~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~
" Go get the headmaster!" a male voice like smooth velvet calls out.
There was a sound of something or someone running, the silence once again. She could here people around her, breathing, making sounds. She didn't want to open her eyes. She knew there would be horrors that she could never think to comprehend in front of her once she opened her eyes they would never leave.
The was a pain in her arm. She moaned.
" I think she's coming around." Came a woman's voice, so familiar, comforting, but no it couldn't be her, she was dead! She had seen her dead.
"Minerva?" she moaned.
There was an odd silence.
The woman's voice returned. " What did you say child?"
Hermione couldn't take it any more she had to open her eyes. There was a blinding light and then everything came into focus. There was a bright blue sky, dotted with clouds; it was then that Hermione realized she was lying on her back, on very soft and thick green grass lightly caressing her body as the wind drifted through it.
"Where am I?"
" Your out side Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and wizardry my dear." Came the woman's voice again.
Hermione sat up in shock. Taking in every thing.
The grounds the school, the bright blue sky. Hogwarts was still standing, there were no bodies strewn across the grounds. And there in front of her was none other than.
" Minerva?" Hermione screamed and threw her arms around her old friend and head of house, It was a dream, every thing was a dream. No one's died, it was just some horrible nightmare. " God I can't believe this I thought you were dead!"
The woman looked as though she was about ready to faint. " I'm sorry dear heart you must have me mistaken for some one else, I'm afraid that I don't know who you are."
Hermione pulled back from the woman, what did she mean she didn't know who she was! Im her favorit student, Im her friend!. I can't believe she would have the nerve to say she didn't know her.
Hermione looked up into the eyes of her Proffesor and gasped at what she saw.
It was Minerva McGonagall ......but it wasn't? She was so, young un- aged ......she was younger, her hair was still pulled back into a tight bun and her teacher robes were the same but she lacked her wrinkles and her hair was not gray but a deep brown.
This wasn't right! Whats going on, did Minerva take an anti aging potion, was this all some cruel joke?
Then she felt it, a faint throbbing in her left arm. Moving quickly she felt under her robe sleave with her right hand, feeling for anything and every thing.
Then she felt it, the feeling of spilt skin a slight laceration.
Oh gods! It cant be, no it wasn't real, I'm here, Minerva's here. No ones dead. Ron's not dead, Harry's still chasing Cho chang! No No No its not real, gods no.....
Tears were begingjng to fall down her cheeks. Its just a nightmare. It has to be, but I have that mark that he...he was going to...oh gods... (panic surged through her, her body started to convulse from the trama)
"Miss are you all right" Minerva whispered as the young girl in front of her gatherd her self up, holding her knees to her chest. Rocking back and forth.
She was about to touch Hermione on the shoulder when a voice came out of no where.
" Ah Minerva I see we have a visitor!" came a very cheerful voice.
" Yes Albus, but she seems to be in a sort of shock, I don't even know her name" Minerva exclaimed.
Hermione poked her head out of the secure ball she had made, tears streaming down her face, her exspresion was that of disbelief.
" Hermione Granger but you know who I .." Hermione started.
She was cut off by a younger Albus Dumbledore.
" I suggest that we go inside Miss Granger you look like you need to get cleaned up." Albus said pointing at her blood stained and torn robes.
" Yes." Hermione said unsure of her self. " Thank you"
~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~
An hour later Hermione found her self in Albus Dumbledore's office, clean, groomed and freshly robed. Her old robes had been destroyed no doubt, and under her robes she wore a pair of loose fighting blue jeans and am incredibly baggy black T-shirt, apparently her attire was donated by one of the older students it.
" Whats going on Headmaster?" Hermione started. " Where is every one, there are so many new students?"
The old wizard regarded her for a moment, then deciding a course of action he posed a question to her.
" Whats the date today? The full date."
She seemed a little confused but answered. "November 13 2010....Headmaster?" during her answer a look of realization washed over his face.
" That does make things quiet complicated my dear" His eyes were twinkling in a fashion that she had never seen, there was mischief that would rival that of a child's.
" How does it make things complicated? I don't see what's so complicated, you're all alive and Hogwarts is safe. Voldmort's is defeated and my parents are dead. I just want to graduate with my class and go on to live a very normal life"
Dumbledore just looked at her as if she had just grown a second head.
" Miss Granger I believe that if you want to graduate with your class you are going to have to wait 32 years to graduate"
Hermione froze a look of pure horror crewed over her face.
" What do you mean 32 years?"
Dumbledores eyes just twinkled.
" Hermione this is the year 1978 exactly 32 years from today it will be 2010"
Hermione looked at him and felt faint.
"Holly shit!" She whispered and passed out
~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~
An hour later Hermione Granger awoke in the Office of Albus Dumbledore. He was looking at her very comically and after a while started to laugh.
