Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to Harry Potter and this does not (to my knowledge) contain any spoilers to Harry Potter 6. I also apologize to those readers how are able to look at the chapter titles of DVDs they've never seen and predict the whole plot because I can guarantee that you will realize most of the plot before it happens but it's still worth reading.

Dinner Guests

It was two weeks into the summer holidays and Harry Potter was a mess. While the Wizarding World was now aware that Voldemort had returned to power, Harry was a total wreck worrying about his best friends, Voldemort now knew of the prophecy that told of his demise. Harry was the only one who could kill Voldemort while this did scare him it was only a fraction of how scared he was for his friends. Voldemort knew how much Harry cared for his best friends Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger and that he would what ever it took to protect them. Harry wasn't to worried about Ron he had a whole family of wizard to protect him and they were no stranger to fighting the Dark Lord as all but three of the seven Weasley children were in the Order of Phoenix Harry knew that Ron would safe. But Hermione was a Muggle born, she had non-magic parents, and Harry didn't know what measures if any had been taken to protect her. At the end of last term Dumbledore had forbid Harry to use Hedwig, his owl, for sending messages. "The risk is to great," he said, so Harry had been without magical contact for two weeks save his one minute call to Remus Lupin, an old friend of his parents and temporary guardian of Harry. Every Friday Harry was to call his new guardian to tell him how he was and any strange events that had happened. So far none had occurred and it looked like it was going to be a long summer.

"Get down here boy!" His uncle Vernon Dursley yelled. Harry got up out of bed and slowly walked down stairs. He entered the kitchen as usual his aunt was at the stove cooking, his ant had a miraculous change over the last term as soon as he got home Harry noticed that his aunt was paying much more attention to him. It seemed that she actually care about him now, Harry suspect the threat the Order gave her last year had taken effect but the biggest change was in his cousin Dudley who over the last term had lost a huge amount of weight, mind you he was still abnormally large it was a small improvement. Dudley said it was for his girl friend, Harry thought it was so he could get a girl friend.

"Boy we need to have a talk," spat his uncle. "Tonight we will be having guests over a business partner of mine has a conference in Germany next week but his young niece is staying with him and his wife the conference was last minute, they have made arrangements for her to stay in London but they must leave tomorrow and have no way to get her their so I offered to let her stay the night and then we shall take her to London, Petunia also insisted they stay for dinner when they drop her off."

"And they don't know anything about me so you want me to stay in my room and pretend I don't exist, is that it?" This had happened before but a house elf had ruined it and it nearly got Harry expelled.

"Yes, indeed but no mishaps this time. We must make a good impression, if he owns we a favor when Mr. Owen, my boss, retires I'll be a shoe in for President of Sales."

"Okay whatever," Harry replied.

"Good they'll be here at five so make sure that there's no trace of you. And Dudley make sure you look nice who knows maybe this niece of his maybe a little fox." At this Dudley shot up and ran strait to his room to get ready. Harry laughed under his breath and walked back upstairs he noticed a ball of fur laying on his bed, instinctively he pulled out his wand, which he never had out of arms reach these days. At this the ball started to move it rolled over stretched and untangled it self, it was then Harry realized that is wasn't a ball of fur but an otter. The Otter looked up at Harry turned it head from side to side as if confused, it looked him up and down. Then jumped of the bed and climbed up his leg smelled his hand then continued up to his shoulder on to his head where it muffled his hair before leaning over and looking at Harry square in the eyes. It smelled him again but it still looked confused it was then that Hedwig came back from hunting, she gave a loud hoot. The Otter responded by giving a small growl like sound Hedwig hooted again and the otter jumped from Harry's shoulder onto the table where Hedwig was. It Growled again and again Hedwig hooted but this time the Otter just seem to shrug it curled up into a ball for a moment then flattened out but it had a small envelope in it's mouth. It laid it on the table and pushed it towards Harry with his nose. Harry picked it up it was addressed "Harry James Potter" Harry recognized the handwriting as Hermione's. Harry opened it and read:

"Hello Harry,

I hope you get this in time, I know the courier to be less than reliable and fond of tricks.

I just wanted to tell you that I have an early birthday present for you that I hope you like, make sure you leave you door open okay.

I won't say more here but you'll find out soon.

With Love

Hermione"

Harry read it again but was only more confused, he looked back down at the table but the otter was gone, Hedwig sat on the windowsill looking out Harry leaned down and looked at her.

"Why do I have a feeling that you know more about what just happened that I ever will?" She only hooted in response. Harry lay in bed for an hour or so thinking about the letter. At four he decided it would be best to get some dinner before the Dursley's guests arrived.

Forty-five minutes later

"Hurry up boy they'll be here any minute."

"Okay I'm going," he said as he hurriedly finished his dinner and ran up stairs, just as he reached the top the doorbell rang. Harry bolted for his room he was about to close the door when suddenly he saw an orange streak bolt come up the stairs and into his room he turned and saw none other that Crookshanks sitting on his bed looking extremely pleased with himself.

"What in Merlin's name is going on?" Harry whispered, Crookshanks only motioned toward the door Harry stuck his head out and listened. He could barley hear the talking down stairs but he could here the very specific feminine voice of the one person he missed so much. "Hermione," he whispered under his breadth. Crookshanks climbed on the dresser and pushed one of the drawers' open and motioned toward the door again. Quickly he changed into his nicest shirt and pants and walked down stairs.

