Hey all, Chapter 2 finally.

I just realised I didn't put a disclaimer on Chapter 1 though so here is the disclaimer for Chapter 1 & 2 - I do NOT own Harry Potter or any other characters/places that you may find in the books. They all belong to the one and only J.K Rowling. (And Warner Brothers, Scholastic yadda yadda yadda....)

Hermione groaned inwardly. "What do you want Malfoy?" She said without bothering to look up. Ron and Harry had jumped to their feet though, "Get out Malfoy" Harry spat through gritted teeth.

"Oh I just thought I'd come and congratulate everyone's favourite mudblood for getting Head Girl."

Hermione blinked. Could that have been a compliment? A heavily veiled compliment, but a compliment nonetheless. She looked at Malfoy, and saw that the summer had also treated him well. He too had gained a slight tan, his skin no longer a sickly pallor, but a fawn-ish colour that made his silver blonde hair almost glow. His hair was a lot shorter and he had put gel in it to make it stand up in small spikes. *Hmmm, for someone who has tormented me for as long as we have known each other, he is rather good looking *

"Almost makes me wish I wasn't Head Boy" With that he turned and flounced out of the compartment.

*I take it all back, he is ugly inside and out* Hermione seethed with anger. Couldn't he get over it already? She already knew she was a muggleborn, she didn't need reminding every two minutes, and not in such a vulgar manner at that.

"Does that mean he's not our friend anymore?" Asked Ron. Harry collapsed into fits of giggles, and Hermione soon followed telling herself that scum like Malfoy was not worth getting worked up over. Ron joined in and soon the trio was in gales of laughter recalling all the times Malfoy had been shot down by them or in front of them. "What about the time Harry snatched the Snitch right out from under his nose?" Wheezed Ron.

"Or the time we all hexed him and Crabbe and Goyle in 4th year?" Sniggered Harry.

"Now, now, we can't forget Draco Malfoy the amazing bouncing ferret!?" Cried Hermione wiping tears (of laughter) from her eyes.

The rest of the trip passed uneventfully, and no sooner had they pulled on their Hogwarts robes and admired each others badges (Head Girl, Prefect, and Prefect) they noticed that the train was slowing down and was about to pull into Hogsmeade station.

They got ready to disembark, and Hermione didn't even try to put Crookshanks into his carrier, not in the mood he was in. She just left the carrier in the compartment and hoped it made it's way up to her dormitory with the rest of her luggage.

The train stopped, and Hermione scooped up Crookshanks, and stepped out onto the platform. (He hardly struggled - he wasn't mad at Hermione anymore, he'd heard what Malfoy had said and decided to forgive her to make her feel better.)

She paused to let her eyes adjust to the darkness, a couple of hundred yards away she could hear Hagrids booming voice calling for the first years. When she could see sufficiently, she looked for Ron (with his height and hair he stood out a mile) and followed him and Harry onto the carriage that would take them up to the castle that is Hogwarts.

Hermione sat back in her seat and closed her eyes. Stroking Crookshanks, she ignored Ron and Harry who - again - were talking about Quidditch. It wasn't that she didn't like Quidditch, she quite enjoyed going to the inter-house matches at Hogwarts and cheering for Harry and Ron. Harry had been Seeker since first year, and Ron took the title of Keeper in 5th year, filling the vacancy left by Oliver Wood. She just didn't like to talk about it, every-second-of-the-day.

The trip was short, but the gentle rocking of the carriages lulled her to sleep.

Hermione woke with a start. She was still on the carriage with Ron and Harry, but she had and uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. *The dream, it was such a strange dream* She had dreamt that she was flying backwards through the air, but she had no way of stopping herself, and she couldn't see where she was going. She shuddered; she hated the feeling of not being in control. She pushed her fears aside as the carriages pulled up in front of Hogwarts though, *I spose it's not that big of a deal - it was just a dream after all*

As Hermione stepped out of the carriage, Crookshanks began to squirm so she bent down and placed him lightly on the ground. He scampered up to the castle, bounded up the stone steps, and disappeared into the entrance hall.

She started to follow him, eager to get to the feast as she had barely eaten all day.

"Ahem, excuse me Miss Granger, could I have a word please?" She turned and found herself looking into the kindly face of Albus Dumbledore.

"Of course, Headmaster." She replied.

He did not speak, only turned and made his way up to the castle expecting her to follow him. This she did without question and they walked in silence through the familiar corridors. Hermione retreated into her own thoughts as they walked; wondering what could possibly be the matter, as school hadn't even started yet.

She was jolted from her thoughts though when she realised with a start that Dumbledore had stopped walking and was looking at her with a serious expression on his face.

Blinking, she looked around and recognised where they were - but it wasn't in front of the gargoyle statue. "Sir, I thought we were going to your office - and what is my trunk doing here?"

"Miss Granger, if you would like to sit down on your trunk, and listen to what I have to say." He paused, "As you may know, I have been headmaster of this school for nearly 50 years. Exactly 20 years ago, you were at Hogwarts."

"But Sir -!" Dumbledore held his hand up and Hermione fell silent.

"You were at Hogwarts Miss Granger. You came to my office on this night 20 years ago just as I was leaving to go to the feast and said that I had sent you from the future. Now, your task from what I can gather was to associate with a group who called themselves the 'Marauders'. I'm sure you know whom I am talking about."

Hermione nodded uncertainly. "But sir, why me?"

"Well, because it was you who came back." Noticing the bewildered look on Hermione's face, he continued. "I'm not too sure exactly why, but I do have a few theories. The person had to be a Gryffindor, as all the marauders were in Gryffindor. The person would have to be of high intelligence and a level head to cope with the stress that going back in time would cause. The person would not be allowed to be recognised, and would have to have experience with time travel. This is why you are the obvious choice Hermione. Harry could not go because he has a connection with James, Ron could not because he is a Weasley and being part of one of the more prominent wizarding families he would almost definitely be recognised. The same goes for the rest of the Gryffindor 7th years, either they would be recognised, or they have a connection with a student who was there at that time. You, however are perfect for the job, as you are the best student academically that this school has to offer, you have had experience with a time turner and know the laws, and most importantly, as you are muggleborn with no discernible recent magical history, you will not be recognised."

Hermione stood there in shock, trying to let it all sink in. Then a thought occurred to her.

"Sir, if one is able to go back in time, why doesn't someone go back and stop Harry's parents from being killed? Or even stop Voldemort from gaining power in the first place?"

"Ah - because no one did."

Hermione looked even more confused at this, so Dumbledore continued. "I only know to send you back, because you came back. If Lily and James were supposed to be saved by someone from the future, then they would have been, and would still be alive today. But because no one came to save them, we know we must not send anyone to save them.

You cannot change the past Hermione; you are part of the past."

Hermione nodded slowly, finally understanding what Dumbledore was saying. But another question popped into her head. "Sir, what exactly did I do that was so important?"

Dumbledores eyes twinkled slightly. "That - Miss Granger - you never told me."

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Big thanks to everyone who has reviewed - all nine of you. (sorry, I'm a little bitter that no one else reviews, but I'll live........hehe)