" May I ask what is so funny sir?"
" Nothing. lemon drop?" He said offering her a tiny sweat.
" No thanks. What am I going to do? I can't go back to my time? * She shudders at the memory*
The headmaster looked at her thoughtfully and after a moment possed a question. " Miss Granger.Hermione..What happened? How is it that you are here?"
Hermione froze at his bluntness and then begain to tell her tale, leaving out not a single detail. Every memory was laid forth.
The headmaster only made or possed questions at appropriate places, never interrupting her. After a time he answered her question.
" Of course not, not yet anyway. it would be safer for you to stay here for the time being"
"Yes sir" mumble Hermione still having trouble believing what was going on.
" Now there is the small matter, of which house you will go into," he said this as he walked over to large shelf and plucked none other than the sorting hate off of it.
Hermione was stunned. " Headmaster excuse me but um I'm all ready in a house, I was sorted into Gryffindor!"
Dumbledore laughed. " I relies this, however I would like to confirm this, people change over time and I believe that your adventure may have changed your character and you would be unhappy in your current house, however I could be wrong." His eyes were twinkling. With this he whisked the hat onto her head before she could even say quidditch.
"Humph!? (The hat roared in her ear) You again? . Why do I bother, they never listen to me! (the hat seemed to be in a very bad mood at this present time. ) hmmm. lots of knowledge and a thrist to learn. (the hat chuckled) Very few students have your thirst, imposible to quench your is.....talent.... very good mind
.oh dear....
(Hermione didn't like the sound of that )
Much Pain, agony, loss.... No child or woman should have to indure what you have and will... you must always remember never forget who you are..... lets see(The hat paused for a long moment) .... .Gryffen.
no SLYTHERIN!"
Hermione screamed.
~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~
Her mind was reeling, Slytherin how could this have happened she was a Gryffindor! Proud, brave intelligent Gryffindor!
Albus looked at her with amusement, he knew she would have reacted like that. It was well know that Slytherin's and Gryffendor's hated one another from the time that they were sorted to the day there bodies rotted in the earth. It was a hatred that went back generations to the very founders of the houses.
After her initial shock wore of, Hermione was desperately trying to compose her self. Your strong, you can handle this, who knows it might only be for a few weeks, then you can go back home back to Hogwarts back to .nothing. The realization hit her, there was nothing for her back in her time, her friends were dead, the school, her parents, and everything was gone.
A small tear trickled down her face; she bravely brushed it away.
"Now Miss Granger was it? (She nodded) what year did you say you were in?" inquired Dumbledore.
"I'm in seventh year" mumbled Hermione.
"Very good, that's a good bunch of children for you to mix up with, now am I right in saying you have not a galleon to your name?"
Hermione was stunned; she had nothing, absolutely nothing. No money, no home, no nothing.
She merle nodded.
"Very well, now tell me how are you with magical creatures?"
"I have experience with them if that's what you mean, I always go good grades in that class."
"Very well, I have a proposition for you then, we have a new games keeper this year and an assistant is needed to help him keep the grounds under control and is willing to provide money for a half or full time assistant. How would you feel about taking this position, I will personally recommend you."
" OF COURSE!" Hermione nearly jumped out of her seat.
Albus gave her a healthy chuckle. " Very well then, now. I have your new robes, books, quills and every thing else you may need for your time here" He handed her a large bundle of a collection of odds and ends.
"But I haven't paid for them!"
"Do not worry about such things call them a thank you gift."
"Thank you gift but you've only just met me.." Hermione stopped, as there was a loud rapping sound from the office door.
"Come in" boomed Albus.
The door opened and in strode a very tall slightly aged woman. She had silver waist length hair, with traces of its former black, she was warring long black flowing robes, with green under tussle and a long dark purple almost black shawl. The one thing that truly grabbed Hermione attention was the woman's eyes, impassive, dark, intelligent, and likes two long tunnels.
" Ah Professor Lacouse! I see you got my message then?" chided Albus.
"Yes Headmaster I did, is this her then?" Professor Lacouse indicated to a slightly freighted Hermione.
" Yes this is our new student Hermione Granger, Hermione this is Professor Selena Lacouse, potions mistress and head of Slytherin house."
Oh Bugger, thought Hermione. She gave Professor Lacouse a smile and a quick nod, not knowing how to approach such a woman. She gripped tightly on her collection of new supplies, in order to let loss some nerves.
" A pleasure to meet you Hermione" Her voice was like silk, it was oddly familiar.
" Thank you." She mumbled, trying to keep the quiver out of her voice.
" Now Miss Granger if you would please follow me I will take you to your new home while you are here at Hogwarts." With that the woman turned on her heal and walked out of the room robes billowing behind her.
