On Her Way from Detention
For detention that night, Lupin had Hermione help him grade his papers from his first year's class. Hermione actually enjoyed herself. (If I had more time on my hands, I would do this every night.) She fingered her Time Turner chain. It would be possible, since she had it. (No, I can't. It's not meant to be played with.)
Hermione reluctantly left Lupin at the appointed time. He was such a great person to hang out with. He was so understanding and sweet when she felt upset. Absently she pulled out her Time Turner from under her shirt. She still felt tempted to turn it back far enough to save her parents. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice Peeves floating silently next to her.
Peeves smiled inwardly. He had no idea what that thing on the chain was, but it seemed important to her. Playing with it would be sure to start a scene! He grabbed it and attempted to take it off her. Hermione, startled, tried to yank it away. Peeves slipped it around his own neck, while it was still around hers. "Oooooo, what's this?" he cackled, eyeing the Time Turner.
"Go away RIGHT NOW Peeves, if you know what's good for you!" Hermione warned him firmly. To her horror, she couldn't stop what he did next.
Peeves grabbed the Time Turner and spun it erratically. "PEEVES! STOP IT! RIGHT NOW!" Hermione shouted frantically, trying to wrest it away from him. However, that only made Peeves spin it more. Oh, this was getting good!
Everything around them turned into a sickly blur. Hermione froze in utter panic. How far was she going back? Hopefully the Time Turner had a limit as to how far back it could go. Horrible possibilities flitted across her mind. What if she was taken as far back as when the school was founded, or even before?
Peeves, sensing that things were going far, far worse than he intended, stopped meddling with the Time Turner and let go of it. Suddenly he realized that, for the first time in his life, (or death, however you look at it) the joke was as much on him as someone else.
Hermione, feeling quite faint and sick to her stomach, closed her eyes. "Peeves, if you've ever done a favor to anyone, let me know when this is over," she groaned. She felt like the breath was being sucked out of her body. The ground rushed up to meet her, and all she knew was blackness.
"Oh, look, she's coming 'round," a faraway voice said. Hermione recognized it as Madam Pomfrey's. Hermione had a horrible feeling she didn't want to remember what happened, but the memory rushed to her anyway. (Well, at least I haven't gone TOO far back, after all, Madam Pomfrey's here) Hermione opened her eyes.
Madam Pomfrey stood there, Dumbledore next to her. (Oh good) Hermione thought. (Dumbledore's here. Everything will be all right, then.) She fumbled, her hands searching for the Time Turner. To her relief, it still hung around her neck.
"Are you feeling all right?" inquired Dumbledore.
"Yes," Hermione replied. (At least my head's stopped spinning)
"To get straight to the point - we'd like to know your business here. You're dressed as a student, but no one knows who you are. We found you and Peeves by the DADA classroom. Curiously, there seems to be two Peeves running haywire around the castle now. I see you have a Time Turner around your neck. Does that have something to do with how you came here?"
Hermione sat up. "Dumbledore, can I speak with you alone?" she requested.
"Of course," he said, dismissing Madam Pomfrey. When they were alone, Hermione began.
"Just one question before I begin - what day is it, Dumbledore?"
"September 20th."
"And - year?" she said slowly.
"1979," he stated calmly.
Hermione made quick calculations in her head. "Bloody hell," she groaned. She'd gone back eighteen years!
"Excuse me?" queried Dumbledore in consternation.
"Sorry. It's just, I'm from the future. Peeves grabbed my Time Turner and before I could stop him, he spun it so many times I ended up here."
"What year are you from?"
"1997," she answered. She saw Dumbledore gaze at her intently. (He's probably practicing Legillimens)
"I believe you," he said simply. "Off hand, I don't know how to send you back. It will take some research. Rest assured, I'm sure there's a way. In the meantime, I would advise you not to tell anyone that you're from the future, and especially do not reveal in any way what is to happen in the future. No matter how much you want to, no matter how grave it is. Time is not to be meddled with, and any attempt to save someone could only lead to destroying them anyway."
Hermione frowned, deep in thought. If she'd gone back eighteen years, that meant that this was the Marauder's seventh year at Hogwarts. Lily would be here too. Her eyes widened, and she felt a little excited. Getting to meet them would be the first upside of this whole mess.
"In the meantime, you should take the classes you were taking before you got transported here. You should also take up residence in Griffindor Tower. I believe you already have someone in mind you'd like to room with?"
(Wow, he really must have searched my mind! Oh well, I trust Dumbledore) "Yes. Lily Pot - I mean, Lily Evans."
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows, but said nothing about her stutter. "I'll see to that. I believe you should also take up an alternate name while you're here. Do you have anything in mind?"
"Yes, how about Katie. My name could be Kathleen Rowland," she decided. Rowland was her mother's maiden name.
"All right, Katie. You will be an exchange student from a small school elsewhere in England. Let's call it, say, Elshire. Be sure to remember this, and keep your story straight. This is very important for your safety. Now, I don't know what happens in the future, but Voldemort might find someone like you very useful. You probably know his fate. I will do all I can to ensure your safety, but I cannot protect you if the truth about you leaks out."
"Yes, Professor, I understand." She worked out with him her school schedule, and handed him her Time Turner for safekeeping.
"I trust you know the way to Griffindor Tower? The password is "Lionheart." I will send Lily up there soon."
"Thanks, Dumbledore," she said. She got up, and they went their separate ways.
Preview of next chapter: "Sirius, I'm glad to see you studying for once, and I hate to interrupt you, but I'd like to introduce you to someone," said Lily.
Sirius glanced up, appearing to be relieved, rather than annoyed, at the interruption. "Hello Lily, and hello, I'm Sirius," he said, reaching his hand out with a grin.
(Strange to be introduced to someone you not only already know, but is also dead.) She smiled slowly, shaking his hand. "I'm Katie," she said softly. "Nice to meet you, Sirius." She felt a pang of sadness. If only she could warn him of his horrible fate.
