The Young Phoenix Leaves the Nest

Disclaimer: Not my characters, not my world, not making any money.

Author's note: I can't tell you how many Snape and Hermione time turner fics I've read. I did like the idea but its been done to death. Then I thought about going back even further into the past and meeting a certain wizard before he became so damn powerful. Let say we meeting him at the age of fifteen, because as we all know we shouldn't be judged by ourselves by what we did at fifteen. So lets throw in a little time traveling adventure staring everyone's favorite know-it-all Hermione Granger, loner Theodore Nott, and Luna Lovegood. Lets face the story wouldn't be worth telling if Luna wasn't in it.

Minerva McGonagall burst into the Headmaster's like a banshee out of hell. She was out of breath and trying her best to tell Dumbledore something very important. All she was really succeeding at was doing a rather fair impression of the creature Hagrid had shown the third years last week. It took every ounce of the Headmaster's restraint not to laugh at his Deputy Headmistress.

"Please, Minerva, sit down for a bit and have a cup of tea." Dumbledore ordered kindly

The Head of Gryffindor house obeyed. She sat down and had tea with the man whose eyes were twinkling a little too much for her not suspect Albus knew something he wasn't telling her.

"My time turner is missing Albus. I don't know who could have broken through my wards and we need to make sure it hasn't fallen into the wrong hands." McGonagall stated calmly

"I know it's missing from your safe keeping and I know who has it. You don't seem surprised by this."

"Of course I'm not surprised! You're eyes are twinkling. That could only mean something extremely dangerous is happening. Of course you just find the whole situation just so amusing!"

"It seems am apology is in order, Minerva. Although once I tell you what the apology is for I doubt you will accept it."

"Dear God Albus tell me what's going on?" She pleaded

The Headmaster took off his spectacles. He looked so old right now. He felt old. Albus Dumbledore hated keeping secrets. Ever since he was a child could keep a secret better than anyone could but he hated every minute of it. Many sleepless nights are spent worrying about all the secrets he kept inside. It was time to let another secret out.

"My Dearest Minerva, your time turner is in the very capable, if not practical, hands of Hermione Granger. She has stolen it in attempt go back in time to stop Harry and herself from going to Department of Mysteries. She will go to a room she believes is unoccupied, but the room contains young Mr. Theodore Nott. Mr. Nott will try and stop her but Miss Luna Lovegood will interrupt him. All of them will be transported back over one hundred and thirty years into the past. In fact they probably have gone already. There's nothing we could have done to stop them and if there were anything to be done I wouldn't have done it. I'm sorry."

McGonagall got up from her seat and laid one heavy Scottish hand across Albus' face. The old wizard's face stung from the witch's slap. He should have told her. He knew it. It wasn't fair to keep so many things from her. Hermione had become her favorite. Sad pair eyes met angry pair into what played out like a staring contest. Finally McGonagall turned away and whispered one word that was full of worry.

"Why?"

"She asked me not say anything. Hermione didn't want you to worry. Theodore almost convinced me to cast a time-released obliviate on myself. To be free of all guilt and suspicion seemed like a good idea but it seemed too much like cheating. Luna just said follow your spleen. She's an odd girl and coming from me that means a lot."

"Does she make back?" the desperate Witch asked

"The truth?"

"The truth."

"I don't know."

TBC