Chapter Three: The "Transfer Student"
Hermione walked a few paces down the hallway before turning and heading back in the direction she came. After making sure that the Marauders had cleared out, she resumed her search of the stone floor. As her hands ran across the rocks, searching in the gaps for the Time Turner, she reflected on her most recent encounter.
Sirius Black. She couldn't believe it. She saw him die...twenty years in the future, of course, but it was still like seeing a dead man walking. Her mind raced on what to tell Harry—should she just say the truth, reveal what she had seen? No, he'd insist on taking her Time Turner and going to see Sirius himself. Hermione sighed heavily, thinking about her run-in with the sixteen year old Sirius. But upon remembering how he had acted, she giggled aloud, quickly putting a hand over her mouth and looking cautiously over her shoulder. Luckily, everyone was at dinner. Her thoughts returned to Sirius. He was so different than he had been in the future. Of course, being imprisoned in Azkaban while innocent was certain to put a damper on a man's personality. And then she remembered what Harry said about going into Snape's pensieve, and seeing the much-different Marauders of the past. She also remembered Sirius's words in describing how they had been as teenagers: "We were all idiots!"
"Idiots is right," she said with another giggle. She still couldn't get over Sirius's demeanor.
"You must be the new student," a voice came booming from above. Hermione, once again caught on all fours, jumped to her feet, this time not finding the mischievous grin of Sirius Black, but rather the contemplative look of Albus Dumbledore. He answered her confused face, "I met Messrs Black, Lupin, and Pettigrew down the hall, and they told me you were looking for me, Miss..." he trailed off, and stared at her expectantly.
"Ranger," Hermione quickly answered. She couldn't use her real name, but she wasn't creative enough to think of something completely new at the last minute, "Hera Ranger." She chuckled inwardly at the name, but it was the best she could do.
"Well, Miss Ranger," he said, still regarding her inquisitively. "We need to talk. Follow me."
Hermione followed the past and present Headmaster to his office, looking for a path of escape as they went along. But in no time they had arrived at the office, and she was ushered inside where she sat uncomfortably across from the towering man. "Usually I'm informed if we have a new student," he said with a twinkle in his eye. "But I'm getting older by the minute, and my memory's not what it used to be." Hermione had a feeling that Dumbledore was a bit suspicious of her, but if he was he didn't let on. He continued with formality. "What school are you transferring from?" he asked, pulling out some paperwork.
Hermione was once again forced to think fast, reaching for an answer. None of them seemed right. What should she say? "Well, I'm actually from Hogwarts in the future, I was messing around with a mini time machine I was given to take a double load of classes and ended up twenty years in the past, only to figure that my Time Turner slipped between the rocks in the hall. I was just looking for it when I was confronted by my future potions professor, who I hate, and later the buddies (including one who's actually dead) of the father of my best friend- who I also happen to be in love with." Oh, that would go over real well. Besides, while things may already be ruined, Hermione knew she had to keep the truth to herself in order to not effect the future any more. "I was home schooled," she said, looking up hopefully.
"Very well," said Dumbledore, writing on the parchment in front of him. "And your parents' names?"
Hermione had never been good at lying, especially at making up stories on the spot, and this moment was no exception. "Umm...Harry and Ginny Ranger. They were both wizards...well, one witch and one wizard, of course...we lived in India and they brought me up to be a witch...it's my sixth year of learning now...but they died at the beginning of the summer...elephant stampede, it was horrible...ahem...so anyway I figured I should come here...I mean, why not, it's just as good as any other school as far as I can tell..." She realized she was rambling, and looked up at Dumbledore, whose face showed interest and a hint of amusement.
"And tell me, Miss Ranger, how do you know to which house you belong?" he asked, indicating her red and gold apparel.
"Well..." Hermione started. This was getting harder and harder. "I read about the houses in Hogwarts, a History. I figured that I'd be in Gryffindor, because I posess all the qualities a Gryffindor should, like bravery and..." her mind suddenly came up blank, "...stuff." She wanted to hit herself over the head for saying it so moronically, but Dumbledore's expression did not change.