Hermione gave one last look of despair to Albus who was smiling openly at her and followed Professor Lacouse out.
~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~
The walked for what seemed like hours but was only a few minutes through the winding corridors and down into the dungeons. They were cold and damp, not unlike the dungeons in her old time.
Finally the pair of them came to a large painting of a rather cross looking man with plastid black hair and long flowing deep green robes, he had a large cobra circling his arm. The painting was in cased in a large round gold frame that resembled a mirror.
Professor Lacouse turned to Hermione. " This is the entrance to the Slytherin Common room, the pass word it Valances" at the sound of the password the painting swung open revealing the room inside.
Hermione followed Professor Lacouse through, the room was exactly how she pictured it, the walls were made of cold stone and there was no carpet, except for large throw rugs with complicated patterns etched into them. There was a large fireplace, bigger than the one in the Gryffindor common room, in front of it were two dark brown leather couches separated by a large oak table, donned with floating candles. The one thing that caught her eye were the bookcases, every wall was full of large bookcases filled to the brim with tomes and scrolls beckoning to her to read them. She had never seen it before, since her only opportunity had resulted in her becoming a cat/ Human from that blasted polyjuice potion.
Professor Lacouse noted how her expression changed when she saw the books. " A reader then" she whispered.
" A. Yes it's a passion of mine" replied Hermione, stunned that her expression had been so readable.
Professor Lacouse chuckled. " I think you are going to like one of my pupils then, all he does is read."
Hermione didn't answer that, she simply smiled, a smile which was returned.
" Now here (she said indicating to the only two walls that didn't have book cases on them) are the paintings or rather entrances to the dormitories. The one with the Mosmadorma is the girl's dormitory and the one with the Slytherka is the boy's. The password for the girls is Rendadora."
Hermione nodded.
"Follow me please."
The pair ventured through the portrait and up a long pair of cut stone steps, to a long winding corridor with many dark oak doors.
"Unlike the other houses we value privacy, every student in Slytherin has there own room, follow me"
They came to the end of the hall to an open oak door, Professor Lacouse entered it and Hermione followed.
They entered a circular room with a large four poster bed, a small fireplace, sitting chair and a large rough looking desk.
It was so much more than her old rooms in the Gryffindor house, but in some ways so much less, it lacked the warmth of friendship and familiarity.
"I shall leave you to your rooms, I'm sure you would like to get to know the place before school starts, your lucky you arrived before the rest of the students arrive from summer vacation on Monday so you will have today and tommoro to explore the castle." With that Professor Lacouse swept out of the room and away from the slightly shocked and very nervous woman.
" Did she just say that the students would be arriving back from summer vacation?! Good lord! I have to start my seventh year over! " She mumbled to herself in great aww.
~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~
Closing the door behind her she immediately began exploring her new surroundings. She had her own room, and bathroom which of course was done up in the traditional greens and silvers.
Entering the bathroom she got the first glimpse of her self that she had had in days. Her unruly hair was a disaster; it looked as though a blender had attacked it. Pulling out her wand she mutters a slight cleaning spell, and added a soft-straightening spell to make it more manageable. Her chestnut color hair now flowed gently with a slight curl and gave off its normal healthy shine.
She then took a look at her attire. This must have been what Harry felt when he had to ware Dudley's old clothing. The word Elephant skin came to mind. Well Harry wasn't an accomplished witch ahem wizard when he had to ware the clothing.
She tapped her wand to the pitch-black shirt and shrunk it considerably, making it tight around the chest, stomach and arms. Over the years at Hogwarts she had eventually discovered that she didn't have to dress like a prat to be a good student, she never when over board with skirts and heels but always wore something well more revealing off her less then horrible figure.
Next she tapped the jeans, they became tighter and fitted in the hips and long in the legs. She turned to leave but stoped and spun around to look back at the mirror. The T- Shirt that she had shrunk had shrunk in length in the arms relieving for the first time......Oh god! Panic flushed across her face. What is that! Oh Gods he really did do that to me!
On her left arm was a burned black scar of a serpent pentagram.
She looked around for anything that could remove it, she grabbed soap and washed it until it was red and bruised. She found a legs shaver and tried to cut it off in her desperation. Magic, force, soap nothing would remove the damned thing.
She was marked for life.
Fresh tears flowed down her cheeks as she cried out in despare, her sobs of grief could be heard through out the hall. It was no use.
After while she calmed down a bit to think clearly. She pulled out her wand and mutted a slight cover up charm, one that girls normaly use on there face on the mark.
Thankfully when the charm was finished there was no sign of the mark, but that didn't mean that it still wasn't there.
I'll figure it out, my fate wont be decided by that monster again she told her self.
