Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters, merely playing in their Universe.

Author's Note: Thank you to everyone that has reviewed! Your reviews mean alot to me! Sorry that it has been so long since I've updated. I'm on spring break now, so hopefully I'll be able to write more. Also, for Shmily, I promise there is a plot that involves more than flirting. Although, a romance is being developed. Thanks again!

Chapter 4: Seeking Answers

Harry and Ron rushed over to where Ginny had been standing next to Hermione.

"Where'd she go?" Harry asked frantically.

Hermione looked at the mirror, then down at herself.

"I think she went back in time," Hermione said, her face very pale by this point. "Look, my time-turner is broken and there is some of the sand on the mirror."

She showed Harry and Ron the broken time-turner.

"What is that?" Ron asked befuddled.

Hermione rolled her eyes. She explained this to Harry back in third-year, now she had to with Ron.

"This is a time-turner," she said, indicating to the broken item, which was attached to a very fine golden chain around her neck. "It lets me take classes over at the same time. I use it to do everything that I need to do. I'm allowed to have it, because I have special permission to."

"Oh," was all that Ron said, still very clearly confused. "So, where's Ginny?"

Hermione gave an exasperated sigh. "My guess is that she went back somewhere in time, to whatever point she saw in the mirror."

Ron paled quite considerable, now that he had finally gotten it. "So, she might be in the middle of the war?"

"Yes," Hermione said very gravely. "We should talk to Professor Dumbledore. He might know more than we do."

With that, the three headed towards the Headmaster's office. Harry had already dismissed the D.A. for the night.

Dumbledore nodded slowly in thought after Harry, Hermione, and Ron had finished telling him what had happened to Ginny.

Popping a lemon drop into his mouth, he continued, "Yes, I see. She will be fine. It is not for us to meddle in."

All three Gryffindors' mouths hung open at this proclamation. How could he be doing nothing to get Ginny back? Did he not care?

Harry was the first to recover, his fists clenched, shouted at Dumbledore, "How can you sit there and do nothing! We need her!"

Harry fell to the floor, breaking down.

"I need her," he said softly, tears streaking down his cheeks, his head in his hands.

Hermione and Ron rushed over to their friend. Hermione embraced him, while Ron awkwardly patted his back. They had known that Harry loved Ginny. He had been in love with her since that night in the Ministry of Magic, although Ron and Hermione suspected it was only then, he had come to grips with his feelings, more than just realizing.

"What am I going to do without her? How can I go on?" Harry moaned into his hands.

Dumbledore looked on to the Golden Trio, the hope of the Wizarding World. He gave a small sigh. How would their world survive when it depended on the shoulders of one already-broken child, a child that he loved like his own grandson, yet already lost?

Ginny walked into the Gryffindor Common Room. She had known, she had already known that they would be waiting. There sat the Marauders, the flames dancing off of their faces, making them look eerie and dangerous. Ginny took a gulp, making her way to the center.

Sirius was the first to speak, brushing his hair out of his face, "So, who are you?"

"Ginerva Granger," she lied.

"How do we know you aren't a spy?" James asked, much in the same mannerism Harry would have asked.

Ginny shrugged, "You don't, but would Dumbledore have let me into the school and into Gryffindor, if I was?"

"No, I guess not," he answered slowly. "So, why are you here?"

"I transferred in from the Salem Institute in America," she lied.

"Why are you here now?" Remus asked, pondering why she had transferred. They had never had a transfer student before, especially in the middle of a war.

"My parents thought it best to return to England with…um…everything that's been going on, and they wanted me close by…um…in case anything were to happen."

The four boys nodded. That sounded reasonable.

Before they had a chance to ask any more questions, Ginny yawned and said, "I'm really tired. I think I'm going to head to bed."

Then, as an after thought to make her story more believable, "Um, which staircase do I take?"

Sirius was tempted to lie and tell her the one on the left, which was the boys', just for amusement when Remus gave him a look and answered, "On the right."

Ginny headed up the stairs. She went past the doors, looking for the one that said 'Sixth Years.' When she finally found it, she entered. To her relief, there appeared to only be two other sixth year girls, both were asleep.

Tip-toeing in, she was struck by the sudden awareness that she had no clothing to sleep in or otherwise. She would have to talk to Dumbledore about this in the morning. For now, she stripped down to her knickers and crawled into bed.

While she had been exhausted, she slept fitfully. Thoughts of Harry and the others, thoughts of the Marauders, thoughts of her life now and then intermingled in her mind. A war was being fought here, just as it was there. They needed her in the future. They didn't need her here.

Downstairs, the Marauders sat talking.

"What do you guys think?" James asked, still suspicious.

"I don't think she'll be able to resist the Sirius charm," Sirius said playfully.

It was true though. Every female at Hogwarts' seemed to have puppy crushes on him. It didn't seem she should be any different. Laughing at Sirius, James threw a pillow at him.

"You are so full of yourself, mate!"

For the rest of the evening, the Marauders goofed off and talked about the new girl. Well, all, but Remus, who sat in his favorite chair, deep in thought. The new girl had been pretty, but more than that, it was her scent. Being what he was, Remus could smell everyone and everyone had a particular scent. Hers sparked an interest in him that hadn't occurred with any other girl. Sure, he had dated, it was a requirement to be a Marauder, but he had never been physically attracted to one like this before.

The next morning, Ginny woke with a splitting headache. She put on her clothes and headed for the restroom. When she got there and looked into the mirror, she could see the evidence of her sleep last night. Dark circles lined under her eyes and her face was flushed. Trying to get rid of some of the damage, she splashed some water on her face, before heading to Dumbledore's office.

When she arrived, the gargoyle seemed to spring to life, before she could utter a word, as if it had been expecting her. She headed up the stairs to his office.

She heard, "Come in," before she could even knock. Pushing open the door, she could see Dumbledore sitting at his desk. He gestured her to come in and sit. Ginny sat down on a rather comfy looking red chair.

"Ah, yes, I was expecting you. How is everything going?" Dumbledore asked.

"Fine. Um…but…um…I realized something last night," she began. He gestured for her to continue. "Um…I have no other clothing and no money…and well, nothing else."

"Yes, that does appear to pose a problem now, doesn't it?" He said, as he played with the tip of his beard, musing over the situation. "However, I think I have a solution. I will set up an account in your name at Gringotts' bank. Every month, I will place a sum in there for you for whatever you may need or want, for as long as you are here."

She sat in shock. It was so generous of him, and he really didn't know her in this time period.

"Th-thank you, Professor," she stammered.

"You may go to Hogsmeade or to Diagon Alley today, if you wish. But I must insist that you have someone accompany you. I know that you have only been here since last night, but have you met anyone that you would feel safe with?"

She thought about this for a moment, choosing her words carefully, "I know two of the Marauders in the future and would feel safe with them."

"And who is that?"

"I think it would be best not to say. I don't want to change the future, but I would be fine going with all four," Ginny said, mentally adding, 'Well, not Peter.'

"Correct you are, Miss Granger. I will send them with you. I think today would be best, don't you agree? Perhaps, around eleven?"

"Yes, Professor."

Dumbledore clapped his hands together in delight, "Ah, good. It will be arranged. Please be here at eleven."

With that, their meeting was over and Ginny was ushered out.

Ginny wondered what she should do with herself until eleven. She had no need to get ready since she had nothing to get ready with. She had no homework since she wasn't attending classes. Looking for something to do, she headed to the library to begin looking up various spells that they had gone over in the D.A. to see if they could be modified at all.

After a couple hours, it was time to go. Ginny made her way back to Dumbledore's office, wondering what hanging out with the Marauders would be like.