"We'll see," said the headmaster, reaching for the Sorting Hat from a shelf. Felling a bit relieved at the familiar procedure, Hermione accepted it and placed it on her head. The hat tightened and began to speak.
"Hello Miss Ranger, or should I say 'Granger?'" the hat whispered in her ear. "I feel almost like I've sorted you before, but not quite. You have a strange familiarity about you...oh well. At least you're an easy sort. It's very obviously GRYFFINDOR!"
Dumbledore smiled in his odd little way. "You should take Divination, Miss Ranger," he commented facetiously. "Now, you have arrived only a week after the rest of the students, so you should have no problem adjusting in the classes. I'll have Miss Evans, another Gryffindor sixth year, show you the ropes." He regarded her once more. "Miss Ranger, I have a feeling you're keeping something from me. But that's none of my concern, all will be revealed when needed." He stood up and started to out of the office. "Now if you don't mind, I have an appointment to attend." He stopped right at the door, turning around. "Do you have supplies, Miss Ranger?"
Hermione realized that all she owned at the time being was what she was wearing. It didn't matter, though; she wasn't planning on staying long. "Just my robes and wand," she quietly admitted. Dumbledore nodded and observed her oddly again. Hermione sighed with relief as he left, she just wanted to find her Time Turner and get back to the present...or future...or whatever it was called!
Sirius Black leaned back in his chair, stuffed from all the food he had just consumed. He watched as Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall entered the room, deep in conversation. McGonagall sat while the headmaster remained standing and addressed the hall.
"If I can have your attention, please. Hogwarts has a new student, a sixth year named Hera Ranger. Although it is not in our practice to take students after the first year, we decided to make an exception in her case. She has already been sorted, and is in Gryffindor." At that comment, Sirius, Remus, and Peter exchanged sly looks. "I expect you all to welcome Miss Ranger and help her any way you can. She was previously taught by her parents and is new to the whole school environment. In fact, I suspect she is currently wandering the halls aimlessly. Let's hope she doesn't run into Peeves. Carry on." In his true fashion of leaving speeches off on strange notes, Dumbledore sat down.
The hall erupted in chatter and laughter, all students eagerly wondering about the new girl. At the Slytherin table, Snape was thinking deeply to himself, absentmindedly fingering a strand of his greasy hair. He had figured that this must be the same girl he ran into in the hallway, but was still perplexed as to how she knew him. At the Gryffindor table, Sirius was describing the new girl to James.
"She's sort of average height, has really thick, long, gorgeous brown hair, beautiful brown eyes..." his smile grew deeper as he continued to explain, "...endless legs, great curves, and quite an excellent backside. I got quite the view." The three other boys laughed appreciatively, but there was an indignant scoffing sound from a couple seats down. A very angry redhead was scowling at the group; she had obviously been listening in.
"Grow up already Sirius," she said, frowning. "What would she say if she knew you were talking about her like that?"
James returned her death-stare, "I don't remember you being invited into this conversation, Evans."
"Well I had to intervene, seeing how your womanizing, degrading ways are being passed on to your friends," the redhead spat.
"Anyways," said Sirius impatiently, waving a dismissive hand at Lily, "you really missed something James. This girl was great. You really would have liked her."
"And me at stupid Quidditch practice," James said regretfully as he ignored the girl's surly looks.
"You would have liked her, too, Lily," added Peter, looking brightly at the redhead. "She has the same sass you do."
"Sass?" asked Sirius, "I've always thought of it as bitchiness."
Hopping up before Lily could attack him, Sirius headed out the door. He entered the hallway in hopes of seeing the new girl again. Hera...what a name. What a woman! He grinned; approaching the section of the hallway where he had first seen her. It had been quite a sight indeed, a strange girl crawling on the ground and talking to herself. She obviously had been looking for something. He wondered if she found it. His thoughts were answered when he caught sight of a gold glimmer in a crack near the corner.
Sirius walked over, finding a small necklace with an hourglass attached. This must have been what she was looking for. He slyly stuck it inside his robes and walked toward the common room, whistling happily to himself. The trinket was sure to come in handy later.