After drying her tears and washing her face she had only one more thing before she could go out and explore Slytherin House.
She had to put on her new robes.
They were the normal black robes except like her old Gryffindor robes they had a thick lining of green instead of the normal red lining around the arms, and hem.
" Well I'm hear now, might as well get it over with".
~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~
An hour later Hermione finally gathered up enough courage to venture out of her room on her own. Now decked out in her new Slytherin robes she was plainly terrified that there would be a lot of students in the common room. She nearly slapped herself when she relized that she might be the only student her due to summer vacation.
Climbing out of the girl's dormitory she was relieved to find that there wasn't any one in the common room, probably a quidditch match going on she thought.
Taking a final look around she walked over to one of the many books filled shelves and selected a rather large green leather bound book.
" Slytherin house: A history.well might as well" she mumbled to her self- taking a seat on one of the large couches.
With in minute she was deeply immersed in the strangely exciting ways of the Slytherin house.
~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~
Hermione was half way through the book when the door to the common room open, she nearly had to smack her self to keep from running away, she had never been so nervous in her life. Looking up towards the door she noticed that two people a girl and a boy had just entered.
The boy was walking slightly in front of the girl. He had medium length blond hair and ice like eyes, and possibly the most handsome face to be seen. However that's as far as her liking went, he walked with a cruel stride and she would bet a thousand galleons that he had an ego on him like a freight train.
To his left was a short blonde hared girl, with a pretty face, her eye were a light green. The only thing that truly stood out was the fact that her robes were not downed in green but in the Ravenclaw blue.
The boy finally realized that Hermione was in the room. He turned and walked over to her, the girl followed.
" So it's true we do have a new girl in the house!" He sneered at her.
Hermione was taken aback by the rudeness and the sheer well coldness that the boy had expressed to her. She was reminded of Draco Malfoy. He always ran around the school like he ran the place calling her a Mudblood she never said anything because she was too polite. Little misses Polite Hermione Granger. He would always walk all over her.
She would not allow this boy to do the same. She stood up from her sitting position on the couch and held her head up high. She was only an inch shorter than he was (over the years she had grown rather tall); her brown honey flecked eyes glaring into his ice blue ones.
" Ya I guess I'm, do you have a problem with that" she snapped.
She realized that this was not the smartest thing to do, the little Ravenclaw girl to the boys left paled visibly and took a slight step back. The boy however looked surprised.
" Do you have any idea who you're talking to?" he whispered. " No one talks to me like that"
" Oh well please correct my mistake please do tell me who I have the pleasure of meeting" She said in a clearly sarcastic voice. In the distance she heard the portrait entrance open and another person walk in. Other than that her attention was focused fully on the jerk in front of her.
He stared at her for a moment. " Im Lucius Malfoy and you had better watch it"
Holly shit Oh my god. How far did I got back? Hermione's mind was racing, no wonder she had thought of that bastered Malfoy, and this was his bloody father, the soon to be if not already death eater, maybe I should have been nicer, hold on there Hermione your not going to be nice to some ass hole who will probably end up killing your friends and probably killed your family. She wouldn't back down!
She gave him a smile and a mock bow. " Oh forgive me lord Lucius, I didn't know I was in the presence of such greatness." She couldn't help it she laughed.
He gave her a look that could curdle cheese. With a swish of robes he walked out of the common room, the little Ravenclaw in tow.
" Well that was a perfect start, good going Granger." She sneered at herself.
" A little rough but over all not bad" came a silky male voice.
She turned around to see a tall, lean figured boy looking up at her from one of the tables scattered across the room. He had eyes like black coals and his hair was as black as a ravens feathers and was scattered none ceremoniously.
Partly in shock that she hadn't noticed him there before and partly embarrassed that he had seen her bitch out at a fellow Slytherin.
" Ya sorry about that" she mumbled.
He laughed its sent shivers down her spine. " Don't be Lucius is a prat. You might want to watch it though he might be a prat but he doesn't walk around like he owns the place with out good reason."
Hermione lifted her eyebrows. " Right then, thank you." Not really wanting to get involved in another conversation with a Slytherin. She turned to walk back up to the girl's dorm.
" Hey Granger!" he whispered.
She turned again to face the boy. " How did you know my last name?"
He chuckled to himself, his eyes lighting up as he turned on a light sneer. " You were talking to your self if you don't remember."
She blushed at her own stupidity. " Damn it. Well so much for that, my brains have just gone on vacation."
He gave her a slight smile. " What's your full name?"
She sighed. " Hermione Granger and you are?" she didn't try to leave out the sarcasm in her voice. She really didn't care.
He noted her sarcasm, but chose to ignore it. He spoke now in a complete emotionless state, his black eyes burning into her amber ones.
" I'm Severus Snape."
