, that she was lying on the floor.

Hermione groaned inwardly . This must be one of those strange dreams that make no sense. It's alright, Hermione. Everything's alright. Everyone has these dreams once in a while. Just lie down and go back to sleep and you'll wake up in your dorm like normal.

So, she lied back down with a thump.

That, however, was enough to arouse the attention of the tuft of black hair's owner. Blue eyes followed the hair above the top edge of the book.

"So, you're finally awake." The book was shut with a snap and put aside.

Hermione wrenched her eyes shut and counted to five before opening them again.

Still there.

"You're not going away."

The boy shook his head, "Do you see my legs moving?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes. His eyes were blue. She frowned, this dream was just getting worse by the minute. "Who are you and what have you done to Harry?"

The Harry-look-alike held up his hands in surrender, "Blimey, you don't have to bite my head off. I don't even know a Harry. I do know a James, however. A rather dashing fellow he is, if I do say so myself."

James?

Memories came rushing back.

Right. Not a dream. Just a nightmare.

"You're James."

He grinned, "Yes, good! I'm glad we've finally got that point across. Quite the fast learner, aren't you?" He then ventured to pat the top of her head for a job well done. "Now that we've established that my name is indeed James and not Harry, let's move on, shall we! See Spot run. Spot runs fast. Run, Spot-"

He immediately paused when Hermione's little hand shot out and gripped his arm. He stared for a moment before looking up at the bushy-haired girl herself.

"J-James?? James Potter?? As in...Harry's father?!"

James arched an eyebrow, "Well, I should hope not. I'm only fifteen. Though if you're suggesting anything..." He trailed off with a smirk and a suggestive wiggle of eyebrows.

Hermione immediately let go. Seeing Harry's image acting like a downright lecher was just plain disturbing.

She frowned. Right. Not Harry. Not Harry. Not Harry.

"What...what year is this?"

The boy looked like she'd grown a second head before replying, "1979."

Hermione sighed, cupping her cheek lightly. Perhaps the reality of it all had not sunk in yet, or perhaps all the stress and shock had finally pushed her off the edge, whatever the reason was, her next words were, "Oh dear...it seems as if I've gone back a few hours too many...How will I get Harry's present now? I don't suppose you've any good Quidditch shops near here?"

"Well, actually, there's a rather good one called Olgo's Qui..." James blinked once he realized the absurdity of the situation. "Just hold on a minute here. I've a few questions to ask you myself. First, who are you? Second, I haven't seen you around here before, are you new? Third, if not, what house are you in and where've you been hiding?"

"Well, I um..." Oh, I don't suppose I could tell him the truth, could I? What should I say, then? Think! Oh, bludgers! Your mind is failing you for the second time today, Hermione!

And she would've been troubled over this too, if she only had the time. That, however, was something she'd been running low on all day. At the moment, she had to come up with a plausible story--quick.

"Y-yes, well, I am new actually. My name is Hermione, I just transfered here. Sorry for before. You look a lot like a friend from my old school, and...um...his father's name is James Potter, also. And I apologize for bumping into you, also. I'm just a bit lost here. Oh, we didn't have staircases that changed and doors that disappeared at my old school!" She then feigned an overdramatic lost look.

...Okay, so, the story wasn't exactly an Oscar nominee, and neither was the acting, but, well, no one ever accused her of being a good liar.

James looked at her skeptically. "Right. Of course. Well, if you'd like, I could bring you to the Headmaster's office and he could get you settled." With that, he stood up and brushed himself off.

Hermione gave him what she hoped was a grateful smile, "Oh, thank you! I would've never found it by myself." She too got up, and started picking up her packages.

"Here, let me...Hermione." Then, he took them from her arms and picked the rest up from the floor.

The bushy-haired witch blushed faintly, "Oh, no, you don't need to carry them for me! I'm fine...besides, I wouldn't want to inconvenience you."

James grinned reassuringly, "It's no problem, really. I'll consider it weight-training. Got to stay in tip-top shape so I can keep my position as Beater on our Quidditch team."

"A-alright, then..." she acquiesced quietly with a small smile. Polite, gentlemanly, and on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Unruly black hair, glasses and a warm smile...perhaps he's more like Harry than I thought. Strange...he seemed so different just a moment ago.

"Mmhmm. Besides, it'll make up for how I left you there alone just a while ago." James' nonchalant words broke her reverie.

She blinked, "What?"

It seemed that a hand would've flown to his mouth if he had one to spare. He started hesitantly, "Oh, well..you know, it got quite dull just sitting there, and you weren't particularly interesting to talk to, being unconscious and all...And I wasn't quite sure if you would be...emotionally stable if and when I woke you up, seeing your odd little display earlier, so I just decided to go to my dorm to get a book to read while I waited..."

Hermione sputtered, "So--so..you left me laying unconscious i-in the middle of the hallway, so you c-could get a bloody book?!"

James turned away and laughed nervously, "Well, it was only for a bit...It really didn't take that long..."

The walk to the Headmaster's office didn't take as long as it normally did, what with Hermione chasing James all the way there.