At the bottom of the staircase he saw her, standing between a middle age couple looking around impatiently. It was the woman who saw him first.

"Why, hello young man," she said, Hermione turned and smiled a wave of relieve flooded her face. He was about to say Hello when she put a finger to her lips. "And who might you be?"

"I'm Harry ma'am." Hermione nodded and winked at him. It looked like his uncle's head would explode from rage.

"Vernon you never mentioned another son," the man said.

"Oh, no sir I'm his nephew I dropped in unexpectedly and my aunt and uncle so kindly put me up for the night."

"Well it's nice to meet you Harry... um."

"Potter, sir I'm Harry Potter." Crookshanks bounded down the stairs and purred Harry picked him up and petted him.

"That's odd I've never seen him take to some one so fast." Mrs. MacDock said

"Potter that names sound familiar, what business is you father?"

"Law enforcement sir, why?"

"That name sound so familiar where do I know it?" Hermione hid a laugh. Mr. MacDock turned and gave her a side ways glance but Hermione only smiled. "No matter, now did I hear that we're having roast?" He said looking at Harry's aunt.

"Why yes you did and fresh salad," she replied.

"Then lets get to it shall we." They walked into the kitchen and Hermione's aunt counted the plates.

"We appear to be one short Petunia."

"Why yes we are, I hadn't counted on Harry being hear."

"Oh it's all right you have some work to do don't you boy." His uncle was getting ready to pop.

"Oh but I insist you join us young man."

"Well if you insist," Harry said as he pulled a chair out for Hermione. She sat down and Harry was about to take the seat next to her when Dudley pulled him back by the shirt and took it. The only seat left was at the other end of the table; Hermione looked very disappointed but then had an idea.

"Oh I forgot my bags in the car I should get them before we start," began to rise when Harry said.

"Not to worry I'll go fetch them Miss." Mr. MacDock handed Harry the keys, as Harry passed Hermione he winked at her, she gave a slight nod.

Once Harry was out the door Hermione spoke.

"Oh, silly me he doesn't know which ones are mine, so id better go tell him while you all uh, get more aquatinted." Mrs. McDock eyed her niece with growing suspicion looked around then said.

"Oh Petunia, I've seated myself between the two business men might I take you nephew's and you scoot down one seat so we girls can talk." Petunia smiled and nodded.

Good Hermione thought, they may not know what's going on but at least they know something is.

Hermione closed the front door then bolted toward Harry who was pulling her trunk out of the car.

Harry looked up and smiled, she laughed.

"What?" Harry said as she stepped between him and the trunk.

"Mr. Potter I came to help you with my bags."

"I think I can get them myself, Her..." She placed a finger over his lips.

"But you don't know which one is mine." Suddenly he realized her plan.

"No I don't think I do so we'll have to stay out here until you tell me, right?" He smiled.

"Right," she smiled and ran into his arms. He held her tight and spun her around. When he finally stopped she snuggled into his chest.

"I've missed you," he whispered "I've been so worried." He held her tighter and she held her breath

"Why?"

"Because he knows... he knows I'd do anything to protect my best friend." Hermione let out a breath of relieve. He tilted her head up with his hand.

"What?"

"Nothing," she said but he knew she didn't mean it. He kissed her on the forehead, held her tight and didn't want to ever let go, he looked down at her their eyes locked and he had the urge to kiss her, really kiss her he leaned down she held her breath as his lips gently brushed hers...

That kiss set off a chain reaction that no one could have predicted (well no one who is still alive).

"Time: the constantly flowing motion of everything, past, present and future it's stream is innavigable, ever changing, never the same if one knows where he came from, where he is and where he wants to go he can form a path connecting them (theoretically). Although pathing the course of time has never been done theoretically it is possible if one knows the exact event that started the chain of events that leads to an important event but this event is the stopping point after which the future is uncertain a Fork in the road, as you would, in time. That Fork in the road, if controlled, brings about another event that causes another chain of events that will lead to the creation of the sought after path in time, this process can continue hundreds event thousands of time depending on the about of time you wish to span. While this isn't possible because one would have to have a connection to the past and future while still seeing the present from many different perspectives.

What a load of bull, all you need is: a history book, smartest Hogwarts students ever, a family tree and a glimpse of the future." Sirius shouted throwing the book aside.

"Calm down Sirius," Lilly yelled, "and elaborate the readers don't get it!"

"What is there to explain?" He called back.

"Your hopeless, James you explain."

"Okay, Okay I'd do it. Calm down Lil. So here's the general review, first you haven't lost it the three of us are dead but that doesn't mean we're out of the picture. So we're dead but years ago we put a plan into action to "path" a course of the future, what you just say was a key point. That point will set off a chain reaction, (we hope the last chain reaction) that will lead to the sought after destination after which the future is uncertain. So all you know is that some event that took place over a millennium ago caused the three of us to die but set the path of Harry and Hermione's life's so they could end up in this situation but they choose this path.

And that's all I'm telling you for now so have a nice day"

Note: 1st fanfic ever publicly available pleas do review if you have the time.