" Go get the headmaster!" a male voice like smooth velvet calls out.
There was a sound of something or someone running, the silence once again. She could here people around her, breathing, making sounds. She didn't want to open her eyes. She knew there would be horrors that she could never think to comprehend in front of her once she opened her eyes they would never leave.
The was a pain in her arm. She moaned.
" I think she's coming around." Came a woman's voice, so familiar, comforting, but no it couldn't be her, she was dead! She had seen her dead.
"Minerva?" she moaned.
There was an odd silence.
The woman's voice returned. " What did you say child?"
Hermione couldn't take it any more she had to open her eyes. There was a blinding light and then everything came into focus. There was a bright blue sky, dotted with clouds; it was then that Hermione realized she was lying on her back, on very soft and thick green grass lightly caressing her body as the wind drifted through it.
"Where am I?"
" Your out side Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and wizardry my dear." Came the woman's voice again.
Hermione sat up in shock. Taking in every thing.
The grounds the school, the bright blue sky. Hogwarts was still standing, there were no bodies strewn across the grounds. And there in front of her was none other than.
" Minerva?" Hermione screamed and threw her arms around her old friend and head of house, It was a dream, every thing was a dream. No one's died, it was just some horrible nightmare. " God I can't believe this I thought you were dead!"
The woman looked as though she was about ready to faint. " I'm sorry dear heart you must have me mistaken for some one else, I'm afraid that I don't know who you are."
Hermione pulled back from the woman, what did she mean she didn't know who she was! Im her favorit student, Im her friend!. I can't believe she would have the nerve to say she didn't know her.
Hermione looked up into the eyes of her Proffesor and gasped at what she saw.
It was Minerva McGonagall ......but it wasn't? She was so, young un- aged ......she was younger, her hair was still pulled back into a tight bun and her teacher robes were the same but she lacked her wrinkles and her hair was not gray but a deep brown.
This wasn't right! Whats going on, did Minerva take an anti aging potion, was this all some cruel joke?
Then she felt it, a faint throbbing in her left arm. Moving quickly she felt under her robe sleave with her right hand, feeling for anything and every thing.
Then she felt it, the feeling of spilt skin a slight laceration.
Oh gods! It cant be, no it wasn't real, I'm here, Minerva's here. No ones dead. Ron's not dead, Harry's still chasing Cho chang! No No No its not real, gods no.....
Tears were begingjng to fall down her cheeks. Its just a nightmare. It has to be, but I have that mark that he...he was going to...oh gods... (panic surged through her, her body started to convulse from the trama)
"Miss are you all right" Minerva whispered as the young girl in front of her gatherd her self up, holding her knees to her chest. Rocking back and forth.
She was about to touch Hermione on the shoulder when a voice came out of no where.
" Ah Minerva I see we have a visitor!" came a very cheerful voice.
" Yes Albus, but she seems to be in a sort of shock, I don't even know her name" Minerva exclaimed.
Hermione poked her head out of the secure ball she had made, tears streaming down her face, her exspresion was that of disbelief.
" Hermione Granger but you know who I .." Hermione started.
She was cut off by a younger Albus Dumbledore.
" I suggest that we go inside Miss Granger you look like you need to get cleaned up." Albus said pointing at her blood stained and torn robes.
" Yes." Hermione said unsure of her self. " Thank you"
~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~
An hour later Hermione found her self in Albus Dumbledore's office, clean, groomed and freshly robed. Her old robes had been destroyed no doubt, and under her robes she wore a pair of loose fighting blue jeans and am incredibly baggy black T-shirt, apparently her attire was donated by one of the older students it.
" Whats going on Headmaster?" Hermione started. " Where is every one, there are so many new students?"
The old wizard regarded her for a moment, then deciding a course of action he posed a question to her.
" Whats the date today? The full date."
She seemed a little confused but answered. "November 13 2010....Headmaster?" during her answer a look of realization washed over his face.
" That does make things quiet complicated my dear" His eyes were twinkling in a fashion that she had never seen, there was mischief that would rival that of a child's.
" How does it make things complicated? I don't see what's so complicated, you're all alive and Hogwarts is safe. Voldmort's is defeated and my parents are dead. I just want to graduate with my class and go on to live a very normal life"
Dumbledore just looked at her as if she had just grown a second head.
" Miss Granger I believe that if you want to graduate with your class you are going to have to wait 32 years to graduate"
Hermione froze a look of pure horror crewed over her face.
" What do you mean 32 years?"
Dumbledores eyes just twinkled.
" Hermione this is the year 1978 exactly 32 years from today it will be 2010"
Hermione looked at him and felt faint.
"Holly shit!" She whispered and passed out
~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~
An hour later Hermione Granger awoke in the Office of Albus Dumbledore. He was looking at her very comically and after a while started to laugh.