----

Headmaster Dumbledore cleared his throat authoritatively at the beginning of dinner that night. As if by magic, every head in the Great Hall turned, their attention caught.

"Before you begin your meals, I would like to introduce you to a new student. Her name is Hermione Granger and she will be attending fifth year. Being that she's only one student, her Sorting will be conducted here, at this very moment. Sorting Hat, please, Professor McGonagall."

And so, for the second time in all of her fifteen years, she sat down in front of an enormous room, with everyone's eyes on her. Also for the second time, the worn Sorting Hat was placed on her head and quiet muttering words echoed through her head.

Doesn't belong here...a time traveler, eh? Disobeying rules for such selfish reasons, perhaps you belong in Slytherin? Oh, but one couldn't put such a mind to waste! Such a quick, clever mind...Ravenclaw would certainly put such a mind to use...Ah, but, it was in Gryffindor you were placed, in your time. And for good reasons, you've such potential! Yes, it seems you must once again be put in...

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Hermione's shoulders slumped in relief. She then felt a hand on her arm. It was Headmaster Dumbledore.

The powerful wizard looked down at her through his half-moon glasses, a merry twinkle in his wise eyes and a knowing smile on his lips. "Perhaps you would like to join your classmates at the Gryffindor table?"

If those words had been spoken by anyone else, Hermione would've just nodded and left her seat, suspecting nothing. This wasn't, however, anyone else; it was Dumbledore. And Dumbledore always seemed to know what was going on, which was probably not too far from truth.

She nodded slowly and returned him an uneasy smile, walking to the Gryffindor dining table, her mind screaming "He knows! He knows!", all the while.

Seating herself in an unoccupied seat, she took a piece of garlic bread and started picking at it glumly. How am I supposed to get back home? I never learned how to go forward in time! I never had to...Dumbledore would surely know how to, he must. Oh, but I would get in such trouble if he found out...

Hermione looked up at the sound of a cheerful 'Hi!'. Looking across the table, a girl with auburn hair smiled warmly and held out her hand, "My name is Lily Evans. Hermione, is it? Oh--don't tell me, the princess of Mycenae!"

Hermione couldn't help but smile, "Yes, actually. Most people just guess that it's derived from Hermes."

The girl wrinkled her nose, "Hermes? That hardly sounds like your name at all!" She stopped herself when she saw Hermione staring up at her, and laughed, "Yes, if you're wondering, I do have an abnormal fascination with Greek mythology. Oh, but how could I not? With the all-powerful gods, one-eyed monsters, and nymphs, and griffins!" She'd started gesturing animately with her hands by then. "And, it's interesting, really, that they took the lion and not the eagle as the Gryffindor symbol..."

Lily trailed off when someone apparently approached them. Unfortunately for Hermione, it was the Harry-look-a-like himself.

Oddly enough, he and Lily traded death glares before he actually spoke up, "Come on, Hermione. Maybe you should sit with me, I wouldn't want you making friends with the wrong sort of people. They might rub off on you." He tugged lightly at her arm.

Hermione frowned, James was sounding too much like Draco for comfort. She jerked her arm out of his grip. "I can get up by myself. Besides, I'll be the one to decide whom I become friends with, thank you very much," she bristled. If she weren't so anxious to see Professor Lupin and Snuffles, she would've just outright ignored the jerk. She was anxious, though, and excited too, so she would just have to go along. That didn't mean that she couldn't go along with some dignity.

She huffed and stuck her nose up, brushing past James airily. She still hadn't forgiven him for the previous incident.

James simply rolled his eyes and followed her, muttering, "I already said sorry. She's the one with the stick shoved up her--"

"No," Hermione swiveled around to glare at him, "No, actually, you didn't apologize."

James blinked as he looked at her. He grinned, "Oh, really? My mistake, then. Let me show you to my friends, shall I?" And he took off.

Hermione blinked rapidly. Hold on just a moment...He didn't apologize even when he knew he didn't previously...!

"Potter! You come back here!"

And, for the second time in her fifteen years, she chased James all the way to their destination.

----

Yes, I know the ending phrase has been used before in the chapter, and no, it's not because I ran out of things to say -___-;;

And, yes, ohohohohoho~! ^.^ James isn't so gentlemanly after all...

The year, 1979, is based on the assumption that the Marauder gang is 37. Why this number? Well, Snape always seemed to me around 40, but Lupin always seemed like around 35, but they're supposed to be the same age so I just compromised ^^;

By the way, does it say anywhere what color hair Lily has? Since Petunia is blond, I'd assume she was blond too, but in the movie, she was a redhead...but then again, Petunia had brown-black hair in the movie, so I should've known not to trust it...

Aaanyway, does anyone know why James and Lily seem to hate each other at the beginning of every l/j fic?? Was the fact that they had a love/hate relationship mentioned in the book, and I somehow missed it? Hmm...suspicious suspicious...ah well, deciding not to risk the possibility of having actually missed it, I went along with it ^_^

Ho hum, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it (why does that sound so corny?)! Please review ^^ I'm aiming to have 29 reviews by the next time I post? Domo domo! ^___^

Also, since the next time I post will most likely be after Christmas, I wish everyone a merry Christmas, and if not, happy holidays!