" May I ask what is so funny sir?"
" Nothing. lemon drop?" He said offering her a tiny sweat.
" No thanks. What am I going to do? I can't go back to my time? * She shudders at the memory*
The headmaster looked at her thoughtfully and after a moment possed a question. " Miss Granger.Hermione..What happened? How is it that you are here?"
Hermione froze at his bluntness and then begain to tell her tale, leaving out not a single detail. Every memory was laid forth.
The headmaster only made or possed questions at appropriate places, never interrupting her. After a time he answered her question.
" Of course not, not yet anyway. it would be safer for you to stay here for the time being"
"Yes sir" mumble Hermione still having trouble believing what was going on.
" Now there is the small matter, of which house you will go into," he said this as he walked over to large shelf and plucked none other than the sorting hate off of it.
Hermione was stunned. " Headmaster excuse me but um I'm all ready in a house, I was sorted into Gryffindor!"
Dumbledore laughed. " I relies this, however I would like to confirm this, people change over time and I believe that your adventure may have changed your character and you would be unhappy in your current house, however I could be wrong." His eyes were twinkling. With this he whisked the hat onto her head before she could even say quidditch.
"Humph!? (The hat roared in her ear) You again? . Why do I bother, they never listen to me! (the hat seemed to be in a very bad mood at this present time. ) hmmm. lots of knowledge and a thrist to learn. (the hat chuckled) Very few students have your thirst, imposible to quench your is.....talent.... very good mind
.oh dear....
(Hermione didn't like the sound of that )
Much Pain, agony, loss.... No child or woman should have to indure what you have and will... you must always remember never forget who you are..... lets see(The hat paused for a long moment) .... .Gryffen.
no SLYTHERIN!"
Hermione screamed.
~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~
Her mind was reeling, Slytherin how could this have happened she was a Gryffindor! Proud, brave intelligent Gryffindor!
Albus looked at her with amusement, he knew she would have reacted like that. It was well know that Slytherin's and Gryffendor's hated one another from the time that they were sorted to the day there bodies rotted in the earth. It was a hatred that went back generations to the very founders of the houses.
After her initial shock wore of, Hermione was desperately trying to compose her self. Your strong, you can handle this, who knows it might only be for a few weeks, then you can go back home back to Hogwarts back to .nothing. The realization hit her, there was nothing for her back in her time, her friends were dead, the school, her parents, and everything was gone.
A small tear trickled down her face; she bravely brushed it away.
"Now Miss Granger was it? (She nodded) what year did you say you were in?" inquired Dumbledore.
"I'm in seventh year" mumbled Hermione.
"Very good, that's a good bunch of children for you to mix up with, now am I right in saying you have not a galleon to your name?"
Hermione was stunned; she had nothing, absolutely nothing. No money, no home, no nothing.
She merle nodded.
"Very well, now tell me how are you with magical creatures?"
"I have experience with them if that's what you mean, I always go good grades in that class."
"Very well, I have a proposition for you then, we have a new games keeper this year and an assistant is needed to help him keep the grounds under control and is willing to provide money for a half or full time assistant. How would you feel about taking this position, I will personally recommend you."
" OF COURSE!" Hermione nearly jumped out of her seat.
Albus gave her a healthy chuckle. " Very well then, now. I have your new robes, books, quills and every thing else you may need for your time here" He handed her a large bundle of a collection of odds and ends.
"But I haven't paid for them!"
"Do not worry about such things call them a thank you gift."
"Thank you gift but you've only just met me.." Hermione stopped, as there was a loud rapping sound from the office door.
"Come in" boomed Albus.
The door opened and in strode a very tall slightly aged woman. She had silver waist length hair, with traces of its former black, she was warring long black flowing robes, with green under tussle and a long dark purple almost black shawl. The one thing that truly grabbed Hermione attention was the woman's eyes, impassive, dark, intelligent, and likes two long tunnels.
" Ah Professor Lacouse! I see you got my message then?" chided Albus.
"Yes Headmaster I did, is this her then?" Professor Lacouse indicated to a slightly freighted Hermione.
" Yes this is our new student Hermione Granger, Hermione this is Professor Selena Lacouse, potions mistress and head of Slytherin house."
Oh Bugger, thought Hermione. She gave Professor Lacouse a smile and a quick nod, not knowing how to approach such a woman. She gripped tightly on her collection of new supplies, in order to let loss some nerves.
" A pleasure to meet you Hermione" Her voice was like silk, it was oddly familiar.
" Thank you." She mumbled, trying to keep the quiver out of her voice.
" Now Miss Granger if you would please follow me I will take you to your new home while you are here at Hogwarts." With that the woman turned on her heal and walked out of the room robes billowing behind her.
Hermione gave one last look of despair to Albus who was smiling openly at her and followed Professor Lacouse out.
~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~
The walked for what seemed like hours but was only a few minutes through the winding corridors and down into the dungeons. They were cold and damp, not unlike the dungeons in her old time.
Finally the pair of them came to a large painting of a rather cross looking man with plastid black hair and long flowing deep green robes, he had a large cobra circling his arm. The painting was in cased in a large round gold frame that resembled a mirror.
Professor Lacouse turned to Hermione. " This is the entrance to the Slytherin Common room, the pass word it Valances" at the sound of the password the painting swung open revealing the room inside.
Hermione followed Professor Lacouse through, the room was exactly how she pictured it, the walls were made of cold stone and there was no carpet, except for large throw rugs with complicated patterns etched into them. There was a large fireplace, bigger than the one in the Gryffindor common room, in front of it were two dark brown leather couches separated by a large oak table, donned with floating candles. The one thing that caught her eye were the bookcases, every wall was full of large bookcases filled to the brim with tomes and scrolls beckoning to her to read them. She had never seen it before, since her only opportunity had resulted in her becoming a cat/ Human from that blasted polyjuice potion.
Professor Lacouse noted how her expression changed when she saw the books. " A reader then" she whispered.
" A. Yes it's a passion of mine" replied Hermione, stunned that her expression had been so readable.
Professor Lacouse chuckled. " I think you are going to like one of my pupils then, all he does is read."
Hermione didn't answer that, she simply smiled, a smile which was returned.
" Now here (she said indicating to the only two walls that didn't have book cases on them) are the paintings or rather entrances to the dormitories. The one with the Mosmadorma is the girl's dormitory and the one with the Slytherka is the boy's. The password for the girls is Rendadora."
Hermione nodded.
"Follow me please."
The pair ventured through the portrait and up a long pair of cut stone steps, to a long winding corridor with many dark oak doors.
"Unlike the other houses we value privacy, every student in Slytherin has there own room, follow me"
They came to the end of the hall to an open oak door, Professor Lacouse entered it and Hermione followed.
They entered a circular room with a large four poster bed, a small fireplace, sitting chair and a large rough looking desk.
It was so much more than her old rooms in the Gryffindor house, but in some ways so much less, it lacked the warmth of friendship and familiarity.
"I shall leave you to your rooms, I'm sure you would like to get to know the place before school starts, your lucky you arrived before the rest of the students arrive from summer vacation on Monday so you will have today and tommoro to explore the castle." With that Professor Lacouse swept out of the room and away from the slightly shocked and very nervous woman.
" Did she just say that the students would be arriving back from summer vacation?! Good lord! I have to start my seventh year over! " She mumbled to herself in great aww.
~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~
Closing the door behind her she immediately began exploring her new surroundings. She had her own room, and bathroom which of course was done up in the traditional greens and silvers.
Entering the bathroom she got the first glimpse of her self that she had had in days. Her unruly hair was a disaster; it looked as though a blender had attacked it. Pulling out her wand she mutters a slight cleaning spell, and added a soft-straightening spell to make it more manageable. Her chestnut color hair now flowed gently with a slight curl and gave off its normal healthy shine.
She then took a look at her attire. This must have been what Harry felt when he had to ware Dudley's old clothing. The word Elephant skin came to mind. Well Harry wasn't an accomplished witch ahem wizard when he had to ware the clothing.
She tapped her wand to the pitch-black shirt and shrunk it considerably, making it tight around the chest, stomach and arms. Over the years at Hogwarts she had eventually discovered that she didn't have to dress like a prat to be a good student, she never when over board with skirts and heels but always wore something well more revealing off her less then horrible figure.
Next she tapped the jeans, they became tighter and fitted in the hips and long in the legs. She turned to leave but stoped and spun around to look back at the mirror. The T- Shirt that she had shrunk had shrunk in length in the arms relieving for the first time......Oh god! Panic flushed across her face. What is that! Oh Gods he really did do that to me!
On her left arm was a burned black scar of a serpent pentagram.
She looked around for anything that could remove it, she grabbed soap and washed it until it was red and bruised. She found a legs shaver and tried to cut it off in her desperation. Magic, force, soap nothing would remove the damned thing.
She was marked for life.
Fresh tears flowed down her cheeks as she cried out in despare, her sobs of grief could be heard through out the hall. It was no use.
After while she calmed down a bit to think clearly. She pulled out her wand and mutted a slight cover up charm, one that girls normaly use on there face on the mark.
Thankfully when the charm was finished there was no sign of the mark, but that didn't mean that it still wasn't there.
I'll figure it out, my fate wont be decided by that monster again she told her self.
After drying her tears and washing her face she had only one more thing before she could go out and explore Slytherin House.
She had to put on her new robes.
They were the normal black robes except like her old Gryffindor robes they had a thick lining of green instead of the normal red lining around the arms, and hem.
" Well I'm hear now, might as well get it over with".
~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~
An hour later Hermione finally gathered up enough courage to venture out of her room on her own. Now decked out in her new Slytherin robes she was plainly terrified that there would be a lot of students in the common room. She nearly slapped herself when she relized that she might be the only student her due to summer vacation.
Climbing out of the girl's dormitory she was relieved to find that there wasn't any one in the common room, probably a quidditch match going on she thought.
Taking a final look around she walked over to one of the many books filled shelves and selected a rather large green leather bound book.
" Slytherin house: A history.well might as well" she mumbled to her self- taking a seat on one of the large couches.
With in minute she was deeply immersed in the strangely exciting ways of the Slytherin house.
~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~~~
Hermione was half way through the book when the door to the common room open, she nearly had to smack her self to keep from running away, she had never been so nervous in her life. Looking up towards the door she noticed that two people a girl and a boy had just entered.
The boy was walking slightly in front of the girl. He had medium length blond hair and ice like eyes, and possibly the most handsome face to be seen. However that's as far as her liking went, he walked with a cruel stride and she would bet a thousand galleons that he had an ego on him like a freight train.
To his left was a short blonde hared girl, with a pretty face, her eye were a light green. The only thing that truly stood out was the fact that her robes were not downed in green but in the Ravenclaw blue.
The boy finally realized that Hermione was in the room. He turned and walked over to her, the girl followed.
" So it's true we do have a new girl in the house!" He sneered at her.
Hermione was taken aback by the rudeness and the sheer well coldness that the boy had expressed to her. She was reminded of Draco Malfoy. He always ran around the school like he ran the place calling her a Mudblood she never said anything because she was too polite. Little misses Polite Hermione Granger. He would always walk all over her.
She would not allow this boy to do the same. She stood up from her sitting position on the couch and held her head up high. She was only an inch shorter than he was (over the years she had grown rather tall); her brown honey flecked eyes glaring into his ice blue ones.
" Ya I guess I'm, do you have a problem with that" she snapped.
She realized that this was not the smartest thing to do, the little Ravenclaw girl to the boys left paled visibly and took a slight step back. The boy however looked surprised.
" Do you have any idea who you're talking to?" he whispered. " No one talks to me like that"
" Oh well please correct my mistake please do tell me who I have the pleasure of meeting" She said in a clearly sarcastic voice. In the distance she heard the portrait entrance open and another person walk in. Other than that her attention was focused fully on the jerk in front of her.
He stared at her for a moment. " Im Lucius Malfoy and you had better watch it"
Holly shit Oh my god. How far did I got back? Hermione's mind was racing, no wonder she had thought of that bastered Malfoy, and this was his bloody father, the soon to be if not already death eater, maybe I should have been nicer, hold on there Hermione your not going to be nice to some ass hole who will probably end up killing your friends and probably killed your family. She wouldn't back down!
She gave him a smile and a mock bow. " Oh forgive me lord Lucius, I didn't know I was in the presence of such greatness." She couldn't help it she laughed.
He gave her a look that could curdle cheese. With a swish of robes he walked out of the common room, the little Ravenclaw in tow.
" Well that was a perfect start, good going Granger." She sneered at herself.
" A little rough but over all not bad" came a silky male voice.
She turned around to see a tall, lean figured boy looking up at her from one of the tables scattered across the room. He had eyes like black coals and his hair was as black as a ravens feathers and was scattered none ceremoniously.
Partly in shock that she hadn't noticed him there before and partly embarrassed that he had seen her bitch out at a fellow Slytherin.
" Ya sorry about that" she mumbled.
He laughed its sent shivers down her spine. " Don't be Lucius is a prat. You might want to watch it though he might be a prat but he doesn't walk around like he owns the place with out good reason."
Hermione lifted her eyebrows. " Right then, thank you." Not really wanting to get involved in another conversation with a Slytherin. She turned to walk back up to the girl's dorm.
" Hey Granger!" he whispered.
She turned again to face the boy. " How did you know my last name?"
He chuckled to himself, his eyes lighting up as he turned on a light sneer. " You were talking to your self if you don't remember."
She blushed at her own stupidity. " Damn it. Well so much for that, my brains have just gone on vacation."
He gave her a slight smile. " What's your full name?"
She sighed. " Hermione Granger and you are?" she didn't try to leave out the sarcasm in her voice. She really didn't care.
He noted her sarcasm, but chose to ignore it. He spoke now in a complete emotionless state, his black eyes burning into her amber ones.
" I'm Severus Snape."